Santa Ana Ca Zoning

A Cowan Heights swingers' club was not a business, but rather a private organization like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or Elks Lodge, a lawyer for the club's operator said in closing arguments Monday. "It was not a business, but a club to support a lifestyle," defense attorney William J. Kopeny said. Prosecutors disagreed, noting that the club's owner, Stephen M. Cohen, took out advertisements and collected fees from "patrons." The club, prosecutors say, was operated for a profit.

The City Council on Monday approved a zoning change designed to revitalize South Main Street, between Walnut Street and just north of Warner Avenue. Dubbing the area the South Main Street Commercial District, the zoning changes will ease restrictions on permitted uses, parking and signage, and will encourage businesses to keep buildings close to the street and public sidewalk.

The City Council has rejected a restaurant owner's request to have a cover charge, a change which city staff said would amount to turning the business into a nightclub. The council voted unanimously Monday to deny the permit for Mr. J's, at 2101 E. Edinger Ave., after receiving a lengthy report of concerns from city staff and police.

Downtown Santa Ana is known for its historic buildings and vibrant Latino shopping districts. The commercial center also has the distinction of being Orange County's check cashing capital, something city officials are determined to change. About three dozen check cashing businesses operate within a 1.6-mile radius of 4th and Main streets, according to an online directory.

The City Council recently approved changing land designations to facilitate building a corporate office park and a professional trade school in the 3600-3631 blocks of South Harbor Boulevard and at 3651 W. Sunflower Ave., respectively. The plans included rezoning property from an industrial zone district to a professional office zone district and issuing a conditional use permit for the trade school.

After years of debate, council members have declined to make any changes to the mix of homes and industrial shops in one of the city's oldest districts. The council this week adopted updates to a planning document guiding development, but voted against a zoning change for the Logan neighborhood. Five property owners asked that the area be zoned all industrial to better accommodate business needs.

What to do with a parcel of land next to MainPlace/Santa Ana will be the topic for a public hearing at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Officials say the property, between the mall and the Santa Ana Freeway, is too small to be developed but is large enough to have become an eyesore. The property is now zoned for commercial use. City planners are recommending that it be rezoned as open space.

New sign and building requirements will be among the proposals reviewed by the City Council Monday as it considers zoning modifications along south Main Street. Though the area between First and Warner streets is already near its capacity for businesses, city officials said, zoning modifications will ease the permit process for future enterprises.

Longstanding tension between businesses and residents in the Logan neighborhood now threatens to tear the area apart. Today the City Council will conduct a study session on whether to keep the neighborhood zoned residential or change the zoning to manufacturing. "The idea is to make [Logan] one or the other," Councilwoman Patricia A. McGuigan said. The conflict began in 1929 when the Santa Fe Railroad came to Santa Ana, and the city declared Logan an industrial zone, rather than residential.

The City Council has approved variances allowing construction of a church on Pomona Street but has warned its owners that the church will be closed if parking in the immediate area became a problem. The council voted 6 to 1 this week to approve several variances required for the project at 112 E. Pomona St. Councilwoman Patricia McGuigan opposed the motion, saying that when the council previously approved similar plans for a church, the building led to parking and traffic problems.

After years of debate, council members have declined to make any changes to the mix of homes and industrial shops in one of the city's oldest districts. The council this week adopted updates to a planning document guiding development, but voted against a zoning change for the Logan neighborhood. Five property owners asked that the area be zoned all industrial to better accommodate business needs.

To better control the placement of stores selling liquor, the Santa Ana City Council will consider modifying its permit-application process Monday. Under the proposed changes, markets of all sizes would have to apply for a conditional-use permit if they want to sell alcohol. Only "small" markets, those 20,000 square feet or less, now have to apply for such permits, according to a staff report.

Veronica Ruiz and her father, Mario Ruiz, wanted to open a shop on their vacant property to repair cars and turn a profit. Instead, they were accused of trying to destroy one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. The showdown, which took place almost two years ago, typifies an ongoing debate over whether the Logan neighborhood in northwest Santa Ana should be for homes or industry.

What to do with a parcel of land next to MainPlace/Santa Ana will be the topic for a public hearing at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Officials say the property, between the mall and the Santa Ana Freeway, is too small to be developed but is large enough to have become an eyesore. The property is now zoned for commercial use. City planners are recommending that it be rezoned as open space.