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01/24/2011 Exhibit B potential adverse effects and each such consideration, standing alone, warrants approval of the Project. The Downtown Precise Plan is intended to implement the growth, land use, sustainability and historic resources policies of the new 2010 Redwood City General Plan, which will guide growth in the City through the first thirty years of the 20 century. The City's population is expected to increase to more than 92,000 persons by 2030, an increase of more than 21 %, or more than 16,000 persons over its current population. Growth that occurs haphazardly, without considered planning and forethought, has been demonstrated to result in unsustainable communities that lead to unsustainable lifestyles—'sprawl' development that requires more infrastructure to serve fewer people, puts greater distances between employees and employers thereby increasing commute times, and requires more, and more inefficient, uses of energy. Redwood City's recently - approved General Plan was designed to produce a community that would serve as a model for sustainable growth and sustainable lifestyles, and its vision, goals, and policies for the downtown area are an important component of the General Plan. Adoption of the proposed Downtown Precise Plan would implement and carry out this vision, and these goals and policies, and enable the City to realize the benefits promised by the General Plan. Those benefits, which are also benefits of the Downtown Precise Plan, include the following: 1. Implementing the General Plan's goals and policies relating to sustainable growth. The new General Plan contains numerous policies and programs designed and intended to promote sustainable growth and development. The policies and programs relating to the downtown area are an important component of this plan. The City's vision for the downtown area is described generally at pages BE -47 and BE -74 of the new General Plan, which contains numerous goals, policies and programs designed to achieve this vision. Adoption and implementation of the proposed Downtown Precise Plan is a necessary and important step in achieving this vision. The DPP will facilitate and extend the General Plan vision by providing specific regulations intended to create a vibrant urban center in the downtown area, consistent with the General Plan vision. (DPP, Book I, pp. 19 -28, and Book II) 2. Reducing the number of vehicle trips that occur in the City and the number of vehicle miles traveled by residents of the City. Motor vehicle trips are the biggest source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in California. Reducing the number and length of vehicle trips by residents of Redwood City will benefit Redwood City residents, both directly and indirectly, by improving local air quality, alleviating traffic congestion on local streets and roadways, contributing to regional and statewide efforts to reverse or slow global warming, reducing local energy consumption, and contributing to broader efforts to reduce our nation's dependency on foreign oil and petroleum products. Adoption and implementation of the proposed DPP will enable substantial residential growth in close proximity to public transit, employment opportunities, entertainment and recreational opportunities, retail and commercial providers, and other necessary services, thereby eliminating and/or shortening the length of a significant number of vehicle trips in the City. In addition, shortening the length of U: \Resolutions\2011\Reso 15086 Exhibit B.doc 60 012011 Reso. # 15086 Muff #601