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City of Pleasanton <br /> CEQA GHG Emissions Thresholds and Guidance <br /> Step 1: Consistency with Demographic Forecasts and Land Use Assumptions <br /> The demographic forecasts of the CAP 2.0 are based on both a City-provided tool,the Pleasanton <br /> Forecaster Tool,which utilizes Association of Bay Area Governments(ABAG)demographic forecasts <br /> and the growth projected in the City(2005-2025) General Plan. If a plan/project is consistent with <br /> the existing(2005-2025)General Plan land use of the plan area/project site as identified in the <br /> Pleasanton General Plan,then the plan/project is consistent with the Business as Usual (BAU) <br /> demographic forecasts and land use assumptions of the CAP 2.0 and can move on to Step 2. In such <br /> cases,the plan/project's associated GHG emissions were accounted for in the GHG emissions <br /> forecasts included in the CAP 2.0 and,therefore, are within the scope of this plan's analysis of <br /> communitywide GHG emissions. Accordingly,the analysis of the plan/project's GHG emissions in its <br /> CEQA document should include a reference to the plan/project's consistency with the existing <br /> (2005-2025) General Plan land use of the plan area/project site and should explain the <br /> aforementioned connection between the existing(2005-2025)General Plan land use and the GHG <br /> emissions forecasts in the CAP 2.0.Then, proceed to Step 2. Note that this general methodology can <br /> also be utilized for projects with a post-2030 buildout year; however,the CEQA GHG thresholds <br /> would need to be updated to match the latest, adopted General Plan land use designations as well <br /> as the latest, adopted CAP. <br /> If a plan/project is not consistent with the existing(2005-2025) General Plan land use of the plan <br /> area/project site but would result in equivalent or fewer GHG emissions as compared to existing on- <br /> site development or the development anticipated for the site under the City's existing(2005-2025) <br /> General Plan,then the plan/project would still be within the demographic forecasts and land use <br /> assumptions of the CAP 2.0 and can move on to Step 2.To provide substantial evidence for this <br /> determination, GHG emissions generated under existing conditions/existing(2005-2025) General <br /> Plan buildout and the proposed project need to be quantified and included in the CEQA analysis. See <br /> Chapter 6, Quantifying GHG Emissions,for guidance on quantifying GHG emissions for existing <br /> conditions/existing(2005-2025) General Plan buildout and the proposed plan/project. In this case, <br /> the analysis of the plan's/project's GHG emissions in its CEQA document should include a <br /> quantitative comparison of the proposed plan's/project's GHG emissions and GHG emissions <br /> generated by existing on-site development,or the development anticipated for the site under the <br /> City's existing(2005-2025)General Plan.The analysis should clearly explain how the plan/project's <br /> emissions are equivalent or less than those generated by existing on-site development, or the <br /> development anticipated for the site under the City's existing(2005-2025) General Plan.Then, <br /> proceed to Step 2. <br /> If a plan/project is not consistent with the existing(2005-2025)General Plan land use of the plan <br /> area/project site and would result in either new development of undeveloped land or <br /> redevelopment with higher GHG emissions than existing on-site development or than the <br /> development anticipated for the site under the City's existing(2005-2025) General Plan,the <br /> plan/project cannot use the CEQA GHG Emissions Analysis Compliance Checklist to tier from the <br /> adopted IS-ND for the CAP 2.0. Instead,the plan/project's GHG emissions can be evaluated using <br /> the quantitative GHG thresholds described in Chapter 5, Utilizing Quantitative CEQA GHG <br /> Thresholds,to evaluate the significance of the plan/project's GHG emissions. <br /> Step 2: Consistency with CEQA GHG Emissions Analysis Compliance Checklist <br /> The City has prepared the CEQA GHG Emissions Analysis Compliance Checklist for plans and projects <br /> to ensure they are consistent with the strategies of the CAP 2.0.A project applicant can utilize the <br /> checklist to show that a plan/project includes all applicable strategies of the CAP 2.0. Projects that <br /> 22 <br />