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EXHIBIT A <br />would be 4.77 times larger than the existing 81,172 square foot 2 -story building, and like the Project, this <br />alternative would substantially change the scale, height, and setbacks in comparison to existing views of <br />the Project site, which would result in a significant impact pursuant to the City's aesthetics criteria. <br />Furthermore, the character of the office building under this alternative would be less visually consistent <br />with the adjacent single-family residential than the proposed multi -family residential. (DEIR, p. 6-23.) <br />The Build Out Under the Existing Zoning Alternative would result in approximately 1,275 employees at <br />full capacity and generate approximately 3,774 vehicle trips per day, which is 40 percent more daily trips <br />than the proposed Project. As a result, impacts to air quality, greenhouse gas, traffic noise, and traffic <br />congestion would be increased in comparison to the Project. Similarly, construction of this alternative <br />would require the same construction related mitigation measures that are required for the Project. Overall, <br />the Build Out Under the Existing Zoning Alternative would result in greater impacts than the Project. <br />(DEIR, p. 6-23.) <br />Ability to Achieve Project Objectives: The Build Out of the Existing Zoning Alternative would not meet <br />a majority of the Project objectives. The site would not be redeveloped into new high-quality housing near <br />existing employment centers, commercial areas, freeways, and transit. It would not promote an improved <br />jobs/housing balance, and would not provide residents with a safe, high-quality, modern residential <br />community with open space and various recreation amenities. Although the Project would meet the <br />objectives of redeveloping land uses that would utilize existing infrastructure and would implement capital <br />investment related to the Project site to enhance the City's economic and fiscal viability pursuant to the <br />City of Santa Ana Strategic Plan, a majority (5 out of 7) of the Project objectives would not be met. (DEIR, <br />pp. 6-23 through 6-24.) <br />Finding: The Build Out of the Existing Zoning Alternative would continue to result in a significant <br />unavoidable aesthetic impact, would continue to require the same mitigation measures that would be <br />implemented for the Project, and would result in greater impacts to other environmental topics than the <br />Project. In addition, the Existing Zoning Altemative would. not meet a majority of the Project objectives. <br />'Therefore, the City hereby rejects the Existing Zoning Alternative. <br />12.6 Environmentally Superior Alternative <br />The Environmentally Superior Alternative for the Project is the No Project/No Build Alternative. The No <br />Project/No Build Alternative would avoid the significant and unavoidable impact of the Project and all of <br />the potential construction impacts, reduce many of the operational impacts, and would not be required to <br />implement the mitigation measures that are identified in Chapter 4.0 of this EIR that are related to: <br />aesthetics, biological resources, hazards and hazardous materials, noise and vibration, and tribal cultural <br />resources. However, this alternative would not improve the storm water runoff quality that runs directly <br />into Santiago Creek, not remove the contaminated soils from the site, not improve the jobs/housing <br />balance and the related reduction in vehicle miles traveled. (DEIR, pp. 6-24 through 6-25.) <br />CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6(3)(1) states that if the environmentally superior alternative is the "no <br />project" alternative, the EIR shall also identify an environmentally superior alternative among the other <br />alternatives. <br />The Environmentally Superior Alternative among the other alternatives is Alternative 2: Reduced Project <br />Alternative, which would develop 30 fewer units than the Project. (DEIR, p. 6-24.) The potential impacts <br />Resolution No. <br />Certification of the Magnolia at the Park EIR <br />75E-104 <br />Page 66 of 71 <br />