← Back to Anaheim, CA

Document Anaheim_doc_129d74f943

Full Text

3. Project Description The Platinum Triangle Subsequent EIR City of Anaheim • Page 3-1 3.1 PROJECT LOCATION The Platinum Triangle (herein after also referred to as the “Project Area”) is located at the confluence of the Interstate 5 (I-5 Freeway) and the State Route 57 (SR-57 Freeway), in the City of Anaheim in Orange County, California. As shown in Figure 3-1, Regional Location, the Project Area is located within the south central portion of the City of Anaheim. As shown in Figure 3-2, Vicinity Map, the approximate 820- acre Platinum Triangle is located generally east of the I-5 Freeway, west of the Santa Ana River channel and SR-57 Freeway, south of the Southern California Edison easement, and north of the Anaheim City limit. The Platinum Triangle encompasses Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, the Grove of Anaheim, the Anaheim Stadium Metrolink/Amtrak Station and the surrounding light Industrial build- ings, several industrial parks, distribution facilities, offices, hotels, restaurants, and supporting retail uses. An aerial photograph of the Project Area is shown in Figure 3-3, Aerial Photograph. 3.2 STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES The following objectives have been established for the Proposed Project and will aid decision makers in the review of the project and associated environmental impacts: • Provide for the development of the Project Area consistent with the City’s General Plan and The Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan. • Provide for a wide range of housing opportunities in close proximity to jobs and a regional transportation center, consistent with regional growth management policies. • Provide a mix of quality, high-density urban housing that is integrated into the area through carefully maintained pedestrian streets, transit connections, and arterial access. • Provide for additional commercial uses in close proximity to existing and future residential development. • Provide appropriate infrastructure to serve the level of development envisioned by The Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan. • Encourage extensive office development along the highly visible periphery of the area to provide a quality employment center. • Identify and pursue opportunities for open space areas that serve the recreational needs of The Platinum Triangle residents and employees. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description Page 3-2 • The Planning Center May 2005 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description Page 3-4 • The Planning Center May 2005 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description Page 3-6 • The Planning Center May 2005 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description Page 3-8 • The Planning Center May 2005 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description The Platinum Triangle Subsequent EIR City of Anaheim • Page 3-9 3.3 PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS 3.3.1 Project Background Within the past few years, the Anaheim City Council has approved several actions relating to the area encompassed by The Platinum Triangle as described below. On May 30, 1996, the Anaheim Planning Commission certified Final Environmental Impact Report No. 320 (State Clearinghouse No. 95041029) and adopted Area Development Plan No. 120 for the portion of the Stadium property associated with the Sportstown Development. Area Development Plan No. 120 entitled a total of 119,543 seats for new and/or renovated stadiums, 750,000 square feet of urban entertainment/retail uses, a 500-room hotel (550,000 square feet), a 150,000 square-foot exhibition center, 250,000 square feet of office development and 15,570 on-site parking spaces. The Grove of Anaheim, the renovated Angel Stadium of Anaheim, and the Stadium Gateway Office Building were developed/renovated under this plan. On March 2, 1999, the Anaheim City Council adopted the Anaheim Stadium Area Master Land Use Plan. The boundaries for this Master Land Use Plan were generally the same as those for The Platinum Triangle, with the exception that this Master Land Use Plan included 15 acres adjacent to the I-5 Freeway which are not a part of the current Platinum Triangle boundaries. As part of the approval process for the Anaheim Stadium Area Master Land Use Plan, the City Council also certified Final EIR No. 321 (State Clearinghouse Number 9611041) and adopted Mitigation Monitoring Program No. 106. Development within the Anaheim Stadium Area was implemented through the Sports Entertainment (SE) Overlay Zone which permitted current uses to continue or expand within the provisions of the existing zoning, while providing those who may want to develop sports, entertainment, retail and office uses with standards appropriate to those uses, including increased land use intensity. Implementation of this Overlay Zone was projected to result in a net loss of 491,303 square feet of industrial space and increases of 1,871,285 square feet of new office space, 452,026 square feet of new retail space, and 991,603 square feet of new hotel space. Projects that were developed under the SE Overlay Zone included the Ayers Hotel, the Arena Corporate Center and the Westwood School of Technology. On May 