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CUP Nos. 2014 -25 & 2014 -26 August 11, 2014 Page 3 Project Backaround Since its completion in 1913, the Spurgeon Building has contained a variety of uses. As one of the most architecturally prominent and tallest buildings in Downtown, the site attracted professional tenants including doctors and lawyers. The corner retail tenant space was for many years occupied by the White Cross Drugstore, taken over by Walgreens in the 1930s. The building itself was constructed by William Spurgeon, the founder of Santa Ana, who was ultimately elected to the State Legislature and was one of the prime proponents of the movement to establish Orange County. Spurgeon later served on the new county's Board of Supervisors. The building is renowned for its individual glass bays, straightforward Commercial Style that was refined most notably in Chicago, as well as its Second Empire -style clock tower, an emblem of Santa Ana, The tower was largely restored in 1999 to repair the function of the clock, The current proposed tenant, Spurgeon Social, is co -owned by an experienced chef and restaurant owner with another location in neighboring Irvine. Spurgeon Social proposes a specialized dining experience that will feature seasonal, locally- sourced ingredients. The dining room is proposed to feature turn -of- the- century style designed to complement the architecture of the exterior as well as the styles of some of the earliest tenants of the Spurgeon Building. Other than minor features such as signage, the applicant proposes no exterior upgrades to the building in order to comply with the Secretary of the Interior's standards for historically - registered buildings. General Flan and Zoning Consistency The General Plan land use designation for the site Is District Center (DC). District Center land -use districts provide highly visible and accessible commercial development along the City's arterial transportation corridors and provide important neighborhood facilities and services. The Downtown District portion of the District Center serves as one of the County's major employment and governmental operations centers complemented with a mix of residential, commercial, and services uses to enhance its urban vibrancy. The project site and the proposed Spurgeon Social restaurant are consistent with this General Plan land use designation. The parcel is located within the Transit Zoning Code (SD -84) zoning district in the Downtown (DT) sub -zone. The SD -84 zoning district allows for retail and service uses such as eating establishments, making Spurgeon' Social's use consistent with the zoning designation. Project Analysis Conditional Use Permit requests are governed by Section 41 -638 of the SAMC, Conditional Use Permit requests may be granted when it can be shown that the following can be established: That the proposed use will provide a service or facility which will contribute to the general well being of the neighborhood or community. 31 C -5