Item 41 - Amendment Application No. 2022-01 and Appeal Nos. 2022-01 and 2022-02

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Community Plan Exemption Checklist City of Santa Ana Gary Avenue Business Park Project Operation The proposed Project would operate an industrial warehouse, which would introduce the potential for pollutants such as, chemicals from cleaners, pesticides and sediment from landscaping, trash and debris, and oil and grease from vehicles and trucks. These pollutants could potentially discharge into surface waters and result in degradation of water quality. However, the on -site runoff will be collected into catch basins with filter inserts that are located throughout the site, drain into the underground storm drain system. Proposed development is compliant with the requirements set by the Orange County Drainage Area Management Plan (DAMP) and the RWQCB hydrology and LID standards, as described in the Preliminary Hydrology and Hydraulics Study and Preliminary Water Quality Management Plan (Appendix I and Appendix J) that were prepared for the Project. The LID site design would minimize impervious surfaces and provide infiltration and treatment of the site's runoff. Therefore, the Project would result in no new impact on water quality standards or waste discharge requirements. b) Substantially decrease groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that the project may impede sustainable groundwater management of the basin? No New Impact. Groundwater recharge is facilitated by percolation of stormwater through pervious surface areas to groundwater resources. Increasing the imperviousness of an area could interfere with groundwater recharge capabilities of a given landscape. The Project site is currently developed, and the Preliminary Water Quality Management Plan identified that it is 85 percent covered with impervious surfaces. The Project proposes to demolish the existing 3 buildings and pavement and construct a new 91,500 square foot light industrial building. The Preliminary Water Quality Management Plan identifies that after Project construction, the site would also be 85 percent impervious. Thus, an increase of impervious surface and reduction of groundwater recharge would not occur from the Project. Also, the Project would be required to comply with Orange County DAMP permit by employing BMPs for on -site detention/retention of stormwater runoff. Therefore, the Project would not substantially interfere with groundwater recharge. Additionally, water to the Project site would be provided by City of Santa Ana that is dependent on surface water imported by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) from the Colorado River and Northern California and the Orange County Water District that manages the Orange County Groundwater Basin. Further, the change of the site from three office buildings to one light industrial warehouse building would not generate an increased demand for groundwater. Therefore, the Project would not result new impacts on groundwater supplies or recharge. c) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, or substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would: i. Result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off -site? No New Impact. As discussed above, construction related to implementation of the proposed Project would expose and loosen building materials and sediment which has the potential to mix with stormwater runoff and result in erosion or siltation offsite. However, as described previously, a SWPPP (required by Municipal Code Section 18-156) would be developed for the Project. The SWPPP is required to address site -specific conditions related to potential sources of sedimentation and erosion and would list the required BMPs that are necessary to reduce or eliminate the potential of erosion or alteration of a drainage pattern during construction activities. SWPPP implementation would include monitoring by a Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP) throughout Project construction to ensure site compliance with the SWPPP and CGP requirements. The Project site would be redeveloped with a light industrial building, parking, and landscaping. Post construction conditions would not include exposed soils and would not be susceptible to substantial erosion. LID would be incorporated into Project site design in compliance with the WQMP that would capture and treat stormwater runoff on site. Therefore, the Project would result in no new impact 69