75I - PH SUNFLOWER DESIGNATION CHANGE

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ER No. 2018-75, GPA No. 2019-01, AA No. 2019-01 June 4, 2019 Page 6 Issue_ aAnalysrs . _ ._ adopted Housing Element (2024-2021) goal of developing 405 RHNA units through identified housing opportunity sites. California Environmental Quality Act The applicant submitted a development proposal that requires the approval of several discretionary applications. Given the size and location of the project, as well as the proposed zoning and general plan modifications, environmental review is required pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). After completion of the Initial Study for the project, it was determined that the proposed development requires preparation and certification of a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND). The purpose of an MND is to identify the project's effects on the environment and to indicate the manner in which those significant effects can be mitigated or avoided. To determine what potential effects would be caused by the project, the MND examines environmental issues potentially affected by the project, with potentially significant impacts identified in the Noise, Transportation, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, and Tribal Cultural Resources categories. Among these categories, mitigation measures are proposed to reduce the impacts to the "Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated" level for noise and vibration generated by construction activities and exposure of residential units adjacent to an arterial roadway, transportation impacts, and tribal cultural resources impact during construction. Mitigation measures will reduce vibration and noise impacts generated by construction activities, will reduce noise inside residential units stemming from the project's proximity to Sunflower Avenue, and will ensure archaeological specialists are available should any artifacts be uncovered during construction. The MND's traffic study indicates that two nearby intersections, Sunflower Avenue/Main Street and Flower Street/MacArthur Boulevard, will experience Level of Service (LOS) reductions from "D" to "E" with or without the project in Year 2040 traffic conditions. To address transportation impacts, a proposed mitigation measure requires the developer to modify an existing traffic signal at the intersection of Sunflower Avenue and Main Street to provide a southbound right -turn overlap phase to improve intersection efficiencies. General Plan Amendment To allow for the construction of a multiple -family residential development on this parcel, a General Plan amendment is required. Currently, the land use designation for this site is Low - Density Residential (LR-7), which applies to areas that are predominately developed with single- family residential. This project will require an amendment to the Land Use Element to amend the General Plan Land Use designation of the site to Urban Neighborhood (UN) with a density of 63 dwelling units per acre and a floor area ratio (FAR) of 1.80. The project is consistent with the UN land use designation, which applies primarily to residential or mixed -use areas with pedestrian oriented commercial uses, schools and small parks. The existing intensity standard found in the General Plan for the UN land use ranges from a floor area ratio of 0.5 to 3.0 with the residential density based on a combination of floor area ratio and zoning development standards; the proposed development is consistent with this range and is consistent with the intent, character 751-6