1.0 INTRODUCTION... 1-1 1.1 Background... 1-2 1.2 Scope of this... 1-3 1.3 Report Organization... 1-4 2.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... 2-1 2.1 Purpose... 2-1 2.2 Project Location... 2-1 2.3 Project Description... 2-2 2.4 Project Objectives... 2-7 2.5 Interested Agenices... 2-7 2.6 Summary of Environmental Impacts... 2-7 2.7 Areas of Controversy... 2-8 2.8 Project Alternatives... 2-9 3.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION... 3-1 3.1 Background... 3-1 3.2 Project Location... 3-1 3.3 Project Objectives... 3-4 3.4 Project Components... 3-5 3.5 Project Characteristics... 3-6 3.6 Intended Uses of this EIR... 3-27 3.7 Scoping... 3-28 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING, IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURES 4.1 Aesthetics... 4.1-1 4.2 Agriculture and Forest Resources... 4.2-1 4.3 Air Quality... 4.3-1 4.4 Biological Resources... 4.4-1 4.5 Cultural Resources... 4.5-1 4.6 Geology and Soils... 4.6-1 4.7 Hazards and Hazardous Materials... 4.7-1 4.8 Hydrology and Water Quality... 4.8-1 4.9 Land Use and Planning... 4.9-1 i
4.10 Noise and Vibration... 4.10-1 4.11 Population and Housing... 4.11-1 4.12 Public Services... 4.12-1 4.13 Recreation, Parks, and Open Space... 4.13-1 4.14 Transportation... 4.14-1 4.15 Utilities... 4.15-1 4.16 Greenhouse Gas Emissions... 4.16-1 4.17 Energy... 4.17-1 5.0 ALTERNATIVES... 5-1 5.1 Alternatives Analysis... 5-1 5.2 Summary of Comparative Impacts... 5-34 5.3 Environmentally Superior Alternative... 5-35 5.4 Alternatives Considered and Rejected... 5-36 6.0 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS... 6-1 6.1 Cumulative Methodology... 6-1 6.2 Analysis of Cumulative Impacts... 6-4 7.0 OTHER CEQA REQUIRED DISCUSSIONS... 7-1 7.1 Growth Inducement... 7-1 7.2 Unavoidable Significant Effects... 7-3 7.3 Environmental Effects Found not to be Significant... 7-4 8.0 REFERENCES... 8-1 9.0 REPORT PREPARATION... 9-1 ii
List of Figures Figure 2-1 Project Location Map... 2-3 Figure 2-2 Plan Area and Neighborhoods Map... 2-4 Figure 2-3 New General Plan Land Use Map... 2-5 Figure 3-1 Project Location... 3-2 Figure 3-2 Plan Area and Neighborhoods... 3-3 Figure 3-3 New General Plan Land Use Map... 3-7 Figure 3-4 Existing General Plan Land Use Map... 3-9 Figure 3-5 Focus Areas... 3-16 Figure 3-6 Transportation and Infrastructure Improvements... 3-19 Figure 3-7 Streetcar Network... 3-23 Figure 4.1-1 Plan Area and Neighborhood Map... 4.1-2 Figure 4.1-2 Typical Views Downtown (Historic Courthouse Square and Streetscape)... 4.1-3 Figure 4.1-3 Existing Conditions Downtown (City Hall and Parking Lots)... 4.1-4 Figure 4.1-4a Neighborhoods Stambaugh-Heller/Redwood Village, Centennial, Central, and Palm... 4.1-6 Figure 4.1-4b Neighborhoods Arlington and Sequoia... 4.1-9 Figure 4.1-4c Neighborhoods Canyon, Roosevelt, Friendly Acres, and Oakwood... 4.1-10 Figure 4.1-4d Neighborhoods Woodside Plaza and Farm Hill... 4.1-13 Figure 4.1-5 Typical Views Bayfront Area... 4.1-14 Figure 4.1-6 Typical Views Bayfront and Redwood Shores... 