Item 26 - Public Hearing Vista Heritage Charter School (601 North Fairview Street)

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AA No. 2023-04 and ZOA No. 2023-03 for Vista Heritage Charter School at 601 North Fairview Street December 11, 2023 Page 4 Standard Required by SAMC and SD-82 Provided Floor Area Ratio FAR 1.5 maximum I Complies: 0.14 FAR Project Background On October 6, 2008, the City Council approved several entitlements for the Civic Center Business Park located at the northeast corner of Fifth Street and Fairview Street, including Amendment Application No. 2008-06 (Ordinance No. NS-2777). The amendment application allowed for a zone change of the business park site from M1 to SD-82. The request was initiated by the Templo Calvario Assembly of God Church, which at the time was proposing to expand their worship facilities by constructing a larger sanctuary at 2501 West Fifth Street. However, the specific development still allowed for the retention of the existing office, retail, and industrial uses operating in the business park, by allowing all uses within the Light Industrial (M1) zoning district. Subsequently, on January 21, 2020, the City Council approved additional entitlements affecting the business park, including ZOA No. 2019-01 (Ordinance No. NS-2983), to allow school uses by right. Prior to the approval of ZOA No. 2019-01, school uses had been in operation at the business park. Specifically, Templo Calvario operated a preschool and kindergarten at 2609 West Fifth Street since the 1990s. In 2003, the Edward B. Cole Senior Academy occupied the site until it relocated to another Santa Ana location in 2010. From 2011 to 2015, Templo Calvario once again operated a school at this location. In 2015, Vista Heritage Charter School took over operations at the site. In 2019, Vista Heritage Charter School expanded their 6-8th grade operation located at 2609 W. Fifth Street to include kindergarten through 5th grades within two adjacent suites, pursuant to approval of ZOA No. 2019-01, which also allowed an increase in student enrollment and school operations. Currently, Vista Heritage Charter School occupies approximately 66,000 square feet of building space and accommodates a maximum of 870 students, at 2601 through 2617 West Fifth Street. Project Analysis The proposed project aims to achieve two primary objectives. First, the zoning ordinance amendment is seeking to expand the boundaries of SD-82 and allow an Administrative Office use on Parcel 4, and an Outdoor Play Areas on Parcel 2, as an ancillary use to the Vista Heritage Charter School. Second, the amendment application intends to amend the zoning map by rezoning the subject property from M1 to SD-82. The following sections of this report provides analysis for the proposed action item and the basis for staff's recommendation of approval for the project. City Council 26 — 296 1/16/2024