HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRE 2021-0020; PALOMAR TRANSFER STATION STORMWATER TREATMENT DESIGN; Admin Decision LetterJune 24, 2021
Neil Mohr
Palomar Transfer Station
5958 El Camino Real
Carlsbad, CA 92008-8802
Ccityof
Carlsbad
8FILE COPY
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SUBJECT: PRE 2021-0020 (DEV2021-0093)-PALOMAR TRANSFER STATION STORMWATER
TREATMENT DESIGN
APN: 209-050-25-00
Thank you for submitting a preliminary review for construction of a water treatment system for the
Palomar Transfer Station which includes constructing drainage improvements and an advanced
stormwatertreatment system. The project site, an approximately 198.11-acre lot, is currently an existing
operating disposal facility.
In response to your application, the Planning Division has prepared this comment letter. Please note that
the purpose of a preliminary review is to provide you with direction and comments on the overall concept
of your project. This preliminary review 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
1. General Plan and zoning designations for the property are as follows:
a. General Plan: Planned Industrial/Open Space (Pl/OS).
b. Zoning: The parcel is within the following zones, Industrial -Industrial/Open Space (M/P-M/OS),
but the project site is specifically within the Industrial (M) zone.
2. The project requires the following permits:
a. Consistency Determination (CD). The project would install equipment to improve the quality of
the water running off from the facility operations, it would not change the existing land use and
would not expand the existing facility. Therefore, a Consistency Determination application would
be adequate to review this project.
Community Development
Planning Division I 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 I 760-602-4600 I 760-602-8560 f I www.carlsbadca.gov
PRE 2021-0020 (DEV2021-0093) -PALOMAR TRANSFER STATION STORMWATER TREATMENT DESIGN
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b. Environmental Review. As part of the existing Palomar Transfer Station facility the Planning
Commission adopted a Resolution 5799 certifying Environmental Impact Report EIR 03-04 (SCH .
. 2003071175) and adopting Findings of Fact, and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.
--' '•'Bas'ed bn .the information submitted, the proposed project is within the scope of that prior
environmental document and no further environmental documentation is required per CEQA
Guidelines Section 15162. The Application should show that this is consistent and that the
application will continue to comply with all mitigation measures in the Certified EIR.
3. Staff has completed site visits in the past and it seemed much of the site was being fully utilized by
operations of the facility. What functions, operations or features would be removed from the site in
order to accommodate this new equipment? If there are operations that would be removed, if
needed, where would they be re-located?
4. Would this water quality treatment system generate any new vehicle trips?
5. Would services from this facility be temporarily reduced, stopped or relocated for the interim during
construction? If so, how would this be accommodated, and does it affect any of the property owners
or tenants within the City of Carlsbad?
6. Development Standards. The project shall comply with the development standards of the Industrial
(M) zoning designation and municipal code, including but not limited to the following:
a. Industrial (Ml Ordinance. Show that the proposed project will not conflict with the
development standards of the prescribed zone. Please refer to Carlsbad Municipal Code
(CMC) Chapter 21.32 to ensure the project complies.
7. Parking. The parking requirements for industrial uses can be found in Carlsbad Municipal Code (CMC)
Chapter 21.44. The conditional use permit for the transfer station may also establish specific parking
requirements. From the current set of plans the new equipment does not appear to impact the
existing site capacity for parking, but please note that the project would need to demonstrate that
the required number of parking is provided consistent with the ratios in the municipal code and the
conditional use permit, as appropriate.
8. Landscape. The project will need to maintain a quality landscaped appearance along Orion Road as
well as screening of equipment from the street. Submittal of a landscape plan showing how this will
be accomplished may be necessary. If 2,500 square feet or more of landscape area is disturbed as a
result of this project, a formal submittal will need to include concept landscape and irrigation plans.
The concept plans shall be designed in accordance with both the City of Carlsbad's Landscape Manual
Policies and Requirements. The City of Carlsbad's Landscape Manual document can be found on the.
Planning Division's web page at the _following address:
https://www.carlsbadca.gov/home/showdocument?id=234
9. Climate Action Plan. New requirements related to the city's goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions may impact development requirements of this project. A formal application submittal will
need to include a completed Climate Action Plan Checklist (Form P-30) to determine what
requirements will apply to the project as set forth in the California Green Building Standards Code and
in CMC Chapters 18.21, 18.30 and 18.51 which is available on the city's website at the following
address:
https://www.carlsbadca.gov/home/showdocument?id=3714
http://www.gcode.us/codes/carlsbad/view.php?topic-18
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To the extent that new GHG reduction requirem.ents are in effect at the time of application for grading
or building permits, the project will be required to comply with the effective requirements even if
different than what is proposed in the project's planning approvals. GHG reduction requirements may
impact, but are not limited to, site design and local building code requirements. If incorporating new
GHG reduction requirements results in substantial modifications to the project after planning
approvals are obtained, then prior to issuance of grading or building permits, the applicant may be
required to submit and receive approval of a Consistency Determination or an Amendment
application for the project through the Planning Division.
