0506 NVC Student Housing Admin Draft ISMND.Docx
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Napa Valley College Student Housing Project Initial Study / Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration August 12, 2020 Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration Napa Valley College Student Housing Project Prepared for: Napa Valley Community College District 2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway Napa, CA 94558 Prepared by: GHD Inc. 2235 Mercury Way, Suite 150 Santa Rosa, California 95407 August 12, 2020 Napa Valley College Student Housing Project – Initial Study/Proposed MND Table of Contents Project Information ..................................................................................................................... 1-1 Introduction and CEQA Requirements ........................................................................... 1-1 CEQA Lead Agency Contact Information ....................................................................... 1-1 Project Background and Objectives ............................................................................... 1-1 Project Description ......................................................................................................... 1-2 Environmental Protection Actions Incorporated Into the Proposed Project ................... 1-9 Required Agency Approvals ......................................................................................... 1-12 Tribal Consultation ........................................................................................................ 1-12 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected ............................................................................... 2-1 Environmental Analysis .............................................................................................................. 3-1 Aesthetics ....................................................................................................................... 3-1 Agriculture and Forest Resources .................................................................................. 3-4 Air Quality ....................................................................................................................... 3-5 Biological Resources .................................................................................................... 3-10 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................... 3-18 Energy .......................................................................................................................... 3-22 Geology and Soils ........................................................................................................ 3-24 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ......................................................................................... 3-28 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ............................................................................... 3-30 Hydrology and Water Quality ........................................................................................ 3-37 Land Use and Planning ................................................................................................ 3-41 Mineral Resources ........................................................................................................ 3-43 Noise ............................................................................................................................. 3-44 Population and Housing ............................................................................................... 3-48 Public Services ............................................................................................................. 3-49 Recreation .................................................................................................................... 3-51 Transportation............................................................................................................... 3-52 Tribal Cultural Resources ............................................................................................. 3-59 Utilities and Service Systems ....................................................................................... 3-61 Wildfire .......................................................................................................................... 3-65 Mandatory Findings of Significance ............................................................................. 3-66 References ................................................................................................................................. 4-1 Report Preparers ....................................................................................................................... 5-1 Napa Valley Community College District ........................................................................ 5-1 GHD ................................................................................................................................ 5-1 Sub-consultants .............................................................................................................. 5-1 Napa Valley College Student Housing Project – Initial Study/Proposed MND | Page i Table index Table 1-1 Proposed Student Housing Unit Types ............................................................................... 1-4 Table 3.3-1 Construction Air Pollutant Emissions (pounds per day) ................................................... 3-6 Table 3.3-2 Operational Period Emissions .......................................................................................... 3-7 Table 3.3-3 Community Risk Impacts at Off-site MEI .......................................................................... 3-8 Table 3.3-4 Community Risk Impacts from Combined Sources on Project Site Receptors ................ 3-9 Table 3.8-1 Annual Project GHG Emissions (CO2e) in Metric Tons and Per Capita .......................... 3-29 Table 3.13-1 Typical Ranges of Construction Noise Levels at 50 feet, Leq (dBA) .............................. 3-45 Table 3.13-2 Vibration Source Levels for Construction Equipment ..................................................... 3-47 Table 3-17-1 Bicycle Facility Summary ................................................................................................ 3-53 Table 3-17-2 Student Survey Respondent Residences by Zip Code .................................................. 3-55 Figure index Figure 1 Regional Location Map .......................................................................................................... 1-13 Figure 2 Project Area ........................................................................................................................... 1-14 Figure 3 Preliminary Grading Plan ....................................................................................................... 1-15 Figure 4 Annotated Site Plan ............................................................................................................... 1-16 Figure 5 Building Schematics .............................................................................................................. 1-17 Appendix Index Appendix A - Biological Resources Evaluation Appendix B - Noise Assessment Napa Valley College Student Housing Project – Initial Study/Proposed MND | Page ii Project Information Introduction and CEQA Requirements The Napa Valley Community College District (College), serving as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Lead Agency, has prepared this Initial Study to provide the public, responsible agencies, and trustee agencies with information about the potential environmental effects of the Napa Valley College Student Housing Project (hereafter referred to as the “project”). The College is considering a student housing initiative aimed at providing a valuable housing resource to its community of students. The project is currently programmed for CEQA adoption in Fall 2020, and Division of the State Architect (DSA) approval in Summer 2021. The purpose of this Initial Study is to provide a basis for deciding whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Report, a Mitigated Negative Declaration or a Negative Declaration. This Initial Study has been prepared to satisfy the requirements of CEQA (Public Resources Code, Div 13, Sec 21000-21177) and the CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Sec 15000- 15387). Section 15063(d) of the State CEQA Guidelines states the content requirements of an Initial Study as follows: 1. A description of the project including the location of the project; 2. An identification of the environmental setting; 3. An identification of environmental effects by use of a checklist, matrix, or other method, provided that entries on a checklist or other form are briefly explained to indicate that there is some evidence to support the entries; 4. A discussion of the ways to mitigate the significant effects identified, if any; 5. An examination of whether the project would be consistent with existing zoning, plans, and other applicable land use controls; 6. The name of the person or persons who prepared or participated in the Initial Study. CEQA Lead Agency Contact Information The CEQA lead agency for the project is the Napa Valley Community College District. The contact person for the College is: Matt Christensen, Senior Director, Facilities Services Napa Valley Community College District 2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway Napa, CA 94558 Email: [email protected] Phone: 707-256-7580 Project Background and Objectives In 2017, the College submitted a Request for Qualifications