ORD 1236 - Laserfiche WebLink

Overriding Considerations Potential adverse environmental effects which cannot feasibly be avoided while allowing the project to proceed include the following: - risks associated with hillside development - risks associated with development outside standard, response time for emergency vehicles - substantial grading in an area of potentially unstable slopes/soils with high visibility and erosion potential - changed view of the lower Pleasanton Ridge - changed view and character along Foothill Road Despite these effects, the benefits of the proposed project outweigh the unavoidable adverse environmental effects, and, thus, the adverse environmental effects are considered "acceptable." The benefits of the proposed project which outweigh its unavoidable adverse environmental effects are: 1. The project provides custom lot, upper-end housing opportunities as called for in the Housing Element of the General Plan while maintaining an acceptable risk to these future residents in accordance with Safety and Seismic Safety Element policies. 2. The project provides luxury, upper-end townhomes, meeting a housing need nowhere else provided, in accordance with Housing Element policies to provide housing for all economic segments and needs of the community. 3. The project preserves the historical Bernal adobe. 4. Long term, the revegetation of the hillside, elimination of cattle grazing, and modification/control of runoff may stabilize the hill, restoring, and potentially improving the existing views from the flatlands. 5. Storm drainage improvements will lessen flooding potential on existing residents along Foothill Road. 6. Improvements to Arroyo de la Laguna may lessen flooding potential upstream by lessening existing bottlenecks within the channel. 7. The upper portion of the site will be preserved as permanent open space, creating a de facto buffer to the City's wilderness park.