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CUP No. 2025-10 – Footlab Orange County (400 W. Warner Avenue) <br />April 28, 2025 <br />Page 7 of 11 <br />4 <br />9 <br />7 <br />7 <br />The Applicant submitted Development Project Application No. 2024-20 (DP No. 2024-20) <br />in September 2024. Since that time, the Applicant has worked with City staff to address <br />various concerns related to on-site and off-site improvements and development <br />standards. In response to City concerns, the Applicant made several site plan changes, <br />with the final site plan design presented as part of this CUP request. <br />Footlab is a sports technology company specializing in soccer training through innovative <br />technology and personalized solutions. It was founded in 2016 by Rui Costa, a <br />Portuguese former professional soccer player. The company is headquartered in <br />Portugal. Footlab’s proprietary software and hardware provide precise, biomechanically <br />relevant motion capture data, offering unique sports analysis applicable to both <br />professional and amateur athletes. Moreover, Footlab offers a comprehensive system for <br />engaging, monitoring, and evaluating football players’ skills, measuring technique, speed, <br />precision, and reaction times. Footlab has four facilities worldwide, with the first facility <br />established in Carnaxide, Lisbon, Portugal. Future facility locations include Toronto and <br />London, Ontario, Bahrain, and Oslo, Norway. If approved and constructed, the proposed <br />Footlab in Santa Ana would be the first in the United States. <br />Project Analysis <br />CUP requests are governed by Section 41-638 of the SAMC. CUPs may be granted when <br />it can be shown that the proposed project will not adversely impact the community. If <br />these findings can be made, then it is appropriate to grant the CUP. Conversely, the <br />inability to make these findings would result in a denial. Moreover, pursuant to Section <br />41-472.5 of the SAMC, indoor sports facilities in the M1 zoning district require <br />discretionary review and approval of a CUP by the Planning Commission. In addition, <br />pursuant to Section 41-650 of the SAMC, the Planning Commission may modify the <br />regulations set forth for the district in which a project is located, when it is considered that <br />strict enforcement of said regulations will cause undue hardship to the Applicant. <br />Staff has reviewed the Applicant’s request and has determined that the proposed indoor <br />sports facility will not be detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the community. <br />With the exception that all business activities be conducted and located within an <br />enclosed structure, the proposed project meets the requirements specified in Section 41- <br />482 of the SAMC and is in compliance with the M1 development standards, including <br />landscaping and parking. The subject site is surrounded by industrial land uses, and the <br />project is not expected to create secondary impacts related to operations, parking, <br />lighting, or noise to the surrounding community or any sensitive land uses. In addition, <br />conditions of approval have been included for this project that will ensure it remains in <br />compliance with the indoor sports facilities section the SAMC and does not become an <br />attractive nuisance or disrupt the surrounding land uses. <br />Staff has also reviewed the Applicant’s request to modify the requirements outlined in <br />Section 41-482 of the SAMC to allow ancillary outdoor business activities. Given the <br />unique spatial demands of soccer and the substantial logistical and financial related <br />