Res96 12819 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4.4.2 Switch the Locations of thc 10-Story Building and the 8-Story_ Description of the Alternative: During the June 18, 1996 Planning Commission hearing on the Project, Commissioner Watry proposed exchanging the I O-story building with the 8-story building. Comparison of the Alternative to the Pro_iect: The architects for the Project testified at the June 19, 1996 hearing that they had studied every conceivable combination nfh,~ilclinE~ nn~ that r~n'anEinE the h~jlcli.n.g,s wn~fid hrin_~ the Project closer to a "sterile repetitious building type." The purpose of the height variation is to create visual interest and to be able to see through and comprehend the whole campus, rather than just seeing the front wall of the first building. Rearranging the buildings would result in the sort of "flat and forbidding presence" that the current design attempts to avoid. (See June 19 Transcript, pp. 410-412.) Furthermore, this alteration would not reduce shadows on residential areas. According to Project architects, the exchange would have "virtually no appreciable different impacts on the residential community." This alternative would not reduce any significant impacts of the Project. The quality of the architecture and the appearance of the Project would be diminished. The City hereby finds that this alternative is not environmentally superior to the Project. The City further finds that, while this alternative may be feasible, it would not meet the objectives of the project. 5.0 STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS CEQA requires the City to balance the benefits of the Project against its unavoidable environmental risks in determining whether to approve the Project. (CEQA Guidelines, § 15093(a).) Because the Project EIR identities significant impacts of the Project which cannot feasibly be mitigated to below a level of significance (see Section 2 of this document), the City must state in w'citing its specific reasons for approving the Project. (CEQA Guidelines, § 15093(b). ) This Statement of Overriding Considerations sets forth the specific reasons supporting the City's action in approving the Project, based on the Project EIR and other information in the record. The following specific reasons support the City's decision to approve the Project: (1) The Project is consistent with the City's General Plan. The General Plan is the CiW's "constitution for development." The Project will be part of the City's orderly, planned development and will help to meet the City's land use goal to "integrate a range of land uses to ensure that Redwood City is a desirable place to live." -40- EAFNDGCC.DOC 7/I 1/96 9:56 AM