HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-11-2017 PC Agenda PacketCity of San Luis Obispo, Agenda, Planning Commission
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Agenda
Planning Commission
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
6:00 p.m. REGULAR MEETING Council Chamber
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Stevenson
PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE : Chair Stevenson
ROLL CALL : Commissioners Kim Bisheff, Daniel Knight, Ronald Malak, John Larson,
Hemalata Dandekar, Vice-Chair John Fowler, and Chair Charles Stevenson.
ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: Commissioners or staff may modify the order of items.
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES
Minutes of the Planning Commission meetings of October 12, 2016, and November 9, 2016.
PUBLIC COMMENT: At this time, people may address the Commission about items not on the
agenda. Persons wishing to speak should come forward and state their name and address.
Comments are limited to three minutes per person. Items raised at this time are generally referred
to staff, and, if action by the Commission is necessary, may be scheduled for a future meeting.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. 175 Venture Drive. GENP 1319-2015 & SPEC/ER-1318-2015: Continuation of the
December 14, 2016 Planning Commission hearing to receive additional public comment on
the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for the Avila Ranch Development
Project during the 45-day public review period. (Note: comment period extended 7 days
Planning Commission Agenda Page 2
The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to include the disabled in all of its services, programs , and
activities. Please contact the City Clerk or staff liaison prior to the meeting if you require assistance.
through January 18, 2017). The meeting is an opportunity for City and consultant staffs to
gather information from the public regarding the analysis and findings of the Draft EIR. The
Avila Ranch Development is a planned development that includes a mix of residential uses
(68.23 acres), neighborhood commercial uses (3.34 acres), and open space/park uses (71.30
acres). Development would involve approximately 720 residential units, 15,000 square feet
of leasable Neighborhood Commercial space concentrated in a proposed Town Center, and
pocket parks, mini-parks and neighborhood parks; BP-SP & C/OS-SP Zones; Avila Ranch,
LLC (John Rickenbach) (90 minutes).
2. 1035 Madonna Road. SPEC/ANNX/ER 1502-2015: Review of the Draft Environmental
Impact Report (EIR) prepared for the San Luis Ranch Development Project during the 45-
day public review period (Note: comment period extended 7 days, through January 30,
2017). This meeting is an opportunity for City and consultant staffs to gather information
from the public regarding the analysis and findings of the Draft EIR. The project includes
plans for development of the area identified as the San Luis Ranch Specific Plan in the City’s
General Plan Land Use Element. Development plans for the site include up to 580 residential
units, 150,000 square feet of commercial development, 100,000 square feet of office
development, a 200-room hotel, and portions of the site to remain open space for agriculture
and open-space. Project construction is planned in six phases; Land Use Element designated
Specific Plan Area SP-3 (San Luis Ranch); San Luis Ranch, LLC (John Rickenbach) (90
minutes) (Note: It is anticipated that the Planning Commission will continued the public
hearing to January 25, 2017 to allow additional public comment).
COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
1. STAFF
a. Agenda Forecast
ADJOURNMENT
The next Regular Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 25 ,
2017 at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California.
APPEALS: Any decision of the Planning Commission is final unless appealed to the City Council
within 10 days of the action (Recommendations to the City Council cannot be appealed since they are
not a final action.). Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Commission may file an appeal with
the City Clerk. Appeal forms are available at the Community Development Department office, City
Clerk’s office, or on the City’s website (www.slocity.org). The fee for filing an appeal is $281, and
must accompany the appeal documentation.
DRAFT Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order on Wednesday, October 12,
2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo,
California, by Chair Stevenson.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chair Stevenson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Hemalata Dandekar (7:10) Daniel Knight, John Larson, Ronald Malak,
Vice-Chair John Fowler, and Chairperson Charles Stevenson
Absent: Commissioners Hemalata Dandekar (7:10)
Staff: Deputy Director of Community Development Doug Davidson, Deputy Director of Long-
Range Planning Xzandrea Fowler, Acting Housing Programs Manager Jenny Wiseman,
Assistant City Attorney Jon Ansolabehere, Natural Resources Manager Bob Hill, and
Recording Secretary Brad T. Opstad
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES
Minutes for the Planning Commission Meeting of July 13, 2016 and August 24, 2016.
ACTION: UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LARSON, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER MALAK, the Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of July 13, 2016
were approved as written on the following roll call vote 5:0:1.
AYES: Larson, Malak, Fowler, Knight, Stevenson
NOES: None
ABSENT: Dandekar
ACTION: UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LARSON, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER MALAK, the Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of August 24,
2016 were approved as written on the following roll call vote 5:0:1.
Planning Commission Minutes DRAFT of October 12th, 2016 Page 2
AYES: Larson, Malak, Fowler, Knight, Stevenson
NOES: None
ABSENT: Dandekar
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. 867 Humbert Avenue. GENP-3873-2016: General Plan Conformity Report for the purchase
and sale of a deed-restricted moderate income affordable housing unit; R-3-S-PD zone; City
of San Luis Obispo, applicant.
Chair Stevenson and Attorney Ansolabehere discussed the nature of General Plan Conformity
Reports. Attorney Ansolabehere informed that Planning Commission does make determination
and provide Final Action.
Programs Manager Wiseman presented Staff Report on the affordable housing unit purchase.
Vice-Chair Fowler commended the Housing Authority and City Staff for settling the purchase
agreement expeditiously; inquired about the necessity to utilize an agent-broker in the unit’s resale.
Commissioner Larson commented that the Conformity Report appears to be consistent with
applicable policies; inquired about the frequency of such equity share action.
Public Comment:
Steve Delmartini, San Luis Obispo, endorsed use of broker-agent in the resale.
--End Public Comment--
ACTION: UPON MOTION BY VICE-CHAIRPERSON FOWLER, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER LARSON, the Planning Commission determined, and reported to City
Council, that the proposed affordable housing property purchase and sale are in conformance with
the General Plan; on the following roll call vote 5:0:1.
AYES: Fowler, Larson, Knight, Malak, Stevenson
NOES: None
ABSENT: Dandekar
2. 0 Prefumo Canyon Road. GENP-3918-2016: Consider a request from the City’s Natural
Resources Program for a General Plan Conformity Determination in support of an open space
acquisition of the 154-acre Waddell Ranch property; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.
Deputy Director Fowler introduced Manager Hill who made presentation of Staff Report and
displayed PowerPoint slides regarding the open space acquisition.
