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CC Resolution 2001-040RESOLUTION NO. 2001-40 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, CERTIFYING AN ADDENDUM TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 96-333 PREPARED FOR TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 30056 CASE NO: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 96-333 APPLICANT: CHAPMAN GOLF DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C. WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of La Quinta, California, did, on the 17th day of April, 2001 hold a duly -noticed Public Hearing to consider an Addendum to Environmental Assessment 96-333 for Tentative Tract Map 30056 herein referred to as the "Project"; and, WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of La Quinta, California, did on the 27th day of February, 2001, hold a duly noticed Public Hearing, and continued said Public Hearing to the 27" day of March, 2001 to consider an Addendum to Environmental Assessment 96-333 for Tentative Tract Map 30056; and, WHEREAS, said application has complied with the requirements of "The Rules to Implement the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970" (as amended; Resolution 83-68 adopted by the La Quinta City Council) in that the Community Development Department has prepared an Addendum to Environmental Assessment 96-333 pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15164; and, WHEREAS, the Revised Project does not call for the preparation of a subsequent EA pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15162 or Public Resources Code Section 21166, in that the Revised Project does not involve: (1) substantial changes to the project analyzed in the Mitigated Negative Declaration which would involve new significant effects on the environment or substantially increase the severity of previously identified impacts; (2) substantial changes with respect to the circumstances under which the project is being undertaken which would involve new significant effects on the environment not analyzed in the Mitigated Negative Declaration substantially increase the severity of previously identified impacts; or (3) new information of substantial importance which would involve new significant effects on the environment not analyzed in the Mitigated Negative Declaration substantially increase the severity of previously identified impacts. WHEREAS, on April 1, 1997, the La Quinta City Council certified the EA for Tract 28867 (Resolution 97-26) encompassing 148.64 acres, which allowed for 241 single family residential houses and golf course use. Resolution No. 2001-40 Addendum to Environmental Assessment 96-333 April 17, 2001 Page 2 WHEREAS, the Revised Project involves six additional residential units of which the total allowed units of 595 in this Low Density Residential Zone for the Project area is not exceeded by this Revised Project. WHEREAS, upon hearing and considering all testimony and arguments, if any, of all interested persons desiring to be heard, said City Council did find the following facts, findings, and reasons to justify certification of said Addendum: The proposed Tentative Tract will not have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, as the project in question will not be developed in any manner inconsistent with the General Plan and other current City standards. The project does not have the potential to eliminate an important example of California prehistory, as extensive archaeological investigations of the site have been conducted as part of the project to implement appropriate mitigation alternatives. 2. The proposed Tentative Tract will not have impacts which are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable when considering planned or proposed development in the immediate vicinity, in that the proposed project is undertaken pursuant to a Mitigated Negative Declaration which has been certified. 3. The proposed Tentative Tract will not have environmental effects that will adversely affect humans, either directly or indirectly, as the project contemplates no more single family residences than those already assessed under ultimate development in this Low Density Residential Zone, and previously addressed in the certified Mitigated Negative Declaration. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of La Quinta, California, as follows: That the recitations are true and correct and constitute the findings of the City Council for this Addendum to Environmental Assessment 96-333. 2. That it does hereby certify an Addendum to Environmental Assessment 96-333 in that the changes proposed to the project are a minor nature and do not require the preparation of a subsequent Environmental Assessment pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21166 and there are no new circumstances which would require the preparation of a subsequent EA and there is no new information or change in circumstances which would require the preparation of a subsequent EA. Resolution No. 2001-40 Addendum to Environmental Assessment 96-333 April 17, 2001 Page 3 PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the La Quinta City Council held on this 1711 day of April , 2001, by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Adolph, Henderson, Perkins, Mayor Pro Tern Sniff NOES: None ABSTAIN: Mayor Pena ABSENT: None STANLEY SNIFF, Ma r Pro T City of La Quinta, Cali rnia ATTEST: JU EEK, CMC, City City of La Quinta, California (City Sea]) APPROVED AS TO FORM: M:yo THERINE JENSON, City torney CiLa Quinta, California ADDENDUM TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 96-333 FOR TRADITION CLUB CHAPMAN GOLF DEVELOPMENT L.L.C. (CEQA GUIDELINE 15164) TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 30056 A:\TT30056\EA Addendum 1.96-333.wpd The City of La Quinta, as lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code section 21000, et seq. ("CEQA") has prepared this Addendum pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15164. This is an Addendum to the Environmental Assessment 96-333 that the City prepared and certified in 1997 for Tract 28867. The City Council certified the EA on April 1, 1997, under Resolution No. 97-26. The purpose of this Addendum is to document certain changes to the project which will be implemented through the following land use approvals: TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 3005E This is referred to as "the Revised Project." The Revised Project involves only 5.39 acres of the overall 141.64 acres within the project area. The 5.39 acres are located at the south terminus of Washington Street within the Tradition Club taking access from Del Gato Drive. The 5.39 acres border existing residential development and open space. The City has determined that the proposed residential development of this 5.39 acre site will be consistent with the density and character of the adjacent residential development, and will be consistent with the goals, policies, and objectives of the City's General Plan and Tentative Tract 28470, as amended. Tract 28867 which allowed for 241 single family residential houses and golf course use. The Revised Project involves the subdivision of seven residential lots into thirteen residential lots with Low Density Residential Zoning (LDR). Under LDR Zoning the Project could achieve 595 residential lots on 148.64 acres within the Tradition Club. With the additional six residential lots, no significant change in impacts will result in the areas of air quality, noise, population generation, use of natural and energy resources, traffic, public facility and services demand, and cumulative impacts. The City has compared the impacts of the Revised Project with those impacts analyzed in the EA and finds as follows: Aesthetics - Impacts no Hazards and Hazardous Public Services greater than those Materials - Impacts no Impacts no greater than previously analyzed. greater than those those previously The previously approved previously analyzed. No analyzed. Since the residential development hazardous materials will number of residential will be replaced. The be maintained within the units is below the total scale, height, and visual 3.59 acre site. allowed units in this impact of grading will all be reduced within zoning category there this area as compared will be the same demands for public with the original project. LJ services. A:1TT300561EA Addendum 1. 96-333.wpd Agriculture Resources - Not applicable. Air Quality -Impacts Impacts no greater than those previously analyzed. Since the number of residential units that could be achieved is below the total allowed units in this zoning category. Biological Resources - Impacts no greater than those previously analyzed. The Revised Project will have the same level of impacts on biology as the original project analyzed in the EA. Cultural Resources - Impacts no greater than those previously analyzed. Geology and Soils - Impacts no greater than those previously analyzed. The geology and soil impacts remain unchanged. Hydrology and Water Quality - Impacts no greater than those previously analyzed. Land Use Planning - Impacts no greater than those previously analyzed. The Revised Project is consistent with the goals, policies and objectives of the General Plan, and Zoning Code. Mineral Resources- Not applicable. Noise - Impacts no greater than those previously analyzed. Recreation - Impacts no greater than those previously analyzed. Since the number of residential units is below the total allowed units in this zoning category the need for recreational facilities arising from the project are within the scope of what was originally analyzed. Transportation/Traffic- Impacts no greater than those previously analyzed. Since the total number of residential units approved for this project is below the total allowed units in this zoning category. Utilities and Service Systems - Impacts no greater than those previously analyzed. Since the number of residential units is below the total allowed units in this zoning category Population and Housing Impacts no greater than those previously analyzed. A:\TT30056\EA Addendum 1.96-333.wpd The City finds that consideration of the Revised Project does not call for the preparation of a subsequent EA pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15162 or Public Resources Code Section 21166, in that the Revised Project does not involve: (1) substantial changes to the project analyzed in the EA and the amended EA which would involve new significant effects on the environment or substantially increase the severity of previously identified impacts; (2) substantial changes with respect to the circumstances under which the project is being undertaken which would involve new significant effects on the environment not analyzed in the EA and Amended EA substantially increase the severity of previously identified impacts; or (3) new information of substantial importance which would involve new significant effects on the environment not analyzed in the EA substantially increase the severity of previously identified impacts. A:\TT30056\EA Addendum 1. 