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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPIP 94-02; Carlsbad Airport Centre Lot 36; Planned Industrial Permit (PIP) (14)ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FORM - PART II (TO BE COMPLETED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT) CASE NO. PIP 94-02 DATE: SeDtember 19. 1994 BACKGROUND 1. CASE NAME: Carlsbad Airport Centre Lot 36 2. APPLICANT: Four-Sher DeveloDment Company 3. ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF APPLICANT: 990 Highland Drive. Suite 202. Solana Beach. CA 92075 (6 19) 792-8800 4. DATE EIA FORM PART I SUBMI’ITED: SeDtember 7. 1994 5. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Construction of a 103.982 sauare foot two story concrete tilt-up warehouse, distribution and office building on a 5.5 acre site in the Carlsbad Airport Centre. 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 insipnificant. 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 YES (&) (big) NO 1. Result in unstable earth conditions or increase the exposure of people or property to geologic hazards? X X X Appreciably change the topography or any unique physical features? 2. 3. 4. Result in or be affected by erosion of soils either on or off the site? 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? X X 5. 6. Result in substantial adverse effects on ambient air quality? Result in substantial changes in air movement, odor, moisture, or temperature? X 7. Substantially change the course or flow of water (marine, fresh or flood waters)? X 8. Affect the quantity or quality of surface water, ground water or public water supply? X 9. Substantially increase usage or cause depletion of any natural resources? X X 10. 11. Use substantial amounts of fuel or energy? Alter a significant archeological, paleontological or historical site, structure or object? X -2- ih -~ BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT WILL THE PROPOSAL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY: Affect the diversity of species, habitat or numbers of any species of plants (including trees, shrubs, grass, microflora and aquatic plants)? Introduce new species of plants into an area, or a barrier to the normal replenishment of existing species? Reduce the amount of acreage of any agricultural crop or affect prime, unique or other farmland of state or local importance? Affect the diversity of species, habitat or numbers of any species of animals (birds, land animals, all water dwelling organisms and insects? Introduce new species of animals into an area, or result in a barrier to the migration or movement of animals? HUMAN ENVIRONMENT WILL THE PROPOSAL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY: YES YES (si& (eg) 17. Alter the present or planned land use of an area? 18. Substantially affect public utilities, schools, police, fire, emergency or other public services? NO X X X X X NO X X -3- 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. Result in the need for new or modified sewer systems, solid waste or hazardous waste control systems? Increase existing noise levels? Produce new light or glare? Involve a significant risk of an explosion or the release of hazardous substances (including, but not limited to, oil, pesticides, chemicals or radiation)? Substantially alter the density of the human population of an area? Affect existing housing, or create a demand for additional housing? Generate substantial additional traffic? Affect existing parking facilities, or create a large demand for new parking? Impact existing transportation systems or alter present patterns of circulation or movement of people and/or goods? Alter waterborne, rail or air traffic? Increase traffic hazards to motor vehicles, bicyclists or pedestrians? Interfere with emergency response plans or emergency evacuation plans? Obstruct any scenic vista or create an aesthetically offensive public view? Affect the quality or quantity of existing recreational opportunities? -\ ..- HUMAN ENVIRONMENT WILL THE PROPOSAL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY: YES YES X NO X X X X X X X X X X X X X -4- .- e MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE WILL THE PROPOSAL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY: YES YES (a) (big) 33. Does the project have the potential to substantially 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. 34. Does the project have the potential to achieve short-term, to the disadvantage of long-term, environmental goals? (A short-term impact on the environment is one which occurs in a rekatuvekt brief, definitive period of time while long-term impacts will endure well into the future.) 35. Does the project have the possible environ- mental effects which are individually limited but cumulatively considerable? ("Cumulatively considerable" means that the incremental effects of an individual 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.) 36. Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? NO X X X X -5- DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION The proposed project consists of constructing a 103,982 square foot, two-story, concrete tilt-up warehouse/distribution/office building on a 5.5 acre previously graded lot in the Carlsbad Airport Centre. The property can accommodate the building while meeting setbacks, lot coverage, and other development standards. No significant vegetation or wildlife exist on the property. Previously graded slopes along the east and north sides of the site will be altered to create a larger pad area. Retaining walls 1-8 feet in height will be constructed. Additional landscaping will be added to the site to improve the visual appearance of the project. The area to the north, south and west are developed with airport uses and an industrial building; the area to the east is vacant. The vacant site will be developed consistent with the specific plan which will be compatible with the proposed project. DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. No seismic hazards exist on the lot and no unstable earth conditions exist on the site. Only minor grading will occur on the site as the pad is already created. The project will not change any unique physical feature on the site. No significant soil erosion is expected. All slopes will be adequately landscaped and drainage on the pad will be directed to a drainage swale along the southern portion of the site. The project is not located near any water bodies or courses. The air quality will not be adversely affected due to a low Average Daily Traffic count of 820 vehicles. Operation of the business will have minimal affects, as no emissions are expected from operation of machinery. On site lunch areas will be provided to encourage less vehicle trips to and from the site. Operation of the business will be conducted indoors and no high output of moisture, odors, or temperature changes due to machinery is