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7.A. - Page 24
<br /> identified historic resources are located in the project vicinity: (1) the Redwood City Main Library, across
<br /> ,Iefferson Avenue from the project site; (2) the Redwood City Post Office, approximately one-half block north on
<br /> ,Iefferson; and (3) several historic resources, including the Fox Theatre and Courthouse Square, about one-half
<br /> block north, facing Broadway. Although these historic resources are in the vicinity, the project site is not adjacent
<br /> to arry historic resource or historic district.
<br /> The project site is in the DTPP Historic Downtown Architectural Character Zone (DTPP, Architectural Character
<br /> Regulations Map, p. 114). "This zone is intended to reinforce the ornate, traditional, and eclectic character of the
<br /> oldest district in Redwood City" (DTPP, p. 116). Although there are various architectural guidelines (non-
<br /> mandatory) for the zone for roofs, wall cladding, trim, exposed parking garage materials/design, windows, and
<br /> color, there are no associated standards (mandatory) (DTPP, pp. 116 through 119). The project architectural style
<br /> can be classified as Neoclassical (e.g., distinct base/middle%ap composition), which is one of the permitted
<br /> Architectural Character Types for the Historic Downtown Zone. The proposed project's brick cladding color
<br /> palette has been selected to recall the brick at the nearby Redwood City Main Library. The project site: (1) does
<br /> not contain a historic resource as identified by the DTPP, (2) is not located within or immediately adjacent to a
<br /> designated historic district as shown on the DTPP Historic Resources Preservation Regulations Map (p. 32), and
<br /> (3) is not located directly adjacent to a historic property as designated on the DTPP Historic Resources
<br /> Preservation Regulations Map.
<br /> One of the trees in the on-site parking lot is accompanied by a plaque of approximately 10-by-5 inches set into a
<br /> concrete block in the ground. The plaque reads, in part: "In honor of Sidney Herkner[,J Arbor Day (1969) ".
<br /> Sidney Herkner was twice mayor of Redwood City, and Herkner Memorial Pool in Redwood City is named in his
<br /> honor (City ofRedwood City website, www.redwoodci, .or / arks/parksandpools/pools, viewed July 5, 2013). The
<br /> tree on the 950 Middlefieldproject site is not considered a heritage tree as defined by the City's Tree Preservation
<br /> Ordinance (see item IV.e above), nor is the plaque itself listed by the City as a historic resource or considered a
<br /> historic resource under the DTPP Historic Resource Preservation Regulations. Because the tree and plaque are
<br /> within the building footprint of the proposed project, they would be removed. Their removal is not considered an
<br /> environmental impact under CEQA. Nevertheless, the City is exploring options to relocate the commemorative
<br /> plaque in an appropriate public location.
<br /> Based on the above conclusions, the project will have no impact on historic resources, and no mitigation is
<br /> required.
<br /> The proposed amendments will not result in arry changes to those properties identified as historic resources within
<br /> the DTPP. The only amendments associated with the Historic Resource occur on page 32 of the DTPP, where
<br /> references to Depot Circle and Theatre Way Extension have been deleted, neither of which involve or affect
<br /> properties identified as historic resources. Furthermore, the replacement of Depot Circle with Depot Plaza will not
<br /> result in arry new or unanticipated impacts beyond those previously identified in the DTPP EIR. As such no
<br /> additional analysis is required.
<br /> b. & d. The proposed amendments and project will not cause a potentially significant impact to arry known
<br /> archaeological resources in the project area. However, the Downtown Precise Plan EIR (pp. 7-33 through 7-35)
<br /> concluded that there is a high potential for new development facilitated by the DTPP to disturb unrecorded
<br /> archaeological resources, which represented a potentially significant impact. Mitigation 7-1 of the Downtown
<br /> Precise Plan EIR requires that in the event that arry deposit of prehistoric or historic archaeological materials are
<br /> encountered during project construction activities, all work within an appropriate buffer area shall be stopped and
<br /> a qualified archaeologist meeting Federal criteria under 36 CFR 61 be contacted to assess the deposit and make
<br /> recommendations, possibly including complete avoidance of the resources, in place preservation, and/or data
<br /> recovery. This measure, which shall be required as a condition of approval for the project, will reduce the potential
<br /> impacts of the project on archaeological resources to a less-than-significant level.
<br /> c. The proposed amendments and project will not cause a potentially significant impact to arry known paleontological
<br /> resources in the project area. However, the Downtown Precise Plan EIR (p. 7-41) concluded that earthmoving
<br /> activity associated with DTPP facilitated development could potentially disrupt, alter, or eliminate as yet
<br /> undiscovered paleontological resources, which represented a potentially significant impact. Mitigation 7-5 of the
<br /> Downtown Precise Plan EIR requires that prior to the issuance of grading or demolition permits, the Planning,
<br /> Housing, and Economic Development Department (now the Community Development Department), in coordination
<br /> with a qualified paleontologist, assess individual development proposals for the potential to destroy unique
<br /> paleontological resources and to determine provisions to protect such resources when applicable, possibly
<br /> including complete avoidance of the resources, in place preservation, and/or data recovery as detailed in Mitigation
<br /> 7-1. This measure, which shall be required as a condition of approval for the project, will reduce the potential
<br /> impacts of the project on paleontological resources to a less-than-significant level.
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