DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT CITY OF TULARE CARTMILL CROSSINGS JUNE 2019 NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT PROJECT TITLE: Cartmill Crossings Draft Environmental Impact Report LEAD AGENCY: City of Tulare OVERVIEW: Notice is hereby given that City of Tulare is seeking written comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) (SCH# 2018111038) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This notice has been prepared in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15085 and 15087(c), which requires public notification of availability of a Draft EIR. PROJECT LOCATION: Cartmill Crossings is a 127-acre land development project proposed to be constructed in an area immediately north and adjacent to the City of Tulare, California. Tulare is in the heart of California’s Central Valley, eight miles south of Visalia and 60 miles north of Bakersfield. The Project site is in the northeast corner of the State Route (SR) 99/Cartmill Avenue interchange and bounded by SR 99 to the west and Cartmill Avenue to the south. The Project site is within the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Visalia quadrangle in Section 26, Township 19S, Range 19E, Mount Diablo Base and Meridian (MDBM). PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposed Project is the construction of a multi-use commercial and residential development. Approximately 68.6 acres of commercial businesses on both sides of Akers Street will be developed in accordance with the permitted uses of the C-3 zone district. Examples of permitted uses include restaurants, fast food restaurants, retail stores, hotels, and fuel stations. The northeastern portion of the Project site will consist of approximately 30 acres of low- density, single-family residential homes with lots no smaller than 6,000 square feet. West of the low-density residential development will be approximately 4.4 acres of medium-density residential development, which will likely consist of fourplex residences. Southeast of the medium-density area will be approximately 7.7 acres of high-density, multi-family development, which will likely consist of an apartment complex. Northeast of the multi-family development will be a seven-acre park. A detailed and complete description of Cartmill Crossings, analyzed in this Draft EIR, is presented in Chapter 2, Project Description. The proposed development has the following characteristics: • 120-acre site; • 68.6 acres of commercial development; • 30 acres of low-density residential development; • 4.4 acres of medium-density residential development; • 7.7 acres of high-density residential development; • Seven acres of parkland; and • Additions of new sewer and water lines. SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS: CEQA Guidelines Section 15087 (c)(4) requires that the Notice of Availability list the significant environmental effects anticipated as a result of the Project. The Draft EIR identified significant and unavoidable impacts in the following areas: Agricultural and Forestry Resources – involve other changes in the existing environment, which due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of farmland to non-agricultural use or conversion of forest land to non-forest use. This is a significant and unavoidable impact. Public Services and Utilities – require or result in the construction of new water or wastewater treatment facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects. PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD: June 17, 2019 through August 1, 2019 ADDRESS WHERE COPY OF DRAFT EIR IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW: City of Tulare Community and Economic Development Department, 411 East Kern Ave., Tulare, CA and Tulare Public Library, 475 North M Street, Tulare, CA. WEBSITE WHERE DRAFT EIR CAN BE FOUND FOR REVIEW: https://www.tulare.ca.gov/departments/community-development/development-services Written comments concerning the Draft EIR are due by 5:00 p.m., August 1, 2019 and should be submitted to: Mario Anaya, Principal Planner 411 East Kern Street Tulare, CA 93274 PUBLIC REVIEW PROCESS: CEQA Guidelines Section 15087 describes the public review procedures for a Draft EIR. The Draft EIR will be subject to public review and comment for a period of at least 45 days. The City of Tulare requests that reviewers submit comments on the Draft EIR consistent with the provisions of CEQA Guidelines Section 15087. According to Section 15202 of the CEQA Guidelines, CEQA does not require formal hearings at any stage of the environmental review process; however, it is typical to consider the EIR and its findings during public hearings required for the associated project. For additional information, please contact Mario Anaya at (559) 684-4223 or manaya@ tulare.ca.gov. 1. PrintForm Appendix C Notice of Completion & Environmental Document Transmittal Mail to: State Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 3044, Sacramento, CA 95812-3044 (916) 445-0613 For Hand Delivery/StreetAddress: 1400 Tenth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 SCH #2018111038 Project Title: Cartmill Crossings Lead Agency: City of Tulare Contact Person: Mario Anaya, Principal Planner Mailing Address: 411 East Kern Street Phone: (559) 684-4223 City: Tulare Zip: 93274 County: ---------Tulare ------ Project Location: County:Tulare------------- City/Nearest Community: Tulare---------------- Cross Streets: SR 99/CartmillAvenue Zip Code: _93_2_7_4__ _ 0 0 Longitude/Latitude (degrees, minutes and seconds): � __!±__'...J.L"N / _l!.2_ .1Q__'_;r]__"W Total Acres:-- 120 ------ Assessor's Parcel No.: 149-220-003-000 Section: 26 Twp.: 19S Range: 19E Base: MDBM Within 2 Miles: State Hwy#: SR 99 Waterways: --N/A ------------------- Airports: N/A Railways: Union Pacific Railroad Schools: Los Tules, Liberty, Missie Document Type: CEQA: □ NOP I&] Draft EIR NEPA: □ NOi Other: □ Joint Document D Early Cons D Supplement/Subsequent EIR □ EA □ Final Document D Neg Dec (Prior SCH No.) ______ □ Draft EIS □ Other: D Mit Neg Dec Other: ---------- □ FONSI --- ------------ Local Action Type: D General Plan Update D Specific Plan □ Rezone I&] Annexation � General Plan Amendment D Master Plan � Prezone □ Redevelopment D General Plan Element D Planned Unit Development □ Use Permit □ Coastal Permit D Community Plan D Site Plan □ Land Division (Subdivision, etc.) □ Other: Development Type: I&] Residential: Units Acres� D Office: Sq.ft. =====Acres Employees__ _ D Transportation: Type ______________ I&] Commercial:Sq.ft. Acres 69 Employees ___ D Mining: Mineral____________ _ D Industrial: Sq.ft. --­ Acres Employees__ _ D Power: Type ------- MW------ D Educational: -=-----,--------------- □ Waste Treatment:Type MGD ----- !&] Recreational:-- 7-acre- park'--- ------------- □ Hazardous Waste:Type -------------- □ Water Facilities:Type _______ MGD ----- □ Other: ___________________ Project Issues Discussed in Document: � AestheticNisual D Fiscal I&] Recreation/Parks [ZI Vegetation � Agricultural Land D Flood Plain/Flooding � Schools/Universities I&]Water Quality I&] Air Quality D Forest Land/Fire Hazard D Septic Systems [x]Water Supply/Groundwater � Archeological/Historical I&] Geologic/Seismic IX] Sewer Capacity D Wetland/Riparian I&] Biological Resources D Minerals Ix] Soil Erosion/Compaction/Grading � Growth Inducement D Coastal Zone I&] Noise [xl Solid Waste I&] Land Use D Drainage/Absorption I&]Population/Housing Balance � Toxic/Hazardous [xl Cumulative Effects D Economic/Jobs I&] Public Services/Facilities I&] Traffic/Circulation D Other:--- ---- Present Land Use/Zoning/General Plan Designation: tg!lc�t�e_wi!,hi] th,e §xs.!u�v� �ri,£u!1,uril �2Q)z,2 n� d�ti:Lct______ _ Project Description: (please use a separate page if necessary) The proposed Project is the construction ofa multi-use commercial and residential development. Approximately 68.6 acres of commercial businesses on both sides ofAkers Street will be developed in accordance with the permitted uses of the G3 zone district. The northeaster portion ofthe Project site will consist of approximately 30 acres of\ow-density, single-family residential homes with lots no smaller than 6,000 sq. ft. West of the low­ density residential development will be approximately 4.4 acres ofmedium-density residential development, which will likely consists offourplex residences. Southeast of the medium-density area will be approximately 7.7 acres ofhigh-density, multi-family development, which will likely consist ofan apartment complex. Northeast of the multi-family development will be a seven-acre park. Revised 20 I 0 Reviewing Agencies Checklist Lead Agencies may recommend State Clearinghouse distribution by marking agencies below with and "X". If you have already sent your document to the agency please denote that with an "S". X Air Resources Board Office of Historic Preservation Boating & Waterways, Department of Office of Public School Construction California Emergency Management Agency __ Parks & Recreation, Department of -- CaliforniaHighway Patrol __ Pesticide Regulation, Department of x Caltrans District #6 Public Utilities Commission Caltrans Division of Aeronautics X Regional WQCB #_5 __ Caltrans Planning __ Resources Agency Central Valley Flood Protection Board Resources Recycling and Recovery, Department of __ Coachella Valley Mtns. Conservancy __ S.F. Bay Conservation & Development Comm. Coastal Commission __ San Gabriel & Lower L.A. Rivers & Mtns. Conservancy Colorado River Board __ San Joaquin River Conservancy X Conservation, Department of Santa Monica Mtns. Conservancy Corrections, Department of State Lands Commission Delta Protection Commission