Reso PC17-07 0032 PC Reso Approving CEQA - 860 Charter St

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LSA ASSOCIATES, INC. SEPTEMBER 2016 ROCKETSHIP REDWOOD CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECT INITIAL STUDY/ MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION P:\RWC1401B Rocketship School\PRODUCTS\IS-MND\Public\Rocketship Public Review 09-29-16.docx (09/29/16) PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 68 As previously discussed, Redwood City is the Lead Agency for environmental review. As shown in Figure 5, the project site is currently designated Industrial – Light on the Redwood City General Plan Land Use Policy Map. The Industrial ‐ Light category provides areas for relatively low‐intensity industrial uses. Light industrial activities do not involve substantial truck traffic or outdoor fabrication or assembly, do not produce odors, generally operate only during typical weekday hours, and do not involve any operations normally considered hazardous within an urban environment. Prohibited uses within this designation include commercial warehousing, trucking and transportation‐related businesses, and heavy manufacturing. As shown in Figure 6, the southern portion of the project site (the existing building) is zoned IR (Industrial Restricted) on the Redwood City Zoning Map and the northern portion of the site (the existing surface parking lot) is designated M-1 (Light Industrial) on the San Mateo County Zoning Map. In Redwood City, the intent of the IR District is to promote viable industrial areas by providing a district for the location of selected industries, wholesale establishments, specified retail establish- ments, and heavy commercial uses which can congregate together without offense to each other or to neighboring districts, yet which, because of the nature of their operations, cannot maintain standards as high as those required in the IP (Industrial Park) District. The zoning district is intended to preserve land for a wide range of industrial uses by limiting office uses. Public and quasi-public uses, such as schools, are permitted within this District;95 therefore, the proposed project would be consistent with the requirements of the IR Zoning District. In San Mateo County, the general purpose of the M-1 District is to provide industrial areas primarily for the location of manufacturing land uses that do not create more than a moderate impact on the surrounding area and are adequately scaled and set back from adjacent residential land uses; accom- modate a compatible mix of trades and services, transportation, communication, utility, and institutional land uses; and protect the functional and economic viability of industrial areas by restricting incompatible land uses. School uses are not permitted by right in the M-1 District; therefore, a Conditional Use Permit from the County is required to allow the school use. It should be noted that according to CEQA, policy conflicts do not, in and of themselves, constitute a significant environmental impact. Policy conflicts are considered to be environmental impacts only when they would result in direct physical impacts or where those conflicts relate to avoiding or mitigating environmental impacts. As such, associated physical environmental impacts are discussed in this Initial Study under specific topical sections. However, the proposed project would be consistent with the following applicable General Plan policies as discussed below.  Policy BE‐1.5: Require that new and renovated buildings be designed to avoid styles, colors, and materials that negatively impact the environment or the design character of the neighborhood, corridor, and center in which they are located.  Policy BE‐1.8: Require that new projects are integrated as seamlessly as possible into surrounding development, creating extensions of the urban fabric. 95 Redwood City, City of, 2014. Redwood City, California Zoning Code, Section 17.2. May 23. ATTY/RESO.0032/PC RESO APPROVING CEQA - 860 CHARTER ST. EXHIBIT A REV: 06-15-17 PR Page 76 of 124