Planning Commission Minutes DRAFT of October 12th, 2016 Page 3
Public Comment:
None.
--End Public Comment--
Commissioner Larson inquired about the management responsibilities regarding any structures
and improvements existing on the property aside from the pond. Commissioner Fowler inquired
about the transaction timeline. Commissioner Knight inquired about the follow-up actions of grant
sources and funding agencies.
ACTION: UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LARSON, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER MALAK, approved a resolution finding that the acquisition in fee simple title
of approximately 154 acres of unimproved real property known as Waddell Ranch, located in
unincorporated San Luis Obispo County, for open space conservation purposes and passive
recreation by the general public, conforms with the City’s General Plan; on the following roll call
vote 5:0:1.
AYES: Larson, Malak, Knight, Malak, Fowler, Stevenson
NOES: None
ABSENT: Dandekar
COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
1. STAFF
a. Advisory Body Goals
Deputy Director Davidson introduced the inaugural stages of the Planning Commission Goal-
Setting and Financial Plan & Budget Process for 2017-2019; provided a PowerPoint presentation
on the process and the current financial context for it.
Chair Stevenson requested to review the status of the seven (7) goals established as the Planning
Commission’s 2015-2017 priorities.
Deputy Directors Fowler and Davidson discussed the current state of affordable and workforce
housing programs; discussed the Overlay Zone near Cal Poly and the relations between students
& residents in the University’s surrounding neighborhoods.
Chair Stevenson inquired about the City’s efficacy level in the workforce housing component.
Deputy Directors Fowler and Davidson discussed the current state of support for multi-modal
transportation alternatives; discussed the concept of earliest possible implementation of LUCE
high-priority programs.
Chair Stevenson suggested maintaining early implementation of LUCE programs as a goal while
potentially revamping the prioritization of the program list.
Planning Commission Minutes DRAFT of October 12th, 2016 Page 4
Deputy Director Davidson cited the Waddell Ranch Open Space Acquisition Agenda Business
Item as representative of the current state of the fifth goal on the 2015-2017 goal list; discussed
the current state of the sixth goal from 2015-2017 regarding the fiscal sustainability of the City to
provide its services.
Deputy Director Fowler discussed how housing goals, increased clarity in the development process
and infrastructure fees associate with the seventh goal, that of the implementation of the Economic
Development Strategic Plan.
Public Comment:
David Brodie, San Luis Obispo, read his comment statement about how the emphasis on the fiscal
responsibilities of growth has relegated more pressing concerns of Planning Commission to the
back-burner.
Cheryl McLean, San Luis Obispo, discussed how it is generally understood that the primary
purview of the Planning Commission is to work with the community in implementing the General
Plan to the balance of individual rights with public welfare as opposed to identifying financial
opportunities and being responsible for fiscal oversight.
Dia Hurd, San Luis Obispo, indicated that Planning Commissioners should re-write their job
descriptions to include monetization of the permit process.
Ursula Bishop, San Luis Obispo, spoke as longtime resident of Downtown S LO; discussed the
Overlay Zone near Cal Poly as potential precedent for besieged Dana Street neighborhood.
Chair Stevenson mentioned opportunity and advocated for any Dana Street breakout group to
approach the Creative Vision Team and provide input toward assisting in formulating the
Downtown Concept Plan which is still in process.
Andy Pease, San Luis Obispo, voiced support of long-term goals moving forward on affordable &
workforce housing and multi-modal transportation; urged consideration of strategizing long-term
water security.
Mila Vujovich-LaBarre, San Luis Obispo, discussed three primary points for consideration in
reviewing goals: investigating water resources for proposed build-out, securing a more workable
definition for affordable & workforce housing, and improving the transportation infrastructure.
--End Public Comment--
In response to Vice-Chair Fowler’s inquiry, Deputy Director Davidson requested that the
Commission develop 5-7 goals as action statements toward City Council consideration.
Discussion ensued among Commissioners.
Planning Commission Minutes DRAFT of October 12th, 2016 Page 5
Deputy Director Davidson assessed that sufficient progress had been made in developing five (5)
full-fledged concepts that would be language-crafted into goals.
By straw vote, and consensus of Planning Commission Members, five (5) budget goals were
identified: Emphasize affordable housing, Improve relations in neighborhoods surrounding with
Cal Poly between residents and students, Implement the Land Use and Circulation Element,
Update the Zoning Regulations, and Update the Climate Action Plan. The Commission also
decided to form an ad hoc subcommittee comprised of Chairperson Stevenson, Vice-Chairperson
Fowler, and Commissioner Dandekar to fine tune the language associated with these goals by the
deadline of November 7th.
Deputy Director Davidson forecasted the Agenda for the November 9 Planning Commission
Meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
APPROVED BY PLANNING COMMISSION: XX/XX/2017
DRAFT Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order on Wednesday, November
9th, 2016 at 6:01 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo,
California, by Chair Stevenson.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chair Stevenson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Hemalata Dandekar, John Larson, Ronald Malak, and Chairperson
Charles Stevenson
Absent: Commissioner Daniel Knight & Vice-Chairperson John Fowler
Staff: Deputy Director of Development Review Doug Davidson, Assistant City Attorney Jon
Ansolabehere, Public Works Engineer Bryan Wheeler, Natural Resources Manager Bob
Hill, and Recording Secretary Brad T. Opstad
Chair Stevenson introduced sitting members of Staff.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. 4433/4435 Octagon Way. GENP (GPI 30-13): Review of the proposed alignment for a
connection of the Bob Jones City to Sea Pathway, connecting existing and future segments,
and Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impacts; City of San Luis Obispo,
applicant. (Bryan Wheeler)
Public Works Engineer Wheeler made Staff Report and presented PowerPoint on the proposed
pathway alignment.
Planning Commission Minutes DRAFT of November 9th, 2016 Page 2
--Start of Public Comment—
Lea Brooks, San Luis Obispo, spoke on behalf of Bike SLO County in support of Staff
Recommendation for the pathway as link to the Octagon Barn.
Myron Amerine, San Luis Obispo, spoke in support of Staff Recommendations, describing it as
a well-conceived, well-documented and well-executed project.
--End of Public Comment—
Commissioner Larson asked questions of Staff in regards to the Conservation and Open Space
Element and the defining of creek setbacks as they apply to a placement of a public facility;
inquired about State Department of Fish and Wildlife and other resource agencies’ concerns within
the project’s riparian area.
