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

EXHIBIT A CEQA FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE DRAFT PLEASANTON GENERAL PLAN 2005-2025 INTRODUCTION The City of Pleasanton (or Project Sponsor) proposes to amend and replace the 1996 General Plan for all elements (with the exception of Housing) with the proposed Pleasanton General Plan 2005-2025, which establishes a planning framework and policies to the planning horizon of 2025. The City of Pleasanton is the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has prepared an environmental impact report (EIR) for the proposed project. Section 15091 of the CEQA Guidelines (14 California Code of Regulations [CCR]) and Section 21081 of the Public Resources Code require the lead agency to adopt findings for each potentially significant environmental impact disclosed in an EIR. Specifically, for each significant impact, the lead agency must make one or more of the following three findings: • Changes or alterations have been incorporated into the project to avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effects identified in the EIR; • Such changes or alterations are within the responsibility and jurisdiction of another public agency and should be adopted by that agency; or • Specific economic, social, legal, technological, or other considerations make the mitigation measures or alternatives identified in the EIR infeasible. In addition to making a finding for each potentially significant impact, if the lead agency approves a project without mitigating all of the significant impacts, it must prepare a statement of overriding considerations, in which it balances the benefits of the project against the unavoidable environmental risks. The statement of overriding considerations must explain the social, economic, or other reasons for approving the project despite its environmental impacts (14 CCR 15093, Pub. Res. Code 21081). This document contains the findings and statement of overriding considerations for the approval of the project and reflects the City's independent judgment. This document incorporates by reference the program EIR. The EIR and other portions of the administrative record are available for review at: Community Development Department City of Pleasanton 200 Old Bernal Avenue Pleasanton, CA 94566-0802 Contact: Janice Stern, Principal Planner (925) 931-5606