AgdaPkt 2020-11-09 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Lindy Chan, Principal Planner City of Redwood City, Planning Services August 9, 2019 Page 4 as District staff. Per the Initial Study, the proposed Project would cause the traffic volumes at the Project's site to increase by 630 vehicles and 535 vehicles during the AM and PM peak hours, respectively. It is anticipated that the Project will draw hundreds of additional office workers and residents to the area. This substantial influx of new vehicles and residents will severely exacerbate the already stifling traffic in the neighborhood and the safety issues posed thereby, including by further diverting traffic away from El Camino Real and into the residential neighborhoods surrounding Sequoia High School. The increase in traffic and residents will also severely impact the safety and convenience of Sequoia High School students who walk or bike to school, thus undermining both the City's and the District's policies to facilitate and encourage alternative modes of student transportation. We urge the City thoroughly to address and analyze each of the above listed items through its EIR, and implement extensive and thoughtful mitigation measures. Noise 7. Identify any noise sources and volumes which may affect school facilities, classrooms and outdoor school areas. While it is not discussed in the Initial Study, it is expected that noise from construction and operation of the Project will cause impacts on the District's educational program at Sequoia High School. Request No. 7 is intended to clarify that the EIR's consideration of noise issues take into account all of the various ways in which noise may impact schools, including increases in noise levels in the immediate vicinity of Sequoia High School. Population 8. Describe historical, current, and future population projections for the District. The District anticipates that this project will generate students and specifically requests that historical, current, and future population projections for the District be addressed in the EIR. Population growth or shrinkage is a primary consideration in determining the impact that development may have on a school district, as a booming population can directly impact the District and its provision of educational services, largely because of resulting school overcrowding, while a district with declining enrollment may depend on new development to avoid school closure or program cuts. Overcrowding can constitute a significant impact within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). (See, Cal.Code Regs., tit. 14, §§ 15064(e).) This is particularly true where the overcrowding results in unsafe conditions, decreased quality of education, the need for new bus routes, and a need for new school construction. The same can hold true for potential school closures or program cuts resulting from a declining population.