Chair Stevenson requested explanation for the determination on pathway being of 12-foot wide as
opposed to 10-feet wide; noted that the Findings for making creek setback exception are strenuous
and exhaustive, and emphasizing discomfort with the Exception that this is “not constituting a
grant of special privilege”
Assistant City Attorney Ansolabehere indicated that the specific Finding [c) v.] is written in
language approximating a Variance Finding, but is unique in the sense that it strictly and
specifically applies to a City facility as opposed to private land ownership.
Natural Resources Manager Hill provided the distinction that this project accrues public benefits
and is not a case in which a private landowner gains private benefit of property value enhancement
that the public would not receive.
ACTION: UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LARSON, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER DANDEKAR, the Planning Commission adopted, as recommended by the
Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Resolution approving the Bob Jones Trail Octagon Barn
Connection Study, with preferred alignment of the trail along the creek and creek setback
exception based on findings with the following amendments:
c) v. to read, “The exception will not constitute a grant of special privilege because other
sections of the Bob Jones City-to-Sea trail are located within the creek setback; and the exception
will not be detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to other property in the area of the project
or downstream; and because the Bob Jones Trail is a unique project by the City with public
benefit”; and
c viii. to read, “Relocation of the trail outside the creek setback would further the impact
on agricultural lands limit the use of the property by the owner.”
And determined that the Mitigated Negative Declaration adequately addresses the potential
significant environmental impacts associated with the preferred alignment; on the following 4:0:2
roll call vote:
Planning Commission Minutes DRAFT of November 9th, 2016 Page 3
AYES: Larson, Dandekar, Malak, Stevenson
NOES: None
ABSENT: Knight, Fowler
COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
1. STAFF
a. Review Planning Commission Recommended Budget Goals
Chair Stevenson referenced, and cited sections of, the Memorandum written by Deputy Director
of Development Review Davidson, Deputy Director of Long-Range Planning Xzandrea Fowler,
and the Planning Commission’s appointed Sub-Committee members, regarding the Commission’s
recommended priorities for City Council to consider implementing into its 2017-19 Financial Plan.
Chair Stevenson requested that the Commission review, revise and approve the list of the four
prioritized goals.
Commissioner Malak pointed out that the four goals were not submitted in priority order but,
rather, were accumulated as individual and remote bullet points; questioned the inclusion of the
wording “parking in neighborhoods” as an emphasized encouragement to the Infill Development
and Multi-Modal Circulation goal.
By straw vote, and consensus of Planning Commission Members, four (4) budget goal
priorities were discussed and recommended to the City Council for consideration in the
2017-19 Financial Plan:
1.) Housing: Increase Affordable and Workforce Housing and Address
Homelessness
2.) Land Use: Focus on LUCE Identified Special Focus Areas and Specific Plan
Areas
3.) Energy Efficiency in City Built Environment
4.) Infill Development and Multi-Modal Circulation
The Commission reviewed the Memorandum developed by the Sub-Committee appointed
on October 12th and made the following amendment:
4. to read, “Implement the Circulation Element and the City’s Multi-Modal objectives with
emphasis on parking in neighborhoods to encourage in-fill development and non-automobile
alternatives by rebalancing, innovation, pricing, guidance, and parking structures. Support non-
auto related transportation alternatives in plan and project approvals and program implementation.
b. Agenda Forecast
Deputy Director Davidson presented the Agenda Forecast:
November 23rd & December 28th: No Meetings scheduled.
Planning Commission Minutes DRAFT of November 9th, 2016 Page 4
December 14th: Planning Commission as Public Forum for the Avila Ranch Draft EIR
Informal discussion ensued on Chair Stevenson and Commissioner Dandekar’s having attended
the California Chapter of the American Planning Association’s recent conference in Pasadena and
indicating willingness to share presentation materials garnered from it.
ACTION: UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MALAK, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER LARSON, the Planning Commission requested the agendizing of a Study
Session on the State Density Bonus Law and the Housing Accountability Act.
ADJOURNMENT: 7:17 PM
APPROVED BY PLANNING COMMISSION: XX/XX/2017
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT
SUBJECT: Public meeting to discuss the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for
the Avila Ranch project.
PROJECT ADDRESS: 175 Venture Drive BY: John Rickenbach, Contract Planner
173 Buckley Road Phone Number: 805-610-1109
Email: JFRickenbach@aol.com
FILE NUMBER: GENP 1319-2015 VIA: Tyler Corey, Principal Planner
SPEC/ER 1318-2015
Project-PR-0090-2015 FROM: Doug Davidson, Deputy Director
RECOMMENDATION: Take public testimony and provide input to City staff and EIR
consultants on any additional analysis or data needed to adequately evaluate environmental issue
areas within the Draft EIR. No action will be taken at this time.
SITE DATA
Applicant Avila Ranch, LLC
Representative Stephen Peck, AICP
Proposed
General Plan &
Zoning
Low, Medium, Medium-High,
& High Density Residential
(R-1, R-2, R-3, & R-4);
Neighborhood Commercial
(C-N); Public Facility (PF); &
Conservation/Open Space
(C/OS)
Site Area ~150 acres
Environmental
Status
A Draft EIR is now under
public review. The public
review period extends from
November 28, 2016, to
January 11, 2017.
SUMMARY
Avila Ranch, LLC has submitted a development plan proposal for a new, primarily residential
development with up to 720 units on a 150-acre site north of Buckley Road, located within the
Airport Area Specific Plan (AASP) boundaries. The project also includes 15,000 square feet of
neighborhood-serving retail and office uses next to a neighborhood park, as well as the preservation
of agricultural uses and open space. The project as proposed is envisioned to implement the
policies and development parameters as articulated in the recent Land Use and Circulation
Elements (LUCE) update, other elements of the General Plan, the AASP, the City’s Community
Design Guidelines, and direction received by the community and City during the LUCE process
and the project’s pre-application.
Meeting Date: January 11, 2017
Item Number: 1
GENP 1319-2015 & SPEC/ER 1318-2015
175 Venture Drive-173 Buckley Road
Page 2
The applicant has prepared the Avila Development Plan (“Development Plan”) that contains the
specific development proposal for the site, including a land use framework, design guidelines and
concepts, circulation plan, and infrastructure plan. If approved, these will be reflected in an
updated Airport Area Specific Plan.
