Reso PC22-08 0085 PC Reso Recommending CEQA

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Findings and Statements Required by the California Environmental Quality Act Harbor View Project PAGE 38 OF 48 ESA / 170951 Final Environmental Impact Report October 2022 ATTY/RESO.0085/PC RESO RECOMMENDING CEQA – EXHIBIT A REV: 11-02-2022 VR D. Findings Relating to Alternatives Based on the evaluation and analysis of Project alternatives set forth in Chapter 5 of the DEIR, and on the entire record of proceedings for the Project, the City Council hereby makes the following findings: Findings Relating to the No Project – Existing General Plan (Light Industrial / Building Materials Use) Findings. The “No Project – Existing General Plan” Alternative is described and discussed on pages 5-8 to 5-14 of the DEIR and is summarized relative to the Revised Project in Table 5-2 of the FEIR. The “No Project – Existing General Plan” Alternative is hereby rejected from further consideration because, even though it could avoid the significant cumulative air quality impact (as discussed below), it would not fully meet the fundamental objectives of the Harbor View Project and it is a no project scenario. Explanation. Under the “No Project – Existing General Plan” Alternative, impacts related to the different land use (light industrial), decreased service population, slightly increased floor area although in few structures, would generally be reduced in intensity, compared to those of the proposed Revised Project, including traffic, air quality, total greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and resulting demand for public services and utilities. While this alternative’s total greenhouse gas emissions would be less than Revised Project’s, its GHG emissions per service population could reasonably be higher due to the substantially lower service population associated with this light industrial use (FEIR Table 5-2). Since this alternative would not require a General Plan Amendment to accommodate its buildout, it would avoid the conservatively significant cumulative air quality impact identified for the Revised Project (Impact AIR-1.CU) (exceeding growth assumptions of the 2017 Clean Air Plan). However, even though this alternative would have less trip generation than the Project, as stated in alternatives assumptions in the DEIR (DEIR p. 5- 8), no reduced scenario would likely avoid the significant impacts under the City’s current congested peak hour roadway conditions. The “No Project – Existing General Plan” Alternative would not fully meet the most fundamental objectives of the Revised Project, in that it would not: Develop a lively working environment with office uses within the Inner Harbor to promote innovation and creativity. Orient development toward internal open space and allow public access to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian linkages through the Project site toward future public open space near the water. Respect views of the water and hills by maintaining and enhancing key view corridors. Create a day/night environment that is safe and enjoyable for residents, employees, and visitors. Cluster development to provide adequate buffer to adjacent industrial uses. Conservatively, no assumptions are made for this alternative regarding its provision of recreation and open space amenities onsite, offsite improvements, or bicycle/pedestrian connections to Downtown.