H - Initial Study - Mitigated Negative Declaration — Cupertino City Council, January 13, 2022

Canyon Crossings Mixed-Use Project Initial Study
for the City of Cupertino
December 2021 | Revised Final Draft Initial Study
Image Credit: LPMD Architects, 2019.

Prepared By:

PlaceWorks
Berkeley, California
510.848.3815
ORANGE COUNTY • BAY AREA • SACRAMENTO • CENTRAL COAST • LOS ANGELES • INLAND EMPIRE • SAN DIEGO www.placeworks.com
Canyon Crossings Mixed-Use Project Initial Study
for the City of Cupertino
December 2021 | Revised Final Draft Initial Study

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Table of Contents

1.1 Initial Study ............................................................................................................................ 2-1

1.2 Tiering Process ....................................................................................................................... 2-2

1.3 Report Organization ............................................................................................................... 2-4

2.1 Initial Study Checklist ............................................................................................................. 2-1

2.2 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected .......................................................................... 2-2

2.3 Determination ........................................................................................................................ 2-2

2.4 Summary of Impacts and Mitigation Measures .................................................................... 2-3

3.1 Project Location and Site Characteristics .............................................................................. 3-1

3.2 Project Components ............................................................................................................ 3-14

3.3 Required Permits and Approvals ......................................................................................... 3-32

4.1 Discussion of Environmental Evaluation ................................................................................ 4-1 I. Aesthetics ..................................................................................................................... 4-2 II. Air Quality .................................................................................................................... 4-6 III. Biological Resources .................................................................................................. 4-17 IV. Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................... 4-25 V. Energy ........................................................................................................................ 4-28 VI. Geology and Soils ....................................................................................................... 4-31 VII. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ........................................................................................ 4-37 VIII. Hazards and Hazardous Materials ............................................................................. 4-46 IX. Hydrology and Water Quality .................................................................................... 4-53 X. Land Use and Planning ............................................................................................... 4-61 XI. Noise .......................................................................................................................... 4-63 XII. Population and Housing ............................................................................................. 4-71 XIII. Public Services ........................................................................................................... 4-74 XIV. Parks and Recreation ................................................................................................. 4-76 XV. Transportation ............................................................................................................ 4-78 XVI. Tribal Cultural Resources ........................................................................................... 4-89 XVII. Utilities and Service Systems ..................................................................................... 4-91

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XVIII. Wildfire ..................................................................................................................... 4-101 XIX. Mandatory Findings of Significance ......................................................................... 4-104

APPENDICES
Appendix A: Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data Appendix B: Health Risk Assessment
Appendix C: Noise Data
Appendix D: Transportation Data
Appendix E: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment

In addition to these appendices, all documents cited in this report and used in its preparation are hereby incorporated by reference into this Initial Study. Copies of documents referenced herein are available for review at the City of Cupertino Community Development Department at 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014.

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 3-1 Regional and Vicinity Map .................................................................................................. 3-2 Figure 3-2 Aerial View of Project Site and Surroundings..................................................................... 3-3 Figure 3-3 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................. 3-5 Figure 3-4 Conceptual Site Plan ......................................................................................................... 3-15 Figure 3-5 Mixed-Use Building Ground Floor .................................................................................... 3-16 Figure 3-6 Mixed-Use Building Second Floor Apartments and Roof ................................................. 3-17 Figure 3-7 Mixed-Use Building Subterranean Parking Level ............................................................. 3-18 Figure 3-8 Mixed-Use Building Elevation ........................................................................................... 3-19 Figure 3-9 Detached Single-Family Homes Elevation ........................................................................ 3-21 Figure 3-10 Attached Single-Family Homes Elevation ......................................................................... 3-22 Figure 3-11 Attached Single-Family Homes Elevation ......................................................................... 3-23 Figure 3-12 Circulation Map ................................................................................................................ 3-25 Figure 3-13 Proposed Landscape Plan ................................................................................................. 3-27 Figure 3-14 Proposed Lighting Plan ..................................................................................................... 3-28 Figure 3-15 Utility Plan ........................................................................................................................ 3-30 Figure 4-1 Existing Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities.......................................................................... 4-82

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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1-1 General Plan EIR, General Plan, and the Proposed Project Comparison Table ................. 2-3 Table 3-1 Demolition and Construction ........................................................................................... 3-31 Table 4-1 Existing Operation-Related Criteria Air Pollutant Emissions .............................................. 4-7 Table 4-2 Construction-Related Criteria Air Pollutant Emissions Estimates .................................... 4-11 Table 4-3 Operational Criteria Air Pollutant Emissions Estimates ................................................... 4-12 Table 4-4 Construction Risk Summary – Unmitigated ..................................................................... 4-14 Table 4-5 Construction Risk Summary – Mitigated .......................................................................... 4-15 Table 4-6 Existing GHG Emissions .................................................................................................... 4-38 Table 4-7 Project Operation and Construction GHG Emissions ....................................................... 4-38 Table 4-8 Cupertino Climate Action Plan Consistency Matrix ......................................................... 4-43 Table 4-9 Project-Related Construction Noise, Energy-Average (Leq) Noise Levels, dBA ................. 4-66 Table 4-10 Construction Equipment Vibration Levels ........................................................................ 4-70 Table 4-11 Existing Vehicle Miles Traveled ......................................................................................... 4-81 Table 4-12 Proposed Vehicle Miles Traveled ...................................................................................... 4-83 Table 4-13 Project Trip Generation .................................................................................................... 4-83 Table 4-14 Water Demand for the Proposed Project ......................................................................... 4-95 Table 4-15 WasteWater Demand for the Proposed Project .............................................................. 4-96 Table 4-16 Reasonably Foreseeable Development Projects in Cupertino ....................................... 4-106 Table 5-1 Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program ................................................................. 5-2

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Introduction
This document is an Initial Study for the Canyon Crossings Mixed-Use Project (proposed project) prepared by the City of Cupertino (City) to determine if the proposed project may have a significant effect on the environment. This Initial Study was prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code sections 21000 et seq.). Pursuant to Section 15051 of the State CEQA Guidelines,1 the City is the lead agency for the proposed project.

The project site is located on a 1.57-acre site that is proposed for redevelopment by SCR Enterprises (the project applicant). The site is located at 10625 South Foothill Boulevard,2 where South Foothill Boulevard meets Stevens Canyon Road. The project site is surrounded by single-family residential uses. The site is currently developed with three buildings, a surface parking lot, and associated landscaping. The proposed project would involve demolishing the existing structures and redeveloping the site with 4,536 square feet of commercial space and up to 18 residential units comprised of apartments, eight attached, and five detached single-family units. All proposed structures would have a maximum building height of 30 feet (two stories) and would include parking and associated landscaping. One level of below-grade parking garage would be located under the mixed-use building.

The project site is assigned Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 342-16-087 and 342-16-088. The General Plan land use designation for the project site is Commercial/Residential and the Zoning District is Planning Development with General Commercial (P(CG)). The Commercial/Residential land use designation allows primarily commercial uses and secondarily residential uses, or a compatible combination of the two. The proposed project includes rezoning the project site to Planning Development with General Commercial and Residential (P(CG,Res), to support the proposed residential uses intended to support commercial development. A detailed description of the proposed project is provided in Chapter 3, Project Description, of this Initial Study.

1.1 INITIAL STUDY
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15063, an Initial Study is a preliminary environmental analysis that is used by the lead agency as a basis for determining what form of environmental review is required for a project. The CEQA Guidelines require that an Initial Study contain a project description, description of environmental setting, identification of environmental effects by checklist or other similar form, explanation of environmental effects, discussion of mitigation for significant environmental effects,

1 The CEQA Guidelines are found in California Code of Regulations, Title, 14, Section 15000 et seq. 2 There are several addresses assigned to the project site, but for the purposes of this Initial Study, a single address (10625 South Foothill Boulevard) is used to represent the entire project site.

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evaluation of the project’s consistency with existing and applicable land use controls, and the name of persons who prepared the study.

1.2 TIERING PROCESS
The CEQA concept of "tiering" refers to the evaluation of general environmental matters in a broad program-level EIR, with subsequent focused or project-level environmental documents for individual projects that implement the program. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15152 this Initial Study is tiered from the City’s General Plan Amendment, Housing Element Update, and associated Rezoning Project Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that was certified by the Cupertino City Council in December 2014,3 and the subsequent addenda to the EIR that were approved by the City Council in October 2015,4 August 2019,5 and December 2019,6 together hereinafter “General Plan EIR.” Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15150 this Initial Study incorporates by reference the discussions in the General Plan EIR.7 As previously stated, copies of documents referenced herein are available for review at the City of Cupertino Community Development Department at 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014.

The analysis in this Initial Study concentrates on the project-specific issues pertaining to the proposed Canyon Crossings Mixed-Use project. CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines encourage the use of tiered environmental documents to reduce delays and excessive paperwork in the environmental review process. This is accomplished in tiered documents by eliminating repetitive analyses of issues that were adequately addressed in the program EIRs and by incorporating those analyses by reference.

In order to determine whether the proposed project was part of the development that was examined in the General Plan EIR, the following questions must be answered:
 Is the proposed project included in the scope of the development projected and analyzed in the General Plan EIR?
 Is the project site in an area designated for Commercial/Residential land uses in the General Plan and Planned Development with General Commercial and Residential Zoning District?  Are the changes to population and employment associated with the proposed project included within the scope of the projections accounted for in the General Plan EIR?  Is the proposed project within the scope of the cumulative analysis in the General Plan EIR? The General Plan EIR included an evaluation of the project site as potential Housing Element Site 9 (Foothill at McClellan Center – Foothill Market), although the adopted General Plan did not designate this

3 City of Cupertino, certified General Plan Amendment, Housing Element Update, and Associated Rezoning EIR, State Clearinghouse Number 2014032007. December 2014.
4 City of Cupertino, approved First Addendum to the General Plan Amendment, Housing Element Update, and Associated Rezoning EIR, State Clearinghouse Number 2014032007. October 2015. 5 City of Cupertino, approved Second Addendum to the General Plan Amendment, Housing Element Update, and Associated Rezoning EIR, State Clearinghouse Number 2014032007. August 2019. 6 City of Cupertino, approved Third Addendum to the General Plan Amendment, Housing Element Update, and Associated Rezoning, State Clearinghouse Number 2014032007. December 2019. 7 Discussions are in Chapter 3, Project Description, and Chapter 4, Environmental Analysis, of this Initial Study.

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site as a Priority Housing Element Site. The evaluation in the General Plan EIR assumed potential redevelopment of commercial and residential uses with 27 maximum dwelling units and a maximum building height of 30 feet. The General Plan EIR evaluated a Zoning District change from Planned Development with General Commercial (P(CG)) to Planned Development with General Commercial and Residential (P(CG,Res)) to accommodate the construction of residential uses on-site. The project is consistent with the General Plan land use designation, but because the City Council did not identify this as a Housing Element site, the Zoning Map was not amended following the certification of the General Plan EIR. The approval of the proposed project would require an amendment to the Zoning Map to allow residential uses on the project site as proposed. The cumulative impacts of past, present, and probable future development, in conjunction with overall General Plan buildout, including residential development of the project site, were evaluated in the General Plan EIR. Accordingly, this Initial Study tiers from the General Plan EIR pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15152 (Public Resources Code Section 21094).

Table 1-1 identifies the development potential that was analyzed for the project site in the General Plan EIR, what type of development the General Plan currently anticipates for the project site, and what is proposed for the site as part of the project.

TABLE 1-1 GENERAL PLAN EIR, GENERAL PLAN, AND THE PROPOSED PROJECT COMPARISON TABLE General Plan EIR a General Plan b Proposed Project
Reference Name
Housing Element Site 9
(Foothill at McClellan Center
– Foothill Market)
Neighborhoods: Inspirational
Heights Neighborhood Canyon Crossings
General Plan Land Use Commercial/Residential Commercial/Residential c Commercial/Residential Zoning District
Planned Development with
General Commercial and
Residential (P(CG, Res)) d
Planned Development with
General Commercial (P(CG))
Planned Development with
General Commercial and
Residential (P(CG, Res))
Density 25 du/ac 15 du/ac e 11.5 du/ac
Maximum Height 30 feet 30 feet e 30 feet
Development Potential Up to 27 net residential units f Up to 24 net residential units 4,536 square feet commercial 18 residential units
Population g 80 70 52
Employees h N/A N/A 10
Notes: du/ac = dwelling units per acre
a. Certified General Plan Amendment, Housing Element Update, and Associated Rezoning EIR and Addenda, State Clearinghouse Number 2014032007.

December 2014, October 2015, August 2019, and December 2019. b. City of Cupertino General Plan (Community Vision 2015 – 2040). c. City of Cupertino Land Use Map adopted November 15, 2005 and amended August 20, 2019. d. Although the General Plan EIR evaluated an amendment to the Zoning District from Planned Development with General Commercial (P(CG)) to Planned Development with General Commercial and Residential (P(CG,Res)), the City did not change the Zoning Map at that time. e. Chapter 2, Planning Areas, page PA-22 and PA-23; Chapter 3, Land Use and Community Design Element, page LU-16 and LU-17. f. Although the site could accommodate up to 39 units based the 25 du/ac density, the General Plan EIR evaluated a realistic yield of 27 net units. g. Estimates are based on the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) 2019 projections that show an average household size of 2.87 persons for Cupertino in 2020. This is the standard approach for population estimates in Cupertino. Note that the 2.94 persons per household rate for year 2040 was applied in the General Plan EIR.
h. The General Plan EIR applied a generation rate of 450 square feet of commercial space per employee.

Source: City of Cupertino, PlaceWorks, 2020.

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1.3 REPORT ORGANIZATION
This Initial Study is organized into the following chapters:

Chapter 1: Introduction. This chapter provides an introduction and overview of the Initial Study document.

Chapter 2: Executive Summary. A summary of the pertinent details for the proposed project, including lead agency contact information, proposed project location, and General Plan land use designation and Zoning Districts are in this chapter. This chapter also summarizes the significant impacts that could occur from construction and operation of the proposed project and identifies the mitigation measures recommended to reduce the impacts to a less-than-significant level.

Chapter 3: Project Description. This chapter describes the location and setting of the proposed project, along with its principal components, as well as a description of the policy setting and implementation process for the proposed project.

Chapter 4: Environmental Analysis. Making use of the CEQA Guidelines Appendix G, Environmental Checklist, this chapter identifies and discusses anticipated impacts from the proposed project, providing substantiation of the findings made.

Chapter 5: Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program. This chapter lists the impacts found to be significant and identifies the recommended mitigation measures categorized by impact area.

Chapter 6: Organizations and Persons Consulted. This chapter presents a list of City and other agencies and consultant team members that contributed to the preparation of the Initial Study.

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Executive Summary

2.1 INITIAL STUDY CHECKLIST

1. Project Title: Canyon Crossings Mixed-Use Project

2. Lead Agency Name and Address: City of Cupertino Community Development Department 10300 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA 95014

3. Contact Person and Phone Number: Erick Serrano
Senior Planner
408-777-3205

4. Location: 10625 South Foothill Boulevard
Cupertino, CA 95014

5. Applicant’s Name and Address: SCR Enterprises LLC
15700 Winchester Boulevard
Los Gatos, CA 95030

6. General Plan Land Use Designations: Commercial/Residential

7. Zoning: Planned Development with General Commercial P(CG)

8. Description of Project: See Chapter 3, Project Description

9. Surrounding Land Uses and Setting: See page 3-8 of Chapter 3, Project Description

10. Other Required Approvals: See page 3-32 of Chapter 3, Project Description

11. Have California Native American Tribes traditionally and culturally affiliated with the project area requested consultation pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.3.1? If so, has consultation begun?: The City has not received any request from any Tribes in the geographic area with which they are traditionally and culturally affiliated, or otherwise, to be notified about projects in Cupertino. The

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City received a request to be notified about projects in the city of Cupertino from the Tamien Nation on May 28, 2021, as the city is within the geographic area with which they are traditionally and culturally affiliated. The request was received following the release of the Public Review Draft IS/MND in March 2021. The City conducted the consultation process with the Tamien Nation and changes to Mitigation Measure CULT-1 were reflected in the Final IS/MND in October 2021. This Revised Final IS/MND reflects additional text changes to Mitigation Measure CULT-1 requested by the Tamien Nation after the preparation of the Final IS/MND. These changes do not constitute a substantial revision as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15073.5; therefore, the IS/MND does not need to be recirculated.

2.2 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED
The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by the proposed project, involving at least one impact that is a potentially significant impact, as shown in Chapter 4, Environmental Analysis, of this Initial Study.

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

2.3 DETERMINATION
On the basis of this initial evaluation:

I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared.

I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because revisions in the project have been made by or agreed to by the project proponent. A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared.

I find that the proposed project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required.

I find that the proposed project MAY have a “potentially significant impact” or “potentially significant unless mitigated” impact on the environment, but at least one effect 1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and 2) has been addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis as described on attached sheets. An ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required, but it must analyze only the effects that remain to be addressed.

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I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, because all potentially significant effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION pursuant to applicable standards, and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project, nothing further is required.

Approved by: ___________________
Erick Serrano, Senior Planner Date

2.4 SUMMARY OF IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES
Due to the location of the project site, the proposed project would have no impact on Agriculture, Forestry, or Mineral Resources; therefore, these topics are not discussed in detail in the Initial Study. The following lists the potentially significant impacts by topic that could occur from construction and operation of the proposed project and identifies mitigation measures to reduce the impacts to a less- than-significant level. All other topic areas were identified to have less-than-significant impacts. A detailed discussion of the project’s impacts is provided in Chapter 4, Environmental Analysis, of this Initial Study.

AIR QUALITY
Impact AQ-1: Fugitive dust (PM10 and PM2.5) generated by the proposed project during construction could potentially result in significant regional short-term air quality impacts without implementation of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s best management practices related to reducing fugitive dust emissions.

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 Hydroseed or apply non-toxic soil stabilizers to inactive construction areas.  Enclose, cover, water twice daily, or apply non-toxic soil binders to exposed stockpiles (dirt/sand).  Limit vehicle traffic speeds on unpaved roads to 15 miles per hour .  Replant vegetation in disturbed areas as quickly as possible and water appropriately until vegetation is established.
 Install sandbags or other erosion control measures to prevent silt runoff from public roadways.  All exposed surfaces shall be watered at a frequency adequate to maintain minimum soil moisture of 12 percent. Moisture content can be verified by lab samples or moisture probe.

Impact AQ-2: The proposed project could expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations during construction.

Mitigation Measure AQ-2: During construction, the construction contractor(s) shall:
 Use construction equipment that have engines that meet either the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) or California Air Resources Board (CARB) Tier 4 Interim emissions standards for off-road diesel-powered construction equipment with more than 50 horsepower, unless it can be demonstrated to the City of Cupertino Building Division that such equipment is not available.

Any emissions control device used by the contractor shall achieve emissions reductions that are no less than what could be achieved by Tier 4 Interim emissions standards for a similarly sized engine, as defined by the CARB’s regulations.
 Prior to issuance of any construction permit, ensure that all construction plans submitted to the City of Cupertino Planning Department and/or Building Division clearly show the requirement for Tier 4 Interim emissions standards for construction equipment more than 50 horsepower .  Maintain a list of all operating equipment in use on the project site for verification by the City of Cupertino Building Division official or their designee. The construction equipment list shall state the makes, models, and number of construction equipment on site.  Ensure that all equipment shall be properly serviced and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
 Communicate with all sub-contractors in contracts and construction documents that all nonessential idling of construction equipment is restricted to 5 minutes or less in compliance with CARB Rule 2449 and is responsible for ensuring that this requirement is met.

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Impact BIO-1: Demolition and construction activities could disturb active nests in trees and/or otherwise interfere with nesting of birds protected under federal and State law.

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 Be conducted by a qualified biologist prior to tree removal or grading, demolition, or construction activities. Note that preconstruction surveys are not required for tree removal or construction, grading, or demolition activities outside the nesting period.  Be conducted no more than 14 days prior to the start of tree removal or construction.  Be repeated at 14-day intervals until construction has been initiated in the area after which surveys can be stopped.
 Document locations of active nests containing viable eggs or young birds.  Protective measures for active nests containing viable eggs or young birds shall be implemented under the direction of the qualified biologist until the nests no longer contain eggs or young birds, and the young have left the nest and are foraging independently, or the nest is no longer active.

Protective measures shall include:
 Establishment of clearly delineated exclusion zones (i.e., demarcated by identifiable fencing, such as orange construction fencing or equivalent) around each nest location as determined by the qualified biologist, taking into account the species of birds nesting, their tolerance for disturbance and proximity to existing development. In general, exclusion zones shall be a minimum of 300 feet for raptors and 75 feet for passerines and other birds.  Monitoring active nests within an exclusion zone on a weekly basis throughout the nesting season to identify signs of disturbance and confirm nesting status.  An increase in the radius of an exclusion zone by the qualified biologist if project activities are determined to be adversely affecting the nesting birds. Exclusion zones may be reduced by the qualified biologist only in consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

CULTURAL RESOURCES
Impact CULT-1: The proposed project could cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5.

Mitigation Measure CULT-1: A tribal representative from the Tamien Nation shall be retained and permitted on-site at all times during ground disturbance (including grading, demolition and/or construction) to monitor for potential prehistoric or historic subsurface cultural resources. Notice shall be given to the Tribe Tamien Nation in a manner requested by the Tribe Tamien Nation at least 48 hours five (5) days before any ground disturbing activity. Prior to ground disturbance activities, construction workers conducting the ground disturbing activities shall undergo cultural resource sensitivity training conducted by the on-site tribal Tamien Nation representative.

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 The qualified archaeologist shall prepare a report for the evaluation of the resource to the California Register of Historical Places and the City Building Department. The report shall also include appropriate recommendations in collaboration with a tribal Tamien Nation representative regarding the significance of the find and appropriate mitigations as follows:
 If the resource is a non-tribal resource, the archaeologist shall assess the significance of the find according to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5.
 If the resource is a tribal resource – whether historic or prehistoric – the consulting archaeologist shall consult with the appropriate tribe(s) Tamien Nation to evaluate the significance of the resource and to recommend appropriate and feasible avoidance, testing, preservation, or mitigation measures, in light of factors such as the significance of the find, proposed project design, costs, and other considerations. If avoidance is infeasible, other appropriate measures (e.g., data recovery) may be implemented.
 All significant non-tribal cultural materials recovered shall be, as necessary, and at the discretion of the consulting archaeologist, subject to scientific analysis, professional museum curation, and documentation according to current professional standards.

GEOLOGY AND SOILS
Impact GEO-1: Construction of the proposed project would have the potential to directly or indirectly affect an unknown unique paleontological resource.

Mitigation Measure GEO-1: The construction contractor shall incorporate the following in all grading, demolition, and construction plans:
 In the event that fossils or fossil-bearing deposits are discovered during grading, demolition, or building, excavations within 50 feet of the find shall be temporarily halted or diverted.  The contractor shall notify the City of Cupertino Building Department and a City-approved qualified paleontologist to examine the discovery.
 The paleontologist shall document the discovery as needed, in accordance with Society of Vertebrate Paleontology standards (Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 1995), evaluate the potential resource, and assess the significance of the finding under the criteria set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5.
 The paleontologist shall notify the appropriate agencies to determine procedures that would be followed before construction is allowed to resume at the location of the find.  If the project applicant determines that avoidance is not feasible, the paleontologist shall prepare an excavation plan for mitigating the effect of the proposed project based on the qualities that make the resource important. The excavation plan shall be submitted to the City for review and approval prior to implementation.

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NOISE
Impact NOISE-1: The proposed project could result in the generation of a substantial temporary increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project site during the construction phase that would be in excess of standards established in the City of Cupertino Municipal Code.

The notification will include a brief description of the project, the activities that would occur, the hours when activity would occur, and the construction period’s overall duration. The notification should include the telephone numbers of the contractor’s authorized representatives that are assigned to respond in the event of a noise or vibration complaint.  The project applicant and contractors shall prepare and submit a Construction Noise Control Plan to the City’s Building Department and Code Enforcement for review and approval prior to issuance of any grading, demolition, and/or building permits. The Construction Noise Plan shall demonstrate compliance with the 80-dBA limit in the CMC. The details of the Construction Noise Control Plan, including those details listed herein, shall be included as part of the permit application drawing set and as part of the construction drawing set, shall be implemented by the on-site Construction Manager, and shall include, but not be limited to, the following available controls to comply with the 80 dBA performance standard:
 At least 10 days prior to the start of construction activities, a sign will be posted at the entrance(s) to the job site, clearly visible to the public, which includes permitted construction days and hours, as well as the telephone numbers of the City’s and contractor’s authorized representatives that are assigned to respond in the event of a noise or vibration complaint. If the authorized contractor’s representative receives a complaint, they will investigate, take appropriate corrective action, and report the action to the City.
 During the entire active construction period, equipment and trucks used for project construction will utilize the best available noise control techniques (e.g., improved mufflers, equipment re- design, use of intake silencers, ducts, engine enclosures, and acoustically attenuating shields or shrouds), wherever feasible.
 Include noise control requirements for equipment and tools, including concrete saws, to the maximum extent feasible. Such requirements could include, but are not limited to, erecting temporary plywood noise barriers between construction areas and nearby sensitive receptors; performing work in a manner that minimizes noise; and undertaking the noisiest activities during times of least disturbance to nearby sensitive receptors.

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 During the entire active construction period, stationary noise sources will be located as far from sensitive receptors as possible, and they will be muffled and enclosed within temporary sheds, or insulation barriers or other measures will be incorporated to the extent feasible.  During the entire active construction period, noisy operations will be conducted simultaneously to the degree feasible in order to reduce the time periods of these operations.  Select haul routes that avoid the greatest amount of sensitive use areas and submit to the City of Cupertino Public Works Department for approval prior to the start of the construction phase.  Signs will be posted at the job site entrance(s), within the on-site construction zones, and along queueing lanes (if any) to reinforce the prohibition of unnecessary engine idling. All other equipment will be turned off if not in use for more than 5 minutes.  During the entire active construction period and to the extent feasible, the use of noise producing signals, including horns, whistles, alarms, and bells will be for safety warning purposes only. The construction manager will use smart back-up alarms, which automatically adjust the alarm level based on the background noise level or switch off back-up alarms and replace with human spotters in compliance with all safety requirements and laws.

Impact NOISE-2: The proposed project could result in the generation of a substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project during the operation phase that could be in excess of standards established in the local noise ordinance.

Noise reduction measures could include, but are not limited to:
 Selection of equipment that emits low noise levels;
 Installation of noise dampening techniques, such as enclosures and parapet walls, to block the line-of- sight between the noise source and the nearest receptors; or  Locating equipment in less noise-sensitive areas, where feasible.

Impact NOISE-3: The proposed project could result in the generation of excessive groundborne vibration in the vicinity of the project site during the construction phase that would be in excess of established thresholds.

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TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES
Impact TRC-1: The proposed project could cause a substantial adverse impact to an unknown Tribal Cultural Resource.

Mitigation Measure TCR-1: Implement Mitigation Measure CULT-1.

UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
Impact UTIL-1: Implementation of the proposed project may result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider, which serves or may serve the proposed project, that it does not have adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments.

Mitigation Measure UTIL-1: No building permits shall be issued by the City for the proposed Canyon Crossing Mixed-Use Project that would result in exceeding the permitted peak wet weather flow capacity of 13.8 mgd through the Santa Clara sanitary sewer system. The project applicant shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the City of Cupertino and Cupertino Sanitary District (CSD), that the proposed project would not exceed the peak wet weather flow capacity of the Santa Clara sanitary sewer system by implementing one or more of the following methods:

Reduce inflow and infiltration in the CSD system to reduce peak wet weather flows; or Increase on-site water reuse, such as increased grey water use, or reduce water consumption of the fixtures used within the proposed project, or other methods that are measurable and reduce sewer generation rates to acceptable levels, to the satisfaction of the CSD.

The proposed project’s estimated wastewater generation shall be calculated using the generation rates used by the CSD in the Flow Modeling Analysis for the Homestead Flume Outfall to the City of Santa Clara, prepared by Mark Thomas & Co. Inc., dated December 6, 2019, unless alternative (i.e., lower) generation rates achieved by the proposed project are substantiated by the project applicant based on evidence to the satisfaction of the CSD. To calculate the peak wet weather flow for a 10-year storm event, the average daily flow rate shall be multiplied by a factor of 2.95 as required by CSD pursuant to their December 2019 flow modeling analysis.

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Project Description
The project applicant, SCR Enterprises, is proposing the Canyon Crossings Mixed-Use Project (proposed project) that would involve the construction of a commercial and residential development on a 1.57-acre site. The site is currently developed with three buildings, a surface parking lot, and associated landscaping. The largest building on the project site is a multi-tenant commercial building on the southwestern portion of the site. A smaller commercial building, with an attached, unoccupied residential unit that is used for storage, is on the northeast portion of the site. In addition, a detached and unoccupied single-family residential unit is on the northwest portion of the project site. The proposed project would involve demolishing all the existing structures and redeveloping the site with a mixed-use building including 4,536 square feet of neighborhood-serving commercial space and five apartments, as well as a mix of 13 attached and detached single-family units, for a combined total of 18 residential units.

