Truckee Railyard Draft Master Plan EIR Volume 1. Draft Environmental Impact Report Appendices A-B SCH No. 2007122092 Prepared for: Town of Truckee November 2008
TRUCKEE RAILYARD DRAFT MASTER PLAN Volume 1. Draft Environmental Impact Report Appendices A-B SCH No. 2007122092 Prepared for: Town of Truckee November 2008
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY TO: All Interested Parties FROM: Denyelle Nishimori, Associate Planner Truckee Community Dev. Dept. 10183 Truckee Airport Road Truckee, CA 96161 (530) 582-2934 SUBJECT: NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIORNMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE TRUCKEE RAILYARD DRAFT MASTER PLAN PROJECT TITLE: Truckee Railyard Draft Master Plan PROJECT APPLICANT: Truckee Development Associates PROJECT LOCATION: The Railyard Master Plan Area (Master Plan Area) is located at the eastern end of historic Downtown Truckee. The Master Plan Area is an integral part of Downtown Truckee, and is comprised primarily of an area historically occupied by the railyard and lumber mill. The area is generally bounded by Glenshire Drive to the north, industrial uses and undeveloped land to the east, Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way and East River Street to the south, and Donner Pass Road and Bridge Street to the west. The Master Plan Area includes approximately 75 acres of land and is comprised of 20 parcels as shown in Table 1. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: The Draft Master Plan provides for development of an eclectic mix of building types and uses within an attractive, pedestrian-oriented neighborhood. The Draft Master Plan anticipates that development will extend easterly from the Downtown Core. The pattern of development would include the highest development intensity occurring immediately adjacent to the Downtown Core and then decrease as development extends to the north and east. The Draft Master Plan includes provisions for affordable housing and recognizes the importance of allowing development within the Master Plan Area to grow organically to accommodate market demands and the community needs. The Draft Master Plan includes a Maximum Allowable Development (MAD) that provides development thresholds for each of the Districts created by the Draft Master Plan. This EIR evaluates the potential impacts of the development within the Master Plan Area based on the MAD. The MAD would allow up to: 570 residential units (including work/live units) 70,000 square feet of retail area 15,000 of office space A 60-room hotel A 1,000-seat movie theater 20,000 square foot grocery store 25,000 square foot civic building N:\2007\1407542 Truckee Railyard Master Plan EIR\Documents\NOA\NOA 11-4-08_rev.doc
NOA Truckee Railyard Master Plan EIR, Page 2 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: A Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) has been prepared for the project, under the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21000 et. seq. The Draft EIR analyzes potentially significant environmental impacts in the following environmental categories: Land Use and Planning Policy; Population, Employment and Housing; Transportation, Circulation and Parking; Air Quality; Noise and Vibration; Geology, Soils and Seismicity; Hydrology and Water Quality; Biological Resources; Cultural and Paleontological Resources; Hazards and Public Safety; Utilities; Public Services; and Visual Resources. The Draft EIR identifies six significant unavoidable environmental impacts related to Transportation, Circulation and Parking (unacceptable Level of Service at two intersections and one roadway segment); Air Quality (longterm regional emissions); Noise and Vibration (railroad noise); and Cultural and Paleontological Resources (removal of one historic resource). Copies of the Draft EIR are available for review or distribution to interested parties at no charge at the Truckee Community Development Department, 10183 Truckee Airport Road, Truckee, CA, 96161. Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Draft EIR may also be reviewed at the following website: http://www.truckee2025.org/devel/rymp/rymp.htm The Town of Truckee is hereby releasing this Draft EIR, finding it to be accurate and complete and ready for public review. Members of the public are invited to comment on the EIR and the project. There is no fee for commenting, and all comments received will be considered by the Town prior to finalizing the EIR and making a decision on the project. Comments on the Draft EIR should focus on the sufficiency of the EIR in discussing possible impacts on the physical environment, ways in which potential adverse effects might be minimized, and alternatives to the project in light of the EIR s purpose to provide useful and accurate information about such factors. Please address all written comments to Denyelle Nishimori, Associate Planner, Town of Truckee Community Development Department, 10183 Truckee Airport Road, Truckee, CA, 96161. Written faxed to (530) 582-7710, e-mailed to dnishimori@townoftruckee.com or delivered to the address above. After all comments are received, a Final EIR will be prepared and the Council will consider certification of the Final EIR and render a decision/make a recommendation on the project at a later meeting date to be scheduled. Due to the time limits mandated by State law, your response must be sent and received by the Town of Truckee by the following deadlines: For responsible agencies, not later than December 27, 2008 (45 days from the date of this notice) For all other agencies and organizations, not later than January 5, 2008 (60 days from the date of this notice) Please send your response or comment sheet to my attention to the Truckee Community Development Department, 10183 Truckee Airport Road, Truckee, CA, 96161. If you have any questions, please contact me at (530) 582-2934. Date: November 6, 2008 N:\2007\1407542 Truckee Railyard Master Plan EIR\Documents\NOA\NOA 11-4-08_rev.doc
TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME 1. DRAFT EIR & APPENDICES A-B I. INTRODUCTION... 1 A. PURPOSE OF EIR... 1 B. PROPOSED PROJECT... 1 C. EIR SCOPE... 3 D. REPORT ORGANIZATION... 4 II. SUMMARY... 7 A. PROJECT UNDER REVIEW... 7 B. SUMMARY OF IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES... 7 C. SUMMARY TABLE... 9 III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION... 39 A. PROJECT SITE... 39 B. PROJECT BACKGROUND... 42 C. PROJECT OBJECTIVES... 43 D. PROPOSED PROJECT... 43 E. DISCRETIONARY ACTIONS... 54 F. INTENDED USE OF THIS EIR... 55 IV. SETTING, IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES... 61 A. LAND USE AND PLANNING POLICY... 63 B. POPULATION, EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING... 81 C. TRANSPORTATION, CIRCULATION AND PARKING... 89 D. AIR QUALITY... 163 E. NOISE AND VIBRATION... 219 F. GEOLOGY, SOILS AND SEISMICITY... 247 G. HYDROLOGY AND STORM DRAINAGE... 261 H. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES... 281 I. CULTURAL AND PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES... 303 J. HAZARDS AND PUBLIC SAFETY... 351 K. UTILITIES... 375 L. PUBLIC SERVICES... 385 M. VISUAL RESOURCES... 397 V. ALTERNATIVES... 411 A. NO PROJECT/NO BUILD ALTERNATIVE... 414 B. REDUCED DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVE... 416 C. MAINTAIN DONNER PASS ROAD ALIGNMENT ALTERNATIVE... 420 D. ENVIRONMENTALLY-SUPERIOR ALTERNATIVE... 426 N:\2007\1407542 Truckee Railyard Master Plan EIR\Documents\Public Review Draft\00_TOC.doc (11/4/2008) i
