HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 2022-05_2603 W. Westminster AveRESOLUTION NO. 2022-05
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING CONDITIONAL
USE PERMIT NO. 2021-15 AS CONDITIONED TO ALLOW
A CHECK CASHING FACILITY AT THE NORTHGATE
MARKET LOCATED AT 2603 WEST WESTMINSTER
AVENUE.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA
ANA AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Planning Commission of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds,
determines, and declares as follows:
A. Kevin Le ("Applicant"), representing property owner Northgate Gonzalez,
LLC is requesting approval of Conditional Use Permit (CUP) No. 2021-15
to allow operation of a check cashing facility at 2603 West Westminster
Avenue.
B. Pursuant to Santa Ana Municipal Code ("SAMC") Section 41-365.5, a CUP
is required for check cashing facilities established in the Community
Commercial (Cl) zoning district within the City of Santa Ana.
C. Pursuant to Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) Section 41-374.5, it shall
be unlawful to establish any check cashing facility within one thousand
(1,000) feet of another check cashing facility, measured from property line
to property line. The subject location satisfies this code standard.
D. On February 28, 2022, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public
hearing on CUP No. 2021-15 to allow a new check cashing facility.
E. The Planning Commission determines that the following findings, which
must be established in order to grant this Conditional Use Permit pursuant
to SAMC Section 41-638, have been established for Conditional Use Permit
No. 2021-15 to establish a check cashing facility:
That the proposed use will provide a service or facility which will
contribute to the general wellbeing of the neighborhood or
community.
Northgate Market proposes to offer onsite check -cashing
services through their partner, Propsera. In addition to check -
cashing services, Propsera offers money transfer services
and of means of making utility payments. Such services would
be available with ease to Northgate Market patrons located in
the comfort of their neighborhood grocery store. Approval of
Resolution No. 2022-05
Page 1 of 9
would provide access to services that may not be available to
members of the community and in approving such service
would promote the general well-being of the community.
2. That the proposed use will not, under the circumstances of the
particular case, be detrimental to the health, safety, or general
welfare of persons residing or working in the vicinity.
The proposed check -cashing service would not be detrimental
to persons residing or working in the area. The proposed
check -cashing facility would be located within an existing
commercial center and operate as an ancillary use within the
Northgate Market. The subject site is also not located within
1,000 feet of another check -cashing facility, and the nearest
such facility is located 7,843 miles away at 1601 West
Seventeenth Street.
3. That the proposed use will not adversely affect the present
economic stability or future economic development of properties
surrounding the area.
The proposed check -cashing facility would be compatible with
the surrounding area and will not adversely affect the economic
viability in the area. The proposed use is an ancillary service
offered by the Northgate Market and would increase the
economic stability by providing an additional service for
business owners, workers, and residents in the area.
Additionally, the overall site improvement proposed by
Northgate market represent a major reinvestment to the
commercial center.
4. That the proposed use will comply with the regulations and
conditions specified in Chapter 41 for such use.
The use will comply with all regulations and conditions
identified in Chapter 41 (Zoning Code) of the SAMC. The
check -cashing facility would be located within a zoning district
in which such facilities are permissible and provide sufficient
separation (1,000 feet minimum) from another facility to
satisfy the requirements detailed in the SAMC. The will
occupy an existing commercial building.
5. That the proposed use will not adversely affect the General Plan of
the city or any specific plan applicable to the area of the proposed
use.
The proposed check -cashing facility will not adversely affect
the General Plan, as the use would be compatible with the
surrounding environment and consistent with the goals and
objectives of the Land Use Element. Goal 1 promotes a
balance of land uses to address community needs, which
Resolution No. 2022-05
Page 2 of 9
includes the services provided by the check cashing facility.
In addition, Goals 3 and 5 require preservation of
neighborhood character and integrity as well as mitigation of
developments' impacts. The proposed check -cashing facility
would be contained within an existing commercial building
and therefore would not visually impact the surrounding area.
Further, Policy 2.2 encourages land uses that accommodate
the City's needs for services. The proposed check -cashing
facility provides a service that may not be available through
traditional banking methods to residents and members of the
community.
Section 2. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
and the CEQA Guidelines, the project is categorically exempt from further review per
Section 15301 (Class 1 — Existing Facilities). Class 1 exemption applies to the operation,
repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or
private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving
negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Based on this analysis, a Notice of
Exemption, Environmental Review No. 2021-115 will be filed for this project.
Section 3. 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, referendum, and other 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, 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
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 4. The Planning Commission of the City of Santa Ana after conducting
the public hearing hereby approves Conditional Use Permit No. 2021-15, as conditioned
in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein. This decision is based upon the
evidence submitted at the above said hearing, which includes, but is not limited to the
Resolution No. 2022-05
Page 3 of 9
Request for Planning Commission Action dated February 28, 2022, and exhibits attached
thereto; and the public testimony, all of which are incorporated herein by this reference.
ADOPTED this 28th day of February 2022 by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioners: CALDERON, MCLOUGHLIN, MORRISSEY, PHAM,
RAMOS, WOO (5)
NOES: Commissioners:
ABSENT: Commissioners: ALDERETE (1)
ABSTENTIONS: Commissioners:
Thomas Morrissey
Chairperson
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
By:!
