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__Response to Comments Received List of Agencies, Organizations and Individuals that Commented on the Draft EIR and Topical Responses Espola Road Improvement Project Final EIR May 2013 RTC-1 INTRODUCTION TO THE FINAL EIR The Espola Road Improvement Project (Project) Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was circulated for a 45-day review period, from March 21, 2013, until May 06, 2013. Public comments were submitted to the City of Poway (City) during this period. Section 15088 of the State CEQA Guidelines requires the evaluation of comments on environmental issues received from persons who reviewed a Draft EIR. The Lead Agency (City of Poway) also is required to prepare written responses to public comments received during the public review period (and to consider all comments received). These comments will form part of the record considered by the decision makers (City) during consideration of whether or not to certify the EIR and approve or deny the Project. The purpose of this section is to present each comment received from agencies, organizations, and individuals during the Draft EIR public review period, along with the responses to those comments. Each comment letter was carefully read and broken down into individual comments to ensure that every comment was addressed. Each relevant comment was then responded to by appropriate staff and specialists with knowledge pertaining to the issues presented within the comment. 1.1 How to Use This Document • Section 1.1 provides an overview of the purpose and organization of this chapter. • Section 1.2 contains the list of commenters on the Draft EIR. • Section 1.3 contains a summary of common topics addressed in the public comments received on the Draft EIR. • Section 1.4 contains “topical responses,” which have been prepared to address issues or concerns that were identified by a number of different commenters. • Section 1.5 provides responses to the comments received on the Draft EIR. Comments are organized into the following categories: state agencies, local agencies/special interest group, and individuals. Commenters within each group of written comments are alphabetized by the organization name or the last name of the individual, as applicable. Letters and emails are presented in a side-by-side format. Comment material is located on the left side, with each specific comment bracketed and numbered in the left-hand margin, and a correspondingly numbered response to each comment is located on the right-hand side. Some responses contain cross references to the topical responses contained in this chapter, or to the section of the Final EIR that contains the requested information. Where related comments were contained in the same letter, the reader may be referred to another applicable response. No comments were received that required change to technical information provided in the Draft EIR. In some cases, comments and responses provide additional information, which is now a part of the Final EIR. Espola Road Improvement Project Final EIR May 2013 RTC-2 1.2 List of Agencies, Organizations and Individuals that Commented on the Draft EIR The following lists provide a tally of agencies, organizations, and individuals who responded within the EIR public review period, followed by comments submitted after the close of public review. The names and addresses of state agencies, local agencies/special interest groups, and individuals that commented, along with the date of comment, are listed in alphabetical order. LETTERS RECEIVED DURING PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD LETTER DESIGNATION NAME ADDRESS Date STATE AGENCIES A California Department of Fish & Wildlife 3883 Ruffin Road San Diego, Ca 92123 April 22, 2013 B California Department of Toxic Substances Control 5796 Corporate Avenue Cypress, CA 90630 April 30, 2013 LOCAL AGENCIES/SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS C Trails Advisory Board - Bob Hahn P.O. Box 789 Poway, Ca 92074 April 09, 2013 INDIVIDUALS D Steve and Maren Behringer (cosignatories with Jay and Pamela Skeen) 14103 Roaring Camp Road Poway, Ca 92064 April 28, 2013 E ERB & Associates, LLC (on behalf of CMD Sean Fitzpatrick) 12320 Stowe Drive, Ste. E Poway, Ca 92064 April 16, 2013 F Victoria Fach 14104 Durhullen Drive Poway, Ca 92064 May 01, 2013 G Patricia Faucher 13810 Northcrest Lane Poway, Ca 92064 April 02, 2013 H Dennis Goetz 15131 Espola Road Poway, Ca 92064 April 28, 2013 I David Haessig 14802 Espola Road Poway, Ca 92064 May 02, 2013 Espola Road Improvement Project Final EIR May 2013 RTC-3 J James Ingraham 15457 Mesquite Tree Trail Poway, Ca 92064 May 02, 2013 K Janice Kall 14153 Ezra LaCane Poway, Ca 92064 May 06, 2013 L William K. Koska Poway, Ca 92064 May 06, 2013 M Dan Krall 14223 Primrose Court Poway, Ca 92064 May 03, 2013 N Evelyn Maynard (2 communications) 14729 Espola Road Poway, Ca 92064 April 08, 2013 April 30, 2013 O Jack Maynard (5 communications) 14729 Espola Road Poway, Ca 92064 April 09, 2013 April 11, 2013 April 16, 2013 May 01, 2013 May 03, 2013 P Sara Miller 14633 Carlson Street Poway, Ca 92064 May 06, 2013 Q Anita Morell (2 communications) 14711 Espola Road Poway, Ca 92064 April 23, 2013 May 02, 2013 R Marijane Schafer (2 communications) 14911 & 14845 Espola Road Poway, Ca 92064 April 03, 2013 April 24, 2013 S Barry J. Schultz (on behalf of some local residents) 2488 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 200 San Diego, Ca 92106 May 06, 2013 T Walter Schutz (2 communications) spadschutz@att.net May 01, 2013 May 06, 2013 U Mark Shelby (2 communications) 15316 Ridgeview Place Poway, Ca 92064 March 28, 2013 March 28, 2013 V Jay and Pamela Skeen (cosignatories with Steve and Maren Behringer). 15034 Hat Creek Road Poway, Ca 92064 April 28, 2013 W Deborah Sollohub & Jim Hribar 14714 High Valley Road Poway, Ca 92064 April 30, 2013 X Nick Stavros, Ph.D. 13639 Jackrabbit Road Poway, Ca 92064 May 06, 2013 Y Aletha Thompson 14320 Golden Sunset Lane Poway, Ca 92064 May 04, 2013 Espola Road Improvement Project Final EIR May 2013 RTC-4 Z Bob Tilburg 15040 Espola Road Poway, Ca 92064 May 01, 2013 AA Dorothy and Camilo Vidal (2 communications) 15109 Espola Road Poway, Ca 92064 April 27, 2013 April 29, 2013 BB Morgan Wam morganwam@gmail.com April 21, 2013 CC Langford Wasada 15121 Espola Road Poway, Ca 92064 May 05, 2013 DD Beth Weiner 15132 Huntington Court Poway, Ca 92064 March 24, 2013 EE Martyn Whittaker 15454 Willow Ranch Trail Poway, Ca 92064 May 03, 2013 FF Susan Xanten 9925 Carroll Canyon Road San Diego, Ca 92131 May 02, 2013 GG Tom Yarnall yarnallt@cox.net May 03, 2013 LETTERS RECEIVED AFTER PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD LETTER DESIGNATION NAME ADDRESS Date INDIVIDUALS HH Harlan and Sharon Friedman 15456 Mesquite Tree Trail Poway, Ca 92064 May 08, 2013 II Elise Seene EliseSeene@HotMail.com May 12, 2013 1.3 Public Comment Summary The comments received during public review of the Draft EIR addressed a wide variety of issues. The most common topics addressed in comments received on the Draft EIR included the following: • Project need. • Aesthetics of Espola Road after implementation of the Project. • Effects of the Project on community character. • Project funding sources and allocation of funds. Espola Road Improvement Project Final EIR May 2013 RTC-5 • Effects of construction impacts on local residents and traffic congestion. • Desired equestrian trail improvements. • Increased truck traffic. • Alternatives to the Project to solve congestion issues. • Increased traffic through local neighborhood streets. • Specific nature of Project effects on individual parcels. 1.4 Topical Responses Topical responses are provided below addressing many of the common topics or issues that are identified in Section 1.3, are not specific to individual parcels, and are relatively lengthy. Many of the responses to comments provided in Section 1.5 refer the commenter to these topical responses. Topical responses are organized in the following order: • Project Need. • Equestrian Trails. • Country Atmosphere. • Quality of Life. • Enhancements Only. • Truck Traffic. Project Need Question: 1. Based on my experience, congestion is restricted to a small portion of each day. Is this project really necessary? 2. What information do you have that supports Project need? According to the City General Plan Transportation Master Element (TME), the roadway has been slated for widening and associated improvements for over 25 years, with the City actively monitoring conditions of vehicular congestion along Espola Road for the past decade. The wishes and preferences of Poway residents are very important to the City, and this includes those residents whose properties abut Espola Road. The City has worked to reduce project size and its associated impacts. Although Espola Road was originally planned to be four lanes in this area, 2003 design efforts and traffic review confirmed that a three-lane design would be functional and operate within desired standards. As a result, the current TME plans Espola Road to be two through lanes with a center two-way left -turn in this area, which is the smallest possible improvement footprint that would operate within TME standards while incorporating related improvements for non-motorized transportation modes, as described below. Espola Road Improvement Project Final EIR May 2013 RTC-6 Espola Road currently experiences congestion during peak hours. The Project is not proposed to accommodate growth in the immediate vicinity, but to accommodate existing users as well as the increase projected through 2030 identified in City and regional planning documents. The proposed improvements would increase the capacity of this portion of Espola Road to relieve both existing and reasonably anticipated future congestion. Because road projects take some time to obtain environmental clearance, project approval and implementation, the environmental review begins early in the process of identifying need for improvement, and is largely based on modeling rather than existing conditions. Draft EIR Table 3.1.1-2, 2006 Roadway Segment Conditions, shows that between Twin Peaks Road and Titan Way, Espola Road is currently operating at level of service (LOS) F; and as shown on Draft EIR Table 3.1.1-6, Year 2030 Without and With Project Roadway Segment Conditions, in the year 2030 all segments of Espola Road from Twin Peaks Road to Titan Way would continue to operate at LOS F without Project improvements. Implementation of proposed improvements, however, would improve roadway operation in the year 2030 to LOS C or D. The Project would increase the capacity of the existing roadway, resulting in an ability to operate at the design capacity threshold specified for three-lane facilities in the 2010-amended TME between Titan Way and Twin Peaks Road. Intersections also would improve. Intersections would operate at LOS D (Espola Road at Twin Peaks in the a.m. peak hour) and at LOS A, B or C for all other signalized intersections during a.m. and p.m. peak hours (including Espola Road and Durhullen Drive/Golden Sunset Lane, which would be signalized as part of the Project). In addition to vehicular level of service, the Project would also support safety improvements for all Espola Road users. This would include pedestrians, equestrians, and bicyclists as well as vehicles. In 2002, a fatality occurred due to a car hitting a bicyclist; and the irregular surface conditions and immediate adjacency of potential walking areas does not support use by the infirm, the very young, or groups of individuals. The lack of sidewalks may minimize pedestrian activity along the roadway; either for recreational enjoyment or to access schools, religious facilities and/or small businesses along the Espola Road. Installation of sidewalks meeting American Disability Act (ADA) standards would support additional use of the Espola Road right-of-way by pedestrians of all ages and walking ability (e.g., individuals using strollers, canes, etc.). All residents would find their neighborhood connectivity improved, as they would be able to walk to neighbors’ homes or facilities located north or south of their homes, as well as crossing Espola Road at the new signal located at Durhullen Drive/Golden Sunset Lane. The lack of an approved equestrian crossing north of Twin Peaks Road has also led to area riders crossing Espola Road in the vicinity of Mountain Road. Use of this crossing has become fairly common in practice, but it is not a City approved equestrian location. The City has installed signs to alert drivers that equestrians may be in the area, but the preferred crossing would be at Del Poniente Road/High Valley Road, where City multi-purpose trails merge and separate. As part of the Project, an equestrian crossing button would be installed to facilitate crossings at that location, without requiring riders to dismount. Espola Road Improvement Project Final EIR May 2013 RTC-7 The City’s proactive approach to improving the alternative transportation modes along Espola Road are expected to minimize safety issues associated with the incrementally increased vehicular traffic on this roadway, as well as improve access to alternative transportation modes for the neighborhoods abutting Espola Road. They are also consistent with City, regional and state goals for provision of pathways and bike routes in order to reduce vehicular use. They support these City and regional planning goals to minimizing use of motorized vehicles, with related improvements in San Diego Air Basin air quality and minimization of greenhouse gas emissions. Although the City appreciates that individual experience may allow for accommodation of periods of congestion, including not driving during those periods, planning must address the potential needs of all users. Espola Road is an important route in the northern part of the City between eastern Poway (and points east) and I-15 (and points west, north and south). The total average number of vehicles (or average daily trips) on segments of this roadway anticipated in 2030 is up to 23,411. As a result, the EIR addresses all Project elements necessary to bring the roadway into compliance with projected rates of use and types of users using standard transportation models and design. This includes bringing the roadway into conformance with City standards for roadway operations, as specified in the City General Plan MTE. Equestrian Trails Questions: 1. It doesn’t seem as if the EIR adequately reflects equestrian needs in this area. What equestrian trails exist or are planned for the Espola Road vicinity? 2. Can an equestrian trail be incorporated into this plan? Equestrian activities provide an important element in the lifestyle of Poway residents. This is especially true in the Project vicinity due to two things—the ability of residential uses on either side of Espola Road to incorporate horses into lot amenities, and the presence of the Poway Valley Rider’s Association (PVRA) equestrian center south of Twin Peaks Road. Although important considerations for area planning, they do not lead to the need to incorporate equestrian trails along Espola Road. The Espola Road Improvement Project is designed to relieve congestion and improve safety (vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle along the road; and equestrian uses crossing the road) and roadway operations on Espola Road. As stated throughout the document, approximate average daily traffic (ADT) ranges from 15,500 to 21,000 depending on the Espola Road segment between Twin Peaks Road and Titan Way, with those same segments projected to carry approximately 20,000 to 21,500 ADT in 2030. This is both a modest increase in ADT overall, and a substantial increase in amount carried per segment. This amount of roadway traffic and mix of uses is not conducive to the highest quality equestrian experience. Because equestrian uses are most appropriate off of main roads, where the vehicular/bicycle interface with horses is minimized, these trails are sited parallel to, but a safe distance from, the road right-of-way. Espola Road Improvement Project Final EIR May 2013 RTC-8 The Transportation Master Element (TME) Pedestrian Element shows a trail extending north- south along the west side of Espola Road between Del Poniente Road and Twin Peaks Road. As described in the City Pedestrian Trail Linkage Study, this link addresses the need for sidewalks along Espola Road. Trails that can accommodate horses exist or are planned to the west and east of Espola Road. Some of the current use patterns include sidewalks (such as along Twin Peaks Road). This pathway surface, as well as the active interface between horses, pedestrians and adjacent cars) is not preferred, but the City has installed an equestrian crossing button at the intersection of Twin Peaks Road and Espola Road to facilitate crossings. Using this button, riders do not need to dismount, and can maintain better control over their horses by remaining mounted. The trail paralleling Del Poniente Road is preferred for equestrian use. This roadway carries slower- moving traffic at lower traffic volumes, and the pathway is both soft surface and often separated from the roadway by vegetation. Existing and planned trails adjacent to Espola Road information are available on the City website at: http://www.poway.org. These include long distance regional trails serving as main connectors to regional parks, scenic canyons and foothills beyond City limits and also serving equestrian uses (i.e., specifically accessing the PVRA facilities south of Twin Peaks Road. Off- road trails are considered preferable because of the lower noise levels experienced on them, safety concerns of mixing vehicles with equestrian uses, and the visual appealing nature of trails. The closest existing regional trails trending north-south are the Del Poniente and Tierra Bonita trails, which are located from 0.07 to 0.2 mile west of Espola Road for the distance of approximately 0.9 mile, from the vicinity of Northcrest Lane to roughly the vicinity of Mountain Road (located only on the east side of Espola Road). To the east of Espola Road is the Espola Trail, which is currently planned to receive connectivity improvements by the City. This trail is east of, and generally parallel to, Espola Road (including a segment along Bent Tree Road) from Lake Poway Road to High Valley Road, as well as a short segment east of Espola Road extending north from Twin Peaks Road. Planned improvements to this trail would connect these two segments and would require coordination with private property owners. The majority of this trail is shielded from main roads by several rows of housing. Please note that the horse-crossing sign in the vicinity of the Mountain Road intersection with Espola Road does not reflect a City-approved crossing point. This signage was installed in an effort to improve equestrian safety, as riders are known to cross the road at this point. The signs are intended to provide notice to drivers that horses and their riders may be in the vicinity. This is not a signalized crossing, however, and it does not lead to existing formal trails trending east- west on the east side of Espola Road. As noted above, the City has already implemented equestrian signal change buttons at Espola Road and Twin Peaks Road. The proposed Project would include equestrian signal change buttons at the Del Poniente/High Valley Road and Espola Road intersection. These crossings facilitate access between the Terra Bonita Trail and residences/existing and future trails farther to the west or east. Their placement would allow easier access while on horseback. Espola Road Improvement Project Final EIR May 2013 RTC-9 Country Atmosphere Questions: 1. If the Project is approved—won’t a rural feeling along Espola Road be diminished? 2. Will the roadway become urban in nature? Poway has experienced extremely rapid growth over the past 45 years. Within a period of 50 years, the community grew from less than 1,600 persons (in 1957) to a primary residential and commercial community with a population of approximately 50,000. The area’s rural character really began to change with the housing boom of the 1970s, when tremendous building activity occurred in both the commercial and residential sectors. During the 1970s, Poway’s population increased by 139 percent (from 14,000 people to nearly 33,500). Approximately 70 percent of the dwelling units in Poway in 1980 were built after 1970 and over 50 percent of the commercial area along Poway Road was developed during the same period. This growth greatly changed the physical and functional characteristics of the community, and led to the City’s incorporation in December of 1980 (City 1991b). Between 1980 and 1990, City population growth increased 30 percent—from approximately 33,500 to over 43,500 (City 1991b); and in 2010, a population of 47,811 people lived in the City. The projected rate of growth is now slowing. By 2020, over 54,000 people are expected to reside in the City, with almost 60,000 by 2050 (SANDAG 2010b). Within the segment of Espola Road addressed by this Project, the above-described growth was clearly reflected during this same period (1955 on). The portion of Espola Road between Twin Peaks Road and the northern Project terminus was primarily undeveloped at the beginning of this period. A few homes located along Espola Road, Jerome Road and High Valley Road provided the residential focus; and a sheep farm at the intersection of Espola Road and Twin Peaks Road, avocado groves in High Valley, and horse stables in the vicinity of (current) Poway High School (PHS) supported the community’s primarily agriculturally based commercial activities. At that time, the focused commercial base in Poway was almost wholly located to the southwest, along Midland Road, Community Road, and Poway Road. Espola Road was truly rural in nature at that time. Currently (as shown in EIR Figure 1-3), Espola Road is edged by a fairly dense concentration of primarily single-family residential uses (individually designed and built homes as well as housing tracts), although some commercial, religious, recreational and educational facilities also are present. A number of rural elements remain, including sections with individualistic landscaping, clear presence of overhead utility lines and open drainage ditches, intermittent presence of sidewalks, etc. As stated in Section 2.2, Visual/Aesthetics, of the EIR, however, at this time this stretch of road is primarily suburban in nature, with mixed residential styles (from some fairly large lots to track housing) edging the road. The proposed Project would intensify this nature, introducing some additionally urban elements, but would also remove some visual distractions, such as overhead power lines. Although some specifics of design would change, Project implementation would not result in a change in the largely developed nature of the roadway. To the contrary, more open sky views Espola Road Improvement Project Final EIR May 2013 RTC-10 would be provided through undergrounding of overhead utilities. The proposed streetscape, which would still be viewed against the larger plantings of the private lots edging Espola Road, would introduce more standardized plantings, but would not eliminate views to large mature and lot-specific plantings. Trees would still be “clustered in relaxed patterns” along the road, and modified slopes with native vegetation would be hydroseeded with native species. Shrubs would visually reference shrubs now visible in individual yards. Quality of Life Question: 1. If the Project is approved—won’t my quality of life be affected? It is understood that individuals spend time in a number of places throughout the day—at home, at school, at work, running errands, etc. Time spent at home can be the most important, however, and a concern over whether or not the Project could adversely affect quality of life is important. The City believes that the Project would affect quality of life, but not in a negative way. The increase in traffic that is projected to occur between now and 2020 is not something that the City can control. The public street will carry future loads—existing levels of traffic and congestion are projected to increase, with associated levels of noise and pollution. The question is whether something can be done to minimize the effect. Diminishing projected levels of congestion as proposed by the Project would be beneficial for all roadway users—it would: • Shorten time necessary to complete daily trips along the road • Remove turning vehicles from through lanes (thereby minimizing chances of rear-end collisions) • Minimize pollutants associated with idling vehicles during periods of congestion • Provide a safer bicycle route • Provide an opportunity to safely walk along Espola Road from Twin Peaks Road to Titan Way • Provide some abutting residents an opportunity to minimize roadway noise through sound walls • Underground overhead utilities Specifically for residents abutting the roadway, the decreased congestion would result in incrementally lowered levels of pollutants from automobile emissions and would provide for greater neighborhood connectivity through sidewalks. Also as noted above, for residents where existing and projected sound levels exceed City standards, sound walls would be offered as part of the Project. Although residents would have the final say over whether or not sound walls would be built on their property (if they don’t want them, they won’t be built), for those residents who do qualify and who do want them, their outdoor use space would experience lower levels of road-related noise. These improvements are all expected to improve daily quality of life. Espola Road Improvement Project Final EIR May 2013 RTC-11 Enhancements Only Question: 1. Is it possible to only implement the sidewalks and/or bike lane improvements? As discussed in Chapter 1 of this EIR, the Project objectives include traffic relief on Espola Road, as well as increased pedestrian and equestrian safety within the study area. In order to attain the highest function of Espola Road overall (i.e., serving vehicular, pedestrian, equestrian and bicycle traffic), all improvements would be made. Improvements such as sidewalks and bike lanes are a vital part of these objectives, but would not meet all of Project objectives in and of themselves. Evaluation of the Project as proposed, however, does not mean that the City must choose to implement every design element of the Project. As a first step, approval of the Project is not assured if the EIR is certified as adequate under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Project approval or denial is a specific separate action by the City Council and a time- frame has not been identified for that action. Approval or denial would be based on weighing potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation in combination with project monetary costs and community input. If the EIR is certified, the City could choose to implement an approved project (or elements thereof) in phases, as necessary. As an example, if it is decided to install sidewalks and/or bike lanes, this could occur in a location consistent with the certified EIR as described below. Completion of the Project, with complete road improvements, could occur at a later date – or may never be implemented – depending on City Council decision. Under this scenario, the City would identify an element to be implemented, such as a sidewalk, and would complete an internal conformity analysis to ensure that any possible impacts were addressed as part of the larger footprint. Specifically, staff would review the proposed “footprint,” and confirm that all actions would take place within the design footprint analyzed in this EIR, and that conditions existing at that time are substantially the same as those evaluated in the EIR. Assuming the future condition matches the existing condition described in the EIR, staff would ensure that any mitigation associated with implementation of that footprint is incorporated into the proposed improvement element; either as part of design or as mitigation. If all elements comply with the certified EIR, the City could then move forward with that improvement without additional City expenditure to evaluate and circulate a new project. Truck Traffic Question: 1. If the Project is approved—won’t large-truck traffic increase on Espola Road? The proposed Project would not create additional truck traffic except during construction. Poway Municipal Code (PMC) 10.42.010 states that no person, corporation, or any other Espola Road Improvement Project Final EIR May 2013 RTC-12 organization shall use or operate any commercial vehicle or any vehicle exceeding 20,000 pounds on any City road, other than those listed in the regulation (see PMC 10.42.010 for further details). Espola Road north of Twin Peaks Road is not listed as an acceptable road for these vehicles and no change in this restriction is anticipated if the Project is implemented. Trucks covered under PMC 10.42.010 that inadvertently travel on Espola Road would be subject to citation and associated fines. Comments and Responses to Comments CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-13 A- 1 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d t o th e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y t h e EI R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l at t h i s t i m e . Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r c o n c u r r e n c e t h a t t h e P r o j e c t i s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e Ci t y ’ s a p p r o v e d H C P . It i s d i s a p p o i n t i n g t o h e a r t h a t t h e R a n c h o J a m u l s i t e m a y n o t b e ac c e p t a b l e t o t h e C a l i f o r n i a D e p a r t m e n t o f F i s h a n d W i l d l i f e ( C D F W ) . Gi v e n t h e v e r y s m a l l a m o u n t o f i m p a c t a n d t h e l a c k o f a n a v a i l a b l e mi t i g a t i o n l o c a t i o n w i t h i n t h e w a t e r s h e d , i t w a s c o n s i d e r e d b e n e ﬁ cial to C o u n t y w e t l a n d r e s o u r c e s o v e r a l l t o m i t i g a t e a t t h i s i d e n t i ﬁ ed bank. If s u c h a l o c a t i o n i s u n a c c e p t a b l e , h o w e v e r , a s s t a t e d i n t h e D r a f t E I R , th e w e t l a n d m i t i g a t i o n f o r t h i s p r o j e c t w o u l d b e p r o v i d e d a t a l o c a t i o n ac c e p t a b l e t o t h e C i t y a n d r e s o u r c e a g e n c i e s . T h e C i t y w o u l d w o r k w i t h CD F W t o i d e n t i f y a n e w l o c a t i o n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e a p p r o v e d C i t y H C P . Th i s m a y t a k e t h e f o r m o f i n l i e u p a y m e n t t o s u p p o r t e x i s t i n g h a b i t a t . A s st a t e d o n p a g e 2 . 4 - 1 3 o f t h e E I R , i t w a s a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t s o u t h e r n w i l l o w ri p a r i a n f o r e s t w o u l d b e r e p l a c e d a t a r a t i o o f 3 : 1 , w i t h 1 : 1 c r e a t i o n a n d 2: 1 e n h a n c e m e n t . B a s e d o n t h e C i t y H C P , t h e C i t y i s o p e n t o w o r k i n g wi t h C D F W t o s e e i f m i t i g a t i n g o u t o f k i n d ( b u t w i t h i n a w e t l a n d h a b i t a t ) wo u l d b e s t b e n e ﬁ t t h e r e s o u r c e . R e g a r d l e s s , a s s t a t e d i n t h e E I R , t h e ba s e l i n e r e q u i r e m e n t i s t h a t m i t i g a t i o n m u s t b e a c c e p t a b l e t o t h e C i t y a n d re s o u r c e a g e n c i e s , a n d b e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e a p p r o v e d H C P . Th e p r e c i s e l o c a t i o n o f m i t i g a t i o n w i l l n o t b e k n o w n d u r i n g p r e p a r a t i o n of t h e F i n a l E I R , b u t w o u l d b e d e t e r m i n e d a s p a r t o f P r o j e c t p e r m i t t i n g , if t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e . W i t h r e g a r d t o a m o u n t o f h a b i t a t , A- 1 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-14 ho w e v e r , t h e t o t a l i m p a c t e d w a s i d e n t i ﬁ e d a s 0 . 0 2 a c r e ( s e e T a b l e 2 . 4 - 4 of t h e E I R ) , a n d u s i n g t h e 3 : 1 m i t i g a t i o n t o i m p a c t s r a t i o , t h e a m o u n t o f mi t i g a t i o n i s e x p e c t e d t o b e 0 . 0 6 a c r e o f a p p r o p r i a t e w e t l a n d h a b i t a t . Th a n k y o u f o r c l a r i ﬁ c a t i o n r e g a r d i n g A n n u a l R e p o r t r e q u i r e m e n t s . I f t h e Pr o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e b y t h e C i t y C o u n c i l a n d t h e C i t y m o v e s fo r w a r d w i t h p r o p o s e d i m p r o v e m e n t s , w e w i l l c o n t a c t y o u t o c o n t i n u e th i s d i s c u s s i o n a n d c o o r d i n a t e r e g a r d i n g a n y n e c e s s a r y p e r m i t . A- 1 co n t . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-15 B- 1 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r c o m m e n t s r e g a r d i n g h a z a r d o u s w a s t e a n d m a t e r i a l s . Po t e n t i a l i m p a c t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h h a z a r d o u s w a s t e w e r e a s s e s s e d i n th e D r a f t E I R . A s s t a t e d i n E I R S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 4 , H a z a r d s a n d H a z a r d o u s Ma t e r i a l s , a P h a s e I E n v i r o n m e n t a l S i t e A s s e s s m e n t ( E S A ; r e f e r t o Se c t i o n 3 . 1 . 4 o f t h e E I R ) w a s p e r f o r m e d f o r E s p o l a R o a d , b e t w e e n E z r a La n e t o t h e s o u t h a n d T i t a n W a y t o t h e n o r t h . T h i s a s s e s s m e n t r e v e a l e d no e v i d e n c e o f r e c o g n i z e d h a z a r d o u s e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e Pr o j e c t a r e a . B- 1 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-16 B- 2 B- 3 B- 4 B- 5 B- 1 co n t . Re g a r d i n g p r o j e c t - r e l a t e d i n v e s t i g a t i o n a n d / o r r e m e d i a t i o n p r o c e d u r e s , an d a s n o t e d i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 4 o f t h i s E I R , i t i s n o t a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t t h e pr o p o s e d P r o j e c t w o u l d r e q u i r e r e m o v a l o f h a z a r d o u s m a t e r i a l s f r o m th e P r o j e c t c o r r i d o r a s n o h a z a r d o u s m a t e r i a l s w e r e i d e n t i ﬁ ed in the Ph a s e I E S A . I f p r e v i o u s l y u n i d e n t i ﬁ e d c o n t a m i n a t i o n i s e n c o u n t e r e d du r i n g p r o j e c t c o n s t r u c t i o n , a n d D e p a r t m e n t o f T o x i c S u b s t a n c e s Co n t r o l ( D T S C ) o v e r s i g h t i s r e q u i r e d , t h e C i t y w o u l d w o r k w i t h D T S C to i m p l e m e n t a n a g r e e m e n t , c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h i s c o m m e n t , a n d D T S C wo u l d p r o v i d e g o v e r n m e n t a l o v e r s i g h t . As d e s c r i b e d i n t h e r e s p o n s e s t o y o u r C o m m e n t s B - 1 a n d B - 2 , t h e P r o j e c t Ph a s e I E S A d i d n o t i d e n t i f y a n y h a z a r d o u s e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n s . If p r e v i o u s l y u n i d e n t i ﬁ e d c o n t a m i n a t i o n i s e n c o u n t e r e d d u r i n g p r o j e c t co n s t r u c t i o n , a n d D T S C o v e r s i g h t i s r e q u i r e d , a n o v e r s i g h t a g r e e m e n t wi t h D T S C w o u l d b e i m p l e m e n t e d c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h i s c o m m e n t . B- 2 B- 3 Th e P h a s e I E S A f o u n d n o e v i d e n c e o f h a z a r d o u s e n v i r o n m e n t a l co n d i t i o n s . