Flores, Dora
From: Alcala, Abigail
Sent: Tuesday, February3, 20262:40PM
To: Flores, Dora
Subject: FW: AppealApplicationNo. 2025-2-APC
Abigail Y. Alcala, MBA, CMC | Assistant City Clerk
Cityof SantaAna - CityClerk’s Office
20 CivicCenterPlaza | SantaAna, CA92701
714-647-6520 | [email protected]
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From: Arias, Fernanda
Sent: Tuesday, February3, 20262:17PM
To: Hall, Jennifer <[email protected]>; Alcala, Abigail <[email protected]> Cc: Ocampo, Nuvia <[email protected]>; Zapien, Gema <[email protected]> Subject: FW: AppealApplicationNo. 2025-2-APC
Hello,
Ireceivedthepubliccommentbelowforitemno. 18ontonight’sagenda.
Thankyou,
FernandaAriasHernandez
AssociatePlanner, PlanningDivision
CityofSantaAna |PlanningandBuildingAgency (M-20)
20CivicCenterPlaza | P.O. Box1988 |SantaAna, CA92702
714) 667-2792| [email protected] | (She/Her)
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DownloadtheApp:
Clickhereto reportanissuedirectlyfromtheCitywebsite.
1 From: EDGUTIERREZ <
Sent: Saturday, January31, 20266:53AM
To: Arias, Fernanda <[email protected]>
Cc: Mills, Susan <[email protected]>; JanetBrown <[email protected]> Subject: Re: AppealApplicationNo. 2025-2-APC
Attention: ThisemailoriginatedfromoutsideofCityofSantaAna. Usecautionwhenopeningattachmentsorlinks.
SupplementalClarificationRegardingTentativeHearingDate, NoticeTiming, andPostmark To thePlanningDepartment, AssignedCasePlanner, andtheCityof SantaAna, Thissupplementalcorrespondenceissubmittedinadvanceof theFebruary3, 2026CityCouncilhearingto clarifythetiming, nature, andadequacyof noticeprovidedfor theappealhearing, andto ensurethatthese proceduralfactsareaccuratelyreflectedin theadministrativerecord.
In correspondencedatedDecember8, 2025, theassignedCityPlanneradvisedthattheappealapplicationhad been “tentativelyscheduled” for theCityCouncilmeetingof February3, 2026. Nosubsequentcorrespondence wasprovidedto confirmthattheappealhadbeenfinalizedontheCityCouncilagendaor thattheFebruary3 datewasnolongertentative.
Theonlymailednoticeconfirmingthattheappealwouldin factbeheardonFebruary3, 2026wasthepublic hearingnoticeaddressedto “Occupant.” ThatenvelopebearsaUSPSpostmarkdatedJanuary26, 2026, and USPSInformedDeliveryrecordsshowthatthesameitementeredthelocaldeliverystreamonor aboutJanuary 28, 2026.
Underthesecircumstances, theappellant’sfirstformalconfirmationthattheappealwouldproceedonFebruary 3, 2026occurredonlydaysbeforethescheduledhearing. WheretheCityitselfcharacterizesahearingdateas tentativeandprovidesnosubsequentindividualizedconfirmation, relianceonalate-mailed, generically addressednoticedoesnotprovideameaningfulopportunityto prepareor participate.
Bycontrast, theCityhasdemonstratedin unrelatedpublichearingcontexts—suchastheMarch17, 2026 noticedhearingregardingwater, sewer, andrecycledwaterservice—thatit cananddoesprovideindividualized noticeaddressedto namedpersonsandaffordsubstantiallygreateradvancetimefor publicparticipation.
Generic “Occupant” addressing, combinedwithaJanuary26, 2026mailingdateandtheabsenceof prior confirmednotice, wasnotreasonablycalculatedto supportmeaningfulparticipationinthisdiscretionaryappeal hearing. Thesenoticeandtimingdeficienciescompoundtheproceduralconcernsraisedintheappealand shouldbeconsideredinevaluatingwhetherfinalactionisappropriateatthistime.
Pleaseincludethiscorrespondencein theadministrativerecordandforwardasappropriatefor legalreview.
Respectfullysubmitted,
EdwardGutierrez
Onbehalfof theSallyC. GutierrezTrust
Appellant / AdjoiningPropertyOwner
SantaAna, CA92704 2
OnJan31, 2026, at6:43AM, EDGUTIERREZ < wrote:
Subject: AppealofCUP-MOD – February3, 2026CityCouncilHearing | OutstandingRequestforLegal Analysis, Findings, andProceduralDeferral
TothePlanningDepartment, AssignedCasePlanner, andtheCityofSantaAna, ThiscorrespondenceissubmittedinadvanceoftheFebruary3, 2026CityCouncilhearingtoformally memorializeandreiterateapriorrequest, datedDecember8, 2025, forwrittenlegalanalysisand writtenfindingsaddressingtheissuesraisedinthependingappealoftheCUP-MODapproval.
