HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-06-20; Planning Commission; Resolution 63151 PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 6315
2
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
3 CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A
NEGATIVE DECLARATION TO ALLOW THE
4 DEVELOPMENT OF A 102,191 SQUARE FOOT HEALTH
CLUB ON PROPERTY GENERALLY LOCATED ON THE
SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF EL
6 CAMINO REAL AND PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD IN LOCAL
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT ZONE 5.
7 CASE NAME: PACIFIC ATHLETIC CLUB
CASE NO.: SDP 06-05/SUP 06-038
9 WHEREAS, Western Athletic Clubs, "Developer," has filed a verified
10 application with the City of Carlsbad regarding property owned by County of San Diego-
11 Airports, "Owner," described as
12 That portion of Palomar Airport in Lot "G" of the Rancho
13 Hedionda, in the City of Carlsbad, in the County of San Diego,
State of California, According to Partition Map thereof No.
14 832, filed in the Office of the County Recorder of said San
Diego County and described in the title report
16 ("the Property"); and
17 WHEREAS, a Negative Declaration was prepared in conjunction with said
18 project; and
19 WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did on the 20th day of June 2007, hold a
20 duly noticed public hearing as prescribed by law to consider said request; and
21
WHEREAS, at said public hearing, upon hearing and considering all testimony
22
_,, and arguments, examining the initial study, analyzing the information submitted by staff, and
24 considering any written comments received, the Planning Commission considered all factors
25 relating to the Negative Declaration.
26 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Planning
27 Commission as follows:
28
A) That the foregoing recitations are true and correct.
B) That based on the evidence presented at the public hearing, the Planning
2 Commission hereby ADOPTS the Negative Declaration, Exhibit "ND," dated
June 20, 2007 according to Exhibits "NOl" dated May 7, 2007, and "PII" dated
3 May 1, 2007, attached hereto and made a part hereof, based on the following
findings:
4
c Findings:
5 1. The Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad does hereby find:
7 a. it has reviewed, analyzed, and considered the Negative Declaration for the
Pacific Athletic Club (SDP 06-05/SUP 06-03), the environmental impacts
therein identified for this project and any comments thereon prior to
9 APPROVING the project; and
10 b. the Negative Declaration has been prepared in accordance with requirements of
the California Environmental Quality Act, the State Guidelines and the
Environmental Protection Procedures of the City of Carlsbad; and
12 c. it reflects the independent judgment ol the Planning Commission of the City of
Carlsbad; and
14 d. based on the EIA Part II and comments thereon, there is no substantial evidence
the project will have a significant effect on the environment.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Planning
17 Commission of the City of Carlsbad, California, held on the 20th day of June, 2007, by the
18 following vote, to wit:
AYES: Chairperson Baker, Commissioners Boddy, Cardosa, Dominguez,
2Q Douglas, Montgomery, and Whitton
21 NOES:
22 ABSENT:
f \f- -ABSTAIN:
24
25 JULIE fy\KER, Chairperson
CARLSBAD PLANNING COMMISSION26
27
28
DON NEU
Planning Director
PCRESONO. 6315 -2-
City of Carlsbad
Planning Department
CASE NAME:
CASE NO:
PROJECT LOCATION:
NEGATIVE DECLARATION
Pacific Athletic Club
SDP06-05/SUP 06-03
6111 El Camino Real. Carlsbad. CA. San Diego County
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project is a proposal to construct a 102,191 square foot two-story health club
on the southwest corner of the intersection of El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road. The 15.9 acre project
site is currently developed as the Olympic Resort and Spa, which includes an 80 room hotel, restaurant, health
club, spa, conference center, parking lot, tennis courts and a golf driving range. The new health club is proposed
in the location of the existing golf driving range. The existing tennis courts and parking lot will be demolished
and replaced by a new main entrance off Palomar Airport Road, and a parking lot and landscaping to serve the
entire project site. The site is surrounded by existing development, with the McClellan-Palomar Airport to the
north, industrial development to the east and south, and the San Diego County Animal Control (Humane Society)
facility to the west.
The proposed health club is being developed by Western Athletic Clubs and will include an 85,410 square foot
health club facility with an 8,738 square foot Phase II health club expansion. Also included in the club is a 5,063
square foot health spa, a 2,980 square foot sports therapy center, two 8 lane lap pools, a child's wading pool, two
Jacuzzi spas, and 7 tennis courts. Western Athletic Clubs has purchased the existing Olympic Resort and Spa and
now controls the entire lease space. Following completion of the proposed health club, the existing Olympic
Resort and Spa will be restructured, in that the existing spa and health club facilities will be removed and replaced
by additional conference room facilities and a cafe.
DETERMINATION: The City of Carlsbad has conducted an environmental review of the above described
project pursuant to the Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act and the
Environmental Protection Ordinance of the City of Carlsbad. As a result of said review, the initial study (EiA Part
2) did not identify any potentially significant impacts on the environment, and the City of Carlsbad finds as
follows:
13 The proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment.
O 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. (Negative Declaration applies only to the effects that remained to be
addressed).
l~l 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.
A copy of the initial study (EIA Part 2) documenting reasons to support the Negative Declaration is on file in the
Planning Department, 1635 Faraday Avenue, Carlsbad, California 92008.
ADOPTED:
ATTEST:
June 20, 2007, pursuant to Planning Commission Resolution No. 6315
DON NEU
Planning Director
1635 Faraday Avenue • Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 • (760) 602-4600 • FAX (760) 602-8559 • www.ci.carlsbad.ca.us
FILE CO
City of Carlsbad
Planning Department
NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A
NEGATIVE DECLARATION
CASE NAME:
CASE NO:
PROJECT LOCATION:
Pacific Athletic Club
SDP 06-057 SUP 06-03
6111 El Camino Real, Carlsbad. CA. San Diego County
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project is a proposal to construct a 102,191 square foot two-story
health club on the southwest corner of the intersection of El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road.
