GARDEN GROVE CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ____________
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GARDEN GROVE APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. GPA-001-2025 TO AMEND THE CITY OF GARDEN GROVE’S GENERAL PLAN LAND USE MAP TO MODIFY THE GENERAL PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATION OF A 1.73 ACRE PORTION OF THE SUBJECT
PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SANTA CATALINA AVENUE,
NORTHWEST OF SANTA BARBARA AVENUE, BETWEEN VALLEY VIEW STREET AND ST. MARK STREET, AT 5802 SANTA CATALINA AVENUE, ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NO. 224-212-01 FROM LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (LDR) TO MEDIUM DENSITY
RESIDENTIAL (MDR)
WHEREAS, Neal Pafford, on behalf of Brandywine Homes, the applicant, submitted a request to rezone and subdivide an existing approximately 3.025 -acre lot located on the south side of Santa Catalina Avenue, northwest of Santa Barbara Avenue, between Valley View Street and St. Mark Street, at 5802 Santa Catalina Avenue, Assessor’s Parcel No. 224-212-01 (the “Property”) containing an operating religious facility into two parcel s to facilitate the development of a residential project on a new 1.73 -acre parcel consisting of twenty -six (26) condominium townhomes and associated site improvements, on a property; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has requested the following approvals to fac ilitate the proposed development: (i) a General Plan Amendment to change the General Plan Land Use Designation of a 1.73 -acre portion of the project site from Low Density Residential (LDR) to Medium Density Residential to facilitate the development of the residential project; (ii) a Zoning Map Amendment to change the zoning of a 1.73 -acre portion of the subject property from R -1 (Single -Family Residential) to R-3 (Multiple-Family Residential) to facilitate the development of the residential project; (iii) a Tentative Parcel Map to subdivide the existing approximately 3.025 -acre lot into two lots to facilitate the development of the residential project on a new 1.73-acre parcel and allow the existing religious facility to continue to operate on a new 1.29 acr e parcel; (iv) a Tentative Tract Map to create a one -lot subdivision for the purpose of selling each townhome as a condominium; (v) Variance approval to deviate from the required rear yard setback for second-story building area; (vi) a Site Plan to constru ct twenty-six (26) two - story townhomes along with associated site improvements; and (vii) a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow the religious facility to continue to operate on the new
1.29 acre parcel, and a waiver to allow the existing main sanctuary b uilding to deviate from the required twenty -five foot (25’ -0”) building setback to a common property line with an “R” zoned property (collectively, the “Project”); and
WHEREAS, the project site is comprised of an approximately 3.025 acre parcel, and is l ocated on the south side of Santa Catalina Avenue, northwest of Santa Barbara Avenue, between Valley View Street and St. Mark Street; and
WHEREAS, the Property has a General Plan Land Use Designation of Low Density Residential (LDR), and is currently zone d R-1 (Single-Family Residential); and
Garden Grove City Council
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WHEREAS, following a public hearing held on February 20, 2025, the Garden Grove Planning Commission adopted: (i) Resolution No. 6102-25 recommending the Garden Grove City Council adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaratio n and the associated Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Project; (ii) Resolution No. 6103-25 recommending the Garden Grove City Council approve General Plan Amendment No. GPA -001-2025 and Zoning Map Amendment No. A - 041-2025; (iii) Resoluti on No. 6104 -2025 recommending the Garden Grove City Council approve Tentative Parcel Map No. PM-2024-124; (iv) Resolution No. 6105- 2025 recommending the Garden Grove City Council approve Site Plan No. SP -150- 2025, Variance No. V-045-2025, and Tentative Tract Map No. TT-19336, subject to specified Conditions of Approval, and (v) Resolution No. 6106 -25 recommending the Garden Grove City Council approve Conditional Use Permit No. 119 -60 (REV. 2025); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to a legal notice, a Public Hearing r egarding the Project and the Mitigated Negative Declaration was held by the City Council on April 8, 2025, and all interested persons were given an opportunity to be heard; and
WHEREAS, concurrently with the adoption of this Resolution, the City Council introduced an Ordinance and conducted the first reading of an Ordinance approving Zoning Map Amendment No. A -041-2025, and adopted Resolution No. 6102 -05 adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Proj ect, and adopted Resolutions contingently approving (i) Resolution No. 6104-2025 approving Tentative Parcel Map No. PM -2024-124; (ii) Resolution No. 6105 -2025 approving Site Plan No. SP -150-2025, Variance No. V - 045-2025, and Tentative Tract Map No. TT -19336, and (iii) Resolution No. 6106-25 approving Conditional Use Permit No. 119-60 (Rev. 2025); and
WHEREAS, the City Council gave due and careful consideration to the matter during its meeting of April 8, 2025, and considered all oral and written testimony presented; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Garden Grove hereby makes the following findings regarding General Plan Amendment No. 001-2025:
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Garden Grove does hereby resolve as follows:
1. The City Council finds that the above recitals are true and correct.
2. The City Council of the City of Garden Grove hereby makes the following findings regarding General Plan Amendment No. GPA-001-2025:
A. Proposed General Plan Amendment No. GPA-001-2025 is internally consistent with the goals, policies, and elements of the General Plan.
