HomeMy WebLinkAboutREso 196-14 Housing Element Nec Dec RESOLUTION NO. 196 — 14
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
* * * * * * * * * * *
ADOPTING A NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE
•
2015-2023 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
CITY-WIDE
PLPA-2013-00031
WHEREAS, the State of California requires that Cities and Counties adopt a
comprehensive, long-term General Plan for the physical development of the City; and
WHEREAS, the Housing Element is one of seven mandated elements of the General
Plan and must address the existing and projected housing needs for all economic segments of
the community; and
WHEREAS, State law currently requires that Housing Elements be updated and adopted
within 120 days of the statutory deadline of January 31, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), together with State
Guidelines and City Environmental Regulations require that certain projects be reviewed for
environmental impacts and when applicable, environmental documents prepared; and
WHEREAS, the City prepared a Negative Declaration dated September 2014 for the
General Plan Housing Element (2015-2023) (the "Project") which reflects the City's independent
judgment and analysis of the potential environmental impacts of the Project. The Negative
Declaration, including its supporting Initial Study, is attached as Exhibit A and incorporated
herein by reference; and
WHEREAS, the Negative Declaration was circulated from September 12, 2014 through
October 13, 2014 (30 days) for public comment; and
WHEREAS, no public comments were received on the Negative Declaration; and
WHEREAS, a Staff Report, dated October 28, 2014 and incorporated herein by
reference, was submitted to the City of Dublin Planning Commission recommending City
Council adoption of the Negative Declaration and adoption of a General Plan Amendment for
the 2015-2023 Housing Element; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a properly noticed public hearing on the
p roject on October 28, adopted and ado ted Resolution 14-54 recommending City Council
resolution is incorporated herein by reference; and
adoption of the Negative Declaration, which reso p y ,
WHEREAS, a Staff Report, dated November 18, 2014. and incorporated herein by
reference, was submitted to the City of Dublin City Council recommending adoption of the
Negative Declaration and adoption of a General Plan Amendment for the 2015-2023 Housing
Element; and
I Page 1 of 2
WHEREAS, the City Council held a public hearing on the project on November 18, 2014;
and
WHEREAS, proper notice of said hearing was given in all respects as required by law;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council did hear and consider the Negative Declaration, all said
reports, recommendations and testimony herein above set forth and used its independent
judgment to evaluate the project; and
WHEREAS, the location and custodian of the documents or other material which
constitute the record of proceedings for the project is the City of Dublin Community
Development Department, City Hall, 100 Civic Plaza, Dublin, CA 94568.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Dublin City Council does hereby
find that:
1) The foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this Resolution.
2) On the basis of the whole record before it, there is no substantial evidence that the
project will have a significant effect on the environment.
3) The Negative Declaration is complete and adequate and reflects the City's
independent judgment and analysis as to the environmental effects of the General
Plan Housing Element (2015-2023) as described in the Negative Declaration.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that on the basis of the findings above, the City of Dublin
City Council does hereby adopt a Negative Declaration for the 2015-2023 Housing Element,
attached as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of November, 2014, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Biddle, Gupta, Haubert, and Mayor Sbranti
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember.Hart
ABSTAIN: None ^✓
Mayor
ATTEST:
a,„ P. -of-
City Clerk
Reso No. 196-14,Adopted 11-18-14, Item 6.1 Page 2 of 3
General Plan Housing Element
(2015-2023)
INITIAL STUDYI
NEGATIVE DECLARATION
Lead Agency:
City of Dublin
Prepared By:
Jerry Haag, Urban Planner
September,2014
Table of Contents
Introduction...................................................................................................................2
Project Sponsor & Contact..........................................................................................2
Project Location and Context......................................................................................2
ProjectDescription........................................................................................................3
Environmental Factors Potentially Affected.............................................................11
Determination................................................................................................................11
Evaluation of Environmental Impacts.......................................................................13
Discussionof Checklist................................................................................................26
1. Aesthetics ...............................................................................................26
2. Agricultural & Forestry Resources.....................................................29
3. Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas Analysis .............................................30
4. Biological Resources.............................................................................31
5. Cultural Resources................................................................................33
6. Geology and Soils .................................................................................34
7. Greenhouse Gas Emissions..................................................................36
8. Hazards and Hazardous Materials ....................................................38
9. Hydrology and Water Quality............................................................38
10. Land Use and Planning........................................................................43
11. Mineral Resources.................................................................................43
12. Noise .......................................................................................................44
13. Population and Housing......................................................................46
14. Public Services.......................................................................................46
15. Recreation...............................................................................................48
16. Transportation/Traffic.........................................................................48
17. Utilities and Service Systems...............................................................51
18. Mandatory Findings of Significance ..................................................53
InitialStudy Preparers .................................................................................................54
Agencies and Organizations Consulted....................................................................54
References ......................................................................................................................54
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: Mamie Delgado, Senior Planner
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 two stations: the Dublin/Pleasanton station and
the West Dublin station.
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 1-580 corridor,
transitioning to rolling hillsides in the northern, eastern and western portions of
Dublin.
Major land uses comprising Dublin include the 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
City of Dublin Page 2
Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
downtown area.
Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (RFTA, also known as Camp Parks) is located in
the approximate center of Dublin and is used for military training purposes.
Approximately 189 acres along the southern portion of Parks RFTA was recently
transferred to a private party and a Specific Plan has been approved on this portion
of the military facility, known as Dublin Crossings.
The newest developing 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, parks, schools, open spaces 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.
In 2011, the Dublin City Council adopted the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan to
encourage higher intensity residential development in this portion of the community
as well as more pedestrian-friendly retail and other uses.
Project Description
Background. The proposed project includes the adoption of the 2015-2023 Housing
Element of the Dublin General Plan. The State of California has mandated that all
local jurisdictions within the Bay Area have approved current 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 conditions, provide an assessment of housing needs
during the planning period, identify housing resources, opportunities and
constraints and establish policies, programs and quantified housing objectives to
achieve housing needs.
Housing Goals. The proposed 2015-2023 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 2015-2023 Housing
Element:
Goal A: Expand housing choice and multi-modal transportation opportunities for
existing and future Dublin residents.
Goal B: Expand housing opportunities for all segments of Dublin's population.
Goal C: Use public and private resources to maintain and enhance existing
residential neighborhood characteristics.
City of Dublin Page 3
Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Goal D: Provide housing opportunities for all Dublin residents, regardless of race,
color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital status, family
status, disability, source of income, sexual orientation or any other
arbitrary factor.
Goal E: Promote energy efficiency and conservation throughout Dublin.
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 2015-2023 Housing Element (August 2014) which is
available at the Dublin Community Development Department during normal
business hours. This document is incorporated by reference into this Initial Study.
Fair Share Housing. State law mandates that each jurisdiction, in its Housing
Element, plan and provide for specific numbers of housing units at different income
levels during each Housing Element cycle. For the 2015-2023 Housing Element cycle,
the City of Dublin is obligated to provide sites for 2,285 housing units, distributed as
shown in Table 1. Table 1 also summarizes the goals for home repair and
rehabilitation, rental assistance, home purchase assistance and at-risk housing.
Table 1. City of Dublin Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
Income Category Dwelling Home Repair/ Rental Home At-Risk
Units Rehabilitation Assistance Purchase Housing
Assistance
Extremely Low 398 0 0 0
Income
Very Low Income 398 16 350 0 0
Low Income 446 16 0 0
Moderate Income 425 0 0 10 0
Above Moderate 618 0 0 10 0
Income
Total 2,285 32 350 20 0
Source: Draft City of Dublin 2015-23 Housing Element, August 2014
The draft Housing Element notes that the City of Dublin has approved a number of
housing projects prior to January 1, 2014, which, under state law, are counted as
partially fulfilling the jurisdictions regional housing needs. Specifically, approved
projects, including the Kingsmill mixed-use project and a 76-unit affordable housing
project within Downtown Dublin (also known as the Crown Chevy redevelopment
site) and 1,139 above-moderate dwellings in both the Downtown Dublin Specific
Plan area and the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan area provided a total of 1,215
dwellings.