TRUCKEE RAILYARD DRAFT MASTER PLAN EIR NOVEMBER 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS VI. CEQA REQUIRED CONCLUSIONS AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS... 429 A. EFFECTS FOUND NOT TO BE SIGNIFICANT... 429 B. GROWTH-INDUCING IMPACTS... 430 C. UNAVOIDABLE SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS... 431 D. SIGNIFICANT IRREVERSIBLE CHANGES... 431 E. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS... 432 VII. REPORT PREPARATION... 439 A. REPORT PREPARERS... 439 B. REFERENCES... 440 C. CONTACTS... 452 APPENDICES Appendix A: Appendix B: Notice of Preparation and Comment Letters Relationship of Master Plan to Relevant Plans and Policies VOLUME 2. APPENDICES C-F Appendix C: Appendix D: Appendix E: Appendix F: Transportation Air Quality Data Noise Data Water Supply Assessment ii N:\2007\1407542 Truckee Railyard Master Plan EIR\Documents\Public Review Draft\00_TOC.doc (11/4/2008)
NOVEMBER 2008 TRUCKEE RAILYARD DRAFT MASTER PLAN EIR TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures Figure I-1 Local and Regional Vicinity Map... 2 Figure III-1 Aerial View of Master Plan Area... 40 Figure III-2 Draft Master Plan Regulating Plan/Zoning Map... 45 Figure III-3 Circulation Concept Plan... 49 Figure IV.A-1 Existing Land Uses in Master Plan Area... 67 Figure IV.A-2 General Plan Land Use Designations... 69 Figure IV.A-3 Downtown Specific Plan Land Use Designations... 70 Figure IV.A-4 Existing Zoning Designations... 72 Figure IV.C-1 Study Area Roadways and Intersections... 90 Figure IV.C-2 Lane Configuration and Traffic Control at Key Intersections... 91 Figure IV.C-3 2008 No Project PM Peak-Hour Intersection Volumes... 106 Figure IV.C-4 Change In Peak Hour Volumes Generated By Railyard Land Uses at Full Buildout... 122 Figure IV.C-5 2008 Plus Project PM Peak-Hour Intersection Volumes... 123 Figure IV.C-6 2025 No Project Peak-Hour Intersection Volumes... 143 Figure IV.C-7 2025 Plus Project Peak-Hour Intersection Volumes... 149 Figure IV.D-1 Health Risk Analysis Results... 204 Figure IV.E-1 48-Hour Noise Monitoring Location... 231 Figure IV.E-2 48-Hour Monitoring Noise Levels... 232 Figure IV.F-1 Earthquake Faults and Seismic Activity in Nevada County... 251 Figure IV.G-1 FEMA Flood Zone Designations... 264 Figure IV.H-1 Jurisdictional Waters Within the Master Plan Area... 286 Figure IV.H-2 Plant Communities/Land Uses Within the Master Plan Area... 296 Figure IV.J-1 Approximate Boundaries of Hazardous Material Sites in Master Plan Area... 360 Figure IV.J-2 Tahoe-Truckee Airport Land Use Compatibility Zones... 370 Figure IV.M-1a Existing Views of Master Plan Area and Surrounding Land Uses... 398 Figure IV.M-1b Existing Views of Master Plan Area and Surrounding Land Uses... 399 Figure IV.M-1c Existing Views of Master Plan Area and Surrounding Land Uses... 400 Figure IV.M-1d Existing Views of Master Plan Area and Surrounding Land Uses... 401 Figure V-1 Maintain Donner Pass Road Alignment Alternative... 421 N:\2007\1407542 Truckee Railyard Master Plan EIR\Documents\Public Review Draft\00_TOC.doc (11/4/2008) iii
TRUCKEE RAILYARD DRAFT MASTER PLAN EIR NOVEMBER 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables Table II-1 Summary of Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 11 Table III-1 Parcels Within Master Plan Area... 41 Table III-2 Required Permits and Approvals... 59 Table V.B-1 Population Growth Town of Truckee and Nevada County... 82 Table V.B-2 Residential Units by Type on January 1, 2008... 82 Table IV.C-1 Study Roadway Segments... 96 Table IV.C-2 Study Intersections... 98 Table IV.C-3 2008 No Project PM Peak-Hour Intersection Volumes... 104 Table IV.C-4 Truckee Railyard No Project 2008 PM Peak Hour Level of Service... 107 Table IV.C-5 Truckee Railyard No Project 2008 PM Peak Hour Mitigated Level of Service... 109 Table IV.C-6 Town of Truckee Peak Hour Roadway Capacity (per lane) by Type... 110 Table IV.C-7 2008 Summer No Project Roadway Level of Service... 112 Table IV.C-8 2008 Plus Project PM Peak-Hour Intersection Volumes... 120 Table IV.C-9 Truckee Railyard Plus Project 2008 PM Peak Hour Level of Service... 