Item 22 - Public Hearing - Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2025-01 Related to Group Homes

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CITY OF SANTA ANA Planning and Building Agency 20 Civic Center Plaza ● P.O. Box 1988 Santa Ana, California 92702 www.santa-ana.org/pba NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, CA The City of Santa Ana encourages the public to participate in the decision-making process. The following notice is being provided so that you can ask questions, make comments, and stay informed about projects that might be important to you. We encourage you to contact us prior to the Public Hearing if you have any questions. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN - The City Council of the City of Santa Ana will hold a public hearing to receive public testimony and will take action on the item described below. Project Location: Citywide Project Applicant: City of Santa Ana Proposed Project: The City of Santa Ana is requesting the adoption of Zoning Ordinance Amendment (ZOA) No. 2025-01 to amend Chapter 41 (Zoning) and Ordinance Amendment No. 2025- 01 to amend Chapter 8 (Buildings and Structures) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code to establish regulations for the location, licensing, permitting, and operational requirements related to group homes. The proposed amendment also includes modifications to definitions. In addition, the applicant is requesting adoption of a resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Miscellaneous Fees Schedule to establish a new fee for the review of Group Home Special Use Permit applications and a new fee for the review of Group Home Operator’s Permit applications. Environmental Impact: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) and the CEQA Guidelines, the adoption of this Ordinance is exempt from CEQA review pursuant to sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The project is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. Moreover, the project is categorically exempt from further review per Section 15301 (Class 1 – Existing Facilities) of the CEQA Guidelines. Class 1 exemption applies to the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The project proposes to adopt regulations pertaining to location, licensing, permitting, and operating standards for group homes, and will not expand the existing use. None of the exceptions enumerated in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to the Class 1 exemption applicable here. As a result, a Notice of Exemption, Environmental Review No. 2025-43, will be filed upon adoption of this ordinance. Action Taken by the Planning Commission on June 23, 2025: Recommended City Council adopt ordinance approving Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2025-01. VOTE: 5:0:2 (Ayes: Commissioners Benninger, Escamilla, Oliva, Pham, and Woo; Absent: Commissioners Leo and Ramos). Ordinance No. 2025-01 and the resolution to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Miscellaneous Fees Schedule are not subject to recommendation by the Planning Commission.