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<br />Chapter 3 Findings Regarding Project Alternatives
<br />designations throughout the Transit Zoning Code area would result in impacts that are similar, for the
<br />most part, to those of the proposed Transit Zoning Code, although many of the significant impacts
<br />associated with aesthetics, air quality, climate change, and noise/vibration would be reduced as compared
<br />to the Proposed Project. A number of impacts would be greater under the No Project/No Development
<br />Alternative than under the proposed project due to the absence of mitigation measures that would be
<br />adopted as part of the proposed project, e.g., impacts from increased light and glare. Additionally,
<br />because the City’s existing General Plan and zoning designations do not emphasize alternative modes of
<br />transportation and do not contain the development framework necessary to support the transit-oriented
<br />development, impacts to traffic/transportation would be greater under the No Project/No Development
<br />Alternative than under the proposed Transit Zoning Code.
<br />Findings
<br />The City hereby finds that specific economic, legal, social, technological, or other considerations make
<br />the adoption of the No Project/No Development Alternative infeasible.
<br />Although Alternative 1 would moderately reduce some of the proposed project’s significant impacts, it
<br />would not achieve most of the basic project objectives. Specifically, Alternative 1 would not provide
<br />zoning for the integration of new infill development into existing neighborhoods. It would not provide
<br />for a range of housing options, including affordable housing. It would not provide for the reuse of
<br />existing structures, allow the development of the Agency-owned properties, or strengthening urban form
<br />through improved development and design standards. Moreover, unlike the proposed project, it would
<br />not provide a transit-supportive, pedestrian-oriented development framework to support transit-oriented
<br />development, or encourage alternative modes of transportation.
<br />As a result of its inability to meet the basic project objectives, the No Project/No Development
<br />Alternative would eliminate the opportunity to provide the numerous benefits of the proposed project,
<br />as set forth in the Statement of Overriding Considerations, including land use development that provides
<br />a better market for public transit, consistent with the goals of SB 375, California’s Sustainable
<br />Communities and Climate Protection Act; providing strategic areas for infill, pedestrian friendly
<br />environments, and focusing housing and employment growth in transit-accessible locations through
<br />transit-oriented developments, consistent with the Southern California Association of Governments
<br />(SCAG) 2008 Regional Transportation Plan: Making the Connections (RTP), and SCAG’s 2008 Regional
<br />Comprehensive Plan: Helping Communities Achieve a Sustainable Future (RCP) land use goals; and providing
<br />opportunities to meet the City of Santa Ana’s share of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
<br />for 2006-2014.
<br />Additionally, Alternative 1 would not further the established Goals and Policies of the City’s General
<br />Plan to the same extent as the proposed Transit Zoning Code. In particular, it would not further
<br />Housing Element Policies HE-2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, which support the goal of providing a diversity of quality
<br />housing, affordability levels, and living experiences that accommodate Santa Ana’s residents and
<br />workforce of all household types, income levels, and age groups to foster an inclusive community to the
<br />same extent as the proposed Transit Zoning Code. Nor would it further Land Use Element policies LE-
<br />1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, and 1.9, which promote a balance of land uses to address basic community needs,
<br />LE-2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 2.9, and 2.10, which promote land uses which enhance the City’s economic and fiscal
<br />Revised Station District Project and FOL Settlement Agreement Findings of Fact/Statement of Overriding
<br />3-3
<br />Considerations
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