3A Public Hearing 2010 0503 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Staff Analysis Staff's opinion is that the EIR has been prepared in accordance with CEQA and is adequate to support the approval of the General Plan Amendment, re -zoning, Redevelopment Plan Amendment, Planned Development, Site Plan Review, and Development Agreement for Phase 1 of the Medical Center for the following reasons: 1) ' Mitigation measures and revisions to the project have been identified in the EIR that are capable of reducing a majority of potential environmental impacts to a level of less than significant. 2) A Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program ("MMRP") has been prepared to ensure that the mitigation measures and revisions to the project identified in the EIR are implemented (see attached MMRP, EXHIBIT D). 3) Although certain impacts of the project remain significant and unavoidable despite all reasonable and feasible mitigation measures, the alternatives discussed in the EIR that may reduce the significance of these impacts are infeasible. 4) Economic, social, environmental, technological, legal or other considerations and the benefits of the project outweigh the remaining significant adverse impacts, and justify approval of the project as proposed (see attached CEQA Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations, EXHIBIT B). GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT The project site consists of 63 acres, the majority of which is currently designated in the General Plan as General Industrial. There is a small portion of the project site adjacent to Marina Boulevard that is designated as Light Industrial. General Industrial land uses are characterized by a wide range of manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, vehicle storage, and distribution uses. Applicable General Plan policies focus on maintaining a strong industrial and commercial base in the City while ensuring that commercial and industrial uses are designed to be sensitive to surrounding areas. The project site is also located within the West San Leandro Business District, which encompasses approximately 1,500 acres west of I-880 and contains nearly half of the City's jobs and many of its employers. The guiding objectives in the City's large business districts are to promote business retention and diversification, maintain mobility and ease of circulation, and promote aesthetic improvements which enhance the City's image and appearance. To do this, industrial districts typically do not contain residential land uses. Kaiser has requested approval of a General Plan amendment to change the land use designation of the entire 63 -acre site from General Industrial and Light Industrial to General Commercial. The General Commercial land use is characterized by larger shopping centers, shopping districts, and commercial uses, all providing a broader range of goods and services and serving a broader market than the neighborhood commercial areas. This designation also includes uses such as Planning Commission Staff Report April 22, 2010 Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center and Mixed Use Retail Development Project Page 15 of 28