Cottle Station Transit-Oriented Development Initial Study Public Draft Initial Study
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Cottle Station Transit-Oriented Development Initial Study Public Draft Initial Study September 2017 September 2017 Cottle Station Transit-Oriented Development Initial Study Public Draft Initial Study Prepared By: 1625 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 300 Berkeley, California 94709 510.848.3815 510.848.4315 (f) In Association With: CHS Consulting Group ORANGE COUNTY • NORTHERN CALIFORNIA • CENTRAL VALLEY • LOS ANGELES • INLAND EMPIRE • SAN DIEGO www.placeworks.com This page intentionally left blank. Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 INITIAL STUDY ................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 REPORT ORGANIZATION ................................................................................................... 1-1 2. INITIAL STUDY CHECKLIST .............................................................................................................. 2-1 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 PROJECT LOCATION AND SITE CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................. 3-1 3.2 PROJECT GOALS ................................................................................................................ 3-5 3.3 PROJECT COMPONENTS ................................................................................................... 3-6 3.4 POTENTIAL FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................ 3-6 3.5 UTILITY PROVIDERS .......................................................................................................... 3-6 3.6 PUBLIC SERVICE PROVIDERS ............................................................................................. 3-7 3.7 REQUIRED PERMITS AND APPROVALS .............................................................................. 3-8 4. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................... 4-9 4.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 4-9 4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS ................................................................... 4-10 I. Aesthetics .......................................................................................................... 4-10 II. Agriculture and Forestry Resources ................................................................... 4-15 III. Air Quality ......................................................................................................... 4-19 IV. Biological Resources .......................................................................................... 4-26 V. Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources ............................................................... 4-36 VI. Geology and Soils .............................................................................................. 4-43 VIII. Hazards and Hazardous Materials ..................................................................... 4-60 IX. Hydrology and Water Quality ............................................................................ 4-71 X. Land Use ............................................................................................................ 4-91 XI. Mineral Resources ............................................................................................. 4-97 XII. Noise ................................................................................................................. 4-99 XIII. Population and Housing .................................................................................. 4-109 XIV. Public Services ................................................................................................. 4-114 XV. Parks and Recreation ....................................................................................... 4-121 XVI. Transportation and Circulation ........................................................................ 4-125 XVII. Utilities and Service Systems ........................................................................... 4-147 XVIII. Mandatory Findings of Significance ................................................................. 4-162 5. ORGANIZATIONS AND PERSONS CONSULTED ................................................................................ 5-1 PLACEWORKS i PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT COTTLE STATION TOD INITIAL STUDY CITY OF SAN JOSÉ TABLE OF CONTENTS APPENDICES Appendix A: Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Appendix B: Noise Data Appendix C: Long-Range Traffic Impact Analysis LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3-1 Regional and Vicinity Map ............................................................................................... 3-2 Figure 3-2 Project Site ............................................................................................................................ 3-3 Figure 4-1 Biotic Habitat .....................................................................................................................4-31 Figure 4-2 Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan Land Use Categories .............................................4-32 Figure 4-3 Geologic and Seismic Hazards ......................................................................................4-47 Figure 4-4 Existing Bicycle Facilities ................................................................................................ 4-131 Figure 4-5 Existing Transit Services .................................................................................................. 4-132 LIST OF TABLES Table 4-1 Operation-Related Criteria Air Pollutants Emissions Thresholds ................................4-23 Table 4-2 San José Tree Replacement Ratios ...............................................................................4-35 Table 4-3 Groundborne Vibration Criteria: Architectural Damage ....................................... 4-103 Table 4-4 FTA Groundborne Vibration Criteria: Human Annoyance .................................... 4-103 Table 4-5 Measures of Effectiveness Significance Thresholds ................................................. 4-138 Table 4-6 Site-Specific (Cottle Station TOD) Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled per Service Population ....................................................................................................................... 4-139 Table 4-7 Site-Specific (Cottle Station TOD) Journey-to-Work Mode Share ......................... 4-140 Table 4-8 Site-Specific (Cottle Station TOD) AM Peak Hour Vehicle Speeds for San José Transit Priority Corridors ........................................................................................ 4-142 Table 4-9 Site-Specific (Cottle Station TOD) AM 4-Hour Traffic Impacts in Adjacent Jurisdictions ..................................................................................................................... 4-144 Table 4-10 2017 General Plan Land Use Amendments: Existing and Proposed Land Use ..................................................................................................................................... 4-169 Table 4-11 Cumulative General Plan Amendments Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled per Service Population ......................................................................................................... 4-171 Table 4-12 Cumulative General Plan Amendments Journey-to-Work Mode Share ............ 4-172 Table 4-13 Cumulative General Plan Amendments AM Peak Hour Vehicle Speeds for San José Transit Priority Corridors................................................................................. 4-172 Table 4-14 Cumulative General Plan Amendments AM 4-Hour Traffic Impacts in Adjacent Jurisdictions ................................................................................................... 4-174 ii SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 1. Introduction This document is an Initial Study for the Cottle Light Rail Station Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), (proposed project) prepared by the City of San José (City) to determine if the project may have a significant effect on the environment as defined in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq.). Pursuant to Sections 15050 and 15051 of the State CEQA Guidelines,1 the City is the Lead Agency for the proposed project. The Cottle Light Rail Station (Cottle Station) is situated near the intersection of State Route 85 (SR 85 or Norman Y. Mineta Highway) and Cottle Road in southern San José. The project site is located on 4.48- acres of land owned by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). The Cottle Station is assigned Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 706-05-038. 1.1 INITIAL STUDY Pursuant to Section 15063 of the CEQA Guidelines, an Initial Study is a preliminary environmental analysis that is used by the Lead Agency as a basis for determining what form of environmental review is required for a project. The CEQA Guidelines require that an Initial Study contain a project description of the project, identification of environmental setting, identification of environmental effects by checklist or other similar form, explanation of the agency’s conclusions about environmental effects, discussion of mitigation for any significant environmental effects, evaluation of the