Section 3A Land Use
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Section 3A Land Use 3A.1 Summary The following is a summary of the proposed project’s potential impacts to land use, any necessary mitigation measures, and the level of significance after mitigation. Significance Potential Impact Mitigation Measure(s) after mitigation SANTIAGO HILLS II PLANNED COMMUNITY Potential Impact 3A-1. No mitigation was included in 2000 SEIR 1278. Less than Division of Established No new mitigation is required. significant Community Potential Impact 3A-2. MM-LU-1 from 2000 SEIR 1278 has been implemented by the Less than Conflict with Applicable Land proposed project and would no longer be applicable. (For significant Use Plans MM-LU-2 from 2000 SEIR 1278, see Section 3I, Visual Resources.) 2000 SEIR 1278 mitigation measure that has been partially implemented by the proposed project but the remainder continues to be applicable: MM LU-3. Limit grading (implemented), prepare tree survey (implemented), and provide tree replacement and monitoring to reduce impacts to Irvine Regional Park. No new mitigation is required. Potential Impact 3A-3. No mitigation was included in 2000 SEIR 1278. Less than Conflict with Applicable HCP or No new mitigation is required. significant NCCP EAST ORANGE PLANNED COMMUNITY – AREA 1 Potential Impact 3A-1. No mitigation is required. Less than Division of Established significant Community Potential Impact 3A-2. No mitigation is required. Less than Conflict with Applicable Land significant Use Plans Potential Impact 3A-3. No mitigation is required. Less than Conflict with Applicable HCP or significant NCCP EAST ORANGE PLANNED COMMUNITY – AREAS 2 AND 3 AND REMAINING AREAS Potential Impact 3A-1. No mitigation is required. Less than Division of Established significant Community Santiago Hills II and East Orange October 2004 Planned Communities Draft SEIR/EIR 3A-1 J&S 03005.03 City of Orange 3A. Land Use Significance Potential Impact Mitigation Measure(s) after mitigation Potential Impact 3A-2. No mitigation is required. Less than Conflict with Applicable Land significant Use Plans Potential Impact 3A-3. No mitigation is required. Less than Conflict with Applicable HCP or significant NCCP 3A.2 Introduction This section analyzes the potential impacts of the proposed project on land use and on the project’s consistency with applicable land use plans. Land use plans include the County General Plan, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Transportation Plan and Regional Comprehensive Plan, the adopted City General Plan and East Orange General Plan, and the City Integrated General Plan. Public and agency comments received during the review of the notice of preparation and scoping meetings were considered during the analysis of potential impacts to land use. SCAG reminded the City that the EIR must discuss inconsistencies between the proposed project and the applicable general and regional plans. The County LAFCO requested that this Draft SEIR/EIR address any future amendments to the City’s Sphere of Influence that might result from the proposed development and annexation. (The City does not propose to change the boundaries of its Sphere of Influence at this time, so no further discussion of changes to the Sphere of Influence is included in this document.) Comments on land use received from the public included requests for other land uses within the project area and questions about the project’s compatibility with local and regional land use plans, policies and regulations. See Appendix A-4 for a list of comments received during scoping. 3A.3 Setting 3A.3.1 Regional Setting The proposed project is in unincorporated Orange County within the eastern portion of the City Sphere of Influence. It adjoins both sides of SR-241 and Santiago Canyon Road, as described in Chapter 2, Project Description, of this Draft SEIR/EIR. The proposed project site and the lands to its north, south, and east are largely undeveloped and include dedicated parks and open-space lands. The corporate boundaries of the City encompass a land area of 24 square miles, with a Sphere of Influence of 55 square miles. The Sphere of Influence describes the unincorporated County area adjoining the City that comprises its “probable physical boundaries and service area,” as determined by the County LAFCO (Government Code Section 56076). Land must be within the City’s Sphere of Influence before it may be annexed to the City. Until such time as they are annexed, lands within the Sphere of Influence are subject to County (not City) land use policies and regulations. Santiago Hills II and East Orange October 2004 Planned Communities Draft SEIR/EIR 3A-2 J&S 03005.03 City of Orange 3A. Land Use 3A.3.2 Existing Site Characteristics The proposed project area consists of a series of steep hills and valleys on the southern flank of the Santa Ana Mountains, with the