The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutEQCB Min 1996-12-10 . '. ". Environmental Quality Control Board Minutes December 10, 1996 Call to Order at 6:32 p.m. L Pledge of Allegiance ll. Roll Call Present: Absent: Hurley, Rosenman, Voce, Christ, McGuire Also Present: Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services Barry Curtis, Associate Planner IB. Approval of Agenda Motion by Hurley; second by Rosenman to approve the agenda as presented. Motion Carried: A YES: NOES: ABSENT: 5-0-0 Hurley, Rosenman, Voce, Christ, McGuire None None IV. Oral Communications - none. V. Consent Calendar 1. Receive and File - City Council Staff Report dated November 18, 1996 re: Status Report re: 1997 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). South Coast Air Quality Management District " 2. Receive and File - City Council Staff Report dated November 18, 1996 re: Receipt of ' 'Notice oflntent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Disposal and Reuse of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro" 3. Memorandum dated December 5,1996 re: Ability to Call Special Meetings Motion by Rosenman; second by Christ to move the consent calendar to after all c:\My Documents\Barry's Old Stuff\My Documents\EQCB StumMinutes of December 10, 1996.doc . . '. EQCB Minutes of December 10, 1996 scheduled matters have been considered. This was to allow boardmember McGuire to review the staffmemo on the ability of the Board to hold special meetings. Motion Carried: A YES: NOES: ABSENT: 5-0-0 Hurley, Rosenman, Voce, Christ, McGuire None VL Public Hearings - None. VII. Scheduled Matters 4. Scoping Meeting - Hellman Ranch Specific Plan Mr. Whittenberg presented a brief report to the Board. Mr. Whittenberg indicated he would provide a brief overview of this meeting, then turn the floor over to the City's environmental consultant. This is a very preliminary phase of the environmental review process, which is not required by CEQA. The main purpose is to take public comments and concerns for inclusion in the EIR. Staff has identified major issues on the Notice of Preparation. These are basically all areas listed in CEQA. He indicated the closing date for inclusion of comments at this stage is December 30th. These concerns and comments will be included with the Draft EIR. Dave Bartlett, representing the applicant spoke briefly regarding the specifics of the project. The project consists of an 18-hole golf course, wetland restoration (23.1 acres of saltwater wetlands and 10 acres of fresh water wetlands), Gum Grove Nature Park, Los Alamitos Retarding Basin, Commercial development and interpretive center at the State Lands Parcel, approximately 70 single family homes, continued mineral production and an extension of Adolfo Lopez Drive to link up to the golf course. He felt the project would meet all federal, state and local requirements. Chris Webb, Moffatt & Nichol Engineers spoke regarding the grading design and hydraulics of the wetland habitats. This plan is to isolate the wetlands from the remainder of the site. The hydrology uses simple geometric shapes to ensure rapid filling and drainage. He discussed the proposed layout, including locating the bird habitats farthest from the golf course. There are a wide variety of habitats in this site. The wetlands are protected by what is essentially a 10-foot high levee. They propose using the existing culvert to supply fresh saltwater. Mr. Webb discussed tidal flushing of the marsh, indicating a residence time of only 2 days for water. Boardmember Rosenman suggested the EIR consultant consider how coliform and other agents will affect the biology of the wetlands. Boardmember Hurley asked that the EIR show how existing wetland areas compare to the proposed wetlands. Page 2 Minutes of December 10, 1996 EQCB Minutes of December 10, 1996 . Tony Baumkamp, Michael Brandman Associates discussed the ecologylbiology of the wetlands. He discussed the great degree ofloss of historic wetlands. His goal in this project is to create a full functioning ecosystem. There will be deep-water habitats, tidal flats and wetland habitats. About half of the fresh water marshes will be vegetation. This should provide important nesting and foraging areas. He indicated they had found Belding-Savannah sparrows on the site this year. Finally, he spoke of potential endangered species and plants, which might inhabit the area. He indicated he was not a biologist and could not speak regarding coliforms. Boardmember Rosenman asked the EIR consider keeping domestic animals from the wetlands sites. Boardmember McGuire asked the EIR discuss whether any of the wetlands would be exposed to the groundwater table and if so, how would the wetlands be protected from this. . Scott Magorien, Converse Consultants spoke regarding seismic and geologic issues. He indicated they are proposing homes be located 175 feet from the main splay of the Newport-Inglewood fault. This exceeds the State minimum standards by 125 feet. Boardmember Rosenman asked ifit was Mr. Magorien's opinion that the remainder of the site is not well suited for habitable