All proposed structures would have a maximum building height of 30 feet (two stories). All parking would be at the ground level except for a single-level subterranean parking garage located under the mixed-use building.

This chapter provides a detailed description of the proposed project, including the location, setting, and characteristics of the project site, the principal project features, construction phasing and schedule, as well as a list of the required permits and approvals.

3.1 PROJECT LOCATION AND SITE CHARACTERISTICS

3.1.1 REGIONAL LOCATION
As shown on Figure 3-1, the project site is in the City of Cupertino located in the northwestern portion of Santa Clara County. Cupertino is roughly 45 miles south of San Francisco and 13 miles west of downtown San José. Interstate 280 (I-280) and State Route 85 (SR-85) provide regional access to the project site.

3.1.2 LOCAL SETTING
The project site is located at 10625 South Foothill Boulevard8 in the southwest region of the city. The project site is on the west side of South Foothill Boulevard, where South Foothill Boulevard meets Stevens Canyon Road. The project site is intersected by McClellan Road to the north and St. Andrews Avenue to the south. As shown on Figure 3-2, the project site is bounded by single-family residential units to the north, south, and west, and the two-lane South Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road to the east.

8 There are several addresses assigned to the project site, but for the purposes of this Initial Study, a single address (10625 South Foothill Boulevard) is used to represent the entire project site. 280
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City of Cupertino General Plan
Figure 2-A. Cupertino Regional Location
Regional Location
Figure 3-1
Regional and Vicinity Map
Source: City of Cupertino General Plan; PlaceWorks, 2020.

Approximate Project
Site Location

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Figure 3-2
Aerial View of Project Site and Surroundings
Source: Google Earth, 2019. PlaceWorks, 2020. 0
Scale (Feet)
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Project Site
Deep Cliff
Golf Course
McClellan
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Preserve
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Alcalde Road
Mefriman Road
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The City parks nearest to the project site are Monta Vista Park to the northwest; McClellan Ranch Preserve to the northeast; and Linda Vista Park to the southeast. Additional information on parks is provided in Chapter 4, Environmental Analysis, in Section XIV, Parks and Recreation.

Public schools near the project site are Monta Vista High School in the Fremont Union High School District, and John F. Kennedy Middle School and Abraham Lincoln Elementary School in the Cupertino Union School District, each approximately 1 mile to the east of the site. Private schools and/or educational facilities near the project site include Saint Joseph of Cupertino School approximately 2 miles to the east, Futures Academy of Cupertino approximately 3 miles to the east, Bethel Lutheran School approximately 4 miles to the east, and Waldorf School of the Peninsula approximately 4 miles to the northwest. Other sensitive land uses near the project site include the Cupertino Healthcare and Wellness nursing home approximately 0.25 miles to the north, Namo Day Care approximately 0.30 miles to the north, Sunny View Bay Area Retirement Community approximately 0.75 miles to the north, and Cupertino Senior Center approximately 1.5 miles to the northeast.

The major employment centers within approximately 1 to 2 miles of the project site are the Bubb Road Special Area, and the De Anza College to the northeast, and the Permanente Quarry (Lehigh Cement Company), the Stevens Creek Quarry, Inc. to the southwest.

The nearest public airports are San José International Airport, approximately 8.5 miles to the northeast, and Palo Alto Airport, approximately 10 miles to the north. The nearest heliports are McCandless Towers Heliport, approximately 7 miles to the northeast, and County Medical Center Heliport, approximately 7.5 miles to the east. The nearest private (military/corporate) airport is Moffett Federal Airfield, approximately 7 miles to the north. The project site is not located within an airport land use plan.

3.1.3 EXISTING SITE SETTING

SITE CHARACTER
As shown on Figure 3-3, the site is currently developed with three structures: two commercial buildings and a vacant residential unit. The largest commercial building is a one-story building that is partially occupied by neighborhood-serving land uses on the west side of the project site. The second commercial building is a one-story building on the northeast corner of the project site. It is occupied by the Cupertino Bike Shop, which has an attached two-story residential unit on the west side of the building that is unoccupied and currently used for additional bike storage. The third structure is a vacant one-story residential unit on the northwest corner of the project site, with a detached shed and surrounding grassy areas. Combined, the existing commercial and residential buildings represent 13,225 square feet of building space. A concrete retaining wall separates the vacant, detached residential unit and associated shed from the rear of the Cupertino Bike Shop and parking lot. The site also contains surface parking.

Source: Google Earth Professional, 2018; PlaceWorks, 2020.

Figure 3-3
Existing Conditions
S. Foothill Blvd
Stevens Canyon Road
Project Site
McClellan Road
St. Andrews Ave
0 Scale (Feet)
100

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The site was used for orchards and associated buildings in 1939. The orchards were removed in 1948.

According to the Department of Toxic Substance Control, when orchards have been removed or became inactive prior to 1950 organic pesticides are not an issue warranting further testing.9 Following the removal of the orchards, the project site was developed with the existing smaller mixed-use building located on the site. The larger building on the site was constructed by 1963.10 Due to the age of the existing buildings, they may contain asbestos-containing materials or lead-based paint, which were not regulated in construction until the early 1970’s.

Because the smaller building on the project site was developed in 1948, it has the potential to be considered a historic building; however, it is not currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places or the list of California Historical resources.11
Surrounding uses in the vicinity of the project site include one-story and two-story single-family residential units.

VEGETATION AND LANDCOVER
Using data from the Classification and Assessment with Landsat of Visible Ecological Groupings (CALVEG)12 habitat mapping program, the site is classified as an “urban area.” Property with this classification tends to have low to poor wildlife habitat value due to replacement of natural communities, fragmentation of remaining open space areas and parks, and intensive human disturbance. According to the Vegetation Map shown in the Environmental Resources and Sustainability Element of the General Plan, the project site is within the urban forest (i.e., trees in the city).13 The City recognizes that every tree on both public and private property is an important part of Cupertino's urban forest and contributes significant economic, environmental, and aesthetic benefits of the community.14 Landscaping on-site includes two mature and non-native trees over 70 feet tall, a Redwood tree on the northeast corner that is proposed for removal, and a Palm tree on the southeast corner that would remain. The trees on-site are considered protected development trees pursuant to Cupertino Municipal Code (CMC) Section 14.18.050(c).15

9 California Department of Toxic Substances Control California Environmental Protection Agency, Interim Guidance for Sampling Agricultural Properties, page 3, August 7, 2008. 10 Applied Water Resources, 2018. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, 10625-10637 South Foothill Boulevard, Cupertino, California, pages 8 and 9, January 12.
11 California Office of Historic Preservation. 2019. California Historical Resources. Accessed May 6, 2019 at http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ListedResources/?view=county&criteria=43. 12 The CALVEG system was initiated in January 1978 by the Region 5 Ecology Group of the US Forest Service to classify California’s existing vegetation communities for use in statewide resource planning. CALVEG maps use a hierarchical classification on the following categories: forest; woodland; chaparral; shrubs; and herbaceous. 13 City of Cupertino General Plan (Community Vision 2015-2040), Chapter 6, Environmental Resources and Sustainability Element, Figure ES-1.
14 City of Cupertino, Tree Protection and Tree Removal link on the City’s website, Accessed May 6, 2019 at https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/community-development/planning/residential-development/tree-protection- tree-removal.
15 City of Cupertino, Municipal Code, Section 14.18.050 Protected Trees, Accessed May 6, 2019.

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The California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) has no record of special-status plant or animal species on the project site but does show there are special-status plant and animal species within a 5-mile area surrounding the project site. Special-status species have been recorded in the open space areas in the project vicinity.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Projection (CAL FIRE) has designated the project site as a Local Responsibility Area (LRA) and a non-very high fire hazard severity zone. The project site is near lands that CAL FIRE designates as a State Responsibility Area (SRA), which are approximately 0.5 miles to the west of the site.16 The project site is located within the wildland-urban interface, which is an area of transition between wildland (unoccupied land) and land with human development (occupied land).17 The site is generally flat with elevation of 429 feet above mean sea level with a regional topographic slope downward to the east.18 The surficial geology is young, unconsolidated Quaternary alluvium,19 which is described as Holocene-age younger alluvium and coarse-grained alluvium that are composed of unconsolidated, poorly sorted gravel, silt, sand, clay, and organic matter . No paleontological resources have been identified on the project site; however, the presence of Pleistocene deposits that are known to contain fossils indicates that the overall city, including the project site, could contain paleontological resources.20
The existing impervious surface totals 46,584 square feet. Stormwater from the site drains to a network of City-maintained storm drains in Stevens Canyon Road and South Foothill Boulevard that collect runoff from city streets and carry it to the creeks that run through Cupertino to the San Francisco Bay. The project site is within an area where some of the storm drains are deficient in conveying the water from a 10-year storm, based on the 2018 Storm Drain Master Plan. 16 CAL FIRE. 2008. Cupertino, Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in LRA. http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_prevention/fhsz_maps/FHSZ/santa_clara/Cupertino.pdf 17 CAL FIRE. 2018. Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Threat. http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=d45bf08448354073a26675776f2d09cb, accessed May 7, 2019. 18 Applied Water Resources, 2018, Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, 10625-10637 South Foothill Boulevard/ Stevens Canyon Road, Cupertino, California, page 8, January 12. 19 US Geological Survey, 1994, Preliminary Quaternary Geologic Maps of Santa Clara Valley, Santa Clara, Alameda, and San Mateo Counties, California: A Digital Database, Open-File Report 94-231, by E.J. Helley, R.W. Graymer, G.A. Phelps, P.K.

Showalter, and C.M. Wentworth.
20 City of Cupertino, certified General Plan Amendment, Housing Element Update, and Associated Rezoning EIR, (December 2014) State Clearinghouse Number 2014032007 (October 2015), and approved Addenda (October 2015, July 2019, August 2019, and December 2019).

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3.1.4 LAND USE DESIGNATION AND ZONING

GENERAL PLAN
The site is located in the Other Non-Residential/Mixed-Use Special Area21 and a Neighborhood Center . 22 The site is located in the Inspiration Heights Neighborhood abutting the Monta Vista North Neighborhood.23 The site has a General Plan land use designation of Commercial/ Residential.24 A description of these designations is provided below.

Other Non-Residential/Mixed-Use Special Areas
The City has designated Special Areas along one of the four major mixed-use corridors in the city, which represent key areas within Cupertino where future development and reinvestment is generally focused.

The Other Non-Residential/Mixed-Use Special Area include four key areas and all other nonresidential properties not referenced in an identified commercial area. The project site is at one of the four key areas identified as the west side of Stevens Canyon Road. 25 The Other Non-Residential/Mixed-Use Special Area describes the vision for Neighborhood Centers and states that such locations should be redeveloped using the “Neighborhood Commercial Center” concept described in the Land Use and Community Design Element of the General Plan (Chapter 2).26 However, developing using this concept is not required. The vision statement describes that buildings in the Neighborhood Centers should be typically one to two stories tall but may be up to three stories in some instances where it is allowed.27 The maximum residential density within Neighborhood Commercial Centers identified in the Community Form Diagram is 15 dwelling units per acre.28
Inspiration Heights Neighborhood
Cupertino has 12 distinct neighborhoods that are each unique in their location, development pattern, identity, and access to community services. While the Inspiration Heights neighborhood is situated in the western foothills of Cupertino, the project site is located in the lower elevation portions of the neighborhood that is urbanized. The project site is on the western border of this neighborhood on Stevens Creek and Foothill Boulevards, which provides a transition with the adjoining neighborhoods on the valley floor. The vision for this neighborhood, as described in the General Plan, is to continue to be a

21 City of Cupertino General Plan (Community Vision 2015-2040), Chapter 2, Planning Areas, page PA-15. 22 City of Cupertino General Plan (Community Vision 2015-2040), Chapter 3, Land Use and Community Design Element, Figure LU-2, Community Form Diagram, page LU-17.
23 City of Cupertino General Plan (Community Vision 2015-2040), Chapter 2, Planning Areas, Figure PA-2, Neighborhoods, page PA-18.
24 City of Cupertino Land Use Map adopted November 15, 2005 and amended August 20, 2019. 25 City of Cupertino General Plan (Community Vision 2015-2040), Chapter 3, Land Use and Community Design Element, page LU-65.
26 City of Cupertino General Plan (Community Vision 2015-2040), Chapter 2, Planning Areas, page PA-15. 27 City of Cupertino General Plan (Community Vision 2015-2040), Chapter 2, Planning Areas, Vision, page PA-15. 28 City of Cupertino General Plan, Community Vision 2040, Chapter 3, Land Use, Figure LU-2, Community Form Diagram, pages LU-16 and LU-17.

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low-intensity and hillside residential area.29 Future development should consider preservation of hillsides, riparian corridors, and plant and animal wildlife habitat through sensitive site and building design.30 Commercial/Residential Land Use Designation
The Commercial/Residential land use designation allows primarily commercial uses and secondarily residential uses or a compatible combination of the two uses.31 Commercial use means retail sales, businesses, limited professional offices, and service establishments with direct contact with customers.

This land use designation applies to commercial activities ranging from neighborhood convenience stores to regionally oriented specialty stores. Retail stores that would be a nuisance for adjoining neighborhoods or harmful to the community identity would be regulated by CMC Chapter 19.60, General Commercial Zones, and the associated commercial zoning ordinance use permit procedures. Smaller commercial parcels in existing residential areas, such as the project site, may be needed to provide local neighborhood serving retail; otherwise, they may be redeveloped at residential densities compatible with the surroundings. As previously stated, the maximum residential density on the project site is 15 dwelling units per acre.32

ZONING DISTRICT
The project site is within the Planned Development with General Commercial (P(CG)) zoning district. As described in CMC Section 19.80.010, the Planned Development zoning district is intended to provide a means of guiding land development or redevelopment of the city that is uniquely suited for planned coordination of land uses. Development in this zoning district provides for a greater flexibility of land use intensity and design because of accessibility, ownership patterns, topographical considerations, and community design objectives.33 CMC Chapter 19.80 also allows a project proponent to propose development standards for their specific project.

All Planned Development districts are identified on the zoning map with the letter coding "P" followed by a specific reference to the general type of use allowed in the particular planning development zoning district. The type of use allowed on the project site is General Commercial (CG), which allows commercial uses such as retail food, drug, apparel, or hardware stores, full-service restaurants, professional and commercial office services, laundry facilities, non-auto related repair services, and personal services, along with several other specialty uses.
34 29 City of Cupertino General Plan (Community Vision 2015-2040), Chapter 2, Planning Areas, Vision, page PA-24 and PA-25. 30 City of Cupertino General Plan (Community Vision 2015-2040), Chapter 3, Land Use and Community Design Element, Inspiration Heights Neighborhood, page LU-75.
31 City of Cupertino General Plan (Community Vision 2015-2040), Appendix A: Land use definitions, Planning Areas, page A-

4. 32 City of Cupertino General Plan, Community Vision 2040, Chapter 3, Land Use, Figure LU-2, Community Form Diagram, pages LU-16 and LU-17.
33 City of Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 19, Zoning, Chapter 19.80, Planned Development, Section 19.80.010, Purpose. 34 City of Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 19, Zoning, Chapter 19.60, General Commercial, Section 19.60.030, Permitted, Conditional and Excluded Uses in General Commercial Zoning Districts.

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The proposed designation of General Commercial with Residential uses (CG, Res), which is consistent with the General Plan land use designation for the site, is a district in which uses are intended to be a mix of general commercial and residential.35 The proposed project requires a zoning amendment to allow residential uses on the project site. This is discussed further, below, in Section 3.2, Project Components.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Setback Standards
Because the property is zoned Planned Development, any proposed commercial project would have to meet the specific front, side, or rear yard setbacks required when a lot abuts residential or agricultural zones based on CMC Chapter 19.64, General Commercial (CG) zoning district. However, in the event, the commercial property does not abut these zones, there are no stated setbacks, in which case, setback requirements for commercial property would be determined by City staff during project review.

The proposed project is a mixed-use single-family development on a small lot (1.57 acres). The City’s Zoning Code does not have any adopted standards for the development of projects similar to the proposed project. However, pursuant to CMC Chapter 19.80, the Planned Development Zoning District allows a project proponent to propose zoning setbacks different from those required in the underlying Zoning District to allow flexibility in the project, as long as these are approved by the City Council. In any case, the setbacks in the Zoning Code or the setbacks proposed by the project, the project site must adhere to the General Plan requirement of maintaining sufficient space for adequate light, requirement for air and visibility at intersections, and the requirement for general conformity to yard requirements of adjacent or nearby zones, lot or parcels. The General Plan does not have any applicable setback requirements for this property.

Landscaping
CMC Chapter 14.15, Landscape Ordinance, implements the California Water Conservation in Landscaping Act of 2006 by establishing new water-efficient landscaping and irrigation requirements. Any building or landscape project that involves more than 2,500 square feet of landscape area is required to submit a Landscape Project Submittal to the Director of Community Development for approval. Existing and established landscaped areas greater than 1 acre in size, including cemeteries, are required to submit water budget calculations and audits of established landscapes.36 Tree Requirements
CMC Chapter 14.12, Trees, establishes regulations for the planting, care, and maintenance of public trees, and provides for the continuous maintenance of the public trees, with the goal of encouraging

35 City of Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 19, Zoning, Chapter 19.80, Planned Development, Section 19.80.030, Establishment of Districts- Permitted and Conditional Uses. 36 City of Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 14, Streets, Sidewalks and Landscaping, Chapter 14.15, Landscape Ordinance.

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preservation of trees. The City funds the planting and maintenance of public trees through payment of reimbursement costs as a conditions of building permit issuance.37 CMC Chapter 14.18, Protected Tree Ordinance, provides regulations for the protection, preservation, and maintenance of trees of certain species and sizes.38 Removal of a protected tree requires a permit from the City. “Protected” trees include trees of a certain species and size on private property in all zoning districts; heritage trees whether on private or public property in all zoning districts; any tree required to be planted or retained as part of an approved development application, building permit, tree removal permit, or code enforcement action in all zoning districts; and approved privacy protection planting in single-family residential (R-1) zoning districts. Since the existing development is on property that requires a development application, all existing trees on the site are considered protected.39 Bird Safe Design Ordinance
The City of Cupertino draft Bird Safe Design Ordinance, CMC Chapter 19.102, Glazing and Lighting Standards, which contains specific building and site design measures to reduce bird mortality from windows or other specific glass features known to increase the risk of bird collisions and to reduce light pollution known to contribute to bird mortality and reduced visibility of the night sky. These guidelines, once adopted, would be applicable to any project that is required to obtain a building permit or a Permit pursuant to Title 19, Zoning, including the proposed project.

CMC Section 19.102.030, Bird-safe Development Requirements, includes:
 Glass requirements for new or replacement windows of twelve square feet or more and facades requiring no more than 10 percent of the surface area of the façade be untreated glass between the ground and 60 feet above ground. Treatments can include opaque glass, window muntins, exterior insect screens, exterior netting, or special glass treatments such as fritting to provide visual cues and reduce the likelihood of bird collisions.
 Indoor lighting requirements to program automatic sensors and timer to turn off at 11:00 p.m., within two hours after business closes, or the addition of filtering with the use of interior or exterior blinds.  Design requirements to avoid funneling of flight paths along buildings or trees to building facades; avoid use of highly reflective glass or highly transparent glass; and avoid glass skyways or walkways, freestanding glass walls, transparent building corners, or other design elements where trees, landscaping, water features, or the sky is visible form the exterior .

CMC Section 19.102.140, Outdoor Lighting Requirements, includes requirements to reduce light pollution throughout the city. These requirements prohibit outdoor lighting that blinks, flashes, or rotates; outdoor lighting that projects above the horizontal plan; lighting that unnecessarily illuminates other lots or interferes with the enjoyment of that lot; high-intensity discharge lighting for recreation courts or private property; and spotlights. Outdoor lighting that is not prohibited, must abide by the following:

37 City of Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 14, Streets, Sidewalks and Landscaping, Chapter 14.12, Trees. 38 City of Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 14, Streets, Sidewalks and Landscaping, Chapter 14.18, Protected Trees. 39 City of Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 14, Streets, Sidewalks and Landscaping, Chapter 14.18, Protected Trees.

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 All outdoor light much be fully shielded fixtures directed downward to meet the particular need and away from adjacent properties.
 Illumination levels cannot exceed one foot-candle onto an adjacent property and maximum light intensity cannot exceed a maintained value of ten foot-candles when measured at finished grade.  All light sources must have a maintained correlated color temperature of 3,000 Kelvin or less.  All outdoor lighting must be turned off by 11:00 p.m. or when people are no longer present in exterior areas, except for security lighting required and designed according to the California Building Code.
 Automated control systems should be used to meet lighting requirements.  Lighting design must compliment building and landscaping, and fixtures must be appropriate in height, intensity, and scale to the use.

UTILITIES AND ENERGY
Energy Conservation
The California Green Building Standards Code (Part 11, Title 24, known as “CALGreen”) was adopted as part of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24, California Code of Regulations) to apply to the planning, design, operation, construction, use, and occupancy of every newly constructed building or structure, unless otherwise indicated in the California Building Standards Code, throughout the State of California.40 CALGreen established planning and design standards for sustainable site development, energy efficiency (in excess of the California Energy Code requirements), water conservation requiring new buildings to reduce water consumption by 20 percent, material conservation, and internal air contaminants. The local building permit process enforces the building efficiency standards. CMC Chapter

16.58, Green Building Standards Code, adopts the CALGreen requirements and makes it part of the CMC along with local amendments for projects in the city. The City’s Green Building Ordinance contains mandatory, minimum required green building techniques, including measures affecting water use efficiency and water conservation.

CMC Sections 16.58.100 through 16.58.220 sets forth the standards for green building requirements by type of building. As shown on Table 101.10 in CMC Section 16.58.220, mixed-use project with residential and non-residential components shall comply by either: (1) meeting the applicable requirements for each use; or (2) meeting the applicable requirements for the use that comprises the majority of the project’s square footage where uses are attached and/or combined in a building. For the residential component, new construction greater than nine homes is required to be Green Points Rated certified at minimum 50 points, Silver in Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED), or Alternate Reference Standard per Section 101.10.2.41 For the non-residential component, development less than 25,000 square-feet is

40 California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11, January 1, 2020, California Green Buildings Standards Code, https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/CAGBSC2019/copyright. 41 Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices that reduce consumption energy, and water, and reduce solid waste directly diverted to landfills. LEED certified buildings are ranked in order of efficiency from Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum being the highest

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED - USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
PLACEWORKS 3-13

REVISED FINAL DRAFT
required to comply with the CALGreen Building Code per Chapter 5 of the California Green Building Standards Code. CMC Section 16.58.230 permits applicants to apply an alternate green building standard for a project in lieu of the minimum standards outlined in CMC Section 16.58.220 that meet the same intent of conserving resources and reducing solid waste.

The California Energy Code (Part 6, Title 24) was adopted as part of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) to reduce wasteful and unnecessary energy consumption in newly constructed and existing buildings. The City of Cupertino has adopted the California Energy Code, with local amendments into, as CMC Chapter 16.54, Energy Code. CMC Section 16.54.100(2), Scope for Newly Construction Building, requires all newly constructed buildings to be All-Electric Buildings. All-Electric Buildings are defined as a building that has no natural gas or propane plumbing installed within the building, and that uses electricity as the sole source of energy for its space heating, water heating. 42 The City is currently in the
process of approving reach codes, which will go above California Energy Code requirements to reduce energy and water, and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Solid Waste Reduction
Consistent with CALGreen, CMC Chapter 16.72, Recycling and Division of Construction and Demolition Waste, requires that a minimum of 65 percent of all non-hazardous construction and demolition debris must be recycled or salvaged and that all applicants have a waste management plan for on-site sorting of construction debris. Additionally, in December 2017, the City adopted a Zero Waste Policy.43 According to the Zero Waste Policy, the City will require, through the City’s waste hauling franchise agreement, steadfast and ongoing efforts by the City’s franchisee to maintain a minimum residential and commercial waste diversion rate of 75 percent with a goal of reaching and maintaining 80 percent by 2025.

Water Quality
CMC Chapter 9.18, Storm Water Pollution Prevention and Watershed Protection provides regulations and gives legal effect to the Municipal Regional Storm Water National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit (MRP) issued to the City. This chapter also ensures ongoing compliance with the most recent version of the City’s MRP regarding municipal storm water and urban runoff requirements. This chapter applies to all water entering the storm drain system generated on any private, public, developed, and undeveloped lands within the city. The CMC contains permit requirements for construction projects and new development or redevelopment projects to minimize the discharge of storm water runoff.

ranking with the greatest efficiency standard. LEED Silver certified buildings typically reduce is the third highest ranking out of the four, with just being certified being the lowest and Gold and Platinum being the second highest. 42 CMC Section 16.54.110, Definitions and Rules of Construction. 43 City of Cupertino, Public Works, Garbage & Recycling, https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/environment- sustainability/waste, accessed November 30, 2018.

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED - USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
3-14 DECEMBER 2021

REVISED FINAL DRAFT

3.2 PROJECT COMPONENTS
The project applicant proposes to redevelop the project site with a mixed-use commercial and residential development consisting of one mixed-use building with commercial and residential uses and a mix of residential buildings with associated amenities, infrastructure, and landscaping. Combined the project would have 18 residential units and 4,536 square feet of neighborhood-serving commercial space. The conceptual site plan for the proposed project is shown on Figure 3-4. The following provides a detailed description of the key project components. A complete set of preliminary site plans are available on the City’s website at www.cupertino.org/canyoncrossing and at the City of Cupertino Community Development Department at 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014.

3.2.1 PROPOSED BUILDINGS

MIXED-USE BUILDING
The proposed project’s mixed-use building would have 4,536 square feet of neighborhood-serving commercial space on the ground floor and five apartment units on the second floor . Apartments would be comprised of two one-bedroom units between 918 square feet and 1,003 square feet, and three two- bedroom units ranging between 1,240 square feet and 1,500 square feet. The mixed-use building would front South Foothill Boulevard/ Stevens Canyon Road. See Figures 3-5 through 3-6.

A trash and recycling enclosure would be located on the ground floor on the southern side of the mixed- use building and would be accessed by the waste management company on trash day from the internal roadway network. See Figure 3-4.

One-level of subterranean parking would be provided below the mixed-use building and surface parking spaces would be provided on the northeast corner of the site. Vehicular parking would meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Class 2 bicycle racks44 would be included at the ground level and Class 1 bicycle lockers45 would be provided for residents in the subterranean parking area. See Figure 3-7. The surface parking spaces are illustrated on Figure 3-4.

As shown in Figure 3-8, the proposed mixed-use building would be a maximum of 30 feet tall (two stories). The mechanical equipment and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit would be located on the roof of the mixed-use building and would be screened by a parapet46 facing Stevens Canyon Road.

44 Class 2 parking facilities include bicycle racks to which the frame and at least one wheel can be secured with a user- provided lock.
45 Class 1 facilities protect the entire bicycle from theft, vandalism, and inclement weather and are appropriate for long- term storage.
46 A parapet is a low protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony.

Source: TS Civil Engineering, 2020.

Figure 3-4
Conceptual Site Plan
0 Scale (Feet)
60 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED-USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PLACEWORKS
10625 S. FOOTHILL BLVD.

CUPERTINO - CALIFORNIA
Architects
1288 Kifer Road, Suite 206
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Telephone : 408-992-0280
Fax : 408-992-0281

CANYON CROSSINGS
10625 S. FOOTHILL BLVD.

CUPERTINO - CALIFORNIA
Architects
1288 Kifer Road, Suite 206
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Telephone : 408-992-0280
Fax : 408-992-0281

CANYON CROSSINGS
Source: LPMD Architects, 2020.

Figure 3-5
Mixed-Use Building Ground Floor
0 Scale (Feet)
32 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED-USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PLACEWORKS
10625 S. FOOTHILL BLVD.

CUPERTINO - CALIFORNIA
Architects
1288 Kifer Road, Suite 206
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Telephone : 408-992-0280
Fax : 408-992-0281

CANYON CROSSINGS
Source: LPMD Architects, 2020.

Figure 3-6
Mixed-Use Building Second Floor Apartments and Roof
0 Scale (Feet)
32 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED-USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PLACEWORKS
10625 S. FOOTHILL BLVD.

CUPERTINO - CALIFORNIA
Architects
1288 Kifer Road, Suite 206
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Telephone : 408-992-0280
Fax : 408-992-0281

CANYON CROSSINGS
Source: LPMD Architects, 2020.

Figure 3-7
Mixed-Use Building Subterranean Parking Level
0 Scale (Feet)
32 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED-USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PLACEWORKS
10625 S. FOOTHILL BLVD.

CUPERTINO - CALIFORNIA
Architects
1288 Kifer Road, Suite 206
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Telephone : 408-992-0280
Fax : 408-992-0281

CANYON CROSSINGS

FRONT ELEVATION

REAR ELEVATION

SIDE ELEVATIONS
Source: LPMD Architects, 2020.

