2_Exhibits I-J - Laserfiche WebLink

and GHGs than the Plan due to reduced residential VMT. Compared to the Plan, this alternative would also expose a smaller number of residents to impacts associated with noise,odorous compounds,flooding, wildfires,and other hazards.Additionally,this alternative would have a slightly reduced impact on public facilities, including parks, and utilities given the smaller residential population. For these reasons, Alternative 2 is determined to be the Environmentally Superior Alternative. M. Growth-Inducing Effects A project may be growth-inducing if it directly or indirectly fosters economic or population growth or additional housing, removes obstacles to growth, taxes community service facilities, or encourages or facilitates other activities that cause significant environmental effects(CEQA Guidelines Section 15126(g).) Under CEQA, induced growth is not considered necessarily detrimental or beneficial. Induced growth is considered a significant impact only if it directly or indirectly affects the ability of agencies to provide needed public services,or if it can be demonstrated that the potential growth could significantly affect the environment in some other way. Chapter 5,Section 5.1 of the Draft EIR provides an analysis of growth inducement effects of the proposed Plan, as required by CEQA Guidelines section 15126.2(d). The projected growth rate under the Plan is consistent with past growth in the City of Pleasanton and projections by the Association of Bay Area Governments(ABAG).The Plan's residential development would help the City meet its 2023 housing goal from the ABAG Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). Buildout of the Plan estimates an increase of 500 jobs in the planning area between 2015 and 2040,representing a 0.7 percent average annual growth rate in jobs,which could foster economic growth in the planning area.Additionally,housing demand may increase in Pleasanton due to its proximity to other employment hubs in the San Francisco Bay Area.The 2015-2023 City of Pleasanton Housing Element tracks the regional legal obligations and updates housing goals as needed to ensure that housing is available to meet the needs of all future residents under the Plan. Based on the estimated buildout of the Plan,the jobs-to-housing balance in the planning area in 2040 would shift from 2.36 in 2018 to 2.13 in 2040.Given that a city's downtown area would be expected to have a high jobs-to-housing ratio,the estimated jobs-to-housing ratio in downtown Pleasanton in 2040 would not be expected to induce new residential growth. Most public facilities within the planning area have sufficient capacity to accommodate the projected growth, and implementation of the Plan would not trigger the creation of any substantial new public facilities. Existing deficiencies in the sanitary sewer system would be addressed as Capital Improvement (CIP) projects and would not be growth-inducing. Additional drains may need to be added to the stormwater drainage system within the planning area,but as the Plan would not increase total impervious surfacing,no additional stormwater capacity creation is anticipated. Public services for the planning area, including police,fire protection,schools,libraries,and parks and recreation,would not require additional facilities following implementation of the Plan. The City of Pleasanton's elementary schools are overcrowded under existing conditions,but a new elementary school is already in the early planning stages, regardless of whether the Plan is implemented.As stated in the 2005 Pleasanton General Plan,developers of future growth will be responsible for paying impact fees to cover increased demands on services;however, the modest impact of 1,000 new residents over more than 20 years is not expected to produce growth- inducing new public services or facilities. Accordingly, the City Council finds that the Plan would indirectly facilitate population and economic growth within the planning area,but that such growth would be consistent with regional projections and would not affect the ability of agencies to provide needed public services or significantly impact the environment.The City Council finds that all but three of the Plan's potentially significant environmental 24 iteria air pollutants 23