John M. Funk
Senior Assistant City Attorney
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, Christina Leonard, Recording Secretary, do hereby attest to and certify the attached
Resolution No. 2022-05 to be the original resolution adopted by the Planning Commission
of the City of Santa Ana on February 28, 2022.
Date: 3/1 Lf zZ-
ec rding Secretary
Resolution No. 2022-05
Page 4 of 9
EXHIBIT A
Conditions of Approval for Conditional Use Permit No. 2021-15
Conditional Use Permit No. 2021-15 is approved subject to compliance, to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Planning Manager, with all applicable sections of the Santa Ana
Municipal Code, the California Administrative Code, the California Building Standards
Code and all other applicable regulations.
The Applicant must comply in full with each and every condition listed below prior to
exercising the rights conferred by this conditional use permit.
The Applicant must remain in compliance with all conditions listed below throughout the
life of the conditional use permit. Failure to comply with each and every condition may
result in the revocation of the conditional use permit.
Planning Division
The Applicant must comply with all conditions and requirements of the
Development Review Committee for the Development Project (DP) No. 2021-
26.
Prior to issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy, the property shall be brought
into full maintenance compliance with all applicable SAMC standards.
Maintenance shall include, but is not limited to: the repair and upkeep of the
property; cleanup of trash and debris; repair and upkeep of any damaged
and/or weathered components of the historic building (e.g., siding, windows,
historic features); repair and upkeep of exterior paint; parking striping, lighting
and irrigation fixtures; landscaping and related landscape, furnishing, and
hardscape improvements.
3. The proposed facility shall be maintained on an ongoing basis as per approved
plans and any existing landscaping shall be enhanced and well maintained.
Any damage to existing structures, walls, parking areas, or landscaping must
be repaired.
4. Outside loading, unloading, and delivery shall take place only between 7:00
a.m. and 8:00 p.m. daily. The Owner shall post the contact information for
onsite management in a conspicuous location at the business's front entry to
facilitate communication by surrounding owners and tenants of any noise or
site maintenance issues.
The east trellis area is to be reserved in perpetuity as an ADA path of travel
and not to be used as cart storage. Added by Planning Commission
February 28, 2022.
Resolution No. 2022-05
Page 5 of 9
6. Prior to issuance of a building permit, a Property Maintenance Agreement shall
be recorded against the property. The agreement will be subject to review and
applicability by the Planning and Building Agency, the Community
Development Agency, the Public Works Agency, and the City Attorney to
ensure that the property and all improvements located thereupon are properly
maintained, Applicant (and the owner of the property upon which the authorized
use and/or authorized improvements are located if different from the Applicant)
shall execute a maintenance agreement with the City of Santa Ana which shall
be recorded against the property and which shall be in a form reasonably
satisfactory to the City Attorney. The maintenance agreement shall contain
covenants, conditions and restrictions relating to the following:
a) Compliance with operational conditions applicable during any period(s)
of construction or major repair (e.g., proper screening and securing of
the construction site; implementation of proper erosion control, dust
control and noise mitigation measure; adherence to approved project
phasing etc.);
b) Compliance with ongoing operational conditions, requirements and
restrictions, as applicable (including but not limited to hours of operation,
security requirements, the proper storage and disposal of trash and
debris, enforcement of the parking management plan, and/or restrictions
on certain uses);
c) Ongoing compliance with approved design and construction
parameters, signage parameters and restrictions as well as landscape
designs, as applicable;
d) Ongoing maintenance, repair and upkeep of the property and all
improvements located thereupon (including but not limited to controls on
the proliferation of trash and debris about the property; the proper and
timely removal of graffiti; the timely maintenance, repair and upkeep of
damaged, vandalized and/or weathered buildings, structures and/or
improvements; the timely maintenance, repair and upkeep of exterior
paint, parking striping, lighting and irrigation fixtures, walls and fencing,
publicly accessible bathrooms and bathroom fixtures, landscaping and
related landscape improvements and the like, as applicable);
e) If Applicant and the owner of the property are different (e.g., if the
Applicant is a tenant or licensee of the property or any portion thereof),
both the Applicant and the owner of the property shall be signatories to
the maintenance agreement and both shall be jointly and severally liable
for compliance with its terms;
Resolution No. 2022-05
Page 6 of 9
f) The maintenance agreement shall further provide that any party
responsible for complying with its terms shall not assign its ownership
interest in the property or any interest in any lease, sublease, license or
sublicense, unless the prospective assignee agrees in writing to assume
all of the duties, obligations and responsibilities set forth under the
maintenance agreement;
g) The maintenance agreement shall contain provisions relating to the
enforcement of its conditions by the City and shall also contain
provisions authorizing the City to recover costs and expenses which the
City may incur arising out of any enforcement and/or remediation efforts
which the City may undertake in order to cure any deficiency in
maintenance, repair or upkeep or to enforce any restrictions or
conditions upon the use of the property. The maintenance agreement
shall further provide that any unreimbursed costs and/or expenses
incurred by the City to cure a deficiency in maintenance or to enforce
use restrictions shall become a lien upon the property in an amount
equivalent to the actual costs and/or expense incurred by the City; and
h) The execution and recordation of the maintenance agreement shall be
a condition precedent to the issuance of final approval for any
construction permit related to this entitlement.
