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

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Harbor Boulevard Mixed Use Transit Corridor Plan Findings and Facts in Support of Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations Furthermore, because the proposed project is intended to permit development of a mixed -use community on the project site, reducing permitted nonresidential intensity would be contrary to objectives of the proposed project, including those objectives that advocate for provision of new opportunities for mixed -use development and businesses. Therefore, a reduced nonresidential intensity alternative was considered but rejected. B. ALTERNATIVES SELECTED FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS The following three alternatives have been determined to represent a reasonable range of alternatives that could potentially attain most of the basic objectives of the project and have the potential to avoid or substantially lessen one or more of the significant effects of the project. No Project/NHSP Alternative Reduced Residential Intensity Alternative 1. Alternatives Comparison a) No ProjectNHSP Alternative Description: The No Project/NHSP Alternative assumes that the Harbor Corridor Plan would not be adopted, the NHSP would remain in effect, the Conventional Zoning Area would remain within the NHSP, and the existing onsite buildings would remain. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6(e)(3)(A), where a project is the revision of an existing regulatory plan the "no project' alternative assumes continuation of the existing plan, policy or operation into the future. Therefore, this alternative assumes that new development and redevelopment would continue to occur in the project area consistent with the adopted NHSP land use designations, development standards and design guidelines. Buildout of the NHSP would allow for 320 residential units and 4,867,789 square feet of nonresidential land uses. Note that the NHSP results in a reduction of residential units compared to existing uses since some residential uses were existing in the area prior to adoption of the NHSP. As compared to the proposed project, buildout of the NHSP would result in a reduction of 4,395 residential units and an increase of 2,896,107 of commercial and other nonresidential square footage. Environmental Effects: The No Project/NHSP Alternative would reduce impacts to air quality (operation), greenhouse gas emissions, noise (operation), public services, recreation, transportation and traffic, and utilities and service systems. This alternative would increase impacts to aesthetics, land use, and population and housing. Impacts of this alternative related to construction - related air quality and noise, cultural resources, geology and soils, and hydrology and water quality would be similar to the proposed project. Ability to Achieve Project Objectives: This alternative would not achieve any of the following five project objectives: it would not provide for new housing and mixed -use development opportunities; create economic vitality by providing new opportunities for businesses and residents; provide access to multi -modal transportation; create a sense of place; or enhance community health and wellness. This alternative would achieve one project objective to provide for the development of the site consistent with City's General 43 July 2014