Item 22 2024-00322 Adoption of the 2040 General Plan and Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (Noticed on 02-16-2024) Attachment 6 — Sacramento City Council, February 27, 2024

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Exhibit A

CEQA Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations for the Sacramento 2040 General Plan
and Climate Action & Adaptation Plan Master EIR

Description of the Project

The City of Sacramento (City) is considering a proposed comprehensive update to its general plan and its climate action plan, entitled Sacramento 2040 General Plan and Climate Action & Adaptation Plan, which is the subject of this Master Environmental Impact Report (MEIR). A general plan is a state-required, legal document, prepared in accordance with California Government Code Section 65300 et seq. The climate action plan identifies the City’s program for responding to changes in the climate caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The general plan provides guidance to the City regarding the physical form and character of Sacramento’s land use and development, as well as the conservation of its resources.

The current proposal is a comprehensive update of the 2035 General Plan, which was a technical update and refinement of the 2030 General Plan adopted by the City in 2009.

Policy 1.1.3 and Table 4-1, Program 2, of the 2035 General Plan requires the City to conduct such an update every five years. In addition to policy updates, the planning horizon for the General Plan is reset from 2035 to 2040.

In adopting the City of Sacramento 2040 General Plan, the City seeks to achieve the following objectives that build upon the 2035 General Plan objectives.

 Safe, Equitable, Inclusive and Just City. Ensure Sacramento is equitable, inclusive, and a just city for people of all ages, abilities, ethnicities, races, genders, sexual identities, incomes, and cultures; and celebrate all diverse and multicultural communities through promoting equity, justice, and accountability.  Interconnected and Accessible City. Expand and enhance the range of transportation options for people of all ages and abilities by improving the efficiency of a multimodal transportation system that prioritizes and promotes active transportation and less reliance on single-occupant vehicles.  Resiliency and Climate Action. Strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 by reducing carbon emissions through reducing energy usage, waste and pollutants, electrifying buildings and transportation, and investing in sustainable infrastructure including zero emission transportation infrastructure.
 Regional Economic Hub. Support a diversity of business and employment opportunities that attract and retain a broad range of living-wage jobs through improving access to efficient, affordable transportation, training, childcare, and senior care for workers and encourage equitable economic development that creates opportunities for all residents and businesses.  Livability and Sense of Place. Ensure a clean and safe city and promote pride of place by respecting the unique character of established neighborhoods while also Resolution 2024 -
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welcoming compatible infill development and promoting healthy, physically active lifestyles through expanding access to nature and recreational opportunities and programs.
 Sustainable and Responsible Growth. Accommodate growth that supports a compact development pattern with a mix of housing options; access to transit; investment in utility infrastructure; and conservation of energy, water, and natural resources.

The proposed 2040 General Plan is a comprehensive update of the 2035 General Plan and also includes a Climate Action & Adaptation Plan. Elements, chapters, or sections of the 2035 General Plan have been re-organized and updated and address new state mandates for general plans. In summary, the 2040 General Plan focuses on the following topical areas (note: an update to the Housing Element of the General Plan [2021 to 2029] was prepared separately on a different timeline due to associated legal requirements and is not part of the “Project” evaluated in the MEIR).

 Update existing conditions information and data. The 2035 General Plan and MEIR were based on information gathered from 2012 through 2014. The proposed 2040 General Plan, Climate Action & Adaptation Plan and MEIR are being updated to reflect updated information, including changes in state law. Information was gathered between 2019 and 2023 for the 2040 General Plan and MEIR.  Update the planning horizon and revise projected growth estimates. The 2035 General Plan and MEIR evaluated projected growth through the year 2035.

The proposed 2040 General Plan Land Use map accommodates 69,012 new housing units and 76,612 new jobs over the next 20 years, consistent with Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) regional growth allocation and the City’s Market Demand Study completed by Bay Area Economics in 2019.  Address recent state mandates. Several laws affecting general plans have been passed that affect the 2040 General Plan, including but not limited to the following topics: environmental justice [SB 1000; 2016], vehicle miles traveled [SB 743; 2013], climate adaptation and resiliency [SB 379; 2015], annexation of disadvantaged communities [SB 244, 2011], and consultation with California Native American tribes [AB 52; 2014], which must be reflected in the general plan in order for it to comply with state law.
 Update Community Plans. There are ten existing community plans: Arden Arcade, Central City, East Sacramento, Fruitridge/Broadway, Greater Land Park, North Natomas, North Sacramento, Pocket/Greenhaven, South Area, and South Natomas. These community plans have been updated as part of the proposed 2040 General Plan and include policies to address issues or conditions unique to the community plan area in addition to the applicable citywide policies.  Update the Special Study Areas. There are five existing Special Study Areas adjacent to the city limits: Natomas Basin, Arden Arcade, East, Fruitridge Florin, and the Town of Freeport. The coverage of these existing Special Study Areas has been updated as part of the proposed 2040 General Plan and include a brief description of existing conditions, background information, and information related to City and County coordination in managing the future of these areas, as applicable.  Revisions to the Land Use and Urban Design Element. The proposed 2040 General Plan includes a new Land Use and Placemaking Element to replace the Resolution 2024 -
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current Land Use and Urban Design Element. This element includes a land use map showing the distribution and location of proposed land uses as well as policies that address land use and placemaking. Standards for maximum allowable development intensity (i.e., Floor Area Ratio [FAR]) applicable to all parcels in the city and controlled via a Maximum FAR Map to accommodate the City’s 2040 growth projections are proposed to replace the maximum residential density standards from the 2035 General Plan Land Use and Urban Design Element.

Minimum residential density standards from the 2035 General Plan Land Use and Urban Design Element remain.
 Develop policies to address social equity, environmental justice, and community resilience. In accordance with SB 1000, the proposed 2040 General Plan identifies the city’s Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) and identifies policies that address social equity, environmental justice and community resilience in these communities.
 Reflect past accomplishments and incorporate adopted amendments. Since adopting the 2035 General Plan, the City has completed many of that Plan’s implementation programs and has amended the plan several times. All prior amendments have been incorporated into the proposed 2040 General Plan.  Support adopted and ongoing plans and initiatives. Recent 2035 General Plan implementation efforts (e.g., Planning and Development Code amendments) and regional planning efforts (e.g., SACOG Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy) have identified new issues and opportunities that required updates to the 2040 General plan policies and implementation programs to reflect prior implementation efforts.

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Findings Required Under CEQA

1. Procedural Findings

The City Council of the City of Sacramento finds as follows:

Based on the nature and scope of the Sacramento 2040 General Plan and Climate Action & Adaptation Plan, SCH #2019012048, (herein after the “Project”), the City of Sacramento’s Environmental Planning Services determined, based on substantial evidence, that the Project may have a significant effect on the environment and prepared a master environmental impact report (“MEIR”) for the Project.

An update to the City Housing Element (2021-2029) was prepared and adopted separately due to applicable legal requirements and is not part of the Project.

The MEIR was prepared, noticed, published, circulated, reviewed, and completed in full compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act Public Resources Code §21000 et seq. (“CEQA”), the CEQA Guidelines (14 California Code of Regulations §15000 et seq.), and the City of Sacramento environmental guidelines, as follows:

a. A Notice of Preparation (NOP) of the Draft MEIR was originally filed with the Office of Planning and Research and each responsible and trustee agency and was circulated for public review and comment from January 28, 2019, through February 28, 2019. A second NOP was circulated for public review and comment from October 3, 2019, through November 4, 2019.

b. A Notice of Completion (NOC) and copies of the Draft MEIR were distributed to the Office of Planning and Research on August 24, 2023, to those public agencies that have jurisdiction by law with respect to the Project, or which exercise authority over resources that may be affected by the Project, and to other interested parties and agencies as required by law. The comments of such persons and agencies were sought.

c. An official 45-day public comment period for the Draft MEIR was established by the Office of Planning and Research. The public comment period began on August 24, 2023, and ended on October 10, 2023.

d. On August 24, 2023, a Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft MEIR was mailed to all interested groups, organizations, and individuals who had previously requested notice in writing. The NOA stated that the City of Sacramento had completed the Draft MEIR and that copies were available at the City of Sacramento, Community Development Department, 300 Richards Boulevard, Third Floor, Sacramento, California 95811 and at the Sacramento Public Library, 828 I Street, Sacramento, California, 95814. The letter also indicated that the official 45- day public review period for the Draft MEIR would end on October 10, 2023.

e. A public notice was placed in the Sacramento Bulletin and the Sacramento Bee on August 24, 2023, which stated that the Draft MEIR was available for public review and comment.

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f. A public notice was posted in the office of the Sacramento County Clerk on August 24, 2023.

g. Following closure of the public comment period, all comments received on the Draft MEIR during the comment period, the City’s written responses to the significant environmental points raised in those comments, and additional information added by the City were added to the Draft MEIR to produce the Final MEIR.

h. Changes and additions to the MEIR since the close of the public comment period, including clerical, technical, and policy changes, are identified in the Final MEIR. None of these changes, alone or together, constitute significant new information that would require recirculation of the Draft MEIR, as set forth in CEQA Guidelines section 15088.5.

2. Record of Proceedings

The following information is incorporated by reference and made part of the record supporting these findings:

a. The proposed City of Sacramento 2040 General Plan and Climate Action & Adaptation Plan.

b. Housing Element (2021-2029);

c. The City of Sacramento 2040 General Plan Background Report;

d. Resolution No. 2024-XXX making Findings of Fact and adopting the City of Sacramento 2040 General Plan and Climate Action & Adaptation Plan;

e. Draft and Final MEIR for the City of Sacramento 2040 General Plan and Climate Action & Adaptation Plan and all documents relied upon or incorporated by reference;

f. Mitigation Monitoring Program for the Sacramento 2040 General Plan;

g. All Notices of Preparation and other public notices issued by the City in conjunction with City of Sacramento 20 40 General Plan and Climate Action & Adaptation Plan and MEIR;

h. Resolution No. 2024-XX certifying the MEIR for and making Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations in support of the adoption of the City of Sacramento 2040 General Plan and Climate Action & Adaptation Plan;

i. The Sacramento 2035 General Plan and all updates;

j. Resolution No. 2015-0060 making findings of fact and adopting the Sacramento 2035 General Plan;

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k. Master EIR for Sacramento 2035 General Plan, City of Sacramento, March 2015 and all updates;

l. Resolution No. 2015-0060 certifying the Master EIR for and making Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations;
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Considerations in support of the adoption of the Sacramento 2035 General Plan, Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP), and all updates;

m. Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACPG) Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Plan (MTP/SCS), November 2019;

n. The Sacramento City Code, including the Planning and Development Code;

o. All records of decision, staff reports, memoranda, maps, exhibits, letters, minutes of meetings and hearings, referrals, and other planning documents contained in City’s files and prepared by City boards and commissions, officials, consultants, or staff relating to the Sacramento 2040 General Plan and CAAP;

p. All testimony, documents, and other evidence contained in the City’s files that were submitted to and received by the City by or on behalf of landowners, business owners, private organizations, public agencies, and members of the public in connection with the Sacramento 2040 General Plan and CAAP;

q. Minutes and verbatim transcripts contained in the City’s files of all workshops, information sessions, public meetings, and public hearings held by the City in connection with the Sacramento 2040 General Plan and CAAP;

r. All testimony and documentary or other evidence contained in the City’s files that were submitted to the City at workshops, information sessions, public meetings and public hearings held by the City in connection with the Sacramento 2040 General Plan and CAAP;

s. Matters of common knowledge to the City Council, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District's Guide to Air Quality Assessment in Sacramento County, April 2020

(2) California Department of Water Resources, 2022 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, November 2022
and
t. All other documentary evidence relied on in preparation of the 2040 General Plan, CAAP, and General Plan MEIR.

3. Findings

CEQA requires that the lead agency adopt mitigation measures or alternatives, where feasible, to substantially lessen or avoid significant environmental impacts that would otherwise occur. The City is not required to adopt mitigation measures or alternatives where such changes are infeasible or where the responsibility for the project lies with some other agency. (CEQA Guidelines, §15091, sub. (a), (b).)

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lessened, a public agency, after adopting proper findings, may nevertheless approve the project if the agency first adopts a statement of overriding considerations setting forth the specific reasons why the agency found that the project’s “benefits” rendered “acceptable” its “unavoidable adverse environmental effects.” (CEQA Guidelines, §§15093, 15043, sub. (b); see also Pub. Resources Code, §21081, sub. (b).)

In seeking to effectuate the substantive policy of CEQA to substantially lessen or avoid significant environmental effects to the extent feasible, an agency, in adopting findings, need not necessarily address the feasibility of both mitigation measures and environmentally superior alternatives when contemplating approval of a proposed project with significant impacts. Where a significant impact can be mitigated to an “acceptable” level solely by the adoption of feasible mitigation measures, the agency, in drafting its findings, has no obligation to consider the feasibility of any environmentally superior alternative that could also substantially lessen or avoid that same impact — even if the alternative would render the impact less severe than would the proposed project as mitigated. (Laurel Hills Homeowners Association v. City Council (1978) 83 Cal.App.3d 515, 521; see also Kings County Farm Bureau v. City of Hanford (1990) 221 Cal.App.3d 692, 730-731; and Laurel Heights Improvement Association v. Regents of the University of California (“Laurel Heights I”) (1988) 47 Cal.3d 376, 400-403.)

