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quality. The Project provides social benefits to those residing in the City and ihose choosing to <br /> reside in the City in the future by providing areas for outdoor recreation available to all members <br /> of the public. In the General Plan, the City Council adopted policies to enhance recreational <br /> opportunities through the provision of community parks. (See 1996 General Plan. Conservation <br /> and Open Space Chapter, Policy 11 .). The City Council also promotes the development of trails <br /> throughout the City for recreation and alternative transportation. (See 1996 General Plan. <br /> Conservation and Open Space Chapter, Policy 12.) In addition, open space preservation is <br /> encouraged by the City. (See 1996 General Plan, Conservation and Open Space Chapter. Policy <br /> 4.). <br /> <br /> The City Council therefore finds and determines that the unmitigated project impacts and <br /> cumulative regional impacts are outweighed by the need to provide additional amenities for <br /> recreation and community activity, and the preservation of open space. <br /> <br /> B. School Site. The City Council finds that the Project provides for a 12-acre <br />elementary school which will serve the needs of Plan Area children. as well as children from <br />nearby residential areas. Half of the school site would be developed with buildings and parking <br />improvements, and the remaining half would be improved with turf and paved play areas. <br />Increasing the number of elementary schools in the City has Plan Area benefits of providing a <br />neighborhood school which promotes a more personalized education. In addition. the new <br />school site provides City-wide benefit by distributing enrollment of students to better achieve the <br />goal of a maximum of 650 students for each elementary school. (See General Plan. Public <br />Facilities Element, Policy 10.) <br /> <br /> The City Council therefore finds and determines that the mitigated project impacts and <br />cumulative regional impacts are outweighed by the neighborhood and City-wide benefit of an <br />additional elementary school site. <br /> <br /> C. Housing. The City Council finds that the Project provides for well-planned <br />residential growth to help meet the housing needs of the City and the region, while maintaining <br />environmental qualit>, and a sense of neighborhood and community. The Project provides for <br />limited additional housing units, which are sited to minimize impacts on the environment, <br />including limiting grading on sensitive hillsides, preserving scenic vistas, and protecting heritage <br />trees. This is in conformance with the General Plan policy of balancing housing development <br />with environmental protection. (See General Plan, Housing Chapter, Policy 21 .) Characteristics <br />have been incorporated into the Project which will minimize, to the maximum extent possible, <br />risk of injury or death from seismic events. In addition, the Project provides housing units within <br />mixed densities which will assist the City in meeting its share of regional housing needs. The <br />City Council has previously adopted goals and policies to attain a variety of densities and strive <br />to meet its regional share of housing. (See General Plan, Housing Chapter, Goal 1 and Policy 8.) <br /> <br /> The City Council therefore finds and determines that the unmitigated project impacts and <br />cumulative regional impacts are outweighed by the policy to provide additional housing units in <br />the City, in a manner which provides the least possible impacts on existing neighborhoods, while <br />remaining sensitive to environmental considerations. <br /> <br />Exhibit B 2 <br /> <br /> <br />