Public Works Agency
Final approved plans shall depict and note all the affected parcels that are part of
this project. Additional comments may follow if additional parcels are included.
2. Final approved plans shall depict and note the proposed Lot Line Adjustment lines
(existing and future).
3. Plans shall identify on a separate sheet the proposed parcel lines, common areas,
number of parcels and letter parcels.
4. The applicant shall provide a copy of the easement agreement for reciprocal
ingress/egress access, parking, and drainage as necessary.
5. Final approved plans shall depict and dimension all existing topography, within the
public right-of-way, along the property frontage (i.e., trees, driveway approach,
street signs, streetlights, sidewalk and street widths, etc.).
Final approved plans shall depict and note the installation of all public utilities
required to service the project site (i.e., new sewer lateral, water laterals, fire
service, irrigation laterals and storm drain). Additional paving requirements may be
identified during street improvement plan check if excavation is needed for any
new utility service(s).
Resolution No. 2022-05
Page 7 of 9
7. Final approved plans shall depict and note all existing easements, per the current
title report. Submit copies of all the referenced and supporting documents defining
each easement. Clarify easements on the site plan and/or Alta/ACSM Land Title
Survey. Structures are not allowed over existing easements or along a driving
aisle. The rights of the easement holder shall remain in effect without interference.
If a structure is proposed to be built over an easement, a signed non-interference
letter from the easement holder is required or easement holder must quitclaim
rights to the easement. An updated title report will be required if quitclaim process
is selected. The quitclaim(s) need(s) to be submitted to the Public Works Agency
prior to any permit issuance.
8. Final approved plans shall depict a 15-foot by 15-foot sight distance triangle area
at the vehicular site access locations (See Exhibit A). The height of proposed back
flow device may not exceed 2.5 feet.
9. Final approved plans shall depict and note the removal and reconstruction of the
easterly driveway on Westminster Avenue, per City Standards, (W=28' min., A=38'
min., X=4'). The driveways must be located a minimum of 10' away from any utility
facility, such as power poles, streetlights, catch basins, etc.
10. Final approved plans shall depict the proposed planter(s) in alignment with the
new/existing driveway widths along Westminster Avenue.
11. Final approved plans shall depict and note grinding and capping of a minimum of
2"-3" of the existing AC pavement on Westminster Avenue along project frontage
for curb lane.
12. Final approved plans shall depict the safe and efficient access of trash vehicles to
trash receptacles. The following are the guidelines and the minimum requirements:
• Depict and note the exact location(s) of the trash and recycling receptacles.
The project shall comply with all requirements specified in SAMC Sec. 16-37.
Minimum 40' x 16' wide staging area shall be available on service days from 6
a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Minimum vertical clearance of 25' at the staging area for bin service clearance.
• Minimum 13' vertical clearance for scout truck.
Per CALGreen, all commercial establishments must have adequate space in
trash enclosures for three waste streams - trash, recycling, and food waste.
Food waste service is offered in 2-yard bins.
• All staging areas are to be onsite. No street staging is permitted.
42' on a 90-degree turn radius
All driveway and staging areas must be able to sustain a minimum gross
weight of 60,000 lbs. per vehicle.
• Maximum size of bin shall be 4 cubic yards.
• Depict the trash trucks' turning radius at all proposed internal corners.
Resolution No. 2022-05
Page 8 of 9
Provide complete circulation for trash trucks, backing up into the streets is not
allowed for safety reasons.
All items must be noted on the final site plan.
In addition to the items above, the applicant shall provide a copy of the will -serve
letter obtained from Waste Management, Inc.
13. Prior to Building plan check submittal, the applicant shall submit a preliminary
evaluation of surface drainage showing the direction and means of flow to the
adjacent streets and/or on/off site storm drain facilities. Include the estimated
volumetric flow (Q) in each direction.
14. Final approved plans shall depict and note the drainage pattern of this site. Cross -
lot drainage is allowed only by the means of recording a covenant, reviewed and
approved by the City of Santa Ana. Should a Lot Merger be recorded, if required
by the Planning and Building Agency, a Covenant will be unnecessary.
15. The applicant shall submit preliminary surface drainage/utility plan that depicts all
applicable "Site Design," structural "Source Control," and "Treatment Control' Best
Management Practices (BMPs) in accordance with the Orange County Drainage
Area Management Plan (DAMP) and the City of Santa Ana Local Implementation
Plan (LIP). Site drainage should go to the landscape swale and should not be in
conflict with the landscape plantings.
16. Final approved plans shall contain the note "This site will be designed and
constructed in accordance with the California Regional Water Quality Control
Board Santa Ana Region Order No. R8-2009-0030 discharge requirements (MS4
Permit)."
Police Department
1. The applicant shall install burglary bars at any rooftop ventilation openings or air
conditioning return and supply openings that exceed ninety-six square inches.
Resolution No. 2022-05
Page 9 of 9