2020-065 - Adopting Environmental Findings of Fact

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The Warner Redhill Mixed -Use Project CEQA Findings of Fact SECTION IV RESOLUTION REGARDING SIGNIFICANT AND UNAVOIDABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Public Resources Code section 21002 states that "it is the policy of the state that public agencies should not approve projects as proposed if there are feasible alternatives or feasible mitigation measures available which would substantially lessen the significant environmental effects of such projects. The Legislature further finds and declares that in the event specific economic, social, or other conditions make infeasible such project alternatives or such mitigation measures, individual projects may be approved in spite of one or more significant effects thereof." Section 15364 of the State CEQA Guidelines defines "feasible" as "capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors." The City Council hereby finds that, despite the incorporation of feasible measures outlined in the Final EIR, the following impacts cannot be fully mitigated to a less than significant level. Despite these significant and unavoidable impacts, the City nevertheless approves the Project because of the benefits described in the Statement of Overriding Considerations included herein. P. Air Quality Impact Finding: The Project would result in a conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan (Draft EIR at p. 5.2-14). Facts in Support of Findings: The SCAQMD's 2016 AQMP is the applicable air quality plan for the proposed Project. Pursuant to Consistency Criterion No. 1, projects that are consistent with the regional population, housing, and employment forecasts identified by SCAG are considered to be consistent with the AQMP growth projections, because the forecast assumptions by SCAG forms the basis of the land use and transportation control portions of the AQMP that result in air quality emissions. As detailed in Draft EIR Section 5.11, Population and Housing, the proposed 1,150 multi -family residential units at full occupancy would result in a population of approximately 2,081 residents and the proposed 80,000 square feet of commercial space would generate approximately 320 employees at full occupancy. This equates to a 1.5 percent increase in residential units within the City, and the estimated 2,081 residents at complete occupancy would be 0.62 percent of the City's population. Based on SCAG's 2016 Integrated Growth Forecast, a 7.4 percent increase in growth throughout the County is anticipated to occur through 2040. Hence, the cumulative growth with implementation of the proposed Project would be consistent with the SCAG growth forecasts and population base. Development of the proposed Project, in combination with other development projects in the vicinity would result in a cumulative increase in population. However, the Project's portion of the cumulative increase in residential units (1,150) is limited at 2.39 percent. Thus, the proposed multi -family units would be within the SCAG projected growth. The housing added by the Project would also help to meet housing demands from projected employment growth in the Project vicinity, while maintaining a healthy vacancy rate. The Project region is jobs -rich. The existing jobs -housing ratio is 2.06 in Santa Ana and is projected to be 2.13 in 2040. The proposed Project would reduce the jobs -housing ratio slightly to 2.05; and to 2.10 in 2040, as shown in the Draft EIR Table 5.1 1-8 in Section 5.1 1, Population and Housing. The balance of jobs and housing and the existing transit, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure adjacent to the Project site that is available for use would reduce vehicle miles traveled and the related air quality emissions, as City of Santa Ana 47 May 2020