96-333.wpd ADDENDUM 2 TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 97-341 FOR TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 30056 Prepared by: City of La Quinta 78-495 Calle Tampico La Quinta, California 92253 Contact: Principal Planner Fred Baker (760)777-7125 Prepared for: Chapman Golf Development, L.L.C. Tradition Club Associates 78-505 Old Avenue 52 La Quinta, CA 92253 February 14, 2000 C:\Mydata\WPDOCS\Resolutions completed\2001-40 adb 2.wpd INTRODUCTION This Addendum to the previously certified Environmental Assessment (EA) 97-341, for Tract 28611 has been completed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in order to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with minor changes. PREVIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION Proposed changes to Tract 28867 now require further environmental evaluation. This evaluation need not take the form of another EA, as explained below, but can take place in an Addendum to the EA 97-341 for Tentative Tract Map 30056. EA ADDENDUM CRITERIA According to CEQA Guidelines § 15164, if a project does not fulfill any of the criteria enumerated in CEQA Guidelines § 15162(a)(1)-(3) then an Addendum, rather than a subsequent or Supplemental EA is appropriate. The determination that none of the criteria outlined in CEQA Guidelines § 15162(a)(1)-(3) are fulfilled must be supported by substantial evidence. As stated in CEQA Guidelines § 15162: a. When an EIR has been certified or negative declaration adopted no subsequent EIR shall be prepared for that project unless the lead agency determines, on the basis of substantial evidence in the light of the whole record, one or more of the following: (1) Substantial changes occur with respect to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken which will require major revisions of the previous EIR or Negative Declaration due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects; (2) Substantial changes occur with respect to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken which will require major revisions of the previous EIR or Negative Declaration due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects; or, (3) New information of substantial importance, which was not known and could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the time the previous EIR was certified as complete or Negative Declaration was adopted shows any of the following: C:\Mydata\WPDOCS\Resolutions completed\2001-40 ada 2.wpd (A) The project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the previous EIR or Negative Declaration; (B) Significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in the previous EIR; (C) Mitigation measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible would in fact be feasible and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the project, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative; or (D) Mitigation measures or alternatives which are considerably different from those analyzed in the previous EIR would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative. A detailed description of the initially proposed project and the currently proposed project is provided in Section (Project Site Characteristics) of this document. Using the information provided in Section 2, a brief refutation of the criteria set forth in CEQA Guidelines § 15162 is provided as follows. Subsection (a)(1) does not apply to the proposed changes to the Project because the revision is not a substantial change in the Project's scale with commensurate increase in environmental impacts from those initially anticipated and disclosed in the Negative Declaration. No new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects would occur as a result of construction of the currently proposed project. Subsection (a)(2) does not apply because there are no substantial changes to he existing environmental conditions such that new and significant environmental impacts or a substantial increase in the severity of the environmental impacts would occur. As previously stated, the proposed Project is not a substantial change, with a commensurate increase in environmental impacts. In summary, the environmental circumstances under which the Project is undertaken are substantially similar to, or in some cases are, improved over the conditions in 1998. Lastly, Subsection (a)(3) does not apply because the environmental analysis did not identify any significant environmental effects that were not previously disclosed in the Negative Declaration, nor did this analysis find that any significant environmental effects previously examined in the Negative Declaration will be substantially more severe with the revised plan. In fact, some effects were determined to be less severe as a result of the project redesign. Further, this analysis did not reveal that there are any new mitigation measures that would substantially reduce one or more significant effects. C:\Mydata\WPDOCS\Resolutions completed\2001-40 acO 2.wpd In summary, CEQA Guidelines § 15164 (b) states that: "An addendum to an adopted negative declaration may be prepared if only minor technical changes or additions are necessary" Given that none of the conditions outlined in CEQA Guidelines § 15162 have occurred, an Addendum to the Negative Declaration is the appropriate document for evaluating environmental impacts resulting from the Tentative Tract. PROJECT SITE CHARACTERISTICS The project boundaries are defined as 5.39 acre portion of Tract 28867 (lots 1 15-121) located on Del Gato Drive. The request is to subdivide seven residential lots into thirteen residential lots. REVISED IMPACTS The subdivision of seven residential lots into thirteen residential lots with LDR Zoning with Tract 28867 148.64 acres of the Tradition Club (Tract 28867) could achieve 595 residential lots. With the addition six residential lots, no significant change in impacts will result in the areas of air quality, noise, population generation, use of natural and energy resources, traffic, public facility and services demand, and cumulative impacts. CONCLUSION The La Quinta Community Development Department has determined that based on this addendum to the previously certified Negative Declaration, no further environmental review is deemed necessary, pursuant to the Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act, Section 15304. C:\Mydata\WPDOCS\Resolutions completed\2001-40 ad4 2.wpd