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<br />extends for 500 feet in width on either side of an identified fault trace of major active faults and about <br />200 to 300 feet in width on either side of a minor active fault, as designated by the State. Development <br />of a building for human occupancy is generally restricted within 50 feet of an identified fault. The <br />Calaveras and Verona Faults are the only faults within the Planning Area that the State currendy <br />designates as Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones (see Figure V-5). <br /> <br />The putpose of the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act is to prevent construction of new <br />buildings across known active faults in order to avoid surface fault rupture hazard. The Act prohibits <br />placing most structures for human occupancy across traces of active faults thus mitigating damage due <br />to surface fault rupture and not damage due to ground shaking. <br /> <br />When construction of a building for human occupancy is proposed within an earthquake fault zone, <br />the City requires that a developer submit a geologic report.s This study presents conclusions regarding <br />the location and existence (or absence) of active faults at the site and also contains <br />recommendations for detennining building setback distances from the identified faults. The City's <br />consulting geologist reviews the reports for acceptability. <br /> <br />The investigation of sites for the possible hazard of surface fault rupture is a difficult geologic task <br />Many active faults are complex, consisting of multiple breaks and/or are difficult to find. Deep young <br />alluvium deposits, for example, often prevent exploratory trenches from reaching ruptured soils <br />making detennining a fault's location and activity difficult. In some instances fault trace investigations <br />conclude that a given fault trace is "inferred" or "obscure" with no clear delineation of recent fault <br />rupture. Figure V-5 includes the following fault trace types: <br /> <br />1. A well-located fault trace is unambiguous, easily discerned, and accurately located. <br /> <br />2. An approximately located fault trace may be eroded or modified. The fault-trace location is <br />uncertain within a distance greater than 50 feet. <br /> <br />3. An inferred fault trace is not clearly related to surface faulting, or the surface does not indicate <br />where the fault is located such that subsurface data are used to project its location. <br /> <br />4. A concealed fault has surface deposits - alluvium, colluvium,6 or landslide - covering the surface <br />trace of the fault, burying it. <br /> <br />Currendy, the Pleasanton Municipal Code requires that the setback from an active fault trace be 50 feet <br />(Section 17.12.040). Most surface faulting is confined to a relatively narrow zone from a few to tens of <br />geologist's setback recommendations could differ from a simple 50 feet from a given fault, and should <br /> <br />5 Geologic studies are prepared by a California-registered geologist and address faulting, slope stability, erosion, seismicity, <br />and related hazards. Geotechnical engineering studies are prepared by California-registered engineers and address <br />subsurface soils, drainage, and other conditions for purposes of designing foundations, pavements, retaining walls, and <br />other improvements affected by soil conditions. <br /> <br />6 Colluvium is loose rock or soil at the base of a steep slope or cliff. <br /> <br />Public Safety 082906, dean <br /> <br />V-10 <br /> <br />City Council 8/29/2006 <br />