Coachella City Council
October 30, 2023

City Hall Council Chamber
1515 Sixth Street, Coachella, California
(760) 398-3502  www.coachella.org
AGENDA

OF A REGULAR MEETING
OF THE

CITY OF COACHELLA

CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING

THE COUNCIL SITTING AS THE COACHELLA SANITARY DISTRICT,

COACHELLA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, COACHELLA FINANCING AUTHORITY,

COACHELLA EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL ACCESS CABLE CHANNEL CORPORATION,

COACHELLA WATER AUTHORITY, AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE COACHELLA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

AND COACHELLA PARKS AND RECREATION
October 30, 2023
5:00 PM – CLOSED SESSION
6:00 PM – REGULAR MEETING
In-Person Meeting
Location:

Coachella City Hall
Council Chamber
1515 Sixth Street
Coachella, CA
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Agenda City Council Special Meeting October 30, 2023

CALL TO ORDER: - 6:00 P.M.

ROLL CALL:

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
“At this time the Council/ Board/Corporation/Authority may announce any items being pulled from the Agenda or continued to another date or request the moving of an item on the agenda” PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS:

NONE
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS:

NONE.

CONSENT CALENDAR:
(IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT CONSENT ITEMS BE ACTED UPON SIMULTANEOUSLY UNLESS SEPARATE DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION IS REQUESTED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER OR MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE.) NONE.

NEW BUSINESS CALENDAR (LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE):

NONE.

PUBLIC HEARING CALENDAR (QUASI-JUDICIAL):

1. Sevilla II Project
Change of Zone No. 22-05, Tentative Tract Map No 38557, Conditional Use Permit No. 372, Architectural Review No. 23-13, Street Names and Environmental Assessment No. 22-06, a proposal to subdivide 39 acres into 204 single family lots with a minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet with three single family residential production model homes with 3 elevation options located west of Van Buren Street, south of Avenue 50 and north of Avenue 51, APN #’s 779-280-002 and 779-320-001; Applicant: The Pulte Group PUBLIC COMMENTS (NON-AGENDA ITEMS):

The public may address the City Council/Board/Corporation/ Authority on any item of interest to the public that is not on the agenda but is in the subject matter jurisdiction thereof. Please limit your comments to three (3) minutes.

REPORTS AND REQUESTS:

Council Comments/Report of Miscellaneous Committees.

Agenda City Council Special Meeting October 30, 2023

City Manager’s Comments.

ADJOURNMENT:

Complete Agenda Packets are available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s Office at 53-462 Enterprise Way, Coachella, California, and on the City’s website www.coachella.org.

THIS MEETING IS ACCESSIBLE TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

1 STAFF REPORT
10/30/2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Gabriel Perez, Development Services Director
SUBJECT:

SPECIFICS:

Sevilla II Project
Change of Zone No. 22-05, Tentative Tract Map No 38557, Conditional Use Permit No. 372, Architectural Review No. 23-13, Street Names and Environmental Assessment No. 22-06, a proposal to subdivide 39 acres into 204 single family lots with a minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet with three single family residential production model homes with 3 elevation options located west of Van Buren Street, south of Avenue 50 and north of Avenue 51, APN #’s 779- 280-002 and 779-320-001; Applicant: The Pulte Group

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2023- 71 and Ordinance No. 1208 (first reading) adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration for EA 22-06 and approving TTM 38557, CZ 22-05, CUP 372 and Street Names and AR 23-13 for a 204-lot planned unit development subdivision for the Pulte Group located on a 39-acre site, west of Van Buren Street, south of Avenue 50 and north of Avenue 51 pursuant to the findings and conditions of approval contained in the attached resolution.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Staff and the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council approve:
 TTM No. 38557 proposes to subdivide 39 acres into 204 single family lots with a minimum lot size of 5000 square feet;
 Change of Zone No. 22-05 proposes to change the existing zone from General Neighborhood (G-N) to General Neighborhood-Planned Unit Development (GN-PUD),  CUP No. 372 proposes to utilize the provisions of Section 17.38 (Planned Unit Developments) of the Coachella Municipal Code;
 AR No. 23-13 is for architectural review for 3 single family residential homes, each with 3 elevations;

Item 1.
2 EA No. 22-06 was prepared to address the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects of the proposed project on a 39-acre site located west of Van Buren Street, south of Avenue 50 and north of Avenue 51, APN #’s 779-280-002 and 779-320-001 BACKGROUND:

At a public hearing on October 18, 2023, the Planning Commission considered and recommended approval to the City Council of TTM 38557, CZ No. 22-05, CUP 372, AR 23-13 along with Street Names and the adoption of EA 22-06. The Planning Commission recommended that 2 conditions of approval be added, and 1 condition of approval be amended to the Tract Map, Conditional Use Permit and Architectural Review. Accordingly, Staff added condition No. 74 that requires that all IID electrical vaults be placed in a manner that does not reduce or interfere with any of the proposed lots; Additionally, condition 75 has been added that prohibits short term rentals within the development until two years after the final occupancy permit has been issued for TR. 38557 and condition No. 43 has been amended to add the City as a 3rd party beneficiary to the CC&R’s (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) for TR. 38557.

At the Planning Commission meeting, Pulte presented a copy of their standard CC&R’s that they typically record on their developments. Section 4.16 of the CC&R’s states: “No Owner shall be permitted to rent or lease such Owner’s lot for transient or hotel purposes, or for a period of less than thirty (30) days. All rental and lease agreements shall be in writing and shall provide that the terms of such agreement shall be subject in all respects to the provisions of this Declaration, and

Item 1.
3 that any failure by the tenant or lessee to comply with the terms hereof shall constitute a default under such agreement.” Furthermore, the Pulte CC&R’s contain a Community Specific Disclosure that states that “Buyer will not be permitted to rent or lease the Home for transient or hotel purposes, or for a period of less than 30 days. All rental and lease agreements must be in writing and must provide that the terms of the lease are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Declaration. The lease must also state that any failure by the tenant or lessee to comply with the terms of the Declaration, constitutes a default under the lease.” By adding the City as a 3rd party beneficiary in condition 43, in the event of a violation of the CC&R’s, the City and Pulte Homes will be responsible for enforcement of the CC&R’s within the Sevilla II project.

The property is currently developed with 1 residence located within the central portion of the site along with 5 warehouse/storage buildings. Two groundwater wells are currently located on-site.

The project site has been utilized for agricultural purposes for date palm and okra cultivation for the past 100 years, however the site has been fallow since 2021. An aerial photograph of the site is shown above.

The Sevilla II is similar to the above referenced projects and consists of the following applications:

CZ No. 22-05 proposes a change of zone from General Neighborhood (G-N) to General Neighborhood-Planned Unit Development (GN-PUD) to utilize the provisions of Section 17.38 (Planned Unit Development) of the Coachella Municipal Code.

TTM No. 38557: TTM 38557 proposes the subdivision of two parcels that total 39 acres into 204 single family lots with a minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet. The proposed project also includes an approximate 1-acre neighborhood park, an approximate 1.37-acre water retention area, a 0.23- acre future dedicated well site, monument signage and street and utility improvements. The proposed project would result in a net density of 7.7 dwelling units per acre which is consistent with the General Neighborhood land use designation of the Coachella General Plan.

CUP No. 372 provides the mechanism to utilize the provisions of Section 17.38 of the Municipal Code. (Planned Unit Developments). A Planned Unit Overlay is utilized to provide for attractive, planned, residential districts in accordance with the general plan; to provide a means of achieving greater quality, variety, and flexibility in residential developments. In this case, the Applicant is proposing a reduction in the rear yard setback from 20 feet to 15 feet on 30 of the proposed lots that will includes the plan 1 product type. Furthermore, a reduction in the side yard setback from 10 feet to 5 feet on 3 lots adjacent to the two project entries may be necessary as the entryways were widened in accordance with Riverside County Technical Policy 22-002 that requires that 1 travel lane be 24 feet wide.

AR No. 23-13 provides for the review of the proposed elevations, floor plans and landscaping.

EA No. 22-06 includes preparation of a mitigated negative declaration to analyze the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project.

Item 1.
4 DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:

Surrounding land uses and zoning designations are as follows:

North: Existing agricultural land; General Plan designation: General Neighborhood and Neighborhood Commercial; Existing Zoning: General Neighborhood and Neighborhood Commercial
South: Existing agricultural land, General Plan designation: General Neighborhood and Neighborhood Commercial; Existing Zoning General Neighborhood and Neighborhood Commercial.

East: Single Family Residential: General Plan designation and Zoning: Suburban Residential
West: Within the City limits: Existing single-family homes; General Plan and Zoning:

Suburban Residential. Outside City limits: Vacant land and agricultural land; Riverside County General Plan Land Use designation is Agriculture and Existing Zoning is A-1 (Light Agriculture).

Site plan
The exhibit below illustrates the proposed site plan layout for the Sevilla 2 project. The site plan includes 3 distinct floor plans, each with 3 elevations. A copy of the site plan is included below:

Figure 1: Sevilla II Site Plan

Item 1.
5 Architectural Design (See Exhibit E for a full set of architectural renderings) The Sevilla 2 project includes three distinct elevations including one, one story home and two, two story homes. The architectural plans include a Transitional Spanish, Desert Contemporary and Prairie design option including:

Plan 1 - One-Story (3-Bedroom, 2-Bath) residence with 1,959 sq. ft. of floor area Plan 2 - Two-story (4-Bedroom, 2 ½-Bath) residence with 2,404 sq. ft. of floor area Plan 3 - Two-story (5-Bedroom, 3-Bath) residence with 2,824 sq. ft. of floor area.

Each of the plans include 3 different elevations for a total of 9 different elevations which is consistent with the Residential Design Standards for single family homes.

Figure 2: Proposed Architectural Models
Figure 3: Plan 1 Elevation (Front)

Item 1.
6 A typical Plan 1 exterior elevation is attached below. Exterior materials include stucco, concrete tile roofing, decorative gable accents, optional window garage doors, stucco projection at front corners, scored stucco accents, recessed windows, coach light, paneled front door and garage door.

Figure 4: Plan 2 Elevation (Front)
Exterior materials are similar to the materials that are proposed for the Plan 1 home and include stucco, concrete tile roofing, optional garage door windows, scored stucco accents, recessed windows, coach light and paneled front door and garage door.

Figure 5: Plan 3 Elevation (Front)

Item 1.
7 Exterior building materials are similar to Plan 1 and Plan 2 and include stucco, concrete roofing, decorative gable accents, optional garage door windows, stucco projection at front corners, scored stucco accents, recessed windows, coach light and paneled garage doors and front doors.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN
The landscape plan for the Sevilla II Project addresses the proposed landscaping along Van Buren Street, project entries, the overall project wall and fence plan, park and retention area landscaping and typical front yard landscaping.

Particular attention was given to the Van Buren Street frontage and a copy of the proposed landscaping plan for Van Buren Street is attached below. A 6-foot-high decorative split face block wall will be constructed along the Van Buren Street project frontage with 12x12 precision block pilasters with caps at each rear property line. The area outside the block wall includes a multi-use trail, split rail fence, public sidewalk and landscaping as shown on the two exhibits below.

Figure 6: 2 Project Entryways, Perimeter Landscape and Street Medians The project entry includes enhanced pavement, an entry monument sign at each project entry and landscaping on either side of the project entry. The project entry also includes a 6-foot-wide landscaped median that will include date palm trees and a variety of shrubs and ground cover. In accordance with Riverside County Fire Department Technical Policy 22-002, the two project entryways have been revised to include 24 feet driveway lanes to meet the requirements of the above referenced technical policy which resulted in modifications to parcels lot sizes for parcels along Van Buren Street.

The landscaped plans also include a new center median in Van Buren Street that will be planted with date palm trees and shrubs along with ground cover as shown on Exhibit 7 below. A wall mounted monument sign will be installed at each project entry as shown on Exhibit 8 below.

Item 1.
8 Figure 7: Van Buren Street Cross Section
Figure 8: Proposed Wall Mounted Monument Signs
Wall and Fence Plan
A copy of the proposed wall and fence plan is illustrated on Figure 9 below. A 6 ft high precision block wall will be constructed along the perimeter of the project and between all lots and along the side yard between the house and the block wall.

Item 1.
9 Figure 9: Proposed Wall and Fencing Materials
Retention Basin Landscaping
The retention basin landscaping is illustrated below and will consist of a combination of trees, shrubs groundcover and hardscape including Mulga trees, Acacia trees, Desert Ironwood trees, Cape Honeysuckle, Califronia Gold groundcover and Arizona River Rock.

Figure 10: Proposed Retention Basin Landscaping
Neighborhood Park
The Project is proposing an approximate 1-acre, space-themed, neighborhood park that will be maintained by the Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District. The park will include both active and passive uses including a half basketball court, lawn area with cornhole, picnic tables, tot lot

Item 1.
10 and desert garden. Staff has conditioned that the park be installed prior to the issuance of the 101st occupancy permit and infrastructure stub outs to allow for the possibility of community garden plots. A site plan for the park and plant palette are provided in the exhibits below.

Figure 11: Proposed Neighborhood Park Improvements
Typical Front Yard Landscaping and Plant Palette
Each lot will be provided front yard landscaping as illustrated on Figure 12 below. Each front yard includes an accent tree including an Acacia or Desert Willow along with large, medium, and small shrubs.

Figure 12: Typical Front Yard Landscaping and Plant Palette

Item 1.
11 CONSISTENCY WITH GENERAL PLAN
The project site is within the General Neighborhood land use designation. General Neighborhoods are intended to provide a diversity of housing that meets the needs of the city’s many household sizes, incomes, and lifestyle preferences. General Neighborhoods include a range of single family and multi family housing options within a green, walkable neighborhood that offers parks and playgrounds for their residents and access to schools and basic shopping needs within a comfortable walk, bike ride or short drive.

The fundamental character of these neighborhoods is defined by tree-lined streets and small blocks, well-landscaped front yards and welcoming entries to each residence. Vehicular access and parking on each lot should not intrude into the front yards, primarily places for children to play and neighbors to meet. Although most of the residences are single-family detached houses, multifamily housing is also provided in “house-form” building types – such as duplexes, garden apartments and rowhouses – that are compatible in scale and character with houses. Large apartment buildings or complexes are not compatible with this sort of neighborhood setting Allowed land uses include residential land uses at a development intensity of 7-25 DU/AC. The general plan also includes standards for network and connectivity, street design, parks and open space and urban form guidelines.

The Sevilla II project proposes 204 single family homes on a 39-acre site that equates to a net density of 7.7 DUA. The project meets the general plan density requirements and meets the design standards for network connectivity, street design, parks and open space and urban form guidelines.

Item 1.
12 CONSISTENCY WITH ZONING
The project site is currently zoned General Neighborhood (G-N) which implements the General Neighborhood land use designation of the General Plan. The G-N zone permits detached single family detached subdivisions with a minimum density of 7 dwelling units per acre on lots with a on minimum lot size of 4,000 square feet with a minimum interior lot width of 40 feet and minimum lot depth of 75 feet. The minimum width of corner lots is 45 feet. The minimum front yard requirement is 15 feet and the minimum side yard requirement for interior and corner lots is 10% of the lot width, but not less than 5 feet. A rear yard setback of 20 feet is required in the G-N zone.

The Sevilla II Project meets all the requirements of the G-N zone, except that the single story, Plan 1 homes include a 15-foot rear yard setback. Of the 68 Plan 1 homes, 30 lots have a setback of less than 20 feet which is why the Applicant is using the Planned Unit Development provisions (Section

17.38) of the Municipal Code that allows for a 15-foot rear yard setback. In addition, the lots adjacent to the project entryways (a total of 3 lots) may require a reduction in the 10-foot side yard setback to five feet as the project entryways were expanded to meet the requirements of Fire Department Riverside County Technical Policy 22-002 that requires that one of the travel lanes be 24 feet in width.

The project is consistent with Section 17.19 of the Municipal Code, Supplemental Standards for Single-Family Residential recently adopted by the City Council.

Table 1 – General Neighborhood Development Standards
Zoning Ordinance Proposed Complies
with Code
Density 7-25 du/acre 7.7 du/ac Yes
Parking
(Minimum)
One per dwelling unit, to be
covered or in a garage. Plus one
and one third open space per
dwelling unit.

Yes. Each
unit includes
a 2-car
garage
Lot
Requirements
4,000 sq. ft.

Minimum Lot width 40’
Minimum Lot depth 75’
All proposed parcels are
5,000 sq. ft. or greater
Yes
Minimum Yard
Requirement
Front Yard: 15 feet
Side Yard: 5 feet
Rear Yard: 20 feet
60 Plan 1 homes have a
15-foot rear yard setback
and 3 lots on the corners
may have a 5 ft setback
rather than a 10 ft setback
No.

However, the
proposal is
consistent
with PRD
standards
Height
(maximum)
45 feet Yes. The
maximum
height
proposed is
less than 45
feet

Item 1.
13 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:

Pursuant to CEQA, an initial study was prepared for the Sevilla II Project. The Initial Study concluded that the project would result in less than significant impacts to Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Energy, Hydrology and Water Quality, Land Use and Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population and Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Transportation, Utilities and Service Systems and Wildfire.

The Initial Study concluded that the project would result in a less than significant impact with mitigation incorporated to Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Geology and Soils, Hazards and Hazardous Materials and Tribal Cultural Resources.

A 30-day public review period ran from September 5, 2023, to October 5, 2023. Six comment letters were submitted during the comment period. Responses to comments have been prepared for the comments received and are included in Attachment No. 2.

A Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) has been prepared and is attached in Attachment No. 1, Exhibit A.

ALTERNATIVES:
1) Adopt Resolution No. 2023-71 approving TTM No. 38557, CUP No. 372 and AR No. 23- 13 and Street Names and adopt Ordinance No. 1208 approving CZ 22-05 (first reading) and adopt a mitigated negative declaration for EA No. 22-06 with the findings and conditions as recommended by Staff as amended by the Planning Commission. 2) Adopt Resolution No. 2023-71 approving TTM No. 38557, CUP No. 372 and AR No. 23- 13 and Street Names and adopt Ordinance No. 1208 (first reading) approving CZ 22-05 and adopt a mitigated negative declaration for EA No. 22-06 with the findings and conditions as recommended by Staff with modifications to conditions #75 removing the time restriction on short term rental permits.
3) Deny Resolution No. 2023-71 and Ordinance No. 1208.
4) Continue this item and provide staff and the applicant with direction.

RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE(S):

Staff recommends that the City Council approve Alternative #1 Attachments:

1. Resolution No. 2023-71 approving TTM No. 38557, CUP No. 372, Street Names and AR No. 23-13 and adopting a mitigated negative declaration for EA 22-06 and the conditions of approval.

Exhibit A – EA 22-06, Response to Comments, Errata and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program

Item 1.
14 Exhibit B – Tentative Tract Map No. 38557 Sevilla II Exhibit C – Conditions of Approval for TTM No. 38557, CUP No. 272 and AR No. 23-13 Exhibit D – Sevilla II Development Plan Set
Exhibit E - Proposed Street Names

2. Ordinance No. 1208 (1st Reading), Change of Zone No. 22-05

3. Correspondence

4. Vicinity Map

5. Tract Map No. 38557 with new lot and entry modifications pursuant to Fire Dept.

Requirements

6. Tract Map No. 38557 modified plotting plan pursuant to Fire Dept. Requirements

7. Pulte Request regarding Condition of Approval #75 – Short Term Rental Permits

Item 1.

Resolution No. 2023-71

RESOLUTION NO. 2023-71

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COACHELLA APPROVING TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 38557, CUP
372, ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW NO. 23-13 AND STREET NAMES.

TTM NO. 38557 PROPOSES TO SUBDIVIDE THE PROECT SITE INTO 204 SINGLE FAMILY LOTS; CUP NO. 372 PROPOSES TO UTILIZE THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 17.38 (PLANNED UNIT
DEVELOPMENT) OF THE COACHELLA MUNICIPAL CODE;
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW NO. 23-13 IS FOR THE REVIEW OF THE

PROPOSED ELEVATIONS AND FLOOR PLANS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NO. 22-06 WAS PREPARED TO

ADDRESS THE DIRECT, INDIRECT AND CUMULATIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT; ON A
39 ACRE SITE LOCATED WEST OF VAN BUREN STREET, SOUTH OF AVENUE 50, NORTH OF AVENUE 51; APN #’s 779-280-002 AND 779- 320-001; THE PULTE GROUP, APPLICANT.

WHEREAS, David Dewegeli (on behalf of the Pulte Group) filed applications on a vacant 39 acre project site located west of Van Buren Street, south of Avenue 50 and north of Avenue 51; APN #’s 779-280-002 AND 779-320-001and, WHEREAS, the City has processed said application pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act (commencing with Section 66400, Title 7 of the Government Code), Title 16 of the Coachella Municipal Code, and the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 as amended; and,
WHEREAS, on October 18, 2023, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing on CZ No. 22-05, TTM No. 38557, AR No. 23-13, CUP No. 372 and EA No. 22-06 at 53990 Enterprise Way, Coachella, California: and, WHEREAS, the Applicant and members of the public were present and were afforded an opportunity to testify regarding the Project; and, WHEREAS, the Project is permitted pursuant to the Coachella Municipal Code, and the attendant applications for a Change of Zone, Tentative Tract Map, Conditional Use Permit, Architectural Review to allow the Project; and, WHEREAS, the proposed use is necessary or desirable for the development of the community, is consistent with the objectives of the City’s General Plan, and is not detrimental to the existing uses or the uses specifically permitted in the zone in which the proposed use is to be located; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed site is adequate in size and shape to accommodate the proposed development; and,
WHEREAS, the site for the proposed use relates properly to streets which are

Item 1.

Resolution No. 2023-71

designed to carry the type and quantity of traffic to be generated by the proposed use; and, WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act, an initial study was prepared that determined that the project would not have a significant effect on the environment; and,
WHEREAS, the conditions of approval as stipulated by the City are necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the community.

WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Coachella finds that Tentative Tract Map No. 38557 is in compliance with the Subdivision Map Act and the City’s Subdivision Ordinance.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY

OF COACHELLA, CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Recitals. The above recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein as findings of fact.

SECTION 2. Compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.

The City Council has reviewed and considered the information contained in the Mitigated Negative Declaration, Initial Study for Environmental Assessment No. 22-06, comments received, and other documents contained in the administrative record for the Project. The City Council finds that the Mitigated Negative Declaration, Initial Study, and administrative record contain a complete and accurate reporting of the environmental impacts associated with the Project. The City Council further finds that the Mitigated Negative Declaration, Initial Study, and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) as provided in “Exhibit A” have been completed in compliance with CEQA, the State CEQA Guidelines, and the City of Coachella’s Local CEQA Guidelines.

SECTION 3. Findings of Environmental Impacts. Based on the whole record before it, including the Mitigated Negative Declaration, Initial Study, the administrative record and all other written and oral evidence presented to the City Council, the City Council finds that all environmental impacts of the Project as outlined in the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Initial Study can mitigated to a level of less than significant. The City Council further finds that there is no substantial evidence in the administrative record supporting a fair argument that the Project may result in any significant environmental impacts. The City Council finds that the Mitigated Negative Declaration contains a complete, objective, and accurate reporting of the environmental impacts associated with the Project and reflects the independent judgment and analysis of the City Council.

SECTION 4. Recommendation Regarding Adoption of the Negative Declaration. The City Council hereby finds adequacy in the environmental review documents and adopts the Mitigated Negative Declaration.

Item 1.

