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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3811; El Camino Real Widening Initial Study & MND; El Camino Real Widening Initial Study & MND; 2008-12-01DECEMBER 2008 PREPARED FOR: City of Carlsbad 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 PREPARED BY; Dudek 605 Third Street Encinitas. CA 92024 DUDEK MAIN CM 40i I HlKI> :Ki-- ! ( '60 "A^ bl4 ' I BOJ leiir: • MEMORANDUM To: Ms. Pam Drew, Associate Planner From: Shawn Shamlou Subject: Project Description Changes — Final Mitigated Negative Declaration for the El Camino Real Widening Project Date: October 30, 2008 Dear Pam, Per your request this memorandum outlines a summary of recent changes to the project description and impacts provided in the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the proposed El Camino Real Widening Project, Tamarack Avenue to Chestnut Avenue. The Draft MND was circulated for a 30-day public review period from October 31 through November 29, 2007. The key question to be considered when preparing a Final CEQA document, per the CEQA Guidelines Section 15088.5(a), is whether significant new information has been added to the MND after public notice is given of the availability of the Draft MND for public review. "Significant new information" requiring recirculation includes, for example, a disclosure showing that: 1. A new significant environmental impact would result from the project or from a new mitigation measure proposed to be implemented. 2. A substantial increase in the severity of an environmental impact would result unless mitigation measures are adopted that reduce the impact to a level of insignificance. 3. A feasible project altemative or mitigation measure considerably different from others previously analyzed would clearly lessen the environmental impacts of the project, but the project's proponents decline to adopt it. 4. The Draft MND was so fiandamentally and basically inadequate and conclusory in nature that meaningfiil public review and comment were precluded. www DUDEK,COM Ms. Pam Drew, Associate Planner Subject: Project Description Changes — Final Mitigated Negative Declaration for the El Camino Real Widening Project Section 15088.5(b) of the CEQA Guidelines indicates that recirculation of the MND is not required where the new information added to the MND merely clarifies or amplifies or makes insignificant modifications in an adequate MND. The changes to the Draft MND's project description and impacts are presented in more detail below. Area of Potential Effect Modifications The Draft MND evaluated potential environmental impacts within the Area of Potenfial Effects (APE), which was assumed to be approximately 18.5 acres in size. This acreage was estimated under a worst-case assumption in the total acreage. Since publication of the Draft MND, the City has conducted additional engineering studies on the project, resuking in minor changes to the size and boundary of the APE. Three main changes were made to the APE. First, some areas within the APE were determined not to be required as part of the proposed road improvements, including the rectangular area south of Tamarack Avenue. Next, it was determined that an approximately 11,000-square-foot bench area, located on the east side of El Camino Real, will require grading and was therefore added to the APE. Third, a new storm drain improvement was added to the APE. As a result of these changes, the APE's acreage has been reduced from approximately 18.5 acres to approximately 16.01 acres. These changes are reflected in revised MND Figures 2, 3, and 10. Biological Resource Impacts As part of recent engineering design efforts for the project, impacts to biological resources have been recalculated. The revised impacts are presented in the three tables below. Table 1 Project Impacts to Vegetation Communities and Land Covers VE6ETATIQH CPMMUNtTY /LAND COVER TYPE ACREAGE VE6ETATIQH CPMMUNtTY /LAND COVER TYPE COASTALZONE OTHER TOTAL Native Uplands Coastal sage scrub 0.26 0,79444 Native Uplands Coastal sage scrub-disturbed 0.09' O.OSGTGS 0,09047 Native Uplands Native grassland-disturbed 0.02^ ... 0,010:0a Jurisdictional WatersA/Vetlands Riparian scrub (Soutiiern willow scrub) — 0.030^ 0,03047 Jurisdictional WatersA/Vetlands Riparian scrub (Soutiiern willow scrub-disturbed) — 0.010:03 0,010:03 Jurisdictional WatersA/Vetlands Unvegetated stream ciiannel — 0,03040 0,03040 Jurisdictional WatersA/Vetlands Concrete-lined ciiannel _. 0,0036:02 0.0030:03 Non-native Land Covers Non-native grassland -044---044 Non-native Land Covers Developed 7.688:24 4,704:94 12.384^ DUDEK 4926-01 Oclober 2008 Ms. Pam Drew, Associate Planner Subject: Project Description Changes - Final Mitigated Negative Declaration for the El Camino Real Widening Project Table 1 Project Impacts to Vegetation Communities and Land Covers VEGETATION COMMUNrTY /1 ANH ROUFR TVDP ACREAGE COASTALZONE OTHER TOTAL Disturbed lands 0.32 1.873:38 2,192:60 Eucalyptus woodland ... 0,340:33 0.340:33 Ornamental 0.063 0,140:38 0.15043 TOTAL* 8.318M i6.om,w ' 4,013 square feet ^715 square feet 3 2,703 square feet ^Totals may not sum precisely due to rounding Table 2 Recommended Mitigation for Impacts to Sensitive Vegetation and Jurisdictional Waters (Acres) VEGETATION COMMUNITY COASTAL ZONE OTHER TOTAL VEGETATION COMMUNITY IMPACT IMPACT MRIGATION Creatton Preservation Total VEGETATION COMMUNITY IMPACT Ratio Acres IMPACT Ratio Acres Creatton Preservation Total Coastal sage scrub (includinq disturbed) omss 2:11 0,580JO 0.580:86 1:1 0.580:96 0.290:38 0,874:34 1,164:66 Native grassland-disturbed 0010:02 3:11 0.030:08 ... — — 0.01^2 0,020:04 0.030:06 Non-native grassland ... ... ... ::.-044 0.5.1 ...Q-Qg ~ Riparian scrub (including disturbed) ... ... ... 0,04040 3:1' 0124:30 0.04040 0.080:8 0.124^ Ephemeral channel ... ... ... 0.010:01-1:11 0,010:04 0,01 0.01 Intermittent ciiannel ... ~ 0.03044 1:1' 0.03044 0.03O44 0.03O44 Eucalyptus woodland ... ... 0.340:33 0.1:1 --0 03 ._ 003 0.03 Disturbed lands 0.32 0.1:1 0,03 1,873:28 0.1:1 0.23 — 0,190:28 0.190:36 ' Includes 1:1 creation. ^ Included within coastal sage scrub mitigation, for a total of 0.30 acre coastal saqe scrub creation. Table 3 Areas WATERS/WeruNDSTYPE ACREAGE JURISDICTION Southern willow scrub 0.030:30 CDFG Southem willow scrub ---OTO? CDFG, ACOE, RWQCB Southern willow scrub-disturbed O.OIOTOS CDFG Unvegetated stream channel (ephemeral) CDFG, ACOE, RWQCB Unvegetated stream channel (intermittent) 0.03040 CDFG. ACOE, RWQCB Concrete-lined channel (ephemeral) 0.004O#l-CDFG, ACOE, RWQCB Concrete-lined channel (intermittent) "-0:04 CDFG, ACOE, RWQCB TOTAL' 0.070;§2 ' Totals may not sum precisely due to rounding. These changes are shown on revised MND Figures 9 through 9D. Based on the above revised calculations, biological resource impacts to sensitive vegetation communities and jurisdictional DUDEK 4926-01 October 2008 Ms. Pam Drew, Associate Planner Subject: Project Description Changes — Final Mitigated Negative Declaration for the El Camino Real Widening Project areas have decreased when compared to the calculations presented in the Draft MND, and impacts to non-native grassland have been eliminated entirely. No other impact areas have increased in severity. Therefore, a substantial increase in the severity of impacts would not occur. Landscape Plan Revisions The City determined that the proposed project design would be enhanced by the implementation of additional landscaping in the median, as depicted in revised MND Figures 6A through 6D, and revised visual simulations in revised MND Figures 7 and 8. These improvements would improve the aesthetics of the project, and no increase in the severity of impacts identified in the Draft MND would occur. Conclusion Based on the project description modifications and impact revisions presented above, new information added to the MND merely clarifies or amplifies or makes insignificant modifications to the MND. Therefore, the MND does not require recirculation based on guidance provided in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15088.5. No other changes to the Draft MND have been identified. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 760.479.4228. Very truly yours, Shawn S. Shamlou, AICP Environmental Project Manager att: Revised MND Figures Cover Figures 3, 4, 6A-6D, 7, 8, 9, 9C, 9D cc: Eva Plajzer, City of Carlsbad Omar Atayee, Bureau Veritas 4926-01 DUDEK 4 October 2008 Final Initial Study a El Camino Real Widening Project Tamaracl< Avenue to Chestnut Avenue Retaining wa 0 PREPARED FOR: City of Carlsbad 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 REPARED BY: Dudek 605 Ttiird Street Encinitas, CA 92024 El Camino Real Widening Project - MND APE with Aerial Photograph TRIftTyWIA COM=ERrA 24" BOX ftTAMPED COLOI^ED l«4APHtOLEP(6 INPICA •PINK LADY' » GAL f 30" 0£J •NATIVE HTDRO^EP MIX ON GRADED SLOPES NOTE; 1. SEE SHEET 6C FOR NATIVE HYDROSEED MIX, & PLANT MATERIAL LEGEND. 2. SEE SHEET 6D FOR STREETSCAPE SECTIONS. SECTION A - EL CAMINO REAL, TYPICAL I »• mwmtm REVISED S/2S/08 NORTH EL CAMINO REAL ROAD WIDENING LANDSCAPE CONCEPT PLAN TYPICAL R.O.W. PLANTING (200' SECTION) PAGE 1 El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Landscape Concept Plan FIGURE 6A PW0PO6ED HETAININS UJALL PER CIVIL ENSINEER DODONEA VISC06A PURPUREA S (3AL RHAPHIOLEPIS INDICA PII^ L-iDT', 5 <SAL FILTERRA UNIT HET^ROCAU-IS HTBRiDA T* 5 aAL fS*" OCJ TRI6TANIA COHORT A 24" BOX HETEROMELES ARflWTIFOLlA, & <kAL FILTERRA UNIT STAMPED COLORED CONCRETE PAVINS RHAPHlOLEPtS INDICA 'PINK LADT' » GAL (30" OJCJ NOTE. 1. SEE SHEET 6C FOR NATIVE HYDROSEED MIX, & PLANT MATERIAL LEGEND. 2 SEE SHEET6D FOR STREETSCAPE SECTIONS. SECTION B - EL CAMINO REAL AT RETAINING WALL 0 10 20 SSDS 'to""""" REVISED W2V0e NORTH SCALE: 1*-8r EL CAMINO REAL ROAD WIDENING LANDSCAPE CONCEPT PLAN TYPICAL R.O.W. PLANTING (200' SECTION) PAGE 2 El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Landscape Concept Plan FIGURE 6B PLANT MATERIAL LEGEND STT-©OL BOT<WICAL NAME COMMON NAME MIM. SIZE HEIt^t SPRD. I^MARCS "TREES. TRI CON TRISTAN IA CONffERTA BRIMANE BOX 24" BOX I0'-12' &'•£>• STRAItiHT TRJN<, FULL HEAD, GOOD COLOR, SUBMIT PHOTO, fe0' OJO.. TYPICAL STRAItiHT TRJN<, FULL HEAD, GOOD COLOR, SUBMIT PHOTO, fe0' OJO.. TYPICAL &t4RUBS ••••••• HEM t-lTB 'T' yn^KocALue HTBRIDA YELLOU DAT LILT S CsAL 12>"-I2" 10"-12" FULL CLUMPS, TELLOUJ FLOLUERS, 30" OJC. l-tEM HTB 'M' ter^ROCALLIS HYBRIDA MAROON DAT LILT 5 GAL 10"-12" b&"-12" FULL CLUMPS, MAROON FLOUERS, 30" OC MET Af® hETEROMELES ARBUTIFOLIA TOTON 5 GAL IB", IB" I2''-15" TOLL AND BUSHY TO (SBOUND, RHA IND PJ-.' RWAPHIOLEPIS IMDICA 'PIMK LADT' 'PIN< LADT' WAU/ri-tORN &GAL 12" 15" TOLl- Al55 BUSHT TO CSROUND, GOOD COLOR, 30" OC DOD VIS 'P' DODONeA VISCOSA 'PURPUREA' MOPSEED BUSH & QAL 10 "-12" 10"-Q" RJLL Mt&BlJmr TO GROUND, GOOD COLOR ].. . •CONTRACTOR TO 6L©MIT PHOTOS OF ALL TREES TO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT FOR APPROVAL. THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT SHALL NOTIFT THE CITT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT N UJRITINS CF PLANT MATERIAL ACCEPTANCE PRIOR TO DELIVERT AND PLATING. NATIVE MTPI^OSEEP MIX= BOTANICAL NAME= ARTEMISIA CALIFOIWICA B^LIA CALFORNICA ERIOPHTLLUM CONFERTIFLORUM ERIOGONUM FASCICULATin ESCHSCHOLZIA CALIFORNICA LOTUS SCOPARIUS NASSELLA PULCHRA PLANTAQO INSULARiS SALVIA MELLIFERA VIGIEIRA LACINIATA CCMMa-4 NAME: CALIFORNIA SAGEBRUSH BUSH SUNFLOUCR GOLDEN TARROliJ CALIFORNIA BUCKIUHEAT CALIFOWJIA POPPT DEERLUEED PURPLE l«EDLE GRASS NO COMMON NAME BLACK. SAGE eAN DIEGO SUS^OLLER REVISED S/2S/08 EL CAMINO REAL ROAD WIDENING LANDSCAPE CONCEPT PLAN TYPICAL R.O.W. PLANTING (200' SECTION) PAGE 3 El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Landscape Concept Plan FIGURE 60 4-6" 6' WALK LANE f ^ > 12" 12' LANE —i -, ^ < -1 1 —i -, L , — 12' LANE 1ft' t-CDlAN 12' LANE 12' LANE 12" LAbC LANE NALK ^"-—^ 126' SECTION A PA. VARISe VARIES 4'-6'B'-6* e>*-*"l 12' 12' PA. \ALK LANE' LA1« i LA« —f ^ ii'-e" LANC .'-&• 5' 5'-fr" LANE PA. SECTION B 30 EL CAMINO REAL ROAD WIDENING us? REVISED ar2sio8 SCALE: VI LANDSCAPE CONCEPT PLAN TYPICAL R.O.W. PLANTING (200' SECTION) PAGE4 El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Landscape Concept Plan FIGURE 6D PROPOSED RETAINING WALL Existing Photo 1: View looking south at existing El Camino Real roadway and adjacent hillside, approximately 1,200 feet south of the intersection of El Camino Real and Chestnut Avenue. Visual Simulation 1: View looking south at proposed retaining wall and roadway improvements. El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Visual Simulation 1 FIGURE Existing Photo 2: View looking northwest at existing El Camino Real roadway and adjacent hillside, approximately 750 feet north of the intersection of El Camino Real and Tamarack Avenue. Visual Simulation 2: View looking northwest at proposed retaining wall and roadway improvements. El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Visual Simulation 2 FIGURE 8 BASE SOURCE: Berryman & Henigar, December 2005 APE: July 2008 El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Biological Resources with APE Limits Index Map FIGURE TOPO SOURCE: Bertyman & Henigar, December 2005 /V Study Area /V APE Limits Coastal Zone Boundary • Data Station ©0—^ 40 80 VEGETATION TYPES/LANDCOVERS: AGL: Annual Grassland CSS: Coastal Sage Scrub dCSS: disturbed Coastal Sage Scrub DEV: Developed DH: Disturbed Habitat EUC: Eucalyptus Woodland NGL: Native Grassland dNGL: disturbed Native Grassland ORN: Ornamental SWS: Southern Willow Scrub SWS_C: Southem Willow Scrub (CDFG only) dSWS_C: disturbed Southern Willow Scrub (CDFG only) Jurisdictional Waters of the U.S./State —— Ephemeral Waters —— Ephemeral Waters (conaete-lined) Intermittent Waters Intermittent Waters (concrete-lined) Note: Number indicates width o( channel segment between marks. El Camino Real Widening Project • MND Biological Resources Map with APE Limits FIGURE 9C TOPO SOURCE: Ben^man & Henigar, December 2005 /S/ Study Area /V APE Limits Coastal Zone Boundary • Data Station 40 80 VEGETATION TYPES/LANDCOVERS: AGL: Annual Grassland CSS: Coastal Sage Scrub dCSS: disturbed Coastal Sage Scrub DEV: Developed DH: Disturbed Habitat EUC: Eucalyptus Woodland NGL: Native Grassland dNGL: disturbed Native Grassland ORN: Ornamental SWS: Southern Willow Scrub SWS_C: Southem Willow Scrub (CDFG only) dSWS_C: disturbed Southern Willow Scrub (CDFG only) Jurisdictional Waters of the U.S./State Ephemeral Waters Ephemeral Waters (concrete-lined) ——' Intermittent Waters Intermittent Waters (concrete-lined) Note: Number indicates width of channel segment between marks. El Camino Real Widening Project • MND Biological Resources Map with APE Limits FIGURE 9D Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration El Camino Real Widening Project Tamarack Avenue to Chestnut Avenue SEPTEMBER 2007 PREPARED FOR: City of Carlsbad 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 PREPARED BY; Dudek 605 Third Street Encinitas, California 92024 DRAFT INITIAL STUDY AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION for the EL CAMINO REAL WIDENING PROJECT Carlsbad, California Prepared for: CITY OF CARLSBAD 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008 Prepared by: DUDEK 605 Third Street Encinitas, California 92024 SEPTEMBER 2007 EIA Form-PartII Table of Contents Page No. Background 1 Project Description 2 Environmental Impacts 18 I. Aesthetics 29 II. Agricultural Resources 33 III. Air Quality 34 IV. Biological Resources 37 V. Cultural Resources 48 VI. Geology and Soils 52 VII. Hazards and Hazardous Materials 55 VIII. Hydrology and Water Quality 57 IX. Land Use and Planning 62 X. Mineral Resources 63 XI. Noise 64 XII. Population and Housing 67 XIII. Public Services 68 XIV. Recreation 69 XV. Transportation/Traffic 70 XVI. Utilities and Services Systems 73 XVII. Mandatory Findings of Significance 74 XVIII. Earlier Analysis Used and Supporting Information Sources 75 List of Mitigating Measures 78 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Regional Map 3 Figure 2 Vicinity Map 4 Figure 3 APE with Aerial Photograph 5 Figure 4 APE Site Plan 7 Figure 5 Intersection Improvements 9 Figure 6a Landscape Concept Plan 12 Figure 6b Landscape Concept Plan 13 Figure 6c Landscape Concept Plan 14 September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project i EIA Form - Part II Table of Contents (Con'f.) Figure 6d Landscape Concept Plan 15 Figure 7 Visual Simulation 1 31 Figure 8 Visual Simulation 2 32 Figure 9 Biological Resources with APE Limits Index Map 38 Figure 9a Biological Resources with APE Limits 39 Figure 9b Biological Resources with APE Limits 40 Figure 9c Biological Resources with APE Limits 41 Figure 9d Biological Resources with APE Limits 42 Figure 10 Noise Measurement & Receiver Locations 65 LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Project Impacts to Vegetation Communities and Land Covers 37 Table 2 Recommended Mitigation for Impacts to Sensitive Vegetation and Jurisdictional Waters 44 Table 3 Project Impacts to Jurisdictional Areas 46 Table 4 Permanent BMP Operation and Maintenance Requirements 59 September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project EIA Form - Part II ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FORM - PART II (TO BE COMPLETED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT) CASE NO: CDP 07-22 HDP 07-02 SUP 07-04 HMPP 07-08 DATE: September 2007 BACKGROUND 1. CASE NAME: El Camino Real Widening Proiect 2. LEAD AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS: City of Carlsbad, 1635 Faradav Avenue. Carlsbad CA 92008-7314 3. CONTACT PERSON AND PHONE NUMBER: Pam Drew. (7601 602-4644 4. PROJECT LOCATION: EI Camino Real, between Tamarack Avenue and Chestnut Avenue in the City of Carlsbad, San Diego County, Califomia. PROJECT SPONSOR'S NAME AND ADDRESS: City of Carlsbad. 1635 Faradav Avenue, Carlsbad CA 92008-7314 5. GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATION: Prime Arterial 6. ZONING: El Camino Real Corridor Overlay 7. OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES WHOSE APPROVAL IS REQUIRED (i.e., permits, financing approval or participation agreements): The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) will consider the MND in its issuance of a Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 Nationwide Permit. The Califomia Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) will consider the MND in its issuance of a Section 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreement. Lastly, the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) will consider the MND in approval of the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and a CWA Section 401 Permit. 8. PROJECT DESCRIPTION/ ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND SURROUNDING LAND USES: See attached proiect description September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 1 EIA Form - Part II Project Description—El Camino Real Widening Project This section provides a description of the proposed project, the environmental effects of which are evaluated in the Discussion of Environmental Evaluation Section of this MND. The site description and project location are described in this section, followed by a description of project characteristics and a summary of the discretionary approvals that would be required. Site Description and Background The El Camino Road Widening project site is located in the northeastern part of the City of Carlsbad, Califomia {Figure I, Regional Map and Figure 2, Vicinity Map). As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the project's Area of Potential Effects (APE) extends from Tamarack Avenue, at approximately 70 feet above mean sea level (AMSL) in the southeast to Chestnut Avenue, at an elevation of approximately 300 feet AMSL in the north. The APE is the area within which potential environmental impacts would occur, including construction-related and potential long term effects. The APE is approximately 18.5 acres for the El Camino Real Widening Project. The length of the APE from Tamarack Avenue to Chestnut Avenue is approximately 4,600 linear feet or 0.87 miles. El Camino Real was built in a small canyon between northwest-southeast trending hills. The site is located on the U.S. Geological Service (USGS) 7.5 minute San Luis Rey quadrangle map in projected sections 4, 5 and 9; Township 12 South, Range 3 West {Figure 2). An isolated, intermittent blue line stream was mapped in the project area, mnning parallel and east of El Camino Real and dissipating into the valley extending southward toward Agua Hedionda Creek into which Tamarack Avenue was constmcted. The APE lies within the Habitat Management Plan for Natural Communities in the City of Carlsbad (HMP) plan area. El Camino Real is classified as a Prime Arterial in the City's Circulation Plan. It is a four-lane divided roadway between Chestnut and Tamarack Avenues. The posted speed limit is 55 miles per hour within the APE and a bus stop and bike lanes are provided. Curbside parking is prohibited. Existing traffic volume along the project site is approximately 24,360 average daily traffic (LLC 2006). Residential development surrounds the APE. Aboveground utilities exist along the length of both sides of the APE and a concrete-lined drainage ditch occurs along a portion of the project's west side. There is a small grove of mature eucalypUis trees located at the northwest comer of the APE, and south of the eucalypUis grove, there are several private residences with a gravel- covered driveway connecting El Camino Real to asphalt-paved private driveways. The portion of the APE located south of the residences has steep slopes overlain by a relatively level vegetated area. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 2 Orange County San Diego El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Regional Map FIGURE 1, -Bucna Vi \ \ Area of Potential Effect (APE) 1 : I / . -J5/ - \ ' ! • 1.000 2.000 SOURCE: USGS, 7.5 Minute Series, San Luis Rey Quadrangle j_ "'-^ fC^ ^^^^=^^^ Feet ir.r' El Camino Real Widening Project • MND Vicinity Map FIGURE BASE SOURCE: AirPhoto USA, Jan 2006 Area of Potential Effect (APE) ^ El Camino Real Widening Project - MND APE with Aerial Photograph FIGURE EIA Form - Part II A drainage ditch is located along the southem half of the east side of the APE. A cleared area is maintained along the eastern edge of the drainage. A paved sidewalk runs along the east side of the APE, most of which is open space with a mix of native and non-native grasses and low shrubs. The northem portion of the east side of the project is a vertical cutbank. Project Description The City of Carlsbad (City) proposes to improve the section of El Camino Real from Tamarack Avenue north to Chestnut Avenue. El Camino Real is a major north/south roadway serving as a vital parallel circulation element to Interstate 5 (1-5) for the Cities of Encinitas, Carisbad and Oceanside. As various developments including subdivisions have occurred in the project vicinity, developers have been required to widen El Camino Real to full prime arterial standards. This section of roadway, from Tamarack Avenue to Chestnut Avenue, is one of the few remaining sections of El Camino Real that has not been widened to its full width of 6 travel lanes with 3 northbound and 3 southbound lanes. The proposed roadway improvements would result in a total width of 126 feet including: • 8-foot-wide bike lanes on both sides of the roadway • three southbound lanes, 12 feet wide each • three northbound lanes, 12 feet wide each • an 18-foot-wide landscaped median island • 5 1/2 -foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of the roadway • 4 '/2-foot-wide native planted area (including a native planted swale) on both sides of the roadway In the middle section of the roadway, the roadway would transition between the previously discussed typical section to a modified width of 116 feet including: • a 6 1/2-foot-wide bike lane on the west side of the roadway • a 5-foot-wide bike lane on the east side • three southbound lanes, 12 feet wide each • a 14- foot-wide landscaped median island • three northbound lanes, 11 Y2 feet wide each • 5 !