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4/25/2005 the structures would also reduce the negative impact to a less- than - significant level. Angling the pavilions and decreasing the number of trees and other site features would minimize the multiple screen -effect and allow greater views of the courthouse and also reduce the impact to a less than - significant level. Findings: The above mitigation measures, as set forth in the Project EIR and represented by Alternative # 2 ( "Reconstruction" of the portico /steps and Plaza design), would potentially avoid or substantially reduce the significance of the impacts described above to a less- than - significant level. This alternative, however, was determined to be infeasible and less desirable and therefore not adopted. Even though the height of the pavilions and number of trees have been reduced through the planning process, the impact is not reduced to a less - than- significant level because the pavilions and trees still block the side views towards the Courthouse. At numerous public workshops and meetings, the City considered several designs, including Alternative #2, where the side views towards the Courthouse were not obstructed by pavilions and trees. However, the City has determined that the preferred alternative would be the most desirable for the following reasons: a) The creation of a quality civic gathering space would increase civic, social, and recreational opportunities at the Project site. b) The preferred alternative ( #3) would be proportional in scale and design to its surroundings. c) The preferred design alternative ( #3) which incorporated the flanking of the proposed open space by traditional architectural elements of compatible materials and scale, such as fountains as well as the incorporation of trees, would be the most desirable because the Plaza would be too big, open and out of proportion. Without the presence of these compatible elements, the Plaza would not function as a central gathering place because it would be undesirable and unwelcoming to users. d) The pavilions should be retained at the Plaza sides because their architecture was compatible in style and scale to the Courthouse Plaza and to the Courthouse, and would help visually introduce the Courthouse from the street intersections at Hamilton and Theater Way /Middlefield Road. H) Archaeology Potential Impact: Although the Northwest Information Center which is the State repository for Native American archeological information, currently has no recorded Native American archaeological resources listed for the Project site, there is a moderate to high potential for discovery of such resources in the Project area. Atty /Reso /Reso.1530 14639 042005 6 Muff # 301