Resolution No. 2023-71

SECTION 5. Tentative Tract Map, Conditional Use Permit Architectural Review Findings
With respect to Tentative Tract Map No. 38557, Conditional Use Permit No. 372 and Architectural Review 23-13, the City Council finds as follows for the proposed for the 204 single-family residential development project:

1. The proposed subdivision map, conditional use permit and architectural review are consistent with the General Plan and the City of Coachella Official Zoning Map governing the site. The subject site is a 39-acre mostly vacant parcel with adequate access and lot dimensions to allow for the intended single-family residential lot development in a manner consistent with the General Neighborhood land use designation of the General Plan and General Neighborhood-Planned Unit Development Zoning Designation. The project will substantially comply with the General Plan 2035 document which calls for a “General Neighborhood” encouraging a predominance of small-lot, single-family residential neighborhoods.

2. The site is physically suitable for the type of development and the proposed density. The proposed subdivision will provide adequate sized lots for new single-family residential lots. All proposed lots will have adequate dimensions, and ingress and egress to accommodate the proposed development.

3. The design of the subdivision and type of improvements are not likely to cause substantial environmental damage or substantially and avoidably injure fish or wildlife or their habitat. There are no sensitive habitats or bodies of water in the immediate vicinity of the site. The initial environmental study prepared for this project did not identify any biological resources on the site or in the vicinity of the project that would be impacted by the proposed project.

4. The design of the subdivision and type of improvements are not likely to cause any serious public health problems. As proposed, the proposed project would allow for single-family residential lots with a minimum lot size of 5000 square feet. The adjoining uses are consistent with the proposed use of the property as a single-family detached subdivision.

5. The design of the subdivision and type of improvements will not conflict with easements, acquired by the public at large, for access through or use of property within the proposed subdivision. The project is located on the west side of Van Buren Avenue, south of Avenue 50, north of Avenue 51.

6. The design of the subdivision will provide, to the extent feasible, for future passive or natural heating or cooling opportunities. The proposed subdivision will provide adequate sites for new homes with southern exposure, and all future construction will be designed to the latest Building Codes and energy efficient design and construction will be required by the City’s Building Department.

Item 1.

Resolution No. 2023-71

7. Staff prepared an initial study for the Sevilla II Project applications that determined that that the proposed project will not create any new potentially adverse environmental effects. As such, the project’s environmental effects will not be significant subject to the project’s compliance with the mitigation measures, as identified in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) contained in Exhibit A of Attachment No.

1. SECTION 6. Location and Custodian of Records. The documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings on which these findings are based are located at Coachella Civic Center. The Development Services Director is the custodian of the record of proceedings.

SECTION 7. Execution of Resolution. The Mayor shall sign this Resolution and the City Clerk shall attest and certify to the passage and adoption thereof.

SECTION 8. City Council Approval: Based on the foregoing recitals and findings above, and the written and oral comments, facts and evidence presented, the City Council of the City of Coachella hereby approves Tentative Tract Map No. 38557 “Exhibit B”, Conditional Use Permit No. 372, and Architectural Review 23-13 and Street Names for the Sevilla II development and subject to the Conditions of Approval as set forth in “Exhibit C” and Planned Unit Development Standards established in “Exhibit D.”

Item 1.

Resolution No. 2023-71

PASSED APPROVED and ADOPTED this 30th day of October 2023. ________________________________
Steven A. Hernandez
Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Angela M. Zepeda
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
Carlos L. Campos
City Attorney

Item 1.

Resolution No. 2023-71

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE

CITY OF COACHELLA
)
) ss.
)
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution No. 2023-71 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Coachella at a special meeting thereof, held on the 30th day of October 2023, by the following vote of Council:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:
___________________________________
Delia Granados
Deputy City Clerk

Item 1.

Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
September 2023
City of Coachella
53990 Enterprise Way
Coachella, California 92236
Contact: Gabriel Perez, Development Services Director
Pulte Group
27401 Los Altos, Suite 400
Mission Viejo, California 92691
Contact: David Dewegeli, Manager of Land Planning and Entitlement Michael Baker International
54-410 Gerald Ford Drive, Suite 100
Palm Desert, California 92211
Contact: Elizabeth Meyerhoff, Project Manager

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration
Page i
Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 California Environmental Quality Act............................................................................................ 1

1.2 Purpose and Content of an Initial Study ....................................................................................... 2

1.3 Public Review ................................................................................................................................ 3

1.4 Initial Study Summary ................................................................................................................... 4

1.5 Incorporation by Reference .......................................................................................................... 4

1.6 Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan................................................................................... 5

2.0 Project Description ......................................................................................................... 6

2.1 Project Summary........................................................................................................................... 6

2.2 Landscaping................................................................................................................................... 7

2.3 Utilities and Services..................................................................................................................... 7

2.4 Construction.................................................................................................................................. 7

2.5 Anticipated Approvals and Permits .............................................................................................. 7

3.0 Environmental Checklist ............................................................................................... 29

3.1 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected............................................................................... 30

3.2 Lead Agency’s Environmental Determination ............................................................................ 31

4.0 Evaluation of Environmental Impacts............................................................................ 32

4.1 Aesthetics.................................................................................................................................... 32

4.2 Agriculture and Forestry Resources............................................................................................ 35

4.3 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................... 39

4.4 Biological Resources.................................................................................................................... 54

4.5 Cultural Resources...................................................................................................................... 59

4.6 Energy ......................................................................................................................................... 63

4.7 Geology and Soils........................................................................................................................ 73

4.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions......................................................................................................... 80

4.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials .............................................................................................. 94

4.10 Hydrology and Water Quality ..................................................................................................... 99

4.11 Land Use and Planning.............................................................................................................. 105

4.12 Mineral Resources .................................................................................................................... 107

4.13 Noise ......................................................................................................................................... 109

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration
Page ii

4.14 Population and Housing............................................................................................................ 124

4.15 Public Services........................................................................................................................... 126

4.16 Recreation................................................................................................................................. 130

4.17 Transportation .......................................................................................................................... 132

4.18 Tribal Cultural Resources.......................................................................................................... 137

4.19 Utilities and Service Systems .................................................................................................... 140

4.20 Wildfire.................................................................................................................................... 1455

4.21 Mandatory Findings of Significance.......................................................................................... 148

5.0 List of Preparers ..........................................................................................................151

6.0 References ..................................................................................................................152 List of Tables
Table 4-1 Project-Generated Construction Emissions................................................................................45 Table 4-2 Project-Generated Operational Emissions..................................................................................48 Table 4-3 Localized Construction Emissions Significance ...........................................................................51 Table 4-4 Project and Countywide Energy Consumption ...........................................................................67 Table 4-5 Consistency with the General Plan .............................................................................................71 Table 4-6 Estimated Greenhouse Gas Emissions........................................................................................87 Table 4-7 Project Consistency with 2020-2045 RTP/SCS ............................................................................89 Table 4-8 Consistency with the 2022 Scoping Plan: AB 32 Inventory Sectors............................................91 Table 4-9 Consistency with the General Plan .............................................................................................92 Table 4-10 Coachella Land Use/Noise Compatibility Matrix ....................................................................111 Table 4-11 Sound Level Limits...................................................................................................................113 Table 4-12 Short-Term Noise Measurements...........................................................................................116 Table 4-13 Maximum Noise Levels Generated by Construction Equipment............................................117 Table 4-14 Maximum Noise Levels Generated by Parking Lots................................................................120 Table 4-15 Typical Vibration Levels for Construction Equipment.............................................................122 List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1: Regional Location..........................................................................................................................9 Exhibit 2: Site Vicinity..................................................................................................................................11 Exhibit 3: Conceptual Site Plan ...................................................................................................................13 Exhibit 4: Site Photographs.........................................................................................................................15 Exhibit 5: Jackson Substation Connection ..................................................................................................27

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration
Page iii
Appendices
Appendix A: Project Materials
Appendix B: Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas/Energy Analysis
Appendix C: Biological Habitat Assessment
Appendix D: Cultural Resources Assessment
Appendix E1: Traffic Impact Study
Appendix E2: VMT Analysis
Appendix F: Geotechnical Report
Appendix G: Preliminary Water Quality Management Plan
Appendix H: Hydrological Report
Appendix I: Noise Data
Appendix J: Tribal Correspondence
Appendix K: Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Appendix L: Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration
Page iv
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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38577 (proposed project) would develop a 204-lot residential development in the City of Coachella. The project site is approximately 39-acres and located north of 51st Avenue, east of Calhoun Street, south of Avenue 50, and west along Van Buren Street (Assessor Parcel Numbers 779-280-002 and 779-320-001). Refer to Section 2.0, Project Description for more detail.

Following a preliminary review of the proposed project, the City of Coachella (City) has determined that the project is subject to the guidelines and statutes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As the Lead Agency, the City has reviewed the project and, on the basis of the whole record before it, has determined that there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment, with adherence to the mitigation measures identified in this Initial Study. This Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) addresses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects of the proposed project. This IS/MND reflects the Lead Agency’s independent judgement and analysis.

1.1 California Environmental Quality Act
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code Sections 21000-21189.70.10) the 2022 State CEQA Guidelines, and the City’s 2020 Local CEQA Guidelines, the Lead Agency is required to prepare an Initial Study to determine if the proposed project would have a significant environmental impact (State CEQA Guidelines Section 15063(a)).

If, as a result of the Initial Study, the Lead Agency finds that there is evidence that any aspect of the project may cause a significant environmental effect, the Lead Agency shall further find that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is warranted to analyze project-related and cumulative environmental impacts. Alternatively, if the Lead Agency finds that there is no evidence that the project, either as proposed or as modified to include the mitigation measures identified in the Initial Study, may cause a significant effect on the environment, the Lead Agency shall find that the proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment and shall prepare a Negative Declaration or Mitigated Negative Declaration for that project. Such a determination can be made only if “There is no substantial evidence, in light of the whole record before the Lead Agency” that such impacts may occur (Public Resources Code Section 21080(c)(1)).

The environmental documentation outlined above, which is ultimately determined by the City in accordance with CEQA, is intended as an informational document undertaken to provide an environmental basis for subsequent discretionary actions upon the project. The resulting documentation is not, however, a policy document and its approval and/or certification neither presupposes nor mandates any actions on the part of those agencies from whom permits and/or other discretionary approvals would be required.

The environmental documentation is subject to a public review period. During this review, comments on the document relative to environmental issues should be addressed to the City in

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

writing. Following review of any written comments received, the City will consider these comments as a part of the project’s environmental review and will include them with the Initial Study documentation for consideration by the City’s decision-makers.

1.2 Purpose and Content of an Initial Study
Pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15063(c), the purpose of an Initial Study is to:
(1) Provide the Lead Agency with information to use as the basis for deciding whether to prepare an EIR or a Negative Declaration.
(2) Enable an applicant or Lead Agency to modify a project, mitigating adverse impacts before an EIR is prepared, thereby enabling the project to qualify for a Negative Declaration. (3) Assist in the preparation of an EIR, if one is required, by:
(A) Focusing the EIR on the effects determined to be significant, (B) Identifying the effects determined not to be significant, (C) Explaining the reasons for determining that potentially significant effects would not be significant, and
(D) Identifying whether a program EIR, tiering, or another appropriate process can be used for analysis of the project’s environmental effects. (4) Facilitate environmental assessment early in the design of a project; (5) Provide documentation of the factual basis for the finding in a Negative Declaration that a project will not have a significant effect on the environment; (6) Eliminate unnecessary EIRs;
(7) Determine whether a previously prepared EIR could be used with the project State CEQA Guidelines Section 15063(d)(f) identifies specific content and format requirements for an Initial Study:

A description of the project including the location of the project; An identification of the environmental setting;
An identification of environmental effects by use of a checklist, matrix, or other method, provided that entries on a checklist or other form are briefly explained to indicate that there is some evidence to support the entries;

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

A discussion of ways to mitigate significant effects identified, if any; An examination of whether the project would be consistent with existing zoning, plans, and other applicable land use controls; and,
The name of the person or persons who prepared or participated in the Initial Study.

This report is organized as follows:
▪ Section 1.0, Introduction: identifies the purpose and scope of the IS/MND. ▪ Section 2.0, Project Description: describes the location, general environmental setting, project background, project components, and the characteristics of the project’s construction and operational phases.
▪ Section 3.0, Environmental Checklist Form: provides a checklist of environmental factors that would be potentially affected by this project and a description of the possible threshold responses.
▪ Section 4.0, Evaluation of Environmental Impacts: presents the environmental setting and impact analysis for each resource topic.
▪ Section 5.0, List of Preparers: identifies individuals involved in preparing this IS/MND. ▪ Section 6.0, References: provides refences materials and sources used for the development of the document.

1.3 Public Review
The Initial Study is subject to a 30-day public review period. During the 30-day public review period, written comments on the document should be addressed to the City via postal mail or electronic mail:

Gabriel Perez, Development Services Director
City of Coachella
53990 Enterprise Way
Coachella, CA 92236
[email protected]
Following review of [any] written comments received by the City, the City will consider these comments as a part of the project’s environmental review and project consideration by the City’s decision-makers at a public hearing.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

1.4 Initial Study Summary
Section 4.0 of this document contains the Initial Study prepared for the project pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15063. The Initial Study determined that implementation of the project would result in no impact or a less than significant environmental impact to: Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Energy, Hydrology and Water Quality, Land Use and Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population and Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Transportation, Utilities and Service Systems, and Wildfire.

The Initial Study concluded that the project would result in a less than significant impact with mitigation incorporated to the following resource areas: Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Geology and Soils, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, and Tribal Cultural Resources.

1.5 Incorporation by Reference
The following documents were utilized during preparation of this Initial Study and are incorporated into this document by reference (State CEQA Guidelines Section 15150). The documents are available for review on the City of Coachella’s website (https://www.coachella.org/departments/community-development) and at City Hall, within the Development Services Department located at 53990 Enterprise Way, Coachella, CA 92236. ▪ City of Coachella General Plan 2035 (adopted April 22, 2015). The City of Coachella General Plan 2035 (General Plan) includes forecasts of long-term conditions and outlines development goals and policies. It guides growth and development within the City by designating land uses in the proposed land use map and through implementation of the goals and policies of the General Plan. It also provides a long-term vision for the City, and through its implementation goals and policies, indicate how that vision may be achieved over time. The General Plan includes the following elements: Land Use, Mobility, Community Health and Wellness, Sustainability and Natural Environment, Safety, Infrastructure and Public Services, Noise, and Housing. All development projects, including subdivisions, public works, redevelopment projects, zoning decisions, and other various implementation tools must be consistent with the General Plan. ▪ City of Coachella General Plan 2035 Environmental Impact Report (February 2015). The City of Coachella General Plan 2035 Environmental Impact Report (General Plan EIR) is intended to provide decision-makers and the public with information concerning the environmental effects of implementation of the General Plan. The General Plan EIR includes background data, analyzes potential environmental impacts, identifies General Plan policies and implementation plans that serve as mitigation, and identifies additional mitigation measures to reduce potentially significant effects due to implementation of the General Plan. The General Plan EIR determined that General Plan implementation would result in significant unavoidable environmental impacts in the following topic areas: Aesthetics, Agricultural Resources, and Transportation and Traffic.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

▪ Coachella Municipal Code (and Zoning Consistency Update July 2023). The Coachella Municipal Code (Municipal Code) provides regulations for governmental operations, development, infrastructure, public health and safety, and business operations within the City. Municipal Code Title 17, Zoning (Zoning Ordinance), is established to promote the public health, safety, peace, comfort, convenience, prosperity, and welfare of the City and its inhabitants. The Zoning Ordinance regulates the use of buildings, structures, and land for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional purposes; regulates location, height, bulk, and area covered by buildings and structures; and controls lot size, yards, intensity of land use, signs, and off-street parking.

1.6 Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan
The Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan (MMRP) identifies mitigation measures required to offset or reduce potential environmental impacts. The City shall adopt a program for monitoring/reporting on the measures it has imposed to mitigate, reduce, or avoid significant environmental effect (State CEQA Guidelines Section 15097). The MMRP is included as Appendix L, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

2.1 Project Summary
The City of Coachella is located in the central portion of Riverside County, within the Coachella Valley. Refer to Exhibit 1: Regional Location, Exhibit 2: Site Vicinity, and Exhibit 3: Conceptual Site Plan. Photographs documenting the existing site conditions and surroundings are included as Exhibit 4: Site Photographs.

The Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38577 (TTM 38577 and “proposed project”) is planned as a residential development in the City of Coachella. The project site consists of two (2) parcels and is approximately 39-acresin size. The project site is located north of 51st Avenue, east of Calhoun Street, south of Avenue 50, and west along Van Buren Street (Assessor Parcel Numbers 779-280- 002 and 779-320-001).

The proposed project would construct approximately 204 single family residential dwellings.

Typical lots would be approximately 5,000 square feet in size. The proposed project would include pedestrian sidewalks; landscaping; an approximate 1.0-acre recreational park area; an approximate 1.37-acre water retention basin; an approximate 0.23-acre dedicated [future] well site; monument signage; and street and utility improvements.

General Plan Land Use and Zoning
The project site has a General Plan Land Use designation of General Neighborhood. According to the General Plan, this designation characteristic allows for a mix of single-family and multi-family housing types with good nonmotorized access to a range of civic and commercial amenities.

Development intensity allows for 7-25 dwelling units per acre. Development of the site would result in approximately 7.7 dwelling units per acre which is consistent with the land use designation.

The project site consists of two (2) parcels zoned (GN) General Neighborhood. This project includes a change of zone to General Neighborhood-Planned Unit Development (GN-PUD) to provide design and zoning standards for the site. The project includes a Parcel Merger to combine the two (2) parcels into one (1) parcel; a Conditional Use Permit for the PUD (CUP 372); and Architectural Review (AR 23-13).

Existing Environmental Setting and Surrounding Land Uses The project site is currently developed with one (1) residence located in the central portion of the subject site, along with five (5) warehouse/storage buildings. Two groundwater wells are present on-site. The project site has been historically utilized for agricultural purposes since the 1920s for date palm and okra cultivation. Since approximately 2021, the site has been fallow.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

The project site is bordered to the north by fallow agricultural land, to the east by residential uses; to the south by agricultural land; and to the west by both fallow agricultural land and residential uses.

Site Access
Access to the site would be developed via two entry points from Van Buren Street. Access and circulation improvements would be designed and constructed consistent with City design and engineering standards.

2.2 Landscaping
Open areas, walkways, and lots would be lined with drought-resistant vegetation, “Mojave Gold” gravel, and ornamental rocks, creating a desert garden aesthetic. Trees would include accents such as mulga, Smoothie thornless cascalote, and desert willow, as well as shade trees including desert ironwood and thornless hybrid mesquite. Shrubs of various sizes would be planted throughout, including grey desert spoon, aloe, yucca, and jojoba. Landscape species and irrigation would be required to adhere to the City’s planting selection for landscaping.

2.3 Utilities and Services
The Coachella Water Authority and Sanitary District would provide domestic (drinking) water and sanitation water services to the site.

Gas utilities would be provided by Southern California Gas Company.

Electricity would be provided by the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) via connection at the Jackson Substation, which is located less than one mile from the project site; refer to Exhibit 5, Jackson Substation Connection. The proposed project would require the installation of underground powerlines from the Jackson Substation to the project site.

2.4 Construction
Construction of the proposed project is anticipated to occur for the duration of approximately 6 to 12 months for rough grading and site improvements. Vertical construction would depend on market conditions, with an expected date for initial occupancy of January 2025, and an approximate buildout period of 2 years.

2.5 Anticipated Approvals and Permits
The City has discretionary authority over the proposed project, which requires the following approvals, in addition to various approvals/permits from outside agencies:
▪ Tentative Tract Map; CEQA compliance; Change of Zone; Conditional Use Permit; and Architectural Review (City)

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

▪ Domestic and sanitation water services from the Coachella Water Authority (CWA) ▪ Stormwater management and associated service consistent with the provisions of the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD)
▪ Electrical connection/upgrade from the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) ▪ National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit from the Colorado River Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB)
▪ Fugitive Dust Control Permit from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)

Item 1.
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Sevilla IITentative Tract Map No. 38557
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
Regional Location
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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

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Sevilla IITentative Tract Map No. 38557
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
Site Vicinity
Exhibit 2
°Source: Michael Baker International
Not to Scale

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

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Conceptual Site Plan
Exhibit 3
°Source: Michael Baker International
Not to Scale

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

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SEVILLA II TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 38557
Initial Study/MItigated Negative Declaration

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Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

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Site Photographs
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
Photograph 1: Standing near the northwest corner of the project site, facing east.

Photograph 2: Standing near the western boundary of the project site, facing south.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

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Site Photographs
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
Photograph 3: Standing near the southwest corner of the project site, facing northeast.

Photograph 4: Standing near the southeast corner of the project site, facing northwest.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

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Site Photographs
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
Photograph 5: Standing in the western portion of the project site, facing east.

Photograph 6: Standing in the center of the project site, facing southwest.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

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Site Photographs
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
Photograph 7: Standing near the northern boundary of the project site, facing northeast.

Photograph 8: Standing near the northeast corner of the project site, facing southwest.

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Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

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Site Photographs
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
Photograph 9: Standing in the southeast portion of the project site, facing west.

Photograph 10: Standing in the southwest portion of the project site, facing south.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

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Sevilla IITentative Tract Map No. 38557
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
Jackson Substation Connection
Exhibit 5
°Source: Michael Baker International
Not to Scale

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Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

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Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST

1. Project Title: Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557 TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA
22-06

2. Lead Agency Name and Address: City of Coachella
53990 Enterprise Way
Coachella CA 92236

3. Lead Agency Contact Person and
Phone Number:

Gabriel Perez, Development Services Director /
Phone: (760) 398-3502

4. Project Location: North of 51st Avenue, east of Calhoun Street, south of Avenue 50, and west of Van Buren
Street (Assessor Parcel Numbers 779-280-002
and 779-320-001).

5. Project Applicant Name and Address: Pulte Group, David Dewegeli 27401 Los Altos, Suite 400
Mission Viejo, CA 92691

6. General Plan Designation: General Neighborhood

7. Zoning: General Neighborhood

8. Description of Project:

The proposed project would construct approximately 204 single family residential dwellings. Typical lots would be approximately 5,000 square feet in size. The proposed project would include pedestrian sidewalks; landscaping; an approximate 1.0-acre recreational park area; an approximate 1.37-acre water retention basin; an approximate

0.23-acre dedicated [future] well site; monument signage; and street and utility improvements. Access to the project site would be available via two entry points from Van Buren Street.

9. Surrounding Land Uses and Setting:

The project site is bordered to the north by agricultural land, to the east by residential uses; to the south by agricultural land; and to the west by both agricultural land and residential uses.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

10. Other Public Agencies Whose Approval is Required:

Approval and coordination are required by the following utility agencies: Coachella Water Authority, Coachella Valley Water District, Imperial Irrigation District. In addition, permits are required by the Colorado River Regional Water Quality Control Board and South Coast Air Quality Management District.

11. Have California Native American tribes traditionally and culturally affiliated with the project are requested consultation pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.3.1? If so, is there a plan for consultation that includes, for example, the determination of significance of impacts to tribal cultural resources, procedures regarding confidentiality, etc.?
In compliance with Assembly Bill 52 (AB 52), the City of Coachella distributed letters notifying each Native American Tribal government having previously requested to be on the City’s AB 52 consultation list. The AB 52 letters were distributed by mail on January 12, 2023. Responses were received from Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians (ABCI) on January 24, 2023, and Morongo Band of Mission Indians (MBMI) on March 20, 2023. The letter from the Tribal Secretary of ABCI indicated that the tribe is currently unaware of specific cultural resources that may be affected by the project. It was requested that the tribe be contacted immediately in the event that cultural resources are uncovered during project implementation. The letter from the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer of MBMI stated that the project is not within the ancestral territory and traditional use area of the Cahuilla and Serrano people of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. Refer to Appendix J, Tribal Correspondence.

