SR 06:101 - Laserfiche WebLink

1Hea1"'l'~ .'!f - _---_ ~t~ON Exhibit A immediately following the discussion of a significant impact, so that the reviewer will quickly grasp the relationship between an impact and a corresponding mitigation measure. To further reinforce this linkage, each mitigation measure will be enumerated using a coding system that will relate it to the impact it seeks to reduce. For example, Mitigation Measure 2.1 will be the first mitigation measure recommended to address Impact 2. Mitigation measures will be explicitly defined in terms of their effectiveness (i.e., ability to reduce an impact to less than significant), responsible agency, and whether they are measures proposed as part of the project (e.g., the policies, guidelines, or standards that reduce potential effects) or measures to be considered. This format facilitates later preparation of the Mitigation Monitoring Program described in Task 8. If the measures would not reduce an impact to an insignificant level, the impact would be declared a significant, unavoidable impact. During the findings phase, a Statement of Overriding Considerations will be prepared to demonstrate that the benefits of approving the project outweigh the significant environmental impacts that cannot be mitigated (see Task 9). Following is a description of our approach for each of the environmental factors that we suggest for inclusion in the SEIR. Land Use, Zoning, and Adopted Plans. EIP will visit the site and summarize the existing land uses on and around the project site. EIP will describe existing land use intensities on and adjacent to the site, existing zoning, and General Plan and Specific Plan designations. Maps illustrating these uses in plan vIew and photographs depicting typical development will supplement the written description of the land use setting. As explained in the Initial Study, the land use assessment will center on the loss of agricultural lands and on the potential conflicts with applicable General Plan policies (the site is currently zoned A (Agriculture) but designated for Mixed Use/Business Park by Alameda County). The loss of agricultural lands was previously acknowledged in the 1989 EIR; however, there may now be new options for protecting agricultural resources and open space that were not available in 1989. The delineation of the County Urban Limit Line and opportunities to contribute funds that can be used to acquire agricultural and open space resources may now be feasible mitigation options. Similarly, there may be more recent guidance from the Local Agency Formation Commission about the type and amount of agricultural production that would be considered a significant impact. Neither of these possibilities were acknowledged by the 1996 Supplemental Draft EIR prepared for a housing proposal for Staples Ranch that was never implemented. If no such opportunities to mitigate are available, then the SEIR will declare the loss of agricultural lands a significant and unavoidable impact as it was in 1989 and again in 1996. The 1989 EIR evaluated the Stoneridge Drive Specific Plan for its consistency with locally adopted plans and policies. The current EIR will need to update that discussion since the proposed project envisions different land uses in the Staples Ranch area; in addition, the City is in the midst of a General Plan update and there may be substantial policy revisions EIP Associates 2-7