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r~ <br />4~ <br />Mr <br />Nr <br />M <br />^ <br />w <br />w <br />Chapter 1 <br />Introduction and Overview <br />Overview <br />The City of Santa Ana (City) has prepared this initial study (IS) to evaluate the <br />potential environmental consequences associated with the application of the City <br />to the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development <br />(HCD) fora 15-year State Enterprise Zone (SEZ) designation. The proposed <br />SEZ is designed to attract new businesses, create new jobs, and retain existing <br />businesses and jabs in the City. The proposed project would allow businesses <br />located within the zone to take advantage of state tax incentives and City <br />benefits. The proposed Santa Ana SEZ is contained entirely within City limits and <br />encompasses approximately 16.32 square miles. <br />Santa Ana received its original SEZ designation on June 8, 1993, and is now one <br />of 42 enterprise zones throughout California. The existing Santa Ana SEZ <br />encompasses approximately 11.09 square miles. The original boundary included <br />approximately 9.53 squaze miles, while the expansion azea, approved on August <br />1, 1994, added approximately 1.56 squaze miles. Companies already in the SEZ <br />can qualify- for benefits, as do new businesses relocating or expanding into the <br />SEZ. The City's SEZ designation lasts for 15 yeazs, and there aze currently over <br />11,000 businesses residing in the zone. <br />As part of the HCD's consideration of the SEZ designation, the proposed project <br />is required to undergo an environmental review in accordance with the California <br />Environmental Quality Act (CEQA}. The initial study is a preliminary analysis <br />prepared by a lead agency to determine whether an environmental impact report <br />or a negative declaration is required. If the initial study concludes that the <br />project may have a significant effect on the environment, an environmental <br />impact report must be prepared. Otherwise, a negative declazation or mitigated <br />negative declaration is prepared. The information in this initial study supports <br />the process to be taken for the appropriate CEQA compliance document. <br />M <br />r <br />Authority <br />The preparation of an IS is governed by two principal sets of documents: CEQA <br />(Public Resources Code Section 21000, et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines <br />va~na n~~a oiatC ~merpnse cone <br />Initial Study 1-1 <br />19E-8 <br />November 2007 <br />J&S 00814.07 <br />