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Conditional Use Permit No. 2010-12 <br />August 9, 2010 <br />Page 2 <br />Proiect Description <br />The subject of this application is a request for approval of a conditional use permit to allow the <br />reconstruction of a neighborhood service center at 1601 West Second Street. If approved, the <br />applicant intends to demolish the existing community center and storage building and construct a <br />new 3,707 square foot, two-story main structure and a 1,000 square foot storage building. <br />Parking for a neighborhood service center is one space per 200 square feet of gross floor area. The <br />previous facility was legal nonconforming as to parking, therefore new parking has been provided <br />only for the additional 1,000 square feet of building area proposed. Based on this standard, five <br />parking spaces are required for this structure, with five provided. <br />The building has been designed to be architecturally compatible with the surrounding residential <br />neighborhood. Its roof lines, roofing materials, windows, stucco and stone accents, and earth tone <br />paint palette will complement the existing residential neighborhood (Exhibits 3 through 6). <br />Analysis of the Issues <br />The Southwest Community Center, which operates as a non-profit, was founded in 1971 by Annie <br />Mae Tripp, who identified a need to help the less fortunate and wanted to give back to the <br />community. In 1974, the Center moved into the building on Second Street and began operating as <br />a soup kitchen. The Center has continuously occupied the building since that time and has <br />expanded the services and programs they provide, all in an effort to help the underserved segment <br />of the community. <br />The Center provides basic services, such as food, clothing, shelter and other related support <br />services. To that end, hot meals are provided twice a day (three times on Saturday); grocery bags <br />are distributed to families, senior citizens, and homeless twice a week; donated clothing is <br />distributed three times a week; emergency rental assistance is provided twice a week; and health <br />screenings, educational workshops and holiday activities are offered on an as needed basis. In <br />2009, approximately 122,000 hot meals were served, 14,000 food bags were prepared, several <br />tons of clothing were distributed to over 6,500 individuals, and over 900 individuals were provided <br />with rental and utility assistance. Of these people served, approximately 86 percent of them were <br />Santa Ana residents. <br />In December 2009, an electrical fire severely damaged the kitchen and office areas of the <br />Southwest Community Center. In response, an overwhelming show of support by volunteers and <br />a surplus of donations allowed the Center to remain operational to allow time for additional <br />fundraising and to plan for the repair of the facility. During the design process, the staff at the <br />Center identified the opportunity to significantly improve their facility by embarking upon a <br />complete reconstruction. <br />31 B-4