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SAN LEANDRO GENERAL PLAN UPDATE FINAL EIR
<br />CITY OF SAN LEANDRO
<br />COMMENTS AND RESPONSES
<br />5-22 AUGUST 2016
<br />TABLE 5-1 COMMENTS AND RESPONSE MATRIX
<br />Comment # Date Comment Response
<br />policies on the safety of fills and shoreline protection. These policies state that adequate
<br />flood protection should consider future relative sea level rise and all proposed
<br />development should be above the highest estimated tide level for the expected life of
<br />the project or sufficiently protected by levees.” Goal LU-9 of the General Plan highlights
<br />the value of the shoreline to the City of San Leandro, and goals for the future: “Reinforce
<br />the San Leandro Shoreline as a regional destination for dining, lodging, entertainment,
<br />and recreation, while creating a new waterfront neighborhood with housing, retail, and
<br />office uses.”
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<br />Conducting an assessment of potential impacts from sea level rise would help to identify
<br />future needs for shoreline protection. Bay Plan policies require shoreline protection to
<br />be designed to withstand the effects of projected sea level rise and to be integrated with
<br />adjacent shoreline protection. Whenever possible, projects should integrate hard
<br />shoreline protection structures with natural features that enhance the Bay ecosystem.
<br />Where it is feasible, ecosystem restoration projects should be designed to provide space
<br />for marsh migration as sea level rises.
<br />response regarding sea level rise impacts. Please see Response C01-04 confirming
<br />that sea level rise and compliance with the Bay Plan policies, including shoreline
<br />protection, apply to future development proposals within BCDC jurisdiction.
<br />C01-06 Recreation. The DEIR should discuss whether General Plan elements regarding parks and
<br />recreational facilities would be consistent with Bay Plan Recreation policies. The General
<br />Plan Update proposes adding 114 acres to the Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline, which will
<br />be accessible for recreational use, and adding five acres to the San Leandro Shoreline (p.
<br />4.12-30). Both these recreational areas are along the Bay, and should address the
<br />recreation policies of the Bay Plan, which state, in part, that “diverse and accessible
<br />water-oriented recreational facilities, such as marinas, launch ramps, beaches, and
<br />fishing piers, should be provided to meet the needs of a growing and diversifying
<br />population, and should be well distributed around the Bay and improved to
<br />accommodate a broad range of water-oriented recreational activities for all races,
<br />cultures, ages, and income levels.” Action LU-9.4C: Water-Oriented Recreation addresses
<br />BCDC recreation policies well: “Continue to explore potential water-oriented recreational
<br />activities at the San Leandro Shoreline, such as swimming, non-motorized watercraft
<br />rentals, and windsurfing.” Policy LU-9.3: Public Amenities in Shoreline Development:
<br />“Ensure that future development at the Shoreline includes complementary amenities
<br />that benefit San Leandro residents and current shoreline users, such as improved park
<br />space, restaurants, pedestrian and bicycle paths, and access to the Bay Trail.”
<br />The improvement of 114 acres at the Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline is noted in the
<br />Draft EIR but is not a part of the proposed project. As noted on footnote 36 on page
<br />4.12-30 of the Draft EIR, this project is under the jurisdiction of the East Bay
<br />Regional Park District, and the conversion of the existing undeveloped area to
<br />recreational use is planned for in the East Bay Regional Park District's 2013 Oyster
<br />Bay Land Use Plan Amendment. As stated on page 4.12-30 of the Draft EIR, the 5-
<br />acre gain at the San Leandro Shoreline is also part of an approved project; in this
<br />case, the City's previous approval of the Shoreline Development Project. While the
<br />Draft EIR reflects these projects in the tally of future (2035) park acreage, because
<br />they will be in place in 2035, this improvement is not proposed as part of the Draft
<br />San Leandro 2035 General Plan.
<br />C01-07 Public Access. Section 66602 of the McAteer-Petris Act states, in part, that “existing
<br />public access to the shoreline and waters of the San Francisco Bay is inadequate and that
<br />maximum feasible public access, consistent with a proposed project, should be
<br />provided.” Bay Plan policies require that public access be designed and maintained to
<br />avoid flood damage due to sea level rise and storms. Any public access provided as a
<br />condition of development must either remain viable in the event of future sea level rise
<br />or flooding, or equivalent access consistent with the project must be provided nearby. As
<br />there are significant biological resources along the shoreline of the City of San Leandro,
<br />The comment includes policy recommendations for the proposed Plan but does not
<br />state a specific concern or question regarding the sufficiency of the analysis
<br />contained in the Draft EIR, nor does the comment raise a new environmental issue.
<br />As noted above, recreational uses in Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline would occur
<br />under the jurisiction of the East Bay Regional Parks District. The proposed Plan
<br />includes policies to maximize access to the Bay and also balance public access to
<br />open space with biological resources protection, including:
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