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Home My WebLink AboutCDP 98-39; Faraday Road Extension; Coastal Development Permit (CDP) (13)FINAL EXPANDED INITIAL STUDY/ MITIGA TED NEC A TIVE DECLARA TION for the FARAD A YA VENUE ROAD WA Y EXTENSION ** / City of Car/shad August 1998 Cotton/Beland/Associates FINAL EXPANDED INITIAL STUDY/ MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION for the FARADAY AVENUE ROADWAY EXTENSION AUGUST 1998 Prepared for: City of Carlsbad Planning Department 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, California 92009 Prepared by: Cotton/Beland/Associates, Inc. 6336 Greenwich Drive, Suite F San Diego, California 92122 747 East Green Street, Suite 300 Pasadena, California 91101 999.00 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction 1 Project Description 3 Environmental Impact Assessment Form 13 Environmental Evaluation 26 Mitigated Negative Declaration 69 Sources Consulted 70 Comments and Responses to Comments Received on the Mitigated Negative Declaration 72 Appendices Appendix A - Geotechnical Study (Leighton & Associates, Inc.) Appendix B - Traffic Study (Linscott Law & Greenspan Engineers) Appendix C - Biology Report (Merkel & Associates, Inc.) Appendix D - Cultural Resources Report (Gallegos & Associates) Mitigation Monitoring Program (bound under separate cover) Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration i August 1998 LIST OF TABLES Table Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5 Table 6 Page Signalized Intersection Operations 47 Peak Hour Street Segment Operations 48 Traffic Volume Comparison With and Without Faraday Avenue 49 Vegetation Impacts 53 Sensitive Plant Species On-Site 54 Sensitive Animal Species On-Site 55 Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Final Mitigated Negative Declaration City of Carlsbad August 1998 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page Figure 1 Regional Location 4 Figure 2 Local Vicinity 5 Figure 3 Proposed Alignment and Limits of Grading 7 Figure 4 Cut and Fill Map 8 Figure 5 Typical Roadway Sections 9 Figure 6 Aluminum Structural Plate Arch Underpass 10 Figure 7 Geologic Map 31 Figure 8 Drainage Flows 37 Figure 9 Rip Rap Energy Dissipater 39 Figure 10 Existing Traffic Volumes AM/PM Peak Hours & ADT's 44 Figure 11 Buildout Traffic Volumes (Without Faraday Avenue 43 Extension) AM/PM Peak Hours & ADT's 45 Figure 12 Buildout Traffic Volumes (With Faraday Avenue Extension) AM/PM Peak Hours & ADT's 46 Figure 13 Vegetation and Sensitive Resources Map 52 Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration Hi August 1998 Introduction INTRODUCTION GENERAL PURPOSE This Final Expanded Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration evaluates the environmental effects of the construction of the Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension project. The project consists of a 5,400 foot extension of the existing Faraday Avenue from its existing westerly terminus to provide a connection between Cannon Road and College Boulevard. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS This Final Expanded Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (CEQ A) as amended (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 as amended (California Code of Regulation Section 15000 et seq.). This report complies with the rules, regulations, and procedures for implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act adopted by the City of Carlsbad. AVAILABILITY OF REPORTS The Draft Expanded Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration was made available for public inspection at the City of Carlsbad Planning Department, 2075 Las Palmas Drive, Carlsbad, California 92009. Copies are available to the public on payment of a reasonable charge for reproduction. Circulating copies are available at the Carlsbad City Library, the La Costa Branch Library, and the Planning Department. Documents may be reviewed during regular business hours or checked out. COMMENTS REQUESTED Comments of all agencies and individuals were invited regarding the information contained in the Draft Expanded Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. The Draft Expanded Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration was made available for public review and comment for a period of 20 days from July 2, 1998 to July 22, 1998. All comments on the Draft document were sent to the following City of Carlsbad contact: Mr. Christer Westman Associate Planner City of Carlsbad 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, California 92009 Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration I August 1998 All comments and the City responses to the comments have been incorporated into this Final Expanded Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration prior to the adoption of the document by the City of Carlsbad. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 2 August 1998 Projection Description PROJECT DESCRIPTION SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION The Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension project site is located in northwestern San Diego County in the City of Carlsbad. The City of Carlsbad is located along the northern coast of San Diego County, thirty miles north of downtown San Diego. It is bordered to the north by the City of Oceanside, to the south by the City of Encinitas, and to the east by the Cities of Vista and San Marcos. Figure 1 depicts the regional location of the project site. The project site is located within the northwest quadrant of the City of Carlsbad, within portions of Local Facilities Management Zones 8 and 13 (LFMZs 8 and 13) as established in the City's Growth Management Plan. The project consists of a 5,400 foot extension of the existing Faraday Avenue from its existing westerly terminus to provide a connection to Cannon Road. The property that the right-of-way will run through is owned almost entirely by the City of Carlsbad, with the exception of a small portion at the proposed roadway's intersection with Cannon Road, which is a portion of the Kelly Ranch property. The local vicinity of the project site is shown in Figure 2. The majority of the project site consists of rolling hills, with elevations ranging from approximately 20 feet to 265 feet mean sea level. The roadway will extend through a vacant area utilized for agricultural operations, but be abutted by the proposed Carlsbad Municipal Golf Course to the south, and the future Veterans Memorial Park to the north. The project site is also located within the Mello II Segment of the City's Local Coastal Program. The roadway extension is located within an area that generally contains sensitive biological resources including coastal sage scrub, wetland habitat, and the Cannon Road wetland mitigation area, however, these resources are primarily located off-site as the area that the roadway traverses has been utilized for agricultural operations and is largely void of native vegetation. The underlying soils on the project site consist mainly of claystone and siltstone, interspersed with terrace deposits. The claystone and siltstone have a high mudflow potential and the terrace deposits have high compressibility potential. Several faults have been mapped through the area. However, these faults are not part of a major faulting system, and the site is not in or adjacent to an Alquist-Priolo Special Study Area. The proposed roadway extension traverses an area designated as Open Space in the City of Carlsbad General Plan. Currently, the majority of the site is used for agricultural purposes. BACKGROUND Faraday Avenue is an existing roadway that currently serves the Carlsbad Business Park. It currently connects from El Camino Real, and travels west to College Avenue. After College Avenue, the roadway extends for approximately 4,000 additional feet before it dead ends at the top of Macario Canyon. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 3 August 1998 Figure 1 Regional Location Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 4 August 1998 Figure 2 Local Vicinity Faraday A venue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 5 August 1998 The 5,400 foot extension of Faraday Avenue will construct this Circulation Element collector street between College Avenue and Cannon Road. Until recently, the City anticipated the construction of this roadway to occur by approximately 2002, however, greater urgency has been placed on the completion of this roadway in an effort to alleviate existing traffic congestion on Palomar Airport Road. PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS The existing portion of Faraday Avenue is classified as a secondary arterial. However, the City's Circulation Element designates the proposed portion of Faraday Avenue which will extend from its existing westerly terminus to Cannon Road as a collector street. This classification refers to streets which serve as connecting links for traffic between local and arterial streets and generally carry light to moderate traffic volumes. The roadway design of the collector street meets the City's Street Classification of a Controlled Collector as it provides limited access to adjacent properties; serves as a major connecting link for traffic between local and arterial streets; and will carry moderate traffic volumes (estimated average daily trips between 5,000 and 10,000). The proposed roadway extension will be approximately 5,400 lineal feet in length. The general design characteristic of a collector street require a width of 52 feet from curb to curb. The total right-of-way for the proposed roadway will be approximately 72 feet. The roadway has been designed as a "split" roadway, which will result in a linear and vertical separation of the travel lanes in several locations. The creation of the split roadway concept will provide more visual interest to the design of the roadway, and take advantage of the existing and future view opportunities in this area of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon, Pacific Ocean, Macario Creek, and the proposed Municipal Golf Course and Veterans Memorial Park. Figure 3 depicts the proposed alignment of the roadway extension and limits of grading. Grading for the roadway will be balanced on-site, and require 126,000 cubic yards of cut, 93,900 cubic yards of fill, 18,900 cubic yards of shrinkage, and the remainder-14,200 cubic yards will be absorbed on-site for contour grading. Figure 4 depicts the proposed cut and fill areas. The proposed roadway extension will consist of two lanes which will be split from one another and separated by an open space median at several points along the alignment. The minimum right-of-way is 72 feet, but varies along the alignment due to the split roadway design. The minimum curb-to-curb width is 52 feet (26 feet per travel lane). Each planter within the open space median will have a 10'x20' paved turnoff for maintenance vehicles. Sidewalks and parking will be provided on the north side of the roadway only, while an eight foot bike lane (Class III) will be provided on both sides of the roadway within the paved street. The bike lane will also serve as emergency parking. Figure 5 depicts two typical cross sections of the proposed roadway. A bicycle and pedestrian underpass will also be constructed to allow uninterrupted access between areas south and north of the roadway. Figure 6 depicts the aluminum structural plate arch underpass concept. In order to maintain compatibility with the proposed golf course and sensitive biological resources to the south, proposed landscaping will include special plantings to discourage pedestrian movement from the roadway into the proposed golf course fairways and biological mitigation areas. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 6 August 1998 Figure 3 Proposed Roadway Alignment and Limits of Grading Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 7 August 1998 Figure 4 Cut and Fill Map Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 8 August 1998 Figure 5 Typical Roadway Sections Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 9 August 1998 Figure 6 Aluminum Structural Plate Arch Underpass Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 10 August 1998 Contoured grading will also be incorporated in order to maintain compatibility with the site's existing topographic features. Areas between the proposed municipal golf course and Faraday roadway and slope grading that are not planned for mitigation sites will be graded and blended into the proposed golf course as rough or using slope plant pallets. A 50 foot elevational change between the proposed golf course and the roadway is provided. The provision of a split roadway will allow a more compatible "fit" into the hillside than if the roadway were constructed with side by side lanes. Slopes will be graded at 3:1 and 4:1 to blend into existing topography. Grading will generally be balanced on site. Street lighting and drainage controls will also be incorporated into the project design. The roadway will also carry 12" water, reclaimed water, and sewer lines. The sewer line will be located in the south lane and the water and reclaimed water lines will be located in the north lane. A pressure reducing station is required for reclaimed and potable water. PROJECT PHASING Construction of the Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension project will take approximately six months. Construction is scheduled to begin in July 1999 and be completed by December 1999 or earlier. PROPOSED ACTIONS FOR PROJECT APPROVAL 1. Mitigated Negative Declaration. As part of the approval process for the environmental documentation, the preparation of, issuance and public notice of a Mitigated Negative Declaration will be made in accordance with Sections 15070 and 15072 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 2. Approval of Design Contract. The Mitigated Negative Declaration will be utilized for the approval of a design contract by the Carlsbad City Council, for the final design and construction of the proposed roadway. 3. Coastal Development Permit. The proposed project is located within the Mello II Segment of the City's Local Coastal Program. Construction of a roadway through this area will require a Coastal Development Permit. Once the permit is obtained, the project will need to be reviewed by the Planning Commission prior to the completion of the final design. LEAD, RESPONSIBLE AND TRUSTEE AGENCIES Lead Agency In conformance with Section 15050 and 15367 of the CEQA Guidelines, the City of Carlsbad has been designated the "lead agency" which is defined as the "public agency which has the principal responsibility for carrying out or approving a project." Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 11 August 1998 Possible Responsible/Trustee Agencies Responsible Agencies are those agencies which have a discretionary approval over one or more actions involved with development of the project site. Trustee Agencies are state agencies having discretionary approval or jurisdiction by law over natural resources affected by a project. These agencies may include, but are not limited to the following: Responsible Agencies California Department of Transportation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regional Water Quality Control Board (NPDES) Trustee Agencies California Department of Fish and Game Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 12 August 1998 Environmental Impact Assessment Form ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FORM - PART II CASE NO: DATE: Mav29. 1998 BACKGROUND 1. CASE NAME: Faraday Avenue 2. APPLICANT: City of Carlsbad/Shem Howard 3. ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF APPLICANT: 2075 Las Palmas/<760) 438-1161 ext. 4427 4. DATE EIA FORM PART I SUBMITTED: 5. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: See Page 3 SUMMARY OF 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. Land Use and Planning j Geological Problems Water Air Quality Transportation/Circulation Population and Housing |/\ Biological Resources Public Services Utilities & Service Systems | Energy & Mineral Resources Aesthetics Hazards /\ Cultural Resources Noise Recreation X Mandatory Findings of Significance Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 13 City of Carlsbad August 1998 DETERMINATION. (To be completed by the Lead Agency) I I I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. 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 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 significant effect(s) on the environment, but at least one potentially significant effect 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. An EIR 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 EIR pursuant to applicable standards and (b) have been voided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project. Therefore, a Notice of Prior Compliance has been prepared. Planner Signature Date Christer Westman Planning Director's Signature Date Michael Holzmiller Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension 14 City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration August 1998 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS STATE CEQA GUIDELINES, Chapter 3, Article 5, Section 15063 requires that the City conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment to determine if a project may have a significant effect on the environment. The Environmental Impact Assessment appears in the following pages in the form of a checklist. This checklist identifies any physical, biological and human factors that might be impacted by the proposed project and provides the City with information to use as the basis for deciding whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), 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 adversely significant, 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 significant. • Based on an "EIA-Part II", if a proposed project could have a potentially significant effect on the environment, but all potentially significant 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 (Prior Compliance). • When "Potentially Significant Impact" is checked the project is not necessarily required to prepare an EIR if the significant 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 effect on the environment. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension 15 City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration August 1998 • If there are one or more potentially significant effects, the City may avoid preparing an EIR if there are mitigation measures to clearly reduce 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. • An EIR must be prepared if "Potentially Significant Impact" is checked, and including but not limited to the following circumstances: (1) the potentially significant 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 impact to less than significant; (2) a "Statement of Overriding Considerations" for the significant impact has not been made pursuant to an earlier EIR; (3) proposed mitigation measures do not reduce the impact to less than significant, or; (4) through the EIA-Part II analysis it is not possible to determine the level of significance for a 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 at the end of the form under DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION. Particular attention should be given to discussing mitigation for impacts which would otherwise be determined significant. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension 16 City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration August 1998 Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). LAND USE AND PLANNING. Would the proposal:. a) Conflict with general plan designation or zoning? (Source #(s): b) Conflict with applicable environmental plans or policies adopted by agencies with jurisdiction over the project? c) Be incompatible with existing land use in the vicinity? d) Affect agricultural resources or operations (e.g. impacts to soils or farmlands, or impacts from incompatible land uses? e) Disrupt or divide the physical arrangement of an established community (including a low-income or minority community)? Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact IS IS II. POPULATION AND HOUSING. Would the proposal: a) Cumulatively exceed official regional or local population projections? b) Induce substantial growth in an area either directly or indirectly (e.g. through projects in an undeveloped area or extension of major infrastructure)? c) Displace existing housing, especially affordable housing? IS III. GEOLOGIC PROBLEMS. Would the proposal result in or expose people to potential impacts involving: a) Fault rupture? b) Seismic ground shaking? c) Seismic ground failure, including liquefaction? d) Seiche, tsunami, or volcanic hazard? e) Landslides or mudflows? f) Erosion, changes in topography or unstable soil conditions from excavation, grading, or fill? g) Subsidence of the land? h) Expansive soils? i) Unique geologic or physical features? nn isn X n isis is IV. WATER. Would the proposal result in: a) Changes in absorption rates, drainage patterns, or the rate and amount of surface runoff? b) Exposure of people or property to water related hazards such as flooding? c) Discharge into surface waters or other alteration of surface water quality (e.g. temperature, dissolved oxygen or turbidity)? d) Changes in the amount of surface water in any water body? e) Changes in currents, or the course or direction of water movements? Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 17 City of Carlsbad August 1998 Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). f) Changes in the quantity of ground waters, either through direct additions or withdrawals, or through interception of an aquifer by cuts or excavations or through substantial loss of groundwater recharge capability? g) Altered direction or rate of flow of groundwater? h) Impacts to groundwater quality? i) Substantial reduction in the amount of groundwater otherwise available for public water supplies? Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact X Dn V. AIR QUALITY. Would the proposal: a) Violate any air quality standard or contribute to an existing or projected air quality violation? b) Expose sensitive receptors to pollutants? c) Alter air movement, moisture, or temperature, or cause any change in climate? d) Create objectionable odors? D VI. TRANSPORTATION/CIRCULATION. Would the proposal result in: a) Increased vehicle trips or traffic congestion? b) Hazards to safety from design features (e.g. sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g. farm equipment)? c) Inadequate emergency access or access to nearby uses? d) Insufficient parking capacity on-site or off-site? e) Hazards or barriers for pedestrians or bicyclists? f) Conflicts with adopted policies supporting alternative transportation (e.g. bus turnouts, bicycle racks)? g) Rail, waterborne or air traffic impacts? LJ VII. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES. Would the proposal result in impacts to: a) Endangered, threatened or rare species or their habitats (including but not limited to plants, fish, insects, animals, and birds? b) Locally designated species (e.g. heritage trees)? c) Locally designated natural communities (e.g. oak forest, coastal habitat, etc.)? d) Wetland habitat (e.g. marsh, riparian and vernal pool)? e) Wildlife dispersal or migration corridors? VIII. ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES. Would the proposal? a) Conflict with adopted energy conservation plans? b) Use non-renewable resources in a wasteful and inefficient manner? Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 18 City of Carlsbad August 1998 Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). c) 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? Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact EI IX. HAZARDS. Would the proposal involve: at A risk of accidental explosion or release of hazardous I I substances (including, but not limited to: oil, pesticides, chemicals or radiation)? b) Possible interference with an emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? c) The creation of any health hazard or potential health hazards? d) Exposure of people to existing sources of potential health hazards? e) Increase fire hazard in areas with flammable brush, I I grass, or trees? El El X. NOISE. Would the proposal result in: a) Increases in existing noise levels? b) Exposure of people to severe noise levels? un XI. PUBLIC SERVICES. Would the proposal have an effect upon, or result in a need for new or altered government services in any of the following areas: a) Fire protection? b) Police protection? c) Schools? d) Maintenance of public facilities, including roads? e) Other governmental services? U n El El XII. UTILITIES AND SERVICES SYSTEMS. Would the proposal result in a need for new systems or supplies, or substantial alterations to the following utilities: a) Power or natural gas? b) Communications systems? c) Local or regional water treatment or distribution facilities? d) Sewer or septic tanks? e) Storm water drainage? f) Solid waste disposal? g) Local or regional water supplies? D El EInEIEIEl XIII. AESTHETICS. Would the proposal: a) Affect a scenic or vista or scenic highway? b) Have a demonstrate negative aesthetic effect? El Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 19 City of Carlsbad August 1998 Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). c) Create light or glare? Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact XIV. CULTURAL RESOURCES. Would the proposal: a) Disturb paleontological resources? b) Disturb archaeological resources? c) Affect historical resources? d) Have the potential to cause a physical change which would affect unique ethnic cultural values? e) Restrict existing religious or sacred uses within the potential impact area? x XV. RECREATIONAL. Would the proposal: a) Increase the demand for neighborhood or regional parks or other recreational facilities? b) Affect existing recreational opportunities?D XVI. 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? ("Cumulatively considerable" means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects)? c) Does the project have environmental effects which will cause the substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? D D XVII. 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. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 20 City of Carlsbad August 1998 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. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension 21 City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration August 1998 LIST OF MITIGATING MEASURES GEOLOGY 1. Information and recommendations provided in the Leighton and Associates, Inc., project geotechnical/soils report shall be incorporated into plans for site grading and construction. 2. All grading and subsequent development plans shall be reviewed by a certified engineer and/or engineering geologist prior to finalization to determine the need for additional measures and/or analysis. During the review, special consideration shall be given to the loose, potentially compressible surface deposits in the form of topsoil, alluvium, slopewash, undocumented fill soils, and landslide debris. Such materials will require remedial grading where encountered. WATER 1. Prior to approval of final design, a runoff control plan shall be prepared by a licensed hydrology engineer. The plan shall identify temporary and permanent erosion control measures which will be utilized during construction and to be included in the improvement plans for the project, to the satisfaction of the Public Works Director. BIOLOGY 1. Sage scrub impacts shall be mitigated on adjacent parklands or through off-site purchase. The 6 acres of sage scrub directly impacted by the road can be effectively mitigated within the study area. A 2:1 replacement ratio is recommended given the good quality habitat proposed to be removed. A gap is proposed between golf links 13 and 15 on the proposed Carlsbad Golf Course project to the south. This has been previously proposed as a mitigation area for the golf course (these links would be situated below the road). The gap provides an opportunity to connect the riparian habitat at the base of Macario Canyon below the proposed route for Faraday Avenue with sage scrub/chaparral above the road and within the study area. Areas above (i.e., north) the road within proposed parklands would be an optimal place to provide mitigation. This would improve corridor linkage spanning the canyon in an area where open agricultural fields currently deter some wildlife movement. A mitigation alternative would be the purchase of sage scrub lands at a 2:1 replacement ratio within the Carlsbad Highland Mitigation Bank. 2. For each spring prior to construction, a protocol survey for the least Bell's vireo shall be conducted in the riparian woodland of Macario Canyon. Surveys have been conducted for the 1998 breeding season and no further surveys shall be required should construction begin in the year 1999. The purpose of any additional surveys is to identify the location of any nesting sites in order to avoid construction related noise impacts. Construction on segments of the roadway that are located in the vicinity of nesting birds shall be restricted to the period outside the breeding season, which extends from March 15th through September 30th, annually. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension 22 City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration August 1998 3. Grading or brushing activities in, or adjacent to, coastal sage scrub (or other habitat occupied by the gnatcatcher) must be restricted to that period outside of the breeding season for this bird, which extends from February 15th through August 30th annually. Surveys have been conducted for the 1998 breeding season and no further surveys shall be required should construction begin in the year 1999. The purpose of any additional surveys is to identify the location of any nesting site in order to avoid construction related noise impacts. CULTURAL RESOURCES Paleontology 1. Prior to issuance of a grading permit, a qualified paleontologist shall be retained by the City to carry out an appropriate mitigation program. (A qualified paleontologist is defined as an individual with an MS or Ph.D. in paleontology or geology who is familiar with paleontological procedures and techniques.) 2. A qualified paleontologist shall be present at the pre-grading meeting to consult with the grading and excavation contractors. 3. A paleontological monitor shall be on-site a minimum of half-time during the original cutting of previously undisturbed sediments to inspect cuts for contained fossils. In the event that fossils are discovered, it may be necessary to increase the per/day in field monitoring time. Conversely, if fossils are not being found then the monitoring should be reduced. (Apaleontological monitor is defined as an individual who has experience in the collection and salvage of fossil materials. The paleontological monitor shall work under the direction of a qualified paleontologist.) 4. When fossils are discovered the paleontologist (or paleontological monitor) shall recover them. In most cases, this fossil salvage can be completed in a short period of time. However, some fossils specimens (such as a complete large mammal skeleton) may require an extended salvage period. In these instances the paleontologist (or paleontological monitor) shall be allowed to temporarily direct, divert, or halt grading to allow recovery of fossil remains in a timely manner. Because of the potential for the recovery of small fossil remains, such as isolated mammal teeth, it may be necessary in certain instances, to set up a screen-washing operation on the site. 5. Fossil remains collected during the monitoring and salvage portion of the mitigation program shall be cleaned, repaired, sorted, and cataloged. 6. Prepared fossils, along with copies of all pertinent field notes, photos, and maps, shall either be deposited (as a donation) in a scientific institution with permanent paleontological collections such as the San Diego Natural History Museum or retained by the City and displayed to the public at an appropriate location such as a library or City Hall. 7. A final summary report shall be completed and retained on file at the City that outlines the results of the mitigation program. This report shall include discussions of the methods used, Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension 23 City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration August 1998 stratigraphic section (s) exposed, fossils collected, and significance of recovered fossils. Archaeology 1. Prior to grading, a qualified archaeologist shall be retained by the City to determine the significance/importance of the portion of site CA-SDI-8303 that will be impacted by grading activity. The determination of significance/importance shall be made through a testing program and shall be consistent with City of Carlsbad and CEQA criteria. The testing program shall consist of surface collection of artifacts, recording of milling features, excavation of shovel test pits and 1x1 meter units to determine site size, depth, content, integrity and potential to address important research questions. A report shall be prepared summarizing the results of the testing program. The report shall contain recommendations for data recovery for the site if it is determined to be significant/important under City of Carlsbad and CEQA criteria. 2. If as a result of the testing program identified in Mitigation Measure 1, site CA-SDI-8303 is determined to be significant/important, then a data recovery program shall be implemented. The data recovery program shall be implemented in accordance with the recommendations for data recovery as provided in the testing report required under Mitigation Measure 1. ATTACH MITIGATION MONITORING PROGRAM A mitigation monitoring and reporting program has been prepared for the project and is bound under separate cover. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension 24 City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration August 1998 APPLICANT CONCURRENCE WITH MITIGATION MEASURES THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT I HAVE REVIEWED THE ABOVE MITIGATING MEASURES AND CONCUR WITH THE ADDITION OF THESE MEASURES TO THE PROJECT. Date Sherri Howard Associate Engineer Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension 25 City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration August 1998 Environmental Evaluation ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION The following section evaluates the potential impacts of the proposed project. The environmental checklist, consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, was used to focus this study on physical, social, and economic factors that may be further impacted by the proposed project. The checklist indicates whether an impact is a "Potentially Significant Impact", "Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated", "Less Than Significant Impact", or "No Impact". Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 26 August 1998 I. LAND USE AND PLANNING No impact I(a). The proposed project is a roadway extension and will be compatible with City of Carlsbad General Plan designations and zoning for the project site. The proposed roadway extension traverses the Open Space General Plan land use designation, however it is also depicted on the City's General Plan Circulation Element Map as a "collector". Because the roadway will be constructed as a collector street, it is consistent with the General Plan Circulation Element. The zoning designation of the project site is O-S (Open Space). The O-S zoning designation allows for transportation rights-of-way, and therefore no conflict with the zoning designation of the site is anticipated. I(b). The proposed roadway is located in proximity to sensitive biological resources including the Agua Hedionda Lagoon, unnamed stream in Macario Canyon, and significant stands of coastal sage scrub to the north and south of the project site. The project is located within the Mello II segment of the City's Local Coastal Plan. Compliance with applicable environmental policies such as grading and erosion control will be required. I(c). The proposed roadway will be constructed as a collector street. The roadway is located in an area of vacant land and therefore will be compatible with the existing land uses in the vicinity. Recreational uses are planned on either side of the roadway. A golf course is proposed to the south of the roadway which is anticipated to be completed in late 1999. The proposed golf course design will be compatible with the alignment and characteristics of the roadway extension. Features of design compatibility include a underpass tunnel for pedestrian and bicycle access from the proposed golf course to land uses to the north of Faraday, fencing, grading, and compatible landscaping. No impact to the proposed golf course to the south of the roadway is anticipated. The roadway will also be located in an area planned for use as a park. There is currently no concept plan or master plan prepared for this park and park improvements are not anticipated to be completed for approximately 10 to 15 years. Preliminary park concepts are known, and the alignment and design of the roadway have been prepared in consultation with the City's Park and Recreation Department. No impact to the planned park to the north of the roadway is anticipated. I(e). The proposed project traverses vacant land that is currently utilized for agriculture production. The project site is primarily surrounded by vacant land which are planned for active and passive recreational uses. The proposed project will not disrupt or divide the physical arrangement of an established community. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 27 August 1998 Less Than Significant Impact I(d). The majority of the site is currently used for agricultural purposes. No portion of the project site is under a Williamson Act contract. Although the project site does not contain any farmland identified by the Department of Conservation as "Prime Farmland", it does contain land identified as "Farmland of Statewide Importance", and "Farmland of Local Importance". The cessation of this area for agricultural operations is expected to occur by summer of 1998 for two reasons not attributable to the proposed project. The City has created a wetland mitigation bank as part of the Cannon Road project. This wetland mitigation bank would be affected by agricultural operations upslope of the wetland mitigation area. Additionally, approximately 53 acres of the area immediately south of the proposed roadway is proposed to be converted to golf course and related uses. The proposed project will be required to comply with the agricultural policies identified in the Mello II segment of the Local Coastal Program. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 28 August 1998 II. POPULATION AND HOUSING No Impact II(a). The proposed project is a roadway extension and will not involve the construction of additional residential units within the City. Therefore, the project will not result in an increase in the City's population nor would it cumulatively exceed official regional or local population projections. II(b). The proposed project is located in a currently undeveloped area. The roadway extension would serve existing industrial development to the east. The project site is also in the vicinity of several other large developments that are currently under construction, or in their final approval stages. These projects include Cannon Road, Carlsbad Ranch, Kelly Ranch, Carlsbad Research Center, Unit 5 and the proposed Carlsbad Municipal Golf Course. While implementation of the proposed project will help to alleviate traffic congestion on adjacent roadways, it is not considered a major extension of infrastructure as it is classified as a two- lane collector and will carry approximately 5,000-6,000 vehicles per day. II(c). The proposed project is located on vacant land and therefore will not displace existing housing. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 29 August 1998 III. GEOLOGIC PROBLEMS A geotechnical evaluation was conducted by Leighton & Associates for the proposed project. The report is provided in Appendix A of this document. The following summarizes the results of the report. Geologic Conditions The project site is characterized by numerous ridges and intervening ravines and valleys that intersect a main northwest trending drainage that flows into the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Elevations along the proposed alignment range from approximately 20 feet mean sea level at the extreme northwest corner of the site in the main drainage, to approximately 265 feet mean sea level near the ridgeline along the eastern edge of the alignment. Natural slopes on the site range from relatively steep (steeper than 1:1, horizontal to vertical) to relatively gentle (less than 3:1, horizontal to vertical). Regional Geology The project site is located within the coastal subprovence of the Peninsular Ranges Geomorphic Provence, near the western edge of the southern California batholith. The topography at the edge of the batholith changes from rugged landforms developed on the batholith to the more subdued land forms which typify the softer sedimentary formations of the coastal plain. Site Geology The majority of the proposed roadway alignment is underlain by the Tertiary Santiago Formation. The Jurassic-aged Santiago Peak Volcanics is the bedrock unit in the extreme southeast section of the alignment. Surficial units on-site consist of alluvium, colluvium, topsoil, and undocumented fill soils. Figure 7 - Geologic Map depicts the approximate areal distributions of the units. These units are briefly described below. Appendix A of this document provides a more detailed description of these units. Jurassic Santiago Peak Volcanics (Map Symbol - Jsp): The Jurassic aged Santiago Peak Volcanics crop out in the southeast portion of the project site. Typically the geologic unit is hard and extremely resistant to erosion and forms topographic highs. If deep removals are planned for this area, localized heavy ripping or blasting may be required. Santiago Formation (Map Symbol - Ts): The bedrock unit underlying the majority of the project site is the Tertiary-aged Santiago Formation. In general, the unit consists of massive to weakly bedded sandstone with intebedded clayey siltstone and silty claystone. The sandstone encountered on the project site was generally friable, slightly micaceous and weakly bedded to massive. Well cemented sandstone beds were occasionally encountered during this and previous investigations on adjacent sites and may require heavy ripping during grading. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 30 August 1998 Figure 7 Geologic Map Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 31 August 1998 Where encountered, the upper 6 to 12 inches of the Santiago Formation appears to be moderately weathered, porous and potentially compressible. This layer needs to be removed and recompacted in areas of structural fill placement or settlement sensitive improvements. Alluvium (Map Symbol -Qal): Alluvium exists in the majority of the drainages and the low lying areas adjacent to and along the proposed alignment. As encountered, the alluvium generally consists of potentially compressible, moist to wet, loose to medium dense silty sands, sandy silts, and sandy clays. Within the main northwest trending drainage, the alluvium is relatively thick as evidenced by approximately 20-50 feet of alluvium encountered in borings for the adjacent golf course geotechnical investigation. In many of the smaller canyons, alluvium was also encountered and are mapped. However, these areas were not accessible with the drilling equipment utilized for the project geotechnical investigation. Alluvial depths in these area can be expected to range up to 10+ feet. Unsaturated alluvial soils are considered potentially compressible and not suitable for the support of structural loads or additional fill soils in areas of settlement sensitive improvements. These areas will require removal and recompaction in areas proposed for structural improvements as part of site grading. Colluvium/Slope Wash (Unmapped): Holocene aged colluvium/slope wash mantles at the lower valley slopes, in areas undisturbed by agricultural activities. The colluvium/slope wash typically consisted of poorly consolidated surficial materials derived from nearby soil and decomposed bedrock sources. The colluvium/slope wash was typically porous and anticipated to be potentially compressible under the load of existing fills or improvements. Topsail (Unmapped): Topsoil covers essentially the entire project site. The topsoil is generally approximately three feet in thickness and contains moderate amounts of decomposed organics. This unit is evaluated to be compressible under the loading of fills soils or other improvements. Undocumented Fill (Map Symbol - Afu): Undocumented fill soils are present on the site in various locations. The major undocumented fill areas consist of earthern embankments for agricultural ponds, unimproved roads, end-dumped debris piles, and utility trench backfill. The undocumented fills need to be removed to expose competent material in areas of proposed fill soils or improvements. No Impact III(d). The proposed project is not located in an area that would be subject to seiche, tsunami, or volcanic hazard. IH(i), No unique geologic features have been identified on-site. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 32 August 1998 Less Than Significant Impact III(a). The project site is not located within any Fault-Rupture Hazard Zone as created by the Alquist-Priolo Act (Hart, 1994). However, several inactive fault zones have been mapped in a number of places within and adjacent to the project site. These inactive fault zones are not considered to be a constraint to site development. III(c). Liquefaction of cohensionless soils can be caused by strong vibratory motion due to earthquakes. Research and historical data indicate that loose granular soils underlain by a near-surface ground water table are most susceptible to liquefaction, while the stability of most silty clays and clays not adversely affected by vibratory motion. The Santiago Formation is generally not considered liquefiable due to its high density characteristics. The preliminary geotechnical field study indicates that the area most likely susceptible to liquefaction is the main drainage area. Accordingly, as the proposed alignment does not infringe upon the main drainage, the proposed roadway alignment has a low potential for liquefaction. Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated IH(b). The location of the proposed development can be considered to lie within a seismically active region, as can all of southern California. The project site lies within Seismic Zone 4 as outlined in Section 1629 of the 1997 edition of the UBC. The Rose Canyon Fault Zone which is located approximately 4.5 miles to the west of the site is considered to have the most significant seismic effect at the site from a design standpoint. A maximum probable earthquake of moment magnitude 5.9 on the fault could produce a peak horizontal ground acceleration of approximately 0.30 g at the site. The slip rate of the fault is estimated at 1.5 mm/yr. (State of California, 1996) and the soil profile type is Sc (per Table 16-J of the 1997 UBC). The principal seismic considerations for most structures in southern California are surface rupturing of fault traces, damage caused by groundshaking and/or seismically induced liquefaction or dynamic settlement. The probability of damage due to ground surface rupture is considered minimal since active faults are not known to cross the site. Ground lurching due to shaking from distant seismic events is not considered a significant hazard, although it is a possibility throughout the southern California region. While no active faults are known to traverse the site, earthquakes along regional faults could produce groundshaking at the site. All development must conform to the most recent version of the Uniform Building Code (UBC), which requires building techniques to prevent structural failure during earthquakes. With the implementation of UBC requirements, the risk of property damage and injury due to earthquakes will be no greater than the risk encountered in other populated areas of southern California. Implementation of Mitigation Measures 1 and 2 will reduce the impact to a level less than significant. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 33 August 1998 Several features indicative of mass movements (such as landslides, surficial slumps, etc.) were observed within the areas proposed for development. In the central and north-central portion of the proposed alignment an area has been mapped as a landslide complex based on topographic expression and data gathered during the Leighton investigation. Geologic mapping of excavations in this area should be performed during site grading. Localized zones of weak claystone/siltstone material are present in the Santiago Formation and may create localized areas that are prone to slope instability if exposed in a cut slope. Accordingly, all cut slopes should be mapped by an engineering geologist during site grading. Additional recommendations for slope stabilization can be provided as needed during site grading. Due to the uneven terrain of the project site, grading will be required in order to achieve the design grades. In certain areas of the proposed alignment, this will require that significant cuts and/or fills be made in order to achieve the design grade. The geological study indicates that development of the roadway will not be precluded by the soil and geologic conditions at the site. However, remedial measures will be required in order to ensure stable grading. The presence of loose, potentially compressible surface deposits in the form of topsoil, alluvium, colluvium, and undocumented fill soils will require special consideration during grading. In addition, ground water was observed as runoff in the major drainages and was encountered as seepage in several of the borings. Remedial measures will likely be required to address groundwater conditions. Loose unconsolidated deposits on the project site should be removed and densified, and subdrains installed where required to reduce the build-up of a shallow groundwater condition. Groundwater was encountered within several of the onsite drainages in the lower elevations of the site particularly in the main northwest trending drainage located west of the proposed alignment. The presence of groundwater in these areas would most likely limit the removal of alluvium and undocumented fill that would be required for structural improvements in these areas. Perched groundwater conditions were also encountered at the contact between the relatively impermeable Tertiary Santiago Formation and the relatively porous overlying soils. Groundwater is not anticipated to be a constraint to site development provided the recommendations provided in the project geotechnical investigation and during the course of grading are implemented. Implementation of Mitigation Measures 1 and 2 will reduce the impact to a level less than significant. The Safety Element of the General Plan establishes requirements for the preparation of geotechnical studies for various land uses. Implementation of the Safety Element of the Carlsbad General Plan requires the compilation of site- specific geotechnical reports for development projects, use of appropriate Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 34 August 1998 construction techniques during development as recommended by a registered engineer, and implementation of standards for grading and construction to mitigate geologic hazards during and after development. These strategies will be implemented as development moves forward on the project site. In addition, the final grading plan must comply with the City of Carlsbad Grading Ordinances. Due to site conditions, supplemental measures will be required to reduce the geologic impact from grading to less than significant. MITIGATION MEASURES 1. Information and recommendations provided in the Leighton and Associates, Inc., project geotechnical/soils report shall be incorporated into plans for site grading and construction. 2. All grading and subsequent development plans shall be reviewed by a certified engineer and/or engineering geologist prior to finalization to determine the need for additional measures and/or analysis. During the review, special consideration shall be given to the loose, potentially compressible surface deposits in the form of topsoil, alluvium, slopewash, undocumented fill soils, and landslide debris. Such materials will require remedial grading where encountered. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 35 August 1998 IV. WATER No Impact IV(b). The proposed project will not result in the exposure of people or property to water related hazards such as flooding. The project will result in alteration of drainage patterns and will require installation of drainage control measures to control and direct runoff to the unnamed stream in Marcario Canyon. This modification of drainage will not expose people or property to flooding or other water related hazards. IV(d). Implementation of the project will result in an increase in the amount and concentration of surface runoff due to the creation of an impervious surface in a currently vacant area, and changes in topography from cut and fill activity. The unnamed stream in Macario Canyon is located to the south of the project site and is the recipient of existing water flows on the south facing slopes and ravines where the project is proposed. Because the roadway will cut across these canyons, existing drainage conditions will be altered and may increase the amount of runoff entering the creek bed. No impact to this issue is anticipated as the overall change in flow is anticipated to be minor. The roadway alignment is along the south and westerly hillside of a 300-foot high hill. All runoff from the roadway, and the area above the roadway, presently drains into the unnamed stream in the Macario Canyon. The roadway crosses two significant arroyos (labeled as "A" and "B" on Figure 8) that are being considered as access points and parking for the adjacent park, and could be considered for the location of detention or desilting basins. The flows from the arroyo "A" is approximately 200 cubic feet per second, and could be spread to several culvert crossings. The flows from the arroyo "B" is approximately 120 cubic feet per second, and are concentrated by the steepness of the arroyo walls. Flows from arroyos "A" and "B" will require channelization through, or piping under, the golf course. The concept of drainage for the remainder of the roadway is for simple culvert crossings at several locations. Most of the culvert crossing will convey minor amounts of water and can be integrated into the golf course designs for the proposed golf course. As the drainage basins above the roadway will not be developed with this project, no Best Management Practices (BMP) are needed upstream of the roadway. Concentrating the flows crossing the roadway will require energy dissipaters to slow the flows and to prevent erosion. Runoff from the roadway itself will be directed into vegetated areas to trap vehicle generated oils and silts. During construction, and until vegetation is established, silt fencing and gravel bags will reduce erosion and trap silts. Figure 8 depicts the direction and amount of drainage flows anticipated after the proposed project has been completed. As indicated in Figure 8, the primary drainage patterns will be maintained through the use of culverts that will allow the water to pass under the roadway. An increase in the concentration of surface flow is anticipated as a result of water passing through the culverts. The project will provide energy dissipaters to address the potential erosion impacts associated Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 36 August 1998 Figure 8 Drainage flows Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 37 August 1998 with concentrated flows. Figure 9 depicts a typical rip rap energy dissipater. Rip rap energy dissipaters are proposed at each culvert outlet location. IV(e). The proposed project will not result in the alteration of any waterways such that changes in currents or the course or direction of water movements would occur. Grading and construction of the proposed project will avoid impacting wetland areas to the south of the project site. Existing runoff patterns will be maintained through the provision of culverts that will pass under the roadway and enter the unnamed stream in Macario Canyon. IV(i). The proposed project will not result in a reduction in the amount of groundwater available for public water supplies as the project site is not identified as a groundwater recharge area or aquifer, nor will operation of the project require the use of potable water. All landscaping will utilize reclaimed water. Less Than Significant Impact IV(f). As indicated in the geotechnical study, ground water was encountered within several of the on-site drainages in the lower elevations of the site particularly in the northwest trending drainage located west of the proposed alignment. Perched groundwater conditions were also encountered in several borings. However, the impact to this issue is less than significant as the project site is not identified as a groundwater recharge area, nor will it result in excavations into an aquifer. IV(g). The proposed project will not result in the alteration to direction or rate of flow of groundwater as the project site is not identified as a groundwater recharge area or aquifer. IV(h). The proposed project will not result in an impact to groundwater quality as the project site is not identified as a groundwater recharge area or aquifer. Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated IV(a,c). The project will result in changes in absorption rates, drainage patterns, and the rate and amount of surface runoff due to the introduction of impervious surfaces (i.e. pavement) on the project site for construction and operation of the roadway. When open to traffic, storm runoff from the roadway will potentially discharge into the surface water of the unnamed stream in Macario Canyon, and ultimately the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. This may cause alterations in water quality, as storm runoff will likely contain automotive-associated pollutants such as oils, greases, heavy metals, and other harmful pollutants which can degrade water quality. The proposed project will be required to comply with NPDES practices and policies, as a NPDES permit will be required. The NPDES permit will establish a program of best management practices to control erosion and sedimentation during construction. It is anticipated that water quality will improve as a result of construction of the roadway and adjacent golf course, Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 38 August 1998 Figure 9 Rip Rap Energy Dissapator Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 39 August 1998 as landscaping and drainage control measures will be implemented whereas the area currently experiences a substantial amount of agricultural runoff from exposed soils. Implementation of Mitigation Measure 1, in addition to compliance with NPDES and Local Coastal Program requirements for grading, drainage, and erosion control will reduce the impact to a level less than significant. MITIGATION MEASURES 1. Prior to approval of final design, a runoff control plan shall be prepared by a licensed hydrology engineer. The plan shall identify temporary and permanent erosion control measures which will be utilized during construction and to be included in the improvement plans for the project, to the satisfaction of the Public Works Director. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 40 August 1998 V. AIR QUALITY No Impact V(b). The proposed project will not expose sensitive receptors to pollutants. V(c). The proposed project will in no way alter air movement, moisture, or temperature, or cause any change in climate. V(d). Neither construction nor operation of the proposed project is likely to generate any objectionable odors. Less than Significant Impact V(a). The San Diego region is currently a non-attainment area for federal and state standards for ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulates (PM10). The incremental increase in short-term construction impacts associated with grading for the proposed project will contribute to existing air quality violations on a short-term basis. Compliance with Air Pollution Control District Rule No. (42), which requires watering of the project site to control PM10 emissions will reduce the PM10 generated by this project to a less than significant level. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 41 August 1998 VI. TRANSPORTATION/CIRCULATION No Impact VI(a). The proposed project will not generate increased vehicular trips, however, the project will result in the redistribution of existing and projected future trips in the area. A traffic study was conducted by Linscott, Law & Greenspan for the proposed project, and is provided in Appendix B of this document. The following summarizes the study. The traffic study prepared for the Faraday Avenue roadway extension evaluates the potential traffic impacts on the surrounding circulation system due to the proposed extension of Faraday Avenue. Future on-street traffic volumes were estimated and the traffic impacts were analyzed at several key intersections and street segments in the project area. The following intersections and street segments were included in the analysis: • Cannon Road/Paseo del Norte • Cannon Road/Faraday Avenue • Cannon Road/El Camino Real • College Boulevard/Palomar Airport Road • College Boulevard/Faraday Avenue • College Boulevard/El Camino Real Figure 10 depicts the existing traffic volumes in AM/PM Peak Hours and Average Daily Trips(ADT's). Figures 11 and 12 depict the buildout (Year 2015) traffic volumes without, and with the extension of Faraday Avenue, respectively. In order to evaluate the impacts of the proposed extension, a traffic impact was considered to be significant if the project caused an intersection or street segment LOS to decrease to worse than LOS D during the peak hour, as outlined in the City's Growth Management Plan. For intersections or street segments which are currently operating worse than LOS D, a project impact will be considered significant of the project causes the ICU value at an intersection to increase by 0.02 or greater or the volume-to-capacity ratio at a segment to increase by 0.02 or more. Table 1 provides a summary of the signalized intersection operations during the AM and PM peak hours. Table 2 provides a summary of the street segment operations. Existing Operations As indicated in Table 1, each intersection is calculated to currently operate at LOS C or better during both the AM and PM peak hours. As indicated in Table 2, each roadway segment is calculated to currently operate at LOS A during the peak hour. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 42 August 1998 Buildout (Without Faraday Avenue Extension) Operations As indicated in Table 1, all key intersections in the project area are calculated to operate at LOS D or better in the buildout without Faraday Avenue scenario, with the exception of College Boulevard/El Camino Real intersection during the PM peak hour (LOS E). As indicated in Table 2, all street segments in the project area are calculated to operate at LOS B or better during the peak hour. Buildout (With Faraday Avenue Extension) Operations As indicated in Table 1, a continued LOS D or better is calculated at the key intersections (with the extension of Faraday Avenue to Cannon Road). A continued LOS E is calculated at the College Boulevard/El Camino Real intersection during the PM peak hour. In general, ICU values at the studied intersections remained the same or improved slightly with the extension of Faraday Avenue. Table 2 shows that a continued LOS B or better is calculated at all street segments in the project area during the peak hour with the extension of Faraday Avenue. V/C values at the studied street segments remained the same or decreased with the extension of Faraday Avenue. Table 3 shows a Buildout ADT comparison of the studied street segments, without and with the Faraday Avenue extension. As indicated in Table 3, an average 6% decrease in traffic is calculated on El Camino Real and a 5% decrease is calculated on Palomar Airport Road assuming Faraday Avenue is built. This indicates that there is a net benefit to extending Faraday Avenue. No significant impacts are anticipated as aresult of the extension of Faraday Avenue. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 43 August 1998 Figure 10 Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 44 August 1998 Figure 11 Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 45 August 1998 Figure 12 Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 46 August 1998 TABLE 1 SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION OPERATIONS Intersection Palomar Airport Road/College Boulevard College Boulevard/Faraday Avenue College Boulevard/El Camino Real Cannon Road/Paseo Del Norte Cannon Road/Faraday Avenue Cannon Road/El Camino Real Peak Hour AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM Existing ICU 0.61 0.72 0.37 0.47 0.47 0.66 0.53 0.55 DNE ONE DNE DNE LOS B C A A A B A A DNE DNE DNE DNE Buildout Without Faraday Avenue ICU 0.76 0.87 0.72 0.80 0.83 0.97 0.86 0.87 DNE DNE B D LOS C D C C D E D D DNE DNE 0.70 0.82 Buildout With Faraday Avenue ICU 0.76 0.86 0.70 0.80 0.83 0.98 0.85 0.88 0.64 0.68 0.70 0.80 LOS C D B C D E D D B B B C ICU = Intersection Capacity Utilization LOS = Level of Service DNE = Does Not Exist ICU 0.00 to 0.60 0.61 to 0.70 0.71 to 0.80 0.81 to 0.90 0.91 to 1.00 > 1.00 LOS A B C D E F Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 47 City of Carlsbad August 1998 TABLE 2 PEAK HOUR STREET SEGMENT OPERATIONS Street Segment Palomar Airport Road w/o College Boulevard e/o College Boulevard Cannon Road e/o Paseo Del None e/o Faraday Avenue e/o El Camino Real College Boulevard n/o Palomar Airport Road n/o College Boulevard n/o El Camino Real El Camino Reals/o College Boulevard n/o College Boulevard w/o Cannon Road Faraday Avenue s/o Cannon Road s/o College Boulevard # Lanes Existing 3 3 3 3 2 2 22 2 2 2 2 22 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Future 3 3 33 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 22 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 DIR EB WB EB WB EB WB EB WB EB WB NB SB NBSB NB SB NB SB NB SB NB SB NB SB NB SB Existing * VOL 2,626 2,643 1,6981,830 182 304 -- — 1,011 911 -- 1,715 1,348 2,155 1,775 -- -- V/C 0.49 0.49 0.310.39 0.05 0.08 - - 0.28 0.25 -- 0.48 0.37 0.60 0.49 - -- LOS A A AA A A - - A A -- A A A A - - Buildout Without Faraday Avenue VOL 3,0762,413 2,159 2,175 1,690 1,818 1,690 1,818 731 1,059 1,689 1,084 1,152 1,829 1,165 2,201 1,152 1,829 1,871 2,027 2,306 2,356 1,012 779 V/C 0.570.45 0.40 0.40 0.47 0.51 0.47 0.51 0.200.29 0.47 0.30 0.32 0.51 0.32 0.61 0.21 0.34 0.35 0.38 0.43 0.44 0.28 0.22 LOS AA A A A A A A AA A A A A A B A A A A A A A A Buildout With Faraday Avenue VOL 2,9772,320 2,066 2,088 1,640 1,687 1,543 1,810 728 1,056 1,310 1,346 1,1531,831 1,162 2,208 2,004 2,566 1,778 1,927 2,202 2,248 405 185 1,017 783 V/C 0.550.43 0.38 0.39 0.460.47 0.43 0.51 0.200.29 0.36 0.37 0.32 0.51 0.32 0.61 0.37 0.48 0.33 0.36 0.41 0.42 0.11 0.05 0.28 0.22 LOS AA A A AA A A AA A A A A A B A A A A A A A A A A * Source: 1996 Carlsbad Traffic Monitoring Program, JHK & Associates. VOL = Volumes DIR = Direction Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration 48 0.00.610.71 0.81 0.91 V/C to 0.60to 0.70 to 0.80 to 0.90 to 1 .00> 1.00 LOS~K~B C D EF City of Carlsbad June 1998 TABLE 3 TRAFFIC VOLUME COMPARISON WITH AND WITHOUT FARADAY AVENUE Street Segment Palomar Airport Road w/o College Boulevard e/o College Boulevard Cannon Road e/o Paseo Del Norte e/o Faraday Avenue e/o El Camino College Boulevard n/o Palomar Airport Road n/o Faraday Avenue n/o El Camino Real El Camino Real s/o College Boulevard n/o College Boulevard w/o Cannon Road Faraday Avenue s/o Cannon Road s/o College Boulevard Buildout ADT Without Faraday Avenue 46,800 31,400 18,200 23,300 17,700 27,700 32,200 38,800 56,200 44,400 52,600 ONE 17,800 Buildout ADT With Faraday Avenue 43,900 30,500 18,200 23,000 18,000 29,700 33,000 38,500 51,000 41,900 50,000 5,900 20,100 Percentage Increase/Decrease With Faraday Avenue -6.2% -2.9% 0% -1.3% + 1.7% +7.2% +2.5% - 0.77% -9.3% -5.6% -4.9% „ + 12.9% *Source: SANDAG Series 8 Traffic Model (April 20, 1998). DNE = Does Not Exist V/C 0.0 to 0.60 0.61 to 0.70 0.71 to 0.80 0.81 to 0.90 0.91 to 1.00 > 1.00 LOS A B C D E F Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 49 City of Carlsbad August 1998 VI(b). The proposed project will not result in hazards to safety from design features or incompatible uses. The roadway and intersection at Cannon Road will be constructed to the City's engineering safety standards. VI(c). The proposed project will not result in inadequate emergency access or access to nearby uses. The construction of the roadway extension will provide additional emergency access within the general area of the project. Additionally, the construction of the roadway will provide access to the Kelly Ranch properties and the future Macario Canyon Park. VI(d). The project will not result in insufficient parking capacity, as it does not involve the development of land uses which would generate the need for parking facilities. The design of the roadway will allow for emergency parking, and maintenance vehicle parking in addition to parking on the north side of Faraday Avenue. VI(e). The proposed roadway will be constructed according to the City's engineering standards for a collector roadway. The proposed roadway will consist of two- travel lanes, bike lanes, sidewalks, curb, gutter, and streetlights. Additionally, the project will include a pedestrian/bicycle undercrossing which will allow access under the roadway, thereby reducing the potential conflict between vehicles and bicyclist/pedestrians to access the proposed trail system and proposed park. VI(f). The proposed project will not conflict with adopted policies supporting alternative transportation, but may in fact encourage pedestrian and bicycle transportation through the provision of sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and the roadway undercrossing. VI(g). The proposed project will not result in impacts to rail, waterborne, or air traffic transportation. The proposed project site is not located in close proximity to any of these modes of transportation and would not impact any of these sources of transportation. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 50 August 1998 VII. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES A biological survey was cer.,L J.cd by Merkel & Associates for the proposed project. The report, "Faraday Avenue Extension, City of Carlsbad, California", is provided in Appendix C of this document. The following summarizes the results of the report. No Impact VII(b). The proposed project will not impact any locally designated species such as heritage trees. VII(d). The proposed project will not impact any wetland habitat as there is no wetland habitat located within the area of disturbance of the project. VH(e). The proposed project will traverse an area that has been identified as a potential avian corridor as part of the City's HMP. The area that the roadway traverses is void of any native vegetation and therefore would not impact the corridor. Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated VII(a), (c). The proposed project will result in impacts to the California gnatcatcher and diegan coastal sage scrub. Vegetation A mix of sage scrub, and to a lesser extent chaparral, comprise the native vegetation on the canyon hillsides. Extensive tracts of agricultural fields are also found on the milder slopes. Figure 13 depicts the vegetation and sensitive resources located within the project study area. As indicated in the biology report, several types of vegetation exist within the project study area including Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub, Southern Mixed Chaparral, non-native grassland, agricultural lands, and Southern Willow Scrub/Mule Fat Scrub. As indicated in Figure 13, vegetation and sensitive resources located within the area of impact of the proposed roadway include agricultural lands, non-native grasslands, disturbed land, diegan coastal sage scrub, California gnatcatcher, California adolphia, and western dichondra. Table 4 depicts vegetation impacts from the proposed project. Table 5 depicts sensitive plant impacts from the proposed project. Table 6 depicts sensitive animal impacts from the proposed project. As indicated in these tables, the proposed project will result in an impact to approximately 6 acres of diegan coastal sage scrub. This includes a direct impact (removal) of 4.1 acres and the acreage associated with isolation several small patches (1.9 acres) that will be created by roadway construction. Additionally, the proposed project will impact one pair of California Gnatcatchers. Impacts to diegan coastal sage scrub and the one pair of California Gnatcatchers is considered a significant impact. