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VA Nos. 2009-03, 05, 06, 07 & 09 <br /> CUP No. 2009-15 <br /> October 12, 2009 <br /> Page 3 <br /> property address. Therefore, when the applicant vacated the 1620 East <br /> First Street location, which had an approved CUP for check cashing, she <br /> was unable to reestablish this use at the new location of 1647 East First <br /> Street without the issuance of a new CUP for check cashing. <br /> The applicant then applied for a conditional use permit and variances in <br /> order to operate a check cashing facility at 1647 East First Street, Suite <br /> <br /> A. During the review of this application it was determined that the <br /> proposed check cashing facility would be within 1,000 feet of an existing <br /> approved check cashing facility and, as such, would be in violation of <br /> Section 41-374.5 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code which requires the 1,000 <br /> foot separation between check cashing businesses. The applicant was <br /> notified of this situation, but chose to pursue a variance application to <br /> seek relief from the separation requirement. <br /> Variance No. 2009-03, an application to vary from the separation <br /> requirement for check cashing establishments, was heard at the Planning <br /> Commission meeting of August 24, 2009. After a presentation outlining the <br /> staff recommendation of denial, testimony from the public and a discussion <br /> of the issues surrounding this project, the Commission voted to continue <br /> the item for 30-days to allow staff time to work with the applicant on the <br /> design and improvements to the building, analyze and bring forward for <br /> review the additional discretionary actions required for the project, <br /> develop appropriate conditions should the Commission move to approve the <br /> items and to gather further information regarding check cashing operations <br /> and the use of the Matricula Consular identification card. <br /> Due to the number and complexity of the each of the required discretionary <br /> actions surrounding this project, they have been identified and analyzed <br /> separately in the subsections that follow. <br /> Background on 1,000 Foot Separation Requirement and Check Cashing CUP <br /> Requirement <br /> The applicant is requesting relief from the separation requirement for <br /> check cashing facilities in the General Commercial (C-2) zone, as well <br /> as a CUP to allow for a new check cashing facility. In December 1999, <br /> Ordinance No. NS-2412 was adopted to require a conditional use permit <br /> for check cashing establishments. At that time the City was concerned <br /> with the recent proliferation of check cashing businesses in various <br /> retail centers citywide and the potential for criminal activity that can <br /> 31 A-5 <br /> <br />