HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-03-20_Minutes1
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES August 3, 2020
ACTION MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE SANTA ANA PLANNING COMMISSION
AUGUST 3, 2020
CALLED TO ORDER VIRTUAL MEETING
CITY HALL, ROSS ANNEX
20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, ROOM 1600
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA
5:35 P.M.
ATTENDANCE COMMISSIONERS Present:
CYNTHIA CONTRERAS-LEO, Vice Chair
NORMA GARCIA
MARK MCLOUGHLIN, Chair
KENNETH NGUYEN
THOMAS MORRISSEY
V. THAI PHAN
FELIX RIVERA
COMMISSIONERS Absent: None.
PLANNING & BUILDING AGENCY STAFF Present:
MINH THAI, Executive Director
LISA STORCK, Assistant City Attorney
ALI PEZESHKPOUR, Senior Planner
SARAH BERNAL, Recording Secretary
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PUBLIC COMMENTS (on non-agenda items):
• Dale Helvig commented on the General Plan virtual meetings.
BUSINESS CALENDAR
PUBLIC HEARING
1. ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NO. 2020-03
LOCATION: Citywide
REQUEST: The City is requesting adoption of Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2020-03
to amend Section 41-1900 et al. of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (Chapter 41/Zoning)
pertaining to the Housing Opportunity Ordinance (HOO). The proposed amendments will
modernize, update and clarify various sections of the HOO and respond to current
development and economic trends.
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES August 3, 2020
Executive Director Thai provided a staff presentation.
Staff provided a summary report on comments received.
Discussion ensued regarding recommendations made by the Ad Hoc Committee, possible
economic benefits of reducing fees, applicability of the proposed ordinance, inclusionary unit
requirements, current and future appropriation of inclusionary housing funds, conditions of
the Inclusionary Housing Fund, prior projects and fees paid.
Chair McLoughlin opened the Public Hearing.
The following individuals spoke in support of the matter.
• John Hannah
• Tim O’Brien
• Steve LaMotte
• Ernesto Medrano
• Luis Perez
• Alfonso Ruiz
• Brian (last name inaudible)
The following individuals spoke in opposition to the matter.
• Isuri Ramos
• Carla (last name inaudible)
• Dale Helvig
• Nathaniel Greensides
• Manny Escamilla
• Luis Sarmiento
• Name not provided
There were no other speakers and the Public Hearing was closed.
After extensive discussion on the matter, the Commission agreed on the following
recommendations to be forwarded to the City Council for consideration.
• Section 41-1909(a)(5) - Incorporate enforceable skilled labor requirements by
incorporating “shall” and “will” in place of aspirational words such as “encouraged” or
“should.” The Commission also recommended that the City Council evaluate the
financial impacts of requiring skilled labors on a private development project.
• Section 41-1909(a)(1) - Specify a nexus between code enforcement funding to activities
that directly relate, enhance, and promote affordable housing projects and activities.
• Section 41-1910(a) - Set a new review period for the Ordinance.
• Section 41-1904(c)(3) - Revert back to original language requiring the full payment of
fee at first building permit issuance.
• Section 41-1904(c)(2)(iii) - Extend end date of April 1, 2021 to October 1, 2021 for
Entitled Residential Project.
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES August 3, 2020
In addition, the Commission had an extensive discussion on Section 41-1904, which
pertains to the change to the in-lieu fee. The Commission was unable to reach a consensus
on a recommendation regarding the proposed in-lieu fees. Options the Commission
discussed included:
1. Apply a fee reduction to $10 per square foot for all projects (entitled and future).
2. Reduce to $5 per square foot for entitled projects and $10 per square foot for future
projects.
Further, the Commission requested that modifications be made to the recitals section of the
ordinance. Their proposals include:
• Add language that establishes an emphasis on economic development and housing
construction as catalysts supporting for the proposed amendments.
• Add language that identifies an emphasis on the use of skilled & trained workforce with
a priority for Santa Ana residents and veterans, and apprenticeships from local school
and college districts.
MOTION: Recommend that the City Council adopt an Ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AMENDING CHAPTER 41, ARTICLE XVIII.I (HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY ORDINANCE) OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE TO MODIFY
APPLICABILITY AND VARIOUS IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE
MOTION: Phan SECOND: Contreras-Leo
VOTE: AYES: Contreras-Leo, Garcia, McLoughlin, Morrissey, Nguyen, Phan,
Rivera (7)
NOES: None (0)
ABSTAIN: None (0)
ABSENT: None (0)
***END OF BUSINESS CALENDAR***
COMMENTS
2. STAFF COMMENTS:
Executive Director Thai thanked the Commission.
3. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS:
• Commissioner Thai and Vice Chair Contreras-Leo thanked staff.
• Chair McLoughlin requested additional time to review large projects; expressed
concerns regarding the General Plan virtual meetings.
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES August 3, 2020
9:51 P.M. – The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission will be held on Monday, August
10, 2020 at 5:30 p.m.
Sarah Bernal
Recording Secretary