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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCT 94-01; Poinsettia Shores; Tentative Map (CT) (18)y* W June 1533 SOUTH HILL ST., SUITE D OCEANSIDE, CA 92054 Planning Commission City of Carlsbad 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 RE: POINSETTIA SHORES MASTER TENTATIVE TR~ACT MAP and MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION CT 94-01/HDP 94-03 HEARING DATE 7/6/94 Dear Commissioners: You have received my letter dated June 8, 1994 and the Staff Response thereto dated June 28, 1994. The direct entry of the drainage water across the State Lands adjacent to the Least Tern site, the habitat to be lost by construction of the piping and a spillway dissipation field on State Lands, and the impacts of drainage water quality without being filtered through a riparian system before entering the lagoon were not addressed and apparently will not be addressed at this time unless you require such. 1 This area of the Lagoon is identified as a Coastal Salt Marsh in the EIR/EIS for the Batiquitos Lagoon Enhancement Plan (EIR/EIS). The overall goal of the project is to enhance the lagoon environment for wildlife and marine aquatic habitat. The introduction of 250 acres of urban drainage, which was not envisioned until 1988 with the creation of Zone 22 and Zone 9, has never been assessed for its effect on the marine habitat area, either present or future. The introduction of drainage into this area of the Lagoon was specifically not addressed in the EIR/EIS. The EIR/EIS states, "Changes in surface runoff water quality are also expected as a result of continued urbanization in the watershed. It is expected that nutrient loadings and other contaminants in runoff will increase and be introduced into the lagoon with freshwater inflow. These constituents, consisting of substantial amounts of nitrogen and phosphate, oil and grease, metals, and biological oxygen demand (BOD), can be expected to increase from 100 percent to over 500 percent, depending on the ultimate mix of land uses established in the watershed. Because Batiquitos Lagoon is the "sink" for all runoff in the watershed, these water quality constituents will ultimately be deposited in the lagoon and determine its water quality and associated character." FICE: (619) 722-4470 RES.: (619) 722-2336 Now is the time to establish what water quality and character you want around the Least Tern site and whether you want to maintain and enhance the marine habitat in the Coastal Salt Marsh area immediately adjacent thereto. Your acceptance of the staff recommendation without requiring consideration of all the impacts being created should not occur. The EIR/EIS states "It is also anticipated that, by establishing environmental conditions such as water quality and lagoon water levels that promote a stable habitat for wildlife nesting, feeding, and breeding, the impact of watershed urbanization on wildlife can be reduced by providing a suitable haven or refuge for both migratory and resident species." The action you take on this project with respect to the massive drainage system contemplated will set the standards that you expect will be followed for future projects of urbanization which impact Batiquitos Lagoon. I respectfully request that the mitigated negative declaration be denied and that further information be provided concerning loss or destruction of marine habitat, protection of water quality and potential alternatives that could have less negative environmental impacts. I still firmly believe that use of an expanded desilt basin at the end of the eastern alignment where the drainage water could be filtered through the riparian wetlands that exist there would be a better alternative than the one recommended by Staff. Respectfully Submitted,^> sS*iez&~~— LOUIS TASCHNER Attorney for Dale Schreiber CC: ALLAN SCOTT STATE LANDS COMMISSION GARY PETERS REGIONAL WATER CONTROL BOARD DEBRA LEE STATE COASTAL COMMISSION LIZ WHITE .ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TIM DILLINGHAM STATE FISH AND GAME