Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Environmental Impact Report 94-1 - Comprehensive Gener City of Huntington Beach 200-OWACEN STREET"'-_-`_— _­ P ___CAL1 FORN1A 926,8 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Building 536-5241 Planning 536-5271 City Clerk Connie Brockway July 20, 1995 Office of the Governor Office of Planning and Research {. s State Clearinghouse 1400 Tenth Street, Room 121 Sacramento, CA 9581417, To: Interested Parties Subject: Draft Environmental Impact Report No. 94-1 for the City of-, Huntington Beach Comprehensive General Plan Update (GPA No. 94-2) The City of Huntington Beach is the lead agency and has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the project identified below. Please comment on the scope and content of the environmental information connected with the proposed project and germane to your agency's statutory responsibilities. -- -- The-project desc-ription-,location;-and-probable-environment-al-effeet-s-are-contained--in-the-attached---- Draft Environmental Impact Report dated July 5, 1995 (See Attachment No. 2) and summarized in Attachment No. 1. Due to the time limits mandated by State Law, your response must be sent at the earliest possible date but no later than 45 days after receipt of this notice. The comment period will close on Tuesday, September 5, 1995. Please send your response to Brian James, Assistant Planner, by the close of the comment period at the address shown below. Please include the name of the contact person in your agency. Project Title: Draft Environmental Impact Report No. 94-1 in conjunction with General Plan Amendment No..94-2. Project Description: The comprehensive update of the General Plan for the City of Huntington Beach. Project Location: City of Huntington Beach, County of Orange Project Applicant: City of Huntington Beach Reference: State Administrative Code, Title 14, Sections 15085, 150879 15088, 15106, 15372, 15362 Additional copies of the Draft Environmental Impact Report are available for $20.00 at the following location: City of Huntington Beach Department of Community Development 2000 Main Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714) 536-5271 Sincerely, Brian James Assistant Pla' er Attachments 1. Project Summary 2. Draft Environmental Impact Report No. 94-1 h:bj:gpac:eir Project Description for the City of Huntington Beach � .."General-Plan Updafe Project Description This represents a description of a proposal to prepare a comprehensive update of the General Plan for the City of Huntington Beach. The City of Huntington Beach is located approximately 28 miles south of Los Angeles in the County of Orange and encompasses 27.7 square miles (See Figures I and II). The City is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Seal Beach to the northwest, Westminster and the San Diego Freeway (I-405) to the north, Fountain Valley to the northeast and Costa Mesa and the Santa Ana River to the east. A General Plan is considered the"constitution" of the City. This "constitution" is used to guide the decisions of elected officials and City Staff for the next 20'years. The General Plan reflects the citizen's desires and ambitions for the future of Huntington Beach in the form of Goals, Objectives, Policies and Programs. Since its adoption in December of 1976, the General Plan has undergone incremental updates to reflect the changing needs of the City; however, no comprehensive update has occurred since the initial adoption. Due to changing community needs, population demographics, laws, and development patterns, the General Plan must be updated to reflect current conditions. The comprehensive General Plan Update is intended to: • Address legislative planning requirements of the State of California; • Replace all previously adopted elements and piecemeal amendments by integrating -_al_l_r-equir_ed.-and,perm ssiv_e__elements.into_a-single_document_;,_,__—..---- ib Provide data and analysis on all conditions and factors currently affecting or project to affect the City to the year 2010; and, • Define Goals, Objectives, Policies and Programs that guide the future development, the revitalization,and conservation of existing resources and the management activities in a manner that reflects community needs and objectives. California State Law (Government Code Section 65300) requires that each city prepare and adopt a-comprehensive, long-term general plan to guide its development. The General Plan states the City's Goals, Objectives and Policies.contained in seven (7) mandatory elements including Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise and Safety. Since portions of Huntington Beach lay within the Coastal Zone, the City must also prepare a Coastal Element. In addition to the required elements, the City of Huntington Beach has chosen to prepare nine (9) optional elements. These /A1 iC:H► LINT NO. I 1 optional elements include Economic Development, Urban Design, Air Quality, Utilities, Public Facilities and Public Services, Recreation and Community Services, Environmental ,.. -..._.-.;,_,Ha-zards.;Hazar dous•-Material-and,.Histor.ic-and.Cultural-Resources—A-brief description-of— each of these elements has been provided in the following section. I DESCRIPTION OF THE GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS Mandatory Elements Housing The following is a brief synopsis This element assess the need for of the contents of the mandatory housing for all income groups and Elements of the comprehensive creates programs to meet those General Plan: needs. This element will be updated by City Staff separately Land Use and incorporated into the General This element presents direction Plan by June of 1995. for the distribution, location, intensity and density for all uses Environmental Resources and of land within the City. Due to Conservation potential impacts resulting from This element addresses natural regional requirements and the resources issues such as City's maturing circulation biological resources, open space, system, it is suggested that a mineral resources, natural development threshold and resources and conservation of growth monitoring system be these resources. This element established in order to ensure the contains the mandatory adequate provision of services conservation and open space and an adequate transportation elements. system. This element also °------- '.