Laserfiche WebLink
Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2012 -02 <br />Site Plan Review No. 2012 -06 <br />November 13, 2012 <br />Page 3 <br />The first phase of development has been completed and consists of the existing 59,205 square foot <br />science center, outdoor activity areas, and surface parking lot. A large plaza was created in front of <br />the building to provide an attractive arrival point to the facility. In the southern most triangular tip of <br />Site 1, a large 117 -foot high cube was built. The cube measures 70 feet on each side and leans over <br />the existing building. Phase 11 was approved to include expansion towards the rear of the site, along <br />the freeway property line. <br />In 2002, the original Development Agreement and Specific Development No. 65 were subsequently <br />amended to increase the maximum allowable build -out square footage from 99,205 to 125,725 <br />square feet and modify various development standards related to required setbacks, parking and <br />signs. This amendment included additional office and storage areas as part of Phase II of the project <br />along with a four - level, 253 space parking structure. An addendum to the original EIR No. 96 -01 was <br />prepared and determined that the proposed revisions did not result in any new or greater <br />environmental impacts. Also part of the entitlement request in 2002, the DSC obtained approval for <br />Conditional Use Permit No. 2001 -34 for a large format theater as required by Specific Development <br />No. 65. Lastly, the DSC entered into its First Implementation Agreement with the City's <br />Redevelopment Agency and later a Second Implementation Agreement in 2009. <br />In 2005, the Discovery Science Center obtained approval for Site Plan Review No. 2005 -01 for a new <br />dinosaur - themed outdoor exhibit (Dino Dig) and a 645 square foot building (Quest Building) on Site 1. <br />In addition, the DSC obtained approval to utilize Site 2 as a surface parking lot. <br />General Plan and Zoning Analysis <br />The General Plan land use designation for the site is Professional and Administrative Office (PAO), <br />which allows for commercial and office uses. Professional and Administrative Office Districts are <br />primarily located on commercial corridors and in close proximity to freeways. They provide and <br />encourage major employment centers at locations which significantly lessen the impact to the <br />City's local street system. The project is consistent with this land use designation as the DSC is <br />located along a major transportation artery (Santa Ana Freeway) and close to major interchanges <br />such as the Garden Grove (SR -22) Freeway and Main Street. These factors make it accessible to <br />more patrons and positions the Center to take advantage of future transportation infrastructure. <br />The subject site is located in the Specific Development No. 65 (SD -65) zoning district. The <br />Specific Development District Plan incorporates the unique site components of the building and <br />site structures by reference. The standards within the plan provide for orderly site development <br />and sound design principles which should provide positive education stimulus to the local <br />community. <br />75A -5 <br />