B Project Description as it pertains to the re guide

Chapter
2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Introduction
This
is a summary of the discussion of potential environmental impacts mitigation
and
alternatives of the Town of Truckee Specific Plan It also addresses areas of
measures
chapter
possible controversy and issues which need to be resolved in the Environmental Impact Report
EIR The summary was prepared in accordance to the requirements of section 15123 ofthe
California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines This section is intended to serve only as a
summary and readers should refer to the main body of text for further discussion on the items
outlined herein The individual sections of the EIR for each item
table at the end of this
are
referenced in the summary
chapter
B
Project Description
project is a Specific Plan that will implement the Town of Truckee General Plan
as it pertains to the re
development of the Downtown Study Area DSA The Specific Plan will
and
future
land uses site and building design and public improvements within the
guide
regulate
plan area
The proposed
Impacts and Mitigation Measures
A summary of potential environmental impacts mitigation measures and
significance aze contained in the summary table at the end of this chapter
C Environmental
determinations of
D Alternatives
There
are
briefly
1
three alternatives that
were
considered in this EIR
see chapter 16
Each of these is
described below
Alternative 1 Proposed Plan This alternative
developed to meet the reasonable needs of
community
development while providing
environmental protection to the DSA This plan implements General Plan policies directing infill
development into the Truckee Downtown Area This alternative balances the need for growth
with the need to protect the environment and is the recommended Specific Plan The potential
environmental impacts of this alternative aze addressed in this document and aze summarized in
the table at the end of this chapter
the
was
for residential commercial and industrial
Alternative 2 No
Project This alternative would maintain the existing zoning within the
DSA
encouraging nor discouraging additional development Implementation ofthis
alternative would result in inconsistencies between the existing zoning and the Town ofTruckee
General Plan particularly as it relates to relocating industrial uses offthe Truckee River
accommodating additional infill commercial and residential growth in the DSA and addressing
longstanding problems with pazking and pedestrian access The Specific Plan policies intended to
mitigate potentially significant impacts associated with new growth would not be implemented
resulting in greater environmental impacts under this alternative In addition significant and
unmitigated impacts related to air quality and traffic circulation would remain
neither
Downtown Truckee
Specific Plan Draft
Environmental
Impact Report
1
2
development Low Growth This alternative would reduce the intensity
and density of growth in the DSA relative to the preferred alternative Potential adverse
environmental impacts would be reduced accordingly but would still require mitigation in most
cases Impacts to air quality and traffic circulation would remain as significant and unavoidable
Alternative 3 Reduced
E Areas of Concrovarsv
preparation process was done in close coordination with the
business and environmental community The extensive community involvement resulted in
consensus building on the policy direction and land uses in the Specific Plan The areas of
controversy are primarily focussed on development in the Highway 267 Cemetery subarea and
80
relate to the appropriate type of development at this location and its orientation to the I
The Downtown
Specific
Plan
Freeway
F Issues to be Resolved
There
G
are
no
major outstanding issues to be
Summar
Table
following table provides
resolved related to this DEIR
summary of the impacts and mitigation measures identified in this
in
this EIR of to Volume 2 ofthe Downtown Specific Plan for an
EIR Please refer to Table 1
The
explanation of the policies
Impact Category
a
listed
Mitigation
Impacts
Population and Housing
Ch 3
Specific Plan will result in an
population and housing in
Measures
None
Finding
Not
increase in
Plan
significant implements
policies
General
the DSA
Circulation
Transportation and
Circulation Ch 4
infill
Impacts Traffic from
growth will reduce LOS to
7
1
B
Policies 3
Projects
5
1
C
3
below E at main DSA intersections
Land Use
Ch 5
Parking Impacts Parking demand
created by infill growth will exceed
currently available pazking supply
Policies 3
13
1
E
Potential for land
Polices 2
3
B
16
E
Polices 2
5
use
incompatibility
between different land
Soils and
Geology Ch 6
New
uses
development will create the
potential for increased soil erosion
and land instability
Downtown Truckee
F Listed streetscape
3
improvements
7
G Projects I
3
H Projects 1
3
5
2
Policies 7
C I
Policy
1
F
7
Specific Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report
Mitigated to a less than significant
level with implementation of
identified project s and the Hwy 267
Bypass Significant and unmitigable
in the interim period prior to
construction ofthe 267 Bypass
Mitigated to a less than significant
impact with implementation of listed
polices
projects
Mitigated to a less than significant
impact with implementation of listed
polices
projects
Mitigated to a less than significant
impact with implementation of listed
polices
projects
2
Impact Category
it
Quality
Noise
Impacts
Ch 7
development could exacerbate
existing PM10 pollutant levels
Town ofTruckee Air
Potential for exposure of sensitive
receptors to noise levels in excess of
4
1
D
Policies 7
New
Ch 8
adopted
iological
and Scenic
Ch
Quality Management
development could create
potential adverse impacts to sensitive
habitat including Riparian zones
9
Significant
2G 1
10
9
7
7
1
7C 1
2
and
Unmitigable
Mitigated to a less than significant
impact with implementation of listed
policies
Policies 2
3
B
7B
Finding
Plan
standards
New
esources
Measures
Mitigation
7F
Mitigated to a less than significant
impact with implementation of listed
2
l
policies
9C4
development could result in
potential adverse impacts to scenic
New
Mitigated to a less than significant
impact with implementation oflisted
policies
resources
New
ultural and Historic
esources
development could
result in
adverse impacts to water
quality
New
grading
for
Mitigated to a less than significant
impact with implementation of listed
policies
development could
Chapter
result in disturbance of previously
Ch 10
undiscovered
8 All policies in
all sections
azchaeological
Mitigated to a less than significant
impact with implementation of listed
policies
resources
Historic
resources
to make way for
Public Services and
nfrastructure
Ch
I
drainage
growth
public services
as
a
All policies in Sections
result of new
6B 6D 6E 6F 6G
Increased demand for recreational
Parks
areas as a result
growth
9
be
All policies in Sections 6E
New
Safety
Ch 12
facilities
