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7.A. - Page 68
<br />e. There would be no use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems for the project. No impact would
<br />occur.
<br />Conclusion: Regarding greenhouse gas emissions, the proposed project would not result in any new significant
<br />environmental impacts or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant impacts (CEQA Guidelines
<br />Section 15162(a)). All impacts are adequately evaluated in the certified Downtown Precise Plan program EIR. The proposed
<br />project is also consistent with the Downtown Precise Plan (CEQA Guidelines Section 15183).
<br />Documentation:
<br />a. A limited amount of greenhouse gas (GHQ) emissions would occur during demolition and construction activities.
<br />Excavation and construction are expected to last approximately 24 months. Construction emissions from the project
<br />would be subject to standard City requirements and BAAQMD-recommended procedures to minimize construction
<br />air emissions (e.g., properly tuned equipment subject to on-site monitoring, idling time limits) as conditions of
<br />project approval. Construction emissions would be temporary and would not significantly contribute to regional
<br />GHG levels. Related to long-term GHG emissions, the DTPP program EIR (pp. 13-20 through 13-23) determined
<br />that while the occupancy and operation of DTPP facilitated projects would generate GHG emissions, these
<br />emissions would be below the BAAQMD GHG emissions significance threshold and would be a less -than -significant
<br />impact. In addition, the City of Redwood City officially adopted its first Climate Action Plan in April 2013; the plan
<br />includes 15 key quantifiable measures, many of which are already being implemented citywide, to help the City meet
<br />the State -recommended target reductions in GHG emissions. The plan includes, among others, actions related to
<br />renewable energy; smart growth development (such as the DTPP); residential, commercial, and City energy
<br />efficiency programs; solid waste diversion; water conservation; and parking management. These issues are
<br />addressed under specific environmental topics in this Initial Study (e.g., hydrology, transportation, utilities) as
<br />standard conditions of project approval as part of the City's ongoing, long-term implementation of its Climate
<br />Action Plan.
<br />b. The project would not conflict with an applicable plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing
<br />GHG emissions (DTPP program EIR Chapter 13). The project is located in an area designated by the Association
<br />of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) as a `Priority Development Area" and would help accommodate anticipated
<br />growth as part of the regional Sustainable Communities Strategy for reducing GHG emissions. Therefore, no
<br />negative impacts on applicable GHGplans are anticipated.
<br />c. The DTPP program EIR (pp. 13-22 and 13-23) determined that the DTPP area could be subject to flooding due to
<br />sea level rise associated with global climate change, placing people, structures, and other improvements at an
<br />increased risk of injury or loss from flooding. Mitigation 13-1 required that the City prepare strategies to respond to
<br />the impact of flooding, but acknowledged that given the unprecedented nature and uncertainty regarding this
<br />emerging issue, it could not be concluded that Mitigation 13-1 would reduce this potential impact to a less -than -
<br />significant level. The City Council of Redwood City concluded that the environmental, social, economic, and other
<br />benefits of the DTPP override the significant adverse impacts of flooding due to sea level rise and adopted a
<br />Statement of Overriding Considerations to that effect. The proposed project is in compliance with all applicable
<br />DTPP regulations, and as a result, no additional sea level rise impacts beyond those identified and analyzed in the
<br />DTPP program EIR are anticipated. Also see items IX (g) and (h) below regarding flood hazards.
<br />Through implementation of its Climate Action Plan (adopted in April 2013) and General Plan policies - especially
<br />in the Built Environment, Public Safety, and Natural Resources chapters - the City continues to develop and
<br />21
<br />Summary of Impacts
<br />Potentially
<br />Less than Significant
<br />Less than
<br />Significant
<br />With Mitigation
<br />Significant
<br />No
<br />Impact
<br />Incorporated
<br />Impact
<br />Im act
<br />VII. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS -- Would the project:
<br />a)
<br />Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have
<br />X
<br />a significant impact on the environment?
<br />b)
<br />Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose
<br />X
<br />of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases?
<br />c)
<br />Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death
<br />X
<br />involving flooding caused by sea level rise resulting from global climate
<br />change?
<br />Conclusion: Regarding greenhouse gas emissions, the proposed project would not result in any new significant
<br />environmental impacts or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant impacts (CEQA Guidelines
<br />Section 15162(a)). All impacts are adequately evaluated in the certified Downtown Precise Plan program EIR. The proposed
<br />project is also consistent with the Downtown Precise Plan (CEQA Guidelines Section 15183).
<br />Documentation:
<br />a. A limited amount of greenhouse gas (GHQ) emissions would occur during demolition and construction activities.
<br />Excavation and construction are expected to last approximately 24 months. Construction emissions from the project
<br />would be subject to standard City requirements and BAAQMD-recommended procedures to minimize construction
<br />air emissions (e.g., properly tuned equipment subject to on-site monitoring, idling time limits) as conditions of
<br />project approval. Construction emissions would be temporary and would not significantly contribute to regional
<br />GHG levels. Related to long-term GHG emissions, the DTPP program EIR (pp. 13-20 through 13-23) determined
<br />that while the occupancy and operation of DTPP facilitated projects would generate GHG emissions, these
<br />emissions would be below the BAAQMD GHG emissions significance threshold and would be a less -than -significant
<br />impact. In addition, the City of Redwood City officially adopted its first Climate Action Plan in April 2013; the plan
<br />includes 15 key quantifiable measures, many of which are already being implemented citywide, to help the City meet
<br />the State -recommended target reductions in GHG emissions. The plan includes, among others, actions related to
<br />renewable energy; smart growth development (such as the DTPP); residential, commercial, and City energy
<br />efficiency programs; solid waste diversion; water conservation; and parking management. These issues are
<br />addressed under specific environmental topics in this Initial Study (e.g., hydrology, transportation, utilities) as
<br />standard conditions of project approval as part of the City's ongoing, long-term implementation of its Climate
<br />Action Plan.
<br />b. The project would not conflict with an applicable plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing
<br />GHG emissions (DTPP program EIR Chapter 13). The project is located in an area designated by the Association
<br />of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) as a `Priority Development Area" and would help accommodate anticipated
<br />growth as part of the regional Sustainable Communities Strategy for reducing GHG emissions. Therefore, no
<br />negative impacts on applicable GHGplans are anticipated.
<br />c. The DTPP program EIR (pp. 13-22 and 13-23) determined that the DTPP area could be subject to flooding due to
<br />sea level rise associated with global climate change, placing people, structures, and other improvements at an
<br />increased risk of injury or loss from flooding. Mitigation 13-1 required that the City prepare strategies to respond to
<br />the impact of flooding, but acknowledged that given the unprecedented nature and uncertainty regarding this
<br />emerging issue, it could not be concluded that Mitigation 13-1 would reduce this potential impact to a less -than -
<br />significant level. The City Council of Redwood City concluded that the environmental, social, economic, and other
<br />benefits of the DTPP override the significant adverse impacts of flooding due to sea level rise and adopted a
<br />Statement of Overriding Considerations to that effect. The proposed project is in compliance with all applicable
<br />DTPP regulations, and as a result, no additional sea level rise impacts beyond those identified and analyzed in the
<br />DTPP program EIR are anticipated. Also see items IX (g) and (h) below regarding flood hazards.
<br />Through implementation of its Climate Action Plan (adopted in April 2013) and General Plan policies - especially
<br />in the Built Environment, Public Safety, and Natural Resources chapters - the City continues to develop and
<br />21
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