2 - COMBINED PUBLIC COMMENTS_2525 N MAIN STREET

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2525 North Main Street January 14, 2019 Page 10 The purpose for maintaining and supporting professional office areas are to increase employment opportunities for local residents, enhance the diversity of the Citys economic base, to develop mutually beneficial and supportive business clusters in the City and to support uses that create little to no nuisances to nearby residents or businesses. Several properties to the north and west across Main Street are designated as PAO therefore work to create a professional business district. Areas such as this northern gateway of the City provide a rich employment base for many residents of the City and those in the region who work in the area. District Centers are major activity areas of the City. Currently, several areas to the northwest, northeast, south of the Santa Ana 1‐5 freeway and along Main Street north of Seventeenth Street are designated as District Centers. District Centers are designed to serve as anchors to the City's commercial corridors and to accommodate higher density development projects. These areas are to be developed with an urban character that includes a mixture of high‐rise offices, commercial and multi‐family residential uses which provide shopping, business, cultural and housing opportunities within close proximity to each other, close to transportation opportunities and in prime development focus areas. Residential development within these areas are allowed at a density of up to 90 acres. If approved, the project could support several goals and policies of the Housing Element. First, the project would be consistent with Goal 2, which encourages diversity of quality housing, affordability levels, and living experiences that accommodate Santa Ana's residents and workforce of all household types, income levels and age groups to foster an inclusive community. Second, the project would support Goal 4, to provide adequate rental and ownership housing opportunities and supportive services. Further, the project would be consistent with Policy HE2.2 to create District Centers with high intensity, mixed‐use urban villages and pedestrian oriented experiences. Finally, the project would be consistent with Policy HE‐2.4 to facilitate diverse types, prices and sizes of housing. The project would also be consistent with goals of the Land Use Element, including Goal 1 to promote a balance of land uses to address basic community needs, and Goal 6 to reduce residential overcrowding to promote public health and safety. The proposed project will provide additional market rate housing in the City, thereby assisting in addressing the shortage of available housing within the region. The project will also provide additional housing options for those seeking housing within the jobs rich northern area of the City. The upscale multi‐ family development will also support Urban Design Element Goal 1 to improve the physical appearance of the City through development of a district that projects a sense of place, positive community image, and quality environment. The City has recently initiated the process to update its General Plan, which is the blueprint for future development. A key component of the update is to focus new growth and development along major corridors reducing the pressure for growth in low density neighborhoods and to identify areas for future development, including but not limited to higher density residential development. The northern section of the City, including the project site, has been identified as a potential area for more intense development. This North Main Street area is in the process of being studied in greater depth as the update process continues, with direction on the potential land use designation of the area expected within the next year. Commented [DH25]: We believe in this: increasing employment opportunities for local residents, enhance the diversity of the City’s economic base, develop mutually beneficial and supportive business clusters in the City and to support uses that create little to no nuisances to nearby residents or businesses. This is what the PAO zoning is all about! Commented [DH26]: 2525 should not be a District Center! Commented [DH27]: To avoid being rent poor (more than 30 percent of income is used on rent) An occupant would need to earn a minimum of $80K to rent a studio and $152K to rent the smallest 3‐bedroom to avoid being rent poor. Commented [DH28]: Adding a complex at over 80 dwelling units per acre does NOT decrease overcrowding. It will increase the Park Santiago neighborhood population anywhere from 21 percent to 27 percent.