Mitigated to a less than significant
impact with implementation of listed
policies
destroyed
development
Increased demand for
1
Natural Hazards
azazds
could be
new
ofnew
development may
subject to
flood landslide earthquake
and fu
e
hazards
proposals
in
Mitigated to a less than significant
impact with implementation of listed
policies
Chapter
4
policies 6G 1
policy 7F 2
Mitigated to a less than significant
impact with implementation oflisted
policies
H Summary of Responses to the Notice of Preparation
The Notice of Preparation of the Downtown
1995 The NOP
Following
is
a
comments are
1 Department
or
and
was
sent to the State
Specific Plan EIR was circulated in November
Clearinghouse and all affected local agencies
summary of the comments received and the sections of the EIR where these
addressed The NOP responses aze reproduced in Appendix C
of Environmenal Health Issues
regazding
site
specific cleanup
of hazardous waste
contaminated sites need to be addressed
groundwater
Soil and groundwater
Downtown Truckee
contamination is
addressed in
Chapter
Specific Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report
6
3
2
2 Tahoe Truckee Airport
noise
District Please address
existing
and increased air traffic
it relates to
as
impacts
impact analsyis is tiered off the General Plan EIR noise impact analysis which
included evaluation of existing and future airport noise contours Refer to Chapter 8 of
Noise
the EIR for
more
information
3 Placer County Department
development
of Public Works
could
a
The traffic created
by
the
proposed
the intersection of SR 89 and West River
significantly impact
Street which is
within Placer County The EIR should address this issue b Any impacts to SR 267 and the
improvements required to mitigate these impacts should be addressed c The Specific Plan
should identify a mechanism for funding any improvements identified as mitigations for impacts
Impacts to West River Street cPc Hwy 89 and Hwy 267 are evaluated in the Downtown
Truckee Traffc Study which is included as appendix A to this EIR Please refer to
Chapter 4 for a discussion of the impacts and mitigation measures identified in the traj
c
study
4
Southwest Gas Southwest
s
Assessment which resulted in
S Department
5U
lands
or
of the Interior The
programs therefore
6 TTSA
expansion plans included a Proponent
sEnvironmental
declaration
negative
being granted in February 1995
a
no
proposed plan
does not affect any BLM managed
our office is required
public
additional coordination with
TTSA has reviewed the NOP and has no further comments at this time
7 Truckee Donner
Historical
historic structures and
Potential
on the
impacts
The potential impacts of the Specific Plan on
historic character of downtown should be evaluated
Society
to cultural and historic resources
are
evaluated in
existing
Chapter
10
of this
EIR
S Army Corps
8U
project
or
of Engineers The proposed
programs within
our
Specific
Plan will not conflict with any other
jurisdiction
9 Truckee Donner
Public Utility District TDPUD The TDPUD provides electrical and water
service to the DSA We would like to work with the Town during EIR preparation to evaluate the
impacts of future growth on our facilities
Potential
10 Northern
impacts
to
electric and water services
are
described in
Chapter
11
Sierra Air
Quality Management District The EIR should evaluate the
growth
quality
Potential impacts to air quality are described in Chapter 7 of this EIR
Downtown
11
on
housing
EIR
effects of
future air
Tahoe Truckee Unified School District The District will not be able to
to
of this
future students
Downtown Truckee
provide
services
generated by proposed development in downtown Truckee
Specifrc
Plan
Draft Environmental Impact Report
4
1
The EIR
should evaluate this issue and provide
Impacts to school facilities
Infrastructure
12
are
Caltrans The EIR should address
the need to
mitigation
described
impacts to
in
Chapter II
cultural
Public Services and
resources
Glenshire Drive at its intersection with SR
and
drainage in addition to
provide improved access
realign
267
Hilltop
Impacts to cultural resources are described in Chapter 10 Cultural and Historic
Resources impacts on drainage systems are contained in Chapter 11 Public Services
and Infrastructure and impacts to traffc are contained in Chapter 4 Transportation and
and
from SR 267 to
Circulation
LJ
44
i
f
Downtown Truckee
Specific Plan Draft Errvironmental Impact Report
5
2
Chapter
A
3 POPULATION AND HOUSING
ettin
1 Downtown
Demographic Characteristics
The DSA is contained entirely within block groups 1 through 5 of census tract 12
01 The
s
following demographic information was compiled from 1990 census data Most of Truckee
the
last
20 years has occurred outside of the DSA As of the 1990 census
population growth over
the population of the DSA was 516 persons In 1990 the median age within the DSA was 33
6
yeazs slightly older than the Town as a whole Approximately 92 percent of the study area
population was under the age of 55 and approximately 55 percent of the population was under
Study
Area
the age of 35 There were 146 children under the age of 18 Adults between the ages of 30 and
44 formed the greatest proportion of the population with nearly 50 percent of the total falling in
this age bracket
table
see
The racial and ethnic
The 1990
census
1 Approximately
2
composition
data reveal
a
of Truckee has not
racial
population in
changed significantly
1990 was female
over
the past century
of 85 percent Caucasian in the DSA
German English and Irish with influxes of Chinese
composition
the dominant ethnicities were
8
45 percent of the
Historically
and Italian immigrants Of ancestries revealed by the 1990 census data the majority of residents
still report German English and Irish heritage However the percentage of persons of Hispanic
origin within the DSA has increased over the past decades With 54 persons of Hispanic origin
12 percent of total DSA population the percentage ofthe DSA Hispanic population within the
DSA is greater than the percentage within Town of Truckee
There
as a whole
demographic trends occurring within the DSA Although the population ofthe
study azea has not increased significantly over the past few decades the number and composition
of households has This is caused by the increase of women in the labor force both within dual
income families and single parent households Another significant trend is the rise of Hispanic
immigrants to the region The increase in the number of resident households and the makeup of
these households will greatly affect the demand for housing particularly housing that is
aze
several
considered affordable to the average income
Based
on
the 1990 census
data
there
aze
or
lower income families
204 households in the
64 persons Of the 204 households in the
household size is 2
study azea The average
DSA only 47 or 23 percent
were
This is
occupied
significantly lower than the State average of 44 percent and lower than
the Town distribution of 34
5 percent indicating a need for units available for rent Furthermore
renter
