2019-107 - Proposed Addington Multi-Family Residential Project

Home Browse Search

The CEQA Guidelines require that EIRs reveal the significant environmental changes that would occur as a result of a proposed Project. CEQA also requires decision makers to balance the benefits of a project against its unavoidable environmental risks in determining whether to approve a project. This section addresses non-renewable resources, the commitment of future generations to the proposed uses, and irreversible impacts associated with the Project. The Project would result in or contribute to the following irreversible environmental changes: • Lands in the Project area that are currently developed with office uses would be committed to multi -family residential uses once the proposed buildings are constructed. Secondary effects associated with this irreversible commitment of land resources include: o Changes in views associated with construction of the new buildings and associated development (see Section 4.1 of the DEIR, Aesthetics). o Increased traffic on area roadways (see Section 4.11 of the DEIR, Transportation and Traffic). o Emissions of air pollutants associated with Project construction and operation (see Section 4.2 of the DEIR, Air Quality). o Consumption of non-renewable energy associated with construction and operation of the proposed Project due to the use of automobiles, lighting, heating and cooling systems, appliances, and the like (see Section 4.14 of the DEIR, Energy). o Increased ambient noise associated with an increase in activities and traffic from operation of the Project (see Section 4.8, Noise). • Construction of the Project as described in Section 3.0 of the DEIR, Project Description, would require the use of energy produced from non-renewable resources and construction materials. In regard to energy usage from the proposed Project, the Project would not involve wasteful or unjustifiable use of non-renewable resources, and conservation efforts would be enforced during construction and operation of proposed development. The proposed development would incorporate energy -generating and conserving project design features, including those required by the California Building Code, California Energy Code Title 24, which specify green building standards for new developments. In addition, the Project includes project design features that result in additional energy - efficiency. (DEIR, p. 5-4.) This conclusion also applies, for the same reasons, to the Modified Project. 11.0 GROWTH INDUCING EFFECTS Section 15126(d) of the CEQA Guidelines requires a discussion of a proposed project's potential to foster economic or population growth, including ways in which a project could remove an obstacle to growth. Growth does not necessarily create significant physical changes to the environment. However, depending upon the type, magnitude, and location of growth, it can result in significant adverse environmental effects if it requires new development or infrastructure to support it. The Project's growth effects would be considered significant if they could result in significant physical effects in one or more environmental issue areas. As discussed in Section 5.0, Mandatory Findings of Significance, of the DEIR, the limited number of jobs generated by the Project would represent a small portion of the estimated job growth that would be within, and not exceed, SCAG's population forecast. As such, the Project would result in direct employment growth at a level that is already anticipated in regional projections; and thus, would be less than significant. The Project would not remove obstacles to growth, e.g., through the construction or extension of major Resolution No. Page 65 of 76 Certification of the Magnolia at the Park EIR