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2. Impact 4.1-2: Land use conflicts would occur between proposed urban development and <br /> continuing agricultural operations. <br /> Mitigation Measure 4.1-2(a): A 1000-foot-wide buffer should be provided along the western <br /> boundary of the site. <br /> Finding: Changes or alternations have been required in, or incorporated into, the project which <br /> avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effect as identified in the FEIR to a <br /> nonsignificant level. <br /> Statement of Fact: This mitigation measure requires a minimum 1000-foot-wide buffer along the <br /> western periphery of the project to protect the agricultural lands in Alameda County. The width <br /> of this buffer is based on several factors, including prevailing winds from the west and the <br /> likelihood of pesticides drifting into the project site from aerial spraying. <br /> The applicants have proposed a reduced buffer width of approximately 200 feet based on several <br /> different rationales. Their revised land use diagram shows a major arterial being incorporated into <br /> this buffer. Conceptual diagrams and supporting text (see Attachment E, and the illustration on <br /> the following page) show how a combination of this arterial, berms, landscaped medians, building <br /> orientations, etc., will create an effective visual and land use barrier. This narrower width is also <br /> premised on the applicant's ability to restrict the agricultural operations in Alameda County to <br /> prevent aerial spraying and pesticide application on windy days. Since the applicant has control <br /> of the majority of this land, staff feels that the applicant can record the required restrictions <br /> against the land. However, this cannot be imposed effectively at the GPA stage. It can be <br /> included within the first Development Agreement that will be drafted at the Specific Plan stage. <br /> Until the first Development Agreement is approved and recorded, staff recommends that a <br /> minimum 500-foot-wide buffer along the project's western boundary be retained. At the time of <br /> subsequent environmental review when the Specific Plan is drafted,this mitigation measure could <br /> be reevaluated and modified as described above. The 500-foot width is a revision to the EIR <br /> preparer's recommended 1000-foot width and has been modified to reflect that same preparer's <br /> updated recommendations contained within the EIR prepared for the General Plan 2010. This <br /> mitigation measure has been included in Attachment B under New Town Policies. <br /> B. ZONING AND GENERAL PLAN POLICIES <br /> 1. Impact 4.2-1: The project would conflict with many of the County's proposed policies of the <br /> Revised Draft General Plan 2010 as well as with policies of the adopted Land Use/Circulation <br /> Element of the General Plan. <br /> Mitigation Measure 4.2-1(b): The EIR recommends inclusion of the 1000-foot-wide buffer along <br /> with other farmland preservation mitigation measures (see attached table for complete text). <br /> Conflicts with the 2010 Plan do not need to be addressed as part of this 1995 GPA, since they <br /> are and will be addressed as part of the 2010 Plan adoption process. Conflicts with the current <br /> Plan have been addressed in the text of the staff report, and staff believes that, with the text <br /> amendments proposed in Attachment B, the GPA is consistent. <br /> Finding: Changes or alterations have been required in, or incorporated into, the project which <br /> avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effect as identified in the FEIR to a <br /> nonsignificant level. <br /> Attachment C-1 C1-2 (PC: 4-9-92) <br />