Laserfiche WebLink
REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />APRIL 5, 2010 <br />TITLE: <br />EXTENSION OF VARIANCE NO. 2008-01 TO <br />ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF A <br />FELLOWSHIP HALL FOR THE JOHNSON <br />CHAPEL AME CHURCH AT 1309 WEST <br />SECOND STREET <br />CITY MANAGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APPROVED <br />❑ As Recommended <br />❑ As Amended <br />❑ Ordinance on 151 Reading <br />❑ Ordinance on 2nd Reading <br />❑ Implementing Resolution <br />❑ Set Public Hearing For_ <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />Adopt a resolution approving the extension of Variance No. 2008 -01. <br />DISCUSSION <br />In April 2008, the City Council approved Variance No. 2008 -01 to allow the construction of a 10,700 <br />square foot fellowship hall and family life center on the northwest corner of Second and Bristol Streets. <br />The building will replace a structure that was acquired and demolished by the City as part of the Bristol <br />Street Widening Project. The approved variance allowed a 10 foot reduction in the side yard setback <br />along the west property line (Exhibit 1). Due to a significant shift in the local, state and national <br />economies over the past two years, the Johnson Chapel AME Church has been unable to raise enough <br />funds to begin construction of the building. <br />Entitlements for development projects expire two years from the date of approval unless construction <br />has commenced. Since construction has yet to begin, the Church would like to maintain its variance <br />and is requesting an extension. Section 41 -647 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) requires the <br />City Council to approve any request for an extension of entitlements. Although the project has yet to be <br />submitted into plan check, the fellowship hall and family life center are an integral part of the Church's <br />operations and will be built as soon as funds are secured. In fact, the Church has had to rely on <br />utilizing temporary trailers as meeting space until the permanent structure is built. The Church is <br />anticipating an improvement in the economic conditions that will allow construction to commence. As a <br />result, staff recommends that the variance for the fellowship hall and family life center building be <br />extended by a period of one year. <br />55B -1 <br />