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4 NO ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT <br />ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS WITHOUT MITIGATION MEASURES <br />4.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES <br />Threshold 8-1: The Project would not have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or <br />through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, <br />sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or <br />regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or U.S. <br />Fish and Wildlife Service. <br />Findings: The City finds that the Project would result in less than significant impacts to biological <br />resources related to species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local <br />or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or <br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (Draft Supplemental EIR, pp. 5-9 — 5-10.) <br />Explanation of the Rationale: The Project site is fully developed with existing commercial uses <br />and surface parking, and the surrounding area is heavily urbanized with residential and <br />commercial uses. The Project would involve infill development within an already highly disturbed <br />urban environment. The Project site includes limited, ornamental landscaping, including grass <br />lawns and trees. Due to the urbanized nature of the project site and surrounding area, there are <br />no natural, vegetated areas that could support candidate, sensitive, or special status species, or <br />habitat for such species. However, the existing trees on -site may provide habitat to nesting birds, <br />which are protected pursuant to the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA) and the <br />California Fish and Game Code. The Project would comply with all applicable federal, state, and <br />local regulations including the MBTA and the California Fish and Game Code Section 3503, which <br />protect nesting birds and their eggs/young. To maintain compliance with the MBTA and California <br />Fish and Game Code, clearance surveys would be conducted prior to any ground disturbance or <br />vegetation removal activities to avoid direct or indirect impacts to active bird nests and/or nesting <br />birds if construction occurs during the nesting bird season. Therefore, the Project would not result <br />in direct impacts to special -status species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special -status <br />species and impacts would be less than significant. (Draft Supplemental EIR, pp. 5-9 — 5-10.) <br />Threshold 8-2: The Project would not have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian <br />habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional <br />plans, policies, regulations or by the California Department of Fish and <br />Wildlife or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. <br />Findings: The City finds that the Project would result in no impact to biological resources related <br />to a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community. (Draft <br />Supplemental EIR, pp. 5-10 — 5-11.) <br />Explanation of the Rationale: The Project site is fully developed with commercial retail uses and <br />contains limited, ornamental landscaping. The ground cover consists primarily of paved, <br />developed areas and limited areas of vegetation, including trees and grass. There is no riparian <br />habitat or other sensitive natural communities within the Project site. Therefore, implementation <br />of the Project would not impact any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community. (Draft <br />Supplemental EIR, pp. 5-10 — 5-11.) <br />City of Santa Ana The Village Santa Ana Specific Plan Project <br />August 2025 CEQA Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations <br />4-6 <br />