25, 2004, the Anaheim City Council approved a comprehensive citywide General Plan and Zoning Code Update, which included a new vision for The Platinum Triangle. The General Plan Update changed the General Plan designations within the Project Area from Commercial Recreation and Business Office/Mixed Use/Industrial to Mixed-Use, Office High, Office Low, Industrial, Open Space and Institutional to provide opportunities for existing uses to transition to mixed-use, residential, office and commercial uses. The General Plan Update also established the overall maximum development intensity for The Platinum Triangle to be up to 9,175 dwelling units, 5,000,000 square feet of office space, 2,044,300 square feet of commercial uses, industrial development at a maximum floor area ratio of 0.50 and institutional development at a maximum floor area ratio of 3.0. In addition, the square footage/seats allocated to the existing Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim and all of the development intensity entitled by Area Development Plan No. 120 were also incorporated into The Platinum Triangle Mixed-Use land use designation. Final EIR No. 330 (State Clearinghouse Number [PHONE REDACTED]), which was prepared for the General Plan and Zoning Code Update and associated actions, analyzed the above development intensities on a citywide impact level and provided mitigation monitoring programs including an Updated and Modified Mitigation Monitoring Plan No. 106 for The Platinum Triangle. In order to provide the implementation tools necessary to realize the City’s new vision for The Platinum Triangle, on August 17, 2004, the City Council replaced the Anaheim Stadium Area Master Land Use ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description Page 3-10 • The Planning Center May 2005 Plan with The Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan, replaced the SE Overlay Zone with The Platinum Triangle Mixed Use (PTMU) Overlay Zone, approved the form of the Standard Platinum Triangle Development Agreement (property owners desiring to develop under the PTMU Overlay Zone provisions are required to enter into a standardized Development Agreement with the City of Anaheim) and approved associated zoning reclassifications. Ordinances associated with the PTMU Overlay Zone and the approved zoning reclassifications became effective September 23, 2004. Previously-certified FEIR No. 330 (the EIR for the General Plan and Zoning Code Update) was utilized as the environmental documentation for these actions as said EIR contemplated the above-noted activities to carry out the goals and policies of the updated General Plan. It was determined, however, that future individual development projects and infrastructure improvements which are proposed to implement The Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan and the associated zoning designations within the Project Area would require further environmental review and analysis of potential site specific environmental impacts in conjunction with the processing of discretionary applications. Since the approval of The Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan and related actions, several projects in the PTMU Overlay Zone have been approved and other applications are currently being processed. 3.3.2 Description of the Project The Proposed Project consists of the following actions associated with The Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan: • Implementation of the adopted Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan, The Platinum Triangle Mixed Use (PTMU) Overlay Zone, The Platinum Triangle Standardized Development Agreement and the Updated and Modified Mitigation Monitoring Program No. 106 for The Platinum Triangle (a copy of the approved documents is available for review at the City of Anaheim Planning Department and provided on the City’s website, www.anaheim.net, go to the Planning Depart- ment and click on the link to The Platinum Triangle). Implementation is intended to include, but not be limited to, the approval of subdivision maps, grading permits, street improvement plans, final site plans, development agreements and other related actions for properties located within The Platinum Triangle. • General Plan Amendment No. 2004-00420 • Amend the City of Anaheim General Plan Land Use Element to redesignate a 3.21-acre property located at 2400 East Orangewood Avenue (“North Net Fire Training Center”) from the Office-High to the Mixed-Use land use designation. The General Plan is also proposed to be amended to provide for an additional 325 dwelling units and up to 210,100 square feet of additional commercial square footage in The Platinum Triangle Mixed-Use land use designation. This amendment would increase the maximum overall residential density from 9,175 to 9,500 dwelling units and the maximum overall commercial density from 2,044,300 to 2,254,400 square feet. • Amend the City of Anaheim General Plan Circulation Element to redesignate a portion of Cerritos Avenue between State College Boulevard and Douglass Road from a Primary Arterial Highway (six lanes divided with no parking or four lanes divided with left-turn pockets and two parking lanes with a typical right-of-way width of 106 feet) to a Secondary Arterial Highway (four undivided lanes with parking on either side with a typical right-of-way width of 90 feet) to be consistent with the Orange County Master Plan of Arterial Highways and respective lane configurations. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description The Platinum Triangle Subsequent EIR City of Anaheim • Page 3-11 • Amend the City of Anaheim General Plan Circulation Element to provide for Gene Autry Way between Betmor Lane and State College Boulevard to be up to 170 feet in width to provide for the construction of the “Grand Parkway” (this segment of Gene Autry Way is designated as a Stadium with a current typical right-of-way width of up to 144 feet). • Zoning Reclassification No. 2004-00134 – Reclassify the North Net Fire Training Center from the PR (Public Recreational) Zone to the PR (PTMU) (Public Recreation – Platinum Triangle Mixed Use Overlay) Zone. • Zoning Code Amendment No. 2004-00036 and an amendment to The Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan and the Platinum Triangle Standard Development Agreement (Miscellaneous Case No. 2004-00089) – Amend the PTMU Overlay Zone and the Master Land Use Plan to adjust the boundaries of the mixed-use districts to include the North Net Fire Training Center in the PTMU Overlay Zone Gateway District and add 325 units to said district (321 of said units would be designated for the North Net Fire Training Center). The amendment to the Overlay Zone and the Master Land Use Plan would also include modifying the PTMU Overlay Zone commercial density to add 210,100 square feet of additional commercial square footage. Of this square footage, 190,000 square feet would be designated for future required ground floor commercial uses on Market Street and Gene Autry Way in the Katella and Gene Autry Districts and 20,000 square feet for other commercial uses in the Katella District. In conjunction with these amendments, additional technical refinements and clarifications are also proposed to the Master Land Use Plan and Overlay Zone, including, but not limited to refinements to street cross- sections and density descriptions to reflect the above-noted changes and other City Code requirements. Refinements to The Platinum Triangle Standard Development Agreement are also proposed to reflect the mitigation measure requirements set forth in the Updated and Modified Mitigation Monitoring Program No. 106, editorial refinements and updated fees. Please refer to Appendix C for a more detailed description of the General Plan and Zoning Code Amendments described above. The revised PTMU Overlay District boundaries showing the addition of the North Net Fire Training Center to the Gateway District are identified in Figure 3-4, Proposed Mixed- Use Districts. Table 3-1 indicates the amended development intensities for the PTMU Overlay Districts. Table 3-1 The Platinum Triangle Proposed Development Intensities* District Housing Units Office Square Feet Commercial Square Feet Stadium 1,750 1,760,000 1,300,000 Arena 425 100,000 100,000 Katella 4,250 775,000 630,300 Gene Autry 1,000 100,000 174,100 Gateway 2,075 530,000 50,000 Total 9,500 3,265,000 2,254,400 * Includes intensities associated with Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim and the Stadium uses per Area Development Plan No. 120 (Sportstown), which also provided for a total of 119,543 seats for new and/or renovated stadiums and a 150,000 square foot exhibition center. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description Page 3-12 • The Planning Center May 2005 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description Page 3-14 • The Planning Center May 2005 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description The Platinum Triangle Subsequent EIR City of Anaheim • Page 3-15 Overview of The Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan The Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan serves as the blueprint for future development and street improvements within The Platinum Triangle setting forth planning principals, development intensities, conceptual street and park locations, potential new signalized intersection locations and streetscape designs including landscaping, lighting fixtures, and street furniture bus shelters). The Plan also identifies the existing Amtrak/Metrolink Station/Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). On May 25, 2004, the Anaheim City Council approved a comprehensive citywide General Plan and Zoning Code Update, which included a new vision for The Platinum Triangle. The General Plan Update changed the General Plan designations within the Project Area from Commercial Recreation and Business Office/Mixed Use/Industrial to Mixed-Use, Office High, Office Low, Industrial, Open Space and Institutional to provide opportunities for existing uses to transition to mixed-use, residential, office and commercial uses. The General Plan Update also established the overall maximum development intensity for The Platinum Triangle to be up to 9,175 dwelling units, 5,000,000 square feet of office space, 2,044,300 square feet of commercial uses, industrial development at a maximum floor area ratio of 0.50 and institutional development at a maximum floor area ratio of 3.0. In addition, the square footage/seats allocated to the existing Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim and all of the development intensity entitled by Area Development Plan No. 120 were also incorporated into The Platinum Triangle Mixed-Use land use designation. For purposes of environmental analysis, this DSEIR assumes that a total of 9,500 dwelling units, 5,000,000 square feet of office space, and 2,254,400 square feet of commercial uses could be developed within The Platinum Triangle, consistent with adopted General Plan and proposed amendments described above. