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/ð-$ Community Input As listed in Chapter VI and Appendix "An of the EIR, numerous public meetings and workshops were held by the City (Oowntown Advisory Group' (2002), Historic Courthouse Restoration Committee (2001-03) and Courthouse Plaza design (2003 to present) in order to obtain increasingly focused community input and feedback for the development of project designs. As a result of the above input, the firm of FTB (Urban Design Consultants) prepared conceptual drawings which were reviewed and evaluated in the EIR. The preferred alternative (#3) for the Courthouse Façade Reconstruction and Plaza was overwhelmingly supported by the overall community. The reconstruction of the pre-Annex plaza (alternative #2) was rejected by the community in favor of the preferred alternative because it is expected to provide a more usable/functional, compatible and aesthetically pleasing plaza design. ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: In April of 2004, Redwood City Planning staff prepared an Initial Study. The Notice Of Preparation was circulated in conformance with CECA on June 4, 2004. Three project alternatives were subsequently identified: 1. No project, 2. Reconstruction of the Courthouse facade (before construction of the South Annex), 3. Reconstruction of the 1910 façade and alternative ). and plaza to its 1910 appearance new "compatible" plaza (preferred Potential environmental impacts identified for alternatives #2 and #3 both related to the Archaeological/Historical and Cultural categories. "Circa", Historic Property Consultants were subsequently hired by the City to prepare a focus EIR on the project. The purposes of this document includes an evaluation of the potential impacts of the subject Courthouse Facade Reconstruction and Plaza Project alternatives with respect to their compliance with the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. In addition to the Architecturally Significant Features identified in the HBS for the South Annex, application of the Standards of Rehabilitation and Guidelines require. the establishment of the Courthouse's "Character Defining Features" (those portions of the resource which are significant to its historic, architectural, and cultural values, see Chapter X). Although there is no mitigation for demolition of a historic resource (i.e. the South Annex), the project EIR and related documents contain measures that, once implemented are expected to substantially lessen the effects of reconstruction by insuring compliance with the Secretary of Interior's Standards for reconstruction. Mitigation Measures and Monitoring In addition to the salvage (as feasible) of Architecturally Significant Elements listed in the HBS, the EIR also provides the following mitigations to insure that the preferred alternative would comply with the Secretary's Standards for the proposed "reconstruction" treatment (see Chapter XII): a) Modify the plans to avoid replacing the windows along the West elevation of the Courthouse.