Housing opportunity sites. Potential Eastern Dublin housing sites identified in the draft
Housing Element to accommodate Dublin's fair share housing obligations are shown in
Exhibit 3 with a description of each shown on Table 2. Table 2 indicates that the City
could accommodate up to 1,620 dwellings in Eastern Dublin based on anticipated
residential densities.
City of Dublin Page 4
Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
In addition to the housing sites shown on Table 2, a number of housing sites are located
in the downtown portion of Dublin, located along Dublin Boulevard, west of the I-680
freeway, south of Amador Valley Boulevard and east of San Ramon Road. These
properties are governed by the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan, adopted in 2011 and
amended in 2014. The Downtown Dublin Specific Plan allows construction of up to
2500 dwellings, of which 1,009 dwellings have been entitled or constructed.
No amendments to the Dublin General Plan, any applicable Specific Plan or rezonings
are needed to achieve the City's regional housing needs.
Table 2. Housing Element Vacant Housing Opportunity Sites
No.* Owner Min. Max. Potential Potential Size APN Existing Use
Units Units Units Affordability (ac.)
1 Croak 104 692 346 above 115.4 905-0002- vacant
moderate 002/ 905-
0002-001-
01
2 Righetti 59 134 77 above 9.6 905- vacant
moderate 0001-
005-02
3 'Branaugh 59 136 78 above 9.7 905-0001- vacant
moderate 004-04
4 Kobold 12 28 16 above 2.0 985-0028- rural home
moderate 002
5 McCabe 6 14 10 moderate 1.0 986-0028- single-family
002 home
6 Croak 63 146 104 moderate 10.4 905-0002- vacant
001-01
7 Tipper 50 115 82 moderate 8.2 98 -0004- vacant
01
8 Anderson 99 175 108 moderate 7.0 -- vacant
9 Be trap 45 80 64 moderate 3.2 -- vacant
S erfsla
10 Chen 56 100 80 moderate 4.0 985-0027- vacant
002
Total 553 1,620 965 170.5
* See Exhibit 3 for site locations
Source: City of Dublin Draft Housing Element, August 2014
All sites in Table 2 are within the Eastern Extended Planning Area. These sites located
within the Eastern Dublin Extended Planning Area have been assumed for ultimate
urban development in the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan. A number of sites are located
along Tassajara Road, including Sites 4, 5, 7 and 9. These sites are generally smaller in
size than sites located further east (Sites 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 10) which are characterized by
gently rolling hills and some steeper areas.
All of the housing opportunity sites are presently designated for urban-level intensity
and development in the Dublin General Plan and applicable Specific Plan. 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
City of Dublin Page 5
Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
projects. As in the current Housing Element, the 2015-2023 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 2015-2023 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, including but not limited to
subdivision maps.
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
assume development of the sites, but applications for a particular project site, design,
environmental conditions and timing would be under the control of the individual
housing developer.
Additional CEQA review may be required in the future for individual housing
applications submitted on identified sites for review and approval by the City of
Dublin.
City of Dublin Page 6
Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
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1. Project description: Adoption of the 2015-2023 Housing Element as part of
the Dublin General Plan
2. Lead agency: City of Dublin
3. Contact persons: Marnie Delgado, Senior Planner
4. Project location: City-wide
5. Project sponsor: City of Dublin
6. General Plan designation: Various
7. Zoning: Various
S. Other public agency required approvals:
Certification by the California Department of Housing and Community
Development
City of Dublin Page 10
Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
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.
- Aesthetics - 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
Significance
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.
City of Dublin Page 11
Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
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
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: Date:
Printed Name: je*yq Y24.45 For: `t .f !���.•.
City of Dublin Page 12
Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
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 a project-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 a less-than-significant level.
In a few instances, some previously analyzed topics were determined to be
significant and unavoidable and mitigation of such impact to a less-than-
significant level is not feasible. In approving the Eastern Dublin and
Downtown Dublin Specific Plan projects, the City of Dublin adopted
Statements of Overriding Considerations for the significant unavoidable
impacts identified in the respective EIRs. For the proposed 2015-2023 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/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
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 may be 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. This document is also known as the Eastern Dublin EIR in this
Initial Study. Multiple Addenda to this EIR have been certified by the
City.
• Downtown Dublin Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report (SCH#
20100022005), certified by City Council Resolution No. 8-11, adopted
February 1, 2011 and the subsequent Addendum certified by City
Council Resolution No. 50-14, adopted May 6, 2014. On May 6, 2014,
2014, the City adopted Resolution No. 50-14, approving a CEQA
addendum to the 2011 EIR in connection with amendments to increase
maximum residential development in the specific plan area to 2500
units. The EIR and addendum are collectively referred to herein as the
Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (DDSP) EIR.
The related impacts and mitigations for each resource area are briefly
summarized in the initial study discussion sections below. The certified EIRs
should be consulted for full discussion of the referenced impacts and
mitigation measures. 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/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Environmental Impacts (Note: Source of determination listed in parenthesis. See listing of
sources at end of checklist used to determine each potential impact).
Note: A full discussion of each item is found Potentially Less Than Less than No Impact/
following the checklist. Significant Significant Significant No New
Impact With Impact Impact
Mitigation
1. Aesthetics. Would the project:
a) Have a substantial adverse impact on a scenic X
vista? (Source: 1,2)
b) Substantially damage scenic resources,including
but not limited to trees,rock outcroppings and X
historic buildings within a state scenic highway?
(Source: 1,2)
c) Substantially degrade the existing visual character
or quality of the site and its surroundings? X
(Source: 1,2)
d)Create a new source of substantial light or glare,
which would adversely affect day o nighttime X
views in the area? (Source: 7)
2.Agricultural Resources. Would the project:
a)Convert Prime Farmland,Unique Farmland or
Farmland of Statewide Importance,as show on
the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland X
Mapping and Monitoring Program of the
California Resources Agency,to a non-
agricultural use? (Source: 1,2)
b) Conflict with existing zoning for agriculture use X
or a Williamson Act contract? (1, 8)
c) Conflict with existing zoning for,or cause
rezoning of forestland (as defined by PRC Sec.
12220(g),timberland(as defined in PRC Sec. X
4526),or timberland zoned Timberland
Production (as defined in PRC Sec.51104(g)?
(Source: 1,2)
d) Result in the loss of forest land or conversion of
forest land to non-forest use? (1,2) X
e) Involve other changes in the existing environment
that,due to their location or nature,could result
in conversion of farmland to a non-agricultural X
use or conversion of forestland to a non-forest
use?(Source: 1,2)
City of Dublin Page 15
Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Potentially Less Than Less than No Impact/
Significant Significant Significant No New
Impact With Impact Impact
Mitigation
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? (Source: 1,2) X
b)Violate any air quality standard or contribute
substantially to an existing or projected air
quality violation? (Source: 1,2, 8) X
c) Result in a cumulatively considerable net
increase of any criteria pollutant for which
the project region is non-attainment under an X
applicable federal or state ambient air
quality standard (including releasing
emissions which exceed quantitative
thresholds for ozone precursors? (1,2,8)
d) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial X
pollutant concentrations? (8)
e) Create objectionable odors affecting a X
substantial number of people? (8)
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 X
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? (1,2)
b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian
habitat or other sensitive natural community
identified in local or regional plans,policies or X
regulations or by the California Department of
Fish and Game or the U.S.Fish and Wildlife
Service? (1,2)
c) Have a substantial adverse impact on federally
protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of
the Clean Water Act (including but not limited to X
marsh,vernal pool,coastal,etc.) through direct
removal,filling,hydrological interruption or
other means? (1,2)
City of Dublin Page 16
Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Potentially Less Than Less than No Impact/
Significant Significant Significant No New
Impact With Impact Impact
Mitigation
d) Interfere substantially with the movement of
any native resident or migratory fish or
wildlife species or with established native X
resident or migratory wildlife corridors or
impede the use of native wildlife nursery
sites? (1,2)
e) Conflict with any local policies or ordinances X
protecting biological resources,such as a
tree preservation policy or ordinance?
