75D - PH - 1306-1312 W SANTA ANA BLVD

Home Browse Search

AA No. 2011-01, GPA No. 2011-02, & VA No. 2011-06 May 9, 2011 Page 4 enhance the economic and fiscal viability of the City through an increase in property and sales tax. Finally, the project will preserve and improve the character of the surrounding neighborhood through the construction of a new office building and numerous improvements intended for the site (Exhibit 9). Amendment Application The proposed building site is located within three different zoning districts which do not allow the proposed office building. As a result, an amendment application (zone change) is needed to change the zoning of four of the properties from Single-Family Residence (R-1) and Bristol Street Specific Plan (SP-1) to General Commercial (GC) to facilitate construction on the site. The R1 zoning of the property on Santa Ana Boulevard is intended to facilitate the construction of a single-family residence on the parcel. Although a house was constructed on the site in 1920, the property had been utilized for commercial purposes since 1955 and was fully and legally converted to a commercial use by 1967. The three parcels fronting Bristol Street were redesignated in 1991 from commercial to SP-1. A concept of the adopted Bristol Street Plan was to utilize the majority of the smaller remnant parcels, including these parcels, as a linear park. However, the plan did not take into account ownership of properties adjacent to the SP-1 zoned properties. The applicant now owns the three parcels along Santa Ana Boulevard and desires to replace the building that will be demolished. Given a need to maintain a medical clinic use that is easily accessible and walkable from the surrounding residential developments, a zone change is a viable option for the site. The redesignation of the four parcels to C2 will be consistent with the use of the property and will facilitate the replacement of a building that will be demolished for the Bristol Street Widening project. Although the rezoning of the properties will remove the project from the Bristol Street Corridor Specific Plan, the proposed project will be consistent with several objectives of the Plan, including locating commercial land uses near the intersections with major cross streets, encouraging commercial activity along the corridor as a means of generating revenues for the City, upgrading the development character of the area, encouraging the rehabilitation of as many businesses as possible and encouraging local neighborhood servicing commercial uses adjacent to residential areas. Finally, as discussed earlier, the proposed project will meet the goals and policies established by the City's General Plan Land Use Element. Variance Variance requests are governed by Section 41-638 of the SAMC. Variance requests may be granted when it can be shown that the following can be established: • That there exists a special circumstance related to the property, such as size, shape, topography, location or surroundings. • That the granting of the variance is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of substantial property rights. 75D-6