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v. GENERAL IMPACT CATEGORIES
Section 15126 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines requires that all aspects
of a project must be considered when evaluating its impact on the environment, including planning,
acquisition, development, and operation. As part of this analysis, the Draft EIR must also identify (1)
significant environmental effects that cannot be avoided if the proposed project is implemented; (2)
significant irreversible environmental change that would result from implementation of the proposed
project; and (3) growth-inducing impacts of the proposed project.
A. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT UNAVOIDABLE IMPACTS
Section 15126.2(b) of the Guidelines to CEQA requires that an EIR describe any significant impacts
which cannot be avoided, even with implementation of mitigation measures. Specifically, Section
15126.2(b) states:
"Describe any significant impacts, including those which can be mitigated but not reduced to a
level of insignificance. Where there are impacts that cannot be alleviated without imposing an
alternative design, their implications and the reason why the project is being proposed,
notwithstanding their effict, should be described. "
Based on the analysis contained in this Draft EIR implementation of the project would result m
significant unavoidable impacts to the following:
. Air Quality. The proposed project would conflict with the BAAQMD Clean Air Plan and
would violate an air quality standard for regional operational emissions - daily emissions of
PMI0. (Project and cumulative impacts related to generation of operational emissions of
PMIO for the 2020 Master Plan buildout.)
. Noise. The proposed project would result in substantial temporary or periodic increase in
ambient noise levels in the project vicinity. (Construction noise impacts to noise sensitive
uses [Genentech Child Care Facility]). The proposed project would cause a substantial
increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the
project. (Cumulative traffic noise increases exceeding the threshold of 3 dBA.)
. Traffic. The proposed project would result in impacts to:
o 2015 Off-Ramp Queuing to Freeway Mainline - SIM Traffic Evaluation at U.S.lOl
Southbound Flyover Off-Ramp to Oyster Point Boulevard / Gateway Boulevard
Intersection
o 2015 Off-Ramp Queuing to Freeway Mainline - SIM Traffic Evaluation at U.S.lOl
Northbound Off-Ramp to Dubuque Avenue Intersection
o 2015 Off-Ramp Operation at U.S.l0l Mainline Diverge at U.S.l0l Southbound Flyover
Off-Ramp to Oyster Point Boulevard / Gateway Boulevard Intersection
Gateway Business Park Master Plan
Draft Environmental Impact Report
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o 2015 Off-Ramp Operation at U.S.l0l Mainline Diverge at U.S.l0l Northbound Off-
Ramp to Dubuque A venue Intersection
o 2015 On-Ramp Operation to U.S.lOl Mainline at U.S.lOl Northbound On-Ramp from
Oyster Point Boulevard
o On-Ramp Operation to U.S.lOl Mainline at U.S.101 Southbound On-Ramp from
Dubuque Avenue
o 2015 Freeway Mainline Operation at U.S.lOl Southbound (North of the Oyster Point
Boulevard interchange)
o 2015 Freeway Mainline Operation at U.S.l0l Northbound (North of the Oyster Point
Boulevard interchange)
o 2035 Intersection Level of Service Oyster Point Boulevard / Dubuque Avenue / U.S.l0l
Northbound On-Ramp Intersection
o 2035 Vehicle Queuing - Synchro Evaluation at Oyster Point Boulevard / Dubuque
Avenue / U. S.1 0 1 Northbound On-Ramp Intersection
o 2035 Off-Ramp Queuing to Freeway Mainline - SIM Traffic Evaluation at U.S.lOl
Southbound Flyover Off-Ramp to Oyster Point Boulevard / Gateway Boulevard
Intersection
o 2035 Off-Ramp Queuing to Freeway Mainline - SIM Traffic Evaluation at U.S.lOl
Northbound Off-Ramp to Dubuque Avenue Intersection
o 2035 Off-Ramp Operation at U.S.l0l Mainline Diverge at U.S.l0l Southbound Flyover
Off-Ramp to Oyster Point Boulevard / Gateway Boulevard Intersection
o 2035 Off-Ramp Operation at U.S.l0l Mainline Diverge at U.S.l0l Northbound Off-
Ramp to Dubuque A venue Intersection
o 2035 Off-Ramp Operation at U.S.l0l Mainline Diverge at U.S.l0l Northbound Off-
Ramp to East Grand Avenue / Executive Drive Intersection
o 2035 On-Ramp Operation to U.S. 101 Mainline at U.S. 101 Southbound On-Ramp from
Dubuque Avenue
o 2035 On-Ramp Operation to U.S. 101 Mainline at U.S. 101 Southbound On-Ramp from
Produce Avenue
o 2035 On-Ramp Operation to U.S. 101 Mainline at U.S. 101 Northbound On-Ramp from
Oyster Point Boulevard
o 2035 Freeway Mainline Operation at U.S.lOl Southbound (North of the Oyster Point
Boulevard interchange)
o 2035 Freeway Mainline Operation at U.S.l0l Northbound (North of the Oyster Point
Boulevard interchange)
Gateway Business Park Master Plan
Draft Environmental Impact Report
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B. GROWTH INDUCING IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT
Section 15126.2(d) of the CEQA Guidelines requires a discussion of the ways in which a proposed action
could be growth inducing. This includes ways in which the project would foster economic or population
growth, or the construction of additional housing, either directly or indirectly, in the surrounding
environment. Section 15126.2(d) ofthe CEQA Guidelines reads as follows:
"Discuss the ways in which the proposed project could foster economic or population growth, or
the construction of additional housing, either directly or indirectly, in the surrounding
environment. Included in this are projects which would remove obstacles to population growth (a
major expansion of a waste water treatment plant might, for example, allow for more
construction in service areas). Increases in the population may tax existing community service
facilities, requiring construction of new facilities that could cause significant environmental
effects. Also discuss the characteristic of some projects which may encourage and facilitate other
activities that could significantly affect the environment, either individually or cumulatively. It
must not be assumed that growth in any area is necessarily beneficial, detrimental, or of little
significance to the environment. "
In general, a project may foster spatial, economic, or population growth in a geographic area if it meets
anyone of the criteria identified below:
. The project removes an impediment to growth (e.g., the establishment or expansion of an
essential public service to an area)
. The project results in the urbanization ofland in a remote location (leapfrog development)
. The project establishes a precedent-setting action (e.g., a change in zoning or General Plan
amendment approval)
. Economic expansion or growth occurs in an area in response to the project (e.g., changes in
revenue base, employment expansion, etc.)
