AgdaPkt 2014-10-20 Closed and Special Joint with SA_Revised_10_17_2014

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8.A. - Page 72 Section 4: Evaluation of Environmental Impacts Many of the proposed Opportunity Sites are located in close proximity to the San Andreas fault zone, which traverses the southwestern border of the city. The Redwood City General Plan indicates structural types, land uses, and sites that are highly sensitive to earthquake activity will require specific guidelines to minimize the potential for structure and loss of life that results from earthquakes and other geological hazards as described in General Plan Goal PS -6, shown below. The proposed Housing Element does not increase any risks associated with fault rupture, as no land use policy changes are proposed which will allow development where it was not previously permitted. No changes are proposed to General Plan policies in place to protect against earthquake hazards. Future housing development constructed pursuant to Housing Element policy will be subject to all applicable City, state, and local building regulations, including the California Building Code (CBC) seismic standards as approved by the City Building & Safety Division. Impacts will be less than significant. a.ii) Less than Significant Impact. Ground shaking can vary greatly due to the variation in earth properties. The city is subject to strong ground shaking, as is the entirety of Northern California. As discussed above, Redwood City is located in close proximity to an Alquist - Priolo Earthquake fault zone, and there are multiple active and potentially active fault zones in the region that could affect the project site.As with all properties in the seismically active Northern California region, all future projects will be susceptible to ground shaking during a seismic event and could expose people and structures to potentially medium to strong seismic ground motion.. All future, site - specific projects involving physical development of the property will be required to be in conformance with the California Building Code (CBC) and other applicable standards. The proposed Housing Element will have no impact as no physical improvements are proposed that will alter existing conditions. Nonetheless, as discussed above in Section 4.6a.i, all future projects will be designed and constructed in compliance with all applicable City and state codes and requirements, including those established in the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2, Volume 2. The CBC regulations are designed to protect building occupants and limit the damage sustained by buildings during seismic events. The General Plan Public Safety Element identifies seismicity as a key safety issue and contains the following goals and policies to reduce seismic hazards within the City with which future development will have to comply. Therefore, impacts will be less than significant. General Plan Public Safety Element Policies Goal PS -6 Minimize the potential damage to structures and loss of life that result from earthquakes and other geological hazards. Policy PS -6.1 Identify structural types, land uses, and sites that are highly sensitive to earthquake activity and other geological hazards, and seek to abate or modify them to achieve acceptable levels of risk. Policy PS -6.2 Inform the public through schools, community centers, and other agencies and media channels what can be done to reduce risks from seismic events to persons and properties. Policy PS -6.3 Work to ensure that structures and the public in Redwood City are exposed to reduced risks from seismic and geological events. a.iii) Less than Significant Impact. Liquefaction is a phenomenon that occurs when soil undergoes transformation from a solid state to a liquefied condition due to the effects of increased pore -water pressure. This typically occurs where susceptible soils (particularly the medium sand to silt range) are located over a high groundwater table. Affected soils lose all strength during liquefaction and foundation failure can occur. The State of California Department of Conservation indicates that a portion of Redwood City is mapped as an area 96 City of Redwood City General Plan. Public Safety Element. 2010. Redwood City Housing Element Initial Study 33