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<br />West End Lofts <br />February 5, 2007 <br />Page 5 <br /> <br />Historic Ghost Billboard <br /> <br />The project site is located on a lot that has been vacant since 1978. <br />The site has been occupied by a variety of one and two-story buildings <br />over time, with a fire and subsequent demolition, of a commercial <br />building in 1978. The site was cleared and the existing basement was <br />excavated. During the demolition, a "ghost billboard" was uncovered on <br />the adjacent Semi Tropic Hotel building directly to the east (Exhibit A- <br />7). This sign is a remnant of billboard advertising painted directly on <br />the building's party wall. While not individually listed on the Santa <br />Ana Register of Historical Properties, it has been determined through a <br />study by a qualified architectural historian that the ghost sign is <br />eligible for listing in the California State Historical Register, thereby <br />rendering it worthy of preservation. Additionally, the Historic <br />Resources Commission had the opportunity to review and comment regarding <br />this project at its September 7, 2006 meeting. <br /> <br />The applicant proposes to highlight this ghost sign by creating a <br />courtyard next to the adjacent Semi-Tropic Hotel building. This will be <br />accomplished through a 30-foot setback of the proposed building for a <br />width of approximately 15 feet. This courtyard will be gated, and will <br />highlight the public view of the historic ghost sign through landscaping, <br />a water feature, and an interpretive sign with photos of the sign in its <br />entirety. Additionally, the sign will be fully documented through the <br />completion of a Historic American Building Survey (HABS) This survey <br />includes large format pictorial documentation, as well as historical <br />documentation and drawings. <br /> <br />Summary and Conclusion <br /> <br />Based upon the analysis detailed above, it is recommended that the City <br />Council approve Amendment Application No. 2006-04, approve and adopt the <br />amended Mitigated Negative Declaration for Environmental Review No. 2004- <br />234, Site Plan Review No. 2006-07 and Conditional Use Permit No. 2006-14. <br /> <br />CEQA COMPLIANCE <br /> <br />In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, a Mitigated <br />Negative Declaration Environmental Review No. 2004-234 has been prepared <br />for this project (Exhibit A-4) . <br /> <br />80A-5 <br />