HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2010-07-12 #BAGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: July 12, 2010
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: David Carmany, City Manager
FROM: Mark Persico, AICP, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT: DRAFT OUTLINE OF PUBLIC REVIEW PROCESS FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
SUMMARY OF REQUEST
Draft outline of the public review process for the DWP Specific Plan Amendment
environmental document.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The current Department of Water and Power Specific Plan was adopted on
March 11, 1996 after a number of public hearings in which members of the public
were invited to participate in the process and provide input as to the appropriate
land uses of the property. The 10.6 acre site is located at the southwest corner of
Marina Drive and First Street. The DWP Specific Plan contemplates up to a 150
room hotel and related ancillary uses on 30% of the site, with 70% open space
use. Bay City Partners has filed an application to develop the property with
residential uses.
The property is located within the coastal zone and any proposed change in use
will require careful review and analysis. In general, specific plans contemplate a
comprehensive, integrated development that is consistent with the City's General
Plan. Therefore, changing the land use must undergo a public review process
involving invaluable participation and input from the community, the DWP Ad Hoc
Advisory Committee, the Archaeological Advisory Committee, the Environmental
Quality Control Board, the Planning Commission and the City Council. The exact
review sequence has not been determined, but a recommendation will be made
to the City Council concurrent with approval of the contract to hire the
environmental consultant.
The determination as to whether a Mitigated Negative Declaration or an
Environmental Impact Report is the appropriate environmental document to study
Agenda Item 6
Page 2
the impacts arising from the development will be made after an Initial Study
Checklist has been completed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA). Staff will complete the Initial Study Checklist upon the City's receipt
of a fully executed reimbursement agreement, signed by the owner, and a
deposit check from the owner.
Staff provided a schedule to the DWP Ad Hoc Committee in February and the
City Attorney has prepared a reimbursement agreement. However, the applicant
rejected the reimbursement agreement and has revised its application. The
attached schedule has been updated slightly to include additional opportunities
for public review and comment.
At this time, we are waiting for the applicant to sign the reimbursement
agreement and pay the necessary deposit to begin environmental review.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There are no fiscal impacts created by this update report. All future costs will be
borne by the applicant through execution of a cost reimbursement agreement.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council receives and files this report.
SUBMITTED BY:
Mark Persico, AICP
Director of Development Services
NOTED AND APPROVED:
David Carman
City Manager
Attachment:
A. Draft outline of Environmental Review Public Process
DRAFT REVISED SCHEDULE FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS
DWP SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT
Mitigated Negative Declaration Process* Environmental Impact Report Process*
MONTH PROJECT CONSIDERATION ACTION MONTH PROJECT CONSIDERATION ACTION
Month 0 Approval of consultant and reimbursement
agreement, submittal of deposit.
Month 2 Completion of Project Description
Completion of Initial Study (Preparation of
preliminary studies)
Month 4 Completion of Draft Mitigated Negative
Declaration (MND). (traffic, hydrology, geology,
archaeological, fiscal, and biology)
Month 0 Approval of consultant and reimbursement
agreement, submittal of deposit.
Month 2 Completion of Project Description
Completion of Initial Study (Preparation of
preliminary studies)
Month 5 Completion of Draft Environmental Impact
Report (EIR). (traffic, hydrology, geology,
archaeological, fiscal, and biology)
EQCB — conduct scoping meeting
Month 6 Public Comment Period on Draft MND (MND): Month 7
❑ Archaeological Advisory Committee (AAC)
Review and Receipt of Public Comments as
to adequacy of draft cultural resources
section.
❑ Environmental Quality Control Board
(EQCB) Review and Receipt of Public
Comments as to adequacy of draft MND.
❑ Project Area Committee
❑ Recreation and Parks Commission
Range of Project Alternatives
Public Comment Period on Draft EIR:
❑ Archaeological Advisory Committee (AAC)
Review and Receipt of Public Comments as
to adequacy of draft cultural resources
section.
❑ Environmental Quality Control Board
(EQCB) Review and Receipt of Public
Comments as to adequacy of draft EIR.
❑ Project Area Committee
❑ Recreation and Parks Commission
* At this time staff does not have adequate information to determine whether the project will be processed under an MND or EIR. A
determination on the level of review will be made at the completion of the Initial Study checklist phase.
Draft Revised Schedule for
Environmental Review Process
DWP Specific Plan Amendment
Mitigated Negative Declaration Process Environmental Impact Report Process
MONTH PROJECT CONSIDERATION ACTION MONTH PROJECT CONSIDERATION ACTION
Month 8 Preparation of "Responses to Comments" on Month 10
Draft MND.
Month 9 Planning Commission Public Hearings on Draft Month 11
MND and the specific plan amendment.
❑ Planning Commission forwards
recommendations to the City Council on
the adequacy of the Mitigated Negative
Declaration, and the Specific Plan
Amendment.
Month 11 Redevelopment Agency /City Council Public Month 13
Hearings on the MND and Specific Plan
Amendment.
❑ City Council makes final determination
regarding the Mitigated Negative
Declaration document and determines to
approve, approve with revisions, or deny
the Specific Plan Amendment.
❑ Preparation of "Responses to Comments"
on Draft EIR.
Planning Commission Public Hearings on
Draft EIR and the specific plan amendment.
❑ Planning Commission forwards
recommendations to the City Council on
the adequacy of the EIR, and the Specific
Plan Amendment.
Redevelopment Agency /City Council Public
Hearings on the EIR and the Specific Plan
Amendment.
❑ City Council makes final determination
regarding the EIR and determines to
approve, approve with revisions, or deny
the Specific Plan Amendment.
Note: The above draft revised public review process schedule is based on a reasoned assumption as to the time periods
involved in preparing the necessary environmental review documents and staff reports. The schedule anticipates some
neighborhood meetings, and study sessions before the Planning Commission and City Council. However, these timeframes are
estimates only and should not be relied on by the project proponent or interested citizens.
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