vacant reserved for seasonal recreational or occasional use by their
The number of vacant units represents a lower percentage of second homes in the DSA
34 of the total units
owners
than the Town
as a
were
whole
which has
approximately
51
second
homes primarily
in Tahoe
Donner
1
Downtown Truckee
Specific Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report
1
3
f
t
2 DSA House Values and Contract Rents
1990
census
data reports that median
monthly
rent in the DSA was
654 this
is lower than
median rent of 681 per month and higher than that ofNevada county
median monthly rent of 598 Current real estate data indicates that the median monthly rent is
rising
Truckee
as a whole
The 1990 median cost for
these units
Average
As
owner
occupied housing
cost over 125
000 The median
DSA home values
are
low relative
within the DSA is
600
128
monthly mortgage payment
was
55 percent of
883 per month
to rest of Truckee and to the State
major summer and winter recreation resort the Truckee region experiences many housing
problems associated with high seasonal migration Furthermore there is a high amount of
employment relative to housing in Truckee Housing in Truckee is in the higher price range for
Nevada County and jobs in the tourist industry are often low paying jobs The combination of
high housing prices low wages and an excess ofjobs over housing may result in a large in
commute from areas where affordable housing is available
a
housing policy recognizes that cooperative participation between the public and private
sectors is necessary to expand housing opportunities
to all economic segments of the community
the
has
s housing needs
Historically
private sector
responded to the majority of the community
through the provision of market rate housing However due to economic conditions and trends in
the state the affordability of low density market rate housing is declining Furthermore
additional commercial and industrial development could exacerbate the shortage of affordable
housing in the area
State
The correlation between income deficiencies and
maintenance indicates
housing problems affordability
and
the need to assist very low and low income households with their housing
challenge of meeting current housing needs provision must also be
needs In addition to the
it is reasonable to expect that low
income families will in many cases continue to be unable to satisfy their housing needs through
the mazket rate inventory making government assisted housing programs essential
made to
satisfy
the
housing needs ofthe future
In
general
3 DSA Household Incomes
Household incomes
that would be
azea
in 1990
supportable
was
slightly higher
of the best indicators of the amount and type of business enterprises
in any given mazket area The median household income in the study
are one
190
41
This is
than the median for the Town of Truckee
households have
an
000
17
Per
study
income in the
Truckee Per
the
the State average of 33
901 and
012 However 41 percent of
40
annual income less than 27
000 and 10 percent of households have
annual income less than
capita
significantly higher that
341 compared with 468
18
17 for the whole of
residents of Hispanic ethnicity was only 6
3 percent
294 2
azea was
capita income for
population in the DSA reported incomes below the
Downtown Truckee
an
Specifrc
Plan
US poverty level
Draft Environmental mpact Report
2
3
of
4
Occupation
Based
Employment
largest number of employed people in the study area are
involved in the service industry Other categories that represent significant portions of the study
area populations are construction and retail trade 55 percent of the population is employed this
is 80 percent of the labor force Women constitute 70 percent of the labor force up considerably
from 1980 This rise is in large part due to increased entry into the labor market and a rise in
dual income families The unemployment rate as of 1990 was 2
9 percent much lower than the
unemployment rate for the whole of Truckee 4
9 percent 74 percent of the labor force worked
1
more
on the
and
1990
census
data
the
than 35 hours per week
Data reveals that S 1 persons 20
5 percent worked in another county and 13 5 percent worked
in another state showing significant job leakage The average commute to work is 15
7 minutes
in
44 percent of all employed residents in the State travel to work in under 20
The short commute times indicate that a large proportion of residents of the DSA work
comparison only
minutes
in the
study
area or
within
neighboring
areas
1 Population Characteristics for the DSA 1990
Table 3
DSA
Town of Truckee
516
8912
17
0
30
27
Population
Age Distribution
x
34
18
26
27
54
35
37
34
55
7
12
Median Age
6
33
33
Households
204
3295
6
2
7
2
families
57
1
71
families
non
43
9
28
renters
23
5
34
occ
owner
77
5
65
Avg
Household size
Household
Type
Household Tenure
I
Downtown Truckee
Specific Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report
3
B Evaluation Guidelines
Impacts relating to housing are evaluated for significance based upon the following criteria
Evaluation of impacts will be conducted based on the potential for the proposed project to result
in
existing housing Projects which restrict access to affordable housing or reduce
actual numbers of affordable housing units would be considered to have a significant impact
housing Population impacts are determined by the effect of the project on the population and
growth rate of an azea
C
an
effect
on
on
Impacts
Population The Specific Plan will result in an increase in population in the DSA With the
increase in available housing supply population will increase proportionally This population
increase is related to the projected growth accommodated town
wide by the Truckee General
Plan and will not represent an increase beyond what is planned for the Town Because projected
wide growth projected in
growth within the DSA is reasonable given the total amount of Town
the Town of Truckee General Plan the impact is not considered significant
Housing Buildout of the Specific Plan would result in the addition of approximately 1400
residential dwelling units @ 80 multi
family 20
family in the study area A portion
single
units
not
of these multi
turn out to be affordable housing Because it is the
family
may or may
responsibility of each individual jurisdiction to provide its fair share of their particular region
s
affordable housing more fully developed analysis of the issue is included in the Town of
Truckee General Plan housing element and is hereby incorporated by reference The DSA
will result in an increase in employment generating land uses Significant impacts to housing
could occur from potential conversion of affordable housing to mixed use commercial
office
and from additional housing demand created by growth in employment generating land uses To
provide residential units in proximity to employment the Specific Plan encourages construction
of new housing within the DSA through implementation of the policies listed below in Section
D
D
Mitigation
Measures
Volume 2 ofthe Downtown
Specific Plan contains the following policies which will mitigate
