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Draft Housing Element December 14, 2022 <br />10 of 21 <br /> <br />units/acre), and a smaller surplus of moderate- and above-moderate units. As additional <br />analysis (i.e., CEQA and LOS) is now available and HCD has concluded their initial <br />review of the Draft Housing Element, staff recommends narrowing the site list to closer <br />reflect the required RHNA. <br /> <br />Staff evaluated the existing site list and considered the following factors: initial sites <br />criteria ranking, CEQA analysis including VMT impacts, LOS impact, owner <br />interest/feasibility to redevelop, school impacts, review by HCD, and public input. Staff <br />provides a recommendation for consideration of a proposed site list, as described <br />further below. <br /> <br />Initial Sites Criteria Ranking <br />Early in the Housing Element Update process, the City Council established “site <br />selection criteria” developing a scoring system by which to rank the potential rezone <br />sites. The sites criteria scoring is intended to provide a screening level evaluation of the <br />sites, based to the extent possible on objectively measurable criteria. The criteria <br />included Site Size and Infill Criteria, Proximity to Modes of Transportation, Proximity to <br />Services and Amenities, Environmental Impacts/Hazards, Impact on Trees, Biological, <br />or Historic Resources, Height and Mass Compatibility, and Interest in Site <br /> <br />The top ranked sites included: Area 7 (Hacienda Terrace), Area 15 (Rheem Drive <br />Southwest), Area 16 (Tri-Valley Inn), Area 18 (Valley Plaza), Area 19 (Black Avenue), <br />Area 24 (Sonoma Drive), Area 25 (PUSD District), and Area 29 (Oracle). Area 29 was <br />the highest ranked site. The lowest -ranked sites included: Area 1 (Lester), Area 4 <br />(Owens), Area 11 (Old Santa Rita), Area 12 (Pimlico North), and Area 22 (Merritt ), with <br />remaining sites falling in between. A summary of the initial scores is included as Exhibit <br />F. To note, some of the sites that were previously ranked have been removed from the <br />list (i.e., Area 3 Donlon, Area 10 ValleyCare, Area 13 Pimlico South Side, Area 17 <br />Mission Plaza, and Area 28 Steelwave). <br /> <br />CEQA Analysis <br />Pursuant to the requirements of CEQA, the City prepared a Draft Program <br />Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Housing Element Update. The DEIR <br />focuses on changes to land use designations to accommodate residential uses for sites <br />identified in the Housing Element Update and evaluates the potential environmental <br />impacts of those land use and zoning changes. It also focuses on the implementation of <br />policies and programs included in the Housing Element Update. <br /> <br />Throughout the EIR, less than significant impacts are identified across several impact <br />areas including Aesthetics, Energy, and Wildfire. Potentially significant impacts were <br />identified for Air Quality, Biological Resources, Geology and Soils, Hazards and <br />Hazardous Waste, and Noise. However, in each case, mitigation measures are <br />specified that would reduce potential impacts to a less than significant level. While <br />occasionally specific sites are called out (e.g., Area 22 is visible from the highway), <br />none of the impacts are deemed significant and unavo idable; thus, staff does not find