HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 Attch 2 Initial Study/Neg Deco~
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Initial Study/
Negative Declaration
Draft 2009-2014 Housing Element
December 2009
City of Dublin
100 Civic Plaza
Dublin, CA 94568
www.ci.dublin.ca.us
www. dublinhousingelement. com
Attachment 2
a
Table of Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 2
Contact Person &Sponsor ....................................................................................... 2
Project Location and Context .................................................................................. 2
Project Description ................................................................................................... 3
Environmental Factors Potentially Affected .......................................................... 10
Determination ........................................................................................................... 10
Evaluation of Environmental Impacts .................................................................... 12
Earlier Analyses ........................................................................................................ 13
Discussion of Checklist ............................................................................................ 24
1. Aesthetics ........................................................................................... 24
2. Agricultural Resources ..................................................................... 27
3. Air Quality /Greenhouse Gas Analysis ........................................... 28
4. Biological Resources .......................................................................... 31
5. Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 33
6. Geology and Soils .............................................................................. 34
7. Hazards and Hazardous Materials .................................................. 37
8. Hydrology and Water Quality ......................................................... 38
9. Land Use and Planning .................................................................... 41
10. Mineral Resources ............................................................................. 41
11. Noise ................................................................................................... 41
12. Population and Housing ....:............................................................. 43
13. Public Services ................................................................................... 44
14. Recreation ...........................................................................:.............. 45
15: Transportation/Traffic ..................................................................... 46
16. Utilities and Service Systems ........................................................... 50
17. Mandatory Findings of Significance ................................................ 52
Initial Study Preparers ............................................................................................. 53
Agencies and Organizations Consulted ................................................................. 53
References ................................................................................................................. 53
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1: Regional Context ..................................................................................... 6
Exhibit 2: City of Dublin Context ............................................................................ 7
Exhibit 3: Housing Opportunity Sites .................................................................... 8
City of Dublin
Environmental Checklist/
Initial Study
Introduction
This Initial Study has been prepared in accord with the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and assesses the potential environmental
impacts of implementing the proposed project described below. The Initial Study
consists of a completed environmental checklist and a brief explanation of the
environmental topics addressed in the checklist.
Project Sponsor & Contact Person
City of Dublin
Community Development Department
100 Civic Plaza
Dublin CA 94568
(925) 833 6610
Attn: Jeri Ram, AICP, Community Development Director
Project Location and Context
The City of Dublin consists of approximately 14.9 square miles of land area lying in
eastern Alameda County, also known as the Livermore-Amador Valley, or the Tri-
Valley area. Surrounding jurisdictions include San Ramon and unincorporated
Contra Costa County to the north, unincorporated Alameda County to the east and
west and the cities of Pleasanton and Livermore to the south.
Major features in the community include the I-580 freeway, which forms the
southern boundary of Dublin and the I-680 freeway that extends in a north south
direction just east of downtown Dublin. The City is also served by the Bay Area
Rapid Transit District (BART), with an existing Dublin/Pleasanton station and a
West Dublin station under construction.
Exhibit 1 shows the location of Dublin in relation to surrounding communities and
other major features.
Topographically, the community is generally flat north of the I-580 corridor,
transitioning to rolling hillsides in the northern and western portions of Dublin.
Major land uses comprising Dublin include the older commercial downtown area
north of the I-580 freeway generally located between San Ramon Road and Village
Parkway with predominantly low density, single family dwellings surrounding the
downtown area.
City of Dublin Page 3
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (BETA, also known as Camp Parks) is located in
the approximate center of Dublin and is used for military training purposes.
The newest portion of Dublin is Eastern Dublin, consisting of approximately 4,200
acres of land located east of Parks RFTA, north of I-580, south of the Alameda
County-Contra Costa County line and west of the unincorporated Doolan Canyon
area. Eastern Dublin has been urbanizing since adoption of the Eastern Dublin
General Plan Amendment and Specific Plan in 1993 and the area now contains a mix
of single-family dwellings, multiple-family dwellings, commercial and government
facility land uses. Completion of the Dublin/Pleasanton Bay Area Rapid Transit
(BART) station has facilitated development of high-density housing complexes in
this portion of Dublin.
Project Description
Background
The proposed Project includes the adoption of the 2009-2014 Housing Element of the
Dublin General Plan. The State of California has mandated that all local jurisdictions
within the Bay Area have approved updated Housing Elements to reflect current
"fair share" housing allocations for each City and County. The State Housing and
Community Development Department (HCD) will review all Housing Elements to
determine compliance with State Law governing the content of these Elements.
Housing Elements are legal documents, included within a community's General
Plan, that identify housing related conditions, provide an assessment of housing
needs for the next five-year period of time, identify housing resources, opportunities
and constraints and establish policies, programs and quantified housing objectives
to achieve housing needs.
Housing Goals
The proposed 2009-2014 Housing Element maintains many of the goals and policies
that have been adopted as part of the current Housing Element. Following is a
summary of housing goals contained in the draft 2009-2014 Housing Element:
Goal 1: Continue to provide a range of housing to fulfill a variety of housing
needs.
Goa12: Provide housing opportunities for all economic segments of the
community.
Goa13: Maintain and enhance residential neighborhoods.
Goa14: Promote equal housing opportunities.
Goa15: Promote energy efficiency and conservation.
Each of the above goals includes a number of specific programs intended to achieve
these goals. A full description of Housing Element goals and programs are included
in the draft City of Dublin 2009-2014 Housing Element, which is available at the Dublin
Ciry of Dublin Page 4
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
Community Development Department during normal business hours. This
document is incorporated by reference into this Initial Study.
Housing sites
State law mandates that each City in its Housing Element plan for specific numbers
of housing units at different income levels during each Housing Element cycle. For
the 2009-2014 Housing Element cycle, the City of Dublin is obligated to provide sites
for 3,330 housing units, distributed as shown in Table 1.
Table 1. City of Dublin Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
Household Income Level Dwellin Units Percent of Total
Ver Low 1,092 32.8
Low 661 19.8
Moderate 653 19.6
Above Moderate 924 27.7
Total 3,330 100.0
Source: Draft City of Dublin 2009-14 Housing Element, September, 2009
Housing opportunity sites
Potential housing sites identified in the draft Housing Element to accommodate
Dublin's fair share housing obligations are shown in Exhibit 3.One of the sites (Site
5) is located in downtown Dublin. The remainder of the sites are located within the
Eastern Dublin Extended Planning Area.
The proposed Housing Element identifies housing opportunity sites to accommodate
Dublin's fair share of regional housing needs. No amendments to the Dublin General
Plan, any applicable Specific Plan or rezonings are proposed as part of this Project.
As shown on Exhibit 3, the single site in the downtown portion of Dublin (Site 5) is
relatively flat with no natural features. There are existing commercial buildings on Site
5, with some of the buildings vacant and others currently occupied. It is anticipated that
some or all of the current non-residential buildings existing on this Site would be
removed to allow construction of future dwellings anticipated in the updated Housing
Element.
The remainder of the sites are within the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning Area. Sites
21, 22 and 23 are within the Dublin Transit Center portion of the Eastern Dublin
Extended Planning Area. These three sites were formerly occupied by a BART surface
parking lot, with BART parking now accommodated in an adjacent parking structure.
As a former BART parking lot, Sites 21, 22 and 23 are generally flat and contain no
natural features. Development of the Dublin Transit Center was analyzed in the Dublin
Transit Center EIR, described further in this Initial Study.
Housing opportunity sites located within the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning Area
have been assumed for ultimate urban development in the Eastern Dublin EIR.
Approximately one-half of the Sites are located along Tassajara Road. Sites owned by
the Dublin Land Company (Sites 10, 17 and 24) are generally flat and contain no
Ciry of Dublin Page 5
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
structures or natural features. Sites located further north on Tassajara Road are
characterized by gently rolling hills and some steeper areas. Tassajara Creek flows just
to the west of some of these Sites.
Sites located east of Fallon Road are located in the subarea known as Fallon Village. The
Fallon Village area contains flatter properties on the north side of I-580 interspersed
with lower elevation hills further to the north, away from the I-580 freeway.
All of the housing opportunity sites are presently designated for urban intensity and
development in the Dublin General Plan and applicable Specific Plan(s). Future
development of the sites have undergone one or more levels of prior environmental
review. The proposed Housing Element anticipates development that could occur
under the General Plan, but neither proposes or approves individual development
projects. As in the current Housing Element, the 2009-2014 Housing Element continues
to provide a policy and program framework that is receptive to future residential
development proposals. The proposed Element also continues to take advantage of
currently planned higher densities for transit-oriented development.
Implementation of future housing development will generally continue upon
application to the City for approval to construct site-specific projects that could be
facilitated by the 2009-2014 Housing Element policies and programs. All future
development will require the issuance of Site Development Review (SDR) permits by
the City of Dublin. The purpose of SDR permits is to ensure compliance with City
development and design standards. Other permits may also be required by the City
prior to approval of individual housing projects.
At this point, it is unknown which housing opportunity sites will be proposed for
development. The background CEQA documents identified later in this Initial Study
assumes development of the sites, but the particular project site, design, environmental
conditions and timing would be under the control of the individual housing developer.
City of Dublin Page 6
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009 .
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CITY OF DUBLIN
HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
INITIAL STUDY
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CITY OF DUBLIN
HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
INITIAL STUDY
Exhibit 2
CITY OF DUBLIN CONTEXT
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1. Project description: Adoption of an updated Housing Element as part of
the Dublin General Plan.
2. Lead agency: City of Dublin
3. Contact persons: Jeri Ram, Community Development Director
4. Project location: City-wide
5. Project sponsor: City of Dublin
6. General Plan designation: Various
7. Zoning: Various
8. Other public agency required approvals:
Certification by the California Department of Housing and Community
Development
City of Dublin Page 10
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
Environmental Factors Potentially Affected
The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this
project, involving at least one impact that is a "potentially significant impact" as
indicated by the checklist on the following pages.
- Aes etics - Agricultural - Air Quality
Resources
- Biological - Cultural Resources - Geology /Soils
Resources
- Hazards and - Hydrology /Water - Land Use /
Hazardous Quality Planning
Materials
- Mineral Resources - Noise - Population/
Housing
- Public Services - Recreation - Transportation
Circulation
- Utilities/Service - ~ Mandatory
Systems Findings of
Si nificance
Determination (to be completed by Lead Agency):
On the basis of this initial evaluation:
X I find that 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
Mitigated Negative Declaration will be prepared.
_I find that although the proposed project may have a significant effect on the
environment, but at least one effect 1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier
document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and 2) has been addressed by
mitigation measures based on earlier analysis as described on the attached sheets, if
the effect is a "potentially significant impact" or "potentially significant unless
mitigated." An Environmental Impact Report is required, but must only analyze the
effects that remain to be addressed.
_ 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 all potentially
City of Dublin Page 11
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
significant effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR pursuant to
applicable standards, and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that
earlier EIR, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed on the
proposed project.
Signature:~~~ ~.~'Y1.~t.1~ ~ ~ ~r,,~~,.~SL.
Printed Name: f~~Y' Irll ~ ~ ~ C~~'~- ~~
Date: ~~~~~~~
For:
City of Dublin
Initial Study/Housing Element Update
Page 12
December 2009
Evaluation of Environmental Impacts
1) A brief explanation is required for all answers except "no impact" answers that
are adequately supported by the information sources a lead agency cites in the
parenthesis following each question. A "no impact" answer is adequately
supported if the referenced information sources show that the impact simply
does not apply to projects like the one involved (e.g. the project falls outside a
fault rupture zone). A "no impact" answer should be explained where it is
based on project-specific factors as well as general factors (e.g. the project will
not expose sensitive receptors to pollutants, based on aproject-specific
screening analysis).
