Res96 12819 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4.3 Alternatives Analyzed by the EIR 4.3.1 1No Pro_iect Alternative: Existing Conditions Description of the Alternative: This alternative would involve maintaining existing conditions by curtailing all development on the Project site. The property would remain as open space. None of the proposed infrastructure improvements would be made. Com_~aoll oft. he A~v~= tn till' Prnlef..t' Th_La alte_rnntive wn~fld re, Ault in slight reductions in most environmental impacts when compared to the Project. No additional cumulative impacts to traffic, biology/ecology, air or water quality would result from this alternative. If the Project site were not developed, additional people would not be exposed to seismic risk (at least, not at this site). Because the Project site could be developed for office space under existing approvals, including the existing development agreement, however, it is not feasible to maintain the site as open space. Furthermore, this alternative would not meet any of the Project objectives. The City's plans for the Redwood Peninsula incorporate a range of uses, including office uses, in order to ensure that the City's tax base and employment opportunities are sufficient. If the Project site remained undeveloped, the City's General Plan would not be implemented. The City hereby finds that the No Project (Existing Conditions) alternative is environmentally superior to the Project. The City further finds, however, that this alternative is infeasible and would not meet the objectives of the project. 4.3.2 No Project Alternative: Develop Pursuant to Existing Approvals Description of the Alternative: In addition to the No Project (Existing Conditions) alternative, CEQA also requires a discussion of"what would be reasonably expected to occur in the foreseeable future if the project were not approved, based on current plans and consistent with the available infrastructure and community services." (CEQA Guidelines, § 15126.) This alternative would involve the development of the Project site pursuant to existing plans and approvals. If the Project were not approved, the Project site could be developed in a manner consistent with an existing development agreement between the City and Redwood Shores Properties ("RSP"), which was approved by the City in 1982. RSP has assigned its rights under that development agreement to develop up to 885,000 square feet of office space on the Project site to the Project applicant. Without the Project approvals, however, the office campus configuration would not be possible. The existing master plan included 35-foot high professional office buildings immediately adjacent to the homes to the east of the property. These buildings were located between Shoreline Drive and the residential properties. The Project master plan, in contrast, does not include any -36- £AFNDGC¢.DOC 7/I 1/96 9:56 AM