Figure 3-8
Mixed-Use Building Elevation

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED-USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PLACEWORKS

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED - USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
3-20 DECEMBER 2021

REVISED FINAL DRAFT

SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
The proposed project would include a mix of attached and detached single-family residential buildings with a total of 13 single-family dwelling units. Each single-family dwelling unit would have a private driveway with an attached two-car garage that would front the internal roadway network and would be separated from the adjacent residential properties with back- and side-yard areas. The five detached single-family homes would have three bedrooms. The single-family homes are identified as numbers six through ten on Figure 3-4. The units range between 2,624 square feet and 2,642 square feet with floor area ratios between 1.11 and 1.15. The eight attached single-family homes would have three bedrooms each. The attached single-family homes are identified as numbers one through five and 11 through 13 on Figure 3-4. Two of these units are smaller at about 2,065 square feet, while the rest range between 2,481 square feet and 2,692 square feet in size. The proposed residential buildings would be a maximum of 30 feet tall (two stories). Figures 3-9 through 3-11 illustrate the elevations of each unit type.

RESIDENT AND PUBLIC AMENITIES
Each residential building would have its own private open space at the back of each unit. The backyards range in size from 264 square feet to 591 square feet in area. Each apartment unit includes a private deck that ranges from 61 square feet to 126 square feet. The proposed project also includes three common open space areas totaling 5,691 square feet. The common open space areas are labeled as Areas 1, 2, and Public Plaza on Figure 3-4. Area 1 is located on the southeastern corner of the site and is 1,044 square feet. Area 2 is located west of the mixed-use building near the center of the site and is 1,990 square feet.

Area 3 is a public plaza to the north of the mixed-use building and is 2,657 square feet. The common open space areas and the public plaza would include landscaping and areas for gathering (i.e., tables, umbrellas, benches, etc.).

3.2.2 POPULATION AND EMPLOYEE ESTIMATES
Based on an average household size of 2.87 persons,47 the proposed project would generate 52 residents.48 Applying the generation rate of one job for every 450 square feet of commercial uses, the proposed project would generate 10 employees.49 The single residential unit on site is not occupied at this time and the approximately 10,500 square feet of commercial buildings are partially occupied. Applying the same generation rates as the proposed project, the current uses at full occupancy could generate about 3 residents and 23 employees. Therefore, the net new occupants of the site would be 49 residents and minus 13 employees. It is anticipated that future residents and employees would be drawn largely from Cupertino and other communities in the San Francisco Bay Area.

47 This analysis is based on the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) 2019 projections of the average household size of 2.87 persons for Cupertino in 2020. This is the standard approach for population and housing analysis in Cupertino. 48 18 new units multiplied by 2.87 persons per unit equals 51.66 new residents. 49 4,356 square feet of commercial land use/450 square feet per employee = 9.68 employees. 10625 S. FOOTHILL BLVD.

CUPERTINO - CALIFORNIA
Architects
1288 Kifer Road, Suite 206
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Telephone : 408-992-0280
Fax : 408-992-0281

CANYON CROSSINGS

FRONT ELEVATION REAR ELEVATION

SIDE ELEVATION
Source: LPMD Architects, 2020.

Figure 3-9
Detached Single-Family Homes Elevation

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED-USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PLACEWORKS
10625 S. FOOTHILL BLVD.

CUPERTINO - CALIFORNIA
Architects
1288 Kifer Road, Suite 206
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Telephone : 408-992-0280
Fax : 408-992-0281

CANYON CROSSINGS

FRONT ELEVATION

REAR ELEVATION
Source: LPMD Architects, 2020.

Figure 3-10
Attached Single-Family Homes Elevation

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED-USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PLACEWORKS
10625 S. FOOTHILL BLVD.

CUPERTINO - CALIFORNIA
Architects
1288 Kifer Road, Suite 206
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Telephone : 408-992-0280
Fax : 408-992-0281

CANYON CROSSINGS

SIDE ELEVATION

FRONT ELEVATION REAR ELEVATION
Source: LPMD Architects, 2020.

Figure 3-11
Attached Single-Family Homes Elevation

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED-USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PLACEWORKS

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED - USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
3-24 DECEMBER 2021

REVISED FINAL DRAFT

3.2.3 CIRCULATION AND ACCESS

VEHICULAR ACCESS
As shown on Figure 3-12, the project would have two-lane entrance/exit circulation pattern with the access points at the South Foothill Boulevard/McClellan Road intersection and the Stevens Canyon Road/ St. Andrews Avenue intersection. The project access points would modify the existing three-way (or “t”) intersections at South Foothill Boulevard/McClellan Road and Stevens Canyon Road/St. Andrews Avenue.

The proposed project would extend McClellan Road and St. Andrews Avenue onto the project site; however, the on-site roadway extensions would be for use by future residents and customers only and would be privately maintained (i.e., not the responsibility of the City). The proposed attached single-family homes would be accessed via these roadway extensions, which would allow for two-way travel in and out of the single-family homes. The proposed single-family homes would be accessed via either driveway that would run along a north-south axis on the property. Entry to the subterranean parking under the mixed- use building would be accessed from the proposed on-site roadway.

Proposed emergency access routes are similar to the proposed vehicle access routes. Emergency personnel would also have access to the backyard areas of the residential buildings via gates or partitioned fences on the side yards or backyard of the residential buildings, that would remain unlocked.

Waste management vehicles would follow the same vehicle route, with access to the two residential roads on the west side of the project site.

PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ACCESS
Class II bike lanes currently exist on both sides of South Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road along the length of the project site. Bicyclists would access the project site from the existing Class II bike lanes via the internal roadway network. Class III Bikeway or Bike Route designated signs and pavement markings for automobile and bicycle shared use are provided along McClellan Road on both sides of the roadway. 50 Pedestrian access to the site would be via the proposed monolithic sidewalk along the eastern border of the project site along the west side of South Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road, which would connect with the internal sidewalks on the project site. The proposed sidewalk would also connect to the existing sidewalk to the north of the project site on west side of South Foothill Boulevard. Pedestrians would also have access to the site via the existing crosswalks marked with ladder stripping on Stevens Canyon Road connecting to McClellan Road and St. Andrews Avenue.

50 Class II Bikeways are bike lanes for bicyclists that are generally adjacent to the outer vehicle travel lanes and have special lane markings, pavement legends, and signage. Class III Bike Routes are designated roadways for bicycle use by signs or other markings may or may not include additional pavement width for cyclists

STEVENS CANYON ROAD
S. FOOTHILL BLVD.

ST ANDREWS AVE
10625 S. FOOTHILL BLVD.

CUPERTINO - CALIFORNIA
Architects
1288 Kifer Road, Suite 206
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Telephone : 408-992-0280
Fax : 408-992-0281

CANYON CROSSINGS
Figure 3-12
Circulation Map
Source: LPMD Architects, 2020.
0 Scale (Feet)
80 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED-USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PLACEWORKS

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED - USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
3-26 DECEMBER 2021

REVISED FINAL DRAFT

3.2.4 LANDSCAPING
The proposed project would include 16,602 square feet of pervious landscaped surfaces. Figure 3-13 illustrates the proposed landscaping plan. The project site includes landscaping throughout the project site’s interior and the surrounding perimeter, and additional landscaping in the common open space areas. For neighborhood privacy and to help reduce bird collisions, 5-foot screening shrubs would be planted along the north, south, and western borders of the project site, where the adjacent land use is residential. Trees and other landscaping would be planted along South Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road as well as along the internal project roadway network. As stated above in Section 3.1.4, Land Use and Zoning, the project is required to submit a Landscape Project Submittal for approval by the City.

The proposed landscaping would be consistent with the surrounding Northern California landscape and would include native and/or adaptive, and drought resistant plant materials of similar water use grouped by hydrozones, which are areas where plants are organized based on similar water use. 51 The majority of
plantings would be drought tolerant grasses, shrubs, and trees that, once established, are adapted to a dry summer and intermittent rain in the winter season. There would also be appropriate landscaping in the bioretention areas required by the City’s Municipal Regional Permit.

3.2.5 LIGHT AND GLARE
As shown in by Figure 3-14, the source, intensity, and type of exterior lighting for the project site would generally be provided for the purpose of orienting site users and for safety needs. All permanent on-site lighting would be low-level illumination, downward directed, and shielded to reduce light spill or glare into surrounding residential homes. There would be no up-lighting on the mixed-use building exterior. In landscaped and paved areas, light sources would be concealed and not visible from a public viewpoint.

Unless used for safety, all outside lighting would be turned off by 11:00 p.m. All exterior surface and above-ground mounted fixtures would be complementary to the architectural theme and to the surrounding residential units.

The proposed project would not include reflective glass. Where glass features such as windows and doors are proposed, glazing treatments would vary; however, none of the exterior glass would have a light reflectance value of more than 15 percent.
52 51 The California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance defines a hydrozone as a portion of the landscaped area having plants with similar water needs.
52A light reflectance value or LRV is a measure of visible and usable light that is reflected from a surface when illuminated by a light source. LRV is expressed as a percentage from 0 to 100; the higher the number the more visible light that is reflected.

Figure 3-13
Proposed Landscape Plan
0 Scale (Feet)
80 Source: Reed Associates Landscape Architecture, 2020.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED-USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PLACEWORKS

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.05 0.17 1.53 0.73 0.16 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.09 1.28 0.87 0.24 0.02 0.01 0.00 0.00

0.00 1.76 0.81 0.00 0.00 2.29 0.95 0.00

0.00 2.01 0.45 0.01 0.01 2.96 0.79 0.00

0.00 1.93 0.79 0.01 0.02 0.02 1.13 0.00

0.00 1.64 0.95 0.03 0.03 0.03 1.11 0.00

0.00 1.58 0.92 0.33 0.13 0.12 0.14 0.11 0.08 2.42 0.92 0.00

0.00 0.32 1.59 0.88 0.40 0.22 0.21 0.34 0.27 0.26 0.80 0.00

0.00 0.41 0.97 1.28 0.58 0.61 0.50 0.39 0.64 0.82 0.89 0.62 0.71 0.98 0.95 0.76 0.85 1.15 1.29 1.25 2.10 0.95 0.00

0.01 0.11 0.60 2.71 2.71 2.74 5.40 3.63 4.05 4.14 6.21 3.80 2.11 0.52 0.01

0.01 0.02 0.16 3.10 3.64 0.81 2.81 0.33 0.08 0.03 0.01 0.01

0.34 0.02 2.41 0.22 0.14

2.11 2.32 0.60 0.19

1.32 0.86 0.37 0.12

1.61 1.19 0.36 0.07 0.02 0.02

1.18 1.41 0.33 0.06 0.03 0.02

0.93 1.22 0.24 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.00

0.10 0.23 0.46 0.94 0.14

3.62 4.11

3.95 4.81

3.95 4.95

3.86 4.52

3.49 3.87

3.44 3.58

4.60 3.77 3.79 3.97 6.16 4.52 4.12 4.89 4.22 3.01 4.28

4.17 3.98 2.66 3.16 3.92 4.25 4.24 4.06 4.06 3.51 4.01 4.08 4.25 3.82 4.02 4.00 2.64 3.35 3.83

4.50 1.10 3.49 2.83 1.51 1.97

2.89 2.20 3.42

1.45 2.12 4.22

3.52 1.99 3.85

1.21 2.12

STEVENS CANYON ROAD
CCCC
E1.1
GENERAL NOTES:

TYPE A TYPE B

LIGHTING CUTSHEETS

PHOTOMETRIC DATA
Luminaire Schedule
Symbol Qty Label Arrangement LLF Description Arr. Watts 11 Type A SINGLE 0.900 Lithonia DSXO LED P11 30K T3M MVOLT HS L90, 14ft. Pole 72 4 Type B SINGLE 0.900 Lithonia DSXB LED 12C 530 30K ASY D-SERIES 22 Architects
1288 Kifer Road, Unit 206,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Telephone : 408-992-0280
Fax : 408-992-0281
39210 State St. Ste. 106
Fremont, CA 94538
phone: (510) 449-4862
fax: (510) 509-2362
[email protected]
www.mrengcon.com
Calculation Surface
Designation CalcType Units Avg Max Min Avg/Min Max/Min
Driveway / Parking Lot Illuminance Fc 3.75 21.0 0.55 6.8 38

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.05 0.17 1.53 0.73 0.16 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.09 1.28 0.87 0.24 0.02 0.01 0.00 0.00

0.00 1.76 0.81 0.00 0.00 2.29 0.95 0.00

0.00 2.01 0.45 0.01 0.01 2.96 0.79 0.00

0.00 1.93 0.79 0.01 0.02 0.02 1.13 0.00

0.00 1.64 0.95 0.03 0.03 0.03 1.11 0.00

0.00 1.58 0.92 0.33 0.13 0.12 0.14 0.11 0.08 2.42 0.92 0.00

0.00 0.32 1.59 0.88 0.40 0.22 0.21 0.34 0.27 0.26 0.80 0.00

0.00 0.41 0.97 1.28 0.58 0.61 0.50 0.39 0.64 0.82 0.89 0.62 0.71 0.98 0.95 0.76 0.85 1.15 1.29 1.25 2.10 0.95 0.00

0.01 0.11 0.60 2.71 2.71 2.74 5.40 3.63 4.05 4.14 6.21 3.80 2.11 0.52 0.01

0.01 0.02 0.16 3.10 3.64 0.81 2.81 0.33 0.08 0.03 0.01 0.01

0.34 0.02 2.41 0.22 0.14

2.11 2.32 0.60 0.19

1.32 0.86 0.37 0.12

1.61 1.19 0.36 0.07 0.02 0.02

1.18 1.41 0.33 0.06 0.03 0.02

0.93 1.22 0.24 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.00

0.10 0.23 0.46 0.94 0.14

3.62 4.11

3.95 4.81

3.95 4.95

3.86 4.52

3.49 3.87

3.44 3.58

4.60 3.77 3.79 3.97 6.16 4.52 4.12 4.89 4.22 3.01 4.28

4.17 3.98 2.66 3.16 3.92 4.25 4.24 4.06 4.06 3.51 4.01 4.08 4.25 3.82 4.02 4.00 2.64 3.35 3.83

4.50 1.10 3.49 2.83 1.51 1.97

2.89 2.20 3.42

1.45 2.12 4.22

3.52 1.99 3.85

1.21 2.12

STEVENS CANYON ROAD
CCCC
E1.1
GENERAL NOTES:

TYPE A TYPE B

LIGHTING CUTSHEETS

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED-USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PLACEWORKS

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED - USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
PLACEWORKS 3-29

REVISED FINAL DRAFT
The HVAC system would be shielded from view by a parapet facing Stevens Canyon Road (see Figure 3-8) at least 3 feet in height, which would also serve as a noise attenuation feature. The proposed project would not include reflective glass. Where glass features are proposed, glazing treatments would vary, and none of the exterior glass would have a light reflectance value of more than 15 percent.53 The first floor of the mixed-use building and the second-floor apartments, including balcony railing elements, could have a combination of UV coatings, frosting, and fritting, which reduces glare and makes the glass visible to birds to reduce collisions.

3.2.6 UTILITIES AND ENERGY
The proposed utility infrastructure would connect to the existing water, sewer, storm drain system, natural gas and electricity network in the area, and would be served by an existing solid waste landfill.

WATER SUPPLY AND CONSERVATION
To support the proposed project, a new water line would be installed along the new main internal road to connect to the existing water lines along Stevens Canyon Road. Any new connections or replaced water lines would not encroach on undisturbed areas. All landscape zones would be irrigated as required by the Cupertino Landscape Ordinance, and water uses would be tailored to meet CALGreen Building Standards, which as described above in Section 3.1.4.2, Zoning, requires water conservation and requires new buildings to reduce water consumption by 20 percent.

SANITARY SEWER SERVICE
As shown on Figure 3-15, connections to the existing sanitary sewer system would be made on South Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
The proposed project would result in 43,419 square feet of impervious surfaces coverage. Compared to 47,975 square feet of impervious coverage in existing conditions, this would be a decrease of 4,556 square feet or 9 percent. The proposed project would include 16,602 square feet of pervious surfaces in the form of landscaping and two on-site bioretention facilities (1,540 square feet) that would hold and treat stormwater before it is released into the City’s off-site storm drain infrastructure). As a result, the proposed project would result in a decrease in the amount of runoff from the project site. The project is required to comply with the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program C.3 requirements, which include minimization of impervious surfaces, measures to detain or infiltrate runoff from peak flows to match pre-development conditions, and agreements to ensure that the stormwater treatment and flow control facilities are maintained in perpetuity. The project also must comply with CMC Chapter 9.18 described above in Section 3.1.4.2, Zoning, which is intended to provide regulations and give legal effect to certain requirements of the NPDES permit issued to the City.

53A light reflectance value or LRV is a measure of visible and usable light that is reflected from a surface when illuminated by a light source. LRV is expressed as a percentage from 0 to 100; the higher the number the more visible light that is reflected.

Figure 3-15
Utility Plan
0 Scale (Feet)
60 Source: TS Civil Engineering, 2020.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED-USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

PLACEWORKS

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CITY OF CUPERTINO

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
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SOLID WASTE SERVICES
Recology South Bay (Recology) would provide curbside recycling, garbage, and compost and landscaping waste service to the project.54 All non-hazardous solid waste collected under the Recology franchise agreement is taken to Newby Island Sanitary Landfill for processing. Under the agreement between the City and Recology, Recology also handles recyclable materials (at no cost to customers). The proposed waste management for the proposed project would focus on waste, recycling, and composting.

OTHER UTILITIES (GAS, ELECTRIC, AND CABLE)
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) would supply natural gas and electricity infrastructure to the project site. 55 The source of electricity would be provided through a partnership of Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), which provides a standard electricity offering from a 50 percent renewable portfolio, 56 and PG&E. SVCE
also offers a 100 percent renewable option that electricity customers can opt into. The proposed development would achieve LEED Silver, or equivalent Alternative Reference Standard, consistent with the City’s requirements.
57 Telephone service would be provided by AT&T and other providers. Cable television service would be available from a number of providers, including Comcast.

3.2.7 DEMOLITION, SITE PREPARATION, AND CONSTRUCTION
Demolition and construction would take place over a 10-month period, which is anticipated to begin in June 2021 and end in March 2022, subject to regulatory approval.58 The project applicant proposes to demolish the existing buildings and remove almost all the existing on-site vegetation. Table 3-1 shows the approximate demolition and construction phasing.

Demolition would take place over a period of
approximately two weeks, while grading and site
preparation, including excavation for the subterranean
garage, would be completed over a two-month period.

Demolition and construction work would be conducted
between 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays, as provided for in CMC Section 10.48.053, Grading, Construction and Demolition. Demolition and construction is not permitted

54 City of Cupertino, Garbage and Recycling, https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/environment- sustainability/waste, accessed on January 16, 2019.
55 City of Cupertino. 2019. Other Service Providers. https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/other-service- providers. Accessed May 2, 2019.
56 Silicon Valley Clean Energy. 2019. Your Choices. https://www.svcleanenergy.org/choices/, accessed on May 2, 2019 at 57 Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design is a green building program that recognizes building strategies that reduce consumption energy, and water, and reduce solid waste directly diverted to landfills. Silver typically reduce is the third highest ranking, with just being certified being the lowest and Gold and Platinum being the second highest. 58 New buildings would be constructed to the California 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (effective January 1, 2020).

TABLE 3-1 DEMOLITION AND CONSTRUCTION
Activity Phase 1 (Workdays)
Demolition 11
Site Preparation 17
Grading 33
Building Construction 195
Paving 12
Landscaping 10
Source: Based on information from the project applicant, California Emissions Estimator Model Version 2016.3.25, and PlaceWorks, 2019.

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on weekends or holidays for sites within 750 feet of other residential properties.59 Demolition debris, including soil, would be off-hauled for disposal in accordance with the City of Cupertino’s Recycling and Diversion of Construction and Demolition Waste Ordinance.60 Debris to be hauled would include shrubs and trees that were planted as part of the existing urbanized landscape, 1,616 square feet of building demolition debris, 294 tons of asphalt/concrete material, and 14,100 cubic yards of grading and soil export. Typical equipment to be used for demolition and site preparation would include excavators, a skid steer loader, a grader, a rubber-tired dozer, scrapers, and an off-highway truck.

The project construction would consist of approximately 23,990 square feet of building space, 16,602 square feet of landscaped areas, and 20,395 square feet of hardscape (e.g., curb, gutters, planters, retaining walls, etc.). No pile driving, rock blasting, or crushing would occur during the construction phase.

Typical equipment to be used during construction of the project would include a backhoe, a crane, aerial lifts, a generator, a diesel pump, dumpers, rollers, and a paver .

During demolition and construction, vehicles, equipment, and materials would be staged and stored on a centrally located portion of the project site when practical. No long-term staging of equipment would occur around the perimeter of the site where adjacent to existing residential uses. No staging would occur in the public right-of-way. The construction site and staging areas would be clearly marked, and construction fencing would be installed to prevent disturbance and safety hazards. A combination of on- and off-site parking facilities for construction workers would be identified during demolition, grading, and construction.

3.3 REQUIRED PERMITS AND APPROVALS
Following approval of this Initial Study and adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration, the following discretionary permits and approvals from the City would be required for the proposed project:
 Zoning Map Amendment
 Development Permit
 Architectural and Site Approval Permit
 Final Map for Subdivision
In addition, permits for demolition, grading and building, and the certificate of occupancy would be required from the City. Encroachment permits from the City would also be required for any work performed in the public right-of-way.

59 Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 10, Public Peace, Safety and Morals, Chapter 10.48, Community Noise Control, Section

10.48.053, Grading, Construction and Demolition.
60 Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 16, Building and Construction, Chapter 16.72, Recycling and Diversion of Construction and Demolition Waste.

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Environmental Analysis

4.1 DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION
The General Plan EIR included an analysis of the project site as potential Housing Element Site 9 (Foothill at McClellan Center – Foothill Market), although the adopted General Plan did not designate this site as a Priority Housing Element Site. The evaluation in the General Plan EIR assumed potential redevelopment of the existing commercial development to commercial and residential uses with 25 dwelling units per acre (or 27 net residential units) with a maximum of 30 feet in height. 61 The cumulative impacts of past, present, and probable future development, in conjunction with overall General Plan buildout, including residential development of the project site, were evaluated in the General Plan EIR. The proposed project is anticipated to be completed in 2022 (subject to regulatory approval); thus, this Initial Study presents an analysis of the near-term impacts of the proposed project under existing conditions and 2025 cumulative conditions. Although the project site was evaluated as Housing Element Site 9 in the General Plan EIR, the adopted General Plan does not designate this site as a Priority Housing Element Site in the Housing Element.62
Consistent with the analysis presented in the General Plan EIR, and due to the proposed project’s location in an urbanized city setting, the project would not have a significant effect on agriculture, forestry or mineral resources. Maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency categorize land within Cupertino as Urban and Built-Up Land.63 In addition, according to the 2006 mapping data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the city does not contain any woodland or forestland cover.64 Finally, the city does not contain land zoned for farmland or timberland production.65 Consequently, there would be no impacts with regard to agriculture and forestry resources. The project site is not within an area designated as Mineral Resource Zone, which is an area containing mineral deposits.66 Consequently, because the site has been developed and is not considered suitable for protection or conservation, there would be no impacts to mineral resources. For these reasons, these topics are not discussed further in this Initial Study. After the General Plan EIR was certified, the CEQA Guidelines were amended by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, which is the entity charged with developing guidelines to help agencies implement CEQA, and adequacy of parking

61 PlaceWorks. 2015. City of Cupertino General Plan EIR, Chapter 3, Project Description, page 3-88. 62 City of Cupertino. 2015. City of Cupertino General Plan, Housing Element. Page H-16. 63 California Resources Agency, Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program. Santa Clara County Important Farmland 2010, accessed on May 9, 2019.
64 California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Fire and Resource Assessment Program, Land Cover Map, accessed on May 9, 2019.
65 City of Cupertino, Zoning Map, http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=291, accessed on May 9, 2019. 66 City of Cupertino, General Plan Community Vision 2015–2040, Chapter 6, Environmental Resources and Sustainability, Figure ES-2, Mineral Resources.

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is no longer considered to be a significant environmental impact. Accordingly, parking adequacy is not discussed further in this Initial Study.

I. AESTHETICS
Except as provided in Public Resources Code Section 21099 (transit priority area/major transit stop), would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
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) 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 that would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area?    

GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.1, Aesthetics, of the General Plan EIR, addressed the impacts to visual resources associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. The impacts were found to be less than significant, and no mitigation measures were required.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
The project site contains partially vacant commercial buildings, a converted residential unit, and a vacant residential unit, bordered by surface parking and associated landscaping. The largest commercial building is a one-story building located on the west side of the project site and the second commercial building is a one-story building on the northeast corner of the project site. There is also a vacant, detached one-story residential unit on the northwest corner of the project site, with a detached shed and surrounding grassy areas. Surrounding uses include one to two-story single-family homes to the north, south, and west, with additional one to two-story homes across Stevens Canyon Road to the east. Landscaping on-site consists of one mature redwood tree and one mature palm tree in the southeast corner of the site, shrubs along Stevens Canyon Road, and mature trees and plantings surrounding the Cupertino Bike Shop and vacant residential unit.

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DISCUSSION
a) Would the proposed project have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? As discussed in Chapter 4.1, Aesthetics, of the General Plan EIR, the proposed project would have the potential to affect scenic vistas and/or scenic corridors if the redevelopment on the project site blocked views of areas that provide or contribute to such vistas. Potential effects could include blocking views of a scenic vista/corridor from specific publicly accessible vantage points or the alteration of the scenic vista/corridor . Such alterations could be positive or negative.

Public views of scenic corridors are views seen along a linear transportation route and public views of scenic vistas are views of specific scenic features. Scenic vistas are considered to be long-range views, while scenic corridors are comprised of short-, middle-, and long-range views. The General Plan does not have designated scenic corridors or vistas. However, for the purposes of this analysis, the westward views of the foothills and ridgelines of the Santa Cruz Mountains are considered scenic vistas, and the segment of I-280 from Santa Clara County line on the west to I-880 on the east also is considered a scenic corridor .

The analysis in the General Plan EIR found that building heights remaining at 30 feet would result in a less- than-significant impact to the long-range views of the Santa Cruz Mountain Range and foothills because the maximum heights of the existing on-site and surrounding buildings and mature trees currently limit the opportunity for views of scenic vistas from street-level public viewing. The project location is not considered a destination public viewing point nor is it visible from scenic vistas.

As described in Chapter 3, Project Description, of this Initial Study, the existing buildings would be removed and replaced by the proposed mixed-use development with surface and underground parking, with all structures being 30 feet tall at the highest point. Of the two mature trees on the site, the Redwood tree on the northeast corner is proposed for removal, and the Palm tree on the southeast corner would remain.

Because the proposed project would not involve height increases above the surrounding development and are the same as what was evaluated in then General Plan EIR and currently permitted in the General Plan, and because existing conditions currently limit views of scenic resources combined with the fact that the site and surrounding areas are not public viewing locations, impacts would remain consistent with the conclusions in the General Plan EIR and would be less than significant. b) Would the proposed project substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a State scenic highway? As discussed in Chapter 4.1, Aesthetics, of the General Plan EIR, the segment of I-280 in Cupertino is not an officially designated State Scenic Highway but is considered eligible for listing as a designated State Scenic Highway. The project site is approximately 1.4 miles to the south of the I-280/North Foothill Boulevard interchange, which is the arterial that connects the project site to I-280. The project site is not visible from I-280. Therefore, there would be no changes to the I-280 viewshed.

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ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
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Impacts to views of scenic resources from the I-280 view corridor were determined to be less than significant in the General Plan EIR. Because the project proposes building heights that are consistent with what was evaluated in the General Plan EIR and the surrounding development, and are permitted in the General Plan, and because the site is not visible from the I-280 viewshed, project impacts would remain consistent with the conclusions in the General Plan EIR and would be less than significant. c) If the proposed project is in an urbanized area, would the project conflict with applicable zoning and other regulations governing scenic quality?
The project site is in an urbanized area that is not designated or otherwise identified as a public viewing location for surrounding scenic views. Public views of scenic resources including the westward views of the foothills and ridgelines of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the segment of I-280 from the Santa Clara County line on the west to I-880 on the east are partially obstructed under existing conditions due to the natural topography and the existing buildings in the project area.

The proposed project would result in a change from the existing one-story commercial and residential buildings to multiple two-story residential buildings and a mixed-use building, none of which would exceed the permitted height limit of 30 feet.

The project site is within the Commercial/Residential General Plan land use designation, which is intended to provide local neighborhood serving retail with residential densities compatible with the surroundings. 67 The proposed project includes a zoning amendment to change the existing Planned Development with General Commercial (P(CG)), to Planned Development with General Commercial and Residential (P(CG,Res)). The proposed amendment to the Zoning Map would allow residential development on the site which would not conflict with any land use or zoning regulations governing scenic quality.

