75A - PH METRO EAST MIXED USE OVERLAY (MEMU)

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GPA No. 2018-3, AA No.2016-6, ZOA No.2018_-3, and SPR No. 2018-02 Metro East Mixed Use (MEMU) Overlay Zone and Elan projects July 23,:2018 Page 2 Executive Summary The City of Santa Ana is requesting approval of several actions in order to expand and amend the Metro East Mixed Use (MEMU) Overlay Zone (OZ -1), a document originally adopted by the City in 2007. Specifically, the City is requesting approval of a general plan amendment to modify the general plan land use designation of parcels within the corridor, an amendment application (zone change) to add the OZ -1 designation to affected properties and reclassify others in the existing MEMU area, and a zoning ordinance amendment to update -various sections of the existing MEMU document to amend development standards. In addition to the MEMU actions, Wermers Properties is requesting approval of a site plan review application to allow the Elan mixed-use development project at 1660 East First Street. Staff is recommending approval of the projects to create additional market-driven development opportunities in the existing MEMU area and in the expansion area. A Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) has been prepared to review the environmental impacts resulting from implementation of MEMU expansion and the Elan Mixed Use Project. Project Background The MEMU Overlay Zone was adopted in 2007 to facilitate mixed -used development opportunities in a portion of the City between the Santa Ana (1-5) and Costa Mesa (SR -55) freeways centered on First and Fourth streets. A number of successful projects were developed or entitled as a result of the 2007 MEMU Overlay Zone adoption, including Lyon Communities' 264 -unit mixed-use community as well as the Madison (200 N. Cabrillo Park Drive), AMG Villa Court (2222 E. First Street) and AMG First Point (2110 and 2114 E. First Street). Encouraged by this success in 2016, the City Council directed staff to analyze opportunities to create additional areas for mixed use development by expanding the MEMU area to the east. In 2017, Wermers Properties proposed the Elan mixed-use community within the MEMU expansion area. Technical studies prepared for the Elan project indicate that demolition of the now -vacant Elks Lodge building on the project site would result in loss of an eligible (unlisted) historic resource, therefore requiring additional environmental analysis. An SEIR was identified as the appropriate environmental document for Elan because the original EIR did not address new information about the Elks Club building that is of substantial importance, which was not known at the time the previous EIR was certified as complete. Because the City was in the. process of reviewing Elan and expanding and amending the MEMU concurrently, the SEIR was drafted to address both Elan and the MEMU efforts in a single document that holistically analyzes both items. 75A-6