�---- coritains policies that ad'dressttie__..____�_--_----=-•Norse--`�-" ___�.-___---------�,____.__----_.___.,..�-_-_____-. aesthetic quality of private This element addresses noise development. problems in the City and methods of abatement. These include the Circulation separation of noise sensitive land This element presents direction uses from noise generating land for the City's transportation uses and design options, such as network and circulation systems. buffering, aimed at reducing the It is required that the circulation effects of noise on adjacent system be correlated with the properties. expected impacts of the land use plan. To that end, various Coastal proposals, such as a development . This element addresses the areas threshold or a transportation of the City that are within the demand management system are Coastal Zone and focuses on suggested. issues of access and preservation. 2 This element is being updated by recreational opportunities and City Staff and will be facilities. _.,,,:... �..<...,..,,:a..a.._.- = .��ncorpcarated-�nt�-the•updated.���.gr._ >_._z.._,_�r..�.___ General Plan. Public Facilities and Public Services Safety This element addresses the This required element is not provision of services such as presented as a separate element police, fire and.paramedic, marine but is discussed in the Public safety and government Facilities and Services Element, administration as well as the the Environmental Hazards provision of facilities for marine, Element and Hazardous Materials educational, library uses and Element. overall government facilities. Conservation Utilities This required element is not This element addresses the presented as a separate element provision and maintenance of but is in the Environmental utilities such as water, Resources and Conservation wastewater, storm drainage, solid Element. waste, gas, electrical, and telecommunication services. Open Space This required element is not Hazardous Materials presented as a separate element This element presents programs but is discussed in the aimed at preventing and reducing Environmental Resources and the effects from potential Conservation Element, the hazardous incidents. ,These Recreation and Human Services programs include the separation Element and the Land Use of sensitive land uses, such as hazardous land uses as well as the Optional Elements reduction of hazardous waste and the clean-up of existing sites. The following is a brief synopsis of the optional Elements: Historic and Cultural Resources Recreation and Community' This element addresses the Services preservation and restoration of This element addresses the historic and cultural amenities as provision of recreational well as programs regarding the amenities and services to the provision and enhancement of citizens of Huntington Beach. cultural services such as art or This includes the maintenance, theater programs. financing, development, and renovation of all types of 3 Environmental Hazards development of the City's public This element addresses methods streetscape; landscaping, signage --.-, ,-. ---..---.— ---or auoiding.or.--reducing.xhe.risks-,.-- -- --and�major corridors-or--- - . associated with hazards such as destination spots. Specific flooding, seismic activity, guidelines for the aesthetic methane and tsunamis. development of private property are contained in the Land Use Economic Development Element. This element addresses the fiscal stability and economic future of Air Quality the City. This element sets forth This element addresses air quality programs aimed at attracting issues and incorporates State and businesses to the City, assisting Federal standards aimed at businesses to establish in the City achieving specified standards. as well as encouraging existing This element focuses on reducing businesses to revitalize and the number of vehicle trips expand. through the provision of transit facilities and through the Urban Design provision of facilities such as This element addresses the park-n-ride lots, on-site showers, aesthetic quality of the City and or bike lockers. sets programs directing the II POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE GENERAL PLAN The following is a brief summary of the potential impacts of the proposed General Plan. As required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the environmental impacts associated with the General Plan will be evaluated in full detail in the Draft Environmental Impact Report. The Draft General Plan has the potential to allow the following increases over current conditions; assuming buildout to the maximum densities allowed in each district: 18,500 residential dwelling units 3,165,000 square feet of commercial space 1,570,000 square feet of office space 2,505,000 square feet of industrial space 2,500 rooms for overnight accommodations. 4 This additional development could result in substantial increase in the number of new residents and in the number of new jobs. As highlighted in the attached Environmental , ....