Air Quality and Climate

Conservation Element

GOAL CN-1: Air Quality and Climate
Protect air resources, improve regional and local air quality, and minimize the impacts of climate change.

  • Policy CN-1.1
    Regional Planning Efforts
    Coordinate air quality planning efforts with local and regional agencies to meet or exceed State and Federal ambient air quality standards in order to educate the community on and protect all residents from the health effects of air pollution.
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  • Policy CN-1.2
    Climate Action Plan
    Consistency with emission reduction goals highlighted in the Climate Action Plan shall be considered in all major decisions on land use and investments in public infrastructure.
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  • Policy CN-1.3
    Education
    Promote efforts to educate businesses and the general public about air quality standards, reducing the urban heat island effect, health effects from poor air quality and extreme heat, and best practices they can make to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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  • Policy CN-1.4
    Development Standards
    Support new development that meets or exceeds standards for energy-efficient building design and site planning.
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  • Policy CN-1.5
    Sensitive Receptor Decisions
    Study the impacts of stationary and non-stationary emission sources on existing and proposed sensitive uses and opportunities to minimize health and safety risks. Develop and adopt new regulations avoiding the siting of facilities that potentially emit increased pollution near sensitive receptors within environmental justice area boundaries.
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  • Policy CN-1.6
    New and Infill Residential Development
    Promote development that is mixed use, pedestrian friendly, transit oriented, and clustered around activity centers.
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  • Policy CN-1.7
    Housing and Employment Opportunities
    Improve the city’s jobs/housing balance ratio by supporting development that provides housing and employment opportunities to enable people to live and work in Santa Ana.
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  • Policy CN-1.8
    Promote Alternative Transportation
    Promote use of alternate modes of transportation in the City of Santa Ana, including pedestrian, bicycling, public transportation, car sharing programs, and emerging technologies.
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  • Policy CN-1.9
    Public Investment Alternative Transportation Infrastructure
    Continue to invest in infrastructure projects that support public transportation and alternate modes of transportation in the City of Santa Ana, including pedestrian, bicycling, public transportation, car sharing programs, and emerging technologies.
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  • Policy CN-1.10
    Transportation Management
    Continue to support and invest in improvements to the City’s Transportation Management System, including projects or programs that improve traffic flow and reduce traffic congestion.
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  • Policy CN-1.11
    Public Investment in Low- or Zero Emission Vehicles
    Continue to invest in low-emission or zero-emission vehicles to replace the City’s gasoline powered vehicle fleet and to transition to available clean fuel sources such as bio-diesel for trucks and heavy equipment.
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  • Policy CN-1.12
    Sustainable Infrastructure
    Encourage the use of low or zero emission vehicles, bicycles, nonmotorized vehicles, and car-sharing programs by supporting new and existing development that includes sustainable infrastructure and strategies such as vehicle charging stations, drop-off areas for ride-sharing services, secure bicycle parking, and transportation demand management programs.
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  • Policy CN-1.13
    City Contract Practices
    Support businesses and contractors that use reduced-emissions equipment for city construction projects and contracts for services, as well as businesses that practice sustainable operations.
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  • Policy CN-1.14
    Transportation Demand Management
    Require and incentivize projects to incorporate transportation demand management techniques.
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  • Policy CN-1.15
    Community Emissions Reduction
    Collaborate with the South Coast Air Quality Management District and local stakeholders in advance of designation as a priority community for air monitoring and reduction, and implement measures and strategies identified in other air monitoring and emissions reduction plans that are applicable to and feasible for Santa Ana.
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  • Policy CN-1.16
    Indirect source rules
    Support the development of regional legislation such as the drayage truck rule, advanced clean truck route, and heavy-duty low NOx rule by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
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  • Policy CN-1.17
    Indoor Recreation
    Encourage new development to provide indoor recreation space when located in areas with high levels of localized air pollution or if site is adjacent to freeways or heavy industrial uses.
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  • Policy CN-1.18
    public investment in parks
    Coordinate with park renovation and new development to address air quality and climate impacts by reducing the heat island affect by providing green infrastructure and shade, and reducing air pollution by providing vegetation that removes pollutants and air particles.
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Mobility Element

