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City Hall -Ross Annex First Floor Conference Room 1600 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, California 4. Meeting reconvened at 7:36 p.m. with the same staff present. • 5. DISCUSSION OF "THE MET" PROPOSED PROJECT AT MACARTHUR BOULEVARD AND FIRST AMERICAN WAY Principal Planner Sergio Klotz provided background of "The Met" project at MacArthur Boulevard and First American Way and introduced the developer, Bob Bisno, who introduced financial partners Ryan and Rachel Ogulnick of Vineyards Development, and the architect Chris Coe. Mr. Coe provided a briefing on the newly-submitted apartment project proposed to be located on the previously-approved Geneva Commons site on the northeast corner of MacArthur Blvd. and MacArthur Place (formerly Imperial Promenade). The project is currently designed to allow for apartments 319 units on 2.1 acres. Mr. Coe clarified that the project was not being designed to condominium standards in contrast to the Geneva Commons project. Planning Manager Karen Haluza directed the Commissioners to a memo provided in the Commission packet that provided an analysis of the project's deficiencies as they relate to the current zoning (Specific Development No. 43) and to other recently approved and/or constructed projects within the MacArthur Place south master plan area. Mrs. Haluza also provided two analyses prepared by Chris Coe and the City's Urban Design Consultant John Kaliski, which further detailed the project's many design deficiencies. Mrs. Haluza stated that items of particular • concern were the lack of open space, significantly reduced setbacks, unit mix favoring small single-unit apartments, the overall quality of the project's design and architecture. She introduced John Kaliski, who was present to discuss the project and answer any questions. Vice Chairman Gartner noted deficiencies and expressed concern that the project had not been designed to meet the minimum standards of the existing zoning. He also noted the smaller unit size as compared to the average unit size of projects in the area and requested background from the applicant to explain these changes. Mr. Bisno stated that it was his understanding that current City policy supported the development of the site at a lower height than that which was approved for the Geneva Commons project so long as one acre of the overall three-acre site was reserved for ahigh-rise development at some time in the future. Mr. Bisno further commented that the project would be of economic benefit to the City and that he had deviated from the current zoning because he wished to create new development standards through a Development Agreement. Commissioner Turner stated that the project should consider the existing context of the area due to the fact that the project is located in a key area (node) of the City where it is important to develop high quality buildings that are in character with those in the surrounding area. He noted that the recently redesigned Integral project, now Lyon Properties and also by Chris Coe, had maintained its high-end • quality condominium standards even though it had been repositioned as a rental project. He stated that the Lyon project had done a better job of connecting at the street level, including the lobby and ground floor units. He requested that the applicant consider redesigning the project in order to engage the community at the street level through the addition of more ground floor uses, such as retail or a larger lobby area and usable ground floor amenity space for the residents. He stated that the redesigned Integral project (now Lyon Properties) did a better job of connecting at the street level, including the lobby and ground floor units. He stated that the project should have a more open entry instead of a narrow stairway Planning Commission Minutes Page 5 of 7 May 23, 2011