PCRES 2002-113RESOLUTION 2002-113
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING
CERTIFICATION OF AN ADDENDUM (EA 2002-461) TO
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 99-389, FOR AN
AMENDMENT TO TENTATIVE TRACT 29323, FOR A
SUBDIVISION OF 381 LOTS ON 127 ACRES, LOCATED AT
THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF FRED WARING DRIVE AND
JEFFERSON STREET
ADDENDUM TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 99-389
CORNERSTONE DEVELOPMENT
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of La Quinta, California, did, on the
15`h day of February, 2000, certify a Mitigated Negative Declaration as determined under
Environmental Assessment 99-389, prepared for Specific Plan 99-040 and Tentative
Tract 29323, as set forth in said Mitigated Negative Declaration; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of La Quinta, California, did, on the
2"a day of July, 2002, hold a duly -noticed Public Hearing to certify an addendum to
Environmental Assessment 99-389, for Amendment #1 of Tentative Tract 29323; and,
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of La Quinta, California, did
on the 26`h day of November, 2002, hold a duly -noticed Public Hearing to consider
adoption of a second addendum (EA 2002-461) to Environmental Assessment 99-389,
for Tentative Tract 29323, Amendment #2; and,
WHEREAS, said Addendum complies with the requirements of "The Rules
to Implement the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970" as amended, Resolution
83-63, in that the Community Development Director has conducted an Initial Study (EA
2002-461), and has determined that none of the circumstances set forth in Public
Resources Code 21166 have been shown to exist; and,
WHEREAS, a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact was
certified for EA 99-389, by Resolution No. 2000-12, prepared for Specific Plan 99-040
and Tentative Tract Map 29323; and,
WHEREAS, the La Quinta Planning Commission did find the following facts
to justify a recommendation to certify said Addendum:
The Revised Project will not have the potential to degrade the quality of the
environment, as the addendum prepared for the Revised Project did not identify
any significant impacts beyond the existing project approval.
2. The Revised Project will not have the potential to achieve short term goals to the
disadvantage of long-term goals, as the addendum prepared for this Revised
Project did not identify any significant impacts with regard to this issue.
Planning Commission Resolution 2002-113
Addendum to EA 99-389
November 26, 2002
3. The Revised Project will not have impacts which are individually limited but
cumulatively considerable when considering planned or proposed development in
the immediate vicinity, as those impacts identified for geologic, water, air quality,
biology, hydrology, noise, utility systems and cultural resources were addressed
as part of prior environmental review, with no significant new impacts being
identified with the Revised Project.
4. The Revised Project will not have environmental effects that will adversely affect
humans, either directly or indirectly, as the addendum prepared for this Revised
Project did not identify any significant impact with regard to the public health,
safety, or general welfare.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City
of La Quinta, California, as follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct and constitutes the findings of the
Planning Commission in this case;
2. That it does hereby affirm the environmental determination and recommends to the
City Council certification of an Addendum (EA 2002-461 ) to EA 99-389 for
Tentative Tract 29323, Amendment #2.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the La Quinta
Planning Commission, held on this 261h day of November, 2002, by the following vote,
to wit:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS ABELS, KIRK, ROBBINS, TYLER, AND CHAIRMAN
BUTLER
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
RI HARD BU LER, Chairman
City of La Quinta, California
ATTEST:
IY HEIMAN, Community Development Director
of La Quinta, California
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2002-461:
ADDENDUM TO
CITY OF LA QUINTA ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT #99-389
PRIOR ADDENDUM UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT #02-446
(CEQA GUIDELINE 15164)
TENTATIVE TRACT 29323, AMENDED #2
Presented to the Planning Commission for Recommendation
Planning Commission Resolution 2002- 113
November 26, 2002
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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 original Environmental
Assessment #99-389, certified on February 15, 2000, by the La Quinta City Council
for Wade Ellis. A prior Addendum was also certified on July 2, 2002, for the repeal of
the original Specific plan and design modification to the original tract layout.
The purpose of this Addendum is to document a modification of a portion of the
project, which will be implemented through the following subdivision approval:
TENTATIVE TRACT 29323, AMENDED #2
This case is referred to as "the Revised Project." All mitigation measures included in
EA 99-389 and EA 02-446 are incorporated into this document by reference.
The Revised Project consists of a 381 lot single family subdivision proposal, adding 10
acres, for a new project area of t 127 acres, which would replace the existing
approval for 349 lots on 117 acres. The original project area under the Specific Plan
was approved for 379 lots, so the proposed revision essentially reduces the original
density, as approved in 2000, from 3.24 to 3.0 units/acre. The City has determined
that the Revised Project will be consistent with the intensity of development and
character of the adjacent residential properties, and will be consistent with the goals,
policies, and objectives of the City's General Plan, as approved in March 2002.
The Revised Project does not propose any change to the land use as approved in the
prior actions. The currently approved map allows for 349 lots on 117 acres (2.98
units/acre). The approvals requested as part of the Revised Project are:
1) An amendment to the existing approved tentative map, which would revise the
project to include a 10 acre parcel and increase the density over the current
approved map by 0.02 units/acre.
