SIERRA BOULEVARD COMPLETE STREETS CITY OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 5.0 EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS The Environmental Checklist and discussion describes the impacts of the Project, as detailed in the Project Description. The Environmental Checklist is based on the questions provided in Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines (Revised 2016). This checklist focuses on 17 different categories. If substantial evidence exists for impacts not described in the checklist, these impacts should also be considered. Potential environmental impacts are described as follows: Potentially Significant Impact: An environmental impact that could be significant and for which no feasible mitigation is known. If any potentially significant impacts are identified in this Checklist, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) must be prepared. Less than Significant with Mitigation: An environmental impact that requires the implementation of mitigation measures to reduce that impact to less than significant level. Less than Significant Impact: An environmental impact may occur; however, the impact would not be considered significant based on CEQA environmental standards. No Impact: No environmental impacts would result from implementation of the Project. 56 | Page SIERRA BOULEVARD COMPLETE STREETS CITY OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE Final Mitigated Negative Declaration INITIAL STUDY CHECKLIST I. Aesthetics Would the Project: Environmental Issue Impact Impact Less Than Than Less Than Less Mitigation NoImpact Significant Significant Potentially Incorporated Significant with a. Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? X b. Substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic X buildings, within a state scenic highway? c. Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings? X d. Create a new source of substantial light or glare, which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in X the area? Discussion: The Project is in an area of the City referred to as the Tahoe Sierra subdivision that can be characterized as a High Density Residential Subdivision including both apartment buildings and single-family homes. Surrounding land uses in the Project area include more High Density Residential, Commercial to the north along Hwy 50, and Open Space to the south and east of the Project. Both the City of South Lake Tahoe General Plan and Zoning Ordinance are uniformly consistent with the TRPA Regional Plan and Code of Ordinances outlining the requirements for development for major scenic view corridors and vistas within the Lake Tahoe Basin and Project vicinity. The identified view corridors and vistas in the Lake Tahoe Basin provide views of both Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Other examples of scenic resources include areas of wildlife or open space, parks, trails, landmarks, rock outcroppings, etc. a & c) Less than Significant Impact. A majority of the Project elements would be constructed at the existing grade with the exception of directional signage and street light style poles. The project footprint can be described as a high density residential subdivision comprised mostly of single-family homes, accessory structures, small apartment buildings and a church. Depending on time of day there are numerous cars parked along the side of the roadway. Additionally, the Project is visible from TRPA Scenic Roadway Unit #35, which has low scenic quality and in contrast the Project would incrementally improve scenic quality (CSLT, 2017). As proposed, the Project would improve the overall aesthetic nature of the immediate project vicinity by providing orderly parking stalls and landscaping. b) No Impact. According to Caltrans’s Guidelines for the Official Designation of Scenic Highways, a Scenic Corridor is an area of land generally adjacent to and visible from the highway. Highway 50 from Echo Summit to the City limits is the nearest “Officially 57 | Page SIERRA BOULEVARD COMPLETE STREETS CITY OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE Final Mitigated Negative Declaration Designated” segment of state highway, which is 2.5 miles southwest of the Project1. Therefore, the Project has no impact on resources within a scenic highway. d) Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated. Installation of new street lighting along the shared use and pedestrian paths would be necessary for pedestrian safety and security purposes. While there are existing light sources along Sierra Boulevard, the new light source from the addition of street lighting has the potential to increase nighttime lighting and adversely affect nearby residences with short setbacks to the street right-of- away and front facing windows. The City Zoning Code Section 6.10.160 – Exterior Lighting, requires that new light sources installed as part of a Project provide the minimum lighting levels to meet the performance standards. In addition, TRPA Code Section 36.8.1. – Exterior Lighting Standards, provides general standards for lighting including directing lights downward, installation of cut shielding if needed, and maximum fixture height based on appropriateness to the purpose of the lighting. Mitigation Measure AES-1 New light sources installed as part of the project shall provide the minimum lighting levels to meet security and safety purposes; shall be directed downward and away from adjacent residential areas; and shall be shielded, diffused, or indirect to reduce excessive glare into adjacent residential properties. The design engineer shall provide data to the City of South Lake Tahoe Public Works Staff or equivalent that shows the proposed lighting and resulting lighting levels to determine if excessive glare would extend into adjacent residential properties during the design phase of the project. 1 Caltrans. California Scenic Highway Mapping System. Nevada and Sierra Counties. http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LandArch/scenic_highways/index.htm. Accessed June 06, 2017. 58 | Page SIERRA BOULEVARD COMPLETE STREETS CITY OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE Final Mitigated Negative Declaration II. Agricultural and Forestry Resources Would the Project: Environmental Issue Impact Impact Less Than Than Less Than Less Mitigation NoImpact Significant Significant Potentially Incorporated Significant with a. Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide or Local Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the X Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to non-agricultural use? b. Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract? X c. Conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, forest land (as defined in Public Resources Code section 12220(g)), timberland (as defined by Public Resources Code section 4526), or timberland zoned Timberland X Production (as defined by Government Code section 51104(g))? d. Result in the loss of forest land or conversion of forest land to non-forest use? X e. Involve other changes in the existing environment which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland (including livestock grazing) to X non-agricultural use? Discussion: The Project site has historically been a residential neighborhood and not used for agricultural or timberland production. There are no agricultural uses near the Project site. a & e) No Impact. There is no Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, or Unique Farmland located in the Project area. There will be no impact on potential farmland development as a result of the Project. b) No Impact. The Williamson Act was enacted in 1965 and allows local governments to enter into contracts with private landowners that restrict the private land from use other than farmland or related open space. The private landowner receives a tax incentive and the land is thus preserved as farmland and not developed. There are no Williamson Act contracts in the Project vicinity, nor are there any agricultural zoning designations in the Project area. c & d) No Impact. According to California Public Resource Code Sections 4526, 12220(g), and 51104 (g), the Project is not located within a designated forest land, timberland, or 59 | Page SIERRA BOULEVARD COMPLETE STREETS CITY OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE Final Mitigated Negative Declaration Timberland Production Zone. Neither El Dorado County nor the City of South Lake Tahoe has designated the Project area as a significant forestland or timberland resource. There will be no potential for forestland development as a result of the Project. III. Air Quality Would the Project: Environmental Issue Impact Impact Less Than Than Less Than Less Mitigation NoImpact Significant Significant Potentially Incorporated Significant with a. Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? X b. Violate any air quality standard or contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality X violation? c. Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the Project region is in non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard (including releasing X emissions which exceed quantitative thresholds for ozone precursors)? d. Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? X e. Create objectionable odors affecting a substantial number of people? X Discussion: The Project is located in the Lake Tahoe Air Basin (LTAB), which extends into portions of El Dorado and Placer Counties in California,