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7.C. - Page 41 of 178 D. Environmentally Superior Alternative. The CEQA Guidelines state that an EIR shall identify an environmentally superior alternative. The environmentally superior alternative to the project is the No Project Alternative because all of the project's significant environmental impacts would be avoided. Section 15126.6(c) (2), however, states that "if the environmentally superior alternative is the No Project Alternative, the EIR shall also identify an environmental superior alternative among the other alternatives." In addition to the No Project Alternative, Sequoia YMCA Site Redevelopment Alternative would be environmentally superior to the project, as it would preserve the VMSC as is SECTION VII STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS Pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section 21081 and the CEQA Guidelines Section 15093 et seq., the Council adopts and makes the following statement of overriding considerations regarding the unavoidable impacts of the project and the anticipated benefits of the project. Significant and Unavoidable Impacts With respect to the foregoing findings and in recognition of those facts, which are included in the record, the Council has determined that the project would cause significant and unavoidable impacts, as set forth above, to a historic resource (refer to Impact CUL -1 and Impact REC-2). The project, with implementation of the mitigation measures MM CUL -1.1 and CUL -1.2, would reduce its impact to the historic resource by documenting and commemorating the building. Since the historic resource would be demolished, the impact is considered significant and unavoidable. Overriding Considerations Pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15093(a), the City Council must balance, as applicable, the economic, legal, social, technological, or other benefits of the Project against its unavoidable environmental risks in determining whether to approve the project. If the specific benefits of the project outweigh the unavoidable adverse environmental effects, those environmental effects may be considered acceptable. Having reduced the adverse significant environmental effects of the Project to the extent feasible by adopting the mitigation measures; having considered the entire administrative record on the project; the City Council has weighed the benefits of the Project against its unavoidable adverse impacts after mitigation in regards to historic resources. While recognizing that the unavoidable adverse impacts are significant under CEQA thresholds, the City Council nonetheless finds that the unavoidable adverse impacts that will result from the project are acceptable and outweighed by specific social, economic and other benefits of the project. In making this determination, the factors and public benefits specified below were considered. Any one of these reasons is sufficient to justify approval of the project. Thus, even if a court were to conclude that not every reason is supported by substantial evidence, the City Council would be able to stand by its determination that each individual reason is sufficient. The substantial evidence supporting the various benefits can be found in the preceding findings, which are incorporated by reference into this section, and in the documents found in the Records of Proceeding. ATTY/RESO.0124/CC RESO RECOMMENDING CEQA CERTIFICATION -YMCA REV: 12-12-19 IY Page 24 of 44 E �i