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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12211989 - 2.6 - 2.6 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on December 21, 198 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Fanden, Schroder, McPeak and Torlakson NOES: None ABSENT: Supervisor Powers ABSTAIN: None Resolution No. 89/811 ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPTING WRITTEN. FINDINGS AND RESPONSES TO WRITTEN OBJECTIONS RECEIVED IN CONNECTION WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE OAKLEY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 33363 . WHEREAS, the Redevelopment Agency of the County of Contra Costa (the "Agency" ) has prepared and submitted to the Board of Supervisors of the County of Contra Costa (the "Board" ) , for the Board' s consideration, the Oakley Redevelopment Plan (the "Redevelopment Plan" ) ; and WHEREAS, in connection with consideration of the Redevelopment Plan, the Board and the Agency conducted and completed a duly noticed public hearing on December 12, 1989, pursuant to the requirements of Health and Safety Code Section 33355; and WHEREAS, at or prior to the joint public hearing, the Board and the Agency received certain written objections. to the Redevelopment Plan, which written objections are set forth in Part II of that certain document entitled "Oakley Redevelopment Plan: Written Findings and Responses Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 3336311, which document is attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A, incorporated herein by this reference, and hereinafter referred to as the "Findings" ; and WHEREAS, Part III of the Findings contains the Board' s and Agency' s written findings and responses to the above-described written objections , which written findings and responses have been prepared and considered by the Board and the Agency in connection with consideration of adoption of the Redevelopment Plan, all in accordance with the provisions of Health and Safety Code Section 33363 . NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board hereby finds and certifies that the. Findings have been prepared in compliance with the provisions of Health and Safety Code Section 33363 ; that the Findings adequately address the written objections received by the Board and the Agency in connection with the Redevelopment Plan; and that the Board has reviewed and considered the information contained in the Findings prior to approving the Redevelopment Plan. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Findings set forth in the attached Exhibit A are hereby approved and adopted as, and shall constitute, the written findings and responses of the Board as required by Health and Safety Code Section 33363 . #B027/B32009 1 hereby certify that this Is a Uue and oormd eW of cc: Redevelopment an action taken and entered on the minUM of the Community Development Board of Su sor°on th date shown. County Administrator ATTESTED: e,p�P—� -� II Auditor—Contro 1 ler PHIL BATCHELOR,Clerk of the Board County Counsel Supe and CounAdministrator 89/811 BY 'N°� EXHIBIT A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE OAKLEY REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT WRITTEN FINDINGS AND RESPONSES PURSUANT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 33363 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY DECEMBER 21 , 1989 ATTACHMENT TO RESOLUTION. I . PURPOSE The Contra Costa County Redevelopment Agency (the "Agency") has prepared, and the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County (the "Board .of Supervisors" ) is considering for adoptiorr, the Redevelopment Plan for the Oakley Redevelopment Project` (the "Redevelopment Plan" ) . On December 12, 1989, the Agency and the Board of Supervisors conducted and completed a duly noticed joint public hearing on the Redevelopment Plan in accordance with the requirements of Health and Safety Code Section 33355 . At or prior to the joint public hearing, the Agency and the Board of Supervisors received certain written objections to the Redevelopment Plan. Those written objections are set forth in Part II of this document. Health and Safety Code Section 33363 states : At the hour set in the notice required by Section 33361 for hearing objections, the legislative body shall proceed to hear all written and oral objections . Before adopting the redevelopment plan the legislative body shall evaluate the report of the agency, the report and recommendation of the project area committee, and all evidence and testimony for and against the adoption of the plan and shall evaluate the report of the agency, the report and recommendation of the project area committee, and' all evidence and testimony for and against the adoption of the plan and shall make written findings in response to each written objection of an affected property owner or taxing entity. The legislative body shall respond in writing to the written objections received before or at the noticed hearing, including any extensions thereof, and may additionally respond to written objections that are received after the hearing. The written responses shall describe the disposition of the issues raised. The legislative body shall address the written objections in detail , giving reasons for not accepting specified objections and suggestions. The legislative body shall include a good-faith, reasoned analysis in its response and, for this purpose, conclusionary statements unsupported by factual information shall not suffice. This document constitutes the written findings and responses of the Board of Supervisors, as the legislative body of Contra Costa County, prepared and adopted in accordance with the requirements of Health and Safety Code Section 33363. Specifically, Part III below contains the Board of Supervisors ' written findings and responses to the various written objections set forth in Part II . -2- Each substantive comment or objection in Part II has been assigned a reference identification number in the margin next to the comment or objection. The Board of Supervisors ' written findings and responses to each substantive comment or objection are set forth and organized in Part III according to those reference identification numbers. Finally, Part IV below addresses comments received as part of the Environmental Impact Report process and the Fiscal Review Committee process for the Redevelopment Plan. II . WRITTEN OBJECTIONS Written objections to the Redevelopment Plan were received from the following persons and entities : A. Jack Matlock December 8, 1989 Matlock and Associates on December 12 , 1989 behalf of Liberty Union High School District, Oakley School District and Brentwood School District B. Philip D. White December 12, 1989 Superintendent, Liberty Union High School District C. Frank J. Hengel December 12, 1989 Superintendent, Oakley Union School District D. Joel Keller, Mayor December 12 , 1989 City of Antioch E. Jim Cutler, LAFCO October 4, 1989 F. Sierra Club October 19, 1989 The written objections are set forth in their entirety on the following pages . In addition, 6 letters of comment were received by the Board of Supervisors at the public hearing regarding the Oakley/North Brentwood Area General Plan. These comments do not relate to the adoption of the Redevelopment Plan. Therefore, the Board of Supervisors , pursuant to Health and Safety Codes Section 33363 is not required to make any written findings regarding these comments . -3- e 4156461309 _ I, CG- 11 - 69 MON 0 : 24 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY - •'--_-:_P :.4_s---'• TEL No. Nov.27, 0 23:20 P .02 • AbtwaroCk XMD XSSOt"To ES (7 4) 464-2491 . December 8, 1989 Contra Costa County Redevelopment Agency ATTN: Jerry Rayeraft VIA rAX 615 666-1309 Aear Jerry: I have reviewed your fAX of December 7th wherein you do not feel inclined to reach a compromise on a pass thru agreement. We strongly A-10 believe that the districts should recaive an even greater share than the 40% which we originally proposed. • However •we were and still are willing to compromise at •30t plus the 2=. The districts believe the project has vulnerabilities with regarding to blight findings and we do not wish to be the agency which pointe A-1 these out - thus opening the legal challenge to any and all concerned. However your position is leaving "us no choice but to appear at the Dec :2th meeting to speak in opposition. We hoped this could be avoided. we Will forward material by PAX on Monday. Superintendents from the districts will attend the public sweting in order to register our concerns and to request that•a video be entered into the record. we will also forward the required resolutions regarding the 2%. However as you agreeds there will be no refusal on your part to consider them valid should they arrive after the adoption of the project. Thank you for your continued. consideration. S3 cerel�l' ack Matlock rAX 714 651-5106 ILL I4V �vl, .. 