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

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Aesthetics Visual Character Cny of Santa Ana -Park View at Town and Country Manor Draft EIR Impact 4.1 -3 The project would not substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings. [CEQA Aesthetics Threshold 1(c)] Impact Analysis Aesthetics associated with a project of this type and scale are considered important due to: (1) visibility of the multi -story building and resultant effect on the visual setting; (2) sensitivity of viewpoints; (3) potential for shade or shadow impacts; and (4) potential for light and glare impacts. Items (1) through (3) are analyzed here under Impact 4.1 -3. Light and glare impacts are analyzed under Impact 4.1 -4 that follows. Of particular concern are the effects of establishing an 8 -story structure on the project site for adjacent Santiago Park, and the City Place live /work lofts and townhomes, in terms of views and potential for shade /shadow impacts on the public park facility, and on outdoor recreational areas, patio areas, and/or balconies associated with City Place. Other multi- story structures do exist or are planned in the area, however: • The Orange Executive Tower at the intersection of Lawson Way and Town and Country Road, 16 stories in height with a separate 7 -story parking structure; • Main Street Town Center, located at the intersection of Main Street and Memory Lane, contains a building 10 stories in height; • Orange Financial Center, located at Parker Street/Memory Lane and Town and Country Road, contains a building 8 stories in height with supplementary office and parking structures; • The City Place Sky Lofts project now being processed by the City is planned to include a high- rise building 31 stories in height; and • A four -story medical office building is planned for the property immediately north of the project site. Visual Character or Quality of the Site and its Surroundings The project site is currently utilized as a grassy area and parking lot within the existing Town and Country Manor campus. Implementation of the proposed project would result in the establishment of an 8 -story residential structure, 123 -feet in height; an expanded entry lobby (attached to existing Building A); three levels of subterranean parking; modifications to the existing parking lots; and creation of a main entrance driveway, having one lane in each direction and connecting the two existing entrances on Memory Lane and Lawson Way (see Exhibit 3 -4). From an aesthetic standpoint, only the 8 -story residential structure has the potential to impact existing visual character and quality. The 8 -story residential structure will border Lawson Way and Memory Lane, occupying the northeast corner at this intersection. Building height will be 123 feet. Architectural features, decorative paving, and landscaping will enhance the aesthetic appearance of the proposed project elements. The scale and massing of the project were designed to compliment existing development within the Town Michael Brandman Associates 4.1 -14 H \Cl t (PN JN)b327b327W3MMI 3270030 Sec l Ae9h .d¢