f) Conflict with the provision of an adopted
Habitat Conservation Plan,Natural
Community Conservation Plan or other X
approved local,regional or state habitat
conservation plan? (Source: 1,2, 8)
5. Cultural Resources. Would the project
a) Cause a substantial adverse impact in the
significance of a historical resource as X
defined in Sec. 15064.5? (Source: 1,2)
b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the
significance of an archeological resource X
pursuant to Sec. 15064.5? (Source: 1,2)
c) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique
paleontological resource or unique geologic X
feature? (Source: 1,2)
d) Disturb any human remains,including those
interred outside of a formal cemetery? (1,2) X
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 Alquist-Priolo
Fault Zoning Map issued by the State X
Geologist or based on other known evidence
of a known fault? (Source: 4)
ii) Strong seismic ground shaking? (4) X
iii) Seismic-related ground failure, including X
liquefaction? (Source: 4)
iv) Landslides? (Source: 4) X
b) Result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of X
topsoil? (Source: 4))
City of Dublin Page 17
Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Potentially Less Than Less than No Impact/
Significant Significant Significant No New
Impact With Impact Impact
Mitigation
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 X
on- and off-site landslide,lateral spreading,
subsidence,liquefaction or collapse? (4)
d) Be located on expansive soil,as defined in
Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code X
(1994), creating substantial risks to life or
property? (Source: 4)
e) Have soils capable of adequately supporting
the use of septic tanks or alternative
wastewater disposal systems where sewers X
are not available for wastewater disposal?
(8)
7.Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Would the
project:
a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions,either
directly or indirectly,that may have a X
significant impact on the environment? (8)
b) Conflict with an applicable plan,policy or
regulation adopted for the purpose of X
reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases?
8.Hazards and Hazardous Materials. Would
the project:
a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the
environment through the routine transport, X
use or disposal of hazardous materials? (2,
4)
b) Create a significant hazard to the public or the
environment through reasonably foreseeable X
upset and accident conditions involving the
release of hazardous into the environment?
(2. 8)
c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle
hazardous materials,substances,or waste X
within one-quarter mile of an existing or
proposed school? (Source: 1,2,4)
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Potentially Less Than Less than No Impact/
Significant Significant Significant No New
Impact With Impact Impact
Mitigation
d) Be located on a site which is included on a
list of hazardous materials sites complied
pursuant to Government Code Sec.65962.5 X
and,as a result,would it create a significant
hazard to the public or the environment? (8)
e) For a project located within an airport land
use plan or,where such plan has not been
adopted, within 2 miles of a public airport or X
public use airport,would the project result in
a safety hazard for people residing or
working in the project area? (Source: 8)
f) For a project within the vicinity of private
airstrip, would the project result in a safety X
hazard for people residing or working in the
project area? (Source: 8)
g) Impair implementation of or physically
interfere with the adopted emergency
response plan or emergency evacuation X
plan? (Source: 1,2.4, 8)
h) Expose people or structures to a significant
risk of loss,injury or death involving
wildland fires,including where wildlands X
are adjacent to urbanized areas or where
residences are intermixed with wildlands?
(8)
9.Hydrology and Water Quality. Would the
project:
a) Violate any water quality standards or waste X
discharge requirements? (Source: 1,2,4)
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 X
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)?
(Source: 1,2,4)
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Potentially Less Than Less than No Impact/
Significant Significant Significant No New
Impact With Impact Impact
Mitigation
c) Substantially alter the existing drainage
pattern of the site or area, including through
the alteration of the course of a stream or X
river, in a manner which would result in
substantial erosion or siltation on- or off-
site? (Source: 1,2,4)
d) Substantially alter the existing drainage
pattern of the site or areas,including through
the alteration of a course or stream or river, X
or substantially increase the rate or amount
of surface runoff in a manner which would
result in flooding on- or off-site? (Source: 1,
2,7)
e) Create or contribute runoff water which
would exceed the capacity of existing or
planned stormwater drainage systems or X
provide substantial additional sources of
polluted runoff? (Source: 1,2)
f) Otherwise substantially degrade water X
quality? (Source: 1,2,7)
g) Place housing within a 100-year flood hazard
area as mapped on a Flood Hazard Boundary
or Flood Insurance Rate Map or other flood X
delineation map? (Source: 1,7)
h) Place within a 100-year flood hazard area
structures which impede or redirect flood X
flows? (Source: 1,7)
i) Expose people or structures to a significant
risk of loss, injury,and death involving X
flooding,including flooding as a result of
the failure of a levee or dam? (Source: 1,2)
j) Inundation by seiche,tsunami or mudflow? X
10.Land Use and Planning. Would the project:
a) Physically divide an established community?
(Source: 1,2,4) X
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Potentially Less Than Less than No Impact/
Significant Significant Significant No New
Impact With Impact Impact
Mitigation
b) Conflict with any applicable land use plan,
policy,or regulation of an agency with
jurisdiction over the project (including but X
not limited to the general plan, specific plan,
or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose
of avoiding or mitigating an environmental
effect? (Source: 1,2,4)
c) Conflict with any applicable habitat
conservation plan or natural community X
conservation plan? (Source: 1,2,4)
11. Mineral Resources. Would the project
a) Result in the loss of availability of a known
mineral resource that would be of value to X
the region and the residents of the state? (4)
b) Result in the loss of availability of a locally
important mineral resource recovery site
delineated on a local general plan, specific X
plan or other land use plan? (Source: 4)
12.Noise. Would the proposal result in:
a) Exposure of persons to or generation of noise
levels in excess of standards established in X
the general plan or noise ordinance,or
applicable standards of other agencies? (4)
b) Exposure of persons or to generation of
excessive groundborne vibration or X
groundborne noise levels? (Source: 4)
c) A substantial permanent increase in ambient
noise levels in the project vicinity above X
existing levels without the project? (4)
d) A substantial temporary or periodic increase
in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity X
above levels without the project? (4)
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 X
or public use airport,would the project
expose people residing or working n the
project area to excessive noise levels? (8)
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Potentially Less Than Less than No Impact/
Significant Significant Significant No New
Impact With Impact Impact
Mitigation
f) For a project within the vicinity of a private
airstrip,would the project expose people X
residing or working in the project area to
excessive noise levels? (8)
13.Population and Housing. Would the project
a) Induce substantial population growth in an
area,either directly or indirectly (for X
example,through extension of roads or other
infrastructure)? (1,2)
b) Displace substantial numbers of existing
housing, necessitating the construction of X
replacement housing elsewhere? (1,2)
c) Displace substantial numbers of people,
necessitating the replacement of housing X
elsewhere? (Source: 1,2)
14.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,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? (Source: 1,2,7)
Fire protection? X
Police protection? X
Schools? X
Parks? X
Other public facilities X
15.Recreation:
a) Would the project increase the use of existing
neighborhood or regional parks or other
recreational facilities such that substantial X
physical deterioration of the facility would
occur or be accelerated? (Source: 1,2, 6)
b) Does the project include recreational facilities
or require the construction or expansion of
recreational facilities which might have an X
adverse physical effect on the environment?
