2018-014 - Approving Variance No. 2017-07

Home Browse Search

4. That the granting of a variance will not adversely affect the General Plan of the city. The Hampton Inn by Hilton hotel will support several goals and policies of the General Plan, including Goals 2 and 3 of the Economic Development Element to maintain and enhance the diversity of the City's economic base and increase Santa Ana's share of the regional economy. The hotel will increase Santa Ana's contribution to the hospitality and tourism sector of the regional economy and will be subject to the City's Hotel Visitors' Tax, generating revenue for the City. The project also supports Goals 1, 2 and 4 of the Land Use Element to encourage uses that promote a balance of land uses that address basic community needs, promote land uses which enhance the City's economic and fiscal viability, and to protect and enhance development sites and districts which are unique community assets that enhance the quality of life. The site is located off an arterial street and is easily accessible from the 1-5 Freeway making it a prominent building within Santa Ana. The development will rehabilitate a property that is underutilized and will increase capital investment. Two historic structures, the MacFarlane and Melton Houses, will be retained and reused as a restaurant. In addition, the hotel is in character with the Museum District, an office and cultural center that promotes visitors from outside of Santa Ana. Conditions of approval will also ensure that the project remains compatible with surrounding land uses. ection 2. Mitigated Negative Declaration (Environmental Review No. 2017- 96) and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program was prepared with respect to this project. The City Council has, as a result of its consideration of the record as a whole and the evidence presented at the hearings on this matter, determined that, as required pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the State CEQA Guidelines, Environmental Review No. 2017-96 meets all the requirements of CEQA. Section 3. The Applicant agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the City of Santa Ana, its officials, officers, agents, and employees, from any and all liability, claims, actions or proceedings that may be brought arising out of its approval of this project, and any approvals associated with the project, including without limitation, any environmental review or approval, except to the extent caused by the sole negligence of the City of Santa Ana. Section 4. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana, after conducting the public hearing, hereby approves Variance No. 2017-07 as conditioned in "Exhibit A" attached hereto and incorporated as though fully set forth herein. This decision is based upon the evidence submitted at the above said hearing, which includes, but is not limited to: the Request for Council Action dated February 20, 2018, and exhibits attached thereto; and the public testimony, written and oral, all of which are incorporated herein by this reference. Resolution No. 2018-014 Page 4 of 7