In these Findings, the City first addresses the extent to which each significant environmental effect can be substantially lessened or avoided through the adoption of feasible mitigation measures. Only after determining that, even with the adoption of all feasible mitigation measures, an effect is significant and unavoidable does the City address the extent to which alternatives described in the MEIR are (i) environmentally superior with respect to that effect and (ii) “feasible” within the meaning of CEQA.

In cases in which a project’s significant effects cannot be mitigated or avoided, an agency, after adopting proper findings, may nevertheless approve the project if it first adopts a statement of overriding considerations setting forth the specific reasons why the agency found that the “benefits of the project outweigh the significant effects on the environment.” (Public Resources Code, §21081, sub. (b); see also, CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15093, 15043, sub.(b).) In the Statement of Overriding Considerations found at the end of these Findings, the City identifies the specific economic, social, and other considerations that, in its judgment, outweigh the significant environmental effects that the Project will cause.

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The California Supreme Court has stated that “[t]he wisdom of approving ... any development project, a delicate task which requires a balancing of interests, is necessarily left to the sound discretion of the local officials and their constituents who are responsible for such decisions. The law as we interpret and apply it simply requires that those decisions be informed, and therefore balanced.” (Goleta II (1990) 52 Cal.3d 553 at 576.)

In support of its approval of the Project, the City Council makes the following findings for each of the significant environmental effects and alternatives of the Project identified in the MEIR pursuant to sections 21080 and 15091 of the CEQA Guidelines:

A. Significant or Potentially Significant Impacts Mitigated to a Less Than Significant Level.

Policies and Implementation Programs included in the City of Sacramento 2040 General Plan and Climate Action & Adaptation Plan were designed to reduce potential impacts to the environment resulting from buildout of the General Plan. The MEIR demonstrates how proposed policies or compliance with existing laws or regulations reduce potential environmental impacts. These policies are part of the Project and are not considered mitigation measures; however, it is meaningful for decision makers to understand how proposed policies have been designed to reduce environmental impacts. In each of the following impacts, the applicable policies or laws or requirements identified in the MEIR have reduced the respective impact, and the impact is less than significant.

The following environmental impacts of the Project, including cumulative impacts, are either less than significant or mitigated to a level of less than significant.

Aesthetics

Impact 4.1-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could create a new source of light or glare that is substantially greater than typical urban sources and could result in annoyance or hazards for visually sensitive receptors.

Applicable Policies: LUP-4.6 and LUP-8.10. Policy LUP-4.6 would ensure that the introduction of higher-density or more intense development is compatible with, and sensitive to, adjacent residential land uses by requiring all lighting to be shielded from view and directed downward to minimize impacts on adjacent residential uses. Policy LUP-8.10 requires appropriate building and site design that considers and reflects the existing character of neighborhoods and corridors such as through the use of compatible building materials.

Finding: The provisions of the 2040 General Plan identified above will avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effect as identified in the MEIR and the impact is less than significant.

Impact 4.1-2: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could substantially interfere with an important, existing scenic resource or substantially degrade views of an important, existing scenic resource .

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Applicable Policies: LUP-4.6, and LUP-8.1, 8.2, 8.4, 8.10, 8.12, 8.13 and ERC-2.3.

These policies would prevent substantial changes to existing scenic resources.

Policy LUP-8.1 promotes the qualities and characteristics that make Sacramento desirable and memorable by requiring incorporation of these elements into architectural and landscape design of new development permitted under the 2040 General Plan. Policy LUP-8.2 requires new development along the Sacramento and American rivers to use the natural river environment as a key feature to guide the scale, design, and intensity of development, and to maximize visual and physical access to the rivers. Policy LUP-8.10 emphasizes the importance of local context in the design of new developments, such as inclusion of local materials and native plant species, and consideration of cultural and historic context of the specific neighborhood or corridor. The City would also encourage new development to preserve onsite natural elements contributing to native plant and wildlife species value and aesthetic character, as stated in Policy ERC-2.3. Visual compatibility with adjoining uses would be encouraged by requiring features such as building heights be stepped back from sensitive adjoining uses to maintain appropriate transitions in scale, as stated in Policies LUP-4.6 and LUP-8.4 to ensure public improvements and private developments work together to enhance the sense of entry at key gateways to the city.

Impact 4.1-3: The 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could allow development that could result in cumulative light or glare impacts or cumulative impacts to existing scenic resources and views.

Applicable Policies: LUP-4.6 and LUP-8.12. Policy LUP-4.6 would ensure that the introduction of higher-density or more intense development is compatible with (and sensitive to) adjacent residential land uses by requiring all lighting to be shielded from view and directed downward to minimize impacts on adjacent residential uses. Under Policy LUP-8.12, public spaces would need to be completely visible from at least one street frontage and if feasible, at least 50% visible from a secondary street frontage.

Agricultural Resources

Impact 4.2-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could convert Important Farmland, interfere in agricultural operations from non-compatible land uses or lead to premature conversion of Williamson Act contracts.

Applicable Policies: LUP-1.11 through 1.13, EJ-2.8 and EJ-2.9. These policies primarily encourage the continued productivity and preservation of existing local agricultural lands and operations in these areas. Policy LUP-1.11 commits the City to continue to work with the County and other adjacent jurisdictions to ensure Resolution 2024 -
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implementation of all existing conservation plans to preserve farmland outside the city. Policy LUP-1.12 requires open space or other appropriate buffers between residential and agricultural uses to protect agricultural operations outside of the city while also ensuring compatibility of uses with residents in adjacent areas. Policy LUP-1.13 requires that purchasers of homes located in the vicinity of agricultural operations are provided notification of ongoing activities and possible adverse effects. Additionally, Policies EJ-2.8 and EJ-2.9 encourage small-scale community and home gardening efforts and urban agriculture in new developments, such as rooftop gardens.

Impact 4.2-2: The 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects could contribute to the conversion of Important Farmland, interfere in agricultural operations from non-compatible land uses or lead to premature conversion of Williamson Act contracts.

Applicable Policies: LUP-1.11 and LUP-1.12. Policies encourage preservation of agricultural lands outside of the city by focusing development in urbanized areas within the city helping to minimize the pressure to develop in more rural areas outside of the Planning Area. There are no large-scale, active agricultural operations within the Planning Area because these activities are not economically viable or compatible with adjacent urban development. Policy LUP-1.11 commits the City to continue to work with the County to ensure implementation of all existing conservation plans to preserve farmland outside the city; while Policy LUP-1.12 would require open space or other appropriate buffers between residential development within the Planning Area and agricultural operations outside of the city to protect those agricultural operations.

Air Quality

Impact 4.3-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could conflict with or obstruct implementation of an applicable air quality plan.

Applicable Policies: LUP-2.2, LUP-4.1 and LUP-5.3, M-1.11, M-1.12 through M-

1.15, M-1.17, M-1.18, M-1.20, M-1.22, M-2.4, M-1.25, ERC-8.1. Policies that would promote alternative transportation modes in lieu of single-occupant vehicle trips includes Policies LUP-2.2 that establishes a network of interconnected activity centers, parks and neighborhoods that promotes walking, bicycling, and mass transit; LUP-4.1 that encourages increased residential and commercial development intensity within proximity to existing and planned light rail stations, commuter rail stations, and high-frequency bus stops; LUP-5.3 that promotes development of mixed-use neighborhood centers that accommodate local-serving commercial, Resolution 2024 -
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employment, entertainment, and cultural uses and provide housing opportunities within walking distance of surrounding residents and transit; M-1.11 strives to to increase bicycling and walking citywide to meet equity goals and reduce vehicle miles traveled; M-1.13 promotes walkability by designing streets to create a safe and pleasant walking experience; M-1.20 collaborate with Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) to facilitate implementation of high-frequency transit service to provide for adequate transit vehicle speed and reliability, M-1.14 complete the network of tree-shaded sidewalks throughout the city to build new sidewalks and crossings; M-1.15 requires new residential development, and development along commercial corridors to include well-lit, tree-shaded walkways that provide direct links transit stops and stations, schools, parks, and shopping centers; M-1.17 plan for bikeway network of bicycling-friendly facilities that connect neighborhoods with destinations and activity centers throughout the city; M-1.18 prioritize designs that increase visibility of bicyclists, increase bikeway widths, design safer intersection crossings and turns, and separate bikeways from traffic; M-1.12 foster additional walking and bicycling connections to light rail stations to enhance connectivity and access between the station and surrounding neighborhoods and destinations; M-1.22 increase transit ridership citywide , M-1.25 support “first-mile, last-mile solutions” such as multimodal transportation services, public realm improvements, in areas around transit stations and major bus stops; and M-2.4 encourage employers to partner with SacRT to connect employment areas with multimodal transit stations, light rail stations, and other major destinations, and offer training and incentives for use of shuttles. Policy ERC-8.1 would reduce operational air pollutant emissions and increase energy efficiency by promoting the use of tree canopy, cool pavements, landscaping, building materials, and site design techniques that provide passive cooling and reduce energy demand.

Impact 4.3-2: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of criteria pollutants for which the project region is non-attainment.

Applicable Policies: ERC-4.3, ERC-4.5 and ERC-8.1, LUP-2.2, LUP-4.1, LUP-5.1, LUP-5.3, EJ-1.4, ERC-8.1, M-1.13, M-1.20, M-1.28, M-1.30, M-1.33, M-1.35, M-5.8.

Policy ERC-4.3 would require the City to promote new technologies, materials, design and construction techniques in private development projects that minimize air pollution, noise, excess heat, and other forms of pollution and its impacts, particularly in communities most vulnerable to or affected disproportionately by pollution and its impacts. Policy ERC-4.5 requires the City ensure that construction and grading activities minimize short-term impacts to air quality by employing appropriate mitigation measures and best practices established by SMAQMD. Policies that would help reduce air quality emissions resulting from operation of future development designed to promote infill development, encourage mixed use, promote housing within walking or biking distance of employment or school, and encourage downtown housing close to jobs, services, government, recreation would include Policies LUP-2.2 that establishes a network of interconnected activity centers, parks and neighborhoods that promotes Resolution 2024 -
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walking, bicycling, and mass transit; LUP-4.1 that encourages increased residential and commercial development intensity within proximity to existing and planned light rail stations, commuter rail stations, and high-frequency bus stops; LUP-5.1 promotes housing and employment uses at existing regional commercial centers to enhance viability, establish pedestrian-oriented shopping districts, create more attractive buildings and public spaces, support transit, and reduce vehicle trips; and LUP-5.3 that promotes development of mixed-use neighborhood centers that accommodate local-serving commercial, employment, entertainment, and cultural uses and provide housing opportunities within walking distance of surrounding residents and transit.

Policy EJ-1.4 requires future projects to undergo evaluation to identify project-specific impacts to air quality and provide appropriate mitigation if necessary. In addition Policy ERC-8.1 would reduce operational air pollutant emissions and increase energy efficiency by promoting the use of tree canopy, cool pavements, landscaping, building materials, and site design techniques that provide passive cooling and reduce energy demand; Policy M-1.20 requires collaboration with Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) to facilitate implementation of high-frequency transit service to provide for adequate transit vehicle speed and reliability; Policy M-1.28 strive to be the ZEV Capital of California and to achieve equitable access to ZEV technologies and benefits across the community; Policy M-1.30 install public City-owned EV charging infrastructure to assist in the transition to zero-emission vehicle use; Policy M-1.33 facilitate the establishment or expansion of EV car share and electric bike share programs; Policy M-1.35 maintain a ZEV First commitment and continue to use the Fleet Sustainability Policy to guide the management of the municipal vehicle fleet; Policy M-1.13 promotes walkability by designing streets to create a safe and pleasant walking experience; and Policy M-5.8 encourage delivery services to use zero- emission travel such as electric trucks, cars, and cargo bikes.

Impact 4.3-3: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations.

Applicable Policies: M-5.9, ERC-4.3, ERC-4.4, and ERC-4.7. Policy M-5.9 requires the City design streets designated as truck routes that would support heavy vehicle use; Policy ERC-4.3 requires the City to promote implementation of new technologies, materials, and design and construction techniques in private development projects that minimize air pollution, noise, excess heat, and other forms of pollution and its impacts, particularly in communities most vulnerable to or affected disproportionately by pollution and its impacts, specifically those areas designated as state designated disadvantaged communities; Policy ERC-4.4 requires coordination with SMAQMD in evaluating human exposure to TACs, particularly in disadvantaged communities, and calls for imposition of conditions, as appropriate, on projects to protect public health and safety. Policy ERC-4.7 requires development projects that exceed SMAQMD reactive organic gas (ROG) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) operational thresholds to incorporate design or operational features that reduce emissions equal to 15 percent from the level that would be produced by an unmitigated project.

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Finding: The provisions of the 2040 General Plan identified above will avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effect as identified in the MEIR and the impact is less than significant.

Impact 4.3-4: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in other emissions (such as odors) adversely affecting a substantial number of people.

Applicable Policies: EJ-1.4 and LUP-7.1. Policy EJ-1.4 requires the City to use SMAQMD modeling tools and guidance documents to identify and mitigate air quality impacts from proposed development projects, and Policy LUP-7.1 calls for the City to focus industrial uses in the Power Inn area in the eastern portion of the Planning Area as a policy to minimize exposure of sensitive residents. Industrial uses would be subject to the City’s performance standards for industrial development and operation to prohibit creation of odors or other emissions beyond the Planning Area boundary.

