AgdaPkt 2000-11-13 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the City Manager EXECUTIVE SUMMARY November 13, 2000 Subject . Appeal of Planning Commission Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the proposed Downtown Retail-Cinema project. Recommendation Deny the appeal of the Planning Commission's Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Downtown Retail-Cinema project and direct staff to prepare findings consistent with the responses to the issues raised in the appeal. Issues The issues raised in the appeal are: 1. That the FEIR improperly failed to analyze the impact of the City's recently enacted Interim Urgency Ordinance on the project. Related to this claim is the further contention that housing on the Project site was not appropriately considered. 2. That there will be a substantial parking shortfall as there will be an overlap between theater patrons and restaurant and retail patrons. 3. That the cumulative traffic impacts of several "clogged traffic arteries" will have a direct, adverse impact on lithe entire local traffic network, as well as emergency response implications," and that the FEIR does not adequately analyze the cumulative impact of multiple-clogged arteries. Major Findings The FEIR has adequately addressed the three issues raised in the appeal. The EIR analyzed a potential mixed-use project with a housing component in Alternative 2; it analyzed the parking needs generated by the project using a professionally accepted model of Shared Parking; and it analyzed cumulative traffic impacts (to 2020) using a methodology that incorporates, not only local, but regional volumes as well. Additionally, the proposed project is exempt from the Interim Urgency Ordinance because the project could not be approved without a Development Agreement and a Disposition and Development Agreement. Projects that require these agreements are listed as exemptions in the ordinance. .."...T-~'~"T-'