Item 28 - Public Hearing - ZOA No. 20204-01 South Coast Technology Center

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South Coast Technology Center Project CEQA Exemption 15183 (1) The project is consistent with the development density established by existing zoning, community plan or general plan policies for which an EIR was certified. Based on General Plan Update Land Use Element Figure LU-1, Land Use Map, the Project Site is designated Industrial (IND). According to the General Plan Update Land Use Element Table LU-3, Density and Intensity Standards, the Industrial designation generally allows a maximum 0.45 floor -area -ratio (FAR) with a typical maximum building height of 35 feet. However, Table LU- 3 provides a specific exception for the Lake Center Development, defined by Specific Development Plan Number 58 (SD-58), that allows intensities up to 0.72 FAR (see Footnote 4 of General Plan Update Land Use Element Table LU-3). Similarly, regarding height, Table LU-3 Footnote 2 explains that the actual maximum standard allowed on each site may be different than listed in Table LU-3 and that the allowable height of development on any parcel is subject to the zoning standards. SD-58 District permits a maximum FAR of 0.72 and a maximum height of 200 feet for the Project Site. The proposed Project would demolish the Lake Center Office Park and construct three new buildings totaling 313,244 square feet. The Project Site is approximately 15.8-acres. Thus, the Project would result in a 0.46 FAR. Additionally, the maximum height of the proposed buildings would be 48 feet and 4 inches. Although the Project proposes to amend SD-58 to allow for industrial uses, the Project would not change the FAR or maximum height allowed in SD-58. Thus, the proposed Project would be consistent with the development density established by the General Plan Update for SD-58. Additionally, the Project would be consistent with applicable General Plan Update Land Use Element policies as detailed in Table 4.11-1. Overall, the Project would be consistent with Criterion (1). (2) There are no project specific effects which are peculiar to the project or its site. The Project Site is located in a highly developed and urbanized area of Santa Ana. The Project Site consists of an existing 10.2-acre office park, the Lake Center Office Park, and an approximately 5.6-acre vacant field to the west of and separated from the office park by the north - south South Susan Street. The Project Site is designated Industrial (IND) and zoned SD-58. Surrounding uses adjacent to the Project Site include office, commercial, government, and recreational uses, and are designated Industrial (IND) and Professional & Administrative Office (PAO). The proposed Project would be consistent with the land use designation of the Project Site. Additionally, operation of the proposed Project as industrial buildings for office, manufacturing, and/or warehouse use would be consistent with the surrounding uses of the Project Site. As evaluated in Section 4.0, there are no Project specific effects which are peculiar to the Project or its site. Therefore, the proposed Project is consistent with Criterion (2). (3) There are no project specific impacts that were not analyzed as significant effects in the prior EIR. The GPU PEIR concluded that buildout of the General Plan Update would result in a total of 115,053 residential units and 72,967,816 square feet of non-residential development by 2045. The proposed Project, which is consistent with the General Plan Update, involves the demolition of the Lake Center Office Park and construction of three new buildings. The proposed Project would result in an increase of 135,218 square feet of non-residential uses. The Project would be consistent with the development density requirement for the IND designation and thus, was considered in the planned development of the General Plan Update and would have similar or lesser significant impacts than analyzed in the GPU PEIR. As evaluated in Section 4.0, there are no Project specific impacts which the GPU PEIR did not analyze as significant effects. Therefore, the proposed Project is consistent with Criterion (3). July 2024 Page 101