--,M_.,....,-_..,-.Checklist;•:the updated-General-Plan-.has-thePotential,toagenerate-the-following,impacts— --- ----, that will be addressed in the Draft Environmental Impact Report: • increased population growth; • increased demand for police, fire and • increased traffic generation; emergency medical services; • road widenings, and geometric • potential annexation of land and improvements such as additional development of those lands; lanes, turn lanes and signalization improvements as well as acquisition • potential degradation of plant and of private property for additional animal habitats due to development right-of-way requirements; occurring as a result of goals and policies contained in the General • extended or.eliminated bike routes; Plan; • increased ridership on public transit, • potential degradation of aquatic potential demand for new transit resources due to development routes or increased bus traffic-, occurring as a result of goals and policies contained in the General • increased demand for water, natural Plan; gas and electrical resources; • increased exposure to seismic activity • increased demand upon storm or flood hazards, drainage, sewage and solid waste facilities and systems; • increased grading activity, • increased enrollment at local.schools; • increased ambient noise; and • increased.usage on parks and • decreased ambient air quality recreation facilities, library and other . public facilities; 5 RECEIVED J , CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH r.ITY -LEEK INTER—DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION HUNTI►dGT`IN -::AC I, A L I F. , y HUNTINGTON BEACH TO: Distribution FROM: Melanie Fallon, Director of Community Development DATE: 'May 18, 1995 SUBJECT: Draft General Plan The General Plan is ready for the public review process. I am providing you with a copy of the Draft General Plan dated April 1995. Copies will also be distributed to the City Council, Planning Commission, General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) and the public. I have included a copy of the Planning Commission Study Session and Public Hearing schedule for your use. As you may know, on April 5, 1995, the GPAC voted to accept the Draft General'Plan with only the GPAC's recommended changes. They chose not to incorporate Staffs suggested comments on the Goals, Objectives, Policies and Implementation Programs. Many of Staff s comments in.the introductory sections were able to be incorporated, however. Please review the sections of the document that pertain to you to ensure that your comments were incorporated. If not, we can include them along with Staff comments that will be forwarded to the Planning Commission. If you have any comments, please forward them to Herb Fauland or Brian James by June 27, 1995. Distribution: Michael Uberuaga, City Administrator, i Ray Silver, Assistant City Administrator Bob Franz,Deputy City Administrator Don Watson, City Treasurer Connie-Brockway,_Cty..Clerk' Gail Hutton, City Attorney Ron Hagan,Director of Community Services Les Jones,Director of Public Works Michael Dolder,Fire Chief Ron Hayden,Director of Library Services Ronald Lowenberg, Chief of Police Howard Zelefsky,Planning Director Jim Engle, Recreation Superintendent Jeff Renna, Water Operations Manager Michael Mudd, Cultural Services Manager Jim Otterson, Traffic Engineer Linda Niles, Senior Planner Herb Fauland, Associate Planner Brian James, Assistant Planner GPRev3BJ/WD City of Huntington Beach [ell General Plan Update HUNTINGTON BEACH Planning Commission Review Schedule The City of Huntington Beach is in the process of rewriting the General Plan. The General Plan is the "constitution" for the City. The "constitution" contains the citizen's vision for the future of the City and translates their hopes and aspirations into a broad set of goals and policies. These polices are then utilized to help guide decisions for the next 20 years. Your comments and participation are vital to the success of this document. If you wish to learn about the General Plan update or wish to make public comments, please utilize the following tentative schedule: Study Sessions Public Hearings* Study Session One Planning Commission Hearing One 7:00 P.M. May 23, 1995 7:00 P.M. July 11, 1995 • Introduction and Background • Utilities Element • Organization and Content of the Draft General • Hazardous Materials Element Plan • Public Facilities and Public Services Element • Environmental Resources\Conservation Element • Environmental Hazards Element Planning Commission Hearing utvo • Air Quality Element 7:00 P.M. July 25, 1995 • Noise Element Environmental Resources\Conservation Element • Hazardous Materials Element Air Quality Element • Noise Element Study Session Two 6:00 P.M. June 13, 1995 Planning Commission Hearing Three • Introduction and Background 7:00 P.M. August 8, 1995 • Utilities Element • Recreation and Community Services Element • Public Facilities and Public Services Element Economic Development Element • Recreation and Community Services Element • Historic and Cultural Resources Element Planning Commission Hearing Four • Economic Development Element 7:00 P.M. August 22, 1995 • Urban Design Element • Historic and Cultural Resources Element • Urban Design Element Study Session Three 6:00 P.M. June 27, 1995 Planning Commission Hearing Five • Introduction and Background 7:00 P.M. September 12, 1995 • Land Use Element • Circulation Element • Circulation Element • Land Use Element • Discussion of Issues Planning Commission Hearing Six LOCATION OF PUBLIC HEARINGS 7.00 P.M. September 26,1995 • Outstanding Issues City.of Huntington Beach Civic Center Final Recommendation City Council Chambers,Lower Level 2000'Main Street. All Study Sessions and Public Hearings will Huntington Beach, CA92649f be televised on HBTV Channel 3 For. more information, please call Please note: An Environmental Impact Report is (714) 536-5271 pending review. A separate meeting will be held to take public comments. The meeting date and time *All Public Hearings subject to change will be determined at a later date.