City of Long Beach Riverwalk Residential Development Project Draft Environmental Impact Report SCH # 2014091011 May 2015 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT RIVERWALK RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Prepared by: City of Long Beach Development Services 333 W. Ocean Boulevard, 5th Floor Long Beach, California 90802 Contact: Mr. Craig Chalfant (562) 570-6368 Prepared with the assistance of: Rincon Consultants, Inc. 180 North Ashwood Avenue Ventura, California 93003 (805) 644-4455 May 2015 This report prepared on 50% recycled paper with 50% post-consumer content. Riverwalk Residential Development Project EIR Table of Contents Riverwalk Residential Development Project EIR Table of Contents Page Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. ES-1 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Environmental Impact Report Background ................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Lead, Responsible and Trustee Agencies...................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Purpose and Legal Authority ......................................................................................... 1-3 1.4 Scope and Content/Environmental Factors Potentially Affected ............................. 1-3 1.5 Environmental Review Process ...................................................................................... 1-4 2.0 Project Description 2.1 Project Applicant .............................................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Project Location ................................................................................................................ 2-1 2.3 Current Land Use and Regulatory Setting ................................................................... 2-1 2.4 Project Characteristics.................................................................................................... 2-11 2.5 Project Objectives ........................................................................................................... 2-16 2.6 Required Approvals ....................................................................................................... 2-16 3.0 Environmental Setting 3.1 Regional Setting ................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.2 Project Site Setting ............................................................................................................ 3-1 3.3 Cumulative Projects Setting ............................................................................................ 3-2 4.0 Environmental Impact Analysis .................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Aesthetics ....................................................................................................................... 4.1-1 4.2 Air Quality ..................................................................................................................... 4.2-1 4.3 Biological Resources ..................................................................................................... 4.3-1 4.4 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................ 4.4-1 4.5 Geology and Soils .......................................................................................................... 4.5-1 4.6 Greenhouse Gas Emissions .......................................................................................... 4.6-1 4.7 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ............................................................................. 4.7-1 4.8 Hydrology and Water Quality .................................................................................... 4.8-1 4.9 Land Use and Planning ................................................................................................ 4.9-1 4.10 Noise ............................................................................................................................. 4.10-1 4.11 Population and Housing ............................................................................................ 4.11-1 4.12 Public Services and Recreation .................................................................................. 4.12-1 4.13 Transportation and Traffic ......................................................................................... 4.13-1 4.14 Utilities and Service Systems ..................................................................................... 4.14-1 5.0 Other CEQA-Required Discussions .............................................................................................. 5-1 5.1 Growth Inducement ......................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Irreversible Environmental Effects ................................................................................ 5-2 5.3 Energy Effects ................................................................................................................... 5-3 City of Long Beach i Riverwalk Residential Development Project EIR Table of Contents 6.0 Alternatives ....................................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.1 No Project .......................................................................................................................... 6-2 6.2 Reduced Density Alternative ......................................................................................... 6-5 6.3 Alternative Site Alternative .......................................................................................... 6-10 6.4 Revised Access Alternative ........................................................................................... 6-16 6.5 Environmentally Superior Alternative........................................................................ 6-21 7.0 References and Report Preparers 7.1 References .......................................................................................................................... 7-1 7.2 Report Preparers ............................................................................................................. 7-14 List of Figures Figure 1-1 CEQA Environmental Review Process ....................................................... 1-6 Figure 2-1 Regional Location ........................................................................................... 2-2 Figure 2-2 Aerial View of Project Site and Surrounding Uses .................................... 2-3 Figure 2-3a Site Photographs ............................................................................................. 2-4 Figure 2-3b Site Photographs ............................................................................................. 2-5 Figure 2-4a Site Vicinity Photographs .............................................................................. 2-6 Figure 2-4b Site Vicinity Photographs .............................................................................. 2-7 Figure 2-5 General Plan Land Use Designations .......................................................... 2-8 Figure 2-6 Zoning Designations ...................................................................................... 2-9 Figure 2-7 Project Site Plan ............................................................................................ 2-13 Figure 4.1-1 Photosimulation 1: View looking south towards project site from intersection of Daisy Avenue and West 48th Street ............................... 4.1-5 Figure 4.1-2 Photosimulation 2: View looking east towards project site from the western terminus of West 48th Street ................................................. 4.1-6 Figure 4.1-3 Photosimulation 3: View looking northeast towards project site from the LA river bicycle and pedestrian path just north of the UP Railroad Bridge ..................................................................................... 4.1-7 Figure 4.1-4 Street Tree on Oregon Avenue south of West 48th Street ..................... 4.1-9 Figure 4.1-5 Entry and Recreation Center Rendering ................................................ 4.1-11 Figure 4.1-6 Entry and Recreation Center Elevations ................................................ 4.1-12 Figure 4.1-7 Plan 1 Front Elevations ............................................................................. 4.1-13 Figure 4.1-8 Plan 2 Front Elevations ............................................................................. 4.1-14 Figure 4.5-1 Regional Fault Zone Map ........................................................................... 4.5-2 Figure 4.5-2 Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone Map Long Beach Quadrangle................................................................................................... 4.5-4 Figure 4.5-3 Seismic Safety Element, Plate 2 ................................................................. 4.5-7 Figure 4.5-4 Areas of Potential Liquefaction Long Beach Quadrangle ..................... 4.5-8 Figure 4.8-1 Hydrology Watershed Map ....................................................................... 4.8-9 Figure 4.10-1 Noise Measurement Locations ................................................................ 4.10-7 Figure 4.13-1 Existing (2013) Weekday Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ......................... 4.13-6 Figure 4.13-2 Project Opening