D RAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE SACRED HEART SCHOOLS MASTER PLAN EIR STATE CLEARINGHOUSE #2009112052 LEAD AGENCY: THE TOWN OF ATHERTON 91 ASHFIELD ROAD ATHERTON, CA 94027 ATTN: NEAL J. MARTIN, TOWN PLANNER APRIL 2010 SACRED HEART SCHOOLS MASTER PLAN PROJECT DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT PREPARED FOR: Town of Atherton Attn: Neal Martin 91 Ashfield Road Atherton, CA 94027 APPLICANT: Sacred Heart Schools 150 Valparaiso Avenue Atherton, CA 94027 PREPARED BY: Christopher A. Joseph & Associates 115 Sansome Street, Suite 1002 San Francisco, CA 94104 April 2010 SCH#2009112052 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................I-1 A. Introduction...............................................................................................................I-1 B. Purpose of the Draft EIR...........................................................................................I-1 C. Type of EIR...............................................................................................................I-3 D. Draft EIR Review Process ........................................................................................I-4 E. Intended Uses of the EIR ..........................................................................................I-5 F. Organization of the Draft EIR...................................................................................I-6 G. Levels of Significance...............................................................................................I-7 II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................ II-1 A. Introduction............................................................................................................. II-1 B. Proposed Project..................................................................................................... II-1 C. Project Objectives................................................................................................... II-1 D. Significant Effects................................................................................................... II-3 E. Areas of Controversy .............................................................................................. II-3 F. Alternatives ............................................................................................................. II-3 G. Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures .................................................. II-4 III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION............................................................................................ III-1 A. Overview of Environmental Setting ...................................................................... III-1 B. Sacred Heart Schools 2009 Master Plan Update ................................................... III-4 C. Project Characteristics......................................................................................... III-11 D. Project Objectives................................................................................................ III-19 E. Discretionary Actions.......................................................................................... III-20 IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS............................................................ IV.A-1 A. Impacts Found To Be Less Than Significant..................................................... IV.A-1 B. Aesthetics........................................................................................................... IV.B-1 C. Air Quality ......................................................................................................... IV.C-1 D. Biological Resources ......................................................................................... IV.D-1 Sacred Heart Schools Master Plan Table of Contents Draft Environmental Impact Report Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Page E. Land Use and Planning .......................................................................................IV.E-1 F. Noise ...................................................................................................................IV.F-1 G. Transportation/Traffic........................................................................................ IV.G-1 V. GENERAL IMPACT CATEGORIES............................................................................ V-1 A. Summary of Significant Unavoidable Impacts ....................................................... V-1 B. Significant Irreversible Environmental Changes .................................................... V-1 C. Growth Inducing Impacts of the Proposed Project ................................................. V-2 VI. ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT ...................................................VI-1 A. Purpose...................................................................................................................VI-1 B. Methodology ..........................................................................................................VI-1 C. Project Objectives..................................................................................................VI-2 D. Selected Alternatives.............................................................................................VI-3 E. Alternatives Analysis.............................................................................................VI-7 VII. PREPARERS OF THE EIR..........................................................................................VII-1 VIII. REFERENCES ........................................................................................................... VIII-1 Sacred Heart Schools Master Plan Table of Contents Draft Environmental Impact Report Page ii TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Page TECHNICAL APPENDICES APPENDIX A: SACRED HEART SCHOOLS MASTER PLAN APPENDIX B: NOTICE OF PREPARATION (NOP) AND RESPONSES TO THE NOP Included Under Separate Cover APPENDIX C: CULTURAL RESOURCES APPENDIX D: ST. JOSEPH’S GEOTECH REPORT APPENDIX E: SOILS TESTING APPENDIX F HYDOLOGY MEMO APPENDIX G: AIR QUALITY DATA APPENDIX H: TREE REPORTS, ORDINANCES, AND PLANS APPENDIX I: NOISE MODELING DATA APPENDIX J: TRAFFIC DATA Sacred Heart Schools Master Plan Table of Contents Draft Environmental Impact Report Page iii LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure III-1 Regional and Project Vicinity Map ............................................................... III-3 Figure III-2 Existing SHS Campus Map ........................................................................... III-4 Figure III-3 Photograph Location Map ............................................................................. III-5 Figure III-4 Views 1-2....................................................................................................... III-6 Figure III-5 Views 3-4....................................................................................................... III-7 Figure III-6 Views 5-6....................................................................................................... III-8 Figure III-7 Views 7-8....................................................................................................... III-9 Figure III-8 Views 9-10................................................................................................... III-10 Figure III-9 SHS Master Plan.......................................................................................... III-15 Figure III-10 St. Joseph’s Site Plan................................................................................... III-16 Figure IV.B-1 View Simulation Location Map................................................................. IV.B-8 Figure IV.B-2 Photographic View Simulation View A .................................................... IV.B-9 Figure IV.B-3 Photographic View Simulation View B................................................... IV.B-10 Figure IV.B-4 Photographic View Simulation View C................................................... IV.B-11 Figure IV.F-1 Noise Measurement Locations....................................................................IV.F-5 Figure IV.F-2 Long-Term Noise Measurement Results- Location LT-1 ..........................IV.F-6 Figure IV.F-3 Long-Term Noise Measurement Results- Location LT-2 ..........................IV.F-7 Figure IV.F-4 Long-Term Noise Measurement Results- Location LT-3 ..........................IV.F-8 Figure IV.F-5 Long-Term Noise Measurement Results- Location LT-4 ..........................IV.F-9 Figure IV.F-6 Town of Atherton's Land Use Compatibility (GP Table N-2)..................IV.F-11 Figure IV.F-7 St. Joseph's Buildings Proposed Layout ...................................................IV.F-16 Figure IV.F-8 Location of Realigned Sports Fields at St. Joseph's .................................IV.F-21 Figure IV.F-9 Location of Realigned Sports Fields at High School................................IV.F-22 Figure IV.G-1 Area Map ................................................................................................... IV.G-2 Figure IV.G-2 Existing Lane Intersection Geometrics and Control.................................. IV.G-3 Figure IV.G-3 Year 2009 AM Peak Hour Volumes.......................................................... IV.G-6 Figure IV.G-4 Year 2009 Mid Afternoon (Post School) Peak Hour Volumes ................. IV.G-7 Sacred Heart Schools Master Plan Table of Contents Draft Environmental Impact