2012-001 - Statement of Overriding Considerations, and Adopting a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program

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Chapter 3 Findings Regarding Pro/ect AitematAm Attachment "A" related impact at the intersection of South Bristol Street and West Segerstrom Avenue, which would occur between the hours of 7:15 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. and between the hours of 2:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. (Monday through Friday). Alternative Site No. 1 also would create a new, significant long-term impact to public services by adversely affecting the provision of police protection services. This alternative also would result in a significant impact to emergency access under long-term conditions, which could only be mitigated with the acquisition of private property, thus, negating the purpose of analyzing this alternative, i.e., to examine whether it would be possible to design the project to avoid the need to condemn private property. Impacts related to air quality/greenhouse gas emissions, noise, utilities and service systems, and water quality and hydrology would be similar to the proposed Project's impacts during construction and long-term operation. Additionally, both the City's Police Department and Fire Department object to this alternative for the reasons explained above. 3.4.3.3 Finding and Rationale for Alternative Site No. 1 The City hereby finds that specific economic, legal, social, technological, or other considerations make Alternative Site No. 1 infeasible. Alternative Site No. 1 would not avoid or substantially lessen the Project's near-term significant and unavoidable construction-related impact at the intersection of South Bristol Street and West Segerstrom Avenue, which would occur between the hours of 7:15 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. and between the hours of 2:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. (Monday through Friday). This alternative also would introduce new impacts to public services (long-term) and emergency access (long-term) that would not occur in association with the proposed Project. None of the other impacts associated with the proposed Project would be avoided or substantially lessened with implementation of this alternative. Additionally, the Santa Ana Police Department reviewed the proposal to construct a lift station at Alternative Site No. 1, and determined that this alternative has the potential to adversely affect public safety. In a letter dated March 15, 20101, the Police Department indicated that locating a lift station at Alternative Site No. 1 would obstruct the line of sight for patrol and passerby, thereby inhibiting the ability of police (and the public) to monitor activities within the alley located north of this alternative site location. In addition, the Police Department noted that a lift station at Alternative Site No. 1 would leave a significant amount of dead space behind the building which could "provide concealment for transients and other undesirable activities" and "create an attractive nuisance" for graffiti (see RDEIR Appendix H for the complete letter from the Santa Ana Police Department). The only available mitigation for this impact would be to re-locate the proposed lift station to the west, which would be the same design as proposed by the Project. Further, the City Fire Department reviewed the proposal to construct a lift station at Alternative Site No. 1 and determined this alternative would interfere with the ability of emergency vehicles to navigate the turn between the west end of San Lorenzo Avenue and the north-south oriented alley. (See letter from Fire Chief Dave Thomas to Raul Godinez, dated March 17, 2011, RDEIR Appendix H.) Specifically, the Fire Department determined at Alternative Site No. 1 would not meet the Fire Department's minimum turn radius requirement (minimum 20-foot interior and 40-foot exterior turn radius), as required by Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) Sec. 14-25. In addition, the City has an Automatic Mutual Aide agreement provided by the Costa Mesa Fire Department (CMFD), and such aid may be provided by larger CMFD vehicles that require a minimum 28-foot interior and 46-foot ' The letter from the Santa Ana Police Department included in Appendix H of the RDEIR is erroneously dated March 15, 2010; this letter was actually provided to the Public Works Department in March 2011. San Lorenzo Lift Station FIR (Project No. 06-3510) 3-7 CEQA Findings of Fact/Statement of Overriding Considerations