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 51 August 1998 Figure 13 Vegetation and Sensitive Resources Map Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 52 August 1998 TABLE 4 VEGETATION IMPACTS Vegetation Type Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub Southern Maritime Chaparral Non-native Grasslands Southern Willow/Mule Fat Scrub Agricultural Lands Disturbed Lands Status On-Site Locally common at scattered locations where not previously impacted by agricultural activities Primarily upslope of the proposed road on the periphery of the study area Localized on-site with concentrations near the western terminus of the road Concentrated in a disturbed stock pond and a minor artificial basin Concentrated on lower flanks of Macario Canyon; where substantially comprising the impact footprint of the road Undeveloped roads Impact Loss of approximately 6 acres of primarily good quality sage scrub within disturbance corridor No direct impacts Loss of approximately 0.54 acres of non- native grasslands within disturbance corridor No direct impacts Not quantified Not quantified Significance Significant under CEQAandNCCP conservation measures for sage scrub Not significant Questionable. Increasingly the loss of such tracts of non- native grasslands are being determined to be significant due to loss of raptor foraging habitat Not significant Not cumulatively significant Not biologically significant Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 53 City of Carlsbad August 1998 TABLE 5 SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES ON-SITE Species California Adolphia Palmer's Grapplinghook Western Dichondra NuttalFs Scrub Oak Ashy Spike-moss Sensitivity CEQA CEQA CEQA Federal Species of Special Concern CEQA Status On-Site Locally common at several locations; population estimated at over 1,000 shrubs and extending off-site Two small populations of less than 30 plants Large population scattered throughout area upslope of agricultural fields Lightly scattered in clusters or as few isolated shrubs elsewhere on-site Locally common Impact Primary populations off-site to north higher on the slope and near ridgeline; impacts are expected to be under 20% of population observed Population in open space Loss of under 20% of observed population; numbers cannot be quantified due to cryptic nature of this species and growth in mats of many individuals Loss of under 30 shrubs Loss of substantial population Significance Not individually or cumulatively significant; large populations still present regionally in areas proposed as open space Not individually or cumulatively significant given the protection of plants on-site Not significant; this population is part of a still relatively widespread coastal distribution for this species Not individually or cumulatively significant; primary populations off-site to northeast where growing by thousands in protected locations Not individually or cumulatively significant; sensitivity listing should be removed to reflect its regional abundance Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 54 City of Carlsbad August 1998 TABLE 6 SENSITIVE ANIMAL SPECIES ON-SITE Species Orangethroat Whiptail White-tailed Kite Cooper's Hawk California Horned Lark Loggerhead Shrike California Gnatcatcher Southern California Rufous-crowned Sparrow San Diego Blacktailed Jackrabbit Northwestern San Diego Pocket Mouse San Diego Desert Woodrat Sensitivity CDFG protected CEQA CDGF Species of Special Concern CEQA CDFG Bird Species of Special Concern Federally Threatened CDFG Bird Species of Special Concern CDFG Mammal Species of Special Concern CDFG Mammal Species of Special Concern CDFG Mammal Species of Special Concern Status On-Site Well represented in sage and chaparral Occasionally hunts site Occasionally hunts site Expected to be common in agricultural fields/open grasslands in winter Forages in low numbers in open terrain Up to 5 potential use areas identified Found in moderate numbers throughout sage and chaparral Found in low numbers throughout the sage and chaparral Found at trap sites Found at trap sites; present in moderate numbers throughout the sage and chaparral Impact Loss of a number of individuals T "c of foraging habitat Loss of foraging habitat Loss of foraging and loafing habitat Loss of foraging habitat One use area directly impacted Loss of breeding territories Loss of habitat Loss of a number of individuals Loss of a number of individuals; over 40 acres of habitat Significance Not individually or cumulatively significant; substantial habitat retained in local open space Loss of habitat not cumulatively significant Loss of habitat not cumulatively significant Not individually or cumulatively significant Not individually or cumulatively significant Significant; study area retains in concert with proposed Carlsbad Golf Course site to south one of larger single populations of gnatcatchers within the City of Carlsbad Not individually or cumulatively significant; this species still locally common in the region Not individually or cumulatively significant Not individually or cumulatively significant; this species still locally common in the region Not individually or cumulatively significant; this species still locally common in the region Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 55 City of Carlsbad August 1998 The 6 acres of diegan coastal sage scrub impact are within the available take allowances remaining within the City of Carlsbad under the Section 4(d) rule. Implementation of Mitigation Measure 1 will reduce the impact to a level less than significant. Riparian habitat is located to the south of the proposed roadway which is known to support one pair of least Bell's vireo, a federally endangered avian species. Continuous noise levels above 60 dB(A) may affect the suitability of areas for nesting. As discussed in Item X. (Noise), the minimum distance of the proposed roadway to the riparian habitat will be approximately 200 feet. The CNEL is estimated to be 58.0 dB(A) approximately 200 feet from the roadway, as such no impact to this biologically sensitive habitat is anticipated from roadway noise levels. Construction of the roadway has the potential to impact coastal sage scrub and riparian habitat in terms of noise and high activity levels during construction. Construction of the roadway will be restricted during the breeding season as required in Mitigation Measures 2 and 3. Implementation of Mitigation Measures 2 and 3 will avoid impacts to the least Bell's vireo and gnatcatchers during the breeding/nesting season. MITIGATION MEASURES 1. Sage scrub impacts shall be mitigated on adjacent parklands or through off- site purchase. The 6 acres of sage scrub directly impacted by the road can be effectively mitigated within the study area. A 2:1 replacement ratio is recommended given the good quality habitat proposed to be removed. A gap is proposed between golf links 14 and 15 on the proposed Carlsbad Golf Course project to the south. This has been previously proposed as a mitigation area for the golf course (these links would be situated below the road). The gap provides an opportunity to connect the riparian habitat at the base of Macario Canyon below the proposed route for Faraday Avenue with sage scrub/chaparral above the road and within the study area. Areas above (i.e., north) the road within proposed parklands would be an optimal place to provide mitigation. This would improve corridor linkage spanning the canyon in an area where open agricultural fields currently deter some wildlife movement. A mitigation alternative would be the purchase of sage scrub lands at a 2:1 replacement ratio within the Carlsbad Highland Mitigation Bank. 2. For each spring prior to construction, a protocol survey for the least Bell's vireo shall be conducted in the riparian woodland of Macario Canyon. Surveys have been conducted for the 1998 breeding season and no further surveys shall oe required should construction begin in the year 1999. The purpose of any additional surveys is to identify the location of any nesting sites in order to avoid construction related noise impacts. Construction of segments of the roadway that are located in the vicinity of nesting birds shall Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 56 August 1998 be restricted to the period outside the breeding season, which extends from March 15ch through September 30th, annually. 3. Grading or brushing activities in, or adjacent to, coastal sage scrub (or other habitat occupied by the gnatcatcher) must be restricted to that period outside of the breeding season for this bird, which extends from February 15th through August 30th annually. Surveys have been conducted for the 1998 breeding season and no further surveys shall be required should construction begin in the year 1999. The purpose of any additional surveys is to identify the location of any nesting sites in order to avoid construction related noise impacts. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 57 August 1998 VIII. ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES No Impact VIII(a). The proposed project is a roadway extension and will not involve excessive use of non-renewable resources and therefore will not conflict with adopted energy conservation plans. VTII(b). The project will require fuel, steel and aggregate materials for construction, however the operation of the roadway will require only minimal use of energy for roadway lighting purposes, and will not be significant. VIII(c). No known mineral resources have been identified on-site which would be of future value to the region and the residents of the State. The project site is not located within a Mineral Resource Zone as identified by the State of California Department of Conservation. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 58 City of Carlsbad August 1998 IX. HAZARDS No Impact IX(a). The proposed project will not result in a risk of accidental explosion or release of hazardous substances. No hazardous materials will be utilized in either the construction or operation of the proposed project. IX(b). The project will create an additional roadway to be utilized as part of an emergency response or evacuation planning, potentially enhancing rather than interfering with such plans. IX(c). The proposed project is a roadway. Due to the nature of the proposed project, it will not create a health hazard or potential health hazard. IX(d). The proposed project is a roadway. Due to the nature of the proposed project, it will not expose people to existing sources of potential health hazards as no know health hazards or potential health hazards exist in the vicinity of the project site. IX(e). The proposed project will not result in an increase in fire hazards in areas with flammable brush, grass, or trees. The majority of the roadway extension traverses land that is void of significant stands of vegetation. A golf course will be located to the south of the roadway, and the fire hazard potential for this area is considered low. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 59 August 1998 X. NOISE No Impact X(b). The proposed project will not result in the exposure of people to severe noise levels. Less Than Significant Impact X(a). The project will increase noise levels as a result of the introduction of vehicular traffic into the area. There are no existing or planned noise sensitive receptors along the planned extension of the roadway (such as residential uses). The proposed roadway will be located adjacent to recreational uses. According to City of Carlsbad Noise Standards, the acceptable noise level associated with the golf course is 70 CNEL; the acceptable noise level associated with the City park is 65 CNEL. The proposed roadway will carry approximately 5,900 average daily trips at the buildout (Year 2020) condition. The corresponding CNEL level, (not accounting for barriers or intervening topography) is 64.9 dB(A) at 75 feet from the roadway centerline, 58.0 dB(A) at 200 feet from the roadway centerline, and 52.0 db(A) at 500 feet from the roadway centerline. The impact from roadway generated noise to the adjacent proposed golf course and proposed park will be less than significant. As discussed under Item VII (biology), riparian habitat is located to the south of the proposed roadway. This habitat is known to support one pair of least Bell's vireo, which is a federally endangered avian species. Continuous noise levels above 60 dB(A) may affect the suitability of areas for nesting. The minimum distance of the proposed roadway to the riparian habitat will be approximately 200 feet. The CNEL is estimated to be 58.0 dB(A) approximately 200 feet from the roadway, as such no impact to this biologically sensitive habitat is anticipated from roadway noise levels. Construction of the roadway has the potential to impact this sensitive habitat. Construction will be restricted during the breeding season as discussed in Item VII, which will avoid impacts to the least Bell's vireo. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 60 August 1998 XI. PUBLIC SERVICES No Impact XI(a). The proposed proj ect wi 11 not generate an increase in population or any additional non-residential development and therefore would not result in a need for new or altered fire protection facilities or services. XI(b). The proposed project will not generate an increase in population or any additional non-residential development and therefore would not result in a need for new or altered police facilities or services. XI(c). The proposed proj ect will not generate an increase in population or any additional non-residential development and therefore would not result in a need for new or altered school facilities. XI(e). The proposed project will not generate an increase in population or any additional non-residential development in the project area which would result in a need for any other new or altered government services. Less Than Significant Impact XI(d). The proposed project is a public roadway which will require both regular and emergency maintenance. The project will therefore result in the need for an expansion of public services to maintain the roadway. The degree to which maintenance services would need to be expanded will be less than significant, however, as the construction of the roadway has been identified as part of the City's General Plan and Growth Management Plan forecasts. The City will be able to provide an adequate level of roadway maintenance service to this roadway. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 61 August 1998 XII. UTILITIES AND SERVICES SYSTEMS No Impact XII(b). The proposed roadway will not place a demand for, or require the extension of communication systems. XII(c). The proposed roadway will not place a demand on local or regional \\aici treatment or distribution facilities. XH(d). The proposed roadway will not require sewer or septic facilities for operation. XII(f). The proposed roadway will not generate solid waste. Green waste may be generated by landscaping maintenance, however this will not impact solid waste disposal or facilities. XII(g). The proposed roadway will not generate a demand for potable water. Reclaimed water will be utilized for landscaping. Less Than Significant Impact XII(a). The proposed project will utilize electricity for roadway lighting purposes. The demand for electricity generated by the project is less than significant. XII(e). The proposed project will require a storm water drainage system to control surface runoff. The system will be completed as part of the roadway construction, and will result in a less than significant impact on drainage facilities. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 62 August 1998 XIII. AESTHETICS Less Than Significant Impact XIII(a). The project site is located at the inland end of Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Macario Canyon branches south, then east from the low mudflats east of the lagoon. In general, the area surrounding the lagoon has is developed. Residential neighborhoods are located to the north of the lagoon, while development associated with the Carlsbad Ranch, and the extension of Cannon Road is in various stages on the southern portion of the lagoon. The area in the immediate vicinity of the project site is vacant and largely undeveloped, however agriculture has disturbed a considerable portion of the area. Pylons and power lines from the SDG&E Encina Power Plant run along the ridgelines to the south. The Faraday Roadway extension will be visible from most surrounding areas, as the roadway is located in a canyon on a south facing slope. Figure 4 in the project description depicts the cut and fill areas that are proposed as part of project implementation. Maximum fill slope height will be about 30 feet. Maximum cut slope height would be about 50 feet. Among public views, the roadway will be most visible from College Boulevard. This area is primarily industrial park. The roadway will also be visible from Cannon Road, and from the golf course when it is constructed. The roadway will also be visible from the Macario Canyon Park when it is completed (anticipated to be completed by approximately the year 2010). Graded slopes will require contouring and revegetation to avoid visual impacts. The project landscaping plan will be compatible with, or complement the golf course landscaping plan. Additionally, proposed grading and landscaping for the roadway has been developed in consultation with the City Parks and Recreation Department to ensure compatibility between the proposed roadway and the future park design. The roadway is proposed as a split roadway which will separate travel lanes by a landscaped median, in addition to an elevation differential. These features will add visual interest to the roadway. With the incorporation of contour grading and a landscaping plan, visual impacts will be less than significant. XHI(b). As discussed above, the proposed project will not have a demonstrable negative aesthetic affect. XIII(c). The proposed project will result in the creation of a small amount of light and glare originating from lighting along the roadway and vehicles. The amount of light and glare introduced by the roadway is anticipated to be less than significant. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 63 City of Carlsbad August 1998 XIV. CULTURAL RESOURCES No Impact XIV(c). There are no historical resources present on the project site which would be affected by the proposed project. XIV(d). The project will not cause a change, physical or otherwise, which would affect unique ethnic cultural values as no such uses are known to occur in the project area. XIV(e). The project will not restrict existing religious or sacred uses within the potential impact area, as no such uses are known to occur in the project area. Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated XIV(a). The bedrock unit underlying the majority of the site is the Tertiary-aged Santiago Formation which is a potentially significant fossil area. In general, the unit consists of massive to weakly bedded sandstone with interbedded clayey siltstone and silty claystone. The sandstone encountered at the project site consists primarily of light gray, light brown, and light yellow-brown, moist, dense, silty, fine to occasionally medium-grained sandstone. The Santiago Formation is considered to be potentially fossiliferous almost everywhere it occurs, and has a high potential for the production of fossils. Impacts to significant paleontological resources typically occur when earth work activities, such as mass excavation projects, cut into geological deposits (formations) within which fossils are buried. These impacts are in the form of physical destruction of fossil remains. Since fossils are the remains of prehistoric animal and plan life, they are considered to be non-renewable. Such impacts are significant, and under CEQA guidelines, require mitigation. Development of the Faraday Roadway extension will require grading which may result in impacts to paleontological resources. As discussed above, the project is underlain by geological deposits with a potential for producing significant paleontological resources. This is a significant impact. Implementation of Mitigation Measures 1 through 7 will reduce the impact to paleontological resources to a level less than significant XIV(b). A cultural resource literature review, record search, and field survey was conducted by Gallegos & Associates for the proposed project. The study was conducted in compliance with City of Carlsbad and CEQA Guidelines. The report, "Historical/Archaeological Survey for the Faraday Road Project City of Carlsbad, California", is provided in Appendix D of this document. The following summarizes the results of the report. A literature review and record search identified one previously recorded site (CA- SDI-8303) within the study area. The survey conducted for the proposed project Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 64 August 1998 relocated this site and identified an additional, unrecorded component near the previously established northeast boundary of the site. In addition, a single isolated artifact was identified in the central portion of the study area. Previously Recorded Site CA-SDI-8303 The survey conducted for the proposed project identified cultural materials on two adjacent ridge fingers which are not included within the previous site boundary. On one ridge finger, immediately east of the current site boundary, a basin/metate fragment, a metavolcanic tool, two pieces of metavolcanic debitage and a bone fragment were noted in a dense cluster approximately 2 meters in diameter. A light shell scatter consisting of 5 to 10 pieces of marine shell was noted in an overlapping, 20 meter area. The next ridgeline to the northeast also contained a light shell scatter with approximately 10 marine shell fragments in an approximately 20 meter area. These current finds indicate a modification to the previously defined site boundary for CA-SDI-8303, extending it approximately 75 meters to the northeast. Pursuant to CEQA and City of Carlsbad's Cultural Resource Guidelines, testing is required for site CA-SDI-8303 to determine site significance/importance. Testing provides sufficient information to determine site size, depth, content, integrity and potential to address important research questions. For sites identified as significant/important, mitigation of impacts can be addressed through redesign and avoidance, or through the completion of a data recovery program, wherein a sample of the prehistoric site is excavated to address research questions such as chronology, settlement and subsidence, trade and travel, and tool technology. Implementation of Mitigation Measures 1 and 2 will reduce the impact to archaeological resources to a level less than significant. Newly Recorded Isolate FR-I-1 A single, isolated artifact was identified in a plowed field in the central project area. Due to its location approximately 120 meters west of site CA-SDI-8303, it is not considered a component of that site. The artifact is a porphoritic metavolcanic flake exhibiting retouch for use as a tool. The artifact was collected, and its location mapped and photographed. Isolates are identified as not significant/important and no further work is recommended or required. MITIGATION MEASURES Paleontology 1. Prior to issuance of a grading permit, a qualified paleontologist shall be retained by the City to carry out an appropriate mitigation program. (A qualified paleontologist is defined as an individual with an MS or Ph.D. in paleontology or geology who is familiar with paleontological procedures and techniques.) Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 65 August 1998 2. A qualified paleontologist shall be present at the pre-grading meeting to consult with the grading and excavation contractors. 3. A paleontological monitor shall be on-site a minimum of half-time during the original cutting of previously undisturbed sediments to inspect cuts for contained fossils. In the event that fossils are discovered, it may be necessary to increase the per/day in field monitoring time. Conversely, if fossils are not being found then the monitoring should be reduced. (A paleontological monitor is defined as an individual who has experience in the collection and salvage of fossil materials. The paleontological monitor shall work under the direction of a qualified paleontologist.) 4. When fossils are discovered the paleontologist (or paleontological monitor) shall recover them. In most cases, this fossil salvage can be completed in a short period of time. However, some fossils specimens (such as a complete large mammal skeleton) may require an extended salvage period. In these instances the paleontologist (or paleontological monitor) shall be allowed to temporarily direct, divert, or halt grading to allow recovery of fossil remains in a timely manner. Because of the potential for the recovery of small fossil remains, such as isolated mammal teeth, it may be necessary in certain instances, to set up a screen-washing operation on the site. 5. Fossil remains collected during the monitoring and salvage portion of the mitigation program shall be cleaned, repaired, sorted, and cataloged. 6. Prepared fossils, along with copies of all pertinent field notes, photos, and maps, shall either be deposited (as a donation) in a scientific institution with permanent paleontological collections such as the San Diego Natural History Museum or retained by the City and displayed to the public at an appropriate location such as a library or City Hall. 7. A final summary report shall be completed and retained on file at the City that outlines the results of the mitigation program. This report shall include discussions of the methods used, stratigraphic section (s) exposed, fossils collected, and significance of recovered fossils. Archaeology 1. Prior to grading, a qualified archaeologist shall be retained by the City to determine the significance/importance of the portion of site CA-SDI- 8303 that will be impacted by grading activity. The determination of significance/importance shall be made through a testing program and shall be consistent with City of Carlsbad and CEQA criteria. The testing program shall consist of surface collection of artifacts, recording of milling features, excavation of shovel test pits and 1x1 meter units to determine site size, depth, content, integrity and potential to address important research questions. A report shall be prepared summarizing the Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 66 August 1998 results of the testing program. The report shall contain recommendations for data recovery for the site if it is determined to be significant/important under City of Carlsbad and CEQA criteria. 2. If as a result of the testing program identified in Mitigation Measure 1, site CA-SDI-8303 is determined to be significant/important, then a data recovery program shall be implemented. The data recovery program shall be implemented in accordance with the recommendations for data recovery as provided in the testing report required under Mitigation Measure 1. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 67 August 1998 XV. RECREATIONAL No Impact XV(a). The proposed project will not result in additional residential development and therefore would not increase the demand for neighborhood or regional parks or other recreational facilities. XV(b). The proposed project is located adjacent to the proposed Carlsbad Municipal Golf Course. The project will not constrain the golf course as the golf course was designed with anticipation of the construction of this roadway. The proposed project is also located in an area that is planned to be utilized for a City park. The roadway will provide the primary access to the park, and therefore would not affect the park. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 68 August 1998 XVI. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE No Impact (c). No environmental effects have been identified that will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings either directly or indirectly. Less Than Significant Impact (b). The proposed project, in conjunction with other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future projects will not result in a significant cumulative impact to any of the issues discussed on the preceding pages. The project impacts to geology, hydrology/water quality, and archaeological and cultural resources are site specific, and when combined with other cumulative projects will not result in a significant cumulative impact to these issues. The project will impact six acres of coastal sage scrub, which represents less than one percent of the coastal sage scrub in the city (0.002%) and therefore does not contribute to a cumulative impact to this resource. Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated (a). The proposed project has the potential to reduce approximately 6 acres of coastal sage scrub, which is a sensitive habitat. The project will also impact one archaeological site, which may be a significant site. The project site is also located in an area with geological formations identified as "moderate" and "high" potential for paleontological sensitivity. The implementation of the mitigation measures identified in this Initial Study will reduce the impact to a less than significant level. Based on the foregoing discussion, the City of Carlsbad has determined that the Faraday Avenue Extension may have a significant impact on the environment, and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) has been prepared. Mitigation Measures have been identified for the following issues: Geology Biological Resources Hydrology/Water Quality Archaeological and Paleontological Resources Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 69 August 1998 Mitigated Negative Declaration MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Project Address/Location: North of Palomar Airport Road and west of College Boulevard in Local Facilities Management Zones 8 and 13 Project Description: Extension of Faraday Avenue from existing westerly terminus to Cannon Road (under construction) 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, a Mitigated Negative Declaration (declaration that the project will not have a significant impact on the environment) is hereby issued for the subject project. Justification for this action is on file in the Planning Department. A copy of the Mitigated Negative Declaration with supportive documents is on file in the Planning Department, 2075 Las Palmas Drive, Carlsbad, California 92009. Comments from the public are invited. Please submit comments in writing to the Planning Department within 20 days of date of issuance. If you have any questions, please call Christer Westman in the Planning Department at (760) 438-1161, extension 4448. DATED: June 12, 1998 CASE NO: 3593 CASE NAME: Faraday Avenue PUBLISH DATE: June 12, 1998 MICHAEL J. HOLZMILLER Planning Director Sources Consulted SOURCES CONSULTED 1. Lead Agency City of Carlsbad 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, California 92009 Contact: Christer Westman, Associate Planner 2. Project Applicant City of Carlsbad Community Development Department 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, California 92009 Contact: Sherri Howard, Project Manager 3. Project Engineer O'Day Consultants 2320 Camino Vida Roble Suite B Carlsbad, California 92009 Contact: Chuck Collins John Strohminger 4. John Boarman, P.E. Linscott, Law & Greenspan 8989 Rio San Diego Drive, Suite 135 San Diego, California 92108 Responsibility: Preparation of transportation analysis. 5. Craig Reiser Merkel & Associates, Inc. 3944 Murphy Canyon Road,Suite C106 San Diego, California 92123 (619) 560-5465 Responsibility: Preparation of biological assessment. Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 70 August 1998 6. Dennis Gallegos Carolyn Kyle Gallegos & Associates 5671 Palmer Way, Suite A Carlsbad, California 92008 (760) 929-0055 Responsibility: Preparation of archaeological assessment. 7. Joe Franzone Leighton & Associates, Inc. 3934 Murphy Canyon Road, SuiteB205 San Diego,California 92123 Responsibility: Preparation of geology assessment. Documents City of Carlsbad General Plan, City of Carlsbad, April 20, 1994. City of Carlsbad Zoning Ordinance, City of Carlsbad, August 1994. A Guide to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program, California Department of Conservation, November 1994. The Impacts of Farmland Conservation in California (JSA 89-164), Jones & Stokes, Inc., January 24, 1991. Agua Hedionda Land Use Plan, City of Carlsbad, 1982. City of Carlsbad Local Coastal Program, City of Carlsbad, October 9, 1996. City of Carlsbad Cultural Resources Guidelines, RECON, December 1990. Local Facilities Management Plan Zone 5 and 8, City of Carlsbad, June 18, 1987. Soil Survey, San Diego Area California (U.S. Department of Agriculture, December 1973. Final Master Environmental Impact Report for the City of Carlsbad General Plan Update (City of Carlsbad, March 1994). Carlsbad Municipal Golf Course EIR Biological Constraints Analysis (Merkel & Associates, Inc., October 21, 1997). Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 71 August 1998 Comments and Responses COMMENTS AND RESPONSES TO COMMENTS RECEIVED ON THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION The Draft Expanded Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration was circulated for a 20-day public review period in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Public Resources Code Section 21092. The 20-day public review and comment period began on July 2, 1998 and ended on July 22, 1998. The following agencies submitted comment letters on the proposed project: 1. Sheryl Barret - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gail Presley - Department of Fish and Game July 29, 1998 (Joint Letter) 2. Mark Steyaert - City of Carlsbad July 13, 1998 Faraday A ven ue Roadway Extension City of Carlsbad Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 72 August 1998 US Fish & Wildlife Service Carlsbad Field Office 2730 Loker Avenue, West Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760)431-9440 FAX (760) 431-9624 CA Dcpl. of Fish & Game 1416 Ninth Slrcel I'D Box 944209 Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 (916)653-9767 FAX (916) 653-2588 Mr. C'hnster Westman City of Carlsbad 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, California 92009 4t> ML 2 9 1993 Subject: Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Faraday Avenue Extension; CDP 98-39 Dear Mr. Westman: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and California Department of Fish and Game (Department), collectively the wildlife agencies, have completed their review of the Mitigated Negative Declaration (ND) for the Faraday Avenue Extension. The "Draft Expanded Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension" and "Expanded Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Mitigation Monitoring Program for the Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension" prepared by Cotton/BelanoVAssociates (June 1998) and associated biotechnical report prepared by Mcrkel & Associates, Inc. (June 5, 1998) were consulted as part of this review as well as the City of Carlsbad's draft Habitat Management Plan (HMP; December 1, 1997) and the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Carlsbad Municipal Golf Course (March 1998). Ms. Julie Vanderwier, from the Service's Carlsbad Field Office, also met with you and Ms. Sherri Howard to discuss this project on July 27, 1998. The Faraday Avenue extension project site is located in the northwest quadrant of the City of Carlsbad (City), south and east of Agua Hedionda Lagoon, north of Macario Canyon and Palomar Airport Road, and east of El Camino Real. It is one of four City projects being implemented or currently planned for this area, the other three being Cannon Road (Reaches I and 2), Veteran's Memorial Park, and a municipal golf course. The Faraday Avenue project would extend existing Faraday Avenue approximately 5,400 linear feet from its westerly terminus to connect with future Cannon Road. With the exception of a small portion of privately-owned land at the western end of the proposed project area, (he 72-foot wide right-of- way for the road is under City ownership and identified as open space in the City's General Plan (1994). Faraday Avenue has been designed to be a "split" roadway which will result in a linear and vertical separation of the two 26-foot wide travel lanes in several locations. Sidewalks and parking will be provided only on the north side of Faraday Avenue, however, an eighl-foot wide bike lane will be provided on both the north and south and will also provide for emergency parking. Construction is anticipated to commence in July 1999 and be completed by December 1999. Mr. Chnsler Westman 2 As identified in the biotechnical report , the majority of [he nghi-of-way is currently under agricultural uses, however, native plant communities identified within the project area include Diegan coastal sage scrub, southern maritime chaparral, non-native grassland, southern willow scrub, and mulefat scrub. A number of species considered to be sensitive occur on-site, including the federally-listed threatened coastal California gnatcatcher (Po/ioplila californica californica, gnatcatcher). Project implementation would result in the direct, permanent loss of approximately six acres of Diegan coastal sage scrub (and one gnatcatcher pair), one-half acre of non-native grassland, and an unspecified amount of agricultural and disturbed lands. No direct impacts to southern maritime chaparral or riparian/rnulefat scrub communities are anticipated. Additionally, the following species would also be directly or indirectly affected by habitat loss: orange-throated whiptail (Cnemidophorus hyperythrus beldingii), white-tailed kite (Etanus cacruleus), Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperi), California homed lark (Eremophila alpeslris aclia), loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), southern rufous-crowned sparrow (Aimophila ritficeps canesccns), San Diego black-tailed jackrabbit (Lep'js californicus benneltH), northwestern San Diego pocket mouse (Chaelodipus fallax fallax), San Diego desert woodrat (Neoloma lepida intermedia), California adolphia (Adolphia californica), Palmer's grapplinghook (Harpagone/la palmeri), western dichondra (Dichondra occidentalis), Nuttall's scrub oak (Quercus dumosa), and ashy spikemoss (Selaginella cinerascens). Mitigation measures provided in the ND propose to compensate for direct project impacts to coastal sage scrub and the gnatcatcher at a ratio of 2:1. Mitigation is proposed to be accomplished on the adjacent park land or through the purchase of mitigation credits within the Carlsbad Highlands Conservation Bank. With the exception of restricting construction activities to that period outside of the breeding season, no mitigation is proposed for potential indirect impacts to gnatcatchers or for the isolation of small patches of coastal sage scrub. Indirect impacts to least Bell's vireo (K/>eo belliipusi/lus', vireo), which has been documented to occur in Macario Canyon, would consist of annual monitoring for vireo presence or absence every breeding season prior to construction, along with the identification of nest sites, in order to avoid construction-related noise impacts. Construction on segments of the roadway that are located adjacent to nesting vireos would not begin until after August 1, when the nesting cycle is completed. Based upon our review of the information provided in the draft ND, the wildlife agencies provide the following