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Biological Resources, etc.). The additional analysis concludes that the changes are in line with the analysis conducted in the Draft EIR for the draft specific plan, even though they could create the potential for new development within the planning area. Therefore, implementation of the changes would not result in impacts much different than those originally identified in the Draft EIR, particularly given the mitigating effects of existing federal, State, and local policies and regulations and Proposed Plan policies. Exhibit I, attached, includes the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), the purpose of which is to describe the procedures that will be used to implement the mitigation measures adopted in connection with the approval of the draft specific plan and the methods of monitoring such actions. The MMRP identifies the environmental impact, the mitigation measure for the impact, the method and timing of the verification, and the entity responsible for verifying that the mitigation measure has been satisfied. Additionally, Exhibit I, attached, includes the CEQA Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations. The purpose of the CEQA Findings is to provide a summary of the environmental effects of the project and provide findings and the rationale for the findings for each of the significant impacts. The CEQA Findings distinguish between impacts that are less-than significant impact without mitigation, those that are less-than significant with mitigation, and significant and unavoidable significant impacts. The purpose of the Statement of Overriding Considerations is to itemize the benefits of the proposed project despite the significant environmental impacts. In summary, the City finds that the significant impacts to topic areas Air Quality and Energy, Greenhouse Gases, and Climate Change are acceptable when balanced against the benefits of adopting the Downtown Specific Plan. PUBLIC NOTICE A display ad for this item was published in The Valley Times. A notice was also mailed to property owners and tenants with properties for which modifications to land use designations are proposed. At the time this report was published, staff has received the comments attached as Exhibit J. SUMMARY/CONCLUSION Staff requests that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation to the City Council that: certifies the Final EIR for the project and approves the Water Supply Assessment; rescinds the 2002 Downtown Specific Plan, approves the proposed General Plan amendments, the Specific Plan, amendments to the Downtown Design Guidelines, and amendments to the Downtown Hospitality Guidelines; adopts an ordinance making various amendments to the Pleasanton Municipal Code; and adopts an ordinance approving rezoning properties for certain properties. Primary Authors: Megan Campbell, Associate Planner Shweta Bonn, Senior Planner Ellen Clark, Planning Manager Reviewed/Approved By: Gerry Beaudin, Director of Community Development Downtown Specific Plan Planning Commission 15 of 15 hensive, holistic response to the inter-related comments on changes to the land use designations and development standards in the Proposed Plan, including those changes directed by the City Council at meetings on April 16 and May 7. The FEIR also provides updated analysis on how these modifications do (or do not) result in environmental impacts related to the topics identified in the DEIR (Aesthetics, Air Quality, Downtown Specific Plan Planning Commission 14 of 15