4.1-15 Figure 4.1-7 Unincorporated Neighborhoods Emerald Hills, Selby, and North Fair Oaks... 4.1-17 Figure 4.1-8 Major Gateway and Corridor Location Map... 4.1-19 Figure 4.1-9 Transportation Corridors Woodside Road, El Camino Real, Middlefield Road, and Whipple Avenue... 4.1-20 Figure 4.1-10 Transportation Corridors Broadway, Veterans, Alameda de las Pulgas, Farm Hill Boulevard/Jefferson Avenue... 4.1-24 Figure 4.2-1 Redwood City Important Farmlands and Williamson Act Lands... 4.2-4 Figure 4.3-1 Bay Area Air Quality Trends... 4.3-9 Figure 4.3-2 CARE Communities... 4.3-21 Figure 4.4-1 Hydrologic Features... 4.4-2 Figure 4.4-2 Vegetation Communities... 4.4-6 Figure 4.5-1 Pre-European Settlement and Meseville... 4.5-2 Figure 4.5-2 Early Redwood City Development... 4.5-4 Figure 4.5-3 Early Industries and Development of Redwood City... 4.5-6 Figure 4.5-4 AMPEX Corporate Offices and Farm Hills Subdivision (1995)... 4.5-8 iii
Figure 4.5-5 Farm Hills Subdividion (1958) and Redwood Shores (2000)... 4.5-11 Figure 4.5-6 Residential Building Periods: Redwood City... 4.5-13 Figure 4.5-7 Sequoia High School, Union Cemetery, and County Courthouse... 4.5-15 Figure 4.5-8 Historic Districts... 4.5-16 Figure 4.6-1 Regional Faults... 4.6-4 Figure 4.6-2 Local Fault Locations... 4.6-5 Figure 4.6-3 Seismic Hazards Zones... 4.6-13 Figure 4.7-1 Fire Protection Responsibility Area and Fire Hazard Severity Zones... 4.7-6 Figure 4.7-2 San Carlos Airport Influence Area Zones... 4.7-10 Figure 4.8-1 San Mateo Plain Groundwater Sub-Basin... 4.8-4 Figure 4.8-2 Flood Hazards... 4.8-8 Figure 4.9-1 Existing Land Use... 4.9-5 Figure 4.9-2 Existing Precise Plan Planning Areas... 4.9-11 Figure 4.9-3 Redevelopment Project Area Map... 4.9-13 Figure 4.10-1 Noise Measurement Locations... 4.10-8 Figure 4.10-2 Existing Noise Contours in Plan Area for Major Roadways and Railroads... 4.10-9 Figure 4.10-3 San Carlos Airport Noise Contours (1995)... 4.10-11 Figure 4.10-4 Redwood City Noise Guidelines for Land Use Planning... 4.10-14 Figure 4.10-5 2030 Noise Contours in Plan Area for Major Roadways and Railroads... 4.10-17 Figure 4.11-1 General Population Trends... 4.11-2 Figure 4.12-1 Redwood City Public Services... 4.12-2 Figure 4.12-2 Redwood City Public Facilities... 4.12-8 Figure 4.13-1 Public Parks in Plan Area... 4.13-3 Figure 4.14-1 Roadway Network... 4.14-2 Figure 4.14-2 Existing Conditions AM Peak Hour Segment LOS Summary... 4.14-5 Figure 4.14-3 Existing Conditions PM Peak Hour Segment LOS Summary... 4.14-7 Figure 4.14-4 Existing Bicycle Facilities... 4.14-17 Figure 4.14-5 Existing Transit Service Routes... 4.14-21 Figure 4.14-6 Future (2030) Project Conditions AM Peak Hour Segment LOS Summary... 4.14-37 Figure 4.14-7 Future (2030) Project Conditions PM Peak Hour Segment LOS Summary... 4.14-39 Figure 4.15-1 Redwood City Recycled Water System... 4.15-11 Figure 4.16-1 Sea Level Rise Vulnerability... 4.16-11 Figure 5-1 Alternative 1 Alternative 1 Land Use Map... 5-3 Figure 5-2 Alternative 2 Reduced Buildout Alternative Land Use Map... 5-15 Figure 5-3 Alternative 3 Land Use Map... 5-25 Figure 6-1 Views From Southwestern Hillsides Looking Northeasterly... 6-5 Figure 6-2 Cumulative Conditions AM Peak Hour Segment LOS Summary... 6-25 Figure 6-3 Cumulative Conditions PM Peak Hour Segment LOS Summary... 6-27 iv