2) In some instances, an "LS, Less-than-Significant Impact" response may reflect
that a specific environmental topic has been analyzed in a previous CEQA
document and appropriate mitigation measures have been included in a
previous CEQA document to reduce this impact to aless-than-significant level.
In a few instances, some previously analyzed topics have been determined to
be significant and unavoidable and mitigation of such impact to a less-than-
significant level is not feasible. In approving the previous CEQA document, the
City of Dublin adopted a Statement of Overriding Considerations. For the
proposed 2009-2014 Housing Element update, such environmental impacts
have been adequately analyzed and no new impacts would occur.
3) All answers must take account of the whole action, including off-site as well as
on-site, cumulative as well as project-level, indirect as well as direct, and
construction as well as operational impacts.
4) "Potentially Significant Impact" is appropriate if there is substantial evidence
that an effect is significant. If there are one or more "potentially significant
impact" entries when the determination is made, an EIR is required.
5) "Negative Declaration: Less-Than-Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated"
implies elsewhere the incorporation of mitigation measures has reduced an
effect from "potentially significant effect" to a "less than significant impact." The
lead agency must describe the mitigation measures and briefly explain how
they reduce the effect to a less than significant level.
City of Dublin Page 13
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
Environmental Impacts (Note: Source of determination listed in
parenthesis. See listing of sources used to determine each potential impact at
the end of the checklist)
Earlier Analyses
Earlier analyses maybe used where, pursuant to tiering, a program EIR, or other
CEQA process, one or more effects have been adequately analyzed in an earlier EIR
or Negative Declaration. Reference CEQA Guideline Section 15063 (c)(3)(d).
Portions of the environmental analysis for this Initial Study refer to information
contained in the one or more of the EIRs or NDs listed below. The draft Housing
Element does not propose any General Plan or applicable Specific Plan land use
changes or any rezoning of properties. The City proposes to meet its RHNA through
existing land use and zoning designations. The following environmental review
documents assumed these existing designations and / or zoning in their analyses.
• Eastern Dublin General Plan Amendment and Specific Plan EIR (SCH
# 91103064, certified by City Council Resolution No. 51-93 on May 10,
1993.
• Downtown Core Specific Plan Mitigated Negative Declaration,
adopted by City Council Resolution No. 226-00 on December 19, 2000.
• Dublin Transit Center Supplemental EIR (SCH # 20011200395, certified
by City Council Resolution No. 215-02 on November 19, 2002
• Dublin Ranch West Supplemental EIR, (SCH # 2003022082), certified
by Dublin City Council Resolution No. 42-05 on March 15, 2005.
• Mission Peak/Fallon Crossing Mitigated Negative Declaration,
adopted by City Council Resolution No. 71-06 on May 16, 2006.
• Vargas Project Mitigated Negative Declaration, adopted by City
Council resolution No. 57-07 on May 1, 2007.
• Casamira Valley/Moller Ranch Supplemental EIR (SCH# 2005052146,
certified by City Council Resolution No. 56-07 on May 1, 2007.
• Fallon Village Project Supplemental EIR (SCH # 2005062010, certified
by City Council Resolution No. 222-05 on December 6, 2005.
These documents are incorporated herein by reference and are available for
public review at the Dublin Community Development Department, 100 Civic
Plaza, during normal business hours.
City of Dublin Page 14
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
EriviPOrimerital Impacts (Note: Source of determination listed in parenthesis. See listing of
sources used to determine each potential impact at the end of the checklist)
Note: A full discussion of each item is found
following the checklist.
1. Aesthetics. Would the project:
a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic
vista? (Sources: 1-9)
b) Substantially damage scenic resources, including
but not limited to trees, rock outcroppings, and
historic buildings within a state scenic highway?
(Sources: 1-9)
c) Substantially degrade the existing visual character
or quality of the site and its surroundings?
(Sources: l-9)
d) Create a new source of substantial light or glare
which would adversely affect day or nighttime
views in the area? (Sources: 1-9)
2. Agricultural Resources
Would the project:
a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland or
Farmland of Statewide Importance, as shown on
the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland
Mapping and Monitoring Program of the
California Resources Agency, to a non-
agricultural use? (Sources: 1-9)
b) Conflict with existing zoning for agriculture use,
or a Williamson Act contract? (Sources: 1-9)
c) Involve other changes in the existing environment
which, due to their location or nature, could
result in conversion of farmland to a non-
agricultural use? (Sources: 1-9)
3. Air Quality (Where available, the significance
criteria established by the applicable air quality
management district may be relied on to make
the following determinations). Would the
project:
a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the
applicable air quality plan? (Sources: 1-9)
b) Violate any air quality standard or contribute
substantially to an existing or projected air
quality violation? (Sources: 1-9)
Potentially
Significant
Impact Less Than
Significant
With
Miti ation Less than
Significant
Impact No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
City of Dublin
Initial Study/Housing Element Update
Page 15
December 2009
c) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase
of any criteria pollutant for which the project
region is non-attainment under an applicable
federal or state ambient air quality standard
(including releasing emissions which exceed
quantitative thresholds for ozone precursors?
(Sources: 1-9)
d) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant
concentrations? (Sources: 1-9)
e) Create objectionable odors affecting a substantial
number of people? (Sources: 1-9)
4. Biological Resources. Would the project
a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly
through habitat modifications, on any species
identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special
status species in local or regional plans, policies
or regulations, or by the California Department
of Fish and Game or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service? (Sources: 1-9)
b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian
habitat or other sensitive natural community
identified in local or regional plans, policies or
regulations or by the California Department of
Fish and Game or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service? (Sources: 1-9)
c) Have a substantial adverse effect on federally
protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of
the Clean Water Act (including but not limited to
marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct
removal, filling, hydrological interruption or
other means?
(Sources: 1-9)
d) Interfere substantially with the movement of any
native resident or migratory fish or wildlife
species or with established native resident or
migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use
of native wildlife nursery sites? (Sources: 1-9)
e) Conflict with any local policies or ordinances
protecting biological resources, such as tree
protection ordinances? (Sources: 1-9)
Potentially
Significant
Impact Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation Less than
Significant
Impact No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
City of Dublin
Initial Study/Housing Element Update
Page 16
December 2009
f) Conflict with the provision of an adopted Habitat
Conservation Plan, Natural Community
Conservation Plan or other approved local,
regional or state habitat conservation plan?
(Sources: 1-9)
5. Cultural Resources. Would the project
a) Cause a substantial adverse impact in the
significance of a historical resource as defined in
Sec. 15064.5? (Sources: 1-9)
b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the
significance of an archeological resource
pursuant to Sec. 15064.5 (Sources: 1-9)
c) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique
paleontological resource, site or unique geologic
feature? (Sources: 1-9)
d) Disturb any human remains, including those
interred outside of a formal cemetery? (1-9)
6. Geology and Soils. Would the project
a) Expose people or structures to potential
substantial adverse effects, including the risk of
loss, injury, or death involving:
i) Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated
on the most recent Earthquake Fault Zoning Map
issued by the State Geologist or based on other
substantial evidence of a known fault (1-9)
ii) Strong seismic ground shaking (Sources: 1-9)
iii) Seismic-related ground failure, including
liquefaction? ((Sources: 1-9)
iv) Landslides? (Sources: 1-9)
b) Result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of
topsoil? (Sources: 1-9)
c) Be located on a geologic unit or soil that is
unstable, or that would become unstable as a
result of the project and potentially result in on-
or off-site landslide, lateral spreading,
subsidence, liquefaction or similar hazards
(Sources: 1-9)
d) Be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table
18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1994),
creating substantial risks to life or property?
(Sources: 1-9)
City of Dublin
Initial Study/Housing Element Update
Potentially
Significant
Impact Less Than
Sign~cant
With
Mitigation Less than
Significant
Impact No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Page 17
December 2009
e) Have soils incapable of adequately supporting the
use of septic tanks or Option wastewater
disposal systems where sewers are not available
for the disposal of wastewater? (Sources: 1-9)
7. Hazards and Hazardous Materials. Would the
project:
a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the
environment through the routine transport, use or
disposal of hazardous materials?
((Sources: 1-9)
b) Create a significant hazard to the public or the
environment through reasonably foreseeable
upset and accident conditions involving the
release of hazardous materials into the
environment? ((Sources: 1-9)
c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous
materials or acutely hazardous materials,
substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of
an existing or proposed school? ((Sources: 1-9)
d) Be located on a site which is included on a list of
hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to
Government Code Sec. 65962.5 and, as a result,
would it create a significant hazard to the public
or the environment? (Sources: 1-9,11)
e) For a project located within an airport land use
plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted
within two miles of a public airport of public use
airport, would the project result in a safety
hazard for people residing or working in the
project area? ((Sources: 1-9)
f) For a project within the vicinity of private airstrip,
would the project result in a safety hazard for
people residing or working in the project area?
(Sources: l-9)
g) Impair implementation of or physically interfere
with the adopted emergency response plan or
emergency evacuation plan?
(Sources: 1-9)
City of Dublin
Initial Study/Housing Element Update
Potentially
Significant
Impact Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation Less than
Significant
Impact No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Page 18
December 2009
h) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of
loss, injury or death involving wildland fires,
including where wildlands are adjacent to
urbanized areas or where residences are
intermixed with wildlands? (Sources: 1-9)
8. Hydrology and Water Quality. Would the project:
a) Violate any water quality standards or waste
discharge requirements? (Sources: 1-9)
b) Substantially deplete groundwater supplies or
interfere substantially with groundwater recharge
such that there would be a net deficit in aquifer
volume or a lowering of the local groundwater
table level (e.g. the production rate of existing
nearby wells would drop to a level which would
not support existing land uses or planned uses
for which permits have been granted? (1-9)
c) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of
the site or area, including through the alteration
of the course of a stream or river, in a manner
which would result in substantial erosion or
siltation on- or off-site? ((Sources: 1-9)
d) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of
the site or areas, including through the alteration
of the course of a stream or river, or
substantially increase the rate or amount of
surface runoff in a manner which would result in
flooding on- or off-site? ((Sources: 1-9)
e) Create or contribute runoff water which would
exceed the capacity of existing or planned
stormwater drainage systems or provide.
substantial additional sources of polluted runoff?
(Sources: 1-9)
f) Otherwise substantially degrade water quality?
(Sources: 1-9)
g) Place housing within a 100-year flood hazard area
as mapped on a federal Flood Hazard Boundary
or Flood Insurance Rate Map or other flood
delineation map? (Sources: 1-9)
Potentially
Significant
Impact Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation Less than
Significant
Impact No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
City of Dublin
Initial Study/Housing Element Update
Page 19
December 2009
h) Place within a 100-year flood hazard area
structures which would impede or redirect flood
flows? ((Sources: 1-9, 13)
I) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of
loss, injury, and death involving flooding,
including flooding as a result of the failure of a
levee or dam? ((Sources: 1-9)
j) Inundation by seiche, tsunami or mudflow? (1-9)
9. Land Use and Planning. Would the project:
a) Physically divide an established community?
((Sources: 1-9)
b) Conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy,
or regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over
the project (including but not limited to the
general plan, specific plan, or zoning ordinance)
adopted for the purpose of avoiding or
mitigating an environmental effect? (Sources: 1-
9)
c) Conflict with any applicable habitat conservation
plan or natural community conservation plan?