If a project meets anyone of these criteria, it may be considered growth inducing. Generally, growth
inducing projects are either located in isolated, undeveloped, or underdeveloped areas, necessitating the
extension of major infrastructure such as sewer and water facilities or roadways, or encourage premature
or unplanned growth.
Remove an Impediment to Growth/Precedent-Setting Action
The project would require a General Plan Amendment to increase the FAR allowed on the project site to
1.25. Once this General Plan Amendment is approved, an FAR of 1.25 as proposed by the project (and as
currently allowed under the existing Gateway Specific Plan District zoning) would be consistent with the
General Plan. Development of the site at an FAR of 1.25 would be more intense than what currently
exists on the site. However, the 1.25 FAR allowed under the Gateway Specific Plan District zoning was
adopted for the purpose of developing and redeveloping the entire Gateway Specific Plan District at a
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higher density. As surrounding properties are redeveloped, it is likely that they will also be developed at
increased densities as well. Therefore, the project's density is consistent with the City's vision for
development in the area and would not be inconsistent or create land use impacts due to the increased
density.
Urbanization of Land in a Remote Location
The project would not encourage growth through the urbanization of land in remote locations, resulting in
"leapfrog" development. The proposed project is located in an urbanized industrial area of South San
Francisco, bordered by rail lines on the west and northwest, connected to the Caltrain station to the west,
and located roughly one mile north of the San Francisco International Airport. Consequently, because the
proposed project is not located in a remote location, no growth inducing impacts related to urbanization of
remote locations would occur.
Economic Expansion or Growth
The project would result in 1,613 employees working on the site by the year 2015 and 3,281 employees
by the year 2020. Accounting for the current 750 employees, the project would account for a total net
increase of 2,531 employees working on the site by 2020. ABAG projects an increase in employment in
the City of 3,110 jobs from 2005 to 2015 and 2,940 jobs from 2015 to 2020. Therefore, the project's
contribution to the increase in employment in the City would be within ABAG's employment projections
for the City for both the years of2015 and 2020.
South San Francisco currently has a high jobslhousing ratio of 1.7; this means that South San Francisco is
a job center that imports employees from surrounding communities, or alternatively, that exports housing.
Based on ABAG's projections, the future jobslhousing ratio in the City for 2015 would increase to
approximately 2.09 by 2015 and to 2.11 by 2020. These ratios suggest poor housing availability relative
to the amount of jobs projected, and a high level of in-commuting. Housing availability, already projected
to be out of balance, would decrease with implementation of the proposed project. Consequently, the
potential employment increase resulting from the project would result in direct and indirect growth that
may not be accommodated by existing or proposed housing projections for the City.
However, continued job growth in the City would promote a greater regional balance between jobs and
housing. The City is a strategically located inner Bay Area community well served by all modes of
transit-including air and rail, BART and ferry service (in the near future). Therefore, future employees
commuting to jobs in the City would have varied means of reaching the project.
Given that the number of employees generated by the project would be within the ABAG projections and
overall the project would promote a greater regional jobs balance, the project would not directly or
indirectly induce substantial population growth.
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C. SIGNIFICANT IRREVERSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES
Section 15126.2(c) of the CEQA Guidelines states that significant irreversible environmental changes
associated with a proposed project shall be discussed, including the following:
. Uses of nonrenewable resources during the initial and continued phases of the project that may
be irreversible because a large commitment of such resources makes removal or nonuse
thereafter unlikely;
. Primary impacts and, particularly, secondary impacts (such as highway improvement that
provides access to a previously inaccessible area), which generally commit future generations to
similar uses; and
. Irreversible damage that could result from environmental accidents associated with the project.
The construction and operation of the project would entail the commitment of energy, human resources,
and building materials. Ongoing maintenance and operation of the proposed project would entail a further
commitment of energy resources in the form of natural gas, electricity, and water resources. This
commitment of energy, personnel, and building materials would be commensurate with that of other
projects of similar magnitude, and there are currently no shortages of these resources to the extent that
would preclude the construction and operation of the project.
The proposed project would increase in development at the site from approximately 284,000 sf to
approximately 1,230,570 sf, or a net change of 946,570 sf. The project site is previously developed and
continued use of the site with these uses is planned and accounted for in the City's General Plan.
Therefore, implementation of the project would commit future generations to using the project site for
uses similar to the current uses.
Irreversible changes to the physical environment could occur from accidental releases of hazardous
materials associated with development. However, compliance with hazardous materials regulations,
policies and mitigation measures (as outlined in this Draft EIR) is expected to maintain this potential
impact as less than significant. No other irreversible changes would result from the adoption and
implementation ofthe proposed project.
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