Santa Ana Off- Premises Commercial Advertising Signs Ordinance Update Project

Conditional Use Permit No. 2025-25 The project includes the reconstruction of an existing freeway-oriented, on-premise digital sign into a digital billboard with off-premise commercial advertising at 1505 S. Auto Mall Drive. The request also includes allowing the digital billboard to continue to exceed the maximum permitted height of 60 feet. The scope of work includes removing the existing digital screen and installing a two-sided, V-shape billboard with two 840-square-foot screens on either side. Additionally, the existing "Exit on Edinger" text will be removed. The adoption of Ordinance No. NS-3023 was accompanied by the adoption of the 2022 Santa Ana Off-Premises Commercial Advertising Signs Ordinance Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) (SCH No. 2022030204), as well as the adoption of a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP). The MND evaluated the potential environmental impacts associated with the implementation of digital billboard signage within designated allowable areas, referred to as "Potential Billboard Areas," where new digital display billboards are permitted. Due to the linear nature of the freeway corridors, the City was divided into six Potential Billboard Areas for purposes of environmental analysis. These areas are generally located along freeway frontages within 300 feet of the edge of pavement and are limited to non-residentially zoned properties, including areas governed by specific plans and specific development zoning districts. The ordinance further restricts billboard placement by prohibiting digital billboards within 500 feet of residentially zoned properties and within Caltrans right-of-way or designated landscaped freeway corridors. The subject site is located within Potential Billboard Area 4, one of the designated allowable areas evaluated in the MND. Accordingly, the MND analyzed the environmental setting, potential impacts, and applicable mitigation measures associated with digital billboard development in locations such as the subject site, and the MMRP was adopted to ensure implementation of those mitigation measures. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Section 15162 of the CEQA Guidelines, the Project is within the scope of the 2022 Santa Ana Off-Premises Commercial Advertising Signs Ordinance Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) (SCH No. 2022030204). The previously adopted MND adequately describes the Project's environmental setting, impacts, and mitigation measures. This is to advise that the City of Santa Ana (Lead Agency) has approved the above-described project on July 27, 2026, and made the following determination regarding the above-described project: 1. The project will not have a significant effect on the environment. 2. The Project is covered by a previously prepared Negative Declaration (SCH No. 2022030204) pursuant to the provisions of CEQA. 3. Mitigation measures were made a condition of the approval on the previous Negative Declaration (SCH No. 2022030204) and reaffirmed for this Project. 4. A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for the previous Negative Declaration (SCH No. 2022030204) and is applicable to this Project. 5. A Statement of Overriding Considerations was not adopted for this Project. 6. Findings were not made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA. This is to certify that the final EIR with comments and responses and record of project approval, or the Negative Declaration, is available to the General Public at https://ceqanet.lci.ca.gov/2022030204