comments and recommendations; 1. The wildlife agencies concur with the proposal to mitigate for direct impacts to coastal sage scrub and one pair of gnatcatchers at a ratio of 2:1. It should be noted, however, that the construction of Faraday Avenue will isolate several small patches of coastal sage scrub, one south of the road and adjacent to golf hole 13, another south of the road adjacent to golf hole 15, and the last at the western end of the site. It is our opinion that these isolated patches will be loo small to support a pair of gnatcatchers and, therefore, their acreage should be added to the total impact acreage for coastal sage scrub and mitigation measures proposed. While we concur that it is biologically advantageous to use lands within adjacent Veteran's Memorial Park (Park) as mitigation, it is not clear where in the Park this would occur, if mitigation proposed would be through preservation A-l A-2 A-3 Mr. Christer Wesiman J of existing coastal sage scrub, restoration of coastal sage scrub, or a combination of both; or how this would affect construction of the Park. The ND should provide a map indicating where on the Park property coastal sage scrub preservation/restoration is proposed, and how the City intends to manage the mitigation site to sustain its biological values. In order to ensure the continued existence of the gnatcatcher population in this region of Carlsbad, a live-in and dispersal corridor between habitat north of Palomar Airport Road and Agua Hedionda Lagoon must be provided. The wildlife agencies have been working concurrently with the City on the proposed municipal golf course. While we have tentatively concurred that restoration of agricultural lands between proposed golf holes 13 and 15 could be used as partial mitigation for golf course impacts to coastal sage scrub, this use is contingent upon a number of other factors. One of the most important of these is the City's ability, through implementation of its HMP, to ensure connectivity through the golf course site, Kelly Ranch, and the Kirgis property to Agua Hedionda Lagoon. The majority of these lands are City-owned and, therefore, the responsibility for conservation planning in this area should be done now, in coordination with the wildlife agencies. It should be noted, however, that resolution of golf course impacts and mitigation issues has not yet occurred. As such, a corridor has not been guaranteed and it is therefore premature to assume that these agricultural lands between the proposed golf holes will be restored to coastal sage scrub. If the required corridor can be assured in the City's HMP, the wildlife agencies would be supportive of coastal sage scrub restoration in this area of the Park to initiate this effort. Without such an assurance, mitigation which relies on this premise may not be appropriate. While the wildlife agencies concur with the mitigation ratio proposed in the ND, we remain concerned about the cumulative impacts to coastal sage scrub and gnatcatchers in this region of the City. Construction of the proposed project and the proposed municipal golf course, combined with impacts from Cannon Road Reaches 1 and 2, and the future development of Kelly Ranch, will result in cumulative impacts to coastal sage scrub and gnatcatchers which are significant and only mitigatable through the application of good preserve design, which entails avoidance and minimization of impacts to coastal sage scrub and gnatcatchers wherever possible along with a limited amount of habitat restoration. The ND does not provided an analysis of cumulative impacts or this project's relationship to the HMP; this analysis should be included. Because of the cumulative effects of the projects being implemented or planned in this area, the wildlife agencies strongly recommend that a combination of conservation and restoration of coastal sage scrub within the Park be used to compensate for both direct and indirect impacts which will result from the extension of Faraday Avenue. I he biological technical repoil references <m amount of the City's five percent 4(d) allocation of coastal sage scrub from August 1997 Please provide information on the amount of the five percent currently avaijable It is our understanding that the City will likely have exhausted its five percent by the time it would be needed for the Faraday Avenue extension project Absent the 4(d) process, there are only two options in which Mr Chrisicr Weslman A-3 A-4 A-5 (he Service can authorize "take" of the gnatcatchcr and ils habitat: through a section 10(a)(l)(b) permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, as amended (Act) which would require the preparation and approval of a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), or the project could be processed as part of an approved City HMP. As it is not anticipated that construction would commence until July 1999, the latter is recommended by the wildlife agencies. The use of section 7 is not an available method which can be used to authorize take of a federally-listed species for this project as there is no known federal agency involvement- Grading or brushing activities in, or adjacent to, coastal sage scrub (or other habitat occupied by the gnatcatcher) must be restricted to that period outside of the breeding season for this bird, which is considered to be February 15 through August 30, annually. Similarly, such activities which would occur adjacent to nesting vireos should be restricted to lhat period outsid: of their breeding season which is considered to be March 1 5 through September 30, annually. The ND indicates that road runoff will be directed to vegetated areas to filter pollutants. These areas should be identified in the ND as the wildlife agencies are concerned about a degradation of water quality in Agua Hedionda Lagoon due to roadway and automobile- generated pollutants. If coastal sage scrub restoration is part of the final biological mitigation plan, we request the opportunity to review and provide comment on the restoration and monitoring plans prior to approval and implementation. The Service and Department appreciate the opportunity to review this ND for the Faraday Avenue extension and your cooperation in meeting with us and providing, in advance, the materials necessary to accomplish this task. If you have any questions regarding the contents of this letter, please contact Julie Vanderwier (Service) at (760) 431 -9440 or David Lawhead (Department) at (619) 467-4211. Sincerely, Shcryl Bartett Assistant Field Office Supervisor U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gail Presley NCCP Program Manager Department of Fish and Game cc. Slicrri Howard, City of Carlsbad Don Rideout, City of Carlsbad Ron Rempel, CDFG (H-6-98-CA-029 July 1.1, 1998 TO: ASSOCIATE PLANNER, WESTMAN From Park Development Coordinator FARADAY AVE. INITIAL STUDY COMMENTS Comment on MitigatLQajyiQaiioring Program Checklist: pg. 4: "Mitigation Measures": #1 This document recommends "optimal mitigation" ol the coastal sage impacts within the park site north ol the proposed road. Currently, because o( the golf course project and mitigation lor Cannon Rd., only 100 acres (+/•) of Veteran's Memorial Park (VMP) remains out ol 288 acres ol City properly previously dedicated as parkland. The Parks and Recreation Element ol the General Plan allocates 100 acres ot VMP (25 acres / each quadrant) toward meeting the City's park requirements. If mitigation for Faraday takes away (rom the remaining 100 acre park site, we may not be able to meet the City's standards as currently planned. We recommend the "mitigation alternative" outlined in the chart to go off site to the Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank and purchase the required mitigation acreage. Mark Steyaerl c: Associate Civil Engineer, Howard Recreation and Park Planning Manager Senior Management Analyst, CSD A-l. The 6 acres of coastal sage scrub impact quantified in the Mitigated Negative Declaration does not include the acreage of the three isolated patches of coastal sage scrub described by the commentor. The proposed project will directly remove 5.28 acres of coastal sage scrub as a result of project construction and grading. The isolated patches of coastal sage scrub total 1.99 acres. The total project impact, accounting for the remaining coastal sage scrub areas that become isolated by roadway construction is 7.27 acres. Mitigation Measure 1 proposes restoration at 2:1 on city-owned property or through purchase of off- site mitigation at 2:1 from the Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank. Due to the uncertainty of plan development and approvals of adjacent uses (the golf course and the future park) the City intends to utilize the remaining coastal sage scrub acreage at the Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank for mitigation of 6 acres of the impacted acreas. There are currently approximately 12 acres of coastal sage scrub habitat available at the Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank. This acreage would satisfy the mitigation requirements for the direct impacts of the proposed project. The remaining 1.27 acres would then need to be purchases from an alternative off-site mitigation bank, or be mitigated through on-site restoration. The City agrees with the commentor that the resolution of golf course impacts and mitigation issues has not occurred and that a corridor between holes 13 and 15 of the golf course has not been guaranteed. Mitigation Measure 1 identifies possible locations for coastal sage scrub restoration on- site in the event that off-site purchase was not an option for the City, or in the event that the project impacts exceeded the available acreage from Highlands Mitigation Bank and purchase from another mitigation bank is not feasible. The exact location(s) for coastal sage scrub restoration, if required, would then be defined and a management plan prepared through further consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Fish and Game as part of the 4(d) permit process. Further constraints related to the possible location of on-site restoration include the City's Growth Management Plan park requirements. The City must maintain a minimum of 100 acres for park use at this location. A portion of this area may be utilized for passive open space and could provide coastal sage scrub restoration and enhancement opportunities. However, because of the uncertainty of golf course mitigation and park plans, identification of coastal sage scrub restoration areas is premature as the locations may identified now may not be compatible with the restoration requirements of the golf course and adjacent projects. Off-site mitigation acreage is available to the city and is the logical alternative for the proposed project given the aforementioned considerations. A-2. The proposed roadway alignment has been designed to minimize the biological impacts to the extent feasible. The project will avoid any wetland impacts to the unnamed drainage in Macario Canyon. The project-specific impacts to coastal sage scrub can be mitigated to a less than significant level, and the project's contribution to cumulative biological impacts is not significant. The project will impact 6 acres of coastal sage scrub which is less than one percent (0.002%) of the approximately 3,127 acres of coastal sage scrub remaining in the city. An analysis of cumulative impacts to biological resources is provided on Tables 4, 5, and 6 of the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration. As indicated in the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration, no cumulative impacts are anticipated. As indicated in response A-l the City will allocate the remaining 12 acres of coastal sage scrub habitat from the Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank to this project to satisfy the mitigation requirements. A-3. The acreage remaining under the City's five percent 4(d) allocation is 11.91 acres as of August 1998. The City has reserved 6 acres specifically for the proposed project, and as such the take associated with the proposed project can be addressed through the 4(d) process. The remaining 4(d) acreage after the 6 acres is allocated to the proposed project is 5.91 acres. The City acknowledges that absent the 4(d) process, the project would need to be processed through a section 10(a)(l)(b) permit, or through approval of a Habitat Conservation Plan. A-4. Mitigation Measure 2 addresses the potential indirect impact to nesting vireo sites during grading or brushing activities. Mitigation Measure 2 has been revised as indicated below and is included in the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program: 2. For each spring prior to construction, a protocol survey for the least Bell's vireo shall be conducted in the riparian woodland of Macario Canyon. Surveys have been conducted for the 1998 breeding season and no further surveys shall be required should construction begin in the year 1999. The purpose of any additional surveys is to identify the location of any nesting sites in order to avoid construction related noise impacts. Construction of segments of the roadway that are located in the vicinity of nesting birds shall not begin until after August 1, when the nesting cycle is completed, be restricted to the period outside the breeding season, which extends from March 15th through September 30th, annually. Additionally, Mitigation Measure 3 has been added to the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration to address potential impacts from brushing and grading activity to gnatcatcher occupied habitat. Mitigation Measure 3 reads as follows: 3. Grading or brushing activities in, or adjacent to, coastal sage scrub (or other habitat occupied by the gnatcatcher) must be restricted to that period outside of the breeding season for this bird, which extends from February 15th through August 30* annually. Surveys have been conducted for the 1998 breeding season and no further surveys shall be required should construction begin in the year 1999. The purpose of any additional surveys is to identify the location of any nesting site in order to avoid construction related noise impacts. A-5. Figure 8 of the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration depicts the direction and amount of drainage flows anticipated after the proposed project has been completed. As indicated in Figure 8, the primary drainage patterns will be maintained through the use of culverts that will allow the water to pass under the roadway. The locations of the drainage outlets for roadway runoff/storm drainage have not been identified at this time. The locations of the drainage outlets will be determined during final design and preparation of the drainage control plan for the project. The proposed project will be required to comply with NPDES practices and policies, as an NPDES permit will be required. A Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan will be required to be implemented as a condition of the permit as well. A majority of the project site and upland areas are utilized for agricultural operations that utilize fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides on a routine basis. Currently, there are no controls to reduce sediment loads from agricultural runoff, nor chemicals associated with pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Implementation of the proposed project will remove this area from agricultural production, and it is expected that the impact to adjacent water bodies will be less with implementation of the proposed project than under the existing condition. Pollutant loads from future roadway runoff are not anticipated to be significant. A-6. Comment noted. The City anticipates further coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Fish and Game will be required should restoration be required as part of the biological mitigation plan. B-l. Comment noted. The City will pursue purchase of off-site mitigation from the Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank as the method to mitigate impacts from the Faraday Avenue project as the preferred method of mitigation. US Fish & Wildlife Service Carlsbad Field Office 2730 Loker Avenue, Wesl Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760)431-9440 FAX (760) 431-9624 CA Dcpt. of Fish & Game 1416 Ninth Street PO Box 944209 Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 (916)653-9767 FAX (916) 653-2588 Mr. Christer Westman City of Carlsbad 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, California 92009 0^ -b 5U41TI fW>v^.Ml 2 9 1993 Subject: Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Faraday Avenue Extension; CDP 98-39 Dear Mr. Westman: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and California Department of Fish and Game (Department), collectively the wildlife agencies, have completed their review of the Mitigated Negative Declaration (ND) for the Faraday Avenue Extension. The "Draft Expanded Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension" and "Expanded Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Mitigation Monitoring Program for the Faraday Avenue Roadway Extension" prepared by Cotton/Beland/Associates (June 1998) and associated biotechnical report prepared by Merkel & Associates, Inc. (June 5, 1998) were consulted as part of this review as well as the City of Carlsbad's draft Habitat Management Plan (HMP; December 1, 1997) and the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Carlsbad Municipal Golf Course (March 1998). Ms. Julie Vanderwier, from the Service's Carlsbad Field Office, also met with you and Ms. Sherri Howard to discuss this project on July 27, 1998. The Faraday Avenue extension project site is located in the northwest quadrant of the City of Carlsbad (City), south and east of Agua Hedionda Lagoon, north of Macario Canyon and Palomar Airport Road, and east of El Camino Real. It is one of four City projects being implemented or currently planned for this area, the other three being Cannon Road (Reaches I and 2), Veteran's Memorial Park, and a municipal golf course. The Faraday Avenue project would extend existing Faraday Avenue approximately 5,400 linear feet from its westerly terminus to connect with future Cannon Road. With the exception of a small portion of privately-owned land at the western end of the proposed project area, the 72-foot wide right-of- way for the road is under City ownership and identified as open space in the City's General Plan (1994). Faraday Avenue has been designed to be a "split" roadway which will result in a linear and vertical separation of the two 26-foot wide travel lanes in several locations. Sidewalks and parking will be provided only on the north side of Faraday Avenue, however, an eight-foot wide bike lane will be provided on both the north and south and will also provide for emergency parking. Construction is anticipated to commence in July 1999 and be completed by December 1999. Mr. Christer Wcstman