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
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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
NOA – Truckee Railyard Master Plan EIR, Page 2
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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 (long- term 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 [email protected] 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
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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
T R U C K E E R A I L Y A R D D R A F T M A S T E R P L A N E I R N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 8 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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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: Notice of Preparation and Comment Letters
Appendix B: Relationship of Master Plan to Relevant Plans and Policies
VOLUME 2. APPENDICES C-F
Appendix C: Transportation Appendix D: Air Quality Data Appendix E: Noise Data
Appendix F: Water Supply Assessment
N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 8 T R U C K E E R A I L Y A R D D R A F T M A S T E R P L A N E I R T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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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
T R U C K E E R A I L Y A R D D R A F T M A S T E R P L A N E I R N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 8 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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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
N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 8 T R U C K E E R A I L Y A R D D R A F T M A S T E R P L A N E I R T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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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
T R U C K E E R A I L Y A R D D R A F T M A S T E R P L A N E I R N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 8 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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