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Transportation Department recommending the following pertaining to a Revision to Standard Plan 101-C of the Design and Improvement Standards Manual:
1) Adopt the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Negative Declaration; and
2) Adopt Resolution amending Standard Plan 101-C of the Design and Improvement Standards Manual, replacing the existing standard with the revision dated August 17, 2007, effective February 12, 2008.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve and adopt Resolution 31-2008.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: This project is funded by the Road Fund and General Fund and is included in the General Plan Implementation Program Budget.
Background: The recommended actions are based on the following findings:
1) The CEQA document on file with the Clerk of the Board was prepared pursuant to Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq., and the CEQA Guidelines.
2) There is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment.
3) The Negative Declaration for the revision to Standard Plan 101-C reflects the lead agency's independent judgment and analysis.
Reason for Recommendation:
Project Background:
The Department of Transportation presented this item to the Board on August 21, 2007, asking for conceptual approval of the revised standard and authorization to prepare an appropriate CEQA Document.
Project Description:
This project proposes to revise the Standard Detail 101-C of the County's Design Improvements Standards Manual for non-County maintained roads in rural regions and rural centers. The revision consists of a scalable reduction of the required roadway surface widths on roads with a projected Average Daily Trips (ADT) volume of less than 600 vehicles per day for private, non-County maintained roads. See Exhibit A for the new design detail, Exhibit B for the existing detail, and Exhibit C for a comparison of the two.
The design parameters contained in the revision meet current Fire Safe Standards. Roads above 600 ADT are proposed to be improved to higher standards than those currently allowed. Roads that meet the low ADT's but are located above 3,000 feet in elevation, or have grades in excess of 12%, will be paved.
Public Notification: Pursuant to Sections 15072 and 15105 of the CEQA Guidelines, the Notice of Intent for this Negative Declaration was advertised in the Mountain Democrat for 30 days beginning October 22, 2007 and sent to various affected agencies and interested parties. The document was also available for viewing on the County DOT website, http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/DOT/pdf/negativedeclarationinitialstudy10-18-2007.pdf in its entirety.
The review period ended on November 21, 2007. No comments were received.
Negative Declaration - Impact Summary: This standard will be applied to all roads that fit the parameters outlined in the revised Standard 101-C. The revision of this standard would result in an overall reduction of required road widths County wide for roads with average daily trips (ADT's) of less than 600 within the County (See Table 3-1 of the MND). Therefore, the incorporation of this revision would either reduce or have no effect on any potential impacts that otherwise would have been identified under the existing standard with regard to: Aesthetics, Agricultural, Biological or Cultural Resources, Air Quality, Geology and Soils, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Hydrology and Water Quality, Land Use and Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population and Housing, Pubic Service, Recreation, Transportation and Traffic, or Utilities and Service Systems. No mitigation measures are required. Project specific environmental review is required under CEQA prior to road construction and appropriate mitigation will be incorporated accordingly. Adoption of this amended standard does not result in automatic project approval.
Action to be taken following Board approval: The Board Chair will:
1) Sign the attached Resolution to adopt an Amended Standard Plan 101-C of the County Design and Improvement Standards Manual.
2) Sign the revised Standard Plan 101-C effective this February 12, 2008.
DOT staff will:
1) File a Notice of Determination with the office of the County Recorder/Clerk.
2) Incorporate this amendment into the County Design and Improvement Standards Manual.
Contact: Richard W. Shepard, Director
Department of Transportation
Concurrences: County Counsel