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

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Harbor Boulevard Mixed Use Transit Corridor Plan Findings and Facts in Support of Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations The Harbor Corridor Plan emphasizes a sustainable multimodal approach consistent with the City's Go Local Transit Vision, which aims to link downtown, employment centers, educational facilities, and expanded housing choices. The project proposes mixed -use and residential, pedestrian- oriented development at high densities that would support increased transit use — within the three transit nodes surrounding the intersections of Harbor Boulevard at 17th Street, 1st Street, and McFadden Avenue. A limited -stop bus route, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Route 543, began service on Harbor Boulevard between Fullerton and Santa Ana, through the project site, in June 2013. Route 543 has stops at each of the three proposed transit nodes. Development of a light -rail transit line on the Pacific Electric right -of -way that passes through the north end of the project site was recommended by an Alternatives Analysis completed by the Southern California Association of Governments in February 2013 (SCAG 2013). A fixed guideway transit project on the part of the Pacific Electric right -of -way in Santa Ana and Garden Grove is part of the Preferred Plan in OCTA's Long Range Transit Plan (OCTA 2011). Completion of a transit line on the portion of the right -of -way in Los Angeles County is scheduled for 2027 (Metro 2009). In addition to providing jobs and housing near a major transportation corridor, the Harbor Corridor Plan continues to recognize the important role Harbor Boulevard plays in circulating vehicular traffic through the region by maintaining the number of traffic lanes. The Harbor Corridor Plan also encourages consolidated vehicular access points along the corridor. The Harbor Corridor Plan proposes improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities and linkages by creating a pedestrian - friendly streetscape, encouraging a variety of building frontages and decreased setbacks. New street designs facilitate safe bicycle and pedestrian travel along Harbor Boulevard and efficient connections to the regional bicycle network, including the Santa Ana River Trail. Although the Harbor Corridor Plan would result in substantial population growth, it would provide an overall benefit to the community by encouraging walkability and alternative transportation. The Harbor Corridor Plan is a sustainable multimodal plan that at buildout encourages the reduction of per- capita vehicle miles traveled for the region, which is one of the goals of SCAG's Compass Blueprint for HQTAs. By providing additional commercial square footage in the area, commuters would not need to travel outside the City to other areas of Orange County for employment. C. THE HARBOR CORRIDOR PLAN IMPROVES THE JOBS -TO- HOUSING BALANCE IN THE CITY Implementation of the project would improve Santa Ana's jobs- housing balance. Effects of Harbor Corridor Plan buildout on jobs- housing balance in the City are estimated by adding project - generated jobs and housing units to forecasts of employment and housing in the City of Santa Ana in 2035 (see Table 3). As shown in the table, Santa Ana's existing jobs- housing ratio is 1.87, or jobs -rich. The jobs- housing ratio is forecast to become slightly more jobs -rich (1.91) by 2035. Buildout of the Harbor Corridor plan would develop up to 4,623 housing units, a net increase of 3,884 units over the existing 739 units onsite; and would add an estimated net increase of 173 jobs to the site. The jobs- housing balance in Santa Ana with project buildout added to existing forecast would 49 July 2014