Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
Date: November 14, 2014 To: Responsible Agencies and Other From: City of Vallejo Interested Parties Planning Division 555 Santa Clara Street State Clearinghouse Vallejo, CA 94590 P.O. Box 3044 Sacramento, CA 95812-3044
The City of Vallejo will be the Lead Agency and will prepare a programmatic Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Propel Vallejo (the Project), a comprehensive revitalization effort that includes preparation of a General Plan Update, a Specific Plan for the Sonoma Boulevard corridor, and a citywide Zoning Code Update. The Project, its location, and potential environmental effects are described below. Pursuant to CEQA Section 15060, the City has determined that an EIR is required for the Project and an Initial Study has not been prepared.
Public agencies and members of the general public are invited to provide comments in writing as to the scope and content of the EIR. Specifically, the City needs to know the views of Responsible and Trustee Agencies as to the potentially significant environmental issues, reasonable alternatives, and mitigation measures that are germane to each agency's statutory responsibilities in connection with the Project. Responsible Agencies will need to use the EIR prepared by the City when considering permit or other approval for the Project.
Due to the time limits mandated by State law, responses must be sent at the earliest possible date, but no later than the close of the NOP review period, which runs as follows: November 14, 2014 through December 15, 2014.
Please send written responses to Mark Hoffheimer at the address shown below. Public agencies providing comments are requested to include a contact person for the agency.
1. Project Title: Propel Vallejo
2. Project Location and Surrounding Uses: The City of Vallejo is located in the southwestern part of Solano County, as shown in Figure 1. Covering an area of 49.54 square miles, Vallejo is bordered by the Napa River and San Pablo Bay on the west; the Carquinez Strait on the south; the City of Benicia and unincorporated Solano County on the east; and the City of American Canyon and unincorporated Napa County on the north. Adjacent to the city and to the west is the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and the Solano County Land Trust’s Lynch Canyon Open Space is located approximately 1 mile north of the City. Napa County Airport lies approximately 6 miles to the north.
Regional access to Vallejo is provided by four major freeways (Interstate 80, Interstate 780, State Route 29, and State Route 37), as well as by passenger ferry service to and from San Francisco, and Soltrans bus service to the Bay Area Rapid Transit District's El Cerrito del Norte and Walnut Creek stations. The City's Sphere of Influence, representing the probable future physical boundaries of Vallejo as established by the Solano County Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCO), is also shown on Figure 1.
City of Vallejo Propel Vallejo EIR November 14, 2014 1 Notice of Preparation VALLEJO GENERAL PLAN UPDATE CITY OF VALLEJO
ProjectVALLEJO G ELocationNERAL PLAN UPDATE CITY OF VALLEJO NAPA COUNTY
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C A R Q U I N E Sonoma Boulevard Specific Plan Area Z S T R Vallejo City Limit A I T Sphere of Influence CONTRA COSTA Other Jurisdictional Boundaries COUNTY Railroads 0 0.5 1 Miles
Source: City of Vallejo, 2014; Solano County, 2014; PlaceWorks, 2014.
Figure 1 Project Location Vallejo is a culturally and ethnically diverse community with a population of over 117,000 residents, making it the largest city in Solano County and the tenth most populous city in the San Francisco Bay Area. Vallejo has a rich history as an early home of California's state government and the site of the first naval ship building and repair facility on the west coast of the United States. Today, the City also boasts a range of regional entertainment attractions, including Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and the Solano County Fairgrounds, as well as three major educational institutions: the California Maritime Academy, Solano Community College, and Touro University.
3. Lead Agency Contact: Mark Hoffheimer, Senior Planner City of Vallejo Planning Division 555 Santa Clara Street Vallejo, CA 94590 Tel. (707) 645-2610 Email: [email protected]
4. Project Sponsor: City of Vallejo 555 Santa Clara Street Vallejo, CA 94590
5. Project Description: The Project is an important effort that is expected to contribute to Vallejo's bright future as an economically vibrant, safe, healthy community and a source of hometown pride. The Project's principal components, described below, will be completed between 2014 and 2016 through an inclusive, participatory process with extensive opportunity for input from the community.
