Reso 23-09 PC Reso 0034 Reso Recommending CEQA Approval - 505 E. Bayshore

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ATTY/RESO.0034/PC RESO RECOMMENDING CEQA APPROVAL – 505 E. BAYSHORE – EXHIBIT A REV: 05-12-23 JB Page 25 of 30 This project alternative would redesign the proposed public trail to eliminate any cantilevered structures overhanging the muted tidal marsh habitat. The cantilevered structures are primarily associated with two “nodes” intended as observation areas or other passive recreational use by trail users, as well as a small portion of the trail itself near the project’s western boundary. Eliminating the cantilevers structures would avoid the impact to muted tidal marsh habitat. It should be noted that this impact would be reduced to a less than significant level under the currently proposed project with implementation of mitigation measures (MM BIO-5.1). This alternative would still meet all project objectives but would reduce passive recreational opportunities for users of the trail by eliminating areas for resting, gathering, and viewing the San Francisco Bay. Additionally, removing the cantilevered portions of the trail may require a reduction to the width of the trail in some locations, which could result in inconsistencies with BCDC requirements for trail design. Implementation of the Design Alternative – Removal of Cantilevered Portions of the Public Trail would avoid the need to mitigate impacts to muted tidal marsh habitat. All other impacts of the project would remain the same. Reduced Scale Alternative The majority of the project’s impacts are a result of general development activity that would occur with nearly any project on the site, regardless of size (Impacts BIO-1 through BIO-4, Impact BIO-6, and Impacts HAZ-2 and HAZ-2). However, impacts related to VMT (Impact TRN-2) and construction air quality emissions (Impact AIR-1) could potentially be reduced by reducing the scale of the project. To reduce these impacts and potentially avoid the need for mitigation, a reduced scale alternative is considered. The Redwood City Transportation Analysis Manual identifies certain projects that would be assumed to have a less than significant VMT impact based on suggestions from the State of California’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) Technical Advisory (December 2018, pages 13-15). “Small projects”, defined as generating 150 or fewer average daily vehicle trips, can be assumed to result in a less than significant VMT impact. The City’s Transportation Analysis Manual identifies the screening threshold for multi-family residential projects as roughly 20 units. Reducing the scale of the project to 20 or fewer units, therefore, would place the project below the City’s screening threshold, avoiding the need to mitigate the project’s VMT impacts. It should be noted that this impact would be reduced to a less than significant level under the currently proposed project with implementation of mitigation measures (MM TRN- 2.1). 505 E. Bayshore Road 226 Draft EIR Redwood City September 2022 While reducing the scale of the project would reduce construction activity to a certain extent, the phases of construction requiring the heaviest equipment (therefore resulting in the greatest emissions), such as site grading, would still be required to a similar extent as the proposed project. Mitigation measures similar to those identified for the proposed project (MM AIR-2.1), which require the use of low-emitting construction equipment, would still be required to reduce impacts to less than significant levels.