09-18-17 CUP for a Church at 800 N. Main Street
TO: Chair Glasgow and
Members of the Planning Commission
THRU: Anna Pehoushek
Assistant Community Development Director
FROM: Robert Garcia
Senior Planner
SUBJECT
PUBLIC HEARING: Conditional Use Permit No. 2983-15, Major Site Plan Review No. 0822-15,
and Design Review No. 4811-15 located at 800 N. Main Street.
SUMMARY
A request to construct a 3,312 SF church with related parking and landscaping improvements on a
vacant site which was previously occupied by two structures, a restaurant that was demolished due
to fire damage and a storage structure.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. PC 27-17 entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF ORANGE APPROVING CONDITIONAL
USE PERMIT NO. 2983-15, MAJOR SITE PLAN REVIEW
NO. 0822-15, AND DESIGN REVIEW NO. 4811-15; A
REQUEST TO ALLOW A CHURCH TO BE LOCATED AT
800 N. MAIN STREET
AUTHORIZATION/GUIDELINES
Orange Municipal Code (OMC) Section 17.08.020 authorizes the Planning Commission to review
and take action on Conditional Use Permits, Major Site Plan Review, Design Review applications.
Footnote (b) of Table 17.08.020 - Reviewing Bodies of the OMC states that when more than one
type of application is filed for a single project, the application requiring the highest level of
approval shall dictate the review process for the entire group of applications. Therefore, the
Planning Commission is acting as the approval body on all of the applications for the subject
project. The final determination by the Planning Commission on these applications may be appealed
to the City Council pursuant to the time periods and requirements established in the OMC for
appeals.
Planning Commission
Agenda Item
September 18, 2017
Planning Commission Staff Report
September 18, 2017
Page 2
PUBLIC NOTICE
On September 7, 2017, the City sent a Public Hearing Notice to a total of 65 property
owners/tenants within a 300-foot radius of the project site, and persons specifically requesting
notice. The project site was also posted in two (2) locations with the notification on that same date.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Categorical Exemption: The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per State CEQA Guidelines 153 03 (Class 3 – New
Construction) because the project will consist of the construction a 3,312 SF church with related
parking and landscaping improvements on a vacant site that is served by public services and
facilities and does not include the use of hazardous substances . The site complies with the existing
zoning and is located within an urbanized area.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Applicant: Regional Building Committee of Jehovah’s Witnesses Inc
Property Owner: Regional Building Committee of Jehovah’s Witnesses Inc
Property Location: 800 N. Main Street
Existing General Plan
Land Use Element Designation:
Light Industrial (LI) with a maximum Floor Area Ratio of 1.0
Existing Zoning
Classification:
Industrial Manufacturing (M-2)
Old Towne: Not Applicable
Specific Plan/PC: None
Site Size: 29,000 SF
Circulation: The site is accessible from Main Street, which is considered an
arterial street with an ultimate right of way of 120 feet.
Existing Conditions: The site is currently vacant, the site previously had two
structures, a 6,000 SF restaurant and a 3,800 SF storage
structure. The restaurant suffered heavy fire damage in 2015
and both structures were demolished down to the slab as a
result.
Surrounding Land Uses
and Zoning:
The project site is located in an area surround by industrial
uses to the north, east, and south. Directly to the west is an
Orange County Flood Control District Channel.
Previous
Applications/Entitlements:
None
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project will consist of the construction a 3,312 SF church with related parking and landscaping
improvements on the vacant site. The proposed assembly area is 1,353 SF The new structure will be
made of concrete with a painted finish. The main entry will be painted with Sherwin Williams
“Brainstorm Bronze”, the remaining building will we painted primarily with Sherwin Williams
Planning Commission Staff Report
September 18, 2017
Page 3
“Latte” and secondarily with Sherwin Williams “Divine White”. The building will have a stacked
stone base along the front elevation which will wrap along the rear side elevation for approximately
12 feet and the length of the front elevation facing Main Street. The building is of a simple design
utilizing metal awnings above the front elevation windows, horizontal and vertical reveals along the
entire building and metal fascia painted to match the metal awning color to create interest and
articulation.
Development Standards
Required Proposed Code Section
Building Height 45 feet in height. 19 feet in height. 17.20.080
Floor Area
Ratio Maximum of 1.0 FAR .11 FAR
Fence height
42” Required front yard or in
the side and rear yards of
standard lots shall be limited
in height to six feet, as
measured from the highest
elevation of land contiguous
to the fence, and ten feet as
measured from the lowest
elevation contiguous to the
fence, whichever is less.
42” Required front yard or in
the side and rear yards of
standard lots shall be limited
in height to six feet, as
measured from the highest
elevation of land contiguous
to the fence, and ten feet as
measured from the lowest
elevation contiguous to the
fence, whichever is less.
