3B Public Hearing 2007 0904 - Laserfiche WebLink

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SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DOWNTOWN TOD STRATEGY The Public Draft TOD Strategy was the subject of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) that was circulated for a 45-day public comment period from June 5 to July 19, 2007. A public hearing was held on July 12 to allow members of the public to provide verbal comments, in addition to written comments, on the TOD Strategy and DEIR. A Response to Comments document was prepared to address the comments received during the comment period (Please see Exhibit F). This document, in combination with the Draft Environmental Impact Report, comprises the Final Environmental Impact Report. Certification of the Final EIR must occur before the City Council may adopt the TOD Strategy or adopt the proposed Zoning Code (Text and Map) Amendments. The Planning Commission will provide recommendations on each of these items in turn. Potential Development Capacity and DEIR Proiect Description The TOD Strategy Area is substantially developed; however, the Strategy identifies 39 opportunity sites, representing approximately 88 acres, where development could occur over the next 25 or so years (to 2030). An adjustment of an additional 15 percent was used to establish potential maximum development in the Strategy Area of 3,431 residential units, 718,240 square feet of office development and 120,870 square feet of retail development by 2030. Thirty percent of this development activity is expected to occur by 2015 and 90 percent of development is expected to occur by 2030. The City's existing General Plan, with a horizon year of2015, anticipated 590 residential units, 781,200 square feet of office development, and 195,300 square feet of retail development. The TOD Strategy "Project" is therefore the amount of potential development for the TOD Strategy Area above and beyond what was envisioned in the General Plan and examined in the General Plan EIR; namely construction of 2,841 residential units. The Downtown San Leandro Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy required the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report. This conclusion was reached after the preparation of an Initial Study for the Strategy. The Initial Study identified several areas that could result in significant environmental impacts, therefore, the Draft EIR focused on the following issues: Aesthetics, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Hydrology and Water Quality, Land Use, Noise, Population and Housing, Public Services and Recreation, Soils, Seismicity and Geology, Transportation and Circulation, and Utilities and Service Systems. Table 2-1 on Page 2-5 of the DEIR provided a Summary of Impacts and Mitigation Measures outlined in the DEIR. The following is a brief summary of each environmental issue discussed in the DEIR. Aesthetics The DEIR analyzes how implementation of the TOD Strategy would affect the visual environment. As stated on Page 4.1-13 of the DEIR, the TOD Strategy could impact day and night-time views and scenic vistas in San Leandro as new development takes place, particularly around the Downtown San Leandro BART Station and along East 14th Street. The construction of high-density housing on the former BART parking lot and development of high-density