Item 37 - Second Reading Ordinance for ZOA No. 2024-01 for South Coast Technology Center at 3100 West Lake Center Drive

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ZOA No. 2024-01 for South Coast Technology Center at 3100 West Lake Center Drive August 20, 2024 Page 2 DISCUSSION At its August 6, 2024 regular meeting, the City Council held a public hearing and considered the staff report, recommendations by staff, and public testimony concerning the ordinance for the project located at 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, and 3400 West Lake Center Drive (collectively referred to as 3100 W. Lake Center Drive). The City Council unanimously approved the first reading of ZOA No. 2024-01 as presented by staff. 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 of the original staff report 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 evaluated whether the potential environmental impacts are addressed in the City of Santa Ana General Plan Update Final Recirculated Program Environmental Impact Report (GPU EIR). Specifically, the analysis evaluates demolition of the three existing office buildings, a parking structure, and parking lots to construct three new Class A industrial buildings for office, manufacturing, and/or warehouse use, ancillary improvements including landscaping, parking, freestanding signage, site lighting, and fencing as well as proposed off -site improvements including replacing asphalt, new grind and overlay, relocating the tree wells from the sidewalk to back of sidewalk, and modifications to sidewalks as needed to ensure ADA compliance. CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 allows a streamlined environmental review process for projects that are consistent with the densities established by existing zoning, community plan, or general plan policies for which an environmental impact report (EIR) was certified and does not require additional environmental review, except as might be necessary to examine whether there are project -specific significant effects which are peculiar to the project or its site. Moreover, projects that are consistent with the densities and use characteristics considered by the GPU EIR may qualify for the CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Exemption process. Specifically, as set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15183(d), the 15183 exemption applies to projects which meet the following conditions: The project is consistent with: A. A community plan adopted as part of a general plan, B. A zoning action which zoned or designated the parcel on which the project would be located to accommodate a particular density of development, or