Res96 12834 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

2.2 AIR POLLUTION 2.2.1 Potential Effect: Development of the Project will result in an increase in the use of motor vehicles (mostly automobiles) in the Project area. Increased traffic will adversely affect local and regional air quality. Findings: The GID hereby makes Findings (1), (2) and (3). Facts in Support of Findings: (a) The design of the Project will encourage pedestrian use and diminish the need for automobile trips by establishing common area walkways. These walkways link the larger open spaces to each other, as well as linking the campus to surrounding amenities. Walkways extend the existing Redwood Shores pathway system to all major crosswalks, to all new buildings, to buildings outside the site boundaries, to the proposed shopping center, to the Pacific Athletic Club, to public paths that lead to Redwood Shores Lagoon, and to the Hotel Sofitel. (b) The Project will supply and contribute to significant traffic mitigation measures. By helping to reduce traffic congestion, these measures will also reduce Project impacts on air quality. The Facts in Support of Finding 2.5.1 hereby are incorporated by reference. (c) Although the measures described above will significantly reduce the impact of motor vehicle-related air pollution, it will not eliminate the impact entirely. As noted in the Redwood Peninsula EIR, "[a]gainst the background of ambient air quality within the Bay Area.. almost any action involving increased emissions can be expected to have some adverse impact upon overall air quality." (Redwood Peninsula EIR, p. IV-5.) (d) The air quality/emissions analysis prepared by Fehr & Peers Associates and dated July 9, 1996 confirms the conclusions of the Project EIR that emissions from Project-generated traffic will have a significant effect on air quality. Specifically thresholds of significance for PMt0 and NOx emissions will be exceeded. According to the Bay Area Quality Management District, the thresholds of significance for both PMl0 and NOx are 36 kilograms per day. Mobile source emissions from Project traffic are expected to be 73.8 kilograms for PMi0 and 61.2 kilograms for NOx. These effects cannot be mitigated to a level of insignificance. However, mitigation measures and Project features described above will reduce traffic-related air impacts to the greatest extent feasible. (e) The Statement of Overriding Considerations set forth in Section 4 of this document contains additional information explaining the reasons for the GID's -4- GIDEIRFD.DOC 7/23/96 5:44 PM