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City of Santa Ana — Cabrillo Town Center Project Appeal <br />October 3, 2023 <br />Page 4of5 <br />ii. Greenhouse Gas ("GHG') Impacts <br />The Staff Report concedes that "[t]he topic of GHG emissions impacts was not... <br />included in the [Metro] EIR's analysis" whatsoever. (Staff Report, Exh. 10 at p. 8.) <br />Still, the City argues that no subsequent EIR is needed because "a detailed analysis of <br />the Project's GHG emissions impacts is included in Exhibit 9 and 9D of [the Staff <br />Report]". (Id.) As with the City's transportation argument, however, its assertion that <br />no subsequent EIR is necessary to quantify and mitigate the Project's GHG impacts is <br />unfounded and contrary to CEQA since the existence of GHG impacts and mitigation <br />measures, which the Metro EIR failed to analyze, constitutes new information of <br />substantial importance. Accordingly, the City must also prepare a subsequent EIR to <br />study the Project's GHG impacts and feasible mitigation measures. <br />iii. Noise Impacts <br />As the Staff Report concedes, "the [Metro] EIR analyzed potential noise impacts at 15 <br />sensitive receptors", none of which were the Lake Dianne Apartments. (Staff Report, <br />Exh. 10 at p. 15 [referring to Metro EIR at 4.9-7].) Crucially, as noted by noise expert <br />Steve Rogers, unlike the Lake Dianne Apartments, the sensitive receptors which the <br />Metro EIR did analyze "are almost all on busy streets or close to freeways, and <br />therefore do not represent quieter locations that are set back and/or shielded from <br />major traffic routes". Qune 29, 2023 Letter from Steve Rogers to Talia Nimmer <br />("Rogers Letter") (attached hereto as Exhibit B) at p. 2.) Thus, the Staff Report's <br />assertion that "the potential impacts to the Lake Dianne Apartments are within the <br />scope of those analyzed by the [Metro] EIR" fails and a subsequent EIR must be <br />prepared in light of the newly identified and dissimilar sensitive receptor. (Staff <br />Report, Exh. 10 at p. 16.) <br />Moreover, SWMSRCC pointed out that although the Project "would include a <br />significant amount of active and passive open space and outdoor amenities, including <br />a 7,500 square -foot roof terrace, which would accommodate uses such as outdoor <br />dining, game terrace, and view deck", the Metro EIR did "not consider the potential <br />for operational noise impacts associated with the type of outdoor amenities proposed <br />for the [P]roject." (Rogers Letter at p. 5 [referring to Metro EIR at 4.9-1 — 4.9-28.) <br />Yet, in response to such concern, the Staff Report, while simultaneously conceding <br />that the Metro EIR did not analyze such aspect, implies that the lack of such analysis <br />is harmless because "Table 9 in Exhibit 9F [of the Staff Report] demonstrates that <br />Project operation, including noise associated with outdoor and recreational uses, <br />