Hecker Pass Specific Plan Amendment – Roundabout, Bike Path, Fencing Language, and Traffic Mitigation
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PROPOSED MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION HECKER PASS SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT – ROUNDABOUT, BIKE PATH, FENCING LANGUAGE, AND TRAFFIC MITIGATION Z 16‐02 PREPARED FOR City of Gilroy March 27, 2018 PROPOSED MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION HECKER PASS SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT – ROUNDABOUT, BIKE PATH, FENCING LANGUAGE, AND TRAFFIC MITIGATION Z 16‐02 PREPARED FOR City of Gilroy, Planning Division Susan O’Strander, Planning Manager 7351 Rosanna Street Gilroy, CA 95020 Tel 408 846‐0451 PREPARED BY EMC Planning Group Inc. 301 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite C Monterey, CA 93940 Tel 831.649.1799 Fax 831.649.8399 Stuart Poulter, MCRP, Associate Planner [email protected] March 27, 2018 This document was produced on recycled paper. Community Development Department Planning Division (408) 846-0440 MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION City of Gilroy 7351 Rosanna St. Gilroy, CA 95020 City File Number: Z 16‐02 Project Description: Name of Project: Hecker Pass Specific Plan Amendment – Roundabout, Bike Path, Fencing Language, and Traffic Mitigation Nature of Project: The proposed project includes four components: 1) Changing the planned Hecker Pass Highway and Third Street intersection from a standard intersection to a one-lane roundabout; 2) Addition of a Class I bike path south of Hecker Pass Highway (State Route 152); 3) Changes to specific plan language related to fencing within the Hecker Pass Highway setback corridor, as well as other fencing restriction modifications in the specific plan; and 4) Elimination/modification of two specific plan EIR transportation-related mitigation measures. Project Location: Location: Hecker Pass Specific Plan area (Hecker Pass Highway – State Route 152) Entity or Person(s) Undertaking Project: Name: Meritage Homes (c/o Mark Currington, Forward Planning Manager) Address: 2603 Camino Ramon, Suite 140, San Ramon, CA 94583 Staff Planner: Stuart Poulter, Contract Planner Hecker Pass Specific Plan Amendment (Z 16-02) 2 March 27, 2018 Mitigated Negative Declaration Initial Study: An initial study of this project was undertaken and prepared for the purpose of ascertaining whether this project might have a significant effect on the environment. A copy of this study is attached. Findings & Reasons: The initial study identified potentially significant effects on the environment. However, this project has been mitigated (see Mitigation Measures below which avoid or mitigate the effects) to a point where no significant effects will occur. On the basis of the whole record, there is no substantial evidence the project will have a significant effect on the environment. The following reasons will support these findings: The proposal is a logical component of the existing land use of this area. Identified adverse impacts are proposed to be mitigated and a mitigation monitoring and reporting program have been prepared. The proposed project is consistent with the adopted goals and policies of the General Plan of the City of Gilroy and the Hecker Pass Specific Plan. City staff independently reviewed the Initial Study, and this Negative Declaration reflects the independent judgment of the City of Gilroy. With the application of the following Mitigation Measures the proposed project will not have any significant impacts on the environment. The Gilroy Planning Division is the custodian of the documents and other material that constitute the record of proceedings upon which this decision is based. Aesthetics AES-1. The design of the fencing associated with the roundabout project must be in compliance with the fencing restrictions of the specific plan. The following changes shall be made to the plans: The six-foot high chain link fence proposed along the northern boundary of the roundabout must be eliminated from the plans. If some type of fencing is required here by Caltrans or requested by the adjacent property owner associated with the roundabout design, it must be in compliance with the fencing modifications proposed as part of this project, if the fencing modifications are approved by the City Council. If the fencing modifications are not approved by the City Council, the design of the fence shall be subject to review and approval by the City of Gilroy Planning Manager or her designee, and must meet the rural landscape design requirements associated with all development in the specific plan area. Party Responsible for Implementation: Meritage Homes Party Responsible for Monitoring: Gilroy Planning Division Hecker Pass Specific Plan Amendment (Z 16-02) 3 March 27, 2018 Mitigated Negative Declaration AES-2. The design of the fencing associated with the