APPENDIX A IS - NOP DRAFT INITIAL STUDY Foothill-De Anza College Facilities Master Plan Prepared for: Foothill-De Anza Community College District 12345 El Monte Road Los Altos Hills, CA 94022-4599 Prepared By: September 2007 This document is prepared on paper with 30% recycled content. Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report and Notice of Scoping Meeting Date: September 5, 2007 To: Responsible Agencies, Agencies with Jurisdiction by Law, Trustee Agencies, Involved Federal Agencies, and Agencies/People Requesting Notice From: Foothill De Anza Community College District ATNN: Charles Allen, Executive Director of Facilities, Operations, and Construction Management 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022-4599 (650) 949-6150 (650) 948-5194 (Fax) Re: Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Notice of Scoping Meeting for the Foothill College Facilities Master Plan Project The Foothill De Anza Community College District (Lead Agency) will prepare an EIR for the proposed Foothill College Facilities Master Plan Project. This Notice of Preparation (NOP) is being distributed to applicable responsible agencies, trustee agencies, and interested parties as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Comments from interested agencies are requested as to the scope and content of the environmental information that is pertinent to each agency’s statutory responsibilities in connection with the proposed project. Project Location: Foothill College is located at 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, in Santa Clara County. The campus is immediately southwest of Interstate 280 (I-280) and is bounded by El Monte Road to the south, Crescent Lane and Elena Road to the west, and Josefa Lane to the northwest. Local access is currently provided from El Monte Road and regional access is provided from I-280. Project Characteristics: In June 2006 the voters approved a $490.8 million dollar District-wide bond (Measure C) to continue the renovation and replacement of aging facilities as well as upgrade technology on the campus. The District prepared the 2007 Foothill College Facilities Master Plan (Project), which provides direction of projects that would be funded under Measure C. The Project proposes construction, renovation, and site improvement projects on the Foothill College Campus (Project site). Foothill College Facilities Master Plan Project Page 1 Foothill De Anza Community College District September 5, 2007 The Project proposes the construction of two buildings providing approximately 62,500 square feet of building space, including approximately 41,000 square feet of assignable space. Circulation and parking improvements include relocation of the existing Loop Road to the outer edge of the campus, improvements to the PE Access Road, various circulation improvements to reduce traffic conflicts and improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, parking lot resurfacing, and the addition of approximately 400 parking spaces. Site improvements include various utility, landscaping, signage, lighting, and site improvements and upgrades; renovation of sport facilities and campus buildings; and ongoing ADA improvements. Some new construction projects will provide the opportunity to replace or renovate existing spaces. Proposed renovations will support recommended program changes and/or accommodate the secondary effects that occur as a result of relocation into new facilities. All facilities would be developed within the existing campus boundaries. The final design of each site and facility project will take place as projects are funded and detailed programming and design occurs. The anticipated implementation period for the Project is 2007-2015. For a more detailed description of the proposed project and discussion of the environmental issues related to the proposed project, please refer to the Initial Study attached to this NOP. EIR Sections: Based on the project description, public comments, and the Lead Agency’s understanding of the environmental issues associated with the project, the following topics will be analyzed in detail in the EIR: Biological Resources Cultural Resources Noise Transportation/Traffic Alternatives to be analyzed in the EIR will be defined based on their potential to reduce or eliminate significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed project. The specific alternatives to be evaluated in the EIR may include, but are not limited to, the “No Project” alternative as required by CEQA and an alternative site plan configuration. NOP Notice: The Lead Agency solicits comments regarding the scope and content of the EIR from all interested parties requesting notice, responsible agencies, agencies with jurisdiction by law, trustee agencies, and involved agencies. In accordance with the time limits established by CEQA, please send your response at the earliest possible date, but no later than thirty days after receipt of this notice. Foothill College Facilities Master Plan Project Page 2 Foothill De Anza Community College District September 5, 2007 Please send your written/typed comments (including a name, telephone number, and contact information) to the following: Foothill De Anza College Facilities, Operations, and Construction Management ATNN: Charles Allen 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022-4599 (650) 949-6150 (650) 948-5194 (Fax) Notice of Scoping Meeting: Pursuant to California Public Resources Code §§21081.7, 21083.9, and 21092.2, the Lead Agency will conduct a public scoping meeting for the same purpose of soliciting oral and written comments from interested parties requesting notice, responsible agencies, agencies with jurisdiction by law, trustee agencies, and involved federal agencies, as to the appropriate scope and content of the EIR. ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND A PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING TO ASSIST IN IDENTIFYING ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE EIR. ATTENDEES WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE CONSULTANTS PREPARING THE EIR. The public scoping meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 starting at 7:00 p.m. at the following location: Foothill College Appreciation Hall (Building 1500) 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022-4599 For additional information, please contact Charles Allen at (650) 949-6150. X Date: September 5, 2007 Charles Allen Executive Director of Facilities, Operations, and Construction Management Foothill College Facilities Master Plan Project Page 3 Foothill De Anza Community College District September 5, 2007 This page intentionally left blank. Foothill College Facilities Master Plan Project Page 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page I. PROJECT SUMMARY...................................................................................................... 1 II. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED............................................ 9 III. DETERMINATION .......................................................................................................... 10 III. EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS........................................................... 11 IV. ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST.................................................................................... 13 V. REPORT PREPARERS.................................................................................................. 47 Figure Figure 1 Regional and Project Vicinity Map................................................................... 4 Figure 2 Project Site Aerial ............................................................................................ 5 Figure 3 Foothill College Master Plan............................................................................ 6 Table Table 1 2007 Facilities Master Plan Construction ........................................................ 2 Table 2 Proposed Foothill College Building Square Footage....................................... 8 Foothill-De Anza College Facilities Master Plan Page i Draft Initial Study Foothill-De Anza Community College District September 2007 This page intentionally left blank. Foothill-De Anza College Facilities Master Plan Page ii Draft Initial Study Foothill-De Anza Community College District September 2007 Foothill-De Anza Community College District 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022-4599 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM PROJECT NAME: 2007 Foothill College Facilities Master Plan SITE ADDRESS: 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022-4599 LEAD AGENCY: Foothill-De Anza Community College District PHONE: (650) 949-6150 Name and address: Charles Allen, Executive Director of Facilities, Operations, and Construction Management 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022-4599 PROJECT LOCATION: Foothill College (the College) is located in the Town of Los Altos Hills in Santa Clara County, approximately thirty- five miles south of San Francisco and twenty miles north of downtown San Jose, on the San Francisco peninsula. The campus is immediately southwest of Interstate 280 (I-280) and is bounded by El Monte Road to the south, Crescent Lane and Elena Road to the west, and Josefa Lane to the northwest. Local access is currently provided from El Monte Road and regional access is provided from I-280. Figure 1 illustrates the regional and project site location. An aerial photograph of the Project site is shown in Figure 2. PROJECT SPONSOR: Foothill-De Anza Community College District (District) EXISTING GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATION: Public Facility EXISTING ZONING: R-1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: In June 2006 the voters approved