2019-050 -Adopting Local CEQA Guidelines

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Local Guidelines for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act (2019) INITIAL STUDY (c) The project has possible environmental effects which are individually limited but cumulatively considerable, as defined in Local Guidelines Section 11.14. That is, the City, when acting as Lead Agency, is required to determine whether the incremental impacts of a project are cumulatively considerable by evaluating them against the back- drop of the environmental effects of the other projects; or (d) The environmental effects of a project will cause substantial adverse effects on humans either directly or indirectly. If, before the release of the CEQA document for public review, the potential for triggering one of the mandatory findings of significance is avoided or mitigation measures or project modifications reduce the potentially significant impacts to a point where clearly the mandatory finding of significance is not triggered, preparation of an EIR is not mandated. If the or mitigated to a point where the criterion is clearly not triggered, an EIR shall be prepared, and the relevant mandatory findings of significance shall be used: (1) (2) in making findings on the feasibility of alternatives or mitigation measures; (3) when found to be feasible, in making changes in the project to lessen or avoid the adverse environmental impacts; and (4) when necessary, in adopting a statement of overriding considerations. Although an EIR prepared for a project that triggers one of the mandatory findings of significance must use the relevant mandatory findings as thresholds of significance, the EIR need not conclude that the impact itself is significant. Rather, the City, as Lead Agency, must exercise its discretion and determine, on a case-by-case basis after evaluating all of the relevant evidence, significance or whether a statement of overriding considerations is required. With regard to a project that has the potential to substantially reduce the number or restrict the range of a protected species, the City, as Lead Agency, does not have to prepare an EIR solely due to that impact, provided the project meets the following three criteria: (a) The project proponent must be bound to implement mitigation requirements relating to such species and habitat pursuant to an approved habitat conservation plan and/or natural communities conservation plan; (b) The state or federal agency must have approved the habitat conservation plan and/or natural community conservation plan in reliance on an EIR and/or EIS; and (c) The mitigation requirements must either avoid any net loss of habitat and net reduction in number of the affected species, or preserve, restore, or enhance sufficient habitat to mitigate the reduction in habitat and number of the affected species below a level of significance. 2019 City of Santa Ana Local Guidelines 5-10 ©Best Best & Krieger LLP