1.0 COMMISSION’S PURVIEW
The purpose of this public hearing is to provide a forum for discussion of the Draft EIR during the
required public review period for the document. The meeting is an opportunity for City and
consultant staffs to gather information from the public regarding the analysis and finding of the
Draft EIR. All comments received at this hearing will be responded to and included in the Final
EIR.
Both Commission and public testimony at this public meeting should be focused on the content of
the Draft EIR, rather than the particular merits of the project itself. The Planning Commission is
not being asked to make a recommendation or take action on the project at this time.
2.0 SITE INFORMATION
The site is composed of approximately 150 contiguous acres at the northeast corner of Buckley
Road and Vachell Lane, and is comprised of three separate parcels: APN: 053-259-006, APN:
053-259-004 and APN: 053-259-005. The site generally slopes from the northeast to southwest,
although there are localized undulations. It is diagonally bisected by a drainage channel that is
referred to as “Tank Farm Creek” which conveys on and offsite storm water to San Luis Creek
and comprises approximately 10 acres of the 150-acre site. Unlike some other properties within
the AASP, the site is free of problematic encumbrances such as agricultural processing facilities,
hazardous substances, extreme changes in topography, or major public facilities. Table 1 shows
land use information for the site.
Table 1. Site Information
Site Size ~150 acres
Present Use & Development Agriculture (zoned Business Park)
Topography Slopes from northeast to southwest, with localized undulations.
Access Buckley Road, Vachell Lane, Earthwood and Horizon Lane
Surrounding Use/Zoning West: M (Manufacturing) Lockheed Martin; C-S (Service
Commercial) further west across Vachell Lane
North: M (Manufacturing); warehousing & industrial uses
East: County jurisdiction; Agriculture zoning
South: County jurisdiction; Agriculture zoning
3.0 GENERAL PLAN GUIDANCE
Land Use Element. The project is intended to be consistent with policy direction included in the
General Plan, specifically Land Use Element Policy 8.1.6, which identifies the Avila Ranch area
as a Special Focus Area (SP-4), subject to certain broad development parameters and principles.
An evaluation of the project’s consistency with General Plan policies is discussed at length in
Section 3.8 of the Draft EIR.
GENP 1319-2015 & SPEC/ER 1318-2015
175 Venture Drive-173 Buckley Road
Page 3
4.0 PROJECT DETAILS AND DISCUSSION
The Avila Ranch Project would include up to 720 dwelling units of varying densities; a centrally
located “Town Center” with 15,000 square feet of local-serving retail and office uses; 16 acres of
pocket parks, mini-parks and neighborhood parks; and 55 acres of open space including riparian
corridors and farmed agricultural land. These features are described in greater detail within
Section 2.0 of the Draft EIR, Project Description.
4.1 Proposed Land Uses
The proposed project includes a variety of residential densities (6 to 24 dwellings per acre), with
typical lot sizes ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 square feet. Figure 1 (below) shows the proposed
land use map for the project, while Table 2 (below) summarizes the proposed land uses and
residential product types.
Figure 1. Proposed Avila Ranch Land Use Map
GENP 1319-2015 & SPEC/ER 1318-2015
175 Venture Drive-173 Buckley Road
Page 4
Table 2. Summary of Proposed Development and Residential Product Types
Land Use Acres Units Residential Product Type Maximum
Density
Typical
Lot Size
Residential
R-1; Low-Density 17.45 105 Detached single-family 6 du/acre 5,000 SF
R-2; Medium Density 35.03 305 4 to 6 pack clusters; small
lot detached single-family
12 du/acre 3,575 SF
R-3; Medium-High
Density
11.04 185 Stacked flat apartments;
townhomes; condos
20 du/acre 1,000 SF
R-4; High Density 4.71 125 Stacked flat apartments 24 du/acre
Neighborhood Commercial
(15,000 SF)
3.34
Parks
Neighborhood Parks 9.80
Mini Parks 6.00
Pocket Parks 0.20
Major Roadways 7.03
On-site Open Space 55.30
TOTAL 149.90 720
4.2 Circulation Framework. There are four major circulation features envisioned as part of the
project:
1. Extension of Buckley Road from Vachell Lane to Higuera Street;
2. Connection of new Class I bike paths and Class II “buffered” bike lanes from and through
the project site to the Octagon Barn which is the trailhead for the Bob Jones City to Sea
Trail;
3. Extension of Venture Drive through the site and connecting with the extension of Jesperson
Road from Buckley Road, creating a continuous Residential Collector; and
4. Extension of Earthwood Lane as a Residential Collector from the Venture Road project
site to Suburban Road for connectively and access to the neighborhood shopping center.
A vehicle bridge and two pedestrian bridges are planned over Tank Farm Creek to provide a
connection to the neighborhoods on either side of the creek. Figure 2 shows how these site features
guide the layout and arrangement of proposed land uses.
GENP 1319-2015 & SPEC/ER 1318-2015
175 Venture Drive-173 Buckley Road
Page 5
Figure 2. Proposed Circulation Plan
4.3 Modifications to the Airport Area Specific Plan
The Avila Ranch planning area is within a portion of the Airport Area Specific Plan (AASP). The
Development Plan provides guidance for development within that area. In order to implement the
Development Plan, City staff has determined that the AASP will require modification to address
potential changes and/or needed detail for the Avila Ranch planning area. Proposed modifications
are shown in Appendix R of the Draft EIR. In general, these changes will:
Include project specific information about the Avila Ranch project where appropriate,
including the types and amount of development proposed;
Provide more specific details with regard to standards that would apply to the Avila Ranch
area;
Modify the existing AASP policy framework as appropriate to respond to proposed project
details and standards; and
Coordinate the financing and timing of needed infrastructure throughout the entire AASP.
5.0 CEQA PROCESS
5.1 EIR Determination/Consultant Selection
Early on, the City determined that the project would require the preparation of a Project EIR. The
City Council on March 17, 2015, approved a preliminary workscope for preparation of an EIR to
GENP 1319-2015 & SPEC/ER 1318-2015
175 Venture Drive-173 Buckley Road
Page 6
evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the project and authorized staff to proceed with
sending out a Request for Proposals (RFP) for qualified consultants. RFP packages were available
online via the City’s website to any qualified consultant, with two consulting firms submitting
proposals. Both firms were interviewed and Amec Foster Wheeler Consultants received the top
ranking and was selected to prepare the EIR.
