RES 99074 - Laserfiche WebLink

DESCRIPTION OF TFIE APPROVED PROJECT The Vineyard Avenue Corridor Specific Plan is intended to serve as the primary land use and regulatory guide for development of the 384-acre Plan Area. The objective of the Specific Plan is to establish a high-quality living environment that features a rural/vineyard character and provides for a variety of residential, commercial, vineyard, open space, recreational, elementary school, and other uses. The Specific Plan includes development of 189 single-family residential units, a 12-acre elementary school, a 20-acre community park, and 67 acres of vineyards. In addition, Lot 28 within the Specific Plan area would have the option to develop a 100-room inn/spa/restaurant/conference facility and vineyard estate instead of housing, and small bed-and-breakfast inns would be conditionally allowed on certain lots. Changes in the roadway network would include the realignment of Vineyard Avenue which would be moved toward the northern property boundary adjacent to Arroyo del Valle. Public services, including water and wastewater facilities, would be extended to the site to accommodate the proposed development. The land use plan is intended to facilitate the transition between the urbanized edge of Pleasanton to the west and the more rural, larger lot Ruby Hill development to the east. The design concept requires environmentally sensitive design of homes in the hillside areas south of Vineyard Avenue, and the integration of vineyards and other land uses north of Vineyard Avenue, organized to create a functional and attractive visual entry to the Livermore Valley wine country. ALTERNATIVES In accordance with § 15126.6 of the State CEQA Guidelines, a range of reasonable alternatives to the project that could feasiblely attain the basic project objectives were addressed in the EIR. An evaluation of the No Project Altemative, in accordance with § 15126.6(e) of the CEQA Guidelines was also included in the EIR. The alternatives considered in the EIR, the No Project Alternative, the 150-Unit Development Alternative, the 250-Unit Development Alternative, the Vineyard Avenue Alignment Alternative, the 480-unit alternative (evaluated in the Responses to Comments), and an Alternative Locations Alternative are summarized below: NO PROJECT ALTERNATIVE The No Project Alternative would maintain conditions as they currently exist. None of the residential units identified in the Specific Plan would be developed. No commercial businesses, parks or school facilities would be built and the proposed vineyard areas would not be established. Vineyard Avenue would remain at its current location. Under the no project alternative, it is assumed that the project site would develop in a manner consistent with its current zoning. A total of 19 dwelling units are currently located on the site. Under current zoning, this could increase to approximately 106 units. The no project alternative would be the environmentally superior alternative based on the minimization of environmental changes. Project objectives, however, would not be met with this alternative. 150-UNIT DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVE This alternative assumes development of 150 new residential units. Lots west of the landfill (Lots 1-13) would be developed with housing at a density of one- to two homes per developable acre, while development on the remaining hillside lots south of Vineyard Avenue (Lots 15-! 7, 22-27, and 29-31) Vineyard Avenue Corridor Specific Plan Draft EIR -2- Findings