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October 25, 1999
STAFF REPORT f E eF 0
To: Mayor and Members of the City Council
Attention: Keith R. Till, City Manager
From: Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services
Subject: PUBLIC HEARING - ADOPTION OF NEGATIVE
DECLARATION 99-1, SEAL BEACH
BOULEVARD/I-405 OVERCROSSING WIDENING
PROJECT AND DETERMINATION OF
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
SUMMARY OF REQUEST
Adopt Resolution Number , adopting Negative Declaration 99-1 and finding the project
consistent with the General Plan, and instruct Staff to file the Notice of Determination. Receive
and File Staff Report.
DISCUSSION
This project is proceeding to complete the environmental clearance requirements prior to project
initiation. Staff is clearly aware that the potential referendum process regarding portions of the
Bixby Old Ranch Towne Center project may eliminate or substantially reduce anticipated traffic
impact fees that would be utilized as the city share of the costs of this project. However, as
indicated throughout this staff report, this project has been a long-standing goal of the General Plan
(since 1975). Staff has been able to acquire a substantial portion of the necessary project funding
through the Measure M program ($2.5 million), and in order to maintain that funding source, the
environmental clearances should be completed by December 1999 in order to stay on schedule for
plan design phase, the permit and plan approval process through CalTrans, and the bidding process.
Failure to stay on the schedule established through the Measure M program would result in the
City losing the $2.5 million allocation, and those funds returning to the competitive funding
program of Orange County Transportation Authority. Taking action on the Negative Declaration
will maintain the project schedule and retain the current funds for the project.
AGENDA ITEM W
C:\My Documents\SBB-I405 Bridge Widening\Consideration by City Council.Staff Report.doc\lw\10-21-99
Mitigated Negative Declaration 99-1-
Seal Beach Boulevard/I-405 Overcrossing Widening Project
City Council Staff Report
October 25, 1999
The City has prepared of the above-referenced Mitigated Negative Declaration (MIND), prepared
under contract with the City by the Firm of Robert Bein, William Frost and Associates. The
Environmental Quality Control Board reviewed the document on September 29, and a copy of their
Response Memorandum is provided as Attachment 6. A copy of the EQCB Staff Report (without
attachments) and Minutes of September 29, 1999 is provided as Attachment 7.
The Planning Commission considered the subject Mitigated Negative Declaration on October 20,
1995. After concluding a public hearing and deliberations among the Commission, the
Commission determined to recommend to the City Council adoption of Negative Declaration 99-1
and to determine the subject project is consistent with the Circulation Element of the City of Seal
Beach General Plan. The Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. 99-39 on a 5-0 vote (See
Attachments 2 and 3, respectively).
Staff is recommending the City Council adopt the proposed Resolution, adopting the proposed
Negative Declaration and finding the project consistent with the Circulation Element of the General
Plan. Please refer to Attachment 1 for a copy of the proposed City Council resolution and to
Attachment 9 to review the Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND).
The MND provides discussion, information, and the basis for the determinations of no significant
environmental impacts for the proposed overcrossing widening and associated interchange
improvements at the San Diego Freeway (1-405) and Seal Beach Boulevard. A copy of the
complete /AND, with the Appendices, was provided to the City Council on August 31 and has not
been provided again as part of this Staff Report.
Summary of Proposed Overcrossing Improvements:
The existing Seal Beach Boulevard Overcrossing at I-405 is.a 4-span, pre-cast "I" girder bridge that
was constructed in 1965. In summary, the proposed interchange improvement project will widen
the existing Seal Beach Boulevard overcrossing to six through lanes, consistent with it's General
Plan configuration, as well as widen portions of the existing interchange ramps. The interchange
and overcrossing improvements will serve to eliminate an existing "bottleneck" at the Seal Beach
Boulevard Overcrossing.
The proposed project is included in the City of Seal Beach Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
The proposed Seal Beach Boulevard/I-405 interchange improvements will include the widening of
the existing overcrossing and roadway approaches from Beverly Manor at the I-405 southbound
ramps to Old Ranch Parkway at the I-405 northbound ramps to provide two additional through
lanes (for a total of three through lanes in each direction), median, sidewalks, and bike lanes. This
will result in the widening of the existing bridge approximately 44 feet to a total width of
approximately 122 feet. The majority of the proposed improvements are located within existing
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) right-of-way (ROW). Small parcels of ROW
Consideration by City Council.Staff Report 2
Mitigated Negative Declaration 99-1-
Seal Beach Boulevard/I-405 Overcrossing Widening Project
City Council Staff Report
October 25, 1999
will be required at the toe of the slope west of Seal Beach Boulevard and south of Old Ranch
Parkway and adjacent to the northbound I-405 off-ramp.
