RES 96087 - Laserfiche WebLink

4. Comment: The Response to Comments document does not provide adequate responses to Housing Element related comments. Specifically. Response L17 is conclusory in implying that 3,232 housing units (the surplus of 8,100 housing units over those 4,868 needed to accommodate Pleasanton workers) would be sufficient to accommodate those households who desire to live in Pleasanton but work elsewhere. There is no factual basis given to justify this conclusion. Response: CEQA establishes no mandate for cities to satisfy the housing preferences of a future population not employed locally. EIRs conventionally address the balance between local jobs and local employed residents because it is a measure (albeit a very indirect one) of potential congestion and air quality implications of land use patterns. A more direct measure is the air quality analysis itself, which is in turn based on regional and subregional traffic impact analysis. Where such direct measures of impact are available, their use provides a better understanding of actual physical effects on the environment ("Effects analyzed under CEQA must be related to a physical change. - [Guidelines ~15358(b)]) than a jobslhousing ratio. 5. Comment: The Response to Comments document appears to suggest that the environmental review of at least one major project proposed in the draft General Plan, the realignment of Vineyard A venue, should be deferred until a later stage. This is clearly contrary to State law, which requires that the environmental review of a project be conducted at the earliest stage and prohibits the adoption of future studies in lieu of adequate mitigation. Response: The CEQA Guidelines recognize that EIRs are prepared on general plans, zoning changes, and development projects. and that these EIRs. while they may encompass the same geographical area, will vary in the level of detail they provide. Tiering is recommended (Guidelines ~15152(a) so as to "focus the EIR on the actual issues ripe for decision at each level of environmental review." The Guidelines specifically recognize that geBCral matters will be covered -in broader EIRs (such as on general plans or policy statements) with subsequent narrower EIRs or ultimately site-specific EIRs incorporating by reference the general discussion and concentrating solely on the issues specific to the EIR subsequently prepared." (CEQA Guidelines ~ 15385) 4