1 - .-4- r •'. . _ MA6rMCj( XvE) ASSOClAOSs • Ce.e o ay AA444" d Caaisk"b rvr &fool Vidrku (714) 454-2491 • RECEI ]ED December 12, 1989 Contra Costa County DEC 13. Redevelopment Agency cAo�w651 Pine Street �0 NTRACOSTMartinez , CA 94553 ti •Gi....._ RE: Proposed Oackley Redevelopment Project On behalf of our clients, the Liberty Union High School District, the Oakley School District and the Brentwood School District, we wish to include the following remarks into the public record for the subject redevelopment project. In addition, we ask that our A-1 report to the fiscal review committee, dated December 7, 1989 be included in the public record. We also request that the record include a video of the proposed area which the districts have produced and which will be forwarded to agency staff under separate cover. This video will establish that certain properties have been included in the project which are not blighted within the meaning of redevelopment law. The districts are local agencies having both the responsibility and expertise to provide public school services to residents and taxpayers in the County of Contra Costa . We believe that there will be fiscal burden and detriment to the Districts caused by the project generating a demand for additional services which are or will be beyond the ability of the Districts to finance. The Implementation of the proposed project will create the need for A-2 additional student housing at a time when district facilities are already overcrowded and in need of rehabilitation. We have stet on several occassions with county and agency staff to discuss the impacts• of the proposed project on the districts. The districts contend that accelerated growth will occur as a result of redevelopment. Growth begets growth. Buildings to house this new student growth is not included in the project. Neither is funding to rehabilitate existing buildings. Buildings within the districts are in serious need of rehabilitation and will further deteriorate over the 40 year life of the project. The clear intent of the legislature is to include schools in redevelopment regardless of impacts. The following is quoted from • Section 33250 of the Health and Safety Code which stresses the need for educational facilities as s specific category of public need. "The legislature further finds and declares that there is a serious need throughout the state for adequate educational recreational, cultural and other community facilit est,theta k of which threatens and adversely affects the health, safety , morals and welfare of the people of this state" . TEL No . No5 .4- F- .n' It seems apparent tht law intends that the agency has a responsibility to in.:lude school needs as a part of the redeveloment plan. Otherwise why would the state be willing to assume a major part of redevelopment expense? A-2 The proposed project is designed to revitalize existing neighborhoods, expand available housing, increase employment opportunity and to increase commercial and industrial development. Directly and indirectly, it will create normal housing growth as well as low and moderate income housing growth. It is to be noted that the plan proposes to spend 20 t of the tax increment for low and mDderate income housing development thereby causing additional studeits to impact district schools. The agency does not include a specific plan which identifies new facilities, reconstruction, or jobs that will be created as a result of the agency project. Therefore the Districts have not been provided with sufficient specificity, as required by the A-3 Health 6 Safety Code, to evaluate the impacts which will occur over the 40 year life of the plan. As you know, an accurate, stable and finite project description is an indispensable requisite of an informative and legally sufficient EIR. (See County of Inyo v City of Los Angeles, ( 1977) 71 Cal App 3rd 185, 193 and Title 14 of the California Administrative Code, hereinafter referred to as "Guidelines" Section 15124) The Plan does not .consider the cumulative impacts of the project and other development in the area on district programs and students. Although there will be additional development activity In the County and in the cities of Oakley and Brentwood, no analysis of potential development projects or consideration of the impacts they may have on the districts have been included. Both reasonably anticipated future projects and related unapproved projects currently under environmental review must be A-4 discussed. (See San Franciscans for Reasonable Growth v City and County of San Francisco ( 1984) 151 Cal. App. 3rd 61, and Guidelines Section 15130. ) The districts have made comment on these cumulative secondary impacts in their report to the fiscal review committee. [—: here is no discussion in the ziR or the social e1fe_ct on people A-5 r groups of people, including students, resulting from the rbanizing of their living environment. (See Christward Ministry Superior Court ( 1986) 164 Cal App 180. The agency does not address the use of assessment districts as an alternative to the use of tax increment financings thus the '10,-6 commercial interests, which will benefit from the projects being proposed, will receive taxpayer support rather than paying for needed improvements. The agency plan does mention that gas tax funds will be used to fund street improvements. However no schedule is included which would allow the districts to estimate how the use of such funds would lessen or eliminate the adverse Impact of diverting tax increment from the districts to the TEL F. N 3.0 1` •4J F .�1a No mention has been made of the need for adult education nor other new worker skills within the project, yet the Liberty district must serve the adult population as well as the K-12 �'7 students. The direct result of creating new jobs and residences will be additional adult students who will look to the Liberty High School District for adult education and job skill programs. We have concluded that the redevelopment plan is generally intended to facilitate the original development of land and property which is not . blighted but simply underdeveloped or undeveloped at the present time. We have concluded that Insufficient evidence hag been presented to show that the physical, social and economic conditions existing in the project area are such that they cannot reasonably be expected to be reversed or alleviated by private enterprise acting alone . The following quotation is from Section 33220. 