Impact 4.3-5: The 2040 General Plan, in combination with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could result in a cumulatively considerable impact to air quality.

Applicable Policies: Policy EJ-1.4 and ERC-4.7. Policy EJ-1.4 requires projects to use SMAQMD guidance and tools in order to assess impacts associated with future projects, including impacts due to toxic air contaminants (TACs). This policy would ensure that exposure to TACs is taken into account in planning for future projects and land use planning, and that precautions are taken to reduce potential health risks resulting from exposure to TACs. Policy ERC-4.7 requires development projects that exceed SMAQMD reactive organic gas (ROG) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) operational thresholds to incorporate design or operational features that reduce emissions equal to 15 percent from the level that would be produced by an unmitigated project.

Biological Resources

Impact 4.4-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could contribute to degradation of the environment or reduction of habitat or population below self-sustaining levels for special-status plants.

Applicable Policies: ERC-2.1, ERC-2.2, ERC-6.3, ERC-2.9 through ERC-2.14.

Policy ERC-2.2 directs the City to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts on sensitive biological resources, including special-status species from development activities to the greatest extent feasible; Policy ERC-2.1 directs the City to support efforts to conserve and, where feasible, create or restore areas that provide important water quality benefits such as creeks, riparian corridors, wetlands, undeveloped open space areas, Resolution 2024 -
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levees, and drainage canals; and Policy ERC-6.3 directs the City to protect urban creeks and rivers. These riparian areas, creeks and rivers support remaining habitat for special-status plant species. Policy ERC-2.9 requires the City to consider the potential impact on sensitive plants for each project requiring discretionary approval. If site conditions are such that potential habitat for sensitive plant species may be present, the City shall require habitat assessments prepared by a qualified biologist. Policies ERC-2.10 through ERC-2.14 require agency coordination, City support of habitat conservation plans, and support for active habitat restoration and enhancement efforts.

Impact 4.4-2: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could contribute to degradation of the environment or reduction of habitat or population below self-sustaining levels for special-status invertebrates.

Applicable Policies: ERC-2.1, ERC-2.2, ERC-2.7 through ERC-2.14, ERC-6.3, and LUP-1.11. Policy ERC-2.2 directs the City to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts of development on biological resources including special-status species, sensitive natural communities, sensitive habitat, and wetlands to the greatest extent feasible.

Policy ERC-2.1 and Policy ERC-6.3 direct the City to conserve and restore riparian areas, creeks and rivers where elderberry shrubs and bumblebee habitat may be present. Policy ERC-2.7 requires the City to preserve, protect, and mitigate impacts to native grasslands and vernal pools that provide habitat for rare and endangered species. Policy ERC-2.8 requires the City to replace damaged wildlife corridor habitat with habitat of equivalent or enhanced value to enable the continued movement of species. Policy ERC-2.9 requires the City to consider the potential impact on wildlife species for each project requiring discretionary approval. If site conditions are such that potential habitat for sensitive wildlife species may be present, the City shall require habitat assessments prepared by a qualified biologist. Policies ERC-2.10 through ERC-2.14 require agency coordination, City support of habitat conservation plans, and support for active habitat restoration and enhancement efforts. Policy LUP-1.11 directs the City to work with Sacramento County and other adjacent jurisdictions to implement conservation plans, preserve farmland and protect critical habitat to the benefit of special-status species, including invertebrates.

Impact 4.4-3: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could contribute to degradation of the environment or reduction of habitat or population below self- sustaining levels for special-status fish species.

Applicable Policies: ERC-1.1 through ERC-1.3, ERC-2.1, ERC-2.2, ERC-2.8 through ERC-2.14, ERC-6.3, and PFS-4.2. Policies ERC-1.1, ERC-1.2 and ERC-1.3 provide protections for special-status fish species by directing the City to preserve and enhance water quality. Policy ERC-6.3 directs the City to preserve urban creeks and Resolution 2024 -
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rivers to maintain existing floodplain capacity and to enhance environmental quality.

Policy PFS-4.2 directs the City to uses more surface water when it is available and more groundwater when surface water is limited, which may result in protection to special-status fish by maintaining sufficient freshwater in river systems and maintaining natural salinity levels. Policy ERC-2.2 directs the City to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts to biological resources to the maximum extent feasible and Policy ERC-2.1 provides protections to special-status fish species and their habitat by directing the City to conserve, create or restore areas that provide important water quality benefits such as creeks, riparian corridors, wetlands, levees, and drainage canals for the purpose of protecting water resources in the city’s watersheds, creeks, and rivers. Policy ERC-2.8 requires the City to replace damaged wildlife corridor habitat with habitat of equivalent or enhanced value to enable the continued movement of species. Policy ERC-2.9 requires habitat assessments prepared by a qualified biologist for projects requiring discretionary approval. Policies ERC-2.10 through ERC-2.14 require agency coordination, City support of habitat conservation plans, and support for active habitat restoration and enhancement efforts.

Impact 4.4-4: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could contribute to degradation of the environment or reduction of habitat or population below self-sustaining levels for special-status reptiles and amphibians.

Applicable Policies: ERC-2.1, ERC-2.2, ERC-2.7 through ERC-2.14. Policy ERC-

2.2 directs the City to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts to biological resources to the maximum extent feasible, and Policy ERC-2.1 directs the City to conserve, create or restore areas that provide important water quality benefits such as creeks, riparian corridors, wetlands, and undeveloped open space areas, which may provide habitat for special-status amphibian and reptile species. Policy ERC-2.7 requires the City to preserve, protect, and mitigate impacts to native grasslands and vernal pools that provide habitat for rare and endangered species. Policy ERC-2.8 requires the City to replace damaged wildlife corridor habitat with habitat of equivalent or enhanced value to enable the continued movement of species. Policy ERC-2.9 requires habitat assessments prepared by a qualified biologist for projects requiring discretionary approval. Policies ERC-2.10 through ERC-2.14 require agency coordination, City support of habitat conservation plans, and support for active habitat restoration and enhancement efforts.

Impact 4.4-5: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could contribute to degradation of the environment or reduction of habitat or population below self-sustaining levels for special-status birds.

Applicable Policies: ERC-2.1, ERC-2.2, ERC-2.7 through ERC-2.14, ERC-3.2, Resolution 2024 -
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ERC-3.3, and ERC-3.6. Policies ERC-3.2, ERC-3.3, and ERC-3.6 would protect and enhance nesting habitat for some bird species including special-status bird species through a well-maintained, resilient, healthy, expansive and equitable urban forest.

Policy ERC-2.1 directs the City to conserve, create or restore areas that provide important water quality benefits such as creeks, riparian corridors, wetlands, and undeveloped open space areas, which may provide habitat for special-status bird species. Policy ERC-2.2 directs the City to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts to biological resources to the maximum extent feasible. Policy ERC-2.7 requires the City to preserve, protect, and mitigate impacts to native grasslands and vernal pools that provide habitat for rare and endangered species. Policy ERC-2.8 requires the City to replace damaged wildlife corridor habitat with habitat of equivalent or enhanced value to enable the continued movement of species. Policy ERC-2.9 requires habitat assessments prepared by a qualified biologist for projects requiring discretionary approval. Policies ERC-2.10 through ERC-2.14 require agency coordination, City support of habitat conservation plans, and support for active habitat restoration and enhancement efforts.

Impact 4.4-6: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could contribute to degradation of the environment or reduction of habitat or population below self-sustaining levels for special-status mammals.

Applicable Policies: ERC-2.1, ERC-2.2, ERC-2.7 through ERC-2.14, ERC-3.2, ERC-3.3, ERC-3.6. Policies under Goal ERC-3, a well-maintained, resilient, healthy, expansive, and equitable urban forest for an environmentally sustainable future include policies ERC-3.2, ERC-3.3, and ERC-3.6 which would protect and enhance habitat for bat species. Policy ERC-2.1 directs the City to conserve, create or restore areas that provide important water quality benefits such as creeks, riparian corridors, wetlands, and undeveloped open space areas, which may provide habitat for bat species. Policy ERC-2.2 directs the City to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts to biological resources to the maximum extent feasible. Policy ERC-2.7 requires the City to preserve, protect, and mitigate impacts to native grasslands and vernal pools that provide habitat for rare and endangered species. Policy ERC-2.8 requires the City to replace damaged wildlife corridor habitat with habitat of equivalent or enhanced value to enable the continued movement of species. Policy ERC-2.9 requires habitat assessments prepared by a qualified biologist for projects requiring discretionary approval. Policies ERC-2.10 through ERC-2.14 require agency coordination, City support of habitat conservation plans, and support for active habitat restoration and enhancement efforts.

Impact 4.4-7: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in loss or modification of riparian habitat.

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Applicable Policies: ERC-2.1, ERC-2.2, ERC-2.8, ERC-2.10 through ERC-2.14, and ERC-6.3. Policy ERC-2.1 directs the City to conserve, create or restore areas that provide important water quality benefits such as creeks, riparian corridors, wetlands, undeveloped open space areas, levees, and drainage canals for the purpose of protecting water resources in the city’s watersheds, creeks, and the Sacramento and American Rivers. Policy ERC-2.2 directs the City to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts to biological resources, including riparian habitat, to the greatest extent feasible. Policy ERC-2.8 requires the City to replace damaged wildlife corridor habitat with habitat of equivalent or enhanced value, which may include riparian habitat. Policies ERC-2.10 through ERC-2.14 require agency coordination, City support of habitat conservation plans, and support for active habitat restoration and enhancement efforts. Policy ERC-6.3 directs the City to preserve urban creeks and rivers to maintain existing floodplain capacity while enhancing environmental quality.

Impact 4.4-8: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could adversely affect state or federally protected wetlands and/or waters of the United States through direct removal, filling, or hydrological interruption.

Applicable Policies: ERC-2.1, ERC-2.2, and ERC-2.6. Policy ERC-2.1 directs the City to conserve, create or restore areas that provide important water quality benefits such as creeks, riparian corridors, wetlands, undeveloped open space areas, levees, and drainage canals for the purpose of protecting water resources in the city’s watersheds, creeks, and the Sacramento and American Rivers. Policy ERC-2.2 directs the City to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts to biological resources, including wetlands, to the greatest extent feasible. Policy ERC-2.6 requires the City to preserve and protect wetland resources to the extent feasible and mitigation of adverse impacts in compliance with state and federal regulations.

Impact 4.4-9: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in loss of sensitive natural communities .

Applicable Policies: ERC-2.1 through ERC-2.3, and ERC-2.7. Preservation of riparian open space under Policy ERC-2.1 would prevent development from occurring in most areas where sensitive natural communities occur. For the few development sites that host these resources, the City would ensure either on-site preservation under Policy ERC-2.3 or mitigation to the greatest extent feasible under Policy ERC-2.2.

Policy ERC-2.7 requires the City to preserve, protect, and mitigate impacts to native grasslands and vernal pools that provide habitat for rare and endangered species.

Finding: The provisions of the 2040 General Plan identified above will avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effect as identified in the MEIR and Resolution 2024 -
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the impact is less than significant.

Energy

Impact 4.6-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources.

Applicable Policies: ERC-4.3, ERC-4.5, ERC-8.1, ERC-9.3, ERC-9.4 and ERC-9.9, HCR-1.19, LUP-2.2, LUP-2.5, LUP-2.6, LUP-4.1, LUP-10.1, LUP-4.13, M-1.1, M-1.3, M-1.4, M-1.6, M-1.13, M-1.20, M-1.22, M-1.23, M-1.28, M-1.30, M-1.33, M-1.35 through 1.37, M-4.7 and M-4.8. There are numerous policies that would help reduce petroleum consumption by promoting the expansion of transit facilities, services, and transit supportive infrastructure in addition to reducing person trips from driving to alternative transportation modes and increasing the usage of alternative transportation methods including zero emitting vehicles. Some policies including M-

1.6 requires the City to integrate transit into existing and proposed new development and destinations including employment and commercial centers, public spaces and major attractions. Policy M-1.11 is focused on increased bicycling and walking to reduce vehicle trips; and Policy ERC-8.1 includes design guidelines to promote site design techniques that provide passive cooling and reduce energy demand. Policy ERC-4.3 requires the City to promote new technologies, materials, design and construction techniques in private development projects that minimize air pollution, noise, excess heat, and other forms of pollution and associated impacts, particularly in communities most vulnerable to or affected disproportionately by pollution and its impacts. Policy LUP-10.1 encourages the retention of existing structures and promotes their adaptive reuse and renovation with green building technologies to retain the structures’ embodied energy, increase energy efficiency, and limit the generation of waste.

Impact 4.6-2: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could conflict with or obstruct a state or local renewable energy plan or impede energy efficiency.

Applicable Regulations: Title 24 and SB 100. Title 24 includes the CALGreen standards, which establish mandatory minimum environmental performance standards for new construction projects Title 24 also addresses energy efficiency measures that impact energy used for lighting, water heating, space heating, and air conditioning, including the energy impact of the building envelope such as windows, doors, wall/floor/ceiling assemblies, and roofs. The Energy Code requires all new low-rise residential buildings to be fitted with a PV energy generation system. As such, future development under the 2040 General Plan would comply with the most current version of CalGreen and the Energy Code, per state regulations. Future projects developed in the Planning Area would receive electricity from SMUD, which is mandated to comply with SB 100. SB 100 requires that all eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources supply 100% of the retail sales of electricity to the state, and that the zero-carbon electricity resources do not increase Resolution 2024 -
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the carbon emissions elsewhere in the western grid and that this not be achieved through resource shuffling, which is the substitution of lower GHG emission power for higher GHG emissions power.

