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

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Sexlinger Farmhouse and Orchard Residential Development Project CEQA Flndings and the home and garage would be returned to single family residential use per building code requirements for habitable structures. (January 2014 EIR Attachment, pp. 1 -2.) Subsequently, the home would be available for sale for residential use. Approximately ten orange trees currently exist in this portion of the property. Additional orange trees would be planted in order to fill out the orchard, and any dead trees would be removed and be replaced with new orange trees. (January 2014 EIR Attachment, p. 2.) In January 2014 an Attachment to the Environmental Impact Report was released, describing what was termed the "Historic Preservation Alternative" and describing the potential impacts of the Historic Preservation Alternative. The 22 new single family residences now proposed would be developed on the remaining areas of the property, each with a lot size ranging from 6,000 square feet to 8,611 square feet. Average lot size would be approximately 6,609 square feet, slightly larger than average lot sizes under the original 24 -unit proposed Project. The Historic Preservation Alternative would involve a roadway dedication of approximately eight feet along Santa Clara Avenue which would reduce the setback to five feet for the residential structure that is being preserved. A connection with Lyon Street to the south and Santa Clara Avenue to the north is also included in this alternative. This alternative includes a variance for a lot frontage less than the required minimum width on Lot 12. In addition, a variance for a front yard setback less than the required 20 foot setback would be required for the Sexlinger Orchard structure, No other variances are proposed. The Alternative would require the approval of Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 2012 -02 (County Map No. 17231) to subdivide the site into 23 residential lots. The population of the City of Santa Ana has grown significantly in the past decade, and is expected to continue increasing in future years creating demand for new housing. The City of Santa Ana is required to plan for this increased housing demand by the State of California. Through this process the City is assigned a target goal for housing production by the Southern California Association of Governments (SLAG). This target goal is called the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RFINA). While the City itself is not responsible for constructing this housing, it is required to identify sites within the City that would be suitable for housing development and to remove barriers to such construction. The City's RHNA target for 2006 through 2014 is 3,393 units. Of this number, 1,461 units must be constructed for families with incomes above the Orange County median. The proposed project will serve to meet a portion of this target and is consistent with the goals and policies of the City's General Plan Housing Element. The project application has been submitted by and with written consent from the current property owner, as allowed by the Santa Ana Municipal Code. The project is consistent with the current General Plan Land Use designation of Low Density Residential (LR -7) and the zoning designation of Single Family Residential (R -1). The City of Santa Ana is the Lead Agency for the EIR and determined that the EIR is required for the proposed project, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines to assess the potential impacts resulting from approval of the project and other discretionary actions necessary for its implementation. To implement the project, the City may consider various actions, permits, and/or approvals. The following City of Santa Ana approvals are anticipated to be required for the proposed project: • Vesting tentative tract map to subdivide the property; • Variance to reduce street frontage for Lot 12 and the existing Sexlinger structure; and 2 "Exhibit A"