2 of the Health and Safety Code and prohibits the inclusion of property simply to capture tax increment. A-8 "An unblighted, noncontiguous area shall be deemed not necessary : for effective redevelopment if such an area is included for the purpose of obtaining the allocation of taxes from such area ---" This section has been interpreted to mean "To establish proposed redevelopment to be blighted, it is not sufficient merely to show that the area is not being put to its optimum use or that land is more valuable for ° other usest public agencies and courts should be chary of the use of redevelopment act unless there is a situation where blight is such that it constitutes real hindrance to developmont of the city and cannot be eliminated or improved without public assistance". Sweetwater Valley Civic Assn v City of National City (1976) 233 Cal Rptr, 859, 555 P. 2nd 1099, 18 C2nd 270. " Redevelopment is simply not intended for the purpose of financing public improvements which can be remedied by private or governmental action without redevelopment. We must conclude that the primary purpose of this project is to capture the Districts ' tax increment in order to create incentives for private enterprise. We believe that the proposed Lucky shopping center is . sn example of how tax increment will be captured under the guise of redevelopment when in fact, the shopping center. does not need nor qualify for tax increment assistance, 'has no qualifing blight and should not be included in the project. Many redevelopment agencies contend that there "is no fiscal burden or detriment to the Districts in the belief that any local A-9 tax which may be diverted to the Agency will be "evade up" by the State of California . This is not so and represents a misunderstanding of the financing mechanisms behind public education. A review of the current state budget will easily attest to the lack of a guaranteed funding source for California school districts especially with regard to new housing and rehabilitation of existing housing. The proposed plan also does not consider that the State of California does not fully fund special education, food services, student transportation, deferred maintenance, adult education, and migrant, education as well as the general operating fund of the districts. The plan contends that the project will not impact the current finances of A-9 the district whereas the districts contend that additional students and jobs will create a significant financial impact on the districts especially 'in terms of housing of students. The districts have supplied the agency with reasonable estimates of the number of new jobs being created, the corresponding number of new housing units expected to be built and the resultant number of new students who will require student housing. The districts are therefore being placed in the position of anti-redevelopment and anti-growth unless they have a firm committment to assist with the capital facilities needs to house additional students arriving in the districts. The agency states that schools are levying developer fees in order to build new schools as an answer to the growth problem. Just as the county cannot fund its capital needs from developer fees, neither can the districts. The developer fee of $ 1.56/sq. ft. of residential housing and .25/ft for commercial and industrial covers ' less that 25% of the cost of permanent construction. This raises the question "Should students be expected to go to school in portable classrooms while school tax monies are being spent to promote more housing and commercial interests?" The project will generate approximately $184 million dollars with only a 6-7t growth rate even though the true growth rate, for at least 10-1S years, will most likely be 10% or more. The plan requires approximately $120 million to fully fund the proposed agency projects. We believe that a substantial eommittment to area schools could be made without encroachment on agency programs. Finally, if the project area is blighted within the meaning of redevelopment lav, then the lack of public school facilities to serve the community is also a blighting condition. Communities cannot have the best roads, the best parks and the best public facilities and leave out the schools . Schools need to be A-10 provided if a community is to be totally free of blight. In the absence of a fair and equitable pass thru agreement, the districts are placed in the position of opposition to the project. . TEL No . Nc,,. ,-.0 - !) 15 :45 F .,Jl:. We do trot understand how the. agency can justify diverting over $81 . 5 million dollars of school tax increement to the agency and only want to allocate 15.3 million back for school projects. We do not believe it is fair and equitable for the agency to derive over 44 8 of the total agency funding from school taxes and only wish to return less than 9% to the schools. We do not believe tha agency should spend public school tax monies to assist other private and public agencies in developing the county at a time when new schools are badly needed or when rehabilitation of existing schools is required. A-10 We believe that if this plan is adopted by the County Board of Supervisors, the age-icy should mitigate these impacts by providing a capital source which could be used to construct new facilities, rehabilitate existing facilities, purchase new school sites and otherwise assist the districts in providing for this expected student growth. We will be happy to continue to meet with agency representatives to arrive at a reasonable method of mitigation. Singly, Jack Ma tloY f 850 Second Sheet, dunttood, CaGi jouid 94513 (415) 634-1166 December 12, 1989 RECEIVED Contra Costa County DEC 12 1969 Redevelopment Agency 651 Pine Street 0%saw w,k e/t ow Martinez, CA 94553 oo A RE: Public Hearings On the Adoption of the Oakley Redevelopment Plan Dear Members of the Agency Board: I am Phil White, Superintendent of the Ia'berty Union High School District, and I am here today to speak on behalf of the parents and students. We believe that our district will be financially impacted by the proposed project due to additional growth requiring new classrooms and rehabilitation of essting ones. We believe the agency should be as eager to assist the schools in developing the community as it is in building new roads. We further believe that the citizens place a high priority on schools B-1 - at least a priority equal to that of assisting private enterprise to develop commercial and industrial projects. We hope that the agency will direct staff to resume negotiations with the districts which will address our concerns. Sincerely, � ,6'� Philip . White • Superintendent PDW:dd ff, -------------- --------- -- Y uyo� i • THE BEST AND GE77ING BETTER c �� .•J ' r'OST OFFICEeOX 7 G OAZEY.GILIFORNIA 94561 D15,S�, tan 62"Vo 12 December 1989 RECEIVED Contra Costa County DEC IX, 1989 Redevelopment Agency 651 Pine Street Martinez, California 94553 Maoi""� 01 TA Cp�S Re: Public Hearings on the Adoption ofr the Oakley Redevelopment Pion Dear Members of the Redevelopment Agency Board: / am Frank Hengel, Superintendent of the Oakley Union Elementary School District, and I am here today to speak on beholf of the parents and students. We believe that our District will be financially Impacted by the proposed project. We believe that the project is designed to promote growth by creating new jobs and expanding housing - both will cause new students to be added to our District. We do not hove financial resources to build new classrooms nor to rehabilitate existing ones. We cannot depend on the State to fund student housing because there are no State funds available. C-1 We are of the opinion that unless a foir and equitable agreement can be reached with the agency which will provide a source of funding for capital facilities, we must be In opposition to the plan. We would, however, like to point out that we are not anti- redevelopment or anti-growth. We simply are pro students and we must speak out In their behalf. We hope to resume negotiations with the agency which will address our concerns. very truly yours, T� Fronk J. He I Superintendent FJH/o cc: W. Bristow, Brentwood Union School District J. Matlock, Matlock and Associates P. White, Liberty Union High School District BUSINESS OFFICE OAKLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL GEHRINGER SCHOOL (41 S) 625-2249 (41 S) 625-2281 (41 S) 625-2293 il 1:•'f e 1 :•11 ':I TY OF Ah IT 10:H CSU: t A!V I I OCP CA y�r)oU -(415—) -7778-0b9 .CITY HALL THIRD AND 11 PO 130 - December 12 , 1989 Attn: Tom Torlakson CONTRA COSTA COUNTY DOARD Or SUPERVISORS 300 R. Leland Avenue, Suite 100 Pittsburg CA 94565 Dear Members of. the Board: • . As a follow up to our discussion with Supervisor Torlakson re- garding the Oakley General Plan and Redevelopment Plan hearing, please be advised that we support the Last County Regional Plan- ning Commission recommendation and we understand that the recom- �ondation is to delete the area within Antioch's sphere of influence from the Oakley planning area and proposed redevelopment area. D-1 9t is gay understanding that Supervisor Torlakson will support Antioch's concerns. We would like to be in attendance at this hearing, but unfortunately, it falls on thu same day as our City Council vaeetinq. if there is any concern over the Last County Regional Planning Commission recoemendation and the City of Antioch's position, we would appreciate a continuance of the bear- 4ng to a day when our staff and elected officials would be avail- able. We would like to point out that we have no objection to the balance of the plan and proposed project area that is outside of the City of Antioch's sphere of influence. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. cerely, MAYOR JOEL FELLER JX/ds e f DEC MM9 Nil . LAFCO LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION McBrien Administration Building,Eighth Floor OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 651 Pint Street,Marlintz,CA 945S3 Teltphone (415) 646-4090 October 4, 1989 0"Ey E.MANSFIELO EXECLMYE C>FFCLR TO; jean G. Mesick, chief Land Development 4< M C-1) From. Jim Cutler LAFCO Planning Advisor Subject: Oakley-North Brentwood GPA Draft EIR Thank you for the opportunity to review the aforementioned Draft EIR. The document covers many issues of concern to LAFCO; however, there are other subject areas which require additional discussion. our memo in response to the County's Notice of Preparation asks that the document address any impacts this project might have on the East Contra Costa Irrigation District. if development is proposed on areas concurrently in that District and receiving irrigation water, is detachment from the Irrigation District anticipated concurrently with annexation to the Oakley Water District? Will this have any secondary impacts on the lands within the District and on the District itself? Pages 36-38 and figure 6 deal with growth management and discuss "development status categories." The Draft EIR fails to make clear how this Proposal will utilize these categories. Will the "developing urban" category need to be largely developed prior to the County (or LAFCO) considering applications .1n "future urban" areas? The text of pages 48-49 doesn't add to the discussion of how this concept works. It should be noted that there are substantial inconsistencies between the eastern portion of this figure and the draft plan map shown on figure Z. If the proposed mitigation measures on land use change are adopted to keep additional land agricultural, will the proposed urban districts' spheres of influence be modified accordingly? Mitigation measure B9 on page 56 does not recommend intensification of the gontractors' yard. Should LAFCO spheres of influence be amended to delete this area, if the County adopts this measure? Figure 4 shows A Proposed city sphere of influence change which would make SR 160 the boundary between Antioch and Oakley. Part of this area in within a County redevelopment agency. Are there any redevelopment laws pobr.ry Fsbde-k Cownt supe'vosw-thaft L"Phrow.Come"#Coy C"WO Imo*MCNOYNOU Member-Too Torbkv04 Cff4mP Sabot-War-Qvir It Vdkeft&L&16W'u Coy Co-owd X Wk Htyftmo,AharMsr,loa IL&Ihoft Coy C0~4 r 0"M"d~Klk AbMMK.Nbbe Member.R&MM Sehleftf,Afterftit,Cao"17 S.0- - 2 which regulate Antioch's land use options, should the City annex into an established redevelopment agency? The B-1 discussions and mitigation on pages 56-57 don't clarify how redevelopment law would affect annexation of this area into Antioch. OThe agricultural land discussions on pages 86 through 93 focus on the relationship between proposed land uses with prime agricultural soils. LAFCO legislation requires discussion of the conversion of agricultural lands, including non-prime soils, to other than open space purposes (see our scoping memo) . Figure 7 (view AI clearly shows that this is an existing agricultural area and the Final EIR should map those areas which are still in agricultural production. The discussion needs to focus on what impact the conversion from agriculture to urbanization of 2,600 acres south of Laurel Road will have on production in the area. How will development in that area be phased? Are there u-pick agricultural operations in this area? What is the location of the proposed "green way" discussed on page 927 Are mitigation measures available to create such a green way? Qg It is suggested on page 96 that an agency be established to provide park and recreation services. For what geographic area is that suggested? Is a County Service Area or other type agency proposed? Figure 13 shows major wetland areas which infringe into planned urban land uses on figure 2. Modifying the land use plan map for portions of the DuPont lands from industry to agriculture is suggested on page 141. I couldn't find a mitioation measure which specifiCallY urged such a change or for modifying the land use plan on other properties to reflect wetlands. This should be considered as a mitigation measure. Page 200 states "LAFCO should tie future annexation approvals to increases in regional road capacities for cities where development approvals prevent achievement of the capacity • based on growth quotas in Table 26." This proposal, and its legality, is not clear and needs to be discussed more fully in the final EIR. 0The Final. HIR needs to discuss the issue of using leased land for land sewage disposal (page 238). Flow long are the leases7 what potential is there for new units to be built and then the leases are lost? Would the future homeowners then be required to pay for other disposal options or buying other lands? flow can leased lands be considered "permanent sewage Capacity?" QThe fire protection discussion references the potential need to convert from volunteer to paid staff, yet no mitigation measures are listed to deal with this issue. Are there no potential mitigations available? JWC:th cc: LAFCO Commissioners Dewey E. Mansfield zi ' CQ?,7�a 4r5T4 za Pt) tie cit• SIERRA vCLUB6 Sanf—ciuo,Csti(Otnit94909 41S'77 r amu.•+-� L�=�. l+� 6•L c{--Qg EG +�, .�t`nau1� -- _SPect Cr �tctr.j �.e.cr Joe Ct# _6NO Yt'{' _ .'_` .'�... LIZ t fie.R► i�.ce,� -G�.t nr.es n.`f- Cc L,ot -- .� L s o LA..t col a. - cz., n 4t,) p to v_.... rN'ti"l I'%Q O N f3 A.C,.P i A-S P 4-a a rl tit., ad-al ell.ev-% qr Ct ,Gr�e�� a�.,► �a C'�nrAA.� P avid aR�•�tS,P_�;_ L-L �-� CL Co (�- • 77�c.�. �cid s.a.d �r� � �e�`�- �,� � �.e...-_-__ is t - -r-r,.�t t.�.� c.uz t z *�► _ ',.a. T:>r" Co u.+*. �, lit N • (19.a Q,p��G�d'r• W1,�'�'t Q, �-ch�. 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A-0 (�-� �. 1�- . t,�, to A"�`' ,� �•.�--� .�-.e.C,7 C.��xr- �� 4- .-sz, a Yu a'Jj ry e C-- Y c&,i., 4e- tea. 41 - -- -------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------- int:K`r. i/!' rl 45 _ - - ,r,,l�. ._��-'�'��� ..... ._._}x"72 �• -c���-�u-SS��� c�'� Lo 47 5 45 ac- ..� . `�= . ..'� 1�r-F.z� ,�� �l_ �.•�.e. mss" ..� � �..Q-- . t o v&/Cly t c.L,, u • G *1ure- ;S.L kx io .. F-� ` . '•'�.- -Lv c L -. ' �' _ .rte u,p.Gd,Po A; cin c.. Aa) Cc�Yr S��t� vtY D r dlel-�-ed ref"b7mv 42,r fro C/ Go Ct n le 40 .1,A Jel_ P4 5;,r i-o ex� � �5 q ��d� �� ��Glc �1� H.► � . �-7 w �t `yrs o sr _ _ s leeslet e4 e et 15 0--� �s __________________________________________________ ________ _ ____________ ______________________________ ..__. _. � �� `ZZs �' 1�2-i �5��"S � 7�•�x�z 13 r �✓�// .�} � G i�c��•r�c.r.'ea'S�c', t��ZrLP_. �-�tZ- f � - - 't'S _ (} �? c.•�.+., !.�../ ria�C'• rx of CIO IL - 4c&.-7, Ap ._ Q�L,',�-G".,L1.