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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCD/GPC 91-01; Carlsbad Boulevard Seawall; Planning Comm Determ/Gen Plan Consis (PCD/GPC) (4)ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FORM - PART II (TO BE COMPLETED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT) CASE NO. PCD/GPC 91-1 DATE: January 22. 1991 BACKGROUND 1. CASE NAME: Carlsbad Boulevard Seawall 2. APPLICANT: City of Carlsbad 3. ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF APPLICANT: 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad. CA 92009 C619) 438-1161 4. DATE EIA FORM PART I SUBMITTED: July 27. 1990 5. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Shoreline protection measures designed to protect Carlsbad Boulevard from storm damage. Involves the construction of 2,200 foot long. 3.5 foot high seawall with access points and an art design, a similar seawall 290 feet in length and slope stabilization. The project area is on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard adjacent to Agua Hedionda Lagoon. 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 or Negative Declaration. * 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. On the checklist, "NO" will be checked to indicate this determination. * An EIR must be prepared if the City determines that there is substantial evidence that any aspect of the project may cause a significant effect on the environment. The project may qualify for a Negative Declaration however, if adverse impacts are mitigated so that environmental effects can be deemed insignificant. These findings are shown in the checklist under the headings "YES-sig" and "YES-insig" respectively. 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. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT WILL THE PROPOSAL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY:YES (sig) YES NO (insig) 1. Result in unstable earth conditions or increase the exposure of people or property to geologic hazards? 2. Appreciably change the topography or any unique physical features? 3. Result in or be affected by erosion of soils either on or off the site? 4. Result in changes in the deposition of beach sands, or modification of the channel of a river or stream or the bed of the ocean or any bay, inlet or lake? 5. Result in substantial adverse effects on ambient air quality? 6. Result in substantial changes in air movement, odor, moisture, or temperature? 7. Substantially change the course or flow of water (marine, fresh or flood waters)? 8. Affect the quantity or quality of surface water, ground water or public water supply? 9. Substantially increase usage or cause depletion of any natural resources? 10. Use substantial amounts of fuel or energy? 11. Alter a significant archeological, paleontological or historical site, structure or object? X X X X X X -2- BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT WILL THE PROPOSAL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY: YES YES NO (sig) (insig) 12. Affect the diversity of species, habitat or numbers of any species of plants (including trees, shrubs, grass, microflora and aquatic plants)? X 13. Introduce new species of plants into an area, or a barrier to the normal replenishment of existing species? X 14. Reduce the amount of acreage of any agricultural crop or affect prime, unique or other farmland of state or local importance? 18. Substantially affect public utilities, schools, police, fire, emergency or other public services? 15. Affect the diversity of species, habitat or numbers of any species of animals (birds, land animals, all water dwelling organisms and insects? X 16. Introduce new species of animals into an area, or result in a barrier to the migration or movement of animals? X HUMAN ENVIRONMENT WILL THE PROPOSAL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY: YES YES NO (sig) (insig) 17. Alter the present or planned land use of an area? X -3- *HUMAN ENVIRONMENT WILL THE PROPOSAL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY:YES (sig) YES (insig) NO 19. Result in the need for new or modified sewer systems, solid waste or hazardous waste control systems? 20. Increase existing noise levels? 21. Produce new light or glare? 22. Involve a significant risk of an explosion or the release of hazardous substances (including, but not limited to, oil, pesticides, chemicals or radiation)? 23. Substantially alter the density of the human population of an area? 24. Affect existing housing, or create a demand for additional housing? 25. Generate substantial additional traffic? 26. Affect existing parking facilities, or create a large demand for new parking? 27. Impact existing transportation systems or alter present patterns of circulation or movement of people and/or goods? 28. Alter waterbome, rail or air traffic? 29. Increase traffic hazards to motor vehicles, bicyclists or pedestrians? 30. Interfere with emergency response plans or emergency evacuation plans? 31. Obstruct any scenic vista or create an aesthetically offensive public view? 32. Affect the quality or quantity of existing recreational opportunities? X X X X X X X X X X X X -4- MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE WILL THE PROPOSAL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY: YES YES NO (sig) (insig) 33. Does the project have the potential to substantially degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wild- life 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 en- dangered plant or animal, or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory. X 34. Does the project have the potential to achieve short-term, to the dis- advantage of long-term, environmental goals? (A short-term impact on the environment is one which occurs in a relatively brief, definitive period of time while long-term impacts will endure well into the future.) X 35. Does the project have the possible environmental effects which are in- dividually limited but cumulatively considerable? ("Cumulatively con- siderable" means that the incremental effects of an individual 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.) X 36. Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? X -5- DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION Project Description This project involves the protection of the improvements and utilities associated with the recent Carlsbad Boulevard widening. The City Council declared its intent of reconstructing and widening Carlsbad Boulevard through Council Resolution No. 7770 after the storm damage of the 1983 winter season. The Carlsbad Boulevard widening was intended to be followed by the implementation of an unspecified shore protection measure. A feasibility study was performed by Woodward-Clyde Consultants to assess various shore protection measures. Ultimately, a vertical, anchored steel sheet pile wall with a concrete cap was identified as the most effective and cost-beneficial shore protection measure. City Council Resolution No. 90-242, approved in July 1990, approved a consultant agreement with Woodward-Clyde to prepare the design for the Carlsbad Boulevard shore protection project. The project area, as shown on Attachment "A", is approximately 2,600 feet in length on the west side of existing Carlsbad Boulevard between the inflow jetty on the north side of Agua Hedionda Lagoon and the warm water outflow jetty on the south side of the lagoon. This stretch of beach is the area of Carlsbad Boulevard's lowest elevation averaging +13 to +16 feet above Mean Sea Level Datum. The average beach width is 150 to 200 feet with one to six inch diameter cobbles covered by a thin summer time sand layer averaging one to three feet in thickness which gets removed during the winter wave season. All these factors result in the periodic overtopping and washing out of Carlsbad Boulevard during episodes of high tides and high wave conditions. This stretch of Carlsbad Boulevard has historically been washed out during such events resulting in the closure of Carlsbad Boulevard and costly repairs. The Carlsbad Boulevard improvements that require protection include a divided roadway with a median, parallel parking on the west side, sidewalks on both sides, landscaping and lighting. In addition, there are utilities including a 12 inch water main, a four inch H.P. gas main, telephone lines, electrical lines and storm drains. The wall selected and being proposed is approximately 2,200 feet long with a vertical, anchored steel sheet pile wall with a concrete cap which will tie into the existing rock revetments near the jetties at each end of the project area. There will be five recessed breaks in the wall to allow for beach access approximately every 300 feet in the form of three vehicle access ramps and two stairways. Funding for this project is anticipated from the State of California, Department of Boating and Waterways and appropriated funds from the City of Carlsbad. This main seawall will feature an art design on the straight-away sections and amenities within the vehicle ramp areas including one foot raised viewing platforms, benches, trash receptacles, palm tree, lifeguard tower and drinking fountains. These features are shown on Attachments "B" - "D". As also shown on Attachment "A", there are two other components to the Carlsbad Boulevard shore protection project. One is another wall, structurally similar to the one already described, about 290 feet in length located between the south side of the warm water outflow jetty and the smaller finger jetty to the south. The other component is some new rock revetment to be tied into the existing bluff and bedrock toe approximately 380 feet in length located south of the small finger jetty. This project includes the acquisition of easements from San Diego Gas and Electric and State Lands to implement the scope of the proposed shore protection measures. The primary environmental issue is potential visual/aesthetic impacts. -6- DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION Ccont'd') Physical Environment 1. No unstable earth conditions will result from the construction of the proposed seawall. The seawall's location is on a natural barrier beach with no known seismic activity. No geologic hazards, therefore, will be exposed to people or property. The component of this project involving the rock revetment on the slope adjacent to the southbound lanes of Carlsbad Boulevard is designed to stabilize that slope from otherwise imminent failure. Therefore, this part of the project will reverse an unstable earth condition and eliminate the potential of slope failure and possible damage to Carlsbad Boulevard and people. 2. The predominately flat beach topography will not be altered by the construction of the seawall or the placement of the proposed rock revetment. The proposed slope stabilization with rock revetment also will not alter the existing topography. No unique physical features are located in the project area. 3. The slope to be stabilized on the south end of the project area will not experience any more erosion which could lead to its failure. With Carlsbad Boulevard on the east side of the seawall and beach sands on the west side, the erosion of soils on or off the site is not a pertinent issue. 4. The proposed project will not cause the modification of a river or stream bed or the modification of the bottom of the Pacific Ocean or Agua Hedionda Lagoon. There will be some changes in the deposition of beach sands. Carlsbad Boulevard, in its current unprotected state, experiences episodic overwash conditions during high tide/high wave events. Also, with the dominant northwest winds which can reach gale force levels, beach sands get blown over Carlsbad Boulevard and ultimately into Agua Hedionda Lagoon. The seawall is designed for the episodic overwash events which occur with an approximate frequency of every 3-5 years. The overwash carries beach sands and debris which combined with the sea water and its associated storm force, will damage Carlsbad Boulevard and adjacent improvements. The seawall will also act as a barrier to wind blown beach sands crossing Carlsbad Boulevard. The barrier effect of the seawall will also indirectly enhance the adjacent area of Agua Hedionda Lagoon by preventing the eventual deposition of beach sands which can lead to adverse physical and biological conditions. 5. The construction of the seawall may create an insignificant short term impact to air quality by the operation of machinery. The seawall itself and associated improvements/ amenities will have no impact on air quality. 6. The project will have no impact to air movement, odor, moisture or temperature. 7. The proposed seawall will have no interaction with the water of Agua Hedionda Lagoon. By design, the seawall will act as a barrier to the onshore flow of ocean water during overwash and storm events. 