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7.A. - Page 3 of 12 In December 2019, staff presented the City's proposed approach to transitioning from LOS to VMT to the Planning Commission and the Transportation Advisory Committee. These presentations included information on how VMT analyses would be done, potential CEQA exemption criteria, and the framework for local transportation analysis. Feedback from the Planning Commission, Transportation Advisory Committee, and public comment received at those meetings was incorporated into the staff recommendations. On June 16, 2020, staff returned to the Planning Commission with proposed amendments to the General Plan to formally implement the City's transition to VMT. By a unanimous vote, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council adopt the proposed General Plan amendments. Following the Planning Commission meeting, limited edits were made to the General Plan amendments to improve consistency with the TAM. ANALYSIS The proposed General Plan amendments incorporate recommended policy and programmatic changes from RWCmoves, guidance from OPR, and the updated CEQA guidelines. Some of the proposed language is taken directly from RWCmoves and some is adapted in response to evolving practices for transportation - related CEQA analysis. The amendments set expectations for local transportation analysis and identify other minor VMT Standards and related RWCmoves Policies modifications based on the adopted Citywide Transportation Plan, RWCmoves. These amendments align with and will facilitate implementation of the Council's strategic priorities of Housing and Transportation and the following goals: • Produce housing to meet Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) goals for moderate, low and very low-income residents • Create an action plan to implement Vision Zero strategies (zero fatalities or serious injuries involving road traffic) • Create policies and infrastructure to support zero emission trips With regard to housing, the use of VMT as the transportation impact criteria reduces the likelihood of residential projects generating significant environmental impacts. The absence or reduction in impacts should reduce development costs, making it easier to build more housing — especially if it is affordable, multi -family and near high-quality transit service. General Plan Amendments The following highlights the contents of the proposed General Plan amendments which are listed in Attachment A: LOS to VMT Transition • Transportation Analysis Manual is identified as the document which establishes the City's procedures for site access and circulation review, non-CEQA transportation analysis, and transportation analysis for CEQA. Page 3 of 6 City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.ore 82