General Plan Update The City's existing General Plan will be comprehensively revised to update the policy framework and land use designations that will guide future development and conservation in Vallejo through 2040, as well as to incorporate recently completed major planning efforts, including the Solano 360 Specific Plan, the Mare Island Specific Plan, and the City of Vallejo Climate Action Plan, into the General Plan so as to ensure Citywide policy consistency. The update of the General Plan will also address and satisfy new State regulations that have come into force since the plan was last updated, including the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008, and the Complete Streets Act of 2008.
It is anticipated that future growth and development will be focused primarily into the following areas, shown on Figure 1: Mare Island Specific Plan Area Solano 360 Specific Plan Area Northern Gateway District Central Sonoma-Broadway District Tennessee Street Corridor Downtown/Central Waterfront District South Waterfront District South Vallejo District Springs Road Corridor Callaghan-Columbus District
City of Vallejo Propel Vallejo EIR November 14, 2014 3 Notice of Preparation Sonoma Boulevard Specific Plan Area
These opportunity areas, some of which have been the subject of major recent planning efforts, contain large vacant and under-utilized properties at prominent locations within the City limits, and the updated policy framework and land use designations are intended to foster development and redevelopment in these sectors of the city. Outside of these areas, the updated policy framework and land use designations will support and enhance the existing quality of life. Emphasis will also be placed on public safety, community health, and improved connectivity for motorized and non-motorized modes of transportation.
The updated General Plan will include the following State-mandated components: Land Use, Circulation, Conservation, Open-Space, Noise, and Safety. The State-mandated Housing Element will be updated as part of a separate process to be completed in early 2015 and will continue to stand on its own as a separate document. Additionally, the updated General Plan will also contain the following optional components of particular importance to the community: economic development and community health.
Sonoma Boulevard Specific Plan Through a participatory public design process that identifies an exciting and realistic future for Sonoma Boulevard, the Sonoma Boulevard Specific Plan will provide an easy-to-use framework for near-term and long-term public and private reinvestment along this regional corridor from Curtola Parkway to Redwood Street in Vallejo. Building upon the progress and direction from the 2013 Sonoma Boulevard Corridor Design Plan, the Specific Plan will re-establish Sonoma Boulevard as an important and inviting street in Vallejo that supports transit, makes it appealing to walk to local services and shops, and generates reinvestment in Downtown, along the corridor, and in nearby neighborhoods. The Specific Plan will include new streetscape standards, incorporating widened sidewalks, new street furniture and bike lanes. The Specific Plan will also present clear policy direction about what the community wants, in terms of land use and building character, along the different portions of Sonoma Boulevard, along with revised zoning standards and procedures.
Citywide Zoning Code Update The Project will also involve the first comprehensive update of the Citywide Zoning Code (Title 16) since 1980 in order to align this important set of day-to-day standards with the ideas and future direction expressed in the updated General Plan and to incorporate standards already used in various Specific Plans. The goals of the Zoning Code Update are to implement the General Plan policies Specific Plan standards and streamline procedures, removing obstacles to high-quality development; to provide a code that is clear, approachable, and easy to use; and to facilitate investment that is consistent with the vision expressed in the updated General Plan. The Project will also involve development of form-based zoning for areas that are to be maintained as, or transitioned into, walkable urban environments.
6. Probable Environmental Effects of the Project: The EIR will evaluate potentially significant environmental impacts associated with the adoption and implementation of the Project. Consistent with the State CEQA Guidelines (Appendix G), the following environmental resource categories will be analyzed in relation to the Project: Aesthetics Hazards and Hazardous Materials Agriculture and Forestry Resources Hydrology / Water Quality Air Quality Land Use / Planning Biological Resources Mineral Resources Cultural Resources Noise Geology / Soils Population / Housing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Public Services
City of Vallejo Propel Vallejo EIR November 14, 2014 4 Notice of Preparation