Chapter 5 Deir Revisions
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
CHAPTER 5 DEIR REVISIONS In some cases, responses to comments on the DEIR warrant changes to the text of the DEIR. Also, changes in the DEIR may result from discovery of meaningful editorial errors during preparation of the Final EIR. Revisions to the DEIR text are shown in Section 5.1, DEIR Text Changes, in the order they appear in the DEIR. Text underlined (underlined) represents language that has been added to the EIR’s text. Words with strikeout (strikeout) indicate text has been deleted from the EIR. Revisions to the Executive Summary Table of the DEIR are shown in Section 5.2, Revised Executive Summary Table. Table 2-1, Executive Summary, is reproduced in its entirety at the end of Section 5.2 and contains all underlined and strikeout changes, additions, revisions, and corrections. 5.1 DEIR TEXT CHANGES General The DEIR is revised as follows: All occurrences of “Borel Creek” or “19th Avenue Channel” are to be replaced with “Borel Creek (19th Avenue Channel)”. Chapter 1: Introduction No changes are made to Chapter 1 of the DEIR. Chapter 2: Executive Summary (Note: Changes to Table 2.3 in the DEIR are provided in section 5.2 of this chapter) Page 2-4, the last paragraph is revised as follows: Increased traffic associated with implementation of the Corridor Plan would result in significant impacts at three local intersections. San Mateo uses a “delay-based” methodology for measuring intersection level of service (LOS). Utilizing this methodology, an intersection impact is considered significant if it does not comply with the adopted LOS delay standard of 45 seconds and the project would result in an increase of four or more seconds. At the El Camino Real/17th Avenue/Bovet intersection, increased delays during the AM peak hour would be substantial (14.6 and 15.5 seconds under Scenarios A and Z, respectively). Note that as the City of Belmont has no adopted LOS standard, the traffic analysis utilized the San Mateo standard in evaluating the El Camino Real/Ralston intersection. Since average delay would exceed 55.8 seconds and would increase by more than San Mateo Corridor Plan and Bay Meadows Specific Plan Amendment EIR 5-1 EDAW, Inc Response to Comments 2nd Administrative Draft CHAPTER 5: DEIR REVISIONS four seconds over General Plan conditions, this would be a significant impact. At the El Camino Real/ Ralston Avenue intersection (in the City of Belmont), increased delays during the PM peak hour would be substantial (15.6 and 9.1 seconds under Scenarios A and Z, respectively). Since the intersection would operate at level of service (LOS) F and the increase in delay would be more than four seconds, this would be a significant impact. To address both impacts, the City would require project applicants to implement a transportation demand management (TDM) program to reduce trip generation, but the estimated reduction in trips would not be enough to mitigate these impacts. At the intersection of El Camino Real and 20th Avenue, increased delays during the PM peak hour would be substantial under Scenario A only. Construction of a grade separation at 28th Avenue would mitigate this impact, but because funding for such an improvement could not be assured under Scenario A, the impact is assumed to be significant unavoidable. Page 2-10, the last paragraph is revised as follows: High school students in the Corridor Plan Area would attend Aragon, Hillsdale, and San Mateo High Schools. Aragon and Hillsdale High Schools are is currently at overcapacity and would be impacted by the addition of students. Hillsdale and San Mateo High Schools has have excess capacity; Hillsdale High School could accommodate up to approximately 86 additional students and San Mateo High School could accommodate up to approximately 141 additional students. This capacity would be adequate under Corridor Plan A, but not under Corridor Plan Z. As such, the addition of 263 students under Corridor Plan Z would result in a significant impact to San Mateo Unified High School District (SMUHSD) schools. Under current policies, the SMUHSD would collect developer fees from individual development projects within the Corridor Plan Area to help finance expansion of existing schools, construction of new schools, and the rental of temporary classroom facilities in the Corridor Plan Area, which would mitigate this impact to a less than significant level. Page 2-11, the 3rd paragraph is revised as follows: Hydrology and Water Quality Adoption of the Corridor Plan would increase the probability of redevelopment in the Corridor Plan Area and therefore could potentially increase the probability that construction activities would result in a variety of adverse water quality effects. Because the Corridor Plan would not result in a significant net increase in impervious surfaces in the project area or significantly alter groundwater recharge, effects to groundwater supply would be less than significant. Because the majority of the Corridor Plan area is currently developed, implementation of the proposed project would not result in a change to the impervious surface coverage in the area that would significantly alter groundwater recharge to the point where it would make dewatering during excavation and construction result in a significant impact to groundwater supplies. In addition, dewatering during construction would be of a limited duration, and thus would not result in a significant effect to groundwater supply. Erosion, siltation, and additional polluted runoff that could occur as a result of construction activities would have the potential to have a significant impact to water quality. With mitigation San Mateo Corridor Plan and Bay Meadows Specific Plan Amendment EIR 5-2 EDAW, Inc Response to Comments CHAPTER 5: DEIR REVISIONS of the City requiring project applicants to implement appropriate Best Management Practices (BMPs) during construction, these impacts would be less than significant. Construction activities could also result in adverse water quality effects related to dewatering. Compliance with all Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) regulations and procedures for discharging wastewater, and the use of BMPs for subsurface excavation, drilling, and construction would mitigate this impact to a less than significant level. Page 2-24, the 3rd paragraph is revised as follows: New residential units that could be developed under the Bay Meadows project would contribute students to SMFCSD area elementary and middle schools. The addition of 126 elementary school students to the project area would not result in the need for additional elementary school classrooms. The increase in the number of middle school students (63), would result in the need for three additional middle school classrooms. Students would attend Aragon, Hillsdale, and San Mateo High Schools. Neither of the two closest high schools (Hillsdale and Aragon) would be able to accommodate students from the proposed project without expansion of additional classrooms. San Mateo High School, with an excess capacity of 141 students, would be able to accommodate the additional 98 students generated by the proposed project. However, the two closest high schools (Hillsdale and Aragon), would not be able to accommodate all of the students from the proposed project without expansion of additional classrooms. Under current policies, the SMFCSD and SMUHSD would collect developer fees from the Bay Meadows project to help finance expansion of existing schools, construction of new schools, and the rental of temporary classroom facilities. Collection of these fees would mitigate this impact to a less than significant level. The Bay Meadows project would also result in increased enrollment within the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD). Because the SMCCCD colleges currently have excess capacity and would be able to provide adult education services to the additional community residents, this would be a less than significant impact. Chapter 3: Project Description Page 3-11, the second bullet is revised as follows: Pacific Boulevard: Extension of a two-lane section south of 31st Avenue to Delaware Street, elimination of the westbound ramp linking Pacific Boulevard to Hillsdale Boulevard, and streetscape improvements. Page 3-14, footnote 13 has been revised as follows: 13 The approximately 13-acre public park, discussed further below, would be located in the northern extension of the South Residential Neighborhood. San Mateo Corridor Plan and Bay Meadows Specific Plan Amendment EIR 5-3 EDAW, Inc Response to Comments CHAPTER 5: DEIR REVISIONS Chapter 4: Environmental Analysis Page 4.1-9, the 3rd paragraph is revised as follows: This Corridor Plan and the Bay Meadows Specific Plan Amendment would be adopted prior to the updated General Plan. Incorporation of the Corridor Plan into the General Plan may require voter approval of amendments to Measure H, since the Corridor Plan proposes land uses potentially inconsistent with Measure H, a voter-approved density and height restriction ordinance. Following the voter’s re-approval of decision regarding Measure H and any amendments, the Corridor Plan would be incorporated into the City’s General Plan during the General Plan Update process. These changes would be made as part of the current General Plan Update process, which includes adoption of the updated General Plan. New development and major modifications to existing development in the Corridor Plan Area would be expected to comply with the updated General Plan and with this Corridor Plan. Subsequent to the close of the public comment period for the DEIR, the voters approved Measure P, which was an extension of Measure H. Measure P continues to limit heights to 55 feet and did not extend the “public benefit” areas that would permit heights to 75 feet upon certain findings by the City Council. Therefore, the Draft Corridor Plan will need to revise its proposed heights prior to its approval in order to be consistent with Measure P. The Bay Meadows proposal does not request any heights greater than 55 feet and so is consistent with Measure P.