Finding: The provisions of the 2040 General Plan and identified above will avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effect as identified in the MEIR and the impact is less than significant.

Impact 4.6-3: The 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could result in wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources.

Applicable Policies: ERC-4.3, ERC-8.1, ERC-9.3, ERC-9.4, and ERC-9.9. The General Plan includes policies that would help reduce electricity and natural gas consumption within the Planning Area which requiring projects to use green building technologies that meet or exceed the CALGreen energy efficiency standards, encourage alternative energy creation and on-site energy production, promote development that would be 100% electric, and transition existing buildings from fossil fuel-power to electric power. Policy ERC-4.3 promotes new technologies to minimize pollutants; Policy ERC-8.1 promotes site design techniques that provide passive cooling and reduce energy demand; Policy ERC-9.3 requires Net-Zero Energy or net- positive design for all newly constructed City-owned buildings; Policy ERC-9.4 promotes the transition from fossil fuel-powered buildings to electric power communitywide, implementing a phased strategy that targets new construction starting in 2023 and progressively incorporating measures to ensure the electric- powered retrofit of existing buildings by 2045.

Geology, Soils, and Mineral Resources

Impact 4.7-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in substantial soil erosion.

Applicable Policies: Policy ERC-1.4. For projects that disturb more than one acre, construction activities would be required to prepare and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan consistent with the City’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination Permit that requires erosion control best management practices be adhered to during any soil disturbing activities. Policy ERC-1.4 also requires that construction activities within the city implement erosion control measures.

Impact 4.7-2: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could contribute to geologic or seismic hazards to future development.

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Applicable Policies: ERC-7.1 ERC-7.2, and EJ-1.6. Policies ERC-7.1, ERC-7.2, and EJ-1.6 require that the City regulates structures intended for human occupancy to ensure structural stability from seismic events including liquefaction hazards, as well as seismic stability of facilities that produce or store hazardous materials.

Impact 4.7-3: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in the loss of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region and the state.

Applicable Regulations: Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA), Sacramento City Code Chapter 17.194. Chapter 17.194 of the City Code provides comprehensive surface mining and reclamation requirements that include conservation of minerals and mineral resources. The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) provides the regulatory framework for surface mining and reclamation policies to ensure that adverse environmental effects are prevented from mining activities but also the encourages conservation of minerals through land use planning that allows a balance of resource reclamation with other land use needs.

Adherence to SMARA and the City Code would promote compatibility with surrounding land uses for both future and existing mineral production activities and prevent development that would limit these activities.

Impact 4.7-4: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in the loss of designated locally important mineral resource recovery sites.

Applicable Regulations: Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA), Sacramento City Code Chapter 17.194. SMARA provides the regulatory framework for surface mining and reclamation policies to ensure that adverse environmental effects are prevented from mining activities but also the encourages conservation of minerals through land use planning that allows a balance of resource reclamation with other land use needs. City Code Chapter 17.194 provides the local legal framework to carry out the requirements of SMARA and other applicable regulations to ensure that among other measures, that the production and conservation of minerals are encouraged.

Impact 4.7-5: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or unique geologic feature.

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Applicable Policy: Policy HCR-1.1. Policy HCR-1.1 requires the City to preserve cultural resources which also includes any paleontological resources.

Impact 4.7-6: Potential for the 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects could contribute to the loss of a known mineral resource or of a locally-important mineral resource area.

Applicable Regulations: SMARA, Sacramento City Code Chapter 17.194. Future projects would be required to adhere to Chapter 17.194 of the City Code which provides comprehensive surface mining and reclamation policies that include conservation of minerals and mineral resources. For areas where future development could occur within MRZ-2 areas, adherence with the City Code and SMARA policies requires that future projects are compatible with mining activities and requires buffer and setbacks from areas classified as MRZ-2.

Impact 4.7-7: The 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site.

Applicable Regulations: Paleontological Resource Protection Act, Section 5097.5 California PRC, Antiquities Act of 1906, Archeological and Paleontological Salvage – 23 USC 305. Compliance with the Paleontological Resource Protection Act and federal Paleontological Resources Protection Act, Antiquities Act of 1906, and Archeological and Paleontological Salvage – 23 USC 305 laws would reduce the potential for a loss of paleontological resources.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Impact 4.8-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could generate GHG emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment or could conflict with an applicable plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emission of GHGs.

Applicable Policies: Policies ERC-4.3, ERC-4.5, ERC-9.12, M-1.1, M-1.2, M-1.14, M-1.17. Policy ERC-4.3 promotes the incorporation of new technologies, materials, and design and construction techniques to minimize GHG emissions. Policy ERC-4.5 requires that construction and grading activities minimize GHG emissions by Resolution 2024 -
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employing appropriate mitigation measures and best practices. Policy ERC-9.12 encourages regenerative agriculture practices, including carbon-sequestering practices. Policy M-1.1 requires the City to maintain a street classification system that reflects a Complete Streets concept and enables connected, comfortable and convenient travel for those walking, rolling and taking transit. Policy M-1.2 requires the City to prioritize mobility, comfort, health, safety, and convenience for those walking, followed by those bicycling and riding transit, ahead of design and operations for those driving. Policy M-1.14 requires the City to work to complete the network of tree-shaded sidewalks throughout the city through development project improvements and grant funding. Policy M-1.17 requires the City to plan and seek funding for the bikeway network.

Hazards and Hazardous Materials

Impact 4.9-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could expose people to contaminated soil during construction activities.

Applicable Policies: Policy EJ-1.8. Policy EJ-1.8 requires that buildings and sites under consideration for new development or redevelopment are investigated for the presence of hazardous materials prior to development activities to prevent potential health hazards to construction workers and the public from exposure to previously unknown contamination.

Impact 4.9-2: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could expose people to hazardous building materials (e.g., asbestos and lead-based paint) or other hazardous materials.

Applicable Policies: EJ-1.5 through EJ-1.7, PFS-5.8, ERC-10.10, and ERC-10.11.

Policy EJ-1.5 requires consistency of future development with the County’s Hazardous Waste Management Plan, and land uses near facilities that involve the storage or use of hazardous materials are compatible with their operation. Policy EJ-1.6 would continue to restrict transport of hazardous materials to designated routes. Policy EJ-1.7 would restrict transport of hazardous materials to designated routes. Policy PFS-5.8 would be effective in providing a means for residential land uses to dispose of hazardous materials and wastes in a manner that protects public health and the environment. Policies ERC-10.10 and ERC-10.11 would ensure compliance with applicable Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans and would substantially limit the potential for exposure of people to aircraft-related hazards including excessive noise.

Impact 4.9-3: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could expose people to contaminated groundwater during construction activities or dewatering activities.

Applicable Policy: EJ-1.8. Policy EJ-1.8 requires that buildings and sites under consideration for new development or redevelopment are investigated for the presence of hazardous materials prior to development activities to prevent potential health hazards to construction workers and the public from exposure to previously unknown contamination.

Impact 4.9-4: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could obstruct emergency response access and affect response times of emergency responders.

Applicable Policy: PFS-2.3. The City currently requires all development projects to prepare a Traffic Management Plan for construction activities, as required by Sections 12.20.020 and 12.20.030 of the City Code. Evacuation routes would also be protected by Policy PFS-2.3 during emergency situations such as flooding or wildfire.

Impact 4.9-5: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could expose people or structures to loss, injury or death involving wildland fires.

Applicable Policies: PFS-2.1 and PFS-1.8. Policies PFS-2.1 and PFS-1.8 confirm the City’s continued reliance on adopted plan’s that address hazardous material spills, fires, and extreme weather, among other hazards as well as continue to require private property owners and the City to remove excessive/overgrown vegetation to prevent and minimize fire risks on private and public lands.

Impact 4.9-6: The 2040 General Plan, combined with past, current, and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could obstruct emergency response and affect response times.

Applicable Regulations: Sacramento City Code (Sections 12.20.020 and

12.20.030), City and County building codes. Temporary lane closures and detours during construction would be managed by Traffic Management Plans in accordance Resolution 2024 -
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with Sections 12.20.020 and 12.20.030 of the City Code and similar Traffic Control Plans and Detour Plans required by the County. New development would be constructed in accordance with City and County code requirements, current design standards and building codes that include measures to ensure adequate emergency access during construction and operation and would not significantly impair or interfere with emergency response providers because existing codes are designed to minimize hazards and protect public health and safety.

Impact 4.9-7: The 2040 General Plan, combined with past, current, and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could expose people or structures, to loss, injury or death involving wildland fires.

Applicable Regulations: State and local Fire Code requirements and safety regulations. Adherence to local and state fire codes can ensure that current and future projects include modern fire safety design features that can minimize risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires.

Hydrology, Water Quality, and Flooding

Impact 4.10-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could degrade water quality or conflict with state water quality objectives, due to sediments and other contaminants generated by construction and/or operational activities.

Applicable Policies: ERC-1.1 through ERC-1.4 and ERC-5.2. Policies ERC-1.1 through ERC-1.4, as well as Policy ERC-5.2 would reduce the potential for development projects to substantially degrade water quality or violate state water quality orders. These measures require the City to promote environmental stewardship and pollution prevention activities; continue ongoing watershed based water protection efforts; requirement that construction contractors comply with erosion and sediment control and stormwater discharge regulations; new development to minimize disturbances to natural water bodies and implement measures to comply with the City’s erosion and sediment control ordinance and stormwater management and discharge control ordinance; and implementation of site design drainage control features (e.g., pervious paving, LID strategies, and BMPs to reduce stormwater runoff) that minimize the potential for discharge of stormwater pollutants.

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exposure of people and/or property to the risk of injury and damage in the event of a 100-year flood.

Applicable Policies: ERC-6.1 through ERC-6.12. Policies ERC-6.1 through ERC-

6.12 focus on flood protection. These policies minimize flood-related impacts to existing and new city residents, new development and essential public facilities.

Policy ERC-6.2 requires the City to work with agencies to manage, plan, and monitor flood risks and identify strategies to minimize flooding hazards for the entire Planning Area. New development would be regulated in accordance with state requirements for 200-year flood protection and federal requirements for 100-year protection per Policy ERC-6.6. Policy ERC-6.7 requires development projects not be approved unless appropriate flood risk evaluations are conducted, and new development located within a 100-year flood zone are designed to minimize the risk of damage.

Policy ERC-6.8 requires the City to also coordinate with agencies to achieve 200- year flood protection by 2025.

Impact 4.10-3: The 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could degrade water quality or conflict with state water quality objectives, due to increases in sediments and other contaminants generated by construction and/or operational activities.

Applicable Policies: ERC-1.1 through ERC-1.4, Policy ERC-5.2. The NPDES permits, both the General Construction Permit and the MS4, are based upon addressing cumulative contributions to a watershed and include requirements to implement best management practices (BMPs) that protect water quality. Policies ERC-1.1 through ERC-1.4, as well as Policy ERC-5.2 would reduce the potential for development projects to substantially degrade water quality or violate state water quality orders. These measures require the City to promote environmental stewardship and pollution prevention activities; continue ongoing watershed based water protection efforts; requirement that construction contractors comply with erosion and sediment control and stormwater discharge regulations; new development to minimize disturbances to natural water bodies and implement measures to comply with the City’s erosion and sediment control ordinance and stormwater management and discharge control ordinance; and implementation of site design drainage control features (e.g., pervious paving, LID strategies, and BMPs to reduce stormwater runoff) that minimize the potential for discharge of stormwater pollutants.

Impact 4.10-4: Potential for the 2040 General Plan combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects could increase exposure of people and/or property to the risk of injury and damage in the event of a 100-year flood.

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Applicable Policies: ERC-6.1 through ERC-6.12. Compliance with the regional NPDES MS4 permit which includes limitations on runoff volumes that are discharged off site. Policies ERC-6.1 through ERC-6.12 also focus on flood protection. These policies minimize flood-related impacts to existing and new city residents, new development and essential public facilities. Policy ERC-6.2 requires the City to work with agencies to manage, plan, and monitor flood risks and identify strategies to minimize flooding hazards for the entire Planning Area. New development would be regulated in accordance with state requirements for 200-year flood protection and federal requirements for 100-year protection per Policy ERC-6.6. Policy ERC-6.7 requires development projects not be approved unless appropriate flood risk evaluations are conducted, and new development located within a 100-year flood zone are designed to minimize the risk of damage. Policy ERC-6.8 requires the City to also coordinate with agencies to achieve 200-year flood protection by 2025.

Noise and Vibration

Impact 4.11-2: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in a substantial temporary increase in ambient noise levels in excess of established City standards.

Compliance with Policy ERC-10.9 requires that potential noise impacts associated with construction activities be regulated through application of the City Code, at surrounding land uses. The City Code (Section 8.68.080) provides an exemption from the City’s noise standards for noise sources associated with general construction activities between the hours of 7 AM and 6 PM Monday through Saturday and between 9 AM and 6 PM on Sunday, provided that equipment is properly maintained. The construction noise exemption hours presented in the City Code (Section 8.68.08) would help to ensure noise generated in association with construction and maintenance activities would only occur during the hours specified. However, construction noise, especially use of pile drivers or other noisy equipment, or where construction activities could take place outside these time periods for portions of the project such as large continuous concrete pours for commercial buildings, could disturb noise sensitive uses, even on a short-term basis. Therefore, impacts from temporary or periodic increases in the ambient noise levels and temporary or periodic exceedances of the City’s noise level standards would occur resulting in a potentially significant impact.

