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 27 Final Environmental Impact Report January 2023 General Plan policies and implementation programs addressing the location, design, and protection of new development in VHFHSZ, which includes the foothills within the Planning Area. Future individual development projects would also be required to comply with the City’s Municipal Code, including the Building Code, City Fire Department’s development review process for new development, State law regarding defensible space, and new policies and programs proposed by the Project that would minimize the potential for impacts related to wildfires and subsequent downhill or downstream impacts, including exposure to wildfire related air pollutants. Development facilitated by the Project would not result in impacts due to slope, prevailing winds, and other factors exacerbating wildfire risks and exposing project occupants to pollutant concentrations from a wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire because these City and state requirements related to fire protection and the implementation of the proposed policies and implementation programs would ensure that impacts related to slope, prevailing winds, and other factors would be less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 4.20-18 to 4.20-21) Impact WILD-3: The proposed Project would not require the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water resources, powerlines, or other utilities that may exacerbate fire risk or that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment. As discussed above (Impact WILD-2), the San Mateo County Parks Department operates a Wildfire Fuel Management Program in its parks to reduce wildfire risks and as part of its 2021- 2026 list of wildfire fuel management projects is carrying out a project to create and maintain a shaded fuel break along the eastern and southeastern boundary Edgewood County Park, which borders the Planning Area. The General Plan contains policies and implementation programs related to installation or maintenance of infrastructure for wildfire protection in the Planning Area. Development facilitated by the Project located in the foothill neighborhoods of the Planning Area that are within VHFHSZ would be regulated in terms of location, design, building materials, and fuel modification/protection. Construction or maintenance of infrastructure that may be required by development facilitated by the Project, such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water resources, powerlines, or other utilities would be subject to separate environmental review that would minimize or mitigate potentially significant environmental impacts. Implementation of adopted and proposed General Plan policies would ensure that this impact would be less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 4.20-21 to 4.20-23) Impact WILD-4: The proposed Project would not expose people or structures to significant risks, including downslope or downstream flooding or landslides, as a result of runoff, post- fire slope instability, or drainage changes As discussed above (Impact WILD-2), the San Mateo County Parks Department operates a Wildfire Fuel Management Program in its parks to reduce wildfire risks and as part of its 2021- 2026 list of wildfire fuel management projects is carrying out a project to create and maintain a shaded fuel break along the eastern and southeastern boundary Edgewood County Park, which borders the Planning Area. The General Plan contains policies and implementation programs related to installation or maintenance of infrastructure for wildfire protection in the Planning Area. In addition, development facilitated by the Project located within the VHFHSZ is required to comply with California Building Code Chapter 7A regarding fire retardant or ignition resistant