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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC MIN 2001/11/05 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION November 5, 2001 Mercy Building Conference Room 430 "F" Street MEETING CALLED TO ORDER by Chair Charles Bull at 6:31 p.m. ROLL CALL/MOTION TO EXCUSE was not addressed. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Charles Bull, Vice-Chair Doug Reid, Commissioners Juan Diaz, Cindy Burrascano and Teresa Thomas (6:35) STAFF PRESENT: Marilyn Ponseggi, Environmental Review Coordinator Maria Muett, Associate Planner Marisa Lundstedt, Environmental Projects Manager Rick Rosaler, Principal Planner Martin Miller, Associate Planner Linda Bond, Recording Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Dennis Bowling, Rick Engineering Karen Van Ert, Rick Engineering Bobbie Stephenson, RECON Environmental Gene Merlino, Episcopal Community Services Robert Pletcher, McMillin Companies Michael Kemp, Episcopal Community Services Jon Boarman, Linscott Law & Greenspan Ranie Hunter, The Otay Ranch Company APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 1 and 15,2001 The appropriate Commissioners were not present to approve the minutes of October 1, 2001. The minutes were deferred to the November 19, 2001 meeting. The October 15, 2001 minutes were postponed until Commissioner Thomas arrived. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS 1. IS-01-059 - Episcopal Community Services Head Start, 1320 Fourth Avenue Ms. Maria Muett (Associate Planner) reported that this 2.27-acre flag-shaped project site is located at the southwest corner of Fourth Avenue and Palomar Street. The RCC Minutes - 2 - November 5. 2001 Episcopal Community Services Head Start Program proposes to utilize an existing church building and modify a recreational area to include a playground. The Head Start Program will operate 179 days a year and is licensed for a maximum of 100 children ranging in age from 3 to 5 years. The proposed project is consistent with the General Plan, Zoning regulations and development standards. Staff received one written response from a property owner along the southwest boundary who was concerned about additional traffic and noise from the playground area. Potential impacts of noise would be less than significant, and the additional traffic of 245 ADT would not create a significant impact on the adjacent street segments. Staff Recommendation: Adoption of the Negative Declaration. Vice-Chair Reid asked if staff typically looked at requiring solid fencing or acoustical walls with daycare uses associated with pre-existing church uses. Ms. Muett indicated that projects of this nature are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If it is determined that a noise study is needed and a significant impact is identified, an acoustical wall may be required as a mitigation measure. This particular use at this site did not create a significant noise impact because the proposed project contains the following features: solid wooden fencing around the perimeters, distance of 50- 240 feet away from surrounding residential uses and, due to the level of ambient noise from the surrounding streets, the noise associated with the child development center and playground would not be significant. MSC (Thomas/Reid) to accept the Negative Declaration for the Episcopal Community Services Head Start Program. Vote: (5-0-0-1) with Bensoussan absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Cont'd) MSC (Burrascano/Thomas) to approve the minutes of October 15, 2001. Vote: (4-0-1-1) with Reid abstaining and Bensoussan absent. NEW BUSINESS (Cont'd) 2. Otay Ranch Village Six EIR Chair Bull recused himself from this item. Ms. Marilyn Ponseggi (Environmental Review Coordinator) relayed to the Commissioners some of the discussion City Council had during the Village 11 EIR hearing. Staff reported to City Council that the RCC vote was 4-2; that one Commissioner did not state why she was opposed, and one Commissioner was opposed because of regional traffic issues. The concern that the City Council raised was to remind the RCC they are charged with determining the adequacy of an EIR and not in making a decision on the project itself. If the RCC does not believe that an EIR is adequate, the RCC should state for the record why the document itself is not adequate. Ms. Ponseggi cautioned the RCC that, if the EIR is adequate, and it has been prepared in accordance with CEQA, and the RCC does not see any problems RCC Minutes - 3 - November 5. 2001 with the document, even if the RCC does not like the project, they should vote to certify the document. Ms. Ponseggi stated that, If the RCC feels that the document is not adequate, and it has not met the requirements of CEQA, and it has not met the requirements of the environmental review guidelines, then the RCC needs to take a second motion to oppose and state for the record why the RCC does not believe the document is adequate. The City Council is looking to the RCC for their input in considering an EIR. Commissioner Burrascano stated that she was frequently going to have a problem with traffic because, in terms of it meeting the City requirement, the traffic documents do. The impacts are disclosed, but they are not adequately dealt with in terms of significance because she does not agree with the way Chula Vista has chosen to interpret what an "F" means. Ms. Ponseggi stated that, if Commissioner Burrascano felt that the description of level of service "F" is not adequate for CEQA and, therefore, she felt that the document was not adequate, she should state that she was voting against certification because she did not feel that this section of the traffic analysis meets the requirement of CEQA. CEQA requires the lead agency (in this case the City) to establish significance criteria. If Commissioner Burrascano had a problem with the significance