Mitigation Measure NOI-1 (From MMP): The following mitigation measure has been adopted to address this impact:

NOI-1: Construction Noise. The following measure shall be implemented by all construction contractors to reduce the effects of noise levels generated from construction activities.

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 Construction hours shall be limited to 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Construction outside of these hours may be approved through a development permit based on a site-specific “construction noise mitigation plan” and a finding by the Director of Community Development or their designee that the construction noise mitigation plan is adequate to prevent noise disturbance of affected residential uses. Because it is anticipated that certain construction activities (such as continuous pours of concrete foundations) may require work outside normally permitted construction hours (e.g., overnight), the project’s Development Permit would allow for such construction activities, subject to conditions of approval, including performance standards, imposed by the City to limit noise impacts.  Construction equipment and vehicles shall be fitted with efficient, properly operating noise suppression devices (e.g., mufflers, silencers, wraps) that meet or exceed manufacture specifications. Mufflers and noise suppressors shall be properly maintained and tuned to ensure proper fit, function and minimization of noise.
 Impact tools and equipment that is particularly loud (e.g., concrete saws) shall have the working area/impact area shrouded or shielded, with intake and exhaust ports on power equipment muffled or suppressed. The use of temporary or portable, application specific noise shields or barriers, or temporary construction barriers at the boundary of the construction area may be necessary.
 Construction equipment shall not be idled for extended periods (e.g., 5 minutes or longer) of time in the immediate vicinity of noise-sensitive receptors.
 Stationary noise-generating equipment such as air compressors or portable power generators shall be located as far as possible from sensitive receptors. Temporary noise barriers shall be constructed, if needed, to screen stationary noise-generating equipment when located near adjoining noise-sensitive land uses.
 For major construction projects: a designated on-site disturbance coordinator shall be designated by the general contractor and shall post contact information in a conspicuous location near the entrance(s) of the construction site so it is clearly visible to passers-by and nearby receptors.

The coordinator shall document and manage complaints resulting from the construction noise. The disturbance coordinator shall determine the cause of the noise complaint (e.g., bad muffler, etc.) and shall require that reasonable measures be implemented to correct the problem. Reoccurring disturbances shall be evaluated by a qualified acoustical consultant retained by the project applicant to ensure compliance with applicable standards.

Finding: Compliance with Mitigation Measure NOI-1 would ensure effective management of construction noise levels and compliance with the 2040 General Plan policies and City Code. Noise can generally be controlled at three separate locations:
at the source, along the path from the source to receiver, and at the receiver.

Application of the noise control techniques affecting and controlling construction noise at the source (e.g., heavy equipment, pumps) can achieve reductions of 3 to 6 dBA, while noise control techniques implemented along the path of the noise (e.g., Resolution 2024 -
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temporary noise barriers, enclosures, relocation of equipment) have been shown to reduce construction noise levels between 2 to 7 dBA (Wu & Keller 2007). The overall noise level reduction achieved through implementation of Mitigation Measure NOI-1 is expected to range from approximately 5 to 13 dBA. Compliance with these requirements would restrict construction operations to less sensitive time periods and implement the best available construction noise level reductions necessary for specific projects and would be sufficient to mitigate the impact. With implementation of the mitigation measure, this impact is reduced to a less than significant level.

Impact 4.11-3: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan would not result in the generation of excessive groundborne vibration or noise levels.

Applicable Policies: ERC-10.5 through ERC-10.7. Policy ERC-10.5 requires construction projects that are anticipated to generate significant vibration levels to use appropriate methods (i.e., type of equipment, low-impact tools, modifying operations, increasing setback distance, vibration monitoring) to ensure acceptable interior vibration levels at nearby residential and commercial uses based on the current City or Federal Transit Administration (FTA) criteria. Policy ERC-10.6 requires that the potential effects of vibration be considered by the City when reviewing new residential and commercial projects near rail or light rail lines. Policy ERC-10.7 addresses the potential for vibration damage to historic buildings and architectural sites through the development of site-specific vibration management and monitoring plans, which incorporate appropriate methods to avoid or reduce the potential for vibration damage and repair damage if it should occur.

Impact 4.11-4: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could expose people residing or working in the Planning Area to excessive aircraft noise levels from a private airstrip, public airport or public use airport.

Applicable Policies: LUP-1.14, LUP-1.15, ERC-10.10, and ERC-10.11. Policies LUP-1.13 (Airport Land Use Compatibility), ERC-10.10 (Airport Land Use Compatibility) and ERC-10.11 (Hazardous Noise Protection) which serve to ensure that new development near the area’s airports is compatible with the airport operations and that no new noise-sensitive land uses are approved within the 65 dBA CNEL noise level contour of the area’s airports. 2040 General Plan Policy LUP-1.14 (Deed Notice) continues the City’s practice of requiring that all new development within an airport-defined over-flight zone provides deed notices to future residents and property owners upon transfer of title concerning airport over flights and noise.

Public Services and Recreation

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Impact 4.12-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in the construction of new or expanded facilities related to the provision of police protection.

Applicable Policies: PFS-1.1, PFS-1.9, PFS-1.10, and PFS-1.14. Policy PFS-1.9 calls for the City to locate and maintain police and fire equipment, facilities, and staffing at locations and levels that allow for effective service delivery. Policy PFS-

1.14 mandates that development of police and fire facilities and delivery of services keep pace with development and growth within the city. Policy PFS-1.10 seeks to co- locate police facilities with other City facilities, such as fire stations, to promote efficient use of space and provision of police protection services within dense, urban portions of the Planning Area. The City would also work collaboratively with the community and other agencies to provide effective police service, in compliance with Policy PFS-1.1.

Impact 4.12-2: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in the construction of new or expanded facilities related to the provision of fire protection.

Applicable Policies: PFS-1.9, PFS-1.10, PFS-1.12, and PFS-1.14. Policies PFS-

1.9, PFS-1.14, and PFS-1.10 would all support the development of fire facilities needed to serve the increase in population and new development slated to occur fire facilities and delivery of services keep pace with development and growth within the city. Policy PFS-1.12 requires the City maintain mutual aid agreements with the County and other agencies to allow for supplemental aid in the event of emergencies.

Impact 4.12-3: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in the construction of new or expanded facilities related to the provision of schools.

Applicable Policies: YPRO-2.2, YPRO-2.3. Policy YPRO-2.3 encourages the City to work with school districts to ensure that schools are provided to serve all existing and future residents and constructed in the neighborhoods that they serve, in safe locations, and connected to surrounding uses by walkways, bicycle paths, and greenways. Policy YPRO-2.2 suggests that schools be co-located with other public facilities so that multiple services may be delivered from a single location.

Impact 4.12-4: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in the Resolution 2024 -
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construction of new or expanded facilities related to the provision of libraries.

Applicable Policies: YPRO-2.4 and YPRO-2.5. Policy YPRO-2.4 states that the City shall work with the Sacramento Public Library Authority (SPLA) to ensure adequate library services and facilities are maintained for all residents, and that the City shall promote the siting of facilities in accessible locations with the greatest potential for positive neighborhood impact. Policy YPRO-2.5 states that the City shall support the SPLA in expanding digital resources and information tools and in delivering language, literacy, and workforce skill development programs.

Impact 4.12-5: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could cause or accelerate a substantial physical deterioration of existing area parks or recreational facilities.

Per Policy YPRO-1.7, the expansion, planning, development, and use of joint facilities are additional means to achieve required service levels and to offset needs of park and recreational facilities. Policy YPRO-1.6 and Policy YPRO-1.8 represent unique ways to provide for future parkland needs, including the acquisition of surplus, vacant, or underutilized parcels for public recreational use; or exploring creative solutions such as rooftop play areas or freeway underpasses in developed areas. Policy YPRO-1.3 also requires the City to evaluate the equitable increase of public park acreage to serve the needs of the current and future residents with high-quality facilities and the City shall continue to maintain a parkland service standard of 8.85 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, which includes neighborhood parks, community parks, regional parks, open space, and parkways.

Impact 4.12-6: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in new park facilities, the construction and operation of which could cause adverse effects on the physical environment.

Applicable Policies: YPRO-1.3 through YPRO-1.9. Policy YPRO-1.4 would require new residential development to dedicate land or pay in-lieu fees for parks or recreation facilities consistent with the Quimby Ordinance. New residential development would be required to ensure that adequate parkland is provided, or applicable fees paid to the Resolution 2024 -
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City to purchase land or construct new park facilities. Policy YPRO-1.5 states that the City shall provide incentives such as dedication requirement credit for development of projects that provide publicly accessible parks, plazas, and other accessible active or passive elements on site which promote recreational opportunities and serve as neighborhood gathering points. Per Policy YPRO-1.7, the expansion, planning, development, and use of joint facilities are additional means to achieve required service levels and to offset needs of park and recreational facilities. Policy YPRO-1.6 and Policy YPRO-1.8 represent unique ways to provide for future parkland needs, including the acquisition of surplus, vacant, or underutilized parcels for public recreational use; or exploring creative solutions such as rooftop play areas or freeway underpasses in developed areas. Policy YPRO-1.3 also requires the City to evaluate the equitable increase of public park acreage to serve the needs of the current and future residents with high-quality facilities and the City shall continue to maintain a parkland service standard of 8.85 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, which includes neighborhood parks, community parks, regional parks, open space, and parkways.

Impact 4.12-7: The 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could result in a cumulative impact related to the provision of fire protection services.

Applicable Policies: PFS-1.9, PFS-1.10, PFS-1.12, and PFS-1.14. Policies PFS-

1.9, PFS-1.10, and PFS-1.14 would all support the development of fire facilities needed to serve the increase in population and new development slated to occur fire facilities and delivery of services keep pace with development and growth within the city. Policy PFS-1.12 requires the City maintain mutual aid agreements with the County and other agencies to allow for supplemental aid in the event of emergencies.

Public Utilities

Impact 4.13-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could increase demand for potable water in excess of existing supplies.

Applicable Policies: PFS-4.1 through PFS-4.8, ERC-5.1, ERC-5.3 through ERC-

5.5, and ERC-5.7. Policies PFS-4.1 through PFS-4.8 include measures to protect water rights and entitlements (Policy PFS-4.1), encourage conjunctive use of surface and groundwater supplies (Policies PFS-4.2, PFS-4.3 and PFS-4.4), continue preparing and implementing urban water management plans or UWMPs (Policy PFS-

4.5), encourages increased recycled water use (Policy PFS-4.6), as well as ensuring adequate water supply capacity prior to approving new building permits (Policy PFS-

4.8). Policies ERC-5.1 (Active Water Conservation Program), ERC-5.3 (Water Efficiency Training), and ERC-5.4 (Municipal Energy and Water Efficiency) publicize Resolution 2024 -
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the availability of free or low-cost water efficiency audits, retrofit installations, rebates, and financing assistance. Policy ERC-5.5 would potentially limit the future water demands of future development and Policy ERC-5.7 supports opportunities for onsite reuse of greywater and blackwater for certain end uses (e.g., irrigation and toilet flushing) that could reduce the demand of potable water.

Impact 4.13-2: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in inadequate capacity in the City’s water supply facilities to meet water supply demand, requiring the construction of new facilities.

Applicable Policies: PFS-4.8, ERC-5.1, ERC-5.3 through ERC-5.5. Policy PFS-4.8 requires projects to demonstrate adequate water supplies are available prior to obtaining a building permit. Policies ERC-5.1, ERC-5.3, and ERC-5.4, are designed to foster water conservation including continuing active water conservation program measures and increased efficiency in water use. Policy ERC-5.5 has the City publicizing programs that facilitate water efficiency for businesses and residents including providing energy and water efficiency audits, retrofit installations, rebates, and financing assistance that would potentially limit the future water demands of future development.

Impact 4.13-3: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in inadequate capacity to serve the project’s water demand in addition to existing commitments.

Applicable Policy: PFS-4.5. Policy PFS-4.5 would require the City to continue preparing and implementing UWMPs on a 5-year basis in compliance with the Urban Water Management Planning Act, which provides the long-term planning tools to ensure that projected growth would be met even during drought conditions.

Impact 4.13-4: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could require the construction of new utilities or the expansion of existing utilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts.

Applicable Policies: PFS-3.2, PFS-3.5, PFS-3.6, PFS-3.8, PFS-3.10, PFS-3.14, PFS-6.3, PFS-6.4, ERC-5.4, ERC-5.6, ERC-9.4 and M-1.27. Policy PFS-3.2 would improve sustainability, resilience and efficiency of infrastructure, Policy PFS-3.5 would help to improve water treatment capacity and infrastructure, including the Combined Resolution 2024 -
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Sewer System (Policy PFS-3.6), and Policy PFS-3.8 which would ensure that capacities and functionality of existing wastewater facilities can be accommodated by future growth through capital improvement programming. Policies ERC-5.4, ERC-5.6, ERC-9.4 are all designed to guide the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within the city and Policy M-1.27 would promote continued implementation of these programs and continued efforts to increase energy conservation measures. Policy PFS-6.3 would ensure that utility companies retrofit areas that do not have facilities and provide strategies for long-range planning of telecommunication facilities for new development areas. Policy PFS-6.4 encourages co-location of compatible telecommunications facility and site on City-owned property and in the public right-of- way. Policy PFS-3.14 would encourage service providers to underground utility lines where feasible. While Policy PFS-3.10 would foster the expansion of infrastructure that is sized only to accommodate projected future expansion.