The 15.9 acre project site is currently developed as the Olympic Resort and Spa, which includes an 80
room hotel, restaurant, health club, spa, conference center, parking lot, tennis courts and a golf driving
range. The new health club is proposed in the location of the existing golf driving range. The existing
tennis courts and parking lot will be demolished and replaced by a new main entrance off Palomar
Airport Road, and a parking lot and landscaping to serve the entire.project site. The site is surrounded by
existing development, with the McClellan-Palomar Airport to the north, industrial development to the
east and south, and the San Diego County Animal Control (Humane Society) facility to the west.
The proposed health club is being developed by Western Athletic Clubs and will include an 85,410
square foot health club facility with an 8,738 square foot Phase II health club expansion. Also included
in the club is a 5,063 square foot health spa, a 2,980 square foot sports therapy center, two 8 lane lap
pools, a child's wading pool, two Jacuzzi spas, and 7 tennis courts. Western Athletic Clubs has
purchased the existing Olympic Resort and Spa and now controls the entire lease space. Following
completion of the proposed health club, the existing Olympic Resort and Spa will be restructured, in that
the existing spa and health club facilities will be removed and replaced by additional conference room
facilities and a cafe.
PROPOSED DETERMINATION: The City of Carlsbad has conducted an environmental review of
the above described project pursuant to the Guidelines for Implementation of the California
Environmental Quality Act and the Environmental Protection Ordinance of the City of Carlsbad. As a
result of said review, the initial study (EIA Part 2) did not identify any potentially significant impacts on
the environment. Therefore, a Negative Declaration will be recommended for adoption by the City of
Carlsbad Planning Commission.
A copy of the initial study (EIA Part 2) documenting reasons to support the proposed Negative
Declaration is on file in the Planning Department, 1635 Faraday Avenue, Carlsbad, California 92008.
Comments from the public are invited. Please submit comments in writing to the Planning Department
within 20 days of the date of this notice.
The proposed project and Negative Declaration are subject to review and approval/adoption by the City
of Carlsbad Planning Commission and City Council. Additional public notices will be issued when those
public hearings are scheduled. If you have any questions, please call Jason Goff in the Planning
Department at (760) 602-4643.
PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD
PUBLISH DATE
May 7. 2007 through May 29. 2007
May 7. 2007
1635 Faraday Avenue • Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 • (760) 602-4600 • FAX (760) 602-8559 • www.ci.carlsbad.ca.us
FILE COPY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FORM - INITIAL STUDY
CASE NO: SDP 06-057 SUP 06-03
DATE: April 27, 2007
BACKGROUND
1. CASE NAME: Pacific Athletic Club
2. LEAD AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS: City of Carlsbad, 1635 Faraday Avenue. Carlsbad.
CA 92008
3. CONTACT PERSON AND PHONE NUMBER: Jason Goff. (760') 602-4643
4. PROJECT LOCATION: Southwest corner of Palomar Airport Road and El Camino Real (6111
El Camino Real)
5. PROJECT SPONSOR'S NAME AND ADDRESS: Western Athletic Clubs. One Lombard St.
San Francisco. CA 94111
6. GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATION: T-R (Travel/Recreation Commercial)
7. ZONING: C-T-O (Tourist Commercial with Qualified Development Overlay)
8. OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES WHOSE APPROVAL IS REQUIRED (i.e., permits, financing
approval or participation agreements):
9. PROJECT DESCRIPTION/ ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND SURROUNDING LAND
USES:
The project is a proposal to construct a 102,191 square foot two-story health club on the
southwest corner of the intersection of El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road. The 15.9
acre project site is currently developed as the Olympic Resort and Spa, which includes an 80
room hotel, restaurant, health club, spa, conference center, parking lot, tennis courts and a golf
driving range. The new health club is proposed in the location of the existing golf driving range.
The existing tennis courts and parking lot will be demolished and replaced by a new main
entrance off Palomar Airport Road, and a parking lot and landscaping to serve the entire project
site. The site is surrounded by existing development, with the McClellan-Palomar Airport to the
north, industrial development to the east and south, and the San Diego County Animal Control
(Humane Society) facility to the west.
The proposed health club is being developed by Western Athletic Clubs and will include an
85,410 square foot health club facility with an 8,738 square foot Phase II health club expansion.
Also included in the club is a 5,063 square foot health spa, a 2,980 square foot sports therapy
center, two 8 lane lap pools, a child's wading pool, two Jacuzzi spas, and 7 tennis courts.
Western Athletic Clubs has purchased the existing Olympic Resort and Spa and now controls the
entire lease space. Following completion of the proposed health club, the existing Olympic
Resort and Spa will be restructured, in that the existing spa and health club facilities will be
removed and replaced by additional conference room facilities and a cafe.
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.
Aesthetics
Agricultural Resources
Air Quality
Biological Resources
Cultural Resources
Geology/Soils Noise
Hazards/Hazardous Materials LJ Population and Housing
Hydrology/Water Quality | | Public Services
Land Use and Planning Recreation
Mineral Resources J Transportation/Circulation
Mandatory Findings of i—|TT... . 0 „ .
c. .„ Utilities & Service SystemsSignificance '—' J
Rev. 01/02/07
DETERMINATION.
(To be completed by the Lead Agency)
I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a
NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared.
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 find that the proposed project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required.
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.
