The California Endowment has selected Santa Ana as one of The Endowment’s 14 “places” for its strategic initiative of Building Healthy Communities, which will launch in 2010. 

The following Telemundo video-link covered a segment on our April 17th Question & Answer Forum on Responsible Development:

http://www.telemundo52.com/video/16206870/index.html?taf=angel 

On April 17, 2008 over 100 residents and business members attended a “Question and Answer Forum on Responsible Development” in the neighborhoods surrounding Logan and Lacy.

Hosted by the Santa Ana Collaborative for Responsible Development, this forum was intended to better inform, educate and obtain community feedback on the draft Renaissance Specific Plan.  Currently, planning staff has stopped community outreach to revise the draft plan and Environmental Impact Report (EIR), however, there are still many community members who do not understand or even heard about the plan.

Because the draft plan is a comprehensive and technical document, the Collaborative organized the forum to provide concrete explanations in English and Spanish on the draft’s planning concepts. This allowed community members the opportunity to voice their concerns on the potential impacts of the plan and what the plan has failed to address (i.e. retention of existing neighborhood residents; neighborhood safety; parks and open space; preserving and increasing opportunities for quality jobs; housing opportunities for all income segments of the community etc.).  More importantly, the forum provided community members a better understanding of the city’s vision for development in that area. OCCCO and the Kennedy Commission will continue to facilitate discussions, advocacy and increased community participation to ensure that the Renaissance Specific Plan meets the diverse needs of all community members. In addition, the Steering Committee of the Santa Ana Coalition for Responsible Redevelopment will continue to meet on a monthly basis and advocate for the creation of policies that encourage balanced housing development.

As the city’s planning staff continues to incorporate changes to the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the Renaissance Specific Plan, the city is moving forward with their vision of increasing development opportunities for city-owned sites around the Logan and Lacy communities. They have applied for $5 million in Prop. 1C funds for Transit Oriented Development that will facilitate the development of 107 homeownership and rental homes. At least 15% (13 for-sale and four rental apartments) will be restricted to low and moderate income households. The city also applied for a $14 million grant from the Orange County Transportation Authority for a streetcar system that will link Santa Ana’s train station to the 22 freeway in Garden Grove. They anticipate that the implementation of a streetcar will attract developers to build higher density, market-rate live/work lofts on existing vacant land. OCCCO and the Kennedy Commission will continue to facilitate discussions, advocacy and increased community participation to ensure that the Renaissance Specific Plan meets the diverse needs of all community members. In addition, the Steering Committee of the Santa Ana Coalition for Responsible Redevelopment will continue to meet on a monthly basis and advocate for the creation of policies that encourage balanced housing development.Recent Media Coverage:
“Santa Ana Streetcar Plan Moves Forward” The Orange County Register, March 16, 2008For more information, please contact Linda Tang.

In response to concerns expressed by coalition members, business owners and residents, the city’s planning staff is making some changes to the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the Renaissance Specific Plan.

The release of the draft EIR on the Renaissance Specific Plan has been delayed in order to add residential zoning in the form of an overlay on existing industrial zoning in the Logan neighborhood. Planning Director, Jay Trevino, contends this overlay would encourage economic investment and promote compatibility between the industrial and residential uses in the Logan neighborhood.

Some of the businesses in the Logan neighborhood are 50 years old and provide good-paying jobs for long-term local residents. Business owners fear gentrification and losing their ability to expand.

Even with the anticipated changes, the plan continues to lack specific language for the creation and implementation of policies that will facilitate the development of housing for all income segments of the community.

Recent Media Coverage:
“One Small Step for Liberty”
“Santa Ana’s ‘Renaissance Plan’ on Hold”

For additional information, please contact Linda Tang.

On January 17, 2008 over 150 residents and business members attended a “Question and Answer Session” on the draft Renaissance Specific Plan held by city staff and their consultant.
Many participants voiced their opposition to the plan and had specific questions (i.e. What assurance does the city have to require developers to set aside housing development for all income segments of the community? Why haven’t there been specific written provisions on balanced housing development? Why have questions and concerns that were raised from previous workshops not been addressed?). City staff did not adequately answer many of these questions.

There were also concerns over the City’s failure to post a notice of this session on the city’s Renaissance Specific Plan webpage. City staff responded by acknowledging that the session was not posted because the session was organized on very short notice.

OCCCO and the Kennedy Commission will continue to facilitate discussions, advocacy and increased community participation to ensure that the Renaissance Specific Plan meets the diverse needs of all community members. In addition, the Steering Committee of the Santa Ana Coalition for Responsible Redevelopment will continue to meet on a monthly basis and advocate for the creation of policies that encourage balanced housing development.

Recent Media Coverage:
“Santa Ana Aims to be O.C.’s Heart”, Los Angeles Times, January 20, 2008
“Map Omits Firms of Mayor, Councilman”, Los Angeles Times, January 20, 2008

For more information, please contact Linda Tang.