Council approves zoning change and environmental finding for 26‑unit townhome project on Santa Catalina

The Garden Grove City Council on Tuesday approved land‑use actions needed to develop a 26‑unit attached townhome project on a portion of a parcel currently occupied by a religious facility and parking.

The council adopted a mitigated negative declaration and mitigation monitoring program, approved a general plan amendment (GPA‑001‑2025) to change a 1.73‑acre portion of the parcel from low‑density to medium‑density residential, introduced and conducted first reading of an ordinance to amend the zoning map (A‑041‑2025) from R‑1 to R‑3 for that portion of the property, and approved site plan SP‑150‑2025, tentative tract map TT‑196336, variance V045‑2025 and conditional use permit CUP‑119‑60 (revised 2025) as recommended by staff.

Why it matters: The project converts an underused parking area into 26 fee‑simple townhomes, providing smaller, market‑entry ownership opportunities in an infill location described by staff as close to transit and neighborhood amenities. Staff and proponents said the church will remain on the site and the subdivision is designed to preserve the assembly uses while creating a separate residential parcel.

Planning staff presentation and project design

Monica Rodriguez, senior planner in the city’s planning division, presented the project and staff recommendation. She described three two‑story floor plans (8 two‑bedroom units, 10 three‑bedroom units and 8 four‑bedroom units) with two‑car garages for each unit and 28 guest parking spaces. The project includes about 10,491 square feet of private and common open space with amenities such as a barbecue, community gardens, an outdoor yoga lawn and outdoor fitness equipment.

Rodriguez told council members the applicant is proposing a block wall abutting an existing wood fence along the southerly property line; staff said the existing wood fence will remain and the new block wall will abut it. She also described conditions of approval that address construction hours and fugitive dust control.

Public comment and neighborhood concerns

During the public hearing a mix of supporters and nearby residents addressed the council. Elizabeth Hansberg of People for Housing Orange County urged the council to move the project forward, arguing that missing‑middle infill units provide important first‑time homebuying opportunities. Adjacent property owners Spencer and Tricia Adamson said they were satisfied with assurances that their existing fence would remain and that the developer had included mitigation measures for construction dust and noise.

Several speakers from the religious facility, including the senior pastor, said the church sought to remain as part of the campus and supported the phased development because the transaction would fund repairs and upgrades to the existing church buildings.

Environmental and code issues

The council adopted the initial study and a mitigated negative declaration; staff said mitigation measures would address dust and noise during construction and that the project would not affect a southern wood fence. Rodriguez noted that the conditional use permit for the church would be revised to reflect current standards but that no expansion of the sanctuary was proposed.

Council action and vote

After discussion, a motion to approve the package of land‑use actions carried on a recorded vote of seven yes, zero no. The council’s action included the first reading of the zoning ordinance amendment; staff will return the ordinance for a subsequent reading and adoption consistent with standard procedures.

What happens next

The applicant will proceed with entitlement tasks required by the approvals, prepare final tract map and building plans, and implement the mitigation measures required by the mitigation monitoring and reporting program. Staff will monitor construction hours and dust‑control conditions during the construction period.