eastern part of the site being somewhat steeper and more varied than the western part. The Santiago Hills II Planned Community portion of the site is west of SR-241/261. It is undeveloped, with the exception of a 6 million-gallon water reservoir owned by IRWD and a Christmas tree farm at the northwest corner of Jamboree Road and Santiago Canyon Road. The proposed Santiago Hills II Planned Community portion of the site is crossed by Santiago Canyon Road and adjoins Jamboree Road. The East Orange Planned Community is located east of SR-241/261. East Orange Planned Community Area 1 is generally located north of Santiago Canyon Road, west and south of the closed Santiago Canyon Landfill, and east of SR-241/261. East Orange Planned Community Area 2 consists of steep hills and drainages on the north side of Santiago Canyon Road and east of the closed Santiago Canyon Landfill and Irvine Lake. East Orange Planned Community Area 3 is located on the south side of Santiago Canyon Road, east of East Orange Planned Community Area 2. East Orange Planned Community Areas 1, 2, and 3 are adjoined by permanently protected open space, including IRLR and The Nature Reserve, established by the Central/Coastal NCCP. The now-closed Santiago Canyon Landfill is located adjacent to the west side of Irvine Lake, north of Santiago Canyon Road. The landfill was operated by the County and is currently being capped. Eventually, the landfill slopes will be restored with native plant communities. East of the landfill is the 570-acre Irvine Lake, which is fed by flows from Santiago and Limestone Canyon Creeks. Irvine Lake, which is privately owned, offers a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, camping, rental boats, and hiking. Other facilities include a café and a bait and tackle shop. East of the reservoir, Black Star, Santiago, and Limestone Canyons contain well-developed riparian communities. A concrete batch plant is located on the eastern end of Irvine Lake in the Santiago Creek arm of the reservoir. It adjoins the site of a prior surface mining operation that is now being reclaimed. Reclamation efforts have resulted in the filling and leveling of the mining areas so that they are now above the level of Irvine Lake. 3A.3.3 Surrounding Land Uses The proposed project site is adjoined by the City of Orange to the west and unincorporated Orange County to the east. The Santiago Hills I residential development adjoins the western end of the proposed project site, as does Santiago Canyon College. Santiago Hills I includes both attached and detached dwellings, a school, police substation, fire station, and a neighborhood commercial center. In general, the lands are urbanized west of the project area in the City, to the southwest in Tustin, to the south in Irvine, and to the north in Anaheim. Santiago Canyon College is the 82-acre eastern campus of the Rancho Santiago Community College District. It offers a full curriculum to a student population exceeding 5,000. On the basis of a $337 million bond for renovation and new construction at Santiago Canyon College and the district’s Santa Ana College, the district will build a new student services building, library/learning center, science building, student activity and sports center, and parking facilities. Upon completion in approximately Santiago Hills II and East Orange October 2004 Planned Communities Draft SEIR/EIR 3A-3 J&S 03005.03 City of Orange 3A. Land Use 2018, Santiago Canyon College will have the capacity to meet the needs of a projected 20,000 students (Santiago Canyon College 2004). The proposed project area is bisected by SR-241/261 and Santiago Canyon Road and is surrounded by a range of existing land uses. On the west side of SR-241/261, Irvine Regional Park is north of the proposed site and Peters Canyon Regional Park flanks the area to the southwest. East of SR-241/261, extensive areas of natural open space abut the development areas, principally to the north and east. These open space areas include The Nature Reserve and IRLR. The western boundary of the Cleveland National Forest is approximately 2 to 3 miles east of the project area’s easternmost point. Irvine Regional Park encompasses approximately 477 acres. The park contains two lakes, an excursion railroad, and the Orange County Zoo. A variety of activities are available within the park, including picnicking, horseback riding, pony rides, and bicycling. Peters Canyon Regional Park occupies 354 acres west of SR-241/261 and south/east of Irvine Regional Park. It is a nature park with picnic areas and hiking/biking/equestrian trails. Portions of the Santiago Hills II and East Orange Planned Communities study area are included in the Central/Coastal NCCP. A reserve and associated implementation agreement specifying additional funding, adaptive management, and impact minimization measures were developed to protect the target species and habitat.