Agmt02 EDAW, Inc. - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

A2. Existing Conditions and Program Definition The assumptions provided by the Downtown Area Plan and Housing Element will be used as a basis for determining the exact programs to be analyzed in the EIRs. The current program provided by the Area Plan includes a range of anticipated development. EDAW will consult with the City to determine whether the high end of the range should be assumed (i.e., the "worst case" from an environmental review perspective), or whether an alternative program should be assumed. In addition, EDAW will determine the existing square footage and dwelling unit counts for the Downtown Plan's Opportunity sites, including the Catalyst sites. This step in the environmental analysis will ensure that development is not double counted when projecting environmental impact (e.g., traffic impacts). For example, some dwelling units would be lost in Area 9, if it is redeveloped for office uses as shown in the Plan. There would also be a loss of retail and office space for some of the sites slated for residential development. This evaluation will be important when assessing the net population and office/retail growth attributable to the Plan and its consistency with growth projections made by ABAG. Because regional and local plans often use ABAG's projections to project impacts (e.g., air quality, housing, public services, and utilities), this quantification is necessary. In addition, EDAW will determine if there are additional programmatic changes that would occur with adoption of the Housing Element. Based upon our initial review, and conversations with the Planning Department, the Downtown Area Plan and associated implementing actions (including the parking ordinance and potential modifications to the redevelopment area) are the only regulation changes envisioned by the Housing Element that are yet to be adopted. As an example, the City approved the zoning and ordinance changes described in the Draft Housing Element Programs A3 and A4 in 2001. However, included in this task is a verification of this assumption for inclusion in the EIR program definition. The existing conditions and program assumptions will be provided to Fehr & Peers as the basis for the traffic analysis. A3. Population Projection Analysis Based upon the findings of Task A2, EDAW will complete an assessment of growth that could be attributable to adoption of the Downtown Area Plan and Housing Element. Although the Downtown Area Plan and Housing Element have been developed to meet the regional housing needs of Redwood City, there may be growth above existing regional projections that could occur with the land use designation and zoning changes envisioned by the Plan and Element. This task will quantify this potential growth. EDAW will consult with ABAG and Redwood City staffs to determine what assumptions were used in ABAG's most recent projections. We will use this approach to determine what Downtown Area Plan and Housing Element growth has already been incorporated into regional population projections, and what may be considered "additional." Because they are interrelated, it is assumed that the population projections associated with the Housing Element and the Downtown Area Plan will be the same. This information will also be important in determining whether the Urban Water Management Plan update (which is currently in development) adequately considers the growth that would occur citywide, with adoption of the Housing Element and the Downtown Area Plan (see Task A5). In addition, this analysis will support findings of the environmental analysis that are based in population growth, such as public services. Redwood City Downtown Plan EIR & 2 Housing Element EIR Scope of Work, EDAW Inc.