bike path project must be in compliance with the fencing restrictions of the specific plan. The following changes shall be made to the plans: Any new fencing proposed as part of the project, including but not limited to the proposed fencing along the southern boundary of the bike path, must be consistent with the fencing restrictions in the specific plan, subject to review and approval by the City of Gilroy Planning Manager or her designee. Party Responsible for Implementation: Meritage Homes Party Responsible for Monitoring: Gilroy Planning Division Air Quality AQ-1. The applicant shall specify in project plans the implementation of the following dust control measures during grading and construction activities for any proposed development. The measures shall be implemented as necessary to adequately control dust, subject to the review and approval by the City of Gilroy Planning Division: The following measures shall be implemented at all construction sites: Water all active construction areas at least twice daily; Cover all trucks hauling soil, sand, and other loose materials or require all trucks to maintain at least two feet of freeboard; Pave, apply water three times daily, or apply (non-toxic) soil stabilizers on all unpaved access roads, parking areas and staging areas at construction sites; Sweep daily (with water sweepers) all paved access roads, parking areas and staging areas at construction sites; Sweep streets daily (with water sweepers) if visible soil material is carried onto adjacent public streets; Hydroseed or apply (non-toxic) soil stabilizers to inactive construction areas (previously graded areas inactive for ten days or more); Enclose, cover, water twice daily or apply (non-toxic) soil binders to exposed stockpiles (dirt, sand, etc.); Limit traffic speeds on unpaved roads to 15 mph; Install sandbags or other erosion control measures to prevent silt runoff to public roadways; Replant vegetation in disturbed areas; Place a minimum of 100 linear feet of 6 to 8 inch average diameter cobble at all exit points to dislodge and trap dirt from vehicle tires; Hecker Pass Specific Plan Amendment (Z 16-02) 4 March 27, 2018 Mitigated Negative Declaration Suspend excavation and grading activity when winds (instantaneous gusts) exceed 25 miles per hour; and Limit the area subject to excavation, grading and other construction activity at any one time. Party Responsible for Implementation: Applicant Party Responsible for Monitoring: Gilroy Planning Division Biological Resources BIO-1. (HPSP Policy 5-44) Pre-construction surveys for protected birds shall be conducted for improvements or development proposed in or adjacent to potential nesting habitat (i.e., riparian woodland) if development is proposed during the nesting and/or breeding season of loggerhead shrike (generally February through June) or raptors (generally March through August). If any active nests are found within the survey area, at the discretion of the biologist, clearing and construction within 250 feet shall be postponed or halted until nests are vacated and juveniles have fledged, and there is no evidence of a second attempt at nesting. Party Responsible for Implementation: Meritage Homes Party Responsible for Monitoring: Gilroy Planning Division BIO-2. (HPSP Policy 5-40) Prior to construction of the roundabout and bike path, Meritage Homes will retain a qualified biologist to inform workers of potential presence of the special-status species, their protected status, work boundaries, and measures to be implemented to avoid loss of these species during construction activities. Party Responsible for Implementation: Meritage Homes Party Responsible for Monitoring: Gilroy Planning Division BIO-3. (HPSP Policy 5-43) For all proposed Class I bike path improvements adjacent to the Uvas Creek riparian corridor (westernmost limit of the bike path), which contains potential habitat for California tiger salamander, western spadefoot toad, yellow-legged frog, California red-legged frog, western pond turtle, steelhead, yellow-breasted chat, and/or yellow warbler, construction related activities should be conducted outside of the rainy season. Meritage Homes will retain a qualified biologist to monitor construction activities occurring within 100 feet of the Uvas Creek riparian corridor. If any special-status species are observed at the site, a qualified biologist will salvage and relocate individual(s) to an appropriate area outside of the construction zone. If California red-legged frog, a federally listed threatened species, or California tiger salamander, a federally and state-listed threatened species, are observed at the site, construction activities will be halted and the USFWS and/or CDFW shall be contacted for further assistance. Hecker Pass Specific Plan Amendment (Z 16-02) 5 March 27, 2018 Mitigated Negative Declaration Party Responsible for Implementation: Meritage Homes Party Responsible for