HomeMy WebLinkAboutEIR 93-02; Green Valley; Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (67)AGENDA
PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING
Green Valley Master Plan Project City of Carlsbad
March 31, 1993
I. Introduction
City of Carlsbad staff will introduce the project team comprised of City of Carlsbad officials, project proponents and their engineers, and the environmental consultants (EIR preparers).
11. Presentation of Project
A. hfia
Project proponents will describe the proposed Master Plan and project objectives.
B . Environmental Review Process
The Coleman Planning Group will describe the overall environmental process, requirements and provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the environmental study topics, and the opportunities for public participation.
r 111. Open Discussion
City officials shall moderate and direct questions to the panel of staff and consultants.
IV. Close Meeting
After all questions have been addressed, City officials will close the meeting.
THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)
Public Scoping Meeting
Green Valley Master Plan, City of Carlsbad
CEQA AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Legislature enacted the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in 19'70, one year after Congress enacted its predecessor statute, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Since the enactment of CEQA, the environmental review process has also become a means by which the public interacts with decision-makers in developing policies affecting the environment.
The Basic Purposes of CEOA are to;
Inform governmental decision-makers and the public about the potential, significant environmental effects of proposed activities;
Identify the ways that environmental damage can be avoided or significantly reduced;
Prevent significant, avoidable damage to the environment by requiring changes in projects through the use of alternatives or mitigation measures when the governmental agency finds the changes to be feasible; and
Disclose to the public the reasons why a governmental agency approved the project in the manner the agency chose if si&icant environmental effects are involved.
(3overnmental Actipn - CEQA applies to governmental action. This action may involve:
1)
2)
3)
Activities directly undertaken by a governmental agency,
Activities financed in whole or in part by a governmental agency, or
Private activities which require approval hm a governmental agency.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EIR)
Probably the best known aspect of CEQA is its requirement that public agencies must prepare (or cause to be prepared by contract) an environmental impact report (EIR) whenever a proposed project may cause "significant [adverse] effects on the environment." An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is a public document used by the governmental agency to analyze the significant environmental effects of a proposed project, to identify alternatives, and to disclose possible ways to reduce or avoid the possible environmental damage.
An EIR is prepared when the public agency finds substantial evidence that the project may have a significant effect on the environment. When the agency finds that there is no substantial evidence that a project may have a significant environmental effect, the agency will prepare a "Negative Declaration" instead of an EIR.
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A significant effect on the environment is defined as a substantial adverse change in the physical conditions which exist in the area affected by the proposed project. When an EIR identifies a significant effect, the government agency approving the project must make findings on whether the adverse environmental effects have been substantially reduced or if not, why not.
Contents of an
EIR's must contain a discussion of specific topics as outlined in the Guidelines for the Implementation of CEQA prepared by the State Secretary of Resources. These guidelines are periodically updated to comply with changes in CEQA and court interpretation. EIR's must include a detailed statement setting forth the following:
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The significant environmental effects of the proposed project;
Any significant environmental effects which cannot be avoided if the project is implemented;
Mitigation measures proposed to minimize the significant environmental effects, including but not limited to measures to reduce wasteful, inefficient and unnecessary consumption of energy;
Alternatives to the proposed project;
The relationship between local short-term uses of man's environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-tern productivity (need be included only in EIRs associated with certain activities (see CEQA Section 15127);
Any significant, irreversible environmental changes which would be involved from the proposed project should it be implemented (need be included only in EIRs associated with certain activities (see CEQA Section 15127);
The growth-inducing impact of the proposed project;
Effects not found to be significant, and
Cumulative impacts (to be discussed when they are significant).
In addition to these required sections, a preliminary analysis of the project was conducted by City staff to determine the potential significant environmental issues which shall be addressed in detail in the EIR. These issues shall include the following:
1) Land Use Compatibility
2) Agriculture
3) Openspace
4) Biological Resources
P 5) Archaeological and Paleontological Resources
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c 6) Geology/Soils
7) Hydrologyjwater Quality
8) Visual QualityLandform Alteration
9) Circulation
10) Noise
11) AirQuality
12) Public Servicefltilities
13) Cumulative Impacts
14) Growth Inducement
15) Alternatives to the Proposed Project
Other issues may be identified as a result of public scoping.
When completed, the document entitled Or@ Environmental Impact Report will be made available for review by the public and public agencies for 45 days to critique the EIR and gather additional information not covered in it. This document will then be finalized to include written responses to verbal and written comments received during the public review period. In open public hearings, the Planning Commission will consider the Final EIR in approving or disapproving the project. Public input is encouraged at these hearings.
The Green Valley Draft and Final EIR, when completed, will be available at the City of Carlsbad Planning Department (2075 Las Palmas Drive) and at the City library.
The EIR by itself does not control the way in which a project can be built or carried out. Rather, when an EIR shows that a project would cause substantial adverse changes in the environment, the governmental agency must respond to the information by one or more of the following methods:
1) Changing a proposed project;
2) Imposing conditions on the approval of the project;
3) Adopting plans or ordinances to control a broader class of projects to avoid the adverse changes;
4) Choosing an alternative way of meeting the same need,
5) Disapproving the project;
6) Finding that changing or altering the project is not feasible;
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- 7) Finding that the unavoidable significant environmental damage is acceptable as provided in Section 15093. ("Statement of Overriding Considerations" - If the benefits of a proposed project outweigh the unavoidable adverse environmental effects, the adverse environmental effects may be considered "acceptable.")
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
"Public participation is an essential part of the CEQA process. Each public agency should include provisions in its CEQA procedures for wide public involvement, formal and informal, consistent with its existing activities and procedures, in order to receive and evaluate public reactions to environmental issues related to the agency's activities." (CEQA Guidelines, Sect. 1520 1)
ScoDing:
CEQA authorizes and encourages but does not require early consultation with the public. This early consultation is termed "scoping". Many public agencies have found that early consultation solves many potential problems that would arise in more serious forms later in the review process.
Scoping has been helpful to agencies in identifying the range of actions, alternatives, mitigation measures, and significant effects to be analyzed in depth and in eliminating from detailed study issues found not to be important.
Scoping has also been found to be an effective way to bring together and resolve the concerns of affected federal, state, and local agencies, the proponent of the action, and other interested persons including those who might not be in accord with the action on environmental grounds.
Your participation is highly encouraged at tonight's public scoping meeting.
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