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description Page 3-16 • The Planning Center May 2005 Types of Land Uses The Master Land Use Plan describes the development intensities permitted by the General Plan for The Platinum Triangle. It also provides an exhibit showing the boundaries and density permitted for each of the five districts that have been established to implement the Mixed Use General Plan designation as depicted in Figure 3-5, Adopted PTMU Overlay Zone Districts. The boundaries for these districts were based upon infrastructure analysis completed in connection with the preparation of EIR No. 330. The following descriptions indicate the types of land uses that are under the purview of The Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan. Mixed Use – The Mixed Use General Plan designation is implemented through the PTMU Overlay Zone. The PTMU Overlay Zone is in addition to the property’s existing zoning designation. Property owners may either develop or continue operating under the existing zoning designation or, if they choose, they can take advantage of the opportunities to develop their property under the requirements of the PTMU Overlay Zone. Office-High and Office-Low – The Office-High and Office-Low General Plan designations are implemented through the O-H (High Intensity Office) and O-L (Low Intensity Office) Zones and provide new workplace opportunities within easy access to a variety of housing, retail, entertainment and sports facilities within the mixed-use areas. The maximum amount of allowable office square footage for these designations is 1,735,000 square feet. Industrial – The Industrial General Plan designation is implemented by the I (Industrial) Zone. These uses may have a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) ranging from 0.35 to 0.50 and will continue to provide needed jobs for the area. Open Space – The Open Space General Plan designation is implemented through the OS (Open Space) Zone and includes those areas intended to remain in natural open space including utility easements that will provide recreational and trail access to Anaheim’s residents. Institutional – The Institutional General Plan designation is implemented through the SP (Semi-Public) Zone and covers a wide variety of public and quasi-public land uses and is applied to existing public facilities. Institutional uses may have a FAR of up to 3.0. Key Elements Key elements of the Master Land Use Plan are described below. Circulation – The Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan identifies the location of several conceptually located Connector Streets to achieve better traffic distribution, alternative trip routing and smaller sized blocks. This system will allow access to the interior of existing large parcels so that a mix of moderately scaled residential and office blocks can be developed. The conceptual location of these Connector Streets is shown in Figure 3-6, Adopted Urban Design Plan. In addition to the network of Connector Streets, a new shopping street called “Market Street” will link the future neighborhoods together. Market Street is conceptually located between Katella Avenue and Gene Autry Way, west of State College Boulevard. Market Street is intended to serve as a gathering place for local residents as well as draw shoppers and diners from nearby employment areas. Dedication and improvement of these streets will be required pursuant to The Platinum Triangle Standardized Develop- ment Agreement, an agreement entered into between the property owners and the City of Anaheim. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description Page 3-18 • The Planning Center May 2005 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description Page 3-20 • The Planning Center May 2005 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description The Platinum Triangle Subsequent EIR City of Anaheim • Page 3-21 Street Design – Cross-sections setting forth the public right-of-way design for each of the streets within The Platinum Triangle are included in the Master Land Use Plan. A landscape theme is set forth for each type of street, dependent upon the location and character of the street palm trees for distinctive skyline effects with canopy trees to provide shade for pedestrians). The design of the Connector Streets includes two travel lanes with optional parallel parking. Market Street also includes two travel lanes and required parallel parking on the east side of the street and diagonal parking on the west side of the street. Parking provided along Market Street and the Connector Streets may be factored into the parking requirements for adjacent developments. Parks – In order to provide for open public space to offset building height and coverage and to provide opportunities for informal leisure activities, The Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan provides for