List of Tables Table 2-1 Summary of Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 2-10 Table 3-1 Locations of Required Elements within New General Plan... 3-6 Table 3-2 New General Plan Land Use Designation Development Standards... 3-10 Table 3-3 New General Plan 2030 Anticipated Development...3-26 Table 4.3-1 Major Criteria Pollutants...4.3-2 Table 4.3-2 California and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)... 4.3-4 Table 4.3-3 Summary of Measured Air Quality Exceedances... 4.3-6 Table 4.3-4 Toxic Air Contaminants in the Plan Area... 4.3-8 Table 4.3-5 Trends in San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin Emissions... 4.3-10 Table 4.3-6 2005 Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory for Ozone Precursors and Particulate Matter for San Mateo County and the Bay Area... 4.3-11 Table 4.3-7 CARB Recommended Setback Distance for Sensitive Uses from Common Sources of Toxic Air Contaminants... 4.3-14 Table 4.3-8 Predicted Roadside 8-Hour Carbon Monoxide Concentrations... 4.3-32 Table 4.4-1 Vegetation Communities in Redwood City... 4.4-5 Table 4.5-1 Redwood City Historic Districts... 4.5-14 Table 4.6-1 Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale... 4.6-7 Table 4.9-1 Estimated Development Summary, 2008... 4.9-2 Table 4.9-2 Existing Land Use... 4.9-3 Table 4.9-3 Permitted/Existing Residential Density... 4.9-4 Table 4.9-4 Zoning Districts... 4.9-12 Table 4.9-5 Zoning Code Development Standards... 4.9-14 Table 4.10-1 Common Sound Levels and their Noise Sources... 4.10-2 Table 4.10-2 Definitions of Acoustical Terms... 4.10-3 Table 4.10-3 Typical Levels of Groundborne Vibration... 4.10-4 Table 4.10-4 Long-Term Noise Measurement Results... 4.10-6 Table 4.10-5 Short-term Noise Measurement Locations... 4.10-7 Table 4.10-6 Existing and Future Noise Levels Along Roadways... 4.10-18 Table 4.11-1 Population Trends, 1990-2008... 4.11-1 Table 4.11-2 Population Projections, 2010-2030... 4.11-3 Table 4.11-3 Housing Units, 1990-2008... 4.11-3 Table 4.11-4 Housing Characteristics and Trends... 4.11-4 Table 4.11-5 Households, 2000-2010... 4.11-4 Table 4.11-6 Housing Projections, 2010-2030... 4.11-5 Table 4.11-7 Employment Rates 1990-2009... 4.11-6 Table 4.11-8 Employment Projections, 2010-2030... 4.11-6 Table 4.11-9 Anticipated Development Under New General Plan... 4.11-10 v
Table 4.12-1 Fire Stations Within Plan Area... 4.12-3 Table 4.12-2 Fire Department Calls from January to December 2008... 4.12-4 Table 4.12-3 Redwood City Fire Department Average Response Times/Station.. 4.12-4 Table 4.12-4 Redwood City School District Facilities... 4.12-7 Table 4.12-5 Belmont-Redwood Shores School District Facilities... 4.12-9 Table 4.12-6 Sequoia Union High School District Facilities... 4.12-10 Table 4.12-7 Public/Private Preschools and Child Care Centers in Redwood City... 4.12-11 Table 4.12-8 Child Care Need Estimate... 4.12-12 Table 4.13-1 Public Park and Recreation Lands within the Plan Area... 4.13-2 Table 4.13-2 Redwood City Mini Parks... 4.13-5 Table 4.13-3 Redwood City Neighborhood Parks... 4.13-6 Table 4.13-4 Redwood City Community Parks... 