124 Table IV.C-10 2008 Plus Project Roadway Level of Service... 125 Table IV.C-11 Truckee Railyard Plus Project 2008 PM Peak Hour Mitigated Level of Service... 127 Table IV.C-12 Revisions to Martis Valley Buildout Land Uses in Truckee Model for Railyard Analysis... 138 Table IV.C-13 2025 No Project PM Peak-Hour Intersection Volumes... 140 Table IV.C-14 Truckee Railyard No Project 2025 PM Peak Hour Level of Service... 144 Table IV.C-15 Truckee Railyard No Project 2025 PM Peak Hour Mitigated Level of Service... 145 Table IV.C-16 2025 Plus Project PM Peak-Hour Intersection Volumes... 147 Table IV.C-17 Truckee Railyard Plus Project 2025 PM Peak Hour Level of Service... 150 Table IV.C-18 2025 No Project Roadway Level of Service... 155 Table IV.C-19 2025 Plus Project Roadway Level of Service... 157 Table IV.C-20 Truckee Railyard Plus Project 2025 PM Peak Hour Mitigated Level of Service... 159 Table IV.D-1 Federal and State Ambient Air Quality Standards... 164 Table IV.D-2 Health Effects of Air Pollutants... 166 Table IV.D-3 NSAQMD Nevada County Attainment Status... 173 Table IV.D-4 Ambient Air Quality at the Truckee Monitoring Station... 178 Table IV.D-5 Global Warming Potentials... 182 Table IV.D-6 Existing Baseline No Project and Plus Project CO Concentrations... 196 Table IV.D-7 Cumulative 2025 No Project and Plus Project CO Concentrations... 198 Table IV.D-8 Train Emission Factors (g/bhp-hr)... 201 Table IV.D-9 Inhalation Health Risks from Train Sources... 202 Table IV.D-10 Long-Term Project Operational Emissions of GHGs... 209 iv N:\2007\1407542 Truckee Railyard Master Plan EIR\Documents\Public Review Draft\00_TOC.doc (11/4/2008)
NOVEMBER 2008 TRUCKEE RAILYARD DRAFT MASTER PLAN EIR TABLE OF CONTENTS Table IV.D-11 Project Compliance with Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Strategies... 210 Table IV.D-12 Project Regional Emissions in Pounds Per Day... 216 Table IV.E-1 Definitions of Acoustical Terms... 220 Table IV.E-2 Typical A-Weighted Sound Levels... 221 Table IV.E-3 Typical Vibration Source Levels for Construction Equipment... 224 Table IV.E-4 Summary of EPA Noise Levels... 224 Table IV.E-5 Summary of Human Effects in Areas Exposed to 55 dba Ldn... 225 Table IV.E-6 Land Use Compatibility Guidelines... 226 Table IV.E-7 Noise Standard by Receiving Land Use... 228 Table IV.E-8 Ambient Noise Monitoring Results, dba... 230 Table IV.E-9 Summer (2008) Baseline Traffic Noise Levels... 234 Table IV.E-10 Summer (2008) Plus Project Traffic Noise Levels... 237 Table IV.E-11 Summer (2025) without Project Traffic Noise Levels... 237 Table IV.E-12 Summer (2025) Plus Project Traffic Noise Levels... 238 Table IV.E-13 Typical Construction Equipment Maximum Noise Levels... 240 Table IV.F-1 Modified Mercalli Scale... 253 Table IV.H-1 Summary of Plant Communities/Land Uses in the Master Plan Area... 285 Table IV.H-2 Special Status Species Potentially Occurring in the Truckee Railyard Master Plan Area... 288 Table IV.H-3 Jurisdictional Waters in the Master Plan Area... 295 Table IV.H-4 Impacts to Jurisdictional Waters... 301 Table IV.I-1 CEQA Status of Cultural Resources in the Project Area... 324 Table IV.J-1 Documented Environmental Releases, Hazardous Materials Usage or Hazardous Waste Generation in Master Plan Area... 356 Table IV.J-2 Truckee-Tahoe Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, Basic Compatibility Criteria... 364 Table IV.L-1 LUSD School Enrollment and Capacity... 389 Table IV.L-2 Public Parks and Recreation Facilities... 389 Table IV.L-3 Projected Students That Would be Generated at Buildout of the Draft Master Plan... 394 N:\2007\1407542 Truckee Railyard Master Plan EIR\Documents\Public Review Draft\00_TOC.doc (11/4/2008) v
TRUCKEE RAILYARD DRAFT MASTER PLAN EIR NOVEMBER 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS vi N:\2007\1407542 Truckee Railyard Master Plan EIR\Documents\Public Review Draft\00_TOC.doc (11/4/2008)