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4/25/2005 viable and aesthetically compatible civic space finds that this alternative is feasible and desirable for the following reasons: 1. This alternative would restore the Courthouse facade to its original appearance by reconstructing the entrance columned portico and steps as well as restore missing elements to the Courthouse complex. 2. The Redwood City Preferred Alternative was developed to promote the General Plan objective to reconstruct the original facade of the Courthouse as well as restore a central public open space in the downtown. In particular, the Redwood City Preferred Alternative proposes a usable plaza design which respects the balance between the adjacent National Register - listed Theater building, thus recreating the environment described in the FEIR's period of significance discussion. 3. This alternative will provide civic, social and recreational benefits which are linked to the preferred design alternative of the Plaza which incorporates pavilions and trees. The City has determined that the need to create a quality civic gathering space with pavilions and trees would increase civic, social, and recreational opportunities at the Project site. 4. The City has determined that this alternative would be proportional in scale and design to its surroundings. 5. The City has determined that this alternative, which incorporates traditional architectural elements of compatible materials and scale such as fountains, as well as trees to flank the proposed open space, would be the most desirable because the Plaza would be too big, open, and out of proportion and therefore not function as a central gathering place without these traditional architecturally scaled elements. 6. The City has determined that the pavilions should be retained at the Plaza sides because their architecture would be compatible in style and scale to the Courthouse Plaza and to the Courthouse building, and would help visually introduce the Courthouse from the street intersections at Hamilton and Theater Way /Middlefield Road. 7. The City has determined that the proposed trees and secondary Plaza features would be compatible in type and scale to the Courthouse Plaza and Courthouse building. This preferred design alternative would define the Plaza edges and without these elements, the Plaza would be undesirable and unwelcoming to users. Based on the foregoing, the City finds that, on balance, the Project Alternative ( #3) is a feasible alternative and is preferable to the No- Project Alternative ( #1) and to Alternative #2. Atty /Reso /Reso.1530 14639 042005 1 Muff # 301