2024-053 - Final Supplemental for The Related Bristol Specific Plan Project

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SECTION V RESOLUTION REGARDING SIGNIFICANT AND UNAVOIDABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Public Resources Code section 21002 states that "it is the policy of the state that public agencies should not approve projects as proposed if there are feasible alternatives or feasible mitigation measures available which would substantially lessen the significant environmental effects of such projects. The Legislature further finds and declares that in the event specific economic, social, or other conditions make infeasible such project alternatives or such mitigation measures, individual projects may be approved in spite of one or more significant effects thereof." Section 15364 of the State CEQA Guidelines defines "feasible" as "capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors." The City Council hereby finds that, despite the incorporation of feasible measures outlined in the Final Supplemental EIR, the following impacts cannot be fully mitigated to a less than significant level. Despite these significant and unavoidable impacts, the City nevertheless approves the Project because of the benefits described in the Statement of Overriding Considerations included herein. M. Air Qua% Impact Finding: The Project would result in a conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan (Draft Supplemental EIR at p. 5.1-23). Facts in Support of Findings: The SCAQMD's 2022 AQMP is the applicable air quality plan for the proposed Project. Pursuant to Consistency Criterion No. 1, projects that are consistent with the regional population, housing, and employment forecasts identified by SCAG are considered to be consistent with the AQMP growth projections, since the forecast assumptions by SLAG forms the basis of the land use and transportation control portions of the AQMP that result in air quality emissions. As shown on Table 5.10-8 (Section 5.10, Population and Housing, of the Draft Supplemental EIR), the Project buildout of 9,238 residents would be 48 percent of the GPU FEIR buildout for the South Bristol Street Focus Area, and population growth from the proposed Project would not exceed the growth identified in the GPU FEIR. Also, as shown on Draft Supplemental EIR Table 5.10-9, the proposed Project would result in a total of 1,092 employees at buildout and full occupancy. These employees would consist of approximately 14 percent of the GPU projected increase in employment from buildout of the South Bristol Street Focus Area. Therefore, employment growth from buildout of the proposed Project would not exceed the growth identified in the GPU FEIR. Therefore, the proposed Project would be within and consistent with SCAG's growth projections, and within the growth assumptions of the AQMP. Thus, the proposed Project would comply with AQMD AQMP Consistency Criterion No. 1. Regarding Consistency Criterion No. 2, which evaluates the potential of the proposed Project to increase the frequency or severity of existing air quality violations; an impact would occur if the long-term emissions associated with the proposed Project would exceed SCAQMD's regional significance thresholds for emissions of NOx and ROG. Although GPU FEIR Mitigation Measure AQ-