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Variance No. 2013-11 <br />September 23, 2013 <br />Page 5 <br />The granting of the variance is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of substantial <br />property rights. The granting of the parking variance will preserve the property owner's ability to <br />lease the building to a use that will identify the site as an economically viable development. The <br />tenant space that is the subject of this application has accommodated a variety of uses, including <br />grocery markets, a pharmacy, and miscellaneous seasonal establishments, that have been <br />unsuccessful in remaining viable over a long-term period. The granting of the variance will allow a <br />new type of commercial use to establish itself in the existing multi-tenant center. <br />The granting of the variance will not be detrimental to the public or surrounding properties. As <br />demonstrated in the parking analysis for the project, the site will have sufficient parking to <br />accommodate the various uses during the peak parking hours. Therefore, the reduction in parking <br />will not be detrimental to the surrounding community as it will not result in parking impacts <br />affecting adjacent commercial or residential neighborhoods. Further, the granting of the variance <br />will allow the property owner to fill a long-vacant tenant space, contributing to the vitality and <br />success of the existing commercial center. Finally, conditions have been placed to ensure that the <br />site be in compliance with all other development standards applicable to the property. <br />Finally, the project will not adversely affect the General Plan as the proposed health club use is <br />consistent with Goals 1 and 2 of the Land Use Element of the General Plan. These goals <br />encourage uses such as Planet Fitness that promote a balance of land uses to address basic <br />community needs and which enhance the City's economic and fiscal viability. In addition, the <br />project is consistent with Policy 2.2 of the Land Use Element, which supports commercial uses <br />that accommodate the City's needs for goods and services. <br />Public Notification <br />The project site is located within the Bristol Memory Coalition Neighborhood Association. The <br />president of this association and the president of the adjacent Morrison/Eldridge Park <br />Neighborhood Association were notified by mail 10 days prior to this public hearing. Staff has <br />been in regular contact with representatives of the Morrison/Eldridge Park Neighborhood <br />Association, who have periodically requested updates on and have voiced support for the project. <br />Moreover, the project site itself was posted with a notice advertising this public hearing, a notice <br />was published in the Orange County Reporter and mailed notices were sent to property owners <br />and occupants within 500 feet of the project site, as well as concerned citizens listed on the <br />Permanent Notification List. At the time of this printing, no correspondence, either written or <br />electronic, had been received from any members of the public. <br />CEQA Analysis <br />In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the proposed project is exempt from <br />further review pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3), which is a general rule exemption applying to projects <br />that have no possibility of having a significant effect on the environment. Categorical Exemption <br />Environmental Review No. 2013-12 will be filed for this project. <br />31 C-7