City staff prepared an Initial Study pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA),
which documents and analyzes potential environmental issue areas and highlights workscope
issues that needed to be further analyzed in an EIR. A Notice of Preparation (NOP) to prepare an
EIR was sent to and posted by the State Clearinghouse on August 14, 2015. The Initial Study is
included as Appendix A of the Draft EIR, while the NOP and responses to that document are
included in Appendix B.
5.2 EIR Scope/Type
The Draft EIR incorporated the Initial Study and expanded on the discussion of issues included in
that document. CEQA compliance for the Avila Ranch project is in the form on a Project EIR that
tiers from the Final Program EIR prepared for the 2014 Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE)
Update. While the LUCE EIR did not include site-specific analyses for the Avila Ranch site for
every issue (and where it did it was not an in-depth analysis), in many cases did identify a series
of programmatic (i.e., cumulative) impacts and provided mitigation measures to adequately
address those impacts. Some of these mitigation measures now apply Citywide, and some are now
applicable specifically to the Avila Ranch site. The EIR summarizes those applicable mitigation
measures from the LUCE EIR as well as additional mitigation needed to address project specific
impacts.
5.4 Environmental Issue Areas
This meeting provides a forum for the Commission to identify additional information needed to
evaluate environmental issues, to point out inaccuracies in the information presented, and to
suggest changes to, or alternatives for, recommended mitigation measures. The Draft EIR
concludes that the project will result in significant and unavoidable impacts to:
1. Air Quality – short and long-term construction emissions of ROG and NOx, and
operational air pollutant emissions associated with vehicle trips from the project;
consistency with the Clean Air Plan.
2. Noise – short-term construction noise.
3. Land Use – policies to protect agricultural resources.
4. Transportation and Traffic – impacts to intersection capacities at Buckley Road/SR 227
and at Prado Road/South Higuera Street.
The EIR also finds that there will be significant impacts that can be mitigated to less than
significant in the categories of aesthetics and visual resources, agricultural resources, air quality
and greenhouse gas emissions, biological resources, cultural resources, hazards and hazardous
materials, hydrology and water quality, noise, public services, transportation and traffic, and
utilities and service systems. Impacts related to population and housing were found to be less than
significant or beneficial. Some impacts related to land use and planning were also found to be less
than significant. Table ES-1 at the beginning of the Draft EIR summarizes the project’s impacts
and mitigation measures.
GENP 1319-2015 & SPEC/ER 1318-2015
175 Venture Drive-173 Buckley Road
Page 7
5.3 EIR Processing Requirements
Under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a 45-day public review
period of the Draft EIR is required. The required public review period for the Avila Ranch Draft
EIR began November 28, 2016, and will extend to January 11, 2017. CEQA does not require that
a public meeting be held during the public review period, but does encourage it. The practice of
holding a public meeting on the Draft EIR separate from consideration of the other project
entitlements allows for direct communication between the reviewers and the lead agency and
provides an opportunity for members of the public to learn of the concerns of other people
testifying about the project.
Both Commission and public testimony at this public meeting should be focused on the content of
the Draft EIR, rather than the particular merits of the project itself. The public meeting represents
an opportunity to:
1. Obtain additional information needed to properly evaluate identified issue areas;
2. Identify issue areas that may not be covered in the document; and
3. Provide an opportunity for the public to express environmental concerns.
The Final EIR is a compilation of the Draft EIR and responses to comments. Responses to
comments are a written evaluation of comments on the environmental issues received from persons
who reviewed the Draft EIR. The responses to comments will be prepared by the consultant and
reviewed by City staff. Tentative dates for consideration of the Final EIR and other project
entitlements are June 2017 before the Planning Commission and July 2017 before the City Council.
The Final EIR must be certified before an action to approve the project can be made.
6.0 RECOMMENDATION
Take public testimony and provide input to City staff and EIR consultants on any additional
analysis or data needed to adequately evaluate environmental issue areas.
7.0 ATTACHMENTS
1. The Avila Ranch Draft EIR is available for review online at the following location:
http://www.slocity.org/government/department-directory/community-
development/documents-online/environmental-review-documents. Hardcopies are also
available for review at the Community Development Department (919 Palm Street), City
Hall (990 Palm Street) and the City-County Library (995 Palm Street).
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT
SUBJECT: Public meeting to discuss the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for
the San Luis Ranch project.
PROJECT ADDRESS: 1035 Madonna Road BY: John Rickenbach, Contract Planner
Phone Number: 805-610-1109
Email: JFRickenbach@aol.com
FILE NUMBER: ANNX-1502-2015 FROM: Doug Davidson, Deputy Director
RECOMMENDATION: Take public testimony and provide input to City staff and EIR
consultants on any additional analysis or data needed to adequately evaluate environmental issue
areas within the Draft EIR. No action will be taken at this time.
SITE DATA
Applicant
Representative
General Plan
and Zoning
Site Area
Environmental
Status
Coastal Community Builders
Brian Schwartz and Marshall
Ochylski
Specific Plan Area (various land
use designations including—
residential, commercial, office,
open space and agriculture
consistent with the Land Use
Element)
131.3 acres
A Draft EIR is now under public
review. The public review period
has been extended to January 30,
2017.
SUMMARY
Coastal Community Builders has proposed a project that includes several entitlements for the
development of approximately 70 acres of the 131.3-acre property. The project would include a
mixture of residential and non-residential uses, as well as the preservation of approximately 53
acres to remain in agricultural use and open space. The project site is currently outside the City, but
within its Sphere of Influence, and would require annexation for development. The project as
proposed is envisioned to implement the policies for development of the site as articulated in the
Meeting Date: January 11, 2017
Item Number: 2
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2014 Land Use and Circulation Elements (LUCE) update, and be consistent with the broad
development parameters set forth in the LUCE for this designated specific plan location
1.0 PLANNING COMMISSION’S PURVIEW
The purpose of this workshop is for the Commission to review and provide input on the contents
of the Draft EIR prepared for the project. The Commission will take public testimony at this
workshop. Staff will be available to clarify information contained in the Draft EIR, or to respond
to straightforward questions, but comments related to technical analysis are more appropriately
responded to in the Final EIR, once staff and the EIR consultant are able to accurately perform any
needed technical review or evaluation. Response in the Final EIR also provides full disclosure for
all interested parties instead of the information only being provided to members of the public in
attendance at the meeting. All comments received at this workshop will be responded to and
included in the Final EIR. The intent of the workshop is not to discuss the merits of the project,
but to focus testimony on potential environmental concerns, or issues raised in the Draft EIR. The
Planning Commission will be able to consider the responses to comments in the Final EIR, during
public hearings when it considers potential project approval. It is anticipated that this will occur
in Spring 2017.
