HomeMy WebLinkAbout08 IRVINE RESPONSE - NOP MILLIKAN/BARRANCA HSG 09-18-06
AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 18, 2006
TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: CITY OF TUSTIN RESPONSE TO CITY OF IRVINE NOP OF A DEIR FOR THE
MILLIKAN BARRANCA RESIDENTIAL PROJECT
SUMMARY
City Council authorization is requested for the City of Tustin's response to the subject
Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for a
proposed City of Irvine General Plan Amendment and Zone Change, Transfer of
Development Rights, and other discretionary actions to permit residential development
consisting of 250 multi-family units at 16541 and 16542 Millikan Avenue in the City of
Irvine (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.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The proposed project includes the development of 250 multi-family units at the
southwesterly and southeasterly corners of Millikan Avenue and Barranca Parkway in the
City of Irvine. The project would be directly across Barranca Parkway from The District at
Tustin Legacy (see Location Map).
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.
City Council Report
NOP for Irvine DEIR
September 18, 2006
Page 2
Scott Reekstin
Senior Planner
Elizabeth A. Binsack
Community Development Director
Attachments:
A. Location Map
B. Draft Comment Response Letter
S:\Cdd\CCReports\NOP Irvine Millikan Barranca Residential.doc
ATTACHMENT A
Location Map
Tustin Marine Corps Air Station
~ Millikan and Barranca
~ Irvine, CA
VICINITY MAP
~Oft 60~ft~
ATTACHMENT B
Draft Comment Response Letter
September 19, 2006
Kelly Koldus
City of Irvine
One Civic Center Plaza
P.O. Box 19575
Irvine, CA 92623-9575
SUBJECT: REVIEW OF NOP FOR THE MilLIKAN/BARRANCA DRAFT EIR
Dear Ms. Koldus:
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the Notice of Preparation (NOP)
and Initial Study (IS) for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for a General Plan
Amendment, Zone Change, Transfer of Development Rights, and other discretionary
actions for residential development consisting of 250 multi-family dwelling units at 16541
and 16542 Millikan Avenue ("Millikan/Barranca Project"). The City of Tustin has identified
the following concerns and issues to be addressed in the Draft EIR (DEIR).
1. The City of Tustin continues to be concerned with the significant changes in land
uses (Le., from commercial buildings to residential, etc.) in the IBC area that
have occurred to date and will likely continue to be processed in the future. The
preparation of a project-specific DEIR for the Millikan/Barranca Project is yet
another example of the City of Irvine's piecemeal approach to analyzing the
environmental impacts resulting from the significant residential development and
redevelopment that is occurring and is projected to continue to occur in the Irvine
Business Complex in accordance with the new vision plan that the Irvine City
Council is considering for the area. These land use changes could result in
significant modifications to the anticipated traffic impacts and planned
mitigations. While individually each project, including the Millikan/Barranca
Project, may show limited changes in, for example, traffic patterns, the
cumulative impacts of these projects when combined with the Millikan/Barranca
Project will be more significant. Therefore, in accordance with the requirements
of CEQA, the City requests that the DEIR include a comprehensive analysis of
the Project's cumulative environmental effects, including, but not limited to traffic,
air quality, noise, parks and recreation, and public services and utilities impacts.
Moreover, due to the proximity of the Millikan/Barranca Project and other
projects in the IBC to the City of Tustin, the collective environmental impacts of
these projects will extend beyond the boundaries of Irvine to the City of Tustin.
Therefore, the DEIR must define the geographic scope of the area affected by
Ms. Kelly Koldus
Millikan/Barranca NOP
September 19, 2006
Page 2
the particular cumulative effect to include certain areas within the City of Tustin
(See CEQA Guidelines 915130 (b)(3)).
2. Section XV, "TransportationfTraffic," of the NOP states that "further evaluation in
the EIR is necessary." Therefore, a traffic study must be prepared and
incorporated into the DEIR to document the direct and cumulative transportation
impacts of the Millikan/Barranca Project.
3. A build out analysis needs to be included in the DEIR to verify/update the future
improvement needs, in particular as they relate to the MCAS Tustin mitigation
agreements. Please include these evaluations in the DEIR.
4. Mitigation Measures required of the Millikan/Barranca Project in the DEIR must
include project participation in the original IBC traffic mitigations, any additional
mitigation measures that are required to address any changed conditions that
have occurred since the original mitigation, and mitigation to address the
cumulative traffic impacts of the Millikan/Barranca Project when combined with
the numerous past, present, and future projects that have or will occur in the
IBC. The project will need to contribute toward the needed improvements in the
IBC study area if the DEIR assumes some of the IBC improvements to be in
place when analyzing cumulative traffic impacts.
5. The "Red Hill Avenue" Study that has recently been jointly conducted by the City
of Irvine and City of Tustin will include further definition of traffic mitigation
responsibilities for development projects in the IBC. The Millikan/Barranca
Project must be subject to the findings, requirements, and agreements that will
result from this Study. The intersection analyses in the DEIR must also be
consistent with the Red Hill Study results.
6. Please contact Principal Engineer Terry Lutz at (714) 573-3263 to confirm that
the traffic model used to analyze the future conditions accurately reflects the
most current land use approvals affecting the MCAS Tustin Specific Plan area
and any other significant projects in the area. There have been some recent
circulation modifications approved for the road system within the Specific Plan
area that must be incorporated into the traffic model.
7. The DEIR must identify mitigation measures that require the Millikan/Barranca
Project to provide "fair share" contributions to the City of Tustin for any significant
direct or cumulative traffic impacts on transportation infrastructure within the City
of Tustin.
8. The Traffic Study and the DEIR's analysis of direct and cumulative traffic impacts
must analyze and mitigate, where appropriate, any potential impacts on
Ms. Kelly Koldus
Millikan/Barranca NOP
September 19, 2006
Page 3
roadways and intersections in the City of Tustin. The DEIR must include
projected trip volume, distribution, and assignment assumptions for roadways
and intersections within the City of Tustin.
9. For locations within the City of Tustin, the traffic analysis must be based on City
of Tustin criteria and methodologies. Please contact Principal Engineer Terry
Lutz at (714) 573-3263 for information regarding Tustin's requirements.
10. There was a signal progression study completed for Barranca Parkway that
assured adequate traffic operations on that roadway based on the planned
roadway designs and future traffic projections. Given the proposed changes in
land uses, it must be assured that adequate signal progression along Barranca
Parkway will be maintained and any needed mitigations made a condition of the
Project.
Please provide me with a copy of the DEIR when it becomes available and any and all
public notices relating to the City of Irvine's consideration of the Millikan/Barranca Project.
If you have any questions regarding the City's comments, please call me at (714) 573-
3016.
Sincerely,
Scott Reekstin
Senior Planner
cc: Elizabeth A. Binsack
Tim Serlet
Dana Kasdan
Doug Anderson
Terry Lutz
Steve Sasaki
SR:environmental/lrvine Millikan/Barranca NQP laUer.doc