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06/07/2004 <br />primary goal of the Project. A project with substantially fewer units would also reduce or <br />eliminate other benefits of the Project identified in the Statement of Overriding <br />Considerations. The remaining impacts, though potentially significant, are therefore <br />unavoidable. <br />D. "Smart" Growth <br />Potential Impact: Absence of parks facilities, of a transit link to a local or <br />regional corridor or hub, or retail commercial space to serve the convenience needs of <br />Project residents and businesses or a specific and substantial below market rate <br />housing component could conflict with local or regional land use policy and create a <br />potentially significant environmental impact under "smart" growth policies [Impact 4 -3]. <br />A related water supply impact is discussed in Section VII(A) below. <br />Mitigation: The Precise Plan specifies an appropriate park space and <br />recreation credits for Project open space and water areas, and requires new park area <br />within the Project large enough to meet the Project's needs as determined by the City <br />(Mitigation 10 -8). The Precise Plan and Project conditions of approval require that the <br />Project sponsor a transit connection to downtown Redwood City and also that Project - <br />generated trips be monitored periodically throughout development of the Project and <br />that a defined reduction in off -site trips be achieved through transit and /or other means <br />(Mitigations 4 -3, 7 -7). The Precise Plan and Project Development Agreement also <br />require that the Project contain retail commercial space in a specified amount and by a <br />specified stage of development, to serve the needs of residents and Project businesses. <br />The Precise Plan also specifies that the Project provide at least 15% affordable <br />housing, including 5% of its units affordable to very low income households. <br />Findings: The identified mitigation measures are feasible and reduce the <br />Project's park impacts to a level which is not potentially environmentally significant, <br />while also bringing its transit measures, on -site retail commercial development and <br />affordable housing components in line with existing "smart" growth policies so that there <br />is no potentially environmentally significant impact created by failure to comply with <br />those policies. <br />II. VISUAL QUALITY <br />A. Height <br />Potential Impact: The Project would contain a number of buildings <br />significantly higher than those in the vicinity (EIR Impact 5 -1). <br />Mitigation: The Precise Plan requires a carefully- drafted set of design <br />principles, including setbacks, tapering heights, building spacing, floor area limits and <br />surface and fagade detailing, which will significantly reduce perceived height of the <br />Project, and distribute its taller buildings so that visual impacts on adjacent properties <br />will be reduced (Mitigation 5 -1 -2). <br />1289 \02 \179278.2 3 <br />Atty /Reso /Reso.1470 14590 <br />060804 Muff # 304 Bin 26 <br />