AgdaPkt 2005-04-25 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

/ ð- ..6- pavilions and trees. However, the City, with the advice of their urban design specialists, has determined that this alternative is infeasible because it produces an open space that is too big, with ill-defined plaza edges that will not create an effective and attractive meeting place for the community. Finally, the FEIR determines that the demolition of the South Annex cannot be mitigated. The Findings Resolution also includes what is called a Statement of Overriding Consideration (SOC) for those impacts that cannot be mitigated or reduced to less-than-significant impacts and provides a summary of the Project's benefits to weigh against these unmitigable impacts. The Council is being asked to adopt the sac prior to approving the Project providing a determination can be made that the Project benefits outweigh possible environmental costs resulting from the Project. The Project has significant impacts involving what are referred to in the FEIR as "Cultural Resources". These include: 1. Impacts Caused bv the Demolition of the South Annex The South Annex is a listed historic resource on the National Register of Historic Places. Since the Project involves the demolition of the South Annex there will of necessity be a potentially significant impact that cannot be mitigated. Even though the demolition cannot be mitigated, the FEIR suggests that wherever possible 'significant elements' of the building be salvaged during demolition. 2. Potential Impacts Related to the Courthouse Buildinq Reconstruction and Plaza Construction. There are a variety of potential impacts identified in the FEIR concerning how well the reconstruction of the façade and its components relate to and impact the architectural character of the Courthouse. These items include. such things as the surface treatment of the stone, window placement and handrail and guardrail design. The Findings Resolution indicates that these mitigations have already been implemented during the project review. 3. Plaza Oesiqn The Project involves a plaza design that includes pavilions along the Hamilton and Middlefield Road sides, as well as trees, that block part of the view of the front and sides of the Courthouse. As already noted, the City has considered a design (Alternative #2) that removed/reduced the pavilions and trees to lessen the impact on the view of the historic Courthouse but this is considered infeasible because such removal or reduction would make the plaza too large, with poorly defined edges, that would not act as the strong community gathering-place envisaged by the City. The Findings Resolution also includes a discussion of project alternatives discussed in the FEIR. The FEIR discussed the following alternatives: The no- 5 ,........m..,.... ....:......-,-....-.-,.....-.....-----....-..,.--'...... ..............