Item 22 - Transit Zoning Code Amendments Resolution

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At the local level, the TZC area is located in the central urban core of the City and comprises over 100 blocks and 450 acres, and is generally bounded by 1-5 to the north and east, First Street to the south, and Flower Street to the west. Refer to Figure 1 in the Background section. The majority of the City is urbanized, with residential and nonresidential development, and mobility and public facilities all contributing to Santa Ana's existing built environment. The City's incorporated boundaries encompass approximately 27.4 square miles. Residential land uses occupy almost 40 percent of the land within the current City boundaries, accounting for 5,226 acres. Other predominant land uses include commercial (1,588 acres) and industrial (1,628 acres). While Santa Ana is a densely populated urban center with one of the most diverse international populations in Orange County, it can generally be characterized as a City of neighborhoods. Santa Ana has over 65 neighborhoods which are distinguished by their history, architecture, housing types, amenities, and unique character. The Specific Development (SD) No. 84 Zoning District, also known as the TZC, is located in the central urban core of the City and comprises over 100 blocks and 450 acres, and is generally bounded by First Street, Flower Street, Civic Center Drive, Grand Avenue, and the Santa Ana (1-5) Freeway. The TZC area includes the Orange County Civic Center consisting of City, County and federal buildings, City, Downtown, the Logan and Lacy neighborhoods, which are among the City's most historic in age and are established residential communities. Additional land uses include a mix of residential, commercial and industrial uses. The TZC area overlaps portions of two of the City's five focus areas, which are suited for new growth and development under the GPU: the Grand Avenue Avenue/17th Street Focus Area and the West Santa Ana Boulevard Focus Area. The Grand Avenue Avenue/17th Street Focus Area is primarily business oriented with office and commercial storefronts and large apartment complexes. The West Santa Ana Boulevard Focus Area is characterized as a mix of residential, commercial and industrial. 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS The Initial Study/Notice of Preparation of the DEIR (Appendix A) concluded certain topics to be "Effects Not Found to Be Significant" according to Section 15128 of the CEQA Guidelines as having less than significant or no impacts, and therefore were not included in the Final EIR. Agricultural Resources. The Initial Study concluded that the soils within the Transit Zoning Code (SD 84A and SD 84B) area are not candidates for listing as prime farmland, unique farmland, or farmland of statewide importance. In addition, no farmland or agricultural activity exists on or in the vicinity of the Transit Zoning Code, and no portion is under a Williamson Act contract. The Initial Study concluded no that no impacts would occur. Geology and Soils. The Transit Zoning Code (SD 84A and SD 84B) area is located in an area of minimal geologic hazards. Any development within the project area would be designed in accordance with applicable building code requirements, which account for seismic groundshaking. The Initial Study concluded that no and less than significant impacts to would occur. Mineral Resources. The Initial Study determined that implementation of the Transit Zoning Code (SD 84A and SD 84B) would not result in the loss of availability of either a known mineral resource of value to the state or region, or a locally important mineral resource recovery site, because no such sites exist within the project area. The Initial Study concluded that implementation of the Transit Zoning Code (SD 84A and SD 84B) would not result in the loss of January 2025 14 Environmental Analysis