proposed. Same as #4. No ground water or public water supply, other than potable/reclaimed water lines, are in the vicinity. Surface water runoff will be filtered through a grass swale before entering storm drains. No known natural resources exist on the site. Because the site will be used primarily for warehousing, no substantial use of fuel or energy is expected. Energy conservation measures such as SDG&E approved light fixtures and high efficiency heat pumps, and use of dual pained windows will be incorporated into the building. No archeological, paleontological, or historical sites exist on the project site. -6- h -\ BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT 12-16. The site is a pregraded, exposed pad without any native vegetation. The slopes on the property contain non-native grasses and groundcover. Additional shrubs and trees and low lying ground cover will be added to the site. Because the site is surrounded by pregraded or developed pads and no undisturbed sites containing native vegetation are in the vicinity, no native plant species will be disturbed and the natural ecosystem will not be significantly impacted. The property does not contain any existing farmland. Due to the size, location, and characteristics, the property is not ideal for supporting a wide variety of large numbers of fauna, and none have been sited on the site. The surrounding development has already eliminated any potential for the migratory movement of animals. HUMAN ENVIRONMENT 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. The project will not alter the present or planned land use of the area. The project will not substantially affect public utilities, schools, police, fire, emergency or other public facilities as the site is relatively small (5.5 acres). The building will be connected to an existing sewer line located on Kellogg Avenue, without modifications to the sewer system. The use will not require additional solid waste or hazardous waste control systems. All business operations will be conducted in doors and the machinery noise will not be significant. Any exterior lighting will be directed downward so as not to flood onto the adjacent properties. No excessive amounts of explosives will be stored. Any flammable materials stored on the site must obtain the appropriate approvals through the appropriate jurisdictions. No residential development is associated with this development. The densities in the City are influenced by other factors, such as residential densities attributed to the land use designation. The project could produce a slight increase in demand for additional housing, but existing housing in the City should accommodate and increased demand. The project is estimated to create an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) generation of 820 vehicles, which is well below all of the impacted streets' capacity. All of the needed parking will be provided on site. The project is designed to function under the existing transportation system. No waterborne or rail traffic are in the vicinity. The project is located in the Airport Influence Area, and is in conformance with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan for McClellan-Palomar Airport. -7- 29. 30. 31. 32. The site is located on Kellogg Avenue which has been designed to handle traffic similar to the proposed use. No traffic conflicts are anticipated from the proposed use. Any emergency evacuation plans will still be equally effective and operational with the building in place. The loading bays will be oriented away from Kellogg Avenue. The rear of the project site backs up to the McClellan-Palomar Airport, visual impacts will be minimized by landscaping of slopes, landscaping along parking areas and the architectural details provided in building design. No scenic vistas will be obstructed and the development will not create an offensive public view. The property contains no existing recreational space nor is it planned for recreation uses. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE 33-36. The property is currently zoned and designed to accommodate an industrial building. The site has been previously graded to accommodate an industrial building. The pad is void of native vegetation and is surrounded by previously graded pads and industrial buildings. No water bodies or native plant species exist on the site or on abutting properties, and therefore, no habitat for fish and wildlife will be lost. No endangered plant or animals have been identified on the site nor any examples of California history or prehistory. No short or long term impacts are anticipated because the site is already disturbed. The site is part of a larger Specific Plan (Carlsbad Airport Center (SP 181(A)) which is partially developed. Once all of the undeveloped areas encompassing the specific plan area are developed, traffic impacts will increase. The roads, however, are designed to handle the increased traffic. On site lunch areas are incorporated into the project in order to reduce travel to and from the project site. No substantial effects to human beings are anticipated, since the building is not permitted to store materials in any way which would be hazardous to the building's occupants. -8- 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 project, and g) no project alternative. The project is too small to phase. Alternative designs could be explored, but changes to the design would not necessarily improve the environment since no detrimental effects to the environment are projected under the current design. The current proposal complies with the setbacks and allowed building coverage for the lot. The scale of the building could be reduced, but no environmental benefits would derive from such a reduction. The property is zoned for the proposed use. Alternative uses, including agriculture, are not the highest and best use for this particular location. There are no known advantages or benefits to development in the future rather than today. Alternate sites would include other lots in the CM or PM zones which are designed to accommodate the same use. The same impacts associated with the proposed location would occur on these other sites. The no project alternative is unnecessary and in conflict with the intended land use. -9- P DETERMINATION (To Be Completed By The Planning Department) X On the basis of this initial evaluation: h I fmd the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, because the environmental effects of the proposed project have already been considered in conjunction with previously certified environmental documents and no additional environmental review is required. Therefore, a Notice of Determination has been 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. Date bate Signature LIST MITIGATING MEASURES (IF APPLICABLE) ATTACH MITIGATION MONITORING PROGRAM (IF APPLICABLE) -10- 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 -1 1-