(Sources: l-9)
10. Mineral Resources. Would the project
a) Result in the loss of availability of a known
mineral resource that would be of value to the
region and the residents of the state? (Sources: 1-
9)
b) Result in the loss of availability of a locally
important mineral resource recovery site
delineated on a local General Plan, specific plan
or other land use plan? ((Sources: 1-9)
11. Noise. Would the proposal result in:
a) Exposure of persons to or generation of noise
levels in excess of standards established in the
local general plan or noise ordinance, or
applicable standards of other agencies? (1-9)
b) Exposure of persons or to generation of excessive
groundborne vibration or groundborne noise
levels? (Sources: 1-9)
c) A substantial permanent increase in ambient noise
levels in the project vicinity above existing
levels without the project? (Sources: 1-9)
Potentially
Significant
Impact Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation Less than
Significant
Impact No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
City of Dublin
Initial Study/Housing Element Update
Page 20
December 2009
d) A substantial temporary or periodic increase in
ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above
levels existing without the project? (1-9)
e) For a project located within an airport land use
plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted,
within two miles of a public airport or public use
airport, would the project expose people residing
or working n the project area to excessive noise
levels? ((Sources: 1-9)
f) For a project within the vicinity of a private
airstrip, would the project expose people
residing or working in the project area to
excessive noise levels? ((Sources: 1-9)
12. Population and Housing. Would the project
a) Induce substantial population growth in an area,
either directly or indirectly (for example,
through extension of roads or other
infrastructure)? (Sources: 1-9)
b) Displace substantial numbers of existing housing,
necessitating the construction of replacement
housing elsewhere? (Sources: 1-9)
c) Displace substantial numbers of people,
necessitating the construction of replacement of
housing elsewhere? (Sources: 1-9)
13. Public Services. Would the proposal:
a) Would the project result in substantial adverse
physical impacts associated with the provision of
new or physically altered governmental
facilities, need for new or physically altered
government facilities the construction of which
could cause significant environmental impacts,
in order to maintain acceptable service ratios,.
response times or other performance objectives
for any of the public services? ((Sources: 1-9)
Fire protection
Police protection
Schools
Parks
Other public facilities
Solid Waste
City of Dublin
Initial Study/Housing Element Update
Potentially
Significant
Impact Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation Less than
Significant
Impact No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Page 21
December 2009
14. Recreation:
a) Would the project increase the use of existing
neighborhood and regional parks or recreational
facilities such that substantial physical
deterioration of the facility would occur or be
accelerated (Sources: 1-9,12)
b) Does the project include recreational facilities or
require the construction or expansion of
recreational facilities which might have an
adverse physical effect on the environment?
((Sources: 1-9, 12)
15. Transportation and Traffic. Would the project:
a) Cause an increase in traffic which is substantial in
relation to the existing traffic load and capacity
of the street system (i.e. result in a substantial
increase in either the number of vehicle trips, the
volume to capacity ratio on roads or congestion
at intersections)? (Sources: 1-9)
b) Exceed, either individually or cumulatively, a
level of service standard established by the
County Congestion Management Agency for
designated roads or highways? (Sources: 1-9)
c) Result in a change in air traffic patterns, including
either an increase in traffic levels or a change in
location that results in substantial safety risks?
(Sources: 1-9)
d) Substantially increase hazards due to a design
feature (e.g. sharp curves or dangerous
intersections) or incompatible uses, such as farm
equipment? (Sources: 1-9)
e) Result in inadequate emergency access? (1-9)
f) Result in inadequate parking capacity? (1-9)
g) Conflict with adopted policies, plans or programs
supporting Option transportation (such as bus
turnouts and bicycle facilities) (Sources: 1-9)
City of Dublin
Initial Study/Housing Element Update
Potentially
Significant
Impact Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation Less than
Significant
Impact No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Page 22
December 2009
16. Utilities and Service Systems. Would the project
a) Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the
applicable Regional Water Quality Control
Boazd? (Sources: 1-9)
b) Require or result in the construction of new water
or wastewater treatment facilities or expansion
of existing facilities, the construction of which
could cause significant environmental effects?
((Sources: 1-9, 10)
c) Require or result in the construction of new storm
water drainage facilities or expansion of existing
facilities, the construction of which could cause
significant environmental effects? (Sources: 1-9)
d) Have sufficient water supplies available to serve
the project from existing water entitlements and
resources, or are new or expanded entitlements
needed? (Sources: 1-9,10)
e) Result in a determination by the wastewater
treatment provider which serves or may serve
the project that it has adequate capacity to serve
the project's projected demand in addition to the
providers existing commitments? (1-9)
f) Be served by a landfill with sufficient permitted
capacity to accommodate the project's solid
waste disposal needs? (Sources: 1-9)
g) Comply with federal, state and local statutes and
regulations related to solid waste? (Sources: 1-9)
17. Mandatory ~ndangs of Significance.
a) Does the project have the potential to degrade
the quality of the environment, substantially
reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species,
cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below
self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a
plant or animal community, substantially reduce
the number of 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?
Potentially
Significant
Impact Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation Less than
Significant
Impact No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
City of Dublin
Initial Study/Housing Element Update
Page 23
December 2009
b) Does the project have impacts that are
individually limited, but cumulatively
considerable? ("Cumulatively considerable"
means that the incremental effects of a project
are considerable when viewed in connection
with the effects of past projects, the effects of
other current projects and the effects of probable
future projects).
c) Does the project have environmental effects which
will cause substantial adverse effects on human
beings, either directly or indirectly?
Potentially
Significant
Impact Less Than
Significant
With
Miti ation Less than
Significant
Impact No
Impact
X
X
1) Eastern Dublin General Plan Amendment and Specific Plan EIR
2) Downtown Core Specific Plan Mitigated Negative Declaration
3) Dublin Transit Center Supplemental EIR
4) Dublin Ranch West Supplemental EIR
5) Mission Peak/Fallon Crossing Mitigated Negative Declaration
6) Vargas Project Mitigated Negative Declaration
7) Casmir Valley / Muller Ranch Supplemental EIR
8) Fallon Village Project Supplemental EIR
9) Dublin General Plan, City of Dublin
10) Final Urban Water Management Plan, 2005 Update
11) California Department of Toxic Substances Control, website, October 2009
12) Parks and Recreation Master Plan, City of Dublin, 2004 update
City of Dublin
Initial Study/Housing Element Update
Page 24
December 2009
Attachment to Initial Study
Discussion of Checklist
Legend
PS: Potentially Significant
LS / M: Less Than Significant After Mitigation
LS: Less Than Significant Impact
NI: No Impact
1. Aesthetics
Projecthacts
a-c) Have a substantial adverse impact on a scenic vista, damage scenic vistas (including
a scenic highway) or substantially degrade the visual character of a site? LS.
Potential dwelling units identified in the updated Housing Element are
predominantly located in the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning Area and
impacts related to scenic vistas and substantial degradation of the scenic
characters of the various housing sites have been analyzed in the Eastern
Dublin EIR, the Fallon Village EIR, the Transit Center EIR, the Casamira
Valley EIR and other CEQA documents identified in the Earlier Analyses
section of this Initial Study document.
Future site-specific housing developments anticipated by the proposed
Housing Element are subject to a number of Mitigation Measures included in
these CEQA documents to ensure that impacts related to scenic vistas and the
visual character of housing sites will be reduced to aless-than-significant
level. These Mitigation Measures are summarized below.
In 1996, the City of Dublin adopted the Eastern Dublin Scenic Corridor Policies
and Standards that apply to portions of the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning
Area. The purpose of this document is to implement Eastern Dublin Specific
Plan (EDSP) visual protection polices as related to individual development
projects. Residential development projects anticipated by the updated
Housing Element are subject to the provisions of this document, which
generally require limitations on blockage of views to visually sensitive
hillsides in the northern and eastern portions of the Eastern Dublin Extended
Planning Area.
A number of impacts and mitigation measures included in previously
certified CEQA documents that include the housing opportunity sites (see
Exhibit 3) include:
City of Dublin Page 25
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
Eastern Dublin EIR
Impact 3.8/A, Standardized "Tract" Development identifies the potential
impact for development to inadequately respond to natural site
conditions. Adherence to Mitigation Measure 3.8 / 1.0, which requires
consistency with EDSP Goa16.3.4 to establish a visually distinctive
community that preserves the character of the landscape, reduced this
impact to a level of insignificance.
Impact 3.8 / B, Alteration of Rural and Open Space Visual Character was
identified as a significant and unavoidable impact even with adherence to
Mitigation Measure 3.8/2, which would implement a number of EDSP
policies with retention of predominant natural features and encouraging a
sense of place in Eastern Dublin. This impact was included in the
Statement of Overriding Considerations when adopting the underlying
project.
Impact 3.8 / C, Obscuring Distinctive Natural Features identifies the
potential of EDSP buildings and related improvements to obscure or alter
existing features and reduce the visual uniqueness of the Eastern Dublin
Extended Planning Area. Implementation of Mitigation Measure 3.8/3.0,
which would implement EDSP Policy 6-28 to preserve streams and other
natural features, reduced this impact to a level of insignificance.
Impact 3.8 / D, Alteration of Visual Quality of Hillsides notes that grading
and excavation of building sites in hillside areas would compromise the
visual quality of the EDSP area. Mitigation Measures 3.8/4.0 through
3.8/4.5 are included in the Eastern Dublin EIR to reduce Impact 3.8/D to a
level of insignificance. These Mitigation Measures require implementation
of EDSP Policies 6-32 through 6-38 requiring grading techniques to
minimize disturbance of hillsides.
Impact 3.8 / E, Alteration of Visual Quality of Ridges states that structures
built in proximity to ridges may obscure or fragment the profile of
visually sensitive ridgelines. Implementation of Mitigation Measures
3.8 / 5.0 through 3.8 / 5.2 would reduce this impact to aless-than-significant
level. These measures require the implementation of EDSP Policies 6-29
and 6-30 and General Plan Amendment Guiding Policy E (this policy is
now Policy C on page 22 of the General Plan).
Impact 3.8 / F, Alteration of Visual Character of Flatlands states that
buildout of the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan will alter the visual character
of the Eastern Dublin area by reducing valley grasses and agricultural
fields. No mitigation was identified for this impact and it was deemed to
be significant and unavoidable. This impact was included in the Statement
of Overriding Considerations for the project.
City of Dublin Page 26
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
Impact 3.8 / G, Alteration of Visual Character found a potentially
significant impact with regard to planned development adjacent to
watercourses that would reduce the visibility and function of
watercourses as a distinct landscape. Mitigation Measure3.8/6.0 reduced
this impact to aless-than-significant level by requiring development
adjacent to creeks to maintain visual access to such streams.
Impact 3.8/I, Scenic Vistas, includes alteration of the character of existing
scenic vistas and important sightlines. With implementation of Mitigation
Measures 3.8 / 7.0 and 3.8 / 7.1, this impact would be reduced to a level of
insignificance. Mitigation Measure 3.8 / 7.0 requires adherence to EDSP
Policy 6-5 to preserve views of open space areas and Measure 3.8 / 7.1
requires the City to conduct a visual survey of the EDSP area and to
identify and map viewsheds of scenic vistas.
Impact 3.8 / J, Scenic Routes, identifies that urban development within the
EDSP area will significantly alter the visual experience of travelers on
scenic routes in Eastern Dublin. Implementation of Mitigation Measures
3.8 / 8.0 and 8.1 will reduce this impact to a level of insignificance. These
two measures require implementation of EDSP Action Programs 6Q and
6R that requires the City to adopt scenic corridor policies.
Dublin Transit Center EIR
Mitigation Measure 4.1-2 requires all residential development to be sited
to provide visual corridors that maintain views of Mount Diablo.
Mitigation Measure 4.1-3 requires landscaping including trees and other
appropriate vegetation to be planted along the property fenceline to soften
the appearance of future development to users of the adjacent Iron Horse
Trail.
Vargas Project MND
Mitigation Measure 1 requires submittal of a visual survey and analysis
with future Stage 2 Planned Development applications to ensure that
future developments on this site comply with the Eastern Dublin Scenic
Corridor Policies; that views of the Tassajara Creek bank are protected;
and, that distinctive natural features on the site will be visible, once
development is complete.