  • Policy M-1.8
    Environmental Sustainability
    Consider air and water quality, noise reduction, neighborhood character, and street-level aesthetics when making improvements to travelways.
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  • Policy M-4.9
    Air Pollution Mitigation
    Utilize land use, building, site planning, and technology solutions to mitigate exposure to transportation-related air pollution, especially in environmental justice focus areas.
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Economic Prosperity Element

  • Policy EP-2.10
    Green Business
    Support the growth of a diverse green business sector that facilitates and promotes environmental sustainability and creates a competitive advantage for business attraction activities.
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Open Space Element

  • Policy OS-2.5
    Air Quality and Heat
    Coordinate park renovation and development to address air quality and climate impacts by reducing heat island effect by providing green infrastructure and shade, and reducing air pollution by providing vegetation that removes pollutants and air particles.
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  • Policy  OS-2.7
    Healthy Indoor Options
    Encourage or incentivize new commercial and residential development to provide private indoor recreation space when located in areas with high levels of localized air pollution or if site is adjacent to freeways or heavy industrial uses.
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  • Policy OS-2.8
    Hazardous Materials
    Reduce or eliminate, where feasible, the use of pesticides and herbicides that negatively impact human health at park facilities and publicly accessible open spaces.
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Safety Element

  • GOAL S-2: Hazardous Materials
    Protect residents and environmental resources from contaminated hazardous material sites and minimize risks associated with the use, production, storage, transport, and disposal of hazardous materials.
  • Policy S-2.1
    Regional Collaboration
    Consult and collaborate with federal, state, and regional agencies to identify and regulate the use, storage and disposal of hazardous materials, prevent the illegal transportation and disposal of hazardous waste, and facilitate the cleanup of contaminated sites.
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  • Policy S-2.2
    Hazardous Waste Generators
    Collaborate with appropriate agencies to identify and inventory all users and handlers of hazardous materials to proactively mitigate potential impacts. Promote transparency and accountability by publishing city, regional, and state data and resources on toxic spills, water pollution, illegal discharges, industrial and commercial air violations on a dedicated Santa Ana Environmental Quality webpage.
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  • Policy S-2.3
    Transportation and Storage
    Coordinate with the County of Orange, the California Department of Transportation, and other relevant parties to enforce state and local laws regulating the storage and transport of hazardous materials within the City of Santa Ana, and limit truck routes through the city to arterials streets away from natural habitats and sensitive land uses.
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  • Policy S-2.4
    Planning and Remediation
    Determine the presence of hazardous materials and/or waste contamination prior to approval of new uses and require that appropriate measures be taken to protect the health and safety of site users and the community.
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  • Policy S-2.5
    Education and Best Practices
    Promote public awareness of best practices for and participation in household hazardous waste management and disposal.
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  • Policy S-2.6
    Existing Sensitive Uses
    Partner and collaborate with property owners, businesses, and community groups to develop strategies to protect and minimize risks from existing hazardous material sites to existing nearby sensitive uses, with priority given to discontinuing such uses within environmental justice area boundaries.
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Land Use

  • Policy LU-3.8
    Sensitive Receptors
    Avoid the development of industry and sensitive receptors in close proximity to each other that could pose a hazard to human health and safety due to the quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical characteristics of the hazardous materials utilized, or the hazardous waste an operation may generate or emit.
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  • Policy LU-3.9
    Noxious, Hazardous, Dangerous, and Polluting Uses
    Improve the health of residents, students, and workers by limiting the impacts of construction activities and operation of noxious, hazardous, dangerous, and polluting uses that are in close proximity to sensitive receptors, with priority given to discontinuing such uses within environmental justice area boundaries.
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  • Policy LU-4.3
    Sustainable Land Use Strategies
    Encourage land uses and strategies that reduce energy and water consumption, waste and noise generation, soil contamination, air quality impacts, and light pollution.
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Urban Design

  • Policy UD-2.10
    Greening the Built Environment
    Promote planting of shade trees and require, where feasible, preservation and site design that uses appropriate tree species to shade parking lots, streets, and other facilities, with the goal of reducing the heat island effect.
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