11 ATTACHMENTS 02-04 - Laserfiche WebLink

DRAFT Commissioner O'Connor inquired it if does not give more emphasis to the Preferred Plan but just uses that as the base. Mr. Dolan replied that there is definitely more text to it. He noted that the analysis starts with the one alternative, but then there is an alternative section which basically states what is different between this particular alternative and the other one. He added that it would then identify, for example, that this one alternative is not going to have that impact or that other alternative will have an additional impact; those impacts will have to be identified as well as potential mitigations for the differences. Chair Pearce commented that she thinks people get caught up on the language of a "Preferred Plan." Commissioner Ritter inquired if the City can go through and do the EIR for the Preferred Plan but then choose, say, Option 6, and would the City have the information in the Preferred Plan EIR to cover Option 6. Mr. Dolan said yes. O'Connor stated that he thought Option 6 would not be used for comparison because the number of units was higher than those on the Preferred Plan. Mr. Dolan replied that there is an analysis for Option 6, which is the worst case, and the City can then select anything below that. He acknowledged the concern that calling an alternative a "Preferred Plan" can cause some people to say that it gives it some sort of a special status and some momentum to go forward. He added that he understands that people might feel that way about that terminology, but it is not legally binding to do it that way. Commissioner Ritter inquired if it can be called the "EIR Plan" instead of the "Preferred Plan." Mr. Dolan explained that ultimately, the people who would be poking holes or evaluating or analyzing whether or not the EIR is adequate would be attorneys, and no matter what it is called, they will know that it is the Preferred Plan in normal CEQA terminology. He indicated that he thinks it does not matter what it is called and recommended that if the Commission wanted a suggestion for something different than "Preferred Plan," it be called it the "Base Project" because it implies then that it is what the other Alternatives are being compared to. He indicated that he is open to other suggestions as well. Commissioner O'Connor stated that based on some of the letters received from the public on this matter, people put a lot of emphasis on wanting a certain plan to be the Preferred Plan when this really is just the basis for studying the EIR and it is not a decision to accept. DRAFT EXCERPT: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, 9/25/2013 Page 11 of 28