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Variance No. 2008-23 <br />December 8, 2008 <br />Page 2 <br />Project Description <br />The project involves the rehabilitation of the existing 10-unit <br />apartment complex into an affordable 8-unit complex. The structure and <br />room layouts will be modified by combining existing one-bedroom units to <br />create one, two and three bedroom units. Units will range in size from <br />approximately 589 square feet for a one-bedroom apartment, 759 square <br />feet for a two bedroom unit and 995 square feet for a three-bedroom <br />unit. The unit breakdown includes 4 one-bedroom units, 2 two-bedroom <br />units and 2 three-bedroom units. <br />Various external and internal improvements are either proposed or <br />required for the project. Exterior improvements to be required will <br />include new stucco and paint for the exterior walls, new railings for <br />the walkways and stairways, repairing and repainting all decks and the <br />removal of exterior doors where units are removed. Interior <br />enhancements proposed for the site will include the reconfiguration of <br />walls and the installation of new bathrooms and kitchens within each <br />unit. Additionally, new paint, windows, doors and flooring will be <br />provided for each apartment (Exhibits 3 and 4). <br />Analysis of the Issues <br />Orange Housing Development Corporation, in partnership with the City's <br />Housing Division, is in the process of purchasing the existing Raitt <br />Apartment complex. Once the purchase is completed, the applicant intends <br />to rehabilitate the existing complex to provide eight affordable, rent <br />controlled units that will include occupancy restrictions. However, due <br />to the rehabilitation involved with the project, a variance for a <br />reduction in parking is needed. <br />Section 41-681.3(3) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SANG) requires <br />nonconforming multiple-family residential project such as the Raitt <br />Apartments to comply with the City's parking requirements if the number of <br />bedrooms will be increased on the site. Since this project includes new <br />two and three-bedroom units on a site with only one-bedroom units, this <br />code section applies to the project. Based on current parking <br />requirement, a total of 25 parking spaces are required for the site. <br />However, due to an increase in the number of bedrooms, the applicant's <br />proposal now results in a parking demand of 27 spaces. In analyzing the <br />request for a reduction in parking, staff considered the following <br />information. <br />31 C-3 <br />