A-l As identified in the biotechnical report , the majority of the right-of-way is currently under agricultural uses, however, native plant communities identified within the project area include Dicgan coastal sage scrub, southern maritime chaparral, non-native grassland, southern willow scrub, and mulefat scrub. A number of species considered to be sensitive occur on-site, including the federally-listed threatened coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioplila californica californica, gnatcatcher). Project implementation would result in the direct, permanent loss of approximately six acres of Diegan coastal sage scrub (and one gnatcatcher pair), one-half acre of non-native grassland, and an unspecified amount of agricultural and disturbed lands. No direct impacts to southern maritime chaparral or riparian/mulefat scrub communities are anticipated. Additionally, the following species would also be directly or indirectly affected by habitat loss: orange-throated whiptail (Cnemidophorus hyperythrus beldingii), white-tailed kite (Elanus caeruleus). Cooper's hawk (Accipiler cooperi), California homed lark (Eremophila alpeslris aclia), loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), southern rufous-crowned sparrow (Aimophila nificeps canescsns), San Diego black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus bennettii), northwestern San Diego pocket mouse (Chaetodipusfallaxfallax), San Diego desert woodrat (Neoloma lepida intermedia), California adolphia (Adolphia californica). Palmer's grapplinghook (Harpagonellapalmeri), western dichondra (Dichondra occidentalis), Nuttall's scrub oak (Quercus dumosa), and ashy spikemoss (Selaginella cinerascens). Mitigation measures provided in the ND propose to compensate for direct project impacts to coastal sage scrub and (he gnatcatcher at a ratio of 2:1. Mitigation is proposed to be accomplished on the adjacent park land or through the purchase of mitigation credits within the Carlsbad Highlands Conservation Bank. With the exception of restricting construction activities to that period outside of the breeding season, no mitigation is proposed for potential indirect impacts to gnatcatchers or for the isolation of small patches of coastal sage scrub. Indirect impacts to least Bell's vireo (Vireo belliipusiltus', vireo), which has been documented to occur in Macario Canyon, would consist of annual monitoring for vireo presence or absence every breeding season prior to construction, along with the identification of nest sites, in order to avoid construction-related noise impacts. Construction on segments of the roadway that are located adjacent to nesting vircos would not begin until after August 1, when the nesting cycle is completed. Based upon our review of the information provided in the draft ND, the wildlife agencies provide the following comments and recommendations: I. The wildlife agencies concur with the proposal to mitigate for direct impacts to coastal sage scrub and one pair of gnatcatchers at a ratio of 2:1. It should be noted, however, that the construction of Faraday Avenue will isolate several small patches of coastal sage scrub: one south of the road and adjacent to golf hole 13, another south of the road adjacent to golf hole 15, and the last at the western end of the site. It is our opinion that these isolated patches will be too small to support a pair of gnatcatchers and, therefore, (heir acreage should be added to the total impact acreage for coastal sage scrub and mitigation measures proposed. While we concur that it is biologically advantageous to use lands within adjacent Veteran's Memorial Park (Park) as mitigation, it is not clear where in the Park this would occur, if mitigation proposed would be through preservation A-l. The 6 acres of coastal sage scrub impact quantified in the Mitigated Negative Declaration does not include the acreage of the three isolated patches of coastal sage scrub described by the commentor. The proposed project will directly remove 5.28 acres of coastal sage scrub as a result of project construction and grading. The isolated patches of coastal sage scrub total 1.99 acres. The total project impact, accounting for the remaining coastal sage scrub areas that become isolated by roadway construction is 7.27 acres. Mitigation Measure 1 proposes restoration at 2:1 on city-owned property or through purchase of off-site mitigation at 2:1 from the Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank. Due to the uncertainty of plan development and approvals of adjacent uses (the golf course and the future park) the City intends to utilize the remaining coastal sage scrub acreage at the Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank for mitigation of 6 acres of the impacted acreas. There are currently approximately 12 acres of coastal sage scrub habitat available at the Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank. This acreage would satisfy the mitigation requirements for the direct impacts of the proposed project. The remaining 1.27 acres would then need to be purchased from an alternative off-site mitigation bank, or be mitigated through on-site restoration. The City agrees with the commentor that the resolution of golf course impacts and mitigation issues has not occurred and that a corridor between holes 13 and 15 of the golf course has not been guaranteed. Mitigation Measure 1 identifies possible locations for coastal sage scrub restoration on-site in the event that off-site purchase was not an option for the City, or in the event that the project impacts exceeded the available acreage from Highlands Mitigation Bank and purchase from another mitigation bank is not feasible. The exact locations) for coastal sage scrub restoration, if required, would then be defined and a management plan prepared through further consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Fish and Game as part of the 4(d) permit process. Further constraints related to the possible location of on-site restoration include the City's Growth Management Plan park requirements. The City must maintain a minimum of 100 acres for park use at this location. A portion of this area may be utilized for passive open space and could provide coastal sage scrub restoration and enhancement opportunities. However, because of the uncertainty of golf course mitigation and park plans, identification of coastal sage scrub restoration areas is premature as the locations may identified now may not be compatible with the restoration requirements of the golf course and adjacent projects. Off-site mitigation acreage is available to the city and is the logical alternative for the proposed project given the aforementioned considerations. A-l A-2 A-3 Mr. Christer Westman 3 of existing coastal sage scrub, restoration of coastal sage scrub, or a combination of both; or how this would affect construction of the Park. The ND should provide a map indicating where on the Park property coastal sage scrub preservation/restoration is proposed, and how the City intends to manage the mitigation site to sustain its biological values. In order to ensure the continued existence of the gnatcatcher population in this region of Carlsbad, a live-in and dispersal corridor between habitat north of Palomar Airport Road and Agua Hedionda Lagoon must be provided. The wildlife agencies have been working concurrently with the City on the proposed municipal golf course. While we have tentatively concurred that restoration of agricultural lands between proposed golf holes 13 and 15 could be used as partial mitigation for golf course impacts to coastal sage scrub, this use is contingent upon a number of other factors. One of the most important of these is the City's ability, through implementation of its HMP, to ensure connectivity through the golf course site, Kelly Ranch, and the Kirgis property to Agua Hedionda Lagoon. The majority of these lands are City-owned and, therefore, the responsibility for conservation planning in this area should be done now, in coordination with the wildlife agencies. It should be noted, however, that resolution of golf course impacts and mitigation issues has not yet occurred. As such, a corridor has not been guaranteed and it is therefore premature to assume that these agricultural lands between the proposed golf holes will be restored to coastal sage scrub. If the required corridor can be assured in the City's HMP, the wildlife agencies would be supportive of coastal sage scrub restoration in this area of the Park to initiate this effort. Without such an assurance, mitigation which relies ou this premise may not be appropriate. While the wildlife agencies concur with the mitigation ratio proposed in the ND, we remain concerned about the cumulative impacts to coastal sage scrub and gnatcatchers in this region of the City. Construction of the proposed project and the proposed municipal golf course, combined with impacts from Cannon Road Reaches 1 and 2, and the future development of Kelly Ranch, will result in cumulative impacts to coastal sage scrub and gnatcatchers which are significant and only mitigatable through the application of good preserve design, which entails avoidance and minimization of impacts to coastal sage scrub and gnatcatchers wherever possible along with a limited amount of habitat restoration. The ND does not provided an analysis of cumulative impacts or this project's relationship to the HMP; this analysts should be included. Because of the cumulative effects of the projects being implemented or planned in this area, the wildlife agencies strongly recommend that a combination of conservation and restoration of coastal sage scrub within the Park be used to compensate for both direct and indirect impacts which will result from the extension of Faraday Avenue. The biological technical report references an amount of the City's five percent 4(d) allocation of coastal sage scrub from August 1997. Please provide information on the amount of the five percent currently avaijable It is our understanding that the City will likely have exhausted its five percent by the lime it would be needed for the Faraday Avenue extension project Absent the 4(d) process, there are only two options in which A-2. The proposed roadway alignment has been designed to minimize the biological impacts to the extent feasible. The project will avoid any wetland impacts to the unnamed drainage in Macario Canyon. The project-specific impacts to coastal sage scrub can be mitigated to a less than significant level, and the project's contribution to cumulative biological impacts is not significant. The project will impact 6 acres of coastal sage scrub which is less than one percent (0.002%) of the approximately 3,127 acres of coastal sage scrub remaining in the city. An analysis of cumulative impacts to biological resources is provided on Tables 4, 5, and 6 of the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration. As indicated in the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration, no cumulative impacts are anticipated. As indicated in response A-l the City will allocate the remaining 12 acres of coastal sage scrub habitat from the Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank to this project to satisfy the mitigation requirements. A-3. The acreage remaining under the City's five percent 4(d) allocation is 11.91 acres as of August 1998. The City has reserved 6 acres specifically for the proposed project, and as such the take associated with the proposed project can be addressed through the 4(d) process. The remaining 4(d) acreage after the 6 acres is allocated to the proposed project is 5.91 acres. The City acknowledges that absent the 4(d) process, the project would need to be processed through a section 10(aXlXb) permit, or through approval of a Habitat Conservation Plan. A-4. Mitigation Measure 2 addresses the potential indirect impact to nesting vireo sites during grading or brushing activities. Mitigation Measure 2 has been revised as indicated below and is included in the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program: 2. For each spring prior to construction, a protocol survey for the least Bell's vireo shall be conducted in the riparian woodland of Macario Canyon. Surveys have been conducted for the 1998 breeding season and no further surveys shall be required should construction begin in the year 1999. The purpose of any additional surveys is to identify the location of any nesting sites in order to avoid construction related noise impacts. Construction of segments of the roadway that are located in the vicinity of nesting birds shall not begin until after August 1, when the nesting cycle is completed, be restricted to the period outside the breeding season, which extends from March 75'* through September 30"", annually. A-3 A-4 A-5 A-6 Mr. Chnslcr Westman 4 ihe Service can authorize "lake" of the gnalcatcher and its habitat: through a section 10(a)(I)(b) permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, as amended (Act) which would require the preparation and approval of a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), or the project could be processed as part of an approved City HMP. As it is not anticipated that construction would commence until July 1999, the latter is recommended by the wildlife agencies. The use of section 7 is not an available method which can be used to authorize take of a federally-listed species for this project as there is no known federal agency involvement. Grading or brushing activities in, or adjacent to, coastal sage scrub (or other habitat occupied by the gnatcatcher) must be restricted to that period outside of the breeding season for this bird, which is considered to be February 15 through August 30, annually. Similarly, such activities which would occur adjacent to nesting vireos should be restricted to that period outside of their breeding season which is considered to be March 15 through September 30, annually. The ND indicates that road runoff will be directed to vegetated areas to filter pollutants. These areas should be identified in the ND as the wildlife agencies are concerned about a degradation of water quality in Agua Hedionda Lagoon due to roadway and automobile- generated pollutants. If coastal sage scrub restoration is part of the final biological mitigation plan, we request the opportunity to review and provide comment on the restoration and monitoring plans prior to approval and implementation. The Service and Department appreciate the opportunity to review this ND for the Faraday Avenue extension and your cooperation in meeting with us and providing, in advance, the materials necessary to accomplish this task. If you have any questions regarding the contents of this letter, please contact Julie Vanderwier (Service) at (760) 431 -9440 or David Lawhead (Department) at (619) 467-4211. Sincerely, Sheryl Assistant Field Office Supervisor U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sherri Howard, City of Carlsbad Don Rideout, City of Carlsbad Ron Rcmpel, CDFG Gail Presley NCCP Program Manager Department of Fish and Game Additionally, Mitigation Measure 3 has been added to the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration to address potential impacts from brushing and grading activity to gnatcatcher occupied habitat. Mitigation Measure 3 reads as follows: 3. Grading or brushing activities in, or adjacent to, coastal sage scrub (or other habitat occupied by the gnatcatcher) must be restricted to that period outside of the breeding season for this bird, which extends from February 15th through August 30th annually. Surveys have been conducted for the 1998 breeding season and no further surveys shall be required should construction begin in the year 1999. The purpose of any additional surveys is to identify the location of any nesting site in order to avoid construction related noise impacts. A-5. Figure 8 of the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration depicts the direction and amount of drainage flows anticipated after the proposed project has been completed. As indicated in Figure 8, the primary drainage patterns will be maintained through the use of culverts that will allow the water to pass under the roadway. The locations of the drainage outlets for roadway runoff/storm drainage have not been identified at this time. The locations of the drainage outlets will be determined during final design and preparation of the drainage control plan for the project. The proposed project will be required to comply with NPDES practices and policies, as an NPDES permit will be required. A Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan will be required to be implemented as a condition of the permit as well. A majority of the project site and upland areas are utilized for agricultural operations that utilize fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides on a routine basis. Currently, there are no controls to reduce sediment loads from agricultural runoff, nor chemicals associated with pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Implementation of the proposed project will remove this area from agricultural production, and it is expected that the impact to adjacent water bodies will be less with implementation of the proposed project than under the existing condition. Pollutant loads from future roadway runoff are not anticipated to be significant. A-<5. Comment noted. The City anticipates further coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Fish and Game will be required should restoration be required as part of the biological mitigation plan. KI-6-98-CA-029 B-l July 13, 1998 TO: ASSOCIATE PLANNER, WESTMAN From: Park Development Coordinator FARADAY AVE. INITIAL STUDY COMMENTS Comment on: Mitigation Monitoring Program Checklist: pg. A: "Mitigation Measures': #1 This document recommends "optimal mitigation" of the coastal sage impacts within (he park sile north of (he proposed road. Currently, because of the golf course projec! and mitigation for Cannon Rd., only 100 acres (+/-) of Veteran's Memorial Park (VMP) remains out o( 288 acres of City property previously dedicated as parkland. The Parks and Recreation Element of the General Plan allocates 100 acres of VMP (25 acres / each quadrant) toward meeting the City's park requirements. If mitigation for Faraday takes away from the remaining 100 acre park site, we may not be able to meet the City's standards as currently planned. We recommend the "mitigation alternative" outlined In the chart to go off site to the Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank and purchase the required mitigation acreage. B-l. Comment noted. The City will pursue purchase of off-site mitigation from the Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank as the method to mitigate impacts from the Faraday Avenue project as the preferred method of mitigation. Mark Steyaert Associate Civil Engineer, Howard Recreation and Park Planning Manager Senior Management Analyst, CSD