2014-006 - Santa Ana General Plan Housing Element and Public Safety Element Updates

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HOUSING CONSTRAINTS Flexibility in Standards The City of Santa Ana implements a variety of administrative procedures and specialized zoning districts to facilitate the development of quality housing. These procedures allow the developer to seek relief from typical development standards that may constrain a potential project or physical hardships that may arise due to the size, shape, or dimensions of a site or existing structures. The primary tools to facilitate development are the exception process, the density bonus ordinance, and Specific Development Zone discussed below. Exception Process The minor exception procedure is intended to provide relief from zoning ordinance regulations that result in unintended inequities or hardships when applied to specific properties and must not be a grant of special privilege. The exception process allows the City of Santa Ana additional flexibility in facilitating new residential products in a variety of settings. A developer may seek modification of the following zoning standards: • Yards: up to 20 percent of the minimum lineal dimension • Building separation: up to 50 percent of the minimum separation required • Lot coverage: up to 20 percent of the minimum standard • Building height: up to 25 percent of maximum height • Off - street parking: up to 20 percent of the minimum number of stalls provided that the exception does not result in parking impaction Other standards as allowed by the Planning Commission: ■ The City Council, Planning Commission, or Zoning Administrator has the authority to grant a minor exception when specific criteria are met. In these situations, the following findings must be made prior to obtain an exception: ■ That because of special circumstances applicable to the subject property, strict application of the zoning ordinance would deprive privileges not otherwise at variance with the intent and purpose of this chapter; ■ That the granting of a variance or minor exception is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of one or more substantial property rights; ■ That the granting of a variance or minor exception will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to surrounding property; and ■ That the granting of a variance or minor exception will not adversely affect the general plan of the City. JA& CITY OF SANTA ANA GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT B -17