Mitigation Measure 2 requires that future developments retain as much of
the existing topographic pattern as possible.
With adherence to the above Mitigation Measures, impacts related to scenic
vistas, damage to scenic vistas, including scenic highways, or substantial
degradation of the visual character of identified housing sites would be less-
than-significant. For significant and unavoidable impacts, such as Alteration of
City of Dublin Page 27
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
Visual Character of Flatlands, a Statement of Overriding Considerations was
adopted when approving the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan.
d) Create light or glare? LS. A number of the housing sites are located near
developed areas with emissions of lighting. These are Sites 5, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17,
21, 22, 23 and 24 (see Exhibit 3). Other identified housing sites (see Exhibit 3)
are located in less developed portions of the Dublin planning area with
minimal sources of light or glare.
The following Mitigation Measures are included in previous CEQA documents
to reduce potential light and glare impacts to a less than significant level.
Dublin Transit Center EIR
Mitigation Measure 4.1-6 requires completion of a lighting plan to ensure
that all exterior light fixtures will either be oriented downward or
equipped with cut-off lenses to ensure there is no spill-over of unwanted
light onto adjacent properties or the I-580 corridor.
Vargas MND
Mitigation Measure 3 requires pole-mounted street lights to be equipped
with cut-off lenses and oriented downward to minimize spill over of light.
Adherence to the above mitigation measures plus review of individual
housing development projects as part of required Site Development Review
(SDR) permit applications ensure that spillover of light and glare off of
individual housing sites is limited and that impacts of light and glare will be
less-than-significant.
2. Agricultural Resources
Project Impacts
a-c) Convert Prime Farmland, conflict with agricultural zoning or convert prime farmland
to anon-agricultural use? LS. Impacts with respect to conversion of prime
farmland to urban uses, discontinuation of agricultural land uses and indirect
impacts of non-renewal of Williamson Act land conservation contracts were
analyzed in the Eastern Dublin EIR for the entire Eastern Dublin Extended
Planning Area. These impacts were deemed insignificant. Approval of the draft
Housing Element anticipates future construction of residential development
projects, all but one of the housing sites would be within the Eastern Dublin
Extended Planning Area and ales-than-significant impact would result. A
majority of the housing Sites are not zoned for agriculture; however, a few of
the Sites (Sites 10, 15, 17 and 24) have a temporary agricultural zoning
classification in anticipation of future urban development on these Sites as
anticipated in the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan. None of these sites support
agricultural uses or operations.
City of Dublin Page 28
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
Proposed Site 5 is located in downtown Dublin and is within an urbanized
area. Similarly, the three housing sites in the Transit Center are within an
urbanized area. These sites are not zoned or developed for agricultural uses nor
is there a Williamson Act contract on these sites. There would be no impacts of
future housing development on these sites on agricultural resources.
3. Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Project Impacts
a) Would the project conflict or obstruct implementation of an air quality plan? NI.
Residential dwellings included in the draft Housing Element are currently
included within the Dublin General Plan and current land use projections
prepared by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), which are used
for air quality emissions included in the Bay Area Air Quality District's Clean
Air Plan.
Housing development anticipated for Site 5 in downtown Dublin would be
located in a mixed-use area with linkages to bus and BART public transit.
Housing Sites with the Transit Center (Sites 31, 22 and 23) would be located
within close proximity to the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station with regional
transportation linkages. These sites would be consistent with "smart growth"
development strategies promoted in the Clean Air Plan and other public
agencies.
No impacts are therefore anticipated with respect to conflicts to or obstructions
of the Clean Air Plan.
b,c) Would the project violate any air quality or greenhouse gas emission standards or
result in cumulatively considerable air pollutants? LS. The Eastern Dublin EIR
analyzed impacts related to both project-level air quality impacts as well as
cumulative impacts to regional air quality. Identified impacts in this EIR
included Impact 3.11 / A (dust deposition from construction activity), IM 3.11 / B
(construction equipment and vehicle emissions), IM 3.11 / C (mobile sources of
Reactive Organic Gasses and Nitrogen Oxide) and IM 3.11 / E (stationary source
emissions). All of these air quality impacts were found to be significant and
unavoidable and in approving the Eastern Dublin General Plan Amendment
and Specific Plan, a Statement of Overriding. Considerations was adopted for
project and cumulative air quality emissions.
Regional air quality impacts associated with buildout of the Dublin Transit
Center was also found to be significant and unavoidable and a Statement of
Overriding Considerations was adopted by the Dublin City Council in
approving the Transit Center project. Similarly, a Statement of Overriding
Considerations was approved by the Dublin City Council for regional air
quality impacts when acting on the Fallon Village project in 2005.
City of Dublin Page 29
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
Impacts of constructing future dwellings included in the updated Housing
Element have been analyzed in previous CEQA documents identified in the
Earlier Analysis section of this Initial Study and no new analysis is required.
All air quality Mitigation Measures contained in previous CEQA documents
will continue to apply to future residential construction occurring in each of the
respective areas covered by the previous CEQA documents.
In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, such emissions is a natural process by which
some of the radiant heat from the sun is captured in the lower atmosphere of the
earth. The gases that help capture the heat are called greenhouse gases (GHG).
While greenhouse gases are not normally considered air pollutants, all of these
gases have been identified as forcing the earth's atmosphere and oceans to warm
above naturally occurring temperatures. Some greenhouse gases occur naturally in
the atmosphere, while others result from human activities. Naturally occurring
greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and
ozone. Certain human activities add to the levels of most of these natural occurring
gases.
Some effects of greenhouse gas emissions include:
• A diminishing Sierra snow pack declining by 70% to 90%, threatening the
state's water supply.
• Increasing temperatures from 8 to 10.4 degrees F under the higher emission
scenarios, leading to a 25 to 35% increase in the number of days ozone
pollution levels are exceeded in most urban areas.
• Coastal erosion along the length of California and seawater intrusion into
the Delta from a 4- to 33-inch rise in sea level. This would exacerbate
flooding in already vulnerable regions.
• Increased vulnerability of forests due to pest infestation and increased
temperatures.
• Increased challenges for the state's important agriculture industry from
limited water shortage, increasing temperatures, and saltwater intrusion
into the Delta.
• Increased electricity demand, particularly in the hot summer months.
In September 2006, the California legislature passed the California Global
Warming Solutions Act (CGWSA), which was added to Health and Safety Code
Section 38500 (also commonly referred to as AB32). The CGWSA states that global
warming poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health, natural
resources, and the environment of California.
The CGWSA requires that the state reduce emissions of GHG to 19901evels by
2020. This reduction will be accomplished through an enforceable statewide cap on
GHG emissions that will be phased-in starting in 2012. To implement the cap,
CGWSA directs the California Air Resources Board (GARB) to develop
appropriate regulations and establish a mandatory reporting system to track and
monitor GHG emission levels.
City of Dublin Page 30
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
At this time, neither CARB nor any other agency has adopted regulatory standards for
greenhouse gas emissions. To assess the potential for significant impacts, this initial
study examines whether the housing element would conflict with or impede the
implementation of AB 32 relating to greenhouse gas emissions or other applicable
laws. New development under the housing element would be proposed by private
developers and subject to the City's permitting process. The City of Dublin and other
governmental agencies currently enforce a number of programs and requirements to
make development more energy efficient, to provide alternative modes of travel that
reduce vehicular traffic and other similar measures that reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. A ntt~mber of these include:
• Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards and Green Building
Standards to maximize building insulation, lighting requirements and
similar standards.
• Appliance Energy Standards adopted by the California Energy
Commission to improve heating and cooling appliances used in
residential dwellings.
• Transportation energy efficiency standards as required by the City of
Dublin, including but not limited to installation of sidewalks, bike lanes
and bus turnouts.
• Water Use Efficiency, which limits use of water for irrigation pursuant to
Chapter 8.88 of the Dublin Municipal Code. New residential development
may also be required to connect to DSRSD's recycled water facilities for
irrigation if such facilities are located adjacent to or near such residential
development.
• The City of Dublin has adopted stringent requirements for recycling of
household materials as well as construction debris.
With implementation of these programs and requirements, potential impacts
related to greenhouse gas emissions are less than significant.
d) Expose sensitive receptors to significant pollutant concentrations? LS. The Project
anticipates the construction of new dwelling units that could be occupied by
sensitive receptor populations (senior citizens, chronically ill individuals, etc.).
Future individual housing projects located near sources of major pollutants
(generally freeways, arterial roadways and similar generators) will be reviewed
to ensure that: a) the location of housing on individual sites will minimize air
quality impacts to sensitive receptors, and b) appropriate on site pollutants
control features, such as air conditioning systems, will be included with such
housing developments. This review will take place as part of the normal and
customary City of Dublin review process, including but not limited to Stage 2
Development Plans and applications for Site Development Review permits.
e) Create objectionable odors? NI. The Project would not result in new land uses that
would emit objectionable odors. No impacts are therefore anticipated.
City of Dublin Page 31
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
4. Biological Resources
Project Impacts
a-c) Have a substantial adverse impact on a candidate, sensitive, special-status species
riparian habitat or wetlands? LS. Future housing projects that could be
constructed in the City of Dublin pursuant to the updated Housing Element are
subject to guiding policies contained in the Environmental Resources
Management/ Conservation Element of the Dublin General Plan. This Element
contains both guiding and implementing polices to protect stream corridors
and riparian vegetation (Section 7.1), provisions for erosion and siltation
control (Section 7.2) and protection of oak woodlands (Section 5.3).
Downtown Core Specific Plan MND
special-status species or wetlands.
Eastern Dublin EIR
Potential impacts to candidate, special-status species, wetlands and riparian
habitats within the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning Area were analyzed in
the Eastern Dublin EIR. This EIR identified potential impacts related to the
general effects of potential development in the Eastern Dublin Extended
Planning Area, including direct habitat loss; indirect habitat loss due to
vegetation removal for construction and development activities; and, loss or
degradation of sensitive habitat (IM 3.7/A, B, and C). The Eastern Dublin EIR
also identified potential impacts related to wildlife species such as the San
Joaquin Kit Fox, California Red-Legged Frog (CRLF), California Tiger
Salamander (CTS), and others (IM 3.7/D - S). Raptor electrocutions associated
with proposed high-voltage power lines were addressed in depth in the 1993
Eastern Dublin EIR (IM 3.7/L), and included a number of Mitigation Measures
(MM 3.7/26.Oa-d). Mitigation Measures were adopted to, among other things,
prepare resource management plans, avoid development in sensitive areas, and
revegetate disturbed areas (generally Mitigation Measure 3.7/ 1.0 - 28.0). All
site-specific housing developments proposed within the Eastern Dublin
Extended Planning Area are required to comply with all of these Mitigation
Measures, including future housing projects anticipated in the updated
Housing Element.
Even with mitigation, the City concluded that the cumulative loss or
degradation of botanically sensitive habitat was a significant and unavoidable
impact (IM 3.7/ C). Upon approval of the Eastern Dublin GPA / SP, the City
adopted a Statement of Overriding Considerations for this significant
unavoidable impact (Resolution No. 53-93).
City of Dublin Page 32
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
Dublin Transit Center EIR
Impacts to special-status plant species were identified in the Dublin Transit
Center EIR, including Congdon's Tarplant, and Mitigation Measure 4.3-1 was
adopted to reduce this impact to ales-than-significant level by requiring
transplantation of Congdon's Tarplant seeds off -site. Mitigation Measure 4.3-2
reduced impacts to California Red-Legged Frogs (CRLF) to a less-than-
significant level by requiring preconstruction surveys for these species and, if
found, requiring developers to work with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to
develop a mitigation program. Potential impacts to Burrowing Owl species
were reduced to ales-than-significant level by requiring pre-construction
surveys for these species and safely relocating owls to an approved off-site
location. Future development of housing projects on Sites 21, 22 and 23 are
required to comply with these measures.