Impact 4.13-5: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could require the construction of new solid waste facilities or the expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects.

Applicable Policies: PFS-5.1 through PFS-5.9. Policies PFS-5.1 through PFS-5.9 provide long-term objectives for minimizing the city’s contribution to solid waste by providing increasing recycling efforts, composting efforts, and supporting programs like the Neighborhood Clean-Up Program with the goal of minimizing solid waste volumes. Many of these programs are already in place, and continue to promote waste diversion, which would help reduce waste flow to the landfill.

Impact 4.13-6: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could increase demand for potable water in excess of existing supplies which could also result in the determination that adequate capacity is not available to serve the project’s demand in addition to existing commitments.

Applicable Policies: PFS-4.1 through PFS-4.8, ERC-5.1, ERC-5.3, ERC-5.4, and ERC-5.7. Policy PFS-4.5 would require the City to continue preparing and implementing UWMPs on a 5-year basis in compliance with the Urban Water Management Planning Act, which provides the long-term planning tools to ensure that projected growth associated with the 2040 General Plan would be met even during drought conditions. Policies PFS-4.1 through PFS-4.8, include measures to provide a reliable water supply of high-quality water, as well as ensuring adequate water supply capacity prior to approving new building permits. Policies ERC-5.1, ERC-

5.3, ERC-5.4 facilitate increased efficiency in water use. Policy ERC-5.7 supports opportunities for on-site reuse of greywater and blackwater for certain end uses (e.g., Resolution 2024 -
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irrigation and toilet flushing) that could reduce the demand of potable water.

Impact 4.13-7: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could require the construction of new utilities or the expansion of existing utilities which could cause significant environmental impacts.

Applicable Policies: PFS-3.2, PFS-3.5, PFS-3.6, PFS-3.8, PFS-3.10, PFS-3.14, PFS-6.3, PFS-6.4, ERC-5.4, ERC-5.6, ERC-9.4 and M-1.27. Policy PFS-3.2 would improve sustainability, resilience and efficiency of infrastructure, Policy PFS-3.5 would help to improve water treatment capacity and infrastructure, including the Combined Sewer System (Policy PFS-3.6), and Policy PFS-3.8 which would ensure that capacities and functionality of existing wastewater facilities can be accommodated by future growth through capital improvement programming. Policies ERC-5.4, ERC-5.6, ERC-9.4 are all designed to guide the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within the city and Policy M-1.27 would promote continued implementation of these programs and continued efforts to increase energy conservation measures. Policy PFS-6.3 would ensure that utility companies retrofit areas that do not have facilities and provide strategies for long-range planning of telecommunication facilities for new development areas. Policy PFS-6.4 encourages co-location of compatible telecommunications facility and site on City-owned property and in the public right-of- way. Policy PFS-3.14 would encourage service providers to underground utility lines where feasible. While Policy PFS-3.10 would foster the expansion of infrastructure that is sized only to accommodate projected future expansion.

Impact 4.13-8: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could require the construction of new solid waste facilities or the expansion of existing facilities which could cause significant environmental effects.

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Transportation and Circulation

Impact 4.14-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could result in less than a 16.8% reduction of passenger vehicle VMT per capita compared to the Citywide baseline.

Applicable Policies: M-1.11, M-1.20, M-1.22, M-2.1, M-2.2, M-2.14, M-2.17, and LUP-1.1. Policy M-1.11 strives to increase bicycling and walking citywide to meet the City’s equity, reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and sustainability goals. Policies M-1.20 and M-1.22 are aimed at collaborating with Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) to facilitate implementation of high-frequency transit service to meet City goals and to increase transit ridership Citywide. Policies M-2.1 and M-2.2 encourage the City to promote use of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies to reduce dependence on single-occupancy vehicles and reduce VMT with the target that 17 percent of all trips are made by transit and active transportation modes by 2030 and 23 percent of all trips are made by transit and active transportation modes by 2045. Policy M-2.14 balances parking supply with objectives to reduce VMT and fostering a high-quality life in the city. While Policy M-2.17 continues the use of a parking management strategy that minimizes construction of new parking facilities and promotes the use of active transportation modes. Lastly, land use Policy LUP-1.1 promotes a land- and resource-efficient development pattern to support efficient delivery of public services and infrastructure and conserve open space, reduce VMT, and improve air quality.

Impact 4.14-2: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could adversely affect existing and planned public transit facilities or services or fail to adequately provide access to transit.

Applicable Policies: M-2.1, M-2.14, and M-2.17. Policy M-2.1 encourages the City to promote use of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies to reduce dependence on single-occupancy vehicles and reduce VMT with the target that 17 percent of all trips are made by transit and active transportation modes by 2030 and 23 percent of all trips are made by transit and active transportation modes by 2045.

Policy M-2.14 balances parking supply with objectives to reduce VMT and fostering a high-quality life in the city. While Policy M-2.17 continues the use of a parking management strategy that minimizes construction of new parking facilities and promotes the use of active transportation modes.

Impact 4.14-3: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could adversely affect existing and planned bicycle and pedestrian facilities or fail to adequately provide access for bicycle and pedestrians.

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Applicable Policies: M-1.2, M-1.11, M-1.13 through M-1.19 and M-4.9. Policy M-

1.2 prioritizes mobility, comfort, health, safety, and convenience for those walking, followed by those bicycling and riding transit ahead of design and operations for those driving. Policy M-1.11 strives to increase bicycling and walking citywide to reduce vehicle miles traveled, and to reach the city’s sustainability goals. Policies M-

1.13 through M-1.16 and M-19 focus on promoting walking, improving walking connectivity between residential and commercial development, removing barriers to walking to allow people of all abilities to safely walk throughout the city, and prioritize safety to encourage walking. Policies M-17 through M-19 promote bicycle connectivity between neighborhoods and activity centers throughout the city; and bicycle safety.

Policy M-4.9 assesses opportunities to develop and support Safe Routes to School programs.

B. Significant and Unavoidable Impacts.

The following significant and potentially significant environmental impacts of the Project, including cumulative impacts, are unavoidable and cannot be mitigated in a manner that would substantially lessen the significant impact. Notwithstanding disclosure of these impacts, the City Council elects to approve the Project due to overriding considerations as set forth below in Section G, the statement of overriding considerations.

Biological Resources

Impact 4.4-10: The 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could contribute to a regional loss of special-status plant or wildlife species or their habitat. Without mitigation this is a significant impact.

Applicable Policies: ERC-1.1 through ERC-1.3, ERC-2.1, ERC-2.2, ERC-2.7 through ERC-2.14, ERC-3.2, ERC-3.3, and ERC-6.3, LUP-1.11, and PFS-4.2.

Policies ERC-1.1, ERC-1.2 and ERC-1.3 provide protections for special-status fish species by directing the City to preserve and enhance water quality. Policies ERC-2.7 through 2.9 require habitat assessments and mitigation of impacts to native grasslands and wildlife corridors. Policies ERC-2.10 through ERC-2.14 require agency coordination, City support of habitat conservation plans, and support for active habitat restoration and enhancement efforts. Policy ERC-6.3 directs the City to preserve urban creeks and rivers to maintain existing floodplain capacity and to enhance environmental quality. Policies ERC-3.2, ERC-3.3, and ERC-3.6 would protect and enhance nesting habitat for some bird species including special-status bird species through a well-maintained, resilient, healthy, expansive and equitable urban forest.

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Mitigation Measures: none available.

Finding: Policies in the 2040 General Plan would avoid, minimize and mitigate for impacts to special-status species. Regardless, development under the 2040 General Plan would contribute to the cumulative loss of biological resources through the incremental conversion of habitat for special-status species to urban uses and, thus, limit the availability and accessibility of remaining natural habitats and reduce overall habitat values through indirect effects such as noise, light, and human presence.

Although future development within would be required to comply with the goals and policies contained in the 2035 General Plan, in combination with compliance with the California Endangered Species Act (CESA), the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA), and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements, and the Fish and Game Code, permanent reduction of habitat for special-status plant and wildlife species, potential loss of sensitive species, and incremental reduction of natural habitats and their environmental values would not be entirely avoided. The amount of habitat remaining in the Planning Area is small in a regional context, all incremental losses of special- status species habitat contribute, and this would constitute a significant contribution to the existing significant and unavoidable cumulative impact pact. Feasible mitigation measures beyond the impact-reducing provisions of the proposed 2040 General Plan policies are not available. For these reasons, the impact remains significant and unavoidable.

Impact 4.4-11: The 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could contribute to a regional loss of sensitive natural communities including wetlands and riparian habitat. Without mitigation this is a significant impact.

Applicable. Policies: ERC-2.1, ERC-2.2, ERC-2.3, ERC-2.6 through ERC-2.14, and ERC-6.3. ERC-2.1 directs the City to conserve, create or restore areas that provide important water quality benefits such as creeks, riparian corridors, wetlands, undeveloped open space areas, levees, and drainage canals for the purpose of protecting water resources in the city’s watersheds, creeks, and the Sacramento and American Rivers. Preservation of riparian open space under Policy ERC-2.1 would prevent development from occurring in most areas where sensitive natural communities occur. For the few development sites that host these resources, the City would ensure either on-site preservation under Policy ERC-2.3 or mitigation to the greatest extent feasible under Policy ERC-2.2. Policy ERC-2.2 directs the City to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts to biological resources, including riparian habitat, to the greatest extent feasible. Policy ERC-2.6 requires the City to preserve and protect wetland resources to the extent feasible and mitigation of adverse impacts in compliance with State and federal regulations. Policies ERC-2.7 through 2.9 require habitat assessments and mitigation of impacts to native grasslands and wildlife corridors. Policies ERC-2.10 through ERC-2.14 require agency coordination, City support of habitat conservation plans, and support for active habitat restoration and enhancement efforts. While Policy ERC-6.3 directs the City to preserve urban creeks and rivers to maintain existing floodplain capacity while enhancing environmental quality.

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Mitigation Measures: none available.

Finding: The 2040 General Plan includes policies specifically designed to avoid, reduce, or mitigate impacts on riparian vegetation as well as minimize inputs of pollutants into these waters, which would provide protections for these sensitive natural communities. Additionally, NPDES Regulations, local water quality, and runoff standards would protect the hydrology and ecology of area rivers, associated wetland and riparian complexes. Nonetheless, loss of riparian vegetation and wetlands from development under the 2040 General Plan would contribute significantly to the significant and unavoidable cumulative impact resulting in a significant contribution.

Feasible mitigation measures beyond the impact-reducing provisions of the proposed 2040 General Plan policies are not available. For these reasons, the impact remains significant and unavoidable.

Cultural and Historic Resources

Impact 4.5-1: The 2040 General Plan could result in a substantial change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5. Without mitigation this is a significant impact.

Applicable Policies: HCR-1.3, HCR-1.6, HCR-1.10, HCR-1.17, HCR-2.1 through HCR-2.5, LUP-8.10, and LUP-8.11. General Plan policies would protect historic resources by encouraging the preservation of historic site features and landscapes, maintenance and preservation of historic resources (including maintenance of the city’s preservation program), identifying resources and conducting new historic resource surveys and/or preparing new context statements, conducting early consultation when a project may have a potential impact to historic resources, enforcing applicable laws and regulations, and encouraging preservation through technical and financial assistance, and increasing public awareness. Policy HCR-1.3 requires the city to continue to review new development, alterations, and rehabilitation/remodels for compatibility with the surrounding historic context and consistency with adopted design guidelines. Policy HCR-1.6 requires early consultation with landowners, developers and tribal representatives early in the development review process and Policy HCR-1.10 includes demolition of historic resources as a last resort, to be permitted only if rehabilitation or adaptive reuse of the resource is not feasible and demolition is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents or the public benefits outweigh the loss of the historic resource.

Policy HCR-2.1 pertains to the City’s governmental role in preservation; Policy HCR-

2.2 maintains the City’s authority to designate local landmarks and historic districts and apply for preservation grants; Policy HCR-2.3 directs the City to maintain and update the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources; Policy HCR-2.4 directs the City to consider historic resources in comprehensive planning efforts such as through the incorporation of preservation goals and policies into Community and Specific Plans; and lastly, Policy HCR-2.5 directs Community Development Code Enforcement, Building, and Preservation Planning Division staff to work collaboratively to facilitate repair work to bring historic properties into compliance. Policy LUP-8.10 requires building and site design that respects and responds to the local context including consideration of historic context and Policy LUP-8.11 requires development standards that ensure appropriate transitions for bordering areas to maintain the Resolution 2024 -
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unique qualities and character of neighborhoods and districts.

Mitigation Measures: none available.

Finding: Adherence with existing regulations pertaining to historic resources and adoption of the proposed goals, policies, and implementing actions of the 2040 General Plan, the likelihood of demolition resulting in adverse effects to historic properties and resources would be reduced. However, existing regulations and implementation of the 2040 General Plan would not prevent the demolition of all known and unknown historic properties. Details on potential impacts to the built environment resources cannot be foreseen at this time. Because the 2040 General Plan policies would not prevent the demolition of every historic property or resource that could eventually be found to be eligible for local, state or federal listing, this impact is considered significant. Feasible mitigation measures beyond the impact- reducing provisions of the proposed 2040 General Plan policies are not available. For these reasons, the impact remains significant and unavoidable.

