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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-094 - Approving and Adopting an Addendum to the Environmental ImpactLS 12.1.20 RESOLUTION NO. 2020-094 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN ADDENDUM TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE TRANSIT ZONING CODE PROJECT (SCH NO. 2006071100) FOR AMENDMENT APPLICATION NO, 2020-04 AND ADOPTION OF A MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM FOR THE 4TH AND MORTIMER MIXED -USE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT LOCATED AT 409 AND 509 EAST FOURTH STREET WHEREAS, Andrew Nelson, with Red Oak Investments, LLC, representing Northgate Gonzalez Real Estate (hereinafter referred to as "Applicant'), is requesting approval of Amendment Application No. 2020-04, as conditioned, to allow the construction of a new mixed -use residential and commercial development consisting of 169 residential rental units and 11,361 square feet of commercial space at 409 and 509 East Fourth Street; and WHEREAS, the subject property contains 2.715 acres at two separate but adjacent sites at 409 and 509 East Fourth Street, currently developed with a commercial building (Northgate Gonzalez Market), surface parking lot, and vacant buildings and parcels; and WHEREAS, the Transit Zoning Code was adopted in 2010 as a result of interest in developing transit -oriented mixed -use residential and commercial projects in its project area. The Transit Zoning Code was amended in 2019 to modernize and refine development standards to further these interests. The regulating plan, which establishes land uses and development standards, allows a variety of housing and commercial projects, including mixed -use residential communities, live/work units, hotels, and offices; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Santa Ana certified the Environmental Impact Report (SCH No. 2006071100) and adopted a mitigation monitoring and reporting program for the Transit Zoning Code, which allows a mixture of residential, commercial, and limited industrial land uses; and WHEREAS, the entitlements sought for the proposed mixed -use development project include a Site Plan Review application, Variance application, and an Amendment Application; and WHEREAS, in 2010, the City Council certified the Final Environmental Impact Report ("2010 EIR") for the Transit Zoning Code Project ("Originally Approved Plan"), Resolution No. 2020-094 Page 1 of 6 which analyzed the potentially significant environmental impacts of a mixed -use plan area consisting of new residential, commercial, and industrial development; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the 2010 EIR, the subject site may be developed with a mixed -use development consisting of residential and commercial land uses; and WHEREAS, when compared against the Originally Approved Plan, the proposed mixed -use development will not result in any new or intensified significant impacts; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code section 21000 et seq.) ("CEQA") and the State CEQA Guidelines (14 Cal. Code Regs. 15000 et seq.), the City is the Lead Agency for the proposed development; and WHEREAS, pursuant to CEQA, when taking subsequent discretionary actions in furtherance of a project for which an El R has already been certified, the Lead Agency is prohibited from requiring a subsequent or supplemental EIR unless at least one of the circumstances identified in Public Resources Code section 21166 or State CEQA Guidelines section 15162 are present; and WHEREAS, City staff has evaluated the proposed project and considered whether, in light of the impacts associated with its development, any supplemental or subsequent environmental review is required pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21166 or State CEQA Guidelines section 15162; and WHEREAS, the analysis contained in the 4th and Mortimer Mixed -Use Development projects EIR Addendum (2020 Addendum) concludes that none of the circumstances described in Public Resources Code section 21166 or State CEQA Guidelines section 15162 have occurred, and thus no supplemental or subsequent EIR is required; and WHEREAS, the proposed Project is within a transit priority area (TPA) as defined by Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 21099(a)(7). A TPA is an area within one-half mile of a major transit stop that is existing (or planned under certain conditions). A major transit stop includes the intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 15 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods (PRC § 21064.3). The Project site is within 0.5 miles of the intersection of Bus Routes 53, 55, 64, 83, 206 and 462 with transit stops located throughout Main Street, Civic Center Drive, Fifth Street, Santa Ana Boulevard and First Street. Furthermore, the Santa Ana Metrolink Station and Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center is located less than 0.5 miles to the east at Santa Ana Boulevard and Santiago Street. The transit frequency at the stops along Main Street and First Street is every 15-minutes during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods and therefore qualifies as a high -quality transit corridor. Lastly, the project is located within a 0.5 miles of a high -quality transit corridor (routes along Main Street and First Street), plus the future OC Streetcar, which would further enhance mobility throughout Downtown Santa Ana, beyond the current Resolution No. 2020-094 Page 2 of 6 transit opportunities that are now availability. Therefore, under SB 743, aesthetic and parking impacts cannot be considered a significant impact within TPA's; and WHEREAS, on October 12, 2020 at a duly noticed public hearing, the Planning Commission considered the 2020 EIR Addendum for Site Plan Review No. 2020-03 and Variance No. 2020-06 when recommending that the City Council approve the Project; and WHEREAS, on December 1, 2020 at a duly noticed public hearing, the City Council considered the 2020 EIR Addendum for Amendment Application No. 2020-04; and WHEREAS, all other legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred. NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DOES RESOLVE, DETERMINE, FIND AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The above recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference. SECTION 2. State CEQA Guidelines section 15164 requires lead agencies to prepare an addendum to a previously certified EIR if some changes or additions to the project are necessary, but none of the conditions requiring preparation of a subsequent EIR are present. The City Council has reviewed and considered the 2010 EIR and the 2020 Addendum, and finds that these documents taken together contain a complete and accurate reporting of all of the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed development. The City Council further finds that the 2020 Addendum has been completed in compliance with CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines. The City Council further finds and determines that the EIR Addendum reflects the City's independent judgment. SECTION 