Scope of Work: Environmental Planning / CEQA Compliance
Started: 2022 | Completed: 2024
Project Description:
The Related Bristol Specific Plan represents a transformative vision for a 41-acre site in the heart of Santa Ana. This mixed-use development includes 3,750 residential units, 350,000 SF of commercial space, 250 hotel rooms, and 200 senior care units. The project aims to create a self-sustaining community that blends living spaces with essential services and amenities. The development is planned to roll out in phases over a 10-year period, from 2026 to 2036.
EPD Services:
The Related Bristol Specific Plan required a rigorous environmental review process to meet CEQA requirements. EPD Solutions developed a Supplemental Program EIR that built upon the Santa Ana General Plan Update EIR, certified in 2022. The focus was on ensuring that all technical studies and analyses were thorough and up to CEQA standards. EPD worked hand-in-hand with City staff and the applicant team, ensuring all environmental issues were addressed effectively. The EPD team managed to circulate the public review Draft EIR within six months of project initiation, successfully maintaining the project’s budget and timeline.
Collaboration and Community Impact:
Collaboration between EPD Solutions, the City of Santa Ana, and the applicant team was essential to the success of the Related Bristol Specific Plan. This collaboration resulted in a plan that aligns with the City’s General Plan, fostering sustainable growth, new housing, and commercial opportunities. The project’s phased rollout and attention to detail are designed to create long-lasting benefits for the community, including economic revitalization and an improved quality of life for Santa Ana residents.
EPD Solutions’ Success and Community Recognition:
Despite a large volume of public comment letters received on the day of the City Council hearing, EPD Solutions managed to address each response thoroughly and efficiently. Santa Ana’s Community Development Department commended EPD’s professionalism and commitment to the project, noting that the handling of the CEQA process was a key factor in securing the largest mix-used project in the City’s history. This recognition underscores EPD’s role as a leader in environmental planning and urban development.