The proposed General Plan Amendment No. GPA-001-2025 would amend the City of Garden Grove's General Plan Land Use Map to modify the General Plan Land Use Designation of a 1.73-acre portion of the Property from Low
Density Residential (LDR) to Medium Density Residential (MDR), in order to facilitate the development of the residential project and associated site improvements. The MDR designation is intended for the development of mainly multifamily residential neighborhoods that provide a variety of housing types, provide access to schools, parks, and other community services, provide a high -quality architectural design that preserves privacy, provide common spaces, recreation areas and services convenient to residents, provide an excellent environment for family life, and preserve residential property values. The MDR also allows a maximum density of 32 units per acre. With the proposed General Plan Amendment, the subject project will be consistent with the goals of the City’s General Plan.
The proposed General Plan amendment will facilitate rezoning of the 1.73- acre portion of the subject property to R -3 (Multiple -Family Residential), which allows for a range of densities up to maximum of 32 dwelling units per acre, and the development of the proposed twenty -six (26) townhome project, which will have a net density of approximately 15.2 dwelling units per acre.
The project as proposed, will be compatible with the surrounding properti es, which have two-story multi-family developments to the south and east of the project site. Accordingly, the Medium Density Residential Land Use designation is appropriate for the site and will ensure that the site is developed and maintained in continuity with surrounding land uses.
Giving the site a Land Use designation of "Medium Density Residential", pursuant to the proposed General Plan Amendment, is consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan Land Use Element:
Policy LU-2.4, which encourages the City to assure that the type and intensity of land use shall be consistent with that of the immediate neighborhood.
The site is located within a residential neighborhood, characterized by two- story multifamily developments to the south, and across the street, on Santa Barbara Avenue. The proposed development, with a density of fifteen (15) units per acre is appropriate, as it will not only provide opportunities for new housing developments, but also integrate with the surrounding neighborhood developed with residential uses that include single and multifamily developments.
Policy LU-3.2, which encourages developers to build housing projects at or maximum allowable densities.
The site’s proposed townhome development is similar and compat ible with the surrounding properties, which have both multi -family and single -family housing. Accordingly, the Medium Density Residential Land Use designation is appropriate for the property and will ensure that the site is maintained in continuity with s urrounding land uses. In addition, the proposed residential development will provide different unit sizes and designs that can Garden Grove City Council
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accommodate different housing demands. Thus, approval of the proposed General Plan Amendment is necessary to facilitate such development.
B. The proposed General Plan Amendment will promote the public interest, health, safety and welfare.
The proposed General Plan amendment of a 1.73 -acre portion of the subject site is necessary to facilitate the development of the proposed twenty-six (26) unit residential development , which will ensure that the future use and development of the property will be consistent with the use and development permitted on nearby properties wi thin the City of Garden Grove.
Furthermore, an Initial Study and Mi tigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) was prepared for this project pursuant to CEQA. The IS/MND concluded that the proposed project will have no, or a less than significant, impact on all relevant environmental factors, provided specified mitigation measu res are incorporated. Proper mitigation measures were included in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) to maintain the Project’s operational noise impact to be within the City’s noise standards.
C. The parcels covered by the proposed amendm ent to the General Plan Land Use Map are physically suitable for the requested land use designation(s), compatible with the surrounding land uses, and consistent with the General Plan.
The proposed General Plan Amendment No. GPA-001-2025 would amend the City of Garden Grove's General Plan Land Use Map to modify the General Plan Land Use Designation of a 1.73 acre portion of the Property from Low Density Residential (LDR) to Medium Density Residential (MDR), in order to facilitate the development of the re sidential project and associated site improvements. The Medium Density Residential (MDR) Land Use Designation is intended for the development of multi -family residential neighborhoods and allows for a range of densities up to a maximum of 32.0 dwelling uni ts per acre. The proposed project will have a net density of 15.2 dwelling units per acre.
The proposed General Plan amendment will facilitate rezoning of a 1.73 acre portion of the subject property to R -3 (Multiple-Family Residential) and the development of the proposed twenty -six (26) townhome development . The site’s proposed townhome residential type housing is similar and compatible with the surrounding properties, which have both multi -family and single - family housing. The surrounding properties h ave a mix of LDR and MDR General Plan Land Use Designations. Accordingly, the Medium Density Residential Land Use designation is appropriate for the site and will ensure that the site is developed and maintained in continuity with surrounding land uses. In addition, the site is adequate is size, and with access to all necessary public infrastructure to adequately serve the proposed residential development.
Finally, the General Plan is robust enough to accommodate the re - designation of property to new l and use designations, and application of the Medium Density Residential Land Use designation to the site will not conflict with other provisions or elements of the General Plan.