Reso24 16254 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

The Focused General Plan Update program EIR was a “program” EIR in that it studied a plan for the future housing development within the City, rather than, for example, a specific development on a particular parcel for which a developer sought land use entitlements. (See Focused General Plan Update program EIR, pp. 1-3, 1-4, and 3-22; see also CEQA Guidelines Section 15168[a] [“A program EIR is an EIR which may be prepared on a series of actions that can be characterized as one large project”].) However, rather than provide general analysis regarding a broad policy document, the Focused General Plan Update program EIR provided in-depth analysis regarding potentially significant impacts, mitigation measures, and alternatives related to the City’s plans for future housing development within the City. This Consistency Checklist is to determine whether further environmental review beyond that which was provided by the Focused General Plan Update program EIR (from here on referred to as the “Focused GPU EIR”) is necessary. As noted above, CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 provides a statutory exemption from additional CEQA analysis for projects that are consistent with the development density established by existing zoning, community plan or general plan policies for which an EIR was certified, except as may be necessary to examine whether there are project-specific significant effects which are peculiar to the project or its site. The following consistency evaluation analyzes whether the 847 Woodside component is consistent with the development density and use characteristics established by the General Plan and Zoning. It also analyzes whether the 847 Woodside component is consistent with the analysis performed for the Focused GPU EIR and if that document adequately anticipated and described the impacts of the 847 Woodside component and identified applicable mitigation measures necessary to reduce project specific impacts. The General Plan Update EIR evaluated the Housing Element, including Program H1-6: Densities in Mixed Use Zoning Districts which increased Mixed-Use Neighborhood density from 40 du/ac to 60 du/ac and increased Mixed-Use Neighborhood heights from 40 feet for residential to 60 feet, and Program H4-4: Density Bonuses which called for ensuring the City’s density bonus ordinance is consistent with Government Code §65915. The maximum allowable residential density in the Mixed-Use Neighborhood District is 60 dwelling units per acre (Zoning Ordinance Article 54.7). Given the size of the 847 Woodside project site, the maximum allowable residential units/base density is 58 units. However, given that 847 Woodside project is an affordable housing project, it is entitled to a State density bonus in accordance with Government Code Section 65915 resulting in a proposal of 86 residential units. As such, the project component is consistent with density provided in the Housing Element of the General Plan for which the Focused GPU EIR was certified. The Redwood City Zoning Code includes density bonus regulations (Zoning Code Section 32.19) so a project that receives a density bonus and otherwise complies with the applicable zoning requirements is consistent with the development density established by existing zoning. This is supported by State density bonus law which states that the granting of a density bonus “shall not require, or be interpreted, in and of itself, to require a general plan amendment, local coastal plan amendment, zoning change, or other discretionary approval.” (Gov. Code Sec 65915(f)(5).) Similarly, a project that provides affordable housing and receives a density bonus is consistent with the goals of the City’s Housing Element, a component of the Redwood City General Plan, which acknowledges that the city will implement the density bonus program (Housing Element, Program H4-4) to encourage affordable housing in the city. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15168 (Program EIRs), 15162 (Subsequent EIR), and 15163 (Supplemental EIR), if this analysis for the 847 Woodside component ATTY/RESO.0070/CC RESO 1900 BROADWAY (CEQA) - EXHIBIT 1 - CEQA CONSISTENCY CHECK LIST REV: 10-23-24 VR Page 13 of 135