/2-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of the roadway • 4 '/2-foot-wide native planted area (including a native planted swale) on both sides of the roadway The project proposes to keep the existing vertical profile of the road, and constmction is anticipated to extend approximately 9 months. The project's site plan and APE is displayed in Figure 4. September 2007 ^ '^Q^S-OI El Camino Real Widening Project ^ El Camino Real Widening Project - MND APE Site Plan FIGURE EIA Form - Pari II Additional characteristics of the proposed project are described below. Intersection Improvements. A traffic study was prepared for the subject project in April 2006 (LLG 2006). The purpose of the report was to analyze the operations at the two intersections along this segment of El Camino Real, for the existing conditions and Year 2030 conditions. The report then identified intersection improvements required to achieve acceptable level of service (i.e., LOS D). These intersection improvements were consequently incorporated into the project design. The 2030 traffic forecast analysis shows that in 2030, the El Camino Real/Tamarack Avenue intersection would result in an LOS F during AM and PM peak hours (LLG 2006). As such, the project plans include an additional northbound and southbound thm lane on El Camino Real, and an additional northbound left-tum lane on El Camino Real at its intersection with Tamarack Avenue, as shown in Figure 5. This improvement would improve the LOS at this intersection to LOS D or better in the AM peak hour and LOS C in the PM peak hour. Accommodating the additional northbound and southbound lanes, just north of the intersection, would consist primarily of re-striping the existing roadway, as sufficient width exists within the current roadway geometry. Associated signal modifications to accommodate the new lane configuration would also be provided. At the El Camino Real/Chestnut Avenue intersection, the project would resuh in the removal of the existing free right turn islands located at the northwest and southwest comers of the intersection and replace these with standard curb retums, pedestrian ramps, and associated signal modifications to accommodate the road widening improvements. These intersection improvements must satisfy Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, and therefore, ramps that meet ADA gradient criteria would be constmcted near the northwest and southwest comers to connect the improvements to existing sidewalks. Storm Drains. Currently, the roadway in the APE exhibits erosion on the embankment on the east side, pavement cracking and weathering, and bumps/sags. Storm water from the storm drains currently outlets at erosive velocities into a ditch east of the roadway. Storm drains within the APE would be replaced and/or improved, as shown in Figure 4. The project includes the placement of erosion protection in the ditch and/or constmction of check dams within the ditch to remedy the issue. The pavement for the roadway would be overlaid with asphah concrete and/or replaced with a full stmctural section as necessary. Brow ditches are proposed along the west side of El Camino Real to prevent hillside stormwater from flowing over the sidewalk and onto El Camino Real. The proposed locations are at Stations 513+50 and 536+00. The sizes of the brow ditches would vary from approximately 12-inch minimum depth to 24-inch maximum depth. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 8 LEGEND dl - Traffic Signal Bs - Bus Stop 40 - Four lana divided roadway RTOL- Right-turn Overlap —^— Existing Lone Configuration —Proposed Lane Configuration REV. 12/19/05 1166291 nG7-1.[)WG SOURCE: UNSCGTT, UW GREENSPAN ENGINEERS HOT TO SCALE El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Intersection Improvements FIGURE EIA Form - Part II Lighting. Overhead lighting is proposed as part of the project. Lighting would be installed per applicable City standards for wattage and spacing. Each light pole would produce up to 22,000 lumens and would be staggered at 300-foot intervals along both sides of the project section of El Camino Real. Bus Stops. One existing North County Transit District (NCTD) bus stop located on the west side of El Camino Real just south of Chestnut Avenue would be relocated as part of the project, although the specific location is in the process of being determined in concert with North County Transit District. It is assumed that the chosen location would not be located outside of the project APE. A second bus stop exists along the east side of El Camino Real north of Tamarack Avenue. No improvements or alterations to this bus stop are proposed. Utilities. Depending on the availability of funding, the existing overhead power lines along the west and east sides of El Camino Real may be undergrounded as part of the project. Should funding be available at the time of constmction, possibly as a joint cost sharing effort with SDG&E, the City would underground these electrical utilities. If a funding source for undergrounding is not located, the existing power poles along the west side, north of APN 207- 090-20, Station 526+00, are proposed to be relocated 5 to 10 feet to the west. The relocation or undergrounding of these poles is necessary to accommodate the proposed street widening. Grading. Minor grading would occur along the west side of El Camino Real to accommodate constmction of proposed retaining walls, which are described below. Additional grading behind and at the top of the retaining walls would occur to constmct brow ditches and drainage facilities. The proposed grading at the top of the walls would be contoured to a 1.5:1 or 2:1 inclination to blend into the natural look of the existing terrain. The proposed grading would range from 5 to 8 feet in height above the top of wall. Both minor grading and major grading would occur on the east side of the project. Minor re- grading is required at two locations (at approximately Station 512+50 and Station 517+00) to stabilize the existing fill slope adjacent to the east edge of the roadway, which also represents the west edge of the existing drainage channel. These two locations are situated approximately in the middle third of the APE and represent distressed areas where slope failure (Station 512+50) and sloughing (Station 517+00) have occurred. The existing slope height at these areas varies from 5 feet or less to approximately 15 feet with the height generally increasing toward the north. Both of these areas would be over-excavated and reconstmcted with reinforced earth or equal methods in accordance with the geotechnical report for the project to stabilize the slope and re-establish the initial slope inclination. Major grading is proposed along the northem segment of the east side of El Camino Real, predominantly across Assessor Parcel Numbers 167-230-24 and 167-230-25. Slope heights September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 10 EIA Form - Pari II would range from 30 to 50 feet with the height increasing toward the south. The proposed grading will be contoured to a 1.5:1 or variable slope inclination and be graded in such a fashion as to replace the in-kind driveway access to the property. Retaining Walls. Retaining walls are proposed on the west side of El Camino Real in the approximate midpoint of the APE. A portion of the proposed retaining walls would be located outside of the project ROW, therefore, property acquisition of 6,946 square feet (0.16 acre) would be required on Czajkowski property (within parcel numbers 207-180-08, -09, -10, and - 12), which is located approximately 2000 feet south of the El Camino Real/Chestnut Avenue intersection. The height of the retaining walls would vary from 6 feet to a maximum of 15 feet high. The specific wall types would be Caltrans cast-in-place concrete or masonry block cantilever with fascia for walls less than 10 feet in height. These have a concrete spread footing and a vertical retaining face. For walls over 10 feet in height, a tieback wall type would be implemented. This type of retaining wall is an anchored wall system that relies on steel bars grouted into the retained slope and a reinforced facing. The anchors are prestressed to provide an active clamping force. The facing is typically constmcted with reinforced shotcrete or cast-in-place concrete, and is constmcted with a "top-down" approach that does not require substantial excavation behind the wall face. The retaining walls are proposed to be buih with a boulderscape architectural treatment and landscaping screening. Drainage systems would be included behind the walls to allow proper drainage of the adjacent hillside. Landscape Concept Plan. A Landscape Concept Plan has been prepared as part of the project to provide a transition between the omamental landscape and natural landscape on either side of the project reach of El Camino Real. The Landscape Concept Plan takes into account the City's El Camino Real Corridor Development Standards by incorporating a median landscape treatment that continues adjacent median designs. The Landscape Concept Plan is displayed in Figures 6a through 6d. The specific objectives of the design include low water use, minimization of fire hazards, minimization of visual impacts of the proposed retaining walls, and stabilization of disturbed slopes. Staging Areas. Staging areas for temporarily storing constmction equipment would be identified during final design of the project, and would be located within previously paved areas within the APE. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 11 h4ATIVE & GALLON &HRUBS NATIVE I GALLON — GROUNDCOVER STAMPED COLOraD CONCRETE PAVlbiG TRI6TANIA CONFERTA 24" BOX ra-IAPW!OLEPI& 'PINK CLOUD' 5 GAL. NATIVE MTDROSEED MIX WITHIN R.O.W. < GRADED SLOPES SEE SHEET 3 f=OR SUGt^STED NATIVE HYDROSEED MIX, NATIVE GROUNDCOVERS, NATIVE SHRU&S, < VINES. 2. SEE S^EET 4 FOR STREETSCAre ACTIONS SECTION A - EL CAMINO REAL, TYPICAL KTU 7/6/06-REVISED 12/14/06 0 10 20 NORTH SCALE: 1"=20- EL CAMINO REAL ROAD WIDENING LANDSCAPE CONCEPT PLAN TYPICAL R.O.W. PLANTING (200' SECTION) PAGE1 El Camino Real Widening Project • MND Landscape Concept Plan FIGURE 6A PROPOSED RETAINING WALL PER CIVIL ENGINEER NATIN^ I GALLON SHRUBS NATIVE HTDRO^ED MIX NATIVE S GALLON SHRUBS SECTION B - EL CAMINO REAL AT RETAINING WALL SEE SHEET 3 FOR SUGGESTED NATIVE HTDRO^ED MIX, NATIVE GROUNDCOVERS, NATIVE SHRUBS, 4 VINES. 2. SEE SHEET 4 FOR STREETSCAPE ACTIONS 7/6/06 - REVISED 12/14/06 NORTH SCALE: 1"=20' EL CAMINO REAL ROAD WIDENING LANDSCAPE CONCEPT PLAN TYPICAL R.O.W. PLANTING (200* SECTION) PAGE 2 El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Landscape Concept Plan FIGURE 6B NATIVE MYDROSEED MIX: IT^ BOTANICAL NAME: ARTEMISIA CALIFORNICA ENCELIA CALIFORNICA ERIOPHTLLUM CONFERTIFLORUM ERIOGONUM FASCICULATUM ESCHSCHOLZIA CALIFORNICA LOTUS SCOPARIUS NASSELLA PULCHRA PLANTAGO INSULARIS SALVIA ^ELLIFERA VIGIEIRA LACINIATA COMMON NAME: CALIFORNIA &A<^BRUSH BUSH SUI^LOWER GOLDEN YARROW CALIFORNIA BUCKWHEAT CALIFORNIA POPPT DEER^ED PURPLE NEEDLE GRASS NO COMMON N.«iE BLACK SA^ SAN DIEGO SUNFLOWER NATIVE I GALLON GROUNDCOVERS SUCH AS: fC^ QQimO-AL HAtr^'. COMMON NAME: BACCHARIS PILULARIS 'PIC^ON POINT' COTOTE BRUSH CEANOTHUS GRI^US HORIZONTALIS 'TANKEE POINT' CARMEL CI^EPER ARCTOSTAPHTLOS UVA-URSI BEATOERRT NATIVE 1 GALLON SHRUBS SUCH AS:0 BOT^jgAL NATIE: COMMON NAMF. ^«TEROMELES ARBUTIFOLIA RHUS INTEGRIFOLIA SAMBUCUS MEXICANA TOTON LEMONDADEMRRT MEXICAN ELDEraERRT NATIVE 5 GALLON SHRUBS SUCH AS:0 wrmQAL NAHE: comoN NAME: ENCELIA CALIFORNICA MUHLENBERGIA RIC»4S SALVIA CLEN^LANDH 1 GALLON VINES SUCH AS: BOTANICAL NAME: FICUS PUMILA PARTHENOSISUS TRICUSPIDATA RHOICISSUS CAPENSIS BUSH SUNFLOWER DEER3RASS CLEVELAND SAGE COMMON NAME: CREEPING FIG BOSTON IVT EVERGREEN GRAPE KTUn ^) mSBm 7/6/06 - REVISED 12/14/06 NORTH SCALE: 1"=20' EL CAMINO REAL ROAD WIDENING LANDSCAPE CONCEPT PLAN TYPICAL R.O.W. PLANTING (200' SECTION) PAGE 3 El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Landscape Concept Plan FIGURE 6C 3; o 0^ 3; o 1^ 4'-fe' P.A. 5'-fe" '4ALK * S' LANE 12* LANE 12' LANE 12' LANE 18' ^EDIAN * 7 3 12' LANE 12' LAI^ 12' LAh« LANE , 126' SECTION A 4'-fe" P.A. 6 VARIES P.A. MALK LANE VARIES -7^ 12' LANE 12' LANE •7^ 6 1^ ii'-fe- LANE ir-6»" 5' lie* KTUn^- SECTION B 4'-fe' P.A. 0 5 10 7/6/CW - REVISED 12/14/06 SCALE: 1"= 10' EL CAMINO REAL ROAD WIDENING LANDSCAPE CONCEPT PLAN TYPICAL R.O.W. PLANTING (200' SECTION) PAGE 4 El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Landscape Concept Plan FIGURE 6D EIA Form - Part II Discretionary Actions The MND serves as an informational document for use by public agencies, the general public, and decision makers. This MND discusses the impacts of road improvements and related components. This MND will be used by the City of Carlsbad in assessing impacts of the proposed project. Discretionary actions required for project approval from the City include a Hillside Development Permit (HDP), a Special Use Permit (SUP) due to the project's location within the El Camino Real Corridor, a Coastal Development Permit (CDP), and a Habitat Management Plan Permit (HMPP). Also, the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board will consider the MND in issuing a Storm Water Discharge Requirements (WDR) Permit, Section 401 Water Quality Certification, and approval of the Storm Waler Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) will consider the MND in issuing a Nationwide Permit (NWP) 14 in accordance with Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act. Lastly, the CDFG will consider the MND in issuing a Section 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreement. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED: The summary of environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this project, involving at least one impact that is a "Potentially Significant Impact," or "Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated" as indicated by the checklist on the following pages. I I Aesthetics I I Agricultural Resources I I Air Quality Biological Resources ^ Cultural Resources ^ Geology/Soils Q Noise 3 Hazards/Hazardous Materials • Population and Housing Public Services I I Recreation ^ Transportation/Circulation ^ Utilities & Service Systems Hydrology/Water Quality \ i Land Use and Planning I I Mineral Resources Mandatory Findings of Significance September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 16 EIA Form - Pari II DETERMINATION. (To be completed by the Lead Agency) I I I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. IXI I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because the mitigation measures described on an attached sheet have been added to the project. A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. I I I find that the proposed project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required. I I I find that the proposed project MAY have "potentially significant impact(s)" on the environment, but at least one potentially significant impact 1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and 2) has been addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis as described on attached sheets. A Negative Declaration is required, but it must analyze only the effects that remain to be addressed. Q I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there WILL NOT be a significant effect in this case because all potentially significant effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT or NEGATIVE DECLARATION pursuant to applicable standards and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT or NEGATIVE DECLARATION, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project. Therefore, nothing further is required. Planner Signature Date Planning Director's Signature Date September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 17 EIA Form - Pari II ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS STATE CEQA GUIDELINES, Chapter 3, Article 5, Secfion 15063 requires that the City conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment to determine if a project may have a significant effect on the environment. The Environmental Impact Assessment appears in the following pages in the form of a checklist. This checklist identifies any physical, biological and human factors that might be impacted by the proposed project and provides the City with information to use as the basis for deciding whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), Negafive Declaration, or to rely on a previously approved EIR or Negative Declaration. • A brief explanation is required for all answers except "No Impacf answers that are adequately supported by an information source cited in the parentheses following each question. A "No Impact" answer is adequately supported if the referenced information sources show that the impact simply does not apply to projects like the one involved. A "No Impact" answer should be explained when there is no source document to refer to, or it is based on project-specific factors as well as general standards. • "Less Than Significant Impact" applies where there is supporting evidence that the potential impact is not significantly adverse, and the impact does not exceed adopted general standards and policies. • "Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated" applies where the incorporation of mitigation measures has reduced an effect from "Potentially Significant Impact" to a "Less Than Significant Impact." The developer (in this case, the City of Carlsbad, since the project is a public works project) must agree to the mitigation, and the City must describe the mitigation measures, and briefly explain how they reduce the effect to a less than significant level. • "Potentially Significant Impact" is appropriate if there is substantial evidence that an effect is significantly adverse. • Based on an "EIA-Part II", if a proposed project could have a potentially significant adverse effect on the environment, but all potentially significant adverse effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR or Mitigated Negative Declaration pursuant to applicable standards and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR or Mitigated Negative Declaration, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project, and none of the circumstances requiring a supplement to or supplemental EIR are present and all the mitigation measures required by the prior environmental document have been incorporated into this project, then no additional environmental document is required. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 18 EIA Form - Pari II • When "Potentially Significant Impacf is checked the project is not necessarily required to prepare an EIR if the significant adverse effect has been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR pursuant to applicable standards and the effect will be mitigated, or a "Statement of Overriding Considerations" has been made pursuant to that earlier EIR. • A Negative Declaration may be prepared if the City perceives no substantial evidence that the project or any of its aspects may cause a significant adverse effect on the environment. • If there are one or more potentially significant adverse effects, the City may avoid preparing an EIR if there are mitigation measures to clearly reduce adverse impacts to less than significant, and those mitigation measures are agreed to by the developer (i.e.. City) prior to public review. In this case, the appropriate "Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated" may be checked and a Mifigated Negative Declarafion may be prepared. • An EIR must be prepared if "Potentially Significant Impact" is checked, and including but not limited to the following circumstances: (1) the potenfially significant adverse effect has not been discussed or mifigated in an earlier EIR pursuant to applicable standards, and the City does not agree to mifigation measures that reduce the adverse impact to less than significant; (2) a "Statement of Overriding Considerafions" for the significant adverse impact has not been made pursuant to an earlier EIR; (3) proposed mitigation measures do not reduce the adverse impact to less than significant; or (4) through the EIA-Part II analysis it is not possible to determine the level of significance for a potenfially adverse effect, or determine the effectiveness of a mitigation measure in reducing a potentially significant effect to below a level of significance. A discussion of potential impacts and the proposed mitigation measures appears at the end of the form under DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION. Particular attention should be given to discussing mitigafion for impacts, which would otherwise be determined significant. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 19 EIA Form - Pari II Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact I. AESTHETICS - Would the project: a) Have a substantia! adverse effect on a scenic vista? • • u b) Substantially damage scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a State scenic highway? • • • c) Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings? • • • d) Create a new source of substantial light and glare, which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area? • n El • 11. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES - {In determining whether impacts to agricultural resources are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to the Califomia Agricultural Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Model-1997 prepared by the Califomia Department of Conservation as an optional model to use in assessing impacts on agriculture and farmland.) Would the project: a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the Califomia Resources Agency, to non-agricultural use? • • • b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract? • • • M c) Involve other changes in the existing environment, which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland to non-agricultural use? • • • ill. AIR QUALITY - (Where available, the significance criteria established by the applicable air quality management or air pollution control district may be relied upon to make the following determinations.) Would the project: a) Conflict with or obstmct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? • u u b) Violate any air quahty standard or contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation? • • • c) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is in non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard (including releasing emissions which exceed quantitative thresholds for ozone precursors)? • • • d) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? • • • e) Create objectionable odors affecting a substantial number of people? • • • September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 20 EIA Form - Part II Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact IV. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES - Would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by Califomia Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? • M u u b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian, aquatic or wetland habitat or other senshive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations or by Califomia Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? • • • c) Have a substantial adverse effect on federally protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (including but not limited to marsh, vemal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological intermption, or other means? • • n d) Interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites? • • • e) Conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance? • • • f) Conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan? • • • V. CULTURAL RESOURCES - Would the project: a) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in §15064.5? • • • El b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the signifi- cance of an archeological resource pursuant to §15064.5? • • n c) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontologi- cal resource or site or unique geologic feature? • • • d) Disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of formal cemeteries? • • • VI. GEOLOGY AND SOILS - Would the project: a) Expose people or stmctures to potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury or death involving: September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 21 EIA Form - Pari II Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact i. Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantia! evidence of a known fault? Refer to Division of Mines and Geology Special Publication 42. • • • ii. Strong seismic ground shaking? • • • iii. Seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction? • • • iv. Landslides? • • • b) Result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? • • u c) Be located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the project, and potentially result in on- or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, hquefaction, or collapse? • • Ki • d) Be located on expansive soils, as defined in Table 18 - 1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1997), creating substantial risks to life or property? • • u e) Have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or altemative wastewater disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of wastewater? • • • VII. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - Would the project: a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials? u u 1^ u b) Create a significant hazard to the public or environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment? • • • c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school? • u n September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 22 EIA Form - Pari II Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact d) Be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Govemment Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or environment? • • • lEI e) For a project within an airport land use plan, or where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a pubhc airport or public use airport, would the project resuh in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? • • • f) For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? • • • g) Impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? • ISI • • h) Expose people or stmctures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires, including where wildlands are adjacent to urbanized areas or where residences are intermixed with wildlands? • u • VIII. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY - Would the project: a) Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements? • • u b) Substantially deplete groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with ground water recharge such that there would be a net deficit in aquifer volume or a lowering of the local ground water table level (i.e., the production rate of pre-existing nearby wells would drop to a level which would not support existing land uses or planned uses for which permits have been granted)? • • lEI • c) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattem of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, in a manner, which would resuh in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off- site? • • • d) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattem of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, or substantially increase the flow rate or amount (volume) of surface mnoff in a manner, which would result in flooding on- or off- site? • • • September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 23 EIA Form - Pari II Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact c) Create or contribute mnoff water, which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted mnoff? • • Kl • f) Otherwise substantially degrade water quality? • • • g) Place housing within a 100-year flood hazard area as mapped on a Federal Flood Hazard Boundary or Flood Insurance Rate Map or other flood delineation map? • • • h) Place within 100-year flood hazard area stmctures, which would impede or redirect flood flows? • • • El i) Expose people or stmctures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving flooding, including flooding as a resuh of the failure of a levee or dam? • • • j) Inundation by seiche, tsunami, or mudflow? • • • IX. LAND USE AND PLANNING - Would the project: a) Physically divide an established community? • • • b) Conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy, or regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over the project (including but not hmited to the general plan, specific plan, local coastal program, or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect? • • • c) Conflict with any applicable habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan? n • Kl • X. MINERAL RESOURCES - Would the project: a) Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of future value to the region and the residents of the State? • • U lEI b) Resuh in the loss of availability of a locally important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan, or other land use plan? • n • lEI XI. NOISE - Would the project resuh in: a) Exposure of persons to or generation of noise levels in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance or applicable standards of other agencies? • u u September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 24 EIA Form - Part II Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact b) Exposure of persons to or generafion of excessive groundbourae vibration or groundboume noise levels? • • Kl • c) A substantia! permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? • • Kl • d) A substantial temporary or periodic increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? • • El • e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within 2 miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? • • • El f) For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? n • n XII. POPULATION AND HOUSING - Would the project: a) Induce substantial growth in an area either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other infrastmcture)? • • • b) Displace substantial numbers of existing housing, necessitating the constmction of replacement housing elsewhere? • • n El c) Displace substantial numbers of people, necessitating the constmction of replacement housing elsewhere? • • • EI XIII. PUBLIC SERVICES a) Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered govemment facihties, a need for new or physically altered govemment facilities, the constmction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives for any of the public services: i) Fire protection? • • n ii) Police protection? • n • iii) Schools? • • • iv) Parks? • • • v) Other public facilities? • • U September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 25 EIA Form - Pari II Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact XIV. RECREATION a) Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated? • • • E b) Does the project include recreational facihties or require the constmction or expansion of recreational facilities, which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment? • • u E XV. TRANSPORTATION/TRAFFIC - Would the project: a) Cause an increase in fraffic, which is substantial in relation to the exisfing traffic load and capacity of the street system (i.e., result in a substantial increase in either the number of vehicle trips, the volume to capacity ratio on roads, or congestion at intersections)? • • • E b) Exceed, either individually or cumulatively, a level of service standard established by the county congestion management agency for designated roads or highways? • • • E c) Resuh in a change in air traffic pattems, including either an increase in traffic levels or a change in location that results in substantial safety risks? u • • E d) Substantially increase hazards due to a design feaUire (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)? • • • E e) Result in inadequate emergency access? • E • • f) Result in insufficient parking capacity? • • • E g) Conflict with adopted policies, plans, or programs supporting altemarive transportation (e.g., bus tum- outs, bicycle racks)? • n El • XVI. UTILITIES AND SERVICES SYSTEMS - Would the project: a) Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board? u u U 1^ b) Require or result in the constmction of new water or wastewater treatment facilities or expansion of exisfing facilities, the constmction of which would cause significant environmental effects? • • • E September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 26 EIA Form - Pari II Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact c) Require or result in the constmction of new storm water drainage facilities or expansion of existing facihfies, the constmction of which could cause significant environmental effects? n E • • d) Have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project from existing entitlements and resources, or are new or expanded entitlements needed? • • E n c) Result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider, which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project's projected demand in addition to the provider's existing commitments? • • • E f) Be served by a landfiU with sufficient permitted capacity to accommodate the project's solid waste disposal needs? • • E U g) Comply with federal, state, and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste? • • • E XVH. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE a) Does the project have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of Califomia history or prehistory? • E • • b) Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? ("Cumula- tively considerable" means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connecfion with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable fiiture projects?) • E • • c) Does the project have environmental effects, which will cause the substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? • • E • September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 27 EIA Form - Part II XVIII. EARLIER ANALYSES Earlier analyses may be used where, pursuant to the tiering, program EIR, or other CEQA process, one or more effects have been adequately analyzed in an earlier EIR or negative declaration (Section 15063(c)(3)(D)). In this case a discussion should identify the following on attached sheets: a) Earlier analyses used. Identify earlier analyses and state where they are available for review. b) Impacts adequately addressed. Identify which effects from the above checklist were within the scope of and adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and state whether such effects were addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis. c) Mitigation measures. For effects that are "Less Than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated," describe the mitigation measures, which were incorporated or refined from the earlier document and the extent to which they address site- specific conditions for the project. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 28 EIA Form - Pari II DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION I. AESTHETICS—Would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? No Impact. In 1988, the City prepared Scenic Corridor Guidelines to identify roadways and transportation routes within the City to be designated as scenic corridors, and to suggest methods to preserve and enhance the character of those corridors (City of Carlsbad 1994). According to the City's Circulation Element (1994), Carlsbad has adopted four categories of scenic corridors. Transportation routes with potential corridor status are identified below; however, currently, El Camino Real is the only designated roadway within the City for which a set of development standards have been adopted. Community Theme Corridors. These connect Carlsbad with adjacent municipalities and present the City of Carlsbad to persons entering and passing thought the community. Community Theme Corridors include El Camino Real, Carlsbad Boulevard, Palomar Airport Road, La Costa Avenue, and Melrose Drive. Community Scenic Corridors. These roadways interconnect major subareas of the present and planned Carlsbad community. They include College Boulevard, Cannon Road, Carlsbad Village Drive, Faraday Avenue, 1-5, La Costa Avenue, Olivenhain Road/Rancho Santa Fe Road, and Poinsettia Lane/Carrillo Way. Natural Open Space and Recreation Corridors. These offer spectacular views of waterscapes, landforms, wildlife, and the Pacific Ocean, and include Adams Street/Park Drive, Baliquitos Drive, and Jefferson Street (the portion adjacent to the Buena Vista Lagoon). Railroad Corridor. This corridor presents the City to people passing through by rail, on the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe (AT&SF) Railroad. While El Camino Real has been designated as a Community Theme Corridor by the City, there are no officially designated scenic vistas idenfified in the City's General Plan (1994), and no scenic vistas are afforded while driving along the project segment of El Camino Real. Therefore, no impacts to a scenic vista would result. b) Substantially damage scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a State scenic highway? Less Than Significant Impact. As described above in response a), there are no officially designated state highways located within the project vicinity, but the City has designated El September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 29 EIA Form - Pari II Camino Real under its Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone. El Camino Real is also listed under the Community Theme Corridor category. The proposed project is not located within a section of El Camino Real that is adjacent to the adjoining jurisdictional areas to the north or south. The Open Space and Conservation Element's Special Resource Protection Implementing Policies and Action Programs C4 states that the City shall ''Designate for preservation as open space those areas that provide unique visual amenities and define the urban form as contained in the Open Space and Conservation Resource Management Plan. These areas shall include agriculture, hillsides, ridges, valleys, canyons, beaches, lagoons, lakes and other unique resources that provide visual and physical relief to the cityscape by creating natural contrasts to the built-up manmade scene" (City of Carlsbad 1994). A small portion of land located to the west of El Camino Real is designated as Open Space in the City's General Plan. No designated Special Resource Protection areas are located in the vicinity of the project site. Unique resources as defined in policy C4, such as hillsides and agriculture, are located near the proposed project site. The project site is also subject to the El Camino Real Corridor Development Standards (1984). The intent of these standards is to maintain and enhance the appearance of the El Camino Real roadway area, and reflect the existence of certain identified characteristics which the City considers worthy of preservation (City of Carlsbad 1984). The project site is located in Area 2 of the Standards. The project involves improvements and widening of this segment of El Camino Real, and many of the standards discussed in the regulations pertain to such details as signage, setback from roadway, and building height, which do not apply to the proposed project. The project would incorporate other design features such as sidewalks and would not modify the exisfing identified design theme of suburban residential. Overall, the project would not conflict with the El Camino Real Corridor Development Standards, and impacts would be less than significant. As described in the project descripfion, a retaining wall would be required along the west side of El Camino Real in the approximate midpoint of the APE, as shown in the visual simulations provided in Figures 7 and 8. The height of the retaining walls would vary between 6 to 15 feet in height, and would be constructed with a naturalized boulderscape architectural treatment and landscaping screening. A native hydroseed mix would be applied along the westem side of the proposed retaining wall, in addition to native shrubs to be planted on both the westem and eastem sides of the proposed wall. Vines and native groundcover would also be provided on the eastern side of the proposed wall, the section of the wall visible to passing travelers. The retaining walls would introduce a manmade feature to an otherwise natural hillside, but because travelers are typically driving at relatively high speeds (55 mph), views would not last more than 5 seconds. Also, due to the proposed boulderscape treatment, the retaining wall would be constmcted to look similar to existing conditions, and over time, the proposed landscaping would September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 30 r Existing Photo 1: View looking south at existing El Camino Real roadway and adjacent hillside, approximately 1,200 feet south of the intersection of El Camino Real and Chestnut Avenue. Visual Simulation 1: View looking south at proposed retaining wall and roadway improvements. El Camino Real Widening Project • MND Visual Simulation 1 FIGURE Existing Photo 2: View looking northwest at existing El Camino Real roadway and adjacent hillside, approximately 750 feet north of the intersection of El Camino Real and Tamarack Avenue. Visual Simulation 2: View looking northwest at proposed retaining wall and roadway improvements. El Camino Real Widening Project • MND Visual Simulation 2 FIGURE 8 EIA Form - Part II mature and further soften the visual appearance of the retaining wall. No other scenic resources such as trees, rock outcroppings, or historic buildings would be affected. If the exisfing overhead power Unes along the west side are undergrounded, thereby removing the poles and wires from existing views, a beneficial impact would result. A planted median and proposed parkways on both sides of the roadway (including sidewalks and 4 1/2 feet of native planted area) would also result in beneficial visual effects to the corridor. For these reasons, visual impacts would be less than significant. c) Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings? Less than Significant Impact The proposed project entails the widening of an existing roadway. The additional lanes and project components along this stretch of El Camino Real would not alter adjacent land uses. As such, the project would not substanfially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the project site or its surroundings, and impacts would be less than significant. d) Create a new source of substantial light and glare, which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area? Less Than Significant Impact. Lighting is currently provided along this stretch of El Camino Real. The project would replace the existing lighting to the ultimate width of El Camino Real. The lighting would be installed per applicable City standards for wattage and spacing which permits each light post to be staggered at 300-foot intervals along both sides of El Camino Real and produce up to 22,000 lumens per light post. Therefore the amount of light and glare would not substantially differ from exisfing conditions, and impacts would be less than significant. II. