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

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Introduction City of Santa Ana -Park View at Town and Country Manor Draft EIR or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury, or death involving wildland fires. An increase in wildfires has been noted as an effect of climate change. (Section 4.8 Climate Change addresses the impact of the proposed project on climate change.) The project site, located in a developed urban area, however, is not considered at risk from wildfires. No impact from wildland fires would occur. Severe heat exposure is another indirect effect linked to climate change. The following is a summary of temperature and public - health related impacts: - There is scientific consensus that greenhouse gas emissions are changing our climate. - The western United States is warming faster than the rest of the United States. - California's annual nighttime temperatures have increased 0.33 OF per decade since 1920. - California's annual daytime temperatures have increased 0.1 OF per decade. - In the Central Valley, irrigation has reduced the expected warming from climate change. - Higher temperatures are correlated with increased heat - related mortality. - Increasing nighttime temperatures make it difficult for the body to cool overnight, increasing the risk of heat related illness. - Persons in socioeconomically depressed areas are at a greater risk for heat - related mortality due to lack of access to in -home air conditioning or neighborhood cooling places, social isolation, and lack of social networks and support systems. - There has been an increased frequency in heat stress events over the last fifty years. The project would install EPA Energy Star air conditioning units or similar units with equal or better energy savings, according to mitigation measure CC -1. These units will provide indoor air quality adequate to maintain the health of those that would access the project site. The project would also be implementing various energy efficiency components (mitigation measure CC -1), which would offset the extra energy required to operate the air conditioning units. Project impacts for hazards and hazardous materials are considered less than significant. • Mineral Resources. No mineral resources are known to occur on the project site. In addition, the project site has not historically and does not currently support mineral extraction activities. The project site and surrounding areas are not zoned for mineral extraction. Project impacts on mineral resources are considered less than significant. • Population and Housing. An additional 174 residential units will be created within the existing Town and Country Manor Campus as a result of project implementation. A maximum of 1.5 persons per unit is expected, based on some units being occupied by a single individual. Using a maximum figure of 1.5 persons per unit, a maximum increase in population of 261 persons would occur through project implementation. The project area, encompassing the Cities of Santa Ana and Orange, is planned for and contains many high- intensity uses. Regional shopping facilities (e.g. Main Place) and high- density residential uses (City Place) contained within the neighboring District Center land use designation have established this area as an area of high - intensity development. Therefore, a maximum increase in population of 261 1 -6 Michael Brandman Associates H\Cl t(PN- Rnb327b32]003MME 3270030 Sec01-0OIvhadvctim dac