�5� ------------------------------ - ----- ------- - - - - --------------------------------------------------- III . WRITTEN FINDINGS AND RESPONSES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS A-1 Comment: The comment requests that the Agency include the School Districts ' report to the Fiscal Review Committee in the public record as well as a video to be presented to establish that not all parcels in the Project Area are blighted. Response: The School Districts ' report to the Fiscal Review Committee have been incorporated into the Report on the Redevelopment Plan along with the Agency' s response to this report. Thus, this report is already part of the public record. The School Districts ' have not presented the Agency with the promised video so it is not part of the public record. The School Districts allege that the video would establish that not all properties within the Project Area are blighted. Without the video it is impossible to determine whether this can be established; however, it should be noted that a project area may include non-blighted parcels if such parcels are necessary for effective redevelopment. Health and Safety Code Section 33321 . In selecting the boundaries for the Project Area the Agency not only considered blighting influences in the area, but also determined which parcels were necessary for inclusion in the Project Area in order to effectively redevelop the entire project area . Thus, some parcels which do not fit the legal definition of blight may have been included in the Project Area to ensure that redevelopment of the Project Area would be successful . Findings : Based on the foregoing the Board of Supervisors finds and determines that the School Districts ' objections regarding properties within the Project Area not being blighted is without merit. Further, the Board of Supervisors finds that all of the information presented to the Board has been included in the public record. The Board of Supervisors hereby disposes of the above objections by overruling the objections . A-2 Comment: The comment expresses concern that the School Districts ' will be impacted by the Redevelopment Plan due to new growth expected to be generated by redevelopment activities in the Project Area . The School Districts contend that this new growth will impact schools already overcrowded and in need of rehabilitation. The School Districts ' note that one of the stated legislative purposes for the creation of redevelopment agencies is to ensure adequate school facilities . The School Districts also contend that the -4- Redevelopment Plan will encourage housing development which will increase school enrollment. Response: The Redevelopment Plan is primarily designed to stimulate industrial and commercial development in the Project Area. The Redevelopment Plan was formulated in res,ponse to development trends occurring in the area surrounding the Project Area . The areas surrounding the Project Area have been experiencing rapid residential growth in response to the need for affordable housing in the bay area. However, industrial and commercial growth, which could provide jobs to people residing in the area, has not followed this residential growth due to the lack of infrastructive improvements in the area as well as the need for large parcels of land to accommodate this growth. Thus , while the area surrounding the Project Area has developed, the Project Area has stagnated due to the lack of public facilities necessary 'to accommodate development. The Redevelopment Plan is designed to encourage new industrial and commercial development to provide jobs for residents of the Oakley area . The Redevelopment Plan is in response to a currently existing development trend. This trend is impacting the schools and contributing to overcrowded school facilities . The Agency and the Board of Supervisors are in agreement with the School Districts that their current facilities are in need of rehabilitation. However, this need is one that is currently existing rather than a need which will result from the redevelopment project. As Table 39 of the EIR indicates, the schools serving the Oakley area are either near capacity or already exceed capacity. Further, the EIR indicates that although buildout of the Oakley area in accordance with the Oakley/North Brentwood Area Plan is expected to impact the schools significantly by adding new students to the area, the Redevelopment Plan is not expected to create significant school enrollment impacts . Thus , it is unlikely that the Redevelopment Plan will significantly contribute to increases in school enrollment and impact the schools . The school districts also contend that the Redevelopment Plan will indirectly or directly create new housing growth including the development of low and moderate income housing as mandated by state law. While it is true that the Agency will spend 20% of its tax increment revenue on low and moderate income housing development, this fact does not mean that the Agency' s activities will increase housing development in the area. As stated above and as established in the EIR, residential development will occur in the Oakley area regardless of whether there is redevelopment. The Redevelopment Plan will not increase this housing -5- development but rather will ensure that some of the housing that is developed is affordable to low and moderate income households by providing subsidies. Thus, as stated above, the limited housing development expected to occur due to the Redevelopment Plan is limited and is not expected to significantly impact the schools . Additionally, it is not expected that the Redevelopment Plan will indirectly increase the demand for housing in the area . Although the goal of the Redevelopment Plan is to increase employment opportunities in the Oakley area, the jobs to be created are expected to go to existing residents in the area in an effort to rectify an existing jobs/housing imbalance. Although residential development is expected to increase in the Oakley area over the next 20 years, the development is in no way attributable to the redevelopment project. The EIR finds that the redevelopment program will have little or no impact on housing and population in the area. The population increases expected to occur under buildout of the general plan would occur regardless of whether the redevelopment project goes forward. Although the Agency and the Board of Supervisors dispute the contention that the schools will be impacted by the redevelopment program, the Board of Supervisors recognizes that the existing school facilities are in need of rehabilitation. As the School Districts point out, the lack of adequate educational facilities is a blighting influence on the Project Area. In an effort to remove this blighting influence, the Agency has included in its redevelopment program funding for school improvements. , Additionally, the Agency has offered to Liberty Union High School District, Oakley Union School District and Antioch School District to pass through to these districts a portion of the Agency' s tax increment revenue in an effort to improve the quality of educational facilities available to Project Area residents . Findings: Based on the foregoing, the Board of Supervisors finds and determines that adoption of the Redevelopment Plan will not significantly impact the School Districts . Additionally, the Board of Supervisors finds and determines that in order to provide adequate educational facilities to the Project Area it is necessary to provide the School Districts with financial assistance necessary to eliminate blighting influences . The Board of Supervisors disposes of the objection by overruling the objection. A-3 Comment: The comment states that the Agency has failed to prepare a specific project description to enable the -6- School Districts to accurately evaluate the impacts of the Plan. Response: The Agency has prepared a Redevelopment Plan and a Report on the Plan which set forth the Agency' s proposed program for the Project Area. These documents set out specific activities that the Agency proposes to undertake to eliminate blighting influences and encourage new development in the Project Area . These activities include specific road improvements, development of public facilities including parks, school facilities and a government center, infrastructure improvements including drainage facilities, and promotion of commercial and industrial development through land assembly and write downs of land costs. The project activities will also include assistance in development of low and moderate income housing as mandated by State law. Although the project activities are specified in the Plan, the Plan is by necessity a flexible document. The Plan is designed to serve as the guiding principals for redevelopment of the Project Area for the forty year life of the Plan. By its nature the Plan must provide the Agency with enough flexibility to respond to changing circumstances which will undoubtedly occur over the forty year life of the Plan. The inherent flexibility available to the Agency under the Redevelopment Plan does not make the EIR insufficient. The EIR is considered to be a program EIR designed to analyze a program of activities rather than a specific project as specified in Section 15168 of