3.1 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected
The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this project, involving at least one impact that is a “Potentially Significant Impact” or “Less Than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated,” as indicated by the checklist on the following pages.

Aesthetics Agriculture and Forestry Air Quality
Biological Resources Cultural Resources Energy
Geology and Soils Greenhouse Gas Emissions Hazards and Hazardous Materials Hydrology and Water Quality Land Use and Planning Mineral Resources Noise Population and Housing Public Services
Recreation Transportation Tribal Cultural Resources
Utilities and Service Systems Wildfire Mandatory Findings of Significance

Item 1.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

4.0 EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

4.1 Aesthetics
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact
with Mitigation
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
AESTHETICS: Except as provided in Public Resources Code Section 21099, would the project:
a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic
vista?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
b) Substantially damage scenic resources, including,
but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and
historic buildings within a state scenic highway?
☐ ☐ ☐ ☒
c) In non-urbanized areas, substantially degrade the
existing visual character or quality of public views
of the site and its surroundings? (Public views are
those that are experienced from publicly
accessible vantage point.) If the project is in an
urbanized area, would the project conflict with
applicable zoning and other regulations
governing scenic quality?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
d) Create a new source of substantial light or glare
which would adversely affect day or nighttime
views in the area?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
Discussion
A) Except as provided in Public Resources Code Section 21099, would the project have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista?
Less Than Significant Impact. The City of Coachella General Plan 2035 identifies the Indio Hills (located approximately 5 miles to the north) and the Mecca Hills (located approximately 8 miles to the southeast) as scenic backdrops providing visual quality to the area. Views of the Indio Hills are available from the project site and surrounding area. Distant views of the Santa Rosa Mountains (approximately 8 miles to the southwest) are also available from the site. Based on these distances, as well as the presence of existing residential and commercial development in the local area, the project would not block views of or from these scenic resources. Thus, the inclusion of the project within the existing viewshed would be consistent with views presently found in the project area. Additionally, the project would be subject to the City’s established design guidelines and current building standards as provided in the Coachella Municipal Code

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Title 16 (Subdivisions) and Title 17 (Zoning), which regulate the height and bulk of the buildings.

Therefore, impacts associated with scenic vistas would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.

B) Except as provided in Public Resources Code Section 21099, would the project substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? No Impact. According to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) California Scenic Highway Mapping System,1the project site is not located adjacent to or near any state or county, eligible or designated scenic highway. The nearest designated scenic highway is State Route 74 (SR-74) located approximately 12 miles to the west. SR-111 is an eligible scenic highway; however, it is only eligible at the segments from Interstate 10 (I-10) near Whitewater City to SR74 near Palm Desert and from 66th Avenue near Mecca City to Bombay Beach near the Salton Sea. The section of SR-111 that passes through Coachella City is not eligible as a scenic highway.

In addition, the project site does not contain scenic resources, including trees, rock outcroppings or historic buildings. No impact to these resources would occur.

Mitigation Measures: None required.

C) Except as provided in Public Resources Code Section 21099, would the project, in nonurbanized areas, substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of public views of the site and its surroundings? (Public views are those that are experienced from publicly accessible vantage point.) If the project is in an urbanized area, would the project conflict with applicable zoning and other regulations governing scenic quality? Less Than Significant Impact. Development of the project could result in a significant impact if it resulted in substantial degradation of the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings. Degradation of visual character or quality means making substantial changes to the existing appearance of a site by constructing elements that are poorly designed or that conflict with the existing surroundings.

The project site is located in an area containing fallow agricultural uses to the north and south, existing residential development to the east, and residential uses to the west. Consistent with the proposed project, much of the surrounding area within a 1-mile radius of the project site is developed with residential neighborhoods.
1 California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Scenic Highway Mapping System website, https://dot.ca.gov/programs/design/lap-landscape-architecture-and-community-livability/lap-liv-i-scenic-highways accessed 9-15-22.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

The project involves the grading and construction of a 204-unit single-family residential development including installation of right-of-way improvements such as sidewalks, street lighting, and landscaping. The architectural design of the project would adhere to the requirements of the Coachella Municipal Code Title 16 (Subdivisions) and Title 17 (Zoning) including design standards related to building size, height, and setback, as well as landscaping, signage, and other considerations. The City’s design standards ensure that land uses within an area are visually consistent with one another and their surroundings and reduce the potential for aesthetic conflict. The design specifications of development proposals are reviewed by the City to ensure compliance with all applicable provisions as set forth by the Coachella Municipal Code.

As part of this review process, project plans are reviewed by City staff and the Planning Commission to ensure conformation to the Coachella Municipal Code, as well as the visual character and quality of the surrounding area.

While project implementation would change the visual quality of the project site and its surroundings, the proposed project would not degrade the visual quality of the project area because the project is designed to be visually consistent with the surrounding uses. Moreover, the project site and surrounding properties have been designated for development in the City’s General Plan. Therefore, impacts associated with the existing visual character and quality would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.

D) Except as provided in Public Resources Code Section 21099, would the project create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area?
Less Than Significant Impact. Existing sources of light and glare in the immediate project area include vehicle headlights traveling along Avenue 50 north of the site, and Van Buren Street immediately to the east; streetlights; and the residential developments to the east of the site.

Currently, there are no existing sources of light on the project site.

Buildout of the project can be expected to generate increased levels of light and glare from exterior building lighting, required street lighting, landscape lighting, and vehicles. However, light and glare levels are expected to be consistent with existing residential developments within the surrounding environment and would be regulated by city lighting standards. The project would be designed according to Coachella Municipal Code Title 16 (Subdivisions) and Title 17 (Zoning), which set regulations for outdoor lighting on all city properties to minimize light pollution.

Therefore, potential light and glare impacts associated with the proposed project would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

4.2 Agriculture and Forestry Resources
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY RESOURCES:

In determining whether impacts to agricultural resources are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to the California Agricultural Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Model (1997) prepared by the California Dept. of Conservation as an optional model to use in assessing impacts on agriculture and farmland. In determining whether impacts to forest resources, including timberland, are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to information compiled by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection regarding the state’s inventory of forest land, including the Forest and Range Assessment Project and the Forest Legacy Assessment project; and forest carbon measurement methodology provided in Forest Protocols adopted by the California Air Resources Board. Would the project:
a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or
Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as
shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the
Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of
the California Resources Agency, to nonagricultural use? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use,
or a Williamson Act contract?
☐ ☐ ☐ ☒
c) Conflict with existing zoning for, or cause
rezoning of, forest land (as defined in Public
Resources Code section 12220(g)), timberland (as
defined by Public Resources Code section 4526),
or timberland zoned Timberland Production (as
defined by Government Code section 51104(g))?
☐ ☐ ☐ ☒
d) Result in the loss of forest land or conversion of
forest land to non-forest use?
☐ ☐ ☐ ☒
e) Involve other changes in the existing environment
which, due to their location or nature, could
result in conversion of Farmland, to nonagricultural use or conversion of forest land to non-forest use?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Discussion
a) Would the project convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to nonagricultural use? Less Than Significant Impact. According to the California Department of Conservation’s Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program,2the project site is designated as Prime Farmland.

Development of the site to a residential use would therefore result in the conversion of Prime Farmland to a nonagricultural use.

However, the General Plan designates the site for residential land use and the site is also zoned for residential development. The General Plan 2035 EIR concluded that, although the General Plan presents numerous goals and policies that would help to minimize impacts to agricultural resources, the loss of Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, or Unique farmland would be considered a significant and unavoidable impact as part of General Plan implementation and no feasible mitigation measures were identified regarding the loss of the City’s Prime Farmland.

Instead, the General Plan presents a strategy of managing the transition from agricultural to urban uses through focused growth areas, market support, and land use controls with the intent of preventing the premature conversion of agricultural lands.3 The General Plan identifies “subareas” in order to focus development, to accommodate the City’s population growth while retaining certain subareas for agricultural use. The project site is included in Subarea 1 – West Coachella Neighborhoods. Subarea 1 contains existing single-family neighborhoods and is described with a vision for infill development of new neighborhoods in the future. Conversely, Subarea 15 – Cocopah Area and Subarea 16 – South Coachella are prioritized by the General Plan for conservation of agricultural land.

Although the project site is designated as Prime Farmland impacts would be less than significant because the project is consistent with the General Plan’s direction for Subarea 1, for which the impacts to agricultural land have already been considered in the General Plan 2035 EIR, which is hereby incorporated by this reference. Additionally, the residential project is overall consistent with the City’s General Plan land use designation and zoning for residential development at the site. Therefore, impacts to Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance are considered less than significant.
2 California Department of Conservation website,
https://maps.conservation.ca.gov/DLRP/CIFF/ accessed 9-15-22. 3 City of Coachella General Plan 2035, Draft Environmental Impact Report, https://cityofcoachellageneralplanupdate.weebly.com/final-eir.html accessed 9-15-22.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Mitigation Measures: None required.
b) Would the project conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract?
No Impact. The Williamson Act, also known as the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, allows local governments and private landowners to form contracts that restrict specific parcels of land to agricultural or related open space use. According to Section 4.2, Agricultural Resources, of the City’s General Plan EIR,4there are approximately 1,480 acres of land in the City and its sphere of influence are under Williamson Act contracts that have not been renewed and are set to expire. The project site is not located on or adjacent to any existing zoning for agricultural use or a Williamson Act contract and has been rezoned for residential uses. Therefore, the project would not conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use or a Williamson Act contract, and no impact would occur.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
c) Would the project conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, forest land (as defined in Public Resources Code section 12220(g)), timberland (as defined by Public Resources Code section 4526), or timberland zoned Timberland Production (as defined by Government Code section 51104(g))?
No Impact. The City’s General Plan does not include Forest Land or Timberland designations, nor does the City have zones for these uses. The City occurs on the Coachella Valley floor, and no forest of timber lands occur in the desert climate. As such, the site does not contain any forest land or timberland, nor is it zoned for timberland production. Therefore, the project would not conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, forest land, timberland, or timberland zoned Timberland Production, and no impact would occur.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
d) Would the project result in the loss of forest land or conversion of forest land to nonforest use? No Impact. The project site is currently fallow from past agricultural uses and developed with one residence and several buildings. The site does not contain forest land, as defined above.

Furthermore, the project site is not zoned for forest land. Therefore, the project would not result in the loss of forest land or the conversion of forest land to non-forest use. No impact would occur.
4 City of Coachella General Plan 2035, Draft Environmental Impact Report, https://cityofcoachellageneralplanupdate.weebly.com/final-eir.html accessed 9-15-22.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Mitigation Measures: None required.
e) Would the project involve other changes in the existing environment which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland, to non-agricultural use or conversion of forest land to non-forest use?
Less Than Significant Impact. Refer to Response 4.2(a), above. The project site is designated as Prime Farmland and has historically been utilized as agricultural use; however, the project would not result in a significant loss of farmland because development of the project site has already been evaluated in the General Plan 2035 EIR and is consistent with the site’sland use designation for residential development. Additionally, no designated forestlands are present on the project site and no impact due to the conversion of forestland to non-forest use would occur. Based upon the above, impacts relative to the conversion of farmland would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

4.3 Air Quality
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
AIR QUALITY:

Where available, the significance criteria established by the applicable air quality management district or air pollution control district may be relied upon to make the following determinations.

Would the project:
a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the
applicable air quality plan?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
b) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is
non-attainment under an applicable federal or state
ambient air quality standard?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
c) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant
concentrations?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
d) Result in other emissions (such as those leading to
odors adversely affecting a substantial number of
people?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
This section is based on the CalEEMod Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas, and Energy outputs prepared by Michael Baker International on January 24, 2023; refer to Appendix B, Air Quality/ Greenhouse Gas/Energy Analysis.

Discussion
a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? Less Than Significant Impact. The project is located within the South Coast Air Basin (Basin), which is governed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). Consistency with the SCAQMD 2022 Air Quality Management Plan (2022 AQMP) means that a project is consistent with the goals, objectives, and assumptions set forth in the 2022 AQMP. The 2022 AQMP utilized information and data from the Southern California Association of Government (SCAG) and its 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (2020- 2045 RTP/SCS). According to the SCAQMD CEQA Air Quality Handbook, in order to determine consistency with 2022 AQMP, two main criteria must be addressed:

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Criterion 1:

With respect to the first criterion, SCAQMD methodologies require that an air quality analysis for a project include forecasts of project emissions in relation to contributing to air quality violations and delay of attainment.
a) Would project result in an increase in the frequency or severity of existing air quality violations?
Since the consistency criteria identified under the first criterion pertains to pollutant concentrations, rather than to total regional emissions, an analysis of the project’s pollutant emissions relative to localized pollutant concentrations is used as the basis for evaluating project consistency. As discussed in Response 4.3(c), localized concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NOX), particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10), and particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) would be less than significant during project construction and operation. Therefore, the proposed project would not result in an increase in the frequency or severity of existing air quality violations. b) Would the project cause or contribute to new air quality violations? As discussed in Response 4.3(b), the proposed project would result in emissions that are below the SCAQMD thresholds. Therefore, the project would not have the potential to cause or affect a violation of the ambient air quality standards. c) Would the project delay timely attainment of air quality standards or the interim emissions reductions specified in the AQMP?
The proposed project would result in less than significant impacts with regard to regional and localized concentrations during project construction and operation; refer to Reponses 4.3(b) and 4.3(c). As such, the project would not delay the timely attainment of air quality standards or 2022 AQMP emissions reductions.

Criterion 2:

With respect to the second criterion for determining consistency with SCAQMD and SCAG air quality policies, it is important to recognize that air quality planning within the Basin focuses on attainment of ambient air quality standards at the earliest feasible date. Projections for achieving air quality goals are based on assumptions regarding population, housing, and growth trends.

Thus, the SCAQMD’s second criterion for determining project consistency focuses on whether or not the proposed project exceeds the assumptions utilized in preparing the forecasts presented in the 2022 AQMP. Determining whether or not a project exceeds the assumptions reflected in the 2022 AQMP involves the evaluation of the three criteria outlined below. The following discussion provides an analysis of each these criteria.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

a) Would the project be consistent with the population, housing, and employment growth projections utilized in the preparation of the AQMP?
Growth projections included in the 2022 AQMP form the basis for the projections of air pollutant emissions and are based on general plan land use designation and SCAG’s 2020- 2045 RTP/SCS demographics forecasts. The population, housing, and employment forecasts within the 2020-2045 RTP/SCS are based on local general plans as well as input from local governments, such as the City of Coachella. The SCAQMD has incorporated these same demographic growth forecasts for various socioeconomic categories (e.g., population, housing) into the 2022 AQMP.

Based on the General Plan, the project site is designated General Neighborhood which allows for 7-25 dwelling units per acre. The project has a proposed net density of 7.7 dwelling units per acre and is consistent with the land use designation.

The project site consists of two (2) parcels zoned (GN) General Neighborhood. This project includes a change of zone to General Neighborhood-Planned Unit Development (GN-PUD) to provide design and zoning standards for the site. The project includes a Parcel Merger to combine the two (2) parcels into one (1) parcel.

The City’s population estimate as of January 1, 2022, is 42,158 persons.5 Based on the City’s average household size of 4.256, the 204 units would introduce up to 867 additional residents within the City. The forecast population in 2045 is 129,300 persons.7 The project’s potential impacts would be considered less than significant since the 867 additional residents represents only a 2.1 percent increase from the City’s current population and are consistent with 2045 projections. Thus, the project would be consistent with the types, intensity, and patterns of land use envisioned for the site vicinity. As the SCAQMD has incorporated these same projections into the 2022 AQMP, the project would be consistent with the projections.

Therefore, the project is consistent with the types, intensity, and patterns of land use envisioned for the site vicinity and would be considered consistent with the General Plan upon the City’s approvals on the required change of zone. Further, the population and housing projections, which are adopted by SCAG’s Regional Council, are based on the local plans and policies applicable to the City. As the SCAQMD has incorporated these same projections into the 2022 AQMP, the proposed project would be consistent with the projections.
b) Would the project implement all feasible air quality mitigation measures? 5 State of California Department of Finance, E-5 Population and Housing Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State, 2021- 2022 with 2020 Census Benchmark, May 2022, https://dof.ca.gov/forecasting/demographics/estimates/e-5-population-andhousing-estimates-for-cities-counties-and-the-state-2020-2022/, accessed January 3, 2023. 6 Ibid.
7 Southern California Association of Governments, 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy Demographics & Growth Forecast, September 3, 2020.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

The proposed project would result in less than significant air quality impacts. Compliance with all feasible emission reduction rules and measures identified by the SCAQMD would be required as identified in Responses 4.3(b) and 4.3(c). As such, the proposed project meets this 2022 AQMP consistency criterion.
c) Would the project be consistent with the land use planning strategies set forth in the AQMP?
Land use planning strategies set forth in the 2022 AQMP are primarily based on the 2020- 2045 RTP/SCS. Further, in compliance with CALGreen Code, all single-family residential units of the project would be electric vehicle (EV) capable by including a listed raceway8 within each dwelling unit to accommodate EV charging stations. This project design feature would encourage and support the use of EVs within the proposed residential development.

Therefore, the project would be consistent with the actions and strategies of the 2020-2045 RTP/SCS. In addition, as discussed above, the project is consistent with the General Plan land use designation. As such, the proposed project meets this AQMP consistency criterion.

In conclusion, the determination of 2022 AQMP consistency is primarily concerned with longterm influence of a project on air quality in the Basin. The proposed project would not result in long-term impact on the region’s ability to meet State and Federal air quality standards.

Additionally, the proposed project would be consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan and 2022 AQMP. Further, the proposed project’s long-term influence on air quality in the Basin would also be consistent with the SCAQMD and SCAG’s goals and policies and is considered consistent with the 2022 AQMP.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
b) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard?
Less Than Significant Impact.

Criteria Pollutants
Carbon Monoxide (CO). CO is an odorless, colorless toxic gas that is emitted by mobile and stationary sources as a result of incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons or other carbon-based fuels. In cities, automobile exhaust can cause as much as 95 percent of all CO emissions. CO replaces oxygen in the body’s red blood cells. Individuals with a deficient blood supply to the heart, patients with diseases involving heart and blood vessels, fetuses (unborn babies), and patients with chronic hypoxemia (oxygen deficiency) as seen in high altitudes are most 8 A raceway is the enclosed conduit that forms the physical pathway for electrical writing to protect it from damage.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

susceptible to the adverse effects of CO exposure. People with heart disease are also more susceptible to developing chest pains when exposed to low levels of CO.

Ozone (O3). O3 occurs in two layers of the atmosphere. The layer surrounding the Earth’s surface is the troposphere. The troposphere extends approximately 10 miles above ground level, where it meets the second layer, the stratosphere. The stratosphere (the “good” ozone layer) extends upward from about 10 to 30 miles and protects life on Earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. “Bad” O3 is a photochemical pollutant, and needs volatile organic compounds (VOCs), NOx, and sunlight to form; therefore, VOCs and NOx are O3 precursors. To reduce O3 concentrations, it is necessary to control the emissions of these O3 precursors. Significant O3 formation generally requires an adequate amount of precursors in the atmosphere and a period of several hours in a stable atmosphere with strong sunlight. High O3 concentrations can form over large regions when emissions from motor vehicles and stationary sources are carried hundreds of miles from their origins.

While O3 in the upper atmosphere (stratosphere) protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation, high concentrations of ground-level O3 (in the troposphere) can adversely affect the human respiratory system and other tissues. O3 is a strong irritant that can constrict the airways, forcing the respiratory system to work hard to deliver oxygen. Individuals exercising outdoors, children, and people with pre-existing lung disease such as asthma and chronic pulmonary lung disease are considered to be the most susceptible to the health effects of O3. Short-term exposure (lasting for a few hours) to O3 at elevated levels can result in aggravated respiratory diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis and asthma, shortness of breath, increased susceptibility to infections, inflammation of the lung tissue, increased fatigue, as well as chest pain, dry throat, headache, and nausea.

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2). NOx are a family of highly reactive gases that are a primary precursor to the formation of ground-level ozone and react in the atmosphere to form acid rain. NO2 (often used interchangeably with NOx) is a reddish-brown gas that can cause breathing difficulties at elevated levels. Peak readings of NO2 occur in areas that have a high concentration of combustion sources (e.g., motor vehicle engines, power plants, refineries, and other industrial operations).

NO2 can irritate and damage the lungs and lower resistance to respiratory infections such as influenza. The health effects of short-term exposure are still unclear. However, continued or frequent exposure to NO2 concentrations that are typically much higher than those normally found in the ambient air may increase acute respiratory illnesses in children and increase the incidence of chronic bronchitis and lung irritation. Chronic exposure to NO2 may aggravate eyes and mucus membranes and cause pulmonary dysfunction.

Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10). PM10 refers to suspended particulate matter, which is smaller than 10 microns or ten one-millionths of a meter. PM10 arises from sources such as road dust, diesel soot, combustion products, construction operations, and dust storms. PM10 scatters light and significantly reduces visibility. In addition, these particulates penetrate into lungs and can potentially damage the respiratory tract. On June 19, 2003, the California Air Resources Board

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

(CARB) adopted amendments to the Statewide 24-hour particulate matter standards based upon requirements set forth in the Children’s Environmental Health Protection Act (Senate Bill 25).

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). Due to recent increased concerns over health impacts related to PM2.5, both State and Federal PM2.5 standards have been created. Particulate matter impacts primarily affect infants, children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing cardiopulmonary disease. In 1997, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new PM2.5 standards. Industry groups challenged the new standard in court and the implementation of the standard was blocked. However, upon appeal by the EPA, the United States Supreme Court reversed this decision and upheld the EPA’s new standards. On January 5, 2005, the EPA published a final rule in the Federal Register that designates the basin as a nonattainment area for Federal PM2.5 standards. On June 20, 2002, CARB adopted amendments for Statewide annual ambient particulate matter air quality standards. These standards were revised and established due to increasing concerns by CARB that previous standards were inadequate, as almost everyone in California is exposed to levels at or above the current state standards during some parts of the year, and the Statewide potential for significant health impacts associated with particulate matter exposure was determined to be large and wide-ranging.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2). SO2 is a colorless, irritating gas with a rotten egg smell; it is formed primarily by the combustion of sulfur-containing fossil fuels. SO2 is often used interchangeably with SOx.

Exposure of a few minutes to low levels of SO2 can result in airway constriction in some asthmatics.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). VOCs are hydrocarbon compounds (any compound containing various combinations of hydrogen and carbon atoms) that exist in the ambient air.

VOCs contribute to the formation of smog through atmospheric photochemical reactions and may be toxic. Compounds of carbon (also known as organic compounds) have different levels of reactivity; that is, they do not react at the same speed or do not form O3 to the same extent when exposed to photochemical processes. VOCs often have an odor, and some examples include gasoline, alcohol, and the solvents used in paints. Exceptions to the VOC designation include: CO, CO2, carbonic acid, metallic carbides or carbonates, and ammonium carbonate. VOCs are a criteria pollutant since they are a precursor to O3, which is a criteria pollutant. The SCAQMD uses the terms VOC and ROG interchangeably (see below).

