ON THE AGENDA Here are some of...
ON THE AGENDA
Here are some of the issues the Planning Commission will consider
tonight.
BIRCH BAYVIEW PLAZA II
Three office buildings are planned for five parcels in between
Acacia Street in Santa Ana Heights, pending a traffic study and a use
permit that the Planning Commission will consider. The project, Birch
Bayview Plaza II, will be on the site of what are now three vacant
lots at 20322 Acacia St. and two not-yet vacant lots directly behind
them at 20341 and 20351 Birch St. The houses now there are slated for
demolition soon.
The office buildings will have 46,000 square feet and will include
172 parking spaces.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Normally, this project wouldn’t come before the Planning
Commission at all -- the Planning Department director is charged with
considering use permits of this nature. But the city’s traffic
phasing ordinance requires that a traffic study be done on this
project, which is why it must go before the Planning Commission. The
Santa Ana Heights Project Advisory Committee has already weighed in
on the project and doesn’t have any serious concerns. Don’t expect
much controversy on this item.
COAST HIGHWAY CHEVRON
The Chevron station at 301 E. Coast Highway will be demolished and
replaced with a new station and food mart if the Planning Commission
approves a permit request. The project would be the first service
station to fall under the city’s service station guidelines, which
were approved several years ago to govern the design of new service
stations. The new Chevron is designed to blend in with the area.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The station’s predecessor inspired a few complaints from neighbors
who said that employees parked in the street. Commissioner Ed Selich
said that he plans to suggest that employees of the new station can
only park on service station property.
ANNEXATION ZONING
The commission will consider whether to recommend a plan for
formal zoning of West Santa Ana Heights, the Santa Ana Country Club
and a small parcel nearby called the Emerson Tract. The county
requires the city to create formal zoning for the area before
annexing it, to avoid any confusion or dispute later about what the
land can be used for.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The recommended zoning doesn’t change the county’s land
designations for the area. Because the new zoning is for
administrative purposes, it’s likely it will win easy approval at the
commission and then move on to the City Council.
-- Compiled by
June Casagrande
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