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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC AGENDA PK 1994/04/11negative declaration PROJECT NAME: Bonita Road Bicycle Lane PROJECT LOCATION: South side of Bonita Road, from Bonita Glen Drive to the Southbound Interstate-805 on-ramp ASSESSOR'S PARCEL NO.: 570-131-0500/570-140-2700,6000,6100,6200 PROJECT APPLICANT: City of Chula Vista Engineering Department CASE NO: IS 94-010 DATE: February 23, 1994 A. Project Settincx The project setting is a 400 foot long strip of the right-of- way on the south side of Bonita Road between Bonita Glen Drive and I-805. The site has an average graded slope of 2%(excluding side slopes south of sidewalk). The project borders an area designated commercial-retail in the City's General Plan(zoned CC) and developed with a Dennys restaurant, La Quinta Hotel and a Shell service station. Across Bonita Road to the north, the land use is designated Commercial Visitor and developed with a Mexi-Insurance and Tourist Information Center. I-805 is directly east of the project area. Across Bonita Glen to the west, the area is designated for Commercial-Retail and is developed with a Union Oil service station. B. Project Description The proposed project `is a capital improvements project involving the widening of the south side of Bonita Road, from Bonita Glen Drive to I-805, in order to accommodate a five foot wide (approximately 400 feet in length) bicycle lane. Five feet of public right-of-way is required to be obtained from adjacent parcels to allow for street widening. The project will require the relocation of existing curb, gutter, sidewalk, drainage facilities, and underground utilities to accommodate the five foot widening of the roadway. In addition, modification of traffic signals and restoration of private improvements will be necessary. Shell has an existing setback of 31' feet and Dennys 33'. These will be reduced to 26' and 28' respectively after the five foot reduction in setback. The required setback for each property, 15', will still be obtained for these properties. The project is in compliance with the adopted building line map. city of Chula vista planning department environmental review section ~`~ f/ ~~ ~~~ CITY OF CHULA VISTA The project will require the removal of the sidewalk and existing landscaping, including one Indian Hawthorne tree. Subsequent to the improvements being installed, creative landscaping will need to be discussed with the Planning Department to ensure that the project is in compliance with the requirements of the City Landscape Architect. The site is located within the 100 year floodplain and the applicant will be required to build one foot above the floodplain or floodproof. C. Compatibility with Zoning and Plans The proposed bike lane will not impact the current land use designations or zoning in the proposed project area. Bonita Road is designated as a four-lane major in the Circulation Element General Plan and is in compliance with this designation as it is currently a four-lane major. The proposed project will allow for the completion of a critical missing link in the City's bikeway system, which will be in compliance with the Bicycle Plan within the General Plan and allow for safe and functional bicycle communting. D. Identification of Environmental Effects An initial study conducted by the City of Chula Vista (including the attached Environmental Checklist Form) determined that the proposed project will not have a significant environmental effect, and the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report will not be required. This Negative Declaration has been prepared in accordance with Section 15070 of the State CEQA Guidelines. E. Mitigation necessary to avoid significant effects The proposed project will not result in any significant or potentially significant environmental impacts, therefore, no project specific mitigation is to be required. F. Finding of Insignificant Impact 1. Does the project have the potential to 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 animal or eliminate important examples or the major periods of California history or prehistory? The proposed project site is for the most part within a paved right-of-way. The rest of the project area is located in an urbanized area. There are no sensitive fish, plants or wildlife in the project area. An existing Indian Hawthorne tree will be removed. A creative landscaping plan, including the planting of another tree, will be required to be submitted for approval by the City Landscape Architect. 2. Does the project have the potential to achieve short-term goals to the disadvantage 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.) The proposed project will involve the widening of Bonita Road, from Bonita Glen Drive to I-805. As the proposed project is in a City gateway, this project will provide the opportunity for compliance with section 7.4 of the Geneal Plan regarding the treatment of "gateways." The proposed project will achieve the long-term goal of completing a critical missing link in the City's bikeway system and will upgrade this segment of Bonita Road, from Bonita Glen Drive to I-805, to General Plan Standards, with a negligible impact in the short-term. 3. Does the project have impacts which are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? (A project may impact two or more separate resources where the impact on each resources is relatively small, but where the effect of the total of those impacts on the environment is significant.) The total project size is 400 lineal feet. The project will be required to comply with the requirements of the City Landscape Architect and Engineering to ensure that the project impacts will not be cumulatively considerable. The proposed project is in the floodplain and will be required to build one foot above the floodplain or floodproof. This construction will mitigate any possible impacts from the project. The project is an improvement to the existing infrastructure, and is in compliance with the Circulation Element goal that intends to upgrade Bonita Road, from a four-lane major to a four-lane major with bike lanes. 4. Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? The proposed project will generate impacts which are less than significant. The project will benefit the community by completing a critical missing link in the City's bikeway system, without disruption to existing traffic patterns and will upgrade this segment of Bonita Road to General Plan standards. It will have a positive direct effect on the safety of people bicycling in the area as this is the last remaining link between Flower Street and the Easterly City Limit, which allows a regional bike lane connection. It also provides an opportunity for people to make use of an alternative form of transportation. The proposed project will not place any adverse impacts on human beings. G. Consultation 1. Individuals and Organizations City of Chula Vista: Barbara Reid, Planning Susan Vandrew, Planning Roger Daoust, Engineering Cliff Swanson, Engineering Hal Rosenberg, Engineering Bob Sennett, Planning Ken Larsen, Director of Building Housing Carol Gove, Fire Marshal Crime Prevention, MaryJane Diosdada Marty Schmidt, Parks & Recreation Dept. Rich Rudolf, Assistant City Attorney Chula Vista City School District: Kate Shurson Sweetwater Union High School District: Tom Silva Applicant's Agent: Roger Daoust Documents Chula Vista General Plan (1989) and EIR (1989) Title 19, Chula Vista Municipal Code Initial Studv This environmental determination is based on the attached Initial Study, any comments received on the Initial Study and any comments received during the public review period for this Negative Declaration. The report reflects the independent judgement of the City of Chula Vista. Further information regarding the environmental review of this project is available from the Chula Vista Planning Department, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910. REVIEW COORDINATOR EN 6 (Rev. 5/93)