HomeMy WebLinkAboutEA 2021-0017; ECR ARENAL TO LA COSTA CIP 6051; Admin Decision LetterMemorandum
December 14, 2021
To:
From:
Via
Re:
Brandon Miles, Associate Engineer
Christina M. Bustamante, Associate Planner
EA 2021-0017 (PUB 2021-0012}-ECR Arenal to La Costa CIP 6051
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Carlsbad
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Thank you for submitting an Early Assessment for roadway improvements to El Camino Real between
Arenal Road and La Costa Avenue project. The project site is located on El Camino Real betwee.n Arenal
Road and La Costa Avenue, adjacent to the Batiquitos Lagoon and includes a bridge segment of El
Camino Real that crosses over the lagoon inlet.
In response to your application, the Planning Division has prepared this comment letter. Please note
that the purpose of an Early Assessment is to provide you with direction and comments on the overall
concept of your project. This Early Assessment does not represent an in-depth analysis of your project.
It is intended to give you feedback on critical issues based upon the information provided in your
submittal. This review is based upon the plans, policies, and standards in effect as of the date of this
review. Please be aware that at the time of a formal application submittal, new plans, policies, and
standards may be in effect and additional issues of concern may be raised through a more specific and
detailed review.
Planning:
General
1. General Plan and zoning designations for the property are as follows:
a. General Plan: Within the Public Right of Way, a portion of the project outside of the current
right of way boundary and is located within the Open Space (OS) General Plan designation
b. Zoning: Planned Community (PC)
a. Pacific Rim (Aviara MP)
c. The property is in the Coastal Zone. The Coastal land use designation and zone are Open
Spa·ce {OS).
d. The project is subject to the Local Coastal Plan
2. The project requires the following permits:
a. Habitat Management Plan Permit
b. Hillside Development Permit
c. Special Use Permit (SUP) -FEMA Flood Zone A
d. Special Use Permit (SUP)-.EI Camino Real Corridor
Community Development
Planning Division
1635 Faraday Avenue ·i Carlsbad, CA 92008 "i 760-602-4600 "i 760-602-8560 fax
EA 2021-0017 (PUB 2021-0012) -ECR Arenal to La Costa CIP 6051
December14,2021
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e. Coastal Development Permit -Mello II & East Batiquitos Lagoon
a. If performing work occurs in or near San Marcos Creek, then the Coastal
Commission would have permit authority over that segment of the project
b. All other areas within this project boundary are conceivably within the appeal
authority of the Coastal Commission, and the Permit issue authority of the city
3. The Trails Master Plan shows this segment with a Type 5: Sidewalk Connection Min. 5'. This
should be noted on the plans.
4. Due to the proximity of this project to the lagoon, all the plantings selected should consist of
varieties native to California. The Habitat Management Plan Adjacency Standards state:
"Prohibit the use of nonnative, invasive plant species in landscaping palettes in preserve
areas or for new public projects immediately adjacent to the preserve. This includes
container stock and hydroseeded material." The lagoon is within the HMP hardline, which is
considered "preserve areas" and thus this and all other adjacency standards apply.
5. Please note that the Early Assessment application was is considered preliminary and
therefore application materials were not routed for landscape review, new comments
should be expected during the subsequent application review.
6. The project is located within the El Camino Real Corridor, Area 5. Provide information to
address the El Camino Real Corridor standard below:
6. Grading:
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No cut orfifl exceeding 10• from original grade. The
Land Use Planning Manager and City Engineer
together may grant a variance to this section if they
make the four findings identified in Section V of
these standards.
The El Camino Real Corridor Development Standards
https:ljwww.carlsbadca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/232/637425974083470000
Environmental Review
7. The area near the lagoon is a known location for potential cultural resources. Since this
project is not exempt from CEQA, this project would be subject to AB 52 consultation. That
consultation would be initiated once the subsequent CDP application is received by the city.
8. Generally, staff is in agreement with the "IS/MND Justification Memo" provided by AECOM
in that AECOM anticipates that significant project impacts could be mitigated below a level
of significance, allowing for the preparation of a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) to
be completed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15063. However, it is noted that the
memo does not outline impacts to Transportation/VMT, which will need to be evaluated
and determined to be less than significant in order to maintain an MND. Furthermore, the
EA 2021-0017 (PUB 2021-0012)-ECR Arenal to La Costa CIP 6051
December14,2021
Page 3
memo states that if updates to the proposed project and/or design considerations occur and
it is determined that these changes would alter the assumptions described in the memo,
rendering them unable to be mitigated below a level of significance, an Environmental
Impact Report {EIR) would need to be prepared to provide a sufficient level of review under
CEQA.
Land Development Engineering:
1. Update impervious area values on sheet 1 of the plans to be consistent with the requested
values on the standard improvement plan title sheet and E-34 form. Include square footages
and acreage. Total proposed impervious area should reflect newly created and/or replaced
impervious area per the E-34 form.