4.13-6 Table 4.13-5 Redwood City Special Use Facilities... 4.13-7 Table 4.13-6 Redwood City School Parks... 4.13-8 Table 4.13-7 Other Plan Area Parklands... 4.13-8 Table 4.13-8 Redwood City Community Centers... 4.13-9 Table 4.13-9 Redwood City Open Space Areas... 4.13-11 Table 4.13-10 Redwood City Park Maintenance and Improvement Activities... 4.13-16 Table 4.14-1 Roadway Segment LOS Thresholds (Bi-Directional) 1, 2... 4.14-9 Table 4.14-2 Existing (2008) Roadway Segment Levels of Service Summary... 4.14-10 Table 4.14-3 Redwood City Traffic Collisions and Rankings, 2008... 4.14-14 Table 4.14-4 Pedestrian-Vehicle Collision Locations in Redwood City (January 1997 to April 2008)... 4.14-16 Table 4.14-5 Future (2030) Project Roadway Segment Levels of Service Summary... 4.14-32 Table 4.14-6 Roadway Segments Considered for Pedestrian Enhanced Design (PED) Level of Service Summary... 4.14-63 Table 4-15.1 Current and Planned Water Supplies in acre-feet per year (afy)... 4.15-2 Table 4.15-2 Redwood City Potable Water Purchase History (afy)... 4.15-5 Table 4.15-3 Wastewater Collected, Treated, and Discharged in Redwood City (afy)... 4.15-7 Table 4.15-4 Projected Recycled Water Demand in Redwood City (afy)... 4.15-7 Table 4.15-5 Solid Waste Disposal Facilities Used by Redwood City... 4.15-14 Table 4.15-6 Redwood City 2030 Potable Water Demand (afy)... 4.15-23 Table 4.15-7 Solid Waste Generated from the New General Plan... 4.15-28 Table 4.16-1 Global Warming Potential for Greenhouse Gases... 4.16-5 Table 4.16-2 Estimated Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Plan Area, 2008... 4.16-8 Table 4.16-3 GHG Emissions Reduction Strategy Consistency... 4.16-19 Table 4.16-4 Estimated CO2 Emissions 2008, 2020, and 2030 and Per Capita Emissions Calculations... 4.16-31 Table 4.16-5 Estimated VMT: Base Year, 2020 and 2030 Scenarios... 4.16-33 Table 4.16-6 Comparison of Project and Project Alternatives... 4.16-34 vi
Table 4.16-7 Estimated CO2 Emissions and Per Capita Emissions Calculations, Project and Alternative 2... 4.16-35 Table 4.16-8 Estimated CO2 Emissions and Per Capita Emissions Calculations, Project and Cumulative Scenarios... 4.16-36 Table 4.17-1 Estimated Average Annual Energy Use... 4.17-7 Table 5-1 Alternative 1 2030 Development Comparison... 5-5 Table 5-2 Alternative 2 2030 Development Comparison... 5-17 Table 5-3 Alternative 3 2030 Development Comparison... 5-26 Table 5-4 Comparison of Impact Severity of Alternatives to the New General Plan... 5-34 Table 6-1 Existing and Future Noise Levels Along Roadways... 6-18 Table 6-2 New General Plan and Cumulative Roadway Segment Levels of Service Summary... 6-30 Table 7-1 Plan Area Development Changes... 7-2 vii
List of Appendices Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Appendix G Appendix H Goals, Policies, and Programs of New General Plan Justification of Assumptions for Assumed Development Notice of Preparation Scoping Comments Greenhouse Gas/Air Quality Background Potential Plant and Animal Species Occurring in the Plan Area Redwood City Known Historic Resources Hazardous Materials Sites Redwood City General Plan Noise and Vibration Background Report viii