potentially significant impacts to affordable housing The Specific Plan itself is not expected to
amplify any existing housing problems as increased housing opportunities are actually created
by it Therefore any impacts relative to housing related concerns that may result from
implementation of the Specific Plan will be mitigated to levels that aze less than significant by
implementation of the Town of Truckee General Plan Housing Element and by the following
10
Specific Plan Policies Chapter 2 Land Use Section 2B policies 1 5
Downtown Truckee
Specific Plan Draft Errvironmental Impact Report
4
3
1
t
Chapter
4 CIRCULATION AND PARKING
A Bettina
capacity is one of the primary constraints to development in the DSA In order to quantify
existing traffic conditions and determine potentially significant traffic impacts created by
implementation of the Downtown Specific Plan Leigh Scott Cleary Traffic Engineers
conducted a detailed study of traffic in the DSA The existing transportation and circulation
setting is described in detail in Chapter 2 of their report Truckee Downtown Circulation Studv
July 1996 which is hereby incorporated by reference and included as appendix A to this
document Existing parking conditions are described in Chapter 6 of the above referenced report
Traffic
1
1
B Evaluation Guidelines
The Town of Truckee General Plan sets
a
level of service standard of E
intersections within the DSA As
in
or
better for
2 of the Downtown Truckee Circulation
explained Chapter
F Traffic
Study main intersections within the DSA are currently operating a levels ofE
are
considered
if
will
result
LOS
of
F
with
in
impacts
significant they
projected growth
accommodated by the Specific Plan
The
following table
illustrates definitions for the various Levels of Service
Level of
Service
A
B
C
Signalized
Unsignalized
Uncongested operations all
queues cleaz in a single
C
60
0
signal cycle V
Uncongested operations all
queues clear in a single signal
C
60
7
0
1
cycle V
Light congestion occasional
backups on critical approaches
C
V
D
Intersection
Little
Intersection
delay
capacity 400
or no
Reserve
Short traffic
Reserve
delays
399
capacity 300
Average traffic delays
Reserve capacity 200
299
70
8
0
1
Significant congestions
Daily
Roadway
Completely
free flow
flow presence of
Other vehicles noticeable
Free
Ability to maneuver and
select operating speed
affected
of
critical approaches but
Long
traffic
Reserve
delays
199
capacity 100
intersection functional
Unstable flow speeds
and ability to maneuver
severely impacted
Cazs
required to wait
through more than one cycle
during short peaks No long
queues formed
C
V
80
9
0
1
1
E
L
1
congestion with some
long queues on
standing
Severe
Downtown Truckee
Very long
Failure
traffic
extreme
delays
congestion
Specific Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report
At
or
quite
near
capacity
unstable
1
4
flow
1
critical approaches Block
Reserve
99
0
capacity
age ofintersection may
occur if traffic signal does
provide for protected
fuming movements Traffic
queue may block nearby
supstream of
intersection
critical approach
es
not
C
V
F
Total
Intersection blocked
breakdown stop
go
and
00
1
C
operation V
Sources 1985
to
90
0
0
1
1
capacity
external
Highway Capacity Manual Transportation
by
Research Board
Forced flow total
breakdown
causes
C volume
TRB Special Report 209 V
ratio ranges from TRB Circular 212
Parking impacts were evaluated based on the pazking required to serve projected 20 year growth
and the capacity of existing parking areas to accommodate this projected demand
C Circulation
Impacts
The traffic model and land
Specific Plan traffic impacts are
Chapter
Study Traffic and circulation impacts
from projected 20 yeaz growth accommodated by the Specific Plan and for general plan
buildout are described in Chapter 5 ofthe Study Below is a summary of the impacts
use
assumptions
used to determine
4 of the Downtown Truckee Traffic
described in
assumption ofthe traffic modeling effort was that the Highway 267
constructed resulting in a short term decrease in traffic in the DSA with
bypass
diversion of existing through traffic to the Highway 267 Bypass This decrease would
provide capacity for future growth accommodated by the specific plan Evaluation of
intersection operations for 20 year projected growth indicate that all roadways in the DSA
can operate at acceptable levels of service in the year 2015 without widening any
roadways to four lanes This will however require signalization of the following four
A fundamental
would be
intersections in the year 2015
Bridge
Street Commercial Row
Glenshire Drive State Route 267
W est b ound I 80
o ff
ramp
SR 267
SR 89 Nort h
Figure 19 of the Downtown Traffic Study contained
ofthe projected year 2015 and general plan buildout
the proposed specific plan
Downtown Truckee Specific Plan
in
appendix A presents the results
analysis for
intersection operations
Draft Errvironmental mpact Report
2
4
I
In addition to needed
signalization growth accommodated by the Specific Plan will
require an additional undercrossing of the railroad primarily to serve projected
development on the Mill site The alignment for this undercrossing proposed in the
Specific Plan is to the east of the balloon track This is described in the Traffic Study as
Alternative 7 The easterly undercrossing will most efficiently serve traffic with the
construction of a bridge connecting East River Street to Highway 267 This bridge
crossing was not shown to be necessary for traffic mitigation purposes within the 20 year
time frame of the Specific Plan however future plan updates should consider the
necessity of this additional bridge crossing The function of the easterly undercrossing is
increased by the location of mill site parking at the easterly end near the access for the
undercrossing
In summary the Traffic
Study concludes that significant urunitigable impacts to traffic will not
plan implementation either with 20 year projected growth or with
general plan buildout as long as the Highway 267 Bypass is operational However prior to the
construction of the Highway 267 bypass which is currently scheduled for construction around
the yeaz 2000 there will be significant traffic impacts created by new growth in the downtown
area in the form of incremental exacerbation of
failing levels of service at the primary downtown
intersection of Commercial Row Bridge Street Because traffic impacts will be significant and
unmitigable in the interim prior to Bypass construction a statement of overriding considerations
for traffic impacts is required for Specific Plan adoption
occur as a
result of specific
Subsequent to completion
of the Downtown
Truckee General Plan
circulated
was
by
a
Specific Plan
a
proposed initiative to amend
the
local citizens group the Mountain Area Preservation
2 from
growth potential in PC
Foundation MAPF This initiative would reduce the commercial
1
000 square feet and remove the potential for 300 rooms of lodging
square feet to 25
