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<br />Resolution No. 2025-XX <br />Page 5 of 11 <br />districts. With approval of the CUP, underutilized buildings would <br />be renovated and brought into compliance with applicable <br />standards as well as aesthetic improvements. Improvements <br />throughout the site are also in line with Policy LU 3.7, which <br />promotes a clean, safe creative environment for Santa Ana’s <br />residents, workers, and visitors. <br /> <br />Goal LU-4 supports a sustainable City through improvements to <br />the built environment and a culture of collaboration. Policy LU- <br />4.1, promotes complete neighborhoods by encouraging a mix of <br />complementary uses, community services, and people places <br />within a walkable area. The proposed Project will add an <br />educational use that complements existing land uses and <br />provides a valued community service within the neighborhood. <br />The professional school will serve as a local resource for students <br />and families, enhancing the area’s mix of uses and contributing <br />to a more complete and well-served community. <br /> <br />Under the Economic Prosperity (EP) Element, the City <br />emphasizes the development of a skilled workforce, expands <br />access to employment opportunities, and supports education as <br />a pathway to higher wage jobs. Policy EP-1.5 specifically <br />promotes education and training citywide to enhance access to <br />emerging occupations. The Cristo Rey model, by combining <br />academic instruction with work experience in professional offices, <br />directly advances that goal. Moreover, the Applicant’s voluntary <br />commitment to enter into a PILOT agreement with the City <br />demonstrates a contribution to City services and supports the <br />provision of community benefits, consistent with the General <br />Plan’s emphasis on fostering partnerships between educational <br />institutions and the community, and promoting sustainable <br />economic and social development. <br /> <br />Goals EP-2 and EP-3 highlight the importance of economic <br />diversification and creating a business-friendly environment that <br />can adapt to changing market conditions. Reflecting these goals, <br />a growing trend has emerged in response to post-COVID office <br />vacancies, involving the adaptive reuse of underutilized office <br />buildings into residential and hospitality uses throughout Santa <br />Ana and California. Policies EP-2.12 and EP-3.6 further reinforce <br />this by encouraging collaborative strategies to withstand <br />economic fluctuations and by supporting flexible land use <br />regulations that respond to evolving business and community <br />needs. Together, these goals and policies advance adaptive <br />reuse as a sustainable strategy to revitalize existing buildings and <br />maintain long-term economic vitality. <br /> <br />Section 2. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) <br />and the CEQA Guidelines, the Project is exempt from further review per Section 15332 <br />