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01/24/2011 Exhibit B commuter trips and other vehicle trips will reduce the time spent in vehicles, enabling residents to devote more time to more productive or desirable activities. 3. Ensuring that development in the downtown area is undertaken in a manner that preserves the historic and cultural resources and respects the existing character of the downtown area. The proposed Downtown Precise Plan contains an extensive set of policies and programs to preserve the historic and cultural resources in the downtown area. (DPP, Book II and Appendix 1) These policies and programs will benefit the City and its residents by preserving the City's important historic and cultural landmarks and resources and by ensuring new downtown development is compatible with and respects the historic character of the downtown area. 4. Compliance with State mandates. Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, requires that greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020. The State has determined that cities must implement land use strategies, such as dense and walkable infill development in downtown areas, as part of their AB 32 strategy. SB 375, the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008, goes further, requiring dramatic regional reductions in tailpipe emissions from passenger vehicles through transportation, land use, and housing policies — particularly through slowing suburban sprawl and encouraging modes of transportation other than private automobiles. By encouraging and facilitating compact and pedestrian- oriented development near existing jobs, services, and transit, the Downtown Precise Plan is an important part of Redwood City's obligation to comply with AB 32 and SB 375. Also, state housing laws require cities, even built -out cities like Redwood City, to facilitate a reasonable share of regional growth. The Downtown Precise Plan is an important part of fulfilling these obligations as put forth in the recently state - certified Redwood City Housing Element. 5. Coordination with regional planning efforts. Several regional agencies, including the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), have plans and programs in place to encourage development away from rural areas, wildlife areas, and the Bay and into downtowns, job centers, and transit station areas. In fact, ABAG has designated Downtown Redwood City as a Priority Development Area. In addition, the Downtown Precise Plan is an important part of the Grand Boulevard Initiative, which is a coalition of nineteen cities, two counties, and local and regional transportation agencies which seeks to facilitate compact, walkable, and transit- oriented growth along El Camino Real by improving the safety and aesthetics of the highway throughout the region. The original Downtown Precise Plan and the Montgomery Villa housing project on El Camino Real were both awarded "Grand Boulevard Awards" for their contributions toward the realization of this regional vision. The Northern California Chapter of the American Planning Association also awarded the original Downtown Precise Plan with its Comprehensive Planning, Small Jurisdiction award in 2008 in recognition of its contribution toward planning in the region. U: \Resolutions\2011\Reso 15086 Exhibit B.doc 61 012011 Reso. # 15086 Muff #601