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Home My WebLink AboutEA 2020-0009; Village and Barrio Traffic Circles, CIP No. 4015; Admin Decision LetterMemorandum December 28, 2020 To: From: Jonathan Schauble, Senior Engineer Christina M. Bustamant~ Associate Planner Don Neu, City Planner ~7'{ ( City of Carlsbad BFILE COPY 111=7~,1 1/1,/21 Via Re: EA 2020-0009 (PUB2020-0014) -Village and Barrio Traffic Circles, CIP No. 4015 Thank you for submitting an Early Assessment to construct traffic circles at six locations, traffic calming at two locations. The following improvements will occur at all eight locations curb ramps, crosswalks, medians, striping, signing, and street lighting. The construction would occur primarily in the Barrio area between Oak and Magnolia avenues. In response to your application, the Planning Division has prepared this comment letter. Please note that the purpose of an Early Assessment is to provide you with direction and comments on the overall concept of your project. This Early Assessment does not represent an in-depth analysis of your project. It is intended to give you feedback on critical issues based upon the information provided In your submittal. This review is based upon the plans. policies, and standards in effect as of the date of this review. A formal planning application is not required for the current project proposal. If the project scope is expanded, a formal application submittal could be required with new plans. at that time new policies, and standards may be in effect and additional issues of concern may be raised through a more specific and detailed review. Planning: General Plan, Zoning, and Local Coastal Program Consistency 1. The proposed project is predominately within the right of way. The proposed project is located within the Village-Barrio General Plan land use designation and Village-Barrio Zone. The proposed project is consistent with the city General Plan Mobility Element Goal 3-G.1 (Keep Carlsbad moving with livable streets that provide a safe, balanced, cost-effective, multi-modal transportation system (vehicles, pedestrians, bikes, transit), accommodating the mobility needs of all community members, including children, the elderly and the disabled), and Mobility Element Goal 3-G.2 (Improve connectivity for residents, visitors and businesses). Community Development Department Planning Division 1635 Faraday Avenue 'i Carlsbad, CA 92008 T 760-602-4600 T 760-602-8560 fax EA 2020-0009 (PUB2020-0014)-Village and Barrio Traffic Circles, CIP No. 4015 December 28, 2020 Pa e 2 2. Most of the project is outside the Coastal Zone. However, the traffic calming feature at Magnolia Avenue and Madison Street is largely within the Village-Barrio segment of the Coastal Zone. The Village-Barrio General Plan land use designation and zoning also serve as the Local Coastal Program land use and zoning. Further, the Village and Barrio Master Plan (see below) implements the Local Coastal Program in the Village and Barrio. 3. The Village and Barrio Master Plan implements the V-B land use designation and zone for the two neighborhoods. The project is consistent with master plan objectives for increasing connectivity and alternative transportation means, such as: General a. Connectivity Goal 1.5.3.A -Establish better connectivity within the Village and Barrio and between the two neighborhoods and their surroundings; and b. Placemaking Policy 1.5.4.A.2 -Dedicate special and immediate attention to traffi_c calming on principal and key Barrio streets, such as Tyler Street, Roosevelt Street, Madison Street, Harding Street, Oak Avenue and Chestnut Avenue. In addition, enhance the north-south streets that connect directly to the Village core to create continuous lighting, trees, sidewalks and bicycle access from the Village and throughout the Barrio. Also, the project implements master plan Figure 4-31, which identifies suggested locations for Barrio traffic calming treatments. i / -Local Coastal Progra~ -, - Village-Barrio Zone . . Same as General Plan and zoning [-_ Master Pl;;_ ___ _ ___ _ _ _ ·----~ ------ _ Y~llage a~d B~.!:_l"io !'Aaster Plan ________ J 4. As a public street improvement project, the proposal is not subject to discretionary permits described in Village and Barrio Master Plan Section 6.3. This includes no need for a coastal development permit for the portion of the Magnolia Avenue and Madison street traffic calming feature in the Coastal Zone. The basis for not requiring a CDP is as follows: • Pursuant to CMC Section 21.201.060 B.11, "activities of public utilities as specified in the repair, maintenance and utility hookup exclusions adopted by the Coastal Commission, September 5, 1978, and as modified from time to time" are exempt from CDP requirements. • As described in Section II.A of the 1978 Coastal Commission exclusion document, road maintenance and alteration programs "which do not result in an addition to or enlargement or expansion of the existing public road facility itself, do not require a permit ... " EA 2020-0009 (PUB2020-0014)-Village and Barrio Traffic qrcles, CIP