Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

Transcription

1 otice of Preparation OP) of an nvironmental Impact eport I) Date: ovember 14, 2014 To: esponsible gencies and Other Interested Parties State Clearinghouse P.O. Box 3044 Sacramento, C From: Planning Division The will be the Lead gency and will prepare a programmatic nvironmental Impact eport I) for Propel Vallejo the Project), a comprehensive revitalization effort that includes preparation of a General Plan Update, a Specific Plan for the Sonoma Boulevard corridor, and a citywide Zoning Code Update. The Project, its location, and potential environmental effects are described below. Pursuant to CQ Section 15060, the City has determined that an I is required for the Project and an Initial Study has not been prepared. Public agencies and members of the general public are invited to provide comments in writing as to the scope and content of the I. Specifically, the City needs to know the views of esponsible and Trustee gencies as to the potentially significant environmental issues, reasonable alternatives, and mitigation measures that are germane to each agencys statutory responsibilities in connection with the Project. esponsible gencies will need to use the I prepared by the City when considering permit or other approval for the Project. Due to the time limits mandated by State law, responses must be sent at the earliest possible date, but no later than the close of the OP review period, which runs as follows: ovember 14, 2014 through December 15, Please send written responses to Mark Hoffheimer at the address shown below. Public agencies providing comments are requested to include a contact person for the agency. 1. Project Title: Propel Vallejo 2. Project Location and Surrounding Uses: The is located in the southwestern part of Solano County, as shown in Figure 1. Covering an area of square miles, Vallejo is bordered by the apa iver and San Pablo Bay on the west; the Carquinez Strait on the south; the City of Benicia and unincorporated Solano County on the east; and the City of merican Canyon and unincorporated apa County on the north. djacent to the city and to the west is the San Pablo Bay ational Wildlife efuge, and the Solano County Land Trust s Lynch Canyon Open Space is located approximately 1 mile north of the City. apa County irport lies approximately 6 miles to the north. egional access to Vallejo is provided by four major freeways Interstate, Interstate 7, State oute, and State oute ), as well as by passenger ferry service to and from San Francisco, and Soltrans bus service to the Bay rea apid Transit s l Cerrito del orte and Walnut Creek stations. The Citys Sphere of Influence, representing the probable future physical boundaries of Vallejo as established by the Solano County Local gency Formation Commissions LFCO), is also shown on Figure 1. ovember 14, otice of Preparation

2 VLLJO GL PL UPDT Project Location VLLJO GL PL UPDT P IV P / I V SOOM MSHS Solano 360 Specific Plan rea P / SOOM MSHS La k e C h a b o t M IS Callaghan-Columbus SOLO COUTY SOLO COUTY Sonoma Boulevard Specific Plan rea L M D T IS I L T La k e Da lwig k D S þ } 7 T S P B L O Southern B Y waterfront Springs oad Corridor 7 S Downtown/Central Waterfront La k e C h a b o t Tennessee Street Corridor orth Waterfront Central/ SonomaBroadway I T Mare South Vallejo Island La k e Da lwig k Mare Island Specific Plan rea orthern Gateway P S P B L O B Y BICI S wa n zy e s e rv o ir þ } Mare Island BICI S wa n zy e s e rv o ir CQUIZ STIT Sacramento egional Location CQUIZ COT COST STIT COUTY Santa osa Miles COT COST Source:, 2014; Solano County, 2014; USGS, 2014; ational Wetlands Inventory, 2014; PlaceWorks, COUTY Vallejo Concord 1 Miles Source: SI 2014;, 2014; Solano County, 2014; USGS, 2014; PlaceWorks, Oakland Source: City San of Vallejo, 2014; Solano County, 2014; USGS, 2014; ational Wetlands Inventory, 2014; PlaceWorks, Francisco Hayward Fremont Sunnyvale O pportunity rea Vallejo C ity Limit Specific Plan rea ailroad O pportunity rea Vallejo C ity Limit Specific Plan rea ailroad Sphere of Influence SO I) Sphere of Influence SO I)