The proposed development would be required to provide suitable setbacks from public rights-of-way and appropriate buffers and/or height transitions for buildings adjacent to the surrounding low-density residential developments. Furthermore, the proposed project would increase the landscaping to include at least 19 new trees in addition to the one mature Palm tree that is located on the southeast corner of the project site which will remain as part of the project. The proposed landscaping would include planting 15-gallon screening Kohuhu shrubs (Pittosporum Tenuifolium) along the entire western and eastern project boundary, and approximately half of the rear project boundary. Additional landscaping along the northern boundary of the site along South Foothill Boulevard will partially screen the proposed development and would enhance the visual quality of the sidewalk abutting the property where no landscaping currently exists. Combined, the existing and proposed trees would help to preserve the existing visual setting.

Furthermore, the project is subject to the City’s discretionary review processes for the proposed Development Permit and Architectural and Site Approval Permit, in accordance with Chapters 19.12 and

19.168 of the Zoning Ordinance, which would ensure the proposed project would harmonize with adjacent development and not degrade the existing visual quality of the site and surrounding land uses.

67 City of Cupertino. 2015. City of Cupertino General Plan, Appendix A, Land Use Definitions.

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Accordingly, consistent with the conclusions of the General Plan EIR, the proposed project would not substantially degrade the existing visual character of the site and its surroundings, or conflict with an applicable zoning and other regulations governing scenic quality and impacts would remain consistent with the conclusions in the General Plan EIR and would be less than significant. d) Would the proposed project create a new source of substantial light or glare that would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area?
Nighttime illumination and glare impacts are the effects on adjoining uses and areas from a project’s exterior lighting. Light and glare impacts are determined through a comparison of the existing light sources with the proposed lighting plan or policies. As discussed in Chapter 4.1, Aesthetics, of the General Plan EIR, the project site and surrounding areas contain existing sources of nighttime illumination. These include street and parking area lights, and exterior lighting on existing commercial buildings. Additional light and glare in the overall all area would be caused by surrounding land uses and traffic on surrounding roadways. As described in Chapter 3, Project Description, of this Initial Study, the proposed project would redevelop the project site and replace the existing sources of light and glare with new sources that are similar to the existing uses and consistent with the surrounding land uses. The source, intensity, and type of exterior lighting for the project site would be typical for single-family homes and for orienting site residents and customers of the mixed-used building, and for overall safety needs (i.e., lighting on signs, sidewalks, and parking). All permanent on-site lighting would be low-level illumination, downward directed, and shielded to reduce light spill or glare onto surrounding residential homes as shown on Figure 3-14. There would be no up-lighting on the mixed-use building exterior. In landscaped and paved areas, light sources would be concealed and not visible from a public viewpoint. All exterior surface and above- ground mounted fixtures would be complementary to the architectural theme and to the surrounding residential uses.

The proposed project would not include reflective glass. Where glass features are considered, glazing treatments would vary and none of the exterior glass would have a light reflectance value of more than 15 percent.
68 The second-floor balconies for the apartments would include railing elements, which could have a combination of UV coatings, frosting, and fritting, which reduces glare. The existing roadway and proposed landscaping surrounding the project would act as a buffer to prevent light spilling on to adjacent land uses. For these reasons, impacts would remain consistent with the conclusions in the General Plan EIR and would be less than significant.

68A light reflectance value or LRV is a measure of visible and usable light that is reflected from a surface when illuminated by a light source. LRV is expressed as a percentage from 0 to 100; the higher the number the more visible light that is reflected.

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II. AIR QUALITY
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
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 area is in non -attainment under applicable federal or State ambient air quality standards?     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?    

GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.2, Air Quality, of the General Plan EIR, addressed the air quality impacts associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. Air quality impacts were found to be significant and unavoidable in the General Plan EIR because the project-specific details of future development were not available. The City adopted and incorporated mitigation measures into the General Plan to reduce air quality impacts. Mitigation Measures AQ-2a and AQ-2b are specific measures that are to be implemented by future projects, such as the proposed project, to reduce construction-related air quality impacts.

Mitigation Measure AQ-2a require applicants for future development projects to comply with the current Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) basic control measures for reducing fugitive dust emissions (PM10 and PM2.5) during construction and Mitigation Measure AQ-2b provides additional measures if there are significant construction exhaust emissions.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
The environmental setting normally constitutes the baseline physical conditions by which a lead agency determines whether an impact is significant (CEQA Guidelines Section 15125(a)). However, lead agencies have discretion to consider conditions over a range of time periods to account for a temporary lull or spike in operations. As with any commercial use, the buildings on the project site experience periodic transitions in tenants and occupancy. Therefore, this analysis considers full occupancy associated with historic operations of the existing commercial use as the baseline.

The existing commercial uses generate criteria air pollutants from transportation sources, energy use (natural gas and purchased energy), and area sources such as landscaping equipment and architectural

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coatings. The current land use generates approximately 454 gross average daily trips on a weekday. 69 Existing emissions associated with the proposed project site are included in Table 4-1 below.

TABLE 4-1 EXISTING OPERATION-RELATED CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANT EMISSIONS Category
Criteria Air Pollutants (tons per year)
ROG NOx PM10 PM2.5
Existing 2019 Emissions
Area 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00
Energy 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
On-Road Mobile 0.16 0.71 0.51 0.14
Total 0.23 0.71 0.51 0.14
Category
Criteria Air Pollutants (average pounds per day)
ROG NOx PM10 PM2.5
Area 0.33 0.00 0.00 0.00
Energy 0 0.00 0.00 0.00
On-Road Mobile .88 3.90 2.80 0.77
Total 1.21 3.90 2.80 0.77
Notes: Emissions may not total to 100 percent due to rounding; Reactive Organic Gases = ROG; Nitrogen Oxides = NOx; Coarse Inhalable Particulate Matter = PM10; Fine Inhalable Particulate Matter = PM2.5 Source: California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod), Version 2016.3.25.

Air Pollutants of Concern
Criteria Air Pollutants
Pollutants emitted into the ambient air by stationary and mobile sources are regulated by federal and State law under the federal Clean Air Act (National) and California Clean Air Act, respectively. Air pollutants are categorized as primary and/or secondary pollutants. Primary air pollutants are those that are emitted directly from sources. Carbon monoxide (CO), reactive organic gases (ROG), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), coarse inhalable particulate matter (PM10), fine inhalable particulate matter (PM2.5), and lead (Pb) are primary air pollutants. Of these, all of them except for ROGs are “criteria air pollutants,” which means that ambient air quality standards (AAQS) have been established for them. The National and California AAQS are the levels of air quality considered to provide a margin of safety in the protection of the public health and welfare. They are designed to protect those “sensitive receptors” most susceptible to further respiratory distress, such as asthmatics, the elderly, very young children, people already weakened by other disease or illness, and persons engaged in strenuous work or exercise. Healthy

69 TJKM Transportation Consultants. October 2019, Technical Memorandum (see Appendix D of this Initial Study).

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adults can tolerate occasional exposure to air pollutant concentrations considerably above these minimum standards before adverse effects are observed.

Toxic Air Contaminants
In addition to criteria air pollutants, both the State and federal government regulate the release of TACs.

The California Health and Safety Code Section 39655 defines a TAC as “an air pollutant which may cause or contribute to an increase in mortality or in serious illness, or which may pose a present or potential hazard to human health.” A substance that is listed as a hazardous air pollutant pursuant to Section 112(b) of the federal Clean Air Act (42 United States Code Section 7412[b]) is a toxic air contaminant. Under State law, the California Environmental Protection Agency, acting through the California Air Resources Board (CARB), is authorized to identify a substance as a TAC if it determines that the substance is an air pollutant that may cause or contribute to an increase in mortality or serious illness, or may pose a present or potential hazard to human health.

Where available, the significance criteria established by the BAAQMD are relied upon to make the determinations discussed below.

DISCUSSION
This section analyzes the types and quantities of air pollutant emissions that would be generated by the construction and operation of the proposed project at a project level. An update to the background discussion in the General Plan EIR of the air quality regulatory setting, meteorological conditions, existing ambient air quality in the vicinity of the project site, and air quality modeling is in Appendix A, Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, of this Initial Study. The construction health risk assessment (HRA) for this project is in Appendix B, Health Risk Assessment, of this Initial Study. a) Would the project conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? BAAQMD is directly responsible for reducing emissions from area, stationary, and mobile sources in the San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin (SFBAAB) to achieve National and California AAQS. In April 2017, BAAQMD adopted its 2017 Clean Air Plan, which is a regional and multiagency effort to reduce air pollution in the SFBAAB. Regional growth projections are used by BAAQMD to forecast future emission levels in the SFBAAB. For the Bay Area, these regional growth projections are provided by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and transportation projections are provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and are partially based on land use designations in city/county general plans. Typically, only large, regionally significant projects have the potential to affect the regional growth projections.

The proposed project would construct 18 residential units resulting in a density of 11.5 dwelling units per acre and, therefore, would not exceed the 15 dwelling units per acre limit designated in the General Plan or the 25 dwelling units per acre maximum that was evaluated in the General Plan EIR. Therefore, the proposed project would not directly result in any additional new population growth or employment growth beyond what was analyzed in the General Plan EIR. The proposed project is not considered a

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regionally significant project under CEQA Guidelines Section 15206 that would affect regional vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and warrant intergovernmental review by ABAG and MTC.

As discussed in Section XII, Population and Housing, below, the proposed project would not exceed the level of population or housing projected in City or regional planning efforts (Plan Bay Area) through 2040, and it would not have the potential to substantially affect housing, employment, and population projections within the region, which is the basis of the 2017 Clean Air Plan projections. Furthermore, the proposed project would create a net decrease in emissions on-site and would not exceed the BAAQMD’s emissions thresholds (see Operational Impacts discussion in criterion (b) below). The BAAQMD emissions thresholds were established to identify projects that have the potential to generate a substantial amount of criteria air pollutants. Because the proposed project would result in an air quality benefit, the proposed project would not be considered by the BAAQMD to be a substantial emitter of criteria air pollutants.

Therefore, the proposed project would not conflict with or obstruct implementation of the 2017 Clean Air Plan and impacts would be considered less than significant. b) Would the project result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project area is in non-attainment under applicable federal or State ambient air quality standards? This section analyzes potential impacts related to air quality that could occur from a combination of the proposed project with other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable projects within the SFBAAB. The SFBAAB is currently designated a nonattainment area for California and National O 3, California and
National PM2.5, and California PM10 AAQS. Any project that produces a significant project-level regional air quality impact in an area that is in nonattainment adds to the cumulative impact. Due to the extent of the area potentially impacted by cumulative plus project emissions (the SFBAAB), a project’s contribution to a cumulative impact is cumulatively considerable when project-related emissions exceed the BAAQMD emissions thresholds.

BAAQMD has identified thresholds of significance for criteria pollutant emissions and criteria air pollutant precursors, including ROG, NO
x, PM10, and PM2.5. Development projects below the significance thresholds would not generate sufficient criteria pollutant emissions to violate any air quality standard or contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation. The following describes changes in regional impacts from short-term construction activities and long-term operation of the proposed project.

Regional Short-Term Construction Impacts
Construction activities produce combustion emissions from various sources, such as on-site heavy-duty construction vehicles, vehicles hauling materials to and from the site, and motor vehicles transporting the construction crew. Site preparation activities produce fugitive dust emissions (PM10 and PM2.5) from demolition and soil-disturbing activities, such as grading and excavation. Air pollutant emissions from construction activities on site would vary daily as construction activity levels change. Construction activities associated with the project would result in emissions of ROG, NOx, CO, PM 10, and fine PM2.5.

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Construction Fugitive Dust
Ground disturbing activities during construction would generate fugitive dust (PM10 and PM2.5). The amount of dust generated during construction would be variable and is dependent on the amount of material being disturbed, the type of material, moisture content, and meteorological conditions. If uncontrolled, PM10 and PM2.5 levels downwind of actively disturbed areas could possibly exceed State standards. BAAQMD considers all impacts related to fugitive dust emissions from construction to be less than significant with implementation of BAAQMD’s best management practices shown in Mitigation Measure AQ-1, which is required pursuant to General Plan EIR Mitigation Measure AQ-2a.

Impact AQ-1: Fugitive dust (PM10 and PM2.5) generated by the proposed project during construction could potentially result in significant regional short-term air quality impacts without implementation of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s best management practices related to reducing fugitive dust emissions.

Mitigation Measure AQ-1: The project’s construction contractor shall comply with the following best management practices for reducing construction emissions of fugitive dust (PM10 and PM2.5) as required by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Revised California Environmental Quality Act Air Quality Guidelines:
 Water all active construction areas at least twice daily, or as often as needed to control dust emissions. Watering should be sufficient to prevent airborne dust from leaving the site. Increased watering frequency may be necessary whenever wind speeds exceed 15 miles per hour . Reclaimed water should be used whenever possible.
 Pave, apply water twice daily or as often as necessary to control dust, or apply (non-toxic) soil stabilizers on all unpaved access roads, parking areas, and staging areas at construction sites.  Cover all trucks hauling soil, sand, and other loose materials.  Sweep daily (with water sweepers using reclaimed water if possible) or as often as needed all paved access roads, parking areas and staging areas at the construction site to control dust.  Sweep public streets daily (with water sweepers using reclaimed water if possible) in the vicinity of the project site, or as often as needed, to keep streets free of visible soil material.  Hydroseed or apply non-toxic soil stabilizers to inactive construction areas.  Enclose, cover, water twice daily, or apply non-toxic soil binders to exposed stockpiles (dirt/sand).  Limit vehicle traffic speeds on unpaved roads to 15 miles per hour .  Replant vegetation in disturbed areas as quickly as possible and water appropriately until vegetation is established.
 Install sandbags or other erosion control measures to prevent silt runoff from public roadways.  All exposed surfaces shall be watered at a frequency adequate to maintain minimum soil moisture of 12 percent. Moisture content can be verified by lab samples or moisture probe.

Construction Exhaust Emissions
Analysis of construction emissions is based on the preliminary construction duration and normalized California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod) default schedule developed for the proposed project.

The proposed project would produce demolition debris and would require soil export for the underground

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parking that would occur near existing sensitive land uses. Construction emissions were quantified using the CalEEMod Version 2016.3.2.25 based on information provided by the project applicant, which was reviewed and approved by PlaceWorks and the City. The approximately 10-month construction period is assumed to begin in June 2021 and end in March 2022, subject to regulatory approval.

Potential construction-related air quality impacts are determined by comparing the average daily criteria air pollutants emissions generated by the proposed project-related construction activities to the BAAQMD significance thresholds in Table 4-2. Average daily emissions are based on the annual construction emissions divided by the total number of active construction days.

TABLE 4-2 CONSTRUCTION-RELATED CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANT EMISSIONS ESTIMATES Year
Criteria Air Pollutants (tons/year) a
ROG NOx
Fugitive
PM10 b
Exhaust
PM10 b
Fugitive
PM2.5 b
Exhaust
PM2.5 b
2021 0.13 1.45 0.08 0.06 0.03 0.05
2022 0.11 0.36 0.01 0.02 0.00 0.02
Total 0.24 1.81 0.09 0.07 0.03 0.07
Criteria Air Pollutants (average lbs/day) a
Average Daily Emissions c 2.34 17.30 0.86 0.70 0.29 0.67 BAAQMD Average Daily Project-
Level Threshold 54 54 BMPs 82 BMPs 54
Exceeds Average Daily Threshold No No N/A No N/A No
Notes: Emissions may not total to 100 percent due to rounding. BMP = Best Management Practices; NA = not applicable; Reactive Organic Gases = ROG; Nitrogen Oxides = NOx; Coarse Inhalable Particulate Matter = PM10; Fine Inhalable Particulate Matter = PM2.5 a. Construction phasing and equipment mix are based on the preliminary information provided by the project applicant. Where specific information regarding project-related construction activities was not available, construction assumptions were based on CalEEMod defaults, which are based on construction surveys conducted by South Coast Air Quality Management District of construction equipment and phasing for comparable projects. b. Includes implementation of BMPs for fugitive dust control required by BAAQMD as mitigation, including watering disturbed areas a minimum of two times per day, reducing speed limit to 15 miles per hour on unpaved surfaces, and street sweeping. c. Average daily emissions are based on the total construction emissions divided by the total number of active construction days. The total number of construction days is estimated to be about 209.

Source: California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod), Version 2016.3.2.25 As shown in Table 4-2, criteria air pollutant emissions from construction equipment exhaust would not exceed the BAAQMD average daily pounds per day thresholds and impacts from project-related construction activities to the regional air quality would be less than significant and implementation of General Plan EIR Mitigation Measure AQ-2b is not required.

Operational Impacts
Typical long-term air pollutant emissions are generated by area sources (e.g., landscape fuel use, aerosols, architectural coatings, and asphalt pavement), energy use (natural gas), and mobile sources (i.e., on-road vehicles). The proposed project would result in new housing units, a parking garage, commercial space, and paved and landscaped surfaces, and associated vehicular trips.

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Table 4-3 identifies a net decrease in criteria air pollutant emissions associated with the proposed project compared to the baseline operation. As shown in Table 4-3, the operational emissions generated by the project would not exceed the BAAQMD daily pounds per day or annual tons per year project level threshold.70 Therefore, the proposed project would not cumulatively contribute to the nonattainment designations of the SFBAAB and would result in an air quality benefit, by providing less criteria air pollutant emissions than existing conditions. Project-related operation activities to the regional air quality would be less than significant.

TABLE 4-3 OPERATIONAL CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANT EMISSIONS ESTIMATES Category
Criteria Air Pollutants (tons per year)
ROG NOx PM10 PM2.5
Existing Land Use 2021 Projected Emissions
Area 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00
Energy 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
On-Road Mobile 0.14 0.59 0.53 0.14
Total 0.20 0.60 0.53 0.14
Proposed Land Use 2021 Emissions
Area 0.19 0.00 0.00 0.00
Energy 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00
On-Road Mobile 0.08 0.33 0.29 0.08
Total 0.27 0.35 0.29 0.08
Net Change 2021 Emissions
Area 0.13 0.00 0.00 0.00
Energy 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00
On-Road Mobile -0.06 -0.26 -0.23 -0.06
Total 0.07 -0.25 -0.23 -0.06
BAAQMD Annual Project-Level tons/yr Threshold 10 10 15 10 Exceeds BAAQMD’s lbs/day Threshold? No No No No
Category
Criteria Air Pollutants (average pounds per day)
ROG NOx PM10 PM2.5
Existing Land Use 2021 Projected Emissions 1 3 3 1
Proposed Land Use 2021 Emissions 1 2 2 0
Net Change 0 -1 -1 -1
BAAQMD Average Daily Project-Level lbs/day Threshold 54 54 82 54 Exceeds BAAQMD’s lbs/day Threshold? No No No No
Notes: Emissions may not total to 100 percent due to rounding; Reactive Organic Gases = ROG; Nitrogen Oxides = NOx; Coarse Inhalable Particulate Matter = PM10; Fine Inhalable Particulate Matter = PM2.5 Source: California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod), Version 2016.3.25.

70 Further details are shown in Appendix A, Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, of this Initial Study.

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Summary
As described, the proposed project would not have a significant long-term operational phase impact, however, without incorporation of fugitive dust control measures, construction activities could potentially result in significant regional short-term air quality impacts. Mitigation Measure AQ-1, required by the General Plan Mitigation Measure AQ-2a, would ensure that required fugitive dust control measures are implemented to control project-related fugitive dust generated during construction activities. Therefore, the project’s contribution to cumulative air quality impacts would be less than significant. c) Would the project expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? Development of the proposed project could expose sensitive receptors to elevated pollutant concentrations. Unlike the construction emissions shown in Table 4-2 in criterion (b), described in pounds per day, localized concentrations refer to an amount of pollutant in a volume of air (parts per millions [ppm] or micrograms per cubic meter [µg/m3]) and can be correlated to potential health effects.

Construction Off-Site Community Risk and Hazards
The proposed project would elevate concentrations of TACs and PM2.5 in the vicinity of sensitive land uses during construction activities. The nearest sensitive receptors to the project site include the adjacent one- story and two-story single-family residences approximately 20 to 50 feet from the site property lines to the north, west, and south. BAAQMD has developed screening tables for air toxics evaluation during construction that evaluate construction-related health risks associated with residential, commercial, and industrial projects.71 According to the screening tables, the surrounding residences are closer than the distance of 100 meters (328 feet) that would screen out potential health risks, and therefore, could be potentially impacted from the proposed construction activities. Consequently, a site-specific construction health risk assessment (HRA) of TACs and PM2.5 has been prepared (see Appendix B of this Initial Study).

A quantified analysis of the project’s construction emissions was conducted using the CalEEMod, Version 2016.2.25. Construction emissions were based on a 10-month construction duration, construction schedule, and off-road equipment list provided by the project applicant. The United States Environmental Protection Agency AERMOD, Version 9.7, dispersion modeling program was used to determine flagpole level pollutant concentrations, which were used to estimate excess lifetime cancer risk, chronic non- cancer hazard index for non-carcinogenic risk, and the PM2.5 maximum annual concentrations at the nearest sensitive receptors. Results of the analysis are shown in Table 4-4.

71 Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), Screening Tables for Air Toxics Evaluation During Construction, Version

1.0, May 2010.

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TABLE 4-4 CONSTRUCTION RISK SUMMARY – UNMITIGATED
Receptor
Cancer Risk
(per million)
Chronic
Hazards
PM2.5
(µg/m3)a
Maximum Exposed Receptor -
Off-site Residences 58.4 0.27 0.68
BAAQMD Threshold 10 1.0 0.30
Exceeds Threshold? Yes No Yes
Note: micrograms per cubic meter = µg/m3; PM2.5 – fine particulate matter Source: Cancer risk calculated using 2015 Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Health Risk Assessment Guidance Manual; Lakes AERMOD View, 9.7.

The results of the HRA are based on the maximum receptor concentration over a 10-month construction exposure duration for off-site receptors.72 Risk is based on the updated Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) Guidance Manual:73
 Cancer risk for the maximum exposed off-site resident from only construction activities related to the proposed project were calculated to be 58.4 in a million and would exceed the BAAQMD’s 10 in one million significance threshold. Utilizing the latest 2015 OEHHA Guidance Manual, the calculated total cancer risk conservatively assumes that the risk for the maximum exposed receptor (MER) consists of a pregnant woman in the third trimester that subsequently gives birth to an infant during the approximately 10-month construction period; therefore, all calculated risk values were multiplied by a factor of 10. In addition, it was conservatively assumed that the residents were outdoors 8 hours a day, 260 construction days per year, and were exposed to all of the daily construction emissions.  For non-carcinogenic effects, the hazard index identified for each toxicological endpoint totaled less than one for off-site sensitive receptors from the proposed project. Therefore, chronic non- carcinogenic hazards are within acceptable limits.
 The highest PM2.5 annual concentrations at the maximum exposed off-site sensitive resident would exceed the BAAQMD significance threshold of 0.3 µg/m3. Therefore, PM2.5 emissions are not within acceptable limits.

Because the incremental cancer risk and maximum annual PM2.5 concentrations for the maximum exposed receptor would exceed BAAQMD’s significance thresholds due to construction activities associated with the proposed project, impacts are potentially significant, and the following mitigation is required.

Impact AQ-2: The proposed project could expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations during construction.

72 Under the 2015 Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Guidance Manual, the exposure duration has changed from 70 years to 30 years for operational risk to residents; however, the risk is still averaged over a 70-year lifetime.
73 Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2015. Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Guidance Manual for Preparation of Health Risk Assessments.

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Mitigation Measure AQ-2: During construction, the construction contractor(s) shall:
 Use construction equipment that have engines that meet either the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) or California Air Resources Board (CARB) Tier 4 Interim emissions standards for off-road diesel-powered construction equipment with more than 50 horsepower, unless it can be demonstrated to the City of Cupertino Building Division that such equipment is not available. Any emissions control device used by the contractor shall achieve emissions reductions that are no less than what could be achieved by Tier 4 Interim emissions standards for a similarly sized engine, as defined by the CARB’s regulations.  Prior to issuance of any construction permit, ensure that all construction plans submitted to the City of Cupertino Planning Department and/or Building Division clearly show the requirement for Tier 4 Interim emissions standards for construction equipment more than 50 horsepower .  Maintain a list of all operating equipment in use on the project site for verification by the City of Cupertino Building Division official or their designee. The construction equipment list shall state the makes, models, and number of construction equipment on site.  Ensure that all equipment shall be properly serviced and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
 Communicate with all sub-contractors in contracts and construction documents that all nonessential idling of construction equipment is restricted to 5 minutes or less in compliance with CARB Rule 2449 and is responsible for ensuring that this requirement is met.

Mitigation Measure AQ-2, which is not a General Plan EIR mitigation measure, would reduce the project’s localized construction emissions, as shown in the Table 4-5 below. The results indicate that, with mitigation, cancer risk and PM2.5 impacts would be less than the BAAQMD’s significance thresholds for residential-based receptors. Therefore, the project would not expose off-site sensitive receptors to substantial concentrations of air pollutant emissions during construction and impacts would be less than significant.

TABLE 4-5 CONSTRUCTION RISK SUMMARY – MITIGATED
Receptor
Cancer Risk
(per million)
Chronic
Hazards
PM2.5
(µg/m3)a
Maximum Exposed Receptor – Offsite Residences 7.5 0.036 0.09 BAAQMD Threshold 10 1.0 0.3
Exceeds Threshold? No No No
Notes: micrograms per cubic meter = µg/m3; PM2.5 – fine particulate matter; Risks incorporate Mitigation Measure AQ-2, which requires all equipment of 50 horsepower or more be fitted with engines that meet the EPA’s Tier 4 Interim emissions standards.

Source: Cancer risk calculated using 2015 Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Health Risk Assessment Guidance Manual; Lakes AERMOD View, 9.7.

Operation On-Site Community Risk and Hazards
Types of land uses that typically generate substantial quantities of criteria air pollutants and TACs include industrial (stationary sources), manufacturing, and warehousing (truck idling) land uses. These types of major air pollutant emissions sources are not included as part of the proposed mixed-use project. The

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proposed project would not include stationary sources that emit TACs and would not generate a significant amount of heavy-duty truck trips (a source of diesel particulate matter [DPM]). Therefore, the proposed project would not expose sensitive receptors to substantial concentrations of air pollutant emissions during operation, and impacts would be less than significant.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Hotspot Analysis
Areas of vehicle congestion have the potential to create pockets of carbon monoxide (CO), which are called hotspots. These pockets have the potential to exceed the State 1-hour standard of 20 ppm or the 8- hour standard of 9 ppm. The proposed project would not conflict with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Congestion Management Program (CMP) because it would not hinder the capital improvements outlined in the CMP or alter regional travel patterns. VTA’s CMP must be consistent with MTC’s/ABAG’s Plan Bay Area. An overarching goal of the regional Plan Bay Area 2040 is to concentrate development in areas where there are existing services and infrastructure rather than locate new growth in outlying areas where substantial transportation investments would be necessary to achieve the per capita passenger vehicle, vehicle miles traveled, and associated GHG emissions reductions. The proposed project is an infill residential development that is in close proximity to existing employment centers, roadways, transit, and bicycle and pedestrian routes, and for these reasons would be consistent with the overall goals of Plan Bay Area 2040.

Furthermore, under existing and future vehicle emission rates, a project would have to increase traffic volumes at a single intersection by more than 44,000 vehicles per hour—or 24,000 vehicles per hour where vertical and/or horizontal mixing is substantially limited—in order to generate a significant CO impact. Implementation of the proposed project would not increase traffic volumes at affected intersections by more than 44,000 vehicles per hour or 24,000 vehicles per hour where vertical and/or horizontal mixing is substantially limited (see Section XV, Transportation, below). 74 Therefore, impacts
associated with CO hotspots would be less than significant. d) Would the project result in other emissions (such as those leading to odors) adversely affecting a substantial number of people?
Construction and operation of mixed-use developments would not generate odors that would affect a substantial number of people. The type of facilities that are considered to have objectionable odors include wastewater treatments plants, compost facilities, landfills, solid waste transfer stations, fiberglass manufacturing facilities, paint/coating operations (e.g., auto body shops), dairy farms, petroleum refineries, asphalt batch plants, chemical manufacturing, and food manufacturing facilities. While residential uses are not associated with foul odors that constitute a public nuisance, the proposed mixed- use building would have 4,536 square feet of neighborhood-serving commercial space on the ground floor that could include a food service such as a small coffee shop or a bakery that could generate odors to nearby off-site residents. For these types of uses, the City may require charcoal activated filters to be

74 Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), 2011 Revised. California Environmental Quality Act Air Quality Guidelines.

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installed depending on what tenants lease the space over the life of the building operation. However, these are not the types of uses that lead to odors that affect a substantial number of people.

During construction activities, construction equipment exhaust and application of asphalt and architectural coatings would temporarily generate odors. Any construction-related odor emissions would be temporary and intermittent. Additionally, noxious odors would be confined to the immediate vicinity of the construction equipment. By the time such emissions reach any sensitive receptor sites, they would be diluted to well below any level of air quality concern.