The impact of such a land use change on the conclusions of the Downtown Traffic Study was
000
175
evaluated by
Leigh Scott Cleary in a traffic model analysis done in June 1997 The
conclusion ofthis study is that the land use changes envisioned in the MAPF initiative would not
result in traffic impacts which change any conclusions in the previously prepared Downtown
Traffic Analysis A memo from LSC summarizing the results of the June 1997 analysis is
contained in Appendix B
D
PazkingImpacts
parking demand created by specific plan implementation is described on page 64 of the
Traffic Study Chapter 6 Figure 24 of Chapter 6 identifies projected pazking surplus and deficit
at yeaz 2015 Within the area analyzed for pazking new development will create a need for an
additional 1135 spaces including the spaces required for the mill site area If no additional
parking was planned to serve this new development a significant impact would result Potential
pazking impacts can be mitigated by implementation of the parking strategies identified in the
Specific Plan and listed below in the mitigation section
Future
Downtown Truckee
Specifc
Plan
Draft Errvironmental Impact Report
3
4
Mitigation Measures
The Downtown Specific Plan identifies the following mitigation measures
impacts to less than significant levels
Section 3B Policies 1 though 7
Specific Plan Chapter 3
Section 3C Projects 1 through 5
D Traffic
to
reduce traffic
E
Parking Mitigation Measures
The Downtown Specific Plan identifies the following policies and improvement projects which
will serve as mitigation measures to reduce impacts to parking to less than significant levels
Section 3E Policies 1 though 13
Specific Plan Chapter 3
Section
Section
Section
3F All listed streetscape improvements
3G Projects 1 through 7
3H Projects 1 through 7
l
1
I
1
t
1
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Chapter 5
LAND USE
A Settine
This
chapter discusses the existing land use conditions and patterns and then examines the
potential land use impacts that will potentially be associated with the development proposed by
the Specific Plan
1 Town of Truckee General Plan
1
The General Plan for the Town sets forth the
following land
use
goals the
for
Downtown
Study
Area
DSA 1
Preserve and enhance the historic mountain character of the Downtown Area
DSA 2
Identify
DSA 3
Identify mechanisms for creating
and
develop
a town
squaze
a
pazk open
space
azea
with
a
trail
along the
Truckee River
DSA 4
Increase
across
opportunities for pedestrian circulation including improved access
tracks and improved access between parking azeas and
the railroad
businesses
DSA 5
Address
DSA 6
Encourage residential
DSA 7
Enhance the
DSA 8
Study the potential for the old mill site to be a location for future mixed use
development including local and tourist serving commercial and public uses
DSA 9
Improve
the
DSA 10
parking problems
uses
desirability
roadside
in the Downtown Area
mixed with office and commercial
of the Downtown Area
landscaping
Reclaim
as a
portions
uses
destination attraction
of the no man
s land azound
railway
Identify funding mechanisms for Downtown improvements including
potential for establishing a redevelopment district
the
2
Existing Zoning Designations
Study Area includes several different zoning designations and combining
designations These zone districts will be modified by implementation of the Specific Plan
existing zoning districts include Residential Single and Multiple Family Commercial
Neighborhood Community and Highway Manufacturing and Industrial Office and
The Downtown
Downtown Truckee
Specifrc
Plan
Draft Environmental mpact Report
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The
Professional
and Public A
description
of each of these
existing designations
Single Family Residential
provided to establish low density residential
RI
The R1
District is
related accessory
uses
and structures Areas in the Rl
zone
occur
land
follows
single family and
primarily along South River
use
for
Street
R2
Multiple Family
The R2 District is
Residential
provided to establish
a
District
low to medium
density residential
land
use
for
family and
single
primary
family dwellings and related accessory uses and structures R2 is the
multiple
residential zone designation in the north Downtown area and is located
along East
South River Street Riverside
R3
Drive
and Keiser Avenue
Medium Density Multiple Family Residential
The R3 District is
provided to establish high density multiple
family residential development
It is designed to facilitate development in urbanized areas Coupled with planned development
bining district regulations it can be utilized to take advantage of the condominium
com
development technique to provide and preserve open space One R3 zoned parcel is located along
Trout Creek Rd
RA
Residential Agricultural
The RA District is
provided to promote residential agricultural development and related land
use structures One RA zoned area is located within the DSA at the junction of Hwy 267 and
Glenshire road It is part of a parcel owned by the United States Forest Service
C1
Neighborhood Commercial
The C 1 District is intended to provide for retail services
neighborhood
adaptation of this district to the
integrate commercial use in harmony with
area
established
to
intended to
serve
combinations
designation
In
The C1
is the
are
C2
directly related to the needs of the
neighborhood adequate safeguards are
district in combination
primary
along Donner
commercial
located
designation
Pass
Road
a
azeas to
which it is
number of overlay district
in the
study
West River
area
Street
Parcels in the C1
and
Bridge
Street
Community Commercial
The C2 District is intended to provide
a
to the varied needs of a
or
more
with
the residential
community
intensive commercial
study area
is
on the
uses
azea
uses
that would relate
group of neighborhoods This designation allows for
designation The only location of C2 zoning in the
than the C1
southwest side ofthe
Downtown Truckee
wide range of retail and service
80 interchange
I
Highway 267
Specific Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report
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hoped
that
a
practice
of conservation and enhancement of these resources
can
be established and
maintained
The
objectives of the Historic Preservation District are to provide the esign criteria to be used
in determining the character and design of structures within the Historic District and to establish
guidelines for the review and approval process with regard to any potential changes to these
resources Any proposed project that falls with the Historic Preservation District must also meet
the more general requirements of the Town of Truckee Design Guidelines
Impact Evaluation Guidelines
Any changes in land use designations including proposed
B
new
designations
within the DSA
which result in
incompatible land uses in close proximity to each other could be classified as
potentially significant impacts Factors that determine incompatibility include excessive noise
odors and traffic impacts see the chapters on noise and traffic circulation within this