mini-parks to be developed on properties over 8 acres in size. For these properties, 44 square feet per dwelling unit would be required to be dedicated and improved in connection with development under the PTMU Overlay (this area would be in addition to recreational leisure area otherwise required by the Code). The location of these mini-parks is conceptually shown on the Urban Design Plan. Also shown on the Urban Design Plan is a conceptual location for a neighborhood park in the southwestern area of The Platinum Triangle. This park would be acquired and developed with park-in-lieu fees, which are required for all residential development in the PTMU Overlay Zone. In instances where a mini-park is required, the dedication value of the park land is credited against required park fees. Landmark Architecture – The MLUP identifies key corners in The Platinum Triangle (on State College Boulevard at the Katella Avenue, Gene Autry Way, and Orangewood Avenue intersections and the Katella Avenue/Douglass Road intersections) where landmark architecture will be required on buildings to let visitors know that they have arrived at a major destination. Required Ground Floor Commercial Uses – Ground floor commercial uses are required along Market Street and along Gene Autry Way, between Market Street and State College Boulevard. This includes approximately 4,400 linear feet of street frontage at a minimum depth of 30 feet. The PTMU Overlay Zone includes a list of both retail and non-retail uses, such as service commercial, offices, community facilities, fitness centers, leasing offices, or child-care providers which could be developed along Market Street. In connection with the project actions, 190,000 square feet of commercial square footage would be designated for these ground floor commercial uses. Project Processing Development that occurs within The Platinum Triangle would be implemented through the processing of subdivision maps and the submittal of plans for building permits unless a conditional use permit or a variance is required pursuant to the underlying zone. Development in the PTMU Overlay Zone also requires the approval of a Final Site Plan and a Development Agreement. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Project Description Page 3-22 • The Planning Center May 2005 3.4 INTENDED USES OF THE SUBSEQUENT EIR This DSEIR examines the environmental impacts of the implementation of The Platinum Triangle, which includes, but is not limited to, the approval of subdivision maps, grading permits, street improvement plans, final site plans, development agreements and other related actions. It is the intent of this DSEIR to enable the City of Anaheim, other responsible agencies, and interested parties to evaluate the environ- mental impacts of the Proposed Project, thereby enabling them to make informed decisions with respect to the requested actions. The following discretionary actions shown on Table 3-2 will be required to be made by the City of Anaheim and other agencies prior to implementation of the Proposed Project. The anticipated approvals required for this project are as follows: Table 3-2 Intended Uses of the Subsequent EIR Lead Agency Action Anaheim City Council Implementation of The Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan subdivision maps, grading permits, street improvement plans, final site plans, development agreement, etc.) Implementation of The Platinum Triangle Mixed Use (PTMU) Overlay Zone Implementation of The Platinum Triangle Standardized Development Agreement Implementation of the Updated and Modified MMP No. 106 for The Platinum Triangle Approve General Plan Amendment No. 2004-00420: • Redesignate a 3.21-acre property (North Net Fire Training Center) from Office-High to Mixed- Use. • Provide 325 additional dwelling units. • Provide up to 210,000 square feet of additional commercial square footage. • Redesignate a segment of Cerritos Avenue between State College Boulevard and Douglass Road from a Primary to a Secondary Arterial Highway designation. • Increase the right-of-way width for a segment of Gene Autry Way between Betmor Lane and State College Boulevard from 144 feet up to 170 feet. Approve Zoning Reclassification No. 2004-00134: • Reclassify the North Net Fire Training Center from the PR Zone to the PR (PTMU) Overlay Zone. • Rescind Resolution No. 2004-180 (a resolution of intent to the O-H (High Intensity Office) Zone) in part as it pertains to the North Net Fire Training Center. Approve Zoning Code Amendment No. 2004-00036 and Miscellaneous Case No. 2004-00089: • Amend the Master Land Use Plan and PTMU Overlay Zone to include the North Net Fire Training Center in the Gateway District. • Technical refinements and clarifications to the MLUP, PTMU Overlay Zone, and the Standard Platinum Triangle Development Agreement. City Departments Take necessary steps to revise the General Plan, zoning map and The Platinum Triangle MLUP. Responsible Agencies Action South Coast Air Quality Management District Issue necessary air quality permits to implement the project. Regional Water Quality Control Board (Santa Ana Region) Issue a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit to allow for the implementation of the project. Orange County Sanitation District Approval of necessary sewer upgrades to OCSD facilities.