Odors are also regulated under BAAQMD Regulation 1, Rule 1-301, Public Nuisance, which states that “no person shall discharge from any source whatsoever such quantities of air contaminants or other material which cause injury, detriment, nuisance or annoyance to any considerable number of persons or the public; or which endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of any such persons or the public, or which causes, or has a natural tendency to cause, injury or damage to business or property.” Therefore, because construction-related odor emissions would be temporary and intermittent, mixed-use developments such as the proposed project are not considered the type of use that would generate odors that would affect a substantial number of people, and the proposed project is required to comply with BAAQMD Regulation 7, odor-related impacts to off-site land uses would be less than significant.

III. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on a plant or animal population, or essential habitat, defined as a candidate, sensitive or special- status species?
   
b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community type?    
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, their wildlife corridors or nursery sites?
   
e) Conflict with any local ordinances or policies protecting biological resources?    
f) Conflict with an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan or other approved local, regional, or State habitat conservation plan?
   

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GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.3, Biological Resources, of the General Plan EIR, addressed the impacts to biological resources associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. Impacts to biological resources were found to be less than significant with implementation of mitigation measures to ensure impacts to birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) would not be significant. The project is required to comply with General Plan EIR Mitigation Measure BIO-1, previously adopted and incorporated into the General Plan, to ensure the protection of nesting raptors and other birds when in active use, as required by the federal MBTA and the California Fish and Game Code (CFG Code).

EXISTING CONDITIONS
The project site and surrounding area is urbanized and contains roadways, structures, and other impervious surfaces. There are two mature trees on site, a Redwood tree proposed for removal, and a Palm tree that will remain. Existing conditions on and adjacent to the project site are developed and primarily dominated by landscaped and non-native vegetation. Based on a review of historical aerial photographs, the project site has been subject to historic disturbance, including mass grading. These conditions do not lend themselves to presence of rare plant and animal populations, and such species are not anticipated to be present prior to or during project construction.

As previously described in Chapter 3, Project Description, the CALVEG 75 habitat mapping program
classifies the site as an “urban area” that tends to have low to poor wildlife habitat value due to replacement of natural communities, fragmentation of remaining open space areas and parks, and intensive human disturbance. The diversity of urban wildlife depends on the extent and type of landscaping and remaining open space, as well as the proximity to natural habitat. Trees and shrubs used for landscaping provide nest sites and cover for wildlife adapted to developed areas. Typical native bird species in the city of Cupertino include the mourning dove, scrub jay, northern mockingbird, American robin, brown towhee, American crow, and Anna’s hummingbird, among others. Introduced species include the rock dove, European starling, house finch, and house sparrow. Urban areas can also provide habitat for several species of native mammals such as the California ground squirrel and striped skunk, as well as the introduced eastern fox squirrel and eastern red fox. Introduced pest species such as the Norway rat, house mouse, and opossum are also abundant in developed areas.

A recent search of the CNDDB shows that the project site does not contain any known special-status species on-site. However, special-status plant and animal species have been recorded within 5 miles of the project site. All of these special-status species were recorded outside of or near the city limits except for the Western leatherwood (Dirca occidentalis), Woodland woollythreads (Monolopia congdonii), Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperi), White-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus), American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense, and the Santa Cruz black salamander (Aneides

75 The CALVEG system was initiated in January 1978 by the Region 5 Ecology Group of the US Forest Service to classify California’s existing vegetation communities for use in statewide resource planning. CALVEG maps use a hierarchical classification on the following categories: forest; woodland; chaparral; shrubs; and herbaceous.

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flavipunctatus niger). These special-status species were not recorded near the site but at least 1 mile away.

The nests of most bird species are protected under the MBTA when in active use and there is a remote possibility that one or more species protected under the MBTA and CFG Code, could nest in the two existing trees and other landscaping on the project site. These include both the Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperi) and white-tailed kite (Elanus leuocurus), which have reported CNDDB occurrences within the city boundary, together with more common raptors such as red-tailed hawk, great horned owl, and American kestrel, all of which are protected by the MBTA and CFG Code when their nests are in active use. However, no essential habitat for these or other special-status species is present on the site due to its developed condition.

Numerous bat species found in the Cupertino area, most of which are relatively common, and are not considered special-status species. As previously stated, the CNDDB does not show any occurrences of special-status bats on the site vicinity but does show records within several miles of Cupertino. The records include occurrences of Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), and Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis). These three species have no legal protected status under the State or federal Endangered Species Acts, but Townsend’s big-eared bat is considered a Species of Special Concern by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. These species have various priority rankings with the Western Bat Working Group, ranging from “High” for Townsend’s big-eared bat, “Medium” for hoary bat, to “Low-Medium” for Yuma myotis. Bat species found in the Cupertino vicinity may forage and occasionally roost in the site vicinity, but suitable habitat conditions for maternity roots does not exist on the site.

Wetlands and jurisdictional waters within the city boundary include creek corridors and associated riparian scrub and woodland, and areas of freshwater marsh around ponds, seeps, springs, and other waterbodies. Some remnant stands of riparian scrub and woodland occur along segments of the numerous creeks through the urbanized valley floor . The project site does not contain these creek corridors or contain other regulated waters; however, the Stevens Creek Corridor is approximately 0.25 miles to the east of the project site. Single-family residential neighborhoods act as a barrier between Stevens Creek and the project site.

There is no existing wildlife movement corridor designation on the site by any agency, including the United States Fish and Wildlife or the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Furthermore, there are no open space areas or natural lands adjacent to the project site.

The existing palm tree located on the southeastern of the project site would remain as part of the proposed project. The redwood tree on the northern part of the project site would be removed.

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DISCUSSION
a) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on a plant or animal population, or essential habitat, defined as a candidate, sensitive or special-status species?
As stated above in the existing conditions discussion, there are no known occurrences of special-status plant or animal species and no suitable habitat for such species on the project site, but there is a possibility that birds that are protected by the MBTA and CFG Code could nest in trees and other landscaping on the project site. However, no essential habitat for these or other special-status species is present on the site due to its developed condition. The analysis in the General Plan EIR found that impacts to special-status species, including nesting birds, would be reduced to less than significant with mitigation.

Accordingly, the implementation of Mitigation Measure BIO-1, which is required by General Plan EIR Mitigation Measure BIO-1, would also be required for the project to reduce impacts to a less-than- significant level.

Nesting Birds
The analysis in the General Plan EIR found that impacts to special-status species, including nesting birds, would be reduced to less than significant with mitigation. Accordingly, the implementation of Mitigation Measure BIO-1, which is required by General Plan EIR Mitigation Measure BIO-1, would also be required for the project to reduce impacts to a less-than-significant level.

Impact BIO-1: Tree removal and demolition activities during site clearance could destroy active nests, and/or otherwise interfere with nesting of birds protected under federal and State law.

Mitigation Measure BIO-1: Nests of raptors and other birds shall be protected when in active use, as required by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the California Fish and Game Code. The construction contractor shall indicate the following on all construction plans, if construction activities and any required tree removal occur during the breeding season (February 1 and August 31).  Preconstruction surveys shall:
 Be conducted by a qualified biologist prior to tree removal or grading, demolition, or construction activities. Note that preconstruction surveys are not required for tree removal or construction, grading, or demolition activities outside the nesting period.  Be conducted no more than 14 days prior to the start of tree removal or construction.  Be repeated at 14-day intervals until construction has been initiated in the area after which surveys can be stopped.
 Document locations of active nests containing viable eggs or young birds.  Protective measures for active nests containing viable eggs or young birds shall be implemented under the direction of the qualified biologist until the nests no longer contain eggs or young birds, and the young have left the nest and are foraging independently, or the nest is no longer active.

Protective measures shall include:

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 Establishment of clearly delineated exclusion zones (i.e., demarcated by identifiable fencing, such as orange construction fencing or equivalent) around each nest location as determined by the qualified biologist, taking into account the species of birds nesting, their tolerance for disturbance and proximity to existing development. In general, exclusion zones shall be a minimum of 300 feet for raptors and 75 feet for passerines and other birds.  Monitoring active nests within an exclusion zone on a weekly basis throughout the nesting season to identify signs of disturbance and confirm nesting status.  An increase in the radius of an exclusion zone by the qualified biologist if project activities are determined to be adversely affecting the nesting birds. Exclusion zones may be reduced by the qualified biologist only in consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Bird Collision
Avian injury and mortality resulting from collisions with buildings, towers and other man-made structures is a common occurrence in city and suburban settings. Some birds are unable to detect and avoid glass and have difficulty distinguishing between actual objects and their reflected images, particularly when the glass is transparent and views through the structure are possible. Night-time lighting can interfere with movement patterns of some night-migrating birds, causing disorientation or attracting them to the light source. The frequency of bird collisions in a particular area is dependent on numerous factors, including:
characteristics of building height, fenestration (the arrangement of windows and doors on the elevations of a building) and exterior treatments of windows and their relationship to other buildings and vegetation in the area; local and migratory avian populations, their movement patterns, and proximity of water, food and other attractants, time of year; prevailing winds; weather conditions; and other variables.

The proposed mixed-use building and residential buildings would alter the physical characteristics of the site; however, this change is not expected to contribute to a substantial increase in the risk of collisions to local and migratory birds. This is due to several reasons, including the fact that the site is currently developed with residential buildings of a similar height (30 feet), bulk, and surface treatment, as is the current surrounding area; that the existing site has few trees; and the proposed structures would have limited transparency (i.e., no large uninterrupted windows in the new buildings). Because the site vicinity is already developed with urban use and the site is currently developed with occupied structures, most birds, as under existing conditions, would likely acclimate to the presence of the new building once completed. The potential risk of bird collision with the new buildings would be extremely low.

While the design of the exterior treatment of the proposed buildings is in the conceptual phase and has not yet been finalized, and must still go through Design Review, there are design options to minimize the risk of bird collisions by using well-documented bird-safe designs for window treatments, roof top equipment, and night-time lighting. While any bird collisions that do occur should not have a substantial adverse effect on special-status bird species or more common bird species that may be flying through the vicinity, the applicant, as described in Chapter 3, Project Description, has committed to implementing bird-safe design measures in the new buildings, which would further address the low risk of collision.

These include the following measures that would be part of the design of the new building:

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 Non-Reflective Glass: No reflective glass would be used in the building consistent with the San Francisco Bird Safe Recommendations76 that state that reflective glass should be avoided, because some birds in certain circumstances might see vegetation in the reflection and fly into a building.

None of the exterior glass in the new buildings will have a light reflectance value of more than 15 percent.
 Fritted Glass: Fritted glass is a non-reflective glass that is used to reduce glare and lower the danger to birds. Using fritted glass on the ground floor and second story windows and balcony railing elements, of the new mixed-use building would help prevent possible bird strikes. Fritting helps diminish the transparency of glass and is a documented approach to helping reduce the probability of bird collisions. Transparent glass used in “design traps” such as glass bridges or parapets can also be problematic. The project proposes glass railing elements on the second-floor balconies, which would incorporate UV coatings, frosting, and fritting to make them visible to birds to reduce collisions.  Building Lighting: Overly lit buildings can be problematic, especially if there is up-lighting. The project is required to meet City code minimum standards on exterior lighting, and the new building would have no up-lighting. The source, intensity, and type of exterior lighting for the project site would generally be provided for the purpose of orienting site users and for safety needs. All on-site lighting would be low-level illumination and shielded to reduce light spill or glare.  Tree Screening: The proposed project includes new 5-foot screening shrubs to be planted along the north, south, western, and the northern and southern edges of the eastern borders of the project site and 15 new trees, including one Miami crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia I. ‘Miami’), seven Saratoga bay laurels (Laurus ‘Saratoga’), and seven Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia). Shrubs, including Cape rush (Chondropetalum tectorum) and Dwarf yeddo hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis U. ‘Minor’) would be planted along the eastern portion of the site, shielding the glass façade. These trees would help shield the first floors, which shielding would increase as the new trees grow over time.

The location of the project site, the building design features and selected materials, were determined to adequately address the remote potential for special-status bird species dispersing through the site vicinity to collide with the new structure and be injured or killed. These measures would serve to minimize the potential for bird strikes through the use of bird-friendly design guidelines in the treatment of windows and other aspects of the proposed buildings, and would ensure any potential impact would be less than significant for special-status birds and more common bird species.

Additionally, should the draft City of Cupertino draft Bird Safe Design Ordinance described in Chapter 3, Project Description, in Section 3.1.4.3, Other Requirements, be adopted by the City Council prior to project construction, the project applicant would be required to comply with the standards in the Ordinance which would also ensure any potential impact would be less than significant for special-status birds and more common bird species.

76 San Francisco Planning Department, 2011. Standards for Bird-Safe Buildings, San Francisco, California. Adopted July 14;

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Roosting Bats
As described in the existing conditions, the CNDDB records were recently searched for, among other species, occurrences of Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), and Yuma myotis bat (Myotis yumanensis). These three species have no legal protected status under the State or federal Endangered Species Acts, but Townsend’s big-eared bat is considered a Species of Special Concern by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Bat species found in the Cupertino vicinity may forage and occasionally roost in the site vicinity, but suitable habitat conditions for maternity roosts is absent from the site. The potential for any special-status bat species to be present on the site is considered highly remote, given the urbanization of the site vicinity and intensity of human activity, which typically discourages possible occupation by special-status bats. Accordingly, the construction and operation of the proposed project would not result in the inadvertent loss of any bats and impacts would be less than significant.
b) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community type?
As discussed in the existing conditions above, the proposed project is located in an urbanized area where no sensitive natural communities are found. The nearest creek is Stevens Creek, located approximately

0.25 miles to the east of the project site. The existing single-family residential neighborhoods act as a barrier between Stevens Creek and the project site. Based on the existing conditions and the fact that the proposed project would redevelop and underdeveloped site, impacts would be consistent with the conclusions in the General Plan EIR and would remain less than significant. c) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on federally protected wetlands (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means?
As discussed in the existing conditions and determined in the General Plan EIR, development of the proposed project would occur in urbanized areas where no wetlands or jurisdictional waters occur on or near the project site; therefore, no impact would occur directly. Indirect impacts to wetlands and jurisdictional or other waters include: 1) an increase in the potential for sedimentation due to construction grading and ground disturbance, 2) an increase in the potential for erosion due to increased runoff volumes generated by impervious surfaces, and 3) an increase in the potential for water quality degradation due to increased levels in non-point pollutants. However, indirect impacts would be largely avoided through effective implementation of best management practices during construction and compliance with water quality controls. As discussed in Impact HYDRO-1, water quality impacts from construction and operation of the proposed project would be less than significant. Accordingly, indirect impacts to wetlands and jurisdictional waters would remain consistent with the conclusions in the General Plan EIR and would be less than significant.

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d) Would the project interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species, their wildlife corridors or nursery sites? Development on the project site would occur in an urbanized area where sensitive wildlife resources and important wildlife movement corridors are no longer present because of the existing development.

Wildlife species common to urban and suburban habitat could be displaced where existing structures are demolished and landscaping is removed as part of future development, but these species are relatively abundant, and adapted to human disturbance. As discussed in Chapter 3, Project Description, of this Initial Study, the proposed project would remove one mature Redwood tree on-site and most landscaping, and would replace the landscaping with additional trees and plants that would provide replacement habitat for wildlife species that may have adapted to the project site. Proposed project landscaping includes native, drought tolerant landscaping that is beneficial to the environment. Therefore, project impacts on the movement of fish and wildlife, wildlife corridors, or wildlife nursery sites would be would remain consistent with the conclusions in the General Plan EIR and would be less than significant. e) Would the project conflict with any local ordinances or policies protecting biological resources? As discussed in criteria (a) through (d), above, the project site is located in an urbanized area where sensitive biological and wetland resources are considered to be absent, and no major conflicts with the relevant policies or ordinances related to biological resources in the General Plan and/or CMC would occur . One tree is proposed to be removed as part of the project. However, because the existing development is on property that requires a development application, all existing trees on the site are considered protected.
77 Therefore, compliance with the City’s Tree Ordinances (CMC Chapter 14.12 and Chapter 14.18), which requires replacement trees, would ensure impacts related to the removal of trees would remain consistent with the conclusions in the General Plan EIR and would be less than significant. f) Would the project conflict with an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan or other approved local, regional, or State habitat conservation plan? No adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved conservation plan includes the city or the project site, and the proposed project would not conflict with any adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved conservation plan. Impacts would remain consistent with the conclusions in the General Plan EIR and no impact would occur.

77 City of Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 14, Streets, Sidewalks and Landscaping, Chapter 14.18, Protected Trees.

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IV. CULTURAL RESOURCES
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
a) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in Section 15064.5?     b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to Section 15064.5?     c) Disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of formal cemeteries?    

GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.4, Cultural Resources, of the General Plan EIR, addressed the impacts to cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources (TCRs) associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. The impacts were found to be less than significant, and no mitigation measures were required. The following is a summary of Section, 4.4.1.2, Existing Conditions, of Chapter 4.4, which is based on the cultural resource analysis conducted by Tom Origer & Associates on July 24, 2013, included as Appendix D, Cultural Resources Data, of the General Plan EIR. The cultural resources study consists of archival research at the Northwest Information Center at Sonoma State University, examination of the library and files, field inspection, and contact with the Native American community. As shown in Table 4.4-2, Cultural Resources in the Project Study Area and Vicinity, and on Figure 4.4-1, Cultural Resources, of the General Plan EIR, there are no identified cultural resources on the project site.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
As shown in Table 4.4-2, Cultural Resources in the Project Study Area and Vicinity, and Figure 4.4-1, Cultural Resources, of the General Plan EIR, there are no identified cultural resources on the project site.

Structures on the project site were developed in 1948 and 1968,78which is within the 45-year age limit established by the State Office of Historic Preservation for buildings that may be of historical value.79 However, neither of the existing buildings have been designated on a federal, State, or local registry. Nor are the existing buildings associated with significant cultural events, persons in California’s past, and they do not have any distinctive historical characteristics, and as such do not have any qualifying historical value.

78 Applied Water Resources. 2018. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment 10625-10637 South Foothill Boulevard/Stevens Canyon Road Cupertino, California.
79 Public Resources Code Section 5024.1.

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REVISED FINAL DRAFT

DISCUSSION
a) Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in Section 15064.5?
Under CEQA, both prehistoric and historic-period archaeological sites may qualify as historical resources.80 Archaeological resources are addressed in criterion (b), and human remains are addressed below in criterion (c), below.

As discussed above in the existing conditions, the project site was developed in 1948 and again in 1968.

As further described above, the existing buildings do not meet the criteria for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources. The General Plan EIR did not identify the project site as having existing buildings that are considered historic resources, and the existing buildings are not currently listed as California Historical Resources.81 Accordingly, impacts would remain consistent with the conclusions in the General Plan EIR and less-than-significant impacts to historical architectural resources would occur as a result of project development.
b) Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to Section 15064.5?
While the project site is currently developed and the cultural resources study prepared for the General Plan EIR82 did not identify any known archaeological deposits on the project site, the site could still contain subsurface archaeological deposits, including unrecorded Native American prehistoric archaeological materials. If subsurface historical and pre-contact archaeological deposits that meet the definition of historical resource under CEQA Section 21084.1 or CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5 are present at the project site, they could be damaged or destroyed by ground-disturbing construction activities (e.g., site preparation, grading, excavation, and trenching for utilities) associated with development allowed under the proposed project. Should this occur, the ability of the deposits to convey their significance, either as containing information about prehistory or history, or as possessing traditional or cultural significance to Native American or other descendant communities, would be materially impaired. Therefore, any project-related ground-disturbing activities have the potential to affect subsurface prehistoric archaeological resources that may be present. Implementation of Mitigation Measure CULT-1, which is not a General Plan EIR mitigation measure, would reduce impacts to unknown archaeological deposits to a less-than-significant level.

Impact CULT-1: The proposed project could cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5.

80 California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, Section 15064.5(c), Determining the Significance of Impacts on Historical and Unique Archeological Resources.
81 Office of Historic Preservation, Listed California Historical Resources. Accessed May 9, 2019 at http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ListedResources/?view=county&criteria=43. 82 City of Cupertino, certified General Plan Amendment, Housing Element Update, and Associated Rezoning EIR, State Clearinghouse Number 2014032007. December 4, 2014, Appendix D, Cultural Resources Data, Tom Origer & Associates on July 24, 2013.

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Mitigation Measure CULT-1: A tribal representative from the Tamien Nation shall be retained and permitted on-site at all times during ground disturbance (including grading, demolition and/or construction) to monitor for potential prehistoric or historic subsurface cultural resources. Notice shall be given to the Tribe Tamien Nation in a manner requested by the Tribe Tamien Nation at least 48 hours five (5) days before any ground disturbing activity. Prior to ground disturbance activities, construction workers conducting the ground disturbing activities shall undergo cultural resource sensitivity training conducted by the on-site tribal Tamien Nation representative.

If any prehistoric or historic subsurface cultural resources are discovered during ground-disturbing (including grading, demolition and/or construction) activities:
 All work within 50 feet of the resources shall be halted, the City shall be notified, and a qualified archaeologist and tribal Tamien Nation representative shall be consulted. The contractor shall cooperate in the recovery of the materials. Work may proceed on other parts of the project site while mitigation for tribal cultural resources, historical resources or unique archaeological resources is being carried out.
 The qualified archaeologist shall prepare a report for the evaluation of the resource to the California Register of Historical Places and the City Building Department. The report shall also include appropriate recommendations in collaboration with a tribal Tamien Nation representative regarding the significance of the find and appropriate mitigations as follows:
 If the resource is a non-tribal resource, the archaeologist shall assess the significance of the find according to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5.
 If the resource is a tribal resource – whether historic or prehistoric – the consulting archaeologist shall consult with the appropriate tribe(s) Tamien Nation to evaluate the significance of the resource and to recommend appropriate and feasible avoidance, testing, preservation, or mitigation measures, in light of factors such as the significance of the find, proposed project design, costs, and other considerations. If avoidance is infeasible, other appropriate measures (e.g., data recovery) may be implemented.
 All significant non-tribal cultural materials recovered shall be, as necessary, and at the discretion of the consulting archaeologist, subject to scientific analysis, professional museum curation, and documentation according to current professional standards. c) Would the project disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of formal cemeteries? There are no known human remains on the project site; however, the potential to unearth unknown human remains during ground disturbing activities associated with the construction of the project could occur . Any human remains encountered during ground-disturbing activities associated with the proposed project would be subject to federal, State, and local regulations to ensure no adverse impacts to human remains would occur in the unlikely event human remains are found.

Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5, Public Resources Code Section 5097.98, and CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5(e) contain the mandated procedures of conduct following the discovery of human remains. According to the provisions in CEQA, if human remains are encountered at the site, all work in the immediate vicinity of the discovery shall cease and necessary steps to ensure the integrity of the

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immediate area shall be taken. The Santa Clara County Coroner shall be notified immediately. The Coroner shall then determine whether the remains are Native American. If the Coroner determines the remains are Native American, the Coroner shall notify the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) within 24 hours, who would, in turn, notify the person the NAHC identifies as the Most Likely Descendant (MLD) of any human remains. Further actions shall be determined, in part, by the desires of the MLD. The MLD has 48 hours to make recommendations regarding the disposition of the remains after having been allowed access to inspect the project site. If the MLD does not make recommendations within 48 hours, the owner shall, with appropriate dignity, reinter the remains in an area of the property secure from further disturbance. Alternatively, if the owner does not accept the MLD’s recommendations, the owner or the descendent may request mediation by the NAHC. This would be included as a condition of approval of the project to ensure implementation.

Therefore, with the required statutory and regulatory procedures described above, potential impacts related to the potential discovery or disturbance of any human remains accidently unearthed during construction activities associated with the proposed project would impacts would remain consistent with the conclusions in the General Plan EIR and would be less than significant.

V. ENERGY
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact

Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
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?    

GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.14, Utilities and Services Systems, of the General Plan EIR addressed energy impacts associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. Energy impacts were found to be less than significant, and no mitigation measures were required.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
PG&E supplies electricity and natural gas to much of northern and central California – from Humboldt and Shasta counties in the north to Kern and Santa Barbara counties in the south – including the infrastructure for the City of Cupertino. Total electricity consumption in PG&E’s service area is forecast to increase from 104,868 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2015 to 119,633 GWh in 2027.83 The nearest PG&E substation to the

83 California Energy Commission (CEC). 2017. California Energy Demand Updated Forecast, 2017-2027. https://efiling.energy.ca.gov/getdocument.aspx?tn=214635, accessed on December 28, 2018.

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REVISED FINAL DRAFT
project site is the Monta Vista Substation on California Oak Way approximately 0.75 miles northwest of the project site. The nearest electricity transmission lines to the project site are located above the project site along Stevens Canyon Road and South Foothill Boulevard.84 The current project site is served by both electricity and natural gas connections. Electricity is supplied to the project site via infrastructure maintained by PG&E. Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), a locally controlled public agency that has a partnership with PG&E, supplies the electricity to the project site.

SVCE provides a standard 50 percent renewable energy portfolio, in addition to a 100 percent renewable option that electricity customers can opt into. Natural gas and associated infrastructure are provided and maintained by PG&E.

Current energy demands are derived from the operation of multiple commercial uses located in the existing one-story buildings that were constructed around 1968 and 1948. 85 The larger of the two existing
buildings is currently occupied by neighborhood-serving restaurant, and commercial uses. However, some of the commercial spaces are currently vacant. The existing commercial building on the northern portion of the project site is currently occupied by the Cupertino Bike Shop, which specializes in bicycle parts, apparel, and accessories. The two-story residential unit is currently vacant and is used as storage by the Cupertino Bike Shop. Current energy demand includes energy demand from vehicle trips which include 454 gross average daily trips and 662 daily VMT.86

DISCUSSION
a) Would the project result in potentially significant environmental impact due to wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources, during project construction or operation? Construction activities use energy from various sources, such as on-site heavy-duty construction vehicles, vehicles hauling materials to and from the site, and motor vehicles transporting the construction crew.

The operation of the proposed commercial buildings would use energy for cooling, heating, lighting, and landscape equipment, and for vehicle trips to and from the commercial building. According to the existing trip estimates described in Section XV, Transportation, at full occupancy the proposed project would generate fewer average daily weekday vehicle trips than the existing commercial use (322 project trips compared to 454 existing trips) and less VMT (631 project daily per capita VMT compared to 850 existing daily per capita VMT).
87 This is further supported by the trip estimates generated by CalEEMod described in Section II, Air Quality, which shows fewer emissions from the transportation sector when comparing the project to existing conditions.88

84 California Energy Commission (CEC). 2012, October 25. Local Reliability Maps for 2013: Enlargement Maps. http://www.energy.ca.gov/maps/infrastructure/3part_enlargements.html. 85 Applied Water Resources, 2018. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, 10625-10637 South Foothill Boulevard, Cupertino, California, pages 8 and 9.
86 TJKM Transportation Consultants. October 2019, Technical Memorandum (see Appendix D of this Initial Study). 87 TJKM. July 2019. Draft Traffic Impact Study Report, 10625 South Foothill Boulevard, Cupertino, CA. Page 15 to 16, and supplemental memo dated October 16, 2019. See Appendix D of this Initial Study. 88 California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod), Version 2016.3.25. See Appendix A, Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, of this Initial Study.

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ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
4-30 DECEMBER 2021

REVISED FINAL DRAFT
The proposed project is an infill development project that would result in the redevelopment of the project site in a currently developed portion of the city. The project site currently has access to existing infrastructure and services; however, the proposed project would require the construction or installation of new infrastructure and capacity enhancing alterations to existing on-site facilities to connect the new residential buildings to water, stormwater, sanitary sewer, electricity, and natural gas lines. The construction of new infrastructure and capacity enhancing alterations would be necessary as part of the construction of the residential buildings and would be consistent with the design and installation of typical utility infrastructure for new mixed-use or residential buildings. Therefore, the construction or installation of new infrastructure and capacity enhancing alterations would not be a wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary use of energy.

The proposed project would improve connectivity to existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities and locates a commercial building with neighborhood serving retail and residential uses near existing residential neighborhoods. As described in Section X, Land Use and Planning, of this Initial Study, the proposed project is consistent with the General Plan land use designation and as described in Section XII, Population and Housing, the proposed project would not result in new growth potential from what was considered in the General Plan EIR.

The proposed mixed-use and residential buildings would meet the 2019 Building and Energy Efficiency Standards of the California Public Resources Code, Title 24, Part 6, which applies to any project that is proposed to begin construction on or after August 2020. The 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards improve upon the 2016 Standards. The 2019 Standards require 53 percent or more energy efficiency for residential buildings, and 30 percent or more energy efficiency for non-residential buildings, respectively.
89 As described above in Chapter 3, Project Description, in Section 3.1.4.4, Utilities and Energy, the City enforces the CALGreen Building Standards, which establish planning and design standards for sustainable site development, energy efficiency (in excess of the California Energy Code requirements), in CMC Chapter 16.58, Green Building Standards Code Adopted. CMC Chapter 16.58, Section 16.58.220, Table 101.10 requires that non-residential new construction under 25,000 square feet shall achieve a minimum green building requirement of CALGreen Building Code pursuant to Chapter 5 of the California Green Building Standards Code. CMC Chapter 16.58, Section 16.58.220, Table 101.10 also requires that residential new construction exceeding nine homes shall achieve a minimum green building requirement of Green Points Rated certified at minimum 50 points, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver, or an alternate green building standard that is as stringent as LEED or other cited standards and is subject to third party verification. Energy conserving features of the proposed project would include new landscaping that is native and/or adaptive, and drought resistant to conserve water and subsequently save energy.

