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09/09/2013 The Existing Buildings Alternative would fail to achieve any of the project objectives, i.e., (i) redevelopment of the development site for a Stanford University satellite location of sufficient size to accommodate the long-term needs of academic support users; (ii) planning of the campus with sufficient flexibility to allow office, R&D, and medical clinic uses; (iii) redevelopment of the site to conserve natural resources through sustainable land use components and building features; (iv) redevelopment of the site to enhance the quality and value of the adjacent residential neighborhood; (v) redevelopment of the site in a manner which promotes and enhances a healthy and diverse economy in the City; (vi) transformation of the development site's existing design to allow development intensity in a manner which implements the New General Plan's vision for land use, urban form and density, economic development, and circulation; (vii) creation of a pattern of smaller City blocks integrated into the neighborhood- scale street grid; (viii) provision of a high-quality campus with substantial usable open space; and (ix) achievement of the forgoing objectives through a comprehensive land use plan. This Alternative would contribute minimally to achievement of one of the project objectives, redevelopment of the site in a manner which promotes and enhances a healthy and diverse economy in Redwood City, because full occupancy of existing buildings would make some positive contribution to the Redwood City economy, but the this Alternative would not accomplish this objective as fully as the Project. The Existing Buildings Alternative would result in the fewest environmental impacts of all the evaluated alternatives. Therefore, it is the "environmentally superior alternative" under CEQA. However, on balance, the environmental benefits that might be achieved with this alternative are outweighed by its failure to provide the environmental benefits of the Project or to achieve the project objectives, and the City Council rejects this alternative. No Project Maximum Development Under Existing Zoning (Alternative 18.2) ("Existing Zoning Alternative"). The Existing Zoning Alternative reflects maximum allowable buildout of the development site under existing zoning, which includes a maximum 0.7 FAR. Development would provide additional R&D and medical clinic space, but not additional office space. Some demolition of existing buildings and reconfiguration of the development site is assumed. Significant adverse environmental impacts of the Project that would be reduced by the Existing Zoning Alternative are certain traffic, air quality, and cultural and historic resource impacts, as described in the EIR. Of these, only the significant unavoidable air quality impact of the Project would be reduced to a less than significant level by the Existing Zoning Alternative. The Existing Zoning Alternative would increase the severity of utilities impacts compared to the Project, due to increased water demand for increased medical clinic uses and reduced ability to improve utility infrastructure absent redevelopment of the entire development site. The Existing Zoning Alternative would also increase climate change impacts compared to the Project because its CO2-equivalent emissions would be 5.7 metric tons per capita, compared to the ProjecYs 4.1 metric tons. Whereas the Project would not cause a significant climate change impact, the Existing Zoning Alternative would cause a significant climate change impact. The Existing Zoning Alternative would not realize certain environmental benefits to the same extent as the Project, such as improving community connections by extending three streets through the Project site, improving the visual character and quality of the site, implementing an enhanced TDM program based on a site FAR of 1.0, extending recycled water ATTY/RES0.2901/STANFORD EIR CERTIFICATION RESO.#15294 REV:09-10-13 VR MUFF#100 Page 47 of 55