Mitigated Negative Declaration/Initial Study with Exhibits
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MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION I INITIAL STUDY Davis Townhomes 6737 Sebastopol Avenue CITY OF SEBASTOPOL PLANNING DEPARTMENT CITY HALL 7120 BODEGA AVENUE SEBASTOPOL, CALIFORNIA 95472 March 7:2019 I. Environmental Checklist Forms - Mitigated Negative Declaration 1. Project Title Davis Townhomes 2. Lead Agency Name and City of Sebastopol — Planning Department, 7120 Bodega Address Avenue, Sebastopol, CA 95472 3. Contact Person and Phone Dana Morrison, Assistant Planner. (707) 823-6167 Number 4. Project Location 6737 Sebastopol Avenue [aka SR12), Sebastopol Ca 95472 (APN 004-063-036) 5. Project Sponsor’s Name Dan Davis — 1051 Todd Road, Santa Rosa Ca 95407 and_Address 6. General Plan Designation Central Core 7. Zoning Downtown Core 8. Description of Project The Project proposes development of eighteen (18); attached, 1,180 square foot, 2-bedroom, 1.5 bathroom, 2- story townhomes on a 1.74 acre lot. The proposed town homes are clustered around a central open space, in three clusters. Lot sizes vary from —1250 to —1800 square feet. The town homes are proposed to have 6-foot-deep front and rear porches (which will have a storage closet). In addition, there will be private rear yards of a minimum 20 feet deep by 20 feet wide with rear gates. Project will include 18 carport spaces along with 18 assigned surface parking spaces and two (2) visitor parking spaces, for a total of 38 parking space. The proposed development also includes gated driveway access to Park Village (to be used in case of emergency), fire and emergency vehicle access, storm water retention areas, and new landscaping including the addition of 56 new trees, trash and recycling enclosure, and one ganged mail box. Four (4) of the parking spaces are proposed to be electric car charging stations. 9. Surrounding Land Uses The location of the subject property is south of the end of and Setting Morris Street, behind and to the south of commercial properties that face onto Sebastopol Avenue [aka SR12] and an existing parking lot that contains approximately 32 parking spaces. A multipurpose path and the Sebastopol Inn are located to the west. The Railroad Forest is located to the south. A residential property, Park Village, and Tomodachi Park are located to the east. 10. Other public agencies No outside public agency approval is required for the whose approval is required proposed Project. (Permits, financing approval, or participation agreement.) 11. Have California Native Yes, a referral letter and attachments was sent to Tribal American tribes traditionally Heritage Preservation Officer for the Federated Indians of 2 and culturally affiliated with Graton Racheria on 11.14.201 8. Additional information the project area requested regarding the Project was requested. These additional consultation pursuant to requested materials were sent on 1.23.2019; no response Public Resources Code was received. A follow up email was sent on 2.19.2019; no section 21080.3.1? If so, response has been received as of compiling this study. has consultation begun? 3 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED: The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this project, involving at least one impact that is a “Potentially Significant Impact” as indicated on the checklist that follows: Aesthetics ~ Agriculture and Forestry ~ Air Quality ~ Biological Resources ~ Cultural Resources ~ Geology/Soils D Greenhouse Gas U Hazards and Hazardous ~ Hydrology/Water Quality Emissions Materials fl Land Use/Planning fl Mineral Resources U Noise El Population/Housing ~ Public Services U Recreation ~ Transportation/Traffic U Tribal Cultural Resources ~ Utilities/Service Systems ~ Mandatory Findings of Significance 4 DETERMINATION: On the basis of this initial evaluation: I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the D environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because revisions in the project have been made by or agreed to by the project proponent. A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. I find that the proposed project MAY have a significant effect on the D environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required. I find that the proposed project MAY have a “potentially significant impact” or “potentially significant unless mitigated” impact on the environment, but at least one effect 1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and 2) has been addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis as described on attached sheets. An ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required, but it must analyze only the effects that remain to be addressed. I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the fl environment, because all potentially significant effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION pursuant to applicable standards, and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project, nothing further is required. Zc)/ Kari Svanstrom, CEQA Coordinator II. Project Description The Project proposes development of eighteen (18); attached, 1,180 square foot, 2- bedroom, 1.5 bathroom, 2-story townhomes. The proposed town homes are clustered around a central open space, in three clusters. Lot sizes vary from —1250 to —1800 square feet. The town homes are proposed to have 6-foot-deep front and rear porches (which will have a storage closet). In addition, there will be private rear yards of a minimum 20 feet deep by 20 feet wide with rear gates. Project will include 18 carport spaces along with 18 assigned surface parking spaces and two (2) visitor parking spaces, for a total of 38 parking space. The proposed development also includes gated driveway access to Park Village (to be used in case of emergency), fire and emergency vehicle access, storm water retention areas, and new landscaping including the addition of 56 new trees, trash and recycling enclosure, and one ganged mail box. Four (4) of the parking spaces are proposed to be electric car charging stations. Further information regarding lighting, materials and colors are detailed in the project description submitted by the applicant. The style of the homes are proposed to be farmhouse or late craftsman to compliment much of the architecture found throughout Sebastopol. Roof pitches and front and rear porch roofs will be varied; and all porches will have decorative railings which will be painted to coordinate with the individual color trim of the home. The location of the subject property is south of the end of Morris Street, behind and to the south of commercial properties that face onto Sebastopol Avenue and an existing parking lot that contains approximately 32 parking spaces. A bike path and the Sebastopol Inn are located to the west. The Railroad Forest is located to the south. A residential ro erty, Park Villa e, and Tomodachi Park are located to the east. C -. t1,j. III. Evaluation of Potential Environmental Impacts I. AESTHETICS: Would the project: Less Than Potentially Significantwith Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No Impact Incorporated Impact a. Have a substantial adverse effect on a D D D scenic vista? b. Substantially damage scenic D D D resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? c. Substantially degrade the existing D D D visual character or quality of the site and_its_surroundings? d. Create a new source of substantial light D D D or glare, which would adversely affect day_or_nighttime_views_in_the_area? Discussion: Item a: Less Than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated. A scenic vista is a public view of a valued visual resource. Scenic vistas generally include public views that provide visual access to large panoramic views of natural features, unusual terrain, or unique urban or historic features, for which the field of view can be wide and extend into the distance, and focal views that focus on a particular object, scene, or feature of interest. As describe above, in the Project Description, the Project Site is undeveloped and relatively flat. The Site is surrounded by existing residential and commercial development to the north, east and west. Visual resources are primarily limited to those located adjacent to the Project Site due to the existing developments in the surrounding areas. To the south of the Project Site is the Railroad Forest property, which is owned by the City and designated as Wetlands/Scenic Open Space. An existing bike connector path is located just to the west of the Project Site, views currently exist (from this path) of the Railroad Forest property. The Project includes a 50’ setback from the Railroad Forest and required restoration of vegetation within this setback. While the proposed development may partially block the view from the bike path, the mitigation requiring restoration and further plantings in the 50’ abutting the Railroad Forest property will likely increase the scenic value along this section of the path. The Project Site is not viewable from any panoramic vistas located nearby. The increase in development in the area the Project Site would be difficult to discern within the greater fabric of the surrounding development. The two-story Project would not interfere with the skyline and horizon line that are available from the intersection of Highway 12 and Morris Street. Furthermore, the Project will be subject to a number of Conditions of Approval regarding height, color selection and screening which will reduce potential impacts on any scenic vistas. 7 Construction activities generally cause a temporary contrast to, and disruption in, the general order and aesthetic character of an area. Although temporary in nature, construction activities may create a visually unappealing look on the Project Site.