HomeMy WebLinkAboutPP 24E; Plaza Camino Real Bus Turnout; Precise Plan (PP) (3)ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FORM - PART II
(TO BE COMPLETED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT)
CASE NO. PDF 24(E)
DATE: DECEMBER 26. 1990
BACKGROUND
1. CASE NAME: Plaza Camino Real Bus Turnout
2. APPLICANT: North County Transit District
3. ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF APPLICANT: 311 South Tremont
Oceanside. CA 92054
967-2828
4. DATE EIA FORM PART I SUBMITTED: September 28. 1990
5. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Precise Development Plan Amendment to modify the existing NCTD
transfer/pickup parking area at Plaza Camino Real.
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
(insig)
NO
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
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BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
WILL THE PROPOSAL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY: YES YES NO(sigj (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?
15. Affect the diversity of species, habitat
or numbers of any species of animals (birds,
land animals, all water dwelling organisms
and insects?
16. 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 NO(sig) (msig)
17. Alter the present or planned land use
of an area? X
18. Substantially affect public utilities,
schools, police, fire, emergency or other
public services?
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HUMAN ENVIRONMENT
WILL THE PROPOSAL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY:
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 waterborne, 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?
insig)NO
X
X
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MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE
WILL THE PROPOSAL DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY: YES YES NO(msig)(sig) (msig)
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.
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
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DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION
This project is a Precise Development Plan Amendment to modify the existing North County Transit District
(NCTD) bus transfer/pick up parking area at Plaza Camino Real. The NCTD has the capability of providing
a maximum of five buses at a time with the current parking lot design. The proposed revision would create
adequate space for eight buses at a time while eliminating bus, pedestrian and automobile conflicts which
currently exist because the buses must travel through the existing parking lot to exit onto Marron Road. The
additional three bus parking spaces created through this proposed revision will be necessary for purposes of
responding to anticipated bus ridership demand. For this environmental analysis, staff conducted several field
trips to the project site. In that; (1) the parking lot currently exists, (2) there are no sensitive environmental
resources located upon or in close proximity to it, (3) the improved bus service will reduce automobile traffic
and pedestrian/vehicular traffic conflicts, no environmental impacts are anticipated. There were no public
comments received in response to the Notice for a Negative Declaration.
Physical Environment
1-4. Because the project site is already developed with a parking lot, and no significant grading activities
are proposed with this project, no geologic, topographic or soil erosion impact are anticipated.
5. In that this project will create three more bus parking bays for the NCTD at Plaza Camino Real, the
potential exists for automobile trip generation to the mall to be reduced and air quality to be improved
consistent with the Regional Air Quality Strategies.
6. This project, which may result in reduced automobile traffic generation, should not effect or have any
substantial negative impacts upon air movement, odor, moisture or temperature.
7. This project will not change the course or flow of waters as no streams are located in the immediate
area and all drainage waters will be handled by existing drainage facilities.
8. In that the site is already developed and existing drainage facilities exist, no impacts to surface water,
groundwater or public water supplies are anticipated.
9. Implementation of this project, (construction, paving, operation) will incrementally contribute to the
depletion of fossil fuels. This incremental impact is not regarded as significant.
10. See #9 above.
11. This previously developed site does not have a significant potential of containing archaeological or
paleontological objects which have not already been mitigated.
12. The only vegetation that exists on site is parking lot landscaping.
13. Since there is no vegetation (other than parking lot landscaping) on site, no impacts to native species
are anticipated.
14. Implementation of this project will not reduce the amount or acreage of any agricultural crop or affect
farmland of state or local importance.
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n.
DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION (confdl
15. Since the site is already developed, no impacts upon species diversity or habitat will result from the
development of the proposed project.
16. No impacts to animal movement or migration will result from this project since the site is already
developed.
Human Environment
17. The proposed project will result in a modification to an existing use already on the project site.
Therefore, no land use impacts are anticipated.
18. This project will create no increased demand for public utilities.
19. This project will create no increased demand for-sewer, solid or hazardous waste facilities.
20. Construction and operation of this project will not create significant noise impacts upon surrounding
commercial uses.
21. Parking lot lighting proposed with this project will have a positive effect on surrounding commercial
uses in that it will enhance the night visibility of the bus pick up/transfer area of Plaza Camino Real.
22. The risks associated with explosions, oil or gas leaks from transit vehicles at this site are not regarded
as significant.
23. This project will increase mass transit opportunities to and from this site. However, no population
impacts from modification of the parking facilities are expected.
24. This project will have no impacts upon housing.
25. This project may reduce automobile traffic since more mass transit opportunities to Plaza Camino Real
will be created.
26. Implementation of this project will delete a total of 21 on site vehicle parking spaces. However, this
reduction has been more than compensated for by the 750 additional parking spaces created at Plaza
Camino Real through the 1989 Plaza Camino Real parking lot restriping program.
27. This project will incrementally effect present circulation patterns at Plaza Camino Real because an
existing shopping center automobile/bus entry/exit off of Marron Road will be restricted to bus use
only. However, there are other adequate available accessways for vehicular traffic. In addition, this
revision will decrease pedestrian/vehicular and vehicular/bus conflicts in that buses will no longer have
to travel through the parking lot to exit onto Marron Road. Pedestrian/vehicular conflicts will likely
also be reduced in that pedestrian traffic associated with bus ridership will be more fully controlled
through the redesign of the bus waiting area.
28. This project will have no impacts upon water, rail or air traffic.
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DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION (confer)
29. Traffic conflicts (hazards) will be reduced as discussed above.
30. This project will not interfere with emergency response plans.
31. The project will not obstruct any scenic vista, and will create an improved appearance over the existing
situation.
32. This project will have no effect upon recreational opportunities.
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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) This project will be constructed in a single phase. Modification of the NCTD bus transfer/pick up
area in more than one phase is not practical.
b) The NCTD, in coordination with May Centers and the City of Carlsbad, has considered alternative
designs. The proposed design creates no significant environmental impacts while accomplishing the
NCTD's goal of providing three additional bus parking bays and a "buses only" access drive on site.
c)
IN^IIJS goal or providing tnree additional DUS parxing Days and a ouses omy access dnve on sire.
An alternate scale of the project would not be an environmentally superior alternative since the
project must be designed to comply with Citywide Engineering standards and there are no impacts
associated with the proposed project.
d) This project will modify the existing NCTD pick up/transfer area already existing on site. No
alternate use for the site would be preferable.
e) This project is being proposed at this time in response to an existing service demand. Development
at some future time has no apparent environmental advantages since the site is currently developed
with a similar use.
f) Other sites within the Plaza Camino Real parking lot were reviewed. However, relative to the
identified ridership demand and particular service needs, this site was determined to be most
preferable.
g) The no project alternative will not satisfy the existing demand for additional, updated transit service
facilities at Plaza Camino Real.
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DETERMINATION (To Be Completed By The Planning Department)
On the basis of this initial evaluation:
_X 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.
J
Date Signature
Date ' Planning Director
LIST MITIGATING MEASURES CIF APPLICABLE)
ATTACH MITIGATION MONITORING PROGRAM fIF APPLICABLE)
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III
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
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