Reactive Organic Gases (ROG). Similar to VOC, ROG are also precursors in forming O3 and consist of compounds containing methane, ethane, propane, butane, and longer chain hydrocarbons, which are typically the result of some type of combustion/decomposition process. Smog is formed when ROG and NOx react in the presence of sunlight. ROGs are a criteria pollutant since they are a precursor to O3, which is a criteria pollutant.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Short-term Construction Emissions
The project involves construction activities associated with demolition, grading, building construction, paving, and architectural coating applications. The project would involve 59,039 cubic yards soil import. Depending on market conditions, building construction and associated architectural coating applications would last for up to two years. The modeling assumed that building construction and associated architectural coating applications would last for six months and three months, respectively, and that construction would conclude by the end of 2024. This assumption is conservative because construction activities would be less intensive and daily emissions would be lower when the schedule is extended. Exhaust emission factors for typical diesel-powered heavy equipment are based on the California Emissions Estimator Model version 2020.4.0 (CalEEMod) program defaults. Variables factored into estimating the total construction emissions include the level of activity, length of construction, number of pieces and types of equipment in use, site characteristics, weather conditions, number of construction personnel, and the amount of materials to be transported on- or off-site. The analysis of daily construction emissions has been prepared utilizing CalEEMod. Refer to Appendix B, Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas/Energy Analysis, for the CalEEMod outputs and results. Table 4-1, Project-Generated Construction Emissions, presents the anticipated daily short-term construction emissions.

Table 4-1
Project-Generated Construction Emissions
Emissions Source
Pollutant (pounds/day)1,2
ROG NOX CO SO2 PM10 PM2.5
Year 1 3.89 66.26 37.32 0.21 9.77 4.16
Year 2 38.81 73.82 52.16 0.23 10.31 4.56
Maximum Daily Emissions 38.81 73.82 52.16 0.23 10.31 4.56 SCAQMD Thresholds 75 100 550 150 150 55
Threshold Exceeded? No No No No No No
Notes:

1. Emissions were calculated using CalEEMod version 2020.4.0. Winter emissions represent worst-case.

2. The reduction/credits for construction emissions are based on “mitigation” included in CalEEMod and are required by the SCAQMD Rules.

The adjustments applied in CalEEMod includes the following: properly maintain mobile and other construction equipment; replace ground cover in disturbed areas quickly; water exposed surfaces three times daily; cover stockpiles with tarps; and limit speeds on unpaved roads to 15 miles per hour. The emissions results in this table represent the “mitigated” emissions shown in Appendix B.

Source: Refer to Appendix B for assumptions used in this analysis.

Fugitive Dust Emissions
Construction activities are a source of fugitive dust emission that may have a substantial, temporary impact on local air quality. In addition, fugitive dust may be a nuisance to those living and working in the project area. Fugitive dust emissions are associated with land clearing, ground excavation, cut-and-fill, and truck travel on unpaved roadways (including demolition as well as construction activities). Fugitive dust emissions vary substantially from day to day, depending on the level of activity, specific operations, and weather conditions. Fugitive dust from grading,

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

excavation and construction is expected to be short-term and would cease upon project completion. Most of this material is inert silicates, rather than the complex organic particulates released from combustion sources, which are more harmful to health.

Dust (larger than 10 microns) generated by such activities usually becomes more of a local nuisance than a serious health problem. Of particular health concern is the amount of PM10 generated as part of fugitive dust emissions. PM10 poses a serious health hazard alone or in combination with other pollutants. PM2.5 is mostly produced by mechanical processes. These include automobile tire wear, industrial processes such as cutting and grinding, and resuspension of particles from the ground or road surfaces by wind and human activities such as construction or agriculture. PM2.5 is mostly derived from combustion sources, such as automobiles, trucks, and other vehicle exhaust, as well as from stationary sources. These particles are either directly emitted or are formed in the atmosphere from the combustion of gases such as NOX and SOX combining with ammonia. PM2.5 components from material in the Earth’s crust, such as dust, are also present, with the amount varying in different locations.

The project would implement required SCAQMD dust control techniques (i.e., daily watering), limitations on construction hours, and adhere to SCAQMD Rules 402 and 403 (which require watering of inactive and perimeter areas, track out requirements, etc.), to reduce PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations. As depicted in Table 4-1, total PM10 and PM2.5 emissions would not exceed the SCAQMD thresholds during construction. Thus, PM10 and PM2.5 emissions impacts associated with project construction would be less than significant.

Construction Equipment and Worker Vehicle Exhaust
Exhaust emissions from construction activities include emissions associated with the transport of machinery and supplies to and from the project site, construction worker commutes to the project site, emissions produced on-site as the equipment is used, and emissions from trucks transporting materials to/from the site. As presented in Table 4-1, construction equipment and worker vehicle exhaust emissions (i.e., ROG, NOX, CO, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5) would not exceed the established SCAQMD thresholds for all criteria pollutants. Therefore, impacts in this regard would be less than significant.

ROG Emissions
In addition to gaseous and particulate emissions, the application of asphalt and surface coatings creates ROG emissions, which are O3 precursors. In accordance with the methodology prescribed by the SCAQMD, ROG emissions associated with paving and architectural coating have been quantified with CalEEMod. As required by SCAQMD Regulation XI, Rule 1113, Architectural Coating, all architectural coatings would comply with specifications on painting practices as well as regulation on the ROG content of paint.9 ROG emissions associated with the proposed project would be less than significant.
9 South Coast Air Quality Management District, Rule 1113 Architectural Coatings, http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/defaultsource/rule-book/reg-xi/r1113.pdf, accessed January 3, 2023.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Total Daily Construction Emissions
As indicated in Table 4-1, criteria pollutant emissions during construction of the proposed project would not exceed the SCAQMD significance thresholds. Thus, total construction related air emissions would be less than significant.

Naturally Occurring Asbestos
Asbestos is a term used for several types of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that are a human health hazard when airborne. The most common type of asbestos is chrysotile, but other types such as tremolite and actinolite are also found in California. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by State, Federal, and international agencies and was identified as a toxic air contaminant by CARB in 1986.

Asbestos can be released from serpentinite and ultramafic rocks when the rock is broken or crushed. At the point of release, the asbestos fibers may become airborne, causing air quality and human health hazards. These rocks have been commonly used for unpaved gravel roads, landscaping, fill projects, and other improvement projects in some localities. Asbestos may be released to the atmosphere due to vehicular traffic on unpaved roads, during grading for development projects, and at quarry operations. All of these activities may have the effect of releasing potentially harmful asbestos into the air. Natural weathering and erosion processes can act on asbestos bearing rock and make it easier for asbestos fibers to become airborne if such rock is disturbed. According to the California Department of Conservation Division of Mines and Geology, serpentinite and ultramafic rocks are not known to occur within the project area.10 Thus, no impacts would occur in this regard.

Long-term Operational Emissions
Long-term operational air quality impacts consist of mobile source emissions generated from project-related traffic and emissions from area and energy sources. As a conservative analysis, the emissions from existing uses on-site are not quantified and not deducted from the project emissions. Emissions associated with each source are detailed in Table 4-2, Project-Generated Operational Emissions, and discussed below.
10 California Department of Conservation Division of Mines and Geology, A General Location Guide for Ultramafic Rocks in California – Areas More Likely to Contain Naturally Occurring Asbestos Report, August 2000.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Table 4-2
Project-Generated Operational Emissions
Emissions Source Pollutant (pounds/day)1
ROG NOX CO SOX PM10 PM2.5
Project Summer Emissions
Area 8.95 3.24 18.11 0.02 0.34 0.34
Energy 0.17 1.46 0.62 <0.01 0.12 0.12
Mobile 5.56 5.83 55.90 0.13 14.09 3.81
Total Summer Emissions2 14.69 10.53 74.64 0.16 14.55 4.27 SCAQMD Threshold 55 55 550 150 150 55
Threshold Exceeded? No No No No No No
Project Winter Emissions
Area 8.95 3.24 18.11 0.02 0.34 0.34
Energy 0.17 1.46 0.62 <0.01 0.12 0.12
Mobile 5.36 6.26 54.02 0.12 14.09 3.81
Total Winter Emissions2 14.49 10.96 72.75 0.15 14.55 4.27 SCAQMD Threshold 55 55 550 150 150 55
Threshold Exceeded? No No No No No No
Notes:

1. Emissions were calculated using CalEEMod version 2020.4.0.

2. The numbers may be slightly off due to rounding.

Source: Refer to Appendix B for assumptions used in this analysis.

Area Source Emissions
Area source emissions would be generated due to an increased demand for natural gas, consumer products, area architectural coatings, and landscaping equipment associated with the development of the proposed project. As shown in Table 4-2, area source emissions during both summer and winter would not exceed established SCAQMD thresholds. Impacts would be less than significant in this regard.

Energy Source Emissions
Energy source emissions would be generated as a result of electricity and natural gas (nonhearth) usage associated with the proposed project. The primary use of electricity and natural gas by the project would be for space heating and cooling, water heating, ventilation, lighting, appliances, and electronics. Energy source emissions during both summer and winter would not exceed established SCAQMD thresholds; refer to Table 4-2. Impacts in this regard would be less than significant.

Mobile Source Emissions
Mobile sources are emissions from motor vehicles, including tailpipe and evaporative emissions.

Depending upon the pollutant being discussed, the potential air quality impact may be of either regional or local concern. For example, ROG, NOX, SOX, PM10, and PM2.5 are all pollutants of

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

regional concern (NOX and ROG react with sunlight to form O3 [photochemical smog], and wind currents readily transport SOX, PM10, and PM2.5). However, CO tends to be a localized pollutant, dispersing rapidly at the source.

The mobile source emissions were calculated using the trip generation data provided in the TTM 38577 Sevilla II, Transportation Analysis Scoping Agreement (Traffic Scoping Agreement), prepared by Michael Baker International, dated October 31, 2022. According to the Traffic Scoping Agreement, the proposed project would generate approximately 1,944 average daily trips. As shown in Table 4-2, emissions generated by vehicle traffic associated with the project would not exceed established SCAQMD thresholds. Impacts from mobile source emissions would be less than significant.

Total Operational Emissions
As shown in Table 4-2, the total operational emissions for both summer and winter would not exceed established SCAQMD thresholds. Therefore, impacts in this regard would be less than significant.

Air Quality Health Impacts
Adverse health effects induced by criteria pollutant emissions are highly dependent on a multitude of interconnected variables (e.g., cumulative concentrations, local meteorology and atmospheric conditions, and the number and character of exposed individual [e.g., age, gender]).

In particular, O3 precursors, VOCs and NOX, affect air quality on a regional scale. Health effects related to O3 are therefore the product of emissions generated by numerous sources throughout a region. Existing models have limited sensitivity to small changes in criteria pollutant concentrations, and, as such, translating project-generated criteria pollutants to specific health effects or additional days of nonattainment would produce meaningless results. In other words, the project’s less than significant increases in regional air pollution from criteria air pollutants would have nominal or negligible impacts on human health.

As noted in the Brief of Amicus Curiae by the SCAQMD (dated April 6, 2015) for the Sierra Club vs. County of Fresno, the SCAQMD acknowledged it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible to quantify health impacts of criteria pollutants for various reasons including modeling limitations as well as where in the atmosphere air pollutants interact and form. Further, as noted in the Brief of Amicus Curiae by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) (dated April 13, 2015) for the Sierra Club vs. County of Fresno, SJVAPCD acknowledged that currently available modeling tools are not equipped to provide a meaningful analysis of the correlation between an individual development project’s air emissions and specific human health impacts.

The SCAQMD acknowledges that health effects quantification from O3, as an example, is correlated with the increases in ambient level of O3 in the air (concentration) that an individual person breathes. The SCAQMD’s Brief of Amicus Curiae states that it would take a large amount of additional emissions to cause a modeled increase in ambient O3 levels over the entire region.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

The SCAQMD states that based on their own modeling in the SCAQMD’s 2012 Air Quality Management Plan, a reduction of 432 tons (864,000 pounds) per day of NOX and a reduction of 187 tons (374,000 pounds) per day of VOCs would reduce O3 levels at highest monitored sites by only nine parts per billion. As such, the SCAQMD concludes that it is not currently possible to accurately quantify O3-related health impacts caused by NOX or VOC emissions from relatively small projects (defined as projects with regional scope) due to photochemistry and regional model limitations. Thus, as the project would not exceed SCAQMD thresholds for construction and operational air emissions, the project would have a less than significant impact for air quality health effects.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
c) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? Less Than Significant Impact. Sensitive receptors are defined as facilities or land uses that include members of the population that are particularly sensitive to the effects of air pollutants, such as children, the elderly, and people with illnesses. Examples of these sensitive receptors are residences, schools, hospitals, and daycare centers. The CARB has identified the following groups of individuals as those most likely to be affected by air pollution: the elderly over 65, children under 14, athletes, and persons with cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis.

The nearest sensitive receptors are single-family residences located approximately 80 feet east of the proposed project site. To identify impacts to sensitive receptors, the SCAQMD recommends addressing localized significance thresholds for construction and operational impacts (stationary source only).

Localized Significance Thresholds
Localized Significance Thresholds (LSTs) were developed in response to SCAQMD Governing Boards’ Environmental Justice Enhancement Initiative (I-4). The SCAQMD provided the Final Localized Significance Threshold Methodology (dated June 2003 [revised 2008]) for guidance. The LST methodology assists lead agencies in analyzing localized air quality impacts. The SCAQMD provides the LST lookup tables for one-, two-, and five-acre projects emitting CO, NOX, PM2.5, and/or PM10. The project is located within Source Receptor Area (SRA) 30, Coachella Valley.

Construction LST
The SCAQMD’s guidance on applying CalEEMod to LSTs specifies the number of acres a particular piece of equipment would likely disturb per day.11 According to CalEEMod output, the project would actively disturb an average of approximately three acres per day. Therefore, the LST 11 The number of acres represent the total acres traversed by grading equipment. In order to properly grade a piece of land, multiple passes with equipment may be required. The disturbance acreage is based on the equipment list and days of the grading phase according to the anticipated maximum number of acres a given piece of equipment can pass over in an 8- hour workday.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

thresholds for two-acre were conservatively utilized for the construction LST analysis. The closest sensitive receptors to the project site are single-family residences located approximately 80 feet to the east of the project site. These sensitive land uses may be potentially affected by air pollutant emissions generated during on-site construction activities. LST thresholds are provided for distances to sensitive receptors of 25, 50, 100, 200, and 500 meters. As the nearest sensitive receptor is located approximately 80 feet (24 meters) from the planned construction area, the LST values for 25 meters were used.

Table 4-3, Localized Construction Emissions Significance, shows the localized constructionrelated emissions for NOx, CO, PM2.5, and PM10 compared to LSTs for SRA 30. It is noted that the localized emissions presented in Table 4-2 are less than those in Table 4-1 because localized emissions include only on-site emissions (e.g., from construction equipment and fugitive dust) and do not include off-site emissions (e.g., from hauling activities). As shown in Table 4-3, the project’s localized construction emissions would not exceed the LSTs for SRA 30. Therefore, the localized significance impacts from project-related construction activities would be less than significant.

Operations LST
According to SCAQMD LST methodology, LSTs would apply to operational activities if the project includes stationary sources or attracts mobile sources that may spend extended periods queuing and idling at the site (e.g., warehouse or transfer facilities). The proposed project is a residential development and would not attract mobile sources that may queue or idle on-site for extended periods of time. Thus, due to the lack of such emissions, no long-term LST analysis is needed.

Operational LST impacts would be less than significant in this regard.

Table 4-3
Localized Construction Emissions Significance
Source1
Pollutant (pounds/day)
NOX CO PM10 PM2.5
Year 12 34.52 28.05 4.92 2.68
Year 22 32.38 27.72 4.83 2.60
Maximum Daily Emissions 34.52 28.05 4.92 2.68
Localized Significance Threshold3 191 1,299 7 5
Thresholds Exceeded? No No No No
Notes:

1. The reduction/credits for construction emissions are based on “mitigation” included in CalEEMod and are required by the SCAQMD Rules. The “mitigation” applied in CalEEMod includes the following: properly maintain mobile and other construction equipment; replace ground cover in disturbed areas quickly; water exposed surfaces three times daily; cover stockpiles with tarps; water all haul roads twice daily; and limit speeds on unpaved roads to 15 miles per hour. The emissions results in this table represent the “mitigated” emissions shown in Appendix B.

2. Maximum on-site daily emissions occur during grading phase for NOX, CO, PM10, and PM2.5 in Year 1 and Year 2.

3. The Localized Significance Threshold (LST) was determined using Appendix C of the SCAQMD’s Final Localized Significant Threshold Methodology guidance document for pollutants NOX, CO, PM10, and PM2.5. The LST was based on the anticipated daily acreage disturbance for construction (three acres per day, but round down to use two-acre threshold as a conservative analysis) and distance to sensitive receptor (25 meters) for SRA 30, Coachella Valley.

Source: Refer to Appendix B for assumptions used in this analysis.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Carbon Monoxide Hotspots
CO emissions are a function of vehicle idling time, meteorological, and traffic flow. Under certain extreme meteorological conditions, CO concentrations near a congested roadway or intersection may reach unhealthful levels (e.g., adversely affecting residents, school children, hospital patients, and the elderly).

The Basin is designated as an attainment/maintenance area for the Federal CO standards and an attainment area under State standards. There has been a decline in CO emissions even though vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on U.S. urban and rural roads have increased; estimated anthropogenic CO emissions have decreased 68 percent between 1990 and 2014. In 2014, mobile sources accounted for 82 percent of the nation’s total anthropogenic CO emissions.12 Three major control programs have contributed to the reduced per-vehicle CO emissions, including exhaust standards, cleaner burning fuels, and motor vehicle inspection/maintenance programs.

According to the SCAQMD CEQA Air Quality Handbook, a potential CO hotspot may occur at any location where the background CO concentration already exceeds 9.0 parts per million (ppm), which is the 8-hour California ambient air quality standard. The closest monitoring station to the project site that monitors CO concentration is the Palm Spring – Fire Station (590 E Racquet Club Avenue, Palm Springs, California, 92262), located approximately 23 miles northwest of the project site. The maximum CO concentration at the Palm Spring -- Fire Station was measured at

0.762 ppm in 2022.13 Given that the background CO concentration does not currently exceed 9.0 ppm, a CO hotspot would not occur at the project site. Therefore, CO hotspot impacts would be less than significant in this regard.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
d) Result in other emissions (such as those leading to odors) adversely affecting a substantial number of people?
Less Than Significant Impact. According to the SCAQMD CEQA Air Quality Handbook, land uses associated with odor complaints typically include agricultural uses, wastewater treatment plants, food processing plants, chemical plants, composting, refineries, landfills, dairies, and fiberglass molding. The proposed project does not include any uses identified by the SCAQMD as being associated with odors.

Construction activities associated with the project may generate detectable odors from heavyduty equipment exhaust and architectural coating. However, construction-related odors would 12 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Carbon Monoxide Emissions, https://cfpub.epa.gov/roe/indicator_pdf.cfm?i=10, accessed January 4, 2023.
13 California Air Resources Board, Air Quality Data, https://www.arb.ca.gov/aqmis2/aqdselect.php?tab=specialrpt, accessed January 4, 2023.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

be short-term in nature and cease upon project completion. In addition, the project would be required to comply with the California Code of Regulations, Title 13, Sections 2449(d)(3) and 2485, which minimizes the idling time of construction equipment either by requiring equipment to be shut off when not in use or limiting idling time to no more than five minutes. Compliance with these existing regulations would further reduce the detectable odors from heavy-duty equipment exhaust. The project would also be required to comply with the SCAQMD Regulation XI, Rule 1113 – Architectural Coating, which would minimize odor impacts from ROG emissions during architectural coating. Any odor impacts to existing adjacent land uses would be short-term and negligible. As such, the project would not result in other emissions, such as those leading to odors adversely affecting a substantial number of people. Impacts would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

4.4 Biological Resources
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES:

Would the project:
a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species
identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or
regulations, or by the California Department of Fish
and Wildlife or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?
☐ ☒ ☐ ☐
b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian
habitat or other sensitive natural community
identified in local or regional plans, policies,
regulations or by the California Department of Fish
and Wildlife or US Fish and Wildlife Service?
☐ ☐ ☐ ☒
c) Have a substantial adverse effect on state or
federally protected wetlands (including, but not
limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through
direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or
other means?
☐ ☐ ☐ ☒
d) Interfere substantially with the movement of any
native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species
or with established native resident or migratory
wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native
wildlife nursery sites?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
e) Conflict with any local policies or ordinances
protecting biological resources, such as a tree
preservation policy or ordinance?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
f) Conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat
Conservation Plan, Natural Community
Conservation Plan, or other approved local,
regional, or state habitat conservation plan?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
This section is a summary of the findings within the Biological Resources Assessment and CVMSHCP Consistency Analysis for Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557 prepared for the

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

project by Michael Baker International in 2022; refer to Appendix C, Biological Habitat Assessment of this IS/MND.

Discussion
A Biological Habitat Assessment and CVMSHCP Consistency Analysis (Habitat Assessment) was conducted to characterize existing site conditions and assess the probability of occurrence of special-status14 plant and wildlife species that could pose a constraint to implementation of the proposed project. The project site is currently vacant with generally flat topography and natural communities comprised of sandy soils that are disturbed due to the site’s previous agricultural uses. Land uses in the immediate vicinity of the project site include vacant, undeveloped land, remnant agricultural land, and single-family residential development. One (1) vegetation community was observed and mapped within the boundaries of the project site during the field survey: tamarisk thicket.

No drainage features or potential wetland features were observed on or within the vicinity of the project site during the field survey.

The project site is located within the boundaries of the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP) Area but is not located within or adjacent to a designated Conservation Areas, Preserves, Cores, or Linkages.
a) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated. No special-status plant species were observed within the project site during the Biological Habitat Assessment. Based on the results of the field survey and a review of specific habitat preferences, distributions, and elevation ranges, no special-status plant species are expected to occur within the project site.

No special-status wildlife species were observed within the project site during the field survey.

Based on the results of the field survey and a review of specific habitat preferences, occurrence records, known distributions, and elevation ranges, Michael Baker determined that the project site also has a moderate potential to support burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia; a State SSC).

The project site is located near existing residential and commercial developments and several utility poles are located along nearby roadways that could provide perching opportunities for 14 As used in the Habitat Assessment, “special-status” refers to plant and wildlife species that are Federally-/State-listed, proposed, or candidates; plant species that have been designated a California Rare Plant Rank by the California Native Plant Society; wildlife species that are designated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as Fully Protected, Species of Special Concern, or Watch List species; State/locally rare vegetation communities, and species covered under the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

predatory raptors. With implementation of Mitigation Measures BIO-1 and BIO-2, impacts to burrowing owls and nesting birds would be reduced to less than significant levels.

Mitigation Measures:

BIO-1 Pre-Construction Nesting Bird Clearance Survey: If project-related activities are to be initiated during the nesting season (January 1 to August 31), the Applicant shall conduct a pre-construction nesting bird clearance survey by a qualified biologist no more than three (3) days prior to the start of any vegetation removal or ground disturbing activities. The qualified biologist shall survey all suitable nesting habitat within the project impact area, and areas within a biologically defensible buffer zone surrounding the project impact area. If no active bird nests are detected during the clearance survey, project activities may begin, and no additional avoidance and minimization measures shall be required. If an active bird nest is found, the species shall be identified, and a “no-disturbance” buffer shall be established around the active nest. The size of the “no-disturbance” buffer shall be increased or decreased based on the judgement of the qualified biologist and level of activity and sensitivity of the species. The qualified biologist shall periodically monitor any active bird nests to determine if project-related activities occurring outside the “no-disturbance” buffer disturb the birds and if the buffer should be increased. Once the young have fledged and left the nest, or the nest otherwise becomes inactive under natural conditions, project activities within the “no-disturbance” buffer may occur following an additional survey by the qualified biologist to search for any new bird nests in the restricted area.

