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Home My WebLink About09 RESPONSE TO IRVINE 04-17-07Agenda Item 9 `~ Reviewed: t ~ r~ M-~ ~,y~ ;; City Manager ~, ,~ Finance Director NIA MEETING DATE: APRIL 17, 2007 T0: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: CITY OFTUSTIN RESPONSETO CITYOF IRVINE NOP OFA DSEIR FOR DEVELOPMENT IN PLANNING AREAS 40 AND 12 SUMMARY City Council authorization is requested for the City of Tustin's response to the subject Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (DSEIR) to the Planning Area 40/Spectrum 8 EIR for a proposed City of Irvine General Plan Amendment and Zone Change. These actions are associated with the proposed development of approximately 3,918 dwelling units and 1,845,000 square feet of Multi-Use in Planning Area (PA) 40 (586 acres) and approximately 575,000 square feet of Research and Industrial uses (or 1,309 dwelling units) on a 36-acre parcel in Planning Area (PA) 12. Also proposed are two schools and various parks and open space. PA 40 is generally bounded by Jeffrey Road to the west, the I-5 Freeway to the south, the Orange County Great Park to the east, and Trabuco Road to the north. The portion of PA 12 is generally bounded by vacant land to the west, the I-5 Freeway to the north, Sand Canyon Avenue to the east, and OCTA railroad tracks to the south. (Location Map -Attachment A). RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council authorize staff to forward the attached response letter to the City of Irvine. FISCAL IMPACT: There are no fiscal impacts associated with this action. BACKGROUNDAND DISCUSSION: The proposed development includes approximately 3,918 dwelling units and .1,845,000 square feet of Multi-Use in Planning Area (PA) 40 (586 acres} and approximately 575,000 square feet of Research and Industrial uses (or 1,309 dwelling units) on a 36-acre parcel in Planning Area (PA) 12. Also proposed are two schools and various parks and open space. PA 40 is generally bounded by Jeffrey Road to the west, the I-5 Freeway to the south, the Orange County Great Park to the east, and Trabuco Road to the north. The City Council Report NOP for Irvine DSEIR April 17, 2007 Page 2 portion of PA 12 is generally bounded by vacant land to the west, the l-5 Freeway to the north, Sand Canyon Avenue to .the east, and OCTA railroad tracks to the south. (Location Map -Attachment A). The Community Development and Public Works Departments have reviewed the subject Notice of Preparation. Staff believes that it is in the. City's interest to be on record regarding this matter and has prepared correspondence expressing the City's concerns regarding the Notice of Preparation document (see Attachment B). Staff requests that the Tustin City Council review and consider these comments and, if acceptable, authorize their formal transmission to the City of Irvine. C ~' Scott Reek ~ Elizabeth A. Binsack Senior Planner Community Development Director Attachments: A. Location Map B. Draft Comment Response Letter S:1Cdd1CCREPORTINOP Irvine PA 40 Spectrum ~.doc ATTACHMENT A Location Map ,...~ {ti '.~. .: - ~. ~a~~` fq~~ ~o~' ,`~~ ~~. 1~~ ~`~ ~~~ ~rti ~~1 ~~ti ~~• `1~ ~~ q/ton .~~. ~fi, .. 4~'<~':::. .. .,~::. ~~i` Y~~(AwT] ~I/~ a T ab G~ `~o a 5 ,, ~~ ..q, ,~ ,~~1gfC ti~`~j ;~t~~I `, `~`,~°~ f rx -,_ ~~~~~ ~t ~ ~e`Sc~,~~ ~~~~ ~ ~~ ~'~ .. `''~d: Y S ~`~~~ x~ , ~- ,~~ ~~~~~~ Project Site =__== Railroad ,~^~~i~ ~'R~ Exhibit 2 PA 40 and PA 12 ~~ ~` Irvine CA VICINITY Mi4P .~. ' . r$' 'r~ TEMPLET4N PLANNING .GROUP 0 935 ft 1930 ft ..