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Home My WebLink About08 TUSTIN RESPONSE TO EIR FOR SANTA ANA MIXED USE PROJ.Agenda Item a Reviewed.' AGENDA REPORT City Managerr�l Finance Director MEETING DATE: AUGUST 18, 2015 TO: JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: TUSTIN RESPONSE TO DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR CITY OF SANTA ANA HERITAGE MIXED USE PROJECT SUMMARY: Tustin City Council concurrence is requested for the City of Tustin's (the City) response to the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Heritage Mixed Use Project in Santa Ana. The proposed project would redevelop an 18.84 -acre site at 2001 East Dyer Road and provide 1,221 apartments, 12,675 square feet of retail commercial space, 5,415 square feet of restaurant space in three (3) buildings and 56,000 square feet of office space in a separate two-story building. The project would require a General Plan Amendment, Zone Change, a Development Agreement, Site Plan Review approval, and a Vesting Map. RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council direct staff to forward the attached response letter to the City of Santa Ana. FISCAL IMPACT: There are no fiscal impacts associated with this action. CORRELATION TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN: Staff's review of the DEIR for the Heritage Mixed Use Project falls under Goal D of the Strategic Plan pertaining to strong community and regional relationships. The City strives to work collaboratively with agencies both within and outside Tustin on issues of mutual interest and concern. BACKGROUND: The proposed project would redevelop an 18.84 -acre site at 2001 East Dyer Road and provide 1,221 apartments, 12,675 square feet of retail commercial space, 5,415 square feet of restaurant space in three (3) buildings and 56,000 square feet of office space in a City Council Agenda Report DEIR for Heritage Mixed Use Project August 18, 2015 Page 2 separate two-story building. Also proposed is a public 1.26 -acre central park and approximately 327,000 square feet of private open space within courtyards, common areas, roof terraces, perimeter plazas, and other open space areas. The project requires a General Plan Amendment from Professional and Administrative Office to District Center, a Zone Change from Light Industrial to Specific Development, a Development Agreement, and a Vesting Map City staff has reviewed the subject DEIR. Based on concerns related to traffic and impacts to City parks, staff believes that it is in the City's interest to be on record regarding this matter and has prepared correspondence expressing the City's concerns regarding the DEIR (Attachment). Staff requests that the Tustin City Council review and consider these comments and, if acceptable, concur with their formal transmittal to the City of Santa Ana. Scott Reekstin Principal Planner Attachment: Draft Comment Response Letter Elizabeth A. Binsack Community Development Director August 19, 2015 Mr. Vince C. Fregoso, AICP City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza, M-20 P.O. Box 1988 Santa Ana, CA 92702 SUBJECT: REVIEW OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE CITY OF SANTA ANA HERITAGE MIXED USE PROJECT Dear Mr. Fregoso: Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Heritage Mixed Use Project in the City of Santa Ana. According to the DEIR, the proposed project would redevelop an 18.84 -acre site at 2001 East Dyer Road and provide 1,221 apartments, 12,675 square feet of retail commercial space, 5,415 square feet of restaurant space in three (3) buildings and 56,000 square feet of office space in a separate two-story building. The project would require a General Plan Amendment, Zone Change, a Development Agreement, Site Plan Review approval, and a Vesting Map. The City of Tustin offers the following comments at this time: 1. The DEIR should include a study that analyzes how far residents in a suburban community are willing to travel to reach a community park. According to Table 3.12-1 on page 3.12-1 of the DEIR, the nearest City of Santa Ana parks are approximately two (2) to three (3) miles from the project site. As a comparison, the study should analyze the distances from other similar existing City of Santa Ana residential neighborhoods to their nearest community parks. In addition, Table 3.12-2 on page 3.12-2 of the DEIR, which lists City of Tustin and City of Irvine parks within the vicinity of the project site, should be modified to include the existing and proposed public parks within the Tustin Legacy master planned community, which is directly adjacent to the project site. The locations of the Tustin Legacy parks are depicted on the attached site map. The parks include Legacy Park, Veterans Sports Park, Victory Park, and Greenwood Park. 2. If park land for active sports recreation is not required for the proposed project, residents of the project may be unable to find available, suitable, and conveniently located sports parks in Santa Ana and may negatively impact parks and overburden sports park facilities in adjacent jurisdictions, including Tustin. These impacts must be mitigated. The DEIR should focus on the potential to physically deteriorate existing and future recreational facilities in the City of Tustin, as the nearest existing and planned large scale recreational facilities are located in the City of Tustin. Mr. Vince Fregoso Heritage Mixed Use DEIR August 19, 2015 Page 2 3. It is stated on page 3.12-6 of the DEIR that the "provision of