Dublin Ranch West SEIR
A number of supplemental biological resource Mitigation Measures were
adopted as part of the Dublin Ranch West Supplemental EIR to reduce impacts
to aless-than-significant level. These supplemental measures included SM-BIO-
1, SM-BIO-2 and SM-BIO-4 dealing with California Tiger Salamander (CTS)
species and Supplemental Mitigation Measure BIO-5 to protect CTS and other
species. Other Supplemental Mitigation Measures in this SEIR included SM-
BIO-6 through 15 for impacts to other plant and wildlife species. Future
housing projects located in this planning area are required to comply with
these Mitigation Measures.
Fallon Village SEIR
The 2005 Fallon Village Supplemental EIR contained Supplemental Mitigation
Measures Biological-1 through 4 to reduce impacts to central coast riparian
scrub habitat, and CTS and CRLF species to aless-than-significant level. This
Supplemental EIR also contained a number of modifications to Eastern Dublin
EIR Mitigation Measures. Future construction on Sites 2, 3, 4, 7, 8,11, 13, 18 and
19 are required to comply with these measures.
Fallon Crossing MND
The 2006 Fallon Crossing MND contained Mitigation Measures 17 through 33
to reduce impacts to special-status plants, wildlife and wetlands to a less-than-
significant level. Future housing construction on Site 20 is required to comply
with these measures.
Vargas MND
The 2007 Vargas MND contained Mitigation Measures 7 through 18 to reduce
impacts to special-status plants, wildlife and wetlands to ales-than-significant
City of Dublin Page 33
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
level. Future housing development on Site 6 is required to adhere to these
mitigations.
Casamira Vallee SEIR
The Casamira Valley Supplemental EIR includes Supplemental Mitigation
Measures 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 3, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 6a, 6b,
7 and 8 to reduce impacts to CTS, CRLF, Congdon's Tarplant and wetland
areas to aless-than-significant level. Future housing development on Sites 9
and 14 are required to comply with these measures.
Developers of future housing projects on sites identified in the updated
Housing Element are required to comply with all of the above Mitigation
Measures, as applicable to each respective site. Cumulative loss or degradation
of botanically sensitive habitat as identified in the Eastern Dublin EIR will
remain significant and unavoidable for those housing sites in the Eastern
Dublin Extended Planning Area and a Statement of Overriding Considerations
was adopted for this impact.
d) Interfere with movement of native fish or wildlife species? LS. Adherence to adopted
Mitigation Measures identified in the above subsection will reduce any impacts
related to movement of fish or wildlife species to aless-than-significant level.
e, f) Conflict with local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources or any adopted
Habitat Conservation Plans or Natural Community Conservation Plans? NI. No
Habitat Conservation Plans or Natural Community Conservation Plans have
been established in the City of Dublin. Future development that could be
facilitated by the proposed Project is required to comply with all City
ordinances and requirements protecting biological resources, including impacts
to heritage trees. No impacts would therefore result.
5. Cultural Resources
Pro'ec~ t Impacts
a) Cause substantial adverse change to significant historic resources? LS. A majority of
pgtential housing sites identified on Exhibit 3 are vacant and there would be no
impact with substantial changes to historic resources. Potentially significant
impacts to historic structures and related resources have been identified in the
Fallon Village planning area (Sites 2, 3, 4, 7, 8,11, 13, 18 and 19). The
Supplemental EIR for the Fallon Village project includes Supplemental
Mitigation Measures Cultural-1 through -4 to reduce impacts to potentially
significant historic resources to a level of less-than-significant. Future site-
specific housing applications filed within the Fallon Village planning area are
required to adhere to the Fallon Village Supplemental Mitigation Measures.
b-d) Cause a substantial adverse impact or destruction to archeological or paleontological
resources, or human remains that may be interred outside of a formal cemetery? LS.
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
The Eastern Dublin EIR identifies a remote but potentially significant
possibility that construction activities, including site grading, trenching and
excavation, may uncover significant archeological and / or paleontological
resources on development sites within the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning
Area. Mitigation Measures 3.9 / 1.0 through 3.9 / 4.0 for Impact 3.9 / A require,
subsurface testing for archeological resources, if such are found during site
disturbance; recordation and mapping of such resources; and, development of
a protection program for resources which qualify as "significant" under Section
15064.5 of the CEQA Guidelines (then Appendix K). Mitigation Measures
3.9 / 5.0 and 3.9 / 6.0, also were adopted to address Eastern Dublin IM 3.9 / B, the
potential disruption of any previously unidentified pre-historic resources.
These measures require cessation of construction activities until uncovered
cultural resources can be assessed by a qualified archeologist and a remediation
plan approved by the City of Dublin consistent with CEQA Guidelines.
Future housing developments in the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning Area
that could be facilitated as a result of the updated Housing Element are
required to comply with these measures to ensure these impacts will remain
less-than-significant.
The Dublin Transit Center EIR identified potentially significant impacts to
unrecorded buried cultural resources. Mitigation Measure 4.4-1 mirrors the
Eastern Dublin EIR requirement for compliance with CEQA Guidelines Section
15064.5.
With regard to Site 5, potential impacts to paleontological, archeological,
religious or cultural resources were found to be less-than significant in the 2000
MND for the Downtown Core Specific Plan. As noted on page 35 of the
Downtown Core Specific Plan MND, future developments within the
Downtown Core Specific Plan area will be conditioned to protect buried
archeological and similar resources.
Therefore, impacts to subsurface archeological, paeeontological or human
remains would be less-than-significant.
6. Geology and Soils
Project Impacts
a) Expose people or structures to potential substantial adverse impacts, including loss,
injury or death related to ground rupture, seismic ground shaking, ground failure, or
landslides? LS. The proposed Project would facilitate construction of new
dwellings through implementation of the updated Housing Element. Potential
impacts related to soil and geologic impacts on future residential construction
will be reduced by adherence to the Seismic Safety Element of the Dublin
General Plan. This Element addresses impacts related to groundshaking,
ground rupture, and soil-based hazards, such as differential settlement,
liquefaction and landslides. One of the Guiding Policies of this Element states
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
that "geological hazards shall be mitigated or development shall be located
away from geological hazards in order to preserve life, protect property and
reasonably limit the financial risks to the City of Dublin and other public
agencies that would result from damage to poorly located public facilities."
Eastern Dublin EIR
For properties located within the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning Area, the.
Eastern Dublin EIR contains a number of Mitigation Measures to reduce
anticipated geology and soils impacts for site-specific development projects.
These include:
• Mitigation Measure 3.6 / 1.0 reduced the primary effects of ground
shaking (Impact 3.6/B) by requiring conformity with seismic safety
requirements of applicable building codes. Even with adherence to this
mitigation, this impact was considered significant and unavoidable.
Mitigation Measures 3.6 / 2.0-7.0 reduced impacts related to the
secondary effects of seismic ground shaking to ales-than-significant
level (Impact 3.6 / C). These measures require placement of structures
set back from unstable landforms; stabilization of unsuitable land
forms; use of engineered retention structures and installation of
suitable subdrains and appropriate design of fill material; and,
preparation of design level geotechnical studies.
• Mitigation Measures 3.6 / 9.0 and 10.0 reduced impacts related to
substantial alteration of landforms in the Eastern Dublin area to a less-
than-significant level by limiting grading on steeply sloping areas and
by appropriate siting of roads and structures to minimize grading
(Impact 3.6/D).
Mitigation Measures 3.6 / 11.0-13.0 reduced impacts related to shallow
groundwater to ales-than-significant level (Impacts 3.6/F and G).
These measures require submittal of detailed geotechnical
investigations to investigate possible risks of groundwater conditions
to proposed improvements, control of high groundwater through
installation of subdrains and removal of stock ponds then in the
Eastern Dublin area.
• Mitigation Measures 3.6/14.0-16.0 reduced impacts related to shrink-
swell soil hazards to ales-than-significant level (Impact 3.6/H). These
measures require controlling moisture in the soil surrounding
individual development projects and appropriately designed
foundations.
• Mitigation Measures 3.6/ 17.0-19.0 reduced impacts related to natural
slope stability to aless-than-significant level (Impact 3.6 / I). These
measures require appropriate siting of improvements to avoid
unstable soils, remedial grading where needed to remove unstable
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
soils and installation of subdrains and other improvements to
minimize soil stability impacts.
Mitigation Measures 3.6/20.0-26.0 reduced impacts related to stability
of cut-and-fill slope to ales-than-significant level (Impact 3.6 / J).
These measures require minimizing the use of grading when sitting
proposed improvements, conformance to local grading requirements,
minimizing the angle of cut-and-fill sloes to 3:1 and use of engineering
techniques to stabilize manufactures slopes.
• Mitigation Measures 3.6/27.0 and 28.0 reduced impacts related to
erosion and sedimentation to ales-than-significant level (Impacts
3.6/K and L). These measures require general limitations on grading to
avoid the rainy season.of each year and require installation of erosion
control improvements.
All future housing projects constructed pursuant to the updated Housing
Element are required to comply with the Seismic Safety Element of the General
Plan and, for site-specific projects within the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning
Area, with the Eastern Dublin EIR Mitigation Measures, to reduce this impact
to aless-than-significant level. Guiding Policy A of this Element directs
development away from soil and geologic hazards to preserve life and protect
property.
b) Is the site subject to substantial erosion and/or the loss of topsoil? LS. Although new.
housing would be constructed in the community pursuant to the updated
Housing Element of the General Plan, adherence to Best Management Practices
(BMPs) as required by the Alameda County Clean Water program and
enforced by the City of Dublin as part of normal and customary review of
individual development projects will ensure insignificant impacts regarding
substantial soil erosion or loss of topsoil. These BMPs typically include but are
not limited to installation of silt fences, sandbags and similar measures to
minimize substantial erosion and loss of topsoil.
c-d) Is the site located on soil that is unstable or expansive and that could result in potential
lateral spreading, liquefaction, landslide or collapse? LS. Adherence to the Seismic
Safety Element of the Dublin General Plan and, for sites analyzed in the Eastern.
Dublin EIR, Mitigation Measures for future site-specific housing sites will
ensure that impacts related to unstable soils, liquefaction, lateral spreading,
landslide and other soil hazards will be less-than-significant.
e) Have soils incapable of supporting on-site septic tanks if sewers are not available? NI.
All new housing projects are required by the City of Dublin to connect to the
local sewer system, maintained by the Dublin San Ramon Services District. No
impacts would therefore result with regard to septic systems.
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update ~ December 2009
7. Hazards and Hazardous Materials
Project Impacts
a) Create significant hazards to the public or the environment through the routine
transport, use or disposal hazardous materials? NI. Implementation of the proposed
Housing Element would not involve any industrial, manufacturing or similar
land uses or activities that would use, generate, transport or store significant
quantities of hazardous materials. The intent of the proposed Housing Element
is to encourage construction of new housing u1 Dublin. No impact is
anticipated with regard to this topic.
b, c) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably
foreseeable upset and accidental conditions involving the release of hazardous materials
into the environment or emit hazardous materials or handle hazardous or acutely
hazardous materials, substances or wastes within one-quarter mile of an existing or
proposed school LS. The proposed Project anticipates future residential
development which is not expected to create hazardous emissions. A majority
of the housing sites are vacant and have historically been used for agriculture.
