HomeMy WebLinkAboutEA 2020-0013; EL CAMINO REAL AND CANNON ROAD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS PHASE II - CIP 6042; Admin Decision LetterMemorandum
May 6, 2021
To:
From:
Brandon Miles, Associate Engineer
Christina M. Bustamante, Associate Planner
Don Neu, City Planner
Ccityof
Carlsbad
~FILE COPY
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Re: EA 2020-0013 (PUB2020-0018}-El Camino Real and Cannon Road Intersection
Improvements Phase II -CIP 6042
Thank you for submitting an Early Assessment for Phase II intersection improvements to re-align El Camino
Real median near Cannon Road and to restripe westbound. El Camino Real to accommodate through lanes
and enhance the existing bike lane.
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. Please
be aware that at the time of a formal application submittal, new plans, 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 Consistency
1. The proposed project is within the right of way, and as such it does not have a General Plan land
use designation or zoning classification. The proposed project is consistent with the city General
Plan Goal 3-G.5 "Implement transportation demand and traffic signal management techniques to
improve mobility'' and Goal 3-G.7 Provide for the safe and efficient movement of goods
throughout the city.
Discretionary Permits
2. Although the project is located within the Coastal Zone, it is exempt from a Coastal Development
Permit because the proposed re-striping and minor revisions to existing medians can be seen as
"Activities of public utilities as specified in the repair, maintenance and utility hookup exclusion
adopted by the coastal commission, September 5, 1978, and as modified from time to time" do
not require a Coastal Development Permit. (CMC 21.201.060 {B)(ll) Exemptions and categorical
exclusions from minor coastal development permit and coastal development permit procedures)
Also, the coastal act also allows the coastal commission, pursuant to public resources code
Sections 30610 (d) and 30610.5 (b), to exclude from coastal permit regulations any category of
development within a specifically defined geographic area if they find that such an exclusion will
not result in a potential for any significant adverse effect, either individually or cumulatively, on
coastal resources or on public access or along the coast.
Community Development Department
Planning Division
1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-4600 I 760-602-8560 fax
3. Although the project area is subject to flood hazards, and flood-related erosion hazards, the action
to re-stripe the road and revise s~all portions of existing medians does not warrant the need fop.
a Special Use Permit (SUP) because the project will not change the drainage facilities, and will not
~hange existing watercourses.
Environmental Review and Studies
1. The project proposes intersection improvements to existing facilities to re-align El Camino Real
median near Cannon Road and to restripe westbound El Camino Real to accommodate through
lanes and enhance the existing bike lane. The median would be narrowed a little to accommodate
the lane. The removed median will be replaced by roadway pavement. No landscaping is removed
and the impervious surfaces remain the same Therefore, this project qualifies for a categorical
exemption per CEQA guidelines Section 15301 (C) -"Existing Facilities" minor alteration of
existing streets involving negligible or no expansion of capacity and none of the Exceptions
described in CEQA guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
Land Development Engineering:
2. The project may be required to submit a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) in accordance with the TIA
guidelines available in the city website at:
http://www.carlsbadca.gov/ civicax/filebank/blobd load.aspx?Blobl D=22758
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:ljwww.carlsbadca.gov. You may also
access the General Plan Land Use Element and the Zoning Ordinance online at the website address shown;
select Department Listing; select Planning Home Page. 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 Tecla Levy, Associate Engineer at ext. 2733.
CB:MF
c: Don Neu, City Planner
Scott Donnell, Senior Planner
Tecla Levy, Associate Engineer
HPRM/File Copy
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