Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report Central Larkspur Specific Plan SCH #2001112092 Volume 1 - DEIR Text Prepared by: EDAW 2022 J Street Sacramento, CA 95814 November 14, 2003 Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report Central Larkspur Specific Plan SCH #2001112092 Volume 1 - DEIR Text Prepared for: City of Larkspur 400 Magnolia Avenue Larkspur, CA 94939 Contact: Robert Pendoley Consulting Planner 415/472-3614 Prepared by: EDAW 2022 J Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Contact: Sydney Coatsworth Principal-in-Charge 916/414-5800 November 14, 2003 2T099.01 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter/Section Page VOLUME I EIR TEXT ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS.............................................................................................vi 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Background ......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 CEQA Environmental Process ............................................................................ 1-2 1.3 Permits and Other Approvals that May Use This EIR to Implement the Project .................................................................................................................. 1-5 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................ 2-1 2.1 Project Location................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Project Setting ..................................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................... 2-5 2.4 Project Characteristics ......................................................................................... 2-8 2.5 Methodology and Assumptions for the EIR Analysis....................................... 2-18 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 3-1 3.2 Site Location and Description............................................................................. 3-1 3.3 Purpose of and Need for the Project.................................................................. 3-2 3.4 Project Overview and Components.................................................................... 3-3 3.5 Project Background............................................................................................. 3-5 3.6 Scope and Content .............................................................................................. 3-5 3.7 Impacts, Mitigation Measures, and Unavoidable Significant Impacts .............. 3-6 3.8 Permits and Other Approvals that May Use this EIR to Implement the Project .................................................................................................................. 3-6 3.9 Alternatives to the Proposed Project .................................................................. 3-7 3.10 Evaluation of Alternatives and Identification of the Environmentally Superior Alternative............................................................................................ 3-7 3.11 Areas of Controversy/Issues to be Resolved during Environmental Review.................................................................................................................. 3-8 4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS ........................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Land Use/Plans and Policies ............................................................................ 4.1-1 4.2 Housing and Population .................................................................................. 4.2-1 4.3 Geology and Soils ............................................................................................. 4.3-1 4.4 Hydrology and Water Quality ......................................................................... 4.4-1 4.5 Biological Resources......................................................................................... 4.5-1 4.6 Air Quality ........................................................................................................ 4.6-1 4.7 Traffic and Circulation..................................................................................... 4.7-1 4.8 Noise ................................................................................................................. 4.8-1 4.9 Public Services and Facilities............................................................................ 4.9-1 4.10 Visual Quality and Aesthetics......................................................................... 4.10-1 Central Larkspur Specific Plan Revised Draft EIR EDAW City of Larkspur i Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Chapter/Section Page 4.11 Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Resources ....................................... 4.11-1 4.12 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ................................................................ 4.12-1 5 OTHER CEQA-MANDATED SECTIONS.......................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Growth-Inducing Impacts.................................................................................. 5-1 5.2 Significant Unavoidable Adverse Impacts and Significant and Irreversible Commitment of Resources.............................................................. 5-3 6 ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROJECT ................................................................................. 6-1 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 6-1 6.2 Alternatives Considered ...................................................................................... 6-1 6.3 No Project Alternative......................................................................................... 6-2 6.4 Low Density Alternative ...................................................................................... 6-9 6.5 Residential Focus Alternative............................................................................ 6-14 6.6 Comparison of Proposed Project and Alternatives .......................................... 6-20 6.7 Evaluation of Alternatives ................................................................................. 6-24 7 REFERENCES.................................................................................................................. 7-1 7.1 Printed References .............................................................................................. 7-1 7.2 Personal Communications .................................................................................. 7-9 8 REPORT PREPARATION................................................................................................. 8-1 EXHIBITS 2-1 Specific Plan Area Location and Setting................................................................ 2-2 2-2 Central Larkspur Specific Plan Area ..................................................................... 2-3 2-3 Annotated Aerial View of Plan Area and Environs ............................................... 2-4 2-4 Specific Plan Subareas ............................................................................................ 2-9 4.1-1 Location of Central Larkspur Specific Plan in Relation to Larkspur Downtown Specific Plan and Historic District.................................................... 4.1-2 4.3-1 Regional Fault System......................................................................................... 4.3-4 4.4-1 100 and 500–Year Flood Limits.......................................................................... 4.4-3 4.4-2 Specific Plan Area Drainage................................................................................ 4.4-7 4.5-1 Views of Subarea 3 .............................................................................................. 4.5-3 4.5-2 Views of Larkspur Creek .................................................................................... 4.5-4 4.5-3 Sensitive Biological Resources in the Vicinity of the Specific Plan Area ........... 4.5-7 4.7-1 Local Roadway Network Study Intersection Locations ..................................... 4.7-2 4.7-2 Existing Lane Geometries ................................................................................... 4.7-7 4.7-3 Existing A.M. (P.M.) Peak-Hour Volumes ....................................................... 4.7-11 4.7-4 Golden Gate Transit Bus Routes in the Study Area ........................................ 4.7-13 4.7-5 Specific Plan A.M. (P.M.) Peak-Hour Volumes................................................ 4.7-24 EDAW Central Larkspur Specific Plan Revised Draft EIR Table of Contents ii City of Larkspur TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Chapter/Section Page 4.7-6 Existing Plus Specific Plan A.M. (P.M.) Peak-Hour Volumes.......................... 4.7-27 4.7-7 Existing Plus Cumulative (No Specific Plan) A.M. (P.M.) Peak-Hour Volumes............................................................................................................. 4.7-37 4.7-8 Existing Plus Cumulative Plus Specific Plan A.M. (P.M.) Peak-Hour Volumes............................................................................................................. 4.7-38