~,: ~~. ATTACHMENT B Draft Comment Response Letter April 18, 2007 Michael Philbrick City of Irvine P.O. Box 19575 Irvine, CA 92623-9575 SUBJECT: NOP FOR DRAFT DSEIR FOR PLANNING AREAS 401SPECTRUM 8 EIR ~SCH 2000071014, PLANNING AREAS 40112 GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND ZONE CHANGE Dear Mr. Philbrick: Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (DSEIR) to the Planning Area 40/Spectrum 8 Environmental Impact Report for the above referenced project involving the development of approximately 3,918 dwelling units ("DU") and 1,845,000 square feet ("SF") of Multi-Use within PA 40 (about 586 acres), as well as 575,000 SF of researchlindustrial (or an added 1,309 DU) on a 36-acre parcel in PA 12. Schools, parks, and open space are also included in the proposal. The project site area includes Jeffery Road to the west, the I-5 Freeway to the south, the Great Park to the east, and Trabuco Road to the north. The City of Tustin is concerned with the significant changes in land uses (i.e., from commercial buildings to residential, etc.) in the Irvine area. that have occurred to date and will likely continue to be processed in the future. These land use changes could result in significant modifications to the anticipated traffic impacts and planned mitigations. While individual projects may show limited changes in traffic patterns, the cumulative impacts of the proposal will likely be more significant. The City of Irvine should describe and analyze the overall traffic impacts anticipated from the proposed changes in land uses, so that traffic mitigation measures and/or project modifications can be identified. In addition, the City of Tustin has identified the following additional concerns and issues: 1. Section 15, "Transportation/Traffic" -the NOP States that "further evaluation in the DSEIR is necessary". Therefore, a traffic study should be required to document the transportation impacts of the proposed project. 2. Section 15, "Transportation/Traffic" -The build-out analysis needs to be included in the DSEIR to verify/update future transportation improvement needs and in particular as it relates to possible impacts and mitigations in the City of Tustin (e.g. the anticipated increased freeway conditions may .ultimately result in impacts to arterial roadways in the City of Tustin). Please include these evaluations in the DSEIR. 3. Section 15, "TransportationlTraffic" -Mitigation Measures required of the project in the DSEIR should include project participation in any needed traffic mitigations regardless of jurisdictional boundaries. Mr. Michael Philbrick NOP For Draft DSEIR For Planning Areas 40/Spectrum 8 April 18, 2007 Page 2 4. Section 15, "Transportation/Traffic" - It must be confirmed that the traffic model used to analyze the future conditions accurately reflects the most current land use approvals for the MCAS Tustin Reuse Project FEISIFEIR, and its Addendum and any other significant projects in the area. It should be noted that there have been some recent circulation modifications approved for the road system within the Tustin Legacy. 5. Section 15, "Transportation/Traffic" -There should be mitigation measures required of the project to provide a "fair share" contribution to the City of Tustin for project- related traffic added to CMP locations in the City of Tustin. 6. Section 15, "Transportation/Traffic" -Analyses of future conditions should be revised to include any intersections in the City of Tustin that may be significantly impacted by the proposed project. The amount of project-related traffic traveling through these study intersections should also be identified. 7. Section 15, "TransportationlTraffic" - For.locations within the City of Tustin, the traffic analysis must be based on City of Tustin criteria and methodologies. Thank you again for the opportunity to provide comments on the NOP for Draft DSEIR for Planning Areas 401Spectrum 8. The City of Tustin would appreciate receiving all additional environmental documents with the responses to our comments when they become available. If you have any questions regarding the City's comments, please call me at (714) 573-3016 or Dana R. Kasdan, Engineering Services Manager at (714) 573-3171. Sincerely, Scott Reekstin Senior Planner cc: Elizabeth A. Binsack, Community Development Director Dana Kasdan, Engineering Services Manager Douglas Holland, City Attorney