Santa Ana : More Parking Spaces Ordered for Apartments
Developers of apartments in the city will have to provide more parking under an ordinance approved by the City Council, boosting what had been some of the lowest requirements of any city in the county.
The ordinance now requires two spaces for every bachelor or one-bedroom unit; 2.3 for every two-bedroom unit, and 2.5 for three bedrooms or more, up from 1.2, 1.8 and 2.4, respectively. Several developers at the meeting protested that the new requirements pose an unfair burden.
Other county cities surveyed show varying requirements, although the cities of Anaheim and Garden Grove both call for 2.5 spaces for one- and two-bedroom units. Santa Ana’s ordinance also specifies that one space per unit be covered parking.
Developer Bruce Jordan, one of those who protested Monday, said the move would have a “serious effect on future developments.” He added that some builders might have to “cut corners” on other parts of a project to make a venture profitable.
Philip Bettencourt, a director of the Building Industry Assn. of Orange County, said the organization sponsored a recent study of 15 apartment projects in the county that showed an average demand of less than .9 spaces per bedroom. Requirements that exceed that standard, he said, could slow the pace of development in the city by “driving up the cost.”
However, Phil Freeland, executive director of community development and housing, said he believes that the new standard will not affect Santa Ana’s development climate although it will probably reduce densities.
He said the ordinance, which affects all new developments, was proposed by the Planning Commission about four months ago when commissioners raised concerns about high-density developments with less-than-adequate parking, especially north of the Civic Center area. “The streets were being clogged with cars,” he said.
*
Parking Requirements
Number of parking spaces per bedroom required in county cities.
Number of Bedrooms Location Bach. 1 2 3+ County 1.5 1.5 2 2.5* Anaheim 1.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 Brea 1.5 1.75 2 2.5** Buena Park 2 2 2 2 Costa Mesa 1.5 1.5 1.8 2 Fullerton 1.5 1.5 2 2.25 Garden Grove 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 Hunt. Beach 1 1 1.5 2 Orange 1.5 1.5 1.8 2 Tustin 2.25 2.25 2.25 2.25 Santa Ana Old 1 1.2 1.8 2.4 New 2 2 2.3 2.5
* or 1.67 per 1,000 square feet
** plus .5 for each in excess of 3
