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Response to Letter L1: Doris Rodriguez, dated August 7, 2024
<br />This comment letter was received after the public review and comment period ended (July 6, 2023,
<br />through August 23, 2023). As stated in Section 15088 of the CEQA Guidelines, Lead Agencies are not
<br />required to respond to letters received outside of the noticed comment period. However, the following
<br />responses have been prepared to provide clarity regarding the environmental concerns that have been
<br />raised.
<br />Comment L1.1: This comment expresses a concern for traffic congestion in the area due to buildout of the
<br />proposed Project. The comment also states that the noise, traffic, and air quality impacts would affect the
<br />quality of life for nearby residents.
<br />Response L1.1: The comment does not raise any specific environmental concern with the analysis within the
<br />Draft SEIR. Environmental topics related to the quality of life for City residents have been evaluated
<br />throughout the SEIR in sections that include: Section 5.1 Air Quality, Section 5.5 Greenhouse Gas Emissions,
<br />Section 5.6 Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Section 5.9 Noise, Section 5.10 Population and Housing,
<br />Section 5.11 Public Services, Section 5.13 Transportation, and Section 5.15 Utilities and Service Systems. As
<br />discussed in Section 5.1 Air Quality, the Project would result in a less than significant localized significance
<br />and health risk impact to the nearest sensitive receptors located 130 feet west of the Project site
<br />throughout all phases of development with the implementation of General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measures
<br />AQ-1 and AQ-2 as well as Project Mitigation Measures AQ-1 through AQ-6. In addition, as discussed in
<br />Section 5.9 Noise, noise impacts to the nearest sensitive receptors located 130 feet west of the Project site
<br />would be less than significant throughout all phases of development and full buildout of the Specific Plan.
<br />Therefore, the Project would not result in significant air quality or noise impacts on nearby residents.
<br />Draft SEIR Section 5.13 Transportation, details that Senate Bill (SB) 743 changes include the elimination of
<br />auto delay, LOS, and similar measures of vehicular capacity or traffic congestion as the basis for
<br />determining significant impacts. As part of the 2019 amendments to the State CEQA Guidelines, SB 743
<br />directed that the revised CEQA Guidelines "shall promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the
<br />development of multimodal transportation networks, and a diversity of land uses" (Public Resources Code
<br />Section 21099[b][1 ]); and that "automobile delay, as described solely by level of service or similar
<br />measures of vehicular capacity or traffic congestion, shall not be considered a significant impact on the
<br />environment" (Public Resources Code Section 21099[b][2]). As such, pursuant to Public Resources Code
<br />Section 21099(b)(2), the SEIR focuses on analysis of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) criteria and
<br />improvements to the circulation system along the Project's frontage to accommodate buildout of the
<br />proposed Project, pursuant to the City's recent General Plan Update. Further yet, the SEIR is not required
<br />to analyze impacts related to traffic congestion. Nevertheless, a Traffic Impact Analysis was prepared for
<br />the Project and is publicly available on the City's Project website.
<br />Regarding traffic remediation, Figure 3-12, Proposed Circulation Plan, in the Draft SEIR, the Project includes
<br />multiple circulation improvements to connect the proposed redevelopment of the site to the existing
<br />circulation system adjacent to the site in a manner that would implement efficient multi -modal circulation to,
<br />from, and within the Project site, including pedestrian circulation, bicycle lanes, bus stop improvements
<br />within the High Quality Transit Area. Draft Supplemental EIR Section 3.0, Project Description, details various
<br />roadway improvements that would be implemented as part of the Project to improve the existing roadways
<br />and provide for the increased vehicular volume from the Project site. In addition, each future proposed
<br />development under the currently proposed Specific Plan Project will be reviewed through the City's
<br />development review and permitting process for consistency with the approved Specific Plan and SEIR. This
<br />review would include VMT screening assessment and a focused traffic study to confirm consistency with the
<br />transportation findings made as a part of the Related Bristol Specific Plan SEIR, VMT screening assessment,
<br />and TIA.
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