One or more candidate housing sites could contain some level of hazardous
materials as a result of existing or previous uses or activities on that site or
sites, including Site 5. As part of the normal and customary City of Dublin
demolition permit process, future site-specific housing applicants must obtain
clearance from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District regarding the
presence of asbestos building materials, lead based paints and any other
potentially hazardous materials that could be emitted during building
demolition. If found, such materials must be remediate prior to commencement
of demolition activities.
No existing or planned public schools are located within aone-quarter mile
radius of an identified hazardous materials site.
Sites 21, 22 and 23, located within the Dublin Transit Center, are subject to
Mitigation Measures 4.6-1 and -2. The first measure that requires completion of
Phase I and, if necessary, Phase II level environmental investigations to ensure
that less-than-significant levels of soil and/or groundwater contamination are
present on these sites and requires future developers to clean up significant
deposits of contaminated material, as required by appropriate regulatory
agencies. The second measure avoids disturbance of an existing petroleum
pipeline during construction.
Sites 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 13, 18 and 19 are subject to supplemental hazardous
materials Mitigation Measures contained in the 2005 Fallon Village
Supplemental EIR.
d) Be listed on a site that is included on a list of hazardous materials sites complied on the
Cortese List and, as a result, would create a significant hazard to the public or
environment? LS. None of the housing sites shown on Exhibit 3 are listed on the
California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) Cortese List of
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
hazardous sites as of October 13, 2009. The Cortese List identifies one
potentially contaminated site in Dublin, which is Camp Parks RFTA (also
known as Camp Parks). Camp Parks RFTA is located north of Sites 22 and 23
and adherence to Dublin Transit Center Mitigation Measure 4.6-1, will reduce
this impact related to military use to a less-than significant level. This
Mitigation Measure requires preparation of a Phase I Environmental Site
Assessment for future site-specific developments in the Dublin Transit Center
to ensure that no significant quantities of soil or groundwater contamination
has migrated south from Camp Parks RFTA onto the Transit Center site. If
warranted by the results of the Phase I report, additional studies for hazardous
materials are required and remediate, if found.
elf) Is the site located within an airport land use plan of a public airport or private airstrip?
LS. A number of the housing sites are located within the Airport Influence Area
(AIA) of Livermore Municipal Airport, located south of the I-580 freeway in the
City of Livermore. These are sites 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and
24 (See EDSP EIR Figure 3.1-D, Airport Referral Area). Future housing projects
constructed pursuant to the updated Housing Element are required to be
referred to the Alameda County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) to
ensure consistency with the Alameda County Airport Land Use Plan. This is
anticipated to be aless-than-significant impact.
g) Interference with an emergency evacuation plan? NI. Future housing units
constructed as a result of updating the Housing Element will be constructed on
private lands and will be reviewed by the Dublin Fire and Police Departments
to ensure that no interference with emergency plans would occur. No impacts
are anticipated with regard to this topic.
h) Expose people and structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving
wildland fires or where residences are intermixed with wildlands? LS. A number of
housing sites are located within urban/wildland interface areas where there is
a moderate to high potential for wildland fires. These are sites 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8,
9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19 and 20. All of these sites lie within the Eastern Dublin
Extended Planning Area. Future site-specific housing projects constructed on
these sites are subject to Eastern Dublin EIR Mitigation Measures 3.4/9.0 -12.0
that requires individual development projects to incorporate fire safety
components, including buffer zones, fire trails and fire breaks. With adherence
to these measures, the impact of wildland fire will be less-than-significant.
Site 5 and Sites 21, 22 and 231ocated in the Dublin Transit Center are not
located in an urban/wild land interface area, so no impacts would result.
8. Hydrology and Water Quality
Project Impacts
a) Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements? LS.
Construction of new dwellings anticipated in the updated Housing Element
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
have been included in the current Dublin General Plan and incorporated into
Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD) wastewater master planning by
the District. The issue of exceedances of water quality standards and waste
discharge requirements have also been previously analyzed in earlier CEQA
documents identified in the Earlier Analysis section of this Initial Study.
Implementation of the updated Housing Element would not exceed waste
discharge requirements imposed on DSRSD by the Regional Water Quality
Control Board.
Site 5 is located within downtown Dublin and is presently developed with
commercial land uses.
This would be aless-than-significant impact.
b) Substantially deplete groundwater recharge areas or lowering of water table? NI.
Although the construction of additional dwelling units would likely result
from updating the Housing Element, the primary source of water to dwellings
is imported surface water supplied by DSRSD and Zone 7 that does not
primarily rely on local groundwater.
Mitigation Measures 3.5/49.0 and 50.0 contained in the Eastern Dublin EIR,
where the majority of housing sites are located, minimized the impact of
reduced groundwater recharge areas to an insignificant level (Impact 3.5 / Z).
The two Mitigation Measures require that facilities be~planned and
management practices selected that protect and enhance water quality and that
Zone 7 programs for groundwater recharge be supported.
There would be no impact with lowering of the water table or reducing the
amount of groundwater recharge areas.
c) Substantially alter drainage patterns, including streambed courses such that
substantial siltation or erosion would occur? LS. The updated Housing Element
would result in construction on currently vacant or underutilized properties.
This construction could result in a greater quantity of stormwater runoff as a
result of increasing the amount of impervious surfaces. The City of Dublin
enforces Best Management Practices included in the Alameda County Clean
Water Plan to minimize siltation and erosion from individual sites. These
include both construction and post-construction BMPs, including but not
limited to requiring installation of silt fences and straw bales on construction
sites and frequent sweeping of parking areas, covering of solid waste
dumpsters and other post-construction measures. Implementation of BMPs is
required for all new development, so there would be no significant impacts
from altered drainage patterns.
Eastern Dublin EIR Mitigation Measures 3.5 / 44.0-48.0 reduced the potentially
significant impact of flooding from increased runoff (Impact 3.5 / Y). These
measures require storm drainage master planning (MM 3.5/46.0); natural
channel improvements wherever possible (MM 3.5 / 45.0) drainage facilities
that minimize any increased potential for erosion or flooding (MM 3.5/44.0);
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
and, provision of facilities to control downstream flooding (MM 3.5 / 47.0).
These measures are applied to new housing developments in Eastern Dublin
to reduce impacts to drainage patterns and erosion to a level of insignificance.
d,e) Substantially alter drainage patterns or result in flooding, either on or off the project
site, create stormwater runoff that would exceed the capacity of drainage systems or
add substantial amounts of polluted runoff? NI. Refer to item "c," above. Also, Site
5 and Sites 21, 22 and 23 located in the Dublin Transit Center area are
relatively flat so there is minimal flooding potential from hillside runoff.
f) Substantially degrade water quality? LS. The City of Dublin requires all individual
development projects, including future housing projects facilitated as a result
of an updated Housing Element, to meet Best Management Practices to ensure
that water quality would be protected. Best Management Practices are
described above in Section 8c of this Initial Study.
In addition, Mitigation Measures 3.5/51.0 -55.OA contained in the Eastern
Dublin EIR reduced the impact of non-point source pollution into local
waterways, including urban runoff, non-stormwater discharges, subsurface
drainages and construction runoff (Impact 3.5/AA). With the implementation
of Mitigation Measures requiring each development to prepare project-specific
water quality investigations addressing this issue, the development of a
community-based non-point-source control education program and other
requirements, this potential impact and potential cumulative impact would be
reduced to a level of insignificance.
A less-than-significant impact is anticipated with regard to this topic.
g-i) Place housing within a 100-year flood hazard area as mapped by a Flood Insurance
Rate Map, or impede or redirect flood flow, including dam failure? NI. None of the
identified housing sites are located in a 100-year flood hazard area so there
would be no impact with respect to this topic. This is based on Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps
Community Panel Numbers 06001C0302G, 06001C0304G, 06001C0306G,
06001C0308G, 06001C0309G, 06001C0326G, 06001C0328G, 06001C0329G dated
August 3, 2009. These maps are incorporated by reference into this Initial Study
and are available for review at the Dublin Community Development
Department during normal business hours.
j) Result in inundation by seiche, tsunami or mudflows? NI. There are expected to be
no impacts with regard to seiche, tsunami or mudflows, since housing sites
would be located inland from major bodies of water. Mitigation Measures
3.6/ 17.0 through 19.0 contained in the Eastern Dublin EIR provide protection
from slope failures of natural slopes (Impact 3.6/I) by limiting new
development on unstable soils, removal and replacement of unstable soils and
similar actions.
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
9. Land LTse and Planning
Project Impacts
a) Physically divide an established community? NI. Construction of future dwellings
under the auspices of an updated Housing Element would proceed based on
the Dublin General Plan and other land use regulatory documents, including
the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan and Downtown Core Specific Plan and would
not physically divide an established community. No impacts are anticipated.
b) Conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy or regulation? NI. The draft
Housing Element includes potential housing opportunity sites, as required by
the State of California. These are shown on Exhibit 3. No amendments are
required to the Dublin General Plan and no rezonings are required to allow
construction of anticipated dwellings. Future housing developments
anticipated in the updated Housing Element are required to obtain subdivision
maps, Site Development Review (SDR) permits, building permits and
potentially other permits from the City of Dublin.
c) Conflict with a habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan? NI.
No such plan has been adopted within the City of Dublin. There would
therefore be no impact to a habitat conservation plan or natural community
conservation plan.
10. Mineral Resources
Project Impacts
a, b) Result in the loss of availability of regionally or locally significant mineral resources?
NI. No impacts would occur to any mineral resources, since no such resources
are identified in Dublin in the Dublin General Plan.
11. Noise
Project Impacts .
a) Would the project expose persons or generation of noise levels in excess of standards
established by the General Plan or other applicable standard: LS. Construction of
future dwellings in Dublin under the auspices of the updated Housing Element
could be located on sites in moderate to high noise level areas of the
community, including but not limited to the I-580 Freeway, the I-680 Freeway,
Tassajara Road and Fallon Road. Future housing units on those sites could
expose future residents to noise levels in excess of noise standards established
in the Noise Element of the General Plan.
Other noise sources in the community include noise from BART operations and
stationary noise sources associated with land uses and activities.
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
A number of Mitigation Measures have been adopted within various previous
CEQA documents that address noise impacts. These measures are applied to
site-specific housing developments to reduce impacts related to exposure of
noise levels above General Plan standards to aless-than-significant level.
Downtown Core Specific Plan MND
This Initial Study /Mitigated Negative Declaration found that increases in
existing noise levels in the downtown portion of Dublin would be less-than-
significantbased on existing levels of noise. The Downtown Core Specific Plan
notes that future residential projects would be subject to Site Development
Reviews by the City of Dublin to ensure consistency with City and state noise
standards.
Eastern Dublin EIR
Eastern Dublin EIR Mitigation Measure 3.10/ 1.0 reduced impacts to housing
located along major roadways to aless-than-significant level by requiring
developers of housing projects proposed within a future 60 decibel CNEL noise
contour to complete an acoustic analysis to ensure that City and State noise
standards can be achieved. This measure applies to future site-specific housing
proposed on Housing Element sites within the Eastern Dublin Extended
Planning Area. Mitigation Measure 3.10 / 3.0 for Impact 3.10 / O similarly
requires acoustic analyses for housing sites near Parks RFTA for compliance
with City noise exposure levels; however, even with this mitigation, Impact
3.10 / O was determined to be significant and unavoidable and a Statement of
Overriding Considerations was approved. Mitigation Measure 3.10 / 6.0
requires the preparation of noise management plans for all mixed-use
developments within the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning Area. This
measure would reduce noise generated by mixed-use development to a level of
insignificance.
The Eastern Dublin EIR also determined that residences in existence as of
certification of the Eastern Dublin EIR would be subject to increased roadway
noise and that mitigation of this impact to ales-than-significant level was
infeasible (Impact 3.10/B). This significant and unavoidable impact was
included in the Statement of Overriding Considerations that was adopted with
approval of the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan.
