Packet 2.25.25 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ZOA No. 2024-02 & AA No. 2024-03 (Transit Zoning Code Amendments) February 24, 2025 Page 5 3 3 6 7 are high school graduates, and nearly 97 percent of the working population over 16 years of age are employed.1 These data illustrate that the Logan and Lacy neighborhoods are within the second and third highest scored census tracts in Santa Ana, each with a composite score of 90 percent or greater, ranking in the 90th percentile or greater of census tracts in the State, and identified as “disadvantaged communities” by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) in its CalEnviroScreen model. Failure to address ongoing irreconcilable land use conflicts that are the target of this moratorium will further exacerbate the ongoing demographic and environmental justice challenges that these two neighborhoods within the TZC have grappled with since their founding. Code Enforcement and Immediate Ongoing Issues In the Logan and Lacy neighborhoods within the TZC, the Code Enforcement Division has investigated over 35 commercial and industrial properties in the past 12 months and currently has 16 active open cases that have been issued Notice of Violations and administrative citations for the following types of violations: illegal storage, land use, zoning, property and landscape maintenance, unpermitted work, business license, and certificate of occupancy. These violations include issues of odors, dust, traffic, noise, vibrations, and other documented impacts. The proximity of active open industrial cases during a short period is creating a public nuisance that is harming public health, safety, and general welfare of the two residential neighborhoods from the concentration of open code enforcement cases nearby. Since June 2023, the TZC communities have experienced a marked increase in impacts stemming from the irreconcilable industrial and residential land use conflicts in the Logan and Lacy neighborhoods. Residents in the TZC have voiced and emailed complaints and public health concerns to City staff regarding emitted contaminants and zoning violations from industrial businesses in the neighborhoods. Concerns that range from air pollution and smoke, toxic release exposures, idling trucks on residential streets, lead exposure, illegal storage, unpermitted uses, loud noise at night, and other property maintenance pose an immediate public health threat that is straining public resources to continuously investigate and address these matters. Specifically, a fire incident at a crematory located in the neighborhood alarmed neighbors at 9:18 p.m. on August 29, 2023. Residents shared with City officials’ video of high flames escaping the stack on the rooftop, screeching noise that continued nonstop for ten minutes, and what was described as a foul odor attributed to the fire. As City staff followed up with external regulatory agencies issuing permits to operate this facility, and quickly, staff observed the limitations from regulatory agencies and their compartmentalized processes to investigate and act on enforcement measures. On August 9, 2024, the City received a complaint with photos of 1 ESRI Community Analyst summary data, which utilizes U.S. Census Bureau sources (2017-2021 American Community Survey & 2020 Decennial Census Data), enhanced by ESRI’s forecasts and aggregations, covering demographics like population, income, age, and employment.