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HomeMy Public PortalAbout6_CEQARequiredAssessment.pdf6 CEQA REQUIRED ASSESSMENT 6-1 This chapter provides an overview of the impacts of the proposed project based on the technical analyses presented in Chapters 4 and 5. The topics covered in this chapter include growth inducement, unavoidable significant impacts, and significant irreversible changes. A more detailed analysis of the effects the proposed project would have on the environment is provided in Chapter 4 of this document. Project alternatives are discussed in Chapter 5. A. Growth Inducement Section 15126.2(d) of the State CEQA Guidelines requires that an EIR discuss the ways in which a proposed project could foster economic or population growth, or the construction of additional housing, either directly or indirect- ly, in the surrounding environment. Typical growth inducing factors might be the extension of urban services or transportation infrastructure to a previ- ously unserved or under-served area, or the removal of major barriers to de- velopment. This section evaluates the proposed project’s potential to create such growth inducements. Not all growth inducement is negative. Negative impacts associated with growth inducement occur only where the project growth would cause adverse environmental impacts. 1. Population Generation The 2025 General Plan includes policies to control how growth occurs within Truckee and the sphere in order to ensure that it is well-managed; infill de- velopment is encouraged, as is development adjacent to existing developed areas. Within this framework, the proposed project would result in the de- velopment of 185 new housing lots and a corresponding increase in the Town’s population of approximately 468 persons. This would represent a three percent increase in relation to the Town’s recent U.S. Census popula- tion count of 16,180 persons over the buildout of the proposed project. As concluded in Section 4.10, Land Use and Planning, of this Draft EIR, the pro- ject’s proposed 185 lots is consistent with the General Plan land use designa- tion RES (Residential) which permits 0.5 to 1 dwelling units per acre (du/acre) and the proposed project meets the Town’s current property zoning allowing for 213 residential units (RS-1). Infrastructure associated with the TOWN OF TRUCKEE CANYON SPRINGS DRAFT EIR CEQA REQUIRED ASSESSMENT 6-2 project would serve the project site and would not facilitate additional devel- opment as a result of increased infrastructure. Therefore, no growth beyond the direct growth would occur under the project. The project would comply with the mandatory Affordable Housing component calculated in accordance with the Town Housing Element Program H-1.3.2, which requires a mini- mum 15 percent affordable housing allocation for new residential develop- ments (i.e. eight lots.)1 2. Improvements to Infrastructure The project site is located in an area that is surrounded by open space and residential land use developments and is generally served by existing road- ways, utility infrastructure, and service systems. The new off-site utility in- frastructure that would facilitate adequate water supply to the proposed pro- ject would only serve the project site and would not facilitate additional de- velopment as the surrounding residential area is generally built-out and ade- quately served by existing utility infrastructure. Mitigation measures recommended in Section 4.14, Transportation and Traf- fic, of this Draft EIR, would, if implemented, result in modifications to the existing intersections or roadway segments in the Town’s transportation net- work. However, these changes would be made to existing facilities and would not result in the extension of new roadways into undeveloped portions of the Town. As a result, they are not expected to induce growth. 3. Employment Generation Development under the proposed project would generate some construction- related employment opportunities. The project’s labor force would be ex- pected to be primarily local. Given the number of workers with applicable skills who reside in Truckee and other adjacent counties, it is unlikely that a substantial number of construction workers would relocate to Truckee to work on the proposed project. Thus the proposed project would not be con- sidered growth-inducing from an employment perspective. 