2020-065 - Adopting Environmental Findings of Fact

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The Warner Redhill Mixed -Use Project CEQA Findings of Fact SECTION VI RESOLUTION REGARDING GROWTH -INDUCING IMPACTS AND COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES Section 15126.2(d) of the State CEQA Guidelines requires the EIR to address the growth -inducing impact of the Project. EIR Section 5.17 evaluates the potential for the proposed Project to affect economic or population growth, or the construction of additional housing, either directly or indirectly, in the surrounding environment. Employment Related Growth The Project site has been used Ricoh Electronics Inc. for light industrial uses that provide employment since its development in 1979 and 1981. The site was vacated by Ricoh in 2018 and the buildings are partially re -occupied and used for storage, electronics recycling, and as temporary housing for the homeless. The proposed Project would redevelop the Project site to provide 1,150 multi -family residential units and 80,000 square feet of commercial retail space. As detailed in Section 5.11, Population and Housing, this is anticipated to generate approximately 320 employees at full occupancy, which would be 0.27 percent of the existing jobs within 2-miles of the Project site; and therefore, would not result in induced unplanned employment growth. Infrastructure Obstacles to Growth The proposed Project would redevelop the existing onsite infrastructure systems and provide an off -site sewer line improvement that would connect to the existing off -site systems that currently serve the Project site. The new infrastructure would not provide additional capacity beyond what is needed to serve the proposed Project. In addition, because the Project is within a developed area that is receiving services from existing infrastructure and would connect to the existing infrastructure, development of the proposed Project would not result in an expansion of overall capacity, extension of infrastructure, or provision of services in areas or an unserved area. Therefore, infrastructure improvements would not result in significant growth inducing impacts. Land Development Regulation Obstacles to Growth The proposed Project includes amendments to the General Plan and to the zoning code to allow for the redevelopment of the site to provide the proposed mixed -use development as opposed to the existing light industrial building uses. The Project proposes a General Plan land use designation amendment from PAO (Professional and Administrative Office) to District Center, which would allow specific development requirements for the proposed mixed uses. In addition, the Project includes a proposed zoning change from M-1 (Light Industrial) to a Specific Development designation, which would also provide specific development regulations for the mixed -use Project. The proposed Project is redevelopment of an already developed area that has been used for urban uses since 1979 and is surrounded by urban development or areas planned for urban development. The proposed Project would involve a change to development regulations and would result in onsite residents and additional onsite employees. However, the zoning and land use changes are parcel specific and would not result in growth outside of the Project site, because the areas are either completely developed or within development land use plans. Changes to the Project site's land use and zoning designations would not result in removing an obstacle to growth within the Project vicinity. City of Santa Ana 55 May 2020