31B - CUP - 1901 NORTH FAIRVIEW ST

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City of Santa Ana Environmental Checklist c. Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings? Less - than - Significant Impact. The proposed project would alter the existing visual character of the site. In terms of character, the area surrounding the site is best described as urban and developed. The project site was previously developed, but is currently vacant, underutilized, and visually incongruent to its developed urban surroundings, as described above in the onsite visual conditions discussion and shown in Figures 3 -1 and 3 -2. Because the site is somewhat degraded by the existing remnants of the previous development, the change in character after implementation of the project will improve the existing visual character or quality of the project site and the site would be more congruous with its surroundings. The proposed project will redevelop the project site with eight buildings on the 7.2 -acre project site, consisting of three residential buildings, three educational buildings, and two administrative support buildings. The buildings will be developed over two project phases (shown in Figure 2 -5). Phase 1 of the proposed project would include the construction and operation of six buildings — Buildings A, B, C, D, B, and G— totaling 110,517 square feet. Phase 11 would consist of the gymnasium (Building F) and one classroom building (Building H) totaling 35,619 square feet, and completing the total project buildout of 146,136 square feet. All of the proposed buildings would range from one to three stories and would be between 25 and 46 feet in height. The architectural style of the project would be contemporary /modern, incorporating concrete, corrugated siding, smooth siding, and glass. The exterior elevations of the buildings will utilize architectural details and both vertical and horizontal projections to enhance the aesthetics of the school campus and aesthetically reduce the scale and mass of the proposed structures. The architectural features divide the buildings' mass and scale with varying roof heights, canopies, sun shades, smooth fiber cement boards, corrugated siding, custom paint palettes, and windows and doors. The use of multiple material types will soften the overall appearance of the buildings and make them more consistent with the character of the surrounding area. The varying roof heights will aesthetically reduce the scale and mass of the buildings. Buildout of the project will cover 47% of the project site with education or residential buildings. In addition, the project includes 146 parking spaces that would be constructed during Phase 1. The parking facilities will be distributed around the perimeter of the site and are designed to be visually integrated and connected to appropriate portions of the site. Additionally, a large portion of the parking spaces will be shielded from views by the proposed buildings, landscaping, and the existing wall along three sides of the project site perimeter. implementation of the project would increase the overall density and intensity of the project site, which currently lies vacant with the exception of remnants of the former site uses consisting of debris, concrete, asphalt, and random ornamental landscaping. The proposed project would be visible from existing land uses surrounding the project site, as described in the visual simulations evaluation below. Evaluation of Visual Simulations The following discussion includes an analysis of the visual changes for each of the four key KOPs, as modified by the proposed project. Visual simulations of the proposed project features are overlaid on each of the existing KOP photos to demonstrate the potential visual changes that would be introduced by the proposed project. The Academy Charter High School Initial Study /Mitigated Negative Declaration 3-8 2012 June ne 20.2