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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1981/10/27 Item 5, 5aCOUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT Item 5 , 5•a J Meeting Date 10/27/81 ITEM TaTLE: SUBMIT' A. IN' 1. 2. 3. Public Hearing: Certification of EIR-78-?-A - East H Street Extension Resolution /ate 7,~'' Adoption of "CEQA Findings" and Statement of Overriding Consideration ED BY: Director of Planning (4/5ths Vote: Yes No X ) RODUCTION This Environmental Impact Report is a supplement to the master EIR which was prepared on the E1 Rancho del Rey's Specific Plan (EIR-78-2). The master EIR addressed the extension of East "H" Street through the E1 Rancho del Rey's Specific Plan area only in general terms due to the lack of specificity available at that time. This Draft EIR was prepared by the Environmental Review Section of the Planning Department based on technical reports that were submitted to .the Planning Department or were otherwise available. The Draft EIR was issued for public and agency review on August 20, 1981. The Draft EIR was reviewed by the Resource Conservation Commission at their September 21 meeting. Tt was found adequate and the Commission recommended that the report be certified. A public hearing was held by the Planning Commission on the Draft EIR on September 30, 1981 and the document was certified by the Commission on that date. B. RECOMMENDATION: That Council: 1. 2. 3. Certify that EIR-78-2-A has been prepared in accordance with CEQA and the procedure of the City of Chula Vista and that the City Council will consider the information in that report as they reach a decision on the project, Adopt the "CEQA findings" in section D of this report, and Adopt the statement of overriding considerations in section E of this report. C. PRpJECT DESCRIPTION 1. 2. The project is located along the alignment of East H Street as shown on the El Rancho del Rey's Specific Plan from the Rice Canyon Sectional Planning Area, easterly to the current terminus of the East H Street street improvements westerly of Otay Lakes Road. The proposed street improvements would be located in the southerly portion-of the future East H Street right-of-way and would include two travel lanes. It is proposed that the street be located at its eventual grade and alignment. This will require the placement of fill at various locations along the right-of-way. In order to obtain this necessary fill material a borrow site is proposed to be operated on the northerly side of East H Street near the future intersection with Paseo del Rey. Also associated with the project is a 16 inch water transmission main which will extend from the western project boundary easterly to a 1.0 million gallon storage reservoir which will be located near the SDG&E transmission lines just to the south of the proposed East H Street. (Continued on supplemental page) Form A~-113 (Rev. 11/79) Page 2, Item 5, 5a D. DISICUSSION - CEOA FINDINGS 1. 2. 3. Meeting Date 10/27/81 It is the policy of the State of California in the City of Chula Uista that a project which would result in a significant environmental impact shall not be approved if it is feasible to lessen that effect to a level of insignificance. Only when there are specific economic, social or technical reasons which make it infeasible to mitigate an impact or to approve a project alternative can a project with significant impact be approved. Therefore when an EIR has been completed which identifies one or more significant impact one of the following findings must be made for each of those substantial and adverse effects. a) Changes or alternatives have been required of or incorporated into the project which mitigate or void the significant environmental effects, or b) Such changes or alternatives are within the responsibility and jurisdiction of another public agency and that such changes have been adopted by the other agency or can and should be adopted by such agency, or c) Specific economic, social, technical or other considerations make infeasible mitigation measures or project alternatives identified in the final EIR. The following are those areas of potential significant impact which relate to the proposed project and the appropriate finding: Biology Project implementation will result in the removal of existing native ground cover along the street right-of-way and the borrow site. Of particular importance are the stands of snake cholla (a sensitive plant species). The impact of this specific project can be mitigated through the salvage of substantial plants. and replanting on appropriate south facing slopes. It must be recognized however that on a cumulative basis with other re lated and nonrelated projects there will be a significant impact on the unique biological resources found in the eastern Chula Vista planning area. Find,in9 - Measures are being taken to transplant sensitive plant species which will avoid significant impact. Geology and Soils The project site is crossed by the main branch and other branches of the LaNacion Earthquake Fault System. Although the system is considered only potentially active any ground rupture or settlement along the faults would adversely impact the street improvements and any utilities crossing these faults. Soils within the project area include the Otay formation which contains bentonite, which is a highly expansive clay, There are also compressible soils which occur at the lower elevations. Finding -Implementation of the project will follow standard development regulations and the recommendations of a soils engineer which will mitigate any significant impact. 4.~ Paleontology The project site contains soils which are highly fossiliferous and therefore it will be necessary to have a qualified paleontologist present during the grading /% ~ /'D (~ 7.~ (Continued on supplemental page) Page 3, Item 5 5 a y P1eeting Date 10/27/8 5. E . OVE 1, 2, F. FIB Noi DDR: je ~-, operation to recover any significant paleontological resources. The areas of special concern include both the primary and alternative borrow sites which are located westerly of the main branch of the LaNacion Fault zone. Finding - The presence of a palontologist during the grading of the property to recover any resources will avoid any significant impact. Land form alteration The vicinity of the project is characterized by a series of east/west trending ridge lines and canyon areas. The proposed borrow sites are located on two of these ridge lines. The operation of the borrow sites would create a maximum cut of approximately 75 to 80 feet below the existing ridge line. The greatest depth of fill on which street improvements would be placed would be near the proposed intersection of East H Street and Paseo del Rey. This would have a depth of approximately 70 feet. The implementation of the proposed grading will result in a significant and unavoidable impact on the natural features of the area. Finding - The proposed grading is necessary to provide safety protection and vehicular circulation throughout the El Rancho del Rey area and much of the eastern Chula 'Vista planning area. Alternative street alignments to the east of I-805 have been studied and found to be technically infeasible due to traffic safety and land use considerations (Reference: Rice Canyon Development/Conservation Guide Sedway/Cook 1977). RRIDING CONSIDERATIONS The proposed project will provide a connector link to the Southwestern College area upon the, completion of H Street, which would reduce the existing traffic congestion and the heavy traffic on Telegraph Canyon and Bonita Roads and be a major convenience to residents in the Southwestern College area. The project is part of the implementation of the E1 Rancho del Rey specific development plan which will: preserve substantial amounts of natural open space, safety treat geologic and sails problems, reduce land form alteration and reduce erosion and siltation. (Reference: City Council Resolution No. 7455).