2007-026 - Approving the Final Environmental Impact

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CHAPTER 4 Statement of Overriding Considerations 4.1 INTRODUCTION Section 15093 of the CEQA guidelines states: (a) CEQA requires rhe decision-making agency to balance, as applicable, rhe economic, legal, social, technological, or orher benefits of a proposed project against its unavoidable environmental risks when determining wherher to approve rhe project. If rhe specific economic, legal, social, technological, or orher benefits of a proposed project outweigh rhe unavoidable adverse environmental effects, the adverse environmental effects may be considered "acceptable." (b) When rhe lead agency approves a project which will result in rhe occurrence of siguificant effects which are identified in rhe final EIR but are not avoided or substantially lessened, rhe agency shall state in writing rhe specific reason to support its actions based on rhe final EIR and/or orher information in the record. The statement of overriding considerations shall be supported by substantial evidence in the record. (c) If an agency makes a statement of overriding considerations, rhe statement should be included in the record of rhe project approval and should be mentioned in rhe notice of determination. The City of Santa Ana (City) proposes to adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations regarding rhe potential unavoidable significant impacts of the proposed project. This section describes the anticipated economic, social, and other benefits or other considerations of the proposed project to support the decision to proceed with the project even though all of the identified impacts are not mitigated to a less- than-significant level. 4.2 UNAVOIDABLE SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACTS The City is proposing to approve the proposed project, with reductions and revisions to reduce environmental impacts, and has prepared an EIR requited by CEQA. Even with reductions and revisions in the project, rhe following impacts are unavoidable because it has been determined rhat no feasible mitigation is available. Refet to Chapter 2 (CEQA Findings) for further clarification regarding the impacts listed below. 4.2.1 Metro East Mixed Use Overlay Zone Alternatives (Program- Level) Air Quality Impact 4.2-4 Construction activities associated wirh rhe proposed project would exceed Sourh Coast Air Quality Management District Standards for VOC and NOx, and would result in a projected air quality violation. Metro East Mixed Use OVerlay Zone EIR FindIngs of Fact/Statement of OVerriding Con~~1~~Jh5~ I ~~g:~~:o~~~ 4-1