Project Objectives:
The widening of the Seal Beach Boulevard Overcrossing is proposed in order to improve Seal
Beach Boulevard to its planned six-lane classification which is consistent with the Orange County
Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH) and the City of Seal Beach General Plan Circulation
Element. If the proposed improvements are not constructed, the interchange will operate at Level
of Service (LOS) "D" and "F" at the northbound I-405/Seal Beach Boulevard intersection and at
LOS "F" at the southbound I-405/Seal Beach Boulevard intersection by the year 2020. The
proposed improvements will reduce the LOS to "B" and "C" at the northbound I-405/Seal Beach
Boulevard intersection in the A.M. and P.M. peak hours respectively, and to LOS "D" at the
southbound I-405/Seal Beach Boulevard intersection in both the A.M. and P.M. peak hour. The
project objectives are to provide adequate levels of service and good pedestrian circulation at the
interchange.
Identification of Potentially Significant Impact Areas and Mitigation Measures:
The document is identified as a "Mitigated Negative Declaration", and proposes mitigation
measures to be adopted to mitigate any potentially significant impacts in the following areas of
environmental concern and the number of proposed mitigation measures for each area identified
(Refer to Section 4.0, pages 45 through 48 for a listing of the proposed mitigation measures). In
addition, staff.has recommended and the EQCB has included within their Memorandum to the
Planning Commission and City Council additional mitigation measures. The number of additional
mitigation measures are shown in parenthesis for each area of environmental concern:
o Aesthetics - 2 mitigation measures
o Air Quality - 2 mitigation measures
o Biological Resources - 1 mitigation measure (EQCB Memorandum)
o Cultural Resources -5 mitigation measures (EQCB Memorandum)
o Geology/Soils- 8 mitigation measures
o Hazards and Hazardous Materials - 2 mitigation measures
o Hydrology/Water Quality- 1 mitigation measure
o Land Use/Planning - 0 mitigation measures
o Noise- 2 mitigation measures
o Transportation/Traffic- 1 mitigation measure
A complete listing of the mitigation measures for this project is provided as "Exhibit A" of the City
Council Resolution (Please refer to Attachment 1).
Consideration by City Council.Staff Report 3
Mitigated Negative Declaration 99-1-
Seal Beach Boulevard/I-405 Overcrossing Widening Project
City Council Staff Report
October 25, 1999
A "Mitigated Negative Declaration" is defined in Public Resources Code Section 21064.5, and
states as follows:
"Mitigated negative declaration" means a negative declaration
prepared for a project when the initial study has identified potentially •
significant effects on the environment, but (1) revisions in the project
plans or proposals made by, or agreed to by, the applicant before
the proposed negativedeclaration and initial study are released for
public review would avoid the effects or mitigate the effects to a point
where clearly no significant effect ect on the environment would occur,
• and (2) there is no substantial evidence in light of the whole record
before the public agency that the project, as revised, may have a
significant;effect on the environment."
Staff has provided a portion of the "CEQA Deskbook - A Step-by-Step Guide on how to comply
with the California Environmental Quality Act", 1999 Edition, discussing the preparation of
Negative Declarations, including Mitigated Negative Declarations, for the information of the
Commission (Please see Attachment 8).
Availability of Document:
The MND is available at the Department of Development Services, City Hall, for public review.
Pubic Comment Period:
The public comment period on the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration was between July 23 and
August 23, 1999. The City has received written comments on the subject document from the
following:
❑ Governor's Office of Planning and Research, State Clearinghouse, August 23, 1999
❑ Caldwell, Leslie, Newcombe&Pettit, August 23, 1999
❑ Department of the Navy, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, August 23, 1999
❑ Department of Transportation, District 12, Environmental Planning, August 24, 1999
❑ Southern California Association of Governments, August 10, 1999
❑ County of Orange, Planning and Development Services Department, August 23, 1999
o Orange County Fire Authority, August 26, 1999
o Southern California Gas Company, August 7, 1999
❑a California Department of Transportation, District 12, September 9, 1999
The City's consultant, Robert Bein, William Frost & Associates, has prepared a "Final Comments
and Responses" document to all of the above-received comments on Negative Declaration 99-1. A
Consideration by City Council.Staff Report 4
Mitigated Negative Declaration 99-1-
Seal Beach Boulevard/I-405 Overcrossing Widening Project
City Council Staff Report
October 25, 1999
copy of that final document is provided for the information of the City Council (Please see
Attachment 8).
The City has received an additional letter from CalTrans, District 12, regarding the Final Responses
to Comments, and that letter is provided as Attachment 11.
In addition, the City Engineer has reviewed the subject document and the "Draft" and "Final
Comments and Responses" documents, and has no concerns regarding the information provided.
City Council Action:
Negative Declaration 99-1
The City Council is reviewing the Negative Declaration and it is recommended that the City
Council adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and find the project in conformance with the
Circulation Element of the General Plan.