BIO-2 Burrowing Owl Pre-Construction Clearance Surveys: Within 30 days prior to initiating ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities, the Applicant shall conduct a clearance survey by a qualified biologist to confirm that burrowing owls remain absent, and impacts do not occur to any occupied burrows that may be located on or within 500 feet of the project site. In accordance with the Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation (Department of Fish and Game, 2012), one pre-construction clearance survey shall be conducted within 30 days prior to any ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities. Documentation of the surveys and findings shall be provided to the City of Coachella for review prior to initiating project activities. If no burrowing owls or occupied burrows are detected, project-related activities may begin. If an occupied burrow is detected, the qualified biologist shall flag the location and establish a “no-disturbance” buffer around the burrow in accordance with the CVMSHCP and contact CDFW to determine the appropriate method of relocation, such as eviction/passive relocation or active relocation.

If an occupied burrow is found outside, but within 500 feet, of the development footprint, the qualified biologist shall establish a “no-disturbance” buffer around the burrow location(s). The size of the “no-disturbance” buffer shall be determined in

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

consultation with CDFW and be based on the species status (i.e., breeding, nonbreeding) and proposed level of disturbance. If an occupied burrow is found within the development footprint and cannot be avoided, the qualified biologist shall flag the location and establish a “no-disturbance” buffer around the burrow in accordance with Section 4.4 of the CVMSHCP and contact CDFW to determine the appropriate method of relocation, such as eviction/passive relocation or active relocation. b) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations or by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or US Fish and Wildlife Service? No Impact. No potential drainage features, such as rivers or streams, were observed on or within the vicinity of the project site during the Habitat Assessment. As such, the project would not result in impacts to state or federal jurisdictional features and regulatory approvals from the USACE, RWQCB, or CDFW would not be required. There would be no impact.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
c) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on state or federally protected wetlands (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means? No Impact. Potential wetland features were not observed on or within the vicinity of the project site during the Habitat Assessment field survey. Furthermore, Michael Baker Biologists conducted a literature review and records search for special-status species, habitat linkages, corridors, geological features, and soil types. No record of state or federally protected wetlands were discovered in the literature review nor the field survey. Because no such wetlands are present, the project would not result in impacts to state or federal wetlands.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
d) Would the project interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites? Less than Significant Impact. The project site is not adjacent to, or nearby, a Conservation Area as established by the CVMSHCP or any other established wildlife corridors. Project activities are not expected to impede wildlife movement through the area. A less than significant impact would occur.

Mitigation Measures: None required.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

e) Would the project conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance? Less than Significant Impact. The City is a Permittee under the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP). As such, the City established a Local Development Mitigation Fee. To assist in providing revenue for the conservation of lands necessary to implement the CVMSHCP, each project in the City must pay into the Local Development Mitigation Fee. 15 With payment of the Local Development Mitigation Fee, the project would be fully consistent with the biological goals and objectives of the CVMSHCP and no further avoidance, minimization, or mitigation measures would be required. A less than significant impact would occur.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
f) Would the project conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan?
Less than Significant Impact. The project site is located within the boundaries of the CVMSHCP Area, but is not located within any Conservation Areas, Preserves, Cores, or Linkages. The project is not listed as a planned “Covered Activity” under the published CVMSHCP but is still considered to be a current Covered Activity pursuant to Section 7.1 of the CVMSHCP.16 With payment of the Local Development Mitigation Fee and completion of the pre-construction clearance surveys for nesting birds and burrowing owls, the project would be fully consistent with the biological goals and objectives of the CVMSHCP and no further avoidance, minimization, or mitigation measures would be required. A less than significant impact would occur.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
15 Coachella Municipal Code, Ordinance No. 1029, adopted September 2011. 16 Covered Activities are defined as certain activities carried out or conducted by Permittees, Participating Special Entities, Third Parties Granted Take Authorization and others within the CVMSHCP Area, as described in Section 7 of the CVMSHCP, that will receive Take Authorization under the Section 10(a) Permit and the Natural Community Conservation Plan Permit, provided these activities are otherwise lawful.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

4.5 Cultural Resources
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
CULTURAL RESOURCES:

Would the project:
a) Cause a substantial adverse change in the
significance of a historical resource pursuant to
§ 15064.5?
☐ ☐ ☐ ☒
b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the
significance of an archaeological resource
pursuant to § 15064.5?
☐ ☒ ☐ ☐
c) Disturb any human remains, including those
interred outside of dedicated cemeteries?
☐ ☒ ☐ ☐
The Cultural and Paleontological Resources Identification Memorandum for the Sevilla II Project was prepared by Michael Baker International in December 2022; refer to Appendix D, Cultural and Paleontological Resources Memorandum. The cultural and paleontological resources memo included an Eastern Information Center (EIC) records search, literature and historical map review, Coachella Valley History Museum consultation, Sacred Lands File search, built environment and archaeological field surveys, California Register of Historical Resources (California Register) evaluation of 50503 Van Buren Street, and buried archaeological site sensitivity analysis to determine if the project area contains historical resources that may be impacted by the project.

Discussion
a) Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource pursuant to § 15064.5?
No Impact. Historic resources generally consist of buildings, structures, improvements, and remnants associated with a significant historic event or person(s) and/or have a historically significant style, design, or achievement. Damaging or demolition of historic resources is typically considered to be a significant impact. Impacts to historic resources can occur through direct impacts, such as destruction or removal, and indirect impacts, such as a change in the setting of a historic resource.

Based on the cultural and paleontological resources memo, the EIC records search, literature and historical map review, historical society consultation, field surveys, and California Register evaluation no historical or archaeological resources were identified within the project area. The

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

EIC records search indicated that two cultural resource studies have been conducted within the project area, but these did not include pedestrian surveys of the site. A total of 23 additional studies have been conducted within a half-mile search radius of the project site, resulting in the recording of 12 cultural resources within this radius. None of these resources are located within or adjacent to the project site. Furthermore, the site’s sensitivity for cultural resources is considered low due to soil age, a lack of previously recorded archaeological sites within the project area and vicinity, previous disturbances in the project area, and the lack of perennial surface water. As such, project implementation would not result in impacts to historical resources.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
b) Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to § 15064.5?
Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated. Archaeological sites are locations that contain resources associated with former human activities, and may contain such resources as human skeletal remains, waste from tool manufacture, tool concentrations, and/or discoloration or accumulation of soil or food remains. As stated previously, a records search and field survey did not identify any cultural resources, including prehistoric or historic archaeological sites, within the project site. However, ground disturbing activities have the potential to reveal buried deposits not observed on the surface during previous surveys. To minimize potential impacts to archeological resources, Mitigation Measure CUL-1 requires constructional personnel to undergo training by a qualified archaeologist. The purpose of the training would be to familiarize construction personnel with the relevant legal context for cultural resources of the project, and with the types of cultural sites, features, and artifactsthat could be uncovered during construction activities. Additionally, Mitigation Measure CUL-2 outlines actions that must be taken in the event of an inadvertent discovery of resources. If a cultural resource is discovered, work must be temporarily halted and a qualified archaeologist must be contacted to evaluate and recommend proper treatment for the resource. With the incorporation of Mitigation Measures CUL-1 and CUL-2, impacts to archaeological resources would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures:

CUL-1 Cultural Resources Worker Training: Prior to commencement of ground-disturbing activities within the project area, the Applicant shall retain a qualified professional archaeologist who meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Archaeology.

The qualified professional archaeologist shall conduct a training session and provide printed material to be presented to construction personnel. The purpose of this training and accompanying materials will be to familiarize construction personnel with the relevant legal context for cultural resources of the project, and with the types of cultural sites, features, and artifacts that could be uncovered during construction

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

activities. This training session will be conducted before beginning construction and will be repeated as needed as construction crews change.

CUL-2 Archaeological Resources Inadvertent Discovery: If archaeological material is uncovered in the course of ground-disturbing activities, work will be temporarily halted in the immediate vicinity of the find (within a 60-foot buffer) and the project applicant shall contact the qualified professional archaeologist to evaluate the significance of the find and recommend appropriate treatment for the resource in accordance with California PRC §21083.2(i) and the provisions of CEQA. The qualified professional archaeologist shall have the authority to modify the no-work radius as appropriate, using professional judgment.

The following shall apply:
▪ If the qualified professional archaeologist determines the find does not represent a cultural resource, work may resume, and no agency notifications are required. A record of the qualified professional archaeologist’s determination shall be made in writing to the City.
▪ If the qualified professional archaeologist finds that the find represents a cultural resource and is considered potentially eligible for listing on the California Register, the City shall be notified as soon as feasible. Based upon the archaeologist’s recommendations, the City shall determine whether the resource meets the significance criteria for inclusion in the California Register.

If the resource is determined to be significant, avoidance must be considered.

If avoidance is not feasible, then the qualified professional archaeologist shall prepare and implement appropriate treatment measures for the resource. The treatment measures may consist of data recovery excavation of a statistically significant part of those portions of the site that will be damaged or destroyed by the project. Working with the qualified professional archaeologist’s recommendations and in consultation with the tribes, the City shall determine the significance and appropriate treatment of the find. Work cannot resume within the no-work radius until the City, through consultation as appropriate, determines that the find is either not eligible for the CRHR, or that appropriate treatment measures have been completed to the satisfaction of the City. ▪ Additionally, if the resource is prehistoric or historic-era and of Native American origin, as determined by a qualified professional archaeologist, then those Native American tribes that have requested consultation on the project pursuant to California PRC §21080.3.1 shall be notified of the find, and shall consult on the eligibility of the resource and the appropriate treatment measures.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

c) Would the project disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of dedicated cemeteries?
Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated. The project site has historically supported agricultural uses and is not located on or near an existing cemetery. However, grounddisturbing activities during construction may uncover previously unknown buried human remains. In the event that human remains are found, the remains would require proper treatment in accordance with applicable laws. State of California Public Resources Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5 through 7055 describe the general provisions for human remains.

Specifically, Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5 describes the requirements if any human remains are accidentally discovered during excavation of a site. As required by State law, the requirements and procedures set forth in Section 5097.98 of the California Public Resources Code would be implemented, including notification of the County Coroner and, if applicable, notification of the Native American Heritage Commission and consultation with the individual identified by the Native American Heritage Commission to be the most likely descendant. If human remains are found during excavation, excavation must cease in the vicinity of the find and any area that is reasonably suspected to overlay adjacent remains until the County Coroner has been notified, the remains have been investigated, and appropriate recommendations have been made for the treatment and disposition of the remains. Following compliance with the aforementioned regulations (included as Mitigation Measure CUL-3), impacts related to the disturbance of human remains would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures:

CUL-3 Discovery of Human Remains: If human remains are found in the course of grounddisturbing activities, those remains would require proper treatment in accordance with State of California Health and Safety Code Sections 7050.5-7055. Excavations shall halt within 60 feet of the find, and the County Coroner shall be notified immediately. If the Coroner determines the human remains are archaeological in nature, then the Coroner shall contact the Native American Heritage Commission, which shall identify the remains’ most likely descendant. A qualified professional archaeologist shall devise an appropriate treatment plan in consultation with the most likely descendant, other interested tribes, and the landowner. The City shall determine the appropriate treatment of the find. Work cannot resume within the nowork radius until the City, through consultation as appropriate, determines that appropriate treatment measures have been completed to the satisfaction of the City in consultation with the most likely descendant.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

4.6 Energy
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
ENERGY:

Would the project:
a) Result in potentially significant environmental
impact due to wasteful, inefficient, or
unnecessary consumption of energy resources,
during project construction or operation?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
b) Conflict with or obstruct a state or local plan for
renewable energy or energy efficiency?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
This section is based on the CalEEMod Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas, and Energy outputs prepared by Michael Baker International on January 24, 2023; refer to Appendix B, Air Quality/ Greenhouse Gas/Energy Analysis.

Discussion

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
State
California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24) The 2022 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 6), commonly referred to as “Title 24,” became effective on January 1, 2023. In general, Title 24 requires the design of building shells and building components to conserve energy. The standards are updated periodically to allow consideration and possible incorporation of new energy efficiency technologies and methods.

The 2022 Title 24 standards encourage efficient electric heat pumps, establish electric-ready requirements for new homes, expand solar photovoltaic and battery storage standards, strengthen ventilation standards, and more. Buildings whose permit applications are applied for on or after January 1, 2023, must comply with the 2022 Title 24 standards.

California Green Building Standards
The 2022 California Green Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11), commonly referred to as CALGreen, went into effect on January 1, 2023. CALGreen is the first-in-the-nation mandatory green buildings standards code. The California Building Standards Commission developed CALGreen in an effort to meet the State’s landmark initiative Assembly

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Bill (AB) 32 goals, which established a comprehensive program of cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. CALGreen was developed to (1) reduce GHG emissions from buildings; (2) promote environmentally responsible, cost-effective, and healthier places to live and work; (3) reduce energy and water consumption; and (4) respond to the environmental directives of the administration. CALGreen requires that new buildings employ water efficiency and conservation, increase building system efficiencies (e.g., lighting, heating/ventilation and air conditioning [HVAC], and plumbing fixtures), divert construction waste from landfills, and incorporate electric vehicles charging infrastructure. There is growing recognition among developers and retailers that sustainable construction is not prohibitively expensive, and that there is a significant cost-savings potential in green building practices and materials.

Senate Bill 100
Senate Bill (SB) 100 (Chapter 312, Statutes of 2018) requires that retail sellers and local publicly owned electric utilities procure a minimum quantity of electricity products from eligible renewable energy resources so that the total kilowatt-hours (kWh) of those products sold to their retail end-use customers achieve 44 percent of retail sales by December 31, 2024; 52 percent by December 31, 2027; 60 percent by December 31, 2030; and 100 percent by December 31, 2045.

The bill requires the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Energy Commission (CEC), State board or the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB), and all other State agencies to incorporate the policy into all relevant planning. In addition, SB 100 requires the CPUC, CEC, and CARB to utilize programs authorized under existing statutes to achieve that policy and, as part of a public process, issue a joint report to the Legislature by January 1, 2021, and every four years thereafter, that includes specified information relating to the implementation of SB 100.

California Energy Commission Integrated Energy Policy Report In 2002, the California State Legislature adopted Senate Bill (SB) 1389, which requires the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop an Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) every two years. SB 1389 requires the CEC to conduct assessments and forecasts of all aspects of energy industry supply, production, transportation, delivery and distribution, demand, and prices, and use these assessments and forecasts to develop energy policies that conserve resources, protect the environment, ensure energy reliability, enhance the State's economy, and protect public health and safety.

The CEC adopted the 2021 integrated energy policy report (2021 IEPR) Volume I, Volume II, and Volume IV on February 1, 2022 and Volume III on February 24, 2022.17 The 2021 IEPR provides information and policy recommendations on advancing a clean, reliable, and affordable energy 17 California Energy Commissions, 2021 Integrated Energy Policy Report, https://www.energy.ca.gov/datareports/reports/integrated-energy-policy-report/2021-integrated-energy-policy-report, accessed January 23, 2023.

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Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

system for all Californian.18 Volume I of the 2021 IEPR addresses actions needed to reduce the GHG emissions related to the buildings in which California live and work, with an emphasis on energy efficiency; Volume II examines actions needed to increase the reliability and resiliency of California’s energy system; Volume III looks at the evolving role of gas in California’ energy system; and Volume IV reports on California’s energy demand outlook, including a forecast to 2035 and long-term energy demand scenarios of 2050. The 2021 IEPR builds on the goals and work in response to AB 758 (Energy: energy audit), SB 350 (Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act), AB 3232 (Zero-emissions buildings and sources of heat energy), and the 2019 IEPR to further a comprehensive approach toward decarbonizing buildings in a cost-effective and equitable manner. For the 2021 IEPR, the CEC extends the forecast timeframe to 15 years to coincide with several state goals that are planned for 2035 and improves methodologies to better quantify and predict the likelihood, severity, and duration of future extreme heat events.

Local
City of Coachella General Plan
The City Council of the City of Coachella approved the General Plan 2035 document (General Plan) on April 22, 2015. The General Plan is the primary legal document to guide long-term growth, development and conservation in the City and Sphere of influence. The General Plan is the articulation for the City’s vision of growth for the next 80 to 100 years with specific steps to guide development toward that vision between now and 2035. As such, the General Plan identifies the goals, policies and actions that will enable the City to achieve this vision. The following goals and policies are applicable to the project.

Sustainability and Natural Environment Element
Goal 2. Energy. An energy efficient community that relies primarily on renewable and nonpolluting energy sources.

Policies

2.1 Community development-subdivisions. When reviewing applications for new subdivisions, require all residences be oriented along an east-west access, minimizing western sun exposure, to maximize energy efficiency.

2.3 Alternative energy. Promote the incorporation of alternative energy generation (e.g., solar, wind, biomass) in public and private development.

2.5 Construction standards. Consider and evaluate new construction practices and standards that increase building energy efficiency.

2.6 Energy performance targets – new construction. Require new construction to exceed Title 24 efficiency standards by 15 percent and incorporate solar photovoltaics. 18 California Energy Commissions, Final 2021 Integrated Energy Policy Report Volume I Building Decarbonization, February 2022.

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City of Coachella
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TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

THRESHOLD OF SIGNIFICANCE
In accordance with CEQA Guidelines, project impacts are evaluated to determine whether significant adverse environmental impacts would occur. This analysis will focus on the project’s potential impacts and provide mitigation measure, if required, to reduce or avoid any potentially significant impacts that are identified. According to Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines, the proposed project would have a significant impact related to energy, if it would:
• Result in potentially significant environmental impact due to wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources, during project construction or operation (refer to Response 4.6(a)); and/or
• Conflict with or obstruct a State or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency (refer to Response 4.6(b)).

CEQA Guidelines Appendix F is an advisory document that assists in determining whether a project will result in the inefficient, wasteful, and unnecessary consumption of energy. The analysis on Response 4.6(a) relies on Appendix F of the CEQA Guidelines, which includes the following criteria to determine whether this threshold of significance is met:
• Criterion 1: The project energy requirements and its energy use efficiencies by amount and fuel type for each stage of the project including construction, operation, maintenance and/or removal. If appropriate, the energy intensiveness of materials maybe discussed. • Criterion 2: The effects of the project on local and regional energy supplies and on requirements for additional capacity.
• Criterion 3: The effects of the project on peak and base period demands for electricity and other forms of energy.
• Criterion 4: The degree to which the project complies with existing energy standards. • Criterion 5: The effects of the project on energy resources. • Criterion 6: The project’s projected transportation energy use requirements and its overall use of efficient transportation alternatives.

Quantification of the project’s energy usage is presented and addresses Criterion 1. The discussion on construction-related energy use focuses on Criteria 2, 4, and 5. The discussion on operational energy use is divided into transportation energy demand and building energy demand. The transportation energy demand analysis discusses Criteria 2, 4, and 6, and the building energy demand analysis discusses Criteria 2, 3, 4, and 5.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

a) Result in potentially significant environmental impact due to wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources, during project construction or operation?
Less Than Significant Impact.

PROJECT-RELATED SOURCES OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION
This analysis focuses on three sources of energy that are relevant to the proposed project:
electricity, natural gas, and transportation fuel for vehicle trips and off-road equipment associated with project construction and operations. The analysis of the operational electricity/natural gas usage is based on the California Emissions Estimator Model version 2020.4.0 (CalEEMod) modeling results for the project. The project’s estimated electricity/natural gas consumption is based primarily on CalEEMod’s default settings for Riverside County, and consumption factors provided by the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), the electricity and natural gas providers for the City and project site.

The results of the CalEEMod modeling are included in Appendix B, Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas/Energy Analysis. The amount of operational fuel consumption was estimated using the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) EMission FACtor 2017 (EMFAC2017) computer program which provides projections for typical daily fuel usage in Riverside County, and the project’s annual vehicle miles traveled (VMT) outputs from CalEEMod. The estimated construction fuel consumption is based on the project’s construction equipment list, timing/phasing, and house of duration for construction equipment, as well as vendor, hauling, and construction worker trips.

The project’s estimated energy consumption is summarized in Table 4-4, Project and Countywide Energy Consumption. As shown in Table 4-4, the project’s energy usage would constitute an approximate 0.0097 percent increase over Riverside County’s typical annual electricity consumption and an approximate 0.0093 percent increase over Riverside County’s typical annual natural gas consumption. The project’s off-road construction equipment diesel fuel consumption, on-road construction fuel consumption, and operational vehicle fuel consumption would increase Riverside County’s consumption by 0.1004 percent, 0.2758 percent, and 0.0378 percent, respectively (Criterion 1).

Table 4-4
Project and Countywide Energy Consumption
Energy Type Project Annual
Energy Consumption1
Riverside County
Annual Energy
Consumption2
Percentage
Increase Countywide2
Electricity Consumption 1,625 MWh 16,767,235 MWh 0.0097% Natural Gas Consumption 57,705 therms 623,146,364 therms 0.0093% Fuel Consumption
• Construction Off-Road Fuel Consumption3 37,402 gallons 37,497,434 gallons 0.1004% • Construction On-Road Fuel Consumption3 2,179,512 gallons 985,997,033 gallons 0.2758% • Operational Automotive Fuel Consumption3 365,471 gallons 966,829,242 gallons 0.0378%

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Energy Type Project Annual
Energy Consumption1
Riverside County
Annual Energy
Consumption2
Percentage
Increase Countywide2
Notes:

1. As modeled in CalEEMod version 2020.4.0.

2. The project increases in electricity and natural gas consumption are compared to the total consumption in Riverside County in 2021. The project increases in construction off-road and on-road fuel consumption are compared with the projected Riverside Countywide off-road fuel consumption and Riverside Countywide on-road fuel consumption in 2023, respectively. The project increase in automotive fuel consumption is compared with the projected Countywide on-road fuel consumption in 2025.

Riverside County electricity consumption data source: California Energy Commission, Electricity Consumption by County, http://www.ecdms.energy.ca.gov/elecbycounty.aspx, accessed January 12, 2023.

Riverside County natural gas consumption data source: California Energy Commission, Gas Consumption by County, http://www.ecdms.energy.ca.gov/gasbycounty.aspx, accessed January 12, 2023.

3. Project fuel consumption calculated based on CalEEMod results. Countywide operational fuel consumption, off-road construction equipment diesel fuel consumption, and on-road fuel consumption are from CARB EMFAC2021.

Refer to Appendix B for assumptions used in this analysis.

CONSTRUCTION-RELATED ENERGY CONSUMPTION
During construction, the project would consume energy in two general forms: (1) the fuel energy consumed by construction vehicles and equipment; and (2) bound energy in construction materials, such as asphalt, steel, concrete, pipes, and manufactured or processed materials such as lumber and glass.

Fossil fuels used for construction vehicles and other energy-consuming equipment would be used during grading, paving, building construction, and architectural coatings. Fuel energy consumed during construction would be temporary and would not represent a significant demand on energy resources. In addition, some incidental energy conservation would occur during construction through compliance with State requirements that heavy-diesel equipment not in use for more than five minutes be turned off. Project construction equipment would also be required to comply with latest U.S. Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) and CARB engine emissions standards. These emissions standards require highly efficient combustion systems that maximize fuel efficiency and reduce unnecessary fuel consumption. Due to increasing transportation costs and fuel prices, contractors and owners have a strong financial incentive to avoid wasteful, inefficient, and unnecessary consumption of energy during construction (Criterion 4).

Substantial reduction in energy inputs for construction materials can be achieved by selecting green building materials composed of recycled materials that require less energy to produce than non-recycled materials.19 The integration of green building materials can help reduce environmental impacts associated with the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of these building industry source material.20 The project-related incremental increase in the use of energy bound in construction materials such as asphalt, steel, concrete, pipes and manufactured or processed materials (e.g., lumber and gas) would not substantially increase demand for energy compared to overall local and regional 19 California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, Green Building Materials, https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/greenbuilding/materials#Material, accessed January 12, 2023. 20 Ibid.

