75A - PH - ZONING AMENDMENT FOR 300 E MCFADDEN AVE

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GPA No. 2012-01 & AA No. 2012-01 September 10, 2012 Page 2 Proiect Description The City of Santa Ana Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency staff has facilitated the design and development of a passive park on a 1.4 acre project area, informally known as the Pacific Electric Park site. The proposed park is intended to be a walk-up park that would primarily serve the local neighborhood, with three pedestrian access points incorporated into the site design. No vehicle parking is proposed. In addition to serving the local neighborhood, the park would serve as a rest stop for bicyclists and other recreational trail users from the adjacent Pacific Electric bike trail. The proposed park is designed with a landscape border adjacent to the street on the southern, eastern and western sides, with no fencing. The northern border of the property will include a six foot block privacy wall to separate residents from adjacent park activities. The western half of the proposed park includes a small grove of fruit trees, a garden, and a small amphitheatre for educational purposes. The eastern half of the park proposes a shade canopy, restrooms, play equipment, a slide/climber, and a rock climbing feature. A jogging parcourse with exercise stations would also run throughout the park. The park landscaping will be designed to include drought tolerant planting, drip/water efficient irrigation, and a dry artificial stream bed (Exhibit 3). The current General Plan land use designation for the vacant project site is Low Density Residential (LR 7), and zoned as Single Family Residence (R1). This land use designation and zoning is intended for the development of single family residences, as opposed to the permanent park open space proposed. Project Background The project site was previously developed with a small church, two duplexes and five single family residential units. These buildings were demolished between 1997 and 2003 to accommodate the street improvements and realignment of McFadden Avenue. McFadden Avenue's public right-of- way adjacent to the project site is now improved to its ultimate buildout with two vehicle travel lanes in each direction, as well as parkway with an eight foot public sidewalk and intermittent Queen Palm street trees. For the last three years a coalition of neighborhood associations known as the Pacific Electric Park Development Committee has been working with Parks, Recreation and Community Services staff to help develop a new park at McFadden Avenue and Orange Avenue. On March 5, 2012, the Santa Ana City Council approved a Mitigated Negative Declaration to address the environmental assessment requirement for this new park site and authorized City staff to pursue grant funding for its construction. 75A-4