DRAFT EIR for the EVERGREEN • EAST HILLS VISION STRATEGY PROJECT SAN JOSÉ, CALIFORNIA State Clearinghouse Number: 2005102007 City of San José File Numbers: GP05-08-01A and PDC05-050 GP05-08-01B and PDC05-051 GP05-08-01C and PDC05-048 GP05-08-01D and PDC05-049 GP05-08-01E and PDC05-052 GP05-08-01F and PDC05-053 CITY OF SAN JOSÉ FEBRUARY 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION, BACKGROUND, & PROJECT OBJECTIVES .........1 1.1 Introduction .........................................................1 1.2 Project Location .....................................................1 1.3 Background .........................................................1 1.4 Project Objectives ...................................................10 1.5 Uses of the EIR .....................................................12 1.5.1 Lead and Responsible CEQA Agencies ............................12 1.5.2 Level of Environmental Review Provided by this EIR ................12 SECTION 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ......................28 2.1 Land Use Development Scenarios ......................................28 2.1.1 Introduction and Overview ......................................28 2.1.2 Development Scenarios for the Arcadia Property ....................33 2.1.3 Development Scenarios for the Pleasant Hills Golf Course Property .....38 2.1.4 Development Scenarios for the Berg/IDS Property ...................42 2.1.5 Development Scenarios for the Legacy Partners Property ..............48 2.1.6 Development Scenarios for the Evergreen Valley College Property ......51 2.1.7 Other General Plan Amendments .................................55 2.2 Transportation and Community Amenity Projects ..........................56 2.2.1 Operational Improvements on U.S. 101 ............................61 2.2.2 Reconfigure White Road between Ocala Avenue and Aborn Road ......63 2.2.3 Reconfigure Ocala Avenue between Capitol Expwy and White Road ....63 2.2.4 Improvements along Capitol Expwy between Quimby Rd. & U.S. 101 ...63 2.2.5 Intersection Improvements ......................................64 2.2.6 New Traffic Signals ...........................................67 2.2.7 Miscellaneous Transportation Improvements .......................67 2.2.8 Evergreen Little League Sports Complex ..........................67 2.2.9 Lake Cunningham Regional Skate Park ............................67 2.2.10 Upper Silver Creek Trail Extension ...............................69 2.2.11 Lake Cunningham Park Improvements ............................69 2.2.12 Sports and Recreational Facility Improvements at Schools .............69 2.2.13 Third Classroom at the Evergreen Community Center ................70 2.2.14 Recreational Improvements at Boeger/Foothill Schools & Fernish Park ..70 2.2.15 Development of Falls Creek Park ................................70 2.2.16 Renovation of Boggini Park .....................................70 2.2.17 Evergreen Park Renovation and Improvements ......................71 2.2.18 Renovation of Brigadoon Park ...................................71 2.2.19 Development of Fowler Creek Park ...............................71 2.2.20 New Trail and Open Space Connections ...........................72 Evergreen • East Hills Vision Strategy i Draft EIR San José, California February 2006 Table of Contents 2.2.21 Ice Skating Rink ..............................................72 2.2.22 Expansion of Planned Southeast Branch Library .....................72 2.2.23 Arcadia Adult Sports Complex and Community/Youth Center ..........73 2.2.24 Thompson Creek Trail .........................................73 2.2.25 Pedestrian Overcrossing on Capitol Expressway near Nieman Boulevard . 75 2.2.26 Renovation of Our Park ........................................75 2.2.27 Renovation of Hillview Park ....................................75 2.2.28 Renovation of Mount Pleasant Park ...............................75 2.2.29 Renovation of Welch Park ......................................76 2.2.30 Renovation of Hank Lopez Community Center ......................76 2.2.31 Renovation of Ocala Softball Fields ..............................76 2.3 Proposed Revision to the Evergreen Development Policy ....................77 2.4 Intersection Protection ...............................................77 SECTION 3. CONSISTENCY WITH ADOPTED PLANS ............................78 3.1 San José 2020 General Plan ...........................................78 3.1.1 Land Use/Transportation Diagram ................................78 3.1.2 Major Strategies ..............................................78 3.1.3 Goals and Policies ............................................83 3.2 Santa Clara County Congestion Management Program ......................94 3.3 Land Use Plan for Areas Surrounding Santa Clara County Airports ............94 3.4 Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program ..............96 3.5 Bay Area 2000 Clean Air Plan .........................................96 SECTION 4. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING, IMPACTS AND MITIGATION ..........97 4.1 Land Use ..........................................................97 4.1.1 Existing Conditions ...........................................98 4.1.2 Land Use Impacts ............................................102 4.1.3 Mitigation and Avoidance Measures .............................111 4.1.4 Conclusions regarding Land Use Impacts .........................114 4.2 Transportation and Traffic ...........................................116 4.2.1 Existing Setting .............................................116 4.2.2 Transportation and Traffic Conditions under Scenario I/No Project .....129 4.2.3 Project-Specific Transportation and Traffic Impacts .................131 4.2.4 Program-Level Transportation and Traffic Impacts ..................145 4.2.5 Protected Intersection Analysis .................................150 4.2.6 Mitigation and Avoidance Measures for Transportation/Traffic Impacts . 151 4.2.7 Conclusion regarding Transportation and Traffic Impacts ............154 4.3 Noise ............................................................156 4.3.1 Introduction and Regulatory Framework ..........................156 4.3.2 Existing Noise Sources and Levels ..............................157 4.3.3 Noise Impacts ...............................................159 Evergreen • East Hills Vision Strategy ii Draft EIR San José, California February 2006 Table of Contents 4.3.4 Mitigation and Avoidance Measures for Noise Impacts ..............168 4.3.5 Conclusions Regarding Noise Impacts ............................172 4.4 Air Quality .......................................................175 4.4.1 Introduction and Regulatory Framework ..........................175 4.4.2 Existing Air Quality ..........................................178 4.4.3 Air Quality Impacts ..........................................180 4.4.4 Mitigation and Avoidance Measures for Air Quality Impacts ..........184 4.4.5 Conclusions Regarding Air Quality Impacts .......................186 4.5 Cultural Resources .................................................187 4.5.1 Existing Cultural Resources ....................................187 4.5.2 Cultural Resources Impacts ....................................193 4.5.3 Mitigation and Avoidance Measures for Impacts to Cultural Resources ..195 4.5.4 Conclusions regarding Cultural Resources Impacts ..................197 4.6 Biological Resources ...............................................198 4.6.1 Introduction and Regulatory Framework ..........................198 4.6.2 Existing Biological Resources ..................................200 4.6.3 Biological Resources Impacts ..................................210 4.6.4 Mitigation and Avoidance Measures for Biological Impacts ...........216 4.6.5 Conclusions regarding Impacts to Biological Resources ..............223 4.7 Geology ..........................................................225 4.7.1 Existing Geologic Conditions ..................................225 4.7.2 Geologic Impacts ............................................230 4.7.3 Mitigation and Avoidance Measures for Geologic Impacts ............233 4.7.4 Conclusions regarding Geologic Impacts ..........................235 4.8 Hydrology and Water Quality .........................................236 4.8.1 Introduction and Regulatory Framework ..........................236 4.8.2 Existing Hydrologic Conditions .................................238 4.8.3 Hydrologic Impacts ..........................................240 4.8.4 Mitigation/Avoidance Measures for Hydrology/Water Quality Impacts ..243 4.8.5 Conclusions regarding Hydrology and Water Quality Impacts .........245 4.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials .....................................247 4.9.1 Introduction and Regulatory Framework ..........................247 4.9.2 Existing Conditions ..........................................247 4.9.3 Hazards and Hazardous Materials Impacts ........................254 4.9.4 Mitigation/Avoidance Measures for Hazardous Material Impacts ......258 4.9.5 Conclusions regarding Hazards and Hazardous Materials Impacts ......262 4.10 Visual and Aesthetics ...............................................263 4.10.1 Existing Conditions ..........................................263 4.10.2 Visual/Aesthetic Impacts ......................................265 4.10.3 Mitigation/Avoidance Measures for Visual/Aesthetic Impacts .........269 4.10.4 Conclusions regarding Visual and Aesthetic Impacts ................270 4.11 Utilities and Service Systems .........................................271