2014-069 - Final Environmental Impact Report No. 2014-01

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HARBOR BLVD. MIXED USE TRANSIT CORRIDOR PLAN FINAL FIR CITY OF SANTA ANA 5. Environmental Analysis 5.8 LAND USE AND PLANNING This section of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) evaluates the potential impacts to land use in the City of Santa Ana from implementation of the Harbor Boulevard Mixed Use Transit Corridor Plan. This section is based on the proposed zoning designations and land uses described in detail in Chapter 3, Project Desenpfion, and shown in Figure 3 -4, Proposed Land Use Districts and Zoning Designations. The proposed project has been evaluated to determine its consistency with relevant goals and policies of the City of Santa Ana General Plan and for consistency with the City's zoning code. In addition, the proposed project has been evaluated for consistency with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP /SCS) and Compass Growth Vision. Land use impacts can be direct or indirect. Direct impacts are land use incompatibilities, division of neighborhoods or communities, or interference with other land use plans, including habitat or wildlife conservation plans. This section focuses on direct land use impacts. Indirect impacts are secondary effects resulting from land use policy implementation, such as an increase in demand for public utilities or services, or increased traffic on roadways. Indirect impacts are addressed in other topical sections of this EIR. 5.8.1 Environmental Setting As shown in Figures 3 -2, Local Vicinity, and 3 -3, Aerial Photograph, the project area comprises approximately 425 acres oriented to Harbor Boulevard in the City of Santa Ana, which is in central Orange County. The project area generally includes parcels adjacent to Harbor Boulevard between Westminster Avenue and Lilac Way and parcels along Westminster Avenue, 1st Street, and 5th Street one -half mile east of Harbor Boulevard. The corridor's northern and southern ends are adjacent to the city boundaries of Garden Grove and Fountain Valley, respectively. Existing Land Uses The project area currently contains roughly two million square feet of commercial uses distributed fairly evenly along the corridor. Existing commercial uses occur both at midblock locations and at intersections and are dominated by auto service and sales, but also include grocery stores, service businesses, and restaurants. The project area contains 739 residential units, including multifamily residential and mobile home communities accessed from Harbor Boulevard and single - family residential areas along Jackson Street. The project area also contains the Willowick Golf Course (an operating 18 hole public golf course), Cesar Chavez /Campesino Park, and Santa Anita Park. Existing uses are shown in Figure 3 -3, Aerial Photograph. Surrounding Land Uses The project area is in a highly urban, built out portion of the City. It is generally surrounded by residential uses, which vary widely in character and density and include single - family neighborhoods, apartment complexes, and mobile home communities. Most of the surrounding residential uses are accessed from streets perpendicular to Harbor Boulevard and not from Harbor Boulevard itself. October 2014 Page 5.8 -1