Impact 4.5-2: The 2040 General Plan could result in a substantial change in the significance of an archaeological resource as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5 . Without mitigation this is a significant impact.

Applicable Policies: HCR-1.1, HCR-1.6, HCR-1.14, HCR-1.15, HCR-1.17, and HCR-1.18. Policy HCR-1.1 directs the City to promote the preservation, restoration, enhancement, and recognition of cultural resources throughout the city; Policy HCR-

1.6 intends to minimize potential impacts to cultural resources during the development review process through early consultation efforts. Policy HCR-1.14 requires continued compliance with federal and state regulations and best practices aimed at protecting and mitigating impacts to archaeological resources and the broader range of cultural resources, as well as tribal cultural resources similar to existing state regulations. Policy HCR-1.15 requires human remains to be treated with sensitivity and dignity in coordination with the most likely descendant(s) identified by the Native American Heritage Commission. Policy HCR-1.17 ensures that the City would continue to work with interested communities and apply best practice standards to evaluate proposed development and its effects on sub-surface historic, archaeological and tribal cultural resources. While Policy HCR-1.18 ensures continued evaluation of buildings and structures 50-years old and older for potential historic significance prior to approval of a project that may result in their demolition or substantial alteration.

Mitigation Measures: None available.

Finding: Adherence to existing regulations and 2040 General Plan goals, policies, and implementation actions associated with cultural resources would reduce the potential for impacts associated with future development that could occur in the Planning Area once resources are discovered, there remains the potential for impacts to unknown archeological resources to occur prior to discovery. The presence of significant archaeological resources is typically unknown until the resource is uncovered, which often occurs during ground disturbing activities, adverse effects may occur prior to discovery of the archaeological resources. Because some loss of Resolution 2024 -
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resources could occur, notwithstanding the presence of substantial protection and avoidance policies, with application of existing regulations and applicable goals, policies, and implementing actions of the 2040 General Plan the impact is considered significant. Feasible mitigation measures beyond the impact reducing provisions of the proposed 2040 General Plan policies are not available. For these reasons, the impact remains significant and unavoidable.

Impact 4.5-3: The 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could directly or indirectly destroy or remove an archeological res ource. Without mitigation this is a significant impact.

Finding: Past, present and future development in the broader northern Sacramento Valley region, including buildout of the 2040 General Plan has the potential to impact both recorded and unrecorded archaeological resources and human burials. Future development could include excavation and grading that could potentially impact unknown archaeological resources and human remains that may be present. The cumulative effect of this future development is the continued loss of valued cultural resources. Therefore, while the potential to do so within the Planning Area is reduced through adherence with existing laws, regulations, and the goals, policies, and implementing actions of the 2040 General Plan, there is the potential future development could adversely affect significant, unknown archaeological resources. It is reasonable to assume that the incremental contribution from future development under the 2040 General Plan to the cumulative loss of archeological resources is considerable. Feasible mitigation measures beyond the impact reducing provisions of the proposed 2040 General Plan policies are not available. For these reasons, the impact remains significant and unavoidable.

Noise and Vibration

Impact 4.11-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan would have the Resolution 2024 -
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potential to result in a substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in excess of established City standards. Without mitigation this is a significant impact.

Applicable Policies: ERC-4.3, ERC-10.1 through ERC-10.11, LUP-1.14, LUP-8.5, and YPRO-2.3. Stationary noise sources are addressed through project design in Policy ERC-

4.3 which promotes the incorporation of new technologies, materials, and design and construction techniques in private development projects that minimize noise; exterior noise level standards are addressed in policies ERC-10.1 and ERC-10.2 that require noise mitigation for all development where the projected exterior noise levels exceed City standards and require noise to be controlled at the source as opposed to at the receptor through design, building orientation, hours of operation. Policies ERC-10.3 and ERC-10.4 address interior noise and require noise attenuation be provided to meet the City’s interior noise standards. Construction noise, including vibration is addressed in policies ERC-10.5 through ERC-10.7 which require effects of construction as well as other vibration sources (i.e., rail lines) be evaluated for new development and use of low-impact construction tools and equipment to minimize construction-related vibration. Development of new noise- sensitive land uses under would comply with policies LUP-1.14 and LUP-8.5 which require new development within an airport-defined over-flight zone provide deed notices to future residents and property owners concerning airport over flights and noise (LUP-1.14). Policy LUP-8.5 promotes high-quality design of buildings along freeway and railway corridors that reduces noise among other things. Policy YPRO-2.3 addresses coordination with school districts in identifying new school sites.

Mitigation Measures: None available.

Finding: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan policies would help protect future noise-sensitive land uses from exposure to excessive noise levels from surface transportation noise through appropriate consideration of the compatibility of an individual projects relative to the ambient noise environment. However, existing and future noise-sensitive receptors located adjacent to specific roadway segments would have the potential to experience a permanent increase in exterior noise which is considered a significant impact. Feasible mitigation measures beyond the impact- reducing provisions of the proposed 2040 General Plan policies are not available.

For these reasons, the impact remains significant and unavoidable.

Impact 4.11-5: The 2040 General Plan, in combination with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could result in a cumulatively considerable impact to the ambient noise and vibration environment. Without mitigation this is a significant impact.

Applicable Policies: ERC-4.3, ERC-10.1 through ERC-10.11, LUP-1.14, LUP-8.5.

Stationary noise sources are addressed through project design in Policy ERC-4.3 which promotes the incorporation of new technologies, materials, and design and construction techniques in private development projects that minimize noise; exterior noise level standards are addressed in policies ERC-10.1 and ERC-10.2 that require noise mitigation for all development where the projected exterior noise levels exceed City standards and require noise to be controlled at the source as opposed to at the receptor through design, building orientation, hours of operation. Policies ERC-10.3 Resolution 2024 -
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and ERC-10.4 address interior noise and require noise attenuation be provided to meet the City’s interior noise standards. Construction noise, including vibration is addressed in policies ERC-10.5 through ERC-10.7 which require effects of construction as well as other vibration sources (i.e., rail lines) be evaluated for new development and use of low-impact construction tools and equipment to minimize construction-related vibration. Development of new noise-sensitive land uses under would comply with policies LUP-1.14 and LUP-8.5 which require new development within an airport-defined over-flight zone provide deed notices to future residents and property owners concerning airport over flights and noise (LUP-1.14). Policy LUP-8.5 promotes high-quality design of buildings along freeway and railway corridors that reduces noise among other things.

Mitigation Measures: none available.

Finding: Implementation of the proposed 2040 General Plan policies would help reduce exterior noise impacts on future (new) noise-sensitive (residential) land uses that could be developed under the proposed General Plan. Implementation of noise attenuation measures sufficient to reduce noise level exposure to below the City’s exterior land use compatibility standards (Policies LUP-1.13 and ERC-10.10) would require single-family residential land uses be located at a setback distance greater than the distance to the “normally acceptable“ 60 dBA CNEL, inclusion of noise protection walls, or use of low quiet pavement technologies. However, this may not be feasible to implement at existing receptors due to limitations on allowable roadway modifications, inadequate right-of-way space for construction of a berm or screen, or limitation due to ingress and egress paths. Feasible mitigation measures beyond the impact-reducing provisions of the proposed 2040 General Plan policies are not available. For these reasons, the impact remains significant and unavoidable.

Tribal Cultural Resources
Impact 4.15-1: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource that is listed or eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, or in a local register of historical resources. Without mitigation this is a significant impact.

Applicable Policies: HCR-1.6, HCR-1.14, and HCR-1.17. Goals, policies, and implementation actions of the 2040 General Plan support the preservation of cultural resources and early project consultation and require compliance with federal and state regulations, to protect resources and mitigate impacts to resources. Policy HCR-1.6 requires consultation with the tribes early in the development review process and Policy HCR-1.14 requires compliance with federal and state regulations including those that would protect and potentially mitigate impacts to tribal cultural resources (TCRs). Policy HCR-1.17 requires the City to work with the Native American tribes during the AB 52 process and in the event TCRs are discovered during development which could include on-site monitoring or site-specific investigations. Implementing Action HCR-A.8 entails standard measures for the protection of TCRs that may be encountered during construction, including cessation of work in the vicinity of a discovery, notification of the City’s Preservation Director (or designee), and coordination to determine the appropriate response.

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Mitigation Measures: None available.

Finding: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan would result in potentially significant impacts to TCRs. Adherence with required tribal notification and consultation requirements, identification of mitigation measures on a project-specific basis, and 2040 General Plan policies, and implementing actions aimed at protecting TCRs, potential impacts associated with future development under the 2040 General Plan would be reduced. However, existing regulations and implementation of the 2040 General Plan would not ensure the protection of all TCRs including unanticipated TCRs that have yet to be identified, would not be known in advance, and could be discovered and/or destroyed during construction. However, feasible mitigation measures beyond the impact reducing provisions of the proposed 2040 General Plan policies are not available. For these reasons, the impact remains significant and unavoidable.

Impact 4.15-2: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan could cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource, that is determined to be significant per Public Resources Code Section 5024.1(c).

Without mitigation this is a significant impact.

Applicable Policies: HCR-1.6, HCR-1.14, and HCR-1.17. Goals, policies, and implementation actions of the 2040 General Plan support the preservation of cultural resources and early project consultation and require compliance with federal and state regulations, to protect resources and mitigate impacts to resources. Policy HCR-1.6 requires consultation with the tribes early in the development review process and Policy HCR-1.14 requires compliance with federal and state regulations including those that would protect and potentially mitigate impacts to TCRs. Policy HCR-1.17 requires the City to work with the Native American tribes during the AB 52 process and in the event TCRs are discovered during development which could include on-site monitoring or site-specific investigations. Implementing Action HCR- A.8 entails standard measures for the protection of TCRs that may be encountered during construction, including cessation of work in the vicinity of a discovery, notification of the City’s Preservation Director (or designee), and coordination to determine the appropriate response.

Mitigation Measures: none available.

Finding: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan would result in potentially significant impacts to known TCRs. Adherence with required tribal notification and consultation requirements, identification of mitigation measures on a project-specific basis, and 2040 General Plan policies, and implementing actions aimed at protecting TCRs, potential impacts associated with future development under the 2040 General Plan would be reduced. However, existing regulations and implementation of the 2040 General Plan would not ensure the protection of all TCRs including unanticipated TCRs that have yet to be identified, would not be known in advance, and could be discovered and/or destroyed during construction. Feasible mitigation measures beyond the impact- reducing provisions of the proposed 2040 General Plan policies are not available. For these reasons, the impact remains significant and unavoidable.

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Impact 4.15-3: The 2040 General Plan, combined with past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future projects, could contribute to a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource within the northern Sacramento Valley region. Without mitigation this is a significant impact.

Applicable Policies: HCR-1.6, HCR-1.14, and HCR-1.17. As noted previously, the 2040 General Plan includes goals and policies that support the preservation of cultural resources and early project consultation and require compliance with federal and state regulations, to protect resources and mitigate impacts to resources. Policy HCR-1.6 requires consultation with the tribes early in the development review process and Policy HCR-1.14 requires compliance with federal and state regulations including those that would protect and potentially mitigate impacts to TCRs. Policy HCR-1.17 requires the City to work with the Native American tribes during the AB 52 process and in the event TCRs are discovered during development which could include on-site monitoring or site-specific investigations. Implementing Action HCR- A.8 entails standard measures for the protection of TCRs that may be encountered during construction, including cessation of work in the vicinity of a discovery, notification of the City’s Preservation Director (or designee), and coordination to determine the appropriate response.

Mitigation Measures: none available.

Finding: Implementation of the 2040 General Plan including development in the broader northern Sacramento Valley region, along with past and present development including that which would occur under the 2040 General Plan has the potential to impact TCRs. While the potential to impact TCRs within the Planning Area is reduced through adherence with existing laws, regulations, and proposed general plan goals, policies, and implementing actions of the 2040 General Plan, the potential for significant impacts remains. In addition, due to the broad geographic scope of the cumulative analysis, it is reasonable to assume that the incremental contribution from future development under the 2040 General Plan to the cumulative loss of TCRs is considerable. Feasible mitigation measures beyond the impact- reducing provisions of the proposed 2040 General Plan policies are not available. For these reasons, the impact remains significant and unavoidable.

C. Project Alternatives

The City Council has considered the Project alternatives presented and analyzed in the final EIR and presented during the comment period and public hearing process.

Some of these alternatives have the potential to avoid or reduce certain significant or potentially significant environmental impacts, as set forth below. The City Council finds, based on specific economic, legal, social, technological, or other considerations, that these alternatives are infeasible.

Each alternative and the facts supporting the finding of infeasibility of each alternative are set forth below.

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The Alternatives from the 2035 General Plan MEIR were considered and dismissed from further analysis because they were determined to be infeasible and/or would not substantially reduce the significant impacts associated with implementation of the Sacramento 2040 Plan. The following is an overview of the alternatives from the 2035 General Plan MEIR that were considered but dismissed from further consideration.

