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

Home Browse Search

HOUSING CONSTRAINTS Residential and mixed -use development in the three districts is required to include 100 square feet of private and/or common open space per unit. Development can satisfy this requirement in private areas such as balconies or patios or common areas such as courtyards, rooftop decks, recreation facilities, multipurpose rooms, or other areas designed for common use by residents. Additionally, each development must set aside a certain percentage of the total development site for publicly accessible open space and to provide for a high level of pedestrian connectivity and activity throughout the Metro East area. Reflecting the desired urban nature of the overlay zone, the required building setbacks are minimal and facilitate the incorporation of publicly accessible open space while reinforcing a continuous urban street frontage. Open space standards are flexible; each project can incorporate either large private areas or large common areas, or a combination of smaller private and common open spaces. Greater lot coverage, combined with an FAR of 3.0, allows for a greater number of units to be constructed, which can decrease the incremental cost of developing each unit, thereby permitting lower sales or rental prices. Properties within the MEMU may develop to the standards of the underlying zoning district or the MEMU. To exercise the latter option, a MEMU Site Plan Review application approved by the Planning Commission is required. The MEMU allows residential development as a by -right use provided the Planning Commission grants Site Plan Review per the following findings: • That the proposed development plan is consistent with and will further the objectives outlined in Section 1.2 of the MEMU. • That the proposed development plan is consistent with the development standards specified in Section 4 of the MEMU. ■ That the proposed development plan is compatible with adjacent development in terms of similarity of scale, height, and site configuration and otherwise achieves the objectives of the Design Principles in Section 5 of the MEMU. ■ That the land use, site design, and operational considerations in the proposed development plan have been planned in a manner that will result in a compatible and harmonious operation in Section 7 of the MEMU. Since the MEMU's adoption in 2007, several mixed use projects were proposed, but were eventually withdrawn prior to entitlement due to the market downturn in late 2007. This included Olen Properties proposed 132 -unit project, and the First/Cabrillo project that included 374 units. Each project offered two parking spaces per unit. As both projects contained a majority of one and two bedroom units and met current parking standards, the MEMU parking requirements are not deemed a constraint to housing production. In 2013, the Lyon Communities development was entitled for 250 apartments and 12 townhomes, with 126 one bedroom, 116 two bedroom and 11 three bedroom units; meeting and exceeding parking requirements. B -22 CITY OF SANTA ANA GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT