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

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Sexlinger Farmhouse and Orchard Residentlel Development Project CEQA Findings Finding: The City Council hereby rejects this alternative on grounds that (t) it meets only one of the project's four objectives, and (2) it may result in increased impacts relating to noise, land use compatibility, and traffic and parking. 6. Alternative Project Design /Cul De Sac Alternative Description: This alternative proposes development of approximately 23 single family residences and eliminates the through - connection of the project with the south leg of Lyon Street. Impacts: This alternative would result in significant and unavoidable impacts to cultural resources, due to the demolition of the residential structures on the property. This alternative may also result in increased impacts relating to transportation and traffic. With implementation of a cul de sac, access will be limited for emergency vehicles including police and fire services through the prej ect site. Further, the alternative would not satisfy the City's turning radius for cul de sac roads, which may result in impacts related to a hazardous design feature. (EIR, p. 7 -12,) This alternative may also result in land use and planning impacts, given that currently, Lyon Street is a dead end road with a stub -out for a planning future connection. Lyon Street was planned to be a connection by the City of Santa Ana. Objectives: This project would meet each of the four project objectives, given that it would provide "move -up" housing within the City, develop the project site with residential uses consistent with the zoning and land use designations, would develop the site with uses compatible with the surrounding area, and would prevent further dilapidation of the project site. Finding: The City Council hereby rejects this alternative on grounds that (1) it results in significant and unavoidable impacts to cultural resources, and (2) increases impacts relating to traffic and land use planning. 7. Lower Density Alternative Description: This alternative would develop the project site with fewer than 24 single - family residences, and result in larger lot subdivisions and larger estate type houses. Impacts: This alternative would result in significant and unavoidable impacts to cultural resources due to the demolition of the existing historic structures. However, this alternative may reduce other less than significant impacts, due to the fact that fewer units will be constructed. However, the project as currently proposed includes only 22 new single - family residences. To reduce the less than significant impacts of the project as currently proposed, this alternative would need to develop fewer than 22 new residences. Objectives: This alternative would meet project objectives for providing "move -up" housing within the City, and for developing the site with residential uses consistent with the current land uses designation. This alternative would also meet the project objective of preventing further dilapidation onsite. However, this alternative would only partially meet the objective of developing the site with uses that are compatible with the surrounding uses. This alternative would not be compatible with existing surrounding uses of non - estate typo housing. (BIR, pp. 7- 13 through 7 -15.) 41 "Exhibit A"