HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2005-06-13 #S 5 .v
AGENDA REPORT '
DATE: June 13, 2005
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: John B. Bahorski, City Manager
FROM: Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO DRAFT EIR - HOME DEPOT,
CITY OF LONG BEACH
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
Authorize approval of letter with any modifications determined appropriate, instruct
Mayor to sign proposed Response Letter. Instruct Staff to forward to the City of Long
Beach and to the EQCB for information. Receive and File Staff Report.
BACKGROUND:
The City has received a copy of the " Draft Environmental Impact Report — Home Depot,
City of Long Beach ", dated April 2005. This document evaluates the potential
environmental impacts of a proposed mixed -use project that will consist of the following
major project components:
❑ 157,529 square feet of mixed -use retail- commercial uses on approximately 16.7
acres; the development will comprise 4 different building pads ranging from
approximately 4,800 to 139,500 square feet as follows:
❑ A 104,886 square foot Home Depot store with a 34,643 square foot garden
center;
❑ A 6,000 square foot sit down restaurant with 2,050 square foot outdoor eating
area;
❑ A 12,000 square foot retail building.
❑ Access will be provided by a new primary entry at the signalized intersection of
Studebaker Road and Loynes Drive and by two new secondary entries providing
right in/right out access from Studebaker Road.
❑ The project requires approval by the city of Long Beach of the following items:
❑ Environmental Impact Report;
❑ Site Plan Review;
❑ Conditional Use Permit;
❑ Local Coastal Development Permit; and
❑ Standards Variance.
Agenda Item S
Z:\My Documents \CEQA\Long Beach Home Deport DEIR.CC Staff Report.doc\LW\05 -26-05
City Comment Letter re:
Draft EIR — Long Beach Home Depot, City of Long Beach
City Council Staff Report
June 13, 2005
The comment period on the DEIR will close on June 15, 2005. The EQCB reviewed the
Draft EIR and proposed comment letter on May 25, approved the letter without
modifications, and forwarded it to the City Council for final review and consideration this
evening.
Due to the close proximity of the proposed project to the City of Seal Beach, the proposed
project would appear to generate several areas of environmental concern to the City of Seal
Beach. Staff has prepared a draft response letter for the consideration of the Environmental
Quality Control Board, provided as Attachment 1, which sets forth those concerns.
Summary of Proposed Action and Environmental Impacts:
Staff provided to the EQCB as Attachment 2 a copy of portions of the DEIR, which provide
an overview of the proposed project, location and site plan maps of the proposed project,
and the environmental discussion of the sections of the document that the City addressed in
commenting on the Notice of Preparation for this project in 2004. A complete copy of the
DEIR will be available at the City Council Meeting and is also available at the Department
of Development Services for review by interested parties. Provided as Attachment 3 is a
copy of the City comment letter on the Notice of Preparation for this project that was
approved by the Board on April 14, 2004.
Comment Period:
The comment period on the DEIR will conclude on June 15, 2005. Written comments may
be submitted to:
Angela Reynolds, Environmental Planning Officer
333 W. Ocean Boulevard, 7th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
Public Availability:
A copy of the DEIR is available at the Department of Development Services for review.
Future City Actions:
Staff has prepared a response letter for consideration of the EQCB and City Council relative
to the DEIR. The EQCB reviewed the proposed letter on May 25 and approved it with no
modifications. (Refer to Attachment 1). .
Upon completion of the Final EIR by the City of Long Beach, both the EQCB and the City
Council will review the Final EIR document and the required "Responses to Comments ".
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
2
Long Beach Home Deport DEIR.CC Staff Report
City Comment Letter re:
Draft EIR — Long Beach Home Depot, City of Long Beach
City Council Staff Report
June 13, 2005
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize approval of letter with any modifications determined appropriate, instruct
Chairman to sign proposed Response Letter. Instruct Staff to forward to the City Council
for final review and approval. Receive and File Staff Report.
