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

Home Browse Search

Section 7. Findings for Variance No. 2012- 04(b). Development of the proposed Project requires approval of Variance No. 2012 -04(b) to allow one new lot in the development with less than 50 feet of street frontage in the Single - Family Residence (R -1) zoning district. Section 41- 237(b) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code requires lots in the Single - Family Residence (R -1) zoning district to have at least 50 feet of street frontage, as measured from the back of the setback, while the applicant is proposing to reduce the street frontage to 41 feet for Lot No. 12. The City Council determines that the following findings which must be established, pursuant to Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41 -638, in order to grant a variance, have been established: A. That because of special circumstances applicable to the subject property, including size, shape, topography, location or surroundings, that the strict application of the zoning ordinance is found to deprive the subject property of privileges not otherwise at variance with the intent and purpose of the provisions of this Chapter. The project site has a special circumstance related to its size, shape and location. The subject site is a five -acre rectangular shaped parcel that will be constrained by the application of a County street standard to the project. In order to provide a larger street area for trash trucks and similar sized vehicles to maneuver, a County's standard for the design of "knuckles" was imposed on this project. The County standard required the taking of more land than proposed, which impacted the applicant's ability to meet the minimum street standard for an R -1 project. Therefore, applying the strict letter of the Code would, in this particular case, deprive the subject property of a use that is otherwise allowed by right in the zone and would deprive the subject property of privileges not otherwise at variance with the intent and purpose of the provisions of this chapter. B. That the granting of a variance is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of one or more substantial property rights. The granting of the variance is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of substantial property rights. Compliance with the street frontage standard could result in the loss of residential units, which would reduce the feasibility of the proposed use of the property, which impacts the property rights of the owners. Further, the granting of the street frontage variance will preserve the property owners right to develop the property with a use that is allowed by right in the R -1 zoning district and is consistent with the general plan. The new use will allow the development of a vacant property which will preserve the property owners right to develop their property. C. That the granting of a variance will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to surrounding property. Resolution No. 2014 -060 Page 7 of 12