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06/07/2004 <br />Findings: Mitigation Measure 5 -1 -2 is feasible, and would substantially <br />reduce the potentially significant environmental impact described above, but not to a <br />less- than - significant level. Even under the Precise Plan the height of a number of <br />Project buildings would have potentially significant visual impacts on adjacent <br />properties. These impacts could be further reduced and made insignificant only by <br />substantially reducing the height and size of residential buildings in the Project, which <br />would render it infeasible because the remaining number of units would not be sufficient <br />to recover the cost of infrastructure and other improvements required to develop any <br />Project on this site and because the number of affordable and other new residential <br />units would be substantially reduced, preventing realization of a primary goal of the <br />Project. A project with substantially fewer units would also reduce or eliminate other <br />benefits of the Project identified in the Statement of Overriding Considerations. <br />Alternative mitigation Measure 5 -1 -1, reducing the maximum Project building height to <br />75 feet, is not feasible for these reasons. The remaining impacts, though potentially <br />significant, are therefore unavoidable. <br />B. Views, Vistas and Overall Visual Character <br />Potential Impact: The Project would affect public views, vistas and view <br />corridors, and change the overall visual character of the Bayfront area, as a result of <br />height and massing (Impact 5 -2). <br />Mitigation: The Precise Plan (Mitigation 5 -1 -2) requires a carefully - <br />drafted set of design principles, including setbacks, tapering heights, building spacing, <br />floor area limits and surface and fagade detailing. The Precise Plan also requires that <br />Project design be tailored to preserve open space and open water and to provide park <br />space and water access, and incorporates elements of Mitigation Alternative 5 -2 -1, <br />relating to screening buildings with trees, setting back buildings from waterways and <br />public trails and the spatial relationships of buildings. <br />Findings: The Precise Plan will significantly reduce perceived height of <br />the Project, screen and set back buildings and distribute taller buildings so that the <br />Project's impact on public views, vistas and view corridors and the overall visual <br />character of the Bayfront area will also be significantly reduced. However, even under <br />the Precise Plan the height and mass of a number of Project buildings would have <br />potentially significant impacts on public views, vistas and view corridors and the overall <br />visual character of the Bayfront area. The view and vista impacts could be further <br />reduced and made insignificant only by substantially reducing the height and size of <br />residential buildings in the Project. The open and expansive natural character of parts <br />of the Project site could be retained only by not developing those areas. Either of those <br />steps alone, or both of them together, would render the Project infeasible because the <br />remaining number of units and amount of other development would not be sufficient to <br />recover the cost of infrastructure and other improvements required to develop any <br />Project on this site and because the number of affordable and other new residential <br />units would be substantially reduced, preventing realization of a primary goal of the <br />Project. Alternative Mitigation Measure 5 -2 -1, which would require reducing Project <br />1289 \02 \179278.2 4 <br />Atty /Reso /Reso.1470 14590 <br />060804 Muff # 304 Bin 26 <br />