document for specific thresholds of significance
Noise is
usually
Chapter
9 of this document
C
ofthe
significant factors in determining land use compatibility
provides a detailed analysis of noise issues
most
Impacts
The Downtown
I
one
Specific Plan sets forth overall
land
policies for each of the 8 subareas that
makeup the DSA and identifies land uses and major public improvements which implement
these policies Chapter 2 Land Use in Volume 2 of the Downtown Specific Plan describes in
detail the land uses and projected growth in each of the sub
areas The additional development
accommodated by the Specific Plan will result in substantial growth within the DSA boundaries
This growth is consistent with the Town of Truckee General Plan
s goals to accommodate
infill development and is not considered a significant impact
use
Development consistent with the Specific Plan could result in land use compatibility conflicts
Land use incompatibility occurs when the activities related to one land use negatively impact a
different nearby land use Such incompatibility may result from noise odors public access
traffic patterns and lighting Land uses that create potential incompatibilities are commercial
industrial public facilities recreational uses etc in close proximity to sensitive uses such as
residential areas The Downtown Specific Plan creates a mixed use land use designation which
accommodates a range of residential office lodging and commercial land uses A mix of land
uses in close proximity in addition to the conversion of industrial uses along the river corridor to
Land
a mix of residential and commercial uses could result in land use compatibility problems
use compatibility is further addressed in Specific Plan Chapters on Land Use Environmental
Conservation Traffic Circulation
Downtown Truckee
and Historic Resources
Specific Plan Draft Environmental mpact Report
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D
Mitigation Measures
The
land
following Specific
use
Chapter
Plan
policies are intended to mitigate potential impacts resulting from
significant levels
compatibility
to less than
2
Section 2B
Section 2E
policies
policies
3
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Chapter
6
GROUND CONTAMINATION
SOILS GEOLOGY
A Settine
Soils
important to all aspects
of the
physical and biological environment The value
ability to support vegetation and filter nutrients and
rivers creeks streams drainages etc Soil provides
support for structures roadways and cuts and fills that are often necessary for
resources are
of any
particular soil type is measured by its
sediments before they enter any downstream
a
foundation and
their construction
Much of Truckee is underlain with
described
as
glacial till moraines and outwash These soils can be
silty sandy gravels
gravelly silty sands Glaciers have transported large
or
volumes of sediments from the
crest
of the Sierra Nevada to the west and distributed them
throughout the Truckee area as glacial deposits Soils in the Truckee azea have their origins in the
results of this glacial outwash activity In addition to the silts sands and gravels previously
mentioned these deposits also commonly include a range of cobbles and boulders ranging up to
over one to two or even several tons Typical soil depths are between 20 and 60 inches except
where surface boulders exist
Soils in and
along the
banks of the Truckee River are similar to the rest of the soils in the DSA
However because of the fact that silts sands and gravels aze continually washed downstream
and deposited as alluvial sediments soils along the river have an even wider range of pazticle
sizes and contain more nutrients Boulders
8
are
also
dispersed throughout
the River and its banks
Much of the greater Truckee valley including the DSA was formed by volcanic deposits These
deposits originated as basaltic rock flows and ash flows Several periods of glacial activity
occurred
during
and after these volcanic
of these volcanic
deposits
periods
which resulted in the
The soil types described above
spreading and dispersion
were
parented from these geologic
activities
groundwater within the DSA is a long standing problem that hinders
investment in the azea Chapter 10 of the Existing Conditions Report Downtown Specific Plan
Volume 1 contains a list and map of the pazcels within the DSA that are known to be
contaminated Cleanup of contaminated soils is generally triggered by a proposed development
project or property transfer The Town of Truckee is not directly responsible for requiring
cleanup of this type of contamination This responsibility primarily resides with the Lahontan
Region of the California Water Quality Control Board and the Nevada County Environmental
Contamination of soil and
Health
Department
B Evaluation Guidelines
The
potential for erosion landslides mudflows etc are factors used in determining potentially
significant soils impacts Impacts will be considered significant where it can be shown that
measurable increases in erosion would likely occur as a result of development The drainage
capacity of soils in any particular azea is also important soils that can absorb more moisture will
Downtown Truckee
Specific
Plan
Draft Errvrronmental Impact Report
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erode less because the amount of water
steeper
slopes generally those
over
in the North Downtown Residential
along the north
moving over the surface is reduced Development on
15 is a possibility in the DSA Steeper slopes are located
Subarea along the south side of the Truckee River and
side ofGlenshire Drive
Geologic impacts occur when unique geologic or physical features are destroyed Unique rock
outcroppings occur in the DSA which could be potentially affected by new development
Impacts relating
to
mineral
resource
extraction will
not be
significant This is because the
County Loyd 1990 classifies the DSA
Mineral Land Classification Map for Eastern Nevada
Mineral Resource Zone 4 MRZ
4is defined as azeas of no known mineral
geologic information does
resources
not rule out either the presence
There is substantial
mining activity
that
occurs
or
as
occurrences where
absence of significant mineral
within the Town
limits
but it is
outside ofthe DSA boundaries
C
Impacts
Development allowed by the Specific Plan will result in grading construction and placement of
structures roads and supporting facilities This development will disrupt displace compact and
cover soil and will directly alter water absorption rates In addition surface water runoff will be
increased and redirected as new development occurs As a result soil and mineral resources
could be adversely affected by growth in the DSA particulazly that growth which occurs in azeas
of significant slope These impacts aze potentially significant and will require mitigation in order
to reduce them to a less than significant level
The
displacement disruption compaction
and
covering of soil by development activities
will
expose soils to wind and surface water and increase surface runoff These factors will increase