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES—Would the project: a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to non-agricultural use? No Impact. As stated in the Open Space and Conservafion Element of the City's General Plan, it is the City's intention to support and utilize all measures available to secure agricultm-al land uses for as long as possible prior to development, and to promote the long-term economic viability of agricultural uses. There are only a limited number of areas within the City that are considered to possess important farmlands as defined by the Califomia Department of Conservation. The City consists mainly of Urban and Built-Up Land along the westem, September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 33 EIA Form - Pari II southem, and northwestem portions of the City, with large areas of Other Land interspersed throughout the eastem and central portions (City of Carlsbad 1994). According to the State of Califomia Department of Conservation (DOC) San Diego County Important Farmland 1998 Map, the proposed project site and the areas immediately to the north, east, south and west are designated as Urban and Built Up Land, with areas to the southeast of the El Camino Real/Tamarack Road interchange designated as Other Land (DOC 1998). No Prime, Unique or Farmland of Statewide Importance would be converted as a result of implementing the proposed project, and no impacts would result. b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract? No Impact. According to the City of Carlsbad's Zoning Map dated July 25, 2006, the project site is zoned as El Camino Real Corridor Overlay. It should also be noted that the designated zoning for the surrounding land uses includes Planned Community (P-C) for the southem half and One-Family Residential (R-1) in the northem half, with a small portion of land to the northwest zoned as Residential Density - Multiple (RD-M). No agricultural uses have been zoned for land surrounding the project site; therefore the proposed project would not confiict with existing zoning for agricultural uses or any Williamson Act contracts in the City, and no impacts would result. c) Involve other changes in the existing environment, which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland to non-agricultural use? No Impact. As described in responses a) and b) above, the proposed widening improvements to El Camino Real would not result in the conversion of farmland at the proposed project site or surrounding areas. No other changes to the existing environment would result in conversion of farmland to non-agricultural use, and no impact would result from implementing the proposed project. III. AIR QUALITY—Would the project: a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? No Impact. The project site is located in the San Diego Air Basin which is a federal and state non-attainment area for ozone (O3), and a state non-attainment area for particulate matter less than or equal to 10 microns in diameter (PMio). The periodic violations of national Ambient Air Quality Standards (AAQS) in the San Diego Air Basin (SDAB), particularly for ozone in inland foothill areas, requires that a plan be developed oufiining the pollution controls that will be undertaken to improve air quality. In San Diego County, this attainment planning process is September 2007 _^ 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 34 EIA Form - Part II embodied in the Regional Air Quality Strategies (RAQS) developed jointly by the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and the San Diego Association of Govemments (SANDAG). A plan to meet the federal standard for ozone was developed in 1994 during the process of updating the 1991 state-mandated plan. This local plan was combined with plans from all other Califomia non-attainment areas having serious ozone problems and used to create the Califomia State Implementation Plan (SIP). The SIP was adopted by the Air Resources Board (ARB) after public hearings on November 9th through lOth in 1994, and was forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval. After considerable analysis and debate, particularly regarding airsheds with the worst smog problems, EPA approved the SIP in mid-1996. The proposed project relates to the SIP and/or RAQS through the land use and growth assumptions that are incorporated into the air quality planning document. These growth assumptions are based on each city's and the County's general plan. If a proposed project is consistent with its applicable General Plan, then the project presumably has been anticipated with the regional air quality planning process. Such consistency would ensure that the project would not have an adverse regional air quality impact. Secfion 15125(B) of the State of California Environment Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines contains specific reference to the need to evaluate any inconsistencies between the proposed project and the applicable air quality management plan. Transportation Control Measures (TCMs) are part of the RAQS. The RAQS and TCM plan set forth the steps needed to accomplish attainment of state and federal ambient air quality standards. The Califomia Air Resources Board provides criteria for determining whether a project conforms with the RAQS which include the following: • Is a regional air quality plan being implemented in the project area? • Is the project consistent with the growth assumptions in the regional air quality plan? The project site is located in the San Diego Air Basin, and as such, is located in an area where a RAQS is being implemented. The project is consistent with the growth assumptions of the City's General Plan and the RAQS. Therefore, the project is consistent with the regional air quality plan and will in no way conflict or obstruct implementation of the regional plan, and no impact would result. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 35 EIA Form - Part II b) Violate any air quality standard or contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation? Less Than Significant Impact. The closest air quality monitoring station to the project site is in Camp Pendleton. Data available for this monitoring site through April, 2002 indicate that the most recent air quality violations recorded were for the state one hour standard for ozone (one day in both 2000 and 2001) and one day in 2001 for the federal 8-hour average for ozone and one day for the 24-hour state standard for suspended particulates in 1996. No violafions of any other air quality standards have been recorded recently. The project would involve minimal short-term emissions associated with grading and constmction. The principal source of emissions would be fugitive dust from earth moving activities, storage piles, and vehicle travel on unpaved and paved surfaces. Such emissions would be minimized through standard constmction measures such as the use of properly tuned equipment and watering the site for dust control. Therefore, impacts from constmction related emissions would be less than significant. Operafions of the proposed project would not generate substantial traffic, increase the number of vehicles operating in the cold start mode, or worsen congestion, since it would widen the existing roadway per General Plan standards. Therefore, pollutant emission would likely be the same or less than without the proposed project. Long-term impacts would be less than significant overall. c) Result in a cumulafively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard? Less Than Significant Impact. The Air Basin is currently in a non-attainment zone for ozone and suspended fine particulates. The proposed project would represent a contribution to a cumulatively considerable potential net increase in emissions throughout the air basin. As described above, however, constmcfion emissions associated with the proposed project would be short-term, and long-term operational air quality emissions would be essentially the same as the baseline emissions. Therefore, according to the CEQA Guidelines Section 15130, the proposed project's contribution to the cumulative impact is considered de minimus, and impacts would be less than significant. d) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? Less Than Significant Impact. Residences are located along both the eastem and westem sides of the proposed project site. No other sensitive receptors (e.g. schools or hospitals) are located in the vicinity of the proposed project. As noted above, the proposed project would not result in substantial pollutant emissions or concentrations. Therefore, impacts to sensitive receptors would be less than significant. September 2007 4926-01 E! Camino Real Widening Project 36 EIA Form - Pari II e) Create objectionable odors affecting a substantial number of people? Less Than Significant Impact. The constmction of the proposed project could generate fumes from the operafion of constmcfion equipment and from asphalt paving and grading, which may be considered objectionable by some people. Such exposures would be short-term and/or transient since they would occur during the constmction phase only, and would not reach a level of significance. IV. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES - Would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated. A Biological Resources Technical Report (Dudek 2007) was prepared for the project. Regarding sensitive habitats, direct permanent impacts to vegetation communities include all areas within the proposed project APE, as shown in Figures 9 and 9a through 9d. As shown in the figures, a 28.9-acre study area was surveyed, which included the 18.5-acre APE. Implementation of the proposed project would potentially result in the direct permanent loss of the vegetation community and non-natural land cover acreages shown in Table I below, including the acreage of each within the Coastal Zone. TABLE 1 Project Impacts to Vegetation Communities and Land Covers VEGETATION CCMIUMflY / UU» (XWERTm ACREAGE VEGETATION CCMIUMflY / UU» (XWERTm COASTAL ZONE OTHER TOTAL Native Uplands Coastal sage scmb 0.26 0.88 1.14 Native Uplands Coastal sage scrub-disturbed 0.09' 0.08 0.17 Native Uplands Native grassland-disturbed 0.022 ... 0.02 Jurisdictional Waters/Wetlands Riparian scrub (Southern willow scrub) _. 0.37 0.37 Jurisdictional Waters/Wetlands Riparian scrub (Southern willow scrub-disturbed) ... 0.03 0.03 Jurisdictional Waters/Wetlands Unvegetated stream channel ... 0.10 0.10 Jurisdictional Waters/Wetlands Concrete-lined channel ... 0.02 0.02 Non-native Land Covers Non-native grassland ... 0.11 0.11 Non-native Land Covers Developed 8.24 4.94 13.18 Non-native Land Covers Disturbed lands 0.32 2.28 2.60 Non-native Land Covers Eucalyptus woodland _. 0.33 0.33 Non-native Land Covers Omamental 0.063 0.36 0.43 TOTAL* 8.99 9.50 1&50 ' 4,013 square feet 2 715 square feet 3 2,703 square feet *Totals may not sum precisely due to rounding September 2007 4926-01 E! Camino Real Widening Project 37 APE Limits Study Area BASE SOURCE: Berryman & Henigar, December 2005 APE: December 2006 El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Biological Resources with APE Limits Index Map FIGURE I I I I I I I I Q I I D I I I TOPO SOURCE: Berryman & Henigar, December 2005 /'V'' Study Area /\/ APE Limits </\>- Coastal Zone Boundary • Data Station VEGETATION TYPES/LANDCOVERS: C3 AGL: Annual Grassland C3 CSS: Coastal Sage Scrub C3 NGL: Native Grassland CX3 dNGL: disturbed Native Grassland C3 dCSS: disturbed Coastal Sage Scrub C3 O^N: Ornamental 0 Feet 40 80 C3 Developed C3 DM: Disturbed Habitat Q3 EUC: Eucalyptus Woodland 03 SWS: Southern Willow Scrub C3 SWS_C: Southern Willow Scrub (CDFG only) C3 dSWS_C: disturbed Southern Willow Scrub (CDFG only) Jurisdictional Waters of the U.S./State —Ephemeral Waters —— Ephemeral Waters (concrete-lined) —Intermittent Waters Intermittent Waters (concrete-lined) Note: Number indicates width of channel segment between marks. El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Biological Resources Map with APE Limits FIGURE 9A TOPO SOURCE: Berryman & Henigar, December 2005 /"V'' Study Area /\/ APE Limits -/V Coastal Zone Boundary • Data Station 0 Feet 0 40 80 VEGETATION TYPES/LANDCOVERS: C3 AGL: Annual Grassland C3 CSS: Coastal Sage Scrub C3 dCSS: disturbed Coastal Sage Scrub (Xi) DEV: Developed C3 DH: Disturbed Habitat C3 E'-'C: Eucalyptus Woodland C3 NGL: Native Grassland Q3 dNGL: disturbed Native Grassland 03 Of^N: Ornamental C3 SWS: Southern Willow Scrub C3 SWS_C: Southern Willow Scrub (CDFG only) 03 dSWS_C: disturbed Southern Willow Scrub (CDFG only) Jurisdictional Waters of the U.S./State —Ephemeral Waters ——' Ephemeral Waters (concrete-lined) —— Intermittent Waters —— Intennittent Waters (concrete-lined) Note: Number indicates width of channel segment between marks. El Camino Real Widening Project • MND Biological Resources Map with APE Limits FIGURE 98 TOPO SOURCE: Berryman & Henigar, December 2005 /'V Study Area /sy APE Limits '^S^ Coastal Zone Boundary • Data Station Feet 40 80 VEGETATION TYPES/LANDCOVERS: 03 AGL: Annual Grassland 03 CSS- Coastal Sage Scrub 03 dCSS: disturbed Coastal Sage Scrub 03 DEV: Developed 03 DH: Disturbed Habitat 03 E^C: Eucalyptus Woodland 03 NGL: Native Grassland 03 dNGL: disturbed Native Grassland 03 Of^N: Ornamental 03 SWS: Southern Willow Scrub 03 SWS_C: Southern Willow Scrub (CDFG only) 03 dSWS_C: disturbed Southern Willow Scrub (CDFG only) Jurisdictional Waters of the U.S./State ——• Ephemeral Waters —— Ephemeral Waters (concrete-lined) —"— Intermittent Waters —•• Intermittent Waters (concrete-lined) Note: Number indicates width of channel segment between marks. El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Biological Resources Map with APE Limits FIGURE 90 I (1 c TOPO SOURCE: Berryman & Henigar, December 2005 •*'\''' Study Area /\/ APE Limits • Data Station ® Feet 0 40 80 VEGETATION TYPES/LANDCOVERS: 03 AGL: Annual Grassland 03 CSS: Coastal Sage Scrub 03 dCSS: disturbed Coastal Sage Scrub 03 DEV: Developed 03 DH: Disturbed Habitat 03 EUC: Eucalyptus Woodland 03 NGL: Native Grassland 03 dNGL: disturbed Native Grassland 03 CRN: Ornamental 03 SWS: Southern Willow Scrub 03 SWS_C: Southern Willow Scrub (CDFG only) 03 dSWS_C: disturbed Southern Willow Scrub (CDFG only) Jurisdictional Waters of the U.S./State ——• Ephemeral Waters ——' Ephemeral Waters (concrete-lined) ——' Intermittent Waters —— Intermittent Waters (concrete-lined) Note: NumlDer indicates width of channel segment between marks. El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Biological Resources Map with APE Limits FIGURE 9D EIA Form - Pari II Direct permanent impacts to vegetation communities and land covers listed as HMP habitats in the City HMP would be considered significant. Direct impacts to 1.31 acre of coastal sage scrub (including disturbed), 0.02 acre of disturbed native grassland, 0.11 acre of non-native grassland, 0.40 acre of southem willow scrub (including disturbed), 0.33 acre eucalyptus woodlands, and 2.60 acres disturbed land, all vegetation communities and land covers listed as HMP habitats in the City HMP, are considered significant. Refer to mitigation measures listed below that would reduce impacts to a level below significance. Regarding sensitive wildlife species, the project has the potenfial to impact 0.73 acre of potential Cooper's hawk nesting habitat (southem willow scrub and eucalyptus); 1.44 acres of Dulzura pocket mouse and northwestem San Diego pocket mouse habitat (coastal sage scrub and grasslands). Potential impacts to nesting Cooper's hawk, Dulzura Califomia pocket mouse and northwestem San Diego pocket mouse, if present, would be considered significant. Refer to mitigation measures listed below that would reduce impacts to a level below significance. Surveys for monarch butterfly roosting sites were negative, and therefore no impacts would occur to this species. Potential indirect impacts to sensitive plant and wildlife species include construction-related edge effects such as dust which could disrupt plant vitality in the short-term or construction- related soil erosion and water runoff. Edge effects generally would only occur along the interface between the project impact area and adjacent sensitive habitat, including coastal sage scrub, native grassland, non-native grassland, southem willow scrub, and jurisdicfional stream channels. However, standard constmcfion BMPs and construction-related minimization measures to control dust, erosion, and runoff will be implemented and will ameliorate these effects (refer to Section VIII, Hydrology and Water Quality, response a). Therefore, significant indirect impacts to sensitive plant and wildlife species would be avoided through these measures. Regarding sensifive plant species, the Biological Resoiu"ces Technical Report concludes that no sensitive plant species occur in the APE, and no direct impacts to sensitive plant species would result. Mitigation Measures for Sensitive Veeetation Communities BIO-1: Prior to grading, significant direct impacts to sensitive vegetation communities shall be mitigated in the amounts shown in the discussion below. Mitigation shall be implemented to the satisfaction of the City Plaiming Department. The mitigation ratios are also displayed in Table 2. • The loss of 0.02 acre (715 square feet) of disturbed nafive grassland within the Coastal Zone (CZ) shall be mifigated at a ratio of 3:1, including 1:1 habitat creafion. Because only 0.02 acre of native grassland creafion is required, this September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 43 EIA Form - Part II shall be incorporated (as container plantings) into the coastal sage scrub habitat creation discussed below. The loss of 0.35 acre of CZ coastal sage scrub shall be mitigated at a 2:1 ratio including habitat creation at a 1:1 ratio. A total of 0.37 acre of coastal sage scrub habitat shall be created within the CZ, including a sufficient quantity of container plants as native grasses equivalent to the creation of 0.02 acre of native grassland. The remaining 1:1 mitigation for impacts to CZ coastal sage scrub, together with 1:1 mitigation for non-CZ coastal sage scrub impacts, shall be achieved through preservation of 1.31 acres of coastal sage scrub habitat by use of mifigation credit in the City of Carlsbad's Lake Calavera Mitigafion Bank. Loss of 0.11 acre of non-native grassland shall be mitigated by preservafion of 0.06 acre of non-native grassland (or superior habitat) by use of mitigation credit in the City of Carlsbad's Lake Calavera Mitigation Bank. Loss of 0.33 acre of eucalyptus woodland and 2.60 acres of disturbed lands shall be mitigated by 0.03 acre and 0.26 acre habitat preservation, respectively, at the Lake Calavera Mitigation Bank, and may be out-of-kind. TABLE 2 Recommended Mitigation for Impacts to Sensitive Vegetation and Jurisdictional Waters (Acres) VEGETATION COMMUNITY COASTAL ZONE OTHER TOTAL VEGETATION COMMUNITY MPACT MmCATION IMPACT MTTIGATION Creation Preservation Total VEGETATION COMMUNITY MPACT Ratio Acres IMPACT Ratio Acres Creation Preservation Total Coastal sage scnjb (including disturbed) 0.35 2:1' 0.70 0.96 1:1 0.96 0.35 1.31 1.66 Native qrassland-disturbed 0.02 3:1' 0.06 ... ... ... 0.02^ 0.04 0.06 Non-native grassland — ... _. 0.11 0.5:1 0,06 -0.06 0.06 Riparian scrub (including disturbed) ---... 0.40 3:11 1.20 0.40 0.8 1.20 Ephemeral channel ... ... ... 0.01 1:11 0.01 0.01 0.01 Intennittent channel ... ... ... 0.11 1:1' 0.11 0.11 ... 0.11 Eucalyptus woodland — ... ... 0.33 0.1:1 0.03 0.03 0.03 Disturbed lands 0.32 0.1:1 0.03 2.28 0.1:1 0.23 — 0.26 0.26 TABLE 9 Recommended Mitigation for Impacts to Sensitive Vegetation VEGETATION CORfflHUNITY COASTAL ZONE OTHER TOTAL VEGETATION CORfflHUNITY MPACT MmGATiON ^ r mpiicf MmCATION Creation Preservation Total VEGETATION CORfflHUNITY MPACT Ratio Acres ^ r mpiicf Ratio Acres Creation Preservation Total Coastal sage scrub (including disturbed) 0.35 2:11 0.70 0.96 1:1 0.96 0.35 1.31 1.66 Native grassland-disturbed 0.02 3:1' 0.06 — ... _. 0.02^ 0.04 0.06 Non-native grassland ... ... — 0.11 0.5:1 0.06 ~ 0.06 0.06 Riparian scnjb (including disturbed) -... ... 0.40 3:1' 1.20 0.40 0.8 1.20 Ephemeral channel ... ._ — 0.01 1:1' 0.01 0.01 — 0.01 Intermittent channel ... ... ... 0.11 1:1' 0.11 0.11 ... 0.11 September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 44 EIA Form - Part II TABLE 2 Recommended Mitigation for Impacts to Sensitive Vegetation and Jurisdictional Waters (Acres) VEGETATION COMMUNITY COASTAL ZONE OTHER TOTAL VEGETATION COMMUNITY IMPACT MmGAHON IMPACT MTTIGATION Creation Preservation Total VEGETATION COMMUNITY IMPACT Ratio Acres IMPACT Ratio Acres Creation Preservation Total Eucalyptus woodland — ... ... 0.33 0.1:1 0.03 ... 0.03 0.03 Disturbed lands 0.32 0.1:1 0.03 2.28 0.1:1 0.23 — 0.26 0.26 ' Includes 1:1 creation. 2 Included within coastal sage scrub mitigation, for a total of 0.37 acre coastal sage scrub creation. Mitigation measures for impacts to southem willow scrub are discussed below under response b). Mitigation Measures for Sensitive Wildlife Species BIO-2: Prior to grading, significant direct impacts to sensitive wildlife species shall be mitigated to the satisfaction of the City Planning Department. The following mitigation measures would avoid impacts to Cooper's hawk, other raptors and other migratory bird species nests protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act: • The City's construction contractor shall conduct vegetation clearing outside of the January through September bird breeding season; or • A qualified biologist shall conduct a focused survey for bird nests not more than 72 hours prior to commencement of vegetation clearing activities. If active nests are found, the City's construction contractor shall cease construction within an appropriate buffer zone of 50 to 300 feet, as determined by the project biologist, around the nest site until juveniles have fledged and the nesting cycle is complete. Impacts to Cooper's hawk, Dulzura Califomia pocket mouse, and northwestem San Diego pocket mouse shall be mitigated through creation and/or preservation of riparian scrub and eucalyptus woodland (Cooper's hawk), and coastal sage scrub and grassland (pocket mice) habitats discussed under BIO-1 above. [Note: the loss of approximately 0.7 acre of potential Cooper's hawk nesting habitat (eucalyptus and riparian scrub) shall be mitigated through creation or preservation of 1.20 acres of riparian habitat and 0.03 acre of eucalyptus woodland.] The location of the riparian scrub would be determined as part of the CDFG 1602 permit process. b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian, aquatic or wetland habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations or by California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? September 2007 4926-01 Ei Camino Real Widening Project 45 EIA Form - Part II Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated. Direct permanent impacts to 0.19 acre of waters, including wetlands, under the jurisdiction of ACOE, CDFG, and RWQCB, and an additional 0.33 acre of riparian vegetation under the jurisdiction of CDFG only (for a total CDFG-jurisdictional area of 0.52 acre) are considered significant (Dudek 2007). Table 3 below shows the breakdown of waters/wetlands impacts and the acreage of each. Potential indirect impacts to jurisdictional stream channels and sensitive vegetation communities (i.e., southem willow scmb, coastal sage scmb, native grassland, non-native grassland) include constmction- related edge effects such as dust which could dismpt plant vitality in the short-term or constmction-related soil erosion and water mnoff. Edge effects generally would only occur along the interface between the APE (i.e., where constmction and/or grading or other physical impacts would occur) and adjacent sensitive habitat, including jurisdictional stream channels, southem willow scmb, coastal sage scmb, native grassland and non-native grassland. However, standard constmcfion BMPs and constmcfion-related minimization measures to control dust, erosion, and mnoff will be implemented and will ameliorate these effects as stated under Section VIII, Hydrology and Water Quality response a). Therefore, significant indirect impacts to jurisdictional areas and other sensitive vegetafion communities would be reduced to less than significant levels through these measures. TABLE 3 Project Impacts to Jurisdictiona Areas WATER^^WETUM)S TYPE ACREAGE JURISDICTION Southem willow scrub 0.30 CDFG Souttiern willow scrub 0.07 CDFG, ACOE, RWQCB Southenn willow scrub-disturbed 0.03 CDFG Unveqetated stream ctiannel (ephemeral) ... CDFG, ACOE, RWQCB Unveqetated stream channel (intermittent) 0.10 CDFG, ACOE, RWQCB Concrete-lined channel (ephemeral) 0.01 CDFG, ACOE, RWQCB Concrete-lined channel (intermittent) 0.01 CDFG, ACOE, RWQCB TOTAL' 0.52 ' Totals may not sum precisely due to rounding. Mitigation Measures for Jurisdictional Waters BIO-3 Prior to grading, significant direct impacts to jurisdicfional waters and riparian habitats shall be mifigated to the satisfaction of the City Planning Department. The following mitigation measures would reduce impacts to a level below significance: • Mifigafion for impacts to jurisdictional waters and riparian habitats shall include 1:1 creation in accordance with the "no net loss" wetlands policy in the Carlsbad HMP. Impacts to 0.40 acre of southem willow scmb shall be mitigated at a ratio of 3:1, consisting of creation of 0.40 acre (1:1) of southem willow scmb and use of 0.80 acre (2:1) of mifigation credit in the City of Carlsbad's Lake Calavera Mitigation Bank. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 46 EIA Form - Pari II Impacts to 0.12 acre of ephemeral and intermittent stream channels shall be mitigated through creafion of 0.12 acre of stream channel (or superior) habitat. A combined total of 0.52 acre of wefiand habitat and jurisdictional stream channels shall be created in partial mifigation for wefiand impacts. A Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 Nationwide Permit shall be required from the ACOE for project impacts to 0.19 acre of ACOE-jurisdictional waters. A CWA Section 401 permit from RWQCB shall be required for impacts to 0.19 acre of waters under their jurisdiction. A CDFG Secfion 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreement shall be required from CDFG for impacts to 0.52 acre of jurisdictional waters and riparian vegetation. c) Have a substantial adverse effect on federally protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (including but not limited to marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means? Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated. Refer to response b) above. d) Interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites? Less Than Significant Impact. The City of Carlsbad specifically idenfifies habitat linkages as part of the Habitat Management Plan (HMP), with Linkages consisting of conserved habitat that provides a connecfion between the HMP core areas and other natural habitat areas. The vicinity of the proposed project is not idenfified as a Linkage in the HMP and is not located within a habitat corridor. The project would involve widening of an existing roadway. As such, impacts would be less than significant. e) Confiict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance? No Impact The project would not conflict with the Carlsbad HMP, or any other local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources. Also refer to response f) below. No impacts would result. f) Conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan? No Impact. The proposed project site is located within the City of Carlsbad HMP and is part of the El Camino Real Widening - South Chestnut to South Alga Street project, which is covered September 2007 4926-01 Ei Camino Real Widening Project 47 EIA Form - Pari II by the proposed City Lands mifigation bank. (Note: subsequent to publication of the HMP, the "South Alga" street name was changed to Aviara Parkway to the west of El Camino Real, and Alga Road east of El Camino Real.) The proposed project would comply with the HMP guidelines and requirements, and therefore, the project is consistent with the Carlsbad HMP. No impacts would result. V. CULTURAL RESOURCES - Would the project: a) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in §15064.5? No Impact. A Cultural Resources Technical Report was conducted for the proposed project in 2006 (ASM 2006). A review of historic maps of the project vicinity in addition to a database search of the National Register of Historic Places, Califomia Register of Historic Resources, California State Landmarks, Califomia Points of Historic Interest and other historic property lists were conducted and did not reveal any historic stmctures within the project vicinity (ASM 2006). Therefore, no impacts to historical resources would result. b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archeological resource pursuant to §15064.5? Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated. According to the Cultural Resources Technical Report, two prehistoric habitation sites have previously been recorded within a one-mile radius of the project site. No additional archeological resources were identified during the site reconnaissance survey. Because a number of large habitation sites are located within a one-mile radius of the project, the known presence of large archaeological sites in the vicinity, and due to the fact that during stirveys, heavy leaf litter was present which limited visibility, potentially significant impacts to archaeological resources could result. Accordingly, implementation of the following mifigation measures during project grading and constmction activities would reduce potential impacts to archeological resources to less than significant levels. CULT-1: Archeological monitoring shall occur during all earthmoving activifies, to the satisfaction of the City of Carlsbad Planning Department. The mifigafion monitoring program shall consist of the following measures: Prior to Preconstruction (Precon) Meeting 1. Planning Department Plan Check a. The requirements for Archaeological Monitoring and Native American Monitoring shall be included on the appropriate constmction documents. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 48 EIA Form - Part II Archaeological and Native American Monitoring shall be performed by separate qualified individuals. 2. Submit Letter of Qualification to the Planning Department a. Prior to the first Precon Meeting, the City shall provide a letter of verification stating that qualified monitors have been retained to implement the monitoring program. 3. Records Search Prior to Precon Meeting a. At least thirty days prior to the Precon Meeting the qualified monitors shall verify to the City that a records search has been completed and updated as necessary and be prepared to introduce any pertinent information concerning expectations and probabilities of discovery during grading activities. Verification includes, but is not limited to, a copy of a confirmation letter from South Coast Informafion Center or, if the search was in-house, a letter of verificafion from the monitors stating that the search was completed. Precon Meeting 1. Archaeologist & Native American Monitors Shall Attend Precon Meetings a. Prior to beginning any work that requires monitoring, the City shall arrange a Precon Meeting that shall include the Monitors, Constmction Manager and/or Grading Contractor. The qualified Monitors shall attend any grading related Precon Meetings to make comments and/or suggestions concerning the Archaeological and Native American Monitoring program with the Constmction Manager and/or Grading Contractor. 2. Identify Areas to be Monitored a. At the Precon Meeting, the Monitors shall submit to the City Planner a copy of the site/grading plan (reduced to 11x17) that identifies areas to be monitored as well as areas that may require delineation of grading limits. During Construction 1. Archaeologist & Native American Monitors Shall be Present During Grading/Excavation The qualified Monitors shall be present full-time during grading/excavation of nafive soils and shall document activity via the Consuhant Monitor Record. This record shall be sent to the City Planner (CP), as appropriate, each month, a. Monitoring September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 49 EIA Form - Pari II Monitoring of holes and/or trenches is required for all components that impact nafive soils one foot deeper than exisfing as detailed on the plans or in the contract documents identified by drawing number or plan file number. It is the Constmction Manager's responsibility to keep the monitors up-to-date with current plans. b. Discoveries In the event of a discovery, and when requested by a Monitor, or the Principal Invesfigator (PI) if the Monitor is not qualified as a PI, the Constmcfion Manager (CM), as appropriate, shall be contacted and shall divert, direct or temporarily halt ground disturbing activifies in the area of discovery to allow for preliminary evaluation of potentially significant archaeological resources. The PI shall also immediately notify the CP of such findings at the time of discovery. c. Determination of Significance The significance of the discovered resources shall be determined by the PI. For significant archaeological resources, a Research Design and Data Recovery Program shall be prepared, approved by the agency and carried out to mitigate impacts before ground-disturbing acfivities in the area of discovery will be allowed to resume. d. Minor Discovery Process The following is a summary of the criteria and procedures related to the evaluafion of small cultural resource deposits during excavafion. 2. Coordination and Notification a. Monitors shall notify PI, CM and CP, as appropriate. 3. Criteria used to Determine if it is a Small Cultural Resource Deposit a. The deposit is limited in size both in length and depth; and, b. The information value is limited and is not associated with any other resources; and, c. There are no unique features/artifacts associated with the deposit. d. A preliminary description and photographs, if available, shall be transmitted to the CP. e. The information will be forwarded to the Planning Department for consultation and verification that it is a small historic deposit. 4. Procedures for documentation, curation and reporting The following constitutes adequate mitigation of a small historic deposit to reduce impacts due to excavation activities to below a level of significance, a. 100 percent of the artifacts within the alignment and width shall be documented in-situ, to include photographic records, plan view of the trench and profiles of sidewalls, recovered, photographed after cleaning, and analyzed and curated. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 50 EIA Form - Part II b. The remainder of the deposit within the limits of excavation (trench walls) shall be left intact. c. The Final Results Report shall include a requirement for monitoring of any future work in the vicinity. 5. Notification of Completion The Monitors shall submit monitoring reports to the CP at the end date of monitoring. Post Construction 1. Handling and Curation of Artifacts and Letter of Acceptance a. The Archaeologist Monitor shall be responsible for ensuring that ai! cultural remains collected are cleaned, catalogued, and permanently ciu"ated with an appropriate institufion; that a letter of acceptance from the curafion insfitution has been submitted to the Planning Department; that all artifacts are analyzed to identify function and chronology as they relate to the history of the area; that faunal material is idenfified as to species; and that specialty studies are completed, as applicable. b. Curation of artifacts associated with the survey, testing and/or data recovery for this project shall be completed in consultation with the CP and the Native American Monitor, as applicable. 2. Final Results Reports (Archaeological Monitoring and/or Research Design and Data Recovery Program) a. Within three months following the completion of monitoring, two copies of the Final Results Report (even if negative) and/or evaluation report, if applicable, which describes the results, analysis, and conclusions of the Archaeological Monitoring Program (with appropriate graphics) shall be submitted to the CP for approval. b. For significant archaeological resources encountered during monitoring, the Research Design and Data Recovery Program shall be included as part of the Final Results Report. 3. Recording Sites with State of Califomia Department of Park and Recreafion The Archaeologist Monitor shall be responsible for recording (on the appropriate State of Califomia Department of Park and Recreation forms-DPR 523 A/B) any significant or potenfially significant resources encountered during the Archaeological Monitoring Program in accordance with the City's Historical Resources Guidelines, and submittal of such forms to the South Coastal Informafion Center with the Final Resuhs Report. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 51 EIA Form - Part II c) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature? Less Than Significant Impact. No previous paleontological resources have been recorded within one mile of the project site. During the site survey, one piece of marine shell and one fragment of a large mammal bone were identified in the project vicinity (ASM 2006). However, a close inspection of extensive excavations in the area where these resources were found did not reveal any fiirther potential remains, and impacts to paleontological resources would be less than significant. d) Disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of formal cemeteries? No Impact. No human remains were idenfified in the Cultural Resources Technical Report prepared for the proposed project, and the report did not indicate the potenfial for remains to be encountered during constmction activifies (ASM 2006). As a result, no impacts are anticipated. VL GEOLOGY AND SOILS - Would the project: a) Expose people or structures to potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury or death involving: i) Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault? Refer to Division of Mines and Geology Special Publication 42. Less Than Significant Impact. A Geotechnical Engineering Investigation Report was prepared in 2006 for the proposed project (Testing Engineers 2006). According to the report, the proposed project is not located within any Earthquake Fault Zone delineated by the State of Califomia for the hazard of fault surface mpture (Testing Engineers 2006). ii) Strong seismic ground shaking? Less Than Significant Impact. Southem Califomia, including the proposed project site is located in a seismically active area. The closest known active fault to the project site is the Rose Canyon fault zone, which is located approximately 6 miles from the site (Testing Engineers 2006). Other active faults in the area include Elsinore-Julian, Newport-Inglewood, Coronado Bank and Elsinore-Temecula fault zones, located approximately 23 miles, 6.5 miles, 22 miles, and 23 miles from the project site respecfively. The most significant seismic hazard at the site is considered to be shaking caused by an earthquake occurring on a nearby or distant active fault (Testing Engineers 2006). The project does not propose to constmct September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 52 EIA Form - Part II any stmctures, and the proposed widening of the existing roadway would not result in a significant impact such as risk of loss, injury or death due to seismic ground shaking. For these reasons, impacts related to seismic ground shaking would be less than significant. iii) Seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction? Less Than Significant Impact. Liquefaction is generally known to occur in saturated cohesionless soils at depths shallower than approximately 50 feet. Dynamic settlement due to earthquake shaking can occur in both dry and saturated sands. The project site is mainly underlain by relafively dense Santiago Formation overlain by shallow, fine grained alluvial deposits, without a groundwater table. As such, the project site is not considered to be subject to liquefaction. The potential for liquefaction and associated ground deformation occurring beneath the site is considered low (Testing Engineers 2006), and impacts would be less than significant. iv) Landslides? Potentially Significant Impacts Unless Mitigation Incorporated. Portions of the adjacent hillsides to the immediate west are proposed to be graded and contoured to a 1.5:1 slope, and held in place with retaining walls, as described in the project descripfion and under Section I, Aesthetics. The grading and constmcfion of retaining walls would be conducted in conformance with the City's standards, but due to their height, scale, and potenfial for erosion, impacts to people or stmctures due to landslides is considered potentially significant. Impacts would be mitigated with implementation of the following mitigation measure: GEO-1: Prior to grading, the project geotechnical engineer or engineering geologist shall prepare a Final Geotechnical Engineering Investigation Report reflecting the approved project configuration. This geotechnical study shall, as deemed necessary by the City Engineer and consulting geotechnical engineer, further assess slope stability and slope stability remediation within the proposed widening footprint. The findings and recommendations of the geotechnical assessment shall be incorporated into the final engineering design for the project. b) Result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated. The project would include the improvement of the existing roadway's pavement and would also include replacement/repair of existing storm drains to the east of the roadway, including the use of rip rap to reduce erosive mnoff velocifies (refer to Figure 4 for the locafion of storm drains). In this way, beneficial impacts would result. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 53 EIA Form ~ Part II As a result of grading and project constmcfion, potenfial erosion and siltation impacts could occur. As described in the Project Description section, grading along the westem and eastem slopes of El Camino Real is proposed. Standard BMPs would be employed during grading and constmction, such as installation of sediment barriers and gravel/sand bags to prevent offsite sedimentation; dust abatement to minimize fugitive dust; and removal of soil tracked onto paved surfaces. Potentially significant erosion impacts would be mifigated by implementation of the following mitigation measures: GEO-2: All proposed cut and fill slopes identified as susceptible to future erosion and/or soil slippage shall be planted with an erosion retardant ground cover adhering to the following criteria: • The ground cover is effective in preventing surface erosion; • The ground cover is drought resistant; • The ground cover has a relatively low surface mass/weight; • Has a fairly deep and extensive root system; • Requires minimum maintenance by the owner; and • Has a low irrigation demand. GEO-3: The City Engineer shall be responsible for approving the appropriate erosion control/slope failure control-planting program prior to grading. c) Be located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the project, and potentially result in on- or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction, or collapse? Less Than Significant Impact. As mentioned above in response a) iii), the potential for ground deformation occurring beneath the project site is considered low (Testing Engineers 2006). In addifion, the site is not located in an area of known ground subsidence due to the withdrawal of subsurface fluids. Therefore the potential for subsidence or collapse occturing at the site is considered remote (Testing Engineers 2006), and impacts would be less than significant. d) Be located on expansive soils, as defined in Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1997), creating substantial risks to life or property? Less Than Significant Impact. Soils within the project site consist of silty sand, clayey sand and/or sandy clay (Testing Engineers 2006). According to the Uniform Building Code Table 18- I-B, these soil types are classified as having a medium to high potential as an expansive soil. Existing soils at the project site would be removed to a depth of at least 1 foot below existing ground surface and at least 2 feet beyond the road embankment footprint and replaced with fill soils. Therefore, because expansive soils would be replaced, potential impacts would be less than significant. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 54 EIA Form - Part II e) Have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of wastewater? No Impact. The project does not propose to provide septic tanks or altemative wastewater disposal systems. Therefore, no impact would result. VII. