Public Works Agency
www.santa-ana.org/pw
Item # 22
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
March 17, 2026
TOPIC: Santa Ana Zoo Overflow Parking Lot Rezone – Second Reading
AGENDA TITLE
Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance Amendment Application (AA) No. 2025- 02 for the Santa Ana Zoo Overflow Parking Lot Rezone (1801 East Chestnut Avenue) First reading March 3, 2026 City Council Meeting and approved by a vote of (7-0). Legal notice published in the OC Reporter on March 6, 2026.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Conduct a second reading and adopt an ordinance approving Amendment Application No. 2025-02.
ORDINANCE NO. NS-3092 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING AMENDMENT APPLICATION NO. 2025-02 TO CHANGE THE ZONING DESIGNATION FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1801 EAST CHESTNUT AND RECOGNIZED AS ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER 402-212- 01 FROM GENERAL AGRICULTURAL (A-1) TO GENERAL COMMERCIAL (C-2) GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
On March 3, 2026, City Council conducted a first reading of an ordinance, Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2025-01, to rezone Assessor Parcel Number (APN) 402- 212-01 (“Project Site”) from A-1 to C-2. The ordinance was approved 7:0 and requires a second reading and adoption to become effective April 16, 2026.
No changes to the ordinance were made by the City Council. A copy of the ordinance for second reading is attached to this Report as Exhibit 1.
Santa Ana Zoo Overflow Parking Lot Rezone – Second Reading March 17, 2026
5 6
5 2
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to Section 21081.6 of CEQA and Section 15097 of CEQA Guidelines, a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) is required when an MND is certified in conjunction with project approval. The purpose of the MMRP is to ensure that all adopted mitigation measures are implemented during project construction and operation and that potential environmental impacts are reduced to less-than-significant levels.
A Final Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) was prepared for the Project in accordance with CEQA (Exhibit 2). The IS/MND concluded that implementation of the proposed Project, and parking lot improvements, could result in potentially significant environmental impacts. However, with implementation of identified mitigation measures and compliance with applicable conditions of approval, all impacts would be reduced to a less-than-significant level. The City of Santa Ana is the Lead Agency for the Project pursuant to Section 15367 of the CEQA Guidelines.
The MMRP prepared for the project, attached hereto as Exhibit 3, documents the mitigation measures adopted for the Project, identifies the responsible parties, and specifies the timing and method of implementation to ensure compliance during project implementation. The MMRP does not address environmental topic areas that were determined in the IS/MND to result in less-than-significant impacts for which no mitigation was required. Based on the analysis contained in the IS/MND, adoption of the MMRP will ensure that all applicable mitigation measures are implemented and that the proposed Project will not result in significant environmental impacts. As such, a Notice of Determination, Environmental Review No. 2025-119, was filed on March 4, 2026, for this project.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with these actions.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Ordinance for Second Reading
2. Final IS/MND
3. Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Submitted By: Rodolfo Rosas, P.E., Acting Executive Director, Public Works Agency & Ali Pezeshkpour, AICP, Executive Director, Planning and Building Agency Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager