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

Home Browse Search

Vista Charter Public Schools District Office and Outdoor Space Project CEQA Exemption 15183 Ancillary improvements include landscaping, fencing along the perimeters of the proposed outdoor areas, and expansion of the existing parking lot. The front parking lot facing North Fairview Street would provide 20 parking spaces and the side parking lot adjacent to an existing railroad alignment (currently under construction for electric street cars) would provide 43 spaces. In total, the site would provide 63 parking spaces. Similar to existing conditions, the site is accessible from North Fairview Street via two driveways to the west, and two alleys connecting to West 5th Street to the south and southeast. Internal drive aisles would provide access to the proposed office building and outdoor areas. The student drop-off and pick-up area and internal circulation pattern would be slightly modified to accommodate the outdoor learning garden space and the outdoor play areas. Specifically, the fenced play yard would have a dual use. During drop-off and pick-up hours, the fence would be opened to allow for vehicles to use as a drop-off/pick-up turnaround area; no play yard activities would occur during these times. During school hours, the play yard fence would be closed for safety and students would be able to utilize the play yard for school activities.; refer to Exhibit 3. 2.4.1 Entitlements To allow the use of the former automotive repair building for the proposed office use, a Zone Change would be required to modify the existing Light Industrial (M 1) zoning for the site to Specific Development No. 82 (SD-82) to be consistent with the majority of the Fairview Business Park. In addition to the proposed Zone Change, the project also proposes a Zoning Ordinance Amendment to amend the operational standards of the SD-82 zoning district to allow an outdoor play area. Under current SD-82 provisions, play areas for children are limited to indoors only. 2.4.2 Project Construction Construction of the proposed project is anticipated to take approximately eight months to complete. The construction activities would include building construction, paving, and architectural coating. Construction activities would comply with the City's Noise Ordinance, Section 18-314(e) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (Municipal Code) and occur only Monday through Saturday between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Construction equipment and materials staging would occur within the project site. During construction, vehicular access would be provided via existing access points along North Fairview Street and/or West 5th Street. 3. California Environmental Quality Act Regulatory Setting CEQA applies to proposed projects initiated by, funded by, or requiring discretionary approvals from State or local government agencies. CEQA Guidelines apply generally to discretionary actions by agencies which may have a significant effect on the environment. However, where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that an activity may have a significant effect on the environment, and if the activity meets the conditions for a CEQA Exemption, it is considered exempt from the provisions of CEQA. CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 allows a streamlined environmental review process for projects that are consistent with the densities established by existing zoning, community plan, or general plan policies for which an EIR was certified and does not require additional environmental review, except as might be necessary to examine whether there are project -specific significant effects which are peculiar to the project or its site. Projects that are consistent with the densities and use characteristics considered by the GPU E I R may qualify for the CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Exemption process. This exemption process may be used when a project meets the following conditions: Dec i y ouncil 26 — 67 1/16/20 ge 7