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.
cT- /-
Date
Planning Director's Signature Date
Rev. 01/02/07
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
STATE CEQA GUIDELINES, Chapter 3, Article 5, Section 15063 requires that the City conduct an Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) 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),
Negative Declaration, or to rely on a previously approved EIR or Negative Declaration.
• A brief explanation is required for all answers except "No Impact" 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 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-Initial Study", 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.
• When "Potentially Significant Impact" 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 prior to public review. In this case, the appropriate "Potentially
Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated" may be checked and a Mitigated Negative Declaration
may be prepared.
Rev. 01/02/07
• An EIR must be prepared if "Potentially Significant Impact" is checked, and including but not limited to
the following circumstances: (-1) the potentially significant adverse effect has not been discussed or
mitigated in an earlier EIR pursuant to applicable standards, and the developer does not agree to mitigation
measures that reduce the adverse impact to less than significant; (2) a "Statement of Overriding
Considerations" 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-Initial Study analysis it is not possible to determine the level of significance for a potentially 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 after each related set of questions.
Particular attention should be given to discussing mitigation for impacts, which would otherwise be determined
significant.
Rev. 01/02/07
AESTHETICS - Would the project:
a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista?
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?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
D
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
a-c) No Impact. The project site is located on the southwest corner of Palomar Airport Road and El Camino Real,
and is situated below the elevation of both roadways. The site is zoned for Tourist Commercial (C-T) uses and is
currently developed with an 80 room hotel, spa, health club, tennis courts, golf driving range and parking lot.
Surrounding the site to the north across Palomar Airport Road is the McClellan-Palomar Airport, to the south are
existing industrial buildings, to the east is a public utility pumping station and future industrial buildings, and to the
west is the San Diego County Animal Control (Humane Society) facility. The proposed project will not have any
substantially adverse effects on scenic vistas or substantially damage scenic resources within a State scenic highway
by fact of the project's low topographic orientation with its surroundings, and by the fact of it not being located near
or adjacent to any State scenic highways. The proposed project will not degrade the existing visual character or the
quality of the site and its surroundings in that it is already developed with an existing tourist commercial use and has
been designed to comply with the C-T-Q Zone and the El Camino Real Corridor development and design standards.
d) Less than Significant Impact. The proposed project will involve replacing an existing golf driving range (non-
lighted) with parking lot and a new building. The proposed parking lot will be illuminated with standard parking lot
lighting. While a new source of light will be created by the project, impacts will be minimal in that parking light
fixtures and exterior building light fixtures will be shielded and directed downward to reduce impacts caused by
glare.
Rev. 01/02/07
II. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES - (In determining
whether impacts to agricultural resources are significant
environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to the
California Agricultural Land Evaluation and Site
Assessment Model-1997 prepared by the California
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
California Resources Agency, to non-agricultural
use?
b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or
a Williamson Act contract?
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?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
El
a-c) No Impact. The project site is zoned for tourist commercial uses and is currently developed with an existing 80
room hotel, spa, health club, tennis courts, golf driving range and parking lot. The proposed project does not
convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance to non-agricultural use; does not
conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use or Williamson Act contracts; and there are no agricultural uses
within the vicinity of the project site, nor is the project proposing any changes, which due to its location or nature
would result in the conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses.
III. 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 obstruct implementation of the
applicable air quality plan?
b) Violate any air quality standard or contribute
substantially to an existing or projected air quality
violation?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
El
Rev. 01/02/07
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?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
a) No Impact. The project site is located in the San Diego Air Basin which is a state non-attainment area for ozone
(O3) and for paniculate 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 outlining the pollution controls that will be undertaken to
improve air quality. In San Diego County, this attainment planning process is embodied in the Regional Air Quality
Strategies (RAQS) developed jointly by the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and the San Diego Association of
Governments (SANDAG).
A Plan to meet the federal standard for ozone was developed in 1994 during the process of updating the 1991 state-
mandated plan. ThisJocal plan was combined with plans from all other California non-attainment areas having
serious ozone problems and used to create the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). The SIP was adopted by
the Air Resources Board (ARE) after public hearings on November 9th through 10th 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.
Section 15125(B) of the State of California Environmental 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 California
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 area 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 regional air quality plan and will in no way conflict or obstruct
implementation of the regional plan.
Rev. 01/02/07
b) Less Than Significant Impact. The closest air quality monitoring station to the project site is at Camp
Pendleton. Data available for this monitoring site from 2000 through December 2004, indicate that the most recent
air quality violations recorded were for the state one hour standard for ozone (a total of 10 days during the 5-year
period). No other violations of any air quality standards have been recorded during the 5-year time period. The
project would involve minimal short-term emissions associated with grading and construction. Such emissions
would be minimized through standard construction measures such as the use of properly tuned equipment and
watering the site for dust control. Long-term emissions associated with travel to and from the project will be
minimal. Although air pollutant emissions would be associated with the project, they would neither result in the
violation of any air quality standard (comprising only an incremental contribution to overall air basin quality
readings), nor contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation. Any impact is assessed as
less than significant.
c) Less Than Significant Impact. The air basin is currently in a state 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, emissions associated
with the proposed project would be minimal. Given the limited emissions potentially associated with the proposed
project, air quality would be essentially the same whether or not the proposed project is implemented. According to
the CEQA Guidelines Section 15130(a)(4), the proposed project's contribution to the cumulative impact is
considered de minimus. Any impact is assessed as less than significant.
d) No impact. As noted above, the proposed would not result in substantial pollutant emissions or concentrations.
In addition, there are no sensitive receptors (e.g., schools or hospitals) located in the vicinity of the project. No
impact is assessed.
e) No Impact. The construction of the proposed project could generate fumes from the operation of construction
equipment, which may be considered objectionable by some people. Such exposure would be short-term or
transient. In addition, the number of people exposed to such transient impacts is not considered substantial.
