Santa Ana planning commission approves Cristo Rey high school campus at South Harbor Boulevard

The Santa Ana Planning Commission voted to approve Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 2025-22 on a majority vote, allowing Cristo Rey Orange County High School to establish a professional-school campus in two existing office buildings at 3601 and 3611 South Harbor Boulevard.

The motion to approve was made by Vice Chair Benninger and seconded by Commissioner Wu. The roll-call recorded "aye" votes for Commissioners Escamilla, Wu, Vice Chair Benninger and Chair Ramos; the motion was announced as approved by majority vote with Commissioners Leo and Oliva noted as absent.

Staff and the applicant presented the project as an adaptive reuse of an underutilized office campus. Case planner Nancy Tran told the commission the site is approximately 9 acres, with roughly 1.4 acres proposed for school use. The project would repurpose second-floor space in two buildings to create classroom, counseling and common areas, add covered exterior stairways, a six-foot perimeter picket fence, outdoor recreation including basketball courts and shade structures, new trash enclosures and landscaping (46 new trees).

Tran also summarized…