2020-065 - Adopting Environmental Findings of Fact

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The Wamer Redhill Mixed -Use Project CEQA Findings of Fact Impact Finding: The Project would not create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area (Draft EIR at p. 5.1-4). Facts in Support of Findings: The proposed Project would include the provision of nighttime lighting for security purposes around all of the buildings and parking structures. Implementation of the proposed Project would result in a higher intensity development on the site than currently exists, which would contribute additional sources to the overall ambient nighttime lighting conditions. However, all outdoor lighting would be hooded, appropriately angled away from adjacent land uses, and would comply with the Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41-61 1.1 and Section 41-1304 that provides specifications for shielding lighting away from adjacent uses and intensity of security lighting. Because the Project area is within an urban area with various sources of existing nighttime lighting, and the Project would be required to comply with the City's lighting regulations that would be verified by the City's Planning and Building Agency during the permitting process, the lighting increase in light that would be generated by the Project would not adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area. Overall, lighting impacts would be less than significant. Reflective light (glare) can be caused by sunlight or artificial light reflecting from finished surfaces such as window glass or other reflective materials. Generally, darker or mirrored glass would have a higher visible light reflectance than clear glass. Buildings constructed of highly reflective materials from which the sun reflects at a low angle can cause adverse glare. However, the proposed Project would not use highly reflective surfaces, or glass sided buildings. Although the residential and commercial buildings would contain windows, the windows would be separated by stucco and architectural treatments, which would limit the potential of glare. In addition, as described previously, onsite lighting would be angled down and shielded, which would avoid the potential on onsite lighting to generate glare. In addition, the majority of vehicle parking would be located within parking structures and the Project does not contain large surface parking lots that could generate glare from numerous windshields aligned in one area. Therefore, the Project would not generate substantial sources of glare, and impacts would be less than significant. B. Air Quality Impact Finding: Construction of the Project would not result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is non -attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard (Draft EIR at p. 5.2-15). Facts in Support of Findings: Construction activities associated with the proposed Project would result in short-term and temporary emissions of CO, VOCs, NOx, SOx, PMio, and PM2.5 lasting approximately 27- months. The maximum daily construction emissions were estimated using CalEEMod; and the modeling includes compliance with SCAQMD Rules 403, 431.2, 1113, and 1186 / 1186.1, which are requirements that would reduce air contaminants during construction. The Draft EIR Table 5.2-7, on page 5.2-16, provides the maximum daily emissions of criteria air pollutants from construction of the proposed Project and shows that SCAQMD thresholds would not be exceeded. Thus, impacts related to construction emissions would be less than significant with implementation of required SCAQMD Rules listed below. Plans, Program and Policies: PPP AQ-1: Rule 403. The following measures shall be incorporated into construction plans and specifications as implementation of Rule 403: o All clearing, grading, earth -moving, or excavation activities shall cease when winds exceed 25 mph per SCAQMD guidelines in order to limit fugitive dust emissions. City of Santa Ana 7 May 2020