NOTED AND APPROVED:
ff Whittenber Bahors i
Director of Development Servi - anager
Attachments: (3)
Attachment 1: Draft Response Letter re: "Draft Environmental Impact Report —
Home Depot, Long Beach ", prepared by LSA for the City of Long
Beach, dated April 2005
Attachment 2: "Draft Environmental Impact Report — Home Depot, Long Beach ",
prepared by LSA for the City of Long Beach, dated April 2005
Please note that the following Sections have been provided:
❑ Section 1.0 Executive Summary
❑ Section 3.0 Project Description
❑ Section 4.2 Air Quality
❑ Section 4.3 Biological Resources
❑ Section 4.6 Hazards and Hazardous Materials
❑ Section 4.7 Hydrology and Water Quality
❑ Section 4.11 Transportation and Circulation
❑ Section 6.0 Alternatives to the Proposed Project
❑ Section 7.0 Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting
Program
❑ Section 11 References
Attachment 3: City Response Letter re: "Initial Study/Notice of Preparation - Draft
Environmental Impact Report —Long Beach Home Depot ", April 14,
2004
3
Long Beach Home Deport DEIR.CC Staff Report
City Comment Letter re:
Draft 61R — Long Beach Home Depot, City of Long Beach
City Council Staff Report
June 13, 2005
ATTACHMENT 1
DRAFT RESPONSE LETTER RE: "DRAFT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT -
HOME DEPOT, LONG BEACH ", PREPARED
BY LSA FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH,
DATED APRIL 2005
4
Long Beach Home Deport DEIR.CC Staff Report
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June 13, 2005
Angela Reynolds, Environmental Planning Officer
City of Long Beach
Department of Planning and Building, 7th Floor
333 W. Ocean Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90802
SUBJECT: City of Seal Beach Comments re: Draft EIR — "Long Beach
Home Depot"
Dear Ms. Reynolds:
The City of Seal Beach has reviewed the above referenced Draft Environmental
Impact Report (DEIR) and has several general comments and observations relative to the
document, which are set forth below.
A. Necessity of Re- Circulation of Draft EIR — Inadequate Cumulative Project
Analysis:
The City of Seal Beach received on May 19, 2005 the "Notice of Intent to Prepare
Environmental Impact Report for Seaport Marina" ( "NOP "). This NOP document
indicates that Long Beach will prepare an environmental impact report to evaluate
the following project:
❑ Redevelopment of 10.9 acres located at the southwest corner of Pacific Coast
Highway and East Second Street with mixed -uses consisting of approximately
425 residential units and 170,000 square feet of retail development. Buildings
would have a maximum height of 50 feet.
It is the position of the City of Seal Beach that the subject DEIR must be revised and
updated to reflect the potential cumulative impacts portion of the DEIR based on the
now known project proposal for Seaport Marina, particularly in the areas of Air
Quality and Transportation/Circulation. The Seaport Marina project is a significant
project, as determined by the City of Long Beach in determining to prepare an EIR
for the project. The Seaport Marina project is located at the intersection of Pacific
Coast Highway and West Second Street, an intersection identified in the Home
Z:\My Documents \CEQA\Long Beach Home Depot Project.DELR.City Comment Letter.doc'LW\05 -23 -05
City of Seal Beach Comment Letter re: Draft EIR —
Long Beach Home Depot Project
June 13, 2005
Deport DEIR as having a "significant, unavoidable impact" due to right -of -way
constraints. The cumulative impacts of both of these projects, in conjunction with
the other "cumulative projects" currently set forth in the Home Depot DEIR, might
result in additional significant impacts at other intersections, both in Long Beach and
Seal Beach, that require disclosure, evaluation of mitigation measures, and
determination of any additional "significant, unavoidable impacts ".
It the position of Seal Beach that the Seaport Marina project results in a significant
change in circumstances and will present new information that will be fundamental
to the City of Long Beach in being able to legally evaluate the "cumulative impacts"
of the Home Depot project and for the ability of Long Beach to make the necessary
independent decision that the Home Depot EIR complies with the California
Environmental Quality Act.
The following additional comments are related directly to our comment letter of April 14,
2004.