89 California Energy Commission. March 2018. 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Accessed May 24, 2019 at https://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2019standards/documents/2018_Title_24_2019_Building_Standards_FAQ.pdf.

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New buildings constructed in accordance with the General Plan land use designation and to the standards identified above would not result in wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources. Accordingly, impacts would remain consistent with the conclusions in the General Plan EIR and would be less than significant.
b) Would the project conflict with or obstruct a State or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency?
As discussed below in criterion (b) of Section VII, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, the proposed project would not conflict with the current CARB 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan, Plan Bay Area, or the Cupertino Climate Action Plan, all which involve planning for us of renewable energy planning and energy efficiency standards. Also, as previously discussed, the proposed project would build to the most current 2019 Building and Energy Efficiency Standards of the California Public Resources Code, Title 24, Part 6.

Accordingly, impacts would be less than significant, and no mitigation measures would be required.

VI. GEOLOGY AND SOILS
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
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?
   
ii) Strong seismic ground shaking?    
iii) Seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction?     iv) Landslides, mudslides or other similar hazards?     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 on- or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction, or collapse?
   
d) Be located on expansive soil, as defined by 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 wastewater disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of wastewater?
   
f) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature?    

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GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.5, Geology, Soils, and Seismicity, of the General Plan EIR, addressed geological and seismic- related impacts associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. Impacts were found to be less than significant, and no mitigation measures were required. The following discussion is based on project site information available in Section 4.5.1.2, Existing Conditions, of Chapter 4.5.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
The following describes the existing conditions on the project site with respect to geology and soil:
 Geology. The City of Cupertino lies in the west-central part of the Santa Clara Valley, a broad, mostly flat alluvial plain that extends southward from San Francisco Bay. The site is generally flat with an average elevation of 429 feet above mean sea level and the depth of groundwater is estimated to be 25 to 30 feet below ground surface. The soil is Urban Land Flaskan Complex, which is a well-drained sandy loam, sandy clay loam, gravelly sandy clay loam and very gravelly sandy clay loam soil.90 Surficial geology is young, unconsolidated Quaternary alluvium,91 which is described as Holocene-age younger alluvium and coarse-grained alluvium that are composed of unconsolidated, poorly sorted gravel, silt, sand, and clay and organic matter .

Unique geologic features are those that are unique to the field of geology. Each rock unit tells a story of the natural processes operating at the time it was formed. The rocks and geologic formations exposed at the earth’s surface or revealed by drilling and excavation are our only record of that geologic history. What makes a geologic unit or feature unique can vary considerably. For example, a geologic feature may be considered unique if it is the best example of its kind and has distinctive characteristics of a geologic principle that is exclusive locally or regionally, is a key piece of geologic information important to geologic history, contains a mineral that is not known to occur elsewhere in the County, or is used as a teaching tool.

Unique geological features are not common in Cupertino. The geologic processes are generally the same as those in other parts of the state, country, and even the world. The geology and soils on the project site are common throughout the city and region and are not considered to be unique.  Soils. Web-accessible soil mapping data compiled by the USDA’s Soil Conservation Survey and the California Soil Resource Laboratory hosted by University of California at Davis was used to identify the major soil types on the project site. The predominant soil types for the project site are soils of the Urban Land-Flaskan and Urban Land-Botella complexes generally formed on slopes of 2 to 9 percent.

90 California Soil Resource Lab. Accessed May 24, 2019 at https://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/gmap/. 91 US Geological Survey, 1994, Preliminary Quaternary Geologic Maps of Santa Clara Valley, Santa Clara, Alameda, and San Mateo Counties, California: A Digital Database, Open-File Report 94-231, by E.J. Helley, R.W. Graymer, G.A. Phelps, P.K.

Showalter, and C.M. Wentworth.

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In almost all instances, these soils are reportedly deep and well drained, and are typified by low runoff.92
 Fault Rupture. The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most seismically active regions in the United States. The significant earthquakes that occur in the Bay Area are generally associated with crustal movement along well-defined active fault zones such as the San Andreas Fault system. Many of these zones exhibit a regional trend to the northwest. The site is not located within a State-designated Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone (known formerly as a Special Studies Zone) or a Santa Clara County-designated Fault Rupture Hazard Zone.93 No active fault traces are known to cross the site; however, the San Andreas Fault passes a few miles west of the city of Cupertino.  Liquefaction. The site is not located within a seismically inducted liquefaction hazard zone, as mapped by the State of California and Santa Clara County. During cyclic ground shaking, such as seismic shaking during an earthquake, cyclically-induced stresses may cause increased pore water pressures within the soil matrix, resulting in liquefaction. Liquefied soil may lose shear strength that may lead to large shear deformations and/or flow failure. Liquefied soil can also settle as pore pressures dissipate following an earthquake.

Soils most susceptible to liquefaction are loose to moderately dense, saturated, non-cohesive soils with poor drainage, such as sands and silts with interbedded or capping layers of relatively low permeability soil.
 Lateral Spreading. Lateral spreading typically occurs as a form of horizontal displacement of relatively flat-lying alluvial material toward an open or “free” face such as an open body of water, channel, or excavation. In soils, this movement is generally due to failure along a weak plane and may often be associated with liquefaction. As cracks develop within the weakened material, blocks of soil are displaced laterally toward the open face. Cracking and lateral movement may gradually propagate away from the face as blocks continue to break free. Because of the low potential for liquefaction, the risk of lateral spreading at the site is also considered low.

 Paleontological Resources. A review of the University of California’s Museum of Paleontology’s fossil locality database was conducted for the City of Cupertino. No paleontological resources have been identified on the project site; however, the presence of Pleistocene deposits that are known to contain fossils indicates that the overall city could contain paleontological resources.

DISCUSSION
a) Would the project 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

92 UC Davis Soil Resource Laboratory, 2018. California Soil Resource Lab, Online Soil Survey, URL:
https://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/gmap/, accessed May 24, 2019. 93 Santa Clara County, 2012. Santa Clara County Geologic Hazard Zones, Map 18, updated October 26, 2012.

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on other substantial evidence of a known fault; (ii) Strong seismic ground shaking; (iii) Seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction; (iv) Landslides, mudslides or other similar hazards? Fault Rupture
As discussed in the General Plan EIR, only one Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone has been mapped within the City of Cupertino, namely, the zone that flanks the San Andreas Fault in the southwestern most part of the city. Because the site is not located within a State-designated Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone or Santa Clara County-designated Fault Rupture Hazard Zone, and no active faults are known to traverse the site, the risk of surface fault rupture is considered low. The impacts from project development as they relate to surface fault rupture are considered less than significant.

Strong Seismic Ground Shaking
The hazards posed by strong seismic ground shaking during a major earthquake, while variable, are nearly omnipresent in the San Francisco Bay Area. As discussed in the General Plan EIR, in the event of a large, magnitude 6.7 or greater seismic event, much of the city is projected to experience “strong” ground shaking, with the most intense shaking forecast for the northeast part of the city where the project is located. Adherence to applicable building code, including conformance to the California Building Code (CBC) and the City’s building permit requirements would ensure that the impacts associated with strong seismic ground shaking are minimized to the maximum extent practicable. The impacts of project development as they relate to strong seismic ground shaking would be less than significant.

Liquefaction
The project site is not located within an area mapped by the State of California or Santa Clara County as having a high potential for seismically induced liquefaction. As discussed in the General Plan EIR, the potential for seismically induced liquefaction in the vicinity appears low and is limited to a very narrow strip of alluvial deposits that flank Stevens Creek approximately 0.25 miles east of the project site.

Accordingly, impacts associated with project development as they may relate to seismically induced liquefaction would be less than significant.

Landslides
The site is generally flat with elevation an average of 429 feet above mean sea level.94 The project site is not located within an area mapped by the State of California or Santa Clara County as having a high potential for seismically induced landslides. Therefore, impacts associated with project development as they may relate to seismically induced landslides would be less than significant.

94 Applied Water Resources, 2018. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, 10625-10637 South Foothill Boulevard, Cupertino, California, page 8.

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b) Would the project result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? Substantial soil erosion or loss of topsoil during construction could, in theory, undermine structures and minor slopes during development of the project site. However, compliance with existing regulatory requirements, such as the implementation of grading erosion control measures specified in Appendix J, Grading of the CBC and CMC Section 16.08.110, Interim Erosion and Sediment Control Plan, would reduce impacts from erosion and the loss of topsoil.

Examples of these control measures are best management practices such as hydroseeding or short-term biodegradable erosion control blankets; vegetated swales, silt fences, or other forms of protection at storm drain inlets; post-construction inspection of drainage structures for accumulated sediment; and post-construction clearing of debris and sediment from these structures.

Section 16.08.110 of the CMC requires the preparation and submittal of Interim Erosion and Sediment Control Plans for all projects subject to City-issued grading permits, which would minimize the removal of topsoil, avoid overly steep cut and/or fill slopes, and protect existing vegetation during grading operations.

These requirements are broadly applicable to residential development projects. Adherence to these regulations would help ensure that the impacts of project development as they relate to substantial soil erosion or loss of topsoil would be less than significant. 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?
As discussed in criterion (a), the project site is not located within an area mapped as having significant potential for seismically induced liquefaction. Because of the low potential for liquefaction, the risk of lateral spreading at the site would also be low. Therefore, the impacts of project development as they relate to liquefaction and lateral spreading would be less than significant and no mitigation measures would be required.

The site is generally flat with an average elevation of 429 feet above mean sea level. 95 The properties
surrounding the project site are also at a similar elevation. The impacts of project development as they relate to landslides would be less than significant.
d) Would the project be located on expansive soil, as defined by Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1994), creating substantial direct or indirect risks to life or property? Expansive soils can undergo dramatic changes in volume in response to variations in soil moisture content.

When wet, these soils can expand; conversely, when dry, they can contract or shrink. Sources of moisture that can trigger this shrink-swell phenomenon can include seasonal rainfall, landscape irrigation, utility leakage, and/or perched groundwater . Expansive soil can develop wide cracks in the dry season, and

95 Applied Water Resources, 2018. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, 10625-10637 South Foothill Boulevard, Cupertino, California, page 8.

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changes in soil volume have the potential to damage concrete slabs, foundations, and pavement. Special building/structure design or soil treatment are often needed in areas with expansive soils. Expansive soils are typically very fine-grained with a high to very high percentage of clay, typically montmorillonite, smectite, or bentonite clay.

The proposed project would be subject to the CBC regulations and provisions, as adopted in CMC Chapter

16.04, Building Code, and enforced by the City during plan review prior to building permit issuance. The CBC contains specific requirements for seismic safety, excavation, foundations, retaining walls, and site demolition, and also regulates grading activities, including drainage and erosion control. Thus, compliance with existing regulations and policies would ensure that the potential future development impacts permitted under the proposed project would be reduced. Therefore, the impacts of project development as they relate to expansive soils are considered less than significant. e) Would the project have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of wastewater? The development of the proposed project would not require the construction or use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems. Therefore, no impact would occur . f) Would the project directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature?
As discussed above in existing conditions, the geology and soils on the project site are common throughout the city and region and are not considered to be unique. While no paleontological resources have been identified on the project site, because the proposed project requires substantial excavation for the subterranean parking garage that could reach significant depths below the ground surface where no such excavation has previously occurred, there could be fossils of potential scientific significance that have not been recorded. Such ground-disturbing construction associated with development under the proposed project could cause damage to, or destruction of, paleontological resources. Impacts to paleontological resources would be reduced to a less-than-significant level with implementation of Mitigation Measure GEO-1, which is not a General Plan EIR mitigation measure.

Impact GEO-1: Construction of the proposed project would have the potential to directly or indirectly affect an unknown unique paleontological resource.

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potential resource, and assess the significance of the finding under the criteria set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5.
 The paleontologist shall notify the appropriate agencies to determine procedures that would be followed before construction is allowed to resume at the location of the find.  If the project applicant determines that avoidance is not feasible, the paleontologist shall prepare an excavation plan for mitigating the effect of the proposed project based on the qualities that make the resource important. The excavation plan shall be submitted to the City for review and approval prior to implementation.

VII. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
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 of an agency adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases?
   

GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.6, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, of the General Plan EIR, addressed the impacts from greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program. GHG impacts under the General Plan EIR were found to be less than significant and no mitigation measures were required.

This section analyzes the GHG emissions from the construction and operation of the proposed project. An update to the background discussion of the GHG regulatory setting and air quality modeling in the General Plan EIR is in Appendix A, Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, of this Initial Study.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
The existing commercial uses generate greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources, energy (natural gas and purchased energy), and area sources such as landscaping equipment and architectural coatings. The existing land uses generate approximately 454 average daily weekday trips96 and 662 daily VM T. 97 Existing emissions based on full occupancy associated with historic operations associated with the existing commercial uses on the project site are included in Table 4-6 below.

96 TJKM Transportation Consultants. October 2019, Technical Memorandum (see Appendix D of this Initial Study). 97 Applies the same assumptions to existing conditions as TJKM Transportation Consultants applied in their October 2019 memo for the proposed project (see Appendix D of this Initial Study).

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TABLE 4-6 EXISTING GHG EMISSIONS
Category
GHG Emissions (MTCO2e/Year)
Existing Emissions Percent of Total
Area <1 <1%
Energy 5 1%
On-Road Mobile Sources 335 96%
Waste 7 2%
Water/Wastewater 1 <1%
Total 347 100%
Note: Emissions may not total to 100 percent due to rounding. MTCO2e/year = metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.

Source: California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod), Version 2016.3.25.

DISCUSSION
a) Would the project generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment?
A project does not generate enough GHG emissions on its own to influence global climate change; therefore, this section measures the project’s contribution to the cumulative environmental impact.

Development of the proposed project would contribute to global climate change through direct and indirect emissions of GHG from transportation sources, energy use (natural gas and purchased energy), water use and wastewater generation, and solid waste generation. In addition, construction activities would generate a short-term increase in GHG emissions. The change in emissions generated by the proposed project was evaluated using the CalEEMod, Version 2016.3.25, and are shown in Table 4-7.

TABLE 4-7 PROJECT OPERATION AND CONSTRUCTION GHG EMISSIONS Category
GHG Emissions (MTCO2e/Year)
Existing Emissions Project Emissions Percent of Total Net Change from Existing Area <1 2 1% 2
Energy 5 20 6% 16
On-Road Mobile Sources 335 294 88% -41
Waste 7 7 2% <1
Water/Wastewater 1 1 <1% <1
Amortized Construction Emissions a NA 11 3% 11
Total 347 255 100% 26.5%
BAAQMD Emissions Threshold (MTCO2e) 660
Exceeds BAAQMD Thresholds? No
Notes: Emissions may not total to 100 percent due to rounding. New buildings would be constructed to the 2019 Building & Energy Efficiency Standards (effective January 1, 2020). MTCO2e/year = metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. a. One-time, short-term emissions are converted to average annual emissions by amortizing them over the service life of a building, which is assumed to be 30 years.

Source: California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod), Version 2016.3.25.

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Construction Impacts
BAAQMD does not have thresholds of significance for construction-related GHG emissions, however, the BAAQMD advises that the lead agency should quantify and disclose GHG emissions that would occur during construction and make a determination on the significance of these construction-generated GHG emissions in relation to meeting Assembly Bill (AB) 32 GHG reduction goals. Therefore, this impact discussion applies BAAQMD’s project-level operation threshold of 660 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year (MTCO2e/year) for construction, which is based on BAAQMD’s operational-related threshold of 660 MTCO2e/year . 98 GHG emissions from construction activities are one-time, short-term emissions and, therefore, would not significantly contribute to long-term cumulative GHG emissions impacts from the proposed project. One-time, short-term emissions are converted to average annual emissions by amortizing them over the service life of a building. The total construction GHG emissions for the proposed project are estimated to be 253 MTCO2e/year (See Appendix A). For buildings in general, it is reasonable to look at a 30-year time frame, because this is a typical interval before a new building requires the first major renovation.99 As shown in Table 4-7 above, when amortized over a 30-year project lifetime, average annual construction emissions from the proposed project would represent a nominal source of GHG emissions and would not exceed BAAQMD’s operational-related threshold. Construction emissions would be less than significant, and no mitigation measures would be required.

Operational Impacts
As shown in Table 4-7 above, development of the proposed project would result in a net decrease of GHG emissions at opening year (2022). As previously described, the proposed project would generate fewer daily weekday trips and less daily VMT than the existing land uses on the project site. Because transportation emissions would generate the majority of GHG emissions associated with the proposed project, this reduction in daily trips and VMT would provide a project benefit in reducing GHG emissions.

Additionally, the new buildings would be more energy efficient than the existing structures and would be built to achieve the latest Title 24 Building and Energy Efficiency Standards. Operation of the proposed project would result in a net decrease in GHG emissions and would not exceed the BAAQMD bright-line screening threshold of 660 MTCO
2e.100 Because long-term GHG emissions associated with the proposed project are anticipated to decrease, resulting in a project benefit to GHGs, no impact would occur .

98 California Executive Order B-30-15 requires the state to reduce GHG emission 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. A 40% reduction from BAAQMD’s 1,100 MTCO2e/year threshold identified in the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 2017, California Environmental Quality Act Air Quality Guidelines, p.2-4, is 660 MTCO2e/per year. 99 International Energy Agency, 2008, Energy Efficiency Requirements in Building Codes, Energy Efficiency Policies for New Buildings, March. While the BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines do not provide specific criteria in evaluating construction-related GHG emissions impacts, this methodology is consistent with the methodology utilized by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
100 California Executive Order B-30-15 requires the state to reduce GHG emission 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. A 40% reduction from BAAQMD’s 1,100 MTCO2e/year threshold identified in the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 2017, California Environmental Quality Act Air Quality Guidelines, p.2-4, is 660 MTCO2e/per year.

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b) Would the project conflict with an applicable plan, policy, or regulation of an agency adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases?
Applicable plans adopted for the purpose of reducing GHG emissions include the CARB Scoping Plan, the MTC’s/ ABAG’s Plan Bay Area 2040, and Cupertino’s Climate Action Plan. A consistency analysis with these plans is presented below.

CARB’s Scoping Plan
In accordance with AB 32 and SB 32 the CARB 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan101 (Scoping Plan) contains the State’s strategy to achieve 1990 level emissions by year 2020 and a 40 percent reduction from 1990 emissions by year 2030. The Scoping Plan is applicable to State agencies and is not directly applicable to cities/counties and individual projects. Nevertheless, the Scoping Plan has been the primary tool that is used to develop performance-based and efficiency-based CEQA criteria and GHG reduction targets for climate action planning efforts.

Statewide strategies to reduce GHG emissions in the latest Scoping Plan (2017) include implementing SB 350, which expands the Renewables Portfolio Standard to 50 percent by 2030 and doubles energy efficiency savings; expanding the Low Carbon Fuel Standard to 18 percent by 2030; implementing the Mobile Source Strategy to deploy zero-electric vehicle buses and trucks; implementation of the Sustainable Freight Action Plan; implementation of the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy, which reduces methane and hydrofluorocarbons 40 percent below 2013 levels by 2030 and black carbon emissions 50 percent below 2013 levels by 2030; continuing to implement Senate Bill 375; creation of a post-2020 Cap-and-Trade Program; and development of an Integrated Natural and Working Lands Action Plan to secure California’s land base as a net carbon sink. Statewide GHG emissions reduction measures that are being implemented as a result of the Scoping Plan would reduce the proposed project’s GHG emissions.

The proposed project would be constructed to achieve the standards in effect at the time of development and would not conflict with statewide programs adopted for the purpose of reducing GHG emissions. As stated above, while the measures in the State’s Scoping Plan are not directly applicable to individual development projects, the project’s GHG emissions would be reduced through compliance with statewide measures that have been adopted since AB 32 and SB 32 were adopted. Therefore, the impact would be less than significant.

MTC’s/ABAG’s Plan Bay Area
Plan Bay Area 2040 is the Bay Area’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)/Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS). To achieve MTC’s/ABAG’s sustainable vision for the Bay Area, the Plan Bay Area 2040 land use concept plan for the region concentrates the majority of new population and employment growth in the region in Priority Development Areas (PDAs). PDAs are transit-oriented, infill development opportunity areas within existing communities. An overarching goal of the regional plan is to concentrate development

101 Note that the 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan is an update to the 2008 and 2014 Scoping Plans.

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in areas where there are existing services and infrastructure rather than allocate new growth to outlying areas where substantial transportation investments would be necessary to achieve the per capita passenger vehicle, vehicle miles traveled, and associated GHG emissions reductions. Although the proposed project is not within a PDA, as discussed in Section XII, Population and Housing, growth associated with the proposed project is consistent with ABAG projections and would not exceed regional population and employment projections (see Chapter 4, General Plan EIR Consistency Analysis, of this Initial Study). The proposed project is an infill development project that would result in an increase in land use intensity in a portion of the city that has access to existing infrastructure and services, including transit service (see Section XV, Transportation). Therefore, the proposed project would not conflict with the land use concept plan for the City of Cupertino identified in the Plan Bay Area 2040 and the impact would be less than significant.

City of Cupertino Climate Action Plan
The Cupertino Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a strategic planning document that identifies sources of GHG emissions within the city’s boundaries, presents current and future emissions estimates, identifies a GHG reduction target for future years, and presents strategic goals, measures, and actions to reduce emissions from the energy, transportation and land use, water, solid waste, and green infrastructure sectors.

The emissions reduction strategies developed by the City followed the BAAQMD’s CEQA Guidelines (2011) and the corresponding criteria for a Qualified Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Program as defined by the BAAQMD, which in turn were developed to comply with the requirements of AB 32 and achieve the goals of CARB’s 2008 Scoping Plan. Since the adoption of the CAP in January of 2015, the Legislature adopted SB 32 (September 2016) and CARB adopted the 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan (December 2017), aimed at meeting SB 32’s GHG reduction goal of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

Qualified GHG Reduction Strategy
A qualified GHG reduction strategy adopted by a local jurisdiction should include the follow ing elements, described in the State CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5. BAAQMD’s revised CEQA Guidelines provides the methodology to determine if a GHG reduction strategy meets these requirements. The following includes a description of the BAAQMD methodology and how the Cupertino CAP meets the requirement.

1. Quantify GHG emissions, both existing and projected over a specified time period, resulting from activities within a defined geographic area.
 Cupertino’s CAP identifies a baseline GHG emissions inventory for year 2010 and business-as- usual forecasts for 2020, 2035, and 2050 for land uses within the City.

Establish a level, based on substantial evidence, below which the contribution to greenhouse gas emissions from activities covered by the plan would not be cumulatively considerable.  Cupertino’s CAP has established a goal (or level) of 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 35 percent below 2005 levels by 2035. The 2020 GHG reduction goal is in line with AB 32. However, the 2030 goal was adopted prior to SB 32.

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Identify and analyze the GHG emissions resulting from specific actions or categories of actions anticipated within the geographic area.
 The GHG emissions sources calculated in the baseline GHG emissions inventory include commercial, residential, and industrial electricity and natural gas use, on-road transportation, solid waste disposal, energy use related to water and wastewater, agricultural off-road equipment and emissions associated with fertilizer application, and off-road equipment use for construction and lawn and garden activities. GHG emissions from these activities were calculated from activity data such as kilowatt hours of electricity, therms of natural gas, tons of waste disposed, and vehicle miles traveled from trips with an origin or destination in Cupertino.

Specify measures or a group of measures, including performance standards, that substantial evidence demonstrates, if implemented on a project-by-project basis, would collectively achieve the specified emissions level.
 The Cupertino CAP has identified groups of measures and performance standards aimed at achieving these targets: Reduce Energy Use/Improve Facilities; Encourage Alternative Transportation/Convert Vehicle Fleet; Conserve Potable Water; Reduce Solid Waste; and Expand Green Infrastructure. The Cupertino CAP strategies achieve the near-term (i.e., 2020) GHG reduction target. Strategies for the post-2020 targets were not quantified.

Establish a mechanism to monitor the plan’s progress toward achieving the target GHG emissions level and to require amendment if the plan is not achieving specified levels.  The City has a sustainability division that implements and tracks the City’s GHG reduction strategies and progress toward GHG reduction targets. The City’s sustainability division prepares annual reports on CAP implementation and progress as part of the monitoring program, including projects and policies, data and metrics, as well as inventory updates to determine if the CAP is achieving its targeted goals.

Be adopted in a public process following environmental review.  The City’s 2015 addendum to General Plan EIR102 demonstrated that that adoption of the Cupertino CAP would not create any new or substantially more severe significant effects on the environment that were not analyzed in the General Plan EIR certified in 2014. 103
Based on the analysis above, the City’s CAP is a qualified GHG reduction plan for the AB 32 targets.

In addition, a specific project proposal is considered consistent with the Cupertino CAP if it does not conflict with the required GHG reduction measures contained in the adopted CAP . Project consistency with the adopted GHG reduction measures are shown in Table 4-8:

102 City of Cupertino, approved General Plan Amendment, Housing Element Update, and Associated Rezoning EIR Final Addendum, State Clearinghouse Number 2014032007. October 2015. 103 City of Cupertino, certified General Plan Amendment, Housing Element Update, and Associated Rezoning EIR, State Clearinghouse Number 2014032007. December 2014.

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TABLE 4-8 CUPERTINO CLIMATE ACTION PLAN CONSISTENCY MATRIX Measure Consistency
Measure C-E-1 Energy Use Data and Analysis

Increase resident and building
owner/tenant/operator knowledge about how,
when, and where building energy is used.

2035 GHG Reduction Potential: 850 MT CO2e/yr
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. This measure is not relevant because the proposed project receives energy through Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) and therefore utilizes renewable energy for the building. As described in Chapter 3, Project Description, energy conservation measures would be used as part of interior lighting for the new building, such as various glazing treatments on exterior facades and efficient irrigation for landscape to reduce water consumption by 20 percent.

The proposed project would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

Measure C-E-2 Retrofit Financing

Promote existing and support development of new
private financing options for home and commercial
building retrofits and renewable energy
development.

2035 GHG Reduction Potential: 10,525 MT CO2e/yr
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. The project proposes new residential buildings that would comply with the 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards and CALGreen, at minimum, as stated on pages 3-11 and 3-12 of Chapter 3, Project Description. The proposed project would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

Measure C-E-3 Home & Commercial Building
Retrofit Outreach

Develop aggressive outreach program to drive
voluntary participation in energy- and water-
efficiency retrofits.

Supporting Measure
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. The proposed project includes the construction of new buildings and therefore these measures would not apply as a retrofit. Additionally, the proposed project would comply with the latest building code and utilize energy and water efficient fixtures. The proposed project would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

Measure C-E-4 Energy Assurance Plan

Develop a long-term community-wide energy
conservation plan that considers future
opportunities to influence building energy efficiency
through additional or enhanced building
regulations.

Supporting Measure
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. The proposed project includes buildings that would comply with the 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards and CALGreen, at minimum, as stated on pages 3-15 of Chapter 3, Project Description.

Measure C-E-5 Community-Wide Solar
Photovoltaic Development

Encourage voluntary community-wide solar
photovoltaic development through regulatory
barrier reduction and public outreach campaigns.

2035 GHG Reduction Potential: 4,400 MT CO2e/yr
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. The proposed project would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

Measure C-E-6 Community-Wide Solar Hot Water
Development

Encourage communitywide solar hot water
development through regulatory barrier reduction
and public outreach campaigns.

Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. The proposed project would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

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TABLE 4-8 CUPERTINO CLIMATE ACTION PLAN CONSISTENCY MATRIX Measure Consistency

2035 GHG Reduction Potential: 925 MT CO2e/yr
Measure C-E-7 Community Choice Energy Option

Partner with other Santa Clara County jurisdictions
to evaluate the development of a regional CCE
option, including identification of the geographic
scope, potential costs to participating jurisdictions
and residents, and potential liabilities.

2035 GHG Reduction Potential: 56,875 MT
CO2e/yr
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. The City of Cupertino is a member of Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) which partners with PG&E to provide clean electricity. The proposed project would receive energy from SVCE. The proposed project would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

Measure C-T-1 Bicycle & Pedestrian Environment
Enhancements

Continue to encourage multi-modal transportation,
including walking and biking, through safety and
comfort enhancements in the bicycle and
pedestrian environment.

Supporting Measure
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. As stated in Section XV, Transportation, of this Initial Study, the proposed project would not remove existing bicycle facilities along Stevens Creek Boulevard, nor would it conflict with the City’s 2016 Bicycle Transportation Plan.

Pedestrians would also have access to the site via the existing crosswalks on South Foothill Boulevard connecting to Stevens Canyon Road.

Therefore, the proposed project would promote these alternative modes of transportation.

Measure C-T-2 Bikeshare Program

Explore feasibility of developing local bikeshare
program.