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?
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?
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,
filing, hydrological interruption, or other means?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
Rev. 01/02/07
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?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
a) No Impact. The project site is currently developed with an 80 room hotel, restaurant, health club, spa,
conference center, parking lot, tennis courts and a golf driving range. The existing tennis courts and parking lot will
be removed and redeveloped as a main entrance, parking lot and landscaping for the project whole; and the golf
driving range will be removed and replaced by the new health club facility. The project site is surrounded by
existing development, with the McClellan-Palomar Airport to the north, industrial development to the east and
south, and the San Diego County Animal Control facility to the west. According to the City of Carlsbad Habitat
Management Plan, the project is considered developed and not a part of or adjacent to the habitat preserve system.
No habitat exists onsite, other than exotic landscapes associated with the existing Olympic Resort and Spa. The
project will have no impact 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.
b-c) No Impact. No riparian, aquatic, or wetland habitat is present on the site. However, the storm water collected
from the project site and neighboring properties will outflow at the southwest corner of the site through a drainage
channel, which according to the Preliminary Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP). prepared by Excel
Engineering (August 21, 2006) and the San Diego Basin Plan, drains to Canyon de Las Encinas and ultimately into
the Pacific Ocean. Construction of the proposed project improvements is required by law to comply with all federal,
state and local water quality regulations, including the Clean Water Act and associated NPDES regulations, which
will mitigate temporary impacts associated with construction operation to a level less than significant. Furthermore,
the project will not result in permanent or long term degradation of water quality as a result of the proposed
pollution control program. Therefore, no habitat under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers,
California Department of Fish and Game, or Regional Water Quality Control Board will be impacted.
d-f) No Impact. According the City of Carlsbad's Habitat Management Plan, there are no wildlife or habitat
linkages on or near the project site. The project site is fully developed with structures and exotic landscapes. There
is no native habitat existing onsite. Overall, the project site does no support any high-quality biological resources,
nor does it conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, or any provisions of an
adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or
State habitat conservation plan.
10 Rev. 01/02/07
V. CULTURAL RESOURCES - Would the project:
a) Cause a substantial adverse change in the
significance of a historical resource as defined in
§15064.5?
b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the signifi-
cance of an archeological resource pursuant to
§15064.5?
c) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique pale
ontological resource or site or unique geologic
feature?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
d) Disturb any human remains, including those interred
outside of formal cemeteries?
a-d) No Impact. The project site has been previously excavated and graded for the development of an existing
hotel, spa, health club, tennis courts, golf driving range and parking lot. There are no known historical resources,
archeological resources, paleontological resources, or human remains on-site.
VI. 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.
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?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
11 Rev. 01/02/07
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?
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?
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?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
a.i.-a.iii.) Less than Significant Impact. A geotechnical investigation of the project site was prepared by Leighton
Consulting, Inc. (Project No. 600853-002, June 23, 2006) to provide subsurface information and geotechnical
recommendations specific to the proposed Pacific Athletic Club. According to this report, the subject site is not
located within any Earthquake Fault Zones as created by the Alquist-Priolo Act, nor are there any known major or
active faults on or in the immediate vicinity of the site. Because of the lack of known active faults on the site, the
potential for surface rupture at the site is considered low. The main seismic hazard that may affect the site is ground
shaking from one of the active regional faults, with the nearest known active fault being the Rose Canyon Fault
Zone located 6.9 miles west of the site. Due to the high clay content and relatively dense nature of on-site soils, risk
of seismic-related ground failure or liquefaction is very minimal.
a.iv.) No Impact. The topography of the site is considered relatively flat with elevations ranging from
approximately 250 feet above mean sea level (msl) in the southwest portion of the site to approximately 280 feet msl
at the southeast corner of the site. The geotechnical report prepared by Leighton Consulting, Inc. (Project No.
600853-002, June 23, 2006) reports that there is no evidence of ancient landslides existing on the subject site.
b) No Impact. The topography of the site is considered relatively flat with elevations ranging from approximately
250 feet above mean sea level (msl) in the southwest portion of the site to approximately 280 feet msl at the
southeast corner of the site. The project's compliance with standards in the City's Excavation and Grading
Ordinance that prevent erosion through slope planting and installation of temporary erosion control means will avoid
substantial soil erosion impacts.
c) Less than Significant Impact. See Section a.i to a.iii above.
d) Less Than Significant Impact. A geotechnical investigation of the project site was prepared by Leighton
Consulting, Inc. (Project No. 600853-002, June 23, 2006) to provide subsurface information and geotechnical
recommendations specific to the proposed Pacific Athletic Club. According to the report, the project site is
underlain by units of soils consisting of undocumented fill, Quaternary alluvium, and Santiago Formation. The
predominant soil type at-grade within the proposed project site is Quaternary Alluvium, which is considered to have
a medium to very high expansion potential. The claystone soils of the Santiago Formation are considered to have a
high to very high expansive potential. Through the implementation of the geotechnical design recommendations
outlined in the report, the development of the site is considered feasible and impacts from expansive soils are low.
12 Rev. 01/02/07
e) No Impact. The proposed project does not propose septic tanks and will utilize the public sewer system.
Therefore, there will be no impacts involving soils that support the use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater
disposal systems.
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?
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?
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?
e) For a project within an airport land use plan, or
where such a plan has not been adopted, within two
miles of a public airport or public use airport, would
the project result 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?
