2019-047 - Adopting Mitigated Negative Declaration Environmental Review No. 2018-75

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Significant Impact. The project would remove the existing single -story Sound Church, surface parking lot, landscaping and other site improvements to develop a five -story apartment building, a six level parking structure, landscaping, and other site improvements. The project would reflect a Modern architecture. The existing landscaping throughout the site would be replaced with new perimeter landscaping consisting of street trees, shrubs, groundcover, etc. Trees and landscaping are proposed throughout the project site where none currently exists. The proposed landscaping along the project perimeter and throughout the site would be visible to motorists and pedestrians on Sunflower Street and Flower Street and improve the visual character of the site to the surrounding community compared to the existing condition. Figure 10 shows the proposed landscape plan. The project would change the visual character of the site from a single story church with surface parking and open space to high density residential consisting of a five -story apartment building and a six level parking structure. The proposed residential building would be a maximum height of 75' and the parking structure would be approximately five feet less, or 70'. The development adjacent to and surrounding the site include a single -story elementary school to the north and two- and three-story apartments and townhomes to the west, south and east. The Avenue of the Arts apartment development in the City of Costa Mesa at the southwest corner of Sunflower Avenue and Flower Avenue is five -stories in height and approximately 200 feet southwest of the project. The South Coast Plaza Town Center Master Plan, which is south of the project, is located east of Bristol Street, north of the 1-405 freeway and south of Sunflower Avenue in the City of Costa Mesa. There are more than fourteen buildings in the Town Center Master Plan that are greater than 8 stories in height with multiple buildings greater than 14 stories in height. Therefore, there are buildings within half a mile of the project that are greater than 14 stories and taller than the proposed five -story apartment building. However, none of the existing buildings adjacent to the site are as tall as or taller than the proposed five -story apartment building. While the proposed apartment building and parking structure would be incompatible with the existing residences in the two story buildings west and east of the site, the project is not out of character with the three-story apartment buildings in The Enclave south of the project and the five -story apartment buildings in the Avenue of the Arts development southwest of the site. Building elevations showing the proposed apartment building and parking structure are shown in Figures 11 and 12. Figure 13 shows the project entrance from Sunflower Avenue. The project design, architecture and landscaping would be required to meet the applicable goals and policies of the General Plan Urban Design Element. The Urban Design Element establishes a long range vision regarding the City's urban form. This Element, in coordination with other Elements of the General Plan, orchestrates a safe, functional and aesthetically pleasing urban environment. Together with the other Elements of the General Plan, the Urban Design Element aims to curtail obsolete, dysfunctional, and chaotic development. This Element specifically addresses outdoor space and building form, and establishes programs and measures to improve the physical setting in which community life takes place.' The Urban Design Element establishes "elements" including districts, paths, nodes, focus intersections, landmarks, and gateways. Based on Exhibit 3 of the Urban Design Element, the project is not located adjacent to or near any designated elements. The closest designated element to the project is MacArthur Boulevard, which is approximately one-half mile to the north and designated a Major Path. The Urban Design Element includes goals and policies that promote the creation of an urban form that is both pleasing and functional. The applicable goals and polices of the Urban Design Element to the proposed project include the following: City of Santa Ana General Plan Urban Design Element, page 1. Legacy Sunflower Apartments Page 23 Mitigated Negative Declaration — March 14, 2019