more than the required amount of onsite park and recreational facilities would provide facilities for the project population, such that a limited increased usage at other park and recreation facilities in the region is anticipated to occur. Thus, the project would not result in a substantial acceleration of physical deterioration of existing facilities, and impacts would be less than significant." However, this statement is not supported by any studies in the DEIR, which should analyze the actual anticipated usage of existing and proposed parks in the City of Tustin that will offer sports -oriented recreational facilities and playing fields that will not be provided as part of the Heritage Mixed Use Project. , 4. The parking space requirements for the project are determined based on the proposed land uses and are identified on Page 2-11 of the DEIR. There are 288 non- residential parking spaces proposed, which are assumed to serve the public uses within the 5.8 acres assigned for public open space. The locations of these spaces appear to be spread out across the site plan and it is not clear if the spaces will be conveniently located to serve the public uses. The DEIR should identify the locations of the parking spaces that will serve the public uses. _ 5. The City of Tustin requested that the traffic study area should include the intersections and roadway segments along Warner Avenue and Edinger Avenue between Jamboree Road and Red Hill Avenue. In addition, the Red Hill Avenue/1-5 interchange ramp intersections, along with the adjacent intersections at Nisson Road and EI Camino Real, should be included. The traffic analysis does address the majority of signalized intersections within the study area, but does not include the analysis of Red Hill Avenue/Carnegie Avenue and Red Hill Avenue/Bell Avenue. These two (2) intersections should be included as part of the traffic analysis. 6. Improvements are planned along Red Hill Avenue, including signal upgrades at Carnegie Avenue, new signals at Bell Avenue, widening of northbound Red Hill Avenue, and installation of a raised median between Dyer Road/Barranca Parkway and Industrial Drive/Parkway Loop. The project should pay its fair share towards the cost of these improvements. 7. There is some project trip distribution to the northerly side of Tustin Legacy on Valencia Avenue via Red Hill Avenue, but there are no assumptions to/from The District at Tustin Legacy or anywhere in Tustin Legacy's Neighborhoods D or E. The traffic forecasting methodology appears to utilize an additive approach to reflect the project. A project of this size (ADT = 9,500) should be modeled to capture any redistribution that occurs, especially with a change from a non-residential use to a large mixed use project. Please explain in the DEIR the reasoning for the traffic Mr. Vince Fregoso Heritage Mixed Use DEIR August 19, 2015 Page 3 forecasting methodology used and the lack of project trip distribution to the adjacent uses in the southern portions of Tustin Legacy. 8. The project includes a right-in/right-out only access on Red Hill Avenue to serve the project. As indicated previously, the City of Tustin will be installing a raised, landscaped median on Red Hill Avenue in the area of this project that will prevent left turn access on all of Red Hill Avenue except at existing street intersections. The City of Tustin appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on this project and the DEIR. I would appreciate receiving a copy of the Final EIR when it becomes available. If you have any questions regarding the City's comments, please call me at (714) 573-3016 or Krys Saldivar, Public Works Manager, at (714) 573-3172. Sincerely, Scott Reekstin Principal Planner Attachment—Tustin Legacy Site Map cc: Elizabeth A. Binsack, Community Development Director Douglas S. Stack, Public Works Director Ken Nishikawa, Deputy Director of Public Works/Engineering Justina Willkom, Assistant Director— Planning Krys Saldivar, Public Works Manager S:\Cdd\SCOTT\Environmental etc\Santa Ana Heritage Project DEIR Letter.DOC 5 I - - - - - _ _ - LEGEND 1 1. Heritage School 11 + I 7. Vele rans Sports Park , 3.1x Social Services I y i I 4. Future City of Tustin L I »� j +� Z ,• f I Facility I I 10 y 1Z �. t f I 11I S- OC Rescue M I ssion j I i ATEP Campus ($000CD) 1 i7. DC Sheriff's Training Vxtxram 13 Spares Ylr4 4911& 7 C El 7 � r Ifaihn!I!I_f.iY!!.L 9b J BUILT AND ENTITLED PROJECTS TUSTIN I CA Center I 17 1 1 22 E , & Rancl+o Santiago College I j I 0istrrct Sheriff's Training 1 14' iVOM22ullo i4 1 I 1 Facility 1 1 9a. Cornerstone 1 - II F �HnCS SIQ�i[�IR�a. I � Sdroli •. 'I ,. 1 [ ooprox, 860.0005f I 9b. Cornerstone 2 I 10 I I 8usinrss�CEIR&❑ 1 77 L J1,075 I_ 1 10. C01um6us Square- ! itf ia 11. Fire Station 37 ' i 1 , 12. Regency Centrr- I 15 q 9 17 ' , Shopping center I �� I 13. DC Regional Park 1 14, Future High School I 17 I ' IS. Neighborhood 0 1 Ley« ; Com mu n ity Corr -891 1 4 , Residential Units & Mixed I 2 16 'Amalfi i f I lfi. Apartments -533 I 1 / r 1 Res+denty) Units O ; ' 17.NeighharhoodG-6!a ' ' Remdent,al Units [d�me.s 6re.e 1' • 19. Standard Pacific Homes [ ,e�7;;.GISt ICar , 1 - 375 Residenticl Un,ts & I l.R3iC C;I2ffi' I Greenwood porfr I i l 1 I 19. Anton legacy Apartments - 125 31»� 1 affotdabie RCsidenrml Units ' & vxra.y Pork I - 1 20. The District -Shopping I nwvl, atrs I Center I ® 1 21. Tustin NEW I - 376 1 ^•wl Reudenvol Units I 1 22. Tustin Field II - 189 Residential Units 1 I , 23. Columbus Grove - 465 I I Residential Units I