B. Lack of Discussion as to Potential Transportation Impacts to Seal Beach:
The City had requested in our letter of April 14, 2004, that the traffic analysis
impacts include those intersections within the City of Seal Beach which are
impacted in accordance with the County of Orange Growth Management standards,
which utilizes 1,700 vehicles per hour for lane capacity and a clearance interval of
0.05. Our review of the Draft EIR and Appendix J - Traffic Impact Analysis, does
not indicate that this evaluation was completed and presented for public review and
comments in the DEIR document.
Until such analysis is completed and presented for public review and comments, it is
our position that Chapter 4.11, Transportation and Circulation, is inadequate and
requires revision.
As was indicated in our April 14, 2004 letter, the DEIR will not be adequate without
discussion of the cumulative effects of traffic impacts on Pacific Coast Highway, the
I -405 Freeway, Westminster Avenue/West Second Street, Seventh Street, and
Studebaker Road at the County boundary line, and as far distance from the County
boundary line as is appropriate given the criteria set forth in the first paragraph of
this comment. We wish to emphasize that vehicular access to the College Park West
neighborhood in Seal Beach is through Studebaker Road and 7 Street. In addition,
the reduced lane capacity of the Marina Drive Bridge should be reflected in the
traffic analysis. There is no discussion within the DEIR document that addresses
these comments.
As further indicated in our April 14, 2004 letter, the Boeing Integrated Defense
Systems ( "BIDS ") Specific Plan traffic impact analysis included a discussion of
"Project- Related Fair Share Contribution" on pages 74 and 75 which discussed the
net traffic impacts of the BIDS project to the intersections of Pacific Coast
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Long Beach Home Depot ProjectDEIR.City Comment Letter
• City of Seal Beach Comment Letter re: Draft EIR —
Long Beach Home Depot Project
June 13, 2005
Highway/Westminster Avenue /Second Street and Westminster Avenue and
Studebaker Road. A "fair- share" calculation was prepared and a "fair share" dollar
contribution to the City of Long Beach was identified.
Mr. Jerry Olivera of the City of Long Beach spoke at the May 21, 2003 Planning
Commission public hearing on the BIDS Specific Plan EIR, and indicated that the
proposed mitigation was inadequate and that the identified fees may not be sufficient
to cover the costs of the identified improvements, especially if right -of -way is
required. In reviewing the Draft EIR, the mitigation measure proposed for
Studebaker Road/West Second Street is the same in the traffic analysis of both
project traffic studies, and appears to be consistent.
In regards to impacts at Pacific Coast Highway and West Second Street, the BIDS
Specific Plan EIR assumed that improvements to that intersection would occur, and
the City of Seal Beach adopted appropriate mitigation measures requiring the
payment of "fair- share" expenses for proposed improvements at this intersection.
The current Home Deport DIER indicates that the Home Depot project will result in
a "significant, unavoidable impact" due to right -of -way constraints at this
intersection. The document should also specify what the right -of -way constraint is
by describing the necessary actions to alleviate the impact and delineating the impact
of such improvements on the specific properties that would be impacted if such
mitigation were to be undertaken. If the current determination regarding this
intersection is the ultimate decision of the City of Long Beach, then there would be
no "nexus" for Seal Beach to require payment of those "fair- share" fees identified
within the BIDS Specific Plan Final EIR for this intersection.
The City of Seal Beach again requests that Long Beach provide a detailed traffic
impact "fair share" calculation of all identified project- and cumulative projects
impacts to the identified intersections, including any additional intersection
identified in the revised and updated "cumulative impacts" discussion due to the
additional Seaport Marina project. Such calculations to include the following major
cost categories, including the appropriate cost assumptions, as identified in the
LL &G traffic analysis for the BIDS Specific Plan EIR:
❑ Description of Improvement
❑ Area of Improvement
❑ Cost per square foot of street widening
❑ Number of signal comers
❑ Construction Cost estimate
❑ Construction Cost Estimate with 25% Contingency
❑ Cost of Right -of -Way
❑ Construction Cost with Right -of -Way Acquisition
❑ Project Fair Share Percent
1 Home Deport Draft Environmental Impact Report, page 4.11 -22
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Long Beach Home Depot ProjectDEIR.City Comment Letter
City of Seal Beach Comment Letter re: Draft EIR —
Long Beach Home Depot Project
June 13, 2005
The above "fair share" calculation shall be prepared for the Home Depot project, the
BIDS Specific Plan Project in Seal Beach, and for any other City of Long Beach or
identified cumulative projects that are identified in the traffic analysis as having a
significant impact at the subject intersections, including the new "Seaport Marina"
project identified in your NOP dated May 2005.
