Resolution-PC2025-032RESOLUTION NO. PC2025-032
A RESOLUTION OF THE ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING
COMMISSION RECOMMENDING THAT THE ANAHEIM CITY
COUNCIL CERTIFY FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
NO. 357, ADOPT FINDINGS OF FACT, AND ADOPT MITIGATION
MONITORING PROGRAM NO. 398 FOR THE OC RIVER WALK
PROJECT
WHEREAS, the City of Anaheim (the "City") developed the OC River Walk Engineering
Feasibility Study (the "Feasibility Study") for the two-mile stretch from Ball Road to Orangewood
Avenue that identified 17 unique opportunities to transform the Santa Ana River Corridor; and
WHEREAS, the OC River Walk project (the "Proposed Project") implements the key
elements of the Feasibility Study, including, but not limited to, creating two water impoundments
by installing three inflatable rubber dams, modifying the riverbanks, constructing two
pedestrian/bike bridges, providing new trails, improving existing trails, creating new and
protection of existing access ramps, constructing two new undercrossings on the west bank at the
Union Pacific Railroad and the Metrolink railroad, and providing enhanced community recreation
amenities (e.g., terraced seating, nature play areas, parklets, plazas, gathering areas for large-scale
events, festivals, and other activities, water access, kayak launch, etc.). The Proposed Project is
generally located along the Santa Ana River corridor, generally extending from Orangewood
Avenue north past Ball Road to the existing Anaheim Coves at Burris Basin, encompassing
approximately a 2-mile stretch of the Santa Ana River (River), covering approximately I I I -acres,
in the City of Anaheim and City of Orange, County of Orange, State of California, as generally
depicted on the map attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference (the
"Property"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.; herein referred to as
"CEQA"), the State of California Guidelines for the Implementation of the California
Environmental Quality Act (commencing with Section 15000 of Title 14 of the California Code
of Regulations; herein referred to as the "CEQA Guidelines"), the City is the "lead agency" for the
preparation and consideration of environmental documents for the Proposed Project; and
WHEREAS, a Notice of Preparation ("NOP") for a Draft Environment Impact Report (EIR)
was distributed to the public on March 23, 2023, for a 30-day public review period that ended on
April 24, 2023. The City held a public scoping meeting on March 29, 2023, to provide members
of the public with an opportunity to learn about the Proposed Project, ask questions and provide
comments about the scope and content of the information to be addressed in Draft EIR; and
WHEREAS, Draft EIR No. 357 was prepared in accordance with CEQA, the CEQA
Guidelines, and the City's CEQA Procedures, to evaluate the physical environmental impacts of
the Proposed Project. Draft EIR No. 357 was made available for a 45-day public review period
from July 24, 2025, to September 8, 2025. The Notice of Availability ("NOA") was sent to a list
of interested persons, agencies and organizations. The NOA was posted at the Orange County
Clerk -Recorder's office on July 24, 2025. A Notice of Completion ("NOC") was sent to the State
Clearinghouse in Sacramento for distribution to public agencies on July 24, 2025. Copies of Draft
EIR No. 357 were made available for public review at the City of Anaheim Community Services
Department, Anaheim Sunkist Library, and were made available for download via the City's
website; and
WHEREAS, the City has evaluated the comments received from the public agencies and
persons who reviewed Draft EIR No. 357 and has prepared responses to comments received during
the public review period. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15088.5, none of the comments
received resulted in the need to recirculate Draft EIR No. 357 for public review; and
WHEREAS, in conformance with the requirements of CEQA, the CEQA Guidelines and
the City's CEQA procedures, the City has prepared (a) Findings of Fact relating to Draft EIR No.
