Opposed. As currently proposed, this project would build housing on a prominent ridgeline and destroy valuable wildlife habitat within the wildlife corridor connecting Las Trampas Wilderness to the Lafayette Reservoir. It would fill in and destroy the creek that runs parallel to Rheem Blvd between St. Mary's Rd. and Moraga Rd. The developer has proposed to re-route intermittent water flow into a central pond area. Unfortunately, this is not mitigation, it is merely stormwater runoff management. The project's impacts have not been sufficiently mitigated. As proposed the project will cut down at least 74 large trees including mature oaks and willows. And above all, the project is in conflict with the intent of Moraga's General Plan in that it would develop the site at a density exceeding one unit per five acres (about 40 homes). According to the General Plan, when there are constraints such as steep slopes, abundant landslides, and wildlife habitat, there is reason to develop this property at only one unit per twenty acres (about 10 homes). At the lower density, the ridgelines, creek, and trees could be preserved, but the developer has shown no interest in pursuing a significantly lower density option.
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