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Conditional Use Permit No. 2007-05 <br />Variance Nos. 2007-02 and 2007-03 <br />May 14, 2007 <br />Page 2 <br />Surrounding land uses include single-family residential to the north, <br />commercial and office uses to the south and east, and parking lots to <br />the west (Exhibits 1 and 2). <br />Proiect Description <br />The applicant is proposing to construct a one-story, 4,800 square foot <br />office building on the existing vacant parcel. The building has been <br />designed to accommodate a maximum of two office tenants. The structure <br />will incorporate a variety of architectural elements and materials such <br />as stucco walls, stone veneer on the entrance and base of the building, <br />precast concrete window trim, a steel canopy over the primary office <br />entries and a decorative roof cornice. A total of 14 parking spaces are <br />required and have been provided for the project (Exhibits 3, 4, 5 and 6). <br />Analysis of the Issues <br />The applicant is requesting two variances to allow a reduction in lot <br />size and street frontage for the project. Section 41-427 of the Santa <br />Ana Municipal Code (SANG) requires a minimum lot size of 15,000 square <br />feet for any project in the Arterial Commercial (C-5) zone and a minimum <br />of 120 feet of street frontage. <br />The Zoning Ordinance was created to ensure strong and viable commercial <br />districts supported by safe and well-maintained neighborhoods. An <br />example of the standards established to reach these goals were a minimum <br />lot size of 15,000 square feet and 120 feet of street frontage for all <br />commercial developments. These standards were intended to encourage <br />larger development sites through lot consolidation, which would result <br />in larger, more viable commercial projects. <br />Although the proposed office building is a permitted use in the C-5 <br />zoning district, the existing lot does not meet the lot size or street <br />frontage requirements of the C-5 district. Over the years, similar <br />nearby properties fronting Eighteenth Street have transitioned to uses <br />such as parking lots or office buildings. Because of its limited lot <br />size, it has been impractical for the subject property to achieve a <br />viable and quality commercial development on the site. <br />31 B-3 <br />