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'065 CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS OF FACTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISCOVERY SCIENCE CENTER, EIR No. 96-01 I. INTROI)UCTION The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the State CEQA Guidelines (Guidelines) provide that: "No public agency shall approve or carry out a project for which an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been completed and which identifies one or more significant environmental effects of the project unless the public agency makes one or more written findings for each of those significant effects, accompanied by a brief explanation of the rationale for each finding." (CEQA Guidelines Section 15091) The EIR for the development of the Discovery Science Center (Center) identified significant effects which may occur as a result of the proposed development. In accordance with the Guidelines, the City of Santa Ana (City) hereby adopts the findings in this report as part of the approval of the development of the Center (Project). The City has prepared an EIR for the proposed Project in accordance with CEQA and the requirements of the State Guidelines. As mandated by legislation in the State of California, the EIR was subject to review and approval by the City of Santa Aha City Council (City Council). At a public meeting held on April 21, 1997, the EIR was certified by the City Council as adequate, in compliance with the provisions of CEQA. In adopting this Statement of Findings and Facts, the City Council approves the Project. The City has developed a Mitigation Monitoring Program to monitor and report the implementation of the mitigation measures identified for the Project as part of the environmental review process. Ii. DESCRIPTION OF THE APPROVED PROJECT The primary purpose of the proposed project is to develop a hands-on learning facility to spark children's natural curiosity and to facilitate an interest in the sciences. The Center would serve as a resource for primary and secondary schools by offering educational tools unavailable in local schools. The interactive exhibitry would encourage visitors to search for answers, to think, and to explore. The proposed project master plan is located at 2522 North Main Street and includes a 99,205 square foot (si) Discovery Science Center to be developed in two phases. The center master plan would include exhibit space, food service, a science store, classrooms, a multipurpose room, a largedbrmat theater, a multi-level parking strncture and a cube structure that would feature an internal platform Dixcove~T Science Center EI R April I0, 199/