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Transportation Department recommending the following pertaining to the Brittany Way and El Dorado Hills Boulevard Realignment Project:
1) Adopt the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Subsequent Mitigated Negative Declaration;
2) Approve said project as described in the CEQA document; and
3) Authorize the Chairman to sign the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan for same.
FUNDING: 2004 General Plan Traffic Impact Mitigation (TIM) Fees.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: There is no fical impact or net change to the General Fund.
Background: The proposed realignment and widening was originally a component of the Green Valley Road Ultimate Improvements Project in 1998 and the corresponding Environmental Impact Report (EIR). It was then analyzed on a project specific level in the same year, 1998, within the Brittany Way/El Dorado Hills Boulevard Realignment Project MND prepared by Parsons Harland Bartholomew and Associates. After adoption of the 1998 MND, the project was not constructed. However, the project was listed in the Interim Five-year Capital Improvement Program 03/04 through 07/08, as well as in the Department of Transportation Proposed Five-Year Capital Improvement Program Fiscal Year 06/07 through 10/11 as Project #72332. The project is also shown on the El Dorado County 2004 General Plan Circulation Map.
Project Description:
The project objective is to provide safe and efficient traffic movement for the Crown Village, Crown Valley and Francisco Oaks Subdivisions, Brittany Way, Francisco Drive and El Dorado Hills Boulevard. The new intersection and realignment project is a capital improvement project intended to improve traffic circulation in the local region of the County. DOT is contemplating construction in Fiscal Year 2009/10.
A new four-lane divided roadway would be constructed to realign El Dorado Hills Boulevard north of Crown Drive to connect to Francisco Drive. (See Attachments A and B.) The existing segment of El Dorado Hills Boulevard (north of the existing intersection of El Dorado Hills Boulevard and Francisco Drive) would be joined as an extension of Salmon Falls Road. The new intersection of Brittany Way with the new realignment would be signalized. The roadway surface within the project area would be constructed using rubberized asphalt to reduce vehicle noise within and around the project. A more detailed project description can be found on the DOT website at <http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/DOT/BrittanyReport.html>. A hard copy is available at the DOT offices
Reason for Recommendation: Because this Subsequent Initial Study/MND has been prepared approximately seven years after the original environmental analysis was conducted, any new potential impacts had to be addressed along with potential changes or updates to the regulatory context and/or the environmental setting. Those 1998 mitigation measures that are still applicable remain unchanged. Attachment C provides the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program which consolidates old and new mitigation measures. Additionally, Attachment D outlines a comparative analysis of the 1998 document with the new Subsequent MND. Many mitigation measures from 1998 have become part of the project itself. Attachment D provides a discussion of these instances.
Public Notification: Pursuant to Sections 15072 and 15105 of the CEQA Guidelines, the Notice of Intent for this Subsequent MND was first advertised on February 9, 2007 for 31 days in the Mountain Democrat and sent to various affected agencies, including the El Dorado Hill Community Services District (EDH CSD) with a request to send copies to each homeowners' association. When DOT staff realized that contacting the homeowners associations was not as far reaching as originally anticipated, DOT extended the review period for another 25 days for a total of 56 days. Several hundred individual notices were sent to residents located within 500 feet of the project. Both the original notice and the extension were advertised in the Mountain Democrat and posted on the DOT website.
Comments Received:
Several comments were received from local property owners regarding this project, voicing concerns on a variety of issues including noise, traffic, safety, possible road name change(s), and several others issues. Attachment E provides a summary of each issue raised and DOT's response to those comments.
Note: Under CEQA, the County is required to address direct and cumulative project impacts. As demonstrated in the Noise analysis for this MND, the road improvement project itself does not result in additional traffic volume or additional noise beyond the standards set forth in the General Plan. DOT has opted to include rubberized asphalt as part of the project in to address both existing noise and future noise levels.
The Department requests the Board make the following findings:
2. There is no substantial evidence that the project, as mitigated, will have a significant effect on the environment.
3. The Subsequent Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Brittany Way and El Dorado Hills Boulevard Realignment Project reflects the lead agency's independent judgment and analysis.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1. File a Notice of Determination with the office of the County Recorder/Clerk.
2. DOT staff will proceed with the project through preparation of the plans, specifications and estimates, and Right-of-Way acquisition process.
Contact: Janet Postlewait, Principal Planner