The Planning Commission is not asked to make a recommendation or take action on the project at
this time.
2.0 PROJECT INFORMATION
The site is comprised of approximately 131 contiguous acres in unincorporated San Luis Obispo
County, surrounded by areas within the City of San Luis Obispo, and within the City’s Sphere of
Influence, generally bounded by Madonna Road, Dalidio Drive and U.S. Highway 101. Dominant
features at the site are the predominantly flat landform seasonally planted with row crops, an
existing stand of eucalyptus trees in the southwest portion of the site, and the Dalidio farm home
in the northwest portion of the site.
Table 1: Site Information
Site Size ~131 acres
Present Use & Development Agriculture
Topography Flat
Access Madonna Road, Dalidio Drive and Froom Ranch Road
Surrounding Use/Zoning West: R-1 (low density residential)
North: PF, C/OS-40, R-1, C-R-PD (Laguna Lake Park and
surrounding open space, low density residential, and the U.S.
post office)
East: PF, O-PD (U.S. Highway 101, the City’s wastewater
treatment plant and a drive-in theater)
South: C/OS-20, C-S, C-S-PD, C-T-SF, C-R (SLO City Farm, Target,
variety of commercial service uses, and auto dealerships)
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3.0 GENERAL PLAN GUIDANCE
The San Luis Ranch (Dalidio) Specific Plan Area was one of three Specific Plan areas designated
for development when the General Plan Land Use and Circulation Elements update which was
adopted by the City Council in December, 2014. The project is intended to be consistent with
policy direction for the area included in the General Plan, specifically Land Use Element Policy
8.1.4, which identifies the San Luis Ranch area as a Special Focus Area (SP-2), subject to policies
for the development of a specific plan and certain broad development parameters and principles.
For clarity, the entire policy is included below. The Planning Commission is not asked to provide
testimony on this policy at this time, but to consider it in the context of the analysis included in
the Draft EIR. The project’s consistency with this and other General Plan policies will be more
appropriately addressed by the Planning Commission during the public hearings for potential
project consideration, expected to occur in Spring 2017.
Policy 8.1.4: SP-2, San Luis Ranch (Dalidio) Specific Plan Area. The project site should
be developed as a mixed use project that maintains the agricultural heritage of the site,
provides a commercial/ office transition to the existing commercial center to the north,
and provides a diverse housing experience. Protection of the adjacent creek and a well-
planned integration into the existing circulation system will be required.
The specific plan for this area should consider and address the following land use and
design issues:
a. Provide land and appropriate financial support for development of a Prado Road
connection. Appropriate land to support road infrastructure identified in the
Final Project EIR (overpass or interchange) at this location shall be dedicated as
part of any proposal and any area in excess of the project’s fair share of this
facility shall not be included as part of the project site area used to calculate the
required 50% open space.
b. Circulation connections to integrate property with surrounding circulation
network for all modes of travel.
c. Connection to Froom Ranch and Calle Joaquin, if proposed, shall not bifurcate
on- site or neighboring agricultural lands. Any connection to Calle Joaquin shall
be principally a secondary / emergency access by design.
d. Development shall include a transit hub. Developer shall work with transit
officials to provide express connections to Downtown area.
e. Maintain agricultural views along Highway 101 by maintaining active
agricultural uses on the site, and maintain viewshed of Bishop Peak and Cerro
San Luis.
f. Maintain significant agricultural and open space resources on site (see Policy
1.13.8.B). Land dedicated to Agriculture shall be of size, location and
configuration appropriate to maintain a viable, working agricultural operation.
g. Where buffering or transitions to agricultural uses are needed to support viability
of the agricultural use, these shall be provided on lands not counted towards the
minimum size for the agriculture / open space component. Provide appropriate
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transition to agricultural uses on-site.
h. Integrate agricultural open space with adjacent SLO City Farm and development
on property.
i. Site should include walkable retail and pedestrian and bicycle connections to
surrounding commercial and residential areas.
j. Commercial and office uses shall have parking placed behind and to side of
buildings so as to not be a prominent feature.
k. Neighborhood Commercial uses for proposed residential development shall be
provided.
l. Potential flooding issues along Prefumo Creek need to be studied and addressed
without impacting off-site uses.
m. All land uses proposed shall be in keeping with safety parameters described in
this General Plan or other applicable regulations relative to the San Luis Obispo
Regional Airport.
n. Historic evaluation of the existing farm house and associated structures shall be
included.
Proposed land use designations and development potential
Type Designations
Allowed
% of Site Minimum 1 Maximum
Residential LDR
MDR
MHDR
HDR
350 units 500 units
Commercial NC
CC
50,000 SF 200,000 SF
Office/High Tech O 50,000 SF 150,000 SF
Hotel/Visitor-Serving 200 rooms
Parks PARK 5.8 ac
Open Space/ Agriculture OS
AG
Minimum 50% 2 No maximum
Public n/a
Infrastructure n/a
1. There can be a reduction in the minimum requirement based on specific physical and/or environmental constraints.
2. The City Council may consider allowing a portion of required open space to be met through off -site dedication
provided:
a. A substantial multiplier for the amount of open space is provided for the off -site property exchanged to meet
the on-site requirement; and
b. Off-site land is of similar agricultural and visual value to the community; and
c. Off-site land is protected through an easement, dedication or fee title in perpetuity for agriculture/open space.
The project is also intended to be consistent with all other General Plan policies, including those
in the Circulation, Safety, Conservation and Open Space, and Water and Wastewater elements.
An evaluation of the project’s consistency with General Plan policies is discussed at length in
Section 4.9 of the Draft EIR.
