PC 041107 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commissioner Blank inquired about the potential use of the EVA for buses and if the EVA would be used for parking such as for the car dealership. Mr. Cook replied that discussions are taking place with the Livermore Amador Valley Transportation Authority (LAVTA) to determine if the road could be included in the bus route. With respect to parking on the EVA, he added that the MOU was written with flexibility in mind and what to do with the strip; however, parking is not proposed on the EVA. Rod Jeung, EIP Associates, stated that he would explain the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements for an EIR and the role of the scoping session in the process. He indicated that the environmental review is just beginning and with the availability of the project description, the potential impacts of the project can now be identified. Mr. Jeung explained that CEQA requires an EIR for projects with potentially significant physical effects such as traffic, biological resources, water resources, etc., should the project be approved. He added that the scoping session is a process to determine the focus and content or scope of the EIR and that tonight’s meeting would determine the particular issues the Commission and the public feel would have an impact on the physical environment and would like addressed in the EIR. Mr. Jeung noted that there are two kinds of impacts: population-driven impacts and footprint impacts. He continued that population-driven impacts take into account the number of occupants and visitors to the community, including the number of units the senior community would have and the number of people who might be going to the automall, the ice rink, and the park; footprint impacts, on the other hand, look at certain areas that are subject to view, noise, flooding, and quality of life impacts. Mr. Jeung then discussed the timetable of the EIR review process. He stated that following the scoping meeting, the project will be evaluated in terms of population and footprint impacts, and the Draft EIR will come before the Planning Commission by summer of 2007. He added that the public would have another opportunity to provide testimony before the Commission at that time, and then the comments on the Draft EIR and at the public hearing would be addressed in the Final EIR, which should be completed by fall of 2007 and be certified by the City Council by winter of 2007. He encouraged the public to submit their comments to Robin Giffin either by mail, email, or phone. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED. Sue Solis, 3294 West Las Positas Boulevard, stated that her property abuts the project site. She noted that the existing berm is full of trees and bushes that have been there for 14 to 15 years and where animals live. She requested that the berm, the trees and bushes, and the animals be allowed to stay and suggested that if the senior community needed a fence for security, a see-through fence could be installed on the other side of the berm. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES April 11, 2007 Page 9 of 18