Item 26 - Public Hearing Regarding Bristol Project

Home Browse Search

Response L8.5: Draft SEIR Section 5.13 Transportation, details that 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 SEIR 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 on Sunflower Avenue. Nevertheless, a Traffic Impact Analysis was prepared for the Project and is publicly available on the City's Project website. Comment L8.6: This comment states the commenter is concerned about physical impacts on residential buildings from heavy trucks traveling on City streets, such as broken or cracked windows. Response L8.6: The comment does not raise any specific environmental concern with the analysis within the Draft SEIR. The Draft SEIR adequately describes potential vibration impacts associated with the use of heavy machinery and trucks on page 5.9-31 of the Draft SEIR. As discussed, truck vibration levels are dependent on vehicle characteristics, load, speed, and pavement conditions. However, typical vibration levels for heavy truck activity at normal traffic speeds would be approximately 0.006 in/sec PPV, based on the FTA Transit Noise Impact and Vibration Assessment. Truck movements on site would be travelling at very low speed, so it is expected that truck vibration at nearby sensitive receivers would be less than the vibration threshold of 0.08 in/sec PPV for fragile historic buildings and 0.04 in/sec PPV for human annoyance, and therefore, would be less than significant. Comment L8.7: This comment states that the commenter is concerned about school transportation for elementary school children residing in present and future apartments. Response L8.7: The comment does not raise any specific environmental concern with the analysis within the Draft SEIR. CEQA is an environmental protection statute that is concerned with physical changes to the environment (CEQA Guidelines Section 15358(b)). The environment includes land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and objects of historic or aesthetic significance (CEQA Guidelines Section 15360). The Project's potential economic and social effects are not considered effects on the environment (CEQA Guidelines Sections 15064(e) and 151 31(a)). Thus, consistent with CEQA, the Draft SEIR includes an analysis of the Project's potentially significant physical impacts on the environment and does not include discussion of school transportation. This comment will be forwarded to decision makers as part of the staff report for the Project. Comment L8.8: This comment states that the commenter is concerned about the loss of Vons for a higher - end store. Response L8.8: The comment does not raise any specific environmental concern with the analysis within the Draft SEIR. CEQA is an environmental protection statute that is concerned with physical changes to the environment (CEQA Guidelines Section 15358(b)). The environment includes land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and objects of historic or aesthetic significance (CEQA Guidelines Section 15360). The Project's potential economic and social effects are not considered effects on the environment (CEQA Guidelines Sections 15064(e) and 151 31(a)). Thus, consistent with CEQA, the Draft SEIR includes an analysis of the Project's potentially significant physical impacts on the environment and does not include discussion of the type of grocery store that would be included in the Project. Comment L8.9: This comment states that the commenter is concerned about beautification of the area. 15