Planning Commission Minutes 7.28.2025 — Santa Ana City Council, May 19, 2026

Planning Commission
Regular Meeting Agenda Minutes
July 28, 2025
5:30 P.M.

Council Chamber
22 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA
ISURI S. RAMOS
Chair, Ward 3 Representative
CARL BENNINGER
ViceChair,
Ward 4 Representative
CHRISTOPHER LEO
Citywide Representative
MANUEL J. ESCAMILLA
Ward 2 Representative
JENNIFER OLIVA
Ward 6 Representative
BAO PHAM
Ward 1 Representative
ALAN WOO
Ward 5 Representative
Ali Pezeshkpour, AICP
Executive Director
Melissa M. Crosthwaite
Legal Counsel
Ricardo Soto, AICP
Acting Planning Manager
Gema Zapien
Acting Recording Secretary
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you need special assistance to participate in this Meeting, contact Michael Ortiz, City ADA Program Coordinator, at (714) 6475624. Notification 48 hours prior to the Meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to assure accessibility to this meeting. The City Council agenda and supporting documentation can be found on the City’s website – www.santaana.org/citymeetings.

CALL TO ORDER
Commissioners: Isuri S. Ramos, Chair
Carl Benninger, ViceChair
Christopher Leo
Manuel J. Escamilla
Jennifer Oliva
Bao Pham
Alan Woo
Executive Director Ali Pezeshkpour, AICP
Legal Counsel Melissa M. Crosthwaite
Acting Planning Manager Ricardo Soto, AICP
Acting Recording Secretary Gema Zapien
ROLL CALL
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Minutes: Kim Fortun, Director of UCI EcoGovLab, raised concerns of the pending draft Zoning Code Update and how the City plans on addressing the industrial/residential interface.

CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
a. Minutes
Recommended Action: Approve Minutes from July 14, 2025. b. Excused Absences
Recommended Action: Excuse absent commissioners.

Moved by Commissioner Woo, seconded by Commissioner Leo to Approve.

YES: 6 – Bao Pham, Isuri Ramos, Alan Woo, Christopher Leo, Manuel J. Escamilla, Carl Benninger
NO: 0 – ABSTAIN: 0 – ABSENT: 1 – Jennifer Oliva
Status: 6 – 0 – 0 – 1 – Pass
*End of Consent Calendar*
BUSINESS CALENDAR
Public Hearing: The Planning Commission decision on Conditional Use Permits, Variances, Tentative Tract and Parcel Maps, Minor Exceptions, Site Plan Review, and Public Convenience or Necessity Determinations are final unless appealed within 10 days of the decision by any interested party or group (refer to the Basic Meeting Information page for more information). The Planning Commission recommendation on Zoning and General Plan amendments, Development Agreements, Specific Developments, and Specific Plans will be forwarded to the City Council for final determination. Legal notice was published in the OC Reporter on July 18, 2025 and notices were mailed on July 17, 2025.

1. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 202512 FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1030 EAST FOURTH STREET LOCATED WITHIN THE TRANSIT ZONING CODE (SD84) ZONING DISTRICT, WITHIN THE URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD (UN2) SUBZONE.

Project Applicant:

Extra Space Properties 103, LLC (Applicant and Property Owner).

Proposed Project: Applicant is requesting approval of Conditional Use Permit (CUP) No. 202512 to allow the expansion of an existing selfstorage facility, including modifications to the required landscaped yard standards. The applicant is making the request pursuant to sections 412007 and 41650 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code, which require Planning Commission review and approval of a CUP for the expansion of an existing selfstorage facility and modifications to regulations set forth for the district in which the facility is located.

Environmental Impact:

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA Guidelines, the project is exempt from further review pursuant to Class 32, Section 15332 (InFill Development Projects) of the CEQA Guidelines. Categorical Exemption ER No. 202422 will be filed for this project.

RESOLUTION NO. 2025XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 202512 AS CONDITIONED TO ALLOW THE EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING, LEGALLY ESTABLISHED SELF STORAGE FACILITY, INCLUDING MODIFICATIONS TO THE REQUIRED LANDSCAPED YARD STANDARDS AT 1030 E. FOURTH STREET (APN: 398461 18)
Recommended Action:

Adopt a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit No. 202512 as conditioned.

Minutes: Staff provided a short presentation.

Commission had questions for staff.

Staff answered questions from the Commission.

Commission had questions for the applicant.

Danny Morris, on behalf of the applicant, answered questions from the Commission.

Resident, Sara Al Baqui, provided public comment via email in opposition to the project.

Resident, Nabil Muallem, provided public comment via email in opposition to the project.

Rose Bacinski, on behalf of various residents, provided various public comments via email in favor of the project.

Resident, Amy Yuan, provided public comment via email in opposition to the project.

Commission proposed adding one new condition, which the applicant accepted.

Moved by Commissioner Escamilla, seconded by Commissioner Benninger to Approve with added condition..