3 Vallejo is a culturally and ethnically diverse community with a population of over 117,000 residents, making it the largest city in Solano County and the tenth most populous city in the San Francisco Bay rea. Vallejo has a rich history as an early home of Californias state government and the site of the first naval ship building and repair facility on the west coast of the United States. Today, the City also boasts a range of regional entertainment attractions, including Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and the Solano County Fairgrounds, as well as three major educational institutions: the California Maritime cademy, Solano Community College, and Touro University. 3. Lead gency Contact: Mark Hoffheimer, Senior Planner Planning Division Tel. 707) mail: mhoffheimer@ci.vallejo.ca.us 4. Project Sponsor: 5. Project Description: The Project is an important effort that is expected to contribute to Vallejos bright future as an economically vibrant, safe, healthy community and a source of hometown pride. The Projects principal components, described below, will be completed between 2014 and 2016 through an inclusive, participatory process with extensive opportunity for input from the community. General Plan Update The Citys existing General Plan will be comprehensively revised to update the policy framework and land use designations that will guide future development and conservation in Vallejo through 2040, as well as to incorporate recently completed major planning efforts, including the Solano 360 Specific Plan, the Mare Island Specific Plan, and the Climate ction Plan, into the General Plan so as to ensure Citywide policy consistency. The update of the General Plan will also address and satisfy new State regulations that have come into force since the plan was last updated, including the California Global Warming Solutions ct of 2006, the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection ct of 2008, and the Complete Streets ct of It is anticipated that future growth and development will be focused primarily into the following areas, shown on Figure 1: Mare Island Specific Plan rea Solano 360 Specific Plan rea orthern Gateway Central Sonoma-Broadway Tennessee Street Corridor Downtown/Central Waterfront South Waterfront South Vallejo Springs oad Corridor Callaghan-Columbus ovember 14, otice of Preparation

4 Sonoma Boulevard Specific Plan rea These opportunity areas, some of which have been the subject of major recent planning efforts, contain large vacant and under-utilized properties at prominent locations within the City limits, and the updated policy framework and land use designations are intended to foster development and redevelopment in these sectors of the city. Outside of these areas, the updated policy framework and land use designations will support and enhance the existing quality of life. mphasis will also be placed on public safety, community health, and improved connectivity for motorized and non-motorized modes of transportation. The updated General Plan will include the following State-mandated components: Land Use, Circulation, Conservation, Open-Space, oise, and Safety. The State-mandated Housing lement will be updated as part of a separate process to be completed in early 2015 and will continue to stand on its own as a separate document. dditionally, the updated General Plan will also contain the following optional components of particular importance to the community: economic development and community health. Sonoma Boulevard Specific Plan Through a participatory public design process that identifies an exciting and realistic future for Sonoma Boulevard, the Sonoma Boulevard Specific Plan will provide an easy-to-use framework for near-term and long-term public and private reinvestment along this regional corridor from Curtola Parkway to edwood Street in Vallejo. Building upon the progress and direction from the 2013 Sonoma Boulevard Corridor Design Plan, the Specific Plan will re-establish Sonoma Boulevard as an important and inviting street in Vallejo that supports transit, makes it appealing to walk to local services and shops, and generates reinvestment in Downtown, along the corridor, and in nearby neighborhoods. The Specific Plan will include new streetscape standards, incorporating widened sidewalks, new street furniture and bike lanes. The Specific Plan will also present clear policy direction about what the community wants, in terms of land use and building character, along the different portions of Sonoma Boulevard, along with revised zoning standards and procedures. Citywide Zoning Code Update The Project will also involve the first comprehensive update of the Citywide Zoning Code Title 16) since 19 in order to align this important set of day-to-day standards with the ideas and future direction expressed in the updated General Plan and to incorporate standards already used in various Specific Plans. The goals of the Zoning Code Update are to implement the General Plan policies Specific Plan standards and streamline procedures, removing obstacles to high-quality development; to provide a code that is clear, approachable, and easy to use; and to facilitate investment that is consistent with the vision expressed in the updated General Plan. The Project will also involve development of form-based zoning for areas that are to be maintained as, or transitioned into, walkable urban environments. 6. Probable nvironmental ffects of the Project: The I will evaluate potentially significant environmental impacts associated with the adoption and implementation of the Project. Consistent with the State CQ Guidelines ppendix G), the following environmental resource categories will be analyzed in relation to the Project: esthetics griculture and Forestry esources ir Quality Biological esources Cultural esources Geology / Soils Greenhouse Gas missions Hazards and Hazardous Materials Hydrology / Water Quality Land Use / Planning Mineral esources oise Population / Housing Public Services ovember 14, otice of Preparation

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