8. The construction of the seawall will not involve any contact with the underlying water table. Surface water and public water supplies will not be affected, however, through irrigation, public water will be used for some of the seawall's amenities (landscaping, drinking fountains). 9. The project does not involve the usage or depletion of any natural resources. -7- DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION (confdl 10. The only use of fuel and energy associated with this project will be during construction and is not a significant impact. 11. There are no archaeological, paleontological or cultural objects or structures on this beach site. Biological Environment 12/13 The project site does not contain any plant species or habitats. Palm trees will be used for landscaping. 14. The project site is not associated with any agricultural lands or crops. 15/l6The project site does not contain any animal species or habitats. No new animal species will be introduced and the seawall will not act as a barrier to animal movement since the site does not currently act as a corridor for animal movement/migration. Human Environment 17. The proposed project is consistent with the Open Space land use designation. 18. The seawall and associated amenities will be adequately served by existing City facilities and services for water, police patrol, maintenance, etc. 19. The project will not have any additional demand for sewer or solid waste systems. No hazardous waste will be involved with or generated by the project. 20. Noise levels may be increased during the construction of the seawall but no significant, long term noise impacts will result from the project. 21. Carlsbad Boulevard is already lighted and no new source of light or glare are proposed. 22. Standard construction techniques will be used for the seawall so no risk of explosion or upset is anticipated. 23/24The project will have no impact on the area's density or housing demands. 25/26The project will not impact the southbound traffic flow on Carlsbad Boulevard or reduce the number of parking spaces adjacent to the sidewalk. Due to the proposed amenities there may be an increase in the number of pedestrians and general public using the area for recreation. 27. The project is designed to protect Carlsbad Boulevard and its improvements from damage by the ocean so it will aid in the circulation and movement of goods and people that Carlsbad Boulevard provides. 28. Waterborne, rail and air traffic will not be affected by the proposed seawall and associated improvements. The project site is not involved in any way with these forms of transportation. -8- DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION (cont'd') 29. Traffic hazards will not be increased to motor vehicles or bicyclists. The project will not impact the existing roadway or bicycle lane of Carlsbad Boulevard. Pedestrian traffic hazards may be reduced since the seawall's design allows for pedestrian use and flow. 30. The seawall is designed to allow for efficient emergency response in the form of three ramps for lifeguard truck access to the beach. 31. The 3.5 foot high seawall will not obstruct the ocean view from approximately car level observation The wall presents a potential for the creation of an offensive public view. This potential impact has been reduced to insignificance due to the seawall's design which incorporates an art element. As shown on Attachment "B", the proposed fish pattern will add an aesthetic component to the long linear portions of the wall. The design of the three life guard ramp areas include amenities and a palm tree to improve the wall's usage and appearance. The project's budget included the contracting of an artist to develop the seawall's aesthetics/art design. The development of the art design from its conceptual stages was reviewed by the City's Municipal Projects Department as well as the Planning Department. The design was also reviewed and approved by the City's Arts Commission and Public Art Committee which both represent citizen input and approval of public art. The wall's design will also feature the application of graffiti-proof treatment. 32. The quality and quantity of existing recreational opportunities will be improved by the proposed amenities including drinking fountains, benches and viewing ramps. Pedestrian access to the beach will be provided by two pedestrian ramps as well as the three lifeguard ramps. The viewing ramps and drinking fountains and overall design of the seawall allow for handicap accessibility and usage. -9- ANALYSIS OF VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT SUCH AS: a) Phased development of the project, b) alternate site designs, c) alternate scale of development, d) alternate uses for the site, e) development at some future time rather than now, f) alternate sites for the proposed, and g) no project alternative. a) Phasing the development of the seawall is not necessary nor desirable since that would provide for only partial protection of Carlsbad Boulevard. Phasing the proposed amenities (art design) would also be non-desirable and could lead to significant visual impacts. b) The proposed site design incorporates art design and function to protect Carlsbad Boulevard. Other shore protection measures were assessed but the proposed seawall's type and size were determined to be the most effective and cost beneficial. c) A smaller scale seawall may not provide the required degree of protection while a larger scale seawall would be an excessive shore protection measure. d) No other uses are appropriate on this site. The proposed project allows for pedestrian flow, beach access and usage, handicap accessibility to the beach area, lifeguard operations and the opportunity for public art. e&g) Development at some future time or the no project alternative would leave Carlsbad Boulevard in its current unprotected state which is not the intent of the City Council. f) N/A -10- DETERMINATION (To Be Completed By The Planning Department) On the basis of this initial evaluation: J£ I find 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 Conditional Negative Declaration will be proposed. I find the proposed project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required. /•Z'B •*?/ Date Signat Date EM:rvo LIST MITIGATING MEASURES CIF APPLICABLE") ATTACH MITIGATION MONITORING PROGRAM CIF APPLICABLE") -11- APPLICANT CONCURRENCE WITH MITIGATING 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 Signature -12-