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

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Sexlinger Farmhouse and Orchard Residential Development Project CEQA Findings Impacts: The project as originally proposed resulted in the significant and unavoidable impacts to cultural and historic resources. The project proposed to demolish the existing residential structures on the project site, and all of the existing orange grove trees. After all feasible mitigation measures were implemented, these impacts would have remained significant and unavoidable. Separate from the cultural resources impacts, the original project would have had similar, or slightly greater, impacts associated with all other resource areas. This is because the project originally proposed the construction of 24 new single family residences. The current project proposes construction of only 22 now single family residences. As a result, the project as originally proposed would have had slightly greater traffic impacts, slightly more impervious surface area and therefore slightly greater hydrology and water quality impacts, and slightly greater short -term construction noise and air quality impacts. In addition, as all of the orange grove trees would have been removed, the project as originally proposed would have had slightly higher greenhouse gas emissions impacts, as there would be a greater reduction in carbon sequestration. The project as originally proposed would have also had slightly greater aesthetic impacts, as it would have removed the existing structures and all of the orange grove trees. In contrast, the project as currently proposed will keep more of the original features of the site in place. Objectives: The project as originally proposed met all of the four project objectives, as it would have provided new "move -up" housing, provided new land uses consistent with the General Plan and Zoning Code designations, provided uses that were compatible with surrounding uses, and would have reduced further dilapidation of the project site. Finding: The City Council hereby rejects the Original Project on the basis that (1) it has significant and unavoidable cultural resources impacts, even with all feasible mitigation measures incorporated, while the project as currently proposed has none; and (2) it would have slightly increased the magnitude of the project's less than significant impacts. 3. Alternate Location of Project Description: New housing projects on other location(s) within the City, including: Alternative Site Location 1 (17th Street and Tustin Avenue); Location 2 (Fourth Street and Cabrillo Park Drive); Location 3 (First Street and Cabrillo Park Drive); and Location 4 (City Place at Memory Land and Lawson Way). (EIR, p. 7 -2.) Impacts: Unknown. Obiectives: None of the alternative locations would meet three of the four project objectives. Location 1 is within the County of Orange and therefore would not provide move -up housing within the City of Santa Ana, None of the four alternative locations are zoned for LR -7 and R -1. While each parcel may be developed with uses that are compatible with surrounding uses, alternative locations would not meet the objective of preventing further dilapidation of the project site. (EIR, p. 7 -3) 39 "Exhibit A"