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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 12, 2020
ACTION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE SANTA ANA PLANNING COMMISSION
OCTOBER 12, 2020
CALLED TO ORDER VIRTUAL MEETING
CITY HALL, ROSS ANNEX
20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, ROOM 1600
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA
5:32 P.M. ATTENDANCE COMMISSIONERS Present:
CYNTHIA CONTRERAS-LEO, Vice Chair
NORMA GARCIA (joined at 5:41 p.m.)
MARK MCLOUGHLIN, Chair KENNETH NGUYEN
THOMAS MORRISSEY
V. THAI PHAN
FELIX RIVERA
COMMISSIONERS Absent: None.
PLANNING & BUILDING AGENCY STAFF Present:
MINH THAI, Executive Director VINCE FREGOSO, Planning Manager
LISA STORCK, Assistant City Attorney
ALI PEZESHKPOUR, Senior Planner
PEDRO GOMEZ, Associate Planner
SELENA KELAHER, Associate Planner
SARAH BERNAL, Recording Secretary
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PUBLIC COMMENTS (on non-agenda items): None.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
*All votes were taken by roll call
A. MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 REGULAR MEETING
MOTION: Approve the minutes.
MOTION: Nguyen SECOND: Contreras-Leo
VOTE: AYES: Contreras-Leo, McLoughlin, Nguyen, Phan, Rivera (5)
NOES: None (0)
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 12, 2020
ABSTAIN: Morrissey (1)
ABSENT: Garcia (1)
BUSINESS CALENDAR
PUBLIC HEARING
1. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW NO. 2018-13, SITE PLAN REVIEW NO. 2020-03, VARIANCE
NO. 2020-06 AND AMENDMENT APPLICATION NO. 2020-04 – Pedro Gomez, Case
Planner.
Commissioners McLoughlin, Contreras-Leo, Morrissey, Rivera and Phan disclosed that they discussed the project with the applicant.
LOCATION: 409 and 509 East Fourth Street located in the Transit Zoning Code (Specific
Development No. 84), Downtown subzone and Urban Neighborhood 2 subzone.
REQUEST: The applicant is requesting approval of the following land use entitlements: (1)
a site plan review to allow a mixed-use development project over four stories in height, (2)
a variance to deviate from allowable building size and massing and (3) an amendment
application to rezone Site B from Urban Neighborhood 2 (UN-2) subzone to Urban Center
(UC) subzone. In addition, the applicant is requesting approval and adoption of an addendum to the Environment Impact Report (EIR) for the Transit Zoning Code Project
(SCH NO. 2006071100) and adoption of a mitigation monitoring and reporting program for
the Site Plan Review, Variance, and Amendment Application.
Case Planner Gomez provided a staff presentation.
Commission discussion ensued regarding the housing opportunity ordinance, project
renderings, outdoor dining options, the transit zoning code map and the addendum to the
EIR,
Recording Secretary provided a summary report of written communication received.
Chair McLoughlin opened the public hearing. Representatives of the project spoke in
support of the matter; requested Condition No. 6 be modified to amend the timeline for the
completion of the art work; answered questions regarding outdoor space, architectural style
of the parking garage and affordable housing.
The following individuals spoke on the matter:
• Dave Elliot, spoke in support
• Ryan Chase, spoke in support
• Richard Drury, spoke in opposition.
• Laura (no last name), spoke in opposition
• Andre Robinson, spoke in support.
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 12, 2020
There were no other speakers and the public hearing was closed.
Vice Chair Contreras-Leo motioned to approve the matter with the following amendment to
Condition No. 6: Prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, a Public Art Plan must
be submitted to the Planning Division for review and approval, and shall include a timeline of the anticipated completion of the art work proposed which shall not be any longer than a
year after completion of the project; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Phan.
Commissioner Garcia introduced a friendly amendment to allow additional outdoor dining
areas, including the sidewalk, with review and approval conducted administratively by staff.
Assistant City Attorney Storck informed Commission that an application process is already in place for outdoor dining; no need for added condition. Further discussion ensued regarding screening the parking garage and the Housing Opportunity Ordinance
requirements.
