RES 09265 - Laserfiche WebLink

Finding: Feasible The EIR identified several differences in the environmental effects of the Ice Center Alternative compared to the proposed project, as described below. However, these differences do not provide a sufficient basis to conclude that the Ice Center Alternative presents significantly greater environmental impacts than the proposed project. Visual: Visually, the Ice Center Alternative would increase the number of buildings and pavement at the Staples Ranch site and reduce the amount of landscaped open space. However, similar to the proposed project, development that would occur under the Ice Center Alternative would not affect scenic vistas or damage scenic resources, and this impact would be less than significant. The ice center would likely involve lighting for the parking and circulation areas, for patron security, and for signage. Thus, this portion of the Staples Ranch site would be relatively well lit. If this portion of the park were intended primarily for passive recreational uses and not an ice center as part of the proposed project, then the Ice Center Alternative would likely result in additional light and glare sources, compared to the proposed project. On the other hand, if this portion of the community park were intended for lighted facilities, such as ballfields, the unmitigated impacts under proposed project could be greater than under the Ice Center Alternative. Implementation of Mitigation Measures VQ-3.1 through VQ-3.4 identified for the proposed project would reduce this impact for the Ice Center Alternative to less than significant, similar to the proposed project. Air Quality: Development under the Ice Center Alternative would generate approximately 3,300 additional daily trips. The ice center would also potentially generate additional stationary source emissions associated with cooling and other mechanical equipment associated with the ice center operations. The proposed project would exceed the BAAQMD threshold of 80 pounds/day for ROG, NOx, and PM10; therefore, this alternative with more vehicular trips attributed to the addition of the ice center would also exceed the BAAQMD thresholds. Because no mitigation measures would be sufficient to reduce the alternative's air emissions to aless-than-significant level, the resultant emissions would also result in a significant and unavoidable air quality impact. Hazards: The Staples Ranch site is located outside and therefore is compatible with ALUC's Airport Land Use Policy Plan (ALUPP) safety zones under both the proposed project and the Ice Center Alternative. The project site is located within Caltrans' recommended Safety Zones 4 and 6 of the California Airport Land Use Planning Handbook, as shown on Figure 3.4-2 of the DEIR. The ALUC has not adopted the safety zones recommended by Caltrans, but ALUC staff has prepared a draft revision of its ALUPP Stoneridge Drive Specitic Plan Amendment and Staples Ranch Project Environmental Impact Report Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations Page 8 of 47