EA 89-132 EA Checklist(3)
CITY OF LA QUINTA
pp ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM
I. BACKGROUND
1. Name of Proponent: C/J7 0,- ,.g
2. Address and Phone Number of Proponent: 00. ao>, /Say
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3. Date of Checklist:
4. Agency Requiring Checklist: G,r--i an- Lr Q✓..rr�i
5. Name of Proposal, if applicable: (T' Pio ' 89 -0Z5DA
II. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
(Explanation of all "Yes" and "Maybe" answers to required on attached
sheets.)
1. Earth. Will the proposal result in: Yes
Maybe No
a. Unstable earth conditions or in changes in
geologic substructures?
b. Disruptions, displacements, compaction or
overcovering of the soil?
c. Change in topography or ground surface
relief features? —
d. The destruction, covering or modification of
any unique geologic or physical features?
e. Any increases in wind or water erosion of soils,
either on or off the site?
f. Changes in deposition or erosion of beach, sands,
or changes in siltation, deposition or erosion
which may modify the channel of a river or
stream or the bed of the ocean or any bay,
inlet or lake? _
g. Exposure of people or property to geologic
hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, mud-
slides, ground failure, or similar hazards? _
2. Air. Will the proposal result in:
a. Substantial air emissions or deterioration of
ambient air quality?
b. The creation of objectionable odors?
c. Alteration of air movement, moisture or
temperature, or any change in climate,
either locally or regionally?
3. Water. Will the proposal result in:
a. Changes in currents, or the course or direction
of water movements, in either marine or fresh
waters?
_
b. Changes in absorption rates, drainage patterns,
or the rate and amount of surface water runoff?
c. Alterations to the course of flow of flood
waters?
d. Change in the amount of surface water in any
water body?
e. Discharge into surface waters, or in any
alteration of surface water quality, in-
cluding but not limited to temperature,
dissolved oxygen or turbidity? v
__ —
f. Alteration of the direction or rate of flow
of ground waters?
g. Change in the quantity of ground waters,
either through direct additions or with-
drawals, or through interception of an
aquifer by cuts or excavations?
_
(3)
(4)
Yes Maybe No
h. Substantial reduction in the amount of
water otherwise available for public
water supplies?
_
i. Exposure of people or property to water
related hazards such as flooding or
tidal waves?
4.
Plant Life. Will the proposal result in:
a. Change in the diversity of species, or number
of any species of plants (including trees,
shrubs, grass, crops, microflora and aquatic
plants)?
b. Reduction of the numbers of any unique,
rare or endangered species of plants?
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c. Introduction of new species of plants into
an area, or result in a barrier to the
normal replenishment of existing species?
d. Reduction in acreage of any agricultural
crop?
5.
Animal Life. Will the proposal result in:
a. Change in the diversity of species, or numbers
of any species of animals (birds, land animals,
including reptiles, fish and shellfish, benthic
\
organisms, insects or microfauna)?
_ J
b. Reduction of --the numbers of any unique, rare,
or endangered species of animals?
c. Introduction of new species of animals into an
area, or result in a barrier to the migration
or movement of animals?
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d. Deterioration to existing fish or wildlife
habitat?
6.
Noise. Will the proposal result in:
a. Increases in existing noise levels?
k
b. Exposure of people to severe noise levels?
7.
Light and Glare. Will the proposal produce new
light or glare?
8.
Land Use. Will the proposal result in a substantial
alteration of the present or planned land use of an
area?
9.
Natural Resources. Will the proposal result in:
a. Increase in the rate of any use of any natural
resources?
W
b. Substantial depletion of any renewable
natural resource?
10.
Risk of Upset. Does the proposal involve a risk
of an explosion or the release of hazardous sub-
stances (including, but not limited to, oil,
pesticides, chemicals or radiation) in the event
of an accident or upset conditions?
11.
Egulation. Will the proposal alter the location,
distri)^ution, density, or growth rate of the
human population of an area?
J
12.
Housing. Will the proposal affect existing housing,
or create a demand for additional housing?
13.
TransportationiCirculation_. 4M l t.hL proposal
result in:
a. Generation of substantial additional
vehicular movement?
—
b. Effects on existing parking facilities, or
v
demand for new parking?
(4)
14
15
16
19.
20.
21.
(5)
Yes Maybe
No
c. Substantial impact upon existing transportation
systems?
d. Alterations to present patterns of circulation
or movement of people and/or goods?
e. Alterations to waterborne, rail or air traffic?
f. Increase in traffic hazards to motor vehicles,
bicyclists or pedestrians?
Public Services. Will the proposal have an effect
upon, or result in a need for new or altered govern-
mental services in any of the following areas:
a. Fire protection?
u
b. Police protection?
c. Schools?
X
d. Parks or other recreational facilities?
e. Maintenance of public facilities, including
roads?
Y
L
f. Other governmental services?
%(
Energy. Will the proposal result in:
a. Use of substantial amounts of fuel or energy?
X
b_. Substantial increase in demand upon existing
sources of energy, or require the development
of new sources of energy?
x
Utilities. Will the proposal result in a need
for new systems, or substantial alterations to
the following utilities:
a. Power or natural gas?
b. Communications systems?
c. Water?
%C
d. Sewer or septic tanks?
x
e. Storm water drainage?
f. Solid waste and disposal?
