Item 28 - Public Hearing - ZOA No. 20204-01 South Coast Technology Center

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ZOA No. 2024-01 for South Coast Technology Center at 3100 West Lake Center Drive August 6, 2024 Page 10 redevelop the site, providing high -quality development and extensive landscaping along West Lake Center Drive, culminating in a passive park for the community and visitors to the nearby field or church, which would also be consistent with Policy UD-1.5. Policy UD-1.5 encourages community interaction through the development and enhancement of plazas, open space, people places, and pedestrian connections with the public realm. The proposed project would also be consistent with several goals and policies of the Economic Prosperity Element (EP). Specifically, the project supports Goal EP-1, which seeks to foster a dynamic local economy that creates employment opportunities for all residents in the city. The request would allow the ownership to transition from a land use that is not attracting businesses or jobs to one that would, thereby benefiting the city's economic prosperity. Additionally, the proposed redevelopment of Lake Center Business Park aligns with Policy EP-1.2, which aims to strengthen and expand citywide business attraction, supporting the achievement of the city's full employment potential. It also aligns with Policy EP-1.1, which seeks to protect industrial uses that provide quality job opportunities. Consistent with this policy, the request would reintroduce industrial land uses to a site previously rezoned to accommodate only office or commercial uses. Public Notification and Community Outreach Project notifications were posted, published, and mailed in accordance with City and State regulations for both the Planning Commission and the City Council. The site is not located within a neighborhood association boundary or near an established neighborhood association. At the time this report was printed, no issues of concern were raised regarding the proposed development. In addition to the required public noticing, the project was subject to the City's Sunshine Ordinance (Ordinance No. NS-3040) requiring two community meetings to facilitate early public participation. The first community meeting was held on September 27, 2023. Three members of the community were in attendance and posed questions related to the ownership of the project site, leasing, concerns of transient activity in the area, and the land use. The second meeting was held on January 10, 2024, during which six members of the community were in attendance and inquired about the phasing of the project. Materials from the two required community meetings are included with this report as Exhibit 9, and all materials were published to the project's webpage on the City's website. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA Guidelines, the project is exempt from further review per Section 15183 (Projects Consistent with a Community Plan, General Plan, or Zoning) of the CEQA Guidelines. The environmental review contained in Exhibit 6 has been prepared and peer reviewed by a qualified CEQA consultant hired by the City, to assess the potential for the proposed project to result in environmental effects and whether the proposed project qualifies for an exemption under Section 15183 of the CEQA Guidelines. Moreover, the analysis