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8.A. - Page 62 <br /> potential adverse effects and each such consideration, standing alone, warrants approval <br /> ofthe Project. <br /> The Downtown Precise Plan is intended to implement the growth, land use, <br /> sustainability and historic resources policies of the new 2010 Redwood City General <br /> Plan, which will guide growth in the City through the first thirty years of the 21�century. <br /> The City's population is expected to increase to more than 92,000 persons by 2030, an <br /> increase of more than 21%, or more than 16,000 persons over its current population. <br /> Growth that occurs haphazardly, without considered planning and forethought, has been <br /> demonstrated to result in unsustainable communities that lead to unsustainable <br /> lifestyles `sprawl' development that requires more infrastructure to serve fewer people, <br /> puts greater distances between employees and employers thereby increasing commute <br /> times, and requires more, and more inefficient, uses of energy. Redwood City's recently- <br /> approved General Plan was designed to produce a community that would serve as a <br /> model for sustainable growth and sustainable lifestyles, and its vision, goals, and policies <br /> for the downtown area are an important component of the General Plan. Adoption of the <br /> proposed Downtown Precise Plan would implement and carry out this vision, and these <br /> goals and policies, and enable the City to realize the benefits promised by the General <br /> Plan. Those benefits, which are also benefits of the Downtown Precise Plan, include the <br /> following: <br /> 1. Imnlementin�the General Plan's �oals and nolicies relatin�to <br /> sustainable growth. The new General Plan contains numerous policies and programs <br /> designed and intended to promote sustainable growth and development. The policies and <br /> programs relating to the downtown area are an important component of this plan. The <br /> City's vision far the downtown area is described generally at pages BE-47 and BE-74 of <br /> the new General Plan, which contains numerous goals, policies and programs designed to <br /> achieve this vision. Adoption and implementation of the proposed Downtown Precise <br /> Plan is a necessary and important step in achieving this vision. The DPP will facilitate <br /> and ea�tend the General Plan vision by providing specific regulations intended to create a <br /> vibrant urban center in the downtown area, consistent with the General Plan vision. <br /> (DPP, Book I, pp. 19-28, and Book I� <br /> 2. Reducin�the number of vehicle trins that occur in the Citv <br /> and the number of vehicle miles traveled by residents of the City. Motor vehicle <br /> trips are the biggest source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in California <br /> Reducing the number and length of vehicle trips by residents of Redwood City will <br /> benefit Redwood City residents, both directly and indirectly, by improving local air <br /> quality, alleviating traffic congestion on local streets and roadways, contributing to <br /> regional and statewide efforts to reverse or slow global warming, reducing local energy <br /> consumption, and contributing to broader efforts to reduce our nation's dependency on <br /> foreign oil and petroleum products. Adoption and implementation of the proposed DPP <br /> will enable substantial residential growth in close proximity to public transit, employment <br /> opportunities, entertainment and recreational opportunities, retail and commercial <br /> providers, and other necessary services, thereby eliminating and/or shortening the length <br /> of a significant number of vehicle trips in the City. In addition, shortening the length of <br />