Staff has incorporated its comments on Negative Declaration 99-1 within the "Memorandum" of
the Environmental Quality Control Board and is requesting the City Council to provide any
additional comments or concerns which have not already been made by the reviewing parties
comments provided in Attachment 8, the Staff comments provided in the Memorandum of the
Environmental Quality Control Board (Attachment 6), or the recommendation of the Planning
Commission (Attachment 2).
Consistency.with General Plan:
In addition to reviewing and adopting proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration 99-1, the City
Council is required to make a determination regarding the consistency of the proposed project with
the provisions of the General Plan. The adopted "Circulation.Element - Streets and Highways of
the General Plan".map was adopted by Planning Commission Resolution No. 886 on January 15,
1975, and by City. Council Resolution No. 2394 on January 27, 1975. This map indicates Seal
Beach Boulevard from Pacific Coast Highway to the northerly City boundary at Bradbury Road to
be a "Major 120' right-of-way" (Please refer to Attachment 4). In addition, the Circulation
Element includes within the "Capital Improvements Program" provision for "Seal Beach Boulevard
- San Diego Freeway interchange improvement" (Please refer to Attachment 5).
This project is also included within the City of Seal Beach adopted 7-Year Capital Improvement
Program and within the adopted Southern California Association of Government's (SCAG) 1998-
2005 Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP).
Consideration by City Council.Staff Report 5
Mitigated Negative Declaration 99-1-
Seal Beach Boulevard/I-405 Overcrossing Widening Project
City Council Staff Report
October 25, 1999
In addition, this project proposal was thoroughly reviewed and considered by the City Council in
it's certification of the Bixby Old Ranch Towne Center EIR, Revised, and the proposed project is
within the scope of the transportation improvements evaluated within that certified EIR document.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution No. , and instruct staff to file the Notice of Determination. Receive and
File Staff Report.
•
•
Consideration by City Council.Staff Report 6
Mitigated Negative Declaration 99-1-
Seal Beach Boulevard/1-405 Overcrossing Widening Project
City Council Staff Report
October 25, 1999
' NOTED AND APPROVED
-IL 4 .��
nWhittenberg, 0 irector Keith P. Till .4dt:A-PI
•evelopment Services Department City Manager
Attachments: (11)
Attachment 1: City Council Resolution , A Resolution of the City Council
of the City of Seal Beach Adopting Negative Declaration 99-1, and
Determining Consistency with the Circulation Element of the
General Plan for the Proposed Seal Beach Boulevard/I-405
Overcrossing Widening Project .
Attachment 2: Planning Commission Resolution No. 99-39, A Resolution of the
Planning Commission of the City of Seal Beach Recommending to
the. City Council Adoption of Negative Declaration 99-1, and
Recommending a Determination of Consistency with the Circulation
Element of the General Plan for the Proposed Seal Beach
Boulevard/I-405 Overcrossing Widening Project
Attachment 3: Planning Commission Staff Report (without attachments) and Draft
Minutes of October 20, 1999
Attachment 4: "Circulation Element -.Streets and Highways of the General Plan",
Map adopted by Planning Commission Resolution No. 886 on
January 15, 1975, and by City Council Resolution No. 2394 on
January 27, 1975
Attachment 5: "Circulation Element - Capital Improvement Program", Circulation
Element of the Seal Beach General Plan, page 14
Attachment 6: Memorandum to Planning Commission and City Council from the
Environmental Quality Control Board re: Negative Declaration 99-1,
Seal Beach Boulevard/I-405 Overcrossing Widening Project, dated
September 29, 1999
Attachment 7: Environmental Quality Control Board Staff Report (without
attachments) and Draft Minutes of September 29, 1999
Consideration by City Council.Staff Report 7
Mitigated Negative Declaration 99-1-
Seal Beach Boulevard/1-405 Overcrossing Widening Project
City Council Staff Report
October 25, 1999
Attachment 8: "Final Comments and Responses for the Seal Beach Boulevard/1405
Overcrossing Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration 99-1 -
SCH 99071096",. prepared for the City of Seal Beach by Robert
Bein, William Frost&Associates, dated October 11, 1999
Attachment 9: Negative Declaration 99-1, Seal Beach Boulevard/I-405
Overcrossing Widening Project (Note: Previously provided to
EQCB on August 25, 1999. Please bring previously provided copy
to meeting)
Attachment 10: "CEQA Deskbook - A Step-by-Step Guide on how to comply with
the California Environmental Quality Act", Solano Press Books,
1999 Edition, pages 45-52 discussing "Preparation of Negative
Declarations, including Mitigated Negative Declarations"
Attachment 11: Comment Letter from Caltrans, District 12, re: Final Responses to
Comments regarding Negative Declaration No. 99-1, letter dated
October 12, 1999
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Consideration by City Council.Staff Report 8