2014-028 - Approving General Plan Amendement No. 2014-01

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City of Santa Ana -Park View at Town and Country Manor Draft EIR Aesthetics S '019=85VUSE019=8 M1 The issue of shade /shadow pertains to the blockage of direct sunlight by onsite buildings, which can affect adjacent properties. Shading is an important environmental issue because the users or occupants of certain land uses such as residential, recreational, and pedestrian areas have expectation for direct sunlight and warmth from the sun. Factors that influence the extent of range of shading include: season; time of day; weather (i.e., sunny vs. cloudy day); building height, bulk, and scale; spacing between buildings; and tree cover. The longest shadows are cast during the winter months when the sun is lowest on the horizon, and the shortest shadows are cast during the summer months. Shadows are longer in the early morning and late afternoon. Only limited shade and shadows are cast on the project site from existing Town and Country Manor Building B (see Exhibit 3 -4 for building location). City Place residential units directly across Lawson Way are 36 feet in height and would not be expected to cast a sufficient shadow to extend beyond Lawson Way onto the project site. No shade is currently cast from the project site as it is occupied by grass and parking lot. The proposed 8 -story residential structure would modify existing patterns, generating shade over a wider area than existing site shade patterns. Of primary concern are nearby sensitive receptors (residential City Place properties and outdoor areas within City Place and Santiago Park), and the potential for shade and shadows to be cast on Santiago Park and /or on outdoor areas such as patio areas and balconies associated with City Place. Exhibits 4.1 -7 through 4.1 -10 show the shade /shadow footprint that would be generated by the proposed project on surrounding properties. Summer shade patterns (LOAM) would extend west of the project site part way across Lawson Way as shown in Exhibit 4.1 -7, but would not extend onto City Place residential units along Lawson Way. Afternoon summer shade patterns (2 PM) would overlay an area currently occupied by parking lot on the Town & Country Manor campus but planned for a main entrance driveway and modified parking area, as shown in Exhibit 4.1 -8. Winter shade patterns (10 AM) would extend west of the project site across Lawson Way and onto City Place residential units as shown in Exhibit 4.1 -9 (discussed in more detail below). Winter shade patterns (2 PM) would extend onto the existing Town & Country Manor campus as shown in Exhibit 4.1 -10, shading the existing chapel and area planned for a main entrance driveway and modified parking area. The residential units built as part of the City Place project, located directly across the street from the project site along Lawson Way, would be considered sensitive to additional amounts of shade. These residential uses would be shaded in the Winter Solstice 10 AM condition (see Exhibit 4.1 -9). The shadow cast by the proposed project is considered a moving or rotating impact, to be experienced during the winter season and only in the morning hours. A visual inspection of units along Lawson Way to be affected by project shade /shadows indicate the existence of limited outdoor balconies, too small in size to accommodate furniture or be enjoyed as an outdoor area, and a few patio areas. There are no significant existing common recreational areas to be impacted by the shadows. A planned Michael Brandman Associates 4.1 -27 H \Cl t (PNJN)b327b32]003MMVB2]0030 Sec I Ae9h .d¢