Supporting Measure
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. The proposed project would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

Class II bike lanes currently exist on both sides of South Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road along the length of the project site. Bicyclists would access the project site from the existing Class II bike lanes via the internal roadway network.

Measure C-T-3 Transportation Demand
Management

Provide informational resources to local businesses
subject to SB 1339 transportation demand
management program requirements and
encourage additional voluntary participation in the
program.

2035 GHG Reduction Potential: 2,375 MT CO2e/yr
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. As described in Section XV, Transportation, of this Initial Study, the proposed project is an infill and would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

Measure C-T-5 Transit Priority

Improve transit service reliability and speed.

Supporting Measure
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. As described in Section XV, Transportation, of this Initial Study, the proposed project is an infill project, but is not located near a transit stop. However, the proposed project would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

Measure C-T-6 Transit-Oriented Development

Continue to encourage development that takes
advantage of its location near local transit options
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. As described in Section XV, Transportation, of this Initial Study, the proposed project is an infill project and would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

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TABLE 4-8 CUPERTINO CLIMATE ACTION PLAN CONSISTENCY MATRIX Measure Consistency
(e.g., major bus stops) through higher densities and
intensities to increase ridership potential.

Supporting Measure
Measure C-W-1 SB-X7-7

Implement water conservation policies contained
within Cupertino’s Urban Water Management Plan
to achieve 20 percent per capita water reductions
by 2020.

Supporting Measure
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. The proposed project would comply with SB X7-7, which requires California to achieve a 20 percent reduction in urban per capita water use by 2020 and would implement best management practices for water conservation to achieve the City’s water conservation goals. As described in Chapter 3, Project Description, the project incorporates water conservation features for on-site irrigation. All landscape zones would be irrigated as required by the Cupertino Landscape Ordinance, and water uses would be tailored to meet CALGreen Building Standards, which requires water conservation and requires new buildings to reduce water consumption by 20 percent. The proposed project would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

Measure C-W-2 Recycled Water Irrigation Program

Explore opportunities to use recycled water for
irrigation purposes to reduce potable water
demands.

Supporting Measure
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. City must build the infrastructure to provide recycled water for projects to use. As described in Chapter 3, Project Description, the project incorporates water conservation features for on-site irrigation. All landscape zones would be irrigated as required by the Cupertino Landscape Ordinance, and water uses would be tailored to meet CALGreen Building Standards, which requires water conservation and requires new buildings to reduce water consumption by 20 percent.

The proposed project would not conflict with
implementation of this measure.

Measure C-SW-1 Zero Waste Goal

Maximize solid waste diversion communitywide
through preparation of a zero-waste strategic plan.

Supporting Measure
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. As described in Chapter 3, Project Description, this Initial Study, pursuant to CMC Chapter 16.72, Recycling and Diversion of Construction and Demolition Waste, during construction, the project would reduce construction waste and divert materials from landfill and promote recycling of construction waste.

The proposed project would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

Measure C-SW-2 Food Scrap and Compostable
Paper Diversion

Continue to promote the collection of food scraps
and compostable paper through the City’s organics
collection program.

2035 GHG Reduction Potential: 750 MT CO2e/yr
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for implementing this measure. The proposed project would include compost and yard waste disposal services through the City’s contracts with Recology South Bay. The materials would be collected by the City garbage waste hauler. The proposed project would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

Measure C-SW-3 Construction & Demolition Waste
Diversion Program

Continue to enforce diversion requirements in City’s
Construction & Demolition Debris Diversion and
Green Building Ordinances.

2035 GHG Reduction Potential: 550 MT CO
2e/yr
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. As described in Chapter 3, Project Description, of this Initial Study, the proposed project would comply with the City’s Construction and Demolition Debris Diversion Ordinance (CMC Chapter 16.72), which requires applicable construction projects to divert 65 percent of construction waste. Pursuant to CMC Section 16.72.050, Information Required Before Issuance of Permit, the project would create a construction waste management plan to reduce construction waste and divert materials from landfill and promote recycling of construction waste. Prior to receiving a final building inspection, a construction recycling report would be submitted to show

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TABLE 4-8 CUPERTINO CLIMATE ACTION PLAN CONSISTENCY MATRIX Measure Consistency
the tons recycled and disposed by material type. The proposed project would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

Measure C-G-1 Urban Forest Program

Support development and maintenance of a
healthy, vibrant urban forest through outreach,
incentives, and strategic leadership.

2035 GHG Reduction Potential: 725 MT CO2e/yr
Consistent. The City is the responsible party for this measure. As described in Chapter 3, Project Description, of this Initial Study, there are no trees or other landscaping on the project site, and the proposed project would include the planting of approximately 15 trees and 16,602 square feet of pervious landscaped surfaces. The new landscaping reduces storm water run-off, increases carbon dioxide plantings, and reduces the heat sink profile of the site. The proposed project would not conflict with implementation of this measure.

Source: City of Cupertino, PlaceWorks, 2020.

Development in Cupertino, including the proposed project, is required to adhere to City-adopted policy provisions, including those contained in the adopted CAP . The City ensures that the provisions of the Cupertino CAP are incorporated into projects and permits as part of development review and through conditions of approval. In general, the proposed project represents a benefit to GHG emissions compared to existing conditions because the mixed-use and infill development would locate housing and residential serving land uses in an existing neighborhood and would replace the older structures with newer, more energy efficient structures that achieve the 2019 Building and Energy Efficiency Standards and water efficiency standards and would decrease GHG emissions by 26.5 percent. Therefore, the impact would be less than significant.

VIII. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
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 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 material sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, create a significant hazard to the public or the environment?
   
e) For a project 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, result in a safety hazard for people living or working in the project area?
   

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Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
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?    

GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.7, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, of the General Plan EIR, addressed the hazards- and hazardous materials-related impacts associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. Impacts were found to be less than significant with mitigation measures to reduce impacts from development on sites with known hazardous contamination. General Plan EIR Mitigation Measures HAZ-4a and HAZ-4b, previously adopted and incorporated into the General Plan, are required to be implemented for sites with known contamination and potential residual contamination. As discussed in Chapter 4.7, the project site is not listed as a site with known contamination or potential residual contamination; therefore, the identified mitigation measures in the General Plan EIR do not apply to the proposed project.

The following is a summary of Section, 4.7.1.2, Existing Conditions, of Chapter 4.7, and project specific information from the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) dated January 12, 2019, prepared for the project site by Applied Water Resources Corporation and reviewed by PlaceWorks and the City.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
Phase I ESA
The purpose of the Phase I ESA was to identify any recognized environmental conditions (RECs) associated with the presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products in the vicinity of the project site. The Phase I ESA included a review of federal, State, tribal, and local databases, site reconnaissance, and a review of historical sources. The assessment revealed no indications of RECs on the project site.104 The site was used for orchards and associated buildings in 1939. The orchards were removed in 1948.

According to the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC), when orchards have been removed or became inactive prior to 1950, organic pesticides are not an issue warranting further testing.105 Following the removal of the orchards, the project site was developed with the existing smaller mixed-use building

104 Applied Water Resources, 2018. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, 10625-10637 South Foothill Boulevard, Cupertino, California, page 14.
105 California Department of Toxic Substances Control California Environmental Protection Agency, Interim Guidance for Sampling Agricultural Properties, page 3, August 7, 2008.

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located on the site, currently used as the Cupertino Bike Shop. The larger building on the site, currently used for a variety of commercial uses, was constructed by 1963.106 The Cupertino Bike Shop located on the site is known to use approximately 75 to 100 gallons of aqueous parts cleaner per year, which is considered hazardous waste. However, the Phase I ESA describes the materials as being used appropriately and no indications of spills, releases, or violations were noted in the Phase I ESA.107
The search of the DTSC’s EnviroStor Database and the GeoTracker database search did not reveal any hazardous materials or leaking underground storage tanks also referred to as “LUST” sites on the project site.108,109 According to GeoTracker, there is a completed/closed soil contamination site approximately 500 feet to the northeast of the project site at a residential property. There is also one completed/closed voluntary cleanup site 0.5 miles to the northeast of the project site at the Blackberry Farm Play Area.110 Lead-Based Paints and Asbestos-Containing Materials
Based on the age of the buildings, there is a potential for asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and lead- based paint (LBP), which were not regulated in construction until the early 1970’s. Neither ACM or LBP are known to have been used during construction of the existing structures.111 ACMs and LBPs do not qualify as RECs regulated by the DTSC.112
Sensitive Receptors
Public schools near the project site are Monta Vista High School and John F. Kennedy Middle School and Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, each approximately 1 mile to the east of the site. Private schools near the project site include Saint Joseph of Cupertino School approximately 2 miles to the east, Futures Academy of Cupertino approximately 3 miles to the east, Bethel Lutheran School approximately 4 miles to the east, and Waldorf School of the Peninsula approximately 4 miles to the northwest. Other sensitive land uses near the project site include the Cupertino Healthcare and Wellness nursing home approximately 0.25 miles to the north, Namo Day Care approximately 0.30 miles to the north, Sunny View

106 Applied Water Resources, 2018. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, 10625-10637 South Foothill Boulevard, Cupertino, California, pages 8 and 9, January 12.
107 Applied Water Resources, 2018. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, 10625-10637 South Foothill Boulevard, Cupertino, California, page 7.
108 Department of Toxic Substances Control. 2019. EnviroStor. Accessed May 28, 2019 at https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/.
109 State Water Resources Control Board. 2015. GeoTracker. Accessed May 28, 2019 at https://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/
110 Department of Toxic Substances Control. 2019. EnviroStor. Accessed May 28, 2019 at https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/.
111 Applied Water Resources, 2018. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, 10625-10637 South Foothill Boulevard, Cupertino, California, page 14.
112 Applied Water Resources, 2018. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, 10625-10637 South Foothill Boulevard, Cupertino, California.

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Bay Area Retirement Community approximately 0.75 miles to the north, and Cupertino Senior Center approximately 1.5 miles to the northeast.

Airports
The nearest public airports are San José International Airport, approximately 8.5 miles to the northeast, and Palo Alto Airport, approximately 10 miles to the north. The nearest heliports are McCandless Towers Heliport, approximately 7 miles to the northeast, and County Medical Center Heliport, approximately 7.5 miles to the east. The nearest private (military/corporate) airport is Moffett Federal Airfield, approximately 7 miles to the north. The project site is not within the boundaries of an airport land use plan.

Wildfire
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has designated the project site as a Local Responsibility Area (LRA) and a non-very high fire hazard severity zone. The project site is near lands that CAL FIRE designates as State Responsibility Area (SRA), which are areas of the state where the State of California is financially responsible for the prevention and suppression of wildfires. SRA’s do not include lands within city boundaries or in federal ownership. The SRA is approximately 0.5 miles to the west of the project site.113 The project site is located within the wildland-urban interface, which is an area of transition between wildland (unoccupied land) and land with human development (occupied land).114

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?
Construction Impacts
Construction activities at the project site would involve the use of larger amounts of hazardous materials than would operation of the proposed project, such as petroleum-based fuels for maintenance and construction equipment, and coatings used in construction, which would be transported to the site periodically by vehicle and would be present temporarily during construction. These potentially hazardous materials would not be of a type or occur in sufficient quantities to pose a significant hazard to public health and safety or the environment, and their use during construction would be short-term. As with proposed project operation, the use, transport, and disposal of construction-related hazardous materials would be required to conform to existing laws and regulations. Compliance with applicable laws and regulations governing the use, storage, and transportation of hazardous materials would ensure that all potentially hazardous materials are used and handled in an appropriate manner, and would minimize the potential for safety impacts to occur . Consequently, associated impacts from construction of the proposed project would be less than significant.

113 CAL FIRE. 2008. Cupertino, Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in LRA. http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_prevention/fhsz_maps/FHSZ/santa_clara/Cupertino.pdf 114 CAL FIRE. 2018. Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Threat. http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=d45bf08448354073a26675776f2d09cb, accessed May 7, 2019.

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Operational Impacts
The proposed mixed-use development would not involve the routine transport or disposal of hazardous materials. Project operation would involve the use of small amounts of hazardous materials for cleaning and maintenance purposes, such as cleansers, degreasers, pesticides, and fertilizers. These potentially hazardous materials would not be of a type or be present in sufficient quantities to pose a significant hazard to public health and safety or the environment. Furthermore, such substances would be used, transported, stored, and disposed of in accordance with applicable federal, State, and local laws, policies, and regulations. Any businesses that transport, generate, use, and/or dispose of hazardous materials in Cupertino are subject to existing hazardous materials regulations, such as those implemented by Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health Hazardous Materials Compliance Division, and hazardous materials permits from the Santa Clara Fire Department (SCCFD). The SCCFD also conducts inspections for fire safety and hazardous materials management of businesses and multi-family dwellings, in accordance with the City of Cupertino Hazardous Materials Storage Ordinance in Title 9, Health and Sanitation, Chapter 9.12, Hazardous Materials Storage. Thus, associated impacts from the operational phase of the project would be less than significant.
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?
As described under criterion (a), above, construction and operation of the proposed project would involve the storage and use of common cleaning substances, building maintenance products, paints, and solvents, as well as petroleum-based fuels for maintenance and construction equipment, and coatings used in construction. As described in the existing conditions, the existing buildings were developed in 1948 and 1963, and the Phase I ESA identified that, although all suspect ACMs and LBP are in good condition and do not currently pose a health or safety concern, the demolition of the buildings could release these hazardous materials. An impact could occur if construction and operation of the proposed project creates conditions where these hazardous materials could easily contaminate surrounding soil, water, o r a i r. The most likely scenarios would be from rainwater runoff spreading contaminated waste. Stormwater runoff is discussed in Section IX, Hydrology and Water Quality, of this Initial Study and impacts were found to be less than significant.

Construction Impacts
Similar to the operation of the proposed project, the types of construction materials and equipment would be considered standard for this type of development. All spills or leakage of petroleum products during construction activities are required to be immediately contained, the hazardous material identified, and the material remediated in compliance with applicable State and local regulations. All contaminated waste would be required to be collected and disposed of at an appropriately licensed disposal or treatment facility. Furthermore, strict adherence to all emergency response plan requirements set forth by the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health Hazardous Materials Compliance Division

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would be required through the duration of the construction of each individual development project.115 Therefore, substantial hazards to the public or the environment arising from the routine use of hazardous materials during project construction would not occur.

While the Phase I ESA identifies the potential for ACMs and LBPs on the project site, removal of these types of hazardous materials would require licensed contractors to remove and handle these materials in accordance with existing federal, State, and local regulations. These regulations include the USEPA’s National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (Code of Federal Regulation Part 61), Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Regulation 11, Title 8 of the California Codes of Regulations, the Unified Program, and the City’s General Plan Health and Safety Element Policy HS-6.1, which would insure that risks associated with the transport, storage, use, and disposal of such materials would be reduced to the maximum extent practical. Consequently, associated impacts from demolition phase of the project would be less than significant and no mitigation measures are required.

Operational Impacts
The proposed mixed-use development is not considered the type of project that would create a hazardous materials threat to the users of the site or the surrounding land uses. The Santa Clara County Hazardous Materials Compliance Division (HMCD) is the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) for Santa Clara County including the City of Cupertino and is responsible for enforcing Chapter 6.95 of the California Health and Safety Code. As the CUPA, Santa Clara County HMCD is required to regulate hazardous materials business plans (HMBP) and chemical inventory, hazardous waste and tiered permitting, underground storage tanks, and risk-management plans. The HMBP is required to contain basic information on the location, type, quantity, and health risks of hazardous materials stored, used, or disposed of on development sites. The HMBP also contains an emergency-response plan, which describes the procedures for mitigating a hazardous release, procedures and equipment for minimizing the potential damage of a hazardous materials release, and provisions for immediate notification of the California Emergency Management Agency and other emergency-response personnel, such as the SCCFD.

Implementation of the emergency response plan facilitates rapid response in the event of an accidental spill or release, thereby reducing potential adverse impacts. Furthermore, Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, Hazardous Materials Compliance Division is required to conduct ongoing routine inspections to ensure compliance with existing laws and regulations; to identify safety hazards that could cause or contribute to an accidental spill or release; and to suggest preventative measures to minimize the risk of a spill or release of hazardous substances. Compliance with these regulations would ensure that the risk of accidents and spills is minimized to the maximum extent practicable during the operation of the proposed project. Consequently, associated impacts would be less than significant.

115 Santa Clara County Ordinance Code, Division B11, Chapter XIII (Hazardous Materials Storage Ordinance), Chapter XIV (Toxic Gas Ordinance).

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c) Would the project emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous materials, substances or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school? There are no schools within 0.25 miles of the project site, but the Cupertino Healthcare and Wellness nursing home is approximately 0.25 miles to the north. As discussed in criterion (a) and (b), the proposed project would not involve the storage, handling, or disposal of hazardous materials in sufficient quantities to pose a significant risk to the public. Thus, no impact related to hazardous emissions or hazardous material handling to schools or other sensitive receptors that are within 0.25 miles of the project site would occur and no mitigation measures are required.

Also see Section II, Air Quality, criterion (c), which concludes that the potential for impacts to sensitive receptors due to the release of hazardous materials during construction would be less than significant with mitigation.
d) Would the project be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous material sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, create a significant hazard to the public or the environment?
As stated in the existing conditions above, the project site was not identified as being on a listed site pursuant to California Government Code Section 65952.5. The Phase I ESA revealed no indications of RECs on the project site and concluded that hazardous materials used by the existing bike shop are being used appropriately, with no indications of spills, releases, or violations. 116 Accordingly, impacts would be less
than significant.
e) For a project within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within 2 miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard for people living or working in the project area?
The project site is not within an airport land use plan or within 2 miles of a public use airport. Thus, there would be no impact related to public airport hazards.
f) Would the project impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan?
The City of Cupertino Office of Emergency Services is responsible for coordinating agency response to disasters or other large-scale emergencies in the City of Cupertino with assistance from the Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services and the SCCFD. The Cupertino Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) 117
establishes policy direction for emergency planning, mitigation, response, and recovery activities within the city. The Cupertino EOP addresses interagency coordination, procedures to maintain communications with county and State emergency response teams, and methods to assess the extent of damage and management of volunteers.

116 Applied Water Resources, 2018. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, 10625-10637 South Foothill Boulevard, Cupertino, California, page 14.
117 City of Cupertino, Office of Emergency Services. Emergency Operations Plan. September 2005.

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The proposed project would not block roads and would not impede emergency access to surrounding properties or neighborhoods. As described in Chapter 3, Project Description, of this Initial Study, emergency vehicle access would be provided at two points on the project site, with ingress and egress located at the intersections of Stevens Canyon Road and McClellan Road and Stevens Canyon Road and St.

Andrews Avenue, as shown in Figure 3-12. The emergency circulation plan includes a fire truck circulation route in addition to designated fireman access routes to reach the rear of the structures.

During demolition and construction, vehicles, equipment, and materials would be staged and stored on a portion of the project site. The construction site and staging areas would be clearly marked, and construction fencing would be installed to prevent disturbance and safety hazards. No staging would occur in the public right-of-way. A combination of on- and off-site parking facilities for construction workers would be identified during demolition, grading, and construction. The proposed project would not interfere with an adopted emergency response plan, or emergency evacuation plan; therefore, impacts would be less than significant.
g) Would the project expose people or structures, either directly or indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury, or death involving wildland fires?
The project site is fully developed and is surrounded by built-out urban uses. The project site is located approximately 0.25 miles from the Urban Wildland Interface area designated in the City’s adopted Urban Wildland Interface Fire Area map.118 The very high fire hazard severity zone located within the LRA is located in the central southern portion of the Cupertino, which is approximately 1.75 miles southeast of the project site. Because the project is located outside of a designated fire hazard area, the proposed project would not subject people or structures to wildfire hazards and impacts would be less than significant.

IX. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
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?
   

118 City of Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 16, Building and Construction, Chapter 16.74. Wildland Urban Interface Fire Area.

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Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
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; or
iv) Impede or redirect flood flows?
   
d) In a flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones, risk the release of pollutants due to project inundation?    
e) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of a water quality control plan or sustainable groundwater management plan?    

GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.8, Hydrology and Water Quality, of the General Plan EIR, addressed the hydrology- and water quality-related impacts associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. Impacts were found to be less than significant, and no mitigation measures were required. The following is a summary of Section, 4.8.1.2, Existing Conditions, of Chapter 4.8.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
The project site lies within the Stevens Creek Watershed,119 approximately 0.25 miles west of Stevens Creek, and approximately 1 mile north of Stevens Creek Reservoir . No creeks or natural drainage features are present on the project site. In addition to the natural drainage system within the watershed, a network of storm drains collects runoff from city streets and conveys it to four creeks, including Stevens Creek with ultimate discharge into San Francisco Bay.

The City of Cupertino Department of Public Works is responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of City-owned facilities including public streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and storm drains.

The capacity of the storm drain facilities within the City of Cupertino was evaluated and documented in the 2018 Storm Drain Master Plan, which identifies areas within the system that do not have the capacity to handle runoff during a 10-year storm event, which is the City’s design standard.

119 City of Cupertino, certified General Plan Amendment, Housing Element Update, and Associated Rezoning EIR, State Clearinghouse Number 2014032007. December 4, 2014, Chapter 4.8, Hydrology and Water Quality, Figure 4.8-1, Watersheds.

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As described in the 2018 Storm Drain Master Plan, the project site is in an area where some of the storm drains are deficient in conveying water from a 10-year storm. The project site would discharge stormwater to the City’s storm drain system at two locations. Stormwater from the south portion of the site would discharge to the 18-inch storm drain that runs beneath St. Andrews Avenue, which currently does not have any capacity issues. However, the northern portion of the site would discharge to the City’s existing 18-inch storm drain near the intersection of South Foothill Boulevard and McClellan Road. The storm drain beneath Stevens Canyon Road/South Foothill Boulevard that continues to Stevens Creek Boulevard is currently under capacity and is designated as high priority for replacement.120 The City’s proposed storm drain improvement to reduce flooding impacts would be to increase the storm drainpipe diameter to increase its carrying capacity.

The project site, as well as the entire city, is within the Santa Clara Subbasin of the Santa Clara Valley Groundwater Basin. In 2017, approximately 42 percent of the water used in Santa Clara County was pumped from groundwater .121 The depth of groundwater is estimated to be about 25 to 30 feet below ground surface or deeper .122 Therefore, construction dewatering will not be required. Most of the water supplied to the County is purchased from the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD), which receives surface water from the State Water Project (SWP) and the Central Valley Project. Additional details on water usage and local water purveyors are provided in Section XVII, Utilities and Service Systems, of this Initial Study.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program was established by the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) to regulate municipal and industrial discharges to surface waters of the United States from their municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). Municipal storm water discharges in the City of Cupertino are subject to the Waste Discharge Requirements of the Municipal Regional Permit (MRP; Order Number R2-2015-0049, as amended by Order No. R2-2019-0004) and NPDES Permit Number CAS612008.

Construction activities that disturb one or more acres of land that could impact hydrologic resources must comply with the requirements of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Construction General Permit (2009-0009-DWQ) as amended by 2010-0014-DWQ and 2012-0006-DWQ. Under the terms of the permit, applicants must file Permit Registration Documents (PRDs) with the SWRCB prior to the start of construction. The PRDs include a Notice of Intent, risk assessment, site map, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), annual fee, and a signed certification statement. The PRDs are submitted electronically to the SWRCB via the Stormwater Multiple Application and Report Tracking System (SMARTS) website.

All new development or redevelopment projects that create and/or replace 10,000 square feet or more of impervious surfaces would be required to incorporate source control, site design, and stormwater treatment measures into the project, pursuant to the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention

120 Schaaf & Wheeler Consulting Civil Engineers. 2018. Cupertino Storm Drain Master Plan. 121 Santa Clara Valley Water District, 2017. Annual Groundwater Report for Calendar Year 2017, page ES-1. 122 Applied Water Resources, 2018. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, 10625-10637 South Foothill/Stevens Canyon Road, Cupertino, CA.

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Program C.3 requirements. The requirements include minimization of impervious surfaces, measures to detain or infiltrate runoff from peak flows, and agreements to ensure that the stormwater treatment and flow control facilities are maintained in perpetuity.

The San Francisco Bay RWQCB monitors surface water quality through implementation of the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay Basin (Basin Plan) and designates beneficial uses for surface water bodies and groundwater within the Santa Clara Valley. The Basin Plan also contains water quality criteria for groundwater . Groundwater quality in the Santa Clara subbasin is generally considered to be good, and water quality objectives are met in at least 95 percent of the County water supply wells without the use of treatment methods.123

The project site is not located in a FEMA-designated 100-year floodplain or Special Flood Hazard Area. The project site is not within a dam inundation zone of Stevens Creek Reservoir or any other dams.124 The City of Cupertino is more than 8 miles south of the San Francisco Bay and is more than 100 feet above mean sea level, which places the City at a distance beyond the impacts of a tsunami.125 There are no large bodies of water within the City of Cupertino or near the project site; thus, the project site would not be impacted by a seiche.

DISCUSSION
a) Would the project violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements or otherwise substantially degrade surface or ground water quality?
Because the project would disturb one or more acres during construction, the project applicant would be required to comply with State’s Construction General Permit and submit PRDs to the SWRCB prior to the start of construction. The PRDs include a Notice of Intent and a site-specific construction SWPPP that describes the incorporation of best management practices to control sedimentation, erosion, and hazardous materials contamination of runoff during construction. In addition, the City of Cupertino requires preparation of an erosion and sediment control plan and submittal with the site map/grading plan, pursuant to CMC Section 16.08.110, Interim Erosion and Sediment Control Plan. With implementation of these best management practices, water quality impacts during construction would be less than significant.

The proposed project would create and/or replace 10,000 square feet or more of impervious surfaces, and therefore would be required to incorporate source control, site design, and stormwater treatment measures into the project, pursuant to the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program C.3 requirements. A Stormwater Management Plan must also be prepared and submitted to the City for

123 Santa Clara Valley Water District, 2016. Santa Clara Valley Water District, 2016. 2016 Groundwater Management Plan. 124 Santa Clara County Fire Department. 2012. Joint Stevens Creek Dam Failure Plan. https://www.cupertino.org/home/showdocument?id=7424 accessed on September 26, 2019. 125 Association of Bay Area Governments, 2019. Interactive Tsunami Inundation Map. http://gis.abag.ca.gov/website/Hazards/?hlyr=tsunami , accessed September 26, 2019.

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approval prior to the start of construction. The plan will detail how runoff and associated water quality impacts resulting from the proposed project will be controlled and managed.

The low impact development (LID) requirements include the preservation of open space and reduction of impervious surfaces, measures to detain or infiltrate runoff from peak flows during the 0.2 inches per hour storm event, and agreements to ensure that the stormwater treatment and flow control facilities are maintained in perpetuity. The proposed project would include 16,602 square feet of pervious area in the form of landscaping and two bioretention areas totaling 1,540 square feet. Bioretention areas percolate stormwater through the bioretention soil media, which acts as a filter removing pollutants such as suspended solids, metals, and nutrients and eventually discharging the runoff to the City’s storm drain system. Implementation of these measures and compliance with the C.3 requirements of the MRP would ensure that post-development impacts to water quality would be less than significant.

The project must also comply with CMC Chapter 9.18, Storm Water Pollution Prevention and Watershed Protection, which is intended to provide regulations and give legal effect to certain requirements of the MRP permit issued to the City. CMC Chapter 9.18 also ensures ongoing compliance with the most recent version of the MRP regarding municipal storm water and urban runoff requirements and applies to all water entering the storm drain system generated on any private, public, developed, and undeveloped lands within the city. The CMC contains permit requirements for construction projects and new development or redevelopment projects to minimize the discharge of storm water runoff.

The City of Cupertino also requires submittal and approval of a Stormwater Management Plan (SMP) prior to the start of construction (CMC Section 9.18.120, Stormwater Management Plan Required for Regulated Projects). The SMP must include the C.3 impervious surface form, LID feasibility worksheets, site design measures to limit impervious surfaces, numeric sizing criteria for stormwater treatment facilities, source control measures to limit the discharge of pollutants to the storm drain system, and an operation and maintenance (O&M) plan, including certification that the treatment measures will be maintained for perpetuity.

The project applicant must also install full trash capture devices to collect litter and debris from the project site, prior to connecting to the City’s storm drain system, as pursuant to CMC Section 9.18.115, Trash Load Reductions to Storm Drain Collection System. and the provisions of the MRP . A list of approved devices is available from the Public Works Department. The trash capture devices must be located onsite and situated so that trash carried by stormwater from the site is collected onsite does not flow directly into the City’s storm drain system. The trash capture devices must be properly designed and sized to ensure that the devices do not cause an obstruction to onsite stormwater flow. The trash capture devices must also be maintained, following manufacturer’s recommendations, for the life of the project.

Implementation of these measures will improve the water quality of stormwater entering the City’s storm drain system.