homes. Mr. Magorien indicated there are steps that could be taken to make development feasible in other areas of the site. Dr. Rosenman asked that outside of special mitigation residential development would be difficult. Mr. Magorien indicated that without mitigation other parts of the site are not readily suited for residential construction. Ms. McGuire asked the EIR consider the possibility of subsidence. (Brief break taken 7:55 - 8:05) PUBliC COMMENTS Moira Hahn - asked that her comments be included verbatim. Ms. Hahn then read a prepared statement to the Board. Staffhas included Ms. Hahn's statement in its entirety as Attachment A. Andrea Stoker - asked that her comments be included verbatim. Ms. Stoker then read a prepared statement to the Board. Staff has included Ms. Stoker's statement in its entirety as Attachment B. . Wendy Morris - Ms. Morris asked the following items be considered in the EIR: . animal shelter noise impacts . building height of proposed homes and impacts on existing views . a potential easement for Marina Hill drainage . relocation of crude oil line behind Hill homes . whether or not a separate access was needed for the golf course . a need for adequate wetlands buffering . a potential extension of Gum Grove park Page 3 Minutes of December 10,1996 . . . EQCB Minutes of December 10, 1996 . irrigation of Gum Grove park Jane McQoud - Ms. McCloud asked the following items be considered in the EIR: . inclusion of a tree buffer between the golf course and the Gum Grove . maintain the Gum Grove access road into the Hellman property so the park would remain accessible from both sides in an emergency . there are seasonal ponds adjacent to the Gum Grove access road Ken Kropf - Mr. Kropf asked the following items be considered in the EIR: . use of reclaimed water to irrigate the golf course . potential of removal of Gum Grove park's parking area and removal of the gate BOARD COMMENTS Rosenman - . Page 19 - adequate consideration of fault rupture seismic issues. . Page 21 - Emergency issues / better signalling on Seal Beach Boulevard . Consideration of impacts on biologic resources . Page 22 - discussion of fire hazard reduction, emergency routes . Page 23 - storm water drainage, waste disposal, impact on regional water supplies McGuire - . Traffic should be heavily addressed. Specifically regarding traffic from the golf course . Hill drainage issues considered Hurley - · Qy~~ti9.n~sLtb_!Ly.~J.igity'_Qfl~~.n.d..JJ.~~__Alt~m~tiy.~~.J_.._2__~nQ_I,-_AlLQf tb~m increase the significant effects of the project rather than lessening them as required by CEOA. because all of them include a substantial increase in the number of dwelling units in the present proposal. He said the DEIR should in~J.Y_Q~_~!L~lt~.m.~!iy~jo..yv.hi~b.J.b.e..Q~.el!iDg_.Y.n.it~__Qn.Jh~__m~.~~.~r~..f.~p.l~~.eg..lYitb. stores. offices. and other non-residential usesAsked tAat an alternative eensideriag-flO-resideRtial-development.-and.addit.h:>flal.eemmefeial-developmeflt be considered. Voce - . impacts from oil spills in the river . would like EIR to include hydrological profile of fresh water marshes . consider use of gray water in project Page 4 Minutes of December 10, 1996 . . . EQCB Minutes of December 10, 1996 The scoping session closed at 9:07 p.m. 5. Minutes of October 8,1996 Motion by Rosenman; second by Hurley to approve the Minutes of October 8, 1996. Motion Carried: A YES: NOES: ABSENT: 5-0-0 Hurley, Rosenman, Voce, Christ, McGuire None None 6. Minutes of November 18,1996 Motion by Rosenman; second by McGuire to approve the Minutes of November 18, 1996. Motion Carried: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN : V. Consent Calendar 3-0-2 Hurley, Rosenman, Voce None Christ, McGuire 1. Receive and File - City Council Staff Report dated November 18, 1996 re: Status Report re: 1997 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). South Coast Air Quality Management District 2. Receive and File - City Council Staff Report dated November 18, 1996 re: Receipt of "Notice ofIntent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Disposal and Reuse of Marine Corps Air Station El T oro" 3. Memorandum dated December 5,1996 re: Ability to Call Special Meetings Motion by Rosenman; second by Christ to approve the Consent Calendar. Motion Carried: A YES: NOES: ABSTAIN: VIII. Staff Concerns - none. Minutes of December 10, 1996 5-0-0 Hurley, Rosenman, Voce, Christ, McGuire None None Page 5 . . . IX. Board Concerns EQCB Minutes of December 10, 1996 Boardmember McGuire asked the City use a more prominent means of advertising for these meetings. x. Adjournment Motion by Rosenman; second by Hurley to adjourn to January 21, 1997. Motion Carried: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 5-0-0 Hurley, Rosenman, Voce, Christ, McGuire None None The meeting was adjourned at 9:26 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Barry Curtis, Secretary Environmental Quality Control Board Minutes of December 10, 1996 Page 6 . . . Commission Requests 1. Minutes of September 1996 Minutes of December 10, 1996 EQCB Minutes of December 10, 1996 Page 7