NS-3068 - Zoing Amendment for South Coast Technology Center

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Section 3. The City Council finds and determines that 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 that has been prepared and peer reviewed by a qualified CEQA consultant hired by the City included in the Planning Commission Staff Report for July 8, 2024, assesses 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 C. A general plan of a local agency, and 2. An EIR was certified by the lead agency for the zoning action, the community plan, or the general plan. The GPU was adopted, and the GPU EIR certified, in April 2022 (State Clearinghouse Number 2020029087); the GPU went into effect on May 26, 2022. Any decision by the City affecting land use and development must be consistent with the GPU. The GPU EIR evaluates the potential environmental effects associated with implementation of the GPU and addresses appropriate and feasible mitigation measures that would minimize or eliminate these impacts. Pursuant to Section 15183(i)(2) of the CEQA Guidelines, a project is consistent with the GPU if the development density does not exceed what was contemplated and analyzed for the parcel(s) in the certified GPU Ordinance No. NS-3068 Page 3 of 22