AsstatedintheDecember8, 2025correspondence, theappealandoppositionpacketraisesnumerous questionsoflawandproceduralcompliance, includingbutnotlimitedtoCEQAapplicabilityandclaimed exemptions; theapplicabilityofCEQAexemptionexceptionsbasedonevidencesubmittedonappeal; cumulativeimpacts; land-useauthority; publicsafety; andcivil-rightsandfair-housingobligations. These mattersarenotissuesofplanningdiscretionalone, butrequireformallegalanalysisandlegal justificationbytheCityastheapprovingagency, supportedbyapplicablelaw, findings, andsubstantial evidenceintheadministrativerecord.
Todate, whiletheCityhasidentifiedtheassignedcaseplannerandscheduledtheappealhearing, no writtenlegalanalysisorwrittenfindingsrespondingtothelegalissuesraisedintheappealpackethave beenprovided. Thissubmissionisintendedtoplaceontherecordthatsuchlegalanalysisandfindings wereformallyrequestedonDecember8, 2025, andremainoutstandingasoftheeveoftheFebruary3, 2026CityCouncilhearing.
Meaningfulparticipationinadiscretionaryland-useappeal—particularlywhereCEQAcomplianceand thelegalsufficiencyoftheapprovalarechallenged—requiresdisclosureoftheCity’slegalpositionina mannerthatallowsreviewpriorto, oratminimumaspartof, thepublichearingmaterials. Ageneralized planningresponseorstaffrecommendationisinsufficientwheretheappealsquarelychallengesthe legalbasisfortheapprovalitself.
RequestedProceduralOutcome
GiventheunresolvedCEQAandlegalissuesraisedintheappealandoppositionpacket, andtheabsence ofwrittenlegalanalysisandfindingsaddressingthoseissues, theappellantrespectfullyrequeststhat theCityCouncildeferfinalactionontheCUP-MODapprovaluntilallCEQAobligationsaresatisfiedand theCity’slegalbasisfortheapprovalisfullyarticulatedintheadministrativerecord. Proceedingwith finalapprovalatthistimewouldbeprematureandinconsistentwithCEQA’sproceduralrequirements.
IftheCityproceedswiththeFebruary3, 2026hearingwithoutissuingwrittenlegalanalysisandfindings responsivetotheappeal, werespectfullyrequestthattheadministrativerecordreflectthatsuch analysisandfindingswereformallyrequestedinadvanceandnotprovided. 3 Pleaseincludethiscorrespondenceintheadministrativerecordandforwardasappropriateforlegal review.
Respectfullysubmitted,
EdwardGutierrez
OnbehalfoftheSallyC. GutierrezTrust
Appellant / AdjoiningPropertyOwner
SantaAna, CA92704
OnDec8, 2025, at12:24PM, EDGUTIERREZ < wrote:
Subject: Appealof CUP-MOD – February3, 2026City
CouncilHearing | RequirementforFormalLegalResponse
Thankyouforconfirmingthatyouarethecaseplanner
assignedto theappealapplication.
Aspreviouslystated, thisappealraisesmultiplequestions
of lawandproceduralcompliance, includingbutnotlimited
to issuesof CEQAapplicabilityandexemptions, land-use
authority, cumulativeimpacts, publicsafety, andcivilrights andfair-housingobligations. Thesearenotmattersof
planningdiscretionalone, butmattersthatrequireformal
legalanalysisandlegaljustificationbytheCityasthe
approvingagency.
Accordingly, weformallyrequestandexpectthatalllegal
issuesraisedin theappealbeaddressedfroma legal
standpoint, in writing, andmadepartof thepublic
administrativerecordin advanceof, orat minimumaspart
of, theFebruary3, 2026CityCouncilhearing. A
generalizedplanningresponseis insufficientwherethe
4 appealsquarelychallengesthelegalsufficiencyof the
approvalitself.
TheburdenrestswiththeCityof SantaAnato clearly
articulateanddefendthelegalbasisfortheapprovalon
appeal, supportedbyapplicablelaw, findings, and
substantialevidencein therecord.
Thankyouforconfirmingyourroleascaseplanner. Wewill
reviewtheCity’s formallegalpositionwhenit is issuedas
partof theappealmaterials.
EdwardGutierrez
InviatodalmioiPhone
OnDec8, 2025, at12:16PM, Arias, Fernanda < [email protected]> wrote:
Iamthecaseplannerinchargeoftheappealapplication.
Thanks,
5