Santa Ana : 4-Story Apartment House Wins Council Approval

Despite the continued opposition of neighborhood residents, the City Council has unanimously approved a four-story, 42-unit apartment complex atop an 8,400-square-foot commercial complex.

The project has been scaled back from a proposal for a five-story complex with 49 units that was presented to the council last month by BAC’s Development.

The Planning Commission originally recommended approval of the larger project for the northwest corner of South Main Street and Anahurst Place. However, a storm of protest erupted about the proposed building height, population density and fears of increased traffic and crime problems.

At the earlier meeting, the council referred the proposal back to the Planning Commission. In addition, at the council’s direction, BAC’s officials met with residents of an adjacent area of single-family houses in an attempt to come to terms.

After meeting with four neighborhood representatives, Don Hertel, the project’s architect, proposed removing the fifth story, thereby reducing the building height from 57 to 39 feet. The units will be constructed on top of existing businesses making up the complex.

Hertel also proposed reorienting the balconies away from residential Sycamore Street and screening the view from the upper stories to nearby single-family houses. Moreover, he said, the developer would consider converting the rental units into condominiums at an unspecified later date and proposed several improvements in the quality of internal and external construction.

In considering the project, the council dismissed residents’ concerns that the apartments would attract a criminal element. Councilman Dan Young noted the developer’s apparent willingness to work with the neighborhood and the city’s planning staff.