Summary of Alternatives Considered

No Project/2035 General Plan Alternative

The Draft MEIR analyzes a No Project alternative that assumes development would occur consistent with the existing 2035 General Plan land use designations in the city. Under this alternative, the Planning Area would be developed consistent with the underlying land uses and development intensities of the 2035 General Plan. The proposed 2040 General Plan includes some changes to the 2035 General Plan Land Use and Urban Form Diagram, but the overall buildout of the city under the 2035 General Plan would be similar to the buildout proposed under the 2040 General Plan, notwithstanding changes to the number of land use designations, the types of housing units permitted in single-unit and duplex dwelling zones and standards for maximum allowable development intensity (e.g., Floor Area Ratio [FAR]) applicable to all parcels in the city and controlled via a Maximum FAR Map to accommodate the City’s 2040 growth projections.

The 2035 General Plan population projections are slightly higher than currently projected for the Planning Area. This difference is minor, based on plan assumptions, and would not have an effect on either the analysis or conclusions of the MEIR. ;

Facts in Support of Finding of Infeasibility

The 2035 General Plan greatly advanced the City’s objectives for smart growth, sustainability, and health beyond the 2030 General Plan. The proposed 2040 General Plan is focused on compact development and continues to enhance and build upon sustainable practices introduced in the 2035 General Plan. The 2040 General Plan further advances these objectives by incorporating the City’s CAAP into the policies of the General Plan, further focusing more sustainable development in the City’s core and priority investment areas, and facilitating more sustainable, multi-modal transportation infrastructure. The 2040 General Plan also encourages more diverse housing options by implementing standards for maximum allowable development intensity. The CAAP promotes a reduction in vehicle miles traveled and enhanced energy efficiency to comply with new state goals to reach carbon neutrality by 2045.

Implementing the No Project/2035 General Plan Alternative would not further the City’s objectives in these areas because the absence of a coordinated approach as set forth in policies of the general plan would leave strategy to project-by-project analysis would jeopardize the comprehensive, and multi-agency, planning and action.

The No Project/2035 General Plan Alternative would not reduce impacts as compared to the Project and would not avoid any significant and unavoidable impacts associated with the Project.

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MTP/SCS Reduced Employment Alternative

The MTP/SCS Alternative proposes a reduction in the amount of commercial development to reduce employment/jobs consistent with the employment projections set forth in the Sacramento Area Council of Governments or SACOG’s adopted 2020 MTP/SCS. The 2020 MTP/SCS assumes more rapid growth to occur in other areas of the region, reducing the city’s share of regional employment.

Facts in Support of Finding of Infeasibility

The MTP/SCS Employment Alternative would spread out future employment centers within the larger region not building upon existing employment centers or potential reuse of underutilized land where the infrastructure and services exist to serve this type of development. The 2040 General Plan represents a more ambitious plan for growth of the city as compared to the 2020 MTP/SCS. Therefore, while this Alternative would achieve all the Project objectives, it would do so to a lesser extent than the 2040 General Plan. This is most evident regarding the objectives “Interconnected and Accessible City” and “Regional Economic Hub” since the 2040 General Plan specifically plans for infill development to occur within transit corridors and for the city to have a larger share of regional employment compared to its share assumed in the 2020 MTP/SCS. The MTP/SCS Reduced Employment Alternative would not reduce impacts as compared to the Project and would not avoid any significant and unavoidable impacts associated with the Project.

D. Statement of Overriding Considerations

Pursuant to Guidelines Section 15092, the City Council finds that in approving the Project it has eliminated or substantially lessened all significant and potentially significant effects of the Project on the environment where feasible, as shown in the MEIR and described in these Findings. The City Council further finds that it has balanced the economic, legal, social, technological, and other benefits of the Project against the remaining unavoidable environmental risks in determining whether to approve the Project and has determined that those benefits outweigh the unavoidable environmental risks and that those risks are acceptable. The City Council makes this statement of overriding considerations in accordance with Section 15093 of the Guidelines in support of approval of the Project.

In the City Council’s judgment, the Project and its benefits outweigh its unavoidable significant effects. The following statement identifies the reasons why, in the City Council’s judgment, the benefits of the project as approved outweigh its unavoidable significant effects.

Any one of the stated reasons is sufficient to justify approval of the Project. Thus, even if a court were to conclude that not every reason set forth in this Statement of Overriding Considerations (Statement) is supported by substantial evidence, the City Council finds that any individual reason is separately sufficient. This Statement is supported by the substantial evidence set forth in the Draft MEIR, Final MEIR, the Findings set forth above, and in the documents contained in the administrative record referenced above.

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1. Achieving the City’s Vision. The 2040 General Plan is a long-range planning document that establishes a framework for the City to achieve its vision of a national model of sustainable, equitable growth and community development. The Project is a guide for the development of lands within the city limits and contains the policy framework necessary to achieve its vision. The General Plan fulfills the City’s objectives to preserve and create neighborhoods that provide a range of housing choices, great schools and safe streets that ensure neighborhoods will be inclusive and places that provide long- term health, equity, and social well-being for the entire community. The 2040 General Plan establishes new goals and policies that address social equity, environmental justice, and community resilience in addition to being a leader in climate action and the green economy and achieving climate neutrality by 2045.

Other goals and policies are directed to building on Sacramento as the center for government, employment, education and culture, ensuring access to a range of environmentally responsible transportation options, investing in improving aging infrastructure, and a commitment to maintaining clean air, water and a zero-emission transportation system. While previous general plans served the City well, the 2040 General Plan reflects changed conditions, priorities and values, includes streamlined and flexible land use controls to facilitate development by allowing a greater range of housing choices and reducing barriers to increased housing production through simplifying and consolidating land use classifications or designations and use of a floor area ratio (FAR)-based system to control maximum development intensity for all development. The 2040 General Plan also addresses new state laws and includes updates to the Community Plans. The Plan reflects housing, employment, and population projections consistent with SACOG’s 2020 Metropolitan Transportation Plan and an extension of the planning horizon to 2040.

For the reasons set forth above, the City Council finds that the ability of the Project to provide a policy framework for achieving the City’s vision outweighs its environmental impacts.

2. Focusing Growth Inward. The 2040 General Plan continues to build on goals and policies from the 2030 and 2035 General Plans and encourages future growth in the city within the existing city limits in existing urbanized and underutilized areas.

Goals and policies promote compact development that is land- and resource-efficient and supports efficient delivery of public services, access to infrastructure to conserve open space and reduce vehicle trips. The 2040 General Plan Land Use Diagram facilitates infill development and compact development patterns by including goals and policies that reduce the complexity for infill development and complement the new FAR-bases system to regulate building intensity to allow for and encourage and a mix of uses within neighborhoods, corridors, and centers. The Project provides opportunity for future development to integrate housing with commercial, office, and entertainment uses, reducing residents’ need to travel far for goods and services or jobs. The Project also establishes a land use pattern that furthers SACOG’s regional vision expressed in the 2020 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy, which seeks to increase walking, biking, and transit use and reduce vehicle miles traveled.

For the reasons set forth above, the City Council finds that the ability of the Project to focus growth inward, result in a more compact, higher density pattern of development, Resolution 2024 -
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and mix uses in a complementary fashion outweighs its environmental impacts.

3. Accommodate new Growth that is Sustainable and Responsible. Approval and implementation of the 2040 General Plan would concentrate growth within the city to promote a compact development pattern that provides a broad mix of housing types for all income levels and supports access to public services and infrastructure, including access to high-frequency transit while protecting areas of open space. The Plan also includes goals and policies designed to encourage “complete neighborhoods” that provide services within easy walking or biking distance of residences. Underlying many goals and policies is promotion of an environmentally conscious, health promoting, age-friendly city that acknowledges the importance of conservation of energy, water, open spaces, trees and other natural resources, particularly in areas that have vacant or underutilized land.

For the reasons set forth above, the City Council finds that the ability of the Project to preserve open space and conserve areas of open space, trees and other natural resources outweighs its environmental impacts.

4. Increasing Water Conservation. The 2040 General Plan provides goals, policies, and programs that address the use of water by reducing overall water consumption and maintaining water supplies and water quality. Both surface water and groundwater supplies are important determinants of future growth of the city. The 2040 General Plan includes policies and implementation programs to reduce water consumption by new development from current rates of consumption, coordinate water planning and management among the water purveyors, and encourage the most efficient uses and sources of water to maintain adequate water supplies.

For the reasons set forth above, the City Council finds that the ability of the Project to protect water resources and increase water conservation outweighs its environmental impacts.

5. Creating an Interconnected and Accessible City. The 2040 General Plan retains goals and policies that improve the mobility and access of both persons and goods throughout the city and the region. It promotes alternative active forms of transportation (e.g., transit, bicycle, pedestrian) and reduces reliance on single- occupant vehicles to reduce commute times, vehicle miles traveled, and vehicle congestion, improves air quality, and facilitates a healthier community. The 2040 General Plan includes policies that expand the range of transportation options within the city and the region for all ages and abilities with a focus on safety of human life.

The General Plan includes policies to ensure equity is a priority in underserved neighborhoods to improve transportation, mobility and investments in public services including digital connectivity.

For the reasons set forth above, the City Council finds that the ability of the Project to create access for all residents and reduce vehicle miles traveled and provide alternative travel options outweighs its environmental impacts.

6. Achieving Carbon Neutrality. The Project includes a variety of goals, policies, and implementation programs that continue the City’s ongoing commitment Resolution 2024 -
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to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global warming, both in its municipal operations and at the community-wide scale. The 2040 General Plan advances these objectives by incorporating the City’s Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) into the policies of the General Plan. The CAAP update promotes a reduction in vehicle miles traveled and enhanced energy efficiency to comply with new state goals to reach carbon neutrality by 2045. The goals, policies, and implementation programs in the 2040 General Plan and CAAP call for specific actions that would apply to both existing development and new development that could occur under the 2040 General Plan. Examples of these actions include: implementation of “green” building practices in both new construction and retrofits to existing buildings, reducing reliance on natural gas and increased use of solar photovoltaic and other renewable energy systems, increased investment in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and complete streets, increased community recycling and waste diversion, water and wastewater conservation, and compact infill development in mixed-use areas near transit that facilitate walking, biking, and use of public transit. The 2040 General Plan and CAAP is intended to ensure that the City comes into and remains in compliance with the directives of Senate Bill 32, which calls for a reduction in statewide GHG emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. The CAAP is focused on achieving the 2030 target and making substantial progress toward also achieving the 2045 carbon neutrality goal. Adoption of the 2040 General Plan and CAAP update will put these key strategies in place immediately to move the City and the region toward a more sustainable future.

For the reasons set forth above, the City Council finds that the ability of the Project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions outweighs its environmental impacts.

7. Establishing Sacramento as a Regional Economic Hub. The 2040 General Plan includes a land use plan and specific goals and policies that support a diversity of business and employment opportunities. The policies in the Economic Development Element of the 2040 General Plan seek to focus business attraction and development activities on key industry sectors that have existing presence in the region as well as potential for future growth. A key part of this strategy involves fostering “clusters” of specialized and interdependent business and institutions in order to catalyze employment growth and create a competitive advantage. The 2040 General Plan identifies Opportunity Areas and encourages development projects in those areas to generate local jobs and support a dynamic, resilient economy.

For the reasons set forth above, the City Council finds that the ability of the Project to expand economic opportunities outweighs its environmental impacts.

8. Creating a Safe and Livable City. The 2040 General Plan includes goals, policies, and implementation programs that seek to reduce exposure of residents and property risk from flooding. Policies proposed under the 2040 General Plan include levee requirements for certification to provide 200-year flood protection, new development evaluations, and flood management planning efforts (including interagency coordination). It requires new development within Special Flood Hazard Areas to be designed to meet federal and State regulations and minimize the risk of damage in the event of a flood. The Plan sets forth policies to protect levees and other flood protection facilities by requiring adequate setbacks from flood control Resolution 2024 -
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levees and providing unobstructed access on City-owned land for maintenance and emergencies.

For the reasons set forth above, the City Council finds that the ability of the Project to reduce the risk of flooding outweighs its environmental impacts.

9. Creating a Safe, Equitable, Inclusive and Just City. The 2040 General Plan includes goals and policies that create more livable neighborhoods through increased safety, better access to healthy foods, and opportunities for exercise through increased focus on pedestrian and bicycle mobility. The 2040 General Plan includes a Land Use Map and Circulation Diagram that continue to preserve and enhance land use patterns and densities that foster pedestrian and bicycle use and recreation through expanded parklands, sports, and athletic programming as well as provide incentives for expanding the availability of healthy food resources in disadvantaged communities, and protecting residents from crime. It also establishes goals and policies that seek to ensure equitable access for all residents to employment, housing, education, recreation, transportation, and services.

For the reasons set forth above, the City Council finds that the ability of the Project to improve residents’ health and quality of life outweighs its environmental impacts.

10. The City Council has considered these benefits and considerations and has considered the potentially significant unavoidable environmental effects of the Project. The City Council has determined that the economic, social, technological and other benefits of the Project outweigh the identified impacts. The City Council has determined that the Project benefits set forth above override the significant and unavoidable environmental costs associated with the Project.

11. The City Council adopts the mitigation measure in the final Mitigation Monitoring Program, incorporated by reference into these Findings, and finds that any residual or remaining effects on the environment resulting from the Project, identified as significant and unavoidable in the Findings of Fact, are acceptable due to the benefits set forth in this Statement of Overriding Considerations. The City Council makes this statement of overriding considerations in accordance with Section15093 of the CEQA Guidelines in support of approval of the Project.

Sacramento City CouncilFebruary 27, 2024

Sacramento City Council
February 27, 2024