2014-028 - Approving General Plan Amendement No. 2014-01

Home Browse Search

City of Santa Ana -Park View at Town and Country Manor Alternatives to the Proposed Pmiect Draft EIR There are additional factors that should be considered when addressing climate change under Alternative 1, however. It could be argued that selection of Alternative 1 (No Project/No Development) would represent a missed opportunity in terms of climate change. Consider the existence of the District Center land use area along Main Street containing Main Place and City Place, that is being strengthened and fortified as a major activity area with the addition of higher intensity uses (e.g. City Place Sky Lofts), that would be extended east as a master planned mixed use area with the inclusion of higher- intensity uses on the project site. The proposed project, high- density residential located within a half -mile of retail uses and located near transit, can be considered smart growth. Smart growth is also known as "walkable communities," "new urbanist neighborhoods," "compact development," and "transit- oriented developments." Smart growth advocates for better access and less traffic by mixing land uses, clustering development, and providing transit options. Development on the project site with a high -level of development intensity would provide a better connection to the District Center land use area along Main Street. Should a light rail system be established in the future in this section of Orange County and along Main Street, development of the project site with a high -level of development intensity would contribute more riders for public transit, and further strengthen the activity center aspect of the District Center land use area along Main Street that, among other purposes, public transit strives to connect by linking people and their social and economic organizations together. 5.5.2 - Conclusions and Relationship to Project Objectives In general, Alternative 1 would reduce the already less than significant impacts of the proposed project. The No Project/No Development Alternative would not meet any of the project objectives (see Table 5 -1 and Table 5 -2), however, and selection of this alternative could also be considered a missed opportunity in terms of climate change. 5.6 - No Project/Development In Accordance with Existing Zoning and General Plan Designations (Alternative 2) The project site, approximately 2.5 acres in size, is currently zoned Suburban Apartment (R -4), with a General Plan land use designation of Medium Density Residential (MR -15), allowing 15 dwelling units /acre. Under Alternative 2 (No Project/ Development in Accordance with Existing Zoning and General Plan Designations), improvements to the project site would occur in compliance with existing zoning and General Plan land use designations allowing approximately 35 -40 dwelling units. It is assumed that these dwellings would be housed in a three -story structure similar to existing residential structures within the Town and Country Manor campus. The master planned mixed use area containing the Main Place Mall and City Place development would not be extended further east, and the lower intensity, low -rise character of the existing campus would be maintained. 5-6 Michael Bmndman Associates H\Cl t(PN -Rn) 327b327003MMI 3270030 Sec05 Altematrv.s