2014-069 - Final Environmental Impact Report No. 2014-01

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9. Significant Irreversible Changes Due to the Proposed Proiect Section 15126.2(c) of the CEQA Guidelines requires that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) describe any significant irreversible environmental changes that would be caused by the proposed project should it be implemented. Implementation of the proposed project would cause the following significant irreversible changes: ■ Development of future projects within the Harbor Boulevard Mixed Use Transit Corridor Plan would include construction and demolition activities that would entail the commitment of nonrenewable and /or slowly renewable energy resources; human resources; and natural resources such as lumber and other forest products, sand and gravel, asphalt, steel, copper, lead, other metals, water, and fossil fuels. Demolition of existing commercial uses would occur over time and would be irreversible. ■ Future development in accordance with the Harbor Boulevard Mixed Use Transit Corridor Plan is a long- term irreversible commitment of existing developed land in the City of Santa Ana.. Operation of the project, which would allow an additional 13,721 square feet of commercial uses and 3,884 residential units, would require the use of natural gas and electricity, fossil fuels, and water. The commitment of resources required for the operation of the proposed project would limit the availability of such resources for future generations or for other uses during the life of the project. ■ An increased commitment of social services and public maintenance services (e.g., police, fire, schools, libraries, and sewer and water services) would also be required. The energy and social service commitments would be long-term obligations in view of the low likelihood of returning the land to its original condition once it has been redeveloped. ■ An increase in project related vehicle trips would accompany project related population growth. Over the long term, emissions associated with such vehicle trips would continue to contribute to the South Coast Air Basin's nonattainment designation for ozone (03) and particulate matter (PM?s and PM3o), nonattainment for lead (l.os Angeles County only) under the California and National Ambient An Quality Standards (AAQS), and nonattainment for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) under the California AAQS. Given the low likelihood that the land would revert to lower intensity uses or to its current form, the proposed project would generally commit future generations to these environmental changes. October 2014 Page 9 -1