17.20.100
Landscaping
Landscaping shall be
provided as specified in
Chapter 16.50 Landscape
Standards and Specifications
in the Orange Municipal
Code
Meets or exceeds minimum
standards. 17.20.120
Parking
1 space/4 seats, or 1 space/30
sq. ft. of gross assembly area,
whichever is greater (18
inches of continuous bench
area = 1 seat). The use has an
assembly area of 1,353 SF
requiring 45 parking spaces.
45 parking spaces provided Table
17.34.060.B
Setback, Front 20’ 20’ minimum 17.14.070
Setback, Rear 0’ 7’ minimum 17.14.070
Setback, Interior
Side 0’ Range from 5’ to 120’ 17.14.070
Planning Commission Staff Report
September 18, 2017
Page 4
APPLICATION(S) REQUESTED/ REQUIRED FINDINGS
Conditional Use Permit: The applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit for a church use.
Required Findings:
1. A Conditional Use Permit shall be granted upon sound principles of land use and in
response to services required by the community.
2. A Conditional Use Permit shall not be granted if it will cause deterioration of bordering
land uses or create special problems for the area in which it is located.
3. A Conditional Use Permit must be considered in relationship to its effect on the
community or neighborhood plan for the area in which it is located.
4. A Conditional Use Permit, if granted, shall be made subject to those conditions necessary
to preserve the general welfare, not the individual welfare of any particular applicant.
Major Site Plan: The applicant is proposing a Major Site Plan to develop a vacant lot.
Required Findings:
1. The project design is compatible with surrounding development and neighborhoods.
2. The project conforms to City development standards and any applicable special design
guidelines or specific plan requirements.
3. The project provides for safe and adequate vehicular and pedestrian circulation, both on-
and off-site.
4. City services are available and adequate to serve the project.
5. The project has been designed to fully mitigate or substantially minimize adverse
environmental effects.
Design Review: The applicant is requesting approval of a Design Review application for the
architectural design, and landscaping associated with the proposed residential development.
Required Findings:
1. In the Old Town Historic District, the proposed work conforms to the prescriptive
standards and design criteria referenced and/or recommended by the Design Review
Committee or other reviewing body for the project.
2. In any National Register Historic District, the proposed work complies with the Secretary
of the Interior’s standards and guidelines.
3. The project design upholds community aesthetics through the use of an internally
consistent, integrated design theme and is consistent with all adopted specific plans,
applicable design standards, and their required findings.
Planning Commission Staff Report
September 18, 2017
Page 5
4. For infill residential development, as specified in the City of Orange infill residential
design guidelines, the new structure(s) or addition are compatible with the scale, massing,
orientation, and articulation of the surrounding development and will preserve or enhance
existing neighborhood character.
ANALYSIS/STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES
The project meets the general standards for developments in the Industrial Manufacturing (M-2)
zone. The proposed development of the vacant site with a modest church structure represents an
internally consistent design theme, in an area characterized by a non-descript collection of concrete
structures. The proposed simple architecture begins to set a theme which can be easily duplicated in
the surrounding area with the use of color, stone veneer, and awnings. The project design is visually
compatible with the surrounding area.
Issue 1: Architecture
The site is located within the industrial district which consists mostly of non-descript concrete
structures with very little architectural character in the vicinity. Therefore the simple design of the
proposed project would be compatible with the surrounding development.
Issue 2: Landscaping
The site is presently void of landscaping. The proposed building will be setback 35 feet from t he
back of the existing sidewalk along Main Street due to a required 15 foot dedication for a future
street expansion. The building itself will be oriented in a manner in which the front entry faces the
parking lot to the south of the lot. The Main Street frontage would be landscape with a variety of
trees and shrubs to enhance the appearance of the property and minimize the side exposure of the
proposed building and parking lot visible from the street.
The properties located across the street on the east side of the street have more articulation and
landscaping. Staff believes that the simple architecture and landscape design proposed for the
project enhance the site and immediate surroundings and are compatible with the industrial corridor.
ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATION
Staff Review (SMART):
City Staff completed its review of the submitted plans on February 14, 2017, and has recommended
approval of the applications to the Planning Commission requested subject to standard conditions.
Design Review Committee:
The Design Review Committee reviewed the proposal on August 16, 2017 and has recommended
approval of the applications to the Planning Commission requested subject to standard conditions.
ATTACHMENTS/EXHIBITS
Attachments to Report:
1. Planning Commission Resolution No. PC 27-17
Planning Commission Staff Report
September 18, 2017
Page 6
2. Vicinity Map
3. Design Review Committee Staff Report and Draft Minutes dated August 16, 2017
4. Photographs of existing site
Exhibits provided to the Planning Commission:
A. Submitted Plans date labeled September 18, 2017
Cc: Cc: Gregg Winer
3300 Cornerstone Drive
Mira Loma, CA 91752
n:\cdd\plng\applications\conditional use permits\cup 2983-15 jehovah's witness\pc staff report v01.doc