the CEQA Guidelines . Additionally Section 15146 of the Guidelines states that the degree of specificity required in an EIR will correspond to the degree of specificity involved in the underlying activity. "An EIR on a construction project will necessarily be more detailed in the specific effects of the project than will be an EIR on the adoption of a local general plan or comprehensive zoning ordinance" CEQA Guidelines Section 15146 . Thus, the EIR, which analyzes the Redevelopment Plan with as much specificity as is possible given the programmatic nature of the Plan, is legally sufficient. Finding: The Board of Supervisors finds and determines based on the foregoing that the EIR is legally sufficient and finds the objection is without merit. The objection is hereby overruled. A-4 Comment: The comment raised the objection that the cumulative impacts of other development in the area was not analyzed. Response: Chapter 5 of the EIR prepared for the Redevelopment Plan analyzes the cumulative impact of -7- various other project expected to occur outside the Project Area in the future. The impact of these projects on various aspects of the Oakley Area is analyzed. According to Section 15130 of the CEQA Guidelines the discussion of cumulative impacts need not provide as great a detail as provided of the effects attributable to the project itself. The discussion of cumulative impacts in the EIR meets this standard by summarizing the effects. The EIR provides an extensive list of the present and reasonably anticipated future project which were reviewed to determine these cumulative impacts as required under CEQA. Findings : The Board of Supervisors herby finds and determines that cumulative impacts have been analyzed as required by CEQA. Based on the foregoing the objection is without merit and is hereby overruled. A-5 Comment: The comment objects to the fact that there is no discussion of social effect of the Project in the EIR. Response: The EIR is not required to analyze social effects. Rather Section 15131 of the CEQA Guidelines provides that "Economic or social information may be included in an EIR or may be presented in whatever form the agency desires . " (emphasis added) . Section 15131 goes on to state that "Economic or social effects of a project shall not be treated as significant effects on the environment. " Thus, in no way does the EIR require analysis of the social effect of the project. Findings : The Board of Supervisors hereby finds and determines that the EIR need not discuss social effects . Based on the foregoing, the objection is without merit and is hereby overruled. A-6 Comment: The comment expresses concern that the Agency does not address the use of assessment districts an an alternative to tax increment financing. Responses : The Report on the Redevelopment Plan in Part III .explores options for funding the project activities other than tax increment financing. These options include the use of assessment districts . Although assessment districts may be used to fund some of the project activities for the most part assessment districts are inappropriate for the activities proposed. Assessment districts are appropriate where the benefits are of direct benefit to the property owners participating. However, where the benefits of the activities are more widespread and designed to impact the community as a whole assessment districts are not appropriate and may in fact not be legally valid. -8- The Agency may use gas tax funds to fund some of the circulation improvements . If used these funds will make up for any shortfall between the cost of the improvements and the tax increment available. Thus, the use of gas tax funds or other fund will not lessen or eliminate any impact tax increment financing may have on the taxing agencies since tax increment funds will still be used in the same amount projected to meet project costs. Findings: The Board of Supervisors finds and determines that the above objection is without merit and the objection is hereby overruled. A-7 Comment: The comment concerns the fact that the Redevelopment Plan and the EIR do not mention the impact of the Plan on adult education. Response: Although it is possible that the industrial development proposed for the redevelopment area will impact adult education, any discussion of this impact is premature since the types and amount of industrial development for the Project Area are unknown. Additionally it is difficult to speculate as to this impact since the provision of adult education is voluntary on the part of the school districts . Thus, it cannot be determined whether this development will have any impact. The Agency, in accommodating and encouraging industrial development in the area intends to work with employers to ensure that job training is provided by the employers so that this burden will not fall on the school districts . Finally, in the event that in the future when the type and amount of industrial development for the Project Area is determined the Agency will examine the impacts of this development on the School districts. At such a time that the impacts are not so speculative the Agency may determine to assist the School Districts in an effort to mitigate such impacts . Findings : The Board of Supervisors hereby finds and determines based on the foregoing that the objection is without merit and is hereby overruled. A-8 Comment: The comment expresses concern that the Project Area is not in need of redevelopment and that the private sector alone can rectify any of the problems existing in the Project Area. Response: The Report on the Redevelopment Plan clearly sets out the qualifications of the Project Area for Redevelopment . The blighting influences that exist in the Project Area include deteriorating and dilapidated buildings, obsolete structures , lack of open space and -9- i recreational facilities, inadequate parcelization and the lack of public improvements. All of these blighting influences are documented in Part II of the Report. In addition to these blighting influences the Project Area has experienced a lack of interest on the part of the private sector which is both a cause and an effect of the blighting influences in the area. While the rest of the Oakley area has experienced a tremendous increase in development the Project Area, the only area of Oakley which has been previously developed has stagnated. This stagnation is due in part to the high cost of infrastructure necessary to develop the area. This high cost has discouraged the development community. Additionally, in order for the area to develop land assembly will be necessary since many of the existing parcels are misshapen or too small for industrial development. In order for industrial development to occur a private developer would be required to acquire numerous parcels which most likely would not be feasible without the Agency' s power of eminent domain. The Redevelopment Plan is not designed to merely pay for public improvements. Rather, as discussed above, the Plan is designed to encourage industrial development in a stagnating area. The plan will also assist in rehabilitating existing structures in order to improve commercial and residential neighborhoods in the area. Although some parcels of the Project Area are not blighted this does not mean that the Project Area does not qualify for redevelopment. The redevelopment law provides that e project area need not be restricted to blighted structures, but may include non-blighted parcels or structures if necessary for effective redevelopment. The Agency, in selecting the Project Area, selected an area which overall was in need of redevelopment assistance. Some non-blighted parcels such as the Lucky' s Shopping Center site were included because redevelopment of parcels surrounding these non-blighted sites will impact the entire area. Additionally development of non-blighted parcels impacts blighted parcels by increasing the need for improvement . Thus in order to develop an effective redevelopment program that is able to remove the blighting influences in the Project ' Area it is necessary to include some non-blighted parcels. Findings : The Board of Supervisors finds and determines based on the foregoing that the above objection is without