SANTA ANA : Xerox Plan Gets OK Despite Objections

The Santa Ana City Council Monday voted to allow developers to complete the Xerox Centre project, including a 23-story office tower near the Santa Ana Freeway, despite concerns by Tustin officials that the project would lead to traffic snarls in their city.

The City Council voted 6 to 0 to approve an environmental impact report for the second and third phrases of the Xerox Centre along with two resolutions to allow the project to be completed by 1992. Councilman Daniel E. Griset was absent for the vote.

The environmental report stated that the project would increase traffic volume along First Street, Tustin Avenue, Fourth Street and Irvine Boulevard in Tustin, said Christine Shingleton, director of community development for Tustin.

However, Tustin, which is seeking a joint-powers agreement with Santa Ana to share development fees from the project, now is left in “limbo,” said Tustin Assistant City Atty. Brian K. Okazaki. The funds would be used to study the effect of the increased traffic, Shingleton said.

Tustin had hoped that Santa Ana would not approve the project without completing such an agreement, Shingleton said.

“If something breaks down in negotiations, Tustin is left with no recourse,” Okazaki said, adding that Tustin will sue if necessary.

With Santa Ana’s approval, developer Birtcher Xerox Partners of Laguna Niguel can now begin construction on a 15-story office building and then follow with a 23-story tower. As part of the new phrases, two parking garages that would accommodate 2,300 cars also will be built. The two office office buildings will total 780,773 square feet.

The developer has completed the first phrase of the project, a 15-story office building and an eight-level parking structure, which was approved by the council in 1987 as part of the city’s plan to renovate Santa Ana.

The Xerox site is bordered by the Santa Ana Freeway on the west, First Street on the south, and Fourth Street on the north. Once Cabrillo Park Drive is extended, it will be the eastern border.