Cultural Resources Assessment. If the project would disturb native soil, please submit a cultural
resources assessment prepared by a qualified professional. The study shall comply with the city's
Tribal, Cultural and Paleontological Resources Guidelines. Please be advised the Guidelines require a
Luiseno Native American monitor to be present for any field survey or work conducted by an
archaeologist. Further, a mitigation measure from the Certified EIR requires Native American
monitoring of all grading activities. Please see the link below for additional information.
https://www.carlsbadca.gov/home/showdocument?id-254
10. Noise Analysis. Because this is a new system added to the facility that could intensify the noise emitted
from the site, a noise analysis analyzing the project's consistency with the General Plan and Noise
Guidelines Manual may be necessary. The Noise Guidelines Manual can be found online at:
https:ljwww.carlsbadca.gov/home/showdocument?id-238
https:ljwww.carlsbadca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/4S2/637571085919570000
11. This preliminary review does not constitute a complete review of the proposed project and additional
items of concern may be identified upon formal project application submittal. Please refer to the
Development Permits P-2 checklist for all of the necessary required items prior to formal submittal,
which is available on the city's website at the following address:
https://www.carlsbadca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/3760/637571045027400000
All necessary application forms, submittal requirements, and fee information are available at the Planning
counter located in the Faraday Building at 1635 Faraday Avenue or online at
https://www.carlsbadca.gov/departments/community-development/planning/planning-applications-
forms. 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.
Engineering:
1. Complete a Stormwater Standards Questionnaire. This questionnaire will guide you and the City in
determining what type of reports and storm water mitigation must be completed to satisfy state arid
City storm water quality requirements. The questionnaire can be printed from the following website
link:
https://www.carlsbadca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/604/637426047018270000
Be aware that the project site is located within 200 feet of and drains to an Environmentally Sensitive
Area (ESA). The Carlsbad Oaks North Habitat Conservation south of the subject site is designated an
ESA and existing and proposed drainage discharges into this area. Per question 7 in step 3 of the
PRE 2021-0020 (DEV2021-0093) -PALOMAR TRANSFER STATION STORMWATER TREATMENT DESIGN
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questionnaire, the criteria is 2,500 square feet of created or replaced impervious area draining to an
ESA compared to several other questions using a 5,000 square foot threshold. This ESA criteria will
likely be the most stringent criteria. If the project is still determined to be below this threshold,
preliminary analysis suggests that the project would likely be a Standard Project and subject to
installing site design and source control BMPs per Chapter 4 of the Carlsbad BMP Design Manual and
per the Standard Project Requirement Checklist (E36) that will also need to be completed. The link to
the form is at:
http://www.carlsbadca.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?Blob1D=30141
Otherwise, the project will be defined as a Priority Development Project (PDP) and subject to
submitting a Storm Water Quality Management Plan (SWQMP). Hydromodification requirements will
also apply if a PDP.
2. Although the 130 cubic yards of grading does not exceed the threshold for requiring a grading permit,
the rerouting of drainage does warrant a grading permit per section 15.16.020(6) and 15.16.060(6)
of the Carlsbad Municipal Code since the drainage patterns are changing on site and because of
potential increas.e in flow quantities and velocities at the points of discharge onto the conservation
area. Please include a hydrology study with your application for grading plan check.
3. Clearly identify the right-of-way boundary on Orion Road, especially as it relates to the proposed
basins at the southwest corner of the property. The plans shall clearly show that the basins and any
other private facilities do not encroach into the public right.
4. Provide profiles of the proposed basins. Refer to Appendix E of the Carlsbad BMP Design Manual for
design guidance. Basins shall percolate such that maximum drawdown times required per the Manual
are not exceeded. Survey and identify the size of the existing basin overflow discharge pipe, flow line
elevations, point of discharge, energy dissipators, etc.
5. Submit a title report with the application for grading plan check and list/plot all easements appearing
in said report.
If you would like to schedule a meeting to discuss this letter with the commenting departments, please
contact Christina Bustamante at the number below. You may also contact each department individually
as follows:
• Planning Division: Christina Bustamante, Associate Planner, at (760) 602-4644
• Land Development Engineering: David Rick, Associate Engineer, at (760) 602-2781
• Building Division: Jason Paisut, Building & Code Enforcement Manager, at (760) 602-2788
DON NEU, AICP
City Planner
DN:CB:cf
c: David Rick, Associate Engineer
Curtis Jackson, Carlsbad Real Estate Manager
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