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Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

demand for construction materials. As indicated in Table 4-4, the project’s off-road fuel consumption and on-road fuel consumption from construction would be approximately 37,402 gallons and 2,179,512 gallons, respectively. The project’s off-road fuel consumption and on-road fuel consumption from construction would increase off-road construction equipment diesel fuel use and on-road vehicle fuel consumption in the County by approximately 0.1004 percent and

0.2758 percent, respectively. As such, construction would have a nominal effect on the local and regional energy supplies (Criterion 2). It is noted that construction fuel use is temporary and would cease upon completion of construction activities. There are no unusual project characteristics that would necessitate the use of construction equipment that would be less energy efficient that at comparable construction sits in the region or State (Criterion 5).

Therefore, construction fuel consumption would not be any more inefficient, wasteful, or unnecessary than other similar development projects of this nature. As such, a less than significant impact would occur in this regard.

OPERATIONAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Transportation Energy Demand
Pursuant to the Federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration is responsible for establishing additional vehicle standards and for revising existing standards. Compliance with Federal fuel economy standards is not determined for each individual vehicle model. Rather, compliance is determined based on each manufacturer’s average fuel economy for the portion of their vehicles produced for sale in the United States. Table 4-4 provides an estimate of the daily fuel consumed by vehicle traveling to and from the project site. Based on project’s Traffic Scoping Agreement, the proposed project would generate approximately 1,944 daily trips. As indicated in Table 4-4, project operational daily trips are estimated to consume approximately 365,471 gallons of fuel per year, which would increase the County’s automotive fuel consumption by 0.0378 percent. The project does not propose any unusual features that would result in excessive long-term operational fuel consumption (Criterion 2).

The key drivers of transportation-related fuel consumption are job locations/commuting distance and many personal choices on when and where to drive for various purposes. Those factors are outside of the scope of the design of the proposed project. However, the project would locate within 0.13 mile of a bus stop, which would promote alternative mode of transportation.

Additionally, in compliance with CALGreen Code, all single-family residential units of the project would be electric vehicle (EV) capable by including a listed raceway21 within each dwelling unit to accommodate EV charging stations. This project design feature would encourage and support the use of EVs within the proposed residential development (Criterion 4 and Criterion 6). 21 Raceway is the enclosed conduit that forms the physical pathway for electrical writing to protect it from damage.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Therefore, fuel consumption associated with vehicle trips generated by the project would not be considered inefficient, wasteful, or unnecessary in comparison to other similar developments in the region. A less than significant impact would occur in this regard.

Building Energy Demand
The CEC developed 2020 to 2035 forecasts for energy consumption and peak demand in support of the 2021 IEPR for each of the major electricity and natural gas planning areas and the State based on the economic and demographic growth projections.22 CEC forecasts that the Statewide annual average growth rates of energy demand between 2021 and 2030 would be 1.3 percent to

2.3 percent for electricity and less than 0.1 percent to 0.8 percent increase for natural gas.23 As shown in Table 4-4, operational energy consumption of the project would represent approximately 0.0097 percent increase in electricity consumption and 0.0093 percent increase in natural gas consumption over the current Countywide usage, which would be significantly below CEC’s forecasts and the current Countywide usage. Therefore, the project would be consistent with the CEC’s energy consumption forecasts. As such, the project would not require additional energy capacity or supplies (Criterion 2). Additionally, the proposed project would be a residential development and the energy consumption would peak in the evening, similar to other residential developments. As a result, the project would not result in unique or more intensive peak or base period electricity demand (Criterion 3).

The proposed residential building would be required to comply with 2022 Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, which would ensure the project incorporates efficient electric heat pumps, establish electric-ready requirements for new homes, expand solar photovoltaic and battery storage standards, strengthen ventilation standards, as well as water efficient fixtures and electric vehicles charging infrastructure. Implementation of the 2022 Title 24 standards significantly reduces energy usage. The Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards are updated every three years and become more stringent between each update, as such, complying with the latest 2022 Title 24 standards would make the proposed project energy efficient. In addition, the project would use energy efficient appliances and install solar-ready roof (Criterion 4).

Furthermore, the electricity provider, IID, is subject to California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS). The RPS requires investor-owned utilities, electric service providers, and community choice aggregators to increase procurement from eligible renewable energy resources to 33 percent of total procurement by 2020 to 60 percent of total procurement by 2030. Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished within a human timescale such as sunlight, wind, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. The increase in reliance of such energy resources further ensures that new development projects will not result in the waste of the finite energy resources (Criterion 5). 22 California Energy Commission, Final 2021 Integrated Energy Policy Report Volume IV California Energy Demand Forecast, February 2022. Annual average growth rates of electricity demand and natural gas per capita demand are shown in Figure 10 and Figure 14, respectively.
23 Ibid.

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Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Therefore, the project would not cause wasteful, inefficient, and unnecessary consumption of building energy during project operation, or preempt future energy development or future energy conservation. A less than significant impact would occur in this regard.

Mitigation Measures: None required.

B) Conflict with or obstruct a state or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency? Less Than Significant Impact. The project would be required to comply with 2022 Title 24 standards and 2022 CALGreen Code. Compliance with 2022 Title 24 standards and 2022 CALGreen Code would ensure the project incorporates energy-efficient building design that would also be consistent with applicable energy policies identified in the General Plan, including Policies 2.3, 2.5, and 2.6, refers to Table 4-5, Consistency with General Plan. Additionally, the project would utilize electricity provided by IID. Per SB 100, IID would achieve at least 60 percent renewable energy by 2030. Therefore, the project would not conflict with or obstruct a State or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency and impacts will be less than significant.

Table 4-5
Consistency with the General Plan
Goals/Policies Project Consistency Analysis
General Plan
Sustainability and Natural Environment
Element
Goal 2. Energy. An energy efficient community
that relies primarily on renewable and nonpolluting energy sources.

Policies

2.1 Community development-subdivisions.

When reviewing applications for new subdivisions,
require all residences be oriented along an eastwest access, minimizing western sun exposure, to maximize energy efficiency.

2.3 Alternative energy. Promote the incorporation
of alternative energy generation (e.g., solar, wind,
biomass) in public and private development.

2.5 Construction standards. Consider and
evaluate new construction practices and standards
that increase building energy efficiency.

2.6 Energy performance targets – new
construction. Require new construction to exceed
Title 24 efficiency standards by 15 percent and
incorporate solar photovoltaics.

Consistent. Policy 2.1 requires that homes be oriented along an eastwest access to minimize western sun exposure and maximize energy efficiency. The project accomplishes the intent of Policy 2.1 by having the majority of the streets in an east-west orientation. Due to the nature of circulation design, all east-west orientation is not feasible; additionally, offering home size and configuration options are a preferred attribute to residential neighborhoods in order to accommodate various household needs. Homes that are most exposed to western sun and are in the opposite configuration than what is suggested in Figure 7-1 of the Sustainability-Natural Environment section of the General Plan, are minimized by design, and provide energy efficiency measures including limited window openings on the western elevation, acceptable roof orientations for solar access, and simple roof design conducive to photovoltaic installations. The project layout (site plan) is consistent the Development Standard for new neighborhood streets and lot layouts so at least 80 percent of new homes are oriented with the primary building axis within 20 degrees of an east-west orientation. Per the site plan, east/west access streets are longer than north/south access streets and do not exceed 15% axis. The homes on north/south access streets are oriented less than the 15% axis and are orientated with depth. The project will comply with the most current Title 24 requirements, consistent with Policy 2.2, which include solar and other energy efficiency measures. Along with the requirements of Title 24 and the minimal western exposure, the Sevilla II neighborhoods is consistent with the intent of Goal 2 and Policies 2.1 and 2.2, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6.

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Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Goals/Policies Project Consistency Analysis
The project would be required to comply with 2022 Title 24 standards and 2022 CALGreen Code. Compliance with Title 24 and CALGreen standards would ensure the project incorporates efficient electric heat pumps, establish electric-ready requirements for new homes, expand solar photovoltaic and battery storage standards, strengthen ventilation standards, as well as water efficient fixtures and electric vehicles charging infrastructure. The project would install solar-ready roof and use energy efficient appliances. Additionally, the project would install low-flow fixtures, water-efficiency irrigation, and draught tolerant landscape.

Furthermore, the 2022 Title 24 would achieve an increased reduction in energy usage more than 15 percent compared to 2016 Title 24, when the General Plan was adopted. As such, the project would be consistent with the goal and policies of the General Plan.

Source: City of Coachella, General Plan, adopted April 22, 2015.

Mitigation Measures: None required.

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Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

4.7 Geology and Soils
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
GEOLOGY AND SOILS:

Would the project:
a) Directly or indirectly cause potential substantial
adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury,
or death involving:
i) Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as
delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo
Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the
State Geologist for the area or based on other
substantial evidence of a known fault? Refer to
Division of Mines and Geology Special
Publication 42.
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
ii) Strong seismic ground shaking? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
iii) Seismic-related ground failure, including
liquefaction?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
iv) Landslides? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
b) Result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of
topsoil?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
c) Be located on a geologic unit or soil that is
unstable, or that would become unstable as a
result of the project, and potentially result in onor off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction or collapse?
☐ ☒ ☐ ☐
d) Be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table
18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1994),
creating substantial direct or indirect risks to life
or property?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
e) Have soils incapable of adequately supporting the
use of septic tanks or alternative waste water
disposal systems where sewers are not available
for the disposal of waste water?
☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
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Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
f) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique
paleontological resource or site or unique
geologic feature?
☐ ☒ ☐ ☐
A Geotechnical Report was prepared for the project by Leighton and Associates, Inc. in December 2021; refer to Appendix F, Geotechnical Report.

Discussion
The project site is generally flat, with elevations ranging from approximately 48 to 40 feet below mean sea level. A site visit and geotechnical testing was performed on November 9, 2021, which consisted of six hollow-stem auger borings performed at various locations on the project site.

Bulk samples and ring samples were collected from the borings for lab testing. The native soil throughout the site primarily consists of medium density fine- to medium-grained silty sand with scattered silt and clay laminations. Artificial fill materials were encountered throughout the majority of the site, which is mostly loose silty sand that may be compressible in their current state. Groundwater was encountered in three borings at a depth of approximately 42 feet below ground surface. Historically, groundwater has been measured as high as 44 feet below ground surface at a nearby well, and in 2006 groundwater was encountered on the project site at a depth of 28 feet below ground surface.
a.i)Would the project directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault? Refer to Division of Mines and Geology Special Publication 42.

Less Than Significant Impact. Seismically-induced ground rupture is defined as the physical displacement of surface deposits in response to an earthquake’s seismic waves. Ground rupture is most likely along active faults, and typically occurs during earthquakes of magnitude five or higher. Ground rupture only affects the area immediately adjacent to a fault.

The Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act was passed in 1972 to mitigate the hazard of surface faulting to structures for human occupancy. The Act’s main purpose is to prevent the construction of buildings used for human occupancy on the surface trace of active faults. The Act requires the State Geologist to establish regulatory zones, known as Alquist-Priolo (AP) Earthquake Fault Zones, around the surface traces of active faults and to issue appropriate maps.

If an active fault is found, a structure for human occupancy cannot be placed over the trace of the fault and must be set back from the fault (typically 50 feet). According to the applicable

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Earthquake Hazards Zones map for the project site, the project site is not located within or adjacent to any fault, nor is it included in any Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones. 24 The
nearest earthquake fault is the San Andreas Fault (Coachella Section), which runs approximately 5-miles east of the site.25 Fault rupture is not expected on the project site because it does not occur on the San Andreas Fault, or any other known faults. Therefore, project implementation would not expose people or structures to potential substantial adverse effects involving rupture of a known earthquake fault. Impacts would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
a.ii)Would the project directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving strong seismic ground shaking? Less Than Significant Impact. The geologic structure of the entire southern California area is dominated mainly by northwest-trending faults associated with the San Andreas system. The project site is located in a seismically active region where earthquakes originating on local and regional faults can produce strong groundshaking.

Based on the Geotechnical Report, strong ground shaking can be expected at the site during moderate to severe earthquakes within the region. Intensity of ground shaking at a given location depends primarily upon earthquake magnitude, site distance from the source, and site response (soil type) characteristics. Based on these factors, it was determined in the Geotechnical Report that the Peak Horizontal Ground Acceleration is 0.82g and the site-modified Peak Horizontal ground Acceleration is 0.91g.

While the potential for strong seismic ground shaking cannot be eliminated, adherence to California Building Code (CBC) design requirements and other applicable standards and practices of earthquake resistant construction, as required by the California Building Permit process, would reduce such risk to the extent feasible.26 Buildings proposed for the site would be required to be constructed in accordance with the most recent edition of the CBC to provide collapse-resistant design. Therefore, the project would have a less than significant impact with respect to seismic ground shaking.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
24 California Department of Conservation – EQ Zapp: California Hazards Zone Application, https://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/geohazards/eq-zapp, accessed October 10, 2022. 25 U.S. Geological Survey Interactive Fault Map website, https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/faults, accessed 10-11-22.
26 California Building Code, 2019, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2.

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a.iii)Would the project directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction?
Less Than Significant Impact. Soil liquefaction occurs when loose, saturated sandy soil deposits lose internal strength and transform from a solid to a liquefied state due to reduced stresses within the soils mass. This phenomenon is most often induced by strong ground shaking associated with earthquakes. Generally, liquefaction can occur if all of the following conditions apply: liquefaction-susceptible soil, groundwater within a depth of 50 feet or less, and strong seismic shaking.

According to the Geotechnical Report, the project site is located within a highly liquefiable zone.

However, due to the depth of highly liquefiable layers and relatively uniform subsurface alluvium, and with compliance to the CBC, impacts due to liquefaction would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
a.iv)Would the project directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving landslides? No Impact. The project site is located on the Coachella Valley floor. The site vicinity is located in an area that has relatively flat terrain, without significant slopes located on or near the site.

Therefore, the potential for landslide would be negligible and there would be no impacts in this regard.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
b) Would the project result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? Less than Significant Impact. Development of the project is anticipated to involve grading and ground disturbance during construction activities. There is the potential for these activities to expose soils and increase the potential for soil erosion from wind or stormwater runoff. Pursuant to the CBC, the project applicant must prepare an Interim Erosion and Sediment Control Plan.

The project is required to comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), and because the project would disturb a soil area of one (1) or more acres, the project is required to obtain and comply with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) NPDES General Permit No. CAS000002 waste discharge requirements (WDRS) for discharges of storm water runoff associated with construction activity.27 The project is also required to include preparation of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that recommends appropriate Best Management Practices (BMPs) to control erosion and sediment. Compliance with the 27 State Water Resources Control Board Order No. 2009-0009-DWQ (2013), https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_decisions/adopted_orders/water_quality/2009/wqo/wqo2009_0009_dwq.pdf, accessed November 11, 2022

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Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

requirements of the CBC, as well as NPDES requirements for erosion control, grading, and soil remediation, would ensure that impacts related to soil erosion are reduced to less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
c) Would the project be located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the project, and potentially result in on- or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction or collapse? Less Than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated. Surface soils of the project site consists of relatively loose and heterogeneous artificial fill and topsoil, which are potentially compressible in their present state. Mitigation Measure GEO-1 requires all excavation and grading to be implemented in accordance with the Geotechnical Report. This includes the presence of a qualified geotechnical consultant, who would supervise earthwork and ensure that potentially compressible soils are removed and re-compacted during grading and excavation, in accordance with the specifications outlined in the report. The site is not susceptible to on- or off-site landslides, as discussed above with respect to landslides. Further, the site is not situated on a known fault zone nor is the site at substantial risk for liquefaction. As discussed above, with incorporation of Mitigation Measure GEO-1, impacts related to unstable soils would be reduced to less than significant levels.

Mitigation Measures:

GEO-1 Geotechnical Design. Prior to ground disturbing activities, the City of Coachella Building and Safety Department shall review final plans to verify recommendations identified in the Geotechnical Exploration, Proposed Residential Development – Sevilla 2, prepared by Leighton and Associates, Inc. on December 8, 2021, have been incorporated into the project design. The Applicant shall implement the Earthwork and Grading Specifications identified in the Geotechnical Exploration. The specifications require the Applicant to hire a geotechnical consultant, who will supervise earthwork and ensure it is conducted in accordance with the Geotechnical Exploration.
d) Would the project be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1994), creating substantial direct or indirect risks to life or property? Less Than Significant Impact. Expansive soils are those that undergo volume changes as moisture content fluctuates; swelling substantially when wet or shrinking when dry. The expansion potential of any particular expansive soil is determined by the percentage of clay and the type of clay in the soil. Expansive near-surface soil is subject to high volume changes during seasonal fluctuations in moisture content, which can cause cracking of shallow foundations, floor slabs, concrete flatwork, and pavements. As described in the Geotechnical Report, preliminary

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TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

laboratory results and field observations indicate that the site’s earth materials possess a very low expansion potential. Thus, impacts related to expansive soils would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
e) Would the project have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative waste water disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of waste water?
No Impact. Historically, the site has supported agricultural uses and it is located in an area served by existing wastewater infrastructure. The project’s wastewater demand would be accommodated by connections to the City’s existing wastewater treatment system and septic tanks are not proposed by the project. Therefore, the project would have no impact related to the ability of soils to support septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
f) Would the project directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature?
Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated. Paleontological resources are the fossilized remains of prehistoric animals and plants, created more than 12,000 years ago in the Pleistocene era. Fossils are usually buried resources, and often cannot be identified on the surface. The eastern portion of the City is in a high sensitivity area for paleontological resources, due to the presence of the Palm Springs Formation and ancient Lake Cahuilla. The sandstones and siltstones of the Palm Springs Formation have high potential for containing non-renewable paleontological resources. The lakeshore and lakebed of Lake Cahuilla have yielded resources associated with the repeated stands of the ancient lake. These resources have included snails and bivalves, and some small mammal bones. The project site is located in an area of undetermined sensitivity for paleontological resources, according to the City’s General Plan. To protect potential paleontological resources uncovered at the site, implementation of Mitigation Measure GEO-2 will ensure impacts to paleontological resources are less than significant.

Mitigation Measures:

GEO-2: Paleontological Monitoring. The presence of a qualified paleontologist shall be required during all project related ground-disturbing activities reaching beyond the depth of five-feet below the current ground surface. A licensed paleontologist may be the same person as the archaeologist specified above in Mitigation Measure CUL-1 if they possess the qualifications to serve in both capacities. The monitor should be prepared to quickly salvage fossils, if they are unearthed, to avoid construction delays, but must have the power to temporarily halt or divert construction equipment to

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Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

allow for removal of abundant or large specimens. The following shall also be included as part of this mitigation measure:
▪ Samples of sediments should be collected and processed to recover small fossil remains.
▪ Recovered specimens should be identified and curated at a repository with permanent retrievable storage that would for further research in the future. ▪ A report of findings, including an itemized inventory of recovered specimens and a discussion of their significance when appropriate, should be prepared upon completion of the research procedures outlined above. The approval of the report and the inventory by the City of Coachella would signify completion of this mitigation plan.

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City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

4.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS:

Would the project:
a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either
directly or indirectly, that may have a significant
impact on the environment?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
b) Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or
regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing
the emissions of greenhouse gases?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
This section is based on the CalEEMod Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas, and Energy outputs prepared by Michael Baker International on January 24, 2023; refer to Appendix B, Air Quality/ Greenhouse Gas/Energy Analysis.

Discussion

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
California is a substantial contributor of global greenhouse gases (GHGs), emitting over 369.2 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.28 Climate studies indicate that California is likely to see an increase of three to four degrees Fahrenheit over the next century. Methane (CH4) is also an important GHG that potentially contributes to global climate change. GHGs are global in their effect, which is to increase the earth’s ability to absorb heat in the atmosphere. As primary GHGs have a long lifetime in the atmosphere, accumulate over time, and are generally well-mixed, their impact on the atmosphere is mostly independent of the point of emission.

The impact of human activities on global climate change is apparent in the observational record.

Air trapped by ice has been extracted from core samples taken from polar ice sheets to determine the global atmospheric variation of CO2, CH4, and nitrous oxide (N2O) from before the start of industrialization (approximately 1750), to over 650,000 years ago. For that period, it was found that CO2 concentrations ranged from 180 to 300 parts per million (ppm). For the period from approximately 1750 to the present, global CO2 concentrations increased from a preindustrialization period concentration of 280 to 379 ppm in 2005, with the 2005 value far 28 California Environmental Protection Agency, California Greenhouse Gas Emissions for 2000 to 2020, https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/classic/cc/inventory/2000-2020_ghg_inventory_trends.pdf, accessed January 4, 2023.

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exceeding the upper end of the pre-industrial period range. As of January 2023, the highest monthly average concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was recorded at 420 ppm.29 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) constructed several emission trajectories of GHGs needed to stabilize global temperatures and climate change impacts. It concluded that a stabilization of GHGs at 400 to 450 ppm carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)30 concentration is required to keep global mean warming below 2 degrees Celsius (ºC), which in turn is assumed to be necessary to avoid dangerous climate change.

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Various Statewide and local initiatives to reduce the State’s contribution to GHG emissions have raised awareness that, even though the various contributors to and consequences of global climate change are not yet fully understood, global climate change is under way, and there is a real potential for severe adverse environmental, social, and economic effects in the long term.

Every nation emits GHGs and as a result makes an incremental cumulative contribution to global climate change; therefore, global cooperation is necessary to reduce the rate of GHG emissions enough to slow or stop the human-caused increase in average global temperatures and associated changes in climatic conditions.

State
Assembly Bill 32 (California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) California passed the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32; California Health and Safety Code Division 25.5, Sections 38500-38599). AB 32 establishes regulatory, reporting, and market mechanisms to achieve quantifiable reductions in GHG emissions and establishes a cap on Statewide GHG emissions. AB 32 requires that Statewide GHG emissions be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020. AB 32 specifies that regulations adopted in response to AB 1493 (Pavley Bill) should be used to address GHG emissions from vehicles. However, AB 32 also includes language stating that if the AB 1493 regulations cannot be implemented, then the California Air Resources Board (CARB) should develop new regulations to control vehicle GHG emissions under the authorization of AB 32.

Senate Bill 375
Senate Bill (SB) 375, signed in September 2008 (Chapter 728, Statutes of 2008), aligns regional transportation planning efforts, regional GHG reduction targets, and land use and housing allocations. SB 375 requires Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to adopt a sustainable communities’ strategy (SCS) or alternative planning strategy (APS) that will prescribe land use allocation in that MPOs regional transportation plan. CARB, in consultation with MPOs, is required to provide each affected region with GHG reduction targets emitted by passenger cars 29 Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Carbon Dioxide Concentration at Mauna Loa Observatory, https://scripps.ucsd.edu/programs/keelingcurve/, accessed January 4, 2023. 30 Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e) – A metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential.

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and light trucks in the region for the years 2020 and 2035. These reduction targets are to be updated every eight years but can be updated every four years if advancements in emissions technologies affect the reduction strategies to achieve the targets. CARB is also charged with reviewing each MPO’s SCS or APS for consistency with its assigned targets. If MPOs do not meet the GHG reduction targets, transportation projects may not be eligible for funding.

Executive Order S-3-05
Executive Order S-3-05 set forth a series of target dates by which Statewide emissions of GHGs would be progressively reduced, as follows:
• By 2010, reduce GHG emissions to 2000 levels;
• By 2020, reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels; and
• By 2050, reduce GHG emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels.

The Executive Order directed the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) Secretary to coordinate a multi-agency effort to reduce GHG emissions to the target levels. The Secretary is required to submit biannual reports to the Governor and California Legislature describing the progress made toward the emissions targets, the impacts of global climate change on California’s resources, and mitigation and adaptation plans to combat these impacts. To comply with Executive Order S-3-05, the Cal/EPA Secretary created the California Climate Action Team, made up of members from various State agencies and commissions. The Climate Action Team released its first report in March 2006, which proposed to achieve the targets by building on the voluntary actions of California businesses, local governments, and communities and through State incentive and regulatory programs.

