Item 34 - Public Hearing - Appeal Application No. 2024-01 for Construction of a 23’-4” Tall Accessory Building (2221 N Heliotrope Drive)

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Appeal Application No. 2024-01 for Construction of a 23'-4" Tall Accessory Building (2221 N Heliotrope Drive) November 19, 2024 Page 10 from Vietnam, have introduced new architectural and landscape elements with no apparent relevance to the original architecture of the property or to its significant historical associations with the Maharajah. As such, in its current condition, the backyard would be highly unlikely to contribute to the significance of the property, and the addition of a new pavilion would not affect the property's continued eligibility as a Santa Ana Landmark or a contributor to the National Register -listed Floral Park Historic District. Proposed changes, which would be confined to the back yard, also would not affect the historical integrity of the Floral Park Historic District as a whole. As proposed, bamboo would be planted near the north property line to obscure the proposed pavilion from view from the public rights -of -way on Santa Clara Avenue and Heliotrope Drive. While the new bamboo would be clearly visible from the rights -of -way, its appearance alongside the existing wall would be consistent with the internal setting of the Floral Park Historic District, which is characterized in part by its variety of landscaping. As stated in the National Register nomination form for the historic district, "Landscaping varies from building to building, but as this is a point of pride within the neighborhood, landscaping is of high caliber. The majority of properties feature shallow lawns, mature shrubs and flower gardens. Perimeter fences, low walls, and hedges are usually present, and some are original to the property." In addition, the pavilion and bamboo would be confined to an area corresponding to a very limited portion of the property's northern frontage, approximately 100 linear feet. Because of the limited physical scale of the changes, the project would be partially visible only from very few public vantage points, further reducing its visual effects to the internal setting of the historic district. General Plan Consistency Finally, the CUP will be consistent with several goals and policies of the General Plan. Land Use Element policy LU-2.8 encourages land uses and development projects that promote the City's image as a cultural regional center. The applicant's proposed structure furthers this policy as it introduces a cultural element from Vietnam, the native country of the current owners. The structure was previously built in Vietnam and built in a traditional Vietnamese design, fabricated by Vietnamese artisans. Specifically, the structure would include prefabricated wood post members, traditional Vietnamese hand - carved wood details, and would include clay roofing tile, all reflective of the Vietnamese cultural architecture. The new structure would also be consistent with existing cultural structures relocated from Vietnam, previously. These structures include a roughly 20- foot-tall wood pavilion with intricately carved details and a tile -clad roof system; a nineteenth-century, traditional residence with an iron wood structural system; and multiple additional smaller structures of a traditional Vietnamese character Policy LU-3.4 advocates for scale and massing of new development to be compatible and harmonious with the surrounding built environment. As designed, the structure would be ancillary and subordinate the main single-family residence. The height of the