merit and is hereby overruled. A-9 Comment: The comment raises the issue that the State - funding system for schools does not hold School Districts -10- harmless . Thus , the School Districts are impacted by the redevelopment program. Response: The State system of school financing ensures that each school is funded to a minimum level by providing a state subvention to make. up for any shortfall in local property tax revenues available to schools . This funding mechanism ensured that all school children receive equal educational opportunities throughout the State. Due to this funding system changes in property tax revenues do not effect School Districts in the same way as other taxing agencies . Fluctuations in property taxes for the most part merely change the amount of the state subvention. The School Districts also express concern that the State funding may not continue in the same fashion, causing the districts to be impacted by property tax revenue changes . However, the Board of Supervisors notes that the trend in school financing in California is in exactly the opposite direction; that is, toward statewide and away from local funding of education. It was in response to the mandate of the landmark Serranoy. Priest court decision that the State legislature instituted subvention in order to equalize revenues among school districts throughout the State. Even if the legislature desired to return to local funding of education, the same Serrano decision would prevent such a policy reversal . Finally, if these changes in State law somehow were to occur, Part VII of the Redevelopment Plan permits the Agency to make payments to the School Districts at a later date to alleviate any burden which may occur at such time. The School Districts also express concern that the State system of funding does not fund all of the schools ' costs associated with increased enrollment, in .particular costs of new facilities. The Districts ' costs are in part mitigated by their ability to collect development fees . However, these fees do not cover the full cost of new schools . The Board of Supervisors recognizes that an increase in student enrollment will increase cost and that the School Districts ' will not be made whole for the costs from the State. However, as discussed above in response to comment A-2 the redevelopment activities are not expected to generate significant new student enrollment since the Redevelopment Plan is designed to encourage industrial development in order to promote a jobs/housing balance in the Oakley area. Thus, the redevelopment program will serve residents that will move to Oakley regardless of whether the Redevelopment Plan is adopted. Although the Redevelopment Plan is not expected to -11- have a significant impact on the schools, the Agency, in an effort to mitigate any impacts the Plan may have and in order to promote quality educational benefits for Project Area residents, has agreed to provide Liberty Union High School District, Oakley Union School District and Antioch Unified School District with financial assistance to mitigate these impacts. The Agency has determined that in order to provide the School Districts with this financial assistance it is necessary to increase the total amount of tax increment that the Agency can collect over the life of the Plan. Only with this increase will the Agency be able to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Redevelopment Plan and provide the schools with the necessary financial assistance. Findings : The Board of Supervisors hereby finds and determines that, based on the foregoing, the objection is without merit and hereby overrules the objection. A-10 Comment: The comment expresses concern that the lack of adequate educational facilities in the Project Area is a blighting influence that should be removed as part of the redevelopment program. The issue of the percentage of tax increment revenue to be shared with the School Districts is also raised. Response: The Board of Supervisors agrees with the School Districts that the lack of adequate educational facilities is a blighting influence in the Project Area. In order to eliminate this blighting influence the Agency has provided for school improvements as part of the redevelopment project activities. In addition, the Agency has proposed to provide Liberty Union' High School District, Oakley Union High School District and Antioch Unified School District with financial assistance in the form of a pass through agreement. The pass through agreement will provide these three districts with over 16. 5 million dollars over the life of the Plan. This sum of money will mitigate in full the minimal impacts that the Redevelopment Plan will have on the Schools. Since the Plan is not projected to significantly increase school enrollment, a conclusion supported by the EIR, $16. 5 million should be sufficient to mitigate the schools impact. Additionally, the School Districts will be entitled to collect development fees on the industrial development projected to occur due to Redevelopment. Given that without redevelopment, this development would not occur it is unlikely that the Districts would be able to - collect these fees without redevelopment. -12- The School Districts state that the Redevelopment Plan will divert over $81 .5 million in property tax revenues from the schools. This figure is erroneous and misleading. Although in total all of the school districts that are considered taxing agencies within the Project Area do cumulatively account for 44% of the property tax dollars, three of these districts do not ser-ve the Project Area and will in no way be impacted by any new development in the Project Area. The three school districts which directly serve the Project Area account for 36% of the property- tax revenues in the Project Area. Additionally, under the state system of school funding any "diversion" of property tax revenues from the schools to the Agency will be made up by the State subvention. Although the School Districts are correct that the State subvention does not account for all school costs, the costs that are not covered by the subvention are also not funded by property tax revenue. Thus, the "diversion" of property tax revenue will not impact the schools funding for items not covered by the state subvention. Finally, to assume that this amount of property tax revenue is being diverted from the schools assumes that all of the development projected under the Redevelopment Plan would occur without redevelopment. However, as demonstrated in Part II of the Report on the Plan, without redevelopment assistance it is unlikely that the Project Area will develop. Rather the Project Area will continue to stagnate as in the past. Thus, it is doubtful that the schools or any other taxing agencies would realize ,the growth in property tax revenues projected to occur in the Redevelopment Plan. Findings : The Board of Supervisors hereby finds and determines based on the foregoing that the above objection is without merit and the objection is hereby overruled. B-1 Comment: The comment expresses concern over the impact of the Redevelopment. Plan on the schools and indicates that a high priority should be placed on education. Response: The Board of Supervisors is in agreement that a high priority should be placed on education. To ensure that this priority is met, the Agency has set aside a portion of the tax increment revenues to be generated from the Project Area for school improvements . Additionally, the Agency has offered to provide Liberty Union High School District with financial assistance to ensure that adequate educational facilities are available to Project Area residents . -13- With regard to the comments on the impact of the Redevelopment Plan on the schools, the response to comment A-2 is incorporated into this response. Findings: The Board of Supervisors hereby finds that, based on the foregoing, the above objection is without merit and the objection is overruled. C-1 Comment: The comment expresses concern over the impact of the Redevelopment Plan on the schools and the lack of State funding to meet these impacts. Response: The response to comments A-2 and A-9 are incorporated herein. In addition, it should be noted that the Agency has