75E - PH - 2525 N. MAIN ST._ADJOURNED

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EXHIBIT A would be 4.77 times larger than the existing 81,172 square foot 2 -story building, and like the Project, this alternative would substantially change the scale, height, and setbacks in comparison to existing views of the Project site, which would result in a significant impact pursuant to the City's aesthetics criteria. Furthermore, the character of the office building under this alternative would be less visually consistent with the adjacent single-family residential than the proposed multi -family residential. (DEIR, p. 6-23.) The Build Out Under the Existing Zoning Alternative would result in approximately 1,275 employees at full capacity and generate approximately 3,774 vehicle trips per day, which is 40 percent more daily trips than the proposed Project. As a result, impacts to air quality, greenhouse gas, traffic noise, and traffic congestion would be increased in comparison to the Project. Similarly, construction of this alternative would require the same construction related mitigation measures that are required for the Project. Overall, the Build Out Under the Existing Zoning Alternative would result in greater impacts than the Project. (DEIR, p. 6-23.) Ability to Achieve Project Objectives: The Build Out of the Existing Zoning Alternative would not meet a majority of the Project objectives. The site would not be redeveloped into new high-quality housing near existing employment centers, commercial areas, freeways, and transit. It would not promote an improved jobs/housing balance, and would not provide residents with a safe, high-quality, modern residential community with open space and various recreation amenities. Although the Project would meet the objectives of redeveloping land uses that would utilize existing infrastructure and would implement capital investment related to the Project site to enhance the City's economic and fiscal viability pursuant to the City of Santa Ana Strategic Plan, a majority (5 out of 7) of the Project objectives would not be met. (DEIR, pp. 6-23 through 6-24.) Finding: The Build Out of the Existing Zoning Alternative would continue to result in a significant unavoidable aesthetic impact, would continue to require the same mitigation measures that would be implemented for the Project, and would result in greater impacts to other environmental topics than the Project. In addition, the Existing Zoning Altemative would. not meet a majority of the Project objectives. 'Therefore, the City hereby rejects the Existing Zoning Alternative. 12.6 Environmentally Superior Alternative The Environmentally Superior Alternative for the Project is the No Project/No Build Alternative. The No Project/No Build Alternative would avoid the significant and unavoidable impact of the Project and all of the potential construction impacts, reduce many of the operational impacts, and would not be required to implement the mitigation measures that are identified in Chapter 4.0 of this EIR that are related to: aesthetics, biological resources, hazards and hazardous materials, noise and vibration, and tribal cultural resources. However, this alternative would not improve the storm water runoff quality that runs directly into Santiago Creek, not remove the contaminated soils from the site, not improve the jobs/housing balance and the related reduction in vehicle miles traveled. (DEIR, pp. 6-24 through 6-25.) CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6(3)(1) states that if the environmentally superior alternative is the "no project" alternative, the EIR shall also identify an environmentally superior alternative among the other alternatives. The Environmentally Superior Alternative among the other alternatives is Alternative 2: Reduced Project Alternative, which would develop 30 fewer units than the Project. (DEIR, p. 6-24.) The potential impacts Resolution No. Certification of the Magnolia at the Park EIR 75E-104 Page 66 of 71