The City Council took a first look on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at Related Bristol, which could transform a sleepy shopping center at one of Santa Ana’s busiest intersections in the South Coast Metro area into a mixed-use neighborhood with thousands of apartments and retail and public spaces.
Dozens of residents showed up to Tuesday’s public hearing, the majority of whom spoke in support of the project. Councilmembers also spoke briefly about the project and then decided to continue the hearing to their Oct. 1 meeting for more consideration.
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Related Bristol is a proposed two-block development of up to 3,750 residential units, a 250-room hotel, a 200-unit tower for senior living and up to 350,000 square feet of restaurants and shops, as well as a grocery store and 13 acres of park space. If approved, developer Related California, based in Irvine, estimates the construction, which would be broken into phases, could be completed in about 10 years.
Related California is proposing to pay the city of Santa Ana $18 million to be used for affordable housing projects throughout the city, in-lieu of designating any of its planned residential as affordable units. The developers have also offered a $22 million “community benefit payment” to be spent at the direction of the City Council.
The Santa Ana Planning Commission unanimously approved the project last month, meaning all that is left is for the City Council to make the final approval.
Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez said he wants to see a community workforce agreement between the developer and local labor unions.
“Without this agreement, we cannot assure that Santa Ana residents will have priority when it comes to the jobs that will be created throughout the construction of this project,” Hernandez said. “What we are looking for to have in Santa Ana is good-faith negotiations with our labor partners.”
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Hernandez said the project should move foreward, “but not without every trade at the table.”
Mayor Valerie Amezcua also asked for more information about the construction truck routes proposed by the developers to ensure residential neighborhoods in the area are not disrupted.
“I think it’s important for us to know the truck routes, and how that is going to affect our residents,” Amezcua said. “How are we notifying the residents? What are we doing for sound? What will be the time that they will be driving? I think it’s really important that we get those questions (answered.)”
The Santa Ana City Council meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 1, in the City Council Chamber, 22 Civic Center Plaza. Meeting are also streamed at YouTube.com/@CityofSantaAnavideos.
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