3. Based on the substantial evidence set forth in the record, including but not limited to the 2010 EIR and the 2020 Addendum, the City Council finds that an addendum is the appropriate document for disclosing the changes to the subject property, and that none of the conditions identified in Public Resources Code section 21166 and State CEQA Guidelines section 15162 requiring subsequent environmental review have occurred, because: (a) The proposed development does not constitute a substantial change that would require major revisions of the 2010 EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects. (b) There is not a substantial change with respect to the circumstances under which the proposed development will be developed that would require major revisions of the 2010 EIR due to the involvement of new significant Resolution No. 2020-094 Page 3 of 6 environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of the previously identified significant effects. (c) New information of substantial importance has not been presented that was not known and could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the time the 2010 EIR was certified or adopted, showing any of the following: (i) that the modifications would have one or more significant effects not discussed in the earlier environmental documentation; (ii) that significant effects previously examined would be substantially more severe than shown in the earlier environmental documentation; (iii) that mitigation measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible would in fact be feasible and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects, but the Applicant declined to adopt such measures; or (iv) that mitigation measures or alternatives considerably different from those analyzed previously would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment, but which the Applicant declined to adopt. The City Council further finds that, pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15164, only minor changes or additions to the 2010 EIR are necessary to address the proposed project. In making this finding, the City Council has considered both the Addendum and the certified, final EIR. SECTION 4. The City Council hereby finds that mitigation measures identified in the 2010 EIR remain applicable to the Transit Zoning Code, with exception of mitigation measure MM4.4-1(a) as part of the Cultural Resources which has been revised after consultation with California Native American Tribes. These findings are described more specifically in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program ("MMRP") attached hereto as Exhibit A. The City Council therefore hereby adopts those mitigation measures identified as remaining applicable to the Transit Zoning Code, through the MMRP attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A. SECTION 5. The City Council hereby approves and adopts the 2020 4th and Mortimer Mixed -Use Development EIR Addendum related to Amendment Application No. 2020, attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit B. SECTION 6. The Applicant shall indemnify, protect, defend and hold the City and/or any of its officials, officers, employees, agents, departments, agencies, authorized volunteers, and instrumentalities thereof, harmless from any and all claims, demands, lawsuits, writs of mandamus, and other and proceedings (whether legal, equitable, declaratory, administrative or adjudicatory in nature), and alternative dispute resolution procedures (including, but not limited to arbitrations, mediations, and such other procedures), judgments, orders, and decisions (collectively "Actions"), brought against the City and/or any of its officials, officers, employees, agents, departments, agencies, and instrumentalities thereof, that challenge, attack, or seek to modify, set aside, void, or annul, any action of, or any permit or approval issued by the City and/or any of its officials, officers, employees, agents, departments, Resolution No. 2020-094 Page 4 of 6 agencies, and instrumentalities thereof (including actions approved by the voters of the City) for or concerning the project, whether such Actions are brought under the Ralph M. Brown Act, California Environmental Quality Act, the Planning and Zoning Law, the Subdivision Map Act, Code of Civil Procedure sections 1085 or 1094.5, or any other federal, state or local constitution, statute, law, ordinance, charter, rule, regulation, or any decision of a court of competent jurisdiction. It is expressly agreed that the City shall have the right to approve, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, the legal counsel providing the City's defense, and that Applicant shall reimburse the City for any costs and expenses directly and necessarily incurred by the City in the course of the defense. City shall promptly notify the Applicant of any Action brought and City shall cooperate with Applicant in the defense of the Action. SECTION 7. The City Council directs staff to prepare, execute and file a CEQA Notice of Determination with the Orange County Clerk's Office within five working days of the City Council approval of Amendment Application No. 2020 for the 4m and Mortimer Mixed -Use Development Project. SECTION 8. The 2010 EIR and the 2020 EIR Addendum, and any other documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings upon which these findings have been based are on file, are incorporated herein by reference and are available for public review at Santa Ana City Hall, Planning and Building Agency, M20, 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, California 92701. The custodian of these records is Daisy Gomez, City Clerk for the City. SECTION 9. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this resolution. ADOPTED this 1st day of December, 2020. APPROVED AS TO FORM: Sonia R. Carvalho City Attorney Lisa E. Storck Assistant City Attorney Resolution No. 2020-094 Page 5 of 6 AYES: Councilmembers Bacerra Mendoza, Penaloza, Solorio, Villegas (5) NOES: Councilmembers None (0) ABSTAIN: Councilmembers Pulido Sarmiento (2) NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers None (0) CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY I, DAISY GOMEZ, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached Resolution No. 2020-094 to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana on December 1, 2020. Date: Daisy Gome Clerk of the Council City of Santa Ana Resolution No. 2020-094 Page 6 of 6 EXHIBIT A MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM The Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) is available online at: Or by visiting: Planning and Building Agency — Planning Division Public Counter 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 EXHIBIT B 4T" AND MORTIMER EIR ADDENDUM The 4th and Mortimer Mixed -Use Development Project EIR Addendum and Technical Appendices are available online at: https://www santa-ana org/pb/planning-divisionlma'or-planning-protects-and- monthly-development-prof ect-reports/4th-and Or by visiting: Planning and Building Agency — Planning Division Public Counter 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701