PC-2009-15, DRAFT PLEASANTON GENERAL PLAN 2005-2025

Significant and Unavoidable Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Project The previous section and the EIR identify the following significant and unavoidable impact of the proposed project, the Pleasanton General Plan 2005-2025: Air Quality: Development due to buildout of the proposed General Plan would result in an increase in population lower than that estimated in the newest air quality plan (2005 Ozone Strategy) and an increase in vehicle miles traveled. This would lead to increases in air pollutants due to cumulative development in the Planning Area that could conflict with implementation of the current air quality plan. Required Statement of Overriding Considerations The City has examined reasonable project alternatives, including the existing General Plan. The City has found that the Existing General Plan (No Project Alternative) would not achieve the core project objectives and/or would not significantly reduce the significant and unavoidable impacts identified for the proposed General Plan and/or be consistent with City planning policies and goals. The City has further found that the although the Dispersed Growth Alternative and the Concentrated Residential / Mixed Use Alternative would be feasible, they would not meet the project objectives as well as the proposed General Plan due to their distribution of development within the Planning Area. Each alternative is discussed above. The proposed General Plan is considered a viable option. The City has determined to approve the proposed General Plan. In preparing this statement of overriding considerations, the City has balanced the benefits of the proposed General Plan against its significant and unavoidable environmental impacts. Although implementation of the proposed General Plan would result in a significant impact related to an increase in traffic at study intersections that would be substantial in relation to the existing traffic load and capacity of the street system and would result in a significant and unavoidable impact related to an increase in population lower than that estimated in the newest air quality plan (2005 Ozone Strategy) and an increase in vehicle miles traveled, the City finds that the benefits of the proposed General Plan to the community are overriding considerations when weighed against the environmental impacts listed above. Adoption of the proposed General Plan will allow the following guiding objectives to be achieved, and, thus, the City finds that the potential benefits outweigh the environmental risks of the proposed General Plan: • Preserve Pleasanton's character. • Encourage both resource sustainability and sustainable development. • Confine development to within the Urban Growth Boundary. • Promote the development of walkable communities. • Achieve and maintain a complete well-rounded community of desirable neighborhoods and a strong employment base. 10