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Chapter 3 Findings Regarding Project Alternatives <br />^ Ensure that each project includes exceptional site planning, unique architecture, high-quality <br />building materials, extensive open space, indoor and outdoor amenities and first-rate public <br />improvements. <br />^ Encourage parking solutions that provide for adequate parking to ensure the long-term quality of <br />the project, but that axe creative in their design thereby enhancing the area's urban form. Parking <br />requirements are designed to create a level of scarcity that will discourage vehicle trips, increase <br />pedestrian activity, and enhance the provision of high-quality building and site design. <br />^ Facilitate project designs that encourage adequate amounts of retail ox commercial space to <br />service residents and/or employees within the development and the larger Overlay Zone. <br />^ Allow fox the development of varied residential types in a mixed-use configuration including, but <br />not limited to, loft-style units, live/work units, attached row houses, and high-quality stacked flats. <br />^ Provide adequate access fox public safety services. <br />^ Stimulate investment and reinvestment in the area through the provision of a comprehensive <br />planning framework that facilitates private-market success. <br />3.3 SELECTION OF ALTERNATIVES <br />The range of feasible altematives was selected and discussed in a manner to foster meaningful public <br />participation and informed decision-making. Among the factors that were taken into account when <br />considering the feasibility of alternatives (as described in CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6[f][1]) were <br />environmental impacts, economic viability, availability of infrastructure, regulatory limitations, <br />jurisdictional boundaries, and attainment of project objectives. As stated in Section 15126.6(a) of the <br />CEQA Guidelines, an EIR need not consider an alternative whose effects could not be reasonably <br />identified, whose implementation is remote or speculative, ox one that would not achieve the basic <br />project objectives. The analysis includes sufficient information about each alternative to provide <br />meaningful evaluation, analysis and comparison with the proposed project. <br />3.4 PROJECT ALTERNATIVE FINDINGS <br />The following is a description of the alternatives evaluated in comparison to the proposed project, as well <br />as a description of the specific economic, social, or other considerations that make them infeasible for <br />avoiding ox lessening the impacts. The City fords that the adoption of any of the alternatives to the <br />project is infeasible. The reasons fox each fording axe provided following the description of the <br />alternative, and axe further described in the Draft EIR. <br />3.4.1 Metro East Mixed Use Overlay Zone Alternatives (Program- <br />Level) <br />As shown below and in Chapter 5 (Alternatives) of Volume 1 of the Draft EIR, four alternatives were <br />evaluated in comparison to the Overlay Zone. The environmental advantages and disadvantages of each <br />of these alternatives are described. The alternatives that were selected for analysis include: <br />^ Alternative 1-No Project/Reasonably Foreseeable Development (Continuation of <br />Existing General Plan): Under this alternative, development in the project area would occur <br />under the existing General Plan and zoning designations. <br />~2 Metro East Mixed Use Overlay Zone EIR Findings of Fact/Statement of Overriding Considerations <br />75B-68 <br />