wind and water erosion of soils Some of the soils in the DSA are located on moderate to steep
slopes which have medium to rapid runoff and moderate to high erosion potential Wind and
water erosion impacts on soils may be significant Development of structures and roads on areas
of significant slope may create unstable earth conditions with large and unstable cut and fill
banks which may lead to landslides or other geologic hazards These potentially unstable earth
conditions may expose people and property to related hazazds
Potential
impacts from construction in areas of contamination are currently addressed through the
projects Although significant impacts from soil contamination aze
somewhat mitigated by mandatory cleanup as a result of development or property transfer
issues of soil
groundwater contamination should be addressed on a more comprehensive scale
and not on a piecemeal basis The Downtown Specific Plan contains policies directing the
Town to coordinate with responsible agencies to develop methods for addressing the problem
more comprehensively
review of individual
r
Downtown Truckee
Specific Plan Draft
Environmental Impact
Report
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D
Mitigation Measures
following mitigation measures within the Specific
geologic impacts to less than significant levels
The
1
Specific
Plan
Chapter
7
Section
Section
1
While not
an
impact the
Plan
Chapter
1
7
potential
authority to mitigate soil
groundwater
Plan
in
the
Specific
following policies
Section
7F policies
soils and
2
Town has the
is addressed in the Downtown
Specific
7C policies
7F policy 1
Plan will reduce
contamination
3
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Downtown Truckee
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1
Chapter 7
AIR
QUALITY
A Setting
The climate of the Truckee air basin is characterized
by cold wet winters and mild summers
typically show large seasonal and diurnal variations These
Temperatures in the Truckee basin
temperature variations combined with the enclosed nature of the basin create air basin
chazacteristics which affect pollutant concentrations on a daily and seasonal basis
Meteorologically the Truckee basin is subject to strong inversions and stagnant air conditions
during much of the winter season These conditions coupled with wood burning and other
o levels and high seasonal levels as well
term PM
emissions can result in very high short
Because the Town is located on the eastern slope of the Sierra it is well sheltered from the
southwest wind pattern typical of much of California Rimmed on all sides by
prevailing west
mountains emissions in the Truckee airshed are often trapped with this effect multiplied under
the predominant high
pressure high
inversion see below winter weather pattern Making
matters worse sustained
colder temperatures in dead of winter days drive up woodstove
considerably adding more particulate
quality
matter to the basin and
exacerbating
use
s poor air
Truckee
Normally air temperatures decrease as elevation increases When a temperature inversion occurs
however temperatures within a layer of air increase with height The presence of a temperature
inversion layer reduces or lowers the mixing height of the air which results in less dispersion
potential for pollutants in the air basin Inversions trap pollutants neaz their emission source by
preventing the vertical mixing process that is critical to the dispersion of airborne pollutants As
a result of these effects the potential for significant pollutant concentrations is high during strong
temperature inversion conditions which frequently occur during winter months in the Truckee
air basin
pollutants contributing to poor air quality are carbon monoxide CO ozone 03
oxides of nitrogen NOx course particulates and fine particulates PMio The major pollutant
sources include woodstoves and suspended roadway dust and to a lesser degree automobiles
The main
Carbon monoxide is
than air Its
a
and colorless gas which is somewhat lighter
humans is caused by the replacement of oxygen with the
tasteless odorless
poisonous effect
on
compound in the bloodstream Maximum CO concentrations occur during heavy episodes
of traffic congestion which are accompanied by strong temperature inversions
Ozone is
group of complex oxidants that can be found in ambient air 03 is not directly
by combustion but rather as a secondary pollutant that results from high
a
produced
hydrocarbon levels Automobile emissions represent the primary indirect source of
ozone pollution Os is created by a complex series of photochemical reactions involving
hydrocazbons and oxides of nitrogen Therefore in order to control ozone pollution it is
necessary to control emissions of these other pollutants Because ozone is a secondary
Downtown Truckee Specific Plan
Drajr Errvironmental Impact Report
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7
pollutant
sources
maximum concentrations may be found miles downwind from the emission
pollutants that lead to its creation
for the
Particulates
include
are
fugitive
airborne
particulate
matter caused
dust from roads and construction
by a combination of sources which
sites and combustion from woodstoves
among others Particulates reduce visibility and lead
ois defined
PM
inhalable
particulate
to
respiratory related
matter which is 10 microns
health hazards
less in size
Simply
or entrained
easily
in the air As a
oparticle is roughly one
one PM
eighth the thickness of
and
million
would
a human hair
one
PMio particles end
to
fit within one meter or
about 39 inches PM
o has a greater health effect than larger particles since the human
srespiratory system is unable to filter out these smaller particles Once in the lungs
body
most PMio is not removed by the body
s natural defense systems These small particles
may include toxins which can be absorbed by the blood and carried to other parts of the
body Those particles not absorbed can aggravate the lining of the lungs causing
irritation inflammation fluid accumulation and reduced lung capacity
stated
o is
PM
as
small material that becomes
extremely
general reference
Air pollutant levels monitored within the
o During
standards for PM
residential wood
burning
appliances
sometimes exceed state and
or federal
the winter months when inversion layers are low and intensive
project vicinity
o levels increase to
occurs PM
recently adopted Ordinance
or
lifted into
35 which sets air
93
quality
their
highest levels However the
burning
Town
standards for solid fuel
and should reduce future standards exceedences
B Evaluation Guidelines
quality of the air that would occur as a result of plan buildout will be evaluated for
significance against the Federal Clean Air Act the Town of Truckee Air Quality Management
Plan for Particulate Matter and the potential for creation of objectionable smoke odors ash
dust or other respirable particulate matter PMio Because of the existing poor air quality
conditions in the basin any increase in PMio levels will be considered a significant impact
