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 9 general plan, industrial districts are significant sources of employment and municipal revenue, and they contribute to the economic health of the city and the region. Lastly, pursuant to the environmental analysis prepared for the project (Exhibit 6), the proposed project is not anticipated to create impacts related to light pollution, traffic, noise, or any other environmental impacts to the surrounding properties. Moreover, the project would be consistent with the City's General Plan Update and the Santa Ana General Plan Update Final Recirculated Program Environmental Impact Report (GPU PEIR), adopted by the City Council on April 19, 2022. The nearest sensitive land use is located approximately 300 feet from the project site. However, the proposed land uses are not anticipated to result in negative impact as they would be light industrial land uses, consistent with the General Plan update. General Plan Consistency On April 19, 2022, the City Council adopted the General Plan Update, which provided long-term policy direction to guide the physical development, quality of life, economic health, and sustainability of the City through 2045. The proposed project aligns with various goals and policies identified in this General Plan. Specifically, it adheres to the Land Use (LU) Element, Goal LU-1, which aims to provide land use plans that improve the quality of life and respect the existing community. Consistent with this, the proposed request to amend the specific development to include limited light industrial use is supported by the General Plan and would result in a floor area ratio (FAR) within the permissible range of 0.72, as outlined in Table LU-3 of the Land Use Element, which provides a specific exception for the Lake Center Development, defined by Specific Development Plan Number 58 (SD-58). The proposed project, following the amendment of the specific development document, would also feature reduced mass and scale, aligning with Policy LU-3.4. Additionally, it would result in long-term off -site improvements that enhance the existing community and provide amenities for public enjoyment. The proposed project is consistent with Goal LU-2, which seeks to provide a balance of land uses that meets Santa Ana's diverse needs, as the current allowable uses are not meeting the community's needs. Office space demand has declined and with this request, the ownership proposes to diversify and adapt to these needs by establishing additional land uses within the specific development area. The request is also consistent with Goal LU-3, which aims to preserve and improve the character and integrity of neighborhoods and districts. The goal for the site is to develop high -quality industrial buildings that would revitalize the area and make off -site improvements to enhance the character of the surrounding neighborhood, which would also be consistent with Policy UD-1.1 and Urban Design (UD) Element. Policy UD-1.1 ensures that all developments feature high quality design, materials, finishes, and construction. Furthermore, the proposed project aligns with Goal LU-4 and Policy LU- 4.2, which support sustainable improvements to the built environment, maintain, and improve public spaces through quality architecture, street trees, landscaping, and other pedestrian -friendly amenities. As described, the ownership of the properties would