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In accordance with Section 15126(b) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, this section sets forth those significant impacts, including those that can be mitigated but not reduced to a level of insignificance, that would result from the Specific Plan project.
CEQA requires the decision-maker (lead Agency) to balance the benefits of a proposed project against its unavoidable environmental risks in determining whether to approve a project. Where a decision on a project allows the occurrence of significant effects that are identified in an EIR but are not at least substantially mitigated, the Lead Agency is to state in writing through a Statement of Overriding Considerations the specific reasons to support its action based on the EIR and/or other information in the record. If a Lead Agency makes a Statement of Overriding Considerations, the Statement should be included in the record of the project approval.
TRAFFIC
Buildout pursuant to the Specific Plan would generate additional vehicle trips that would contribute to cumulative traffic impacts which would result in congestion at U.S. 101 and Sherwood Road, U.S. 101 and Commercial Street, U.S. 101 and S.R. 20 and S.R. 20 and planned Southern Access Route. Mitigation would be under the jurisdiction of Caltrans.
VISUAL QUALITY AND COMMUNITY CHARACTER
Collectively, buildout of the Specific Plan area would convert land parcels that currently appear semi-rural in character to a suburban condition, constituting a significant change in visual conditions.
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Residential lot development would result in the loss of trees and associated wildlife habitat.
AIR QUALITY
New vehicle trips, wood-burning stoves and other household-related sources in Township residences would generate carbon monoxide, reactive organic compounds, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and toxic air contaminants which could worsen ambient carbon monoxide, ozone and particulate matter levels, and marginally increase toxic-related health risks.
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