Furthermore impacts that result in exceedences of federal Environmental Protection Agency or
state California Air Resources Board standards for carbon monoxide levels will be deemed
significant as well The following table illustrates state and federal standards for various
pollutants
Effects
on the
I
Downtown Truckee
Specifrc
Plan
Draft Errvironmental mpact Report
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Pollutant
California Standard
Carbon Monoxide
6 ppm
0 09 ppm
Ozone
Nitrogen
Federal Standard
8 hr avg concentration
20 ppm 1 hr avg
Dioxide
1
hr
9 ppm
35 ppm
8 hr avg
1 hr avg
0 12 ppm
av g
0
2
5 ppm 1 hr avg
05 ppm 24 hr avg
0
1
hr
av g
053 ppm
0
annual average
annual average
Suspended Particulate
Matter PM1o
50 micrograms per
cubic meter
150
24 hours
24 hours
Source Draft Environmental Assessment
Prepared by
El Dorado
micrograms per
cubic meter
Neeative Declaration for the Meyers Community Plan
County Planning Department August
1993
C
Impacts
Development associated
with the
increased traffic volumes The
trips resulting
IJ
primary
quality impacts from
Plan would lead to
source
from increased residential
related traffic Air
evidenced
Specific
density
an
long
term
impacts relating
to
of new automobile emissions is additional vehicle
residential projects and increased tourist
non
increase in CO levels will
not be
is
significant This
the General Plan
sforecast of CO levels at DSA intersections ofless than halfof
by
stringent State of California standards
Technical Analysis
the
at General Plan buildout
General
Plan Volume IV
Other
potential impacts to air quality include increased airborne particulate matter resulting from
fugitive dust escaping from construction sites increased use of woodstoves which would
increase particulate matter PMio generation and road sanding The disruption and displacement
of soils caused by grading and other development activities will expose soils to wind patterns
Once the soil is lifted by the wind the soil will become airbome particulate matter which may
decrease air quality and visibility The level of particulate generation depends on soil moisture
wind speed activity level and silt content of the soil These impacts would also be short term
however and would subside after construction activities ceased Furthermore impacts to air
quality which result from fugitive dust generation can be successfully mitigated to less than
significant levels through preventative measures such as watering see mitigation measures
below Any increase in particulate matter that might be produced by wood stove use will be
considered to be a significant impact based upon the evaluation criteria outlined above
Increased airborne particulate matter resulting from road sanding which would also add to PMio
related impacts would only be mitigated through reduced amounts of sand placed or alternative
substances being used
According to the Truckee
General
Plan approximately
1445 tons of PMto is
currently generated
each year on a Town
wide basis It has been determined that 15 of Truckee
s PMto occurs
direct result of residential wood burning This means that nearly 200 tons of respirable
LJ
Downtown Truckee
Specific
Plan
Draft Environmental mpact Report
as a
part icu late
matter i s
produced annually by
woodstoves in the
approximately 9000 dwelling units
currently
dwelling unit is responsible for the
of
50
40
lbs
ofPM
o
each
on
the
production
year
average Given the proposed residential
buildout of the DSA of over 600 dwelling units the additional PM
o to be generated from this
source at buildout would be nearly 15 tons per year Actual levels should be
substantially less
than this because of further mitigation measures such as restrictions on the number of chimneys
permitted per residential unit and new EPA standards for woodstoves Nevertheless associated
impacts would still be significant
that
exist within the Town boundaries each
Road dust
54
and construction activities
levels Construction and demolition
matter during the build out phases
intensive but short term
dust will
ofthe
likely
relatively
19
might produce
of plan
at certain times
are
the other
major contributors
to PMio
DSA particulate
higher percentage of the s
development as this type of activity will likely be
a
Respirable particulate
account for less then half of the increase in PMio
matter that
originates as road
generated
DSA because
in the
small amount of new road
miles proposed as well as the low travel speeds that
the
DSA
Vehicular
within
emissions
occur
sources for account for only 2 ofthe PM
o
generated
As stated
on a Town
wide
basis
o generation will be considered to constitute significant
any increases in PM
impacts While there are mitigation measures listed below that are meant to reduce the effects of
these adverse impacts it will not be possible to mitigate all air quality
to
above
levels because ofthe strict evaluation
guidelines
impacts non
significant
which result from
for standards of significance
the poor air quality that often dominates the Truckee area The Town of Truckee is currently in
the process of preparing an Air Quality Management Plan to create
strategy for
term
along
reducing PM10 to acceptable levels At this time the Plan is not adopted As a result a Statement
of Overriding Considerations will be prepared prior to adoption of the Specific Plan because of
the significant adverse impacts to air quality that will remain after mitigation at least prior to
implementation ofand adopted Air Quality Management Plan Installation ofnatural gas in the
DSA may replace some existing wood stoves
resulting in a decline in PM101evels over time
Development activity resulting from adoption
Specific Plan is not anticipated to alter air
a
temperature
change in the local or regional
climate Furthermore beneficial impacts would result from the
completion ofthe regional
ski
trail
the
bicycle
pedestrian
system through
DSA which would encourage people to use
alternative transportation modes
movement moisture
D
Mitigation
content or
ofthe
or
introduce
Measures
The
impacts to air quality from additional increases in particulate matter will be significant
Successful mitigation of this impact to less than significant levels is not possible due to the
existing conditions of air quality in the air basin Since air quality issues must be addressed on a
regional basis the Town is in the process of preparing an Air Quality Management Plan for the
Truckee air basin This plan will identify programs to be implemented Town
wide with the goal
Downtown Truckee
Specrfrc
Plan
Drajt Environmental Impact Report
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of bringing
particulate matter levels below State and Federal standards Since this plan in not yet
adopted a Statement of Overriding Considerations is necessary for air quality impacts prior to
adoption ofthe final Specific Plan In the interim general plan policies listed under Conservation
Open Space Element Goal 11 will help reduce impacts from PM10
1
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