STAFF REPORT August 21, 2012 BRIGHTON LANDING SPECIFIC PLAN & DEVELOPMENT PROJECT DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (DEIR)

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1 CITY OF VACAVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION Agenda Item No. G1 STAFF REPORT August 21, 2012 Staff Contact: Fred Buderi (707) TITLE: PURPOSE: BRIGHTON LANDING SPECIFIC PLAN & DEVELOPMENT PROJECT DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (DEIR) PUBLIC COMMENT HEARING ON DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR BRIGHTON LANDING SPECIFIC PLAN AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT RECOMMENDED ACTION: ACCEPT COMMENTS - NO ACTION IS REQUIRED. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Brighton Landing project proposes approximately 770 single-family residential units, a 50 acre private high school site, a public elementary school site, a neighborhood park, public open spaces and trails, and an off-site drainage detention basin on approximately 234 acres of land at and near the southeast corner of Elmira Road and Leisure Town Road. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW EIR PREPARED The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) analyzes potential impacts of the Brighton Landing Specific Plan and Development Project (Proposed Project). The DEIR includes analysis of aesthetics, air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, agricultural and forestry resources, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use, noise, population and housing, public services, utilities, recreation, and transportation. Additionally, the DEIR considers the cumulative effects of the project combined with other approved and proposed projects in the region, and discusses the potential effects of the project in combination with the City s General Plan Update. The DEIR analyzes alternatives to the Proposed Project including a No Project alternative, a Reduced Footprint alternative, and a more intensive Town-Grid alternative to compare the potential environmental effects from different ways of carrying out a project on the site. Some significant impacts may be reduced to what is termed a less-than-significant level through the use of mitigation measures. These measures may include potential revisions to the project or its characteristics and must be fully enforceable through permit conditions, agreements, or other legally binding instruments. In the case of the adoption of a plan, policy, or regulation such as a Specific Plan, mitigation measures can be incorporated into the plan as development standards or through project design features. Mitigation measures must be consistent with all applicable constitutional requirements, including the following: (1) there must be an essential nexus (i.e. connection) between the mitigation measures and a legitimate governmental interest and (2) the mitigation measure must be roughly proportional to the impacts of the project. Mitigation measures must also be feasible, which means they must be capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, social, and technological factors.

2 Attachment D is the Executive Summary of the Draft EIR which includes a Summary of Impacts and Mitigation Measures. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR DRAFT EIR The Draft EIR has been released for a 45-day public review and comment period from Tuesday, July 10, 2012 to Thursday, August 23, During this period, all interested persons and agencies are encouraged to submit written comments on the DEIR. All comments, the City s responses to those comments, and any changes to the DEIR resulting from those comments, will be included in a Final EIR. Copies of the DEIR are available for review at the following locations: Vacaville Public Library Cultural Center (Hard Copy and Digital Copy) 1000 Ulatis Drive Vacaville, CA Vacaville Public Library Town Square (Digital Copy) 1 Town Square Vacaville, CA Community Development Department (Hard Copy and Digital Copy) 650 Merchant Street Vacaville, CA City of Vacaville Website PUBLIC REVIEW OF DRAFT EIR California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section offers direction on how best to comment on a Draft EIR and how the City s responses to comments are to be prepared. In reviewing the DEIR, persons and public agencies should focus on the sufficiency of the document in identifying and analyzing possible impacts on the environment and ways in which the significant effects of the project might be avoided or reduced. Comments are most helpful when they suggest additional specific alternatives or mitigation measures that would provide better ways to avoid or mitigate the project s significant environmental effects. CEQA does not require a lead agency (City of Vacaville) to conduct every test or perform all research, study, and experimentation recommended by comments. When responding to comments, the City will respond to significant environmental issues and will provide a good faith effort at full disclosure in the EIR. The City requests that comments include the name of a contact person who would be available for later consultation if necessary. Other public agencies may choose to comment on the Brighton Landing DEIR, since the project adjoins lands in unincorporated Solano County and is located on lands served by the Solano Irrigation District (SID). Some State or Federal agencies may also have some permitting authority over activities associated with the project over time. A public agency which has identified significant effects on the environment may submit to the lead agency proposed mitigation measures which would address those significant effects. Any such measures are

3 required to be limited to impacts affecting those resources which are subject to the authority of that agency. If mitigation measures are submitted, the agency is directed by CEQA to either submit complete and detailed performance objectives for the mitigation measures, or to refer the City to appropriate, readily available guidelines or reference documents which meet the same purpose. The City will evaluate the comments on the DEIR and will prepare a written response to each comment. The written responses in the Final EIR will describe any revisions proposed to the project to help reduce environmental impacts and will provide good faith, reasoned analysis explaining the City s conclusions. The responses to comments may also include revisions to the text in the DEIR or clarifying information in the environmental analysis. RECOMMENDATION This is an informational item and no action is required at this time. The Planning Commission hearing will provide an opportunity for any interested persons to make verbal comments on the adequacy of the Draft EIR. ATTACHMENT: A Project Location Map B Proposed Site Plan C Proposed Sub-Area Land Use Designations D Draft EIR Chapter 2 Impact/Mitigation Summary Table

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