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

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HOUSING RESOURCES TRANSIT CORRIDORS Introduction The City of Santa Ana has identified two transportation corridors that are ripe for recycling and redesignation to provide residential/mixed -use housing —Fifth Street and First Street. Residential uses along these corridors will support the Go Local program, improve mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and provide needed residential opportunities along the corridors while also serving to replace existing land uses that are less compatible with adjacent uses. The City has identified a potential of 1,195 units that could be built on 40 acres of land along Fifth Street and First Street. As is the case with any development, the number of units depends on market conditions. These sites were identified as candidates for recycling during the planning period due to their underutilized or vacant status, proximity to neighborhoods, developer interest in these sites for housing, historic location within a former redevelopment project area, proximity to transit lines, and consistency with the Go Local transit program. Exhibits C -3 and C -4 and Tables C -5 and C -6 provide illustrations and development potential of the corridors. Adequate Sites Analysis The City has identified residential/mixed -use potential on 40 acres of vacant and underutilized lands along two transit corridors currently designated for commercial, industrial, and office uses. For these sites to be developed with residential/mixed uses, Programs 20 and 21 describe the City's plan to create a new general plan land use designation(s), zoning district, and development standards to allow for new residential/mixed -use and to encourage voluntary lot consolidation. New residential/mixed -use development standards will facilitate a mix of unit types and prices. The majority of land along these corridors is underutilized and contains auto sales, and services and industrial uses with an I/L ratio less than 1.0. In some cases, individual sites may not have a low I/L ratio, but are highly viable for development when consolidated with adjacent sites. Moreover, the age of structures (generally from 35 to 45 years old) and site conditions (most are below 2.75) indicate that the sites are ripe for recycling. Furthermore, many of the sites are ideal for lot consolidation, which would create several parcels that would exceed an acre. Larger lot sizes can help facilitate residential/mixed uses that incorporate quality design features, amenities, and adequate on -site project management. Affordable developers also tend to want at least one acre to construct projects. CITY OF SANTA ANA GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT Go Local Program In 2006 the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) launched the Go Local program. This program links city- initiated transit extensions to OCTA's Metrolink commuter rail line. In Santa Ana, the City has created a transit vision to provide the framework for developing its own Go Local project concept. This transit vision links the community and major city destinations, including the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center ( SARTC), Santa Ana's Civic Center, and the downtown area. The foundation for the transit vision is existing and planned transit: • An expansion of the Metrolink system to the SARTC • Continuation of existing Amtrak service to the SARTC • Implementation of OCTA's Bus Rapid Transit Program along major corridors • High -level transit along the Pacific Electric right - of -way linking to the SARTC AA& C -19