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City of Pleasanton 2023-2031 (6th Cycle) Housing Element Update CEQA Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations 128 FirstCarbon Solutions Https://adecinnovations.sharepoint.com/sites/PublicationsSite/Shared Documents/Publications/Client (PN-JN)/2148/21480022/FOF/21480022 Pleasanton Housing Element FOF.docx hazard to the public or environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving release of hazardous materials (see Section 3.8, Hazards and Hazardous Materials). While development consistent with the Housing Element Update would increase resource consumption during construction and operation, it would also result in some benefits related to long-term resource consumption in the region. The Housing Element Update establishes a long- range planning framework to identify adequate sites for future housing developments to meet the housing needs in the region. Additionally, development consistent with the Housing Element Update would accommodate anticipated growth within existing developed areas. Prioritizing infill development protects natural lands and open space and reduces fossil fuel consumption attributable to longer commuting distances and lack of transit options. For these reasons, the irretrievable commitment of resources attributable to the Housing Element Update would not be considered significant. These findings certify the adequacy of the Program EIR for the project described in Chapter 2, Project Description (of the Program EIR), including the housing site approved for inclusion by the City Council. 1.12 - Statement of Overriding Considerations CEQA requires that a Lead Agency balance the benefits of a project against its unavoidable environmental risk in determining whether to approve the project. If the benefits outweigh the unavoidable adverse effects, those effects may be considered “acceptable” pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15093(a). CEQA requires that a Lead Agency support, in writing, the specific reasons for considering a project acceptable when significant impacts are not avoided or substantially lessened even with mitigation. Those reasons must be based on substantial evidence in the Program EIR or elsewhere in the administrative record pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15093(b). The Lead Agency’s written reasons are referred to as a Statement of Overriding Considerations. As explained in the above Findings of Fact, most of the Housing Element Update’s impacts on the environment would either be insignificant or, through the incorporation of mitigation measures as conditions of approval, can be reduced to less than significant. However, as set forth in Section 1.7 above, impacts to Project-Level Vehicle Miles Traveled, Cumulative Vehicle Miles Traveled, Project- level Water Supply, and Cumulative Water Supply will remain significant and unavoidable as no mitigation measures are feasible/even with implementation of all feasible mitigation measures. Further, as set forth in Section 1.8 above, the City finds that there are no feasible alternatives to the Housing Element Update, which would mitigate or avoid those environmental impacts and which would meet project objectives to the fullest extent. The lead agency hereby declares that pursuant to the State CEQA Guidelines Section 15093, the City of Pleasanton has balanced the benefits of the approval and implementation of the Housing Element Update against any unavoidable environmental impacts in determining whether to approve the Housing Element Update. Pursuant to the State CEQA Guidelines, if the City finds benefits of the