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?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
D D
a-b) Less than Significant Impact. The project requires the onsite storage of up to 1,500 gallons of liquid chlorine
and up to 150 gallons of Muratic acid for the treatment of the two lap pools, two spas and wading pool. Storage and
13 Rev. 01/02/07
safe handling of these chemicals are regulated by Article 80 of the California Fire Code. Furthermore, this facility
and all activities are subject to the City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Order
No. R9-2007-0001 and all related City Ordinances and requirements. Therefore, the project does not pose a
significant hazard to the public or the environment and impacts are considered less than significant.
c-d) No Impact. There are no existing or proposed schools within one-quarter of a mile of the site, and the project
site is not included on any lists as a hazardous materials site compiled pursuant to the Government Code Section
65962.5.
e-f) Less than Significant Impact. The northern one-third of the project site is located within the Runway
Protection Zone (RPZ) as identified in the McClellan-Palomar Airport Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).
This area of the project will be developed as a parking lot, which is considered an acceptable use within the RPZ.
The remainder of the site is located within the Airport- Influence Area. The proposed Health Club use would fall
into Land Use Category No. 6 of the CLUP Noise/Land Use Compatibility Matrix (Office Buildings-Business,
Educational, Professional and Personal Services; R&D Offices and Laboratories). An acoustical analysis for the
proposed project was prepared by Wieland Associates, Inc. (July 11, 2006) to determine compatibility with the City
of Carlsbad Noise Guidelines Manual and the McClellan-Palomar Airport Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).
The report found that the two primary noise sources in the vicinity of the site are from aircraft operations at
McClellan-Palomar Airport and traffic on Palomar Airport Road and El Camino Real. According to the CLUP, the
project site is located within the 65-70 CNEL noise contour and the type of use proposed is Conditionally
Compatible with the aircraft noise exposure at the site. The design of the buildings will be required to provide a
noise reduction of 15 to 20 dB in order to comply with the CLUP's interior CNEL standard of 50 dB(A), and a noise
reduction of 13 to 18.5 dB is required in order to comply with the City's interior Leg(h) standard of 55 dB(A).
Through implementation of the recommendations outlined in the acoustical analysis, the project will comply with
both the City and CLUP noise standards and impacts as a result of noise will be less than significant.
Furthermore, an FAR Part 77 Objects Affecting Navigable Airspace was prepared on the project for review by the
Federal Aviation Administration. A Determination of No Hazard to Air Navigation was made by the FAA on June
28, 2006.
g-h) No Impact. The project will not impair the implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted
emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan, nor is the project located in an area that will expose people
or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires.
VIII. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY - Would the
project:
a) Violate any water quality standards or waste
discharge requirements?
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)?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
14 Rev. 01/02/07
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?
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?
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?
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 structures,
which would impede or redirect flood flows?
i) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of
loss injury or death involving flooding, including
flooding as a result of the failure of a levee or dam?
j) Inundation by seiche, tsunami, or mudflow?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
k) Increase erosion (sediment) into receiving surface
waters.
1) Increase pollutant discharges (e.g., heavy metals,
pathogens, petroleum derivatives, synthetic organics,
nutrients, oxygen-demanding substances and trash)
into receiving surface waters or other alteration of
receiving surface water quality (e.g. temperature,
dissolved oxygen or turbidity?
m) Change receiving water quality (marine, fresh or
wetland waters) during or following construction?
15 Rev. 01/02/07
n) Increase any pollutant to an already impaired water
body as listed on the Clean Water Act Section 303(d)
list?
o) Increase impervious surfaces and associated runoff?
p) Impact aquatic, wetland, or riparian habitat?
q) Result in the exceedance of applicable surface or
groundwater receiving water quality objectives or
degradation of beneficial uses?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
D
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
a) Less than Significant Impact. The subject property is required by law to comply with all federal, state and
local water quality regulations, including the Clean Water Act, California Administrative Code Title 23, and specific
basin plan objectives identified in the "Water Quality Control Plan for San Diego Basin." (WQCP) The WQCP
contains specific objectives for the Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit which includes the requirement to comply with
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs). The
project must also obtain a NPDES permit prior to construction. The permit will require the project to develop and
implement specific erosion control and storm water pollution prevention plans to protect downstream water quality.
These plans will ensure acceptable water quality standards will be maintained both during the construction phase as
well as post-development.
b) No Impact. This project does not propose to directly draw any groundwater. The project will be served via
existing public water distribution lines adjacent to the site.
c-e) Less than Significant Impact. The Preliminary Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) prepared by Excel
Engineering (August 21, 2006), indicates that the site has been designed to mimic historic runoff patterns. Existing
drainage generally flows from northeast of the site to the southwest corner via open concrete drainage channels
along El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road. Near the northwest corner of the site are two storm drains that
drain into the site from Palomar Airport Road. The storm water from these channels and pipes converge and pick
up the rest of the site drainage through the driving range and then outflows at the southwest corner of the site. As
identified in the SWMP, the proposed project site drains to Canyon de Las Encinas and ultimately into the Pacific
Ocean.
The site presently contributes an estimated 224.08 cfs into the exiting system. Flows will be generally directed and
intercepted in the same location by a series of bio-swales, underground piping (Bressi Ranch storm drainage coming
from under El Camino Real) and an underground storm drain/detention system. The SWMP shows a combined
runoff of 181.6 cfs indicating a modest decrease of 43.02 cfs. The decrease in flows from the pre-development to
post-development condition is due to the on-site underground detention system. The proposed improvements will
not substantially alter the existing drainage patterns of the site or area, or create or contribute runoff water which
would exceed the capacity of the existing stormwater drainage system, nor does the project propose uses that cause a
substantial, additional source of polluted runoff.
