75B - PH - REZONE 909 N GRAND AVE

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Amendment Application No. 2013 -03 October 14, 2013 Page 2 Proiect Description The City of Santa Ana is proposing a clean -up action by rezoning four parcels of land from Multiple - Family Residence (R -3) to General Commercial (C -2) in order to create consistency between the zoning and automotive sales land use of the site as well as create consistency between the zoning and general plan land use designation. No development is proposed at this time by the property owner. . . In 1961, Variance No. 1527 was approved to allow a new and used car retail sales plant together with accessory garage repair activities on the residentially zoned (R -3) site. In 1962, Reason Buick obtained its approvals to allow auto sales and service, becoming the first tenant of the site, where it remained until the early 1990's. in 1994, Tom's Trucks received approval to allow the retail sales of trucks at this location. In 2002, The Suzuki Depot received approval to allow auto sales on the premises. The applicant has met with staff to begin discussions regarding future development opportunities on the site, including an expansion of the automotive /truck sales component and to pen-nit additional signage. A proposal for new signage will be submitted as a separate item and will require Planning Commission review and approval of a variance. General Plan and Zonina Analysis The subject site has a General Plan land use designation of General Commercial (GC), which allows for commercial and office uses such as the existing auto sales use. General Commercial districts are primarily located on commercial corridors and major arterial roadways in the City such as Grand Avenue. They provide accessible commercial development along the City's arterials as well as provide support facilities and services, including automotive sales and services. The subject site is zoned Multiple- Family Residence (R -3), which allows the construction of multiple - family residential dwellings such as apartments and condominiums. This designation is not consistent with the current automotive sales and service use. The approval of the amendment application will make the use consistent with the General Plan land use designation (Exhibit 4). Proiect Analysis City staff has begun discussions with the property owner, the Heidler Trust, on the potential use of the site. These discussions stem from the owner's interest in reviewing the development potential of all parcels owned by the entity in the City as well as an interest in master planning the 909 North Grand Avenue site. The inconsistency between the zoning designation, which allows multi - family residential development, and the commercial General Plan land use designation impedes the master planning of the site. To facilitate the commercial potential and future development opportunities of the site, an amendment application is needed to change the zoning of the properties from Multiple- Family Residence (R -3) to General Commercial (C -2). 75B -4