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Planning and Building Agency <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />Zoning Administrator Staff Report <br />June 18, 2025 <br />Topic: Minor Exception Nos. 2025-01 and 2025-02 – Orange County Employees <br />Retirement System Headquarters (1200 N. Tustin Avenue) <br />RECOMMENDED ACTIONS <br />1. Adopt a resolution approving Minor Exception No. 2025-01 (Building Height <br />Increase) as conditioned; and <br />2. Adopt a resolution approving Minor Exception No. 2025-02 (Off-Street Parking <br />Reduction) as conditioned. <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />Selena Kelaher with EPD Solutions, Inc., representing Orange County Employees <br />Retirement System (OCERS) (“Applicant”) and 2223 Wellington Place Corporation <br />(“Property Owner”), is requesting approval of Minor Exception (ME) Nos. 2025-01 <br />(Building Height Increase) and 2025-02 (Off-Street Parking Reduction) to facilitate the <br />construction of a three-story 65,768-square-foot office building to serve as the <br />headquarters for OCERS at 1200 N. Tustin Avenue. Pursuant to Sections 41-631, 41- <br />632(3)(d) and 41-632(3)(g) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC), a minor exception <br />may be granted to waive or modify zoning provisions pertaining to the height of buildings, <br />as long as the modification granted does not exceed more than twenty-five percent (25%) <br />of the maximum height permitted. Moreover, pursuant to the SAMC, modifications may <br />be granted for off-street parking reductions, as long as the reductions do not exceed more <br />than twenty percent (20%) of the minimum number of stalls required by the SAMC. Staff <br />is recommending approval of the Applicant’s request due to the project’s compliance with <br />the intent of Professional (P) zoning district of providing a high-quality office development <br />and compliance with the vision of the General Plan. Moreover, special circumstances <br />exist that make it difficult for the site to comply with current development standards which <br />warrant approval of the Applicant’s request in order for the preservation and enjoyment <br />of property rights. <br />Table 1: Project Location Information and Applicable Code Sections <br />Item Information <br />Project Address and Council Ward 1200 N. Tustin Avenue – Ward 3 <br />Nearest Intersection Tustin Avenue and Wellington Avenue <br />General Plan Designation Professional and Administrative Office - Medium (PAO-1) <br />Zoning Designation Professional (P) <br />Surrounding Land Uses North Commercial