CORRESPONDENCE - 75E (GENERAL COMMENTS)

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4.0 Environmental Setting and Impact Analysis Table 4.1 Cumulative Project List The cumulative projects shown on Table 4-1 reflects a listing of 4,961 new residential units are planned in nearby cities, plus the 496 for Magnolia, which is a total of 5,547 new housing units. This does not include the Main Place transformation project, which will add another 1,900 housing units. Further assessment of the cumulative environmental impacts, including energy needs, water resources, and traffic congestion on local streets and freeways should be included in the final EIR. For example, Southern California Edison experienced frequent and repeated power outages in our area during the heat wave in July 2018. All the cumulative housing developments raise concerns that the power company will be unable to provide reliable service to support the rapid growth expansion. Section 4.14.3 Environmental Setting Electricity - The Southern California Edison Company (SCE) indicates that "utilities are experiencing increasing demands that require modernization of the electric distribution grid ... and increase the grid's capacity" and that "SCE is in the process of implementing infrastructure upgrades to ensure the ability to meet future demands." The future demands are happening now, and the EIR does not address the drain on existing infrastructure and potential for additional outages and unreliable service during peak demand times that will be caused by Magnolia and other high density housing projects currently in development. Discounting the existing need to modernize the energy grid so it can accommodate current demand, while adding thousands of new units and residents, is irresponsible and potentially catastrophic. An additional example is based on personal observation and experience. I have worked at my present job in Tustin near the Edinger Avenue exit of the Costa Mesa (55) freeway since 2013. At that time, my evening drive home to Park Santiago would typically take me seven minutes and never more than 10 minutes via the Costa Mesa (55) freeway north to the Santa Ana (5) freeway north. This commute time has increased year over year and my 5.7 -mile evening drive home is now 20 to 40 minutes. This is directly attributable to the rapid explosion in high density housing development without correlating infrastructure improvements. Additionally, the State of California recently enacted two water rationing laws, SB 606 and AB 1668, which will require a permanent mandatory reduction in household water use beginning in 2022. The final EIR should study the impact of these new laws when contemplating development projects. The final EIR should more comprehensively assess and address the impact on limited resources from all high density housing developments in Santa Ana, as well as impacts to adjacent cities. 4.1.2 Thresholds of Significance The report indicates that a significant effect factor includes a "substantial degradation of the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings." Magnolia would, in fact, substantially degrade the visual character of Park Santiago and its existing homes, particularly those to the immediate east and south of the project. There are no high density apartment projects of this immense scale and height in the vicinity that are directly adjacent to a neighborhood comprised solely of single-family residences. The final EIR should include a more detailed assessment of the degradation to the overall historic character of Park Santiago, and to the existing homes on Spurgeon Street, Bush Street, and Edgewood Road. 4.1.3 Environmental Setting — Project Vicinity The description of the "project vicinity" omits the pertinent fact that the site is backed immediately to the east by a well-established, historic residential neighborhood comprised solely of single-family homes with a General Plan Land Use designation of LR -7 (Low Density Residential) and a zoning designation of R-1