(Source: 1,2,6)
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Potentially Less Than Less than No Impact/
Significant Significant Significant No New
Impact With Impact Impact
Mitigation
16.Transportation and Traffic. Would the
project:
a) Conflict with an applicable plan, ordinance
or policy establishing measures of
effectiveness for the performance of the
circulation system,taking into account all X
modes of transportation,including mass
transit and all non-motorized travel and
relevant components of the circulation
system, including but not limited to
intersections, streets, highways and
freeways, pedestrian and bicycle paths and
mass transit? (Source: 1,2,4)
b) Conflict with an applicable congestion
management program, including but not
limited to,level of service and travel X
demand measures,or other standards
established by the county congestion
management agency for designated roads or
highways?-(Source: 1,2,4)
c) Result in a change in air traffic patterns,
including either an increase in traffic levels X
or a change in location that results in
substantial safety risks? (Source: 1,2)
d) Substantially increase hazards due to a design
feature (e.g. sharp curves or dangerous X
intersections) or incompatible uses, such as
farm equipment? (Source: 8)
e) Result in inadequate emergency access? (4) X
f) Conflict with adopted policies, plans or
programs regarding public transit, bicycle or
pedestrian facilities or otherwise decrease the X
performance of safety of such facilities? (4)
17. Utilities and Service Systems. Would the
project
a) Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of
the applicable Regional Water Quality X
Control Board? (Source: 4,7)
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Potentially Less Than Less than No Impact/
Significant Significant Significant No New
Impact With Impact Impact
Mitigation
b) Require or result in the construction of new
water or wastewater treatment facilities or
expansion of existing facilities,the X
construction of which could cause
significant environmental effects? (5, 8)
c) Require or result in the construction of new
storm water drainage facilities or expansion
of existing facilities,the construction of X
which could cause significant environmental
effects? (8)
d) Have sufficient water supplies available to X
serve the project from existing water
entitlements and resources,or are new or
expanded entitlements needed? (5)
e) Result in a determination by the wastewater
treatment provider which serves or may
serve the project that it has adequate X
capacity to serve the project's projected
demand in addition to the providers existing
commitments? (Source: 8)
f) Be served by a landfill with sufficient
permitted capacity to accommodate the X
project's solid waste disposal needs?
g) Comply with federal,state and local statutes X
and regulations related to solid waste? (8)
18. 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 X
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?
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Potentially Less Than Less than No Impact/
Significant Significant Significant No New
Impact With Impact Impact
Mitigation
b) Does the project have impacts that are
individually limited, but cumulatively
considerable? ("Cumulatively considerable" X
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 X
on human beings,either directly or
indirectly?
Sources used to determine potential environmental impacts
1) Eastern Dublin General Plan Amendment and Specific Plan EIR
2) Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR
3) Dublin General Plan, City of Dublin
4) Final Urban Water Management Plan, DSRSD, 2010 Update
6) Parks and Recreation Master Plan, City of Dublin, 2006 update
7) Discussion with City staff or service provider
8) Other Source
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Attachment to Initial Study
Discussion of Checklist
Legend
PS: Potentially Significant
LS/M: Less Than Significant After Mitigation
LS: Less Than Significant Impact
N/NNI: No Impact/No New Impact
1. Aesthetics
Project Impacts
a-c) Have a substantial adverse impact on a scenic vista, damage scenic resources
(including a scenic highway) or substantially degrade the visual character of a site?
NNI. Potential housing sites identified in the proposed Housing Element are
located in the Eastern Extended Planning area and in the Downtown Dublin
Specific Plan area. Housing sites located in the Eastern Extended Planning
Area and impacts related to scenic vistas, scenic resources and substantial
degradation of the scenic characters of the various housing sites have been
analyzed in the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report
(EDSP EIR).
Housing sites located within the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan area have
been analyzed in the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan Environmental Impact
Report (DDSP EIR).
Future site-specific housing developments anticipated by the proposed
Housing Element are subject to applicable Mitigation Measures included in
these two certified CEQA documents to ensure that'impacts related to scenic
vistas, scenic resources and the visual character of housing sites have been
reduced to a less-than-significant level.
In 1996, the City of Dublin adopted the Eastern Dublin Scenic Corridor Policies
and Standards that apply to portions of the Eastern 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 proposed
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 Extended
Planning Area.
Applicable impacts and mitigation measures included in previously certified
CEQA documents that include the housing opportunity sites (see Exhibit 3)
include:
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
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 Goal 6.3.4 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 the EDSP land plan
with retention of predominant natural features and encouraging a sense of
openness in Eastern Dublin. This impact was included in the Statement of
Overriding Considerations when adopting the underlying project (City
Council Resolution No. 53-93).
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
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 3.8/1), 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 a less-than-significant
level. These measures require the implementation of EDSP Policies 6-29
and 6-30 and Parks and Open Space Element Guiding Policy 3.4.1.A.3.
Restrict structures on the hillsides that appear above major ridgelines and
Implementing Policy 3.4.1.B.4, use subdivision design and site design
review process to preserve or enhance the ridgelines that form the skyline
as viewed from freeways (1-580 or I-680) or major arterial streets.
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
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
of Overriding Considerations for the project (City Council Resolution No.
53-93).
Impact 3.8/G, Alteration of Visual Character of Watercourses 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 a less-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. The City
adopted the Eastern Dublin Scenic Corridor Policies and Standards by
Resolution No. 34-96 on March 26, 1996.
Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR
The Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR identified no significant impacts,
and noted that the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan includes detailed
development standards and design guidelines that will result in more
visually appealing development in the Downtown.
With adherence to the above Eastern Dublin EIR Mitigation Measures and
Downtown Dublin Specific Plan Design Guidelines , there would be no new or
more severe significant impacts related to scenic vistas, damage to scenic
resources, including scenic highways, or substantial degradation of the visual
character of identified housing sites than identified in the prior EIRs. No
additional analysis is required. For significant and unavoidable impacts, such
as Alteration of Rural/Open Space Character and Visual Character of
Flatlands, a Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted when
approving the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan (City Council Resolution No. 53-
93).
d) Create light or glare? LS. Housing sites located in the Eastern Extended Planning
Area are generally within undeveloped or sparsely areas; however, all are
programmed for future urban uses pursuant to the Dublin General Plan and
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Eastern Dublin Specific Plan. Minimal lighting sources are present on many of
these sites, primarily yard lights from scattered rural farmsteads. The City of
Dublin Community Development Department staff will review all future
individual housing development projects as part of required Site Development
Review (SDR) permit applications ensure that spillover of light and glare from
individual housing sites is limited. Standard conditions of approval will be
imposed to ensure that spillover of light and glare from individual housing
sites is limited.
For future residential development within the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan
area, the Specific Plan includes design guidelines that address limiting spill-
over of future light and glare. These include discouraging flood lighting on
building exteriors, use of indirect and uplighting, directing light fixtures
downward, limitations on "overlighting" of buildings and installation of
lighting at regular intervals to minimize creation of light and dark pockets. The
EIR found a less than significant impact based on compliance with these design
guidelines. Development of the housing units in the DDSP area would result
in no new or more severe significant impacts related to light and glare than
identified in the DDSP EIR and no additional analysis is required
Overall, light and glare impacts associated with the proposed Housing Element
will be less-than-significant.
2. Agricultural & Forestry Resources
Project Impacts
a-c) Convert Prime Farmland, conflict with agricultural zoning or a Williamson Act
Conservation Agreement or convert prime farmland to a non-agricultural use? NNI.
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 Extended Planning Area. These impacts were
deemed insignificant except for the cumulative loss of agricultural lands,
which was significant and unavoidable (Impact 3.1/F). Approval of the
Housing Element anticipates future construction of residential development
projects, with some of the housing sites within the Eastern Extended Planning
Area. Development of the housing units in this area would result in no new or
more severe significant impacts related to agricultural lands than identified in
the prior EIR and no additional analysis is required.
All housing sites in the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan area are zoned as PD-
Planned Development. None of these sites support agricultural uses or
operations. Housing Site 1 was subject to a Williamson Act Land Conservation
Agreement in 1993 at the time the Eastern Dublin EIR was certified; however,
based on a discussion with the property owner, the contract was non-renewed
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
and was terminated in 2010 (source: P. Croak, property owner representative,
8/29/14).
Housing sites within the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan area are not zoned or
developed for agricultural uses nor is there a Williamson Act contract on these
sites. There would be no agricultural resource impacts of future housing
development on these sites.
d) Result in the loss of forest land or conversion of forest land to a non forest use? NI. No
forest land exists within the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan area or the Downtown
Dublin Specific Plan area; therefore, no impact would result with respect to this
topic. No additional analysis is required.
e) Involve other changes which, due to their location or nature, could result of forest land to a
non forest use? No Impact. See item "d," above.
3. Air Quality
Project Impacts
a) Would the project conflict or obstruct implementation of an air quality plan? NI.
Residential dwellings included in the 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 Management District's
Clean Air Plan.
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 standards or result in cumulatively
considerable air pollutants? NNI. 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), Impact 3.11/B (construction
equipment and vehicle emissions), Impact 3.11/C (mobile sources of Reactive
Organic Gasses and Nitrogen Oxide) and Impact 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 (City Council Resolution No. 53-
93).
The Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR found that buildout of future land
uses within Downtown Dublin would not result in significant impacts with
respect to short-term air emissions or long-term air emissions.
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Impacts of constructing future dwellings included in the proposed Housing
Element have been analyzed in previous CEQA documents identified in the
Earlier Analysis section of this Initial Study. There are no new or more severe
significant impacts related to air quality than identified in the prior EIRs 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.
Future individual housing projects proposed are also subject to Implementing
Policy 7.5.1.A.2 contained in the Conservation Element of the Dublin General
Plan that requires completion of an air quality analysis for new development
projects that could generate significant air emissions on a project and
cumulative level. The analysis must also provide for site-specific measures to
reduce any significant air quality impact to a less-than-significant level based
on Bay Area Air Quality Management District standards.
d) Expose sensitive receptors to significant pollutant concentrations? LS. The proposed
Housing Element anticipates the construction of new dwelling units that could
be occupied by sensitive receptor populations (senior citizens, chronically ill
individuals, etc.). As required by the Dublin General Plan Implementing Policy
7.5.1.A.2 cited in the above subsection, future individual housing projects that
could generate significant air emissions on a project and/or cumulative basis
shall include specific measures to reduce specific air quality impacts to a less-
than-significant level. 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/or applications for Site Development Review permits,
either or both of which would be required for development of any of the
housing sites.
e) Create objectionable odors? NI. The project would not result in new land uses that
would emit objectionable odors. No impacts are therefore anticipated.
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 proposed 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 7.2), provisions for erosion and siltation
control (Section 7.3) and protection of oak woodlands (Section 7.4).
Future development on housing sites in the Eastern Extended Planning Area
are subject to environmental mitigation measures contained in the Eastern
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Dublin EIR. This EIR identified potential impacts related to the general effects
of potential development on biological resources in the Eastern 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 Q. 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, F-I, K-P, 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 Mitigation Measures
(MM 3.7/26.0 and 3.4/42.0). 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 Extended Planning Area are required to comply with all of these
Mitigation Measures, including future housing projects anticipated in the
proposed 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/Q. Upon approval of the Eastern Dublin GPA/SP, the City
adopted a Statement of Overriding Considerations for this significant
unavoidable impact (City Council Resolution No. 53-93).
No significant biological resources, including but not limited to special-status plant
or wildlife species, birds, fish or reptiles or their respective habitats or wetlands
were identified in the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR.
Development of the housing units would result in no new or more severe
significant impacts related to biological resources than identified in the prior EIRs
and no additional analysis is required.
d) Interfere with movement of native fish or wildlife species? LS. Development on the
housing sites must adhere to adopted Mitigation Measures identified in the
above subsection. Development of the housing units would result in no new or
more severe significant impacts related to movement of fish or wildlife species
than identified in the prior EIRs and no additional analysis is required.
e, f) Conflict with local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources or any adopted
Habitat Conservation Plans or Natural Community Conservation Plans? NI. Identified
housing sites lie within the Eastern Alameda County Conservation Strategy
(EACCS) planning area. The City of Dublin utilizes the Conservation Strategy as
guidance for environmental permitting for public projects, and private
development projects are encouraged to use the EACCS as a resource as well.
The Conservation Strategy embodies a regional approach to permitting and
mitigation for wildlife habitat impacts associated with land development,
infrastructure, and other activities. The Conservation Strategy is neither a
Habitat Conservation Plan nor a Natural Community Conservation Plan, but is a
document intended to provide guidance during the project planning and
City of Dublin Page 32
Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
permitting process to ensure that impacts are offset in a biologically effective
manner. No impacts would therefore result.
5. Cultural Resources
Project Impacts
a) Cause substantial adverse change to significant historic resources? NNI. A majority
of potential housing sites in the Eastern Extended Planning Area (identified on
Exhibit 3) are vacant and there would be no impact with substantial changes to
historic resources. The Eastern Dublin EIR identifies the Croak property (Site 1
on Exhibit 3) as containing historic resources, including a house, barn, tack
house and several outbuildings. The Eastern Dublin EIR determined that future
development of the Croak site would remove or disturb resources on this site
(Impact IM 3.9/Q. Adherence to Mitigation Measures 3.9/7.0 -12.0 reduced
this impact to a less-than-significant level by requiring historic resources
proposed for development to be subject to in-depth archival research to
determine the specific level of historic significance, encouraging the adaptive
reuse of historic resources, evaluation by an architectural historian, recordation
on the California Historical site inventory and similar measures. These
measures would be applied to any future housing developments proposed on
Site 1. The few existing structures on the rest of the Eastern Dublin sites shown
in Table 2 are not historical resources. None of the sites in the DDSP area
contain historical resources. Development of the housing units would result in
no new or more severe significant impacts related to historical resources than
identified in the prior EIRs and no additional analysis is required.
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? NNI.
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 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 Impact 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 Extended Planning Area that
could be facilitated as a result of the Housing Element are required to comply
with above measures to ensure these impacts will remain less-than-significant.
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No identified historic, archeological, Native American or other cultural
resources were identified in the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR.
Development of the housing units would result in no new or more severe
significant impacts related to subsurface archeological, paleontological or
human remains than identified in the prior EIRs and no additional analysis is
required.
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 proposed Housing Element. Potential
impacts related to soil and geologic impacts on future residential construction
are addressed in 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.
Guiding Policy 8.2.1.A.1 of this Element states 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."
For properties located within the Eastern Extended Planning Area, the Eastern
Dublin EIR contains a number impacts and related 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 a less-than-significant
level (Impact 3.6/Q. 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
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
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 a less-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 a less-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 a less-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
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 a less-than-significant level (Impact 3.6/J).
These measures require minimizing the use of grading when siting
proposed improvements, conformance to local grading requirements,
minimizing the angle of cut-and-fill slopes to 3:1 and use of
engineering techniques to stabilize manufactured slopes.
• Mitigation Measures 3.6/27.0 and 28.0 reduced impacts related to
erosion and sedimentation to a less-than-significant level (Impacts
3.6/K and Q. These measures require general limitations on grading to
avoid the rainy season of each year and require installation of erosion
control improvements.
The Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR contains the following mitigation
measures to reduce soils and geological impacts to a less-than-significant level:
• Mitigation Measure 3.3-1 reduced impacts related to seismic
groundshaking and liquefaction (Impacts 3.3-2 and 3.3-3) to a less-
than-significant level by requiring preparation of site-specific
geotechnical reports for future developments. Each report shall
evaluate the potential for liquefaction, lateral spreading and other
seismic hazards. Each report shall include recommendations for
foundation designs and structural elements to minimize seismic
effects.
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• Mitigation Measure 3.5-1a reduced impacts related to soil erosion from
sites in the downtown area (Impact 3.3-4) to a less-than-significant
level by requiring individual developers to file a Notice of Intent with
the Regional Water Quality Control Board describing erosion control
measures to be undertaken.
• Mitigation Measure 3.5-1b also reduced erosion impacts to a less-than-
significant impact by requiring individual developers to file
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan prior to site grading operations.
Development of the housing units would result in no new or more severe
significant seismic-related geologic impacts than identified in the prior EIRs
and no additional analysis is required.
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 proposed
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 less-than-significant 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? NNI. Potential geologic
impacts of the housing sites were analyzed in the Eastern Dublin EIR and
Downtown Dublin Specific Plan 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. Development of the housing units would result in no new or
more severe significant impacts related to soil instability than identified in the
prior EIRs and no additional analysis is required.
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.
7. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Discussion:
a,b) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a
significant impact on the environment or conflict with an applicable plan, policy or
regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases? LS.
Housing development projects that would be facilitated by the proposed Housing
Element would generate greenhouse gasses (GHGs) into the atmosphere. Primary
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sources of GHG emissions include mobile sources from vehicles, energy use, water
use, and disposal of material into landfills.
In July 2013, the City of Dublin adopted an updated and revised Climate Action
Plan (CAP) The CAP includes an inventory of existing emissions within the City
and a number of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% below the
2010 level of greenhouse gas emission by the year 2020.
Land uses assumed for the GHG inventory are based on General Plan land uses.
The proposed Housing Element would not change any General Plan land use
designations and would be consistent with ABAG regional growth projections..
The City's CAP is considered a "qualified" plan and may be used to assess GHG
emissions of projects. Page 53 of the CAP notes that the City needs to consider the
following points when determining if a project is consistent with the CAP. These
include:
• The extent to which the project supports or includes applicable strategies
or measures to advance the actions identified in the CAP;
• The consistency of plans with ABAG population or growth projections;
• The extent to which the project would interfere with implementation of
CAP strategies, measures or actions.
Although no specific residential development is currently proposed, future
residential uses will be required to comply with applicable provisions of the
Community Design &Sustainability Element of the Dublin General Plan. The
intent of this Element is to assist in reducing overall energy use and GHG
emissions, consistent with the CAP directive to include measures that advance
CAP strategies. Specific policies contained in this Element applicable to future
individual housing projects include:
• Policy 10.9.3.C. Consider environmentally sensitive and energy-efficient
building siting which minimizes impacts from wind, provides shade,
reduces stormwater runoff, and maximizes opportunities for passive solar
design, where feasible.
• Policy 10.9.3.E. Promote walking and bicycling through site and building
design.
• Policy 10.9.3.F. Encourage alternative modes of transportation by providing
priority parking for carpool and alternative energy vehicles, bicycle racks
and lockers, showers for employees and easy access to adjacent regional
trails and transit stops.
• Policy 10.9.3.x. Encourage development features that minimize the use of
non-renewal energy consumption.
• Policy 10.9.3.0. Incorporate recycling and green waste containers into
the design of sites and integrate into buildings where feasible.
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Since the proposed Housing Element is consistent with the City's Climate
Action Plan, greenhouse gas impacts is expected to be less-than-significant.
8. 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 in 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 Housing Element anticipates future residential
development which is not expected to create hazardous emissions. A majority
of the housing sites in the Eastern Extended Planning Area 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.
The Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR contains the following mitigation
measures to reduce hazard impacts to a less-than-significant level:
• Mitigation Measure 3.5-1a reduced impacts related to transport, use,
disposal and release of hazards during construction on sites in the
downtown area (Impact 3.4-2) to a less-than-significant level by
requiring individual developers to file a Notice of Intent with the
Regional Water Quality Control Board describing erosion control
measures to be undertaken.
• Mitigation Measure 3.5-1b also reduced impacts related to transport,
use, disposal and release of hazardous material in the downtown area
to a less-than-significant impact by requiring individual developers to
file Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan prior to site grading
operations.
• Mitigation Measure 3.4-1 reduced impacts related to release of
contaminated materials into the atmosphere from building demolition
to a less-than-significant level by requiring testing of lead based pints
and asbestos containing material prior to demolition. If found,
contaminants must be removed prior to building demolition.
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• Mitigation Measure 3.4-2 reduced impacts related to disturbance of soil
or groundwater (Impact 3.4-4) to a less-than-significant level by
requiring future development or substantial redevelopment projects in
the downtown area to prepare Phase I Site Assessments to determine
the presence or absence of contaminated material. If contaminants are
found above recognized screening thresholds, additional testing
and/or remediation is required,
The Eastern Dublin EIR did not analyze hazardous materials; however, any
development on the housing sites in Eastern Dublin would be subject to
extensive federal, state and local regulations. These regulations are detailed in
the DDSP EIR and are the basis for that EIR's mitigation measures. The base
regulations would also apply to development of all the housing sites. 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 remediated prior to
commencement of demolition activities.
The housing sites would not use or generate hazardous materials and would
not result in an identified hazardous materials site within a one-quarter mile
radius of an existing or planned public school.
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
hazardous sites as of July 13, 2014. The Cortese List identifies one potentially
contaminated site in Dublin, which is the Parks RFTA (also known as Camp
Parks). Parks RFTA is not located near any identified housing sites (see Exhibit
3) and no impact would result with respect to this topic.
e,f) Is the site located within an airport land use plan of a public airport or private airstrip?
LS. Housing sites 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 10 are located within the Airport Influence
Area (AIA) of Livermore Municipal Airport, which is located south of the I-580
freeway in the City of Livermore. None of these sites are located in the Airport
Protection Area (APA) however. Future housing projects constructed pursuant
to the proposed Housing Element will be reviewed for compliance with the
Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for the Livermore Municipal Airport and,
if applicable, will be referred to the Alameda County Airport Land Use
Commission (ALUC) for review. None of the sites in the Downtown Dublin
Specific Plan area are located within an airport land use plan. This is
anticipated to be a less-than-significant impact.
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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 Prevention Bureau,
Police Department and Community Development Department 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? NNI. A majority of
housing sites within the Eastern Extended Planning Area are located within
urban/wildland interface areas where there is a moderate to high potential for
wildland fires. 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.
No sites within the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR are located in a
wildfire area.
Development of the housing units would result in no new or more severe
significant impacts related to wildfire than identified in the prior EIRs and no
additional analysis is required.
9. Hydrology and Water Quality
Project Impacts
a) Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements? LS.
Construction of new dwellings anticipated in the proposed Housing Element
are planned for in the current Dublin General Plan and have been included in
the Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD) wastewater master planning
by the District. District wastewater facilities do not exceed Regional Water
Quality Control Board discharge requirements (
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
individual housing projects as facilitated by the Housing Element would not
exceed waste discharge requirements imposed on DSRSD by the Regional
Water Quality Control Board (source: St. Klodozie, DSRSD, 4/7/14).
In addition, regarding surface water quality impacts, the City of Dublin
enforces the most recent NPDES water quality standards to ensure that
potentially polluted runoff from upland sites into creeks, streams and other
bodies of water are reduced to a less-than-significant level. This occurs during
City review of all development applications.
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This impact would be less-than-significant.
b) Substantially deplete groundwater recharge areas or lowering of water table? NNI.
The source of water to all dwellings in the City of Dublin is imported surface
water supplied by DSRSD and Zone 7 Flood Control and Water Conservation
District that does not primarily rely on local groundwater.
Mitigation Measures 3.5/49.0 and 50.0 contained in the Eastern Dublin EIR,
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.
The Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR did not identify any significant
impact with respect to groundwater recharge area or depletion of the local
water table.
There would be no new or more severe significant impact with lowering of the
water table or reducing the amount of groundwater recharge areas than
analyzed in the prior EIRs and no additional analysis is required.
c) Substantially alter drainage patterns, including streambed courses such that
substantial siltation or erosion would occur? NNI. The proposed Housing Element
identifies future housing sites on currently vacant or underutilized properties
within the Eastern Extended Planning area and the Downtown Dublin Specific
Plan area. The construction of future housing units 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);
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.
No impacts to substantial alteration of drainage patterns were identified in the
Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR.
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Development of the housing units would result in no new or more severe
significant impacts related to soil erosion than identified in the prior EIRs and
no additional analysis is required
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? NNI. Refer to item "c," above. No
new or more severe significant impacts are anticipated with respect to this
topic.
f) Substantially degrade water quality? LS. The City of Dublin requires all individual
development projects, including future housing projects facilitated as a result
of the proposed 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 3.5/52.0 -55.0 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.
Mitigation Measures 3.5-1a and 3.5-1b included in the Downtown Dublin
Specific Plan EIR reduced impacts related to degradation of water quality to a
less-than-significant level.
A less-than-significant impact is anticipated with regard to this topic.
Development of the housing units would result in no new or more severe
significant impacts related to water quality than identified in the prior EIRs
and no additional analysis is required.
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? LS. Housing sites
1-6, 8 and 10 are not located within a 100-year flood hazard area (source:J.
Imai, Dublin Public Works Department, 7/29/14). Although portions of sites 7
and 9 may partially be located within a 100-year flood hazard area, the City of
Dublin prohibits construction of housing within flood hazard areas (see Dublin
Municipal Code Section 7.24). Future individual housing projects on Sites 7 and
9 would need to avoid flood prone areas, elevate future housing above a flood
hazard area or install other improvements to minimize flood hazards.
No flooding impacts were identified in the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan
EIR.
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Overall, this impact is expected to be less-than-significant.
j) Result in inundation by seiche, tsunami or mudflows? NI. There are expected to be
no impacts with regard to seiche or tsunami , since housing sites would be
located inland from major bodies of water. As to mudflows, Mitigation
Measures 3.6/17.0 through 19.0 contained in the Eastern Dublin EIR provide
protection from slope failures of natural slopes (Impact 3.6/1) by limiting new
development on unstable soils, removal and replacement of unstable soils and
similar actions.
The DDSP area is flat and would not experience mudflows. Development of the
housing units would result in no new or more severe significant \ impacts
related to the above topics than identified in the prior EIRs and no additional
analysis is required.
10. Land Use and Planning
Project Impacts
a) Physically divide an established community? NI. Construction of future dwellings
under the auspices of the proposed Housing Element would be allowed based
on the Dublin General Plan and other land use regulatory documents,
including the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan and Downtown Dublin 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 proposed
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 proposed Housing Element would be required to obtain
subdivision maps, Site Development Review (SDR) permits, building permits
and potentially other permits as applicable to individual housing sites 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.
11. Mineral Resources
Project Impacts
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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 the Dublin General Plan.
12. 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: NNI. Construction of
future dwellings in Dublin under the auspices of the proposed Housing
Element could be located on sites in moderate to high noise level areas of the
community, including but not limited to Dublin Boulevard, Tassajara Road,
Fallon Road and other arterial and collector roads. Future housing
development 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.
The Eastern Dublin EIR addressed noise impacts for residential uses located in
this portion of Dublin. A number of mitigation measures were included in the
Eastern Dublin EIR to reduce noise to residential uses, as follows:
Eastern Dublin EIR Mitigation Measure 3.10/1.0 reduced impacts to housing
located along major roadways to a less-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 Extended Planning
Area. Mitigation Measure 3.10/3.0 for Impact 3.10/D similarly requires
acoustic analyses for housing sites near Parks RFTA for compliance with City
noise exposure levels; however, even with this mitigation, Impact 3.10/1) was
determined to be significant and unavoidable and a Statement of Overriding
Considerations was approved (City Council Resolution No. 53-93). Mitigation
Measure 3.10/6.0 requires the preparation of noise management plans for all
mixed-use developments within the Eastern Extended Planning Area.
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 a less-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 (City Council Resolution No. 53-
93).
Future residential uses in the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan area are subject
to Mitigation Measure 3.7-3 contained in the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan
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EIR to reduce noise generated by mobile sources on residences to a less-than-
significant level. This mitigation measure requires applicants for future
development within the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan area to prepare site-
specific noise studies to assess noise impacts and prepare appropriate noise
reduction measures for such projects, including but not limited to setbacks
from major noise sources, noise barriers, noise insulation and other features.
Development of the housing units would result in no new or more severe
significant noise impacts than identified in the prior EIRs and no additional
analysis is required
b) Exposure of people to excessive groundborne vibration or groundborne noise levels? NI.
It is unlikely that construction of future housing units allowed under the
proposed Housing Element would result in significant levels of vibration, since
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
the proposed 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 Downtown Dublin
Specific Plan EIR includes Mitigation Measure 3.7-1 to require all project
developers in the downtown Dublin area to prepare and implement
Construction Noise Management Plans to minimize noise to surrounding
properties.
Development of the housing sites must adhere to the Mitigation Measures cited
above and there will be no new or more severe significant temporary noise
impacts from construction activities related to future housing projects on sites
identified in the proposed Housing Element than identified in the prior EIRs
and no additional analysis is required. For potential permanent increases in
noise levels, see item "a", above.
e,f) Be located within an airport land use plan area, within two miles of a public or private
airport or airstrip? NI. Several of the housing sites in the Eastern Extended
Planning Area are within the Airport Influence Area (AIA) of Livermore
Municipal Airport, and within two miles from this airport. As noted in the
Eastern Dublin EIR, the 60 CNEL noise contour from the Livermore Municipal
Airport does not extend into the Eastern Extended Planning area. None of the
housing sites within the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan area are within two
miles of a public or private airfield or airstrip. No impacts would result with
respect to this topic.
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13. 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 the proposed Housing Element would not cause substantial
population growth in Dublin, since anticipated dwellings are currently
included in the Dublin General Plan, applicable Specific Plans and regional
growth projections. No impacts are anticipated.
b,c) Would the project displace substantial numbers of existing housing units or people
requiring replacement housing? NI. Adoption of the proposed Housing Element
and construction of residences pursuant to the proposed Element would not
displace substantial numbers of people or residential dwellings. A majority of
the sites in the Eastern Extended Planning Area are currently vacant or are
occupied by a single residence. No existing housing would be displaced except
as requested by the respective property owner, likely in connection with a
future development application.
Displacement of a significant number of housing units or population was not
identified as a significant impact in the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR.
No impacts are anticipated.
14. Public Services
Environmental Impacts
a) Fire protection? NNI. The City of Dublin contracts with the 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 proposed Housing Element could result in an increase in the
number of calls for emergency services. The potential for increases in such calls
as a result of additional housing development anticipated in the proposed
Housing Element have been analyzed in earlier EIRs. These are 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 Extended Planning Area is
subject to the above Mitigation Measures to reduce fire service impacts to a
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less-than-significant level. Future site-specific developments are also required
to pay City of Dublin fire impact fees, which include funds to construct new
local fire facilities.
No significant police protection impacts were documented in the Downtown
Dublin Specific Plan EIR. Overall, there will be no new or more severe
significant impacts to police protection than identified in the prior EIRs and no
additional analysis is required.
