RICHMOND CENTRAL PROJECT INITIAL STUDY CHECKLIST Public Review Draft City of Richmond April 2014 APRIL 2014 RICHMOND CENTRAL PROJECT INITIAL STUDY CHECKLIST TABLE OF CONTENTS PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................... 1 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED ........................................................ 7 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST ............................................................................................ 8 I. Aesthetics .......................................................................................................... 8 II. Agricultural and Forest Resources .................................................................... 11 III. Air Quality ........................................................................................................ 13 IV. Biological Resources ......................................................................................... 23 V. Cultural Resources ........................................................................................... 28 VI. Geology and Soils ............................................................................................. 34 VII. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ............................................................................... 41 VIII. Hazards ........................................................................................................... 45 IX. Hydrology and Water Quality ............................................................................ 53 X. Land Use and Planning ..................................................................................... 60 XI. Mineral Resources ............................................................................................ 65 XII. Noise ............................................................................................................... 67 XIII. Population and Housing ................................................................................... 83 XIV. Public Services ................................................................................................. 86 XV. Recreation ........................................................................................................ 90 XVI. Transportation/Traffic ...................................................................................... 92 XVII. Utilities and Service Systems ........................................................................... 101 XVIII. Mandatory Findings of Significance ................................................................ 107 REPORT PREPARERS ...................................................................................................... 111 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 112 APPENDIX A: CalEEMod Report i RICHMOND CENTRAL INITIAL STUDY CHECKLIST APRIL 2014 List of Tables Table I-1 Proposed Uses ...........................................................................................4 Table I-2 Applications ...............................................................................................6 Table III-1 Summary of Average Criteria Pollutant Emissions during Project Construction ............................................................................................16 Table III-2 Summary of Average Criteria Pollutant Emissions during Project Operation ................................................................................................18 Table III-3 Summary of Risks and Hazards from TAC Emissions ................................21 Table VII-1 Summary of Average GHG Emissions during Project Operation .................43 Table XII-1 Definition of Acoustical Terms .................................................................68 Table XII-2 Outdoor Noise Exposure Standards (Ldn or CNEL, dB) of the Cities of Richmond and El Cerrito ......................................................................69 Table XII-3 Indoor Noise Exposure Standards of the Cities of Richmond and El Cerrito .....................................................................................................70 Table XII-4 Construction Regulation Cities of Richmond and El Cerrito .......................71 Table XII-5 City of Richmond Maximum Noise Level Standards for Mobile Construction Equipment (dBA) ..................................................................72 Table XII-6 City of Richmond Maximum Noise Level Standards for Stationary Construction Equipment (dBA) ..................................................................72 Table XII-7 Estimated Noise Levels from Construction Activities (dBA) ........................73 Table XII-8 Typical Noise Levels at 50 Feet from Construction Equipment (dBA) ........................................................................................................73 Table XII-9 Vibration Standards of the Cities of Richmond and El Cerrito ....................79 Table XII-10 Vibration Criteria to Prevent Disturbance of Residents – VdB RMS .............79 Table XII-11 Vibration Criteria to Prevent Damage to Structures ...................................80 Table XII-12 Vibration Source Levels for Construction Equipment .................................81 Table XIV-1 Projected Population Growth and Capacity, by Schools Serving the Project Site ...............................................................................................88 Table XVI-1 Peak Hour Intersection LOS and Delay Summary, Signalized intersections ............................................................................................95 Table XVI-2 Peak Hour Intersection LOS and Delay Summary, Unsignalized intersections ............................................................................................96 List of Figures Figure VIII-1 Former Structures and Groundwater Sampling Locations ..........................48 ii APRIL 2014 RICHMOND CENTRAL PROJECT INITIAL STUDY CHECKLIST PROJECT DESCRIPTION 1. Project Title: Richmond Central Project 2. Lead Agency Name and Address: City of Richmond, Planning and Building Services Department 450 Civic Center Plaza Richmond, CA 94804 3. Contact Person and Phone Number: Jonelyn Whales, Senior Planner (510) 620-6785, [email protected] 4. Project Location: The project site is located at 5620 Central Avenue in the City of Richmond, Contra Costa County, California. 5. Project Sponsor’s Name and Address: City of Richmond Richmond Planning Department 450 Civic Center Plaza Richmond, CA 94804 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 1 RICHMOND CENTRAL INITIAL STUDY CHECKLIST APRIL 2014 6. General Plan Designation: Regional Commercial Mixed-Use (City of Richmond) and High Density Residential (City of El Cerrito) 7. Zoning: C-3, Regional Commercial (City of Richmond) and Multi-family Residential (City of El Cerrito) 8. Description of Project: Project Background The project site comprises approximately 2.58 acres of land, located at 5620 Central Avenue in the City of Richmond and the City of El Cerrito. The property consists of three contiguous parcels, two within the City of Richmond (APNs 510-053-032 and 510-053- 033) and one within the City of El Cerrito (APN 510-053-025). The parcel located in the City of El Cerrito is adjacent to Central Avenue and San Mateo Street and comprises the site’s northwest corner while the parcels located in the City of Richmond comprise the remainder of the site. While a small portion of the project site lies within the City of El Cerrito, the majority of the site is in the City of Richmond, and as such, the City of Richmond will serve as the lead agency for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review process. The City of Richmond is located in the western portion of Contra Costa County and is generally bordered by San Pablo Bay to the north, San Francisco Bay to the west, Richmond Inner Harbor to the south, and the City of El Cerrito and unincorporated Contra Costa County land to the east. The project site is bounded by Central Avenue to the north, Belmont Avenue to the east, San Mateo Street to the west, and commercial uses to the south. The site is within a ½ mile of the El Cerrito Plaza Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station and is within close proximity of numerous Alameda-Contra Costa (AC) Transit bus lines. The project site is currently vacant with no structural improvements and is located on the south side of Central Avenue between Belmont Avenue and San Mateo Street. It is surrounded by a chain-linked fence and is generally level and includes sparse vegetation, including some grass and weeds. A drainage channel runs along the eastern border of the site, parallel to Belmont Avenue, then redirects and runs along the property’s southern border. In connection with the project, a pedestrian bridge facilitating movement from the project site to Belmont Avenue is proposed. According to the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, the site was previously developed in 1946 with one building and multiple areas of surface parking. In 1959, 2 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT APRIL 2014 RICHMOND CENTRAL PROJECT INITIAL STUDY CHECKLIST approximately six additional buildings were constructed and the remainder of the site was used to store lumber and other supply materials. These building were demolished in 2012. Project The project includes the following elements: . Multi-Family Units – A total of 172 apartments are proposed in a podium building with one level of above-ground