0 Less than Significant Impact. Construction of the proposed project improvements is required by law to comply
with all federal, state and local water quality regulations, including the Clean Water Act and associated NPDES
regulations. As mentioned above, the project includes a Preliminary Storm Water Management Plan and temporary
impacts associated with the construction operation will be mitigated to a level less than significant. The project will
not result in permanent or long term degradation of water quality as a result of the proposed pollution control
program.
16 Rev. 01/02/07
g-j) No Impact. The project site is not located within the 100-year flood hazard area, and based on the distance
between the site and large, open bodies of water, and given the elevation of the site with respect to sea level (250 to
280 feet above mean sea level), the possibility of seiche, tsunami, or mudflow is considered to be low.
k) Less than Significant Impact. The construction phase of the project could result in increased erosion.
However, as a result of the NPDES permit requirements associated with the proposed project, no significant increase
in erosion (sediment) into receiving surface waters will result from the project. Urban runoff from the proposed
development will be channeled into the appropriate storm drain receptors as indicated in the project's Preliminary
Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) prepared by Excel Engineering (August 21, 2006). The greatest potential
for short-term water quality impacts to the drainage basin would be expected during and immediately following the
grading and construction phases of the project when cleared and graded areas are exposed to rain and storm water
runoff. Standard conditions require compliance with NPDES sediment control requirements during the construction
phase and implementation of the post construction BMPs for the project.
1-m) Less than Significant Impact. The Preliminary Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) prepared by Excel
Engineering (August 21, 2006) indicates that the project shall be designed to remove pollutants of concern through
storm water conveyance systems to the maximum extent practicable (MEP) through the incorporation of treatment
control BMPs. In order to remove primary and secondary pollutants of concern, the Pacific Athletic Club project
employs a combination of vegetated swales and hydrodynamic separators. As proposed, subject to compliance with
the proposed BMPs, the project will not result in the increase of pollutants into downstream waters, and no receiving
water quality will be adversely affected through implementation of the proposed project. Post construction BMPs
will further ensure that the project does not change the receiving water quality following construction activities.
n) No Impact. The project does not drain to an impaired water body as listed on the Clean Water Act Section
303(d) list.
o) Less than Significant Impact. The proposed project will increase the impervious surface area through the
removal of the existing golf driving range and the development of the building footprint, parking lot and associated
drive aisles. However, associated runoff from the project will be decreased as a result of an on-site underground
detention system.
p) No Impact. Runoff from the proposed project will not impact aquatic, wetland or riparian habitats, as none of
these habitats exist on site or in the vicinity of the site.
q) No Impact. The project will not result in the exceedance of applicable surface or groundwater receiving water
quality objectives or degradation of beneficial use. Please refer to the preceding responses.
Potentially
Significant
Potentially Unless Less Than
Significant Mitigation Significant No
Impact Incorporated Impact Impact
IX. LANDUSE 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 limited to the general plan,
specific plan, local coastal program, or zoning
ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding or
mitigating an environmental effect?
17 Rev. 01/02/07
c) Conflict with any applicable habitat conservation
plan or natural community conservation plan?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
a-c) No Impact. The proposed project is a commercial development that is consistent with the existing and
surrounding uses. The site does not physically divide an established community. The proposed project does not
conflict with any existing or proposed land use plans or policies of the City of Carlsbad. The project is consistent
with the City of Carlsbad General Plan Land Use designation of Travel/Recreation Commercial (T-R), which
designates areas for commercial uses that serve the travel and recreational needs of tourists, residents and employees
of the business and industrial centers. The project is compatible with the City of Carlsbad Habitat Management
Plan.
X. MINERAL RESOURCES - Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
a)
b)
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?
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?
a-b) No Impact. There is no indication that the subject property contains any known mineral resources that would
be of future value to the region or the residents of the State.
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?
b) Exposure of persons to or generation of excessive
groundbourne vibration or groundbourne noise
levels?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
18 Rev. 01/02/07
c) A substantial permanent increase in ambient noise
levels in the project vicinity above levels existing
without the project?
d) A substantial temporary or periodic increase in
ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above
levels existing without the project?
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?
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?
D
a, c, e & f) No Impact. An acoustical analysis for the proposed project was prepared by Wieland Associates, Inc.,
dated July 11, 2006, to determine compatibility with the City of Carlsbad Noise Guidelines Manual and the
McClellan-Palomar Airport Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP). The report found that the two primary noise
sources in the vicinity of the site are from aircraft operations at McClellan-Palomar Airport and traffic on Palomar
Airport Road and El Camino Real. According to the CLUP, the project site is located within a CNEL zone of 65 to
70 dB and the type of use proposed is conditionally compatible with the aircraft noise exposure at the site. The
design of the buildings will be required to provide a noise reduction of 15 to 20 dB in order to comply with the
CLUP's interior CNEL standard of 50 dB(A), and a noise reduction of 13 to 18.5 dB is required in order to comply
with the City's interior Leg(h) standard of 55 dB(A). The report indicates that conventional commercial building
construction, such as that being used at the project site, will typically provide at least 20 to 25 dB of noise reduction
with windows and doors closed. As only 20 dB of noise reduction is needed to comply with the City and CLUP
standards, no additional noise mitigation is required. However, as the interior noise standard is to be met with all
windows closed, mechanical ventilation is necessary in order to provide a habitable environment. This may be
achieved with air conditioning or a fresh air supply system. Through implementation of the recommendations
outlined in the acoustical analysis, the project will comply with both the City and CLUP noise standards, and
impacts as a result of noise will be less than significant.
b & d) Less than Significant Impact. The anticipated grading operation associated with the development of the
proposed project would result in a temporary and minor increase in groundborne vibration and ambient noise levels.
Following the conclusion of the grading, the ambient noise level and vibrations are expected to return to pre-existing
levels.