1 Town of Truckee 2007-2014 Housing Element Appendix HD, Past Perfor- mance, page HD-3. TOWN OF TRUCKEE CANYON SPRINGS DRAFT EIR CEQA REQUIRED ASSESSMENT 6-3 There is no long-term employment opportunities associated with the devel- opment of the residential project. In addition, due to the location of the pro- ject it is not anticipated that the proposed residential uses would have the po- tential to create demand for businesses to locate near the site and this effect is would be less than significant. The project is not a regionally significant em- ployer, and although the project would provide employment opportunities, fostering some economic growth, most of the jobs would likely be filled by people in the local employment base, and the project would not induce addi- tional population growth. Therefore, the project would result in growth in the Truckee due to only the projected increase in population and dwelling units. The project growth would result in less than significant impacts in relation to regional projections. B. Unavoidable Significant Impacts Section 15126.2(b) of the State CEQA Guidelines requires that an EIR de- scribe any significant impacts that cannot be avoided, even with the imple- mentation of feasible mitigation measures. All project and cumulative im- pacts were found to be less than significant and less than significant with mit- igation. C. Significant Irreversible Changes Section 15126.2(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines requires an EIR to discuss the extent to which a proposed project would commit nonrenewable re- sources to uses that future generations would probably be unable to reverse. The three CEQA-required categories of irreversible changes are discussed below. 1. Changes in Land Use that Commit Future Generations The proposed development would be located on land that is generally unde- veloped. The site was logged some years ago and many if not most of the larger trees were removed. A well-developed network of unpaved roads and TOWN OF TRUCKEE CANYON SPRINGS DRAFT EIR CEQA REQUIRED ASSESSMENT 6-4 trails is distributed throughout the site, and the project site is accessed by sur- rounding subdivision residents through connecting trails and experiences year-round unauthorized use. Once the site is developed as proposed, it would not be feasible to return it to its existing (pre-project) condition. As such, future generations of residents and visitors to the site and areas in prox- imity to it would be committed to the proposed change in land use for the foreseeable future. 2. Irreversible Damage from Environmental Accidents Potential environmental accidents of concern include those that would have adverse effects on the environment or public health due to the nature or quantity of material released during an accident and the receptors exposed to that release. As described in Section 4.8, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, of this Draft EIR, the project is a residential development and would not include the rou- tine transport of hazardous materials. In addition, the project site is not on a list of hazardous materials sites pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5. Demolition and construction activities would involve some risk for environmental accidents. However, these activities would be monitored by Town, State and federal agencies, and would follow professional industry standards for safety and construction. During the operational phase of the project, the project would not include any uses or activities that are likely to contribute to or be the cause of significant environmental accident. As a re- sult, the project would not pose a substantial risk of environmental accidents. 3. Large Commitment of Nonrenewable Resources Construction and ongoing maintenance of the proposed project would irre- versibly commit some materials and non-renewable energy resources. Mate- rials and resources used would include, but are not limited to, nonrenewable and limited resources such as oil, gasoline, sand and gravel, asphalt, and steel. These materials and energy resources would be used for grading, infrastruc- ture development, transportation of people and goods, and utilities. During the operational phase of the project (post-construction), energy sources in- TOWN OF TRUCKEE CANYON SPRINGS DRAFT EIR CEQA REQUIRED ASSESSMENT 6-5 cluding oil and gasoline would be used for construction, lighting, heating, and cooling of residences, and transportation of people within, to, and from the project site. As explained in Section 4.7, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, of this Draft EIR, the proposed project includes features that would reduce its amount of energy demand over the long-term. However, energy usage by new development under the proposed project would result in the overall increased use of non- renewable resources. This represents a significant irreversible environmental change. None of the land on the project site is used for agriculture or forestry related production, or designated for agricultural or forestry uses in the Town of Truckee or Nevada County General Plans. Thus, new development under the proposed project would not result in any significant impacts to agricul- tural or forest resources. There are no known mineral resources located on the project site or in the soils below it. Therefore, the proposed project would not result in any signif- icant impacts to the extraction or use of mineral resources. Overall, the implementation of the proposed project would require a com- mitment of nonrenewable resources. TOWN OF TRUCKEE CANYON SPRINGS DRAFT EIR CEQA REQUIRED ASSESSMENT 6-6