CITY OF SANTA ANA
Planning and Building Agency
2O Civic Center Plaza • P.O. Box 1988
Santa Ana. California 92701
www.santa-ana.org/pba
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA ANA, CA
The City of Santa Ana encourages the public to participate in the decision-making process. The following notice is being provided so that you can ask questions, make comments, and stay informed about projects that might be important to you. We encourage you to contact us prior to the Public Hearing if you have any questions.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: The City Council of the City of Santa Ana will hold a public hearing to receive public testimony and will take action on the items described below.
Project Location: The project site includes 11 addresses (1561, 1611, 1621, 1631, 1641, and 1661 West Sunflower Avenue; 3820, 3840, and 3951 South Plaza Drive; and 3811 and 3851 South Bear Street) and seven parcels (412-131-10, 412-131-20, 412-131-21, 412-451-01, 412-451-02, 412-451 03, and 412-451-04), collectively referred to as 1561 West Sunflower Avenue ("Project Site") located within the Specific Development No. 48 (SD-48) zoning district.
Project Applicant: Justin McCusker with South Coast Plaza, on behalf of South Coast Plaza ("Applicant" and "Property Owner")
Proposed Project: Applicant is requesting approval of various entitlements to facilitate the establishment of a new Specific Plan (SP) that would allow the redevelopment of a 17.2-acre site into a mixed-use urban village containing up to 1,583 residential units, 80,000 square feet of commercial/retail space, 300,000 square feet of office space, and 13.8 acres of public and private outdoor and recreation space ("Project"). The Project entitlements include Amendment Application No. 2025-01 to establish The Village Santa Ana Specific Plan (SP-6) and to change the zoning district designation of the subject property from SD-48 to SP-6, Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 2025-06 (County Map No. 2023-159) to subdivide the Project site into six buildable lots, and Development Agreement No. 2025-01 outlining terms and conditions for the Project. The Project also requires overruling the Orange County Airport Land Use Commission's determination of inconsistency for the Project with the Airport Environs Land Use Plan for John Wayne Airport.
Environmental Impact: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), the Project requires: (1) certification of a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR No. 2025-01 and SCH No. 2020029087); (2) adoption of Environmental Findings of Fact and a Statement of Overriding Consideration; and (3) adoption of a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program ("MMRP"). The SEIR concludes that the proposed Project would require mitigation related to Air Quality, Cultural Resources, Geology and Soils, Noise, and Tribal Cultural Resources. Impacts related to Recreation would remain significant and unavoidable after mitigation.
Action Taken by the Planning Commission on August 11, 2025: Recommended that the City Council adopt the following: a resolution (1) certifying the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report No. 2025-01 (SCH No. 2020029087), (2) adopting Environmental Findings of Fact and a Statement of Overriding Considerations for the project, (3) adopting a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the project, and (4) approving the Project; an ordinance approving Amendment Application No. 2025-01 establishing The Village Santa Ana Specific Plan (Specific Plan No. 6) and approving a zone change for the Project Site located at 1561 W. Sunflower Avenue from Specific Development No. 48 to Specific Plan No. 6; an ordinance approving Development Agreement No. 2025- 01; a resolution approving Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 2025-06 (County Map No. 2023-159), as conditioned; and a resolution Overruling the Orange County Airport Land Use Commission's determination that The Village Santa Ana Specific Plan is inconsistent with the Airport Environs Land Use Plan of John Wayne Airport, including supportive findings.
VOTE: 7-0 (Ayes: Commissioners Benninger, Escamilla, Leo, Oliva, Pham, Ramos, Woo).
Meeting Details: This public hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in the City Council Chamber, 22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Members of the public may attend this meeting in-person or join via Zoom.
For the most up to date information on how to participate virtually in this meeting, please visit https://www.santa-ana.org/agendas-and-minutes/.
Written Comments: If you are unable to participate in the meeting, you may send written comments by e-mail to [email protected] (reference the Agenda Item # in the subject line) or mail to Jennifer L. Hall, City Clerk, City of Santa Ana, 20 Civic Center Plaza - M30, Santa Ana, CA 92701.
Deadline to submit written comments is two hours prior to the start of the meeting. Comments received after the deadline may not be distributed to the City Council but will be made part of the record.
Where To Get More Information: All staff reports regarding any item on this agenda are available for public inspection in the City Clerk's Office during regular business hours and posted on the City's website the Tuesday before a Council meeting at: https://www.santa-ana.org/agendas-and-minutes/.
Who To Contact For Questions: Should you have any questions, please contact Jerry Guevara with the Planning and Building Agency at [email protected] or (714) 647-5481.
Note: If you challenge the decision on the above matter in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Council of the City of Santa Ana at, or prior to, the public hearing.
Si tiene preguntas en español, favor de llamar a Gema Zapien (714) 667-2732.
Nếu cần liên lạc bằng tiếng Việt, xin điện thoại cho Kristie Ha (714) 667-2206.
Jennifer L. Hall, CMC
City Clerk
Published: Orange County Reporter - Legals Section
Date: September 5, 2025