Dublin Transit Center EIR
The Dublin Transit Center EIR contains noise Mitigation Measures 4.9-2a that
requires site-specific acoustic analyses for residential projects within the Transit
Center to ensure that appropriate noise standards are met. These measures
apply to future housing projects within the Transit Center.
b) Exposure of people to excessive groundborne vibration or groundborne noise levels? NI.
It is unlikely that construction of future housing units allowed under an
updated Housing Element would result in significant levels of vibration, since
City of Dublin Page 43
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
normal construction methods would be used. No impacts are anticipated with
regard to this topic. '
c,d) Substantial permanent or temporary increases in permanent in ambient noise levels?
LS. Future residential development in Dublin resulting from implementation of
an updated Housing Element could cause a temporary increase in ambient
noise levels as a result of construction activities, including but not limited to
demolition of existing structures (if needed), site grading and preparation and
construction activities. The Eastern Dublin EIR includes Mitigation Measures
3.10/4.0 and 5.0 to reduce construction noise impacts to a level of insignificance
through preparation and submittal of Construction Noise Management Plans
to ensure compliance with local noise standards. The Dublin Transit Center EIR
includes Mitigation Measure 4.9-1 to require all project developers in the
Transit Center to prepare and implement Construction Noise Management
Plans to minimize noise to surrounding properties.
Adherence to Mitigation Measures cited in subsection "a," above will reduce
permanent noise impacts from future housing projects on sites identified in the
updated Housing Element to aless-than-significant level.
e,f) Be located within an airport land use plan area, within two miles of a public or private
airport or airstrip? LS. A number of housing sites (including sites 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10,
11, 13, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24) are located in the General Airport Referral
Area for Livermore Municipal Airport, located south of I-580 within the City of
Livermore (see Eastern Dublin EIR Exhibit 3.1-D). Individual site-specific
housing developments that could be facilitated by the updated Housing
Element are required to be referred to the Alameda County Airport Land Use
Commission for a consistency determination with the Alameda County Airport
Land Use Compatibility Plan. The Alameda County Airport Land Use
Compatibility Plan adopted the California Office of Noise Control noise
exposure standards for residential uses, which is generally consistent with City
of Dublin noise standards.
The Dublin Transit Center EIR contains Mitigation Measure 4.9-3 that requires
future residents of the Transit Center to be provided with advance notice of the
potential for future helicopter noise from Parks RFTA.
12. Population and Housing
Project Impacts
a) Induce substantial population growth in an area, either directly or indirectly? NI.
Residential development that could be facilitated as a result of adopting and
implementing an updated Housing Element would not cause substantial
population growth in Dublin, since anticipated dwellings are currently
included in the Dublin General Plan. No impacts are anticipated.
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
b,c) Would the project displace substantial numbers of existing housing units or people
requiring replacement housing? NI. Adoption of the updated Housing Element
and construction of residences pursuant to the updated Element would likely
not displace people and residential dwellings. A majority of the sites are
currently vacant and approximately five sites are occupied by a single
dwelling. None of the housing would be displaced except as requested by the
respective property owner, likely in connection with a future development
application. No impacts are anticipated.
13. Public Services
Environmental Impacts
a) Fire protection? LS. The City of Dublin contracts with Alameda County Fire
Department for fire suppression, emergency medical, rescue and fire inspection
services. Additional housing that could be built in Dublin under the auspices of
the updated Housing Element could result in an increase in the number of calls
for emergency services. The potential for increases in such calls have been
analyzed in earlier EIRs as identified in the Earlier Analysis section of this
Initial Study.
Identified impacts to the provision of fire service were reduced to a less-than-
significant level in the Eastern Dublin EIR by adherence to Mitigation Measures
3.4/6.0 through 11.0. These measures require the timing of facilities to coincide
with new service demand from development; establishment of appropriate
funding mechanisms to cover up-front costs of capital fire improvements;
acquisition of future fire stations in Eastern Dublin; and, incorporation of Fire
Department safety recommendations into the design of all future individual
development projects in Eastern Dublin.
Future residential development in the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning Area
is subject to the above Mitigation Measures to reduce fire service impacts to a
less-than-significant level. Future site-specific developments are also required
to pay City of Dublin public facilities fees, which include funds to construct
new local fire facilities.
The Dublin Transit Center EIR anticipated no fire service impact regarding
future development since payment of public facilities fees will be required.
Impact 4.12-1 and its related Mitigation Measure anticipated .the potential for
buildings exceeding 6 stores in height and required fire protection measures in
such cases.
Site 5 in downtown Dublin is currently served by the Alameda County Fire
Department from Station 16 located at 7494 Donohue Drive, just north of Site 5.
b) Police protection? LS. Similar to fire service, there would likely be an increase in
the number of calls for service to the Dublin Police Department based on an
increase in residential development. The majority of anticipated housing
City of Dublin Page 45
Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
included in the updated Housing Element is proposed for the Eastern Dublin
Extended Planning Area.
The 1993 Eastern Dublin EIR included Mitigation Measure 3.4 / 1.0 that
provides additional personnel and facilities and revision to police beats as
necessary in order to establish and maintain City standards for police
protection service in Eastern Dublin. Mitigation Measures 3.4/3.0-5.0 reduced
impacts'to the Police Department by requiring incorporation of safety
requirements into the requirements of future development projects,
appropriate budgeting of police services by the City and police review of
individual development projects in the Eastern Dublin area.
Future site-specific housing developments that could be facilitated under the
updated Housing Element are required to adhere to these police protection
measures to ensure such impacts will be less-than-significant. Future
residential developments are also required to pay City public facilities fees, a
portion of which is intended to fund new police facilities.
c) Schools? LS. Public educational services in Dublin are provided by the Dublin
Unified School District. The District maintains a number of K-12 schools
throughout Dublin. There are also a number of private educational facilities in
the community. Future residential development that could be facilitated by the
updated Housing Element would generate additional school-aged children that
would need to be accommodated by local schools, however new residential
development is subject to statutory school impact fees which will provide for
new public educational facilities in the community.
d) Maintenance of public facilities, including roads? LS. Any new public faalities that
would be constructed as part of any future housing development would be
constructed to City standard so that a less than-significant impact would occur.
e) Solid waste generation? LS. See item 16, below.
14. Recreation
Project Impacts
a) Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood or regional parks? LS. New
dwellings built as a result of the updated Housing Element would require new
or expanded parks in order to maintain the City's park goal. City park goals are
to provide a total of 5 usable acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, which
includes 3.5 acres of larger community parks per 1,000 residents and 1.5 acres of
smaller neighborhood parks and square per 1,000 residents. The City also
encourages development of an integrated trail network and other open spaces
which are not included in the park ratio goals (source: City of Dublin Parks and
Recreation Master Plan, February, 2004). The City of Dublin requires housing
developers to either dedicate parkland to the City to meet City goals or pay an
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
in-lieu public facility fee that includes funding to allow the City to purchase
parkland.
Potential impacts with respect to increased demand for park facilities as a result
of residential construction were analyzed in the Eastern Dublin EIR. Impact
3.4 / K identified a potentially significant impact with demand for increased park
facilities as a result of buildout of the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan area.. A
number of Mitigation Measures were included in the EIR to reduce this impact
to ales-than-significant impact. Specifically, Mitigation Measures 3.4/20.0
through 28.0 addressed park mitigations. These measures called for the
acquisition and development of additional parks in the Eastern Dublin
Extended Planning Area, establishment of a continuous open space network
that includes natural open spaces and required preparation of a Parks and
Recreation Master Plan. Future development of site-specific housing projects in
the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning Area under the auspices of the updated
Housing Element is required to adhere to these measures.
b) Does the project include recreational facilities or require the construction of recreational
facilities? LS. As noted in the "a," above, the City of Dublin will require either
dedication of parkland as part of new residential development or payment of
park in-lieu fees. Aless-than-significant impact is anticipated with regard to this
topic.
15. Transportation/Traffic
Project Impacts
a, b) Cause an increase in traffic which is substantial relative to existing traffic load and
street; or exceed LOS standards established by the County CMA for designated roads?
LS. There would likely be increases in traffic on local roads, regional roads and
freeways as a result of the implementation of an updated Housing Element.
Impacts of local and regional traffic from residential development have been
analyzed in the previous CEQA documents adopted by the City and are
identified in the Earlier Analysis section of this document. Many impacts
related to transportation and traffic can be reduced,to aless-than-significant
level; however, as noted below, a number of impacts have been determined to
be significant and unavoidable. Impacts and mitigations from previous CEQA
document include:
Downtown Core Specific Plan MND
This document found that traffic and transportation impacts of adopting and
implementing the Downtown Core Specific Plan would result in a less-than-
significant impact on adjacent intersections with completion of transportation
improvements within the downtown area as identified in this Specific Plan.
These improvements include widening Golden Gate Drive from tow to four
travel lanes with two-way left-turn lanes between Dublin Boulevard and St.
Patrick Way. A second identified improvement is widening the eastbound
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
Dublin Boulevard approach at Amador Plaza Road to include a separate right-
turn lane.
Eastern Dublin EIR
• Mitigation Measures 3.3 / 1.0 and 3.3 / 4.0 were adopted which reduced
impacts on I-580 between Tassajara Road and Fallon Road and on I-680
north of I-580 to a level of insignificance (Impact 3.3 / A and D).
Mitigation Measures 3.3 / 2.0, 2.1, 3.0 and 5.0 were adopted to reduce
impacts on the remaining I-580 freeway segments and the I-580/680
interchange (Impacts 3.3/B, C and E). Even with mitigations, however,
significant cumulative impacts remained on I-580 freeway segments
between I-680 and Dougherty Road and, at the build-out scenario of 2010,
on other segments of I-580 (Impact 3.3/B and E) and this impact was
included in the Statement of Overriding Considerations.
Mitigation Measures 3.3 / 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0 and 12.0 were adopted
to reduce impacts to the Dougherty Road /Dublin Boulevard, Hacienda
Drive / I-580 Eastbound Freeway Ramps, Tassajara Road / I-580 Westbound
Freeway Ramps, Airway Boulevard/Dublin Boulevard intersections and
along El Charro Road to a level of insignificance. These mitigations include
construction of additional lanes at intersections, coordination with Caltrans
and the neighboring cities of Pleasanton and Livermore to restripe, widen
or modify on-ramps and off-ramps and interchange intersections, and
coordination with Caltrans to modify certain interchanges. Development
projects within the Eastern Dublin project area are also required to
contribute a proportionate share to the multi-jurisdictional improvements
through the Eastern Dublin Traffic Impact Fee program and the Tri-Valley
Transportation Development Fee program (Impacts 3.6 / F, G, H I, J, K and
L).
• Mitigation Measures 3.3 / 13.0 and 14.0 were adopted to reduce impacts on
identified intersections with Dublin Boulevard and Tassajara Road (Impact
3.3/M and N). The identified improvements reduced Tassajara Road
impacts to less than significant but Dublin Boulevard impacts remained
significant and unavoidable due to road widening limitations. The impact at
the Dublin Boulevard intersection was included in the Statement of
Overriding Considerations.
• Mitigation Measures 3.3 / 15.0 to 15.3, 16.0 and 16.1 generally require
coordination with transit providers to extend transit services and coincide
pedestrian and bicycle paths with signals at major street crossings (Impact
3.3/O and P).
Dublin Transit Center EIR
• Mitigation Measure 4.11-1 reduced impacts to external roadway
intersections near the Transit Center to aless-than-significant level by
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
requiring improvements to a number of nearby intersections to improve
peak hour traffic flow. The measure requires improvements to the Scarlett
Drive extension between Dougherty Road and Dublin Boulevard, the
Dougherty Road /Dublin Boulevard intersection, the I-580 /Hacienda Drive
westbound ramp and the Dougherty Road/Scarlett Drive intersection
(Impact 4.11-1).