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4.0 PROJECT DETAILS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Project Description Summary
The project is a Specific Plan, General Plan Amendment, and related actions that would allow
for the development of the San Luis Ranch (formerly referred to as Dalidio) area as identified
in the City’s General Plan. The project includes a mix of residential, commercial, and office
uses while preserving nearly half of the site as open space and agriculture on a 131.3-acre
property. The intent is for the project to be consistent with the development parameters
described in the City’s recently updated Land Use Element, which envisions up to 500
residential units, 200,000 square feet of commercial uses, 150,000 square feet of office, 200
hotel rooms, at least 5.8 acres of parks, with a goal of preserving 50% of the site in agriculture
and open space.
Section 2.0 of the Draft EIR fully describes the project details, the key highlights of which are
included below.
The project would require annexation to the City of San Luis Obispo. The project is within the
City’s Sphere of Influence and Urban Reserve Line, and is designed to be consistent with both
City and Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) policies, including the requirement
that the annexation be compatible with the City’s General Plan and supportable by the City’s
infrastructure.
4.2 Land Use Concept
As shown in Figure 1, the Specific Plan area is organized into six zones. These include
Neighborhood General 1 (NG-10), Neighborhood General 2 (NG-23), Neighborhood General
3 (NG-30), Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Parks and Open Space (P-OS), and Agriculture
(A). The applicable densities and development standards associated with each of these zones
are described in detail below. Table 2 lists the proposed San Luis Ranch Specific Plan zones,
acreages, and maximum buildout potential within each zone of the Specific Plan Area.
Table 2. Planned San Luis Ranch Specific Plan Area Development
Type Specific Plan Zone % of Site Units Acreage
Planned Development 1
Low-Medium Density Residential NG-10 16.7% 200 units 21.6 acres
Medium Density Residential NG-23 8.1% 100 units 10.5 acres
High Density Residential NG-30 8.7% 200 units 11.2 acres
Affordable Housing Density Bonus 2 80 units n/a
Commercial NC 7.3% 150,000 SF 9.5 acres
Office NC 2.9% 100,000 SF 3.8 acres
Hotel and Conference Center NC 2.7% 200 rooms 3.5 acres
Public Parks 2.6% 3.4 acres
Roads 4.4% 5.7 acres
Agricultural and Open Space
Agriculture A 40.7% 52.7 acres
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Internal Open Spaces P-OS 5.9% 7.6 acres
1. Planned Development area is based on net site area of approximately 129.3 acres. The gross site area is approximately 131.3 acres, less
approximately 1.8 acres of right-of-way associated with potential future Prado Road overpass or interchange improvements.
2. The project includes up to 34 deed-restricted affordable units on site. Per Section 17.090.040(d) of the City’s Affordable Housing
Incentives, the included affordable housing allows for a 20% density bonus.
Each major project component is summarized below (refer to Figure 2 for the proposed site
plan and circulation).
Residential
The project includes a mix of 580 low-
medium, medium, and high density
residences that would be located
primarily on the northwestern and
central portion of the project site.
Housing would range from detached
single-family units to attached multi-
family dwellings, and are described in
detail Chapter 3 of the Specific Plan.
The low-medium density residential
zone (NG-10) would allow for
residential units at a density of up to
10 units per acre with a height limit of
35 feet. Residential products
envisioned for this zone include
traditional single-family and small-lot
residential. The medium-density
residential zone (NG-23) would allow
for residential units at a density of up
to 23 units per acre with a height limit
of 35 feet. Residential products
envisioned for this zone include
detached townhomes, attached
townhomes, and multi-family
structures such as apartments or condos. The high-density multi-family residential zone (NG-
30) would allow for residential units at a density of up to 30 units per acre with a height limit
of 35 feet. Residential products envisioned for this zone include detached townhomes, attached
townhomes, and multi-family structures such as apartments or condos. The neighborhoods
would be connected with a local street and trail system, and would contain recreational areas.
Internal circulation would include an emphasis on pedestrian and bicycle circulation, with
night lighting designed to meet ‘dark sky’ standards.
In addition, the project includes an affordable housing component in accordance with City
requirements. The San Luis Ranch Specific Plan proposes 34 deed-restricted affordable units
on site for very low, low, and moderate income households, including 26 very low-income
Figure 1. Proposed Zoning
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units. Consistent with Section 17.90.040(d) of the City’s Affordable Housing Incentives, the
proposed affordable housing would allow for an 80-unit density bonus, bringing the total
allowable residential units in the Specific Plan Area from 500 to 580.
Commercial
The project includes 150,000 square feet of commercial development, 100,000 square feet of
office development, and a 200-room hotel with allowable building heights up to a 50-foot
maximum. The commercial and hotel components are proposed on the area of land fronting
the extended Prado Road/Dalidio Drive and Froom Ranch Way. Commercial uses proposed
for the project may include retail anchors, neighborhood retail, restaurants, offices, and a hotel.
Agriculture
The project would preserve approximately 52.7 acres of the site in agriculture adjacent the San
Luis Obispo City Farm. The project would also preserve approximately 7.6 acres of the site in
open space. Collectively, this would comprise 46.6 percent of the net site acreage (when
acreage set aside for the future Prado Road interchange or overpass is discounted). The project
also includes a commitment to procure an off-site agricultural conservation easement/deed
restriction to comply with the City’s General Plan Land Use Element Policy 1.13.8 and Land
Use Element Policy 8.1.4, which require that future development on the San Luis Ranch
property dedicate one half of the total land or easements for open space use.
As part of the proposed agricultural uses, the project also includes an Agricultural Heritage
Facilities & Learning Center, which would be located along the southeast side of Froom Ranch
Way, southwest of the proposed commercial land use. The Agricultural Heritage Facilities &
Learning Center would be intended as an educational center for local residents and an
agricultural tourism destination.
Open Space
The proposed open space would be located on the northwestern portion of the project site along
Prefumo Creek, as well as along Cerro San Luis Channel, which is a permanent surface
drainage that traverses the property from east to west. The open space areas would also include
a link in the Bob Jones Regional Trail.
Roadways and Circulation
The project proposes to provide or pay fair share fees for such public improvements as a
widening of Madonna Road along project frontage, additions to Dalidio Drive/Prado Road, an
extension of Froom Ranch Way across Prefumo Creek in the southwest corner of the site, and
to contribute in fair share towards an overpass or interchange connection for Prado Road.
The existing street network in the project site vicinity includes U.S. 101 and the Madonna Road
and Los Osos Valley Road arterials. The proposed street network within the Specific Plan area
consists primarily of collector and residential streets. Access to the residential areas would be
provided on the south from the proposed Froom Ranch Way extension and on the north from
Madonna Road (refer to Figure 2).
