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Conditional Use Permit No. 2009-15 <br /> October 12, 2009 <br /> Page 1 of 2 <br /> Findings of Fact (Conditional Use Permit - Deny) <br /> <br /> A. Will the proposed use provide a service or facility which will <br /> contribute to the general well being of the neighborhood or <br /> community? <br /> The addition of another check cashing business in this area will <br /> not contribute to the general well being of the neighborhood or <br /> community. An Office of Planning and Research study regarding <br /> check cashing concluded that the average check cashing business <br /> patron will spend up to five percent of their annual income <br /> paying fees to cash checks when most commercial banks will offer <br /> this service for free or reduced rate. Additionally, there is <br /> another check cashing facility proposing to operate in the <br /> adjacent center and there are six other check cashing faculties <br /> within a one-mile radius of the proposed facility that offer <br /> similar or the same financial services. The existing check <br /> cashing facilities sufficiently meet Policy 2.2 of the Land Use <br /> Element which encourages commercial land uses in adequate <br /> amounts to accommodate the City's needs for goods and services. <br /> B. Will the proposed use under the circumstances of the particular case <br /> be detrimental to the health, safety, or general welfare of persons <br /> residing or working in the vicinity? <br /> The proposed conditional use permit for the check cashing <br /> business will be detrimental to persons residing or working in <br /> the area as check cashing establishments have been associated <br /> with a variety of illicit activities. <br /> C. Will the proposed use adversely affect the present economic <br /> stability or future economic development of properties surrounding <br /> the area? <br /> The check cashing business will negatively affect the economic <br /> stability of the surrounding area by adding a use that has been <br /> known to attract illicit activity. When the City Council <br /> modified the Santa Ana Municipal Code to allow check cashing <br /> facilities with a conditional use permit, one of the development <br /> standards was to require a 1,000 foot separation between <br /> facilities. This separation requirement was implemented as a <br /> result of concerns regarding the over proliferation of check <br /> cashing businesses and the potential for illicit activity that <br /> is associated with this use. <br /> 3 ~~H~~ 12 <br /> <br />