Council approves Village Santa Ana specific plan, with conditions on hotels and Bear Street design

The Santa Ana City Council voted 7-0 to certify the final supplemental environmental impact report and approve the Village Santa Ana specific plan (SP 6), a mixed‑use redevelopment proposed for 1561 West Sunflower Avenue, at a public hearing that concluded with several council-directed amendments.

The project, proposed by South Coast Plaza interests, would redevelop a 17.2-acre surface‑parking site into up to 1,583 housing units, roughly 80,000 square feet of retail, 300,000 square feet of office space and about 13.8 acres of private and publicly accessible open space; the council approved the entitlements after voting on the environmental findings and a development agreement. Council Member Becerra moved the motion; Mayor Meskwah seconded. The roll call showed 7 ayes and no nays.

City staff described the proposal as implementing the land-use vision for the South Bristol Street focus area: walkable blocks, expanded open space and high density near South Coast Plaza. Assistant Director Ali Pizzashear presented the project and the city’s environmental review, noting the EIR identified mitigable impacts in areas such as air quality and noise and a significant, unavoidable impact related to parkland…