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In addition, the Specific Plan includes a transit center that would provide direct transit access
between the project site and downtown San Luis Obispo. The location of the proposed transit
center would be coordinated with SLO Transit and the Regional Transit Authority upon
submittal of individual project plans. If transit ridership meets specified demand thresholds,
direct Regional Transit Authority access will be considered at this future transit center.
Figure 2: Proposed Site Plan and Circulation
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Multi-Modality: Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation
The project would establish links in the City’s Bicycle Transportation Plan (see Figure 3). As
discussed above, the project would construct a segment of the Bob Jones Bike Trail and provide
a connection from Laguna Lake area neighborhoods and businesses along Madonna Road to
the southern portion of the City Limits at Froom Ranch Way. The project would create interior
bicycle trails and lanes, including a Class I Bike Trail and Class II Bike lanes. These facilities
are consistent with the goals established by San Luis Obispo’s 2013 Bicycle Transportation
Plan.
Project Phasing
The project would be constructed in six phases. Phases 1, 2, and 3 would consist of residential
build out and construction is planned to begin in 2017 and would be completed in 2020. Phases
4, 5, and 6 would consist of non-residential buildout and construction is expected to begin in
2017 and would be completed in 2023.
5.0 CEQA PROCESS
5.1 EIR Determination/Consultant Selection
Early on, the City determined that the project would require the preparation of a Project EIR.
In 2014, the City Council approved a preliminary workscope for preparation of an EIR to
Figure 3. Proposed Multimodal Circulation Plan
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evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the project and authorized staff to proceed with
sending out a Request for Proposals (RFP) for qualified consultants. RFP packages were
available online via the City’s website to any qualified consultant, with eight consulting firms
submitting proposals. The top three firms were interviewed, and Rincon Consultants was
selected to prepare the EIR.
City staff prepared an Initial Study pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA), which documents and analyzes potential environmental issue areas and highlights
workscope issues that needed to be further analyzed in an EIR. A Notice of Preparation (NOP)
to prepare an EIR was sent to and posted by the State Clearinghouse on October 26, 2015. The
Initial Study, NOP and responses to the NOP are included as Appendix A of the Draft EIR.
5.2 EIR Scope/Type
The Draft EIR incorporated the Initial Study and expanded on the discussion of issues included
in that document. CEQA compliance for the San Luis Ranch project is in the form on a Project
EIR that tiers from the Final Program EIR prepared for the 2014 Land Use and Circulation
Element (LUCE) Update. While the LUCE EIR did not include site-specific analyses for the
San Luis Ranch site for every issue (and where it did it was not an in-depth analysis), it many
cases did identify a series of programmatic (i.e., cumulative) impacts and provide mitigation
measures to adequately address those impacts. Some of these mitigation measures now apply
Citywide, and some are now applicable specifically to the San Luis Ranch site. The EIR
summarizes those applicable mitigation measures from the LUCE EIR as well as additional
mitigation needed to address project specific impacts.
5.3 EIR Processing Requirements
Under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a 45-day public
review period of the Draft EIR is required. The required public review period for the San Luis
Ranch Draft EIR began December 9, 2016, and was originally set to end on January 23, 2017.
The comment period was subsequently extended to January 30, 2017. CEQA does not require
that a public meeting be held during the public review period, but does encourage it. The
practice of holding a public meeting on the Draft EIR s eparate from consideration of the other
project entitlements allows for direct communication between the reviewers and the lead
agency and provides an opportunity for members of the public to learn of the concerns of other
people testifying about the project.
Both Commission and public testimony at this public meeting should be focused on the content
of the Draft EIR, rather than the particular merits of the project itself. The public meeting
represents an opportunity to:
obtain additional information needed to properly evaluate identified issue areas;
identify issue areas that may not be covered in the document; and
provide an opportunity for the public to express environmental concerns.
The Final EIR is a compilation of the Draft EIR and responses to comments. Responses to
comments are a written evaluation of comments on the environmental issues received from
persons who reviewed the Draft EIR. The responses to comments will be prepared by the
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consultant and reviewed by City staff. Tentative dates for consideration of the Final EIR and
other project entitlements are in late March 2017 before the Planning Commission and April
2017 before the City Council. The Final EIR must be certified before an action to approve the
project can be made.
5.4 Environmental Issue Areas
This meeting provides a forum for the Commission to identify additional information needed
to evaluate environmental issues, to point out inaccuracies in the information presented, and to
suggest changes to, or alternatives for, recommended mitigation measures. The Draft EIR
concludes that the project will result in significant and unavoidable impacts to:
Air Quality – short and long-term construction emissions of ROG and NOx, and
operational air pollutant emissions associated with vehicle trips from the project;
consistency with the Clean Air Plan.
Cultural Resources – impacts to the existing historic onsite agricultural structures,
known as the San Luis Ranch Complex.
Land Use – policies to protect historic resources and provisions related to parkland.
Noise – short-term construction noise.
Transportation – project and cumulative impacts to intersection capacities at
Madonna Road/Dalidio Drive and Los Osos Valley Road/Froom Ranch Way; impacts
to the Higuera Street segment between Prado and Madonna Road; cumulative impacts
to the U.S. 101 segment between Los Osos Valley Road and Madonna Road.
The EIR also finds that there will be significant impacts that can be mitigated to less than
significant in the categories of agricultural resources, air quality, biological resources, cultural
resources, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use, noise,
recreation, and transportation. Impacts related to aesthetics, greenhouse gas emissions, water
resources, as well as certain issues related to agricultural resources, air quality, hazards,
hydrology and water quality, land use, noise, population and housing were found to be less
than significant. Tables ES-1 through ES-3 at the beginning of the Draft EIR summarize the
project’s impacts and mitigation measures.
6.0 RECOMMENDATION
Take public testimony and provide input to City staff and EIR consultants on any additional
analysis or data needed to adequately evaluate environmental issue areas. It is not recommended
that staff or the consultants respond to testimony during the workshop, but instead provide
detailed responses in the Final EIR.
7.0 ATTACHMENTS
1. The San Luis Ranch Draft EIR is available for review online at the following location:
http://www.slocity.org/government/department-directory/community-
development/documents-online/environmental-review-documents. Hardcopies are also
available for review at the Community Development Department (919 Palm Street), City
Hall (990 Palm Street) and the City-County Library (995 Palm Street).