2019-040 - Mainplace Mall Transformation

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City of Santa Ana Addendum to the MainPlace Mall Transformation Proiect Fashion Square Commercial Center Final EIR 5.10 AESTHETICS Summary of Impacts Identified in the 1983 EIR The 1983 EIR described that the aesthetic appearance of the site would be altered by the new development and that the overall identity and architectural appearance of the site would be improved by implementation of a uniform urban design plan and landscaping. The improvements would integrate and unify the land uses within the area. The EIR describes that the visual character of the site would be transformed from low intensity commercial development to an intensely developed commercial/office complex. The development would alter views of the site by introducing vertical and horizontal building mass into the visual open space, and that the Project could tend to visually dominate the area. In response, the 1983 EIR included Mitigation Measure 5.10-1, to incorporate standards and controls that would reduce potential aesthetic impacts to a less than significant level. Impacts related to shade and shadow were evaluated previously in Section 5.9. Summary of Impacts Identified in the 1996 Addendum The 1996 Addendum described that the proposed commercial expansion represented a small percentage of the structures already in place. The City would require that the new modifications blend with the existing structures on the site. The 1996 Addendum determined that the development resulting from the proposed commercial expansion would be similar in height at 3 stories to the existing structures and would not result in any obtrusive or out -of -scale visual elements. The visual appearance of the proposed modifications would not result in any significant adverse impacts. Impacts Associated with the Proposed Project No New Impact. The proposed Project would modify the past planned land uses by reducing the total commercial, office, and hotel uses and add residential uses, as compared to the Originally Approved Plan. The Project site is currently developed with 1,130,000 square feet of commercial uses within an enclosed 2- and 3-story mall building. The mall building is surrounded by surface parking lots and 3 parking structures. The proposed Project would modify the approved buildout of the site by reducing commercial and office space by 859,255 square feet and adding the development of up to 1,900 residential units. As described previously, the Specific Plan includes a development plan and development standards that address building heights, setbacks, building placement standards, architectural requirements, and landscaping guidelines. These standards restrict buildings fronting Main Street to a maximum of 20 stories, and buildings on all other portions of the Project site to a maximum of 10 stories. In addition, the standards include provisions for building form, massing, materials, colors to provide innovative, creative, high -quality architecture. The MainPlace Specific Plan also includes Design Guidelines that address site planning, architectural character, form and massing, 135