Reso23-02 0009 PC Reso Adopt CEQA

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Findings and Statements Required by the California Environmental Quality Act Focused General Plan Update 15 Final Environmental Impact Report January 2023 In addition, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) review is required of proposed structures exceeding Federal Aviation Regulation elevations, and development facilitated by the Project in the Planning Area would be subject to compliance with FAA notification requirements to identify potential aeronautical hazards in advance and prevent or minimize potential adverse impacts to the safe and efficient use of navigable airspace. Because potential airport safety hazards and noise concerns associated with future development proposed in the AIA or within the area subject to FAA notification requirements would be addressed through standard City development review processes, including as applicable consistency review with the ALUCP and/or review by the FAA, compliance with these regulatory standards would ensure that the Project would not result in a safety hazard or excessive noise for people residing or working in the Project area. Therefore, this impact is considered less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 4.9-23 to 4.9-24) Impact HAZMAT-6: The proposed Project would not impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan. All major public streets in Redwood City serve as principal evacuation routes and would support an evacuation function; however, in any evacuation, the exact emergency routes used would depend on a number of variables, including the type, scope, and location of the incident. As specific future individual development projects are proposed within the Planning Area, potential construction period emergency access impacts would be evaluated and avoided as part of the regular project review and/or the CEQA compliance process. While an increase in population in the Planning Area could increase evacuation times, the policies and implementation programs proposed in the updated Public Safety Element would ensure adequate emergency response and evacuation procedures are planned for and maintained on a development-by-development basis and Planning Area-wide. Therefore, the proposed Project would not impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan, and this impact is considered less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 4.9-25 to 4.9-26) Impact HAZMAT-7: The proposed Project would not expose people or structures, either directly or indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires. The foothill neighborhoods west of Alameda de las Pulgas are designated a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFSZ), and development proposed within this zone would be subject to the City or County defensible space and fuel modification requirements. New construction within the VHFHSZ is also required to comply with California Building Code Chapter 7A, including requirements for fire retardant or ignition resistant construction materials at roofs, eaves, vents, exterior walls, exterior windows and doors, decks, and areas below decks. In addition, California Government Code §51182 requires buildings within these areas to provide and maintain defensible space up to 100 feet (or the property line, whichever is less) from the building. The Redwood City Building Code requires fire retardant roofing (§R905.1.3) and fire sprinklers (§903.2). Continued implementation of City Municipal Code requirements related to fire protection and the implementation of the proposed policies and implementation programs of the updated Public Safety Element would ensure that the proposed Project would not result in exposure of people or structures, either directly or indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires. Therefore, this impact would be less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 4.9-26 to 4.9- 27)