YES: 6 – Bao Pham, Isuri Ramos, Alan Woo, Christopher Leo, Manuel J. Escamilla, Carl Benninger
NO: 0 – ABSTAIN: 0 – ABSENT: 1 – Jennifer Oliva
Status: 6 – 0 – 0 – 1 – Pass

2. SITE PLAN REVIEW NO. 202502 FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 730 SOUTH VAN NESS AVENUE LOCATED WITHIN THE SPECIFIC
DEVELOPMENT NO. 40 (SD40) ZONING DISTRICT.

Project Applicant:

Jeremy Cole (Applicant), representing Sonia Gonzalez (Property Owner).

Proposed Project: Applicant is requesting approval of Site Plan Review No. 2025 02 to allow an 85squarefoot rear addition to enlarge a bedroom and add a new bathroom, exterior alterations, and an interior remodel to an existing singlefamily residence.

Environmental Impact:

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA Guidelines, the project is exempt from further review pursuant to Class 1, Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the CEQA Guidelines. Categorical Exemption ER No. 202557 will be filed for this project.

RESOLUTION NO. 2025XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING SITE PLAN REVIEW NO. 202502 AS CONDITIONED TO ALLOW A MAJOR RESIDENTIAL ADDITION AND EXTERIOR ALTERATIONS TO AN EXISTING SINGLEFAMILY HOME WITHIN THE HENINGER PARK SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT (SD40) LOCATED AT 730 S. VAN NESS AVENUE (APN: 01020315) Recommended Action:

Adopt a resolution approving Site Plan Review No. 202502 as conditioned.

Minutes: Staff provided a short presentation.

Commission had questions for staff.

Staff answered questions from the Commission.

Jeremy Cole, on behalf of the applicant, spoke on the project.

Resident, Lourdes Flores, provided public comment via email in opposition to the project.

Resident, Javier Gonzalez, provided public comment via email in opposition to the project.

Resident, Ginelle Hardy, provided public comment via email in opposition of the project.

Resident, Karla Flores, provided public comment via email in opposition to the project.

Moved by Commissioner Woo, seconded by Commissioner Benninger to Approve.

YES: 6 – Bao Pham, Isuri Ramos, Alan Woo, Christopher Leo, Manuel J. Escamilla, Carl Benninger
NO: 0 – ABSTAIN: 0 – ABSENT: 1 – Jennifer Oliva
Status: 6 – 0 – 0 – 1 – Pass
*End of Business Calendar*
STAFF COMMENTS
Minutes: Staff had comments for the Commission.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Minutes: Commission had comments for staff.

ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting of the Planning Commission will be on August 11, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the Council Chamber located at 22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701.

Minutes: Meeting was adjourned at 6:47 p.m.

APPEAL INFORMATION
The formal action by the Planning Commission shall become effective after the tenday appeal period, unless the City Council in compliance with section 41643, 41644 or 41645 holds a public hearing on the matter, then the formal action will become effective on the day following the hearing and decision by the City Council. An appeal from the decision or requirement of the Planning Commission may be made by any interested party, individual, or group. The appeal must be filed with the Clerk of the Council, accompanied by the required filing fee, and a copy sent to the Planning Department, within ten days of the date of the Commission's action, by 5:00 p.m. If the final day to appeal falls on a City Hall observed holiday or a day when City hall is closed, the final day to appeal shall be extended to the next day City Hall is open for public business. Please note: Under California Government Code Sec. 65009, if you challenge in court any of the matters on this agenda for which a public hearing is to be conducted, you may be limited to raising only those issues which you (or someone else) raised orally at the public hearing or in written correspondence received by the Planning Commission or City Council at or before the hearing.

MEETING INFORMATION
If you would like to learn how to use Zoom before the meeting, visit Zoom Video Tutorials.

1. Connecting directly from your computer:

Click on the link on top of this agenda OR
Go to Zoom.us and click "Join a Meeting" at the top. Enter the Meeting ID. The Meeting ID is listed at the top of this agenda.

To speak during the meeting: When you wish to comment on an item that is being is discussed, click on the button next to your name to virtually raise your hand and let us know you wish to speak. You will have 3 minutes.

2. Connecting via the Zoom App:

Download the free Zoom Cloud Meetings app from your favorite app store.

Launch the app and click on the blue Join a Meeting button. Enter the Meeting ID, your name, and the blue Join button. The Meeting ID is listed at the top of this agenda.

3. Dialing in from a mobile phone or landline:

Dial (669) 9009128. When prompted, enter the meeting ID. The Meeting ID is listed at the top of this agenda.

To speak during the meeting: When you wish to comment on an item that is being is discussed, press *9 on your phone to virtually raise your hand. You will have 3 minutes.

Submit a written comment
You are invited to submit a written comment in one of the following ways:

Email PBAecomments@santaana.org and reference the topic in the subject line.

Mail to Gema Zapien, Acting Recording Secretary, City of Santa Ana, 20 Civic Center Plaza – M20, Santa Ana, CA 92701.

Deadline to submit written comments, including any supplement materials for consideration by the Planning Commission, is 3:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Comments received after the deadline may not be distributed to the Commission but will be made part of the record. All attendees wishing to submit written comments or supplemental materials for distribution to Planning Commission members during the inperson meeting must provide 15 printed copies.

1 Planning Commission
7/28/2025