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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1984/11/20 Item 10 COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT Item 10 Meeting Date 11/20/84 ITEM TITLE: Consideration of Final EIR-84-8, Bayfront/"E" Street Trolley Station Resolution i/PQ Certifying EIR-84-8, Bayfront/"E" Street Trolley Station SUBMITTED BY: Planning Director (1' (4/5ths Vote: Yes No X ) REVIEWED BY: City Manage r0, BACKGROUND 1 . This project is a joint effort between the Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB), the County of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista. Therefore, each agency has agreed to certain roles in the processing and the financing of this facility. In the case of the Environmental Impact Report, the County of San Diego has prepared the draft EIR and the City of Chula Vista has agreed to function as the lead agency for the project. 2. At the Planning Commission meeting of October 24, 1984, the Commission held a hearing on the draft of this EIR. No public testimony, requiring a response, was provided during that hearing. 3. The County of San Diego has indicated that in order for them to proceed with the purchase of properties for this facility in an expeditious manner it is necessary that they have the final EIR certified at this time, even though the conditional use permit for the project itself will not be before the Planning Commission until a later date. RECOMMENDATION: Certify that EIR-84-8 has been prepared in compliance with CEQA, the State EIR Guidelines and the Environmental Review Procedures of the City of Chula Vista, and further that when the conditional use permit for this project comes before the City Council , that they will have reviewed and considered the information in this EIR. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: At their meeting of November 14, 1984, the Planning Commission certified EIR-84-8 by a 7-0 vote. DISCUSSION: PROJECT DESCRIPTION 1 . The project site is located on the south side of "E" Street and is just to the east of the existing trolley line and Interstate 5. Page 2, Item 10 Meeting Date 1 1/20/84 2. The project involves the acquisition of land and construction and operation of a new station for the San Diego Trolley Transportation Facility. Site improvements will include construction of a station, parking for approximately 175 vehicles in the first phase, 250 vehicles in the phase two of the project and approximately 380 vehicles at phase three. Also on this site would be a tourist information center, a "kiss and ride" area, speces for bus bays and associated landscaping. Access to the project site would be from "E" Street and Woodlawn Avenue. Private vehicles would be able to access the site from either of these streets. Buses would enter the facility and exit onto Woodlawn Avenue. The access way to Woodlawn will be provided on the existing public works yard site. IMPACT ANALYSIS 1. Through the scoping process for this EIR, several potential impacts were found to be clearly insignificant and therefore have not been discussed in this document. Because the project is located in urban setting, there are no biological or archaeological resources that would be affected by the development property. Similarly there are no geological or hydrological problems on or near the project. 2. The focus of this EIR is, therefore, to four main issues: a) traffic circulation, b) land use/zoning, c) noise, and d) air quality. None of these impacts were found to be significant in nature and no mitigation measures are recommended. COMMENTS/RESPONSES 1 . Comments are received from CalTrans regarding concern about the westerly entrance from "E" Street to the facility. It was their belief that vehicles turning left toward that proposed entrance would likely create a potential accident problem and contribute to congestion. In response to this issue the operation of the facility has been changed so that bus access to the station would be from Woodlawn Avenue only. The two access points onto "E" Street would remain for automobile access. Staff believes that there would be very little tourist access to the facility by westbound tourist and that with proper stripping and other control devices, with adequate left hand turn storage, the operation of "E" Street in this vicinity can be safely accommodated. 2. A letter of comment was also received from the Metropolitan Transit Development Board. This letter notes that the EIR adequately evaluates the project's impacts and requested that notations regarding agreements on maintenance costs, liability, and security of the facility be noted. Staff does not regard these issues as environmental in nature, but has included the MTDB letter in Sec - in response made note of the concerns from MTDB. FISCAL IMPACT: None. by the City Council of WPC 1467P Chuia Vista, California LO- ry