Appendix - A Initial Study Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan Project Revised Final EIR This Page Intentionally Left Blank. INITIAL STUDY City of Fountain Valley ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM Planning and Building Project Fountain Valley, CA Department Location: 10200 Slater Avenue Page 1 of 62 Fountain Valley, CA 92708 Project Title Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan Lead Agency Name and Address City of Fountain Valley Planning and Building Department 10200 Slater Avenue Fountain Valley, CA 92708 Contact Person Matt Mogensen Director Planning and Building Department 10200 Slater Avenue Fountain Valley, CA 92708 Phone No. (714) 593-4426 Project Location The Plan Area is bisected by Interstate 405 (I- 405) and bounded by Talbert Avenue to the north, Ellis Avenue to the south, Ward Street to the west, and the Santa Ana River to the east, in the City of Fountain Valley, California. Project Sponsor’s Name Planning and Building Department City of Fountain Valley Address 10200 Slater Avenue Fountain Valley, CA 92708 Zoning M1 - Manufacturing General Plan Commercial Manufacturing Other Public Agencies whose approval is N/A required Prepared by: DRAFT 104 West Anapamu Street, Suite 204A Santa Barbara, CA 93101 DRAFT SUBMITTED TO FTS - OCTOBER 16, 2015 INITIAL STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Project Title Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan Lead Agency City of Fountain Valley, CA Page 2 of 62 This Page Intentionally Left Blank DRAFT City of Fountain Valley, Planning and Building Department 10200 Slater Avenue Fountain Valley, CA 92708 INITIAL STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Project Title Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan Lead Agency City of Fountain Valley, CA Page 3 of 62 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5 Project Description ..................................................................................................................... 5 Project Setting and Vicinity Uses ............................................................................................... 6 Project Background .................................................................................................................... 7 Evaluation of Environmental Impacts ........................................................................................10 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected: ..............................................................................12 Determination: (To be completed by the Lead Agency) .............................................................13 I. Aesthetics ...........................................................................................................................14 II. Agricultural and Forestry Resources ..................................................................................16 III. Air Quality .........................................................................................................................18 IV. Biological Resources ........................................................................................................24 V. Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................27 VI. Geology and Soils ............................................................................................................29 VII. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ............................................................................................32 VIII. Hazards and Hazardous Materials .................................................................................33 IX. Hydrology and Water Quality............................................................................................37 X. Land Use and Planning .....................................................................................................42 XI. Mineral Resources ...........................................................................................................44 XII. Noise ...............................................................................................................................44 XIII. Population and Housing .................................................................................................47 XIV. Public Services ..............................................................................................................48 XV. Recreation ......................................................................................................................50 XVI. Transportation/Traffic .....................................................................................................51 XVII. Utilities and Service Systems ........................................................................................55 XVIII. Mandatory Findings of Significance .............................................................................59 List of Resources ......................................................................................................................61 DRAFT City of Fountain Valley, Planning and Building Department 10200 Slater Avenue Fountain Valley, CA 92708 INITIAL STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Project Title Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan Lead Agency City of Fountain Valley, CA Page 4 of 62 This Page Intentionally Left Blank DRAFT City of Fountain Valley, Planning and Building Department 10200 Slater Avenue Fountain Valley, CA 92708 INITIAL STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Project Title Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan Lead Agency City of Fountain Valley, CA Page 5 of 62 INTRODUCTION This Initial Study (IS) has been prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and State Guidelines for Implementation of CEQA. It will serve as a preliminary step in the environmental process to assess the potential impacts of the proposed Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan. The primary intent of this document is to assess the potential environmental consequences of the proposed Plan in accordance with the State of California Guidelines for Implementation of CEQA. CEQA requires that any proponent of a qualifying project that requires discretionary authority of a governing body must first prepare an environmental assessment to determine the potential environmental impacts of that project before the project can be approved. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan would guide future development within approximately 155 acres of light industrial/commercial uses in the southeastern portion of the City of Fountain Valley. The Specific Plan area is currently occupied by various light industrial (e.g., warehousing), retail, and office land uses and is the City’s former Industrial Redevelopment Project Area. The Specific Plan would include a Land Use Element, Infrastructure Element, and an Implementation, Financing, and Phasing Element to help revitalize this light industrial area while respecting existing, thriving businesses. The Specific Plan would promote reinvestment with a mix of uses including residential, retail, and office land uses and provide facilities and streetscapes that encourage community gathering. As envisioned, enhancement of this area will result in reinvestment to become a core area for civic, commercial, and neighborhood activities for the City. The Specific Plan would guide this future reuse of the existing industrial business park land uses, addressing the type, location, intensity, and design of mixed-use buildings, as well as transportation and public infrastructure improvements. The City intends to work with the community, property and business owners to tailor the Specific Plan to accommodate projected growth in a manner which fosters development of a vibrant and desirable mixed-use area. The components of the Crossings Specific Plan would include the following elements and features: Land Use Element The Land Use Element will include form-based codes to provide greater predictability and flexibility for potential developers, the community, and the City. A form-based code would be drafted to implement the Specific Plan to ensure the vision identified by the community, property and business owners is achieved. Allowable uses, densities, and identification of incompatible uses will also be included. Lastly, the Land Use Element will allow for the vibrant activity center that is desired by the community which will help attract the community to the redeveloped area. Infrastructure Element The Infrastructure Element will include: • A Transportation/Circulation Plan that will identify all transportation improvements inside and outside the Specific Plan Area needed to accommodate new development. DRAFT City of Fountain Valley, Planning and Building Department 10200 Slater Avenue Fountain Valley, CA 92708 INITIAL STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Project Title Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan Lead Agency City of Fountain Valley, CA Page 6 of 62 • A Roadway Plan that will provide alignments for all interior, neighborhood, collector, and arterial type roads within the Specific Plan Area. • A Pedestrian and Bicycle Network Plan to link new residential uses in the Specific Plan Area to parks, schools, community facilities, and other nearby community amenities. • Transportation/circulation diagrams and maps. • A Streetscape/Landscape Plan that will be integrated with the roadway network and pedestrian/bicycle network plans described above. • A Community