• Mitigation Measure 4.11-3 reduced cumulative (2025) peak hour traffic
impacts at the Dougherty Road/Dublin Boulevard intersection, but not to a
less-than-significant level. In approving the Transit Center project, a
statement of overriding consideration was made by the Dublin City Council
(Impact 4.11-5).
Mitigation Measure 4.11-4 reduced impacts to other roadway segments to a
less-than-significant level by requiring improvements on Hacienda Drive
between Central Parkway and Gleason Drive. Improvements were also
required along the Scarlett Drive extension between Dublin Boulevard and
Dougherty Road (Impact 4.11-6).
The Transit Center EIR also found significant and unavoidable impacts to
nearby mainline freeway operations and a Statement of Overriding
Considerations was approved by the City Council (Impacts 4.11-7 and -8).
Dublin Ranch West Supplemental EIR
The Supplemental EIR for the Dublin Ranch West project contained two
Supplemental Mitigation Measures, TRA-1 and TRA-2, that requires the Project
developer to install traffic signals at Tassajara Road and Project entrances and
dedicate right-of-way for widening of Tassajara along the Project frontage and
elsewhere along Tassajara Road. With adherence to these measures, traffic and
transportation impacts were reduced to aless-than-significant level, except for
cumulative traffic impacts at the Dublin Boulevard and Dougherty Road
intersection, which remained significant and unavoidable. A Statement of
Overriding Considerations was adopted for this impact.
Mission Peak/Fallon Crossing MND
The Mitigated Negative Declaration-for the Mission Peak/Fallon Crossing
Project contained three Supplemental Mitigation Measures with respect to
traffic and circulation. The MND noted project impacts to the Dublin
Boulevard / Dougherty Road intersection (Impact 79), the Santa Rita / I-580
Eastbound ramps (Impact 80), and impacts to adjacent freeways (Impact 81).
• Mitigation Measure 79 requires the developer to advance funding to the
City for roadway and intersection improvements near the project site, as
identified in the MND.
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
• Mitigation Measure 80 requires the project developer to pay their fair share
of improving the Santa Rita Road / I-580 eastbound ramp /Pimlico Drive
intersection.
• Mitigation Measure 81 requires payment of Tri-Valley Transportation
Development (TVTD) fees to fund freeway improvements.
The MND concluded that with adherence to the above measures, traffic and
transportation impacts were found to be less-than-significant.
Vargas Project MND
The Vargas Project Mitigated Negative Declaration included the following
measures to reduce traffic and transportation impacts to aless-than=significant
level. These measures relate to mitigating identified impacts regarding an
insufficient width of Tassajara Road and peak hour congestion at the Dublin
Boulevard/Dougherty Road intersection.
• Mitigation Measure 29 requires the developer to widen Tassajara Road
between North Dublin Ranch Drive and the City/County line to four travel
lanes, if this improvement is not made by other nearby project developers.
• Mitigation Measures 30 and 31 require the Project developer to pay their
fair share of fees to improve the Dublin Boulevard / Dougherty Road
intersection.
Mitigation Measure 32 requires the Project developer to pay their fair share
of the cost to improve the Santa Rita Road / I-580 /Pimlico Drive intersection
to include additional travel lanes as well as to the Tassajara Road / I-580
overpass.
With adherence to these measures, traffic and transportation impacts were
determined to be less-than-significant. Future developers on the Vargas site are
required to implement these measures.
Fallon Village Supplemental EIR
This Supplemental EIR includes Supplemental Mitigation Measures Traffic 1
through 3 that require the Project developer(s) to pay fees to upgrade the
Dublin Boulevard/Dougherty Road intersection, upgrade the Santa Rita Road/
I-580 Eastbound ramp intersection and to upgrade the westbound approach on
Central Parkway at Hacienda Drive to include additional lanes. With
adherence to these measures these impacts were found to be less-than-
significant, except for cumulative traffic impacts at the Dublin
Boulevard / Dougherty Road intersection. This SEIR also found that cumulative
(2030) impacts to adjacent freeways and consistency with the Alameda County
Congestion Management Plan were significant and unavoidable impacts. A
Statement of Overriding Considerations was approved by the Dublin City
Council in approving the Fallon Village Project.
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
With adherence to the previously adopted Mitigation Measures and
Supplemental Mitigation Measures identified above, many traffic and
transportation impacts related to the implementation of the Housing Element
would be less-than-significant, although a number of cumulative impacts
would remain significant and unavoidable.
There would be no new or more severe impacts with respect to traffic increases
on local or regional roads, or CMA roads than have been previous analyzed.
c) Result in a change of air traffic patterns? NI. The proposed Project would have no
impact on air traffic patterns, since it involves an update to the Housing
Element of the General Plan.
d) Substantially increase hazards due to a design feature or incompatible use? LS. Future
individual housing projects that would be proposed in Dublin that would
assist in implementing the updated Housing Element will be reviewed by the
City of Dublin staff to ensure that City public works and engineering standards
are met and no traffic or transportation design hazards would be created. This
would be aless-than-significant impact.
e) Result in inadequate emergency access? NI. No impacts would occur with regard
to emergency access. Residential development anticipated in the updated
Housing Element would be on lands planned for urban development and
subject to City design standards for streets and other improvements.
Furthermore, any future construction is routinely reviewed by the Dublin
Police and Fire Departments to ensure that adequate emergency access is
provided.
f, g) Inadequate parking capacity or hazards to pedestrians or bicyclists? NI. There would
be no impacts with regard to parking or hazards to pedestrians or bicyclists.
The City has adopted off-street parking standards and future construction of
site-specific housing projects will be reviewed by the City of Dublin staff to
ensure that City parking requirements and safety standards for bicyclists and
pedestrians are met.
16. Utilities and. Service Systems
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the RWQCB? LS. Potentially
significant impacts related to wastewater treatment capacity and consistency
with Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) requirements were
analyzed in the 1993 Eastern Dublin EIR Impacts IM 3.5/A through E and G
generally addressed the then lack of a wastewater service provider as well as
lack of a collection system, treatment and disposal system. These impacts were
reduced to aless-than-significant level. by adherence to Mitigation Measures
3.5 / 1.Oa to 9.0 and 11.0 through 14.0 that required development of adequate
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
wastewater services and adherence to the Dublin San Ramon Services District's
Master Plan to upgrade the RWCQB-permitted capacity to accommodate
planned growth in the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning Area. Future site-
specific housing developments that could be accommodated under the updated
Housing Element are required to adhere to these Mitigation Measures as well
paying required wastewater fees to ensure this impact is less-than-significant.
b) Require new water or wastewater treatment facilities or expansion of existing facilities?
LS. The Eastern Dublin Specific Plan, Downtown Core Specific Plan and
planning for the Dublin Transit Center provide for both water and wastewater
improvements to serve future development proposed within these areas.
CEQA documents identified in the Earlier Analysis section of this Initial Study
analyzed the impacts of such facilities. All of the documents note that with
adherence to mitigation measures contained within each respective document
will reduce impacts of new or expanded water or wastewater facilities to a less-
than-significant level.
d) Are sufficient water supplies available? LS. The issue of an adequate long-term
water supply for the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning Area was analyzed in
the Eastern Dublin EIR. Impact 3.5/Q identified a potentially significant impact
with an increased demand for water. The Eastern Dublin EIR included
Mitigation Measures 3.5/26.0 to 31.0 to reduce this impact to a less-than-
significant level. These measures required imposition of water conservation
techniques, implementation of water recycling and adding water supply
improvements.
The Downtown Core Specific Plan Mitigated Negative Declaration found that
no impact with respect to provision of a long-term water supply to serve future
development proposed in the Downtown Core Specific Plan. Site 5, located in
the specific plan area, is currently developed with a number of retail buildings
and has historically been provided with domestic water. This finding was
confirmed with DSRSD staff at the time of preparation of the MND.
The primary "retail" supplier of water in Dublin, DSRSD, prepared a
comprehensive update to their Urban Water Management Plan in 2005 to
indicate that future site-specific development projects included in the Dublin
General Plan could be supplied an adequate amount of water. DSRSD has also
commenced construction of a recycled (reclaimed) water supply system in the
Eastern Dublin area that would supply non-potable irrigation water for future
site-specific housing projects that could be accommodated by the updated
Housing Element.
Consistent with DSRSD's utility master planning through its Urban Water
Management Plan which anticipated development of the Eastern Dublin
Specific Plan area, development of a mixed-use complex in the Dublin Transit
Center site and redevelopment of portions of downtown Dublin as anticipated
in the Downtown Core Specific Plan, sufficient water supplies are expected to
be available for future housing sites identified in the updated Housing
Element.
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
e) Adequate wastewater capacity to serve the proposed project? LS. See item "a," above.
e, f) Solid waste disposal? LS. Solid waste generation and disposal was found to be a
potentially significant impact in the 1993 Eastern Dublin EIR (see IM 3.4 / O and
P. Adherence to Mitigation Measures 3.7/37.0 through 40 reduced this impact
to aless-than-significant level. These measures required preparation of a solid
waste management plan and updating of the City's Source Reduction and
Recycling Element/Household Hazardous Waste Element.
More recent discussions with Waste Management, Inc. staff, operators of the
Altamont Landfill the disposal site for solid waste generated in Dublin, indicate
that the landfill has present capacity to last approximately three years, but
necessary permits are pending to extend the life of the landfill by an additional
25 years (source: Kalin Rose, Waste Management Inc., 10/22/09).
17. Mandatory Findings of Significance
a) Does the project have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment,
substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife
population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal
community, reduce the number of 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? No. The preceding analysis indicates that the proposed Project
would not have a significant adverse impact on cultural resources or have the
potential to restrict the range of rare or endangered species, beyond impacts
previously identified.
b) Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively
considerable? ("Cumulatively considerable" means that the incremental effects of
a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past
projects, the effects of other current projects and the effects of probable future
projects). No, cumulative impacts of the proposed Project have been analyzed
in previous CEQA documents as identified in the Earlier Analysis section of
this Initial Study.
c) Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects
on human beings, either directly or indirectly? No. Based on the preceding Initial
Study, no substantial effects to human beings, either directly or indirectly have
been identified.
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
Initial Study Preparers
Jerry Haag, Urban Planner, project manager and principal author
Jane Maxwell, report graphics
Agencies and Organizations Consulted
The following agencies and organizations were contacted in the course of this Initial
Study:
City of Dublin
Marnie Waffle, Senior Planner
Kit Faubion, Assistant City Attorney
Waste Management, Inc.
Kalin Rose
References
California Department of Toxic Substances Control, website, October 2009
Eastern Dublin General Plan Amendment and Specific Plan EIR (SCH #
91103064, May 10, 1993.
Downtown Core Specific Plan Mitigated Negative Declaration, December
19, 2000.
Dublin Transit Center Supplemental EIR (SCH # 20011200395), November
19, 2002
Dublin Ranch West Supplemental EIR, (SCH # 2003022082), March 15,
2005.
Final Urban Water Management Plan, 2005 Update, Dublin San Ramon
Services District, May 2005
Mission Peak/Fallon Crossing Mitigated Negative Declaration, May 16,
2006.
Vargas Project Mitigated Negative Declaration, May 1, 2007.
Casamira Valley/Moller Ranch Supplemental EIR (SCH# 2005052146),
May 1, 2007.
Fallon Village Project Supplemental EIR (SCH # 2005062010), March 4,
2008.
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009
Dublin General Plan. City of Dublin, Updated through 9 / 14 / 06
Parks and Recreation Master Plan. City of Dublin, 2004 update
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Initial Study/Housing Element Update December 2009