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Chapter 3 Findings Regarding ProJeot Alternatives
<br />to below the level of signiFicance. In addition, Alternative 2 would not meet the housing and transit
<br />objectives of the Project to the same extent as the proposed project.
<br />Alternative 2 would reduce housing b}~ 25 percent, from 4,075 to 3,056 residential units. The potential
<br />number of affordable housing units would also be reduced b}• 25 percent. Providing 3,056 new units
<br />would not meet Santa Ana's Kegional Housing Needs Assessment for 2006-2014, which calls Eor 3,393
<br />to[al units, 1,248 of which must be affordable for low, vet-'y lo~t•, and extremel}• low income households.
<br />The City of Santa Ana has a great need for affordable housing; sixty percent of the households in Santa
<br />Ana ha~•e lo~~g very loin, and extremely low income. (City of Santa Ana General Plan Draft Housing
<br />Element 2006-2014, Appendix A, p. A-10.) Goal 2 of the Housing Element is to "provide a di~~ersit}' of
<br />qualit}• housing, affordabilit}' levels, and living experiences that accommodate Santa Ana's residents and
<br />~~•orkforce of all household t}'yes, income levels, and age groups to foste-r an inchtsi~•e community: '
<br />Alternati~-e 2 would not meet this goal, or the following Housing Element policies, to the same extent as
<br />the proposed project:
<br />HE-2.3 Rental Housing. Encourage the construction of rental housing For Santa Ana's
<br />residents and workforce, including a conztnitment to ~*ery lo~v, low, and moderate
<br />income residents and moderate income Santa Ana workers.
<br />HE-2.4 Diicrsit}~ of Housing "1'}•pes. Facilitate and encourage a diversity and range in types,
<br />prices, and sizes of housing, including single famil}* homes, apartments, town
<br />homes, mixed/multiuse housing, transit-oriented dc~-clopments, and live/work
<br />housing.
<br />Alternative 2 would not meet the project's transit oriented objectives to the same extent as the proposed
<br />project Reducing the amount of housing and retail space would result in a Failure to fully emphasize the
<br />use of the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC) for City residents. A [nixed-use urban
<br />and transit-oriented neighborhood requires a critical mass and balance between residential and non-
<br />residential uses in order [o succeed. (Draft EIR, Section 5.5.) Alternative 2 would not provide that critical
<br />mass and balance.
<br />In addition, it would not implement established SCAG RTP or RCP policies, or General flan Land Use
<br />Element policies 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.G, 1.7, 1.9, 2.4, 2.G, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.5, 5.7, 5.9, 5.10,
<br />and 5.11, or Urban Land Use Element Goals 1 through 7 to the sanzc extent as the proposed project.
<br />(See Land Use Element-, Urban Design Element; Draft EZR Table 4.7-3.) SpeciFically, the Alternative 2
<br />would not meet the Follo~~-ing SCAG RTP Land Use Goals to the satnc extent as the proposed projcct•.
<br />~ Create mixed-use dis[ricts or "complete commutties" in strategic growth areas through a
<br />concctltration of activities with housing, employment, and a niix of retail and services, located in
<br />close proximit}- to each other. Focusing a mix of land uses in strategic growth areas creates
<br />complete communities wherein most daily needs can be met within a short distance of home,
<br />providing residents with the opportunit}' to patronize their local area and run daily- errands by
<br />walking or cycling rather traveling by automobile.
<br />~ Intensif}• nodes along corridors with people-scaled, [Wised-use developments. 7\4any existing
<br />corridors lack the residential and commercial concentration to adequately support non-auto transit
<br />uses, without which the existing transit system cannot Fully realize its potential for accommodating
<br />additional trips and relieving the ri^ansporta[ion system. 't'hese nodes alot~gg~~i~; 8t3~O~~Le
<br />Page 71 of 130
<br />Transit Zoning Code (SD 84) EIR Findings of Fact/Statement of Overriding Considerations 3-5
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