Title 24, Part 6
The California Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings, Title 24, Part 6 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) and commonly referred to as “Title 24,” were established in 1978 in response to a legislative mandate to reduce California’s energy consumption. Part 6 of Title 24 requires the design of building shells and building components to conserve energy. The standards are updated periodically to allow consideration and possible incorporation of new energy efficiency technologies and methods. The 2022 Title 24 standards was adopted in August 2021. The 2022 Title 24 standards encourage efficient electric heat pumps, establish electric-ready requirements for new homes, expand solar photovoltaic and battery storage standards, strengthen ventilation standards, and more. Buildings whose permit applications are applied for on or after January 1, 2023, would be required to comply with the 2022 Title 24.

Title 24, Part 11
The California Green Building Standards Code (CCR Title 24, Part 11), commonly referred to as CALGreen, is a Statewide mandatory construction code developed and adopted by the California Building Standards Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development.

CALGreen also provides voluntary tiers and measures that local governments may adopt that

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encourage or require additional measures in five green building topical areas. The current version of the CALGreen Code went into effect on January 1, 2020. It should be acknowledged that buildings whose permit applications are applied for on or after January 1, 2023, would be required to comply with the 2022 CALGreen Code.

Senate Bill 32
Signed into law on September 2016, SB 32 codifies the 2030 GHG reduction target in Executive Order B-30-15 (40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030). SB 32 authorizes CARB to adopt an interim GHG emissions level target to be achieved by 2030. CARB also must adopt rules and regulations in an open public process to achieve the maximum, technologically feasible, and cost-effective GHG reductions.

CARB Scoping Plan
On December 11, 2008, CARB adopted its Climate Change Scoping Plan (Scoping Plan), which functions as a roadmap to achieve GHG reductions in California required by AB 32 through subsequently enacted regulations. The Scoping Plan contains the main strategies California will implement to reduce CO2e emissions by 174 million metric tons (MT), or approximately 30 percent, from the State’s projected 2020 emissions levels of 596 million MTCO2e under a business as usual (BAU)31 scenario. This is a reduction of 42 million MTCO2e, or almost ten percent, from 2002 to 2004 average emissions, and requires the reductions in the face of population and economic growth through 2020. The Scoping Plan calculates 2020 BAU emissions as the emissions that would be expected to occur in the absence of any GHG reduction measures. The 2020 BAU emissions estimate was derived by projecting emissions from a past baseline year using growth factors specific to each of the different economic sectors (e.g., transportation, electrical power, industrial, commercial, and residential). CARB used three-year average emissions, by sector, from 2002 to 2004 to forecast emissions to 2020. The measures described in the Scoping Plan are intended to reduce projected 2020 BAU emissions to 1990 levels, as required by AB 32.

AB 32 requires CARB to update the Scoping Plan at least once every five years. CARB adopted the first major update to the Scoping Plan on May 22, 2014. The 2014 Scoping Plan summarizes recent science related to climate change, including anticipated impacts to California and the levels of GHG reduction necessary to likely avoid risking irreparable damage. It identifies the actions California has already taken to reduce GHG emissions and focuses on areas where further reductions could be achieved to help meet the 2020 target established by AB 32. The 2014 Scoping Plan also looks beyond 2020 toward the 2050 goal, established in Executive Order S-3- 05, and observes that “a mid-term statewide emission limit will ensure that the State stays on course to meet our long-term goal.” The 2014 Scoping Plan did not establish or propose any 31 “Business as Usual” refers to emissions that would be expected to occur in the absence of GHG reductions; refer to http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/inventory/data/bau.htm. Note that there is significant controversy as to what BAU means. In determining the GHG 2020 limit, CARB used the above as the “definition.” It is broad enough to allow for design features to be counted as reductions.

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specific post-2020 goals, but identified such goals adopted by other governments or recommended by various scientific and policy organizations.

On January 20, 2017, CARB released the proposed Second Update to the Scoping Plan, which identifies the State’s post-2020 reduction strategy. The Second Update reflects the 2030 target of a 40 percent reduction below 1990 levels, set by Executive Order B-30-15 and codified by SB

32. The 2017 Scoping Plan Update establishes a new Statewide emissions limit of 260 million MTCO2e for the year 2030, which corresponds to a 40 percent decrease in 1990 levels by 2030.

On December 15, 2022, CARB released the 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality (2022 Scoping Plan), which identifies the strategies achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 or earlier.

The 2022 Scoping Plan contains the GHG reductions, technology, and clean energy mandated by statutes. The 2022 Scoping Plan was developed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 through a substantial reduction in fossil fuel dependence, while at the same time increasing deployment of efficient non-combustion technologies and distribution of clean energy. The plan would also reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) and would include mechanical CO2 capture and sequestration actions, as well as emissions and sequestration from natural and working lands and nature-based strategies. Under 2022 Scoping Plan, by 2045, California aims to cut GHG emissions by 85 percent below 1990 levels, reduce smog-forming air pollution by 71 percent, reduce the demand for liquid petroleum by 94 percent compared to current usage, improve health and welfare, and create millions of new jobs. This plan also builds upon current and previous environmental justice efforts to integrate environmental justice directly into the plan, to ensure that all communities can reap the benefits of this transformational plan.

Regional
Southern California Association of Governments 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy
On September 3, 2020, the Regional Council of SCAG formally adopted The 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy of the Southern California Association of Governments – Connect SoCal (2020–2045 RTP/SCS). The SCS portion of the 2020-2045 RTP/SCS highlights strategies for the region to reach the regional target of reducing GHGs from autos and light-duty trucks by 8 percent per capita by 2020, and 19 percent by 2035 (compared to 2005 levels). Specially, these strategies are:
• Focus growth near destinations and mobility options;
• Promote diverse housing choices;
• Leverage technology innovations;
• Support implementation of sustainability policies; and • Promote a green region.

Furthermore, the 2020-2045 RTP/SCS discusses a variety of land use tools to help achieve the state-mandated reductions in GHG emissions through reduced per capita vehicle miles traveled

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(VMT). Some of these tools include center focused placemaking, focusing on priority growth areas, job centers, transit priority areas, as well as high quality transit areas and green regions.

Local
City of Coachella General Plan
The City Council of the City of Coachella approved the General Plan 2035 document (General Plan) on April 22, 2015. The General Plan is the primary legal document to guide long-term growth, development and conservation in the City and Sphere of influence. The General Plan is the articulation for the City’s vision of growth for the next 80 to 100 years with specific steps to guide development toward that vision between now and 2035. As such, the General Plan identifies the goals, policies and actions that will enable the City to achieve this vision. The following goals and policies are applicable to the project.

Sustainability and Natural Environment Element
Goal 1. Climate Change. A resilient community that is prepared for the health and safety impacts of and minimizes the risks of climate change.

Policies:

1.2GHG reductions. Promote land use and development patterns that reduce the community’s dependence on and length of automobile trips.

Goal 4. Green Building. Community building stock (both new construction and renovations) that demonstrates high environmental performance through green design.

Policies:

4.4Reducing GHG emissions. In consulting with applicants and designing new facilities, prioritize the selection of green building design features that enhance the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

City of Coachella Climate Action Plan
The City of Coachella adopted its Climate Action Plan (CAP) on April 22, 2015. Coachella has prepared the CAP in conjunction with the General Plan as a roadmap for achieving communitywide GHG emissions reductions. Coachella’s CAP is a proactive step toward addressing the climate challenge to protect our children and grandchildren before climate change becomes irreversible. The Coachella CAP is an implementation tool of the General Plan to guide development in the City by focusing on attaining the goals and policies of the General Plan. The CAP proposes to reach 4.2 MTCO2e per service population per year target by 2035.

THRESHOLD OF SIGNIFICANCE
Amendments to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.4 were adopted to assist lead agencies in determining the significance of the impacts of GHG emissions and gives lead agencies the discretion to determine whether to assess those emissions quantitatively or qualitatively. This

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section recommends certain factors to be considered in the determination of significance (i.e., the extent to which a project may increase or reduce GHG emissions compared to the existing environment; whether the project exceeds an applicable significance threshold; and the extent to which the project complies with regulations or requirements adopted to implement a plan for the reduction or mitigation of GHGs). The amendments do not establish a threshold of significance; rather, lead agencies are granted discretion to establish significance thresholds for their respective jurisdictions, including looking to thresholds developed by other public agencies or suggested by other experts, such as the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA), so long as any threshold chosen is supported by substantial evidence (CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.7(c)). The California Natural Resources Agency has also clarified that the CEQA Guidelines amendments focus on the effects of GHG emissions as cumulative impacts, and therefore GHG emissions should be analyzed in the content of CEQA’s requirements for cumulative impact analyses (CEQA Guidelines Section 15064(h)(3)).32,33 A project’s incremental contribution to a cumulative impact can be found not cumulatively considerable if the project would comply with an approved plan or mitigation program that provides specific requirements to avoid or substantially lessen the cumulative problem within the geographic area of the project.34
In 2008, the SCAQMD developed and recommended two types of GHG thresholds: (1) separate numerical thresholds for residential projects (3,500 MTCO2e), commercial projects (1,400 MTCO2e), and Mixed-Use projects (3,000 MTCO2e); or (2) a singular numerical threshold for all non-industrial projects (3,000 MTCO2e). SCAQMD's GHG Working Group consensus “clearly states that it is at the lead agency's discretion to apply the appropriate threshold to the project for CEQA review. In other words, SCAQMD's recommendation is that the lead agency will need to decide which threshold is most appropriate.” These SCAQMD thresholds were developed using substantial evidence by the SCAQMD GHG Working Group—a group of various resource agencies, cities, counties, utilities, and environmental groups—with the objective of capturing 90 percent of GHG emissions from larger projects above the screening threshold and allowing smaller projects to be implemented without further investigation of possible mitigative elements.

Additionally, the long-term goal of Executive Order S-3-05 to reduce statewide GHG emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 formulated the basis of the SCAQMD recommendation, which is also consistent with analysis published by the CAPCOA in its 2008 White Paper on CEQA and Climate Change. The proposed project is a residential project, however for a conservative analysis, the SCAQMD’s proposed threshold of 3,000 MTCO2e per year (for non-industrial projects) was used to determine the proposed project’s impacts related to GHG emissions.

Additionally, the CAP proposes a 4.2 MTCO2e per service population per year target by 2035.

Therefore, this project would use the screening SCAQMD draft threshold of 3,000 MTCO2e per 32 California Natural Resources Agency, Final Statement of Reasons for Regulatory Action, pp. 11-13, 14, 16, December 2009, https://resources.ca.gov/CNRALegacyFiles/ceqa/docs/Final_Statement_of_Reasons.pdf, accessed January 23, 2023. 33 State of California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, Transmittal of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research’s Proposed SB97 CEQA Guidelines Amendments to the Natural Resources Agency, April 13, 2009, https://planning.lacity.org/eir/CrossroadsHwd/deir/files/references/C01.pdf, accessed January 23, 2023. 34 California Code of Regulations Section 15064(h)(3).

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year, as well as the CAP’s per capita emissions target by 2035. The GHG plan consistency analysis for the project is based on the project’s consistency with the 2022 Scoping Plan, 2020-2045 RTP/SCS, and the City’s General Plan.
a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment?
Less Than Significant Impact.

PROJECT-RELATED SOURCES OF GREENHOUSE GASES
Project-related GHG emissions include emissions from direct and indirect sources. Project implementation would result in direct and indirect emissions of CO2, N2O, and CH4, and would not result in other GHGs that would facilitate a meaningful analysis. Therefore, this analysis focuses on these three forms of GHG emissions. Direct project-related GHG emissions include emissions from construction activities, area sources, and mobile sources, while indirect sources include emissions from energy consumption, water demand, and solid waste generation. The California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod), version 2020.4.0, was used to calculate direct and indirect project-related GHG emissions. The project proposes to construct 204 units of singlefamily residences with open spaces. As a conservative analysis, the emissions from existing use are not deducted from project emissions. Table 4-6, Estimated Greenhouse Gas Emissions, presents the estimated CO2, N2O, and CH4 emissions associated with the proposed project; refer to Appendix B, Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas /Energy Analysis for CalEEMod outputs.

Table 4-6
Estimated Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Source
CO2 CH4 N2O Total
Metric
Tons of
CO2e
2,3
Metric
tons/year1
Metric
tons/year1
Metric tons
of CO2e
1,3
Metric
tons/year1
Metric tons
of CO2e
1,3
Direct Emissions
Construction (amortized over 30 years)4 42.88 0.01 0.14 <0.01 1.04 44.05 Area Source 47.53 <0.01 0.10 <0.01 0.24 47.87
Mobile Source 2,095.62 0.13 3.40 0.09 27.60 2,126.53
Total Direct Emissions 2,186.03 0.14 3.64 0.10 28.88 2,218.45 Indirect Emissions
Energy Consumption 445.00 0.03 0.74 0.01 2.50 448.28
Solid Waste 12.14 0.72 17.90 0.00 0.00 30.08
Water Demand 26.05 0.35 8.80 0.01 2.60 37.39
Total Indirect Emissions 483.19 1.10 27.44 0.02 5.10 515.76 Total Project-Related Emissions3 2,734.28 MTCO2e/year
SCAQMD draft Threshold for residential
development 3,000 MTCO2e/year
Exceed threshold? No
Emissions per service population per
year5

3.15 MTCO2e/service population/year
CAP Proposed 2035 Target 4.2 MTCO2e/ service population year

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Exceed threshold? No
Notes:

Carbon dioxide equivalent = CO2e; metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year = MTCO2e per year

1. Project emissions were calculated using CalEEMod version 2020.4.0, as recommended by the SCAQMD.

2. Totals may be slightly off due to rounding.

3. Carbon dioxide equivalent values calculated using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Website, Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, http://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator, accessed January 12, 2023.

4. Total project construction GHG emissions equate to 1,321.61 MTCO2e. Value shown is amortized over the lifetime of the project (assumed to be 30 years).

5. Refers to Section III, Air Quality, the project would introduce up to 867 additional residences to the City.

Refer to Appendix B, Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas/Energy Analysis, for detailed model input/output data.

Direct Project-Related Sources of Greenhouse Gases
Construction Emissions. Construction GHG emissions are typically summed and amortized over the lifetime of the project (assumed to be 30 years), then added to the operational emissions.35 As shown in Table 4-6, the proposed project would result in 44.05 MTCO2e per year from construction when amortized over 30 years (or a total of 1,321.16 MTCO2e in 30 years).

Area Source. Area source emissions were calculated using CalEEMod and project-specific land use data. Project-related area sources include exhaust emissions from landscape maintenance equipment. The project would directly result in 47.87 MTCO2e per year from area source emissions; refer to Table 4-6.

Mobile Source. Based on information provided by the project applicant, the proposed project would generate approximately 1,944 average daily trips. The project would result in approximately 2,126.53 MTCO2e per year of mobile source generated GHG emissions; refer to Table 4-6.

Indirect Project-Related Sources of Greenhouse Gases
Energy Consumption. Energy consumption emissions were calculated using CalEEMod and project-specific land use data. Imperial Irrigation District (IID) would provide electricity to the project site. The project proposes to install high efficiency lighting and energy efficient appliances. The project would indirectly result in 448.28 MTCO2e per year due to energy consumption; refer to Table 4-6.

Water Demand. The project would install low-flow water fixtures and utilize water-efficient irrigation systems and draught-tolerant landscaping. Emissions from indirect energy impacts due to water supply would result in 37.39 MTCO2e/year; refer to Table 4-6.

Solid Waste. Solid waste associated with operations of the proposed project would result in 30.08 MTCO2e/year; refer to Table 4-6.

Total Project-Related Sources of Greenhouse Gases
As shown in Table 4-6, the total amount of project-related GHG emissions from direct and indirect sources combined would total 2,734.28 MTCO2e per year, which is below the SCAQMD 35 The project lifetime is based on the standard 30-year assumption of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast Air Quality Management District, Draft Guidance Document – Interim CEQA Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Significance Threshold, October 2008).

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draft thresholds of 3,000 MTCO2e per year. Additionally, the project’s emission would be 3.15 MTCO2e/service population/year which is below the 2035 CAP 4.2 MTCO2e per service population year target. As such, impacts would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
b) Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases?
Less Than Significant Impact.

Consistency With Applicable GHG Plans, Policies, Or Regulations The GHG plan consistency for the project is based on the project’s consistency with the CARB 2022 Scoping Plan, the SCAG 2020-2045 RTP/SCS, and the City’s CAP. The 2022 Scoping Plan contains the GHG reductions, technology, and clean energy mandated by statutes. The SCAG 2020-2045 RTP/SCS includes strategies for the region to reach the regional target of reducing GHG from transportation sector. The City’s General Plan contains goals and policies that would subsequently reduce GHG emissions within the City.

Consistency with 2020-2045 RTP/SCS
On September 3, 2020, the Regional Council of SCAG formally adopted the 2020-2045 RTP/SCS.

The 2020-2045 RTP/SCS includes performance goals that were adopted to help focus future investments on the best-performing projects, as well as different strategies to preserve, maintain, and optimize the performance of the existing transportation system. The SCAG 2020- 2045 RTP/SCS is forecasted to help California reach its GHG reduction goals by reducing GHG emissions from passenger cars by eight percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 19 percent by 2035 in accordance with the most recent CARB targets adopted in March 2018. Five key SCS strategies are included in the 2020-2045 RTP/SCS to help the region meet its regional VMT and GHG reduction goals, as required by the State. Table 4-7¸ Project Consistency with 2020-2045 RTP/SCS shows the project’s consistency with the five key SCS strategies found within the 2020- 2045 RTP/SCS that help the region meet its regional VMT and GHG reduction goals, as required by the State. As shown therein, the proposed project would be consistent with the GHG emission reduction strategies contained in the 2020-2045 RTP/SCS.

Table 4-7
Project Consistency with 2020-2045 RTP/SCS
Reduction Strategy Applicable Land
Use Tools Project Consistency Analysis
Focus Growth Near Destinations and Mobility Options
• Emphasize land use patterns that facilitate multimodal access to work, educational and other destinations
• Focus on a regional jobs/housing balance to reduce commute times and distances and expand job opportunities near transit and along center-focused main streets
Center Focused
Placemaking,
Priority Growth
Areas (PGA), Job
Centers, High
Consistent. The project is located
approximately 0.13 miles from the nearest
bus stops serviced by Sunline. Therefore,
the project would focus growth near
destinations and mobility options. As such,

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Reduction Strategy Applicable Land
Use Tools Project Consistency Analysis
• Plan for growth near transit investments and support
implementation of first/last mile strategies
• Prioritize infill and redevelopment of underutilized land to accommodate new growth, increase amenities and connectivity in existing neighborhoods
• Encourage design and transportation options that reduce the reliance on and number of solo car trips (this could include mixed uses or locating and orienting close to existing destinations) • Identify ways to “right size” parking requirements and promote alternative parking strategies (e.g., shared parking or smart parking) Quality Transit
Areas (HQTAs),
Transit Priority
Areas (TPA),
Neighborhood
Mobility Areas
(NMAs), Livable
Corridors, Spheres
of Influence (SOIs),
Green Region,
Urban Greening.
the project would be consistent with the
reduction strategy.

Promote Diverse Housing Choices
• Preserve and rehabilitate affordable housing and prevent displacement
• Identify funding opportunities for new workforce and affordable housing development
• Create incentives and reduce regulatory barriers for building context sensitive accessory dwelling units to increase housing supply • Provide support to local jurisdictions to streamline and lessen barriers to housing development that supports reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
PGA, Job Centers,
HQTAs, NMA,
TPAs, Livable
Corridors, Green
Region, Urban
Greening.

Consistent. The project would involve
development of a residential development
near existing bus stops and existing
commercial plaza, which increases housing
supply and supports reduction of GHG
emissions. As such, the project would be
consistent with this reduction strategy.

Leverage Technology Innovations
• Promote low emission technologies such as neighborhood electric vehicles, shared rides hailing, car sharing, bike sharing and scooters by providing supportive and safe infrastructure such as dedicated lanes, charging and parking/drop-off space
• Improve access to services through technology—such as telework and telemedicine as well as other incentives such as a “mobility wallet,” an app-based system for storing transit and other multimodal payments • Identify ways to incorporate “micro-power grids” in communities, for example solar energy, hydrogen fuel cell power storage and power generation
HQTA, TPAs, NMA,
Livable Corridors.

Consistent. The project would be a
residential development with plenty parking
and drop-off spaces. Furthermore, the
project would be required to comply with all
applicable Title 24 and CALGreen building
codes at the time of construction. The
project would be electric vehicle capable by
including a listed raceway within each
dwelling unit to accommodate EV charging
stations, A raceway is the enclosed conduit
that forms the physical pathway for electrical
writing to protect it from damage. Therefore,
the project would leverage technology
innovations and help the City, County, and
State meet its GHG reduction goals. The
project would be consistent with this
reduction strategy.

Support Implementation of Sustainability Policies
• Pursue funding opportunities to support local sustainable development implementation projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Support statewide legislation that reduces barriers to new construction and that incentivizes development near transit corridors and stations
• Support local jurisdictions in the establishment of Enhanced Center Focused
Placemaking,
Priority Growth
Areas (PGA), Job
Centers, High
Quality Transit
Areas (HQTAs),
Consistent. As previously discussed, the
project site is near bus stops serviced by
Sunline. Further, the project would comply
with sustainable practices included in the
2022 Title 24 standards and CALGreen
Code, such as installing low-flow fixtures,
water-efficiency irrigation, and droughtPage 118
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Reduction Strategy Applicable Land
Use Tools Project Consistency Analysis
Infrastructure Financing Districts (EIFDs), Community Revitalization and Investment Authorities (CRIAs), or other tax increment or value capture tools to finance sustainable infrastructure and development projects, including parks and open space
• Work with local jurisdictions/communities to identify opportunities and assess barriers to implement sustainability strategies • Enhance partnerships with other planning organizations to promote resources and best practices in the SCAG region
• Continue to support long range planning efforts by local jurisdictions • Provide educational opportunities to local decisions makers and staff on new tools, best practices and policies related to implementing the Sustainable Communities Strategy
Transit Priority
Areas (TPA),
Neighborhood
Mobility Areas
(NMAs), Livable
Corridors, Spheres
of Influence (SOIs),
Green Region,
Urban Greening.
tolerant landscaping. Additionally, in
compliance with CALGreen Code, all singlefamily residential units of the project would be EV capable by including a listed raceway
within each dwelling unit to accommodate
EV charging stations. This project design
feature would encourage and support the
use of EVs within the proposed residential
development. Thus, the project would be
consistent with this reduction strategy.

Promote a Green Region
• Support development of local climate adaptation and hazard mitigation plans, as well as project implementation that improves community resiliency to climate change and natural hazards • Support local policies for renewable energy production, reduction of urban heat islands and carbon sequestration
• Integrate local food production into the regional landscape • Promote more resource efficient development focused on conservation, recycling and reclamation
• Preserve, enhance and restore regional wildlife connectivity • Reduce consumption of resource areas, including agricultural land • Identify ways to improve access to public park space
Green Region,
Urban Greening,
Greenbelts and
Community
Separators.

Consistent. The proposed project is in an
urbanized area and would therefore not
interfere with regional wildlife connectivity or
agricultural land. The project would be
required to comply with sustainable
practices included in 2022 Title 24 standards
and CALGreen Code, which would help
reduce energy consumption and reduce
GHG emissions. Thus, the project would
support efficient development that reduces
energy consumption and GHG emissions.