Provided below are our concerns regarding the information and discussion within specified
sections of the DEIR:
DISCUSSION OF DEIR EVALUATIONS:
C. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES:
The City has reviewed the evaluation regarding the potential for the presence of
wetland indicator species that may exist on the site or along the adjoining levees and
the wetland delineation analysis, and concurs with the evaluation and determinations
regarding this area of environmental concern.
D. CULTURAL RESOURCES:
The proposed mitigation measures do not require on -site archaeological and
Native American monitoring during grading activities to determine if any cultural
resources will be impacted due to project grading activities although it is required
for paleontology monitoring. Project grading monitoring relative to unanticipated
discovery of cultural resource materials should also be included as a mitigation
measure to ensure protection of such resources if they are encountered during
project grading activities.
The City of Seal Beach requests consideration of a mitigation measure in the
following general language to address this issue:
"An archaeologist and a Native American Monitor appointed by the City
of Long Beach shall be present during earth removal or disturbance
activities related to rough grading and other excavation for foundations
and utilities that extend below five feet of pre - grading surface elevation.
If any earth removal or disturbance activities result in the discovery of
cultural resources, the project proponent's contractors shall cease all earth
removal or disturbance activities in the vicinity and immediately notify the
City selected archaeologist and/or Native American Monitor, who shall
immediately notify the Director of Planning. The City selected
archaeologist will have the power to temporarily halt or divert the
excavation equipment in order to evaluate any potential cultural material.
The City selected archaeologist shall evaluate all potential cultural
findings in accordance with standard practice and other applicable
regulations. Consultation with the Native American Heritage Commission
and data/artifact recovery, if deemed appropriate, shall be conducted."
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Long Beach Home Depot ProjectDEIR.City Comment Letter
City of Seal Beach Comment Letter re: Draft EIR —
Long Beach Home Depot Project
June 13, 2005
E. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS:
The discussion and evaluation relative to the following issues is adequate in our
opinion:
❑ hazardous materials currently existing on the site and new hazardous materials
anticipated to be present on the site after project implementation;
❑ exposure of persons doing business and/or working at the project facilities;
and
❑ security concerns.
F. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY:
The requirement of a double - walled sewer line at the Loynes Street bridge location
adequately addresses the concerns of Seal Beach regarding water quality issues.
The Environmental Quality Control Board considered and discussed the DEIR
document on May 25, 2005, authorized the Chairman to sign this letter, and forwarded the
matter to the City Council for fmal review and approval of this letter. On June 13, 2005 the
City Council considered this matter, the recommendations of the Environmental Quality
Control Board, and authorized the Mayor to sign this letter, representing the official
comments of the City of Seal Beach.
Thank you for your consideration of the comments of the City of Seal Beach. Please
do not hesitate to contact Mr. Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services, City
Hall, 211 Eighth Street, Seal Beach, 90740, telephone (562) 431 -2527, extension 313, if you
have any questions regarding this matter. In addition, please provide four (4) copies of the
Revised DEIR on this project to Mr. Whittenberg, so the City can have a copy available at
City Hall and at each library within the City available for public review during the public
comment period on the revised DEIR.
