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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNB 1 EIR GUIDELINES 08-18-80DATE: August 18, 1980 NEW BUSINESS NO. 1 8-18-80 Inter-Corn TO: FROH: SUBJECT: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members R.K. Fleagle Environmental Impact Report Guidelines - Resolution No. 80-84 BACKGROUND The California Environmental Quality Act requires each public agency fo adopt pro- cedures for implementation of fha Act and the Guidelines published by the Secretary of the Resources Agency. Amendments are made fo CEQA durin9 each legislative session and the Guidelines must be amended to conform fo the changes in law. The State Guidelines (Sec. 15050) were amended fo read: (e) In adopting procedures fo implement CEQA, a public agency may adopt the State EIR Guidelines by incorporafin9 by reference. The Agency would then need fo adopt only those specific procedures or provisions des- cribed in subsection (c) which are necessary fo tailor the general pro- visions of the Guidelines fo the specific operations of the Agency. A public agency may also choose to adopt a complete set of procedures identifying in one publi~ document.all the necessary requirements. Resolution No. 80-84 has been prepared fo take advantage of the permissive authority fo adopt the Guidelines by reference. DISCUSSION Adoption by reference will assure that the Guidelines are current with existin9 law. If will not require the extensive amendment each year of a 60-page document. There is little discretion in the implementation of the Act and revisions would be necessary only for changes in policy pertaining fo administration. An advantage would be created for developers whereby the EIR requirements would be standardized and consistent with State law. Adoption of the State Guidelines would also make it easier for the City fo defend against any litigation of environ- mental matters. There is a disadvantage for staff and Council in the necessity to use referenced documents in the processing of projects rather than identifyin9 all necessary procedures in one document. The proposed resolution makes no subsfifive changes in exisfin9 procedures. RECO/W~ENDED ACTION It is recommended that Resolufi on No. 80-84 be approved substantially ad drafted. RKF:mm 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23' 24 25 26 27 28 29 3O 31 32 RESOLUTION NO. 80-84 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING GUIDELINES AND PRO- CEDURES FOR THE IMPLEmeNTATION OF ThE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONN~ENTAL QUALITY ACT ICEQA) The City Council of Tusfin, CaliFornia does hereby resolve aS follows: Section 1: Policies and procedures for implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (CEQA) IPublic Resources Code, Division 13, Chapter 1, et.seQ.) are hereby adopted pursuant to the requirement of Section 21082. I. GENERAL The State Enviornmenfal Impact Report Guidelines (California Ad- ministrative Code Title 14, Division 6, Section 1500, et, s~o.! and as hereafter from time fo time amended, are hereby adopted and in- corporated herein as fully as though set forth in full herein, together with those specific procedures which are necessary fo tailor the general, provisions of the State Guidelines to the specific operations of the City of Tusfin; pursuant fo Section 15050(e). The specific procedures contained herein are intended to serve as a working reference guide for the City and not as a substitution for the State Guidelines. In the event of any inconsistency or ambiguity, the State Guidelines shall control in all respects. II. RESPONSIBILITIES A. Community Development Director The Communi,y Development Director, hereafter called "Director," shall be responsible for performing the administrative and pro- cedural func, ions required of ,he City in the implemen,afion of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the S,a,e Guidelines. Delegated functions include but are not limited ,o: 1. Determination of whether a project is exempt. 2. Conduct of an initial study. 3. Preparation of a Negative Declaration or EIR. 4. Determination that a Negative Declaration has been completed within a period of 105 days. 5. Preparation of responses fo public comments. 6. Certification fhaf the decision-making body has reviewed and cansidered an EIR or Negative Declaration. 7. Filing of notices. Coordination and consultation with responsible agencies, Trustee agencies, and those with expertise in matters of environmental concern. B. Planning Agency The Planning Agency is responsible for: The review and consideration of a final EIR or Negative Declaration prior fo the approval of a project within its approving jurisdiction. 1 4 6 ? 8 9 10 11 14 15 16 19 ZO ,I ~5 ~6 Z9 5O Resolution No. 80-.84. page 2. The making of findings as required by Sections 15088 and 15089 of the Guidelines for those projects within ifs approving jurisdiction. The review and consideration of an fIR or Negative Decla- ration for any project requiring the Planning Agency's recommendation and report to the City Council. City Council The City Council of the City of Tustin is the final authority for: The review and consideration of a final EIR or Negative Declaration prior to approving a project subject fo Council approval, for all projects on appeal, projects initiated by the City, and as the Responsible Agency for projects initiated by other agencies. The making of findings as required by Sections 15088 and 15089 of the Guidelines for those projects within its ap- proving jurisdiction, II. IMPLEmeNTING PROCEDURES A. Pre-application Determination Prior to the acceptance of an application for a permit or discretionary approval of a project by the City of Tusfin, the Director shall make a determination of the project's environ- mental status and advise the applicant of the findings. MINISTERIAL PROJECTS The Director s~il make a ~indin9 that the following are mini- sterial proJects exempt from the requirements of CEQA and no environmental documents are required: 1. Issuance of building permits fo include plumbing, electrical, mechanical, masonry, framing, and roofing. 