The project would be consistent with this
reduction strategy.

Source: Southern California Association of Governments, Connect SoCal: 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, September 3, 2020.

Consistency with 2022 Scoping Plan
The 2022 Scoping Plan identifies reduction measures necessary to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality by 2045 or earlier. Actions that reduce GHG emissions are identified for each AB 32 inventory sector. Table 4-8, Consistency with the 2022 Scoping Plan: AB 32 Inventory Sectors, evaluates the project’s consistency with applicable reduction actions and strategies by emission source category to determine how the project would be consistent with or exceed reduction actions and strategies outlined in the 2022 Scoping Plan.

Table 4-8
Consistency with the 2022 Scoping Plan: AB 32 Inventory Sectors Actions and Strategies Project Consistency Analysis
Smart Growth / Vehicles Miles Traveled (VMT)
Reduce VMT per capita to 25% below 2019 levels by 2030, and 30% below 2019 levels by 2045.

Consistent. The project is located near existing bus
stops serviced by Sunline and an existing commercial
plaza. Therefore, the project would focus growth near

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Actions and Strategies Project Consistency Analysis
destinations and mobility options that would reduce VMT.

As such, the project would be consistent with the action.

New Residential and Commercial Buildings
All electric appliances beginning 2026 (residential) and 2029 (commercial), contributing to 6 million heat pumps installed statewide by 2030.

Consistent. The project is expected to consist of natural gas heating and/or cooking on-site. The City of Coachella has not adopted an ordinance or program limiting the use of natural gas for on-site cooking and/or heating.

However, if adopted, the project would comply with the
applicable goals or policies limiting the use of natural gas equipment in the future. Furthermore, the project would install high efficiency lighting and appliances. As such, the project would be consistent with this action.

Non-combustion Methane Emissions
Divert 75% of organic waste from landfills by 2025. Consistent. The project would be required to recycle and compost 75 percent of waste per AB 341. As such, the
project would be consistent with the action.

Source: California Air Resources Board, 2022 Scoping Plan, November 16, 2022.

Consistency with City of Coachella General Plan and Climate Action Plan The General Plan is the articulation for the City’s vision of growth for the next 80-100 years with specific steps to guide development toward that vision between now and 2035. Coachella’s CAP is a proactive step toward addressing the climate challenge to protect our children and grandchildren before climate change becomes irreversible. The Coachella CAP is an implementation tool of the General Plan to guide development in the City by focusing on attaining the goals and policies of the General Plan. As shown in Table 4-9, Consistency with the General Plan, the proposed project would be consistent with the General Plan to reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions. Additionally, the project’s emissions would be 3.15 MTCO2e/service population/year, which is below the CAP 2035 target. According to the CAP, if the operational year per service population emissions is less than or equal to the City’s per service population target, the project is assumed to be compliant with the CAP. As such, the project would be consistent with General Plan and CAP.

Table 4-9
Consistency with the General Plan
Goals/Policies Project Consistency Analysis
General Plan
Sustainability and Natural Environment Element
Goal 1. Climate Change. A resilient community that is
prepared for the health and safety impacts of and minimizes the risks of climate change.

Policies:

1.2GHG reductions. Promote land use and development patterns that reduce the community’s dependence on and length of automobile trips.

Consistent. The project is a residential development
located near existing bus stops serviced by Sunline and existing commercial plaza, which would reduce the
community’s dependence and the length of automobile
trips. The project would be required to comply with 2022 Title 24 standards and 2022 CALGreen Code.

Compliance with Title 24 and CALGreen standards would
ensure the project incorporates efficient electric heat pumps, establish electric-ready requirements for new

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Goals/Policies Project Consistency Analysis
Goal 4. Green Building. Community building stock (both new construction and renovations) that demonstrates high
environmental performance through green design.

Policy:

4.4Reducing GHG emissions. In consulting with applicants and designing new facilities, prioritize the selection of green building design features that enhance the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
homes, expand solar photovoltaic and battery storage
standards, strengthen ventilation standards, as well as water efficient fixtures and electric vehicles charging infrastructure. Further, in compliance with CALGreen
Code, all single-family residential units of the project would be electric vehicle (EV) capable by including a
listed raceway within each dwelling unit to accommodate EV charging stations. This project design feature would encourage and support the use of EVs within the
proposed residential development. These features would
enhance the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. As
such, the project would be consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan.

Source:

City of Coachella, General Plan, adopted April 22, 2015.

Conclusion
Consequently, the proposed project would not conflict with any applicable plan, policy, or regulation of an agency adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of GHGs, including the 2020-2045 RTP/SCS, the 2022 Scoping Plan, and the City’s General Plan and CAP. Impacts would be less than significant in this regard.

Mitigation Measures: No mitigation is required.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

4.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS:

Would the project:
a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the
environment through the routine transport, use,
or disposal of hazardous materials?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
b) Create a significant hazard to the public or the
environment through reasonably foreseeable
upset and accident conditions involving the
release of hazardous materials into the
environment?
☐ ☒ ☐ ☐
c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or
acutely hazardous materials, substances, or
waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or
proposed school?
☐ ☒ ☐ ☐
d) Be located on a site which is included on a list of
hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to
Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a
result, would it create a significant hazard to the
public or the environment?
☐ ☐ ☐ ☒
e) For a project located within an airport land use
plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted,
within two miles of a public airport or public use
airport, would the project result in a safety hazard
or excessive noise for people residing or working
in the project area?
☐ ☐ ☐ ☒
f) Impair implementation of or physically interfere
with an adopted emergency response plan or
emergency evacuation plan?
☐ ☐ ☐ ☒
g) Expose people or structures, either directly or
indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury or
death involving wildland fires?
☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

This section is based on the Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, Proposed Sevilla II Residential Development, prepared by Leighton and Associates, Inc. on January 21, 2022; refer to Appendix K, Phase I and II ESA.

Discussion
a) Would the project create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials? Less than Significant Impact. Residential land uses are not typically associated with the routine transport, use, disposal, or generation of substantial amounts of hazardous materials. Future residents may use common household cleaning products, fertilizers, and herbicides on-site, any of which could contain potentially hazardous chemicals; however, such products would be expected to be used in accordance with label instructions. Due to the regulations governing use of such products and quantity used, the routine use of these products would not represent a substantial risk to public health or the environment. Therefore, a less than significant impact would occur.

The construction phase would involve the use of heavy equipment, which uses small amounts of oil and fuels and other potential flammable substances. During construction, equipment would require refueling and minor maintenance on site that could lead to minor fuel and oil spills. The contractor will be required to identify a staging area for storing materials and will be subject to State law relating to the handling, storage and use of hazardous materials during construction.

Impacts would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
b) Would the project create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment?
Less than Significant Impact With Mitigation Incorporated. Construction activities associated with the project would involve the use of heavy equipment and various construction materials such as concrete, paints, and adhesives. Small quantities of potentially toxic substances (e.g., petroleum and other chemicals used to operate and maintain construction equipment) would be used at the project site and transported to and from the site during construction. However, the use and handling of hazardous materials during construction activities and long-term operation of the project would occur in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws including California Occupational Health and Safety Administration (CalOSHA) requirements.

The Phase I and Phase II ESA found that soils on the project site at depths of 0.5-feet below ground surface contain elevated levels of 4,4’-DDE and DRO (diesel-range organic compounds).

The compound 4,4’-DDE is an organochlorine pesticide (OCP) used in agriculture, and exceeded

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

residential screening criteria in one soil sample in the central portion of the site. To reduce impacts related to the release of 4,4’-DDE into the environment, Mitigation Measure HAZ-1 shall be implemented. Mitigation Measure HAZ-1 requires the excavation of OCP-affected soil identified within the Phase I and Phase II ESA. Confirmation soil samples would also be required to ensure that contaminated soils are thoroughly removed. Based on the Phase I and II ESA, the presence of DRO corresponds with a report of a minor release of diesel fuel that occurred in 2006. The release affected the upper two-feet of soil in a relatively small area. As such, Mitigation Measure HAZ-2 would be implemented, which requires the excavation of DRO-impacted soils, with an area of approximately 10-feet by 10-feet, to a depth of two-feet. Mitigation Measures HAZ-1 and HAZ-2 would reduce impacts associated with the release of 4,4’-DDE and DRO into the environment to less than significant levels.

Operational activities would include standard maintenance (i.e., landscape upkeep, exterior painting and similar activities) involving the use of commercially available products (e.g., pesticides, herbicides, gas, oil, paint, etc.) the use of which would not create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accidental release of hazardous materials into the environment. With implementation of Mitigation Measures HAZ-1 and HAZ-2, impacts would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures:

HAZ-1 Excavation of OCP-Impacted Soils. The construction contractor shall ensure that OCPimpacted soils identified in the vicinity of boring AST6, as shown on Figure 4 of the Phase I and Phase II ESA, is removed and properly disposed offsite. The removal shall be 10-feet by 10-feet in area surrounding boring AST6, to a depth of 2-feet below ground surface.

The applicant shall obtain a qualified geologist, who shall collect confirmation soil samples from the sidewalls and bottom of the resulting excavation to ensure contaminated soil does not remain in-place. The geologist may require further excavation of contaminated soils, if applicable.

HAZ-2 Excavation of DRO-Impacted Soils. The construction contractor shall ensure that DRO-impacted soils identified in the vicinity of boring AST1 and AST2, as shown on Figure 4 of the Phase I and Phase II ESA, is removed and properly disposed offsite. The removal shall be 10-feet by 10-feet in the area surrounding boring AST1 and AST2, to a depth of 2-feet below ground surface.

The applicant shall obtain a qualified geologist, who shall collect confirmation soil samples from the sidewalls and bottom of the resulting excavation to ensure contaminated soil does not remain in-place. The geologist may require further excavation of contaminated soils, if applicable.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

c) Would the project emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school?
Less Than Significant Impact With Mitigation Incorporated. The nearest school is Imagine Schools Transitional Kindergarten through 8th Grade Charter School, which is approximately 0.2- mile southwest of the project site and operates through a traditional school year of August through June. During construction activities the routine use of hazardous materials such as paint, solvents, and gasoline would be used on-site. While not in use, such materials are required to be stored on-site per state regulations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Materials Handling and Storage requirements.
36 As described in Response 4.9(b), above, the Phase I and Phase II ESA found that the project site contains elevated levels of 4,4’-DDE and DRO. During construction, the areas impacted by these potentially hazardous materials must be excavated and removed from the project site, in compliance with Mitigation Measures HAZ-1 and HAZ-2. With implementations of Mitigation measures HAZ-1 and HAZ-2, impacts to schools with regard to hazardous waste would be reduced to less than significant.

Once constructed, the residential development consisting of individual homes may utilize routine residential pest control and pesticide products. However, the project would not result in significant hazardous emissions or handle hazardous materials, substances, or waste that would affect any off-sight land uses including the nearby school.

Mitigation Measures: Refer to Mitigation Measures HAZ-1 and HAZ-2. d) Would the project be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment? No Impact. There are no hazardous materials or waste sites located on or within a 1-mile radius of the site; the nearest hazardous waste site is located approximately 1.1 miles east of the project site at 1577 First Street, Coachella. This site was formerly a pesticide and fertilizer business. This site is not included on the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Cortese List Data Resources Database.37 Thus, the project will not create a significant hazard to the public or environment.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
36 OSHA Materials Handling and Storage, https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha2236.pdf, revised in 2002.
37 California Environmental Protection Agency, Cortese List Data Resources, https://calepa.ca.gov/sitecleanup/corteselist/, accessed October 3, 2022.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard or excessive noise for people residing or working in the project area?
No Impact. The nearest airport is Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal, which is located approximately 4.0 miles southeast of the project site. The project site is located outside the airport influence area boundary.
38 Therefore, the project would not result in a safety hazard or excessive noise for people residing or working at the project site.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
f) Would the project impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan?
No Impact. The City of Coachella is served by Fire Station #79, which is located approximately

1.25 miles from the project site, and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, located approximately 4.1 miles from the project site. The project site design shall be reviewed for compliance with project specific emergency access, water pressure and similar requirements as a routine aspect of the City’s design review process. In addition, the project does not propose any changes to adjacent roadways that could potentially impair emergency response or evacuation (lane reductions, narrowing, permanent road closures, etc.). Therefore, the project would not interfere with an adopted emergency response or evacuation plan.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
g) Would the project expose people or structures, either directly or indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires? No Impact. The project site is not located in or near a State Responsibility Area and does not contain lands classified as high or very high fire hazard severity zones.39 Therefore, the project will not expose people or structures to a significant risk associated with wildfires.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
38 Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission, Individual Airport Policies and Compatibility Maps – Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, amended September 2006.
39 California Fire, Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map, accessed October 3, 2022.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

4.10 Hydrology and Water Quality
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY:

Would the project:
a) Violate any water quality standards or waste
discharge requirements or otherwise
substantially degrade surface or ground water
quality?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
b) Substantially decrease groundwater supplies or
interfere substantially with groundwater
recharge such that the project may impede
sustainable groundwater management of the
basin?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
c) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern
of the site or area, including through the
alteration of the course of a stream or river or
through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a
manner which would:
i) result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or
off-site?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
ii) substantially increase the rate or amount of
surface runoff in a manner which would result
in flooding on- or off-site?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
iii) create or contribute runoff water which would
exceed the capacity of existing or planned
stormwater drainage systems or provide
substantial additional sources of polluted
runoff?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
iv) impede or redirect flood flows? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
d) In flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones, risk
release of pollutants due to project inundation?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
e) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of a
water quality control plan or sustainable
groundwater management plan?
☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

A Preliminary Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) and Hydrological Report were prepared for the project by Michael Baker International in November 2022; refer to Appendix G, Preliminary Water Quality Management Plan, and Appendix H, Hydrological Report, respectively. The purpose of a WQMP is to achieve a level of storm water runoff pollution prevention and abatement that would ensure the health of local waterways. The WQMP analyzes the project and prescribes post-construction Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the property to accomplish this goal and to meet local, state, and federal water quality standards.

Discussion
a) Would the project violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements or otherwise substantially degrade surface or ground water quality? Less than Significant Impact. The project involves a development footprint of approximately 39 acres. The size and nature of the proposed development prompts compliance with the existing regulations pertaining to water quality standards and waste discharge requirements.

As part of Section 402 of the Clean Water Act, the U.S. EPA has established regulations under the NPDES program to control direct storm water discharges.40 In California, the SWRCB administers the NPDES permitting program and is responsible for developing NPDES permitting requirements. 41 The NPDES program regulates industrial pollutant discharges, which include construction activities. The SWRCB works in coordination with the Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB) to preserve, protect, enhance, and restore water quality. The project site is under the jurisdiction of the Colorado River RWQCB.

Short-Term Construction Impacts
Construction activities associated with the proposed residential development would be subject to NPDES requirements. Construction sites with one acre or more of soil disturbance are required to apply for coverage for discharges under the General Construction Permit (CGP) by submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI) for coverage. Compliance with the CGP involves the development and implementation of a project-specific Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) designed to reduce potential adverse impacts to surface water quality during the period of construction, which would include a site plan showing existing and proposed buildings, lots, roadways, storm water collection and discharge points, drainage patterns across the project, and general topography both before and after construction. The SWPPP must list best management practices (BMPs) to be implemented in order to minimize the impact of storm water runoff and address construction site pollutants. Stormwater BMPs refer to a schedule of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent, eliminate, or 40 Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. Sections 1251 et seq. (1972). 41 Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. Sections 1251 et seq. (1972).

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

reduce the pollution of the receiving waters. BMPs also include treatment requirements, operating procedures, and practices to control plant site runoff spillage or leaks.

Based on the project location and setting, the compliant SWPPP is expected to identify temporary sediment track-out prevention devices at each construction entrance/exit point. This type of BMP will provide temporary stabilization to prevent sediment track-out and fugitive dust emissions. Linear sediment barriers are warranted along portions of or the entire construction perimeter to prevent soil and sedimentation erosion impacts. As construction progresses, any on-site proposed storm drain inlets that become operational will require temporary protection to prevent sediment or pollutants from entering the on-site storm drain system.

Long-Term Operational Impacts
Long-term impacts to water quality occur when impacts related to urban runoff increase due to project operations. A reduction of permeable surfaces would be considered a water quality impact, as permeable surfaces allow for rain and runoff to infiltrate into the ground. Infiltration both reduces the amount of flow that is capable of washing off additional pollutants and filter water removing potential pollutants. These changes have the potential to affect long-term water quality. The project involves construction of 204 single-family residences and associated hardscapes. Project implementation would result in a reduction of permeable surfaces, since vacant land would be replaced with residential uses. Thus, the water quality issues of concern would involve urban runoff associated with the new land uses.

With compliance with existing federal, state, and local regulations related to water quality, and implementation of BMPs included in the project construction SWPPP, the project would result in less than significant impacts to water quality resulting from the project. The project would not generate hazardous wastewater that would require any special waste discharge permits. All wastewater associated with the project’s interior plumbing systems would be discharged into the local sewer system for treatment at the regional wastewater treatment plant. Impacts would be less than significant with implementation of required BMPs and design recommendations.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
b) Would the project substantially decrease groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that the project may impede sustainable groundwater management of the basin?
Less than Significant Impact. Coachella Water Authority is the primary water supplier for the project area, which is underlain by Coachella Valley groundwater basin. The Coachella Water Authority has established active water conservation, water reuse, and groundwater recharge planning efforts to ensure adequate water availability and system capacity to meet the growing needs of the City of Coachella. These planning efforts include: turf removal programs, smart

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

irrigation controller installations, toilet rebates, the use of recycled water, and conservation pricing.

The project involves development of 204 residential units, which would result in increased water consumption, placing greater demands on groundwater supplies. However, the project would not substantially decrease groundwater supplies such that it would impede sustainable groundwater management of the basin.

Local groundwater resources are managed under the 2020 City of Coachella Urban Water Management Plan (2020 UWMP). The 2020 UWMP serves as a planning tool that documents actions in support of long-term water resources planning and ensures adequate water supplies are available to meet the existing and future urban water demands. In addition, the 2022 Indio Subbasin Water Management Plan Update, prepared by CVWD, documents the adequacy of the groundwater supplies and confirms that planned future development will not impede sustainable groundwater management. Runoff will be retained onsite in the proposed retention basin, which totals 1.37 acres and would help facilitate groundwater recharge.

Furthermore, the project will implement water conservation measures in accordance with the regulations established by CVWD and the City of Coachella.42 The project will conserve water through measures that may include efficient plumbing and appliances, efficient irrigation systems, and drought-tolerant planting materials. Therefore, the project is not expected to interfere with groundwater recharge conditions, and impacts on groundwater supplies and recharge are expected to be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
c) i) Would the project substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river or through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner which would result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off-site?
Less than Significant Impact. The project proposes to develop a 204-unit residential community with associated parks and landscaping on a site that is currently fallow agricultural land.

Construction and operation of the project would increase the net area of impermeable surfaces on the site. The project would include on‐site infiltration in the form of one retention basin to capture stormwater. Adherence to City requirements, including WQMP BMPs, will ensure the project site design will not result in erosion or siltation on- or off-site. The City’s requirements include best management practices for the control of silts and other contaminants in flood waters, which will be applicable to the project. Impacts would be less than significant. 42 City of Coachella General Plan Conservation Element. Accessed 10/10/22. https://cityofcoachellageneralplanupdate.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/1/2/12129446/conservation_element.pdf

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

Mitigation Measures: None required.
c.ii) Would the project substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river or through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner which would substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on- or offsite? Less than Significant Impact. The project site gently slopes to the southeast, with elevations ranging from 40 to 48 below mean sea level and contains no rivers or streams. The project complies with the local and regional groundwater recharge strategies by implementing on-site storm water retention, infiltration and low impact development improvements as part of the site design. Runoff will be retained onsite in the proposed retention basin, which totals 1.37 acres.

As such, the entire volume of storm water runoff generated on-site up to the 100-year event.

Impacts would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
c.iii) Would the project substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river or through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner which would create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff? Less than Significant Impact. Although the project would increase the amount of impervious surfaces on site, the project would not alter the source of a stream or river. The project complies with the local and regional groundwater recharge strategies by implementing on-site storm water retention, infiltration and low impact development improvements as part of the site design. Runoff will be retained onsite in the proposed retention basin, which totals 1.37 acres.

As such, the entire volume of storm water runoff generated on-site up to the 100-year event.

Impacts would be less than significant
Mitigation Measures: None required.
c.iv) Would the project substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river or through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner which would impede or redirect flood flows?
Less than Significant Impact. The project complies with the local and regional groundwater recharge strategies by implementing on-site storm water retention, infiltration and low impact development improvements as part of the site design. Runoff will be retained onsite in the

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

proposed retention basin, which totals 1.37 acres. As such, the entire volume of storm water runoff generated on-site up to the 100-year event. Impacts would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
d) Would the project in flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones, risk release of pollutants due to project inundation?
Less than Significant Impact. The project is not located within a FEMA FIRM 100-year floodplain.

The project site is designated as Zone X, Area of Minimal Flood Hazard.43 As previously described, the project site does not contain nor is it located near any streams, rivers or other natural drainage courses. The project site is not located near any large inland bodies of water and is more than 50 miles from the Pacific Ocean, a condition that precludes inundation by tsunami or seiche.

As such, the project is designed to provide the proper capture and conveyance, of stormwater flows resulting from the 100-year storm event for the project and existing off-site tributary areas.

The proposed retention basin will be the primary method of ensuring that the design volume is captured and infiltrated without causing flooded conditions. Less than significant impacts are anticipated.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
e) Would the project conflict with or obstruct implementation of a water quality control plan or sustainable groundwater management plan?
No Impact. The project has developed a WQMP to address the project’s quality and quantity of stormwater runoff and provide BMPs for the construction and operation of the project to ensure compliance with the current General Stormwater Permit. Adherence to the City’s standard requirements related to water quality will ensure there will be no impact to a water quality control plan.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
43 FEMA FIRM, National Flood Layer Viewer. RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA AND INCORPORATED AREAS PANEL 1620 OF 3805. Accessible via: https://www.fema.gov/flood-maps/national-flood-hazard-layer Accessed, September 15, 2022.

Item 1.

City of Coachella
Sevilla II Tentative Tract Map No. 38557
TTM 38557; CZ 22-05; CUP 372; AR 23-13; EA 22-06
Initial Study & Mitigated Negative Declaration

4.11 Land Use and Planning
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
LAND USE AND PLANNING:

Would the project:
a) Physically divide an established community? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒
b) Cause a significant environmental impact due to
a conflict with any land use plan, policy, or
regulation adopted for the purpose of avoiding or
mitigating an environmental effect?
☐ ☐ ☒ ☐
Discussion
a) Would the project physically divide an established community? No Impact. The physical division of an established community is typically associated with construction of a linear feature, such as a major highway or railroad tracks, or removal of a means of access, such as a local road or bridge, which would impair mobility within an existing community or between a community and an outlying area.

The project consists of the construction of 204 single-family residential units and associated infrastructure and improvements including roads, landscaping, utilities, and infiltration basins/drainage facilities on a site already planned for residential development. The project site is surrounded by agricultural uses to the north, south, and west, and by residential uses to the east and west.

The project does not propose construction of any roadway, flood control channel, or other structure that would physically divide any portion of the community. In addition, the project is consistent with the surrounding land uses and would not divide an established community.

Therefore, no impact would occur.

Mitigation Measures: None required.
b) Would the project cause a significant environmental impact due to a conflict with any land use plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect?
Less Than Significant Impact. The project site is not located within the boundaries of a specific plan. The project site has a General Plan land use designation of General Neighborhood. This