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City of Pleasanton 2023-2031 (6th Cycle) Housing Element Update CEQA Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations 84 FirstCarbon Solutions Https://adecinnovations.sharepoint.com/sites/PublicationsSite/Shared Documents/Publications/Client (PN-JN)/2148/21480022/FOF/21480022 Pleasanton Housing Element FOF.docx (Lester) and 22 (Merritt), to the west of those sites is land that is not yet urbanized. Portions of the area surrounding Site 1 (Lester) is designated as Agriculture and Grazing by the General Plan. With respect to Site 1 (Lester), the land designated for agriculture is outside of the Urban Growth Boundary, which precludes development on that land. With respect to Site 22 (Merritt), the land to the west of that site is designated as PUD low density residential/rural density residential/open space, and the development of housing on Site 22 (Merritt) would not result in conversion of the surrounding land to nonagricultural uses. As explained more fully above, there is no forest land within the City’s SOI. This condition precludes the possibility of the Housing Element Update converting forest land to non-forest uses (Draft Program EIR, Page 3.17-8–9). Potential Effect Cumulative Impact: Cumulative impacts related to agriculture and forestry resources would be less than significant. (Draft Program EIR, Page 3.17-9). Findings: Less than significant impact. Facts in Support of Findings: The geographic scope of the cumulative impact analysis for land use and planning is the Tri-Valley Planning Area, which includes the City of Pleasanton as well as the surrounding cities of Dublin, Livermore, San Ramon, and the Town of Danville. Agriculture Resources: Much of the Tri-Valley Planning Area includes urbanized uses with limited agricultural land. Much of the land that is designated for agricultural use is outside of the respective Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) or within unincorporated Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Similarly, much of the Important Farmland as mapped by the FMMP is either on the outskirts of the cities of Dublin, Livermore, and San Ramon and the Town of Danville or within unincorporated Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Therefore, the lands designated and mapped by the FMMP as agricultural land are not slated to be converted to nonagricultural uses. The Housing Element Update would not result in the conversion of any land mapped as Important Farmland that is not currently designated for residential uses, nor would it facilitate the conversion of agricultural land. However, if any individual cumulative development project would require the conversion of land from agricultural land to nonagricultural land in the future, the conversion would take place pursuant to State, regional, and local regulations. As discussed above, though a portion of Site 22 (Merritt) is mapped as Unique Farmland, as indicated by the residential land use designation, the City has planned the site for residential uses and therefore any potential loss of Unique Farmland would likely occur with or without implementation of the Housing Element Update. Development consistent with the Housing Element Update would not conflict with existing zoning for agricultural uses or any Williamson Act Contracts. Forestry resources: The geographic scope of this cumulative analysis with respect to forestry resources includes lands within the Tri-Valley Planning Area. As mapped by the CDFW, there are small pockets of land within the Tri-Valley Planning Area that include private timberlands or public lands with forests. However, it is likely that development within the Tri-Valley Planning Area will predominately occur within already urbanized areas. The Tri-Valley Planning Area does not contain forest land or timberland, as defined by Public Resource Code Section 4526, nor does it contain any