AgdaPkt 2003-08-25 - Laserfiche WebLink

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POP / Based on the foregoing, the City finds that, on balance, the Project is preferable to the No- Project Alternative and that the No- Project Alternative is not a feasible alternative to the Project as that term is defined in CEQA. WALNUT STREET CLOSURE ALTERNATIVE Description of Alternative: The Walnut Street Closure Alternative includes many features similar to the proposed project. The major difference between this alternative and the proposed project is a larger footprint for the replacement Hospital that would span Walnut Street requiring its closure. Under this alternative, the Hospital would be located further west on Veterans Boulevard, and Walnut Street would be closed between Veterans Boulevard and Bradford Street. The replacement Hospital would be constructed adjacent to Parking Structure B resulting in an uninterrupted building length of approximately 570 feet (approximately the length of two full city blocks). The height of the replacement Hospital would be reduced from ten stories under the proposed project to six stories under this alternative. With the exception of the enlarged configuration (massing and bulk) of the replacement Hospital, the phasing, siting, and overall square footage of proposed buildings and parking structures are similar to the proposed project. Finding: The Walnut Street Closure Alternative would meet most of the objectives for the Project, but would have a more adverse impact on land use, visual quality, and transportation and circulation than the Project. The Walnut Street Closure Alternative would conflict with the Redevelopment Plan for Redevelopment Project #2 policies relevant to improving circulation within the redevelopment area and linking circulation. In addition, closure of Walnut Street would partially divide businesses and communities on the northeast side of Veterans Boulevard from the City's downtown area. The Walnut Street Closure Alternative would reduce the height of the hospital to six stories, compared to ten stories under the Project, but the siting, massing, bulk, and overall length of the hospital and the adjacent parking structure would significantly increase. As seen from Veterans Boulevard, the Walnut Street Closure Alternative eliminates the distant view of the western hills, reduces the sky plane, and introduces a large -scale structure than its particularly visually dominant because of the lengthy facade. The closure of Walnut Street would alter existing and future traffic patterns in the area. Under cumulative conditions, the Walnut Street Closure Alternative would have a more adverse impact on the intersection of Maple Street and Marshall Street than the Project. Under cumulative conditions with the Walnut Street Closure Alternative, the intersection would operate at unacceptable levels during the PM peak hour. In addition, the City is unlikely to be able to make the findings necessary to authorize the closure of Walnut Street, because Walnut Street is part of the City's 31