75A - PH - ZONING 2500 N MAIN ST

Home Browse Search

Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2012 -02 Site Plan Review No. 2012 -06 November 13, 2012 Page 4 Proiect Analvsis Zonina Ordinance Amendment Specific Development No. 65 was established in 1998 and designed to craft a unique set of development standards for the Discovery Science Center. The last comprehensive review of the SD- 65 zoning district was in 2002, which introduced changes to the parking, setback and sign development standards. The DSC is requesting approval of a modification to the Specific Development Plan No. 65 to allow a reduction in parking as required by both SD -65 and the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC). The project, as entitled, was approved to contain a total of 347 parking spaces, including a 253 space parking structure and surface lot near the main entrance. Although the current proposal remains in compliance with the Phase II requirements and the Development Agreement, the specific plan did not contemplate an interim parking strategy between phases IIA and 1113. Further, there was no time limit established for the completion of Phase 11. A portion of the existing on -site parking area on Site 1 will be removed due to construction of Phase IIA of the project. During this interim period, the DSC will provide 182 on -site parking spaces. As a result, the DSC proposes to create a customized parking solution by utilizing shared parking agreements with various off -site parking lots within walking distance and a parking management plan (PMP) in order to manage projected future demands of the science center. This interim solution will serve to establish exact parking requirements based on actual needs of the Center and create flexibility as its parking needs change. As funding becomes available, the DSC will proceed with Phase 1113 and construct the required four -level parking structure and storage building as originally entitled. In order to determine whether the existing number of parking spaces would be adequate to support the needs of the DSC throughout Phase II of the development, a parking analysis was prepared by Gibson Transportation, Inc., a transportation consulting firm. The August 2012 Gibson study analyzed the current and future parking demands of the DSC and a customized demand model based on the existing parking conditions at the Center together with an assessment of future parking demand. The study was intended to provide an analysis of the demand for parking based on the actual usage patterns of the various elements of the Center and also considers its daily and seasonal attendance patterns (Exhibit 11). The study concluded that given a proposed on -site parking supply of 182 spaces, occupancy of the full project with the auditorium used as exhibit space results in a potential shortfall of 202 parking spaces. Next, occupancy of the project with the auditorium used as a theater expands the parking shortage to 218 parking spaces. Lastly, during special events, there will be a shortfall of 474 parking spaces. The study also recommends a parking and management plan to better manage future parking demands and include employee parking programs, public /private shared parking and off -site parking solutions. Given the DSC`s existing agreements for shared parking with Citibank and Wells Fargo, the projected peak parking demand for Phase 11A of the expansion project can be accommodated with the occupancy of the full project under all conditions (Exhibit 12). 75A -6