2. Issuance of gradin9 permits if: a. Exempt from the permit requirements of the Uniform Building Code, or b. Not in excess of 200,000 cubic yards. 5. Issuance of business licenses. 4. Issuance of entertainment permit. 5. Approval of final subdivision maps. 6. Approval of individual utility service connections and disconnections. 7. The issuance of street permits within the public right-of-way. 8. Minor variances and use permits within the jurisdictional authority of the Zoning Administrator, 9. The issuance of sign permits in conformance with the Tusfin Sign Code and not requiring a public hearing. Resol ut i on No. 80-84 page 3. 1 4 5 6 ? 8 9 10 ll lZ 14 15 16 18 19' ~0 ~4 ~5 S6 Z7 51 10. The issuance of animal permits. 11. Administrative and Planning Agency site plan and project review and approvals not requiring a public hearin9. C. INITIAL STUDY Submission of Data. If the project is fo be carried out by a private person or private organization, the City shall require such person or organization to submit data and in- formation which will enable the Director fo prepare the Initial Study. Fgr~at. Forms for description of an applicant's project description and the Director's review shall be those con- rained in appendices H and I of the State Guidelines. D. NOTICE AND REVIEW PERIOD Method of Providing Notice. In addition to the require- ments and alternatives for public notice as listed in Sections'lSO83(d) and 15085(d)(2) of the State Guidelines, public notice shall be given by publication in a newspaper or by direct mailing at the same time and in the same manner as a public notice is otherwise required by law for such project. 2. Review Periods When a project does not require submission of environ- mental documents fo the State Clearinghouse, the mini- mum review period shall be 14 days. When an EIR or Negative Declaration is submitted fo the State Clearinghouse for review, the minimum period shall be 45 days for EIRs and 30 days for Negative Declarations. E. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORTS 1. Preparation When determined that an Environmental Impact Report shall be required the Community Development Director shall indicate the scope of the required EIR and shall determine whether the draft EIR may be prepared by the applicant or shall be prepared at the expense of the applicant by the City of Tusfin through contract or staff services. Applicants for private projects requiring an EIR shall arrange for ~he preparer of a draft EIR to confer with the Community Development Director on the content and format of the document. The applicant shall cause the required information fo be submitted to the Community Development Department for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report. do The Community Development Director shall review the information for adequacy, prepare an independent analysis, circulate, and provide notices as required by CEQA and State Guidelines. 1 2 4 5 6 ? 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 18 19 2O 21 22 24 26 27 28 29 5O 51 52 Resolution No. 80-84 page 4. Time of Submission. The draft EIR shall be submitted to the Community Development Department concurrently with related applications such as a zone change or variance. Number and Format - Twenty-five (25) numbered copies shall be furnished fo the City, with printed pages 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches, and folded map pages at a scale of not less than 1 inch equals 100 feet, fastened with a binder per- miffing the insertion of supplementary pages, bound by a firm cover and labeled with the name of the project. In those instances where approval is required of a state or federal agency, an additional ten (10) copies shall be furnished. IV. TI A~E LIMITS FOR PROCESSING APPLICATIONS The following time limits shall apply to the processing of permit applications for projects except as modified by Sections 15054.1, 15054.2, and 15054.3 of the State Guidelines: Sect i on 2: A defermi'nation by the'Community Deve'lopmehf'D~irector the environmental status and requirements of a project shall be made within 30 calendar days of receipt of the application for a development project. The determination shall be in writing and transmitted to the applicant for fha development project. In the event fhaf the appli- cation is determined not fo be complete, the Cor~nunify Development Director shall specify those parts of the application which are incomplete and shall indicate the manner in which they can be made complete. Within 45 days after accepting an application for a pro- jecf whic~,,.has been determined to be complete in accordance with the City of Tustin Handbook for Planning and Develop- ment, the Director shall make a determination of whether the project wilt need an EIR or a Negative Declaration. 5. When the City of Tustin is acting as a Lead Agency for a project for which the agency will grant a lease, license, permit, certification, or other entitlement for use, the City shall complete and certify an EIR in not more than one year or complete a Negative Declaration in not more than 105 days. 4. In the event the Cit/ of Tustin as Lead Agency or Responsible Agency fails fo act fo approve or disapprove a project within, the required time limits pursuant fo Chapter 4.5 of Division I of Title 7 oF the Government Code, such failure to'act shall be deemed approval of the development project one year after acceptance of a complete project application. Fees for the processing of environmental documents shall be as set forth n Resolution No.80-28 or as hereafter amended. 1 2 3 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16, '19 gO 21 22 2:5' 24 25 26 27 28 29 3O 32 Resolution No. 80-84 page 5. Section 3: Three (3) copies of the Environmental Impact Report Guide- lines (Administrative Code, Title 14, Division 6, Section 1500, ft. seo.) shall be maintained on file in the oCfice of the City Clerk. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regu ar meeting of the City Council of the City of Tusfin, held on the day of , 1980. ATTEST: Donald J. Salfarelli Mayor Mary E. Wynn City Clerk