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.s Ms. Debbie Pollart And Redevelopment Agency Members September 17, 2001 Page 5 In the current case, the MND states that transportation and circulation effects from the three proposed automobile dealerships and service centers in the same vicinity, will not have any significant effects on traffic. (MND p. 12.) The Agency reasons that the proposed automobile dealerships and service centers are within the existing zoning designation for the area, and therefore were already considered in the prior General Plan EIR. The Agency further reasons that the existing General Plan "envisioned auto mall-related uses...." (MND p. 12.) However, simply because the existing zoning designation for the project area allows the proposed uses, does not indicate that the intense effects of three automobile dealerships and service centers in the same area were actually considered. In fact, there is no indication in the General Plan EIR that automobile dealership, service centers, and related uses were considered for this area.2 Further, the General Plan EIR indicates that the Marina Boulevard/Alvarado intersection and the Marina Boulevard/Merced intersection received a level "D" Level of Service ranking. (Draft General Plan EIR, p. 433.) The General Plan EIR also anticipated that the Marina Boulevard/Alvarado intersection would be at a Level of Service "F" the year 2000. To reason that there will be no significant effect on traffic as a result of three automobile dealerships, when the existing level of service is already poor, is illogical. The fact that three new dealerships and service centers are proposed, constitutes new information which shows that the prior circulation effects that were considered in the previous environmental review document are substantially more severe than previously thought. Automobile dealerships and service centers, by their very nature, represent a highly intense traffic use. On a regular basis, customers will drive in and out of the car lot and service garage. Customers will also test-drive automobiles, increasing otherwise normal commercial use traffic by the nature of the business. It is clear that an automobile based business will logically generate more traffic than a typical commercial business. Therefore, simply because the prior environmental review document allowed this type of use, does not indicate that the intense traffic effects of three new automobile based businesses within the same area were considered. This fact represents new information that was not previously available that will result in substantially more severe effects than were previously considered. Subsequent environmental review must be performed. 2 In fact, the General Plan EIR states that Marina Boulevard is expected to see a gradual shift to "non-rail- oriented industrial/businesspayk uses and non-industrial uses." (Draft General Plan EIR, p. 13.) This statement clearly indicates that the intense uses of concentrated automobile dealerships and related uses were not specifically considered or envisioned. 3 I was unable to receive a copy of the existing General Plan final EIR from the City, however, I was notified that the Draft General Plan EIR was the same in its analysis and information. MRTL\38756\443627.1