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - Would the project: a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials? Less than Significant Impact. Constmction activities used for the proposed widening of EI Camino Real would not include the use of explosives or acutely hazardous materials. No hazardous materials would be used with the exception of fuels commonly employed in constmcfion vehicles. As such, the project would have no significant impact with regard to creating a potenfial hazardous condition to the public or the environment through routine transport, use or disposal of hazardous materials. Impacts would be less than significant. b) Create a significant hazard to the public or environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment? Less Than Significant Impact Relatively small amounts of hazardous substances, such as fossil fuels, lubricants, and solvents would be used onsite for constmction and maintenance of the project; however, these materials shall be transported and handled in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws regulating the management and use of hazardous materials. Consequently, use of these materials for their intended purpose would not pose a significant risk to the public or environment, and impacts would be less than significant. c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school? No Impact. The proposed project would not be located within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school (City of Carlsbad 2002). As such, no impact to existing or proposed schools would result. d) Be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or environment? September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 55 EIA Form — Pari II No Impact. According to the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health website (http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/deh. accessed in August 2006), two database lisfings are located along the APE, but no waste, inventory, environmental assessment, or tank information was identified for these sites. A total of eight other lisfings are located within a one mile radius of the APE. These listings consist of medical/dental facilities and one dry cleaner site. These sites were reported as chemicals storage areas with no reports of hazardous spills or contaminafion issues. Therefore, no listed sites would create a significant hazard to the public or the environment, and no impact would occur. e) For a project within an airport land use plan, or where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a pubhc airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? No Impact. The proposed project is not located within the McClellan-Palomar Airport Influence Area of the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for the McClellan-Palomar Airport (SANDAG 2004). In addifion, the proposed project is not located within a two mile radius of any other airport. The McClellan-Palomar Airport is located approximately 2.2 miles south of the proposed project site. No safety hazard or impacts would result. f) For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? No Impact. The proposed project is not located within the vicinity of a private airstrip, and no impact would result. g) Impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated. The widening of El Camino Real would alleviate existing and future traffic conditions along this roadway segment. However, during constmcfion acfivifies, the potential exists for increased traffic to occur within the APE which could result in delayed response times to emergency vehicles. Mitigation has been provided below to reduce this short-term impact to less than significant levels: HAZ-1: Prior to grading, a traffic control plan shall be prepared to the satisfacfion of the City of Carlsbad Engineering Department. The traffic control plan shall show all signage, striping, delineation detours, flagging operations, and any other devices, which shall be used during constmction to guide motorists safely through the constmcfion zone and allow for a minimum of one lane of travel. The plan shall also identify temporary September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 56 EIA Form - Part II constmction employee parking areas. The traffic control plan shall also include provisions for coordinating with local emergency service providers regarding constmcfion times and locations of lane closures as well as specifications for pedestrian and bicycle safety. Emergency vehicles would be permitted access through the constmction zone. h) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires, including where wildlands are adjacent to urbanized areas or where residences are intermixed with wildlands? Less than Significant Impact. The proposed project is located in areas adjacent to vegetated open space that could be susceptible to wildland fires. These areas are located on both sides of El Camino Real within and near the project APE. During the constmction phase, the use and storage of constmction equipment fuel and petroleum products would increase the potenfial risk of fire hazard in the area. The project incorporates design features that would comply with County of San Diego Fire Department fuel modification requirements. Therefore, impacts are considered less than significant. VIII. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY - Would the project: a) Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements? Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated. A Water Quality Technical Report (WQTR) was prepared for the proposed project (Bureau Veritas 2007), as required under the City's local Standard Urban Storm Water Mitigation Plan (SUSMP). The purpose of the WQTR is to document the process that was used to select and design the site, source, and treatment control stormwater BMPs that would be incorporated in the project to mifigate the impacts of urban mnoff during and after constmction. The WQTR identifies the project as "high priority" in the City's SUSMP because it involves a site 5 acres or larger (Bureau Veritas 2007). Also, since the project meets one or more of the SUSMP applicability criteria, it is required to incorporate permanent stormwater BMPs into the project design. These BMPs include site design, source control, and treatment control BMPs. The project site is located in the Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit of the Califomia Water Quality Control Board's Region 9 - San Diego, within the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and Agua Hedionda Creek Hydrologic Areas. The Carlsbad Watershed Urban Runoff Management Program prepared by the Califomia Water Quality Control Board's Region 9 - San Diego, identified the following major water quality problems in the Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit: fecal coliform or bacterial indicators and sedimentation and siltafion. The San Diego Regional Water Quality September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 57 EIA Form - Part II Control Board 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies included Agua Hedionda Creek for total dissolved solids, and Agua Hedionda Lagoon for bacteria indicators and sedimentation/siltation. The constmcfion phase of the project is anficipated to generate sediment and constmcfion material waste. Sedimentation can typically be caused through erosion of unprotected graded slopes and poor stockpile management. Constmction material waste can pollute downstream water bodies, resources and aqueous environments if not treated, handled and disposed of properly. Grading would increase the erosion potential of onsite soils which could lead to offsite sediment transport. Sediment, nutrients, heavy metals, organic compounds, potential oxygen demanding substances, and oil and grease are the potential pollutants generally of concem for roadway projects (Bureau Veritas 2007). This potential impact would be short-term (during the constmction phase) and is considered significant. Mitigation in the form of site-specific BMPs, as recommended in the WQTR, would be implemented as discussed below. These mitigation measures would reduce water quality impacts to below a level of significance: HYDRO-1: A stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) shall be prepared by the City prior to grading. The SWPPP shall identify potenfial sources of poUufion, practices to be used to reduce pollutants, and shall help ensure compliance with the stormwater permit. The constmction contractor shall be required to implement the approved SWPPP and any amendments thereafter, to the satisfaction of the City Engineer. The SWPPP will have a Sampling and Monitoring Program that addresses both direct discharges from the project into a Section 303(d) water body and discharges that have been discovered through visual monitoring to be potenfially contaminated by pollutants not visually detectable in the mnoff. HYDRO-2: The constmcfion contractor shall be required to implement BMPs during constmction in accordance with the plans, specificafions and SWPPP prepared for the project, the General Constmction Storm Water Permit (NPDES Order 99-08-DWQ), and to the safisfacfion of the City Engineer. These BMPs shall address temporary soil stabilization, temporary sediment control, wind erosion control, tracking control, and non-stormwater management. Several BMPs have been incorporated into the project design to reduce potential future impacts related to water quality and water discharge (Bureau Veritas 2007). BMPs would be implemented to address water quality impacts during the planning and design, and operational stages of this project. These project BMPs are included in mitigation measures below, and would reduce potential long-term water quality impacts to below a level of significance: HYDRO-3: The project is considered a priority project and is therefore required to incorporate treatment BMPs into the site. Based on the impaired waterways that exists downstream September 2007 ^ 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 58 EIA Form - Part II of the APE, this project shall incorporate nafive planted swales as a treatment control BMP designed to remove sedimentafion/siltafion to a medium or high level. This BMP shall be approved by the City Engineer prior to grading. Nafive planted swales shall be located along either side of the roadway in the parkway area or in the median as determined by the City during the final design phase of the project. The length and configuration of the native planted swales shall be consistent with those identified in detail in the Water Quality Technical Report prepared for the project (Bureau Veritas 2007). HYDRO-4: The City shall implement all maintenance operafions of permanent BMPs as outlined in Section 2.5 [Maintenance of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) of their Jurisdicfional Urban Runoff Management Plan (JURMP)]. The City's Contractor is responsible for maintenance of constmction BMPs. Operation and maintenance requirements for the proposed permanent BMPs are provided in Table 4 below. Table 4 Permanent BMP Operation and Maintenance Requirements 1 DentgaCriieria. Rttne Actions Maintenance Indicator Field Measurement Measurement Freouencv Maintenance Activity Native Planted Swales Inspect for erosion, damage to vegetation, and sediment and trash/debris accumulation Presence of erosion, missing vegetation, and accumulation of sedimentation and/or debris/trash ttiat could interfere with proper functioning of swale. Visual observation of erosion, damaged vegetation, and presence of sediment and trash/debris. Once per year (preferably at the beginning of the rainy season - October 1^'). Reinforce eroded areas with rock rip rap. Reseed damaged vegetation areas. Remove and properly dispose of accumulated sediment when it exceeds 3 inches depth. Remove and properly dispose of debris/trash. Shrubbery Trimming High grovirth of shrubbery and presence of weeds, and/or woody vegetation. Visual observation of shrubbery height exceeding a 6-in. depth and presence of weeds and/or woody vegetation. Trim once per year for aesthetic and safety purposes and/or suppression of shrubbery and woody vegetation. Trim shrubbery to no less than 4-inch depth, but no taller than 6-inch depth. Weed control strategies. Inspection for standing water Standing water is present and does not drain after a maximum of 72 hours. Visual observation of standing water. Once per year (preferably at the beginning of the rainy season - October Regrade areas downstream of location where standing water accumulates to ensure water flows smoothly. b) Substantially deplete groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with ground water recharge such that there would be a net deficit in aquifer volume or a lowering of the local ground water table level (i.e., the production rate of September 20Q7 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 59 EIA Form - Part II pre-existing nearby wells would drop to a level which would not support existing land uses or planned uses for which permits have been granted)? Less than Significant Impact. As described in response Vl.a.iii), the project site is mainly underlain by relatively dense Santiago Formation overlain by shallow, fine grained alluvial deposits, without a groundwater table. The widening of El Camino Real from four to six lanes would result in an increase to impervious surfaces along this roadway. No deplefion in groundwater supplies would result, and the scale of the project is such that it would not substanfially interfere with ground water recharge. Therefore, impacts to groundwater supplies would be less than significant. c) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, in a manner, which would result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off-site? Less Than Significant Impact. Although the project would impact adjacent waters of the U.S., as analyzed in Secfion IV.a), the proposed project will not significantly alter drainage pattems on the site (Bureau Veritas 2006). Stormwater within the existing storm drains currently flows at erosive velocities into a ditch east of the roadway. This has resulted in erosion of the exisfing embankment along the east side of the roadway, pavement cracking and weathering, and bumps/sags. The project proposes to replace and/or improve the exisfing storm drains within the project APE and provide erosion protection in the ditch and/or constmct check dams within the ditch. These proposed project features would remedy the exisfing erosion condition. Impacts would be less than significant. d) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, or substantially increase the flow rate or amount (volume) of surface runoff in a manner, which would result in flooding on- or off-site? Less Than Significant Impact. The proposed project will not significanfiy alter drainage pattems on the site (Bureau Veritas 2006). The proposed project would replace and/or improve the exisfing storm drains within the project limits as the majority of the existing system is at capacity. The proposed project would result in a minor increase to surface runoff due to the proposed widening of El Camino Real, and this minor increase in surface mnoff would not substantially alter the existing drainage pattem of the site or area. Therefore, impacts would be less than significant. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 60 EIA Form - Pari II e) Create or contribute runoff water, which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff? Less Than Significant Impact. The widening of El Camino Real from four to six lanes would result in a minimal increase in mnoff, including polluted mnoff. As stated in the Preliminary Hydrology/Hydraulics Study for El Camino Real Widening (Bureau Veritas 2006) the majority of the existing storm drain system within the project limit is at capacity and therefore the project is proposing to replace and/or improve the existing storm drains within the project limits to accommodate project mnoff. Therefore, impacts would be less than significant. f) Otherwise substantially degrade water quality? Less Than Significant Impact See responses to Hydrology and Water Quality a) through e) above. g) Place housing within a 100-year flood hazard area as mapped on a Federal Flood Hazard Boundary or Flood Insurance Rate Map or other flood delineation map? No Impact. The proposed project does not include the constmction of any housing units. In addifion, the project is not located within a 100-year flood hazard area (SANGIS 1997). No impact is assessed. h) Place within 100-year flood hazard area structures, which would impede or redirect flood flows? No Impact. The propose project does not propose the constmcfion of any stmctures that would impede or redirect flood flows. In addifion, as menfioned above the proposed project is not located within a 100-year flood hazard area. No impact is assessed. i) Expose people or structures to a signiflcant risk of loss, injury or death involving flooding, including flooding as a result of the failure of a levee or dam? No Impact. The proposed project is not located within any inundation area and therefore would not expose people or stmctures to a significant risk or loss of injury or death involving flooding. No impact assessed. j) Inundation by seiche, tsunami, or mudflow? September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 61 EIA Form - Part II Less Than Significant Impact. The project site is located approximately 1 mile northeast of Agua Hedionda Lagoon, 2.5 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, and 1.6 miles south of Buena Vista Lagoon. The proposed project is located approximately 77 to 286 feet above mean see level. Due to the elevation and distance of the Pacific Ocean tsunamis are not considered a hazard at the project site. Due to the shallowness of the lagoons, and the position of the site being upslope from these water bodies, potential impacts from a seiche or mudflow would not result. Therefore, impacts would be less than significant. IX. LAND USE AND PLANNING - Would the project: a) Physically divide an established community? No Impact. The proposed project is located in the northem part of the City and would consist of widening an existing roadway from four to six lanes to accommodate existing and future traffic. The improvement of the existing road facility is consistent with the City's General Plan. Since El Camino Real is an exisfing roadway, the proposed widening of the roadway would not physically divide an established community, and no impact would result. b) Conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy, or regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over the project (including but not limited to the general plan, specific plan, local coastal program, or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect? Less Than Signiflcant Impact. The project proposes to widen El Camino Real to its ultimate width of six travel lanes, which is consistent with its General Plan designation for prime arterial roadways. As such, no conflict with the General Plan would result, and since the project would provide ultimate Circulation Element configurafion improvements for this segment of El Camino Real, a land use policy benefit would resuh. As shown in Figures 9a through 9d, the project site is located within the Coastal Zone as part of the City's Local Coastal Program (LCP). The project would be consistent with the City General Plan and would not conflict with the LCP. For a discussion on sensitive biological resources within the Coastal Zone, refer to Secfion IV, Biological Resources, responses a) and b). The project is also subject to the City's Hillside Development Regulations, per Chapter 21.95 of the City Municipal Code (1998). The key purpose and intent of the regulafions is to assure hillside conditions are properly identified and incorporated into the planning process, and to preserve and/or enhance the aesthetic qualifies of natural hillsides and manufactured slopes of the land, minimizing the amount of project grading, especially in highly visible public places. The project is subject to a Hillside Development Permit due to its proposed grading and constmction of a retaining wall along the westem slope of the project segment. As described September 2007 . 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project ^2 EIA Form - Pari II above under Aesthefics, the project is subject to El Camino Real Corridor Development Standards and would not conflict with those standards given its incorporation of key features such as a boulderscape retaining wall, landscaping, and other improvements such as sidewalks. These project features would also be consistent with the Hillside Development Regulations since they intend to improve the visual quality of the adjacent hillsides and street corridor. Overall, the project would be consistent with applicable plans, and impacts would be less than significant. c) Conflict with any applicable habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan? Less Than Significant Impact. As stated in Section IV, Biological Resources item f), the proposed project site is located within the City of Carisbad's HMP and is part of the El Camino Real Widening - South Chestnut to South Alga street project, which is covered by proposed City Lands mifigafion bank. The proposed project would comply with its guidelines and requirements, and would be consistent with the Carlsbad's HMP. Impacts would be less than significant. X. MINERAL RESOURCES - Would the project: a) Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of future value to the region and the residents of the State? No Impact. According to the California Department of Conservation Division of Mines and Geology's (CDMG) Generalized Mineral Land Classificafion Map of Westem San Diego County, Califomia, the proposed project site and its surrounding areas are classified as Mineral Resource Zone (MRZ)-3 (CDMG 1996). MRZ-3 is defined as areas containing mineral deposits the significance of which cannot be evaluated from available data (CDMG 1996). Also, the City's General Plan does not idenfify mineral resources within its jurisdictional area. Overall, no impacts to mineral resources would occur. b) Result in the loss of availability of a locally important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan, or other land use plan? No Impact. As stated above in response a), the project site is not located in an area designated for possessing locally important minerals. The project site is located in a semi-developed area and consists of widening an existing roadway, with no impacts to any known mineral resource recovery sites. No mineral impacts would result as a resuh of implementing the proposed project. September 2007 ^ 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project ^-^ EIA Form - Pari II XI. NOISE - Would the project result in: a) Exposure of persons to or generation of noise levels in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance or applicable standards of other agencies? Less Than Significant Impact. An Acoustical Assessment Report was prepared for the project in 2006, and is summarized in this section (Dudek 2006). The City's General Plan has designated the maximum noise exterior level of 60 dBA community noise equivalency level (CNEL) for new residential, schools and churches. In addifion, interior noise levels for new residential development should not exceed 45 dBA CNEL. The City has not adopted specific road widening significance thresholds for existing noise sensitive land uses. The exisfing measured hourly average noise levels ranged from 67 to 72 dBA at the backyards of the adjacent residences along both sides of El Camino Real, within the project APE {Figure 10). These noise levels do not account for noise attenuafion of any exisfing barriers such as sound walls or wood fences that exist. Since the exisfing noise levels exceed the City's threshold, the Acoustical Assessment Report determined that a noise impact would be significant if the traffic noise level increase exceeds three (3) dBA CNEL and either elevates noise levels above the City's noise criteria limits or exceeds three (3) dBA increase above an already noisy existing condition. Noise levels generated by constmction equipment would vary greatly depending on factors such as the type and specific model of the equipment, the operation being performed and the condifion of the equipment. The maximum noise levels would range from approximately 75 to 95 dBA for the equipment normally used for this type of project. Constmction activifies are expected to comply with the City's permitted hours of operafion - for prime arterials, the City's standard weekday constmction hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Since this segment of El Camino Real has substanfial direcfional flow, the City may pursue an extension of constmcfion hours until September 2007 , 