Item 22 - Public Hearing Ordinance Second Reading - General Plan Amendment, Zoo Overflow Parking Rezone

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SANTA ANA REZONE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION CO2e annually for all land use types.41,41 However, the proposed threshold was based on the State's GHG emissions reduction goal identified in AB 32 for the year 2020, which has been outdated, and SCAQMD never adopted the threshold. Impacts of climate change are experienced on a global scale regardless of the location of GHG emission sources; therefore, a numerical significance threshold for individual development projects is speculative. Throughout the State, air districts are moving from numerical significance thresholds to qualitative significance thresholds that focus on project features to reduce GHG emissions or consistency with GHG reduction plans. For example, in the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's (Bay Area Air District) 2022 CEQA Guidelines, the GHG thresholds of significance are either whether land use projects include certain project design elements related to buildings and transportation or whether the project is consistent with a local GHG reduction strategy that meets the criteria under CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5(b). This is a major update to Bay Area Air District's 2017 CEQA Guidelines, where a numerical significance threshold was required. To reduce GHG emissions impact, it is more effective for development projects to include project features that directly or indirectly reduce GHG emissions than to rely on a numerical significance threshold, which highly depends on the type and size of the development. Therefore, the significance of the proposed project's potential impacts regarding GHG emissions and climate change will be assessed solely on its consistency with plans and policies adopted for the purposes of reducing GHG emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change. Would the project: a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment? Less than significant impact. The proposed project would generate GHG emissions during construction and operation (e.g., mobile emissions, emission from the manufacturing and transport of building materials during construction, and emissions from generation of electricity for operations). The proposed project's construction and operational emissions are presented below for information purposes. Construction GHG Emissions During project construction, GHGs would be generated by construction activities, such as site clearing, operation of heavy-duty construction vehicles, materials and debris hauling, paving, and construction worker vehicle trips. These emissions would be considered short-term in duration. Construction emissions were estimated using California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod). Construction assumptions used to estimate GHG emissions are consistent with those used to South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). 2008. Board Letter — Interim CEQA GHG Significance Threshold for Stationary Sources, Rules and Plans. Website:https://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default- source/cega/handbook/greenhouse-gases-(ghg)-cega-significance-thresholds/ghg board synopsis. pdf. Accessed July 25, 2025. 42 South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). 2010. Minutes for the GHG CEQA Significance Threshold Stakeholder Working Group #15. Websitehttps://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/ceqa/handbook/greenhouse-gases- (ghg)-cega-significance-thresholds/year-2008-2009/ghg-meeting-15/ghg-meeting-15-minutes.pdf. Accessed July 25, 2025. 58 FCS Https://adecinnovaticns.sharepoint.com/sites/PubiicationsSite/Shared Documents/Publications/Client(PN-JN)/0327/03270047/ISMND/03270047 Santa Ana Rezone Project ISMND.docx