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i s s u m m a r i z e d i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 4 o f t h i s E I R . B- 4 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-17 B- 6 B- 7 B- 8 B- 9 B- 1 0 B- 1 1 No s t r u c t u r e s a r e p l a n n e d t o b e d e m o l i s h e d d u r i n g P r o j e c t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . If s t r u c t u r e s r e q u i r i n g r e m o v a l a r e l a t e r i d e n t i ﬁ ed, they would be evaluated pr i o r t o d e m o l i t i o n f o r t h e p r e s e n c e o f h a z a r d o u s w a s t e m a t e r i a l s (m e r c u r y , A C M s , L B P , e t c . ) . I f h a z a r d o u s w a s t e m a t e r i a l s a r e i d e n t i ﬁ ed, th o s e s u b s t a n c e s w o u l d b e h a n d l e d a n d d i s p o s e d o f i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h fe d e r a l , s t a t e , a n d l o c a l r e g u l a t i o n s . Th e P r o j e c t w o u l d i n c l u d e s o i l e x c a v a t i o n a n d b a c k ﬁ ll. No contaminated so i l w a s i d e n t i ﬁ e d d u r i n g t h e P h a s e I E S A r e v i e w a n d i t i s n o t a n t i c i p a t e d th a t s u c h s o i l w o u l d b e e n c o u n t e r e d . I f s o i l i s i m p o r t e d , t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n co n t r a c t w o u l d s p e c i f y t h a t s u c h s o i l t o b e f r e e o f c o n t a m i n a t i o n . Po t e n t i a l P r o j e c t - r e l a t e d e f f e c t s t o h u m a n h e a l t h a n d s e n s i t i v e r e c e p t o r s wo u l d b e a d d r e s s e d d u r i n g P r o j e c t c o n s t r u c t i o n t h r o u g h c o n f o r m a n c e wi t h a i r q u a l i t y m e a s u r e s p r o v i d e d i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 2 , A i r Q u a l i t y , a n d Se c t i o n 3 . 1 . 3 , H y d r o l o g y a n d W a t e r Q u a l i t y . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t B - 1 . Th e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t c o n s i s t s o f i m p r o v e m e n t s t o a n e x i s t i n g r o a d w a y a n d is n o t e x p e c t e d t o g e n e r a t e h a z a r d o u s w a s t e s d u r i n g r o u t i n e o p e r a t i o n s . Th a n k y o u f o r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n . Co m m e n t s m a y b e p r o v i d e d t o R i c h a r d W h i p p l e , A I C P , C i t y P l a n n e r , a t RW h i p p l e @ P o w a y . o r g . B- 5 B- 6 B- 7 B- 8 B- 9 B- 1 0 B- 1 1 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-18 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-19 C- 1 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . Sp e c i ﬁ c t o t h e i s s u e o f a m u l t i - u s e r e c r e a t i o n a l t r a i l o n t h e e a s t s i d e o f Es p o l a R o a d , t h e P r o j e c t d o e s i n c l u d e a s i d e w a l k o n t h e e a s t s i d e o f t h e Pr o j e c t f r o m T w i n P e a k s R o a d t o t h e v i c i n i t y o f W i l l o w R a n c h R o a d . Pl e a s e a l s o r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ E q u e s t r i a n T r a i l s ” f o r a d d i t i o n a l in f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g a r e a t r a i l s . C- 1 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-20 D- 1 D- 2 D- 3 D- 4 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . Yo u r k n o w l e d g e o f t h e e x i s t i n g t r a f ﬁ c p a t t e r n s a n d p r o v i s i o n o f t h i s in f o r m a t i o n i s a p p r e c i a t e d . P l e a s e n o t e , h o w e v e r , t h a t t r a f ﬁ c management pl a n n i n g e v a l u a t e s t h e “ w o r s t c a s e ” s o t h a t r o a d s c a n b e s t s e r v e t h e i r us e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e e n t i r e d a y . A s d e t a i l e d i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 , T r a f ﬁ c/ Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n , o f t h e E I R , o n e i n t e r s e c t i o n a n d a l l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a Ro a d a r e a l r e a d y f a i l i n g . I n c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e s i n p r o j e c t e d t r a f ﬁ c vo l u m e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o r e s u l t i n c o n t i n u e d f a i l u r e o f a l l s e g m e n t s o f Es p o l a R o a d b e t w e e n T w i n P e a k s R o a d a n d T i t a n W a y t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 . Be c a u s e r o a d p r o j e c t s t a k e s o m e t i m e t o o b t a i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a r a n c e , pr o j e c t a p p r o v a l a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w b e g i n s ea r l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f i d e n t i f y i n g n e e d f o r i m p r o v e m e n t , a n d i s l a r g e l y ba s e d o n m o d e l i n g r a t h e r t h a n e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s . Th e C i t y h a s c o n s i d e r e d t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r a d d i t i o n a l t r a f ﬁ c on the re s i d e n t i a l / l o c a l s t r e e t s a s a r e s u l t o f a p r o p o s e d t r a f ﬁ c signal at the Es p o l a R o a d a n d D u r h u l l e n D r i v e / G o l d e n S u n s e t L a n e i n t e r s e c t i o n . T h e D- 1 D- 2 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-21 am o u n t o f a d d i t i o n a l t r a f ﬁ c , i f a n y , i s n o t k n o w n . P l e a s e n o t e t h a t b a s e d on t h e S A N D A G t r a f ﬁ c m o d e l u s e d t o f o r e c a s t f u t u r e c o n d i t i o n s , t h e pe a k t r a f ﬁ c f o r t h i s i n t e r s e c t i o n , a s w e l l a s t h e o t h e r i n t e r s e c t i o n s a l o n g Es p o l a R o a d , a r e a s s u m e d t o i n c r e a s e b a s e d o n r e g i o n a l g r o w t h . T h e am o u n t o f t h a t i n c r e a s e r e l a t e d t o i n s t a l l a t i o n o f t h e s i g n a l i s s p e c u l a t i v e an d c a n n o t b e d e t e r m i n e d w i t h a n y l e v e l o f a c c u r a c y a t t h i s t i m e . Tr a f ﬁ c m o d e l i n g c o m p l e t e d f o r E s p o l a R o a d c a p a c i t y a n d l e v e l o f se r v i c e w a s c o m p l e t e d a s s u m i n g a n e w t r a f ﬁ c signal at the Durhullen Dr i v e i n t e r s e c t i o n . T h i s s i g n a l w o u l d b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 , 4 0 0 f e e t f r o m th e T w i n P e a k s R o a d s i g n a l a n d 1 , 6 0 0 f e e t f r o m t h e D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d / Hi g h V a l l e y R o a d s i g n a l , b o t h o f w h i c h e x c e e d m i n i m u m s p a c i n g f o r si g n a l s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n o n u r b a n a r t e r i a l s . T r a f ﬁ c modeling showed an im p r o v e m e n t o f c o n d i t i o n s w i t h t h e s i g n a l i n p l a c e . A s s u c h , n o i m p a c t i s an t i c i p a t e d . P l e a s e a l s o n o t e t h a t t h e t r a f ﬁ c volumes on local side streets du r i n g p e a k h o u r s a r e l o w e n o u g h t h a t t h e g r e e n - s i g n a l t i m e w o u l d b e pr i m a r i l y a l l o c a t e d t o E s p o l a R o a d t h r o u g h s i g n a l p h a s e s . Yo u r c o m m e n t s a r e n o t e d a n d w i l l b e p a r t o f t h e r e c o r d c o n s i d e r e d b y th e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g f u t u r e P r o j e c t d e l i b e r a t i o n s o n w h e t h e r o r n o t t o ap p r o v e t h e P r o j e c t , a s n o t e d a b o v e . P l e a s e a l s o r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “Q u a l i t y o f L i f e ” f o r p o t e n t i a l p o s i t i v e e f f e c t s o f t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t . D- 3 D- 4 D- 2 co n t . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-22 E- 1 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a n d p l a n s / d r a w i n g s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e Ci t y h a s p r o v i d e d t h e 3 0 p e r c e n t p l a n s f o r y o u r p r o p e r t y t o y o u a n d ex p l a i n e d p o s s i b l e c o n ﬂ i c t s . F i n a l d e s i g n w i l l o c c u r i n t h e f u t u r e i f a n d wh e n t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d e c i d e s t o p r o c e e d w i t h t h e P r o j e c t . E- 1 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-23 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-24 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-25 F- 1 F- 2 F- 3 F- 4 F- 5 F- 6 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . Th e c o m m e n t c o r r e c t l y n o t e s t h a t a s i g n i ﬁ cant and unmitigable impact is i d e n t i ﬁ e d r e l a t i v e t o a e s t h e t i c s . T h i s i s r e l a t e d s o l e l y t o t h e p o t e n t i a l fo r a c o m b i n a t i o n r e t a i n i n g w a l l a n d s o u n d w a l l l o c a t i o n n o r t h o f J e r o m e Dr i v e . A l t h o u g h n o t a b l e , t h e s i g n i ﬁ c a n t i m p a c t a s s e s s e d t o t h a t w a l l co m b i n a t i o n i s n o t i d e n t i ﬁ e d f o r t h e e n t i r e r o a d w a y . O t h e r P r o j e c t e f f e c t s ar e i d e n t i ﬁ e d a s “ m i t i g a t e d ” t h r o u g h e i t h e r P r o j e c t d e s i g n , o r s p e c i a l co m m i t m e n t o n t h e p a r t o f t h e C i t y t o e s p a l i e r c l i m b i n g v i n e s o v e r po t e n t i a l s o u n d w a l l s . Na t i v e h a b i t a t i n t e r m i t t e n t l y a b u t s E s p o l a R o a d f r o m a p p r o x i m a t e l y 60 0 f e e t s o u t h o f D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d t o a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 7 5 f e e t n o r t h o f Wi l l o w R a n c h R o a d . O n t h e e a s t s i d e o f t h e r o a d w a y , n o s o u n d w a l l s ar e p r o p o s e d t h a t w o u l d b l o c k v i e w s t o t h i s h a b i t a t . O n t h e w e s t s i d e o f th e r o a d n o r t h o f D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d , a l t h o u g h s o m e s m a l l p a t c h e s o f na t i v e h a b i t a t m a y n o t b e v i s i b l e , v i e w s t o t h e m m a y a l r e a d y b e s h i e l d e d by i n t e r v e n i n g s t r u c t u r e s s u c h a s h o u s e s . T h e p r i m a r y a r e a s o f D i e g a n F- 1 F- 2 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-26 co a s t a l s a g e s c r u b a n d s o u t h e r n w i l l o w r i p a r i a n f o r e s t ( n e a r D e l P o n i e n t e Ro a d ) w o u l d n o t b e o b s c u r e d b y s o u n d w a l l s . P r o p o s e d s o u n d w a l l s wo u l d o n l y s h i e l d y a r d s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h r e s i d e n t i a l u s e s . So u n d w a l l s w o u l d b e s u b j e c t t o a p p r o v a l b y t h e p r o p e r t y o w n e r , w h o c a n re j e c t t h e w a l l . E v e n i f a l l p r o p e r t y o w n e r s r e q u e s t e d t h a t t h e p r o p o s e d wa l l s b e b u i l t , h o w e v e r , t h e w a l l s a r e n o t e x p e c t e d t o b e r e c e p t i v e t o gr a f ﬁ t i . I f t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e a n d c o n s t r u c t e d , w a l l s wo u l d b e c o a t e d w i t h a g r a f ﬁ t i - r e s i s t a n t c o a t i n g a s a m a t t e r o f d e s i g n an d w o u l d b e l a n d s c a p e d , w h i c h w o u l d d e t e r a c c e s s t o t h e w a l l s o v e r t h e lo n g t e r m . A s d i s c u s s e d i n S e c t i o n 2 . 2 , V i s u a l / A e s t h e t i c s , b e c a u s e o f t h e po t e n t i a l f o r w a l l - c o v e r i n g v i n e s t o “ c l u m p ” i f n o t s u b j e c t t o e s p a l i e r , th e C i t y h a s c o m m i t t e d t o e n h a n c e d m a i n t e n a n c e o f t h e s e v i n e s , w h i c h wo u l d i n c l u d e e s p a l i e r i n g a n d r e s u l t i n 1 0 0 p e r c e n t v e g e t a t i v e c o v e r a g e (s e e p a g e 2 . 2 - 2 2 ) . Th e s o u n d w a l l s , i f c o n s t r u c t e d , w o u l d b e a t a n e f f e c t i v e h e i g h t . P r o j e c t mo d e l i n g r e v i e w e d w a l l s o f v a r y i n g h e i g h t s , a n d t h e w a l l h e i g h t pr o p o s e d i s t h e o n e t h a t m o d e l e d t o s h o w a t t e n u a t i o n t o t h e d e c i b e l ( d B ) le v e l r e q u i r e d b y t h e C i t y b a s e d o n t h e e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n . P l e a s e s e e Ta b l e 2 . 3 - 3 i n t h e E I R , w h i c h s h o w s d B a t t e n u a t i o n o f e v a l u a t e d w a l l s a t di f f e r e n t h e i g h t s . T h e h i g h e s t w a l l s h o w n f o r e a c h l o c a t i o n i s t h e o n e t h a t mo d e l e d a s a d e q u a t e l y r e d u c i n g t h e n o i s e l e v e l . Th e C i t y h a s n o r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t c o n s t r u c t i o n w o u l d l a s t l o n g e r th a n a y e a r o v e r a l l . B e c a u s e t h e r o a d w a y i s l i n e a r i n n a t u r e , i t w o u l d al s o m o v e a l o n g t h e r o a d w a y , w i t h w o r s t - c a s e e f f e c t s i n a n y o n e l o c a t i o n mo v i n g t o a d i f f e r e n t r o a d s e g m e n t a f t e r a f a i r l y l i m i t e d p e r i o d o f t i m e . Co n c e r n o v e r i m p a c t s t o n a t i v e h a b i t a t s i s u n d e r s t a n d a b l e — t h e P r o j e c t wo u l d i m p a c t s o u t h e r n w i l l o w r i p a r i a n f o r e s t , D i e g a n c o a s t a l s a g e s c r u b , mi x e d c h a p a r r a l a n d n o n - n a t i v e g r a s s l a n d . P l e a s e n o t e , h o w e v e r , t h a t a l l th e s e i m p a c t s c o m b i n e d w o u l d t o t a l o n l y 0 . 4 1 a c r e . A l t h o u g h a n u m b e r of h a b i t a t s w o u l d b e a f f e c t e d , t h e t o t a l a c r e a g e i m p a c t e d w o u l d v e r y sm a l l , a n d w o u l d b e l o c a t e d a l o n g t h e l i n e a r r o a d w a y . T h e i n c r e m e n t a l ch a n g e i s n o t a n t i c i p a t e d t o r e s u l t i n a n y c h a n g e t o s p e c i e s p r e s e n c e o r mo v e m e n t . Th e r e q u i r e m e n t t o r e v i e w a n y t r e e s r e m o v e d f o r d i a m e t e r w a s i n c l u d e d in t h e E I R t o e n s u r e t h a t s y c a m o r e s a n d o a k s i n p a r t i c u l a r w o u l d b e re p l a c e d i n k i n d . O t h e r m a t u r e t r e e r e m o v a l s a l s o w o u l d b e s u b j e c t t o F- 3 F- 4 F- 5 F- 2 co n t . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-27 re p l a c e m e n t . T h e v a r i e t y o f h o m e s a n d l a n d s c a p i n g w o u l d b e v i s u a l l y “o v e r l a i n ” b y a l a n d s c a p e p l a n a l o n g t h e s t r e e t t h a t i n t r o d u c e s s o m e co n s i s t e n t a n d u n i f y i n g p l a n t t y p e s a n d m e e t s C i t y g o a l s f o r p r i m a r y ro a d s . T h e s u b s t a n t i a l v a r i e t y o f h o m e s a n d p r i v a t e y a r d s a l o n g E s p o l a Ro a d w o u l d s t i l l b e p r e s e n t o n i n d i v i d u a l p a r c e l s . Yo u r c o m m e n t i s n o t e d . A s i n d i c a t e d i n t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t F- 1 , t h i s w i l l b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g f u t u r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f th e P r o j e c t f o r a p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l . F- 5 co n t . F- 6 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-28 G- 1 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o : c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . Th e C i t y u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t y o u r q u e s t i o n s w e r e a n s w e r e d d u r i n g y o u r me e t i n g w i t h M r . R i c h W h i p p l e , C i t y P l a n n e r , o n M a y 1 7 , 2 0 1 3 . T h i s ad d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n i s p r o v i d e d i n r e s p o n s e t o y o u r e m a i l . Th e a r e a s h o w n o n F i g u r e 1 - 3 i s v e r y c o n s e r v a t i v e , a n d i s o n l y i n t e n d e d to s c h e m a t i c a l l y h i g h l i g h t t h e P r o j e c t a r e a . P l e a s e r e f e r t o F i g u r e 1 - 4 e in C h a p t e r 1 . 0 o f t h e E I R . O n t h a t ﬁ g u r e , i t i s p o s s i b l e t o s e e t h a t i f t h e Pr o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e , P r o j e c t - r e l a t e d e f f e c t s w o u l d e x t e n d ap p r o x i m a t e l y 1 2 5 f e e t w e s t o f E s p o l a R o a d ( t o t h e v i c i n i t y o f t h e ﬁ rst dr i v e w a y o n t h e s o u t h s i d e o f N o r t h c r e s t L a n e ) . S o m e g r a d i n g w o u l d oc c u r i m m e d i a t e l y a d j a c e n t t o t h e e x i s t i n g l a n e o n b o t h t h e n o r t h a n d so u t h s i d e s a s i t e x t e n d s w e s t o f E s p o l a R o a d . C l o s e s t t o E s p o l a R o a d , th i s g r a d i n g w o u l d a c c o m m o d a t e a n e w s t o r m d r a i n o n t h e s o u t h s i d e o f No r t h c r e s t L a n e . G r a d i n g w o u l d a l s o o c c u r p a r a l l e l t o t h e w e s t s i d e o f Es p o l a R o a d f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 1 0 f e e t n o r t h o f N o r t h c r e s t L a n e . It i s p o s s i b l e t h a t a p o r t i o n o f t h e e x i s t i n g d r i v e w a y c o u l d b e m a i n t a i n e d fo r u s e d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n . I f t h a t i s n o t p o s s i b l e , p l e a s e n o t e t h a t a s st a t e d o n p a g e 1 - 1 3 o f t h e E I R , a c c e s s t o e x i s t i n g h o m e s a n d b u s i n e s s e s al o n g o r a d j a c e n t t o t h e P r o j e c t s i t e w o u l d b e m a i n t a i n e d d u r i n g co n s t r u c t i o n b y c r e a t i n g t e m p o r a r y d r i v e w a y s , a n d / o r p r o v i d i n g a l t e r n a t e ac c e s s p o i n t s , a l l w i t h i n t h e e v a l u a t e d P r o j e c t f o o t p r i n t . G- 1 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-29 H- 1 H- 2 H- 3 H- 4 H- 5 H- 6 H- 7 H- 8 H- 9 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . Th a n k y o u f o r b r i n g i n g t h e p r e s e n c e o f y o u r s e p t i c s y s t e m t o t h e C i t y ’ s no t i c e . A s d i s c u s s e d d u r i n g m e e t i n g s w i t h M r . R i c h W h i p p l e , C i t y Pl a n n e r , o n A p r i l 1 9 a n d 3 0 , 2 0 1 3 , t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i s b e i n g r e l a y e d t o Ci t y E n g i n e e r i n g a n d w i l l b e a d d r e s s e d d u r i n g ﬁ nal design if the Project is a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e . Th e P r o j e c t i s c u r r e n t l y a t 3 0 p e r c e n t d e s i g n s t a g e . T h i s l e v e l o f d e t a i l wo u l d b e a d d r e s s e d w h e n a n d i f ﬁ n a l d e s i g n i s p u r s u e d . A t t h a t t i m e a l l op t i o n s w o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d , s u c h a s p o s s i b l e c o n n e c t i o n t o s e w e r o r u s e of r e t a i n i n g w a l l s t o e l i m i n a t e g r a d i n g o f t h e e x i s t i n g l e a c h ﬁ eld. With re g a r d t o n o i s e , n o s o u n d w a l l w a s p r o p o s e d f o r y o u r p r o p e r t y u s i n g C i t y gu i d e l i n e s ( s e e T a b l e 2 . 3 - 3 i n t h e E I R ) . T h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n f u t u r e co n d i t i o n s w i t h a n d w i t h o u t t h e P r o j e c t m o d e l e d t o s h o w a n i n c r e a s e of 0 . 2 d e c i b e l ( d B ) . T h e a v e r a g e h e a l t h y h u m a n e a r d o e s n o t d i s c e r n di f f e r e n c e s i n l o u d n e s s u n t i l s o u n d i n c r e a s e s b y a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 d B . Wi t h a n i n c r e a s e o f o n l y 0 . 2 d B , i t i s n o t e x p e c t e d t h a t y o u w o u l d h e a r an y d i f f e r e n c e i n s o u n d . O n c e t h e r o a d w a y a n d d r i v e w a y i m p r o v e m e n t s ar e c o m p l e t e d , v i r t u a l l y a l l o f y o u r c u r r e n t p a r c e l w o u l d r e m a i n i n y o u r pr i v a t e o w n e r s h i p . T h e r i g h t - o f - w a y n e e d e d i s a n e x t r e m e l y n a r r o w s t r i p on t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t o f y o u r w e s t e r n p r o p e r t y l i n e . H- 1 H- 2 H- 3 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-30 Re g a r d i n g y o u r c o n c e r n f o r i n c r e a s e d n o i s e a s a r e s u l t o f i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of t h e p r o p o s e d i m p r o v e m e n t s , p l e a s e r e f e r t o E I R T a b l e 2 . 3 - 3 f o r ex i s t i n g a n d p r o j e c t e d f u t u r e n o i s e m e a s u r e m e n t s . A s c a n b e s e e n o n t h i s ta b l e , t h e p r o j e c t e d i n c r e a s e i n n o i s e a t y o u r p r o p e r t y ( w i t h o r w i t h o u t t h e Pr o j e c t ) w o u l d b e 0 . 6 d e c i b e l ( d B ) . I t i s n o t e x p e c t e d t h a t t h i s l e v e l o f ch a n g e w o u l d b e d i s c e r n i b l e a s t h e a v e r a g e h e a l t h y h u m a n e a r c a n b e g i n to d i s c e r n i d e n t i f y c h a n g e s i n l o u d n e s s a t a r o u n d 3 d B . Th e r o a d s i d e n t i ﬁ e d c a r r y e a s t - w e s t m o v i n g t r a f ﬁ c rather than north-south tr a f ﬁ c , w h i c h i s p a r t o f t h e t r a f ﬁ c E s p o l a R o a d c a r r i e s i n t h e P r o j e c t a r e a . Pl e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e a m o u n t o f t r a f ﬁ c p r o j e c t e d f o r E s p o l a R o a d i n 2 0 3 0 is e x p e c t e d t o u s e t h e r o a d w i t h o r w i t h o u t t h e p r o p o s e d i m p r o v e m e n t s . Th e s e i d e a s a r e a p p r e c i a t e d a n d w i l l b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g fu t u r e P r o j e c t e v a l u a t i o n f o r a p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l . P l e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e wi d e n e d b i k e l a n e s f o r m a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f t h e P r o j e c t a s t h e y w o u l d pr o v i d e f o r m o v i n g c a r s m a k i n g t u r n s i n t o d r i v e w a y s o u t o f t h r o u g h - la n e t r a f ﬁ c . S i g n a l s h a v e b e e n p l a c e d t o f a c i l i t a t e v e h i c u l a r t r a f ﬁ c as we l l a s p e d e s t r i a n a n d e q u e s t r i a n a c t i v i t y , w i t h t h e s p a c i n g o f s i g n a l i z e d in t e r s e c t i o n s b e i n g r e s t r i c t e d d u e t o s t a n d a r d s r e q u i r e d f o r a r t e r i a l s t r e e t s . Yo u r c o m m e n t r e g a r d i n g t r a f ﬁ c c o n g e s t i o n r e l a t e d t o P o w a y H i g h S c h o o l (P H S ) i s n o t e d a n d w i l l b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g f u t u r e P r o j e c t ev a l u a t i o n f o r a p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l . P l e a s e n o t e , h o w e v e r , t h a t s u g g e s t i o n s fo r r o a d m o d i ﬁ c a t i o n s n o r t h o f T i t a n W a y a r e b e y o n d t h e p u r v i e w o f th i s E I R a n d t h e P r o j e c t a r e a a n a l y z e d . N o c h a n g e t o t h e h i g h s c h o o l en t r a n c e , o r t o E s p o l a R o a d l a n e s i n f r o n t o f P H S , i s p r o p o s e d . O n e po s s i b l e a l t e r n a t i v e m e a s u r e t h a t c o u l d a s s i s t w i t h t h i s i s s u e w o u l d b e t o st a g g e r s t a r t t i m e s f o r P H S ( e . g . , 7 : 0 0 , 8 : 1 5 a n d 9 : 3 0 a . m . ) . T h i s w o u l d re d u c e p e a k h o u r v o l u m e s , w h i c h i n t u r n w o u l d i m p r o v e L O S a n d t r a f ﬁ c ﬂ o w o n E s p o l a R o a d d u r i n g t h e a . m . p e a k p e r i o d . T h e C i t y h a s b e e n di s c u s s i n g s c h o o l t r a f ﬁ c i s s u e s w i t h P H S a n d t h e P o w a y U n i ﬁ ed School Di s t r i c t , a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o d o s o i n a n e f f o r t t o a d d r e s s t h i s i s s u e . H- 4 H- 5 H- 6 H- 7 H- 8 T h e C i t y a p p r e c i a t e s y o u r s u g g e s t i o n s . C o n s i s t e n t w i t h y o u r ﬁ rst su g g e s t i o n , a d d i n g a c e n t e r l a n e n o r t h o f H i g h V a l l e y R o a d i s i n c l u d e d as p a r t o f t h e p r o p o s e d i m p r o v e m e n t s . A d d i n g a s i d e w a l k o n o n l y o n e si d e o f t h e r o a d i s a n a c t i o n t h a t c o u l d b e e v a l u a t e d b y t h e C i t y C o u n c i l us i n g t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l a n a l y s i s i n t h i s E I R i f t h e d o c u m e n t i s c e r t i ﬁ ed (r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ E n h a n c e m e n t s O n l y ” f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n on t h i s p o s s i b i l i t y a n d a s s o c i a t e d r e q u i r e m e n t s ) . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , r e d u c i n g CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-31 th e s p e e d l i m i t o n E s p o l a R o a d w o u l d n o t b e a f e a s i b l e s o l u t i o n d u e t o th e v o l u m e o f t r a f ﬁ c c a r r i e d b y E s p o l a R o a d . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e s p e e d li m i t s o n a r t e r i a l s a r e s e t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h C a l i f o r n i a s t a t e l a w . P l e a s e al s o n o t e t h a t l o w e r i n g t h e s p e e d l i m i t a l o n g t h i s a r t e r i a l c o u l d r e s u l t in i n c r e a s e d c o n g e s t i o n a n d c o u l d h a v e o t h e r i m p l i c a t i o n s , s u c h a s in c r e a s e d a i r e m i s s i o n s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h i n c r e a s e s i n i d l i n g t r a f ﬁ c. Re g a r d i n g t r a f ﬁ c c o n g e s t i o n r e l a t e d t o P H S , a l t h o u g h t h e C i t y c o n t r o l s dr o p - o f f z o n e s w i t h i n t h e p u b l i c r i g h t - o f - w a y o f E s p o l a R o a d a n d T i t a n Wa y , t h e C i t y h a s n o c o n t r o l o n t h e d r o p - o f f z o n e s w i t h i n t h e h i g h s c h o o l ar e a . P l e a s e a l s o r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t H - 7 r e g a r d i n g PH S c o n t r i b u t i o n t o p e a k h o u r c o n g e s t i o n , Co n s i s t e n t w i t h y o u r l a s t s u g g e s t i o n , l a n d s c a p i n g w o u l d b e d r o u g h t - to l e r a n t a n d f a i r l y l o w m a i n t e n a n c e , w h i c h w o u l d h e l p c o n t r o l C i t y c o s t s . H- 9 H- 8 co n t . Yo u r c o m m e n t s a n d c o n c e r n s a r e i m p o r t a n t t o t h e C i t y a n d w i l l b e i n fr o n t o f t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g f u t u r e P r o j e c t e v a l u a t i o n f o r a p p r o v a l o r de n i a l , a s i n d i c a t e d i n t h e R e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t 0 1 . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-32 I- 1 I- 2 I- 3 I- 4 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . If t h e P r o j e c t i s u l t i m a t e l y a p p r o v e d , C i t y E n g i n e e r i n g s t a f f w i l l w o r k wi t h y o u r e g a r d i n g y o u r e x i s t i n g r e t a i n i n g w a l l a n d i n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e pr o p o s e d s o u n d w a l l d u r i n g ﬁ n a l d e s i g n e f f o r t s . T h a n k y o u f o r b r i n g i n g th i s s h o r t w a l l ( l o c a t e d i n s i d e y o u r p r i v a c y f e n c e ) t o t h e C i t y ’ s a t t e n t i o n . Th a n k y o u f o r o f f e r i n g t o s h a r e y o u r s u r v e y d o c u m e n t s w i t h C i t y st a f f . T h i s w i l l a l l o w s t a f f t o w o r k w i t h y o u r l a t e s t i n f o r m a t i o n w h i l e co n ﬁ r m i n g C i t y ﬁ l e s i f a n d w h e n ﬁ n a l d e s i g n i s p u r s u e d i n t h e f u t u r e . Yo u r c o m m e n t i s n o t e d . T h a n k y o u . Wi t h r e g a r d t o y o u r q u e s t i o n s r e g a r d i n g s o u n d w a l l h e i g h t s r e l a t e d t o a c r e s t i n t h e r o a d , t h e n o i s e m o d e l u s e d f o r t h i s a n a l y s i s i n c o r p o r a t e s to p o g r a p h y f o r b o t h t h e r o a d w a y a n d r e s i d e n c e i n t o t h e m o d e l i n g c r i t e r i a . Al t h o u g h t h e h e i g h t o f t h e s o u n d w a l l i s m e a s u r e d f r o m t h e p o s t - P r o j e c t gr a d e i n f r o n t o f t h e s h i e l d e d s t r u c t u r e , i t t a k e s n o i s e c o m i n g f r o m t h e hi g h e r s o u r c e l o c a t i o n i n t o a c c o u n t . A n y i d e n t i ﬁ ed sound wall would th e r e f o r e b e d e s i g n e d t o t h e h e i g h t n e c e s s a r y t o b l o c k a n a c c e p t a b l e l e v e l of r o a d w a y n o i s e c o m i n g f r o m t h e h i g h e r p o r t i o n o f t h e r o a d . I n o t h e r wo r d s , a l t h o u g h a s i t u a t i o n m i g h t o c c u r w h e r e a l a r g e p o r t i o n o f s o u n d co m e s f r o m a t o p o g r a p h i c a l l y h i g h e r l o c a t i o n , a s o u n d w a l l i d e n t i ﬁ ed as fe a s i b l e w o u l d l o w e r n o i s e b y a s p e c i ﬁ e d c r i t e r i o n , e v e n i f i t d o e s n o t el i m i n a t e a l l r o a d w a y n o i s e . I- 1 I- 2 I- 3 I- 4 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-33 J- 2 J- 3 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o : ( 1 ) ce r t i f y t h e E I R a p p r o v e o r d e n y i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e P r o j e c t . Y o u r sp e c i ﬁ c c o m m e n t s a r e a d d r e s s e d b e l o w . Tr a f ﬁ c m a n a g e m e n t p l a n n i n g a n a l y z e s t h e “ w o r s t c a s e ” c o n d i t i o n s s o th a t r o a d s c a n b e s t s e r v e t h e i r u s e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e d a y . A s d e t a i l e d i n Se c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 , T r a f ﬁ c / T r a n s p o r t a t i o n , o f t h e E I R , o n e i n t e r s e c t i o n a n d al l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a R o a d a r e a l r e a d y f a i l i n g . I n c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e s in p r o j e c t e d t r a f ﬁ c v o l u m e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o r e s u l t i n c o n t i n u e d f a i l u r e of a l l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a R o a d b e t w e e n T w i n P e a k s R o a d a n d T i t a n Wa y t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 . B e c a u s e r o a d p r o j e c t s t a k e s o m e t i m e t o o b t a i n en v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a r a n c e , p r o j e c t a p p r o v a l a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , t h e en v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w b e g i n s e a r l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f i d e n t i f y i n g n e e d fo r i m p r o v e m e n t , a n d i s l a r g e l y b a s e d o n m o d e l i n g r a t h e r t h a n e x i s t i n g co n d i t i o n s . F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “P r o j e c t N e e d . ” J- 1 J- 2 J- 1 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-34 Pl e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e p r i m a r y c o n g e s t e d p e r i o d s o n E s p o l a R o a d a r e id e n t i ﬁ e d f r o m 7 : 0 0 t o 7 : 4 5 a . m . f o r t h e m o r n i n g p e a k h o u r , w i t h e v e n i n g pe a k h o u r c o n g e s t i o n f r o m a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4 : 0 0 t o 6 : 0 0 p . m . T h e p . m . pe a k c o n g e s t i o n i s n o t a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e h i g h s c h o o l , w h i c h l e t s o u t ea r l i e r i n t h e a f t e r n o o n . P l e a s e a l s o n o t e t h a t t h e P r o j e c t i s n o t p r o p o s e d to s o l e l y a d d r e s s p e a k h o u r c o n g e s t i o n , a l t h o u g h t h a t i s i m p o r t a n t . I t a l s o is p r o p o s e d t o i m p l e m e n t a n u m b e r o f i m p r o v e m e n t s t h a t w o u l d i n c r e a s e sa f e t y f o r a l l u s e r s o f E s p o l a R o a d ; i n c l u d i n g p e d e s t r i a n s , b i c y c l i s t s , eq u e s t r i a n s , a n d d r i v e r s , a s n o t e d i n T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ P r o j e c t N e e d . ” J- 2 co n t . J- 3 T h e c o m m e n t i s c o r r e c t r e g a r d i n g i d e n t i ﬁ cation of signiﬁ cant and un m i t i g a t e d i m p a c t s . P l e a s e n o t e , h o w e v e r , t h e f o c u s e d n a t u r e o f t h o s e im p a c t s . T h e l a n d u s e i m p a c t s r e ﬂ e c t t h e f a c t t h a t o n e o f t w o o p p o s i n g ac t i o n s c o u l d o c c u r i f t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e — e i t h e r : ( 1 ) so u n d w a l l s a s p r o p o s e d t o m i t i g a t e n o i s e w o u l d b e b u i l t ( i n w h i c h c a s e so m e o f t h e m w o u l d b e h i g h e r t h a n t h e C i t y - p r e f e r r e d e i g h t - f o o t h e i g h t li m i t ) , o r ( 2 ) s o u n d w a l l s w o u l d n o t b e b u i l t ( e . g . , i f h o m e o w n e r s r e j e c t th e w a l l s ) — i n w h i c h c a s e t h e C i t y G e n e r a l P l a n s t a n d a r d s f o r s o u n d wa l l s a l o n g a r t e r i a l s w o u l d n o t b e m e t . T h e s e a r e o p p o s i n g p l a n g o a l s , an d s a t i s f a c t i o n o f o n e m e a n s t h a t t h e P r o j e c t c o u l d n o t c o m p l y w i t h th e o t h e r . A s a n i m p a c t t o p l a n c o m p l i a n c e , “ m i t i g a t i o n ” g e n e r a l l y wo u l d b e r e v i s i o n o f t h e p l a n t o r e ﬂ e c t t h e C i t y ’ s r e ﬁ nement of more ge n e r a l s t a n d a r d s t o r e ﬂ e c t s p e c i ﬁ c s a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h a t l o c a t i o n . T h a t is n o t b e i n g p u r s u e d b y t h e C i t y i n t h i s c a s e , s o t h e l a n d u s e d o c u m e n t co m p l i a n c e i m p a c t s s t a n d . Th e n o i s e i m p a c t i s a c t u a l l y t h e s a m e i s s u e a s n o t e d f o r l a n d u s e ( w h e r e wa l l s m i g h t n o t b e b u i l t , i n p a r t d u e t o p r o p e r t y o w n e r r e j e c t i o n ) , b u t fo c u s e s o n t h e a c t u a l n o i s e e f f e c t a s o p p o s e d t o c o m p l i a n c e w i t h p l a n n i n g do c u m e n t s . Al t h o u g h m o s t o f t h e P r o j e c t a r e a w a s n o t i d e n t i ﬁ ed as resulting in un m i t i g a b l e v i s u a l i m p a c t s , a f o c u s e d a r e a o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 0 0 f e e t i n th e c e n t e r o f t h e P r o j e c t a r e a , t o p o g r a p h y w o u l d r e q u i r e b o t h r e t a i n i n g an d s o u n d w a l l s . B e c a u s e t h i s i s o u t o f s c a l e w i t h w a l l s g e n e r a l l y b u i l t in t h e P r o j e c t a r e a , a s i g n i ﬁ c a n t a n d u n m i t i g a t e d i m p a c t i s i d e n t i ﬁ ed, ev e n t h o u g h t h e w a l l s w o u l d u l t i m a t e l y b e c o m p l e t e l y c o v e r e d w i t h ve g e t a t i o n . Be c a u s e t h e s e u n m i t i g a t e d i m p a c t s a r e r e s t r i c t e d i n t y p e a n d / o r e x t e n t , i t is c o n s i d e r e d p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e b e n e ﬁ t s o f t h e P r o j e c t , i n t e r m s o f s a f e t y , CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-35 ne i g h b o r h o o d c o n n e c t i v i t y , a n d c o n g e s t i o n r e d u c t i o n ( w i t h a s s o c i a t e d in c r e m e n t a l d e c r e a s e s i n v e h i c l e e m i s s i o n s ) c o u l d o u t w e i g h t h e i m p a c t s . Th i s i s a m a t t e r f o r t h e C i t y C o u n c i l t o c o n s i d e r . W h e n t h e y d o s o , y o u r co m m e n t s w i l l b e p a r t o f t h e p a c k a g e t o b e e v a l u a t e d , a s n o t e d i n t h e re s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t J - 1 . J- 3 co n t . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-36 K- 1 K- 2 K- 3 K- 4 K- 5 K- 6 K- 7 K- 8 K- 9 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . K- 1 K- 2 K- 3 K- 4 K- 5 Yo u r c o n c e r n r e g a r d i n g d r i v e r s a n d s p e e d a l o n g P o w a y R o a d i s n o t e d . Pl e a s e n o t e , h o w e v e r , t h a t p u b l i c r o a d s m u s t a c c o m m o d a t e t h e n u m b e r of u s e r s w a n t i n g t o t r a v e l o n t h e r o a d . P o w a y R o a d w o u l d n o t b e a f f e c t e d by t h e p r o p o s e d E s p o l a R o a d i m p r o v e m e n t s i f t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d in t h e f u t u r e . Yo u r c o m m e n t s n o t e d . T h e i n t e n t w a s n o t t o d e s c r i b e t h i s l o c a t i o n a s bl i g h t e d . I n f a c t , t h e E I R d o e s n o t u s e t h e t e r m “ b l i g h t e d . ” T h e C i t y a g r e e s th a t t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d s e d g i n g E s p o l a R o a d c o n t a i n a s u b s t a n t i a l a m o u n t of g r e e n e r y a n d g a r d e n s . A n i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f t h e S e c t i o n 2 . 2 V i s u a l / Ae s t h e t i c s d i s c u s s i o n a d d r e s s e d e x i s t i n g s t r e e t s c a p e ( s e e d i s c u s s i o n o f Pr o j e c t l a n d s c a p e u n i t s o n p a g e s 2 . 2 - 2 t h r o u g h 2 . 2 - 4 a n d a s s o c i a t e d Fi g u r e s 2 . 2 - 1 a t h r o u g h 2 . 2 - 1 h ) a s w e l l a s p o t e n t i a l f o r l o s s o f r o a d - ed g e g r e e n e r y d u e t o P r o j e c t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . P l e a s e s e e d i s c u s s i o n s o f la n d s c a p e u n i t s 2 , 3 a n d 4 o n E I R p a g e s 2 . 2 - 1 4 t h r o u g h 2 . 2 - 1 8 , e a c h o f wh i c h a d d r e s s e s i n c u r s i o n s i n t o e x i s t i n g g r e e n e r y . Th e c o m m e n t d o e s n o t s p e c i f y w h i c h p h o t o g r a p h i s r e f e r r e d t o — b u t t h i s di d n o t a f f e c t a n a l y s i s . T h e p u r p o s e o f e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n p h o t o g r a p h s wa s t o i l l u s t r a t e t h e r o a d w i d t h o v e r a l l a s w e l l a s a b u t t i n g f e a t u r e s , so t h a t t h e v i s u a l e f f e c t o f c h a n g e s i n h a r d s c a p e a m o u n t a n d p o t e n t i a l Pr o j e c t f e a t u r e s w o u l d b e d i s c e r n i b l e . Ty p e s o f v e h i c l e s o n E s p o l a R o a d a r e n o t e x p e c t e d t o c h a n g e w i t h t h e pr o p o s e d i m p r o v e m e n t s . T h e f o c u s o f t h e P r o j e c t i s t o k e e p v e h i c l e s CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-37 mo v i n g a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d a n d t o s e p a r a t e t u r n i n g v e h i c l e s ( a s w e l l a s no n - v e h i c u l a r t r a v e l e r s s u c h a s p e d e s t r i a n s ) f r o m t h e t h r o u g h l a n e s o f tr a f ﬁ c , w h i c h w o u l d i m p r o v e s a f e t y . T h e p e r c e n t a g e o f l a r g e t r u c k t r a f ﬁ c on E s p o l a R o a d i s n o t a n t i c i p a t e d t o c h a n g e f r o m e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s a s Es p o l a R o a d i s n o t d e s i g n a t e d a s a t r u c k r o u t e ; p l e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l Re s p o n s e “ T r u c k T r a f ﬁ c ” f o r i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h i s i s s u e . K- 5 co n t . K- 6 K- 7 K- 8 K- 9 Tr a f ﬁ c m a n a g e m e n t p l a n n i n g a n a l y z e s t h e “ w o r s t c a s e ” c o n d i t i o n s s o th a t r o a d s c a n b e s t s e r v e a l l u s e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e d a y . A s d e t a i l e d i n Se c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 , T r a f ﬁ c / T r a n s p o r t a t i o n , o f t h e E I R , o n e i n t e r s e c t i o n a n d al l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a R o a d a r e a l r e a d y f a i l i n g . I n c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e s in p r o j e c t e d t r a f ﬁ c v o l u m e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o r e s u l t i n c o n t i n u e d f a i l u r e of a l l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a R o a d b e t w e e n T w i n P e a k s R o a d a n d T i t a n Wa y f a i l i n g t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 . B e c a u s e r o a d p r o j e c t s t a k e s o m e t i m e t o ob t a i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a r a n c e , p r o j e c t a p p r o v a l a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , th e e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w b e g i n s e a r l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f i d e n t i f y i n g n e e d fo r i m p r o v e m e n t , a n d i s l a r g e l y b a s e d o n m o d e l i n g r a t h e r t h a n e x i s t i n g co n d i t i o n s . F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “P r o j e c t N e e d . ” Th e i n c r e a s e i n v e h i c l e s i s p r o j e c t e d t o o c c u r w i t h o r w i t h o u t t h e P r o j e c t , an d w i l l b e t h e r e s u l t o f i n c r e a s e d p o p u l a t i o n i n t h e C i t y a n d C o u n t y ra t h e r t h a n t h e p r o p o s e d r o a d i m p r o v e m e n t s . S p e e d w o u l d n o t c h a n g e wi t h t h e P r o j e c t : t h e s p e e d l i m i t w o u l d r e m a i n a t 4 5 m i l e s p e r h o u r . Be c a u s e C i t y C o u n c i l c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e P r o j e c t i s n o t o c c u r r i n g a t t h i s ti m e , a n d a t i m e f r a m e f o r p o s s i b l e c o n s t r u c t i o n h a s n o t b e e n c o n ﬁ rmed, ul t i m a t e P r o j e c t c o s t s a n d t h e s o u r c e o f f u n d i n g h a v e n o t b e e n d e t e r m i n e d . Th e c u r r e n t p r e l i m i n a r y c o s t f o r P r o j e c t c o n s t r u c t i o n i s a n t i c i p a t e d t o b e ap p r o x i m a t e l y 1 4 m i l l i o n i n 2 0 1 3 d o l l a r s . Yo u r c o m m e n t s a r e n o t e d . A s i n d i c a t e d i n t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t K- 1 , t h e y w i l l b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g f u t u r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f th e P r o j e c t f o r a p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-38 L- 1 L- 2 L- 3 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . Sp e c i ﬁ c a l l y w i t h r e g a r d t o y o u r c o n c e r n r e g a r d i n g t r a f ﬁ c back up with si g n a l i z a t i o n a t D u r h u l l e n D r i v e a n d E s p o l a R o a d ; t r a f ﬁ c modeling co m p l e t e d f o r E s p o l a R o a d c a p a c i t y a n d l e v e l o f s e r v i c e w a s c o m p l e t e d as s u m i n g a n e w t r a f ﬁ c s i g n a l a t D u r h u l l e n D r i v e . T h i s s i g n a l w o u l d b e ap p r o x i m a t e l y 2 , 4 0 0 f e e t f r o m t h e T w i n P e a k s R o a d s i g n a l a n d 1 , 6 0 0 fe e t f r o m t h e D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d / H i g h V a l l e y R o a d s i g n a l , b o t h o f wh i c h e x c e e d t h e m i n i m u m s p a c i n g f o r s i g n a l s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n o n u r b a n ar t e r i a l s . T r a f ﬁ c m o d e l i n g s h o w e d a n i m p r o v e m e n t o f c o n d i t i o n s w i t h th e s i g n a l i n p l a c e . A s s u c h , n o i m p a c t i s a n t i c i p a t e d . L- 1 L- 2 Tr a f ﬁ c m a n a g e m e n t p l a n n i n g e v a l u a t e s t h e “ w o r s t c a s e ” s o t h a t r o a d s ca n b e s t s e r v e t h e i r u s e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e d a y . A s d e t a i l e d i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 , Tr a f ﬁ c / T r a n s p o r t a t i o n , o f t h e E I R , o n e i n t e r s e c t i o n a n d a l l s e g m e n t s of E s p o l a R o a d a r e a l r e a d y f a i l i n g . I n c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e s i n p r o j e c t e d tr a f ﬁ c v o l u m e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o r e s u l t i n c o n t i n u e d f a i l u r e o f a l l s e g m e n t s of E s p o l a R o a d b e t w e e n T w i n P e a k s R o a d a n d T i t a n W a y t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 . Be c a u s e r o a d p r o j e c t s t a k e s o m e t i m e t o o b t a i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a r a n c e , pr o j e c t a p p r o v a l a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w b e g i n s ea r l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f i d e n t i f y i n g n e e d f o r i m p r o v e m e n t , a n d i s l a r g e l y ba s e d o n m o d e l i n g r a t h e r t h a n e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s . B e c a u s e C i t y CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-39 L- 5 L- 4 L- 3 co n t . L- 6 L- 9 L- 7 L- 8 Co u n c i l c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e P r o j e c t i s n o t o c c u r r i n g a t t h i s t i m e , a n d a t i m e f r a m e f o r p o s s i b l e c o n s t r u c t i o n h a s n o t b e e n c o n ﬁ rmed, ultimate Pr o j e c t c o s t s a n d t h e s o u r c e o f f u n d i n g h a v e n o t b e e n d e t e r m i n e d . T h e cu r r e n t p r e l i m i n a r y c o s t f o r P r o j e c t c o n s t r u c t i o n i s a n t i c i p a t e d t o b e ap p r o x i m a t e l y 1 4 m i l l i o n i n 2 0 1 3 d o l l a r s . L- 2 co n t . L- 3 L- 4 Pl e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e w i d e r b i k e l a n e s a r e n o t p r o p o s e d s o t h a t b i c y c l i s t s ca n r i d e a b r e a s t ( a l t h o u g h t h a t m a y o c c u r u p o n o c c a s i o n ) . T h e w i d e r la n e i s p r o p o s e d s o t h a t t h e b i c y c l i s t h a s a l a r g e r s p a c e b e t w e e n t h e b i k e an d c a r s o n t h e r o a d , a s w e l l a s p r o v i d i n g a t u r n l a n e f o r v e h i c l e s e x i t i n g Es p o l a R o a d w i t h o u t b l o c k i n g t h r o u g h t r a f ﬁ c. Wi t h r e g a r d t o s i d e w a l k u s e , t h e f u t u r e n u m b e r s o f u s e r s i s n o t k n o w n . Th e c u r r e n t l a c k o f s i d e w a l k s i m p e d e s s a f e p e d e s t r i a n t r a v e l a l o n g E s p o l a Ro a d . R e s i d e n t s w i s h i n g t o w a l k t o t h e i r n e i g h b o r s ’ h o m e s , c h u r c h , o r t o ar e a s c h o o l s a r e e x p e c t e d t o d o s o m u c h m o r e r e a d i l y i f a r o u t e s e p a r a t e d fr o m t r a f ﬁ c a n d w i t h a c o n s i s t e n t h a r d s u r f a c e ( a b l e t o a c c o m m o d a t e wh e e l c h a i r s o r c a n e u s e r s ) w e r e t o b e a v a i l a b l e . T h i s u p g r a d e i n s a f e t y an d s u p p o r t o f a l t e r n a t i v e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c o u l d r e d u c e s o m e l o c a l t r a f ﬁ c. As s h o w n o n F i g u r e s 1 - 4 a t h r o u g h 1 - 4 e o f C h a p t e r 1 . 0 , I n t r o d u c t i o n a n d Pr o j e c t D e s c r i p t i o n , n o t o t a l p a r c e l a c q u i s i t i o n w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d f o r im p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e P r o j e c t . A l t h o u g h o n e p a r c e l w a s i d e n t i ﬁ ed for ac q u i s i t i o n u n d e r t h e f o u r - l a n e A l t e r n a t i v e 1 – C o n v e n t i o n a l R o a d w a y sc e n a r i o , t h i s a l t e r n a t i v e i s n o l o n g e r b e i n g p r o p o s e d f o r a p p r o v a l ( s e e Ch a p t e r 6 . 0 , A l t e r n a t i v e s , o f t h e E I R ) . U n d e r t h e s m a l l e r , t h r e e - l a n e de s i g n s c e n a r i o , s o m e s m a l l i n c u r s i o n s w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d i n t o p r i v a t e pr o p e r t y . T h e s e a r e v i s i b l e o n F i g u r e s 1 - 4 a s a r e a s o f g r a y b e t w e e n t h e ex i s t i n g r i g h t - o f - w a y a n d p r o p o s e d r i g h t - o f - w a y l i n e s . A l s o a s s h o w n , no i m p a c t t o t h e m a j o r i t y o f p a r c e l s w o u l d o c c u r . Yo u a r e c o r r e c t t h a t a n y s o u n d w a l l s p r o p o s e d a s p a r t o f P r o j e c t m i t i g a t i o n an d a p p r o v e d b y t h e p r o p e r t y o w n e r w o u l d b e p e r m a n e n t . W a l l s n o t ap p r o v e d b y t h e p r o p e r t y o w n e r w o u l d n o t b e b u i l t . Th e p o t e n t i a l f o r t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t t o a f f e c t p r o p e r t y v a l u e s i s un k n o w n ; t h i s i s n o t a n i s s u e t o b e a d d r e s s e d u n d e r t h e C a l i f o r n i a En v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y A c t . R e g a r d l e s s , t h e P r o j e c t p r o p o s e d i s o f a CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-40 le s s e r e x t e n t t h a n t h a t o r i g i n a l l y p r o p o s e d u n d e r t h e o l d G e n e r a l P l a n . Ef f e c t s w o u l d t h e r e f o r e b e l e s s t h a n t h o s e t h a t w o u l d h a v e o c c u r r e d un d e r t h e G e n e r a l P l a n p r i o r t o 2 0 1 0 . Po s i t i v e a n d a d v e r s e e f f e c t s o f r o a d w i d e n i n g c a n b e i d e n t i ﬁ ed based on th e e x i s t i n g f a c i l i t y c o m p a r e d w i t h p r o p o s e d i m p r o v e m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g th e p r o p e r t y ’ s p r o x i m i t y a n d / o r o r i e n t a t i o n t o t h e r o a d . S o m e o f t h e m o r e co m m o n e f f e c t s c a n b e i n c r e a s e s i n n o i s e a n d e m i s s i o n s f r o m t r a f ﬁ c, as we l l a s i m p r o v e d a c c e s s a n d m o b i l i t y . W h e t h e r t h e n e t e f f e c t i s p o s i t i v e or n o t d e p e n d s o n t h e t y p e o f l a n d u s e ( e . g . , c o m m e r c i a l o r r e s i d e n t i a l ) a s we l l a s t h e r e l a t i v e c h a n g e s i n a c c e s s i b i l i t y , n o i s e , a n d a i r q u a l i t y . Fo r r e s i d e n t i a l p r o p e r t i e s , n o t i c e a b l e i n c r e a s e d n o i s e ( n o t a n t i c i p a t e d a s pa r t o f t h i s P r o j e c t ) t e n d s t o r e d u c e p r o p e r t y v a l u e s f o r h o m e s a b u t t i n g ro a d s , w h i l e p r o p e r t y v a l u e s t e n d t o i n c r e a s e w i t h i n c r e a s e d a c c e s s f o r co m m u t e r a n d s h o p p i n g t r i p s . A s s o c i a t e d l a n d s c a p i n g a n d c o m m u n i t y en h a n c e m e n t s s u c h a s i m p r o v e d s i d e w a l k a c c e s s i b i l i t y m a y a l s o t e n d t o ha v e p o s i t i v e e f f e c t s o n r e s i d e n t i a l p r o p e r t y v a l u e s . Re s i d e n t i a l p r o p e r t i e s i m m e d i a t e l y a d j a c e n t t o E s p o l a R o a d , i n c l u d i n g th o s e p r o p e r t i e s t h a t c o u l d e x p e r i e n c e a p a r t i a l l o s s o f l a n d t o t h e pr o p o s e d a l t e r n a t i v e s , m a y e x p e r i e n c e i n c r e m e n t a l e f f e c t s t o p r o p e r t y va l u e s . S o u n d w a l l s a n d v i s i b l e r e t a i n i n g w a l l s w o u l d b e e x p e c t e d t o cr e a t e a m o r e u r b a n f e e l , a s w e l l a s p o t e n t i a l l y a f f e c t l o c a l i z e d s h a d e a n d vi e w s h e d s . I n c o n t r a s t , i n s t a l l a t i o n o f s o u n d w a l l s a l s o c o u l d i m p r o v e pr o p e r t y v a l u e s , t h r o u g h r e d u c i n g t r a f ﬁ c-related noise and providing so m e s e p a r a t i o n f r o m t h e r o a d . Th i s P r o j e c t a l s o i n c l u d e s c o m m u n i t y e n h a n c e m e n t f e a t u r e s s u c h a s t h e im p r o v e d p e d e s t r i a n a n d b i c y c l e c o r r i d o r s a n d i m p r o v e d a c c e s s i b i l i t y t o tr a i l h e a d s . T h e s e n e i g h b o r h o o d a m e n i t i e s m a y r e s u l t i n a n i n c r e a s e i n pr o p e r t y v a l u e s . T h e s e e l e m e n t s w o u l d g e n e r a l l y i m p r o v e c o m m u n i t y co h e s i o n , c r e a t i n g a m o r e i n v i t i n g n e i g h b o r h o o d a n d i m p r o v i n g re s i d e n t i a l d e s i r a b i l i t y f o r t h e s e p l a c e s i n t h e s t u d y a r e a . Be y o n d t h e s e f o c u s e d a n d p a r c e l - s p e c i ﬁ c or neighborhood-speciﬁ c el e m e n t s , h o w e v e r , a n u m b e r o f l a r g e r f a c t o r s d r i v e p r o p e r t y v a l u e s in t h e S a n D i e g o r e g i o n . T h e s e f a c t o r s i n c l u d e p r o x i m i t y t o c o a s t a l ar e a s , s c h o o l d i s t r i c t s , a c c e s s i b i l i t y t o p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s a n d a m e n i t i e s , ne i g h b o r h o o d a f ﬁ l i a t i o n , l i f e s t y l e , e t c . , a s w e l l a s a p o t e n t i a l i n c r e a s e i n pr o p e r t y v a l u e s o v e r t i m e . I t i s l i k e l y t h a t t h i s c o m p l e x s e t o f f a c t o r s m a y ov e r w h e l m a n y P r o j e c t - r e l a t e d i n c r e m e n t a l c h a n g e . L- 4 co n t . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-41 Ve h i c u l a r u s e o f t h e r o a d i s a n t i c i p a t e d t o i n c r e a s e w i t h o r w i t h o u t Pr o j e c t i m p r o v e m e n t s ( s e e T a b l e 3 . 1 . 1 - 6 i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 ) . P l e a s e r e f e r to T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ T r u c k T r a f ﬁ c ” f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g w h y th e p e r c e n t a g e o f l a r g e t r u c k t r a f ﬁ c i s n o t a n t i c i p a t e d t o c h a n g e . L- 5 L- 6 T h e C i t y h a s n o r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t c o n s t r u c t i o n w o u l d l a s t l o n g e r th a n a y e a r o v e r a l l . B e c a u s e t h e r o a d w a y i s l i n e a r i n n a t u r e , i t w o u l d al s o m o v e a l o n g t h e r o a d w a y , w i t h w o r s t - c a s e e f f e c t s i n a n y o n e l o c a t i o n mo v i n g t o a d i f f e r e n t r o a d s e g m e n t a f t e r a f a i r l y l i m i t e d p e r i o d o f t i m e . Th e i m p r o v e m e n t s t o E s p o l a R o a d w o u l d b e a n t i c i p a t e d t o b e n e ﬁ t both re s i d e n t s a d j a c e n t t o t h e r o a d a n d o t h e r u s e r s . T h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f s t o r m dr a i n i m p r o v e m e n t s i s n o t s o l e l y d e p e n d e n t u p o n i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f po t e n t i a l r o a d w a y i m p r o v e m e n t s . I t w a s i n c l u d e d i n P r o j e c t d e s c r i p t i o n to e n s u r e t h a t t h e s e n e c e s s a r y i m p r o v e m e n t s w o u l d b e c o v e r e d u n d e r t h e EI R ( t o s a v e t h e C i t y c o s t s f o r d o c u m e n t p r e p a r a t i o n ) a n d t o e n s u r e t h a t if a p p r o v e d , t h e s e u p g r a d e s t o d r a i n a g e w o u l d o c c u r c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s l y wi t h t h e r o a d w a y . T h i s w o u l d m i n i m i z e d i s r u p t i o n t o t r a v e l r e s t r i c t n o i s e as s o c i a t e d w i t h c o n s t r u c t i o n t o a s i n g l e e v e n t r a t h e r t h a n t w o s o t h a t re s i d e n t s a n d o t h e r E s p o l a R o a d u s e r s w o u l d n o t b e i n c o n v e n i e n c e d tw i c e . Th i s c o m m e n t i s n o t f u l l y u n d e r s t o o d . I f t h e c o m m e n t i s r e f e r r i n g t o th e f o u r - l a n e a l t e r n a t i v e s 1 a n d 3 , t h o s e d e v e l o p m e n t s c e n a r i o s a r e n o lo n g e r p r o p o s e d f o r i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . T h e t h r e e - l a n e a l t e r n a t i v e c u r r e n t l y pr o p o s e d w o u l d a c c o m m o d a t e e x i s t i n g a n d f u t u r e t r a f ﬁ c at levels of se r v i c e m e e t i n g o r e x c e e d i n g e x i s t i n g l e v e l s , a n d w o u l d s t i l l p r o v i d e su b s t a n t i a l u p g r a d e s t o v e h i c u l a r , p e d e s t r i a n a n d b i c y c l i s t s a f e t y b y pr o v i d i n g d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n m o t o r i z e d a n d n o n - m o t o r i z e d t r a v e l m o d e s an d p r o v i d i n g t u r n l a n e s t h a t w o u l d r e m o v e t u r n i n g v e h i c l e s f r o m th r o u g h t r a f ﬁ c l a n e s . Yo u r c o m m e n t s a r e n o t e d , a n d w i l l b e c o n s i d e r e d d u r i n g f u t u r e C i t y Co u n c i l c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e P r o j e c t f o r a p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l . L- 7 L- 8 L- 9 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-42 M- 1 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . M- 1 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-43 M- 2 M- 3 M- 4 M- 6 M- 7 M- 5 Th e C i t y a g r e e s t h a t t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w p r o v i d e d i n t h e E I R i s co m p r e h e n s i v e . A n s w e r s t o y o u r s p e c i ﬁ c q u e s t i o n s a r e p r o v i d e d b e l o w . Wi t h r e g a r d t o P r o j e c t f u n d i n g o v e r a l l , b e c a u s e C i t y C o u n c i l c o n s i d e r a t i o n of t h e P r o j e c t i s n o t o c c u r r i n g a t t h i s t i m e , a n d a t i m e f r a m e f o r p o s s i b l e co n s t r u c t i o n h a s n o t b e e n c o n ﬁ r m e d , u l t i m a t e P r o j e c t c o s t s a n d t h e s o u r c e of f u n d i n g h a v e n o t b e e n d e t e r m i n e d . T h e c u r r e n t p r e l i m i n a r y c o s t f o r Pr o j e c t c o n s t r u c t i o n i s a n t i c i p a t e d t o b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 4 m i l l i o n i n 20 1 3 d o l l a r s . As d e t a i l e d i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 , T r a f ﬁ c / T r a n s p o r t a t i o n , o f t h e E I R , o n e in t e r s e c t i o n a n d a l l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a R o a d a r e a l r e a d y f a i l i n g . In c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e s i n p r o j e c t e d t r a f ﬁ c v o l u m e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o r e s u l t in c o n t i n u e d f a i l u r e o f a l l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a R o a d b e t w e e n T w i n P e a k s Ro a d a n d T i t a n W a y t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 . B e c a u s e r o a d p r o j e c t s t a k e s o m e t i m e to o b t a i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a r a n c e , p r o j e c t a p p r o v a l a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , th e e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w b e g i n s e a r l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f i d e n t i f y i n g n e e d fo r i m p r o v e m e n t . A s a r e s u l t , i t m a k e s s e n s e f o r t h e C i t y t o b e p r o a c t i v e ab o u t c o m p l e t i o n o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w . I f t h e C i t y c e r t i ﬁ es the EIR, th e C i t y c a n t h e n m o v e f o r w a r d w h e n a n d i f i t d e c i d e s t o p u r s u e t h e Pr o j e c t w i t h o u t a d d i t i o n a l d e l a y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h e n v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a r a n c e . En v i r o n m e n t a l e v a l u a t i o n i s n o w c o m p l e t e , a n d n o a d d i t i o n a l p l a n n i n g ef f o r t s a r e f o r e s e e n , s o a d d i t i o n a l C i t y r e s o u r c e s w o u l d n o t b e r e q u i r e d . Yo u r c o m m e n t s a r e n o t e d . P l e a s e n o t e t h a t p o t e n t i a l s o u n d w a l l s w o u l d ul t i m a t e l y b e 1 0 0 p e r c e n t c o v e r e d b y v e g e t a t i o n ( s e e E I R S e c t i o n 2. 2 , V i s u a l / A e s t h e t i c s ) . W h i l e t h e s i n g l e n e w s i g n a l p r o p o s e d f o r t h e Du r h u l l e n D r i v e / G o l d e n S u n s e t L a n e i n t e r s e c t i o n w i t h E s p o l a R o a d wo u l d i n t r o d u c e a n e w v e r t i c a l r o a d - r e l a t e d e l e m e n t , i t i s n o t e x p e c t e d th a t i t w o u l d c h a n g e t h e v i s u a l e x p e r i e n c e a l o n g t h e r o a d w a y s e g m e n t s to t h e n o r t h o r s o u t h . Yo u r p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e a l o n g t h e r o a d i s u s e f u l i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t w i l l be i n c l u d e d i n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n c o n s i d e r e d b y t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g fu t u r e e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e P r o j e c t f o r a p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l . W i t h r e g a r d t o sp e e d o n E s p o l a R o a d , t h e p o s t e d s p e e d l i m i t w i l l r e m a i n a t 4 5 m i l e s p e r ho u r . T h e C i t y m u s t a s s u m e c o m p l i a n c e w i t h p o s t e d s p e e d l i m i t s . T h e M- 2 M- 3 M- 4 M- 5 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-44 Ci t y c a n , h o w e v e r , r e q u e s t a d d i t i o n a l e n f o r c e m e n t o f t r a f ﬁ c speeds in sp e c i ﬁ c a r e a s . B a s e d o n t h i s c o m m e n t , t h e C i t y w i l l r e q u e s t t h i s f o r t h e ar e a b e t w e e n T i t a n W a y a n d V a l l e V e r d e R o a d . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t M - 2 a s w e l l a s T o p i c a l Re s p o n s e “ P r o j e c t N e e d . ” P l e a s e a l s o n o t e t h a t c o n g e s t i o n i s n o t a b l e f o r th e 4 : 0 0 p . m . t o 6 : 0 0 p . m . t i m e f r a m e a s w e l l . Th i s c o m m e n t i s n o t e d a n d w i l l b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g f u t u r e of t h e P r o j e c t f o r a p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l , a s n o t e d i n t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r Co m m e n t M - 1 . M- 5 co n t . M- 6 M- 7 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-45 N- 1 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . On e f u r t h e r p o i n t o f c l a r i ﬁ c a t i o n : a s n o t e d , t h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s h e a r i n g i s to c e r t i f y t h e E I R . A f u t u r e h e a r i n g w o u l d b e h e l d t o d e c i d e w h e t h e r o r no t t o a p p r o v e t h e P r o j e c t . Ea c h o f y o u r c o m m e n t s i s i n d i v i d u a l l y a d d r e s s e d b e l o w . T h e C i t y ap p r e c i a t e s y o u r i n t e r e s t i n t h e P r o j e c t a n d h o p e s t h a t t h e s e a n s w e r s (t o g e t h e r w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d t o y o u b y M r . R i c h W h i p p l e , C i t y Pl a n n e r o n A p r i l 4 , 1 9 a n d 3 0 , 2 0 1 3 ) p r o v i d e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n y o u n e e d . N- 1 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-46 N- 3 N- 2 N- 4 N- 5 N- 6 N- 7 N- 9 N- 8 Pl e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ P r o j e c t N e e d ” f o r i n f o r m a t i o n o n Es p o l a R o a d l e v e l s o f s e r v i c e . L o w e r i n g t h e s p e e d l i m i t i s n o t c o n s i d e r e d fe a s i b l e f o r a n a r t e r i a l i n t h e C i t y t h a t i s a p r i m a r y n o r t h - s o u t h l i n k , s u c h as E s p o l a R o a d . P l e a s e n o t e t h a t s p e e d o n a r t e r i a l s i s s e t i n a c c o r d a n c e wi t h C a l i f o r n i a s t a t e l a w . I t a l s o w o u l d n o t p r o v i d e t h e s a f e r s e p a r a t i o n be t w e e n u s e r g r o u p s ( c a r s , p e d e s t r i a n s , b i c y c l i s t s , a n d t o s o m e e x t e n t eq u e s t r i a n s ) t h a t w o u l d b e p r o v i d e d b y t h e P r o j e c t . Yo u r c o m m e n t i s n o t e d . T h a n k y o u f o r t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n . Be c a u s e C i t y C o u n c i l c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e P r o j e c t i s n o t o c c u r r i n g at t h i s t i m e , a n d a t i m e f r a m e f o r p o s s i b l e c o n s t r u c t i o n h a s n o t b e e n co n ﬁ r m e d , u l t i m a t e P r o j e c t c o s t s a n d t h e s o u r c e o f f u n d i n g h a v e n o t be e n d e t e r m i n e d . T h e c u r r e n t p r e l i m i n a r y c o s t f o r P r o j e c t c o n s t r u c t i o n is a n t i c i p a t e d t o b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 4 m i l l i o n i n 2 0 1 3 d o l l a r s . P l e a s e no t e , h o w e v e r , t h a t s o m e p o t e n t i a l f u n d i n g s o u r c e s w o u l d b e l i k e l y t o be e a r m a r k e d f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o r s a f e t y i m p r o v e m e n t s p r o j e c t s , a n d wo u l d n o t b e a v a i l a b l e f o r t r a n s f e r i n t o s c h o o l g e n e r a l f u n d p r o j e c t s s u c h as s c h o o l f u n d i n g o r s c h o l a r s h i p s . Co m p l e t i o n o f t h e c e n t r a l t u r n l a n e f r o m t h e v i c i n i t y o f D e l P o n i e n t e Ro a d / H i g h V a l l e y R o a d t o t h e n o r t h e r n P r o j e c t t e r m i n u s w o u l d o c c u r a s pa r t o f t h e P r o j e c t , b u t t h e c e n t r a l t u r n l a n e i s a l r e a d y p a r t o f t h e e x i s t i n g co n d i t i o n f r o m T w i n P e a k s R o a d t o t h e D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d / H i g h V a l l e y Ro a d i n t e r s e c t i o n . A s a r e s u l t , i t i s n o t e x p e c t e d t h a t y o u w o u l d s e e m a n y ch a n g e s i n t r a f ﬁ c p a t t e r n s r e l a t i v e t o t h e c e n t r a l t u r n l a n e a l o n e . N- 2 N- 3 N- 4 N- 5 N- 6 C o n g e s t i o n i n f o r m a t i o n a s g a t h e r e d b y t h e t r a f ﬁ c specialists varies so m e w h a t f r o m y o u r e x p e r i e n c e . Y o u r e x p e r i e n c e a d d s t o t h e i n f o r m a t i o n th a t w i l l b e c o n s i d e r e d b y t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g t h e i r f u t u r e r e v i e w o f th e P r o j e c t f o r a p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l . Wi t h r e g a r d t o s i g n a l i z a t i o n o f D u r h u l l e n D r i v e a n d G o l d e n S u n s e t L a n e re s u l t i n g i n b a c k u p a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d t o t h e s o u t h a n d T w i n P e a k s CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-47 N- 1 2 N- 1 1 N- 1 0 N- 1 3 N- 1 5 N- 1 6 N- 1 7 N- 1 8 N- 1 4 Ro a d t o t h e w e s t , t r a f ﬁ c m o d e l i n g c o m p l e t e d f o r E s p o l a R o a d c a p a c i t y an d l e v e l o f s e r v i c e w a s c o m p l e t e d a s s u m i n g a n e w t r a f ﬁ c signal at Du r h u l l e n D r i v e . T h i s s i g n a l w o u l d b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 , 4 0 0 f e e t f r o m th e T w i n P e a k s R o a d s i g n a l a n d 1 , 6 0 0 f e e t f r o m t h e D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d / Hi g h V a l l e y R o a d s i g n a l , b o t h o f w h i c h e x c e e d t h e m i n i m u m s p a c i n g f o r si g n a l s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n o n u r b a n a r t e r i a l s . T r a f ﬁ c modeling showed an im p r o v e m e n t o f c o n d i t i o n s w i t h t h e s i g n a l i n p l a c e . A s s u c h , n o i m p a c t is a n t i c i p a t e d . N- 6 co n t . N- 7 N- 8 N- 9 N- 1 0 N- 1 1 N- 1 2 Pl e a s e s e e t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t N - 5 . Pl e a s e s e e t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t N - 6 . Ea c h o f t h e s e i t e m s w o u l d b e i n c l u d e d i n t h e P r o j e c t , i f i t i s a p p r o v e d fo r d e v e l o p m e n t , a s d e s c r i b e d i n C h a p t e r 1 . 