Human Health. Will the proposal result in:
a. Creation of any health hazard or potential
health hazard (excluding mental health)?
b. Exposure of people to potential health hazards?
Aesthetics. Will the proposal result in the
obstruction of any scenic vista or view open to
the public, or will the proposal result in the
creation of an aesthetically offensive site open
to public view?
Recreation. Will the proposal result in an impact
upon the quality or quantity of existing recrea-
tional opportunities?
Archeological/Historical. Will the proposal result
in an alteration of a significant archeological
or historical site, structure, object or building?
Mandatory Finding of Significance.
a. Does the project have the potential to degrade
the quality of the environment, substantially re-
duce the habitat of a. fish or wildlife species,
cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below
self sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a
plan or animal community, reduce the number or
restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant
or animal or eliminate important examples of the
major periods of California history or prehistory?
(5)
III. DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION
IV. DETERMINATION
(To be completed by the Lead Agency)
On the basis of this initial evaluation;
I find the proposed project COULD NOT have. a significant
effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will
be prepared.
I find that although the proposed project could have a
significant effect on the environment, there will not be
a significant effect in this case because the mitigation
measures described on an attached sheet have been added
to the project. A NEGATIVE DECLARATION WILL BE PREPARED.
I find the proposed project MAY have a significant effect
on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is
required.
Date: _ 6 -7 -.09 -
(r)
Signature
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Yes Maybe No
b. Does the project have the potential to achieve
short-term, to the disadvantage of long-term, en-
vironmental goals? (A short-term impact on the
environment is one which occurs in a relatively
brief, definitive period of time while long-term
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impacts will endure well into the future.)
/
c. Does the project have impacts which are indi-
vidually limited, but cumulatively considerable?
(A project may impact on two or more separate
resources where the impact on each resource is
relatively small, but where the effect of the
total of those impacts on the environment is
significant.)
_
d. Does the project have environmental effects
which will cause substantial adverse effects on
human beings,
either directly or indirectly?
III. DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION
IV. DETERMINATION
(To be completed by the Lead Agency)
On the basis of this initial evaluation;
I find the proposed project COULD NOT have. a significant
effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will
be prepared.
I find that although the proposed project could have a
significant effect on the environment, there will not be
a significant effect in this case because the mitigation
measures described on an attached sheet have been added
to the project. A NEGATIVE DECLARATION WILL BE PREPARED.
I find the proposed project MAY have a significant effect
on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is
required.
Date: _ 6 -7 -.09 -
(r)
Signature
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ATTACHMENT
III. DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION
A. Items 1 through 12: No physical environmental
impacts are anticipated due to any aspect of the
proposed amendments. The MEA previously considered
impacts due to development; the impacts foreseen
due to these changes will be almost identical to
those previously considered; i.e., changing Low
Density Residential land uses to community
facilities will result in the same physical impacts
on soil, water erosion, grading, etc. The
incremental changes associated with traffic, air
pollution, etc. cannot be addressed until any uses
are proposed. As previously noted, some of these
used (post office, PGA fire station) already exist.
B. Item 13: Designation of the described roadways as
Image Corridors will not affect their flow
characteristics or capacities. It is not
anticipated that policies of the La Quinta General
Plan applicable to these image corridors will
significantly affect the arterial designations, or
their intended purpose. A downgrade of 52nd Avenue
from 120 -foot to 110 -foot right-of-way also figures
to be insignificant due to significant reductions
in intensity of the Grove and Oak Tree West
projects, anticipated as an approximately 50
percent reduction in the currently approved unit
counts of 1,500 and 2,245, respectively. Extension
of street designations into our Sphere is a method
of mitigating the effects of growth in this area,
and is therefore considered a mitigation measure
aimed at addressing the growth -inducing impact of
our Sphere designation. Reduction of right-of-way
for Avenida Bermudas to 64 feet from 88 feet,
between Tampico and realigned 52nd Avenue is
intended to address the design problems caused by
proximity of structures to Bermudas as it exists.
Also, a Secondary Arterial would take away from the
thematic character of a pedestrian village; a
de -emphasis of Bermudas through this section is
both an urban design and engineering design
function.
Overall, these changes are not seen to
significantly impact the ability of the overall
street system, as set forth by the La Quinta
General Plan, to provide adequate service levels to
existing and future corporate limit areas.
MR/DOCWN.012
C. Item 14.d: There will be increased need for park
maintenance and facilities to be provided for the
Fritz Burns Park site (6.66 acres), at the old
Desert Club of La Quinta. The City is addressing
that need, increasing Staff and facility operating
ability in order to meet these increases.
D. Item 19: There will be a beneficial impact upon
existing recreational opportunities. Establishment
of the Fritz Burns Park as a Major Community
Facility will create a centrally located facility
to serve the entire Cove area,, which will provide
opportunities not present at the existing La Quinta
Park, such as tennis courts. It will also allow
for use of either facility for special events, such
as the Jazz Festival or Arts Festival, without
completely tying up one facility, so that residents
can still enjoy one of the facilities' amenities.
No mitigating measures are determined to be
necessary at this time. The changes proposed by
the General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan
Amendment, Zone Change, and Zoning Text Amendment
are consistent with policies of the La Quinta
General Plan and will not result in any significant
cumulative environmental impacts of a negative
nature.
MR/DOCWN.012