Item 28 - Public Hearing - Amendment Application for the Village Santa Ana Specific Plan

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5 LESS -THAN -SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS WITH MITIGATION INCORPORATED located within fill or disturbed soils, or that the sensitivity for significant paleontological resources is otherwise low, then monitoring may be reduced or suspended at the qualified professional paleontologist's discretion. The determination to reduce or discontinue paleontological monitoring in the project area shall be based on the professional opinion of the qualified professional paleontologist regarding the potential for fossils to be present after a reasonable extent of the geology and stratigraphy has been evaluated. Explanation of the Rationale: The rationale and facts supporting the above finding are fully developed in Section 4.4, Geology and Soils, pages 4.4-19 through 4.4-21 of the Draft Supplemental EIR. The following presents a summary of that rationale: No significant fossils have been previously recovered from the project area, but several vertebrate and invertebrate fossils have been recovered within one mile of the project area and exposures of rock formations are anticipated to underlie the Project area. The geology of the Project area may include Pleistocene -age deposits at unknown depths, suggesting that Project -related ground -disturbing activities, such as for the proposed subsurface parking garage that would require a maximum excavation depth of 52 feet, have the potential to destroy or otherwise adversely impact significant paleontological resources below young Holocene -age soils at unknown depths within the Project area. Therefore, the Project would implement GPU PEIR MMs GEO-2 and GEO-3. GPU MM GEO-2 requires consultation with a geologist or paleontologist to confirm whether the grading would occur at depths that could encounter highly sensitive sediments for paleontological resources. In compliance with GPU PEIR MM GEO-2, construction activity for the Project would be monitored by a qualified paleontologist. GPU MM GEO-3 would require work be halted in the event of a fossil discovery. Additionally, Project -Specific MM G-3 provides procedures for paleontological monitoring. Therefore, impacts to paleontological resources would be less than significant with mitigation incorporated. Cumulative Impacts: The Project would not result in cumulative impacts concerning geology and soils, with the implementation of mitigation. Findings: The City finds that changes or alterations have been required in, or incorporated into, the Project, which avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effect as identified in the Final Supplemental EIR. Specifically, the City finds that GPU PEIR MM GEO-2 and MM GEO-3 and Project -Specific MM G-1 through G-3 (listed previously) shall be implemented to reduce potentially significant geology and soils impacts resulting from the Project. Additionally, the City finds that the Project will implement regulatory requirements RR G-1 through RR G-3 (listed above). (Draft Supplemental EIR, pp. 4.4-11 and 4.4-20 — 4.4-21.) Explanation of the Rationale: The rationale and facts supporting the above finding are fully developed in Section 4.4, Geology and Soils, pages 4.4-21 through 4.4-22 of the Draft Supplemental EIR. The following presents a summary of that rationale: Due to the site -specific nature of geological conditions (e.g., soils, geological features, subsurface features, seismic features), geological impacts are typically limited to individual projects and their project sites, and do not contribute to cumulative impacts. The GPU buildout and all projects on City of Santa Ana The Village Santa Ana Specific Plan Project August 2025 CEQA Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations 5-12