criteria that is being used, that should be a separate motion. Mr. Rick Rosaler (Principal Planner) gave an overview of the Otay Ranch Village Six SPA Plan via PowerPoint graphics. There are three property owners in Village Six: the Catholic Dioces. The Otay Ranch Company and McMillin Companies. McMillin Companies proposes 482 single-family dwellings and 212 townhomes. The Catholic Dioces proposes a parish and private high school. The Dioces wanted to have an underlying land use if for some reason their funding for the private high school fell apart, so this has been designated with 146 single-family units that the EIR has analyzed as a secondary land use. The Otay Ranch Company is proposing 401 single-family lots and 991 multi-family units in their northeast portion and 202 single- family homes on 41 acres in their southeast portion. Ms. Marisa Lundstedt (Environmental Projects Manager) gave an overview of the Otay Ranch Village Six Draft EIR. The EIR covers 443 acres that is fully covered with agriculture fields and non-native grasses. The EIR is currently in the 45-day public review period, which ends November 14 at the Planning Commission hearing. Because of traffic concerns, this project, along with the other two major projects that the RCC has seen, LLG performed short-term model runs because there is a concern about when SR-125 will be constructed. This project is also subject to the 9,400 dwelling unit cap prior to construction of SR-125. There are unavoidable significant impacts to the cumulative traffic impacts on 1-805. There are cumulative visual quality impacts from the conversion of open space to urban uses. There is an unavoidable significant impact to the lose of raptor foraging land and unavoidable air quality impacts. Commissioner Burrascano noted a typo on page 128 of the Traffic Report, Table 35, #7 of the Draft Mitigation Measures. Change Village "11" to Village "6". RCC Minutes - 4 - November 5. 2001 Commissioner Diaz inquired about the elevation of SR-125 and the trolley alignment. Mr. Rosaler responded. Commissioner Burrascano had problems understanding what the mitigation brings the level to in terms of traffic. Mr. Jon Boarman (Linscott Law & Greenspan, 1565 Hotel Circle South, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92108) referred to Table 21 on page 87 of the Traffic Report. All the levels of service "F" are mitigated to "D" or "E". Commissioner Burrascano wanted to know where in the document does it show how the level of service "F" is mitigated. Mr. Boarman indicated that it might not be explicitly stated in the document. Commissioner Thomas wanted to know where the sewage was going to end up. Mr. Robert Pletcher (McMillin Companies, 2727 Hoover Avenue, National City, CA 91950) stated that it would be going to the Point Loma treatment plant. Ms. Ponseggi indicated that, in the long-term, it would be going to the South Bay plant. Commissioner Thomas asked if the City has a contract with the Otay Water District to supply water. Mr. Rosaler responded that no one has a contract with Otay Water District. Commissioner Thomas would like to see a motion that would give the City of Chula Vista the option of keeping some of the paleontological that have been sent to the Natural History Museum. Ms. Ponseggi stated that, if the City had a facility to house and display the artifacts, the Natural History Museum would likely assist in displaying these artifacts. The developers are talking of some of those kinds of displays within the Ranch at various community buildings. None of that has come to fruition yet. Vice-Chair Reid noted that it was not shown on the map if the FAA still owns vortac. Mr. Rosaler responded that they do. Vice-Chair Reid recalled a discussion regarding the Ranch Complex. A report was supposed to be prepared as a result of that discussion. Mr. Rosaler stated that an analysis report of what was there had been prepared. MSC (Diaz/Thomas) to accept the draft Village Six SPA Plan EIR. Vote: (4-0-1-1) with Bull abstaining and Bensoussan absent. Commissioner Burrascano made a request that the EIR adequately reflect what the level of service would be after mitigation for all the areas that are shown as level of service "F" prior to mitigation. MSC (Burrascano/Thomas) that the EIR be revised to include information on post mitigation of levels of service "F". Vote: (4-0-1-1) with Bull abstaining and Bensoussan absent. Chair Bull returned to the meeting. RCC Minutes - 5 - November 5. 2001 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COORDINATOR COMMENTS 3. 2002 Preservation Design Awards information was distributed by Ms. Ponseggi. 4. Police Department Annual Report was presented by Ms. Ponseggi who asked if anyone wanted a copy. Chair Bull requested a copy. Ms. Ponseggi announced that the Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) is doing a nuts and bolts CEQA workshop at Sempra Headquarters on November 16, 2001. If anyone is interested, she would check if there is a budget for RCC members. CHAIR COMMENTS: None. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Thomas thought Item #3 would be the Governor's Historic Preservation Awards because she wanted to be able to make a motion recommending the City of Chula Vista for the award. Ms. Ponseggi indicated that staff had not received that information as yet. When it does arrive, the RCC members would have to put together the nomination package because there is no staff available. Staff can put it on the next agenda. Chair Bull and Commissioner Diaz stated that they would not be at the November 19, 2001 meeting. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Bull adjourned the meeting at 8:04 p.m. to a regular meeting on Monday, November 19, 2001, at 6:30 p.m. in the Mercy Building Conference Room, 430 'F' Street, Chula Vista, CA. Prepared by: ~'hj ~'7<''''¿ -' Li a Bond Recording Secretary (A:\lIb\RCC#1\RCC11 0501 MINS.doc)