3B Public Hearing 2011 0321 - Laserfiche WebLink

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EXPLANATION: a) The proposed consistency amendments would not increase the quantity of development permitted by the TOD Strategy or the recently approved Housing Element, nor would they change the circulation system. The impacts on traffic were previously evaluated by the TOD EIR in 2007. A significant unavoidable traffic impact was identified at the MacArthur/ Estudillo intersection and a Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted. A variety of mitigation measures were adopted through the TOD EIR process and will continue to be implemented as development takes place. In addition, the General Plan identifies measures to mitigate transportation impacts including impact fees, transportation demand management programs, signal timing, and specific capital improvement projects. Future residential projects on sites in the TOD area and on sites identified in the Housing Element, are subject to additional environmental review. Each project will be reviewed for its individual and cumulative impacts on the street system, and site - specific mitigation measures will be prescribed as needed. b) Future development constructed pursuant to the amended General Plan could, either individually or cumulatively, result in traffic levels of service that exceed the standards adopted by the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency (ACCMA). However, such impacts have already been evaluated by the City in its General Plan EIR and TOD Strategy EIR, and have been further documented in project -level traffic studies. In 2002, the San Leandro City Council accepted a significant unavoidable impact associated with General Plan buildout in the vicinity of the Downtown BART Station. The proposed General Plan amendment would not amend land use designations beyond those already approved and analyzed in the TOD Strategy and thus would not change traffic forecasts or cause projected traffic conditions to deteriorate below levels already projected. Mitigation measures will continue to be prescribed through project -level traffic studies in the future. c) The consistency amendments will have no impact on air traffic patterns or air traffic levels. Aviation impacts were evaluated as part of the General Plan EIR and TOD Strategy HR and were determined to be less than significant. d) The consistency amendments would not lead to any changes in the road network, and would not introduce vehicles or other uses that would create potential traffic safety hazards. Impacts on circulation were previously evaluated in the TOD EIR and General Plan EIR. No further impacts would result from amendments making the General Plan consistent with the already- adopted TOD Strategy. e) Amending the General Plan to achieve internal consistency with the previously adopted TOD Strategy would have no impact on emergency access. Consistent with the General Plan, all future development plans would be reviewed by the Police and Fire Departments to ensure that emergency access provisions are adequate. f) The General Plan consistency amendments would have no impact on parking standards because the standards it references have already been adopted by the City Council and evaluated in the TOD Strategy EIR. There would be no further changes to parking above and beyond those already adopted and evaluated. The proposed amendments specifically reference the TOD buildout forecasts as the maximum amount of development that may occur in the area where General Plan Map changes are being made. g) Adoption of the proposed consistency amendments would have no impacts on policies, plans, or programs supporting alternative transportation modes. In fact, one purpose of the amendments is to ensure consistency between the TOD Strategy's circulation provisions (including bicycle plans and pedestrian improvements) and the General Plan. No additional impacts would occur as a result of the proposed amendments. h) Adoption of the consistency amendments will reinforce previously adopted documents and not result in any additional trip generation. CMA review was previously conducted for the TOD Strategy EIR and no intensification of those impacts is proposed. TOD and Housing Element General Plan Consistency Amendments January 2011 • Page 19