2014-060 - Adopting Findings Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act

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Sexiinger Farmhouse and Orchard Residential Development Project EXHIBIT "A" CEQA FINDINGS FOR THE SEXLINGER FARMHOUSE AND ORCHARD RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 1.0 Summary of Findings CEQA Findings At a public heating held on September 2, 2014, the City Council of the City of Santa Ana determined that, based on all of the evidence presented, including but not limited to the EIR, written and oral testimony given at meetings and hearings, and the subm ssion of testimony from the public, organizations and regulatory agencies, all enviromnental impacts associated with the project as currently proposed ("proposed project" or "the Historic Preservation Alternative ") are: (1) less than significant and do not require mitigation; or (2) potentially significant but will be avoided or reduced to a level of insignificance through the identified mitigation measures. These CEQA Findings for the Sexlinger Farmhouse and Orchard Residential Development Project fully account for all impacts analyzed in the EIR, each of which have been determined to have a less than significant impact on the environment with mitigation incorporated. 2.0 Environmental Review Process Project Background The proposed project site is located at 1584 East Santa Clara Avenue in the northeastern portion of the City. The site is approximately five acres and bounded by East Santa Clara Avenue to the north, Portola Park to the east, East Avalon to the south, and Concord Street on the west. The site is located approximately one mile west of State Route 55 (SR -55), approximately one mile south of State Route 22 (SR -22), and approximately 1.2 miles east of Interstate 5 0 -5). The project site is also located approximately 500 feet southwest of Fairhaven Memorial Park, approximately a half mile from Sierra Intermediate School located at 2021 North Grand Avenue, approximately 1,000 feet from John Muir Fundamental Elementary School located at 1951 North Mabury Street, and adjacent to single family residences. As originally proposed, the project would have developed 24 new single family residences, and demolished the existing vacant residential structure located on the parcel. The Draft Environmental Impact Report prepared for the project determined that, as originally proposed, the project would have significant and unavoidable impacts to cultural resources, related to the demolition of the existing residential structure, even after all feasible mitigation was incorporated. (EIR, pp. 2 -3 through 2 -6, 5 -20 through 5 -4 3; EIR Fig, 3,) During the environmental review and comment process, the project applicant changed the proposed Project to include only 22 new single family residential units, and preserve in place the existing residential structure and garage located on an approximately 10,044 square foot lot on the northwest corner of the project site. (Sexlinger Farmhouse and Orchard Residential Development Project Attachment to the Environmental Impact Report Featuring the Additional Analysis & Response to Continents (January 2014) [ "January 2014 EIR Attachment"], pp. 1 -2.) The exterior of the residential structure and garage would be rehabilitated to Secretary of the Interior historic preservation standards, 1 "Exhibit A"