ARROYO SECO MUSIC and ARTS FESTIVAL Final Environmental Impact Report
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ARROYO SECO MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL Final Environmental Impact Report Prepared for March 2016 City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development Department ARROYO SECO MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL Final Environmental Impact Report Prepared for March 2016 City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development Department 626 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 1100 Los Angeles, CA 90017 213.599.4300 www.esassoc.com Irvine Oakland Orlando Palm Springs Petaluma Portland Sacramento San Diego San Francisco Seattle Tampa Woodland Hills 140698.03 TABLE OF CONTENTS Arroyo Seco Music and Arts Festival Final EIR Page 1. Summary ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Draft EIR Circulation ............................................................................................. 1-2 1.2 Uses of the Final EIR ............................................................................................ 1-3 1.3 Summary of the Proposed Project ........................................................................ 1-4 2. Clarifications, Revisions, and Corrections ................................................................ 2-1 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Clarifications, Revisions, and Corrections ............................................................ 2-2 3. Comments and Responses ......................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Master Responses ................................................................................................ 3-5 3.3 Responses to Comments ................................................................................... 3-20 Appendix A Consideration of a Two-Day Festival List of Tables 1-1 Summary of Impacts and Mitigation Measures for the Arroyo Seco Music and Arts Festival Project .................................................................................................... 1-9 3-1 List of Comments Received ........................................................................................ 3-1 Arroyo Seco Music and Arts Festival Project i ESA / 140698.03 Final EIR March 2016 CHAPTER 1 Summary In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) the City of Pasadena (City), as the Lead Agency, has prepared the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Arroyo Seco Arts and Music Festival project (proposed Project). A Final EIR is defined by Section 15362(b) of the CEQA Guidelines as “containing the information contained in the Draft EIR; comments, either in verbatim or in summary received in the review process; a list of persons commenting; and the responses of the Lead Agency to the comments received.” The Final EIR is organized in the following sections: Chapter 1 – Summary: This section provides an introduction and a summary of the CEQA requirements, as well as information on the Alternatives to the proposed Project, Areas of Controversy, and Issues to be Resolved. Chapter 2 – Clarifications, Revisions, and Corrections: This section identifies any revisions made to clarify and/or correct the text within the Draft EIR either as a result of comments received from interested parties during the public review period or as initiated by the Lead Agency (City of Pasadena). Chapter 3 – Comments and Responses: This section includes all comments received on the Draft EIR during the document’s 60-day public review period, which began on December 21, 2015, and concluded February 19, 2016. Consistent with Section 15088 of the CEQA Guidelines, responses to environmental comments received on the Draft EIR have been prepared and are included in this section of this Final EIR. A list of public agencies, organizations, and individuals who submitted comments, either written or verbally, on the Draft EIR is provided. This document, along with the Draft EIR, make up the Final EIR as defined in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15132, which requires that the Final EIR consist of: The Draft EIR or a revision of the Draft EIR. Comments and recommendations received on the Draft EIR either verbatim or in summary. Arroyo Seco Music and Arts Festival Project 1-1 ESA / 140698.03 Final EIR March 2016 1. Summary A list of the persons, organizations, and public agencies that provided comments on the Draft EIR. The responses of the Lead Agency to significant environmental points raised in the review and consultation process. Any other information added by the Lead Agency. 1.1 Draft EIR Circulation The Draft EIR was distributed to relevant state agencies, surrounding cities and interested parties for a 60-day review period in accordance with Section 15087 of the CEQA Guidelines. The 60-day review period commenced on December 21, 2015 and ended on February 19, 2016. The Draft EIR was available for the general public at the following locations: City of Pasadena Planning Department at 175 North Garfield Avenue City of Pasadena Library, Central Branch at 285 East Walnut Avenue City of Pasadena Library, Linda Vista Branch at 1281 Bryant Street The Draft EIR was also available for download and review via the Internet at: http://cityofpasadena.net/Arroyo_Seco_Music_and_Arts_Festival/ Three public hearings were held during the 60-day comment period. During each of the public hearings, a presentation of the Project was presented to the City Commissions and the general public, and verbal comments were taken. These three public hearings were: Transportation Advisory Commission Hearing – January 28, 2016 Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Hearing – February 2, 2016 Planning Commission – February 10, 2016 Upon completion of the 60-day public review period, responses to comments received on environmental issues discussed in the EIR were prepared. These comments and their responses, which are included in the following sections, comprise a portion of the Final EIR, and will be included for consideration by the City of Pasadena, as well as other public decision makers when deciding whether to certify the Final EIR and approve the proposed Project. Arroyo Seco Music and Arts Festival Project 1-2 ESA / 140698.03 Final EIR March 2016 1. Summary 1.2 Uses of the Final EIR The Final EIR allows the public and the decision-makers the opportunity to review the comments and responses to those comments, revisions to the Draft EIR, and other components of the Final EIR prior to action being taken on the Project. After completing the Final EIR, and before approving the Project, the Lead Agency must make the following three certifications as required by Section 15090 of the CEQA Guidelines: That the Final EIR has been completed in compliance with CEQA. That the Final EIR was presented to the decision-making body of the Lead Agency, and that the decision-making body reviewed and considered the information in the Final EIR prior to approving the project. That the Final EIR reflects the Lead Agency’s independent judgement and analysis. Additionally, pursuant to Section 15093(b) of the CEQA Guidelines, when a Lead Agency approves a project that would result in significant unavoidable impacts that are disclosed in the Final EIR, the agency must state its reasons for supporting the approved action in writing (Statement of Overriding Considerations) and make one of three “Findings.” The Statement of Overriding Considerations is supported by substantial information in the record, which includes the Final EIR. Since the proposed Project would result in significant unavoidable impacts, the decision-making body (City Council) would be required to adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations if it approves the proposed Project. The Statement of Overriding Considerations allows the decision-making agency to balance, as applicable, the economic, legal, social, technological, or other benefits, including region-wide or statewide environmental benefits, of a proposed project against its unavoidable environmental risks when determining whether to approve the project. The written Findings for each of the significant effects must be accompanied by a brief explanation of the rationale for each finding. The possible findings are: 1) Changes or alterations have been required in, or incorporated into, the project which avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effect as identified in the final EIR. 2) Such changes or alterations are within the responsibility and jurisdiction of another public agency and not the agency making the finding. Such changes have been adopted by such other agency or can and should be adopted by such other agency. Arroyo Seco Music and Arts Festival Project 1-3 ESA / 140698.03 Final EIR March 2016 1. Summary 3) Specific economic, legal, social, technological, or other considerations, including provision of employment opportunities for highly trained workers, make infeasible the mitigation measures or project alternatives identified in the final EIR. The Final EIR, the Findings, and the Statement of Overriding Considerations are submitted to the decision-making body for consideration of the proposed Project. 1.3 Summary of the Proposed Project 1.3.1 Project Location and Setting The proposed Project involves the Rose Bowl Stadium and surrounding grounds, including the Brookside Golf Course, which are located in the western portion of the