357, and incorporated herein by this reference as though set forth in full and that documents and
supports the conclusion that with the implementation of all mitigation measures recommended in
Final EIR No. 357, the Project would not result in any significant and unavoidable impacts, which
further sets forth the overriding benefits of the Project, and (b) Mitigation Monitoring Program
("MMP") No. 398, which identifies mitigation measures for the Project, and is attached hereto as
Exhibit B and incorporated here by this reference as though set forth in full; and
WHEREAS, in conformance with Sections 15132 and 15362(b) of the CEQA Guidelines,
Final EIR No. 357 consists of Draft EIR No. 357; comments and recommendations received on
Draft EIR No. 357 either verbatim or in summary; a list of persons, organizations and public
agencies that submitted comments on Draft EIR No. 357; and the responses of the City, as lead
agency, to significant environmental points raised in the review and consultation process;
corrections, clarification and additions to Draft EIR No. 357, which do not alter the conclusions
of Draft EIR No. 357; and MMP No. 398; and
WHEREAS, on November 17, 2025, the Planning Commission did hold a public hearing,
notice of said public hearing having been duly given as required by law and in accordance with
the provisions of Chapter 18.60 (Procedures) of the Code, to hear and consider evidence for and
against certification of Final EIR No. 357, and to investigate and make findings and
recommendations in connection therewith; and
WHEREAS, to the extent authorized by law, the City desires and intends to use Final EIR
No. 357 as the environmental documentation required by CEQA, the CEQA Guidelines and the
City's CEQA procedures for the Project; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission determines that the evidence in the record
constitutes substantial evidence to support the actions taken and the findings made in this
Resolution, that the facts stated in this Resolution are supported by substantial evidence in the
record, including testimony received at the public hearing, the staff presentation, the staff report,
and all materials in the project files. There is no substantial evidence, nor are there other facts that
negate the findings made in this Resolution. The Planning Commission expressly declares that it
considered all evidence presented and reached these findings after due consideration of all
evidence presented to it.
- 2 - PC2025-032
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Planning Commission, after due
consideration, inspection and study made by itself, and after due consideration of, and based upon,
all the information and evidence received concerning Final EIR No. 357, does hereby find and
determine as follows:
1. Final EIR No. 357 has been processed and completed in compliance with the requirements
of CEQA, the CEQA Guidelines and the City's CEQA procedures;
2. The Planning Commission has carefully reviewed and considered the information
contained in Final EIR No. 357 and MMP No. 398;
3. Final EIR No. 357 and MMP No. 398 reflects the independent judgment and analysis of
the Planning Commission;
4. Final EIR No. 357 and MMP No. 398 are adequate to serve as the environmental
documentation for the Proposed Project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Planning Commission pursuant to the above
findings and based upon a its review and consideration of the environmental information contained
in Final EIR No. 357, Findings of Fact, and MMP No. 398 attached hereto as Exhibit B, and the
evidence received to date, does hereby recommend that the City Council find that Final EIR No.
357 provides an adequate assessment of the potentially significant environmental impacts of the
Project; certify Final EIR No. 357; adopt Findings of Fact, adopt MMP No. 398; determine that
Final EIR No. 357 fully complies with CEQA, the CEQA Guidelines and the City's CEQA
procedures, and is adequate to serve as the environmental documentation for the Project; and that
no further environmental documentation need be prepared for CEQA for the Project.
THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION was adopted at the Planning Commission meeting of
November 17, 2025. I
CHAWERSON, PLATING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
0
SECRETARY,-PL-ANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
- 3 - PC2025-032
EXHIBIT „A„
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APNs:
232-072-07, 232-072-08, 253-451-02, 253-451-02, 253-451-04, 253-451-04, 253-451-04,
253-472-01, 253-521-36, 253-631-39, 374-791-01, 374-792-02, 375-221-01, 375-221-02,
375-221-09, 375-221-10, 375-221-26, 375-301-01, 375-311-13, 375-311-14, 375-311-27,
37S-3h1-23, 3ii6-571-07, 3Rf-5i1-19, 3RFi-571-?(�
EXHIBIT "B"
Mitigation Monitoring Plan (MMP) No. 398
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss.
CITY OF ANAHEIM )
I, Bridgette Bambrick, Secretary of the Planning Commission of the City of Anaheim, do
hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted at a meeting of the Planning
Commission of the City of Anaheim held on November 17, 2025, by the following vote of the
members thereof.
AYES: Commissioners Abdulrahman, Castro, Kelly, Lieberman, Perez, Tran-Martin, and
Walker.
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 171h day of November 2025
SECRETARY, PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM