2019-040 - Mainplace Mall Transformation

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City of Santa Ana Addendum to the MainPlace Mall Transformation Proiect Fashion Square Commercial Center Final EIR 5.4 BIOTA/BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES Summary of Impacts Identified in the 1983 EIR The 1983 EIR describes that the site is located in an urban environment and vegetation onsite and adjacent to the site consists of ornamental trees, shrubs, and grasses. The EIR describes that only small ground mammals that are tolerant of urban activities and birds that may use onsite trees for nesting and roosting places are able to survive onsite. The 1983 EIR describes that construction on the site would force any onsite birds or mammals to move to outlying areas, but that after construction is complete, and the site is re -landscaped, the urban wildlife would likely return. The 1983 EIR identifies one Mitigation Measure 5.4-1, which requires that the Project provide adequate landscaping onsite, and requires City review and approval of all landscaping plans. The 1983 EIR determined that no substantial adverse biological impacts would result from redevelopment of the site. Summary of Impacts Identified in the 1996 Addendum The 1996 Addendum describes that the site is entirely developed, and vegetation is comprised of introduced ornamental trees, shrubs and grasses. Consistent with the 1983 EIR, the 1996 Addendum states that no native vegetation exists onsite and that no impacts would occur from the proposed expansion. In addition, the Addendum describes that the City requires decorative landscaping as part of the final plan approval process. Impacts Associated with the Proposed Project No New Impact. Similar to the site conditions in 1983 and 1996, the Project site is developed and located within an urban environment. The Project site has no natural habitats onsite and no connectivity to natural habitats. Vegetation on the Project site is limited to ornamental vegetation, which includes trees, shrubs, and grasses. Urban wildlife species, including small mammals and birds, have the potential to exist within the landscaped areas on the site. No endangered, rare, threatened, or special status plant species (or associated habitats) or wildlife species designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), or California Native Plant Society (CNPS) are known to occur on the site. Thus, none would be impacted by implementation of the proposed Project. No new impact would occur. As described in the 1983 EIR, any small urban mammals would move off the site at the commencement of construction. In addition, nesting birds that could utilize the ornamental trees onsite are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which requires that nesting birds be protected and that trees with nesting birds not be removed until the fledglings have left the nest. Thus, impacts to small mammals and birds would 61