Sincerely,
Mayor
City of Seal Beach
Chairman, Environmental Quality Control Board
City of Seal Beach
5
Long Beach Home Depot Project.DEIR.City Comment Letter
City of Seal Beach Comment Letter re: Draft EIR —
Long Beach Home Depot Project
June 13, 2005
Distribution:
Seal Beach City Council
Seal Beach Planning Commission
Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
City Manager Director of Development Services
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Long Beach Home Depot Project.DEIR.City Comment Letter
City Comment Letter re:
Draft EIR — Long Beach Home Depot, City of Long Beach
City Council Staff Report
June 13, 2005
ATTACHMENT 2
"DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REPORT - HOME DEPOT, LONG BEACH ",
PREPARED BY LSA FOR THE CITY OF
LONG BEACH, DATED APRIL 2005
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING
SECTIONS WERE PROVIDED TO THE
EQCB:
❑ SECTION 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
❑ SECTION 3.0 PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
❑ SECTION 4.2 AIR QUALITY
❑ SECTION 4.3 BIOLOGICAL
RESOURCES
❑ SECTION 4.6 HAZARDS AND
HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS
❑ SECTION 4.7 HYDROLOGY AND
WATER QUALITY
❑ SECTION 4.11 TRANSPORTATION
AND CIRCULATION
❑ SECTION 6.0 ALTERNATIVES TO
THE PROPOSED
PROJECT
❑ SECTION 7.0 MITIGATION
MONITORING AND
REPORTING PROGRAM
❑ SECTION 11 REFERENCES
1 1
Long Beach Home Deport DEIR.CC Staff Report
City Comment Letter re:
Draft EIR — Long Beach Home Depot, City of Long Beach
City Council Staff Report
June 13, 2005
ATTACHMENT 3
RESPONSE LETTER RE: "INITIAL
STUDY/NOTICE OF PREPARATION - DRAFT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT -LONG
BEACH HOME DEPOT", PREPARED BY THE
CITY OF LONG BEACH, RECEIVED BY
CITY OF SEAL BEACH ON MARCH 22, 2004
12
Long Beach Home Deport DEIR.CC Staff Report
City Comment Letter re:
Draft EIR— Long Beach Home Depot, City of Long Beach
City Council Staff Report
June 13, 2005
April 14, 2004
Angela Reynolds, Environmental Planning Officer
City of Long Beach
Department of Planning and Building, 7th Floor
333 W. Ocean Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90802
SUBJECT: City of Seal Beach Comments re: Notice of Preparation of
Draft EIR — "Long Beach Home Depot"
Dear Ms. Reynolds:
The City of Seal Beach has reviewed the above referenced Notice of Preparation and
has several general comments and observations relative to the document, which are set forth
below.
The City of Seal Beach is concerned that the document, particularly
Transportation/Traffic, appear to focus only on Long Beach, and does not appear to propose
to fully consider and evaluate potential impacts to the City of Seal Beach, which is
immediately adjacent. The City's position is that impacts in the below mentioned areas of
concern will not stop at a county boundary line, but may, and probably will, extend into our
community as well. The City of Seal Beach, in particular, would seem to be in a position to
experience impacts from the proposed project, particularly in the area of
"Transportation/Traffic ".
Provided below are our concerns regarding the information and discussion within specified
sections of the NOP:
DISCUSSION OF CHECKLIST RESPONSES
Item IV. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES:
Item IV.b — Have a substantial adverse impact on any riparian habitat or other
sensitive natural community identified by local, or regional plans, policies,
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Long Beach Home Deport DEIR.CC Staff Report
City Comment Letter re:
Draft EIR— Long Beach Home Depot, City of Long Beach
City Council Staff Report
June 13, 2005
regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service?
Concern of the City of Seal Beach:
The Environmental Evaluation Checklist indicates "less than significant impact ".
The City feels that response is improper, given the potential for the presence of
wetland indicator species that may exist on the site or along the adjoining levees,
particularly since a biological evaluation and wetland delineation have not been
completed at this time. There may be biological resources and/or wetland areas that
are subject to policies and regulations of the California Department of Fish and
Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Coastal Commission that could be
impacted and which would require development of either avoidance or mitigation
measures.
These concerns are especially pertinent to the proposed use of a sewer force main
that is proposed to be constructed from the project site to an existing 8 -inch main on
Vista Street that includes 4 -inch sewer line mounted under the Loynes Street bridge.
This bridge is directly above the Los Cerritos Channel which flows into Marine
Stadium, Long Beach Marina, Alamitos Bay, and eventually the Pacific Ocean. A
sewer leak of the proposed under bridge installation could have significant impacts
to the marine life that utilizes these important coastal waters, and to the citizens of
Long Beach and Seal Beach that enjoy these highly utilized coastal recreation
resources.