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 64 LEGEND . . . Noise Measurement Location . . . Receptor Locatiort . . APE Boundary Scale in Feet TOPO SOURCE: Berryman & Henigar, Dec. 2005 El Camino Real Widening Project - MND Noise Measurement & Receiver Locations FIGURE 10 EIA Form - Part II 5:00 p.m. in the afternoon, depending on the direction of El Camino Real under constmction. The extension of hours would require use of a traffic control plan, as idenfified in the HAZ-1 mitigation measure (Section VII, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, response g). Because the Tamarack Avenue and Chestnut Avenue intersections have school pedestrians crossing El Camino Real, the contractor would not be allowed to initiate the traffic control plan in either direction before 8:30 a.m. Furthermore, the City may elect to allow constmcfion on Saturdays, in an effort to reduce the overall duration of constmction. This opfion would also result in the need to implement the traffic control plan (per HAZ-1). Overall, regardless of which constmction scenario the City ultimately pursues, constmction activities would comply with the City's permitted hours for constmction activities, and would be short-term, and therefore the constmction noise impact would be less than significant. The short-term with project CNEL would result in an increase of less than one (1) dBA at the adjacent residences as compared to the short-term noise levels without the project (Dudek 2006). Therefore, short-term noise impacts are considered less than significant, since the noise levels would not exceed the three (3) dBA threshold. Long-term impacts were addressed for the year 2030. Year 2030 noise levels with incorporafion of the proposed project would range from approximately 68 to 74 dBA CNEL at the backyards of the adjacent residents along El Camino Real. The year 2030 with the proposed project CNEL would result in an increase of less than one (1) dBA at the adjacent residences as compared to the noise levels without the proposed project. Therefore, long-term noise increase impacts would also be less than significant, since the project noise increase would not exceed the significance threshold. b) Exposure of persons to or generation of excessive groundbourne vibration or groundbourne noise levels? Less Than Significant Impact. During the constmction phase of the project, the generation of groundboiune vibration or intermittently high noise levels may occur. However, these activities would occur during the permitted hours of constmction activities in compliance with the City's Noise Ordinance and therefore impacts would be less than significant. c) A substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? September 2007 ^ 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 66 EIA Form - Pari II Less Than Significant Impact. As menfioned above in response a) the proposed project would result in an increase of one (1) dBA CNEL over the long term. Since a noise level change of three (3) dBA is generally considered to be a perceptible change in environmental noise, a substanfial permanent increase in ambient noise level within the project vicinity would not result. The increase in ambient noise level would be less than significant. d) A substantial temporary or periodic increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? Less Than Significant Impact. As mentioned above in response a), the proposed project would result in a temporary noise increase during constmcfion acfivifies. However, constmction activifies would be permitted to occur in accordance with the hours stated in the City's Noise Ordinance and therefore impact would be less than significant. e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within 2 miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? No Impact. The proposed project is not located within 2 miles of a public airport or public use airport. Therefore, no impact would result. f) For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project expose people residing or woricing in the project area to excessive noise levels? No Impact. The proposed project is not located within the vicinity of a private airstrip. Accordingly, no impact would result. XII. POPULATION AND HOUSING - Would the project: a) Induce substantial growth in an area either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other infrastructure)? Less Than Significant Impact. The widening of El Camino Real to the proposed configurafion of this segment of roadway would accommodate planned development consistent with the City's General Plan. The widening of this existing roadway from four to six lanes would not induce substanfial unplanned growth in the area, and would not change any allowed density and/or zoning on adjacent properfies. Impacts would be less than significant. September 2007 ^ 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 67 EIA Form - Part II b) Displace substantial numbers of existing housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere? No Impact. As idenfified in the project descripfion, the proposed project would resuh in the acquisition of 6,946 square feet (0.16 acre) of private property on the westem side of El Camino Real, affecfing parts of 4 parcels. These parcels are privately owned and currently vacant. There are no stmctures within the proposed acquisition area and no displacement of existing housing would result. Also, no change to allowed density or zoning would resuh. Therefore, no impact would result. The City of Carlsbad would work with the private property owner to determine the fair market value of the property to be acquired. Also, the proposed grading across APNs 167- 230-24 and 167-230-25 along the northeast portion of the APE would not result in impacts to existing housing. No housing would be displaced, and the proposed grading would be performed in such a fashion as to replace the in-kind driveway access to the property. c) Displace substantial numbers of people, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere? No Impact. Refer to response b) above. No people would be displaced as a result of implementing the proposed project. No impact assessed. XIII. PUBLIC SERVICES - Would the project: a) Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered government facilities, a need for new or physically altered government facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives for any of the public services: i) Fire protection? Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated. The nearest fire protecfion station. Fire Stafion 3, is located approximately 300 feet northeast of the project site at 3701 Catalina Drive. The widening of El Camino Real would alleviate the existing traffic congestion along the roadway and allow better access for public emergency services and improve their response fimes. The demand for fire services in the area is not expected to increase as a result of implementing the proposed project. Temporary constmcfion phase impacts may resuh during project constmction, and as identified in HAZ-1 mifigation measure provided in the Hazards and Hazardous Materials secfion, response g), the Traffic Control Plan would ensure that emergency response services would be provided with information concerning the closures and the applicable contract information to reach the September 2007 ^ 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 68 EIA Form - Pari II onsite constmcfion manager. This would allow prior nofification to ensure that access through the constmcfion area is possible upon arrival of an emergency vehicle. Therefore, temporary impacts during the constmcfion phase would be reduced to less than significant. No long-term operational phase impacts are assessed. ii) Police Protection? Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated. The City of Carisbad maintains one police stafion at 2560 Orion Way. The station is located approximately 1.2 miles southeast of the proposed project site. The demand of police protecfion services is not anticipated to increase with implementation of the proposed project, and no impacts were assessed for the long-term operafional phase of the proposed project. As described in response i) above, the Traffic Control Plan provided in Hazards and Hazardous Materials section, response g), would ensure that temporary impacts would be reduced to less than significant. Since emergency response services would be provided with information conceming any potenfial road closures and the applicable contract information of the onsite constmction manager to ensure prior notification of access, temporary impacts would be less than significant. iii) Schools? No Impact. The proposed project would not affect existing or proposed schools within the area, since no housing is proposed, and no increase in students would result. No impact assessed. iv) Parks? No Impact The proposed project would not result in the increased use of existing parks, since no population would be introduced as a result of the project. No impact assessed. v) Other public facilities? No Impact. No additional public facilities, such as public libraries, would be impacted as a result of the proposed widening of El Camino Real. No impact assessed. XIV. RECREATION - Would the project: a) Increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated? September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 69 EIA Form - Part II No Impact. The proposed widening of El Camino Real and its project components would not result in the use of exisfing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities. No impact is assessed. b) Include recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities, which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment? No Impact. The proposed project does not include recreational facilifies or require the constmcfion or expansion of recreational facilities. It should also be noted that the City's General Plan does not propose any recreational facilifies within the APE. No impact assessed. XV. TRANSPORTATION/TRAFFIC—Would the project: a) Cause an increase in traffic that is substantial in relation to the existing traffic load and capacity of the street system? No Impact. El Camino Real, between Chestnut Avenue and Tamarack Avenue, currently consists of two northbound and two southbound traffic lanes. The City of Carlsbad's General Plan has designated this road as a prime arterial roadway. Various developments in the project vicinity have resulted in requirements of developers to widen El Camino Real to its ftiU prime arterial standards. The proposed project area is one of the few remaining sections of El Camino Real that has not been widened to its ultimate width of three southbound lanes and three northbound lanes. The proposed project consists of the widening of El Camino Real, from Chestnut Avenue to Tamarack Avenue, to its ulfimate width of three lanes in each direction. The widening of this roadway would help to alleviate traffic along this segment. The project consists of road widening improvements and therefore does not generate traffic. As described in the MND project description, based on recommendations provided in the traffic study, the project plans include improvements at the El Camino Real/Tamarack Avenue intersection, consisfing of an additional northbound and southbound thm lane on EI Camino Real, and an additional northbound left-mm lane on El Camino Real at the intersection, as shown in Figure 5. With these improvements in place, fiiture 2030 operafing condifions would resuh in LOS D at this intersection, and no impacts would result. The traffic study projected a year 2030 LOS D for the El Camino Real / Chestnut intersecfion (LLG 2006). No other deficiencies or impacts were idenfified, and therefore no impacts would result. September 2007 ^ 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project ^0 EIA Form - Part II b) Exceed, either individually or cumulatively, a level of service standard established by the county congestion management agency for designated roads or highways? No Impact. SANDAG, acfing as the County Congestion Management Agency, has designated three roads (Rancho Santa Fe Road, El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road) and two highway segments in Carisbad as part of the regional circulation system. The Existing and Buildout average daily traffic (ADT) and Existing LOS on these designated roads and highways in Carlsbad are: Existing ADT* LOS Buildout ADT* Rancho Santa Fe Road 17-35 "A-D" 35-56 El Camino Real 27-49 "A-C" 33-62 Palomar Airport Road 10-57 "A-D" 30-73 SR78 124-142 T" 156-180 1-5 199-216 "D" 260-272 *The numbers are in thousands of daily trips. The Congestion Management Program's (CMP) acceptable LOS standard is E, or LOS F if that was the LOS in the 1990 base year (e.g., SR 78 in Carisbad was LOS F in 1990). Accordingly, all designated roads and highways are currently operating at or better than the acceptable standard LOS. Note that the CMP buildout ADT projections are based on the full implementation of the region's general and community plans. The proposed project is consistent with the City General Plan (including the Circulafion Element) and, therefore its traffic was used in modeling the buildout projecfions. Achievement of the CMP acceptable LOS E standard assumes implementafion of the adopted CMP strategies. Based on the design capacifies of the designated roads and highways and implementafion of the CMP strategies, they will function at acceptable levels of service in the short-term and at buildout. The traffic study forecasted 2030 volumes for El Camino Real between Chestnut Avenue and Tamarack Avenue to be 34,700 ADT (LLG 2006). This buildout ADT volume is consistent with what is projected by the County's Congesfion Management Agency, and no impacts would result. c) Result in a change in air traffic patterns, including either an increase in traffic levels or a change in location that results in substantial safety risks? No Impact. The proposed project does not include any aviation components, and no part of the proposed roadway improvements would conflict with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan for the September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 71 EIA Form - Part II McClellan-Palomar Airport. It would not resuh in a change of air traffic pattems or result in substanfial safety risks, and no impacts would result. d) Substantially increase hazards due to a design feature or incompatible uses? No Impact. All project circulation improvements would be designed and constmcted to City standards and no feature of the project would result in a design hazard. The proposed project is consistent with the City's General Plan and would not result in any incompatible land uses. Overall, no impacts would resuh. e) Result in inadequate emergency access? Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated. The proposed project has been designed to satisfy the emergency requirements of the Fire and Police Departments. During the constmction phase lane closures along El Camino Real (within the project boundary) could occur, which could result in inadequate emergency response fimes. However, with implementation of a Traffic Control Plan, potential impacts would be reduced to less than significant levels. Refer to HAZ-1 mitigation measure in Section VII, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, response g). f) Result in inadequate parking capacity? No Impact. Parking is currently prohibited along El Camino Real, within the project boundary. The proposed project would not produce the need for increased parking facilities within the APE. Constmction staging areas including employee parking areas would be defined in the Traffic Control Plan that is described in the HAZ-1 mitigation measure provided above in the Hazards and Hazardous Materials section, response g). No impacts to parking would result. g) Conflict with adopted policies, plans or programs supporting alternative transportation (e.g., bus turnouts, bicycle racks, etc.)? Less Than Significant Impact. An existing North County Transit District (NCTD) bus stop is located on the west side of El Camino Real just south of Chestnut Avenue. This existing bus stop would be relocated within the project APE, although no specific location has yet been determined by the City. No bicycle racks or other altemative transportation is provided along this portion of El Camino Real. A bicycle lane is currently located on both sides of El Camino Real, and the widening of this roadway segment involves the reconstmcfion of the bicycle lanes. During constmction of the proposed project, access to one of the two bicycle lanes would be provided at all fimes. Therefore the redirected bicycle route would be short term. For these September 2007 „_ 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 72 EIA Form - Part II reasons, the project would not conflict with alternative transportafion programs and impacts would be less than significant. XVL UTILITIES AND SERVICES SYSTEMS - Would the project: a) Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board? No Impact. Project implementation would not impact wastewater treatment services of the applicable wastewater service provider, since the project involves a roadway widening project with no alteration to vicinity wastewater services. No impact would result. b) Require or result in the construction of new water or wastewater treatment facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which would cause significant environmental effects? No Impact. The proposed project would not result in the constmction of a new water or wastewater treatment facility, and would not entail the expansion of existing facilities, since water and wastewater systems are not proposed to be altered. Therefore, no impacts would result. c) Require or result in the construction of new storm water drainage facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects? Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated. According to the Preliminary Hydrology/Hydraulics Study for El Camino Real Widening (Bureau Veritas 2006), the majority of the existing storm drain systems within the project limits are at capacity. As identified in the project description, the project proposes to replace or improve the existing storm drains within the APE and provide erosion protection in the existing ditch. These improvements have the potential to result in significant effects to biological resources as analyzed in that section, since waters and wetlands would be significantly affected. Mitigation provided under response b) in Section IV, Biological Resources, would reduce potential impacts to less than significant. d) Have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project from existing entitlements and resources, or are new or expanded entitlements needed? Less Than Significant Impact. The proposed project would require minimal new water supplies to serve irrigation needs of the project. Also, the project does not meet the requirements of a "regionally significant project" per Senate Bill (SB) 610 as it would not require expanded September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 73 EIA Form - Part II use of water supplies. Therefore, the project is not subject to enhanced CEQA requirements per SB 610. Impacts would be less than significant. e) Result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider, which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project's projected demand in addition to the provider's existing commitments? No Impact. The City owns and maintains sewage pipelines, pump stafions and other facilities used to convey wastewater for treatment. Within the City, the wastewater system is comprised of major tmnk lines, smaller collector lines, and lift stations. Wastewater treatment services are provided by the Encina Wastewater Authority (EWA). Project implementation would not impact wastewater treatment, since no demand would result with implementation of the road widening project. No impact would result. f) Be served by a landfill with sufficient permitted capacity to accommodate the project's solid waste disposal needs? Less Than Significant Impact. Solid waste disposal is provided by Waste Management, Inc., which operates under a franchise agreement with the City. The project would generate a limited amount of solid waste during constmcfion. It is anticipated that the solid waste generated by project constmcfion would not be substanfial or interfere with the permitted capacity of nearby landfills and therefore would have a less than significant impact on local solid waste facilifies. No regular solid waste disposal is proposed as part of project operations. Impacts would be less than significant. g) Comply with federal, state, and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste? No Impact. All solid waste would be disposed of in an approved site in compliance with federal, state and County regulafions (see response f) above). No impacts would result. XVII. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE a) Does the project have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory? September 2007 ^ ^ ^ 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project ^4 EIA Form - Part II Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated. Based on evaluation and discussions contained in this Initial Study and MND, the proposed project has limited potential to degrade the quality of the environment. The proposed project would not significantly affect the environment with the recommended mifigafion measures incorporated into the project, particulariy for the topics of biological resources and cultural resources as analyzed herein. b) Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? ("Cumulatively considerable" means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects?) Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated. Mitigafion measures are provided to reduce the project's significant impacts to biological resources, cultural resources, geology/soils, hazard and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, public services, transportation/traffic, and utilifies and service systems. With the incorporation of the project mifigafion measures identified in this MND, project-level impacts to the environment would be reduced to less than significant levels, and impacts would not be cumulafively considerable when viewed in connecfion with the effects of reasonably foreseeable projects. c) Does the project have environmental effects, which will cause the substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? Less Than Significant Impact. No feature of the proposed project would result in substanfial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly. Impacts would be less than significant. XVIII. EARLIER ANALYSIS USED AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION SOURCES The following documents were used in the analysis of this project and are on file in the City of Carlsbad Planning Department located at 1635 Faraday Avenue, Carisbad, Califomia, 92008. Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for the McClellan-Palomar Airport. San Diego Association of Govemments (SANDAG). Amended October 4, 2004. Biological Resources Technical Report for the El Camino Real Road Widening Carisbad, Califomia. Dudek. September 2007. September 2007 ^ ^ 4926:01 El Camino Real Widening Project ^5 EIA Form - Pari II California, State of Department of Conservation, Division of Land Resources Protecfion Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program. 1998. San Diego County Important Farmland. Sheet 1 of 2. Califomia, State of Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology. 1996. Tan, S.S., and Kennedy, M.P. Geologic Maps of the Northwestem part of San Diego County, Califomia. DMG Open-File Report 96-02, pis. 1-2 (map sheets, 1:24,000). Carlsbad General Plan. City of Carisbad. April 20, 1994. Adopted September 6, 1994. County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health, DEH home page, accessed via http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/deh website. Visited in August 2006. Cultural Resource Report for the El Camino Real Widening Project, Carisbad, San Diego County, Califomia. ASM Affiliates. September 4, 2007. El Camino Real Corridor Development Standards, Febmary 8, 1984. El Camino Real Widening (Tamarack Avenue to Chestnut Avenue) Acousfical Assessment Report. Dudek. September 2007. Final Master Environmental Impact Report for the City of Carisbad General Plan Update (MEIR 93-01). City of Carlsbad Planning Department. March 1994. Geotechnical Engineering Tnvesfigation Report. El Camino Real Road Widening Project. Testing Engineers - US Labs, Inc. 2006. March 28, 2006. Hillside Development Design Regulafions, Chapter 21.95 of the Carisbad Municipal Code. City of Carlsbad 1998. Preliminary Hydrology/Hydraulics Study for El Camino Real Widening. Bureau Veritas. March 13,2006. San Diego County Floodplain. SANGIS. June 1997. Traffic Analysis Report. El Camino Real Widening. City of Carisbad, California. Linscott Law and Greenspan Engineers. April 20, 2006. Update of Mineral Land Classification: Aggregate Materials in the Westem San Diego County Production - Consumption Region. DMG Open File Report 96-04. State of Califomia, Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology. 1996. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project EIA Form - Pari II Water Quality Technical Report - El Camino Real Widening Improvement Project. Bureau Veritas, August 3, 2007. Zoning Map. City of Carlsbad GIS. July 25, 2006 September 2007 ^ 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project EIA Form - Pari II LIST OF MITIGATING MEASURES Biological Resources Mitigation Measures for Sensitive Vegetation Communities BIO-1: Prior to grading, significant direct impacts to sensitive vegetation communities shall be mitigated in the amounts shown in the discussion below. Mifigation shall be implemented to the satisfaction of the City Planning Department. The mifigation ratios are also displayed in Table 2. • The loss of 0.02 acre (715 square feet) of disturbed native grassland within the Coastal Zone (CZ) shall be mitigated at a ratio of 3:1, including 1:1 habitat creation. Because only 0.02 acre of nafive grassland creation is required, this shall be incorporated (as container plantings) into the coastal sage scmb habitat creation discussed below. • The loss of 0.35 acre of CZ coastal sage scmb shall be mifigated at a 2:1 ratio including habitat creation at a 1:1 ratio. A total of 0.37 acre of coastal sage scmb habitat shall be created within the CZ, including a sufficient quantity of container plants as native grasses equivalent to the creafion of 0.02 acre of native grassland. The remaining 1:1 mitigation for impacts to CZ coastal sage scmb, together with 1:1 mifigafion for non-CZ coastal sage scmb impacts, shall be achieved through preservation of 1.31 acres of coastal sage scmb habitat by use of mifigation credit in the City of Carlsbad's Lake Calavera Mitigation Bank. • Loss of 0.11 acre of non-native grassland shall be mitigated by preservafion of 0.06 acre of non-nafive grassland (or superior habitat) by use of mifigation credit in the City of Carisbad's Lake Calavera Mitigation Bank. • Loss of 0.33 acre of eucalyptus woodland and 2.60 acres of disturbed lands shall be mitigated by 0.03 acre and 0.26 acre habitat preservafion, respectively, at the Lake Calavera Mifigation Bank, and may be out-of-kind. TABLE 2 Recommended Mitigation for Impacts to Sensitive Vegetation and Jurisdictional Waters (Acres) VEGETATION COMMUNITY COASTAL ZONE OTHER TOTAL VEGETATION COMMUNITY MPACr MmGATiON IMPACT H^IGATION Cieation Rresenrafion Total VEGETATION COMMUNITY MPACr Ratio Acres IMPACT Ratio Acres Cieation Rresenrafion Total Coastal sage scrub (including disturbed) 0,35 2:V 0.70 0.96 1:1 0.96 0.35 1.31 1.66 ^ w t — Native grassland-disturbed 0.02 3:11 0,06 ... — ... 0.022 0.04 0.06 Non-native grassland — ... 0.11 0.5:1 0.06 -0.06 0.06 Riparian scrub 1 (including disturbed) --... 0.40 3:11 1.20 0.40 0.8 1.20 September 2007 El Camino Real Widening Project 4926-01 78 EIA Form - Part II TABLE 2 Recommended Mitigation for Impacts to Sensitive Vegetation and Jurisdictional Waters (Acres) VEGETATION COMMUNITY COASTAL ZONE OTHER TOTAL VEGETATION COMMUNITY IM>ACT HmO^TIQtt IMPACT MmGATiON Craatkxi Presttvation . Total VEGETATION COMMUNITY IM>ACT Ratio Acres IMPACT Ratio Acres Craatkxi Presttvation . Total Ephemeral ciiannel — — ... 0.01 v.v 0.01 0.01 ... 0,01 Intemiittent channel ... ... ... 0.11 1:11 0.11 0.11 ... 0,11 Eucalyptus woodland ... ... ... 0.33 0.1:1 0.03 ... 0.03 0.03 Disturbed lands 0.32 0,1:1 0,03 2.28 0.1:1 0.23 ... 0.26 0.26 11ncludes 1:1 creation. 2 Included within coastal sage scrub mitigation, for a total of 0.37 acre coastal sage scrub creation. Mitigation measures for impacts to southem willow scrub are discussed below under response b). Mitigation Measures for Sensitive Wildlife Species BIO-2:Prior to grading, significant direct impacts to sensitive wildlife species shall be mitigated to the satisfaction of the City Planning Department. The following mitigafion measures would avoid impacts to Cooper's hawk, other raptors and other migratory bird species nests protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act: • The City's construction contractor shall conduct vegetation clearing outside of the January through September bird breeding season; or • A qualified biologist shall conduct a focused survey for bird nests not more than 72 hours prior to commencement of vegetation clearing activifies. If acfive nests are found, the City's construction contractor shall cease construction within an appropriate buffer zone of 50 to 300 feet, as determined by the project biologist, around the nest site until juveniles have fledged and the nesfing cycle is complete. Impacts to Cooper's hawk, Dulzura Califomia pocket mouse, and northwestem San Diego pocket mouse shall be mifigated through creation and/or preservation of riparian scmb and eucalyptus woodland (Cooper's hawk), and coastal sage scmb and grassland (pocket mice) habitats discussed under BIO-1 above. [Note: the loss of approximately 0.7 acre of potential Cooper's hawk nesfing habitat (eucalyptus and riparian scmb) shall be mitigated through creation or preservation of 1.20 acres of riparian habitat and 0.03 acre of eucalyptus woodland.] The location of the riparian scmb would be determined as part of the CDFG 1602 permit process. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 79 EIA Form - Part II Mitigation Measures for Jurisdictional Waters BIO-3 Prior to grading, significant direct impacts to jurisdicfional waters and riparian habitats shall be mifigated to the safisfaction of the City Planning Department. The following mitigation measures would reduce impacts to a level below significance; • Mitigafion for impacts to jurisdictional waters and riparian habitats shall include 1:1 creation in accordance with the "no net loss" wefiands policy in the Carlsbad HMP. Impacts to 0.40 acre of southem willow scmb shall be mitigated at a ratio of 3:1, consisting of creation of 0.40 acre (1:1) of southem willow scmb and use of 0.80 acre (2:1) of mitigation credit in the City of Carlsbad's Lake Calavera Mifigafion Bank. Impacts to 0.12 acre of ephemeral and intermittent stream channels shall be mifigated through creation of 0.12 acre of stream channel (or superior) habitat. A combined total of 0.52 acre of wetland habitat and jurisdictional stream channels shall be created in partial mitigation for wefiand impacts. A Clean Water Act (CWA) Secfion 404 Nafionwide Permit shall be required from the ACOE for project impacts to 0.19 acre of ACOE-jurisdictional waters. A CWA Section 401 permit from RWQCB shall be required for impacts to 0.19 acre of waters under their jurisdiction. A CDFG Secfion 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreement shall be required from CDFG for impacts to 0.52 acre of jurisdictional waters and riparian vegetation.. Cultural Resources CULT-1: Archeological monitoring shall occur during all earthmoving acfivifies, to the satisfacfion of the City of Carlsbad Planning Department. The mitigafion monitoring program shall consist of the following measures: Prior to Preconstruction (Precon) Meeting 1. Planning Department Plan Check a. The requirements for Archaeological Monitoring and Native American Monitoring shall be included on the appropriate constmction documents. Archaeological and Native American Monitoring shall be performed by a single qualified individual. 2. Submit Letter of Qualification to the Planning Department a. Prior to the first Precon Meeting, the City shall provide a letter of verificafion stating that a qualified Archaeologist has been retained to implement the monitoring program. September 2007 ^9^^-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 80 EIA Form - Part II 3. Records Search Prior to Precon Meeting a. At least thirty days prior to the Precon Meeting the qualified Archaeologist shall verify to the City that a records search has been completed and updated as necessary and be prepared to introduce any pertinent informafion conceming expectafions and probabilifies of discovery during grading activities. Verification includes, but is not limited to, a copy of a confirmation letter from South Coast Informafion Center or, if the search was in-house, a letter of verificafion from the Archaeologist stating that the search was completed. Precon Meeting 1. Archaeologist/Native American Monitor Shall Attend Precon Meetings a. Prior to beginning any work that requires monitoring, the City shall arrange a Precon Meefing that shall include the Archaeologist, Constmcfion Manager and/or Grading Contractor. The qualified Archaeologist shall attend any grading related Precon Meetings to make comments and/or suggestions conceming the Archaeological Monitoring program with the Constmction Manager and/or Grading Contractor. 2. Idenfify Areas to be Monitored a. At the Precon Meeting, the Archaeologist shall submit to the City Planner a copy of the site/grading plan (reduced to 11x17) that idenfifies areas to be monitored as well as areas that may require delineafion of grading limits. During Construction 1. Archaeologist/Native American Monitor Shall be Present During Grading/Excavafion The qualified Archaeologist shall be present full-time during grading/excavafion of nafive soils and shall document activity via the Consultant Monitor Record. This record shall be sent to the City Planner (CP), as appropriate, each month. a. Monitoring Monitoring of holes and/or trenches is required for all components that impact native soils one foot deeper than existing as detailed on the plans or in the contract documents identified by drawing number or plan file number. It is the Constmction Manager's responsibility to keep the monitors up-to-date with current plans. b. Discoveries In the event of a discovery, and when requested by the Archaeologist, or the Principal Investigator (PI) if the Monitor is not qualified as a PI, the Constmction Manager (CM), as appropriate, shall be contacted and shall divert, direct or September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 81 EIA Form - Pari II temporarily halt ground disturbing activities in the area of discovery to allow for preliminary evaluafion of potenfially significant archaeological resources. The PI shall also immediately nofify the CP of such findings at the time of discovery. c. Determination of Significance The significance of the discovered resources shall be determined by the PI. For significant archaeological resoiu-ces, a Research Design and Data Recovery Program shall be prepared, approved by the agency and carried out to mifigate impacts before ground-disturbing activifies in the area of discovery will be allowed to resume. d. Minor Discovery Process The following is a summary of the criteria and procedures related to the evaluafion of small cultural resource deposits during excavation. 2. Coordination and Notificafion a. Archaeological Monitor shall notify PI, CM and CP, as appropriate. 3. Criteria used to Determine if it is a Small Cultural Resource Deposit a. The deposit is limited in size both in length and depth; and, b. The information value is limited and is not associated with any other resources; and, c. There are no unique features/artifacts associated with the deposit. d. A preliminary description and photographs, if available, shall be transmitted to the CP. e. The information will be forwarded to the Planning Department for consultafion and verificafion that it is a small historic deposit. 4. Procedures for documentation, curation and reporfing The following constitutes adequate mitigation of a small historic deposit to reduce impacts due to excavafion acfivities to below a level of significance. a. 100 percent of the artifacts within the alignment and width shall be documented in-situ, to include photographic records, plan view of the trench and profiles of sidewalls, recovered, photographed after cleaning, and analyzed and curated. b. The remainder of the deposit within the limits of excavation (trench walls) shall be left intact. c. The Final Resuhs Report shall include a requirement for monitoring of any future work in the vicinity. 5. Notificafion of Complefion The Archaeologist shall submit a monitoring report to the CP at the end date of monitoring. September 2007 ^ ^926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 82 EIA Form - Pari II Post Construction 1. Handling and Curation of Artifacts and Letter of Acceptance a. The Archaeologist shall be responsible for ensuring that all cultural remains collected are cleaned, catalogued, and permanently curated with an appropriate institution; that a letter of acceptance from the curation institution has been submitted to the Planning Department; that all arfifacts are analyzed to identify function and chronology as they relate to the history of the area; that faunal material is identified as to species; and that specialty studies are completed, as applicable. b. Curation of artifacts associated with the survey, testing and/or data recovery for this project shall be completed in consultafion with the CP and the Native American representative, as applicable. 2. Final Results Reports (Archaeological Monitoring and/or Research Design and Data Recovery Program) a. Within three months following the complefion of monitoring, two copies of the Final Results Report (even if negative) and/or evaluafion report, if applicable, which describes the results, analysis, and conclusions of the Archaeological Monitoring Program (with appropriate graphics) shall be submitted to the CP for approval. b. For significant archaeological resources encountered during monitoring, the Research Design and Data Recovery Program shall be included as part of the Final Results Report. 3. Recording Sites with State of Califomia Department of Park and Recreation The Archaeologist shall be responsible for recording (on the appropriate State of Califomia Department of Park and Recreafion forms-DPR 523 A/B) any significant or potentially significant resources encountered during the Archaeological Monitoring Program in accordance with the City's Historical Resources Guidelines, and submittal of such forms to the South Coastal Information Center with the Final Results Report. Geology and Soits GEO-1: Prior to grading, the project geotechnical engineer or engineering geologist shall prepare a Final Geotechnical Engineering Invesfigation Report reflecting the approved project configuration. This geotechnical study shall, as deemed necessary by the City Engineer and consulting geotechnical engineer, further assess slope stability and slope stability remediafion within the proposed widening footprint. The findings and recommendafions of the geotechnical assessment shall be incorporated into the final engineering design for the project. September 2007 4926:01 El Camino Real Widening Project 83 EIA Form - Pari II GEO-2: All proposed cut and fill slopes identified as suscepfible to future erosion and/or soil slippage shall be planted with an erosion retardant ground cover adhering to the following criteria: The ground cover is effective in prevenfing surface erosion; The ground cover is drought resistant; The ground cover has a relatively low surface mass/weight; Has a fairly deep and extensive root system; Requires minimum maintenance by the owner; and Has a low irrigation demand. GEO-3: The City Engineer shall be responsible for approving the appropriate erosion control/slope failure control-planfing program prior to grading. Hazards and Hazardous Materials HAZ-1: Prior to grading, a traffic control plan shall be prepared to the safisfaction of the City of Carisbad Engineering Department. The traffic control plan shall show all signage, striping, delineafion detours, flagging operations, and any other devices, which shall be used during constmction to guide motorists safely through the constmcfion zone and allow for a minimum of one lane of travel. The plan shall also identify temporary constmction employee parking areas. The traffic control plan shall also include provisions for coordinafing with local emergency service providers regarding constmcfion times and locafions of lane closures as well as specifications for pedestrian and bicycle safety. Emergency vehicles would be permitted access through the constmction zone. Hydrology and Water Quality HYDRO-1: A stormwater poUufion prevention plan (SWPPP) shall be prepared by the City prior to grading. The SWPPP shall idenfify potential sources of pollution, practices to be used to reduce pollutants, and shall help ensure compliance with the stormwater permit. The constmcfion contractor shall be required to implement the approved SWPPP and any amendments thereafter, to the safisfaction of the City Engineer. The SWPPP will have a Sampling and Monitoring Program that addresses both direct discharges from the project into a Section 303(d) water body and discharges that have been discovered through visual monitoring to be potentially contaminated by pollutants not visually detectable in the mnoff. September 2007 ^ •^926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 84 EIA Form - Part II HYDRO-2: The consttoicfion contractor shall be required to implement BMPs during constmction in accordance with the plans, specificafions and SWPPP prepared for the project, the General Constmction Storm Water Permit (NPDES Order 99-08-DWQ), and to the satisfaction of the City Engineer. These BMPs shall address temporary soil stabilizafion, temporary sediment control, wind erosion control, tracking control, and non-stormwater management. HYDRO-3: The project is considered a priority project and is therefore required to incorporate treatment BMPs into the site. Based on the impaired waterways that exists downstream of the APE, this project shall incorporate native planted swales as a treatment control BMP designed to remove sedimentafion/siltation to a medium or high level. This BMP shall be approved by the City Engineer prior to grading. Native planted swales shall be located along either side of the roadway in the parkway area or in the median as determined by the City during the final design phase of the project. The length and configuration of the native planted swales shall be consistent with those identified in detail in the Water Quality Technical Report prepared for the project (Bureau Veritas 2007). HYDRO-4: The City shall implement all maintenance operations of permanent BMPs as oufiined in Section 2.5 [Maintenance of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) of their Jurisdicfional Urban Runoff Management Plan (JURMP)]. The City's Contractor is responsible for maintenance of constmction BMPs. Operation and maintenance requirements for the proposed permanent BMPs are provided in Table 4 below. Table 4 DeslgnCrMai Routine Actions Maintenance IndlcaUN- FieM Measurement Moflsuroiwent Freaueiiev MainiBnanceAcQyi^ Native Planted Swales Inspect for erosion, damage to vegetation, and sediment and trash/debris accumulation Presence of erosion, missing vegetation, and accumulation of sedimentation and/or debris/trash that could interfere with proper functioning of swale. Visual obsen/ation of erosion, damaged vegetation, and presence of sediment and trash/debris. Once per year (preferably at the beginning of the rainy season - October 1s')- Reinforce eroded areas with rock rip rap. Reseed damaged vegetation areas. Remove and properiy dispose of accumulated sediment when it exceeds 3 inches depth. Remove and properly dispose of debris/trash. Shrubbery Trimming High growth of shrubbery and presence of weeds, and/or woody vegetation. Visual observation of shrubbery height exceeding a 6-in. depth and presence of weeds and/or woody vegetation. Trim once per year for aesthetic and safety purposes and/or suppression of shrubbery and woody vegetation. Trim shrubbery to no less than 4-inch depth, but no taller than 6-inch depth. Weed control strategies. September 2007 El Camino Real Widening Project 4926-01 85 EIA Form - Pari II Table 4 De^.CriterUt MaNenance j bNRcator Nfeasurement ftttmimfi^ FreoueiKt Maintenance Activity Inspection for standing water Standing water is present and does not drain after a maximum of 72 hours. Visual observation of standing water. Once per year (preferably at the beginning of the rainy season - October 1^1). Regrade areas downstream of location where standing water accumulates to ensure water flows smoothly. September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 86 EIA Form - Part II CONCURRENCE WITH MITIGATION MEASURES THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT I HAVE REVIEWED THE ABOVE MITIGATING MEASURES AND CONCUR WITH THE ADDITION OF THESE MEASURES TO THE PROJECT. Date Signature September 2007 4926-01 El Camino Real Widening Project 87