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8.0 Ex�� b) Explanation. The proposed Downtown Precise Plan would increase the current 9-story height Iimit in the DPP area to 12 stories in the certain parts of the central downtown area, and 10 stories in other parts of the central downtown area. �ther portions of the DPP area would be subject to varying height limits, ranging from 3 to S stories. The current height limit in the downtown area is 9 stories. The Reduced Building Height Alternative proposes an 8-story building height limit in the DPP area, thereby precluding the 10- and 12-story structures that would be permitted under the proposed DPP for portions of the plan area. There are no other differences between the proposed DPP and Alternative 3. I The reduced building heights under Alternative 3 are sufficient to allow downtown development up to the M�imum Allowable Development (M.A.D.) caps proposed by the DPP (i.e., 2500 residential units, 275,000 sq. ft. of office space, 221,000 sq. ft. of retail space, and 200 lodging units). Because the greater building heignts proposed under the DPP are not expected to generate any potentially significant impacts, the reduction in building heights proposed under Alternative 3 would not reduce or avoid any potentially significant impacts of the DPP. (Draft EIR, Table 19.3) Moreover, as explained and ! illustrated in Section 19 of the Draft EIR (pp. 19-16 to 19-17 and 19-22 to 19-24), this I alternative would not otherwise avoid or substantially lessen any significant effects of the � proposed DPP. Because Alternative 3 would not be expected to avoid or substantially lessen any of the proposed Project's potentiaily significant effects, it is hereby rejected from further consideration. 4. The Proposed Project a) Findings. The Project that is the subject of these Findings is a modified version of the project described in the EIR, reflecting the changes described as Alternatives 4 and 5 in the EIR. The City declines to adopt the proposed Downtown Precise Plan described as the project in the EIR because, as explained below, the City finds that the Downtown Precise Plan as modified by Alternatives 4 and 5 would better achieve the City's goals and objectives for its downtown precise plan and would not increase the number or severity of the significant effects of the Downtown Precise Plan described as the project in the EIR. b) Expianation. The Downtown Precise Plan as modified by Alternatives 4 and 5 differs from the proposed Downtown Precise Plan described as the project in the EIR in two ways. First, Alternative 4, the Revised Maximum Allowable Development (M.A.D.) Caps Alternative, would modify the development caps on the various use categories that would be permitted under the proposed Downtown Precise Plan. Specifically, this alternative would raise the cap on new office development in the downtown area, from the 275,000 square feet under the proposed DPP to 500,000 square feet under this alternative, and lower the cap on new retail development in the area, from 221,000 square feet under the proposed DPP to 100,000 square feet under this alternative. (Draft EIR, Table 19.1 (p. 19-14)) Second, Alternative 5 would supplement the historic resource regulations in the proposed Downtown Precise Plan to provide additional S:iRESOLU"r10NS\Reso. 2092 CEQA l�indings for DPP F.xhibit B.doc �4 012011