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Function of the Environmental Review Process The purpose of the environmental review process is to create a document that provides a thorough analysis of what environmental impacts may result from a project. As a result of the reduction of the development density from 98 home sites as first proposed to the 51 home sites that make up the development now proposed, the project has evolved into one that significantly reduces the environmental impacts identified for the initial project, as follows: • The actual graded acreage is reduced from 87.07 to 77.13 acres; • The amount of developed acreage is reduced from 79.94 to 66.03 acres; • The custom lot acreage is reduced from 58.65 to 56.73 acres; • The need for one detention basin is eliminated; • Court 5 and associated road construction is eliminated; • Grading spoils is reduced from 700,000 cubic yards to 620,000 cubic yards of material; • Biologic impacts are significantly reduced: o the filling of ephemeral streams is reduced from 2,708 linear feet to 145 linear feet; o the filling of seep areas is reduced from 2,004 square feet to 1,171 square feet; o impacts to wetlands area at Court 5 (which has been eliminated) are eliminated; o the number of trees to be removed is reduced from 135 to 58; o the number of heritage trees to be removed is reduced from 90 to 32; and o the number of trees to be planted is maintained at 400 trees, the same mitigation measure as for the original 98-lot proposal; through the design guidelines, it is estimated a total of approximately 600 trees will be planted throughout the site. • The number of home sites visible from the Grey Eagle Estates and Vintage Hills developments to the north is reduced; and, • Afire-access road connection has been added from Lot 51 from the construction fill area to the Kottinger Ranch water tank road, providing a secondary fire road for emergency services. With the exception of two impacts for which a Statement of Overriding Consideration is being recommended, the mitigation measures that have been outlined in the Final EIR mitigate any impacts described to a less than significant level. The impacts requiring a Statement of Overriding Considerations include: the significant and unavoidable impacts from the cumulative increase contributing to unsatisfactory levels of service at the Bernal Avenue/I-680 Southbound on-ramp and at the Santa Rita Road/Valley Avenue intersection; and the significant and unavoidable impact from the cumulative loss of blue oak woodlands that would contribute to the loss in the continuity of the blue oak plant community. Staff believes that the benefits of the 51-lot plan outweigh the significant and unavoidable impacts. These benefits include dedication of permanent open space, provision of public trails, preservation and protection of biological resources, provision of Page 12 of 27