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boasting prominent arches, pillars, windows, and railings. Though conflicting options were <br />offered at the hearing, evidence indicates that the Property is slopped upwards towards the <br />Residence, resulting in the Residence sitting at a higher elevation than the public right-of-way <br />and surrounding residences. These features and architectural stylings of the Residence are <br />compatible with a front yard wall of greater height than would be appropriate for a standard <br />residence. <br />The stated purposes of the City's Zoning Code include: ensuring the most appropriate use of <br />land; conserving and stabilizing property values; providing adequate open spaces for light and <br />air; and promoting the health, safety, and general welfare of residents as part of the General Plan. <br />(Code § 41-1.) <br />The Application furthers these purposes by: facilitating the use and enjoyment of privately <br />owned residential property; creating open yard space; and fostering the improvement and <br />adaptive use of property in a manner that respects the heritage of a historically significant <br />structure. <br />The City has also adopted "Design Guidelines and Development Standards" ("Design Standards" <br />or "Standards") to "supplement" and provide guidance for administering the City of Santa Ana <br />Zoning Code. These Design Standards were referenced in the staff report and in comments / <br />testimony provided by the public. <br />Among the primary objectives of the Design Standards are: to update existing design guidelines <br />to reflect changes in local development trends and offer progressive design solutions; maximize <br />the freedom, creativity and innovation of architectural design in the City; protect City residents <br />from unsafe or unsightly conditions; and preserve and maximize the character and history of the <br />City. <br />The Application is consistent with these objectives by: implementing a progressive design <br />solution to current development trends that are reflective of societal desires for safe, secure, and <br />private outdoor spaces shielded from vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and protective of personal <br />privacy interests; providing a free, creative, and innovative architectural design for a new feature <br />to a historically significant property; providing a safe and secure outdoor space for occupants and <br />owners of the Property; protecting the public from unsightly conditions by implementing design <br />elements that are consistent with the architecture, styling, size, and scale of the Residence, while <br />preserving, complementing, and paying tribute to its historically significant features; and <br />preserving and maximizing the history of the City by contributing to the uniqueness and <br />character of homes in Floral Park. <br />The Design Standards specifically address additions to historical structures, beginning by <br />acknowledging that additions may be necessary or desirable to ensure continued use. The <br />Standards then outline various design considerations governing additions to historical buildings, <br />including: preserving significant historic and architectural features, details, and materials of <br />existing buildings; avoiding creation of a faux historical look; designs that clearly delineate the <br />historic from the new; and preserving and complimenting the overall character, scale proportion, <br />massing, and detailing of the original structure. On this last point, the Design Standards indicate <br />