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 1993 Eastern Dublin EIR included Mitigation Measure 3.4/1.0 that
provides additional personnel and facilities and revisions 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 measures
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
proposed 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.
No significant police protection impacts were documented in the Downtown
Dublin Specific Plan EIR. Overall, impacts to police protection are anticipated
to be less-than-significant.
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
proposed 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. Therefore,
impacts to schools are anticipated to be less-than-significant.
d) Maintenance of public facilities, including roads? LS. Any new public facilities 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 17 (F-G), below.
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15. Recreation
Project Impacts
a) Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood or regional parks? NNI.
New dwellings built as a result of the proposed 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 squares 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, 2006). The City of Dublin requires housing
developers to either dedicate parkland to the City to meet City goals or pay an
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 a less-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 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
Extended Planning Area under the auspices of the proposed Housing Element is
required to adhere to these measures.
A less than significant impact to parks or recreational facilities was identified in
the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR. Overall, there would be no new or
more significant impacts to parks and recreation facilities than identified in the
prior EIRs and no additional analysis is required.
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. A less-than-significant impact is anticipated with regard to this
topic.
16. 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?
NNI. There would likely be increases in traffic on local roads, regional roads
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
and freeways as a result of the implementation of the proposed 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 mitigated to a less-than-significant
level by construction of roadway and other transportation improvements;
however, as noted below, a number of transportation impacts have been
determined to be significant and unavoidable in previous CEQA documents.
Impacts and mitigations from the Eastern Dublin EIR include:
• Mitigation Measures 3.3/1.0 and 3.3/4.0 were adopted which reduced
impacts on 1-580 between Tassajara Road and Fallon Road and on 1-680
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 3.3/13, 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 1-580 (Impact 3.3/B and E) and this impact was
included in the Statement of Overriding Considerations (City Council
Resolution No. 53-93).
• Mitigation Measures 3.3/6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 11.0 and 12.0 were adopted to
reduce impacts to the Dougherty Road/Dublin Boulevard, Hacienda
Drive/1-580 Eastbound Freeway Ramps, Tassajara Road/ 1-580 Westbound
Freeway Ramps, Santa Rita Road/I-580 Eastbound Freeway Ramps, Airway
Boulevard/1-580 Westbound Freeway Ramps 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 Specific Plan 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 3.3/F, G, H 1, K and Q.
• Mitigation Measures 3.3/13.0 and 14.0 were adopted to reduce cumulative
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 (City Council Resolution No.
53-93).
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
• 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
3.3/0 and P). These mitigations reduced the impacts to less-than-
significant.
The Downtown Dublin Specific Plan contains the following transportation and
circulation impacts and mitigation measures:
• Mitigation Measure 3.9-1 reduced impacts related to traffic increases on
Metropolitan Transportation System (MTS) roadway segments in the
downtown area in the near-term condition and cumulative condition
(Impacts 3.9-1, -2 and -3) but not to a less-than-significant level. This
measure requires the City to support Alameda County projects and
programs to reduce traffic congestion, encourage downtown developers to
implement Transportation Demand Management programs to reduce
future vehicle use, implement pedestrian and bicycle improvements and
collect Tri-Valley Transportation Development fees and local traffic impact
fees to fund local transportation improvements.
• Mitigation Measure 3.9-4 reduced Impact 3.9-4 to a less-than-significant
level. Impact 3.9-4 noted an increase in transit demand based on new
development in the downtown area. This mitigation measure requires the
City to continue to support and work with the local transit providers
(LAVTA) to develop appropriate routes and increased service based on
future demand.
With adherence to the previously adopted Mitigation Measures 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. Future individual housing
developments will also be required to pay traffic impact fees to the City to fund
identified roadway and other transportation improvements.
There would be no new or more severe significant impacts with respect to
traffic increases on local or regional roads, or Alameda County Congestion
Management Agency (CMA) roads than have been previous analyzed. No
additional analysis is required.
c) Result in a change of air traffic patterns? NI. The proposed project would have no
impact on air traffic patterns, since it involves updating 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 proposed Housing Element will be reviewed by the
City of Dublin staff to ensure that City public works and engineering standards
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
are met and no traffic or transportation design hazards would be created. This
would be a less-than-significant impact.
e) Result in inadequate emergency access? NI. No impacts would occur with regard
to emergency access. Residential development anticipated in the proposed
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) Conflict with adopted policies, plans or programs supporting alternative transportation
modes? NI. As part of the normal and customary development review
procedure, the City of Dublin will require the installation of sidewalks along
adjacent roads if none exist, interior pathways, transit stops (as appropriate)
and on-site bicycle parking facilities. Therefore, no impacts would result in
terms of conflicts with policies, plans or programs supporting alternative
transportation modes.
17. 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 and 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, treatment and disposal system. These impacts were
reduced to a less-than-significant level by adherence to Mitigation Measures
3.5/1.0a to 9.0 and 11.0 through 14.0 that required development of adequate
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 Extended Planning Area.
No significant impacts regarding wastewater treatment facilities were
identified in the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR.
Future site-specific housing developments that could be accommodated under
the proposed Housing Element are required to adhere to these Mitigation
Measures as well as 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 and Downtown Dublin Specific Plan
provide for both water and wastewater improvements to serve future
development proposed within these areas. CEQA documents identified in the
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
Earlier Analysis section of this Initial Study analyzed the impacts of such
facilities. All of the documents note that 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.
c) Require new storm drainage facilities or expansion of existing facilities? NNI. See
Hydrology section, 9d.
d) Are sufficient water supplies available? LS. The issue of an adequate long-term
water supply for the Eastern 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 Dublin Specific Plan EIR does not identify any significant
impacts to water supplies.
The primary "retail" supplier of water in Dublin, Dublin San Ramon Services
District (DSRSD), prepared a comprehensive update to their Urban Water
Management Plan in 2010 to indicate that future site-specific development
projects included in the Dublin General Plan could be supplied with 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 proposed 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 and intensification of uses in Downtown Dublin, sufficient
water supplies are expected to be available for future housing sites identified in
the proposed Housing Element.
e) Adequate wastewater capacity to serve the proposed project? LS. See item "a," above.
f,g) Solid waste disposal? LS. Solid waste generation and disposal was found to be a
potentially significant impact in the 1993 Eastern Dublin EIR (see Impact 3.4/O
and P). Adherence to Mitigation Measures 3.7/37.0 through 40 reduced this
impact to a less-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.
The DDSP EIR identified generation of solid waste as less than significant.
There would be no new or more severe significant impacts related to solid
waste disposal than identified in the prior EIRs and no additional analysis is
required
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Initial Study/2015-23 Housing Element Update September 2014
18. 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 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
Luke Sims, Community Development Director
Jeff Baker, Assistance Community Development Director
Mamie Delgado, Senior Planner
Jayson Imai, Senior Civil Engineer
Kit Faubion, Assistant City Attorney
References
Eastern Dublin General Plan Amendment and Specific Plan
Environmental Impact Report (SCH # 91103064, May 10, 1993).
Downtown Dublin Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report (SCH
#20100022005, December 2010).
Eastern Dublin Scenic Corridor Policies and Standards, June 1996
Dublin General Plan, June 2013
Eastern Dublin Specific Plan, January 19, 2010
Downtown Dublin Specific Plan, December 2010
Bay Area Air Quality Management District's Clean Air Plan, September 15,
2010
Climate Action Plan, City of Dublin, updated July 2013
Eastern Alameda County Conservation Strategy (EACCS), October 2010
California Department of Toxic Substances Control, website, July 2014
Parks and Recreation Master Plan, City of Dublin, 2006 update
Dublin San Ramon Services District, Urban Water Management Plan, 2010 Update
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