Correspondence - Item 22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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To: City of Santa Ana Mayor and Council members Date: March 25, 2025 Re: SD-84 Transit Zoning Code Dear City of Santa Ana Mayor and Council members: I am writing to express serious concerns regarding the proposed regulation, which would significantly hinder our ability to continue operating in a sustainable manner. Reed Thomas Company, is located at 1025 N. Santiago Street in Santa Ana. We are a general engineering contractor performing work across four counties on various construction projects. Our facility is situated within an M2-zoned industrial area and serves as a critical service center for our field operations. Our business operates approximately 12 to 16 hours per day, with service trucks, material trucks, and mechanics departing the yard normally around 5:30 AM and returning between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM, up to six days a week. It is important to note that during the day, our yard and shop remain relatively quiet since the majority of our work takes place off -site at construction projects throughout the region. The proposed ordinance includes the following regulations that will severely disrupt our operations: • The proposed hours of operation: Restricting activities to 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on weekdays and 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturdays —are incompatible with the operational realities of our industry. Adherence to these proposed hours is not possible, as it would severely impair our ability to meet contractual obligations and maintain project schedules. All work to be done indoors: The proposed regulation would require all work to be done indoors. We perform routine maintenance and moderate repairs on our large Trucks, trailers and some tractors outside, as many of them do not fit inside our building. Also, the proposed regulation prohibits us from increasing the size of our building under this proposed regulation. Noise levels: The proposed regulation limits of noise level to 60 decibels. A normal conversation between two people is about 65 decibels. The ambient noise level in our yard, at 5am, before we operate, is between 67 and 73 decibels. This noise is from the 5 freeway and Santiago Street. Noxious use: We are concerned that the proposed regulation could classify a business as a noxious use. Once classified as noxious, this proposed regulation would eliminate legal nonconforming status on that property, and does not allow a less intensified industrial business to occupy that building or property. It is important to highlight that for the past 36 years, Reed Thomas Company has operated at this location without a single complaint from neighboring businesses or residents. While we fully support the City's efforts to address businesses that are truly creating nuisances, it is both