HomeMy WebLinkAboutEIR 93-02; Green Valley; Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (52)-. -
r
STATE OF CALIFORNIA-THE RESOURCES AGENCY PETE WILSON, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION - DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION
DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY
DIVISION OF OIL AND GAS
DIVISION OF RECYCLING
801 K Street, MS 24-01
Sacramento, CA 358143528
Phone (9 1 6) 322-1 080
May 10, 1993
Mr. Christer Westman City of Carlsbad
2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, CA 92009
Subject: Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Green Valley Master Plan.
SCH# 93041014
The Department of Conservation has reviewed the City of Carlsbadls NOP for the project referenced above. A 281 acre
residences, 18-hole golf course, and commercial uses. There are no Williamson Act contracts on the site. The Department is responsible for monitoring farmland conversion on a statewide basis and also administers the California Land Conservation (Williamson) Act. Since development of the Master Plan could have environmental impacts on agricultural lands, the Department offers the following comments.
rc parcel will be developed for single and multiple family
The loss of prime agricultural land should be identified and treated as a significant environmental impact. The California Code of Regulations (Section 15000 et seq., Appendix G (y)) states that a project will normally have a significant effect on the environment if it will convert prime agricultural land to non-agricultural use or impair the agricultural productivity of prime agricultural land. The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) should provide information on the number of acres of agricultural land to be developed, the potential agricultural value of the site, the impacts of farmland conversion, and possible mitigation actions. Specifically, we recommend that the DEIR contain the following information to ensure the adequate assessment of impacts in these areas.
0 The agricultural character of the planning area, including:
- Types and relative yields of crops grown. - Agricultural potential of the area's soils, as defined by the Department of Conservation's Important Farmland series map designations.
,
Mr. Westman
May 10, 1993 Page Two
r'
0
0
,-
0
Impacts related to soil erosion. The Department recommends
that a soil erosion and sedimentation control plan be
developed for the project by a Certified Professional
Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) Specialist. A
directory of CPESC specialists is enclosed. In addition, the Department recommends that the following information be included regarding the project site:
- Soil types and inherent erodibilities (water and wind).
A map of the project area, which shows potential as
well as actual erosion, should be included in this
discussion.
proposed grading. - Slopes and slope lengths, both before and after
- Vegetative cover, both before and after development. - Wind speeds, as well as duration and distance of
exposure in direction of prevailing winds. - Predictions of the amount of water and wind induced soil erosion that will likely occur due to land disturbances that would result from development and use of the site.
Farmland Conversion Impacts.
- The type, amount and location of farmland conversion
- The impacts on current and future agricultural
- The cumulative and growth-inducing impacts of the plan.
that would result from implementation of the master
plan.
operations.
Mitigation measures and alternatives that would lessen
farmland conversion impacts. A public agency must adopt a reporting or monitoring program for adopted project changes which mitigate or avoid significant efforts on the environment (Chapter 1232, Statutes of 1988 (AB 3180)). Some of the possibilities are:
- Increasing densities or clustering residential units to allow a greater portion of proposed development sites to remain in agricultural production.
greenbelts and open space areas to separate farmland
from urban uses. Many communities have considered 300
feet as a sufficient buffer for impacts such as pesticide spraying, noise and dust. - Adopting a farmland protection program that utilizes such land use planning tools as transfer of development
rights, purchase of development rights or conservation
easements, agricultural impact fees and farmland trusts.
- Establishing buffers such as setbacks, berms,
? Mr. Westman May 10, 1993
Page Three
f"
The Department appreciates the opportunity to comment on the
NOP.
adequate consideration in the DEIR. If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to call me at (916) 445-8733.
We hope that the farmland conversion impacts are given
Sincerely,
E. Oliva Environmental Program Coordinator
cc: Kenneth E. Trott Office of Land Conservation
Upper San Luis Rey Resource Conservation District