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5. The Preservation Alternative. The Old Orchard Conservancy proposed ill its cormnents on the Draft P,IR that the City evaluate a "preservation alternative" that would "preserve the Orchard and Farmhouse ire. situ, require maintenance and security as a condition of project approval, and design a smaller residential subdivision compatible with the existing historic resources." This alternative, according to The Old Orchard Conservancy "would allow the minimum of new construction . determined to be feasible, and would require a street pattern that respects the existing farmhouse and the surrounding neighborhood." The Historic Preservation Alternative effectively addresses The Old Orchard Conservancy's assertions. It preserves the farmhouse its situ and also calls for the preservation of some of the orchard trees ill silts. As specified in the Additional Analysis, these preservation efforts avoid impacts to cultural rmour'ees while still maximizing achievement of the project's objectives. In contrast, the "preservation alternative" alternative posited by The Old Orchard Conservancy would not meet most of the project's basic objectives. Given that the existing orchard and farmhouse currently cover the vast majority of the Sexlinger Property, the amount of residential development in The Old Orchard Conservancy's proposal would be reduced to less than 10 homes. Indeed, even that number of homes would require the removal of significant portions of the orchard. That level of development would provide significantly less housing, as compared to the project, and therefore cannot be fairly characterized as satisfying the project objective of providing for the City's current and future stove -up housing needs. A preservation alternative also would not meet the City's objective of providing for uses that are consistent with the R -1 zoning designation insofar as the conversion of the residential structure to a community center (as suggested by The Old Orchard Conservancy) would require a zone change. Nor would . a preservation alternative be similar in character to surrounding uses. Over the years, the surrounding neighborhood has become predominantly residential. The proposed project continues that trend, while a preservation alternative would result in a use that is not consistent with the surrounding properties. The City studied a reasonable range of alternatives, and, through that process, has identified an alternative that will avoid environmental impacts while also achieving most of the project's objectives. In contrast, because the Old Orchard Conservancy's "preservation alternative" would not meet the project's basic objectives, there was no need for a more detailed analysis of that alternative in the EIR. G. The City Council May Make the Findings Necessary to Grant a Variance. In this case, the applicant is proposing that Lot No. 1.2 have a street frontage that is less than what is otherwise currently required by City code. The Old Orchard Conservancy previously objected to this request (and another similar request which is now unnecessary, dire to project revisions to accommodate the Historic Preservation Alterantive). As explained below, The Old Orchard Conservancy's objections are misplaced. -12- 75B -256