No. 4015 December 28, 2020 Pa e 3 • Appendix I of the 1978 document provides a more detailed description of the activities included in these maintenance and alteration programs. These activities include "miscellaneous safety projects" and "miscellaneous alterations," which include activities such as "traffic channelization" and "modification of traffic control systems." Based on a review of plans, the Magnolia Avenue and Madison street traffic calming component of the project would not expand either street facility and would implement a number of safety features within the right of way to improve roadside safety. The 1978 document is available on the Coastal Commission website at Repair, Maintenance and Utility Hook-Up Exclusions from Permit Requirements {ca.gov). 5. The project may be subject to the city's Landscape Design Manual. Per manual Section 1.B.1., "the manual applies to all public and private projects which require submittal of landscape plans in conjunction with a building permit, grading permit or discretionary permit." The manual also notes requirements for a Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet apply to public improvement projects, includ_ing street medians, with a landscape area of at least 500 square feet. If based on permit requirements the project is subject to the manual, when submitting construction documents please include a construction level landscape plan consistent with the city's landscape manual. A copy of the landscape manual can be found on the city's website at tittps://www.carlsbadca.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BloblD=24086 6. Label temporary construction staging area(s). 7. Provide written documentation demonstrating that the necessary permission has been obtained for temporary easements for construction. 8. Consider the connectivity of bike lanes for the overall project. In Section 4.4, the Village and Barrio Master Plan contains a number of recommendations regarding the Village and Barrio bike network, including an overall bike plan (Figure 4-32). Bicycle improvements and recommendations regarding street sections, intersection designs, and overall traffic calming are also contained in master plan Section 4.3.11. As noted earlier, the project implements master plan Figure 4-31 regarding Barrio traffic calming. Environmental Review and Studies 9. The project is consistent with the Village and Barrio Master Plan and thus consistent with the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring adopted by the Planning Commission with Resolution 7293, and State Clearinghouse Number 2016021056. Per CEQA Guidelines Section 15162, when a mitigated negative declaration has been adopted for a project, and no substantial changes are proposed, there are no changes in the circumstances, no new information is available, and no new mitigation measures are required, than no subsequent environmental review shall be required. EA 2020-0009 {PUB2020-0014)-Vlllage and Barrio Traffic Circles, CIP No. 4015 December 28, 2020 Pa e4 Land Development Engineering: 10. Per the completed Stormwater Standards Questionnaire, the project is to be completed in accordance with USEPA green street guidance. Identify these green street features on the design plans. Plot all the applicable BMPs from the completed Standard Project E36 form. 11. Submit a scoping agreement per the TIA guidelines. Once evaluated, the tier level study and scope of analysis can be confirmed. Analysis shall include Vehicle Miles Traveled {VMT). 12. Clearly plot all utilities and contact CMWD and Storm Drain Division to verify design does not conflict with access and maintenance of said utilities. Address conflicts, if any, between landscape/raised curbs and access holes, valve lids, etc. 13. Identify the saw cut limits of pavement replacement and the extent of grind and overlay and/or slurry seal at the revised intersections. Entire intersection should be overlaid or slurried. 14. Clarify whether each revised intersection is inside or outside the coastal development zone. The intersection of Madison Street and Magnolia appears to be the only intersection inside the coastal development zone. Consult with your assigned planner to determine if coastal development permits are required. (Note: See clarification to this comment in the Planning section above.) All necessary application forms and submittal requirements are available at the Planning counter located in the Faraday Building at 1635 Faraday Avenue or online at http://www.carlsbadca.gov. You may also access the Village and Barrio Master Plan online at the website address shown; for both application information and the master plan, select City Services and then Planning under "City Departments.". Please review all information carefully before submitting. If you would like to schedule a meeting to discuss this letter with the commenting departments, please contact Christina Bustamante, at ext. 4644 or David Rick, Associate Engineer at ext. 2781. DN:CB:mf c: Don Neu, City Planner Scott Donnell, Senior Planner David Rick, Associate Engineer HPRM/File Copy Data Entry