Item 26 - Public Hearing Regarding Bristol Project

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Response to Letter L3: Tammy Frias dated August 7, 2024 and August 8,2024 This comment letter was received after the public review and comment period ended (July b, 2023, through August 23, 2023). As stated in Section 15088 of the CEQA Guidelines, Lead Agencies are not required to respond to letters received outside of the noticed comment period. However, the following responses have been prepared to provide clarity regarding the environmental concerns that have been raised. Comment L3.1: This comment states that the Ward 4 South Coast Metro Neighborhood leaders would like added benefits to the proposed Project which includes the undergrounding utility transmission lines surrounding the Project site, a full -service grocery store within the Project site, and several roadway improvements to the surrounding area. Response to Comment L3.1: The comment does not raise any specific environmental concern with the analysis within the Draft Supplemental EIR or requirements of the proposed Specific Plan. Regarding roadway improvements, Figure 3-12, Proposed Circulation Plan, in the Draft SEIR, the Project includes multiple circulation improvements to connect the proposed redevelopment of the site to the existing circulation system adjacent to the site in a manner that would implement efficient multi -modal circulation to, from, and within the Project site, including pedestrian circulation, bicycle lanes, bus stop improvements within the High Quality Transit Area. Draft Supplemental EIR Section 3.0, Project Description, details various roadway improvements that would be implemented as part of the Project to improve the existing roadways and provide for the increased vehicular volume from the Project site. In addition, each future proposed development under the currently proposed Specific Plan Project will be reviewed through the City's development review and permitting process for consistency with the approved Specific Plan and SEIR. The Draft SEIR was prepared pursuant to CEQA Statute and the CEQA Guidelines in order to provide a meaningful discussion of the proposed Project and its resulting potential environmental impacts as a means of public disclosure. Thus, no further response is required or provided; however, this comment will be forwarded to all decision makers as part of the Staff Report for the Project. Comment L3.2: This comment expresses concern over the potential traffic increase along Bristol Street with implementation of the proposed Project and the proposed Segerstrom development. The commenter concludes that instead of adding bike lanes in front of the Project site, Bristol Street should be widened. Response to Comment L3.2: This comment does not provide substantial evidence of a significant environmental impact. As detailed in Draft SEIR Section 5. 13 Transportation, Senate Bill (SB) 743 changes include the elimination of auto delay, LOS, and similar measures of vehicular capacity or traffic congestion as the basis for determining significant impacts. As part of the 2019 amendments to the State CEQA Guidelines, SB 743 directed that the revised CEQA Guidelines "shall promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the development of multimodal transportation networks, and a diversity of land uses" (Public Resources Code Section 21099[b][1 ]); and that "automobile delay, as described solely by level of service or similar measures of vehicular capacity or traffic congestion, shall not be considered a significant impact on the environment" (Public Resources Code Section 21099[b][2]). As such, pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21099(b)(2), the Supplemental EIR focuses on analysis of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) criteria and improvements to the circulation system along the Project's frontage to accommodate buildout of the proposed Project, pursuant to the City's recent General Plan Update. Further yet, the SEIR is not required to analyze impacts related to traffic congestion. Nevertheless, a Traffic Impact Analysis was prepared for the Project and is publicly available on the City's Project website. The commenter incorrectly states that the implementation of bike lanes would only be in front of the Project site and would not connect to any existing bike lanes along Bristol Street. As discussed in Table 5.1 3-1 of the Draft SEIR, Bristol Street contains Class II bike lanes on both sides of the street which continue from Sunflower Avenue to West Central Avenue to the north. In addition, as discussed in Section 3.0, Project Description, further improvements to Bristol Street include new curb cuts, potential signalization of driveway between Callens Common and Sunflower Avenue, median improvements, and landscaped setbacks.