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Santa Ana Zoo Overflow Parking Lot Rezone (1801 East Chestnut Avenue) <br /> March 3, 2026 <br /> Page 2 <br /> PARCEL NUMBER 402-212-01 FROM GENERAL AGRICULTURAL (A-1) TO <br /> GENERAL COMMERCIAL (C-2); read by title only and waive further reading. <br /> GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> Executive Summary <br /> This is a City initiated General Plan Amendment (GPA) (GPA No. 2025-01) to change the <br /> General Plan land use designation for the property located at 1801 East Chestnut Avenue <br /> and recognized as Assessor Parcel Number(APN)402-212-01 ("Project Site"), which has <br /> historically functioned as overflow parking lot for the Santa Ana Zoo, from Open Space <br /> (OS) to General Commercial (GC) and Amendment Application (AA) No. 2025-02 to <br /> change the Zoning designation for the Project Site from General Agricultural (A-1) to <br /> General Commercial (C-2) to bring the land use and zoning into consistency with the <br /> Project Site's long-standing operational use and the Zoo Facilities Master Plan ("Project"). <br /> In addition, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the <br /> Project requires certification of a Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration <br /> (IS/MND) (ER No. 2025-119 and SCH No. 2025121015) and adoption of a Mitigation <br /> Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP). <br /> The Project would continue the existing overflow parking use while improving the Project <br /> Site with paving, striped parking stalls, internal circulation lanes, reconstructed access, <br /> and the installation of electric vehicle charging stations, providing approximately 250 <br /> parking spaces, including ADA-compliant and Electric Vehicle (EV) stalls. The proposed <br /> GC General Plan land use designation and C2 zoning allow parking facilities and visitor- <br /> serving uses and align the Project Site with surrounding urban development patterns and <br /> long-term infrastructure planning. <br /> Planninq Commission Recommendation <br /> On February 9, 2026, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council take <br /> the following actions: (1) certify the Final IS/MND (ER No. 2025-119 and SCH No. <br /> 2025121015), (2) adopt a MMRP for the Project, (3) adopt a resolution approving GPA <br /> No. 202501, and (4) adopt an ordinance approving AA No. 2025-02 by a vote of 6:0:1 <br /> (Ayes: Commissioners Benninger, Escamilla, Leo, Pham, Ramos, and Woo; Absent: <br /> Commissioner Oliva). <br /> Project Description <br /> The Project proposes to change the Project Site's General Plan land use designation <br /> from OS to GC and to rezone the property from A-1 to C-2. The Project Site is currently <br /> developed as an unpaved gravel lot that provides overflow parking and is located in an <br /> urbanized area bounded by Interstate 5, East Main Street, surrounding commercial uses, <br /> multifamily residential development, and the Santa Ana Zoo. <br /> City Council 22 — 2 3/3/2026 <br />