The City has compared the impacts identified in the Environmental Checklist prepared
for the Revised Project with those impacts analyzed in the adopted EA 99-389 and
finds as follows:
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Water - Impacts no greater than
previously analyzed. The Revised
Project will create drainage
impacts similar to those identified
for the original proposal under EA
99-389 and EA 02-446. As such,
the map provides for several
smaller retention areas,
interconnected through a linear
facility traversing the site
northwest to southeast.
Biology - Impacts greater than
previously analyzed. The
development of the Revised
Project will result in a similar loss
of habitat for the Coachella
Valley Fringe Toed Lizard
(CVFTL). A bio study of the
entire new site indicates a
significant loss of mesquite
hummock and CV Milk -Vetch
habitat. A focused survey for
Giant Sand Treader Cricket still
must be undertaken.
Cultural Resources - Impacts no
greater than previously analyzed.
The project proponent shall
submit for review and approval ,
a comprehensive Phase II
archaeological investigation. An
archaeological monitor shall be
on site during any grubbing, earth
moving or excavation activities.
This is required mitigation as
originally stipulated in EA 99-
389. Phase I shall be required for
the additional 10 acre site.
Air Quality - Impacts no
greater than previously
analyzed. The Coachella
Valley has in the past
been a non -attainment
area for PM 10
(particulate matter of 10
microns or smaller), and
is currently in danger of
losing it's attainment
status. In order to
control PM 10, the City
has imposed standards
and requirements on
development to control
dust. This project will be
required to comply with
the PM 10 Fugitive Dust
Control Plan (FDCP)
currently approved for
the entire project area.
Noise - Impacts not
significantly greater than
previously analyzed.
Development of the site
will create construction
noise impacts of a short-
term nature. New long
term impacts relate to
roadway noise by
addition of 10 acres
fronting on Jefferson
Street. A new/revised
acoustic study will be
required to address the
effects of such noise on
the Revised Project.
Geology & Soils -
Impacts no greater than
previously analyzed. The
site is not located in any
Earthquake Fault zones
as designated by the
State but is mapped in
Ground Shaking Zone IV
meaning seismic events
can cause damage to
building under certain
occurrences. Impacts
involving potential
seismic activity also
relate to possible risk
associated with upset of
hazardous substances
(i.e. fuels and auto -
related chemicals and
wastes) and potential for
upset/explosion/fire. The
project will be required to
adhere to seismic
reinforcement and other
requirements as called
for by the UBC.
Transportation/Traffic -
Impacts similar to those
previously analyzed.
Development of the
Revised Project adds 2
lots to the original unit
count of 379. A similar
impact in generated traffic
can be anticipated.
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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 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; or
3) new information of substantial importance which would involve new significant effects
on the environment not analyzed in the EA, or substantially increase the severity of
previously identified impacts.
EA 99-389 and EA 02-446 have been incorporated with this addendum. A copy of the
complete EA documents are attached.
EARLIER ANALYSES USED
1. City of La Quinta General Plan; Adopted 3/20/02.
2. Environmental Assessment 99-389, certified 2/15/200
3. Environmental Assessment 02-446, certified 7/02/02
4. South Coast Air Quality Management District; CEQA Handbook, April 1993.
5. Final Coachella Valley PM10 State Implementation Plan; June 2002.
6. Biological Resources Assessment for Cornerstone; James W. Cornett, 1 1 /14/02.
7. Coachella Valley Fringe -Toed Lizard Habitat Conservation Plan; June 1985.
8. Riverside County Congestion Management Plan; 1992.
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The following mitigation is recommended, based on the Revised Project review (final wording
as included in the conditions of approval for the project may be subject to change). Mitigation
measures adopted as part of prior analyses under this project are incorporated by reference,
and are found in those analyses.
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES:
A. The project proponent shall confer with the United States Department of Fish and
Wildlife (USFWS) to assess measures for the offset of habitat loss to the Coachella
Valley milk vetch plant species. Such offsets shall include consideration of a
maintenance program of the species within the proposed project landscaping, along
with a remedial hummock habitat, within protected areas of common area landscaping
within the development. This shall be done during landscape plan preparation, with
written findings/recommendations from USFWS to be submitted and incorporated with
the project landscape plans as may be appropriate. The plans as proposed shall be
subject to review by the ALRC as part of the overall common area landscaping plans
submitted for final approval.
CULTURAL RESOURCES:
A. A Phase I archaeological survey shall be required for the additional 10 acres along
Jefferson Street. This may be done in conjunction with monitoring on the original site
as required, but no grading on this portion may commence until clearance has been
given from the Community Development Department.
NOISE:
A. A revised acoustic analysis shall be prepared to include assessment of the impacts of
roadway noise from Jefferson Street on the project residents. The revised report shall
address the proposed site in its entirety, and shall be reviewed and accepted by
Community Development prior to issuance of any building permits, other than for
approved model units within a City -approved model complex.
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