RES 12493 - Laserfiche WebLink

4.Written Comments on the Draft EIR and Responses to Comments analysis conservatively assumes that four-story development could occur throughout Site 7 and would have the potential to obscure views of the ridgeline west of 1-680 and this impact would still be considered significant. Mitigation Measure 4.A-I would reduce these impacts to less than significant levels. 2-2 The comment describes the importance of the views from Valley and Bernal Avenues as having mature trees and mature vegetation in the landscape setbacks, such that the views of Pleasanton Ridge from the east side of Valley Avenue are already obstructed. Furthermore, the comment states that shorter buildings along Valley Avenue and clustered development throughout the site would reduce impacts to scenic resources. The determination of the Draft SEIR that a significant impact would result is based on the maximum intensity of development that could be permitted on Site 7 pursuant to the project being evaluated in the Draft SEIR. The Draft SEIR does not analyze or make any environmental determination regarding the proposed development plan described in the comment letter. As part of the normal review process, site-specific development projects will be evaluated to ensure they incorporate appropriate responses to the impacts and mitigation measures set forth in this SEIR. Because (1) final development plans were not available at the time of the Draft SEIR preparation(2)CEQA requires the E1R to provide a"worst case"analysis, and(3) a development plan could theoretically be submitted with three and four story buildings covering larger portion of the site than the currently proposed development plan, the SEIR takes the conservative approach by assuming the maximum development envelope allowed under the current entitlements. See the revised text in the response to comment 2-1, above. 2-3 The comment requests the SEIR state that Site 7 is currently entitled for seven four-story office buildings through September 2017. The comment also requests that the SEIR note that these office buildings would have more significant impact on views, given that two of them would be situated on Valley Avenue and that the significant impact for Site 7 be replaced with less than significant impacts on visual resources. CEQA requires that impact determinations be based on a comparison between"on the ground"conditions existing at the time that the Notice of Preparation is issued and with project conditions following implementation of the proposed project. CEQA does not permit significance determinations to be based on"plan to plan analysis"comparing two or more potential development scenarios. Such comparison of the impacts of development scenarios is limited to the alternatives analysis of an EIR. Because no development currently exists on the site, the analysis in the SEIR is required by CEQA to be based on the current undeveloped condition of Site 7 compared to the potential development of that site under the proposed project(General Plan Amendment, rezoning, Housing Element, and Climate Action Plan), which, as described under responses to comments 2-1 and 2-2, conservatively assumes that which would be permitted should the project be approved. Per the comments discussed under 2-1 and 2-2, the impact discussion in the Draft SEIR has been clarified to better describe the existing conditions as well as the potential development scenario. General Plan Amendment and Rezonings 4-8 ESA/210016 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report December 2011