2. Include Structural {Post-Construction BMP Table) on improvement plan title sheet.
3. City standard for biofiltration basins per BMP fact sheets is 1:1 side slope due to the soil not
meeting structural soi.I requirements. Provide soils engineer recommendation regarding
whether the proposed design of the basin sides is adequate or what recommendations should
be applied to address soil conditions.
4. Provide additional details for the BMP located in the median.
5. Provide information and signature on page 4 of the Storm Water Standards Questionnaire and
page 3 of the Standard Project Requirement Checklist.
6. Clarify implementation of BMP's listed on the Standard Project Requirement Checklist
throughout the report. Refer to each by its Standard Project Requirement Checklist designation,
such as SD-G and SD-H.
7. SD-8 is proposed as a BMP for streets, roads, sidewalks, and walkways. However, the project
appears to be directing runoff to lined basins or the storm drain system. Clarify.
8. Update sizing worksheet to reflect proposed impermeable liner.
9. Revise ponding depth to more accurately reflect ponding over the entire biofiltration basin. 10
inches of ponding occurs over a limited portion of the biofiltration basins due to the sloped
surfaces.
10. BMP's in the right-of-way should meet the BMP footprint needed for 10 year design life. Resize
BMP 2 or provide additional justification and calculations for use of a BMP footprint less than
3%.
11. Label and describe each biofiltration basin separately on the BMP Exhibit in Appendix E.
12. Submit a vehicle miles traveled analysis in accordance with the City of Carlsbad Vehicle Miles
Traveled (VMT) Analysis Guidelines.
EA 2021-0017 (PUB 2021-0012)-ECR Arenal to La Costa CIP 6051
December 14, 2021
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Parks & Recreation Department Comments
1. Community Forest Management Plan (3. Street Trees, Community Forest Expansion) calls for
tree replacement ratio 2:1. Please make sure that for each removed tree, at minimum 2 new
trees are planted within the project boundaries; All replacement street trees must meet City of
Carlsbad landscape standards and be selected from approved street tree species list.:
https://www.carlsbadca.gov/home/showdocument?id=1998 Per submitted plans, 6 median
trees are removed, 12 new trees are added to the project: 4 new trees in the median, 8 trees in
the parkway.
2. See the red lines provided by the Parks and Recreation Department.
3. · The preferred solution is to create a planter space in the skinnier part of the median to spread
trees apart to a standard distance of 70' apart.
4. If this solution is not feasible, consider expansion of the median planter to allow for at
minimum 40' apart to foster a healthy growth of tree canopies and ease of maintenance. Do
not reduce the number of proposed trees within the project.
5. As a last resort, consider relocating to a different part of the project within ECR right-of-way.
Public Works Department Comments
Utilities
1. Abandon in place the existing 12" potable steel water main crossing in San Marcos Creek and
propose new 12" ductile iron water main to be installed on the proposed east pedestrian
bridge per the attached markup.
2. Replace the existing 12" ACP water main with new PVC water main, north and south of the
proposed pedestrian bridge per the limits shown in the attached markup.
3. Replace the 3-valve assembly at the north extent of new 12" PVC installation per the attached
markup.
4. Include additional utility mapping per the attached markup.
6. See the red lines provided by the Utilities Division.
Environmental Management
1. A Biological Resources Report following Biological Guidelines must be submitted.
2. Biological surveys must be current, within one year but no more than two years. (rare plants,
wildlife, focused species, jurisdictional, vegetation mapping, etc.).
EA 2021-0017 (PUB 2021-0012)-ECR Arenal to La Costa CIP 6051
December 14, 2021
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3. Biological surveys must be conducted during the appropriate time of year.
4. Impact map must include:
a. Existing and new easements
b. Both temporary and permanent impacts
c. Required habitat buffers (upland and wetland)
5. Mitigation
a. Show how mitigation is consistent with HMP Table 11 and HMP coastal zone standards
b. Address nesting birds, including listed species and HMP-covered species
c. Demonstrate compliance with Adjacency Standards
d. Demonstrate compliance with standards for narrow endemic species, if applicable.
All necessary application forms and submittal requirements are available at the Planning counter
located in the Faraday Building at 1635 Faraday Avenue or online at http://www.carlsbadca.gov. You
may also access the General Plan Land Use Element and the Zoning Ordinance online at the website
address shown; select Department Listing; select Planning Home Page. Please review all information
carefully before submitting.
If you would like to schedule a meeting to discuss this letter with the commenting departments, please
contact Christina M. Bustamante at the number below. You may also contact each department
individually as follows:
• Planning Division comments: Christina M. Bustamante, Associate Planner, at {760) 602-4644
• Land Development Engineering comments: Jennifer Horodyski, Associate Engineer, at (760) 602-
2747
• Utilities Division comments: Neil Irani, Associate Engineer, at (760) 603-7305
• Parks & Recreation Comments: Kasia Trojanowska, Park Planning Manager, at (760) 268-4726
Attachments: Utilities Division Redlines
Parks & Recreation Redlines
CB:cf
c: Don Neu, City Planner
Eric Lardy, Principal Planner
Scott Donnell, Senior Planner
Jennifer Horodyski, Project Engineer
Neil Irani, Utilities Division
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