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)?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
19 Rev. 01/02/07
b) Displace substantial numbers of existing housing,
necessitating the construction'of replacement housing
elsewhere?
c) Displace substantial numbers of people, necessitating
the construction of replacement housing elsewhere?
a-c) No Impact. The proposed Pacific Athletic Club is not considered a growth inducing use, and will not displace
housing or people.
XIII. PUBLIC SERVICES
a) Would the project 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?
ii) Police protection?
iii) Schools?
iv) Parks?
v) Other public facilities?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
a.i.-a.v.) No Impact. The proposed Pacific Athletic Club project will not effect the provision and/or availability of
public facilities (i.e., fire protection, police protection, schools, parks, etc.). The proposed project shall be subject to
the conditions and facility service level requirements within the Local Facilities Management Plan for Zone 5,
therefore no significant public service impacts will occur.
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
XIV. RECREATION
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
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?
20 Rev. 01/02/07
b) Does the project include recreational facilities or
require the construction or expansion of recreational
facilities, which might have an adverse physical
effect on the environment?
a-b) No Impact. The proposed project is not considered a use that would increase the use of existing neighborhood
and regional parks, nor would the proposed private recreational facilities associated with the project have an adverse
physical effect on the environment.
XV. TRANSPORTATION/TRAFFIC - Would the project:
a) Cause an increase in traffic, which is substantial in
relation to the existing 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)?
b) Exceed, either individually or cumulatively, a level
of service standard established by the county
congestion management agency for designated roads
or highways?
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?
d) Substantially increase hazards due to a design feature
(e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or
incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)?
e) Result in inadequate emergency access?
f) Result in insufficient parking capacity?
g) Conflict with adopted policies, plans, or programs
supporting alternative transportation (e.g., bus turn-
outs, bicycle racks)?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
a) Less Than Significant Impact. The Transportation Analysis for Carlsbad Health Club (April 11. 2007)
prepared by Urban Systems Inc., sets the total traffic generated by the new health club and the renovated existing
hotel at 4,100 Average Daily Trips (ADT), with 183 AM peak hour trips (110 inbound, 73 outbound) and 365 PM
peak hour trips (217 inbound, 148 outbound). The net additional vehicle trips generated by the new project less the
existing project site trips are 2,490 ADT, with 108 AM peak hour trips and 224 PM peak hour trips. The project
traffic will utilize the following roadways: Palomar Airport Road (PAR) and El Camino Real (ECR). Palomar
Airport Road is a six-lane prime arterial extending east from Interstate 5 to the Carlsbad City limits at San Marcos.
El Camino Real is also a six-lane prime arterial extending in the north-south direction from the northern to the
southern City limits with some segments not yet fully built to six-lanes. The transportation analysis is based on
traffic counts obtained from the City of Carlsbad Growth Management Plan Year 2005 Traffic Monitoring Program,
the SANDAG/City of Carlsbad Year 2010 Computer Traffic Model, and the SANDAG Year 2030 Combined North
21 Rev. 01/02/07
County Traffic Model. The traffic analysis was conducted for existing conditions, existing conditions plus project,
year 2010, year 2010 plus project, buildout and buildout plus project conditions. The traffic evaluation shows that
all levels of service for the affected street segments and intersections for all conditions are within acceptable levels
of service except for the intersection of PAR and ECR. This intersection is expected to operate at Level of Service
"E" with project traffic both in the AM and PM peak hours. In order to mitigate for this project impact to a level
that is less than significant, the project has been designed to provide an eastbound PAR to southbound ECR right
turn only lane on PAR, an additional northbound ECR to westbound PAR left turn lane on ECR at the intersection,
and restricting the existing project driveway on ECR to right turns in and out by closing the existing ECR median
opening that allows northbound ECR left turns into the driveway. Through implementation of the recommendations
outlined in the traffic analysis and included in the project design, impacts as a result of traffic will be reduced to a
level that is less than significant.
b) Less Than Significant Impact. SANDAG acting as the County Congestion Management Agency has
designated three roads (Rancho Santa Fe Rd., El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Rd.) and two highway
segments in Carlsbad 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 is:
Existing APT* 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 "F" 156-180
1-5 199-216 "D" 260-272
* The numbers are in thousands of daily trips.
The Congestion Management Program's (CMP) acceptable Level of Service (LOS) standard is "E", or LOS "F" if
that was the LOS in the 1990 base year (e.g., SR 78 in Carlsbad 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 buildout ADT projections are based on the full implementation of the region's general and community
plans. The proposed project is consistent with the general plan and, therefore, its traffic was used in modeling the
buildout projections. Achievement of the CMP acceptable Level of Service (LOS) "E" standard assumes
implementation of the adopted CMP strategies. Based on the design capacity(ies) of the designated roads and
highways and implementation of the CMP strategies, they will function at acceptable level(s) of service in the short-
term and at buildout.
c) No Impact. The proposed project does not include any aviation components. The project is consistent with the
Comprehensive Land Use Plan for the McClellan-Palomar Airport. It would not, therefore, result in a change of air
traffic patterns or result in substantial safety risks. No impact assessed.
d) No Impact. All project circulation improvements will be designed and constructed to City standards; and,
therefore, would not result in design hazards. The proposed project is consistent with the City's general plan and
zoning. Therefore, it would not increase hazards due to an incompatible use. No impact assessed.
e) No Impact. The proposed project has been designed to satisfy the emergency requirements of the Fire and
Police Departments. No impact assessed.