offered the Oakley Union School District financial assistance in the from of a pass through agreement in an effort to ensure that adequate educational facilities are available to Project Area residents. This financial assistance will mitigate any impacts that the schools may suffer as a result of redevelopment. Findings . The Board of Supervisors hereby finds and determines, based on the foregoing that the above objection is without merit and the objection is hereby overruled. D-1 Comment: The comment supports the recommendation of the East County Regional Planning Commission to delete the property west of Bridgehead/Neroly Road from the Project Area since the property is in. Antioch's sphere of influence. . Response: In selecting the Project Area the Agency determined that the property that the East County Regional Planning Commission proposes to delete from the Project Area is integral to effective redevelopment of the area. However, the Agency' s plans for industrial development on the Project Area do not currently require this portion of the Project Area. The Agency does have plans to make certain traffic improvements to SR4 in the area. However, in the event that the portion of the Project Area in Antioch's sphere of influence is deleted from the Project Area, the Agency can still make the improvements to SR4 since they are designed to benefit the Project Area. Findings: The Board of Supervisors, based on the foregoing, hereby finds and determines that the above objection is meritorious and the Board hereby accepts the objection and proposes to delete the portion of the -Project Area in Antioch' s sphere of influence from the Project Area. -14- E-1 Comment: The majority of the comments in this letter relate to the EIR and have been responded to in the Final EIR which responses are incorporated herein. Comment #4 requests information regarding annexation of the portion of the Project Area in Antioch's sphere 'of influence. Reaponse: Health and Safety Code Section 33216 contains provisions for transferring redevelopment powers from a County redevelopment agency to a city agency in the event of an annexation of a portion of the county's project area. Under Section 33216, redevelopment powers are transferred to a city agency from a county agency in the event of annexation under the following conditions: a. the city council of the annexing city declares the need for are development agency to function in the city. b. the city council of the annexing city adopts the redevelopment plan for the project area previously adopted by the board of supervisors . C. the city and the county enter into an agreement specifying among other things, the territory to be transferred to the city agency and the division of tax increment revenue between the city and the county agencies . Upon meeting these conditions the city redevelopment agency has jurisdiction over the portion of the Project Area affected by the annexation and can exercise its redevelopment function as it sees fit in compliance with the Redevelopment Plan. Findings: Based on the foregoing, the Board of Supervisors hereby finds and determines that the objection is without merit and the objection is hereby overruled. F-1 Comment: The majority of the comments raised in this letter relate to the EIR and were responded to in the Final EIR, which responses are incorporated herein. Comment 8 requests information on the standards of blight used for determining the Project Area ' s qualification for redevelopment. The comment also questions whether development within the Project Area will be exempt from assessment fees or be subject to the same growth management policies as other development. Response: The standards for blight used for determining the Project Area's qualification for redevelopment are those contained in Health and Safety Code Sections 33031 - and 33032. Pursuant to these sections an area is _blighted if it contains buildings exhibiting signs of -15- defective design, faulty interior arrangement, overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, and deterioration or dilapidation. Additional blighting conditions are irregular lot shapes and sizes ',,,inadequate public facilities, and the prevalence'*of ,depreciated values. It should be noted that a project area need not exhibit all of-these characteristics in order to be considered blighted for redevelopment purposes . The Project Area was studied to determine whether it met these conditions. As Part II of the Report on the Plan sets out, the Project Area was found to suffer from a number of these blighting conditions . Buildings in the Project Area were found to be deteriorating and obsolete. Many lots in the Project Area were of such irregular size and shape as to be undevelopable unless combined with other parcels. The Project Area exhibited a severe lack of public improvements with large portions of the Project Area accessible only via dirt roads. For these reasons, the area was found to be blighted. Tax increment financing will be used in part to assist in development of industrial commercial and residential development in the Project Area. Although redevelopment assistance will be necessary to attract this development to the Project Area, new development in the Project Area will not be exempt from County land use policies including growth management policies. Thus, although the Agency will provide assistance to development in the Project Area that will not be available to development outside the Project Area, this development will in all other ways be required to comply with County policies including the payment of fees. Findings: The Board of Supervisors finds and determines, based on the foregoing, that the above objection is without merit and the objection is overruled. IV. EIR AND FISCAL REVIEW COMMENTS In addition to considering the six comment letters addressed specifically to °the County's consideration of the Redevelopment Plan, the County and Agency participated in two related statutory processes: (a) the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report ("EIR") pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et. seg. ) , and (b) the conduct of a Fiscal Review Committee ( "FRC") review pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 33353 et. sea. Comments were elicited and responded to in accordance with the statutory procedures established for those processes, as described below. A. - EIR Process -16- Twenty-one written comments were received on the Draft EIR. Eleven additional oral comments were received at two public hearings on the Draft EIR. Those comments, and the County's responses to suchI-comments, are set forth in the Final EIR, dated November ' '989. The Board of Supervisors has considered the comments and responses in certifying the EIR by resolution of even date herewith. That EIR certification resolution and the Final EIR comments and responses (including the disposition of such comments) are incorporated by reference herein. Based on the incorporated resolution and Final EIR sections, it is found that, to the extent the comments received in the EIR process constitute objections to the Redevelopment Plan, such objections have been properly mitigated as provided in the EIR or are without merit. Consequently, any such objections are hereby overruled. B. Fiscal Review Process The report of the FRC, including attached comments from various taxing agencies, is included as Part 10 of the Report. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 33352(m) , Parts 10 and 12.0 of the Report contains the Agency' s detailed response to the FRC report, addressing the comments and concerns of the various taxing agencies. Parts 10 and 12.0 of the Report are incorporated by reference herein. Based on the incorporated material, it is found that adequate mitigation measures have been or are being taken within the Redevelopment Plan or pursuant to fiscal agreements to overcome any objections raised in the FRC Report and, as a result, adoption and implementation of the Redevelopment Plan will not cause a significant financial burden or detriment to any affected taxing agency. Consequently, to the extent the FRC report contains objections to the Redevelopment Plan, such objections are hereby overruled. -17-