Reso13 PC 13-16 2898 PC Reso Recommending Stanford EIR Certification

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The Existing Buildings Alternative would fail to achie�e any af#he p�aject objectives, i.e., (i) redeWelopment of the development s+te for a Stanford University satellite location o�sufficient size to accommodate the long-term needs of academic support users; (ii) planning of the campus with sufficient flexibility to allow office, R&D, and medical clinic uses; (i9i) rede�elopment of the site to canserve natural resources through sustainable land use cam#�onents and building features; (i�) redevelapment of the si#e ta enhance th� quality and vaEue of the adjacent residential neighborhood; (v} redevelapment of the site in a manner which promotes and enhances a �ealthy and diverse econorny in the City; (�i) transfarmation af the development site's existing design to allow development intensity in a manner which implements the New General P1an's �isian for land Use, urban form and denslty, econamic de�eiopment, and circulation; (�ii) creation o� a pattern of smaller City blocks integrated into the neighborhood- scale street grid; {�iii) pro�isian of a high-guality campus with substantial usable open spaoe; and (ix) achievement of the forgoing abjecti�es thraugh a comprehensive land use plan. Tf�is Altemati�e would contribute minimally to achie�ement of one of the project objectives, redevelapment of the site in a manner which promotes and enhances a healthy and di�erse economy in Redwood City, because full occupancy of existing buildings would make some positive cantribution ta the Redwaod City economy, but the this Alternative would not accomplish this o�jective as fully as tf�e Project. The Existing Buildings Alternative would result in the fewest environmental impacts of all the e�aluated afternatives. Therefore, it is the "environmental�y superior aEternative" under CEQA. However, an balance, the env�ronmental benefits that might be achieved with this alternative are outweighed by its failure to pro�ide the en�ironmental beneFts of the Project ar to achie�e the project objectives, and the Ciry Council rejects this al#emative. No Praject—Maximum De�elopme�t U�der Existing Zoning (Alternati�e 78.2] ("Existing Zoning Alternati�e"y. The Existing Zoning Alternafive reflects maximum allawable buildout af the development site under existing zoning, which includes a maximum 0.7 FAR. Develapment would provide additional R&D and medical clinic space, but not additional offioe .space. Sarne demolition of existing buildings and reconfiguration of the development site is assumed. Significant adverse en�iranmental impacts of the Project that would be reduced by the Existing Zoning Alternative are certain traffic, air quality, and cul#ural and historic resource impacts, as d�scribed in the EIR. Of these, only the significant unavaidable air quality impact of the Project would be reduced to a less than significant ievel by the Existing Zoning Alternative. The Existing Zoning Alternative wouid increase the severity of utilities impacts compared to the Project, due to increased water demand for increased medical clinic uses and reduced ability to improve utiliiy ir�frastructure absent redevelopment of the entire development site. The Existing Zoning Alternative would also increase climate change im�acts compared to the Project because its COz-equi�alent emissians wo�ld be 5.7 metric tons per ca�ita, compared ta the Projec#'s 4.1 metric tons. Whereas the Project would not cause a significant cfimate change impact, the Existing Zoning Alternative would cause a significant climate change impact. The �xisting Zoning Alterr�ati�e would nflt realize certain environmental benefits to t�e same extent as the Project, such as improving community connections by extending three streets through the Project site, impro�ing the �isual character and quality of the site, implementing an enhanced TDM pragram based on a site FAR af �.0, e�ctending recycled water ATTY/RE5d.2898/PC RESO RECOMMENDING STANFORD EIR CERTlFICATION REV:0&15-13 VR Aage 48 of 56