0 , I n t r o d u c t i o n a n d P r o j e c t De s c r i p t i o n , o f t h e E I R . A s s h o w n t h r o u g h r e v i e w o f m a p s a n d a w a l k th r o u g h o f y o u r p r o p e r t y o n A p r i l 3 0 , 2 0 1 3 w i t h R i c h W h i p p l e , S e n i o r Pl a n n e r o f t h e C i t y , t h e P r o j e c t i m p r o v e m e n t s w o u l d a l l b e l o c a t e d w e s t of y o u r p r o p e r t y l o t l i n e . Co n s i s t e n t w i t h t h i s c o m m e n t , n o h o l i d a y , S u n d a y o r n i g h t t i m e w o r k wo u l d b e a l l o w e d u n d e r n o r m a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s ( s e e p a g e 1 - 1 2 o f t h e EI R ) . A l t h o u g h t h e E I R c o n s e r v a t i v e l y d i s c l o s e d t h a t c o n s t r u c t i o n c o u l d be o n g o i n g f r o m 7 : 0 0 a . m . t o 7 : 0 0 p . m . s i x d a y s a w e e k , t h e s e a r e t h e pe r i o d s w i t h i n w h i c h c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s a r e a l l o w e d i n c o m p l i a n c e wi t h C i t y o r d i n a n c e , a n d d o n o t r e ﬂ e c t t h e r e a l i t y o f c o n s t r u c t i o n , w h i c h ge n e r a l l y w o u l d b e l i k e l y t o o c c u r f o r f e w e r h o u r s p e r d a y a n d d u r i n g a ﬁ v e - d a y w o r k w e e k . ( C o m m o n r o a d w a y c o n s t r u c t i o n h o u r s i n t h e C i t y ar e 8 : 3 0 a . m . t o 3 : 3 0 p . m . ) A s a l i n e a r p r o j e c t , c o n s t r u c t i o n w o u l d b e lo c a t e d i n a n y o n e a r e a a d j a c e n t t o s p e c i ﬁ c properties for a much shorter ti m e p e r i o d t h a n t h e o v e r a l l c o n s t r u c t i o n t i m e - f r a m e . Th e C i t y a n d i t s c o n s t r u c t i o n c o n t r a c t o r s w o u l d t a k e e v e r y c a r e t o mi n i m i z e t h e n e e d f o r e m e r g e n c y r e s p o n s e . T h i s i s n o t e x p e c t e d d u r i n g ro u t i n e c o n s t r u c t i o n e f f o r t s . Th e C i t y w o u l d w o r k t o e n s u r e t h a t y o u r n e i g h b o r s d o n o t h a v e t o c r o s s yo u r p r o p e r t y i n o r d e r t o a c c e s s t h e i r h o m e s d u r i n g t h e s h o r t t i m e p e r i o d th a t c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s w o u l d b e o n g o i n g i n f r o n t o f y o u r h o m e . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-48 As s t a t e d o n p a g e 1 - 8 o f t h e E I R , t h e P r o j e c t w o u l d r e q u i r e a c q u i s i t i o n of a t o t a l o f 1 8 , 6 8 7 s q u a r e f e e t , o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 0 . 4 3 a c r e o f r i g h t - o f - wa y . T h e a c q u i s i t i o n w o u l d b e c o m p r i s e d l a r g e l y o f n a r r o w s t r i p s a l o n g th e e x i s t i n g r i g h t - o f - w a y ; w i t h n o i m p a c t , o r m i n i m a l i m p a c t , t o t h e la r g e m a j o r i t y o f p r o p e r t y o w n e r s . S o m e s l i g h t l y l a r g e r a r e a s w o u l d b e re q u i r e d w h e r e t h e r e a r e s l o p e i s s u e s . T h e a r e a s o f p r o p o s e d a c q u i s i t i o n ar e s h o w n o n F i g u r e s 1 - 4 a t h r o u g h 1 - 4 e o f t h e E I R , a n d c o n s i s t o f t h e ar e a s b e t w e e n t h e e x i s t i n g a n d p r o p o s e d r i g h t - o f - w a y l i n e s ( a b l a c k do t t e d l i n e h i g h l i g h t s p r o p o s e d r i g h t - o f - w a y l o c a t i o n s ) . N- 1 4 N- 1 5 N- 1 6 Th e r e f e r e n c e t o “ r i g h t - o f - w a y a r r a n g e m e n t s ” o n p a g e 1 - 1 4 r e f e r s t o ne g o t i a t i o n s t h a t w o u l d b e c o m p l e t e d w i t h t h e p r o p e r t y o w n e r s f o l l o w i n g co m p l e t i o n o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w p r o c e s s a n d p o t e n t i a l a p p r o v a l o f th e P r o j e c t i n t h e f u t u r e . If a n d w h e n t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e , t h e C i t y c o u l d c h o o s e to c o m p l e t e s o m e a d d i t i o n a l f e d e r a l l y r e q u i r e d s t u d i e s i n o r d e r t o q u a l i f y fo r f e d e r a l f u n d i n g . I f t h e P r o j e c t a p p l i e s f o r a n d q u a l i ﬁ es for federal fu n d i n g , t h o s e m o n i e s w o u l d b e u s e d b y t h e C i t y f o r c o n s t r u c t i o n ; th e r e b y a l l o w i n g t h e C i t y t o r e t a i n i t s r o a d i m p r o v e m e n t m o n i e s f o r o t h e r pr o j e c t s . Th e c o m m e n t i s c o r r e c t t h a t t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n p e r i o d w o u l d r e s u l t i n no i s e a n d i n c o n v e n i e n c e d u r i n g t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n t i m e f r a m e . A s n o t e d in t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t N - 1 0 , h o w e v e r , a s a l i n e a r p r o j e c t , co n s t r u c t i o n w o u l d b e l o c a t e d i n a n y o n e a r e a a d j a c e n t t o s p e c i ﬁ c pr o p e r t i e s f o r a r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t t i m e p e r i o d . P l e a s e a l s o n o t e t h a t a nu m b e r o f m e a s u r e s h a v e b e e n i d e n t i ﬁ e d t o m i n i m i z e n o i s e a n d d u s t ge n e r a t i o n d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n ( s e e p a g e s 2 . 3 - 1 1 a n d 3 - 2 2 o f t h e E I R , re s p e c t i v e l y ) . No i s e m e a s u r e s c o m m i t t e d t o b y t h e C i t y i n c l u d e : • E a c h i n t e r n a l c o m b u s t i o n e n g i n e , u s e d f o r a n y p u r p o s e o n t h e j o b or r e l a t e d t o t h e j o b , s h a l l b e e q u i p p e d w i t h a m u f ﬂ er of a type re c o m m e n d e d b y t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r . N o i n t e r n a l c o m b u s t i o n e n g i n e sh a l l b e o p e r a t e d o n t h e P r o j e c t w i t h o u t s a i d m u f ﬂ er. • T h e n o i s e l e v e l r e q u i r e m e n t s h a l l a p p l y t o t h e e q u i p m e n t o n t h e jo b o r r e l a t e d t o t h e j o b , i n c l u d i n g b u t n o t l i m i t e d t o t r u c k s , t r a n s i t Ba s e d o n p u b l i c c o m m e n t , t h e C i t y w o u l d c o n s i d e r a n e q u e s t r i a n p u s h bu t t o n a t t h e D u r h u l l e n D r i v e a n d E s p o l a R o a d s i g n a l i f t h e P r o j e c t i s ap p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e a n d t h e s i g n a l i s i n s t a l l e d . N- 1 3 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-49 mi x e r , o r t r a n s i e n t e q u i p m e n t t h a t m a y o r m a y n o t b e o w n e d b y t h e co n t r a c t o r . • T h e u s e o f l o u d s i g n a l s s h a l l b e a v o i d e d i n f a v o r o f l i g h t w a r n i n g s ex c e p t t h o s e r e q u i r e d b y s a f e t y l a w s f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f p e r s o n n e l . • U n n e c e s s a r y i d l i n g o f i n t e r n a l c o m b u s t i o n e n g i n e s w i t h i n 1 0 0 f e e t o f re s i d e n c e s s h o u l d b e s t r i c t l y p r o h i b i t e d . • S t a g i n g o f c o n s t r u c t i o n e q u i p m e n t b e y o n d 2 0 0 f e e t o f r e s i d e n c e s a n d lo c a t i o n o f a l l s t a t i o n a r y n o i s e - g e n e r a t i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n e q u i p m e n t , su c h a s a i r c o m p r e s s o r s a n d p o r t a b l e p o w e r g e n e r a t o r s , s h a l l o c c u r as f a r a s p r a c t i c a l f r o m n o i s e s e n s i t i v e r e s i d e n c e s . T h e c o n t r a c t o r wi l l p l a c e a l l s t a t i o n a r y c o n s t r u c t i o n e q u i p m e n t s o t h a t e m i t t e d n o i s e is d i r e c t e d a w a y f r o m s e n s i t i v e r e c e p t o r s ( r e s i d e n c e s ) . • A s d i r e c t e d b y t h e C i t y , t h e c o n t r a c t o r w i l l i m p l e m e n t a p p r o p r i a t e ad d i t i o n a l n o i s e m i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s , i n c l u d i n g c h a n g i n g t h e l o c a t i o n of s t a t i o n a r y c o n s t r u c t i o n e q u i p m e n t , t u r n i n g o f f i d l i n g e q u i p m e n t , re s c h e d u l i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t y , n o t i f y i n g a d j a c e n t r e s i d e n t s i n ad v a n c e o f c o n s t r u c t i o n w o r k , a n d i n s t a l l i n g a c o u s t i c b a r r i e r s a r o u n d st a t i o n a r y c o n s t r u c t i o n n o i s e s o u r c e s . Ai r q u a l i t y m e a s u r e s c o m m i t t e d t o b y t h e C i t y i n c l u d e : • W a t e r e x p o s e d s u r f a c e s t w i c e d a i l y • M a i n t a i n s p e e d s o n u n p a v e d a r e a s a t 1 5 m i l e s p e r h o u r o r l e s s • A p p l y w a t e r t o u n p a v e d r o a d s t h r e e t i m e s d a i l y , o r n o n - t o x i c s o i l st a b i l i z e r s a c c o r d i n g t o m a n u f a c t u r e r s ’ s p e c i ﬁ cations to all unpaved pa r k i n g o r s t a g i n g a r e a s o r u n p a v e d r o a d s u r f a c e s • A p p l y n o n - t o x i c s o i l s t a b i l i z e r s a c c o r d i n g t o m a n u f a c t u r e r s ’ sp e c i ﬁ c a t i o n s t o a l l i n a c t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n a r e a s ( p r e v i o u s l y g r a d e d ar e a s i n a c t i v e f o r 1 0 d a y s o r m o r e ) • R e p l a c e g r o u n d c o v e r i n d i s t u r b e d a r e a s a s q u i c k l y a s p o s s i b l e • E n c l o s e , c o v e r , w a t e r t w i c e d a i l y o r a p p l y n o n - t o x i c s o i l b i n d e r s ac c o r d i n g t o m a n u f a c t u r e r s ’ s p e c i ﬁ cations to exposed piles (i.e., gr a v e l , s a n d , d i r t ) w i t h ﬁ v e p e r c e n t o r g r e a t e r s i l t c o n t e n t • S u s p e n d a l l e x c a v a t i n g a n d g r a d i n g o p e r a t i o n s w h e n w i n d s p e e d s ( a s in s t a n t a n e o u s g u s t s ) e x c e e d 2 5 m i l e s p e r h o u r • S w e e p s t r e e t s a t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y i f v i s i b l e s o i l m a t e r i a l i s c a r r i e d on t o a d j a c e n t p u b l i c p a v e d r o a d s N- 1 6 co n t . Mo d e l i n g a t 1 4 7 2 9 E s p o l a R o a d s h o w e d t h a t t h e e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n w a s 63 . 3 d e c i b e l s ( d B ) C N E L a n d f u t u r e c o n d i t i o n s , w i t h o r w i t h o u t P r o j e c t im p r o v e m e n t s , w o u l d b e 6 3 . 7 d B C N E L . T h e i n c r e a s e o f 0 . 0 4 d B i n th i s l o c a t i o n w o u l d n o t b e a u d i b l e ( t h e n o r m a l h e a l t h y h u m a n e a r c a n n o t N- 1 7 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-50 N- 2 1 N- 2 0 N- 1 9 N- 2 2 Up g r a d e d a c c e s s t o M o u n t a i n R o a d w o u l d i n c l u d e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a ro a d a p r o n a t M o u n t a i n R o a d e a s t o f E s p o l a R o a d . T h i s p r i v a t e r o a d in t e r s e c t i o n w o u l d b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 0 - f e e t w i d e a n d w o u l d e x t e n d e a s t ap p r o x i m a t e l y 1 4 f e e t f r o m t h e E s p o l a R o a d c u r b l i n e . N- 1 8 N- 1 9 N- 2 0 N- 2 1 Pl e a s e r e f e r t o F i g u r e 1 - 4 b o f t h e E I R . A s s h o w n o n t h a t ﬁ gure, a narrow st r i p o f g r a d e d a r e a b e t w e e n E s p o l a R o a d t h e w e s t e r n e d g e o f y o u r l o t wo u l d b e g r a d e d t o a c c o m m o d a t e a c o n c r e t e s i d e w a l k e d g i n g E s p o l a Ro a d . N o P r o j e c t e l e m e n t s w o u l d e n c r o a c h o n t o y o u r l o t , a n d n o b u i l t el e m e n t s b e s i d e s t h e s i d e w a l k a r e p l a n n e d . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , i t i s n o t po s s i b l e t o p r o v i d e a s i m u l a t i o n f o r e v e r y l o c a t i o n a l o n g t h e p l a n n e d Pr o j e c t . S i d e w a l k m a t e r i a l s , h o w e v e r , a r e i l l u s t r a t e d i n t h e P r o j e c t si m u l a t i o n s s h o w n i n F i g u r e s 2 . 2 - 4 a n d 2 . 2 - 5 . A s t o r m d r a i n t r u n k s y s t e m i n c l u d e s a p r i m a r y d r a i n ( t h e t r u n k s y s t e m ) in t o w h i c h s m a l l e r d r a i n s t r a n s f e r ﬂ o w s . I n t h e v i c i n i t y o f y o u r p r o p e r t y , th i s s u b s u r f a c e f a c i l i t y w o u l d r e p l a c e t h e o p e n t r e n c h t h a t c u r r e n t l y ca r r i e s s t o r m w a t e r ﬂ o w s t o t h e w e s t o f y o u r l o t . T h e s t o r m d r a i n im p r o v e m e n t s w o u l d b e l o c a t e d i n e x i s t i n g p u b l i c r i g h t - o f - w a y b e t w e e n ed g e o f p a v e m e n t a n d y o u r w e s t e r l y l o t l i n e a n d w o u l d n o t b e i n t e g r a t e d in t o i t ( p l e a s e r e f e r t o E I R F i g u r e 1 - 6 ) . E x i s t i n g s t o r m d r a i n s o n y o u r pr o p e r t y ( s c h e m a t i c a l l y s h o w n o n F i g u r e 1 - 6 ) w o u l d n o t b e a f f e c t e d b y Pr o j e c t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . No p r o p e r t y a c q u i s i t i o n i s p r o p o s e d i n L U - 2 . I n t e r m i t t e n t s t r i p s o f ac q u i s i t i o n w o u l d o c c u r i n L U - 3 a n d L U - 4 , a s d e p i c t e d o n F i g u r e s 1- 4 b t h r o u g h 1 - 4 e . T h e s e a r e i n d i c a t e d b y t h e d a r k d o t t e d l i n e s h o w n fo r p r o p o s e d p u b l i c r i g h t - o f - w a y . F o r a r e a s s o u t h o f D u r h u l l e n D r i v e / Go l d e n S u n s e t L a n e , t h e s e a r e m o s t l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h i m p r o v e m e n t s t o dr i v e w a y s . N o r t h e r l y o f t h e s e s t r e e t s , n e w r i g h t - o f - w a y w o u l d p r i m a r i l y be l o c a t e d o n t h e w e s t s i d e o f E s p o l a R o a d . N o r t h o f D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d an d H i g h V a l l e y R o a d , n e w r i g h t - o f - w a y w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d i n t e r m i t t e n t l y on b o t h s i d e s o f E s p o l a R o a d t o t h e n o r t h e r n P r o j e c t t e r m i n u s . di s c e r n l o u d e r n o i s e l e v e l s u n t i l t h e r e i s a n i n c r e a s e o f a t l e a s t 3 d B ) . Th i s l e v e l o f n o i s e a l s o w o u l d n o t t r i g g e r s o u n d w a l l p l a n n i n g i n t h i s a r e a un d e r e i t h e r f e d e r a l o r C i t y t h r e s h o l d s . N- 1 7 co n t . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-51 N- 2 4 N- 2 3 N- 2 5 As r e q u e s t e d , r e s p o n s e s h a v e b e e n p r o v i d e d t o e a c h o f y o u r q u e s t i o n s , a s pa r t o f t h i s d o c u m e n t . Th a n k y o u f o r t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n . P l e a s e s e e t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t N- 6 . Yo u r c o m m e n t s a r e n o t e d . P l e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e v a r i e t y o f h o m e s a n d la n d s c a p i n g w o u l d b e v i s u a l l y “ o v e r l a i n ” b y a l a n d s c a p e p l a n a l o n g po r t i o n s o f E s p o l a R o a d t h a t w o u l d i n t r o d u c e s o m e c o n s i s t e n t a n d un i f y i n g p l a n t t y p e s a n d w o u l d m e e t C i t y g o a l s f o r p r i m a r y r o a d s . T h e su b s t a n t i a l v a r i e t y o f h o m e s a n d p r i v a t e y a r d s a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d w o u l d st i l l b e p r e s e n t o n i n d i v i d u a l p a r c e l s . V i s u a l v a r i a t i o n w o u l d r e m a i n . Al t h o u g h t h e C i t y a g r e e s t h a t a d r i v e r ’ s p r i m a r y f o c u s s h o u l d b e t h e r o a d , N- 2 3 N- 2 4 N- 2 5 N- 2 2 P l e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e s t o y o u r C o m m e n t s N - 1 4 a n d N - 1 5 . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-52 N- 2 6 N- 2 7 N- 2 8 pl e a s e n o t e t h a t p a r t o f t h e i r f o c u s s h o u l d i n c o r p o r a t e r o a d s i d e a c t i v i t y s o th a t t h e y a r e a w a r e o f p e d e s t r i a n s , b i c y c l i s t s a n d e q u e s t r i a n s , w i t h w h o m th e y h a v e t o s h a r e t h i s t r a n s p o r t a t i o n r o u t e . T h e y w o u l d , o f c o u r s e , h a v e op p o r t u n i t i e s f o r m o r e l e n g t h y v i e w s w h i l e p a u s e d a t i n t e r s e c t i o n l i g h t s . N- 2 5 co n t . Bi k e l a n e s a r e a l r e a d y p r e s e n t a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d f r o n t i n g y o u r p r o p e r t y . Th e P r o j e c t w o u l d n o t i n t r o d u c e t h e m , b u t w o u l d m a k e t h e m w i d e r . A s no t e d a b o v e , t h e C i t y w i s h e s t o c l a r i f y t h a t n o P r o j e c t e l e m e n t s w o u l d be l o c a t e d o n y o u r p r o p e r t y , a n d i t i s a l s o a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t a s u b s t a n t i a l am o u n t o f s h i e l d i n g v e g e t a t i o n w o u l d r e m a i n ( i n c l u d i n g t h e l a r g e s t a n d of t r e e s i n t h e c e n t e r y a r d ) , a s d i s c u s s e d w i t h M r . W h i p p l e . As a p o i n t o f c l a r i ﬁ c a t i o n , p l e a s e n o t e t h a t a l t h o u g h d e s i g n i s a t 3 0 pe r c e n t c o m p l e t i o n , t h e d e t a i l i n t h e E I R i s a n t i c i p a t e d t o r e ﬂ ect the wo r s t - c a s e i m p a c t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e P r o j e c t . I n o t h e r w o r d s , a s d e s i g n is r e ﬁ n e d , t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e E I R i s s t i l l e x p e c t e d t o b e a p p l i c a b l e , as i t p r o v i d e s a w o r s t - c a s e a n a l y s i s . S o m e i m p a c t s m a y d i m i n i s h , o r ot h e r w i s e b e r e ﬁ n e d , b u t n o w o r k o u t s i d e t h e f o o t p r i n t i d e n t i ﬁ ed in the EI R w o u l d b e e x p e c t e d t o o c c u r . Th e C i t y i s c o n ﬁ d e n t t h a t a t t h i s p o i n t , y o u h a v e r e c e i v e d a n s w e r s t o yo u r q u e s t i o n s e i t h e r t h r o u g h t h e s e w r i t t e n r e s p o n s e s ( a s w e l l a s t h o s e pr o v i d e d t o M r . M a y n a r d , b e l o w ) , o r t h r o u g h t h e m e e t i n g s h e l d w i t h M r . Wh i p p l e o n A p r i l 4 , 1 9 a n d 3 0 . Yo u r c o m m e n t s a r e n o t e d . A s s t a t e d i n t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t N- 1 , t h e s e c o m m e n t s w i l l b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g t h e i r f u t u r e de l i b e r a t i o n s o n w h e t h e r o r n o t t o a p p r o v e t h e P r o j e c t . N- 2 6 N- 2 7 N- 2 8 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-53 O- 1 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . Yo u r c o m m u n i c a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t i m e t o c o n ﬁ rm answers to your qu e s t i o n s a n d w i l l i n g n e s s t o m e e t a g a i n w h e n c o n v e n i e n t t o a l l p a r t i e s i s ap p r e c i a t e d . W i t h r e g a r d t o 3 0 p e r c e n t d e s i g n , p l e a s e n o t e t h a t a l t h o u g h de s i g n i s a t 3 0 p e r c e n t c o m p l e t i o n , t h e d e t a i l i n t h e E I R i s a n t i c i p a t e d to r e ﬂ e c t t h e w o r s t - c a s e i m p a c t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e P r o j e c t . I n o t h e r wo r d s , a s d e s i g n i s r e ﬁ n e d , t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e E I R i s s t i l l e x p e c t e d to b e a p p l i c a b l e , a s i t p r o v i d e s a w o r s t - c a s e a n a l y s i s . S o m e i m p a c t s ma y d i m i n i s h , o r o t h e r w i s e b e r e ﬁ n e d , b u t n o w o r k o u t s i d e t h e f o o t p r i n t id e n t i ﬁ e d i n t h e E I R w o u l d b e e x p e c t e d t o o c c u r . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w a s al s o p r o v i d e d i n r e s p o n s e t o a q u e s t i o n f r o m M r s . M a y n a r d ( N - 2 7 ) . O- 1 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-54 O- 2 Th i s p a r a g r a p h s u m m a r i z e s i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d b y M r . W h i p p l e b y em a i l o n A p r i l 1 6 . I d e n t i ﬁ c a t i o n o f s i g n i ﬁ cant impacts and proposed mi t i g a t i o n w a s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e C i t y G e n e r a l P l a n n o i s e g u i d e l i n e s an d t h e P o w a y M u n i c i p a l C o d e ( P M C ) C h a p t e r 8 . 0 8 . T h e g u i d e l i n e s ar e p r o v i d e d i n d e t a i l o n p a g e 2 . 3 - 5 o f t h e E I R . M e a s u r e m e n t s w e r e ge n e r a l l y t a k e n f r o m b e t w e e n 4 5 t o 7 0 f e e t f r o m t h e e x i s t i n g E s p o l a Ro a d c e n t e r l i n e o r a t t h e s t r e e t r i g h t - o f - w a y l i n e , a n d n o t f r o m s p e c i ﬁ c re s i d e n t i a l s t r u c t u r e s . A l l m e a s u r e m e n t s e x c e p t f o r t h e 2 4 - h o u r me a s u r e m e n t w e r e t a k e n d u r i n g t h e d a y . Th e f o l l o w i n g i n f o r m a t i o n a u g m e n t s r e s p o n s e s p r o v i d e d b y M r . W h i p p l e on A p r i l 1 6 . Th e p r o c e s s t o a s s e s s f u t u r e n o i s e i m p a c t s i s a m u l t i - s t e p e f f o r t . N o i s e pr e d i c t i o n w a s b a s e d o n m o d e l i n g u s i n g t h e m e t h o d o l o g y p r o v i d e d b y t h e Fe d e r a l H i g h w a y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n s p e c i ﬁ cally developed for evaluation of r o a d w a y n o i s e . I t i n c o r p o r a t e d i d e n t i ﬁ cation of ambient (existing) co n d i t i o n s , v e r i ﬁ c a t i o n t h a t t h e m o d e l w a s c a l i b r a t e d a p p r o p r i a t e l y , an d m o d e l i n g o f s p e c i ﬁ c l o c a t i o n s a s s u m i n g P r o j e c t g r a d i n g a n d im p r o v e m e n t s i n p l a c e t o i d e n t i f y f u t u r e n o i s e l e v e l s i n u s a b l e o u t d o o r sp a c e o n a b u t t i n g l o t s . Sh o r t - t e r m n o i s e m e a s u r e m e n t s w e r e m a d e a t n i n e l o c a t i o n s . N o i s e me a s u r e m e n t s w e r e c o n d u c t e d f o r p e r i o d s o f 2 0 t o 6 0 m i n u t e s a d j a c e n t to t h e r o a d a t s e v e n l o c a t i o n s ( d e s i g n a t e d a s S i t e s M 1 t h r o u g h M 7 o n EI R F i g u r e 2 . 3 - 1 , N o i s e M e a s u r e m e n t a n d N o i s e R e c e i v e r L o c a t i o n s ) . Th e r e s u l t s o f t h e n o i s e l e v e l m e a s u r e m e n t s a n d c o r r e s p o n d i n g t r a f ﬁ c co u n t s a r e s h o w n o n T a b l e 2 . 3 - 1 . B a c k g r o u n d n o i s e m e a s u r e m e n t s w e r e co n d u c t e d t o d e t e r m i n e t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n o f t r a f ﬁ c noise to the existing no i s e l e v e l s a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 5 0 f e e t f r o m t h e c e n t e r l i n e s o f D u r h u l l e n Dr i v e a n d T w i n P e a k s R o a d ( S i t e s B G 1 a n d B G 2 , r e s p e c t i v e l y , i n T a b l e 2. 3 - 1 ) , a p p r o x i m a t e l y 0 . 2 5 m i l e w e s t o f t h e P r o j e c t s i t e . In a d d i t i o n t o s h o r t - t e r m n o i s e m e a s u r e m e n t s , a s i n g l e l o n g - t e r m O- 2 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-55 me a s u r e m e n t s i t e ( S i t e A ) w a s s e l e c t e d t o c a p t u r e t h e 2 4 - h o u r p a t t e r n tr a f ﬁ c n o i s e l e v e l p a t t e r n i n t h e P r o j e c t a r e a a n d p r o v i d e a n u n o b s t r u c t e d vi e w o f t h e r o a d ( i . e . , n o i n t e r v e n i n g w a l l s , b u i l d i n g s , v e g e t a t i o n , e t c . ) . Th i s m e a s u r e m e n t w a s t a k e n o v e r a 2 7 - h o u r p e r i o d ( f r o m 1 0 : 0 0 a . m . t o 1: 0 0 p . m . t h e n e x t d a y ) . T h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s n o i s e m e a s u r e m e n t w a s to d e t e r m i n e t h e t y p i c a l p e a k l o u d e s t h o u r a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t r a f ﬁ c along Es p o l a R o a d a n d t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e l o u d e s t ho u r a n d C N E L . Th e s e m e a s u r e m e n t s w e r e u s e d t o c h e c k t h e a c c u r a c y o f t h e n o i s e mo d e l t o b e u s e d f o r p r e d i c t i o n o f f u t u r e n o i s e l e v e l s . T h i s w a s d o n e b y co m p a r i n g t h e l e v e l o f n o i s e m e a s u r e d w i t h t h e p r e d i c t e d n o i s e a t t h a t lo c a t i o n u s i n g t r a f ﬁ c v o l u m e s c o u n t e d d u r i n g t h e m e a s u r e m e n t e x e r c i s e . In o t h e r w o r d s , b y c o u n t i n g n u m b e r s a n d t y p e s o f v e h i c l e s a l o n g E s p o l a Ro a d d u r i n g t h e m e a s u r e m e n t s e s s i o n s , t h e a m b i e n t c o n d i t i o n c a n b e id e n t i ﬁ e d a s r e l a t e d t o a s p e c i ﬁ c n u m b e r o f v e h i c l e s . B y p l u g g i n g t h e sa m e n u m b e r a n d t y p e o f v e h i c l e s i n t o t h e m o d e l , a n d t h e n r u n n i n g t h e mo d e l f o r e a c h l o c a t i o n c o n v e r t e d t o a n e q u i v a l e n t o n e - h o u r v o l u m e , it c a n b e s e e n i f t h e m o d e l i s a c c u r a t e l y s e t ( i . e . , i f t h e l e v e l o f n o i s e pr e d i c t e d i s t h e s a m e / v e r y s i m i l a r t o t h e l e v e l o f n o i s e a c t u a l l y m e a s u r e d ) . Fo r t h i s P r o j e c t , t h e m o d e l w a s f o u n d t o b e a c c u r a t e l y c a l i b r a t e d . At t h i s p o i n t , t h e m o d e l w a s u p d a t e d t o i n c l u d e t h e f u t u r e p l a n n e d ro a d w a y c o n d i t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g s i z e o f r o a d , a l i g n m e n t , e l e v a t i o n a n d nu m b e r o f l a n e s . F u t u r e t r a f ﬁ c v o l u m e s t a k e n f r o m t h e a p p r o v e d P r o j e c t tr a f ﬁ c r e p o r t w e r e e n t e r e d i n t o t h e m o d e l . T h e m o d e l w a s t h e n r u n b a s e d on i d e n t i ﬁ c a t i o n o f a r e c e p t o r o n a s p e c i ﬁ c lot. (Your lot is indicated by re c e p t o r n u m b e r 4 8 , a s s h o w n o n F i g u r e 2 . 3 - 1 . ) I f ( b a s e d o n t h e C i t y cr i t e r i a f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n n o i s e i d e n t i ﬁ e d i n S e c t i o n 2 . 3 , N o i s e , o f t h e EI R ) s i g n i ﬁ c a n t i m p a c t s w e r e i d e n t i ﬁ e d , t h e m o d e l w a s u s e d t o c a l c u l a t e th e n o i s e c o n t r o l w a l l l o c a t i o n , h e i g h t a n d l e n g t h r e q u i r e m e n t s t o l o w e r pr o j e c t e d o n - s i t e n o i s e t o a s p e c i ﬁ c l e v e l . P o t e n t i a l s o u n d w a l l s i d e n t i ﬁ ed th r o u g h P r o j e c t m o d e l i n g a r e s c h e m a t i c a l l y d e p i c t e d o n F i g u r e 2 . 3 - 2 o f th e E I R . O- 2 co n t . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-56 O- 4 O- 3 O- 5 O- 6 O- 7 O- 8 O- 9 Pl e a s e s e e t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t O - 2 , a b o v e . Mr . W h i p p l e r e s p o n d e d t o e a c h o f t h e c o m m e n t s o n A p r i l 1 6 , v i a e m a i l . Th o s e r e s p o n s e s a r e p r o v i d e d b e l o w , w i t h s o m e a d d i t i o n s w e h o p e y o u wi l l ﬁ n d a d d i t i o n a l l y h e l p f u l . Th e P r o j e c t p r o p o s e s t o b u r y a l l e x i s t i n g o v e r h e a d u t i l i t i e s e d g i n g E s p o l a Ro a d u n d e r g r o u n d a s p a r t o f t h e t h r e e - l a n e r o a d w a y i m p r o v e m e n t s . T h i s wo u l d o c c u r d u r i n g r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n b e c a u s e t h e r o a d w a y w i d e n i n g wo u l d r e q u i r e u t i l i t y m o v e m e n t a s p a r t o f d e s i g n . F u n d i n g f o r t h i s s t e p ha s n o t y e t b e e n i d e n t i ﬁ e d . A m a j o r o b j e c t i v e o f t h e P r o j e c t i s t o i m p l e m e n t s u b s t a n t i a l i m p r o v e m e n t s to t h e C i t y ’ s s t o r m d r a i n s y s t e m a n d u p g r a d e t h o s e f a c i l i t i e s . A s n o t e d on E I R p a g e E S - 5 , t h e s y s t e m “ h a s d e t e r i o r a t e d s i g n i ﬁ cantly and the ex i s t i n g s y s t e m s a r e u n d e r s i z e d i n m a n y l o c a t i o n s . ” N e w f a c i l i t i e s w o u l d be d e s i g n e d t o a c c o m m o d a t e a 1 0 0 - y e a r s t o r m e v e n t , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h Ci t y s t a n d a r d s . As y o u m e n t i o n e d d u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g w i t h M r . W h i p p l e , t h e p r o p e r t y on M o u n t a i n R o a d t o t h e n o r t h e a s t o f y o u r l o t , a c t s a s a “ c h o k e p o i n t ” du r i n g s t o r m e v e n t s . A s d e p i c t e d o n F i g u r e 1 - 6 , S t o r m D r a i n s , o n t h e t o p ri g h t p o r t i o n o f t h e p a g e , a n e w s t o r m d r a i n s y s t e m i s p r o p o s e d f o r t h e ea s t s i d e o f E s p o l a R o a d w h e r e a n o p e n d i t c h n o w c a r r i e s s t o r m ﬂ ows. Yo u r p r o p e r t y i s a d j a c e n t t o , b u t w o u l d n o t b e a f f e c t e d b y , c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e n e w f a c i l i t y . I f t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e , p a r t o f t h e im p r o v e m e n t s w o u l d i n c l u d e u n d e r g r o u n d i n g o f a l l n e w s t o r m d r a i n fa c i l i t i e s . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t O - 6 . Up g r a d e d a c c e s s t o M o u n t a i n R o a d w o u l d i n c l u d e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a ro a d a p r o n a t M o u n t a i n R o a d e a s t o f E s p o l a R o a d . T h i s p r i v a t e r o a d in t e r s e c t i o n w o u l d b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 0 - f e e t w i d e a n d w o u l d e x t e n d e a s t ap p r o x i m a t e l y 1 4 f e e t f r o m t h e E s p o l a R o a d c u r b l i n e . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n wa s a l s o p r o v i d e d t o M r s . M a y n a r d a s a r e s p o n s e t o h e r C o m m e n t N - 1 8 . O- 3 O- 4 O- 5 O- 6 O- 7 O- 8 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-57 O- 1 0 O- 1 1 O- 1 2 O- 1 3 O- 1 4 O- 1 5 As n o t e d i n t h e r e s p o n s e p r o v i d e d A p r i l 1 6 , s o u n d w a l l s a r e p r o p o s e d o n th e w e s t s i d e o f E s p o l a R o a d i n L U - 2 b e c a u s e t h e r e s i d e n c e s a r e m u c h cl o s e r t o t h e r o a d o n t h a t s i d e o f t h e r o a d ( a n d a s s o c i a t e d v e h i c l e n o i s e ) th a n t h e l o t s o n t h e e a s t s i d e , w h i c h h a v e a l a r g e s e t b a c k . I n s o m e i n s t a n c e s , th e s o u n d w a l l p r o p o s e d w o u l d t a k e t h e p l a c e o f a n e x i s t i n g w a l l . T h e fo l l o w i n g s p e c i ﬁ c s a r e a l s o p r o v i d e d t o M r s . M a y n a r d a s a r e s p o n s e t o he r C o m m e n t N - 1 7 . M o d e l i n g a t 1 4 7 2 9 E s p o l a R o a d s h o w e d t h a t t h e ex i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n w a s 6 3 . 3 d e c i b e l s ( d B ) C N E L a n d f u t u r e c o n d i t i o n s , wi t h o r w i t h o u t P r o j e c t i m p r o v e m e n t s , w o u l d b e 6 3 . 7 d B C N E L . T h e in c r e a s e o f 0 . 0 4 d B i n t h i s l o c a t i o n w o u l d n o t b e a u d i b l e ( t h e n o r m a l he a l t h y h u m a n e a r c a n n o t d i s c e r n l o u d e r n o i s e l e v e l s u n t i l t h e r e i s a n in c r e a s e o f a t l e a s t 3 d B ) . T h i s l e v e l o f n o i s e a l s o w o u l d n o t t r i g g e r s o u n d wa l l p l a n n i n g i n t h i s a r e a u n d e r e i t h e r f e d e r a l o r C i t y t h r e s h o l d s . O- 9 O- 1 0 Y o u r c o m m e n t s a r e n o t e d a n d y o u r i n t e r e s t i n t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r e c i a t e d . Th e C i t y c o n s i d e r s t h e E s p o l a R o a d I m p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t a n i m p o r t a n t su b j e c t . T h e n e e d t o f u l l y e v a l u a t e t h e P r o j e c t r e s u l t e d i n a l e n g t h y do c u m e n t . T h e C i t y a p p r e c i a t e s t h e t i m e y o u t o o k t o r e v i e w i t . I t i s un f o r t u n a t e t h a t y o u f o u n d t h e g r a p h i c s d i f ﬁ cult to read. It is sincerely ho p e d t h a t t h e l a r g e r m a p s M r . W h i p p l e p r o v i d e d d u r i n g o n e - o n - o n e me e t i n g s w i t h y o u a n d y o u r n e i g h b o r s , a s w e l l a s t h e s e d e t a i l e d r e s p o n s e s to c o m m e n t s , h a v e h e l p e d t o c l e a r u p a n y r e m a i n i n g c o n f u s i o n . O- 1 1 O- 1 2 A s a p o i n t o f c l a r i ﬁ c a t i o n , a l t h o u g h ﬁ n a l P r o j e c t e n g i n e e r i n g w o u l d n o t oc c u r b a s e d o n a 3 0 p e r c e n t d e s i g n , t h a t l e v e l o f i n f o r m a t i o n i s a d e q u a t e CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-58 to c o m p l e t e e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w f o r t h i s P r o j e c t . F o r i n s t a n c e , a l t h o u g h pr e c i s e l o c a t i o n o f u n d e r g r o u n d u t i l i t i e s i s n o t c u r r e n t l y i d e n t i ﬁ ed, th a t s p e c i ﬁ c i n f o r m a t i o n i s n o t i m p o r t a n t t o u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e r e l a t e d im p a c t . R e l o c a t i o n o f o v e r h e a d u t i l i t i e s t o a n u n d e r g r o u n d l o c a t i o n wo u l d o c c u r f o l l o w i n g d e t a i l e d i d e n t i ﬁ cation of depth, other utilities th a t c a n b e i m m e d i a t e l y a d j a c e n t t o t h e m , s e p a r a t i o n o f a n y w a t e r a n d el e c t r i c a l u t i l i t i e s , c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h t h e a g e n c i e s w i t h j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r th o s e u t i l i t i e s , e t c . W h a t i s c r i t i c a l t o t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t a n a l y s i s , ho w e v e r , i s t h a t t h o s e u t i l i t i e s a r e c u r r e n t l y o v e r h e a d u t i l i t i e s a d j a c e n t to E s p o l a R o a d a n d r o a d w i d e n i n g w o u l d r e s u l t i n p l a c i n g u n d e r g r o u n d wi t h i n p u b l i c r o a d r i g h t - o f - w a y . T h e f o o t p r i n t f o r t h a t p u b l i c r i g h t - o f - wa y i s i d e n t i ﬁ e d o n F i g u r e s 1 - 4 o f t h e E I R . W i t h r e g a r d t o s t o r m d r a i n s , th e l o c a t i o n o f t h o s e f a c i l i t i e s ( a g a i n , w h o l l y w i t h i n p u b l i c r o a d r i g h t - o f - wa y ) i s s c h e m a t i c a l l y d e p i c t e d o n F i g u r e 1 - 6 . T h e ﬁ gures are adequate to s h o w w h e r e t h e s e f a c i l i t i e s w o u l d b e l o c a t e d r e l a t i v e t o l o t l i n e s , a n d wh e r e n e w r i g h t - o f w a y w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d . O- 1 2 co n t . O- 1 3 O- 1 4 O- 1 5 Th a n k y o u f o r t h e s e c o m m e n t s . P l e a s e n o t e , h o w e v e r , t h a t l o s s o f a n d in j u r y t o i t s c i t i z e n s i s n o t a n e c e s s a r y p r e r e q u i s i t e f o r a l a n d u s e a g e n c y to b e p r o a c t i v e i n p r o v i d i n g s a f e r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n r o u t e s . S t a t e a n d r e g i o n a l re q u i r e m e n t s f o r s u p p o r t o f a l t e r n a t i v e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n m o d e s , c o m b i n e d wi t h a n i n c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e i n t r a f ﬁ c p r o j e c t e d t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 , s u p p o r t th e C i t y ’ s e f f o r t s a t p r o v i d i n g s a f e r p e d e s t r i a n , e q u e s t r i a n a n d b i c y c l e tr a v e l w a y s . T h e s e a r e e x p e c t e d t o s u p p o r t i n c r e a s e s i n t h e n u m b e r o f Ci t y r e s i d e n t s u s i n g t h e s e a l t e r n a t i v e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n m o d e s , a s w e l l a s im p r o v i n g n e i g h b o r h o o d c o n n e c t i v i t y a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d . Th e p u r p o s e o f t h e P r o j e c t i s n o t t o b e a u t i f y E s p o l a R o a d . T h e e x t e n s i v e la n d s c a p e p l a n p r o p o s e d a s p a r t o f P r o j e c t d e s i g n i s p r o v i d e d t o c o u n t e r po t e n t i a l P r o j e c t i m p a c t s r e l a t e d t o l o s s o f v e g e t a t i o n a n d p o t e n t i a l in s t a l l a t i o n o f s o u n d w a l l s . B e c a u s e a l a n d s c a p e p l a n i s n e c e s s a r y t o co u n t e r t h e s e a d v e r s e P r o j e c t e f f e c t s , t h e C i t y i s t a k i n g t h e o p p o r t u n i t y to i m p l e m e n t a C i t y - m a i n t a i n e d s t r e e t s c a p e t h a t i s i n k e e p i n g w i t h C i t y go a l s f o r p r i m a r y r o a d s w i t h i n t h e C i t y . P r i v a t e y a r d s b e y o n d t h e p u b l i c ri g h t - o f - w a y w o u l d s t i l l b e e x p e c t e d t o p r o v i d e p e r s o n a l v a r i e t y . It i s t r u e t h a t a l a r g e p a r t o f t h e P r o j e c t ( f r o m T w i n P e a k s R o a d t o D e l Po n i e n t e R o a d / H i g h V a l l e y R o a d ) a l r e a d y h a s a c e n t e r t u r n l a n e . T h i s ce n t e r t u r n l a n e w o u l d b e c o n t i n u e d t o t h e n o r t h e r n P r o j e c t t e r m i n u s . Al s o , p l e a s e n o t e t h a t a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f m a k i n g E s p o l a R o a d f u n c t i o n be t t e r i s i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e w i d e r b i k e l a n e s . T h i s i s b e c a u s e t h e CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-59 O- 1 6 O- 1 7 O- 1 8 O- 1 9 O- 2 0 O- 2 1 wi d e r b i k e l a n e w o u l d a l s o p r o v i d e a l o c a t i o n f o r a v e h i c l e t u r n i n g i n t o a dr i v e w a y t o p a u s e o u t o f t h e t h r o u g h l a n e . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e s t o y o u r C o m m e n t s O - 1 3 a n d O - 1 5 . Be c a u s e E s p o l a R o a d i s a C i t y a r t e r i a l a c t i n g a s a p r i m a r y n o r t h - s o u t h ro a d i n t h i s p a r t o f t h e C i t y , i t i s n o t f e a s i b l e t o l o w e r t h e s p e e d l i m i t . Pl e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e s p e e d l i m i t s o n a r t e r i a l s a r e s e t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h Ca l i f o r n i a s t a t e l a w . P l e a s e a l s o n o t e t h a t l o w e r i n g t h e s p e e d l i m i t o n a ro a d c a r r y i n g t h e e x i s t i n g a n d p r o j e c t e d v o l u m e s a l s o c o u l d c o n t r i b u t e t o ad d i t i o n a l c o n g e s t i o n , w i t h a s s o c i a t e d i n c r e a s e s i n p o l l u t a n t e m i s s i o n s fr o m s l o w - m o v i n g a n d i d l i n g v e h i c l e s . Th e P r o j e c t i s b e i n g p r o p o s e d b e c a u s e q u a n t i ﬁ able improvements to t r a n s p o r t a t i o n m o d e e f ﬁ c i e n c y a n d s a f e t y w o u l d o c c u r . W h i l e th e c o n s t r u c t i o n w o u l d b e o n g o i n g , a n u m b e r o f o t h e r s u b s t a n t i a l im p r o v e m e n t s i n t e r m s o f u t i l i t y u n d e r g r o u n d i n g , s t o r m d r a i n u p g r a d e s , im p l e m e n t a t i o n o f r o a d s c a p e t h a t i n d i v i d u a l h o m e o w n e r s w o u l d n o t h a v e to p a y f o r , e t c . a r e a l l p a r t o f t h e P r o j e c t . T h e C i t y C o u n c i l w i l l m a k e a de c i s i o n a b o u t w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e P r o j e c t - a s s o c i a t e d b e n e ﬁ ts outweigh th e i d e n t i ﬁ e d P r o j e c t - a s s o c i a t e d i m p a c t s . Th e n o t a t i o n a s t o c o n s t r u c t i o n p e r i o d w o r k h o u r s i s a s t a t e m e n t co n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e M u n i c i p a l C o d e ; n o r e s p o n s e i s n e c e s s a r y . T h e Pr o j e c t c o n s t r u c t i o n p e r i o d w o u l d b e e x p e c t e d t o t a k e 1 2 m o n t h s . Th e s t a t e m e n t a s t o d r i v e w a y a c c e s s r e q u i r e s c l a r i ﬁ cation. Lack of ac c e s s i s n o t a n t i c i p a t e d . I t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t a p o r t i o n o f t h e e x i s t i n g dr i v e w a y c o u l d b e m a i n t a i n e d f o r u s e d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n . I f t h a t i s n o t po s s i b l e , a s s t a t e d o n p a g e 1 - 1 3 o f t h e E I R , a c c e s s t o e x i s t i n g h o m e s an d b u s i n e s s e s a l o n g o r a d j a c e n t t o t h e P r o j e c t s i t e w o u l d b e m a i n t a i n e d du r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n b y c r e a t i n g t e m p o r a r y d r i v e w a y s , a n d / o r p r o v i d i n g al t e r n a t e a c c e s s p o i n t s , a l l w i t h i n t h e e v a l u a t e d P r o j e c t f o o t p r i n t . O- 1 5 co n t . O- 1 6 Th e c u r r e n t p r e l i m i n a r y c o s t f o r P r o j e c t c o n s t r u c t i o n i s a n t i c i p a t e d t o b e ap p r o x i m a t e l y 1 4 m i l l i o n i n 2 0 1 3 d o l l a r s . Yo u r c o m m e n t s a r e n o t e d . A s i n d i c a t e d i n t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t O- 1 , t h e s e c o m m e n t s w i l l b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g t h e i r f u t u r e de l i b e r a t i o n s o f w h e t h e r o r n o t t o a p p r o v e t h e P r o j e c t . O- 1 7 O- 1 8 O- 1 9 O- 2 0 O- 2 1 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-60 O- 2 2 Th e e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s p h o t o g r a p h a n d s i m u l a t i o n s h o w n i n E I R F i g u r e 2. 2 - 4 w e r e t a k e n f r o m t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f M o u n t a i n R o a d a n d E s p o l a Ro a d . T h e p h o t o g r a p h y o u p r o v i d e d i n t h i s c o m m e n t w a s t a k e n f r o m th e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f L o s N i e t o s a n d E s p o l a R o a d ( o n e r o a d a w a y f r o m Mo u n t a i n R o a d ) . T h e p u r p o s e o f s i m u l a t i o n s i s t o d e p i c t t h e p o t e n t i a l ch a n g e i n c o n d i t i o n s r e l a t i v e t o e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s . A l t h o u g h t h e s t a t e o f th e r o a d m a y b e n o t a b l e i n t h e “ e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n , ” a s s h o w n i n t h e “ w i t h Pr o j e c t ” s i m u l a t i o n o n F i g u r e 2 . 2 - 4 , t h e b i g g e s t c h a n g e s i n t h i s a r e a a r e no t r e l a t e d t o t h e c h a n g e i n p a v e m e n t , b u t t o t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f o v e r h e a d tr a n s m i s s i o n l i n e s a n d t o i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f t h e p r o p o s e d s i d e w a l k . O- 2 2 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-61 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-62 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-63 P- 1 P- 2 P- 3 P- 4 P- 5 Tha n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . Th e a m o u n t o f p r o j e c t e d t r a f ﬁ c i s a n t i c i p a t e d t o o c c u r w i t h o r w i t h o u t t h e Pr o j e c t i n 2 0 3 0 ; P r o j e c t m o d e l i n g d i d n o t s h o w t r a f ﬁ c would be induced to u s e E s p o l a R o a d a s a r e s u l t o f t h e p r o p o s e d i m p r o v e m e n t s . T h e s p e e d li m i t w o u l d r e m a i n t h e s a m e a s i s c u r r e n t l y p o s t e d ( 4 5 m i l e s p e r h o u r ) . P- 1 Yo u r c o m m e n t s r e g a r d i n g t h e p o s t e d h o r s e c r o s s i n g a t M o u n t a i n R o a d ar e i m p o r t a n t a n d w i l l b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g t h e i r f u t u r e co n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e P r o j e c t f o r a p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l . P l e a s e n o t e t h a t th e c r o s s i n g s i g n s r e ﬂ e c t t h e C i t y ’ s e f f o r t t o d r a w d r i v e r s ’ a t t e n t i o n to t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r e q u e s t r i a n s t o b e c r o s s i n g a t t h i s l o c a t i o n , w h i c h ha s d e v e l o p e d t o b e c o m m o n o v e r t i m e . T h i s i s n o t a C i t y - a p p r o v e d eq u e s t r i a n c r o s s i n g s u c h a s t h a t l o c a t e d a t T w i n P e a k s R o a d a n d ( p l a n n e d to b e l o c a t e d a t ) D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d / H i g h V a l l e y R o a d i n t e r s e c t i o n s w i t h Es p o l a R o a d . B a s e d o n p u b l i c c o m m e n t , t h e C i t y w o u l d c o n s i d e r a n eq u e s t r i a n p u s h b u t t o n a t t h e D u r h u l l e n D r i v e a n d E s p o l a R o a d s i g n a l i f th e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e a n d t h e s i g n a l i s i n s t a l l e d . P- 2 P- 3 Pl e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t P - 2 r e g a r d i n g t h e p o t e n t i a l fo r n e w t r a f ﬁ c a n d h i g h e r s p e e d s . P l e a s e n o t e t h a t E s p o l a R o a d i s n o t co n s i d e r e d a l o c a l r o a d , b u t i s t h e p r i m a r y n o r t h - s o u t h r o a d i n t h i s p a r t o f th e C i t y a n d i s c a t e g o r i z e d a s a n a r t e r i a l i n t h e C i t y G e n e r a l P l a n M a s t e r Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n E l e m e n t . As i n d i c a t e d i n t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t P - 3 , t h e s i g n s i n t h e vi c i n i t y o f M o u n t a i n R o a d d o n o t i n d i c a t e a C i t y - a p p r o v e d e q u e s t r i a n cr o s s i n g . I n a d d i t i o n , a s i g n a l c a n n o t b e i n s t a l l e d a t t h a t l o c a t i o n d u e to d i s t a n c e r e q u i r e m e n t s b e t w e e n s i g n a l s ( m i n i m u m 1 , 3 0 0 f e e t ) o n P- 4 P- 5 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-64 ar t e r i a l s s u c h a s E s p o l a R o a d . T h e r e i s n o t r o o m f o r a s i g n a l t o b e p l a c e d be t w e e n t h e e x i s t i n g T w i n P e a k s R o a d a n d p r o p o s e d D u r h u l l e n D r i v e / Go l d e n S u n s e t L a n e s i g n a l s a n d s t i l l m a i n t a i n a d e q u a t e r o a d o p e r a t i o n s . Th e s i g n a l p r o p o s e d f o r D u r h u l l e n D r i v e a n d G o l d e n S u n s e t L a n e w i t h Es p o l a R o a d m e e t s t h e p e a k - h o u r w a r r a n t r e q u i r e d f o r p r o p o s i n g s i g n a l in s t a l l a t i o n . T h e M o u n t a i n R o a d i n t e r s e c t i o n w i t h E s p o l a R o a d d o e s n o t ca r r y e n o u g h t r a f ﬁ c t o q u a l i f y f o r s i g n a l i n s t a l l a t i o n . Th e P r o j e c t d o e s p r o p o s e a n e q u e s t r i a n c r o s s i n g b u t t o n a t D e l P o n i e n t e Ro a d a n d H i g h V a l l e y R o a d i n t e r s e c t i o n w i t h E s p o l a R o a d . A l s o , a s no t e d i n t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t P - 3 , t h e C i t y w o u l d c o n s i d e r a n eq u e s t r i a n p u s h b u t t o n a t t h e D u r h u l l e n D r i v e a n d E s p o l a R o a d s i g n a l if t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e a n d t h e s i g n a l i s i n s t a l l e d . W i t h re g a r d t o o t h e r n o n - v e h i c u l a r r o a d u s e r s , p l e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e p r o p o s e d Pr o j e c t i n c o r p o r a t e s s i d e w a l k s , a s w e l l a s w i d e n e d b i k e l a n e s , o n b o t h si d e s o f E s p o l a R o a d . T h e s e P r o j e c t d e s i g n f e a t u r e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o im p r o v e s a f e t y f o r t h e s e u s e r s a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d , c o n s i s t e n t w i t h y o u r co m m e n t . P- 5 co n t . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-65 Q- 1 Q- 2 Q- 3 Q- 4 Q- 5 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . Yo u r c o m m e n t s r e g a r d i n g b e i n g a b l e t o w o r k a r o u n d m o r n i n g a n d af t e r n o o n t r a f ﬁ c t i e - u p s a r e n o t e d . T h a n k y o u f o r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n . Co n s i s t e n t w i t h t h i s c o m m e n t , i m p r o v e d s a f e t y f o r n o n - v e h i c u l a r u s e r s of E s p o l a R o a d i s o n e o f t h e p r i m a r y o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t . Th e r e a s o n t h e E I R d o e s n o t a d d r e s s e q u e s t r i a n a c t i v i t y a s a f o c u s i n t h e do c u m e n t i s b e c a u s e t h e o n l y e q u e s t r i a n - r e l a t e d i m p r o v e m e n t p r o p o s e d al o n g t h e r o a d i m p r o v e m e n t a r e a i s t h e e q u e s t r i a n c r o s s b u t t o n p r o p o s e d fo r t h e D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d / H i g h V a l l e y R o a d i n t e r s e c t i o n w i t h E s p o l a Ro a d , w h i c h t i e s i n t o t h e D e l P o n i e n t e a n d T e r r a B o n i t a t r a i l s . B a s e d o n pu b l i c c o m m e n t , t h e C i t y w o u l d c o n s i d e r a n e q u e s t r i a n p u s h b u t t o n a t th e D u r h u l l e n D r i v e a n d E s p o l a R o a d s i g n a l i f t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n th e f u t u r e a n d t h e s i g n a l i s i n s t a l l e d . P l e a s e r e f e r t o t h e T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “E q u e s t r i a n T r a i l s ” f o r d i s c u s s i o n o f a d j a c e n t , b u t o f f - P r o j e c t , t r a i l s i n th e a r e a . Th e C i t y h a s n o r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t c o n s t r u c t i o n w o u l d l a s t l o n g e r th a n a y e a r o v e r a l l . B e c a u s e t h e r o a d w a y i s l i n e a r i n n a t u r e , i t w o u l d al s o m o v e a l o n g t h e r o a d w a y , w i t h w o r s t - c a s e e f f e c t s i n a n y o n e l o c a t i o n mo v i n g t o a d i f f e r e n t r o a d s e g m e n t a f t e r a f a i r l y l i m i t e d p e r i o d o f t i m e . Q- 1 Q- 2 Q- 3 Q- 4 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-66 Yo u r p r o p e r t y i s l o c a t e d s o u t h o f M o u n t a i n R o a d , o n t h e e a s t s i d e o f t h e ro a d . A s s h o w n o n F i g u r e s 1 - 4 b a n d 1 - 6 i n t h e P r o j e c t E I R , a l l p r o p o s e d Pr o j e c t i m p r o v e m e n t s w o u l d b e l o c a t e d w e s t o f y o u r p r o p e r t y l i n e . Th e C i t y c a n n o t e l i m i n a t e t h e p r o p o s e d i m p r o v e m e n t s t o E s p o l a R o a d fr o m t h e G e n e r a l P l a n M a s t e r T r a n s p o r t a t i o n E l e m e n t ( M T E ) d u e t o t h e nu m b e r o f e x i s t i n g a n d p r o j e c t e d t r i p s o n t h i s r o a d w a y a n d t h e a s s o c i a t e d fa i l i n g l e v e l s o f s e r v i c e . T h e f a c t t h a t p l a n n e d i m p r o v e m e n t s w o u l d re m a i n p a r t o f t h e T M E , h o w e v e r , d o e s n o t r e q u i r e t h e C i t y t o a p p r o v e a p r o j e c t i m p l e m e n t i n g t h o s e i m p r o v e m e n t s . D u r i n g f u t u r e r e v i e w o f th e P r o j e c t f o r a p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l , t h e C i t y C o u n c i l m a y ﬁ nd that the en v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h i m p r o v e m e n t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n wo u l d o u t w e i g h t h e b e n e ﬁ t s , o r t h a t f u n d i n g i s u n a v a i l a b l e . Re g a r d i n g p r o p e r t y v a l u e c o n c e r n s , p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t s p e c i ﬁ cs relative to p r o p e r t y v a l u e s a r e u n k n o w n , a n d t h i s i s n o t a n i s s u e t o b e a d d r e s s e d un d e r t h e C a l i f o r n i a E n v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y A c t . P l e a s e n o t e , h o w e v e r , th a t t h e P r o j e c t p r o p o s e d i s o f a l e s s e r e x t e n t t h a n t h a t o r i g i n a l l y p r o p o s e d un d e r t h e o l d G e n e r a l P l a n . E f f e c t s w o u l d t h e r e f o r e b e l e s s t h a n t h o s e th a t w o u l d h a v e o c c u r r e d u n d e r t h e G e n e r a l P l a n p r i o r t o 2 0 1 0 . Bo t h p o s i t i v e a n d a d v e r s e e f f e c t s o f r o a d w i d e n i n g c a n b e i d e n t i ﬁ ed. So m e o f t h e m o r e c o m m o n e f f e c t s c a n b e i n c r e a s e s i n n o i s e a n d e m i s s i o n s fr o m t r a f ﬁ c , a s w e l l a s i m p r o v e d a c c e s s a n d m o b i l i t y . W h e t h e r t h e n e t ef f e c t i s p o s i t i v e o r n o t d e p e n d s o n t h e t y p e o f l a n d u s e ( e . g . , c o m m e r c i a l or r e s i d e n t i a l ) a s w e l l a s t h e r e l a t i v e c h a n g e s i n a c c e s s i b i l i t y , n o i s e , a n d ai r q u a l i t y . Fo r r e s i d e n t i a l p r o p e r t i e s , n o t i c e a b l e i n c r e a s e d n o i s e ( n o t a n t i c i p a t e d a s pa r t o f t h i s p r o j e c t ) t e n d s t o r e d u c e p r o p e r t y v a l u e s f o r h o m e s a b u t t i n g ro a d s , w h i l e p r o p e r t y v a l u e s t e n d t o i n c r e a s e w i t h i n c r e a s e d a c c e s s f o r co m m u t e r a n d s h o p p i n g t r i p s . A s s o c i a t e d l a n d s c a p i n g a n d c o m m u n i t y en h a n c e m e n t s s u c h a s i m p r o v e d s i d e w a l k a c c e s s i b i l i t y m a y a l s o t e n d t o ha v e p o s i t i v e e f f e c t s o n r e s i d e n t i a l p r o p e r t y v a l u e s . Ac t i o n s t h a t c o u l d a f f e c t r e s i d e n t i a l p r o p e r t i e s i m m e d i a t e l y a d j a c e n t to E s p o l a R o a d i n c l u d e p a r t i a l l o s s o f l a n d , w h i c h c o u l d i n c r e m e n t a l l y af f e c t p r o p e r t y v a l u e s . S o u n d w a l l s a n d v i s i b l e r e t a i n i n g w a l l s w o u l d Q- 5 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-67 Q- 7 Q- 6 Q- 8 Q- 9 Q- 1 1 Q- 1 0 Q- 1 2 Q- 1 3 be e x p e c t e d t o c r e a t e a m o r e u r b a n f e e l , a s w e l l a s p o t e n t i a l l y a f f e c t lo c a l i z e d s h a d e a n d v i e w s h e d s . ( P l e a s e n o t e t h a t n o n e o f t h o s e e l e m e n t s wo u l d a p p l y t o y o u r p r o p e r t y . T h e l o t w o u l d n o t b e i m p a c t e d , a n d n o so u n d w a l l i s p r o p o s e d . ) I n c o n t r a s t , i n s t a l l a t i o n o f s o u n d w a l l s a l s o co u l d i m p r o v e p r o p e r t y v a l u e s , t h r o u g h r e d u c i n g t r a f ﬁ c-related noise an d p r o v i d i n g s o m e s e p a r a t i o n f r o m t h e r o a d . Th i s P r o j e c t a l s o i n c l u d e s c o m m u n i t y e n h a n c e m e n t f e a t u r e s s u c h a s t h e im p r o v e d p e d e s t r i a n a n d b i c y c l e c o r r i d o r s a n d i m p r o v e d a c c e s s i b i l i t y t o tr a i l h e a d s . T h e s e n e i g h b o r h o o d a m e n i t i e s m a y r e s u l t i n a n i n c r e a s e i n pr o p e r t y v a l u e s . T h e s e e l e m e n t s w o u l d g e n e r a l l y i m p r o v e c o m m u n i t y co h e s i o n , c r e a t i n g a m o r e i n v i t i n g n e i g h b o r h o o d a n d i m p r o v i n g re s i d e n t i a l d e s i r a b i l i t y f o r t h e s e p l a c e s i n t h e s t u d y a r e a . Be y o n d t h e s e f o c u s e d a n d p a r c e l - s p e c i ﬁ c or neighborhood-speciﬁ c el e m e n t s , h o w e v e r , a n u m b e r o f l a r g e r f a c t o r s d r i v e p r o p e r t y v a l u e s in t h e S a n D i e g o r e g i o n . T h e s e f a c t o r s i n c l u d e p r o x i m i t y t o c o a s t a l ar e a s , s c h o o l d i s t r i c t s , a c c e s s i b i l i t y t o p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s a n d a m e n i t i e s , ne i g h b o r h o o d a f ﬁ l i a t i o n , l i f e s t y l e , e t c . , a s w e l l a s a p o t e n t i a l i n c r e a s e i n pr o p e r t y v a l u e s o v e r t i m e . I t i s l i k e l y t h a t t h i s c o m p l e x s e t o f f a c t o r s m a y ov e r w h e l m a n y P r o j e c t - r e l a t e d i n c r e m e n t a l c h a n g e . Th e C i t y C o u n c i l w i l l b e b a l a n c i n g P r o j e c t b e n e ﬁ ts and impacts during th e i r f u t u r e e v a l u a t i o n o f w h e t h e r o r n o t t o a p p r o v e t h e P r o j e c t . Y o u r co m m e n t s w i l l b e b e f o r e t h e m d u r i n g t h e s e d e l i b e r a t i o n s , a s i n d i c a t e d i n th e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t Q - 1 . Q- 5 co n t . Q- 6 M r . R i c h W h i p p l e , C i t y P l a n n e r , m e t w i t h y o u a g a i n o n A p r i l 3 0 t h t o an s w e r y o u r r e m a i n i n g q u e s t i o n s r e g a r d i n g y o u r l o t . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ P r o j e c t N e e d . ” A s d e t a i l e d i n Se c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 o f t h e E I R , h o w e v e r , a s d e t a i l e d i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 , T r a f ﬁ c/ Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n , o f t h e E I R , o n e i n t e r s e c t i o n a n d a l l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a Ro a d a r e a l r e a d y f a i l i n g . I n c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e s i n p r o j e c t e d t r a f ﬁ c vo l u m e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o r e s u l t i n c o n t i n u e d f a i l u r e o f a l l s e g m e n t s o f Es p o l a R o a d b e t w e e n T w i n P e a k s R o a d a n d T i t a n W a y t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 . Be c a u s e r o a d p r o j e c t s t a k e s o m e t i m e t o o b t a i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a r a n c e , pr o j e c t a p p r o v a l a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w be g i n s e a r l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f i d e n t i f y i n g n e e d f o r i m p r o v e m e n t . A s a Q- 7 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-68 re s u l t , i t m a k e s s e n s e f o r t h e C i t y t o b e p r o a c t i v e a b o u t c o m p l e t i o n o f en v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w . I f t h e C i t y c e r t i ﬁ es the EIR, the City can then mo v e f o r w a r d w h e n a n d i f i t d e c i d e s t o p u r s u e t h e P r o j e c t w i t h o u t ad d i t i o n a l d e l a y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h e n v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a r a n c e . Pl e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e t r a f ﬁ c s t u d y i d e n t i ﬁ e d c o n g e s t e d p e r i o d s i n t h e 4 : 0 0 t o 6: 0 0 p . m . t i m e f r a m e a s w e l l , u n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h P o w a y H i g h S c h o o l h o u r s . En v i r o n m e n t a l e v a l u a t i o n i s n o w c o m p l e t e , a n d n o a d d i t i o n a l s t u d y ef f o r t s a r e f o r e s e e n , s o t h e p l a n n i n g p h a s e i s n o w c o m p l e t e . T h e i s s u e o f fu n d i n g w i l l b e p u r s u e d w h e n a n d i f t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e . Pl e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e s t a t e m e n t t h a t t h e C i t y h a d p r e v i o u s l y c o n c l u d e d t h a t th e P r o j e c t w a s n o t w o r t h y o f p u r s u i n g i n 2 0 0 2 – 2 0 0 3 i s n o t a c c u r a t e . Te c h n i c a l s t u d i e s t o e v a l u a t e c o n d i t i o n s a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d a s p a r t o f t h e cu r r e n t e f f o r t w e r e u n d e r t a k e n i n 2 0 0 2 , a n d w o r k o n f o u r - l a n e a l t e r n a t i v e im p r o v e m e n t s w a s a c t i v e u n t i l t h e 2 0 0 5 / 2 0 0 6 t i m e f r a m e . A t t h a t t i m e , st u d i e s i n d i c a t e d t h a t f u t u r e t r a f ﬁ c v o l u m e s m i g h t b e a c c o m m o d a t e d b y a le s s e r p r o j e c t , a n d e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r a t h r e e - l a n e , r a t h e r t h a n fo u r - l a n e r o a d w a y — a s w e l l a s r e v i e w o f p o t e n t i a l u s e o f r o u n d a b o u t s — we r e u n d e r t a k e n . T h e l i s t i n g p r i o r i t y o f r o a d i m p r o v e m e n t s b y SA N D A G i s b a s e d o n a n u m b e r o f i t e m s , i n c l u d i n g r e g i o n a l i m p o r t a n c e of t h e r o a d w a y . T h e r e g i o n a l i m p o r t a n c e i s n o t d i r e c t l y t i e d t o t h e l o c a l im p o r t a n c e o f r o a d w a y i m p r o v e m e n t s . Th i s d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e P r o j e c t i s a c c u r a t e w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e i t e m s id e n t i ﬁ e d , b u t d o e s n o t m e n t i o n t h e s o u n d w a l l s s o u t h o f J e r o m e D r i v e , su b s t a n t i a l s t o r m d r a i n i m p r o v e m e n t s n o r t h o f T w i n P e a k s R o a d , a n d un d e r g r o u n d i n g o f e x i s t i n g o v e r h e a d u t i l i t y l i n e s , a s w e l l a s o t h e r m o r e mi n o r e l e m e n t s . Pl e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e w i d e n e d b i k e l a n e s m u s t b e i m p l e m e n t e d f o r t h e ro a d t o w o r k a s p r o j e c t e d . T h e w i d e n e d b i k e l a n e s p r o v i d e t e m p o r a r y ve h i c l e s t o r a g e f o r d r i v e r s t u r n i n g i n t o d r i v e w a y s , a n d w o u l d a l l o w fo r t h o s e v e h i c l e s t o m o v e o u t o f t h e t h r o u g h l a n e s . W h e t h e r o r n o t si d e w a l k s t o i m p r o v e p e d e s t r i a n ( a n d i n s o m e c a s e s e q u e s t r i a n ) s a f e t y sh o u l d b e i n s t a l l e d o n b o t h s i d e s o f t h e r o a d , o r l a n d s c a p i n g s h o u l d b e im p l e m e n t e d , c a n b e c o n s i d e r e d d u r i n g f u t u r e C i t y C o u n c i l d e l i b e r a t i o n s on w h e t h e r o r n o t t o a p p r o v e t h e P r o j e c t . P l e a s e a l s o n o t e t h a t s o u n d wa l l s a r e c u r r e n t l y a n t i c i p a t e d t o e x c e e d e i g h t f e e t i n h e i g h t i n o n l y a Q- 7 co n t . Q- 8 Q- 9 Q- 1 0 Q- 1 1 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-69 Q- 1 4 Q- 1 5 fe w i n s t a n c e s ( o n e w a l l a t e i g h t a n d o n e - h a l f f o o t , o n e a t n i n e f e e t , a n d th e n w h e r e a s h o r t e r w a l l i s p a i r e d w i t h a r e t a i n i n g w a l l ) . A l t h o u g h t h e s e wa l l s w o u l d i n s o m e i n s t a n c e s b l o c k c u r r e n t v i e w s t o p r i v a t e v e g e t a t i o n , in m o s t i n s t a n c e s t h a t v e g e t a t i o n w o u l d s t i l l b e v i s i b l e a b o v e a n d b e h i n d th e s o u n d w a l l s , a n d i n a l l c a s e s t h e s o u n d w a l l s w o u l d b e 1 0 0 p e r c e n t ve g e t a t e d a t v i n e m a t u r i t y . Al t h o u g h d u r i n g f u t u r e d e l i b e r a t i o n s t h e C i t y C o u n c i l m a y d e c i d e , up o n w e i g h i n g i d e n t i ﬁ e d P r o j e c t b e n e ﬁ ts against identiﬁ ed impacts, th a t t h e P r o j e c t ( o r f u l l P r o j e c t ) s h o u l d n o t b e i m p l e m e n t e d , a s n o t e d in t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t Q - 1 1 , t h e w i d e n e d b i k e l a n e s m u s t b e im p l e m e n t e d f o r t h e r o a d t o w o r k a s p r o j e c t e d . H i g h e s t c o n v e n i e n c e t o pe d e s t r i a n s w o u l d a l s o b e s e r v e d b y s i d e w a l k s o n b o t h s i d e s o f t h e r o a d . Th e s e a r e i s s u e s f o r f u t u r e C i t y C o u n c i l c o n s i d e r a t i o n . Th e C i t y a g r e e s t h a t t h e a m o u n t o f f u t u r e a d d i t i o n a l t r a f ﬁ c on Espola Ro a d w o u l d b e i n c r e m e n t a l . T h i s i s t h e r e s u l t o f t h i s a r e a b e i n g l a r g e l y bu i l t o u t c o m b i n e d w i t h r e g i o n a l t r a f ﬁ c p a t t e r n s . A s n o t e d i n t h e E I R , ho w e v e r , t h e e f f e c t o f t h e s m a l l i n c r e a s e i s s u b s t a n t i a l . A l l s e g m e n t s o f Es p o l a R o a d b e t w e e n T w i n P e a k s R o a d a n d T i t a n W a y c u r r e n t l y f a i l , a n d th i s c o n d i t i o n w o u l d c o n t i n u e a n d i n c r e m e n t a l l y w o r s e n , i n 2 0 3 0 . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e s t o y o u r C o m m e n t s Q - 1 0 , Q - 1 1 a n d Q - 1 2 re g a r d i n g i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f f e w e r i m p r o v e m e n t s . T h e t r a f ﬁ c signal at Du r h u l l e n D r i v e / G o l d e n S u n s e t L a n e h a s b e e n s t u d i e d . I t i s p r o p o s e d be c a u s e i t m e e t s a p e a k - h o u r w a r r a n t f o r a s i g n a l a t t h a t l o c a t i o n . Th e c o m m e n t i s c o r r e c t r e g a r d i n g i d e n t i ﬁ cation of signiﬁ cant and un m i t i g a t e d i m p a c t s . T h e i m p a c t s , h o w e v e r , a r e n o t c o n s i d e r e d “ d i r e . ” Th e l a n d u s e i m p a c t s r e ﬂ e c t t h e f a c t t h a t o n e o f t w o o p p o s i n g a c t i o n s co u l d o c c u r i f t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e — e i t h e r : ( 1 ) s o u n d wa l l s a s p r o p o s e d t o m i t i g a t e n o i s e w o u l d b e b u i l t ( i n w h i c h c a s e s o m e of t h e m w o u l d b e h i g h e r t h a n t h e C i t y - p r e f e r r e d e i g h t - f o o t h e i g h t l i m i t ) , or ( 2 ) t h e r e c o m m e n d e d w a l l s w o u l d n o t b e b u i l t ( e . g . , i f p r o p e r t y o w n e r s re j e c t t h e w a l l s ) — i n w h i c h c a s e t h e C i t y G e n e r a l P l a n s t a n d a r d s f o r so u n d w a l l s a l o n g a r t e r i a l s w o u l d n o t b e m e t . T h e s e a r e o p p o s i n g p l a n go a l s , a n d s a t i s f a c t i o n o f o n e m e a n s t h a t t h e P r o j e c t c o u l d n o t c o m p l y wi t h t h e o t h e r . A s a n i m p a c t t o p l a n c o m p l i a n c e , “ m i t i g a t i o n ” g e n e r a l l y Q- 1 1 co n t . Q- 1 2 Q- 1 3 Q- 1 4 Q- 1 5 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-70 wo u l d b e r e v i s i o n o f t h e p l a n t o r e ﬂ e c t t h e C i t y ’ s r e ﬁ nement of more ge n e r a l s t a n d a r d s t o r e ﬂ e c t s p e c i ﬁ c s a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h a t l o c a t i o n . T h a t is n o t b e i n g p u r s u e d b y t h e C i t y i n t h i s c a s e , s o t h e l a n d u s e d o c u m e n t co m p l i a n c e i m p a c t s s t a n d . Th e n o i s e i m p a c t i s a c t u a l l y t h e s a m e i s s u e a s n o t e d f o r l a n d u s e ( w h e r e wa l l s m i g h t n o t b e b u i l t , i n p a r t d u e t o p r o p e r t y o w n e r r e j e c t i o n ) , b u t fo c u s e s o n t h e a c t u a l n o i s e e f f e c t a s o p p o s e d t o c o m p l i a n c e w i t h p l a n n i n g do c u m e n t s . Al t h o u g h m o s t o f t h e P r o j e c t a r e a w a s n o t i d e n t i ﬁ ed as resulting in un m i t i g a b l e v i s u a l i m p a c t s , a f o c u s e d a r e a o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 0 0 f e e t i n th e c e n t e r o f t h e P r o j e c t a r e a , t o p o g r a p h y w o u l d r e q u i r e b o t h r e t a i n i n g an d s o u n d w a l l s . B e c a u s e t h i s i s o u t o f s c a l e w i t h w a l l s g e n e r a l l y b u i l t in t h e P r o j e c t a r e a , a s i g n i ﬁ c a n t a n d u n m i t i g a t e d i m p a c t i s i d e n t i ﬁ ed, ev e n t h o u g h t h e w a l l s w o u l d u l t i m a t e l y b e c o m p l e t e l y c o v e r e d w i t h ve g e t a t i o n . Be c a u s e t h e s e u n m i t i g a t e d i m p a c t s a r e r e s t r i c t e d i n t y p e a n d / o r e x t e n t , i t is c o n s i d e r e d p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e b e n e ﬁ t s o f t h e P r o j e c t , i n t e r m s o f s a f e t y , ne i g h b o r h o o d c o n n e c t i v i t y , a n d c o n g e s t i o n r e d u c t i o n ( w i t h a s s o c i a t e d in c r e m e n t a l d e c r e a s e s i n v e h i c l e e m i s s i o n s ) c o u l d o u t w e i g h t h e i m p a c t s . Th i s i s a m a t t e r f o r t h e C i t y C o u n c i l t o c o n s i d e r . Wi t h r e g a r d t o t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y s u p e r i o r a l t e r n a t i v e u n d e r C E Q A , th i s i s s u e i s d i s c u s s e d i n E I R S e c t i o n 6 . 4 , E n v i r o n m e n t a l l y S u p e r i o r Al t e r n a t i v e , a s f o l l o w s : Al t h o u g h t h e N o P r o j e c t A l t e r n a t i v e w o u l d r e s u l t i n m i n i m a l o r su b s t a n t i a l l y r e d u c e d e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t s , S e c t i o n 1 5 1 2 6 . 6 ( e ) (2 ) o f t h e S t a t e C E Q A G u i d e l i n e s r e q u i r e s i d e n t i ﬁ cation of an a l t e r n a t i v e o t h e r t h a n t h e N o P r o j e c t A l t e r n a t i v e a s t h e en v i r o n m e n t a l l y s u p e r i o r a l t e r n a t i v e . A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e p r o p o s e d Pr o j e c t i s c o n s i d e r e d t o b e t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y s u p e r i o r a l t e r n a t i v e fo r t h e w i d e n i n g o f E s p o l a R o a d . A s o p p o s e d t o t h e o t h e r b u i l d al t e r n a t i v e s a n a l y z e d i n d e t a i l , w h i c h w o u l d w i d e n E s p o l a R o a d to a f o u r - l a n e s e c o n d a r y a r t e r i a l , t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t w o u l d on l y w i d e n t h e r o a d t o t h r e e l a n e s , t h e r e b y r e s u l t i n g i n r e d u c e d im p a c t s t o v i s u a l / a e s t h e t i c s , b i o l o g i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e s , a n d ge o l o g y / s o i l s . Q- 1 5 co n t . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-71 Q- 1 6 Th e C i t y a p p r e c i a t e s y o u r c o n t i n u e d r e v i e w o f t h e E I R t h e c i t a t i o n f r o m th e E I R i s a c c u r a t e . Re g a r d i n g e q u e s t r i a n f a c i l i t i e s , i t i s e x p e c t e d t h a t e q u e s t r i a n s w h o cu r r e n t l y r i d e a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d w o u l d u s e t h e s i d e w a l k s f o r t h e ne c e s s a r y d i s t a n c e , a s c u r r e n t l y o c c u r s o n T w i n P e a k s R o a d . P l e a s e al s o r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t Q - 3 , a n d T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “E q u e s t r i a n T r a i l s . ” P l e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e c r o s s i n g s i g n s r e ﬂ ect the City’s ef f o r t t o w a r n d r i v e r s f o r t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r e q u e s t r i a n s t o b e c r o s s i n g a t th i s l o c a t i o n , w h i c h h a s d e v e l o p e d t o b e c o m m o n o v e r t i m e . T h i s i s n o t a C i t y - a p p r o v e d e q u e s t r i a n c r o s s i n g s u c h a s t h a t l o c a t e d a t T w i n P e a k s Ro a d a n d ( p l a n n e d t o b e l o c a t e d a t ) D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d / H i g h V a l l e y Ro a d i n t e r s e c t i o n s w i t h E s p o l a R o a d . F l a s h i n g l i g h t s a r e n o t p r o p o s e d fo r i n s t a l l a t i o n b e c a u s e t h a t w o u l d b e e x p e c t e d t o i n c r e a s e u s e o f t h i s cr o s s i n g , w h e n i t i s p r e f e r r e d t h a t t h e i d e n t i ﬁ ed crossings at Del Poniente Ro a d / H i g h V a l l e y R o a d o r T w i n P e a k s R o a d b e u t i l i z e d . B a s e d o n pu b l i c c o m m e n t , t h e C i t y w o u l d c o n s i d e r a n e q u e s t r i a n p u s h b u t t o n a t th e D u r h u l l e n D r i v e a n d E s p o l a R o a d s i g n a l i f t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n th e f u t u r e a n d t h e s i g n a l i s i n s t a l l e d . Q- 1 6 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-72 Q- 1 6 co n t . Q- 1 7 Q- 1 8 Q- 1 9 Q- 2 0 Q- 2 2 Q- 2 1 Th e l o s s o f r e d e v e l o p m e n t f u n d s t h r o u g h s t a t e a c t i o n i n 2 0 1 2 h a d a ﬁ scal im p a c t o n t h e C i t y , b u t d o e s n o t e l i m i n a t e t h e C i t y ’ s a b i l i t y t o c o m p l e t e Ci t y p r o j e c t s i f a l t e r n a t i v e f u n d s a r e a v a i l a b l e . Q- 1 7 Q- 1 8 Q- 1 9 As n o t e d i n t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t Q - 5 , t h e P r o j e c t w o u l d n o t re q u i r e a n y u s e o f y o u r p r o p e r t y . T h e t r e e s c l o s e s t t o t h e d r a i n a g e d i t c h we s t o f y o u r p r o p e r t y a r e l o c a t e d w i t h i n p u b l i c r i g h t - o f - w a y . A s n o t e d i n th e c i t e d c o m m e n t , t r e e s t h a t a r e o n y o u r p r o p e r t y w o u l d r e m a i n . Pl e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e q u o t e c i t e d i s a d d r e s s i n g P r o j e c t c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o re g i o n - w i d e c h a n g e s . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e q u e s t i o n b e i n g a n s w e r e d i n th i s s e c t i o n i s : “ d o e s t h e l o s s o f s o m e m a t u r e t r e e s a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d , wh e n o t h e r m a t u r e v e g e t a t i o n w i l l r e m a i n a n d n e w t r e e s w i l l b e i n s t a l l e d , vi s u a l l y c h a n g e t h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e n o r t h e a s t p o r t i o n o f t h e C i t y . ” T h i s im p a c t w a s f o u n d t o b e l e s s t h a n s i g n i ﬁ cant due to the fact that the nu m b e r o f t r e e s t o b e r e m o v e d w o u l d b e s m a l l , m a n y t r e e s a r e a s s o c i a t e d wi t h o t h e r v e g e t a t i o n t h a t w o u l d n o t b e r e m o v e d ( t h e r e b y r e t a i n i n g vi e w s o f d e n s e v e g e t a t i o n ) , a n d n e w t r e e s w o u l d b e p l a n t e d a s p a r t o f Pr o j e c t d e s i g n . L o c a l ( l o t s p e c i ﬁ c o r p e r s o n a l ) P r o j e c t - r e l a t e d l o s s o f tr e e s a n d l a n d s c a p i n g w e r e i m p o r t a n t c o n s i d e r a t i o n s . T h e i r i m p o r t a n c e is w h a t r e s u l t e d i n a P r o j e c t l a n d s c a p i n g p l a n b e i n g d e v e l o p e d e a r l y a s pa r t o f P r o j e c t p l a n n i n g . T h e C i t y k n e w a t t h e s t a r t o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l ev a l u a t i o n t h a t a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t o f v e g e t a t i o n r e m o v a l a n d p r o p o s a l of s t r e e t s c a p e w o u l d b e i m p o r t a n t . P l e a s e r e f e r t o S e c t i o n 2 . 2 , V i s u a l / Ae s t h e t i c s , f o r d i s c u s s i o n o f t h i s t o p i c a n d t o F i g u r e s 2 . 2 - 2 a t h r o u g h 2. 2 - 2 f f o r s c h e m a t i c s s h o w i n g t h e p r o p o s e d l a n d s c a p i n g . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ Q u a l i t y o f L i f e . ” T h e b e t t e r ﬂ ow of tr a f ﬁ c a n d s a f e t y i m p r o v e m e n t s / i n c r e a s e d n e i g h b o r h o o d c o n n e c t i v i t y ar e a n t i c i p a t e d t o b e n e ﬁ t a l l u s e r s o f t h e r o a d w a y , w i t h a b u t t i n g r e s i d e n t s ex p e r i e n c i n g t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h o s e b e n e ﬁ ts as well as the majority of the im p a c t s . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-73 As d e ﬁ n e d o n p a g e 1 o f t h e R e s o u r c e s M a s t e r E l e m e n t , t h e r e s o u r c e s di s c u s s e d a r e n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s ( w a t e r a n d b i o l o g i c a l r e s o u r c e s , a i r qu a l i t y , e t c . ) . T h e s e a r e r e s o u r c e s t h a t c a n ’ t “ s p e a k f o r t h e m s e l v e s , ” wh e r e a s r e s i d e n t s o f t h e C i t y c a n m a k e t h e i r o p i n i o n s k n o w n t h r o u g h pr o c e s s e s l i k e t h e p u b l i c c o m m e n t p e r i o d f o r t h i s E I R . Th i s q u o t e r e q u i r e s c l a r i ﬁ c a t i o n . I n c o n t e x t , i t i s e x p l a i n i n g t h a t n o ho u s i n g m o d i ﬁ c a t i o n s a r e p r o p o s e d b y t h e P r o j e c t a s i t i s s o l e l y a r o a d w a y im p r o v e m e n t — a s o p p o s e d t o a r e s i d e n t i a l d e v e l o p m e n t , f o r i n s t a n c e . Al s o , i t i s m a k i n g i t c l e a r t h a t t h e r o a d w o u l d o n l y a c c o m m o d a t e e x i s t i n g an d ( a l r e a d y ) p r o j e c t e d t r a f ﬁ c . I t w o u l d n o t b r i n g a d d i t i o n a l r e s i d e n t s in t o t h e C i t y , w h i c h c o u l d r e s u l t i n t h e n e e d f o r a d d i t i o n a l h o u s i n g . Th i s p h r a s i n g r e l a t e s t o t h e f u l l f u n d i n g o f t h e p h a s e b e i n g c o m p l e t e d . It i s t r u e t h a t t h e p r e l i m i n a r y e n g i n e e r i n g a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l e v a l u a t i o n ph a s e w a s f u l l y f u n d e d . I t i s a l s o t r u e t h a t t h e P r o j e c t i s l i s t e d i n t h e SA N D A G 2 0 5 0 R T P u n d e r r e v e n u e c o n s t r a i n e d p r o j e c t s o n p a g e 3 2 o f Ap p e n d i x A . Q- 2 0 Q- 2 1 Q- 2 2 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-74 Q- 2 3 Th e p u r p o s e o f t h e G e n e r a l P l a n i s t o d i s c l o s e C i t y g o a l s , o b j e c t i v e s an d s t a n d a r d s w i t h r e g a r d t o C i t y d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e s e s t a n d a r d s a r e an t i c i p a t e d t o b e n e ﬁ t a l l C i t y r e s i d e n t s . Y o u r r e q u e s t t o l e a v e E s p o l a Ro a d i n i t s c u r r e n t s t a t e w i l l b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g f u t u r e Pr o j e c t d e l i b e r a t i o n s o n w h e t h e r o r n o t t o a p p r o v e t h e P r o j e c t . Q- 2 3 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-75 R- 1 R- 2 R- 3 R- 4 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . Yo u r o b s e r v a t i o n s r e g a r d i n g t r a f ﬁ c v o l u m e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e d a y a r e no t e d . T r a f ﬁ c m a n a g e m e n t p l a n s f o r t h e w o r s t c a s e s o t h a t r o a d s c a n be s t s e r v e t h e i r u s e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e d a y . A s d e t a i l e d i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 , Tr a f ﬁ c / T r a n s p o r t a t i o n , o f t h e E I R , o n e i n t e r s e c t i o n a n d a l l s e g m e n t s of E s p o l a R o a d a r e a l r e a d y f a i l i n g . I n c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e s i n p r o j e c t e d tr a f ﬁ c v o l u m e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o r e s u l t i n c o n t i n u e d f a i l u r e o f a l l s e g m e n t s of E s p o l a R o a d b e t w e e n T w i n P e a k s R o a d a n d T i t a n W a y t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 . Be c a u s e r o a d p r o j e c t s t a k e s o m e t i m e t o o b t a i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a r a n c e , pr o j e c t a p p r o v a l a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w b e g i n s ea r l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f i d e n t i f y i n g n e e d f o r i m p r o v e m e n t , a n d i s l a r g e l y ba s e d o n m o d e l i n g r a t h e r t h a n e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s . F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , pl e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ P r o j e c t N e e d . ” R- 1 R- 2 C o n t i n u a t i o n o f a c o u n t r y l i f e - s t y l e i n t o w n i s a l s o i m p o r t a n t t o t h e C i t y . Al t h o u g h c r i m e i s n o t a n e l e m e n t t o b e a d d r e s s e d u n d e r C E Q A , i t i s n o t ex p e c t e d t h a t t h e m o d e r a t e i n c r e a s e i n t r a f ﬁ c projected to occur (whether or n o t t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e ) w o u l d b e r e l a t e d t o a n y su b s t a n t i a l i n c r e a s e i n c r i m e . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-76 Wi t h r e g a r d t o s e m i t r u c k s , p l e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ T r u c k Tr a f ﬁ c . ” N o i s e a n d a i r q u a l i t y e f f e c t s r e l a t e d t o i n c r e a s e d t r u c k t r a f ﬁ c ar e n o t e x p e c t e d t o o c c u r . T h e f a c t t h a t a n o v e r a l l i n c r e a s e i n t r a f ﬁ c is pr o j e c t e d t o o c c u r r e g a r d l e s s o f w h e t h e r t h e P r o j e c t i s i m p l e m e n t e d i s on e o f t h e f a c t o r s t h a t l e a d t h e C i t y t o p r o p o s e t h e P r o j e c t i m p r o v e m e n t s . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ Q u a l i t y o f L i f e . ” As a p o i n t o f c l a r i ﬁ c a t i o n , p l e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e C i t y c a n b e p r o a c t i v e in p r o v i d i n g s a f e r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n r o u t e s , a n d d o e s n o t n e e d t o p o i n t to a h i s t o r y o f h i g h a c c i d e n t r a t e s . S t a t e a n d r e g i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s fo r s u p p o r t o f a l t e r n a t i v e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n m o d e s , c o m b i n e d w i t h a n in c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e i n t r a f ﬁ c p r o j e c t e d t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 , a l s o s u p p o r t th e C i t y ’ s e f f o r t s a t p r o v i d i n g s a f e r p e d e s t r i a n , e q u e s t r i a n a n d b i c y c l e tr a v e l w a y s . T h e s e a r e e x p e c t e d t o s u p p o r t i n c r e a s e s i n t h e n u m b e r o f Ci t y r e s i d e n t s u s i n g t h e s e a l t e r n a t i v e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n m o d e s , a s w e l l a s im p r o v i n g n e i g h b o r h o o d c o n n e c t i v i t y a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d . Th e C i t y o f P o w a y ( C i t y ) r e c o g n i z e s t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f e q u e s t r i a n u s e s t o lo c a l r e s i d e n t s . A s s u c h , f a c i l i t y i m p r o v e m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g a n e q u e s t r i a n cr o s s i n g a t t h e D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d / H i g h V a l l e y R o a d a n d E s p o l a R o a d in t e r s e c t i o n , a r e p l a n n e d a s p a r t o f t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t . T h e P r o j e c t im p r o v e m e n t s a r e d e s i g n e d t o i m p r o v e t h e s a f e t y o f a l l u s e r s ( v e h i c l e , pe d e s t r i a n , b i c y c l e , a n d e q u e s t r i a n ) . P l e a s e a l s o n o t e t h a t b a s e d o n pu b l i c c o m m e n t , t h e C i t y w o u l d c o n s i d e r a n e q u e s t r i a n p u s h b u t t o n a t th e D u r h u l l e n D r i v e a n d E s p o l a R o a d s i g n a l i f t h e i n t h e f u t u r e a n d t h e si g n a l i s i n s t a l l e d . P l e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ E q u e s t r i a n T r a i l s ” fo r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e s e f a c i l i t i e s . R- 2 co n t . R- 3 R- 4 T h e p o s t e d s p e e d l i m i t o n E s p o l a R o a d i s 4 5 m i l e s p e r h o u r . A l t h o u g h th e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t w o u l d i m p r o v e t r a f ﬁ c congestion, it would not en c o u r a g e d r i v e r s t o d r i v e i n e x c e s s o f t h e p o s t e d s p e e d l i m i t . T h e C i t y ca n r e q u e s t a d d i t i o n a l e n f o r c e m e n t o f t r a f ﬁ c speeds in speciﬁ c areas if n e c e s s a r y . T h e C i t y s h a r e s y o u r c o n c e r n f o r t h e s a f e t y o f u s e r s o n th i s r o a d a n d h a s d e s i g n e d t h e P r o j e c t w i t h i n c r e a s e d s a f e t y a s a m a i n ob j e c t i v e . Wi t h r e g a r d t o s e m i t r u c k s , t h e t y p e s o f v e h i c l e s , i n c l u d i n g r e s t r i c t i o n s of s e m i - t r u c k s , o n E s p o l a R o a d a r e n o t e x p e c t e d t o c h a n g e w i t h t h e pr o p o s e d i m p r o v e m e n t s . P l e a s e a l s o r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ T r u c k Tr a f ﬁ c ” f o r i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h i s i s s u e . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-77 R- 5 R- 6 Es p o l a R o a d i s a n i m p o r t a n t i n t e r - c i t y l i n k b e t w e e n P o w a y ’ s n o r t h e r n , no r t h e a s t e r n , a n d c e n t r a l r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s , a s w e l l a s a r e g i o n a l l i n k be t w e e n I n t e r s t a t e 1 5 a n d S t a t e R o u t e 6 7 . A s d e s c r i b e d i n C h a p t e r 6 . 0 , Al t e r n a t i v e s , o f t h e E I R , i d e n t i ﬁ c a t i o n o f a n a l t e r n a t i v e l o c a t i o n f o r a no r t h - s o u t h a r t e r i a l w a s r e j e c t e d d u e t o i n f e a s i b i l i t y . P o t e n t i a l u s e o f an a l t e r n a t i v e r o u t e a l s o c o u l d n o t g u a r a n t e e m e e t i n g t h e o b j e c t i v e o f sa t i s f y i n g r e d u c t i o n i n c o n g e s t i o n o n E s p o l a R o a d . T r a v e l e r s m i g h t ch o o s e t o s t i l l u s e t h e e x i s t i n g c o n g e s t e d r o a d w a y o p t i o n d u e t o fa m i l i a r i t y , o r b e c a u s e i t i s i n a m o r e d i r e c t l i n e o f t r a v e l . D e c r e a s i n g th e p o s t e d s p e e d l i m i t i s t h e r e f o r e n o t a n t i c i p a t e d t o b e a f e a s i b l e w a y t o im p r o v e c u r r e n t o r p r o j e c t e d t r a f ﬁ c c o n d i t i o n s . I n a d d i t i o n , p l e a s e n o t e th a t s p e e d l i m i t s o n a r t e r i a l s a r e s e t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h C a l i f o r n i a s t a t e la w . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e s “ C o u n t r y A t m o s p h e r e ” a n d “ Q u a l i t y of L i f e ” f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n h i s t o r i c a l g r o w t h w i t h i n t h e C i t y a n d pr o j e c t e d c h a n g e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h P r o j e c t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . P o w a y w o u l d re m a i n a “ c i t y i n t h e c o u n t r y ” w i t h t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t . R- 5 R- 6 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-78 R- 1 1 R- 7 R- 1 2 R- 8 R- 1 6 R- 1 7 R- 1 4 R- 1 5 R- 1 3 R- 9 R- 1 0 It i s a s s u m e d t h a t y o u r q u e s t i o n s w e r e a n s w e r e d d u r i n g y o u r m e e t i n g s wi t h M r . R i c h W h i p p l e , C i t y P l a n n e r , o n A p r i l 2 4 a n d 3 0 , 2 0 1 3 . T h e re f e r e n c e d p r o p e r t i e s a l s o c a n b e s e e n o n D r a f t E I R F i g u r e 1 - 4 b . A s di s c u s s e d i n E I R S e c t i o n 1 . 5 . 2 , C o n s t r u c t i o n A c t i v i t i e s , r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of i n d i v i d u a l d r i v e w a y a p p r o a c h e s w o u l d t e m p o r a r i l y i n t e r r u p t e x i s t i n g dr i v e w a y a c c e s s f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6 t o 7 2 h o u r s . I t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t a po r t i o n o f t h e e x i s t i n g d r i v e w a y c o u l d b e m a i n t a i n e d f o r u s e d u r i n g co n s t r u c t i o n . I f t h a t i s n o t p o s s i b l e , a s s t a t e d o n p a g e 1 - 1 3 , a c c e s s t o ex i s t i n g h o m e s a n d b u s i n e s s e s a l o n g o r a d j a c e n t t o t h e P r o j e c t s i t e w o u l d be m a i n t a i n e d d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n b y c r e a t i n g t e m p o r a r y d r i v e w a y s , an d / o r p r o v i d i n g a l t e r n a t e a c c e s s p o i n t s , a l l w i t h i n t h e e v a l u a t e d P r o j e c t fo o t p r i n t . Yo u r c o n c e r n f o r e x i s t i n g a n d f u t u r e c l i e n t s i s n o t e d . T h e t i m i n g o f dr i v e w a y a p p r o a c h r e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d l o c a t i o n o f a l t e r n a t i v e p a r k i n g wo u l d b e c o o r d i n a t e d w i t h y o u p r i o r t o c o n s t r u c t i o n t o f u r t h e r m i n i m i z e an y i n c o n v e n i e n c e t h a t m i g h t o c c u r w h i l e c o n s t r u c t i o n i n o n g o i n g i n t h e vi c i n i t y o f t h e s c h o o l p r o p e r t y . R- 7 R- 8 R- 9 Mr . R i c h W h i p p l e v i s i t e d w i t h y o u o n M a y 2 2 t o p r o v i d e r e s p o n s e s t o th e s e q u e s t i o n s . A s d i s c u s s e d , t h e o n l y r i g h t - o f - w a y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h yo u r p r o p e r t i e s w o u l d b e w h e r e d r i v e w a y e n t r a n c e s w o u l d b e u p g r a d e d to a c c o m m o d a t e t h e n e w r o a d w a y w i d t h . N o r i g h t - o f - w a y w o u l d b e re q u i r e d f r o m t h e r e s t o f y o u r p a r c e l s . P l e a s e s e e t h e b l a c k d o t t e d l i n e s id e n t i ﬁ e d a s “ p r o p o s e d p u b l i c r i g h t - o f - w a y ” o n F i g u r e 4 b o f t h e E I R . A sm a l l a m o u n t o f a d d i t i o n a l g r a d i n g i s e x p e c t e d t o o c c u r o n y o u r p a r c e l s , bu t t h a t a r e a w o u l d r e m a i n u n d e r y o u r c o n t r o l a n d p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y fo l l o w i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n . Al l c u r r e n t o v e r h e a d u t i l i t i e s e d g i n g y o u r p r o p e r t i e s o n t h e w e s t s i d e wo u l d b e u n d e r g r o u n d e d . So u n d w a l l s a r e a p a r t o f t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t a n d a s i x - f o o t h i g h s o u n d wa l l i s p r o p o s e d f o r y o u r p r o p e r t y i m m e d i a t e l y n o r t h o f E l T o p o D r i v e . Th e p r o j e c t e d i n c r e a s e i n s o u n d i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 0 . 7 d e c i b e l ( d B ) a t t h a t pr o p e r t y , w h i c h i t i s n o t a n t i c i p a t e d y o u w o u l d b e a b l e t o h e a r . T h e CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-79 av e r a g e h e a l t h y h u m a n e a r i s a b l e t o d i s c e r n d i f f e r e n c e s i n l o u d n e s s st a r t i n g a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 d B . Th e E I R d o e s n o t a d d r e s s t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r l o s t b r e e z e s . I n a d e v e l o p e d ar e a s u c h a s a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d t h e n a t u r e o f e x i s t i n g b r e e z e s , a s w e l l a s po t e n t i a l e f f e c t s o f i n t e r m i t t e n t w a l l s , a r e e x t r e m e l y l o c a t i o n - s p e c i ﬁ c and wo u l d b e s p e c u l a t i v e . As d i s c l o s e d o n p a g e 2 . 2 - 1 4 o f t h e E I R , s o m e o f t h e d e n s e s t a n d s o f ex i s t i n g v e g e t a t i o n n o r t h o f E l T o p o D r i v e a n d s o u t h o f G o l d e n S u n s e t La n e w o u l d b e r e m o v e d o n t h e e a s t s i d e o f E s p o l a R o a d a s p a r t o f P r o j e c t im p l e m e n t a t i o n a n d s h a d e w o u l d b e l o s t . L o s s o f s h a d e i n a d e v e l o p e d ar e a i s n o t a n i s s u e t o b e c o n s i d e r e d i n a n E I R ; h o w e v e r , t h e s e i m p a c t s wo u l d b e i n p a r t a t t e n u a t e d b y t h e P r o j e c t l a n d s c a p e p l a n . It i s e x p e c t e d t h a t l o n g - t e r m r e s i d e n t s w h o a s s u m e d t h a t E s p o l a R o a d wo u l d u l t i m a t e l y b e e x p a n d e d t o f o u r l a n e s w o u l d b e p l e a s e d t h a t t h e C i t y re d e s i g n e d t h e P r o j e c t u n t i l i t w o u l d b e p o s s i b l e t o a t t a i n t r a n s p o r t a t i o n go a l s w i t h o n l y t h r e e l a n e s — w h i c h i s s i m i l a r t o t h e e x i s t i n g t r a f ﬁ c lane co n d i t i o n f r o m T w i n P e a k s R o a d t o D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d / H i g h V a l l e y Ro a d . P l e a s e a l s o r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ Q u a l i t y o f L i f e . ” El T o p o D r i v e a s a w h o l e w o u l d n o t b e w i d e n e d . I t s a p p r o a c h t o Es p o l a R o a d w o u l d b e i m p r o v e d t o C i t y s t a n d a r d s . T h i s p r i v a t e r o a d in t e r s e c t i o n w o u l d b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 0 - f e e t w i d e a n d w o u l d e x t e n d e a s t ap p r o x i m a t e l y 1 4 f e e t f r o m t h e E s p o l a R o a d c u r b l i n e . R- 9 co n t . R- 1 0 R- 1 1 R- 1 2 R- 1 3 R- 1 4 Pl e a s e s t a t e d i n t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t 0 6 , p l e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l Re s p o n s e s “ C o u n t r y A t m o s p h e r e ” a n d “ Q u a l i t y o f L i f e . ” N o r e z o n i n g i s pr o p o s e d a s p a r t o f t h i s P r o j e c t ( o r a n t i c i p a t e d t o o c c u r f o l l o w i n g P r o j e c t im p r o v e m e n t s ) . Th e l o s s o f r e d e v e l o p m e n t f u n d s t h r o u g h s t a t e a c t i o n i n 2 0 1 2 h a d a ﬁ s c a l i m p a c t o n t h e C i t y , b u t d o e s n o t e l i m i n a t e t h e C i t y ’ s a b i l i t y t o co m p l e t e C i t y p r o j e c t s i f a l t e r n a t i v e f u n d s a r e a v a i l a b l e . A s i n d i c a t e d in t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t R - 8 , h o w e v e r , n o “ t a k i n g ” o f p r i v a t e pr o p e r t y w o u l d o c c u r w i t h r e g a r d t o y o u r t w o p a r c e l s . S o m e r i g h t - o f - wa y w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d f o r u p g r a d e s t o y o u r d r i v e w a y c o n n e c t i o n s t o t h e ne w r o a d w a y . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-80 Be c a u s e C i t y C o u n c i l c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e P r o j e c t i s n o t o c c u r r i n g a t t h i s ti m e , a n d a t i m e f r a m e f o r p o s s i b l e c o n s t r u c t i o n h a s n o t b e e n c o n ﬁ rmed, ul t i m a t e P r o j e c t c o s t s a n d t h e s o u r c e o f f u n d i n g h a v e n o t b e e n d e t e r m i n e d . Th e c u r r e n t p r e l i m i n a r y c o s t f o r P r o j e c t c o n s t r u c t i o n i s a n t i c i p a t e d t o b e ap p r o x i m a t e l y 1 4 m i l l i o n i n 2 0 1 3 d o l l a r s . R- 1 5 R- 1 6 R- 1 7 Tr u c k s o f t h i s s i z e a r e c u r r e n t l y a r e n o t a l l o w e d o n E s p o l a R o a d a n d no c h a n g e t o t h e C i t y o r d i n a n c e o n t h i s i s s u e i s a n t i c i p a t e d . E i g h t e e n wh e e l e r s w o u l d n o t b e a l l o w e d o n E s p o l a R o a d w i t h o r w i t h o u t f e d e r a l fu n d i n g . Th e f u l l p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t h a s b e e n d i s c l o s e d . T h e 3 0 p e r c e n t d e s i g n re f e r s t o t h e l e v e l o f e n g i n e e r i n g c o m p l e t e d , n o t t o P r o j e c t e l e m e n t s to b e i n c o r p o r a t e d . N o a d d i t i o n a l e l e m e n t s a r e e x p e c t e d t o b e a d d e d to t h e P r o j e c t i f i t i s u l t i m a t e l y a p p r o v e d . T h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e 30 p e r c e n t a n d ﬁ n a l d e s i g n w o u l d r e l a t e t o l e v e l o f d e t a i l o n c o n s t r u c t i o n dr a w i n g s , s p e c i ﬁ c a t i o n s f o r e a c h p a r t i c u l a r r e t a i n i n g w a l l , e t c . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-81 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-82 S- 1 S- 2 S- 3 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . S- 1 S- 2 T h e C i t y r e s p e c t f u l l y d i s a g r e e s t h a t t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t c o n t r a v e n e s Ci t y G e n e r a l P l a n p o l i c i e s a n d z o n i n g . P o w a y ’ s a m b i a n c e a s a “ c i t y i n th e c o u n t r y ” s t e m s f r o m v i s u a l e l e m e n t s t h a t a r e c o m m u n i t y w i d e ( i . e . , th e p r e s e r v a t i o n o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y h a l f t h e C i t y i n o p e n s p a c e ) a s w e l l a s co m m u n i t y i n t e r a c t i o n s ( s e e d i s c u s s i o n o f t h i s t o p i c i n t h e C o m m u n i t y De v e l o p m e n t M a s t e r E l e m e n t [ C D M E ] ) . Pl e a s e a l s o n o t e t h a t t h e g o a l s o f t h e C D M E , a s e x c e r p t e d i n t h e c o m m e n t , ad d r e s s t h e C i t y a s a w h o l e , w i t h s p e c i ﬁ c s t o b e d e ﬁ ned as appropriate. Th e s t r a t e g i e s t o a t t a i n t h i s g o a l a r e l i s t e d o n p a g e 2 . 2 - 5 o f t h e E I R , an d i n c l u d e s o u n d w a l l s w h e r e a p p r o p r i a t e , u n d e r g r o u n d i n g o f o v e r h e a d ut i l i t i e s , a n d p l a n t i n g o f r e p l a c e m e n t t r e e s p r i o r t o r e m o v a l o f e x i s t i n g tr e e s ; a l l o f w h i c h a r e i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t . Additional CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-83 sp e c i ﬁ c s a s t o w h a t i s a p p r o p r i a t e f o r a n y p a r t i c u l a r l o c a t i o n a l s o s h o u l d b e re v i e w e d b a s e d o n t h e G e n e r a l P l a n e l e m e n t t h a t p e r t a i n s m o s t s p e c i ﬁ cally to t h e t y p e o f p r o j e c t u n d e r r e v i e w . F o r a r o a d w a y i m p r o v e m e n t , t h e re a d e r s h o u l d r e v i e w t h e T r a n s p o r t a t i o n M a s t e r E l e m e n t ( T M E ) . Th e T M E i d e n t i ﬁ e s E s p o l a R o a d a s a n a r t e r i a l . T h i s i s a r o a d w a y m o r e si m i l a r i n t y p e t o o t h e r a r t e r i a l s ( e . g . , P o w a y R o a d ) t h a n l o c a l c o l l e c t o r s , wh i c h a r e d e s i g n e d t o c a r r y l e s s t h a n h a l f t h e t r a f ﬁ c projected for Espola Ro a d . C i t y a r t e r i a l s h a v e i n h e r e n t d e s i g n c o n s i d e r a t i o n s b a s e d o n t h e am o u n t o f t r a f ﬁ c t h e y n e e d t o c a r r y . C o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e T M E , t h e pr o p o s e d P r o j e c t w o u l d i m p r o v e E s p o l a R o a d t o t w o t h r o u g h l a n e s w i t h a c e n t r a l t u r n l a n e , a n d e i g h t - f o o t b i k e l a n e s o n e i t h e r s i d e . M o s t o f t h e th r e e - l a n e e l e m e n t o f t h e P r o j e c t ( f r o m T w i n P e a k s R o a d t o D e l P o n i e n t e Ro a d / H i g h V a l l e y R o a d ) i s a l r e a d y p a r t o f t h e e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n . A d d i n g bi k e l a n e s a n d s i d e w a l k s i s n o t a n t i c i p a t e d t o s u b s t a n t i a l l y a f f e c t t h e vi s u a l e x p e r i e n c e a l o n g t h e r o a d w a y . T h e p o t e n t i a l p r e s e n c e o f p r o p o s e d so u n d w a l l s ( i f a c c e p t e d b y t h e p r o p e r t y o w n e r s ) i s a s s u m e d u n d e r t h e Ge n e r a l P l a n f o r i m p r o v e m e n t s t o a r t e r i a l s , w i t h t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r s o u n d wa l l s s t a r t i n g w h e n t h e e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n i s c l o s e t o 6 0 d e c i b e l s C N E L . Th i s i s a C i t y - w i d e r e q u i r e m e n t f o r a r t e r i a l s , a n d E s p o l a R o a d i s n o t a n ex c e p t i o n . A l t h o u g h t h e C i t y h a s b e e n c o n s e r v a t i v e i n i t s v i s u a l a n a l y s i s (i . e . , a s s u m i n g t h a t a l l p o t e n t i a l s o u n d w a l l s w o u l d b e b u i l t ) , t h e u l t i m a t e nu m b e r o f w a l l s w o u l d b e d e p e n d e n t n o t o n l y o n ﬁ nal engineering, bu t o n p r o p e r t y - o w n e r a p p r o v a l . T h e u l t i m a t e n u m b e r o f s o u n d w a l l s co u l d b e l e s s t h a n e v a l u a t e d . N o n e t h e l e s s , t h e C i t y h a s a p p r o p r i a t e l y ad d r e s s e d t h e “ w o r s e c a s e ” s c e n a r i o , a n d h a s a l s o a p p r o p r i a t e l y id e n t i ﬁ e d a s i g n i ﬁ c a n t a n d u n m i t i g a b l e i m p a c t t o p o t e n t i a l c h a n g e b a s e d on t h e b u i l t e n v i r o n m e n t . T h e s t r e e t s c a p e , w h i c h w o u l d s t i l l b e v i e w e d ag a i n s t t h e l a r g e r p l a n t i n g s o f t h e p r i v a t e l o t s e d g i n g E s p o l a R o a d , w o u l d in t r o d u c e m o r e s t a n d a r d i z e d p l a n t i n g s , b u t w o u l d n o t e l i m i n a t e v i e w s t o la r g e m a t u r e a n d l o t - s p e c i ﬁ c p l a n t i n g s . T r e e s w o u l d s t i l l b e “ c l u s t e r e d in r e l a x e d p a t t e r n s ” a l o n g t h e r o a d , a n d m o d i ﬁ ed slopes with native ve g e t a t i o n w o u l d b e h y d r o s e e d e d w i t h n a t i v e s p e c i e s ( s e e p a g e s 2 . 2 - 1 1 an d 2 . 2 - 1 2 o f t h e E I R ) . S h r u b s w o u l d v i s u a l l y r e f e r e n c e s h r u b s n o w vi s i b l e i n i n d i v i d u a l y a r d s . Th e s e m o d i ﬁ c a t i o n s t o E s p o l a R o a d a l s o w o u l d b e l i n e a r i n n a t u r e a n d re s t r i c t e d t o t h e r o a d r i g h t - o f - w a y . I t w o u l d n o t a f f e c t t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d s on e i t h e r s i d e o f t h e r o a d . T o t h e c o n t r a r y , a s d e s c r i b e d i n T o p i c a l Re s p o n s e “ Q u a l i t y o f L i f e , ” t h e i m p r o v e m e n t s t o E s p o l a R o a d w o u l d S- 2 co n t . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-84 S- 7 S- 6 S- 5 S- 4 S- 3 co n t . be e x p e c t e d t o s u p p o r t t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d l i f e s t y l e r a t h e r t h a n d e g r a d e i t , th r o u g h p r o v i s i o n o f a c l e a n e r a n d s a f e r e n v i r o n m e n t t o l i v e i n . Tr a f ﬁ c m a n a g e m e n t p l a n n i n g r e l i e s o n a s s e s s m e n t o f “ w o r s t c a s e ” o r pe a k c o n d i t i o n s s o t h a t r o a d s c a n b e s t s e r v e t h e i r u s e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e da y . A s d e t a i l e d i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 , T r a f ﬁ c/Transportation, of the EIR, on e i n t e r s e c t i o n a n d a l l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a R o a d a r e a l r e a d y f a i l i n g . In c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e s i n p r o j e c t e d t r a f ﬁ c v o l u m e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o r e s u l t in c o n t i n u e d f a i l u r e o f a l l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a R o a d b e t w e e n T w i n P e a k s Ro a d a n d T i t a n W a y t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 . A l t h o u g h t h e n u m b e r o f a c c i d e n t s al o n g E s p o l a R o a d h a s b e e n r e l a t i v e l y l o w , t h e r e h a s b e e n a t l e a s t o n e fa t a l i t y d u e t o a b i c y c l i s t b e i n g s t r u c k b y a c a r , a n d t h e C i t y i s b e i n g pr o a c t i v e i n i d e n t i f y i n g a r e a s w h e r e t h e r e i s c l e a r l y r o o m f o r i m p r o v e m e n t . Si n g l e - t r a c k t r a i l s s e p a r a t e d f r o m v e h i c u l a r t r a f ﬁ c by only a low (or non- ex i s t e n t ) b a r r i e r m a y n o t b e a d e q u a t e i n a n a r e a s u p p o r t i n g b o t h f a m i l i e s an d s c h o o l s . T h e a b i l i t y f o r a l l r e s i d e n t s t o s a f e l y a n d c o m f o r t a b l y w a l k fr o m h o m e t o s c h o o l s h o u l d b e a v a i l a b l e w h e r e p o s s i b l e . S i m i l a r l y , w i d e r sp a c e s b e t w e e n b i c y c l i s t s a n d m o t o r i z e d v e h i c l e s l e s s e n t h e c h a n c e o f a c o l l i s i o n b e t w e e n t h e t w o — a s w e l l a s p r o v i d i n g a n o p p o r t u n i t y f o r ve h i c l e s t o t u r n i n t o d r i v e w a y s w i t h o u t b l o c k i n g t h r o u g h l a n e s . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t S - 3 r e g a r d i n g u s e o f p e a k ho u r a n a l y s e s a s a b a s i s f o r t r a f ﬁ c m o d e l i n g . T h i s i s s t a n d a r d i n t r a f ﬁ c mo d e l i n g , a s i s i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f p r o j e c t e d f u t u r e t r a f ﬁ c loading. Please al s o n o t e t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e a . m . p e a k h o u r a p p e a r s t o t a l l y w e l l w i t h sc h o o l o p e n i n g , t h e p . m . p e a k h o u r i s n o t r e l a t e d t o r e l e a s e o f s t u d e n t s fr o m s c h o o l , w h i c h o c c u r s e a r l i e r i n t h e d a y . T h e C i t y C o u n c i l , o f c o u r s e , ha s t h e a b i l i t y t o w e i g h t h e p e r i o d s o f c o n g e s t i o n a g a i n s t o t h e r o p e r a t i n g co n d i t i o n s , a n d b a s e d u p o n t h a t e v a l u a t i o n , d e c i d e w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e pr o j e c t e d i m p r o v e m e n t s a r e w o r t h t h e e x p e n s e a n d a s s o c i a t e d i m p a c t s . Ev a l u a t i o n o f t h e P r o j e c t f o r a p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l i s n o t s c h e d u l e d t o o c c u r du r i n g t h e J u n e 4 , 2 0 1 3 C i t y C o u n c i l p u b l i c h e a r i n g . S- 2 co n t . S- 3 S- 4 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-85 Pl e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e s t a t e m e n t t h a t t h e C i t y h a d p r e v i o u s l y c o n c l u d e d t h a t th e P r o j e c t w a s n o t w o r t h y o f p u r s u i n g i n 2 0 0 2 – 2 0 0 3 i s n o t a c c u r a t e . Te c h n i c a l s t u d i e s t o e v a l u a t e c o n d i t i o n s a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d a s p a r t o f t h e cu r r e n t e f f o r t w e r e u n d e r t a k e n i n 2 0 0 2 , a n d w o r k o n f o u r - l a n e a l t e r n a t i v e im p r o v e m e n t s w a s a c t i v e u n t i l t h e 2 0 0 5 / 2 0 0 6 t i m e f r a m e . A t t h a t t i m e , st u d i e s i n d i c a t e d t h a t f u t u r e t r a f ﬁ c v o l u m e s m i g h t b e a c c o m m o d a t e d b y a le s s e r p r o j e c t , a n d e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r a t h r e e - l a n e , r a t h e r t h a n fo u r - l a n e r o a d w a y — a s w e l l a s r e v i e w o f p o t e n t i a l u s e o f r o u n d a b o u t s — we r e u n d e r t a k e n . A d e c i s i o n a s t o w h e t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t o f t h e r o a d t o su p p o r t f u t u r e t r a f ﬁ c , a n d / o r s a f e t y i m p r o v e m e n t s , s h o u l d o c c u r , w i l l b e ma d e b y t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g a f u t u r e h e a r i n g o n t h e P r o j e c t . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e s “ C o u n t r y A t m o s p h e r e ” a n d “ Q u a l i t y o f Li f e ” r e g a r d i n g v i s u a l i m p a c t s r e s u l t i n g f r o m t h e P r o j e c t a n d n e i g h b o r h o o d ch a r a c t e r . P l e a s e a l s o r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t S - 7 , b e l o w fo r s p e c i ﬁ c i n f o r m a t i o n o n c o n s t r u c t i o n - p e r i o d i m p a c t s . W i t h r e g a r d t o op e r a t i o n a l n o i s e , p l e a s e n o t e t h a t a s s h o w n o n T a b l e 2 . 3 - 3 , t h e p r o j e c t e d in c r e a s e i n n o i s e w i t h t h e P r o j e c t w o u l d i n a l l c a s e s b e o n e d e c i b e l o r lo w e r . T h i s i s b e l o w t h e l e v e l d i s c e r n i b l e b y t h e n o r m a l h e a l t h y h u m a n ea r . S o u n d w a l l s a r e p r o p o s e d a s p a r t o f t h i s P r o j e c t n o t b e c a u s e t h e Pr o j e c t - r e l a t e d i n c r e a s e w o u l d r e s u l t i n u n a c c e p t a b l e n o i s e l e v e l s , b u t be c a u s e t h o s e l e v e l s a l r e a d y e x i s t , o r b e c a u s e C i t y s t a n d a r d s r e q u i r i n g re v i e w o f p o t e n t i a l s o u n d w a l l s d u r i n g a r t e r i a l w i d e n i n g c o m e i n t o p l a y . Of c o u r s e , p r o p o s e d w a l l s n o t a p p r o v e d b y t h e a f f e c t e d p r o p e r t y o w n e r wo u l d n o t b e b u i l t . S- 4 co n t . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t S - 4 r e g a r d i n g t h e l a c k of f o r m a l C i t y d e c i s i o n s o n t h e P r o j e c t i n t h e 2 0 0 2 – 2 0 0 3 t i m e f r a m e . Th e c o m m e n t e r i s c o r r e c t r e g a r d i n g t h e g e n e r a l l y b u i l t o u t n a t u r e o f th e r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s o n b o t h s i d e s o f E s p o l a R o a d . N o n e w l a r g e - s c a l e de v e l o p m e n t i s s l a t e d f o r t h i s a r e a . T h e i n c r e a s e i n t r i p s a l o n g t h i s ro a d w a y w o u l d i n c r e m e n t a l . T h e C i t y i s o p e n t o s u g g e s t i o n s r e g a r d i n g me t h o d s f o r m i t i g a t i n g c o n g e s t i o n r e l a t e d t o p e a k h o u r ﬂ ows. S- 5 S- 6 As s t a t e d i n C h a p t e r 1 . 0 o f t h e E I R , i m p r o v e d c a p a c i t y a l o n g t h e r o a d w a y wo u l d n o t r e s u l t i n t h e C i t y r a i s i n g t h e s p e e d l i m i t a l o n g t h i s s t r e t c h o f Es p o l a R o a d . I t i s a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t s a f e t y w o u l d b e i m p r o v e d w i t h t h e Pr o j e c t . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-86 S- 8 S- 9 S- 7 co n t . S- 7 S- 6 co n t . Wi t h r e g a r d t o g r e e n h o u s e g a s e s , v e h i c u l a r e m i s s i o n f a c t o r s a r e l a r g e l y re l a t e d t o v e h i c l e s p e e d s . T y p i c a l l y , a s s p e e d s i n c r e a s e , m o s t p o l l u t a n t em i s s i o n s w i l l d e c r e a s e . T h e r e f o r e , b e c a u s e t h e P r o j e c t w o u l d p r o v i d e im p r o v e d t r a v e l t i m e s , v e h i c l e s p e e d s d u r i n g p e r i o d s o f c o n g e s t i o n c o u l d in c r e a s e a n d p o l l u t a n t e m i s s i o n s w o u l d t y p i c a l l y b e r e d u c e d . T h e m o s t se v e r e e m i s s i o n s o f c a r b o n d i o x i d e ( C O 2 ) f r o m m o b i l e s o u r c e s ( e . g . , au t o m o b i l e s ) o c c u r a t s t o p - a n d - g o s p e e d s ( 0 - 2 5 m i l e s p e r h o u r ) . A s a re s u l t , i t i s e x p e c t e d t h a t G H G e m i s s i o n s ( p a r t i c u l a r l y C O 2 ) w o u l d b e re d u c e d w h e r e a p r o j e c t r e l i e v e s c o n g e s t i o n i n a c o n g e s t e d t r a v e l c o r r i d o r . Th u s , t h e i n c r e a s e d s p e e d s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e Pr o j e c t b u i l d a l t e r n a t i v e s w o u l d l i k e l y r e s u l t i n d e c r e a s e d , r a t h e r t h a n in c r e a s e d , e m i s s i o n s . F i n a l l y , p l e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e P r o j e c t w o u l d d i r e c t l y su p p o r t a l t e r n a t i v e m o d e s o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n t h r o u g h i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f si d e w a l k s e x t e n d i n g t h e l e n g t h o f r o a d w a y i m p r o v e m e n t s a n d t h r o u g h up g r a d e s t o t h e b i k e l a n e s , b o t h o f w h i c h s h o u l d f o s t e r i n c r e a s e d n o n - ve h i c u l a r a c t i v i t y . Th e C i t y r e s p e c t f u l l y d i s a g r e e s t h a t t h e E I R s a y s t h a t t h e c o n v e n i e n c e o f “t h r o u g h ” d r i v e r s o u t w e i g h s n e i g h b o r h o o d c h a r a c t e r e f f e c t s e x p e r i e n c e d by i n d i v i d u a l s i n t h e P r o j e c t a r e a . P l e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r Co m m e n t S - 2 r e g a r d i n g p o t e n t i a l c h a n g e s t o t h e b u i l t e n v i r o n m e n t , a s we l l a s t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e s “ C o u n t r y A t m o s p h e r e ” a n d “ Q u a l i t y o f Li f e ” r e g a r d i n g t h e c h a n g e t o n e i g h b o r h o o d c h a r a c t e r . T h e r e s i d e n t s i n th e v i c i n i t y w o u l d b e n e ﬁ t f r o m t h e i m p r o v e d r o a d w a y a s w o u l d t h r o u g h tr a v e l e r s . I t i s a c k n o w l e d g e d , h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e i m p r o v e m e n t s w o u l d be n e ﬁ t a n u m b e r o f i n d i v i d u a l s i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e n e a r b y r e s i d e n t s . Al t h o u g h a p p r o x i m a t e l y 7 0 l o t s e d g e t h e s e g m e n t o f E s p o l a R o a d u n d e r di s c u s s i o n , t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f u s e r s c u r r e n t l y t o t a l s b e t w e e n 1 5 , 5 0 0 a n d 21 , 0 0 0 v e h i c l e s p e r d a y , w i t h a n u n k n o w n n u m b e r o f t r a v e l e r s i n s i d e th e s e c a r s . T h e c i t e d q u o t e d o e s n o t s h o w b i a s , b u t i s a s t a t e m e n t o f fa c t — v i c i n i t y r e s i d e n t s c o n s t i t u t e a s m a l l e r p o r t i o n o f t h e n u m b e r o f po t e n t i a l r o a d w a y v i e w e r s . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-87 Th e c o m m e n t e r h a s m i s u n d e r s t o o d t h e c o n c l u s i o n . T h e c o n c l u s i o n i s n o t th a t t h r o u g h - t r a f ﬁ c v i e w e r s w o u l d ﬁ n d t h e P r o j e c t v i s u a l l y a c c e p t a b l e an d n e i g h b o r s w o u l d n o t . I t i s a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t a s a g r o u p , r e s i d e n t i a l vi e w e r s a r e s t r o n g l y i n v e s t e d i n t h e e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n , a n d g e n e r a l l y st a t e a p r e f e r e n c e f o r i t s c o n t i n u a t i o n . T h e n e i g h b o r h o o d s t h a t s t r e t c h to e i t h e r s i d e o f E s p o l a R o a d , h o w e v e r , a l s o i n c l u d e u s e r s i m p a c t e d b y ex i s t i n g c o n g e s t i o n a n d w i t h o u t d i r e c t v i e w s t o t h e r o a d w a y a s i t c u r r e n t l y ex i s t s . I t i s a l s o a s s u m e d t h a t s o m e i n d i v i d u a l s l i v i n g a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d co u l d p r e f e r t h e i m p r o v e d r o a d w a y , a l t h o u g h i t w o u l d b e s p e c u l a t i v e t o id e n t i f y a p o t e n t i a l n u m b e r . T h e c r u x o f t h e a n a l y s i s , a l t h o u g h a d d r e s s e d in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h p o t e n t i a l v i e w e r o p i n i o n , i s t h e o b j e c t i v e a n a l y s i s pr o v i d e d o n p a g e 2 . 2 - 2 1 , w i t h t h e c r i t i c a l e l e m e n t s i n i t a l i c s b e l o w : It i s e x p e c t e d t h a t a n u m b e r o f v i e w e r s ( p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e r e l a t i v e l y sm a l l p e r c e n t a g e l i v i n g a d j a c e n t t o E s p o l a R o a d ) m a y ﬁ nd these ch a n g e s a d v e r s e i n n a t u r e . Th e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f s u b u r b a n / u r b a n ro a d w a y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d i n c r e a s e i n s o l i d s u r f a c e s o u n d wa l l s l e a d t o a c o n c l u s i o n o f a d v e r s e v i s u a l e f f e c t r e l a t e d t o th e s e i s s u e s . T h i s i s c o u n t e r b a l a n c e d a n d o u t w e i g h e d , h o w e v e r , by P r o j e c t - m a n d a t e d a m e n i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g p e d e s t r i a n / e q u e s t r i a n pa t h w a y s a n d l a n d s c a p i n g , w h i c h c o n t r i b u t e t o i n c r e a s e s i n u n i t y an d i n t a c t n e s s . T h i s i s t r u e n o t o n l y f o r L U - 2 t h r o u g h 4 , b u t a l s o pr o v i d e s a m o r e c o n s i s t e n t t r a n s i t i o n t o L U - 1 a n d L U - 5 , w h e r e ex i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s a r e c l o s e r t o t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t . It is also ex p e c t e d t h a t a l a r g e n u m b e r o f v i e w e r s w o u l d ﬁ nd the more co n s i s t e n t d e s i g n e l e m e n t s ( b o t h a l o n g t h e i m p r o v e d s t r e t c h e s , as w e l l a s a d j a c e n t t o w i d e r a b u t t i n g p o r t i o n s o f t h e s a m e r o a d ) , in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e m o r e o p e n v i e w s a f f o r d e d b y a w i d e r ro a d w a y , t o b e v i s u a l l y p l e a s i n g . S- 7 co n t . S- 8 T h e E I R d o e s n o t m i n i m i z e i m p a c t s t h r o u g h e m p h a s i s o f P r o j e c t p a t h w a y s an d l a n d s c a p i n g . T h e s e a r e P r o j e c t d e s i g n f e a t u r e s t h a t a r e e x p e c t e d t o be n e ﬁ t r o a d w a y u s e r s i n g e n e r a l , b u t w o u l d b e m o s t e x p e r i e n c e d b y re s i d e n t s w a l k i n g a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d . T h e s e a m e n i t i e s d i d n o t o v e r r i d e th e s i g n i ﬁ c a n t i m p a c t i d e n t i ﬁ e d t o t h e b u i l t e n v i r o n m e n t r e l a t i v e t o t h e co m b i n e d h e i g h t o f a r e t a i n i n g w a l l / s o u n d w a l l a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d . Th e c o m m e n t e r i s i n c o r r e c t t h a t t h e l a n d s c a p e w a s n o t s u b j e c t t o p u b l i c re v i e w a n d c o m m e n t . T h e l a n d s c a p e p l a n w a s p r o v i d e d f o r r e v i e w a n d CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-88 S- 9 co n t . S- 1 0 co m m e n t o n F i g u r e s 2 . 2 - 2 a t h r o u g h 2 . 2 - 2 f o f t h e D r a f t E I R . T h e s e ﬁ g u r e s p r o v i d e d i n f o r m a t i o n o n p r o p o s e d s p e c i e s a n d p l a n t i n g s c h e m e s al o n g t h e r o a d w a y s e g m e n t s . Th e E I R a d e q u a t e l y a d d r e s s e s t h e i m p a c t o f c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s . A s st a t e d i n t h e E I R , c o n s t r u c t i o n w o u l d b e o n g o i n g f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y on e y e a r i n o r d e r t o c o m p l e t e a l l e l e m e n t s o f t h e P r o j e c t ( r o a d w a y im p r o v e m e n t s , p o t e n t i a l s o u n d w a l l c o n s t r u c t i o n , u t i l i t y u n d e r g r o u n d i n g , si d e w a l k a n d l a n d s c a p i n g i n s t a l l a t i o n ) . T e m p o r a r y / c o n s t r u c t i o n im p a c t s w e r e s p e c i ﬁ c a l l y a d d r e s s e d i n e a c h t e c h n i c a l s e c t i o n w h e r e re l e v a n t ( e . g . , v i s u a l / a e s t h e t i c s , n o i s e a n d t r a f ﬁ c). Although the EIR co n s e r v a t i v e l y d i s c l o s e d t h a t c o n s t r u c t i o n c o u l d b e o n g o i n g f r o m 7 : 0 0 a. m . t o 7 : 0 0 p . m . s i x d a y s a w e e k , t h e s e a r e t h e p e r i o d s w i t h i n w h i c h co n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s a r e a l l o w e d i n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h C i t y o r d i n a n c e , an d d o n o t r e ﬂ e c t t h e r e a l i t y o f c o n s t r u c t i o n , w h i c h g e n e r a l l y w o u l d b e li k e l y t o o c c u r f o r f e w e r h o u r s p e r d a y a n d d u r i n g a ﬁ ve-day work week. (C o m m o n r o a d w a y c o n s t r u c t i o n h o u r s i n t h e C i t y a r e 8 : 3 0 a . m . t o 3 : 3 0 p. m . ) A s a l i n e a r p r o j e c t , c o n s t r u c t i o n w o u l d b e l o c a t e d i n a n y o n e a r e a ad j a c e n t t o s p e c i ﬁ c p r o p e r t i e s f o r a m u c h s h o r t e r t i m e p e r i o d t h a n t h e ov e r a l l c o n s t r u c t i o n t i m e f r a m e . As s t a t e d o n p a g e s 1 - 1 2 a n d 3 - 1 2 o f t h e E I R , r e s t r i c t i o n o f a c c e s s v i a t h e ex i s t i n g d r i v e w a y m a y b e a f f e c t e d f r o m s i x h o u r s t o t h r e e d a y s f o r a n y on e p r o p e r t y o w n e r . ( T h e l o n g e s t t i m e p e r i o d r e l a t e s o n l y t o a s u b s t a n t i a l dr i v e w a y r e c o n s t r u c t i o n r e q u i r e d f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 0 p r o p e r t i e s . ) A l s o as s t a t e d , t h e t i m i n g o f d r i v e w a y a p p r o a c h r e c o n s t r u c t i o n w o u l d b e co o r d i n a t e d w i t h e a c h i n d i v i d u a l p r o p e r t y o w n e r p r i o r t o c o n s t r u c t i o n i n or d e r t o e n s u r e m i n i m i z a t i o n o f i m p a c t s . I t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t a p o r t i o n o f th e e x i s t i n g d r i v e w a y c o u l d b e m a i n t a i n e d f o r u s e d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n . If t h a t i s n o t p o s s i b l e , a s s t a t e d o n p a g e 1 - 1 3 o f t h e E I R : “ a c c e s s t o ex i s t i n g h o m e s a n d b u s i n e s s e s a l o n g o r a d j a c e n t t o t h e P r o j e c t s i t e w o u l d be m a i n t a i n e d d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n b y c r e a t i n g t e m p o r a r y d r i v e w a y s , S- 8 co n t . S- 9 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-89 an d / o r p r o v i d i n g a l t e r n a t e a c c e s s p o i n t s , a l l w i t h i n t h e e v a l u a t e d P r o j e c t fo o t p r i n t . ” I n n o i n s t a n c e w o u l d a c c e s s b e u n a v a i l a b l e . In o r d e r t o m i n i m i z e p o t e n t i a l a d v e r s e e f f e c t s f o r E s p o l a R o a d u s e r s , a nu m b e r o f s t a n d a r d t r a f ﬁ c c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s w o u l d b e e m p l o y e d . T h e s e me a s u r e s w o u l d c o m p l y w i t h a l l f e d e r a l , s t a t e a n d l o c a l r e g u l a t i o n s fo r t r a f ﬁ c c o n t r o l . E x a m p l e s o f t r a f ﬁ c c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s t h a t m a y b e em p l o y e d d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n i n c l u d e , b u t a r e n o t l i m i t e d t o t h e fo l l o w i n g : t e m p o r a r y s t r i p i n g , t r a f ﬁ c c o n e s , t e m p o r a r y m i n o r r e - r o u t i n g of p e d e s t r i a n / b i c y c l e / e q u e s t r i a n t r a f ﬁ c t o a d j a c e n t a r e a s / o p p o s i t e s i d e s of t h e s t r e e t , c h a n g e a b l e m e s s a g e b o a r d s , a r r o w b o a r d s , t e m p o r a r y si g n a g e , t e m p o r a r y b a r r i e r s , ﬂ a g p e r s o n s a n d a l t e r n a t i v e w o r k h o u r s . A s st a t e d i n t h e c o m m e n t a n d o n E I R p a g e 1 - 1 1 , l a n e c l o s u r e s w o u l d n o t b e al l o w e d d u r i n g c o m m u t e h o u r s ( 7 : 0 0 t o 9 : 0 0 a . m . , a n d 2 : 0 0 t o 3 : 0 0 a n d 4: 0 0 t o 6 : 0 0 p . m . ) . P l e a s e a l s o n o t e t h e h o u r s o f r o a d w a y c o n s t r u c t i o n mo s t c o m m o n i n t h e C i t y a s s t a t e d i n t h e r e s p o n s e t o t h i s C o m m e n t ab o v e . T h e s e e f f o r t s t o m a i n t a i n r o a d w a y a c c e s s i b i l i t y w o u l d b e n e ﬁ t al l u s e r s , i n c l u d i n g n e i g h b o r h o o d d r i v e r s . A s e v a l u a t e d i n S e c t i o n 2 . 3 , No i s e , c o n s t r u c t i o n n o i s e i s e x p e c t e d t o b e a u d i b l e , a l t h o u g h w i t h i n C i t y or d i n a n c e l i m i t s . A n u m b e r o f m i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s a r e i d e n t i ﬁ ed to help mi t i g a t e c o n s t r u c t i o n n o i s e , b u t i t i s u n d e r s t o o d t h a t e f f e c t s w i l l r e m a i n ad v e r s e u n t i l c o m p l e t i o n o f c o n s t r u c t i o n . T h e m i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s in c l u d e : • E a c h i n t e r n a l c o m b u s t i o n e n g i n e , u s e d f o r a n y p u r p o s e o n t h e jo b o r r e l a t e d t o t h e j o b , s h a l l b e e q u i p p e d w i t h a m u f ﬂ er of a ty p e r e c o m m e n d e d b y t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r . N o i n t e r n a l c o m b u s t i o n en g i n e s h a l l b e o p e r a t e d o n t h e P r o j e c t w i t h o u t s a i d m u f ﬂ er. • T h e n o i s e l e v e l r e q u i r e m e n t s h a l l a p p l y t o t h e e q u i p m e n t o n t h e jo b o r r e l a t e d t o t h e j o b , i n c l u d i n g b u t n o t l i m i t e d t o t r u c k s , t r a n s i t mi x e r , o r t r a n s i e n t e q u i p m e n t t h a t m a y o r m a y n o t b e o w n e d b y th e c o n t r a c t o r . • T h e u s e o f l o u d s i g n a l s s h a l l b e a v o i d e d i n f a v o r o f l i g h t wa r n i n g s e x c e p t t h o s e r e q u i r e d b y s a f e t y l a w s f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n of p e r s o n n e l . • U n n e c e s s a r y i d l i n g o f i n t e r n a l c o m b u s t i o n e n g i n e s w i t h i n 1 0 0 fe e t o f r e s i d e n c e s s h o u l d b e s t r i c t l y p r o h i b i t e d . • S t a g i n g o f c o n s t r u c t i o n e q u i p m e n t b e y o n d 2 0 0 f e e t o f r e s i d e n c e s an d l o c a t i o n o f a l l s t a t i o n a r y n o i s e - g e n e r a t i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n S- 9 co n t . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-90 eq u i p m e n t , s u c h a s a i r c o m p r e s s o r s a n d p o r t a b l e p o w e r ge n e r a t o r s , s h a l l o c c u r a s f a r a s p r a c t i c a l f r o m n o i s e s e n s i t i v e re s i d e n c e s . T h e c o n t r a c t o r w i l l p l a c e a l l s t a t i o n a r y c o n s t r u c t i o n eq u i p m e n t s o t h a t e m i t t e d n o i s e i s d i r e c t e d a w a y f r o m s e n s i t i v e re c e p t o r s ( r e s i d e n c e s ) . • A s d i r e c t e d b y t h e C i t y , t h e c o n t r a c t o r w i l l i m p l e m e n t a p p r o p r i a t e ad d i t i o n a l n o i s e m i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s , i n c l u d i n g c h a n g i n g t h e lo c a t i o n o f s t a t i o n a r y c o n s t r u c t i o n e q u i p m e n t , t u r n i n g o f f i d l i n g eq u i p m e n t , r e s c h e d u l i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t y , n o t i f y i n g a d j a c e n t re s i d e n t s i n a d v a n c e o f c o n s t r u c t i o n w o r k , a n d i n s t a l l i n g a c o u s t i c ba r r i e r s a r o u n d s t a t i o n a r y c o n s t r u c t i o n n o i s e s o u r c e s . Th e C i t y i s o p e n t o r e c e i v i n g a n y a n d a l l s u g g e s t i o n s a s t o a d d i t i o n a l mi t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s t o a d d r e s s t r a f ﬁ c a n d n o i s e c o n c e r n s d u r i n g t h e co n s t r u c t i o n p e r i o d . Ea c h o f t h e s e i s s u e s h a s b e e n a d d r e s s e d i n r e s p o n s e s t o y o u r C o m m e n t s S- 2 t h r o u g h S - 9 , a b o v e . P l e a s e r e f e r t o t h o s e r e s p o n s e s f o r d e t a i l . S- 9 co n t . S- 1 0 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-91 T- 2 T- 1 T- 3 T- 4 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . Th e C i t y C o u n c i l w i l l f u l l y c o n s i d e r P r o j e c t c o s t s d u r i n g f u t u r e e v a l u a t i o n of w h e t h e r t o a p p r o v e o r d e n y t h e P r o j e c t . Yo u r s t a t e m e n t r e g a r d i n g h o m e o w n e r o p i n i o n i s n o t e d . P l e a s e r e f e r t o To p i c a l R e s p o n s e s “ C o u n t r y A t m o s p h e r e ” a n d “ Q u a l i t y o f L i f e ” f o r m o r e in f o r m a t i o n o n h i s t o r i c a l g r o w t h w i t h i n t h e C i t y a n d p r o j e c t e d c h a n g e s as s o c i a t e d w i t h P r o j e c t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . P o w a y w o u l d r e m a i n a “ c i t y i n th e c o u n t r y ” w i t h t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ E n h a n c e m e n t s O n l y . ” T h i s c o u l d be o n e r e s u l t o f f u t u r e C i t y C o u n c i l d e l i b e r a t i o n s o n w h e t h e r o r n o t t o ap p r o v e t h e P r o j e c t . T- 1 T- 2 T- 3 T- 4 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-92 T- 6 T- 5 T- 7 T- 8 T- 5 T- 6 T- 7 T- 8 Pl e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t T - 1 . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t T - 2 . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t T - 3 . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t T - 4 . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-93 U- 1 U- 3 U- 2 U- 4 U- 5 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r c o n t i n u e d e f f o r t s t o i m p r o v e o u r “ c i t y i n t h e c o u n t r y . ” U- 1 U- 2 T h e i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g y o u r p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e o n E s p o l a R o a d a n d la c k o f n e e d f o r c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e t u r n l a n e n o r t h o f D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d / Hi g h V a l l e y R o a d i s n o t e d a n d w i l l b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g th e i r f u t u r e d e l i b e r a t i o n s o n w h e t h e r o r n o t t o a p p r o v e t h e P r o j e c t , a s in d i c a t e d i n t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t U - 1 . Pl e a s e n o t e t h a t t r a f ﬁ c m a n a g e m e n t p l a n n i n g a n a l y z e s t h e “ w o r s t ca s e ” c o n d i t i o n s s o t h a t r o a d s c a n b e s t s e r v e a l l u s e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e da y . A s d e t a i l e d i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 , T r a f ﬁ c/Transportation, of the EIR, on e i n t e r s e c t i o n a n d a l l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a R o a d a r e a l r e a d y f a i l i n g . In c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e s i n p r o j e c t e d t r a f ﬁ c v o l u m e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o r e s u l t in c o n t i n u e d f a i l u r e o f a l l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a R o a d b e t w e e n T w i n P e a k s Ro a d a n d T i t a n W a y t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 . B e c a u s e r o a d p r o j e c t s t a k e s o m e t i m e to o b t a i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a r a n c e , p r o j e c t a p p r o v a l a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , th e e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w b e g i n s e a r l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f i d e n t i f y i n g n e e d fo r i m p r o v e m e n t , a n d i s l a r g e l y b a s e d o n m o d e l i n g r a t h e r t h a n e x i s t i n g co n d i t i o n s . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-94 U- 6 U- 5 co n t . U- 5 U- 6 Al t h o u g h s i g n a l s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n w o u l d b e a n i m p o r t a n t e l e m e n t o f t h e Pr o j e c t , s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n a l o n e w o u l d n o t a d d r e s s p r o j e c t e d l e v e l s o f co n g e s t i o n . Th e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s i d e w a l k s a l o n g E s p o l a R o a d a n d u n d e r g r o u n d i n g of e x i s t i n g o v e r h e a d u t i l i t i e s a r e b o t h p a r t o f t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ E n h a n c e m e n t s O n l y ” f o r i n f o r m a t i o n re g a r d i n g t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f o n l y p o r t i o n s o f t h e pr o p o s e d P r o j e c t . Al t h o u g h c u r r e n t p r e l i m i n a r y c o s t f o r P r o j e c t c o n s t r u c t i o n i s a n t i c i p a t e d to b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 4 m i l l i o n i n 2 0 1 3 d o l l a r s , b e c a u s e C i t y C o u n c i l co n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e P r o j e c t i s n o t o c c u r r i n g a t t h i s t i m e , a n d a t i m e f r a m e fo r p o s s i b l e c o n s t r u c t i o n h a s n o t b e e n c o n ﬁ rmed, ultimate Project costs an d t h e s o u r c e o f f u n d i n g h a v e n o t b e e n d e t e r m i n e d . P l e a s e n o t e t h a t th e r e w o u l d n o t b e a n y “ u n r e a s o n a b l e t a k e o v e r ” o f p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y . If t h e P r o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e , s o m e s m a l l i n c u r s i o n s w o u l d be r e q u i r e d i n t o p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y . T h e s e a r e v i s i b l e o n F i g u r e s 1 - 4 a s ar e a s o f g r a y b e t w e e n t h e e x i s t i n g r i g h t - o f - w a y a n d p r o p o s e d r i g h t - o f - wa y l i n e s a n d a r e e d g e d b y a b l a c k d o t t e d l i n e . N e w r i g h t - o f - w a y w o u l d be r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e m i n i m u m n e e d e d f o r P r o j e c t c o n s t r u c t i o n , w i t h t h e ma x i m u m a n t i c i p a t e d f o r t h e e n t i r e P r o j e c t a r e a t o b e 1 8 , 6 8 7 s q u a r e f e e t . As s h o w n , n o i m p a c t t o t h e m a j o r i t y o f p a r c e l s w o u l d o c c u r . W h e r e r i g h t - of - w a y i s n e e d e d , t h e p r o p e r t y o w n e r w o u l d b e p a i d a t f a i r m a r k e t v a l u e . U- 3 U- 4 Al t h o u g h t h e C i t y h a s c o n t r o l o v e r d r o p o f f z o n e s w i t h i n p u b l i c r i g h t - of - w a y , i t h a s n o c o n t r o l o v e r d r o p o f f z o n e s i n t h e h i g h s c h o o l p r o p e r t y . On e p o s s i b l e a l t e r n a t i v e m e a s u r e t h a t c o u l d a s s i s t w i t h t h i s i s s u e w o u l d be t o s t a g g e r s t a r t t i m e s f o r P H S ( e . g . , 7 : 0 0 , 8 : 1 5 a n d 9 : 3 0 a . m . ) . T h i s wo u l d r e d u c e p e a k h o u r v o l u m e s , w h i c h i n t u r n w o u l d i m p r o v e L O S a n d tr a f ﬁ c ﬂ o w o n E s p o l a R o a d d u r i n g t h e a . m . p e a k p e r i o d . T h e C i t y h a s be e n d i s c u s s i n g s c h o o l t r a f ﬁ c i s s u e s w i t h P H S a n d t h e P o w a y U n i ﬁ ed Sc h o o l D i s t r i c t , a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o d o s o i n a n e f f o r t t o a d d r e s s t h i s is s u e . P l e a s e n o t e , h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e s u g g e s t i o n s f o r r o a d m o d i ﬁ cations no r t h o f T i t a n W a y a r e b e y o n d t h e p u r v i e w o f t h i s E I R a n d t h e P r o j e c t ar e a a n a l y z e d . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-95 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-96 U- 7 U- 8 U- 7 U- 8 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r c l a r i ﬁ c a t i o n r e g a r d i n g p r e s e n c e a t y o u r r e s i d e n c e si n c e 1 9 9 7 . Pl e a s e r e f e r t o t h e r e s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t 3 r e g a r d i n g t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of o n l y i m p l e m e n t i n g s i d e w a l k s a n d / o r o t h e r e n h a n c e m e n t s . I f t h e Pr o j e c t i s a p p r o v e d i n t h e f u t u r e , t h e u t i l i t y c o m p a n y w o u l d e v a l u a t e wh e t h e r t h e u t i l i t i e s c o u l d a l l ﬁ t u n d e r t h e s i d e w a l k o r w o u l d a l s o b e pl a c e d u n d e r r o a d r i g h t - o f - w a y . Th e C i t y s h a r e s y o u r c o n c e r n f o r t h e s a f e t y o f p e d e s t r i a n s o n t h i s r o a d an d h a s d e s i g n e d t h e P r o j e c t w i t h i n c r e a s e d s a f e t y t o a l l u s e r s a s a m a i n ob j e c t i v e . A s s h o w n i n t h e E I R , s e p a r a t i o n o f s t r e e t t r a f ﬁ c from the si d e w a l k b y s t r e e t s c a p e w o u l d o c c u r i n s o m e p o r t i o n s o f t h e P r o j e c t . No p r o p e r t y w o u l d b e “ s t o l e n ” f r o m h o m e o w n e r s . A s s t a t e d i n t h e re s p o n s e t o y o u r C o m m e n t U - 4 , f a i r m a r k e t v a l u e w o u l d b e p r o v i d e d f o r an y p r o p e r t y p o r t i o n s r e q u i r e d f o r r i g h t - o f - w a y . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-97 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-98 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-99 V- 1 V- 2 V- 3 V- 4 V- 1 V- 2 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . Yo u r k n o w l e d g e o f t h e e x i s t i n g t r a f ﬁ c p a t t e r n s a n d p r o v i s i o n o f t h i s in f o r m a t i o n i s a p p r e c i a t e d . P l e a s e n o t e , h o w e v e r , t h a t t r a f ﬁ c management pl a n n i n g e v a l u a t e s t h e “ w o r s t c a s e ” s o t h a t r o a d s c a n b e s t s e r v e t h e i r us e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e e n t i r e d a y . A s d e t a i l e d i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 , T r a f ﬁ c/ Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n , o f t h e E I R , o n e i n t e r s e c t i o n a n d a l l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a Ro a d a r e a l r e a d y f a i l i n g . I n c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e s i n p r o j e c t e d t r a f ﬁ c vo l u m e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o r e s u l t i n c o n t i n u e d f a i l u r e o f a l l s e g m e n t s o f Es p o l a R o a d b e t w e e n T w i n P e a k s R o a d a n d T i t a n W a y t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 . Be c a u s e r o a d p r o j e c t s t a k e s o m e t i m e t o o b t a i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a r a n c e , pr o j e c t a p p r o v a l a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w b e g i n s ea r l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f i d e n t i f y i n g n e e d f o r i m p r o v e m e n t , a n d i s l a r g e l y ba s e d o n m o d e l i n g r a t h e r t h a n e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s . Th e C i t y h a s c o n s i d e r e d t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r a d d i t i o n a l t r a f ﬁ c on the re s i d e n t i a l / l o c a l s t r e e t s a s a r e s u l t o f a p r o p o s e d t r a f ﬁ c signal at the Es p o l a R o a d a n d D u r h u l l e n D r i v e / G o l d e n S u n s e t L a n e i n t e r s e c t i o n . T h e CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-100 am o u n t o f a d d i t i o n a l t r a f ﬁ c , i f a n y , i s n o t k n o w n . P l e a s e n o t e t h a t b a s e d on t h e S A N D A G t r a f ﬁ c m o d e l u s e d t o f o r e c a s t f u t u r e c o n d i t i o n s , t h e pe a k t r a f ﬁ c f o r t h i s i n t e r s e c t i o n , a s w e l l a s t h e o t h e r i n t e r s e c t i o n s a l o n g Es p o l a R o a d , a r e a s s u m e d t o i n c r e a s e b a s e d o n r e g i o n a l g r o w t h . T h e am o u n t o f t h a t i n c r e a s e r e l a t e d t o i n s t a l l a t i o n o f t h e s i g n a l i s s p e c u l a t i v e an d c a n n o t b e d e t e r m i n e d w i t h a n y l e v e l o f a c c u r a c y a t t h i s t i m e . V- 2 co n t . V- 3 V- 4 Tr a f ﬁ c m o d e l i n g c o m p l e t e d f o r E s p o l a R o a d c a p a c i t y a n d l e v e l o f se r v i c e w a s c o m p l e t e d a s s u m i n g a n e w t r a f ﬁ c signal at the Durhullen Dr i v e i n t e r s e c t i o n . T h i s s i g n a l w o u l d b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 , 4 0 0 f e e t f r o m th e T w i n P e a k s R o a d s i g n a l a n d 1 , 6 0 0 f e e t f r o m t h e D e l P o n i e n t e R o a d / Hi g h V a l l e y R o a d s i g n a l , b o t h o f w h i c h e x c e e d m i n i m u m s p a c i n g f o r si g n a l s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n o n u r b a n a r t e r i a l s . T r a f ﬁ c modeling showed an im p r o v e m e n t o f c o n d i t i o n s w i t h t h e s i g n a l i n p l a c e . A s s u c h , n o i m p a c t i s an t i c i p a t e d . P l e a s e a l s o n o t e t h a t t h e t r a f ﬁ c volumes on local side streets du r i n g p e a k h o u r s a r e l o w e n o u g h t h a t t h e g r e e n - s i g n a l t i m e w o u l d b e pr i m a r i l y a l l o c a t e d t o E s p o l a R o a d t h r o u g h s i g n a l p h a s e s . Yo u r c o m m e n t s a r e n o t e d a n d w i l l b e p a r t o f t h e r e c o r d c o n s i d e r e d b y th e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g f u t u r e P r o j e c t d e l i b e r a t i o n s o n w h e t h e r o r n o t to a p p r o v e t h e P r o j e c t , a s i n d i c a t e d a b o v e . P l e a s e a l s o r e f e r t o T o p i c a l Re s p o n s e “ Q u a l i t y o f L i f e ” f o r p o t e n t i a l p o s i t i v e e f f e c t s o f t h e p r o p o s e d Pr o j e c t . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-101 W- 1 W- 2 W- 3 W- 4 W- 1 W- 2 W- 3 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d t o th e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y t h e EI R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l at t h i s t i m e . Y o u r c o m m e n t r e g a r d i n g M r . E m e r y i s n o t e d . Tr a f ﬁ c m a n a g e m e n t p l a n s f o r t h e w o r s t c a s e s o t h a t r o a d s c a n b e s t s e r v e th e i r u s e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e d a y . A s d e t a i l e d i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 , T r a f ﬁ c/ Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n , o f t h e E I R , o n e i n t e r s e c t i o n a n d a l l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a Ro a d a r e a l r e a d y f a i l i n g . I n c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e s i n p r o j e c t e d t r a f ﬁ c vo l u m e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o r e s u l t i n c o n t i n u e d f a i l u r e o f a l l s e g m e n t s o f Es p o l a R o a d b e t w e e n T w i n P e a k s R o a d a n d T i t a n W a y t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 . Be c a u s e r o a d p r o j e c t s t a k e s o m e t i m e t o o b t a i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a r a n c e , pr o j e c t a p p r o v a l a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w b e g i n s ea r l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f i d e n t i f y i n g n e e d f o r i m p r o v e m e n t , a n d i s l a r g e l y ba s e d o n m o d e l i n g r a t h e r t h a n e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s . F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , pl e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ P r o j e c t N e e d . ” Th e C i t y o f P o w a y r e c o g n i z e s t h e b e n e ﬁ ts of carpooling and that ca r p o o l i n g i s a n i m p o r t a n t o p t i o n f o r d r i v e r s n o w a n d i n t h e f u t u r e . Al t h o u g h p r o g r a m s t o e d u c a t e t h e p u b l i c r e g a r d i n g t h e v a l u e o f c a r p o o l i n g ar e w o r t h y , t h e y a r e o u t s i d e t h e s c o p e o f t h i s E I R . ( T h e p o t e n t i a l v a l u e o f su c h s o c i a l p r o g r a m s i s n o t q u a n t i ﬁ a b l e , a n d t h e r e f o r e c o u l d n o t b e s u r e to l o w e r s p e c i ﬁ c a m o u n t s o f t r a f ﬁ c r e l a t i v e t o e x i s t i n g t r a f ﬁ c patterns.) In a n e f f o r t t o p r o v i d e s a f e a l t e r n a t i v e s t o d r i v i n g , t h e P r o j e c t d o e s , ho w e v e r , i n c l u d e t h e a d d i t i o n o f s i d e w a l k s t o i n c r e a s e n e i g h b o r h o o d wa l k a b i l i t y , a s w e l l a s w i d e n e d b i k e l a n e s t o c r e a t e a l a r g e r s e p a r a t i o n fr o m v e h i c l e s a n d a n o v e r a l l s a f e r b i c y c l i n g e x p e r i e n c e . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-102 Co m m e n t s r e c e i v e d d u r i n g p u b l i c r e v i e w o f a D r a f t E I R a r e i n t e n d e d to a d d r e s s t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l a d e q u a c y o f t h e s t u d i e s c o m p l e t e d f o r t h e su b j e c t P r o j e c t . A l t h o u g h y o u r c o m m e n t s r e g a r d i n g y o u r d i s c o n t e n t f o r th e a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e g u n r a n g e i n P o w a y a r e n o w p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c re c o r d , t h e y c a n n o t b e a d d r e s s e d a s p a r t o f t h i s P r o j e c t a s t h e y d o n o t ad d r e s s t h e E s p o l a R o a d I m p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E I R . Y o u r c o m m e n t ha s , h o w e v e r , b e e n f o r w a r d e d t o t h e C i t y C o u n c i l . W- 4 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-103 X- 1 X- 1 T h a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y th e E I R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y Co u n c i l a t t h i s t i m e . On e p o s s i b l e a l t e r n a t i v e m e a s u r e t h a t c o u l d a s s i s t w i t h t h i s i s s u e d u r i n g mo r n i n g h o u r s w o u l d b e t o s t a g g e r s t a r t t i m e s f o r P H S ( e . g . , 7 : 0 0 , 8 : 1 5 an d 9 : 3 0 a . m . ) . T h i s w o u l d r e d u c e p e a k h o u r v o l u m e s , w h i c h i n t u r n wo u l d i m p r o v e L O S a n d t r a f ﬁ c ﬂ o w o n E s p o l a R o a d d u r i n g t h e a . m . pe a k p e r i o d . T h e C i t y h a s b e e n d i s c u s s i n g s c h o o l t r a f ﬁ c issues with PH S a n d t h e P o w a y U n i ﬁ e d S c h o o l D i s t r i c t , a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o d o s o i n an e f f o r t t o a d d r e s s t h i s i s s u e . T h e s e c o n d h i g h e s t p e r i o d o f c o n g e s t i o n , ho w e v e r , i s i n t h e p . m . p e a k h o u r , w h i c h i n n o t a s s o c i a t e d w i t h P H S . Pl e a s e n o t e , h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e s u g g e s t i o n s f o r r o a d m o d i ﬁ cations north of T i t a n W a y a r e b e y o n d t h e p u r v i e w o f t h i s E I R a n d t h e P r o j e c t a r e a an a l y z e d . CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-104 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-105 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-106 X- 2 X- 2 T h e c u r r e n t P r o j e c t i s t h e m i n i m u m P r o j e c t t h a t w o u l d s o l v e t h e i d e n t i ﬁ ed tr a n s p o r t a t i o n s h o r t f a l l s ; r e s t r i p i n g o f t h e r o a d w o u l d n o t a c c o m p l i s h Pr o j e c t g o a l s . P l e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ P r o j e c t N e e d . ” CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-107 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-108 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-109 CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-110 Y- 1 Y- 3 Y- 4 Y- 2 Y- 1 Y- 2 Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r i n t e r e s t a n d c o m m e n t s o n t h e E s p o l a R o a d Im p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t R e p o r t ( E I R ) . Y o u r wr i t t e n c o m m e n t s a r e p a r t o f t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d . T h e y w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d t o th e P o w a y C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t o c e r t i f y t h e EI R . A p p r o v a l o r d e n i a l o f t h e P r o j e c t w i l l n o t b e b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l at t h i s t i m e . Y o u r o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t i s n o t e d . Th a n k y o u f o r y o u r c o m m e n t s . A s d e t a i l e d i n S e c t i o n 3 . 1 . 1 , T r a f ﬁ c/ Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n , o f t h e E I R , o n e i n t e r s e c t i o n a n d a l l s e g m e n t s o f E s p o l a Ro a d a r e a l r e a d y f a i l i n g . I n c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e s i n p r o j e c t e d t r a f ﬁ c vo l u m e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o r e s u l t i n c o n t i n u e d f a i l u r e o f a l l s e g m e n t s o f Es p o l a R o a d b e t w e e n T w i n P e a k s R o a d a n d T i t a n W a y t h r o u g h 2 0 3 0 . Be c a u s e r o a d p r o j e c t s t a k e s o m e t i m e t o o b t a i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a r a n c e , pr o j e c t a p p r o v a l a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w b e g i n s ea r l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f i d e n t i f y i n g n e e d f o r i m p r o v e m e n t , a n d i s l a r g e l y ba s e d o n m o d e l i n g r a t h e r t h a n e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s . Pl e a s e a l s o n o t e t h a t t h e a f t e r n o o n ( p . m . ) c o n g e s t i o n i s n o t a s s o c i a t e d wi t h s c h o o l h o u r s , b u t o c c u r s i n t h e 4 : 0 0 t o 6 : 0 0 p . m . t i m e f r a m e . F o r mo r e i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l R e s p o n s e “ P r o j e c t N e e d . ” W i t h re g a r d t o c o n g e s t i o n t h a t i s i n p a r t r e l a t e d t o s t u d e n t d r o p o f f a t P o w a y Hi g h S c h o o l ( P H S ) , E s p o l a R o a d i s a f u l l f o u r l a n e s i n w i d t h a d j a c e n t t o PH S . P l e a s e n o t e t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e C i t y h a s c o n t r o l o v e r d r o p o f f z o n e s wi t h i n p u b l i c r i g h t - o f - w a y , i t h a s n o c o n t r o l o v e r d r o p o f f z o n e s i n t h e PH S p r o p e r t y . O n e p o s s i b l e a l t e r n a t i v e m e a s u r e t h a t c o u l d a s s i s t w i t h th i s i s s u e w o u l d b e t o s t a g g e r s t a r t t i m e s f o r P H S ( e . g . , 7 : 0 0 , 8 : 1 5 a n d 9: 3 0 a . m . ) . T h i s w o u l d r e d u c e p e a k h o u r v o l u m e s , w h i c h i n t u r n w o u l d im p r o v e L O S a n d t r a f ﬁ c ﬂ o w o n E s p o l a R o a d d u r i n g t h e a . m . p e a k pe r i o d . T h e C i t y h a s b e e n d i s c u s s i n g s c h o o l t r a f ﬁ c issues with PHS and th e P o w a y U n i ﬁ e d S c h o o l D i s t r i c t , a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o d o s o i n a n e f f o r t CO M M E N T S R E S P O N S E S RTC-111 to a d d r e s s t h i s i s s u e . P l e a s e a l s o n o t e t h a t t h e s u g g e s t i o n s f o r a c c e s s a t PH S a r e b e y o n d t h e p u r v i e w o f t h i s E I R a n d t h e P r o j e c t a r e a a n a l y z e d . Se v e r e i m p a c t s t o y o u r n e i g h b o r ’ s y a r d s a r e n o t e x p e c t e d t o r e s u l t f r o m th e s m a l l a r e a s r e q u i r e d f o r p u b l i c r i g h t - o f - w a y . P l e a s e r e f e r t o T o p i c a l Re s p o n s e s “ C o u n t r y A t m o s p h e r e ” a n d “ Q u a l i t y o f L i f e ” r e g a r d i n g t h e ex i s t i n g s e t t i n g , l e v e l o f a n t i c i p a t e d c h a n g e s i f t h e P r o j e c t i s i m p l e m e n t e d , an d p o t e n t i a l i m p r o v e m e n t s f o r t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d . P l e a s e n o t e t h a t t h e st r e e t s c a p e i s n o t e x p e c t e d t o l o o k a r t i ﬁ c i a l , b u t w i l l r e ﬂ ect local plant ty p e s a n d g r o u p i n g s o f t r e e s i n r e l a x e d p a t t e r n s a l o n g t h e r o a d . Yo u r o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e p r o p o s e d P r o j e c t i s n o t e d . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l be b e f o r e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l d u r i n g t h e i r f u t u r e d e l i b e r a t i o n s o n w h e t h e r or n o t t o a p p r o v e t h e P r o j e c t . Y- 2 co n t . Y- 3 Y- 4 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-112 Z-1 Z-2 Z-3 Z-4 Z-5 Thank you for your interest and comments on the Espola Road Improvement Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Your written comments are part of the public record. They will be presented to the Poway City Council during its consideration of whether to certify the EIR. Approval or denial of the Project will not be before the City Council at this time. Please refer to Topical Responses “Country Atmosphere” and “Quality of Life” for information on historical growth within the City and projected changes associated with Project implementation. Z-1 Your information regarding your experience with congestion on Espola Road is appreciated. Please note, however, that the p.m. peak hour congestion is not related to Poway High School as it occurs between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. A lesser level of congestion is experienced mid afternoon that is associated with close of classes. The Project improvements would be obtained upon completion of the turn lane north of the Del Poniente Road/High Valley Road intersection with Espola Road as well as the expanded bike lanes. This allows the bike lanes to also move vehicles accessing driveways out of the through traffic lanes. These elements, combined with synchronization of the signals along Espola Road would combine to improve traffic flow. Z-2 Z-3 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-113 The existing path varies in width and quality and does not serve the entire neighborhood population. (Please refer to Topical Response “Project Need.” A sidewalk would be ADA compliant and allow for consistent expectations with regard to pathway surface. As a point of clarification, please note that the City can be proactive in providing safer transportation routes, and does not need to point to a history of high accident rates. State and regional requirements for support of alternative transportation modes, combined with an incremental increase in traffic projected through 2030, also support the City’s efforts at providing safer pedestrian, equestrian and bicycle travel ways. These are expected to support increases in the number of City residents using these alternative transportation modes, as well as improving neighborhood connectivity along Espola Road. The City notes your concerns. Please refer to Topical Responses “Country Atmosphere” and “Quality of Life” regarding the existing setting, level of anticipated changes if the Project is implemented, and potential improvements for the neighborhood. Please note that the Project landscape plan would introduce additional greenery to the streetscape, including groupings of trees in relaxed patterns along the road. These plantings would be visually backed by private yards with their individualistic plantings. Where sound walls are proposed and the property owner wants them installed, they would be covered by vines. Because of prior issues with “clumping” of vines, the City has committed to an enhanced mitigation for Espola Road. The sound wall plantings would be espaliered to ensure that they ultimately provide 100 percent coverage. The Project is not anticipated to result in degradation to the “city in the country” feel of Poway. Z-4 Z-5 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-114 AA-1 AA-2 Thank you for your interest and comments on the Espola Road Improvement Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Your written comments are part of whether to certify the EIR. Approval or denial of the Project will not be before the City Council at this time. Please refer to Topical Responses “Country Atmosphere” and “Quality of Life” for information on historical growth within the City and projected changes associated with Project implementation. Traffic management plans for the worst case so that roads can best serve their users throughout the day. As detailed in Section 3.1.1, Traffic/ Transportation, of the EIR, one intersection and all segments of Espola Road are already failing. Incremental increases in projected traffic volumes are expected to result in continued failure of all segments of Espola Road between Twin Peaks Road and Titan Way 2030. Because road projects take some time to obtain environmental clearance, project approval and implementation, the environmental review begins early in the process of identifying need for improvement, and is largely based on modeling rather than existing conditions. If this EIR is certified, the City could choose to implement an approved project or only elements thereof, as necessary. This would require installing sidewalks and/or bike lanes in their ultimate locations, and could potentially be implemented only on the west side of the roadway, for instance. Completion of the Project, with complete road improvements, could occur at a later date – or may never be implemented, depending on City Council decision. For more information, please refer to Topical Responses “Project Need” and “Enhancements Only.” AA-1 AA-2 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-115 AA-3 Please refer to the response to your Comment 01 regarding projected changes associated with Project implementation. AA-3 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-116 BB-1 BB-2 Thank you for your interest and comments on the Espola Road Improvement Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Your personal experience with congestion along Espola Road is important. Your written comments are part of the public record. They will be presented to the Poway City Council during its consideration of whether to certify the EIR. Approval or denial of the Project will not be before the City Council at this time. Your opposition to the Project is noted. Please note, however, that traffic management planning evaluates the “worst case” so that roads can best serve their users throughout the entire day. As detailed in Section 3.1.1, BB-1 BB-2 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-117 BB-4 BB-3 BB-2cont. Traffic/Transportation, of the EIR, one intersection and all segments of Espola Road are already failing. Incremental increases in projected traffic volumes are expected to result in continued failure of all segments of Espola Road between Twin Peaks Road and Titan Way through 2030. Please refer to Topical Response “Project Need” for discussion of existing and projected traffic and Project effects. With regard to your concern about Project improvements supporting additional population in the City, as described in EIR Chapter 5.0, Growth Inducement, the Project corridor is essentially built out. With or without the Espola Road improvements, potential possible development eventually would add approximately 100 homes to the northeast Poway area. Construction of those homes is not dependent upon whether or not improvements are implemented along Espola Road. Overall, there would be no net impact on potential housing construction in the Project area, or the surrounding region. Similarly, although improvements are proposed, they would not result in a new route for County residents east of the City to get to points west. As noted in EIR Chapter 1.0, Introduction and Project Description, Espola Road, also known as County Road S5, serves as a primary link between Poway’s northern, northeastern, and central residential areas. It also provides the northernmost link between Poway and Interstate 15 (I-15), and, as such, it provides an important east-west route in the northern portion of Poway. The segment of Espola Road south of the Project area, between Twin Peaks Road and Poway Road, also serves as an important inter-city link and a regional link between I 15 and State Route 67 (SR 67). As shown on Table 3.1.1-6 in the EIR, traffic projections are the same with or without the Project improvements. Your appreciation for Poway is noted. The proposed Project is not expected to adversely change the City’s size, prosperity or connections. To the contrary, it would be expected to contribute to neighborhood connectivity. BB-4 BB-3 BB-2cont. COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-118 CC-2 CC-1 Thank you for your interest and comments on the Espola Road Improvement Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Your written comments are part of the public record. They will be presented to the Poway City Council during its consideration of whether to certify the EIR. Approval or denial of the Project will not be before the City Council at this time. Your individual comments are responded to below. The height of the retaining wall is indicated on Figure 1-4c of the EIR. The highest point of the retaining wall would be 11 feet, toward the southern portion of the lot boundary. This retaining wall would lower to approximately 3 feet in height at the south side of the driveway. The retaining wall would be located just west of your property line in City public-right-of-way. The wall you reference in Figure 2.2-2e is actually a proposed six-foot sound wall that would be located on top of the retaining wall. CC-1 CC-2 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-119 CC-2cont. CC-2cont. The retaining wall would be designed to accommodate parcel drainage. This would occur during final design if the Project is approved in the future. The heights of the walls would begin at the post-construction right-of- way grade. The lower portion of your driveway would be reconstructed to match the future Espola Road grade, but no change to the distance from the driveway to your home is anticipated. The planned and existing grades would meet to the west of the house. Because all road widening proposed for this area would occur within existing public right-of-way, there would be no change to the square footage of your parcel. With regard to the alternative design shown on Figure 6-2c; this design is not viable for use with the three-lane alternative. It was initially proposed as part of a four-lane design scenario (now rejected) and would have required substantially more grading into private property than the current proposed Project. COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-120 CC-2cont. COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-121 CC-2cont. COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-122 DD-1 DD-2 DD-3 DD-4 Thank you for your interest and comments on the Espola Road Improvement Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Your written comments are part of the public record. They will be presented to the Poway City Council during its consideration of whether to certify the EIR. Approval or denial of the Project will not be before the City Council at this time. The City established a webpage for the Project that was available the first day of public circulation (March 21, 2013), located at: http://www.poway.org/index.aspx?page=1541. The link to the EIR is on that page and is also located here: http://docs.poway.org/weblink8/Browse.aspx?startid=56507. The remainder of these responses augments those that Mr. Rich Whipple, City Planner, was able to send you by email on March 25. Your concern about areas containing native vegetation is noted, and shared by the City. Please refer to Figure 2.2-4a of the EIR. This figure is included in the biological resources analysis. It is provided on an aerial photograph, and the riparian area you are concerned about can clearly be seen relative to your home. Proposed Project impacts are indicated by hatched lines. As can be seen, a very small area of encroachment is located immediately adjacent to Espola Road. This would be on the far side of the habitat from your home and would not be visible. With regard to an increase in roadway noise, the level of noise anticipated was modeled for the area as indicated by receptors 23 and 23A on Figure 2.3-2. If the Project is approved in the future and the roadway is widened, the increase in noise is projected to be approximately 0.5 to 0.7 decibel (dB) louder adjacent to the roadway. This would be somewhat less in the vicinity of your home, which is set back from Espola Road. Regardless, DD-1 DD-2 DD-3 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-123 this amount of increase is not expected to be noticed. The average healthy human ear can detect increases in loudness starting around a 3 dB increase in noise. From Evergreen Lane to Del Poniente Road on the west side of Espola Road traffic-related noise increases would be within standards set by the City. No sound walls are proposed in this area. Your approval of sidewalk installation and undergrounding of overhead utility lines is noted and will be before the City Council during future deliberations on whether or not to approve the Project. Both of these features are elements of the proposed Project. DD-3cont. DD-4 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-124 EE-1 EE-2 EE-3 EE-4 EE-5 EE-6 Thank you for your interest and comments on the Espola Road Improvement Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Your opposition to the Project is noted. Your written comments are part of the public record. They will be presented to the Poway City Council during its consideration of whether to certify the EIR. Approval or denial of the Project will not be before the City Council at this time. Thank you for the information regarding your personal experience on Espola Road. This information will be before the City Council during their future deliberations on whether or not to approve the Project, as indicated in the response to your Comment EE-1. Please note, however, as detailed in Section 3.1.1, Traffic/Transportation, of the EIR, one intersection and all segments of Espola Road are already failing. Incremental increases in projected traffic volumes are expected to result in continued failure of all segments of Espola Road between Twin Peaks Road and Titan Way through 2030. Because road projects take some time to obtain environmental clearance, project approval and implementation, the environmental review begins early in the process of identifying need for improvement, and is largely based on modeling rather than existing conditions. With regard to the new signal at Durhullen Drive, Project traffic modeling assumed a new traffic signal at the Espola Road and Durhullen Drive/ Golden Sunset Lane intersection. The analysis found that this additional signal would not impact congestion because of the low traffic volumes from the side streets. This signal would be approximately 2,400 feet from the Twin Peaks Road signal and 1,600 feet from the High Valley Road signal, which is considered adequate for signal synchronization on urban EE-1 EE-2 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-125 arterials. Although the signal would add an additional stop for Espola Road, the side street traffic volumes are low enough that the green time will mostly be allocated to Espola Road traffic. Within Project limits, the LOS for the intersection and roadway segment north and south of Durhullen Drive would improve. The City has considered the potential for additional traffic on the residential/local streets as a result of a proposed traffic signal at the Espola Road and Durhullen Drive/Golden Sunset Lane intersection. The amount of additional traffic, if any, is not known. Please note that based on the SANDAG traffic model used to forecast future conditions, the peak traffic for this intersection, as well as the other intersections along Espola Road, are assumed to increase based on regional growth. The amount of that increase related to installation of the signal is speculative and cannot be determined with any level of accuracy at this time. Temporary/construction impacts were specifically addressed in each technical section where relevant (e.g., visual/aesthetics, noise and traffic). Because the roadway is linear in nature, construction activities would also move along the roadway, with worst-case effects in any one location moving to a different road segment after a fairly limited period of time. If the Project is approved in the future, some small incursions would be required into private property. These are visible on Figures 1-4 as areas of gray between the existing right-of-way and proposed right-of- way lines and are edged by a black dotted line. New right-of-way would be restricted to the minimum needed for Project construction, with the maximum anticipated for the entire Project area to be 18,687 square feet. As shown, no impact to the majority of parcels would occur. Where right- of-way is needed, the property owner would be paid at fair market value. The City notes your concerns regarding aesthetics and quality of life. Please refer to Topical Responses “Country Atmosphere” and “Quality of Life” regarding the existing setting, level of anticipated changes if the Project is implemented, and potential improvements for the neighborhood. Please note that the Project landscape plan would introduce additional greenery to the streetscape, including groupings of trees in relaxed patterns along the road. These plantings would be visually backed by private yards with their individualistic plantings. Where sound walls are EE-2cont. EE-3 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-126 proposed and the property owner wants them installed, they would be covered by vines. Because of prior issues with “clumping” of vines, the City has committed to an enhanced mitigation for Espola Road. The sound wall plantings would be espaliered to ensure that they ultimately provide 100 percent coverage. The Project is not anticipated to result in degradation to the “city in the country” feel of Poway. Thank you for your thoughts. Your comments are noted and will be before the City Council during their future deliberations on whether or not to approve the Project. Incorporating expenditures on prior design, existing design, alternatives review and modifications to document type based on City or federal review, costs to date total approximately 2 million dollars on 30 percent design and environmental evaluation. The current preliminary cost for Project construction is anticipated to be approximately 14 million in 2013 dollars. Espola Road north of Twin Peaks Road is not listed as an acceptable road for large trucks. No change in this restriction is anticipated if the Project is implemented. Please refer to Topical Response “Truck Traffic.” Your comment is noted. Thank you for your participation in review of the environmental document. EE-3cont. EE-4 EE-5 EE-6 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-127 FF-1 Thank you for your interest and comments on the Espola Road Improvement Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Your opposition to the Project is noted. Your written comments are part of the public record. They will be presented to the Poway City Council during its consideration of whether to certify the EIR. Approval or denial of the Project will not be before the City Council at this time. Please note that traffic management planning analyzes the “worst case” conditions so that roads can best serve their users throughout the day. As detailed in Section 3.1.1, Traffic/Transportation, of the EIR, one intersection and all segments of Espola Road are already failing. Incremental increases in projected traffic volumes are expected to result in continued failure of all segments of Espola Road between Twin Peaks Road and Titan Way through 2030. Because road projects take some time to obtain environmental clearance, project approval and implementation, the environmental review begins early in the process of identifying need for improvement, and is largely based on modeling rather than existing conditions. For more information, please refer to Topical Response “Project Need.” The current Project is the minimum Project that would solve the identified transportation shortfalls; restriping of the road would not accomplish Project goals. Please refer to Topical Response “Project Need.” Funds have not been set aside for roadway improvements that could be reassigned to other City improvements. FF-1 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-128 GG-1 GG-2 Thank you for your interest and comments on the Espola Road Improvement Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Your general approval of the Project is noted. Your written comments are part of the public record. They will be presented to the Poway City Council during its consideration of whether to certify the EIR. Approval or denial of the Project will not be before the City Council at this time. As a point of clarification, the Project would not decrease the amount of traffic on Espola Road during rush hour periods, but would more effectively manage it so that level of service would improve over conditions without the Project. The information regarding your personal observations relative to difficulties experienced by pedestrians and bicyclists along Espola Road is noted and will be before the City Council during their future deliberations on whether or not to approve the Project, as indicated in the response to your Comment GG-1. GG-1 GG-2 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-129 GG-3 GG-6 GG-4 GG-5 The Project landscape plan would provide some unifying visual elements along this primary roadway, while still referencing a rural aesthetic through design elements such as groupings of trees in relaxed patterns along the road. The safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians is a primary Project objective. The increased separation of these transportation modes from motorized vehicles provided by the Project is expected to be one of the major Project benefits. The timeframe for evaluation of this Project has indeed been protracted. This lengthy period of evaluation, however, has been necessary in order to allow the City to carefully consider the minimum required improvements to adequately fulfill Project objectives (the Project has been changed from a four-lane to three-lane improvement during the evaluation process), review whether or not roundabouts might provide improved service requirements, redesign the landscape plan to be more drought tolerant, less fire prone, and to require less maintenance overall, as well as to provide the community adequate time to provide input on these elements. At this point, environmental evaluation is now complete, and no additional study efforts are foreseen. The issue of additional funding will be pursued when and if the Project is approved in the future. Your support for the Project is noted, and will be before the City Council during their future deliberations on whether or not to approve the Project. GG-3 GG-4 GG-5 GG-6 COMMENTS RESPONSES RTC-130 this page intentionally left blank Final Environmental Impact Report