The Draft EIR should include detailed discussion of the biological/wetland resources
that may be impacted not only on the project site but those that may be impacted in
the downsteam open water resources of Los Cerritos Channel, Marine Stadium,
Long Beach Marina, Alamitos Bay, and the Pacific Ocean; a determination of the
significance of the impact; and proposed avoidance and/or mitigation measures to
reduce identified impacts to a less than significant level.
Item V. CULTURAL RESOURCES:
Item IV.d — Disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of formal
cemeteries?
Concern of the City of Seal Beach:
The Environmental Evaluation Checklist indicates "Potentially Significant Impact
Unless Mitigation Incorporated ". The City feels that response is proper, but have
a concern that the discussion for this item indicates that "Precautionary
mitigation may be included in the EIR to address any potential impacts related
to unknown remains that might be uncovered during grading activities."
(Emphasis added). The response leaves an unclear position of the City of Long
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Long Beach Home Deport DEIR.CC Staff Report
City Comment Letter re:
Draft EIR — Long Beach Home Depot, City of Long Beach
City Council Staff Report
June 13, 2005
Beach; will you impose mitigation measures to require on -site archaeological and
Native American monitoring during grading activities to determine if any cultural
resources, including human remains will be impacted due to project grading
activities? This issue should be fully addressed with appropriate mitigation
measures set forth relative to project grading monitoring activities, actions if
cultural resources or human remains are discovered, and sensitive treatment if
human remains are discovered.
Item VII. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS:
Item VII.d — Be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials
sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result,
•
would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment?
Concern of the City of Seal Beach:
The City feels that response is proper, but has a concern that the discussion
indicates that mitigation measures will be proposed, if necessary, to "reduce
potential impacts to the extent feasible." The concern is regarding the definition
of a "feasible mitigation measure" and the public determination process, or lack
thereof, as to how that decision may be reached as to what "extent is feasible ".
We would anticipate that any adverse environmental conditions that are
encountered based on a new Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, or any
subsequent environmental site assessments that may result from the
recommendations of the Phase I Site Assessment, will be carried out in a manner
to reduce adverse exposures to humans to a level of insignificance.
Item VII. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS:
Item VII.g — Impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted
emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan?
Concern of the City of Seal Beach:
The City feels that the response is improper. The issue of increased exposure to
existing major electric generating power plants should be evaluated and
appropriate security measures should be identified and implemented to provide an
adequate level .of site protection of the surrounding highly important power plant
facilities. This is particularly important given the proposed development will be
impacted by the retention of the Pacific Energy distribution facilities, which are
accessible on three sides with public parking lots that are to be provided for the
proposed project. Facilities that have previously been clearly separate from any
public facilities, such as a shopping center, will now be exposed to public access
for many hours a day, and by many persons, and those security concerns need to
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Long Beach Home Deport DEIR.CC Staff Report
City Comment Letter re:
Draft EIR — Long Beach Home Depot, City of Long Beach
City Council Sta ff Report
June 13, 2005
be evaluated, and appropriate mitigation measures imposed to ensure the security
of these facilities.
Item VIII. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY:
Item VIII.a — Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements?
Concern of the City of Seal Beach:
The City feels that response is proper, but has a concern that the discussion
indicates that mitigation measures Will be proposed, if necessary, to "minimize to
the extent feasible potential impacts." The concern is regarding the definition of a
"feasible mitigation measure" and the public determination process, or lack
thereof, as to how that decision may be reached as to what "extent is feasible ".
We would anticipate that any adverse water quality or waste discharge impacts
will be carried out in a manner to reduce adverse impacts to a level of
insignificance and in accordance with all applicable water quality and waste
discharge requirements and permit conditions.
Item XV. TRANSPORTATION/TRAFFIC
The NOP indicates the DEIR will evaluate the traffic report to determine the
project's impact on surrounding roadways.
Concern of the City of Seal Beach:
The City requests the traffic analysis impacts include those intersections within the
City of Seal Beach which are impacted in accordance with the County of Orange
Growth Management standards, which utilizes 1,700 vehicles per hour for lane
capacity and a clearance interval of 0.05.
