City of Rancho Mirage Environmental Initial Study
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CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE 69-825 Highway 111 Rancho Mirage, California 92270 Phone: (760) 328-2266 Fax: (760) 324-9851 ENVIRONMENTAL INITIAL STUDY Project Title: Hazelden Betty Ford Center Preliminary Development Permit (PDP) City Project No.: Preliminary Development Plan Case No. PDP19005 Environmental Impact Report Case No. EIR19001 Lead Agency Name and Address: City of Rancho Mirage 69-825 Highway 111 Rancho Mirage, California 92270 Phone: (760) 328-2266 Fax: (760) 324-9851 Applicant: Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation 39000 Bob Hope Drive Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 Phone: (651) 213-4232 Representative: Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc. 42635 Melanie Place, Suite 101 Palm Desert, California 92211 Phone: (760) 341-4800 Fax: (760) 341-4455 Contact Person: Ben Torres, Associate Planner, [email protected] And Phone Number: Phone: (760) 328-2266 Ext. 253, Fax: (760) 324-9851 Project Location: Immediately west of Vista Del Sol, north of Country Club Drive and east of the Eisenhower Medical Center campus. Being a portion of the S1/2 of Section 6, Township 5 South, Range 6 East, San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian. APN No.s: 685-270-017 and 685-280-017, 016 and 028 Project Area: 26.22± Acres General Plan Designation: Hospital (P/H) Zoning Designation: Hospital (P/H) Hazelden Betty Ford Center PDP Initial Study/Notice of Preparation December 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS HAZELDEN BETTY FORD CENTER PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT PERMIT (PDP) PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................................................ 3 EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ............................................................................................ 12 1. AESTETICS .............................................................................................................................................. 14 2. AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY RESOUCES ................................................................................... 15 3. AIR QUALITY .......................................................................................................................................... 16 4. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ................................................................................................................... 18 5. CULTURAL RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................... 20 6. ENERGY ................................................................................................................................................... 21 7. GEOLOGY / SOILS .................................................................................................................................. 22 8. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS .......................................................................................................... 24 9. HAZARDS & HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ........................................................................................... 25 10. HYDROLOGY / WATER QUALITY ...................................................................................................... 27 11. LAND USE / PLANNING ........................................................................................................................ 29 12. MINERAL RESOURES ............................................................................................................................ 30 13. NOISE ........................................................................................................................................................ 31 14. POPULATION / HOUSING ..................................................................................................................... 33 15. PUBLIC SERVICES ................................................................................................................................. 34 16. RECEATION ............................................................................................................................................. 36 17. TRANSPORTATION ................................................................................................................................ 37 18. TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES ....................................................................................................... 39 19. UTILITIES SERVICE SYSTEMS ............................................................................................................ 40 20. WILDFIRES .............................................................................................................................................. 42 21. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE ................................................................................... 43 REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................................................... 44 Table 1 Hazelden Betty Ford Center Preliminary Development Plan Development Data ................... 11 Exhibit 1 Regional Map ............................................................................................................................. 5 Exhibit 2 Area Location Map ..................................................................................................................... 6 Exhibit 3 Project Vicinity Map .................................................................................................................. 7 Exhibit 4 HBFC & EMC Aerial (Current Conditions) .............................................................................. 8 Exhibit 5 HBFC Project Site (Existing Conditions) .................................................................................. 9 Exhibit 6 HBFC Proposed Site Plan ........................................................................................................ 10 City of Rancho Mirage 2 Hazelden Betty Ford Center PDP Initial Study/Notice of Preparation December 2019 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Hazelden Betty Ford Center (HBFC) is owned and operated by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, a leading drug and alcohol treatment provider. The HBFC was established in 1982 on the easterly 26.22± acres of the Eisenhower Medical Center (EMC) Campus in Rancho Mirage. The HBFC provides a wide range of treatment protocols, including bio-psycho-social assessments and evaluation, medical detox, residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment, nearby sober living homes, education and support for families and children, and post-rehab continuing care groups. The facility provides residential drug and alcohol treatment, residential rehabilitation programs, and out-patient programs in a supportive and affirming campus environment. Current Conditions The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation proposes to update and modernize its facilities at the Rancho Mirage Campus, which currently consists of eight (8) one and two-story buildings plus ancillary (mechanical, etc.) buildings, providing residential and treatment facilities, outpatient day-treatment facilities, and ancillary facilities, including dining areas, therapy and counseling facilities, pool and spa, support facilities, administrative offices and covered and open parking. The site is also developed with generous landscaped open space areas throughout (see Exhibits 5 & 6). Access to the HBFC campus is currently from within the Eisenhower Medical Center campus, primary access being via John Sinn Road which extends 1,400± feet north from Country Club Drive and into the campus. The private drive that serves the HBFC campus is managed with a guard gate. Secondary/emergency access is also available to the HBFC campus via MacMillan Way/Emergency Room Access Road, which extends east from Bob Hope Drive to the east end of the Eisenhower campus. Two additional access drives from Bob Hope Drive into the EMC campus are also currently available to access the dedicated internal driveway that leads to the HBFC campus on the east. To a greater or lesser extent, all of the HBFC campus access drives are indirect and circuitous (see Exhibit 4). Purpose and Need The HBFC opened in 1982 and since that time has taken primary and secondary/emergency access through the EMC campus. The campus and facilities have continued to grow and services have been expanded. Given the age of some of the HBFC buildings and facilities, there is a need to renovate the campus and replace buildings and of the facilities. Advances in treatment and the need for HBFC to better establish its identity and direct access in the community have also spurred this master planning and rebuilding effort. Proposed Project New Residential Buildings The proposed changes to the HBFC campus include the removal of four residential buildings totaling 51,694± square feet and currently providing a total of 80 beds. These four buildings will be replaced by two 2-story residential buildings, each providing 46 beds for a total of 92 beds. Each will have an overall height of 30± feet. Each level of the new residential buildings will also include a kitchen, community room, office and ancillary space. Each new residential building will encompass 30,935± square feet for a total of 61,870± square feet. These two new residential buildings will be located on the west end of the HBFC campus, with the southerly residential building to be located approximately 260 feet north of the closest residence within the Wilshire Palms condominium development to the south. The northerly residential building will