0 No Impact. The proposed project is not requesting a parking variance. Additionally, the project would comply
with the City's parking requirements to ensure an adequate parking supply. No impact assessed.
g) No Impact. The project is located on the southwest corner of El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road. The
project is served by the North County Transit District (NCTD) with bus route 309 serving El Camino Real, and bus
route 344 serving Palomar Airport Road. The project has been designed to include a secure bicycle parking area,
which is conditioned to provide bicycle racks.
22 Rev. 01/02/07
XVI. UTILITIES AND SERVICES SYSTEMS - Would the
project:
a) Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the
applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board?
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?
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?
d) Have sufficient water supplies available to serve the
project from existing entitlements and resources, or
are new or expanded entitlements needed?
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?
f) Be served by a landfill with sufficient permitted
capacity to accommodate the project's solid waste
disposal needs?
g) Comply with federal, state, and local statutes and
regulations related to solid waste?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
D K
Kl
a-g) No Impact. The proposed project will be required to comply with all Regional Water Quality Control Board
Requirements. In addition, the Zone 5 LFMP anticipated that the project site would be developed with
travel/recreation commercial uses and therefore wastewater treatment facilities were planned and designed to
accommodate this future use. All public facilities, including water facilities, wastewater treatment facilities and
drainage facilities, have been planned and designed to accommodate the growth projections for the City at build-out.
The project does not result in development that will require expansion or construction of new water
facilities/supplies, wastewater treatment or storm water drainage facilities.
23 Rev. 01/02/07
Potentially
Significant
Potentially Unless
Significant Mitigation
Impact Incorporated
Less Than
Significant No
Impact Impact
El D
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?
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
connection with the effects of past projects, the
effects of other current projects, and the effects of
probable future projects?)
c) Does the project have environmental effects, which
will cause the substantial adverse effects on human
beings, either directly or indirectly?
a) No Impact. The proposed project to develop a new health club facility on the southwest corner of El Camino
Real and Palomar Airport Road will not degrade the quality of the environment. The project site is considered a
developed site, which does not contain any fish or wildlife species; is not identified by any habitat conservation plan
as containing a protected, rare or endangered plant or animal species; and does not contain any known historical,
archeological, or paleontological resources. Therefore, the project will not reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife
species; will not threaten to eliminate or reduce the number of endangered plant and animal species; and will not
result in the elimination of any important examples of California history or prehistory.
b) Less Than Significant Impact. San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) projects regional growth
for the greater San Diego area, and local general plan land use policies are incorporated into SANDAG projections.
Based upon those projections, region-wide standards, including storm water quality control, air quality standards,
habitat conservation, congestion management standards, etc., are established to reduce the cumulative impacts of
development in the region. All of the City's development standards and regulations are consistent with the region
wide standards. The City's standards and regulations, including grading standards, water quality and drainage
standards, traffic standards, habitat and cultural resource protection regulations, and public facility standards, ensure
that development within the City will not result in a significant cumulatively considerable impact.
There are two regional issues that development within the City of Carlsbad has the potential to have a cumulatively
considerable impact on. Those issues are air quality and regional circulation. As described above, the project would
contribute to a cumulatively considerable potential net increase in emissions throughout the air basin. As described
above, air quality would be essentially the same whether or not the development is implemented.
The County Congestion Management Agency (CMA) has designated three roads (Rancho Santa Fe Rd., El Camino
Real and Palomar Airport Rd.) and two highway segments in Carlsbad as part of the regional circulation system.
The CMA had determined, based on the City's growth projections in the General Plan, that these designated
roadways will function at acceptable levels of service in the short-term and at build-out. The project is consistent
with the City's growth projections, and therefore, the cumulative impacts from the project to the regional circulation
system are less than significant.
24 Rev. 01/02/07
With regard to any other potential impacts associated with the project, City standards and regulations will ensure
that development of the site will not result in any significant cumulatively considerable impacts.
c) Less than Significant Impact. Based upon the fact that future development of the site will comply with all City
standards, the project will not result in any direct or indirect substantial adverse environmental effects on human
beings. However, the project site is located in an area where human beings are exposed to significant levels of noise
generated by traffic on the surrounding streets and aircraft operations at McClellan-Palomar Airport. As discussed
above, any potential impacts from noise can be mitigated to a level less than significant. Those mitigation measures
will be incorporated as conditions of project approval. The project design and land use is compatible with the
Comprehensive Land Use Plan for the McClellan-Palomar Airport, thus further reducing any impacts as result of
airport safety to a level less than significant. Development of the site and structures will be required to comply with
all applicable Federal, State, Regional and City regulations, which will ensure that development of the site will not
result in adverse impacts on human beings, either directly or indirectly.
25 Rev. 01/02/07
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.
26 Rev. 01/02/07
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, Carlsbad, California, 92008.
1. Final Master Environmental Impact Report for the City of Carlsbad General Plan Update (MEIR 93-01).
City of Carlsbad Planning Department. March 1994.
2. Transportation Analysis for Carlsbad Health Club. Urban Systems Associates, Inc., April 11, 2007.
3. Preliminary Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) for Western Athletic Club. Excel Engineering,
August 21,2006.
4. Geotechnical Investigation. Proposed Athletic Club. Southwest of Palomar Airport Road and El Camino
Real. Carlsbad. California (Project no. 600853-002). Leighton Consulting, Inc., June 23, 2006.
5. Acoustical Evaluation, for Pacific Athletic Club (Project File No. 846-06). Wieland Associates, Inc., July
11,2006.
6. Local Facilities Management Plan (Zone 5). City of Carlsbad Growth Management Program, June 17,
1987.
7. McClellan Palomar Airport Comprehensive Land Use Plan. San Diego County Regional Airport Authority,
October 4,2004.
8. Habitat Management Plan for Natural Communities in the City of Carlsbad . City of Carlsbad, December
1999.
27 Rev. 01/02/07