The impacts of all other cumulative projects within the project vicinity in the City of
Long Beach should be thoroughly addressed. The impacts of the increased traffic
from all appropriate projects in the City of Long Beach, along with those projects in
the City of Seal Beach, including the previously approved Boeing Integrated
Defense Systems Specific Plan, along with cumulative traffic impacts of regional
trip increases should be thoroughly analyzed and proposed mitigation measures
clearly set forth to resolve those problems.
The DEIR will not be adequate without discussion of the cumulative effects of
traffic impacts on Pacific Coast Highway, the I -405 Freeway, Westminster Avenue,
i Street, and Studebaker Road at the County boundary line, and as far distance
from the County boundary line as is appropriate given the criteria set forth in the
first paragraph of this comment. We wish to emphasize that vehicular access to the
College Park West neighborhood in Seal Beach is through Studebaker Road and 7
16
Long Beach Home Deport DEIR.CC Staff Report
City Comment Letter re:
Draft EIR - Long Beach Home Depot, City of Long Beach
City Council Staff Report
June 13, 2005
Street. In addition, the reduced lane capacity of the Marina Drive Bridge should be
reflected in the traffic analysis.
The City of Seal Beach has previously provided to your office a copy of the Traffic
Study for the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems ( "BIDS ") Specific Plan, prepared
by Linscott Law & Greenspan ( "LL &G "), dated December 13, 2002 as a technical
appendix to the BIDS Specific Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report. If you
require an additional copy of this document, please contact the Department of
Development Services.
Please be aware that the BIDS Specific Plan traffic impact analysis included a
discussion of "Project- Related Fair Share Contribution" on pages 74 and 75 which
discussed the net traffic impacts of the BIDS project to the intersections of Pacific
Coast Highway/Westminster Avenue /Second Street and Westminster Avenue and
Studebaker Road. A "fair- share" calculation was prepared and a "fair share" dollar
contribution to the City of Long Beach was identified. Mr. Jerry Olivera of the City
of Long Beach spoke at the May 21, 2003 Planning Commission public hearing on
the BIDS Specific Plan EIR, and indicated that the proposed mitigation was
inadequate and that the identified fees may not be sufficient to cover the costs of the
identified improvements, especially if right -of -way is required.
The City of Seal Beach requests that Long Beach provide a detailed traffic impact
"fair share" calculation of all identified project- and cumulative projects impacts to
the identified intersections. Such calculations to include the following major cost
categories, including the appropriate cost assumptions, as identified in the LL &G
traffic analysis for the BIDS Specific Plan EIR:
❑ Description of Improvement
❑ Area of Improvement
❑ Cost per square foot of street widening
❑ Number of signal corners
❑ Construction Cost estimate
❑ Construction Cost Estimate with 25% Contingency
❑ Cost of Right -of -Way
❑ Construction Cost with Right -of -Way Acquisition
❑ Project Fair Share Percent
The above "fair share" calculation shall be prepared for the Home Depot project, the
BIDS Specific Plan Project in Seal Beach, and for any other City of Long Beach or
identified cumulative projects that are identified in the traffic analysis as having a
significant impact at the subject intersections.
The Environmental Quality Control Board considered and discussed the NOP
document on April 14, 2004, and authorized the Chairman to sign this letter, representing
the official comments of the City of Seal Beach.
17
Long Beach Home Deport DEIR.CC Staff Repoli
.
•
City Comment Letter re:
•
Draft EIR — Long Beach Home Depot, City of Long Beach
City Council Staff Report
June 13, 2005
Thank you for your consideration of the comments of the City of Seal Beach. Please
do not hesitate to contact Mr. Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services, City
Hall, 211 Eighth Street, Seal Beach, 90740, telephone (562) 431 -2527, extension 313, if you
have any questions regarding this matter. In addition, please provide four (4) copies of the
Draft EIR on this project to Mr. Whittenberg, so the City can have a copy available at City
Hall and at each library within the City available for public review during the public
comment period.
Sincerely,
/s/
John Unrath
Chairman, Environmental Quality Control Board
City of Seal Beach
Distribution:
•
Seal Beach City Council
Seal Beach Planning Commission
Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
City Manager Director of Development Services
18
Long Beach Home Deport DEIR.CC Staff Report