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Home My Public Portal About10 October 13, 1994 Special CommissionRIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1994 7:00 P.M. LA SIERRA PUBLIC LIBRARY, 4600 LA SIERRA AVENUE, RIVERSIDE AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER. 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS. 3. AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS. 4. PUBLIC HEARING - Metrolink Rail Station Parking Lot To Be Located Northwesterly Quadrant of La Sierra and Indiana Avenues in the Citv of Riverside (the 'Project'). Overview A public hearing was held on October 1Z 1994 at the SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms and continued to Thursday, October 13, 1994, at 7 P.M., at the La Sierra Public Library, 4600 La Sierra Avenue, Riverside. This item is to: 1) Review findings of initial study performed by RCTC staff and consultants for the 'project'; 2) Review any available public and agency comments on the 'project' or findings of the initial study; 2) Adopt the negative declaration for the 'project'; 4) Approve the 'project' and direct staff to file and post a Notice of Determination; and, 5) Provide staff with direction regarding acquisition of certain Riverside Community College property to allow for the 'project' and access to the proposed La Sierra Rail Station. Staff recommends that the Commission: 1) Finds that in light of the whole record that the 'project' will not have a significant effect on the environment, that the Negative Declaration and Initial Study have been independently reviewed by the Commission, that the Negative Declaration reflects the independent Judgment of the Commission, and that the Negative Declaration be adopted. 2) Direct staff that a copy of all documents constituting the record of these proceedings shall be maintained by the Clerk of the Commission, Naty Kopenhaver, at the Commission Office located at 3560 University Avenue, Suite 100, Riverside, CA 92501. Pending the adoption of Recommendation 1 above: 3) Approve the 'project' and direct staff to file and post a Notice of Determination in accordance with the Commission's Guidelines. 4) Direct staff to secure a fair market appraisal and proceed to negotiate for acquisftion of the properly needed for the 'project. from the Riverside Community College adhering to all federal guidelines and regulations. 5. Adjournment. The next Riverside County Transportation Commission is scheduled to be held at 2 P.M., on Wednesday, November 9, 1994, 3560 University Avenue, Suite 100, Riverside. , ,7 ,* , RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION DATE: TO: FROM: October 12-13, 1994 Riverside County Transportation Commission Bill Hughes, Bechtel Deputy Project Manager Tom Horkan, Bechtel Project Manager THROUGH: Jack Reagan, Executive Director SUBJECT: Notice of Public Hearing - Metrolink Rail Station Parking Lot To Be Located Northwesterly Quadrant of La Sierra and Indiana Avenues in the City of Riverside (the "Project") 1. Review Findings of Initial Study Performed by RCTC Staff and Consultants for the "Project". 2. Review Any Available Public and Agency Comments on the "Project" or Findings of the Initial Study. 3. Consider Adoption of Negative Declaration for the "Project". 4. Consider Approval of the "Project" and Direct Staff to File and Post a Notice of Determination. 5. Provide Staff with Direction Regarding Acquisition of Certain Riverside Community College Property to Allow for the "Project" and Access to the Proposed La Sierra Rail Station. To provide access to Metrolink Service into Orange County via the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company (AT&SF), Metrolink stations must be constructed in Riverside County. One Station will be located in the City of Corona on Serfas Club Drive and another station is needed between the Corona Station and Downtown Riverside. The Corona Station has been determined to be Categorically Exempt under a separate environmental review process. Various locations have been considered -for the midpoint station. The most feasible and current study location for the mid -point station is a portion of 20-acres of property currently owned by the Riverside Community College (RCC). The study location is located just northerly of La Sierra Avenue westerly of Indiana Avenue and adjacent to the AT&SF right-of-way . The 20 acre parcel is located within Planning Area 1 of the La Sierra Specific Plan. The La Sierra Specific Plan covers a 121- acre planning area all of which is owned by RCC. Planning area 1 is zoned C-2-S-2 and has been designated for retail development. USERS\PREPRI NT\OCT.94\N EG D EC. W RH Page 2 The rail station will be comprised of two components. The first component is the passenger loading and unloading platforms, ticket vending machines, shade canopies and track modifications that will occur within the AT&SF right-of-way. Construction within railroad rights -of -way are exempt from CEQA and are, therefore, not subject to environmental review. The second component of the proposed new rail station is the adjoining parking facility that will accommodate about 350 vehicles. The parking facility will be located on RCC property, adjacent to AT&SF right-of-way. The parking facility will include a parking lot, bus and automobile drop off areas, landscaping, and lighting. For the purposes of the environmental review process, the parking component of the rail station will be the "Project". Pursuant to the "RCTC Local Guidelines for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)", it was determined that RCTC should act as the Lead and Responsible Agency for the implementation of the CEQA evaluation process as it pertains to the construction of, and access of the public to, the "Project". Staff, working with consultants, has completed an Initial Study of the "Project". On the basis of the initial evaluation, staff has determined that the proposed "Project" COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a Negative Declaration should be prepared. A "Notice of Preparation of Draft Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration" (NOP) was filed with the County Clerk on September 12, 1994, and was also posted at RCTC. As backup to the NOP, the Initial Study Draft Negative Declaration has been available for review at RCTC since September 12. Copies of the NOP and Initial Study are attached for your independent review. The public hearing will be continued on Thursday, October 13, 1994, at 7:00 p.m., at the La Sierra Public Library, 4600 La Sierra Avenue, Riverside. After the October 13th public hearing, the Commission will be requested to take the following action. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the Commission: 1) Finds in light of the whole record that the "Project" will not have asignificant effect on the environment, that the Negative Declaration and Initial Study have been independently reviewed by the Commission, that the Negative Declaration reflects the independent judgment of the Commission , and that the Negative Declaration be adopted. 2) Direct staff that a copy of all documents constituting the record of these proceedings shall be maintained by the Clerk of the Commission, Naty Kopenhaver, at the Commission office located at 3560 University Ave, Suite 100, Riverside, CA, 92501. US E RSIPREPRI NT\OCT.94\N EG D EC. W RH Page 3 Pending the adoption of Recommendation 1 above. 3) Approve the "Project" and direct staff to file and post a Notice of Determination in accordance with the Commission's Guidelines. 4) Direct staff to secure a fair market appraisal and proceed to negotiate for acquisition of the property needed for the "Project" from the Riverside Community College adhering to all Federal guidelines and regulations. : jw USERS\PREPRINT\OCT.94\NEGOEC.W RH WRITTEN COMMENTS RECEIVED KENNETH L. EDWARDS GENERAL MANAGER•CNIEF ENGINEER 00963'7 RIVERSIDE COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT October 5, 1994 Riverside County Transportation Commission 3560 University Avenue, Ste. 100 Riverside, CA 92501 1995 MARKET STREET RIVERSIDE, CA 92501.1719 (909) 275-1200 (909) 788-9965 FAX Ladies and Gentlemen: Re: Riverside -La Sierra Commuter Rail Station This letter is written in response to the Initial Study/Draft Negative Declaration for the proposed Riverside -La Sierra Commuter Rail Station. The proposed project consists of the construction of a commuter rail "Metrolink" station adjacent to the AT&SF Railroad northeasterly of La Sierra Avenue in the City of Riverside. Both Alternative A and Alternative B sites appear to drain into an existing culvert under the AT&SF Railroad which discharges into the District's existing Arlington Channel (open concrete flood control channel). The District has the following concern regarding the proposed project: The proposed project has the potential to adversely impact the quality of stormwater discharging into the Arlington Channel due to the disturbance caused by construction activity and the potential increase in urban pollutants (oil and grease) from the proposed development. In order to address the above concern, the Riverside County Transportation Commission should obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Construction Permit from the Regional Water Quality Control Board -Santa Ana Region prior to commencing any construction activity that may impact 5 acres or more. The initial study should address the need for an NPDES permit and, if needed, the permit requirement may be included as a mitigation measure in the final Negative Declaration. Also, the potential use of water quality inlets designed to remove oil and grease from stormwater should be addressed in the initial study/draft Negative Declaration and considered in the design of the parking lot drainage system. Thank you for the opportunity to review the draft Initial Study/Negative Declaration. Please forward any revised or final CEQA documents for the proposed project to the Environmental Regulatory Services section of this office for our files and/or comments. Any questions regarding this letter may be referred to Randy Sheppeard of this office at 909/275-1306. Very truly yours, ARTHUR G. KRUEGER Senior Civil Engineer RS:slj CITY OF STEPHEN J. WHYLD Planning Director October 11, 1994 g 2 .z• PLANNING DEPARTMENT Paul Blackwelder Riverside County Transportation Commission 3560 University Avenue Riverside, CA 92501 Subject: Proposed Negative Declaration -La Sierra Metrolink Station Dear Mr. Blackwelder: Thank you for providing the City of Riverside the opportunity to review the initial study for the above -referenced project. It appears that the initial study relies heavily on the Addendum Environmental Impact Report (La Sierra AEIR) previously prepared by the City in 1991 for the La Sierra Specific Plan. The La Sierra AEIR is used as the basis for determining that many of the potential impacts of the project (parking lot) are not significant. It would be appropriate for the initial study to also identify those approved mitigation measures from the La Sierra AEIR that would apply to the project. For example, it appears that both alternative parking lot sites lie within areas subject to low to moderate liquefaction potential, and a number of mitigation measures are included to mitigate potential impacts. The City recommends that the proposed negative declaration be revised to incorporate pertinent mitigation measures in all topical areas from the La Sierra AEIR that apply to this project. In addition, the specific plan storm drain plan indicates a proposed storm drain in the vicinity of Alternative "A", which should be identified. As a final note, the City has determined that while the proposed parking lot is consistent with the adopted La Sierra Specific Plan, City zoning requirements necessitate that a conditional use permit be obtained to permit the construction of this facility. Please contact Robert Mease, Principal Planner, at (909) 782-5383 should you have any questions regarding this letter or for information regarding the conditional use permit process. Planning Director 3900 Main Street . Riverside, Califomia 92522 Planning Division: (909) 782-5371 . Building and Safety Division: (909) 782-5897 Fax Number: (909) 782-5822