MOTIONS as amended.
a) Adopt Resolution No 2020-33. A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN ADDENDUM TO
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE TRANSIT ZONING CODE
PROJECT (SCH NO. 2006071100) FOR SITE PLAN REVIEW NO. 2020-03 AND VARIANCE NO. 2020-06 AND ADOPTION OF A MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM FOR THE 4TH AND MORTIMER MIXED-USE
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT LOCATED AT 409 AND 509 EAST FOURTH STREET;
b) Adopt Resolution No 2020-34. A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING SITE PLAN REVIEW NO. 2020-03 AS
CONDITIONED FOR A NEW MIXED-USE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 409 EAST FOURTH STREET
(SITE A) AND 509 EAST FOURTH STREET (SITE B);
c) Adopt Resolution No 2020-35. A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING VARIANCE NO. 2020-06 AS
CONDITIONED TO ALLOW AN INCREASE IN THE ALLOWABLE BUILDING SIZE
AND MASSING ON SITE B AS PART OF A NEW MIXED-USE RESIDENTIAL AND
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 409 EAST FOURTH STREET (SITE A) AND 509 EAST FOURTH STREET (SITE B);
d) Recommend that the City Council adopt a Resolution: A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN
ADDENDUM TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE TRANSIT ZONING CODE PROJECT (SCH NO. 2006071100) FOR AMENDMENT APPLICATION NO. 2020-04 AND ADOPTION OF A MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING
PROGRAM FOR THE 4TH AND MORTIMER MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
LOCATED AT 409 AND 509 EAST FOURTH STREET; and
e) Recommend that the City Council adopt an Ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF THE
CITY COUNCIL APPROVING AMENDMENT APPLICATION NO. 2020-04 MODIFYING
THE SUB-ZONING DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 501, 507,
509, 515, AND 519 EAST FOURTH STREET AND THOSE AT 502, 506, 510, 514, 520
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 12, 2020
EAST FIFTH STREET FROM SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT NO. 84, URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD 2 (UN-2) SUB-ZONE, TO THE URBAN CENTER (UC) SUB-ZONE
MOTION: Contreras-Leo
SECOND: Phan
VOTE: AYES: Contreras-Leo, Garcia, McLoughlin, Morrissey, Nguyen, Phan,
Rivera (7) NOES: None (0)
ABSTAIN: None (0)
ABSENT: None(0)
***END OF BUSINESS CALENDAR***
WORK STUDY CALENDAR
2. REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE PROPOSED PROJECT LOCATED AT 1801 EAST FOURTH
STREET.
Commissioner Phan recused herself from discussion due to a conflict of interest; her
employer, Ruttan & Tucker, represents the applicant.
Case Planner Kelaher provided a presentation which included information on the following:
• Project Location & Zoning
• Site Photos
• Project Details
• Development Standards
• Site Plan and Conceptual
Landscape Plan
• Open Space
• Renderings
• Required Entitlements
• Next Steps
Commission discussion ensued regarding types of units, unit size, affordable housing, open
space, landscape, and the parking structure. The applicant spoke in support of the project
and answered questions regarding rental rate, interior/exterior materials, retail parking,
energy efficiency, and LEED.
**END OF WORK STUDY CALENDAR***
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 12, 2020
COMMENTS
3. STAFF COMMENTS:
Executive Director Thai: Proposed a Special Meeting on November 2 to consider the
General Plan Update; commission expressed concern with the proposed date. Staff will
reach out to each commissioner to check availability.
4. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS:
• Commissioner Morrissey: Would like City Council to adopt design guidelines for the
downtown historic district; would like more information on the design review process;
would like more time to review the staff reports.
• Commissioner Phan echoed Commissioner Morrissey’s comments and encouraged
everyone to complete the census survey.
• Chair McLoughlin echoed Commissioner Morrissey’s comments; would like the
Special Meeting to be held after November 2; thanked the applicants and staff.
8:15 P.M. – The next meeting will be on Monday, October 26, 2020 at 5:30 p.m.
Sarah Bernal
Recording Secretary
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