Adherence to applicable water quality regulations, preparation of a SWPPP , implementation of best management practices during construction, and compliance with the CMC would ensure that water quality standards are not violated during construction. Implementation of stormwater site design, source control, and stormwater treatment measures, compliance with C.3 provisions of the MRP and the City of

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Cupertino’s stormwater requirements, and preparation of a SMP that describes the installation and operation and maintenance requirements for the bioretention areas would result in less-than-significant impacts during operation of the project. Consequently, potential impacts associated with water quality during construction and operation would be less than significant. 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?
The project would be connected to municipal water supplies and does not propose any groundwater wells on the property. Water is supplied to the site by the San José Water (SJW), which obtains its water from groundwater production (40 percent), purchases of surface water from the SCVWD (50 percent), and local mountain surface water (10 percent).126 The 2015 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) for the SCVWD, which includes the area for the project site, states that there is sufficient water for SCVWD customers for normal, single-dry, and multiple-dry years until 2025. The SCVWD identifies actions within the water shortage contingency plan in its UWMP that would ensure water demand is met through 2040.
127 Therefore, the proposed project would not result in a depletion of groundwater supplies or result in a lowering of groundwater levels. Water supply is discussed in Section XVII, Utilities and Service Systems.

Groundwater beneath the site is more than 20 feet below ground surface (bgs). Therefore, no construction dewatering will be required. As a result, the development of the proposed project would not interfere with groundwater recharge that takes place in the McClellan Ponds recharge facility located within the City of Cupertino or the creeks and streams that run through the city. Therefore, the project would have a less-than-significant impact with respect to groundwater recharge.

The proposed project would be located on a site that is already developed and currently has about 47,975 square feet of existing impervious surfaces. The proposed project would result in a decrease of 4,556 square feet of impervious surfaces. In addition, the project would install two bioretention facilities, as discussed in criterion a), and landscaped areas would be installed along the perimeter and throughout the site, which would contribute to groundwater recharge by infiltration. As a result, the project would result in a decrease in the amount of runoff from the property. Therefore, the project would have a less than significant impact on groundwater supplies and groundwater recharge, and no mitigation measures are needed.
c) 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, siltation, or flooding on- or off-site; substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding

126 San José Water Company, For Your Information, Education and Safety, Water Supply, https://www.sjwater.com/for_your_information/education_safety/water_supply, accessed on September 26, 2019. 127 Santa Clara Valley Water District, 2015 Urban Water Management Plan, https://www.valleywater.org/sites/default/files/SCVWD%202015%20UWMP-Report%20Only.pdf, accessed on September 26, 2019.

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on- or off-site; 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; or impede or redirect flood flows?
The proposed project would take place within the boundaries of a fully developed site that is currently connected to the City’s storm drain system. The proposed redevelopment does not involve the alteration of any natural drainage channels or any watercourse.

As described in the 2018 Storm Drain Master Plan, the project site is within an area where some of the storm drains are deficient in conveying water from a 10-year storm. The southern portion of the site would discharge to the City’s existing 18-inch storm drain that is located beneath St. Andrews Place. This storm drain currently does not have any capacity issues. However, the northern portion of the site would discharge to the City’s existing 18-inch storm drain near the intersection of South Foothill Boulevard and McClellan Road. The storm drain at this location that continues north to Stevens Creek Boulevard is currently under capacity, and is designated as high priority for replacement;128 however, the proposed project would not exacerbate this existing condition. The proposed project would provide two bioretention facilities on the project site. These would collect runoff from roof areas, parking lots, sidewalks and streets for treatment and flow control prior to discharge into the on-site storm drain system, which connects to the City’s storm drain system beneath Stevens Canyon Road/South Foothill Boulevard and St. Andrews Avenue. The City has determined that the on-site stormwater treatment areas would meet the C.3 requirements of the MRP. In addition, the proposed project would result in a decrease in impervious surface area, resulting in a decrease in stormwater runoff to the municipal storm drain system as compared to existing conditions.

During construction, the project applicant would be subject to the NPDES construction permit requirements, including preparation of a SWPPP. The SWPPP includes erosion and sediment control measures to stabilize the site, protect slopes and channels, control the perimeter of the site, minimize the area and duration of exposed soils, and protect receiving waters adjacent to the site. Erosion and siltation impacts are minimized through compliance with these requirements and submittal of an erosion and sediment control plan to the City prior to the start of construction.

Once constructed, the requirements for new development or redevelopment projects include source control measures and site design measures that address stormwater runoff and would reduce the potential for erosion or siltation. In addition, Provision C.3 of the MRP would require the project to implement on-site stormwater treatment measures to contain site runoff, using specific numeric sizing criteria based on volume and flow rate. The bioretention areas will filter out sediment from the stormwater runoff.

The project would also be required to install stormwater trash capture devices that meet the requirements of the MRP . The trash capture devices must be located onsite and situated to ensure that trash carried by stormwater is collected onsite and does not flow directly into the City’s storm drain system. With implementation of these erosion and sediment control measures and regulatory provisions

128 Schaaf & Wheeler Consulting Civil Engineers. 2018. Cupertino Storm Drain Master Plan.

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to limit runoff for new development sites, the proposed project would not result in significant increases in erosion and sedimentation and these impacts would be less than significant.

In addition, the proposed development would result in a decrease in impervious surfaces as compared to existing conditions and would include on-site stormwater bioretention areas to temporarily retain peak flows prior to discharge to the City’s storm drain system. To ensure that runoff from the site would not exceed the capacity of the City’s storm drain system, the project applicant will prepare a hydrology and hydraulics report for review and approval by the Director of Public Works prior to the start of construction. The hydrology study shall include pre- and post-development flow rates and the ability of the bioretention areas to reduce the amount of runoff from the site and improve water quality. Also, the trash capture devices would be designed and sized to ensure that if the devices cause an obstruction to onsite stormwater flow, onsite flooding will not occur.

With compliance with these regulatory requirements, preparation of a hydrology/hydraulics study, and installation of on-site stormwater treatment systems to mitigate peak flows, the proposed project would not contribute to flooding on-site or off-site and impacts would be less than significant.

d) In flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones, would the project risk the release of pollutants due to project inundation?
The project site is not located near the San Francisco Bay or the Pacific Ocean and is not within a mapped tsunami inundation zone.
129 There are no large bodies of water in the vicinity of the project site; therefore, there would be no potential for seiches to impact the project site. The project site is also outside of the Stevens Creek Reservoir dam inundation zone.130 In addition, the site is in a relatively flat area of the city and is outside of the ABAG mapped zones for earthquake-induced landslides or debris flow source areas.131 Therefore, no impact would occur with respect to the release of pollutants from these types of natural hazard events.
e) Would the project conflict with or obstruct implementation of a water quality control plan or sustainable groundwater management plan?
The San Francisco Bay RWQCB monitors surface water quality through implementation of the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay Basin, also referred to as the “Basin Plan,” and designates beneficial uses for surface water bodies and groundwater within the Santa Clara Valley. The Basin Plan also contains water quality criteria for groundwater .

As required by storm water management guidelines discussed under criterion (a), best management practices and LID measures would be implemented across the project site during both construction and

129 Association of Bay Area Governments, 2019. Interactive Tsunami Inundation Map. http://gis.abag.ca.gov/website/Hazards/?hlyr=tsunami accessed on September 26, 2019. 130 Santa Clara County Fire Department. 2012. Joint Stevens Creek Dam Failure Plan. https://www.cupertino.org/home/showdocument?id=7424 accessed on September 26, 2019. 131 Association of Bay Area Governments, 2019. Rainfall-Induced Landslides, Debris Flow Source Areas and Earthquake Induced Landslides. Accessed at http://resilience.abag.ca.gov/landslides/ on September 26, 2019.

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operation of the proposed project. These measures would control and prevent the release of sediment, debris, and other pollutants into the storm drain system. Implementation of best management practices during construction would be in accordance with the provisions of the SWPPP and the erosion and sediment control plan, which would minimize the release of sediment, soil, and other pollutants.

Operational best management practices would be required to meet the C.3 provisions of the MRP . These best management practices, along with the proposed LID measures, include the incorporation of site design, source control, and treatment control measures to treat and control runoff before it enters the storm drain system. The proposed treatment measures would include the use of two bioretention areas to treat and detain runoff prior to discharge to the City’s storm drain system.

The project site is within the Santa Clara Valley Groundwater Basin, which is covered under the 2016 Groundwater Management Plan.132 This basin has been characterized by the Department of Water Resources as a medium-priority subbasin and therefore subject to the requirements to develop and implement a Groundwater Sustainability Plan. The Groundwater Management Plan states that the total recharge to the Santa Clara and Llagas subbasins exceeds the total outflow via groundwater pumping and subsurface outflow, with excess groundwater storage of 1,500 acre-feet. This indicates that the subbasins are in long-term balance and meet the criteria for sustainable groundwater conditions. Although SJW does use groundwater as a source of water supply, the Water Supply Evaluation prepared for the General Plan EIR included new development on the project site at a greater number of units than proposed under the project (27 net new units as compared to project’s 18 new units); therefore, water supply impacts were adequately addressed in the General Plan EIR.

As discussed in criterion (b), the depth to groundwater is estimated to be 25 to 30 feet bgs and the proposed project would not require construction dewatering.

With implementation of these best management practices and LID measures in accordance with City and MRP requirements, the proposed project would not conflict with or obstruct the implementation of the Basin Plan of the Groundwater Management Plan, and potential impacts on water quality would be less than significant.

X. LAND USE AND PLANNING
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
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?
   

132 Santa Clara Valley Water District, 2016 Groundwater Management Plan, Santa Clara and Llagas Subbasins.

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GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.9, Land Use and Planning, of the General Plan EIR, addressed impacts to land use and planning associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. Impacts were determined to be less than significant, and no mitigation measures were required. The following is a summary of Section, 4.9.1.2, Existing Conditions, of Chapter 4.9.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
The General Plan land use designation for the project site is Commercial/Residential and the project site is within the (P(CG)) Zoning District. A complete description of the Commercial/Residential land use designation and (P(CG)) Zoning District is presented in Section 3.1.4, Land Use Designation and Zoning, in Chapter 3 of this Initial Study.

DISCUSSION
a) Would the project physically divide an established community? Because the development of the proposed project would occur on a site that is currently developed, would retain existing roadway patterns, and would not introduce any new major roadways or other physical features through existing residential neighborhoods or other communities that would create new barriers, the project would not physically divide an established community. Therefore, no impact would occur .
b) Would the project cause a significant environmental impact due to a conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect?
The proposed project does not include a request for any modification to the existing General Plan land use designation. However, the project does include a request to modify the existing General Commercial (P(CG)) Zoning District to a General Commercial with Residential (P(CG, Res)) Zoning District to allow residential uses on the project site. This request would make the Zoning District for the project site more consistent with the Commercial/Residential General Plan land use designation, which allows for residential uses. The proposed project (at 11.5 units per acres and with a building height of 30 feet at the highest point) is within the development parameters evaluated in the General Plan EIR (25 dwelling units per acre and a maximum building height of 30 feet tall) and the General Plan EIR found land use impacts to be less than significant. The proposed mixed-use development would be consistent with the types of development envisioned in the Inspiration Heights Neighborhood, Neighborhood Center, and Other Non- Residential/Mixed-Use Special Areas identified in the General Plan. Accordingly, the proposed project would also result in less-than-significant impacts with regard to conflicts with land use plans.

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XI. NOISE
Would the proposed project result in:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
a) Generation of a substantial temporary or permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or in other applicable local, state, or federal standards?
   
b) Generation of excessive groundborne vibration or groundborne noise levels?    
c) For a project located within the vicinity of a private airstrip or 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 expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels?
   

GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.10, Noise, of the General Plan EIR addressed the impacts from noise and vibration associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. Noise impacts were found to be significant and unavoidable in the General Plan EIR because the project-specific details for future development were not available. No feasible mitigation measures were identified to reduce noise impacts to a less-than- significant level and project-specific noise evaluation is required to assess noise impacts from the proposed redevelopment of the site.

This section includes a summary of Section, 4.10.1.3, Existing Conditions, of Chapter 4.10, and analyzes the noise and vibration that would be generated by the construction and operation of the proposed project at a project level.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
Noise is defined as unwanted sound and is known to have several adverse effects on people including hearing loss, speech and sleep interference, physiological responses, and annoyance. Based on these known adverse effects of noise, the federal government, State of California, and City of Cupertino have established criteria to protect public health and safety and to prevent disruption of certain human activities. Noise terminology and fundamentals, pertinent existing local regulations traffic noise level increase calculations, and construction noise and vibration modeling can be found in Appendix C, Noise Data, of this Initial Study.

The project site is a bounded by adjacent single-family homes to the north, west, and south. South Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road are located to the east of the project site, beyond which are single-family homes. The nearest sensitive receptors to the project site are the adjacent one-story and

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two-story single-family residences approximately 20 to 50 feet from the site property lines to the north, west, and south. The principal noise source affecting the project area is roadway traffic on Stevens Canyon Road and South Foothill Boulevard and surrounding residential roadways.

The nearest public airports are San José International Airport, approximately 8.5 miles to the northeast, and Palo Alto Airport, approximately 10 miles to the north. The nearest heliports are McCandless Towers Heliport, approximately 7 miles to the northeast, and County Medical Center Heliport, approximately 7.5 miles to the east. The nearest private airport is Moffett Federal Airfield, approximately 7 miles to the north. The project site is not located in within an airport land use plan.

The noise environment in the project area is approximately 60 to 70+ dBA Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) based on the noise contour map in the General Plan Health and Safety Element (Attachment D. Community Noise), with ambient noise levels decreasing at further distance from Stevens Canyon Road.

It is important to note that with the Supreme Court decision regarding the assessment of the environment’s impacts on projects (California Building Industry Association (CBIA) v. Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), 62 Cal. 4th 369 (No. S 213478) issued December 17, 2015), it is generally no longer the purview of the CEQA process to evaluate the impact of existing environmental conditions on any given project. As a result, while the noise from existing sources is taken into account as part of the baseline, the direct effects of existing outside (exterior) noise from nearby noise sources as it relates to land use compatibility of the project is no longer a required topic for impact evaluation under CEQA. No determination of significance is required or made in this Initial Study.

DISCUSSION
a) Generation of a substantial temporary or permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or in other applicable local, State, or federal standards?
A significant stationary-source impact would occur if the activities or equipment at the proposed project site produce noise levels at nearby sensitive receptors in excess of local standards.

With respect to permanent traffic-related increases, noise impacts can be placed into three categories.

The first is “audible” impacts, which refer to increases in noise level that are perceptible to humans.

Audible increases in general community noise levels generally refer to a change of 3 decibels (dBA) or more since this level has been found to be the threshold of perceptibility in exterior environments. The second category, “potentially audible” impacts, refers to a change in noise level between 1 and 3 dBA. The last category includes changes in noise level of less than 1 dBA that are typically “inaudible” to the human ear except under quiet conditions in controlled environments. Only “audible” changes in noise levels at sensitive receptor locations (i.e., 3 dBA or more) are considered potentially significant. Note that a doubling of traffic flows (i.e., 10,000 vehicles per day to 20,000 per day) would be needed to create a 3 dBA increase in traffic-generated noise levels. For the purposes of this analysis, an increase of 3 dBA CNEL is often used as the threshold for a substantial increase.

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Project-Related Construction Noise
In terms of the proposed construction activities, the demolition, grading, and site paving activities are expected to generate the highest noise levels, since they involve the largest and most powerful equipment. Construction equipment for the proposed project would include equipment such as concrete saws, dozers, graders, tractors, loaders, backhoes, excavators, generators, forklifts, paving equipment, rollers, and a crane.

Two types of short-term noise impacts could occur during construction: (1) mobile-source noise from the transport of workers, material deliveries, and debris/soil hauling and (2) stationary-source noise from use of construction equipment. Construction activities are anticipated to last approximately 10 months. The following discusses construction noise impacts to the off-site sensitive receptors.

Construction Vehicles
The transport of workers and materials to and from the construction site would incrementally increase noise levels along local roadways. Individual construction vehicle pass-bys may create momentary noise levels of up to approximately 85 dBA (L
max) at 50 feet from the vehicle, but these occurrences would generally be infrequent and short lived. Therefore, noise impacts from construction-related truck traffic would be less than significant at noise-sensitive receptors along the construction routes and no mitigation measures would be required.

Construction Equipment
According to CMC Section 10.48.053, construction is allowed during “daytime hours” (7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekends) and exempt from the City’s daytime and nighttime maximum noise level limits, provided that such construction activities do not exceed 80 dBA at the nearest affected property or individual equipment items do not exceed 87 dBA at 25 feet. Only one of these two criteria must be met. In addition, construction is prohibited on holidays and within 750 feet of residential areas on weekends, holidays, and during the nighttime, unless a special exception has been granted, and during nighttime hours unless it meets the nighttime noise level standards. Even with these restrictions, project construction would temporarily increase ambient noise.

However, noise levels would subside again after construction.

Noise generated by on-site construction equipment is based on the type of equipment used, its location relative to sensitive receptors, and the timing and duration of noise-generating activities. Each stage of construction involves different kinds of equipment and has distinct noise characteristics. Noise levels from construction activities are typically dominated by the loudest several pieces of equipment. The dominant equipment noise source is typically the engine, although work-piece noise (such as dropping of materials) can also be noticeable.

The noise produced at each construction stage is determined by combining the L eq contributions from
each piece of equipment used at a given time, while accounting for the on-going time-variations of noise emissions (commonly referred to as the usage factor). Heavy equipment, such as a bulldozer, can have

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maximum, short-duration noise levels of up to 85 dBA at 50 feet. However, overall noise emissions vary considerably, depending on what specific activity is being performed at any given moment. Noise attenuation due to distance, the number and type of equipment, and the load and power requirements to accomplish tasks at each construction phase would result in different noise levels from construction activities at a given receptor . Since noise from construction equipment is intermittent and diminishes at a rate of at least 6 dBA per doubling of distance (conservatively ignoring other attenuation effects from air absorption, ground effects, and/or shielding/scattering effects), the average noise levels at noise-sensitive receptors could vary considerably, because mobile construction equipment would move around the site with different loads and power requirements. Noise levels from project-related construction activities were calculated from the simultaneous use of all applicable construction equipment at spatially averaged distances (i.e., from the acoustical center of the general construction site) to the property line of the nearest receptors. Although construction may occur across the entire phase area, the area around the center of construction activities best represents the potential average construction-related noise levels at the various sensitive receptors.

The expected construction equipment mix was estimated and categorized by construction activity using the Federal Highway Administration Roadway Construction Noise Model. The associated, aggregate sound levels, grouped by construction activity, are summarized in Table 4-9.

TABLE 4-9 PROJECT-RELATED CONSTRUCTION NOISE, ENERGY-AVERAGE (LEQ) NOISE LEVELS, DBA Construction
Activity Phase
Noise Level at the Closest Distance from Construction Activities, dBA Leq Residences (west)
90 feet a
Demolition 81
Site Preparation 80
Utility Trenching 78
Grading (rough and fine) 80
Building Construction 78
Paving 81
Architectural Coating 69
Notes:
a. While the nearest sensitive receptors to the project site include the adjacent one-story and two-story single-family residences approximately 20 to 50 feet from the site property lines to the north, west, and south, this analysis is based on the distance from the acoustical center of the construction site to the nearest property line, which is 90 feet to the west.

Source: PlaceWorks, 2019.

Construction activities would increase noise levels at and near the proposed area of improvements. The highest expected construction-related noise levels, up to approximately 81 dBA Leq, would occur at the residences to the west during demolition and paving phases, which would be greater than the 80 dBA limit in the CMC. Construction noise levels would create a substantial temporary increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project. This would be considered a potentially significant impact. With implementation of Mitigation Measure NOISE-1, which is not a General Plan EIR mitigation measure, project-related construction noise impacts to the nearby residences would be less than significant.

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Impact NOISE-1: The proposed project could result in the generation of a substantial temporary increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project site during the construction phase that would be in excess of standards established in the City of Cupertino Municipal Code.

Mitigation Measure NOISE-1: The following shall be incorporated in all activity phases and construction plans, as required by the Cupertino Municipal Code (CMC). Construction activities shall take place only during daytime hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and due to the close proximity of the adjacent residential land use to the west, construction may occur on the weekends, holidays or nighttime only if a special exception has been granted by the City. In addition, the construction crew shall adhere to the following best management practices:
 At least 90 days prior to the start of any construction, demolition, or grading activities, all off-site businesses and residents within 300 feet of the project site will be notified of the planned activities. The notification will include a brief description of the project, the activities that would occur, the hours when activity would occur, and the construction period’s overall duration. The notification should include the telephone numbers of the contractor’s authorized representatives that are assigned to respond in the event of a noise or vibration complaint.  The project applicant and contractors shall prepare and submit a Construction Noise Control Plan to the City’s Building Department and Code Enforcement for review and approval prior to issuance of any grading, demolition, and/or building permits. The Construction Noise Plan shall demonstrate compliance with the 80-dBA limit in the CMC. The details of the Construction Noise Control Plan, including those details listed herein, shall be included as part of the permit application drawing set and as part of the construction drawing set, shall be implemented by the on-site Construction Manager, and shall include, but not be limited to, the following available controls to comply with the 80 dBA performance standard:
 At least 10 days prior to the start of construction activities, a sign will be posted at the entrance(s) to the job site, clearly visible to the public, which includes permitted construction days and hours, as well as the telephone numbers of the City’s and contractor’s authorized representatives that are assigned to respond in the event of a noise or vibration complaint. If the authorized contractor’s representative receives a complaint, they will investigate, take appropriate corrective action, and report the action to the City.  During the entire active construction period, equipment and trucks used for project construction will utilize the best available noise control techniques (e.g., improved mufflers, equipment re-design, use of intake silencers, ducts, engine enclosures, and acoustically attenuating shields or shrouds), wherever feasible.
 Include noise control requirements for equipment and tools, including concrete saws, to the maximum extent feasible. Such requirements could include, but are not limited to, erecting temporary plywood noise barriers between construction areas and nearby sensitive receptors; performing work in a manner that minimizes noise; and undertaking the noisiest activities during times of least disturbance to nearby sensitive receptors.  During the entire active construction period, stationary noise sources will be located as far from sensitive receptors as possible, and they will be muffled and enclosed within temporary sheds, or insulation barriers or other measures will be incorporated to the extent feasible.

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 During the entire active construction period, noisy operations will be conducted simultaneously to the degree feasible in order to reduce the time periods of these operations.  Select haul routes that avoid the greatest amount of sensitive use areas and submit to the City of Cupertino Public Works Department for approval prior to the start of the construction phase.
 Signs will be posted at the job site entrance(s), within the on-site construction zones, and along queueing lanes (if any) to reinforce the prohibition of unnecessary engine idling. All other equipment will be turned off if not in use for more than 5 minutes.  During the entire active construction period and to the extent feasible, the use of noise producing signals, including horns, whistles, alarms, and bells will be for safety warning purposes only. The construction manager will use smart back-up alarms, which automatically adjust the alarm level based on the background noise level or switch off back-up alarms and replace with human spotters in compliance with all safety requirements and laws.

Project-Related Operational Noise
Stationary-Source Noise
Noise from sources such as people talking and using outdoor common areas, or property maintenance may contribute to the total noise environment within the direct vicinity of the proposed project site.

However, these types of noise are commonly associated with uses that already exist on the project site. As explained above, noise sources associated with landscape maintenance activities is exempted from the provisions of the CMC, provided said activities take place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Therefore, impacts from occasional property maintenance activities associated with the proposed project would be less than significant.

The mixed-use building will have the mechanical HVAC equipment on the rooftop enclosed by a parapet.

The exterior mechanical and HVAC equipment associated with the proposed use are expected to be similar to the existing commercial uses. Typical HVAC units range from approximately 75 dBA L eq at a
distance of 3 feet. Future rooftop mechanical equipment associated with the mixed-use building would be located at least 90 feet from the nearest residential property lines to the east according to project rooftop plans (see Figure 3-6). In addition, noise from rooftop mechanical equipment associated with the mixed- use building would be attenuated by 5.5-foot parapet walls. At this distance and assuming approximately 5 dBA reduction from the parapet walls, the sound pressure level associated with a common central air conditioning unit would be reduced to approximately 40 dBA or less. Therefore, the noise level associated with future rooftop HVAC at the mixed-use building would be below the CMC Section 10.48.040 standards, which limit nighttime noise to 50 dBA and daytime noise to 60 dBA at nearby residential uses.

Future HVAC for the proposed residential units would be located on the ground in the backyard of each unit. Because mechanical specifications for these proposed units are not yet available, it is conservatively assumed that noise from these units would be up to 75 dBA L eq at a distance of 3 feet and they could be
located within approximately 15 feet from the nearest residential property lines to the west. At this distance, the sound pressure level associated with a common HVAC unit would be approximately 60 dBA.

Therefore, the noise level associated with HVAC in the backyards of the future residential units could

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exceed the CMC Section 10.48.040 standards, which limit nighttime noise to 50 dBA at nearby residential.

Therefore, this impact would be potentially significant. With implementation of Mitigation Measure NOISE-2, which is not a General Plan EIR mitigation measure, project-related operational noise impacts would be less than significant.

Impact NOISE-2: The proposed project could result in the generation of a substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project during the operation phase that would be in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance.

Mechanical equipment shall be selected and designed to reduce impacts on surrounding uses to meet the City’s noise level requirements. Noise reduction measures could include, but are not limited to:
 Selection of equipment that emits low noise levels;
 Installation of noise dampening techniques, such as enclosures and parapet walls, to block the line-of-sight between the noise source and the nearest receptors; or  Locating equipment in less noise-sensitive areas, where feasible.

Mobile-Source Noise
The proposed project is anticipated to result in a net decrease in traffic trips when compared to existing traffic trips associated with the existing commercial building. The trip generation associated with the previous use is estimated to be 454 daily trips. The proposed project is estimated to result in 322 gross daily trips, which is a net decrease of 132 daily trips. Therefore, since the project would result in a net decrease in trips, no increase from traffic noise would occur and impacts would be less than significant. b) Would the project expose people to or generate excessive groundborne vibration or ground borne noise levels?
Operational Vibration
Operation of the proposed project would not generate substantial levels of vibration because there are no known sources of vibrational energy associated with the proposed project, such as industrial machinery or railroad operations. Thus, vibration effects or impacts from operations sources would be less than significant and no mitigation measures would be required.

Construction Vibration
Construction activities generate varying degrees of ground vibration, depending on the construction procedures, construction equipment used, and proximity to vibration-sensitive uses. The generation of

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vibration can range from no perceptible effects at the lowest vibration levels, to low rumbling sounds and perceptible vibrations at moderate levels, to slight damage at the highest levels. Table 4-10 lists reference vibration levels for different types of commonly used construction equipment.

TABLE 4-10 CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT VIBRATION LEVELS
Equipment Approximate PPV Velocity at 25 Feet (in/sec)
Vibratory Roller 0.210
Large Bulldozer 0.089
Loaded Trucks 0.076
Jackhammer 0.035
Small Bulldozer 0.003
Notes: PPV = Peak Particle Velocity in inches per second Source: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment, 2018.

Proposed construction would include demolition and grading, which would include equipment such as loaders and bulldozers. Paving activities may also generate construction vibration and would include equipment such as pavers and rollers. Using the vibration source level of construction equipment provided in Table 4-10 and the construction vibration assessment guidelines published by the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA), the vibration impacts associated with the proposed project were assessed in terms of potential architectural damage due to vibration.

The City does not have specific, vibration-related standards. Thus, project-related construction vibration was evaluated for its potential to cause minor architectural damage based on FTA’s architectural damage criteria. The term ‘architectural damage’ is defined as minor surface cracks (in plaster, drywall, tile, or stucco) or the sticking of doors and windows. This is below the severity of ‘structural damage’ which entails the compromising of structural soundness or the threatening the basic integrity of the building shell. Building damage is typically not a concern for most projects, with the occasional exception of blasting and pile driving during construction. No blasting, pile driving, or hard rock ripping/crushing activities would be required during project construction. Since vibration-induced architectural damage could result from an instantaneous vibration event, distances are measured from the receptor facade to the nearest location of potential construction activities.

A peak particle velocity (PPV) of 0.2 inches/second (in/sec) is used as the threshold for “non-engineered timber and masonry buildings” (which would apply to the surrounding structures). At a distance of approximately 10 feet from the existing pavement to residential structures to the west, a jackhammer (or similar pavement breaking device) would generate vibration levels of approximately 0.14 in/sec PPV, which would not exceed the threshold of 0.2 in/sec PPV. Proposed driveways would be paved within approximately 35 feet of nearby residential structures to the west. At this distance, a vibratory roller would generate vibration levels of up to 0.13 in/sec PPV. However, if grading equipment such as a large dozer operates within approximately 15 feet of a nearby residential structure, the 0.2 in/sec PPV threshold may be exceeded. This is considered a potentially significant impact. With implementation of Mitigation

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Measure NOISE-3, which is not a General Plan EIR mitigation measure, project-related construction vibration impacts to the adjacent residences to the west would be less than significant.

Impact NOISE-3: The proposed project could result in the generation of excessive groundborne vibration in the vicinity of the project during the construction phase that would be in excess of established thresholds.

Mitigation Measure NOISE-3: If paving activity during construction is required within 25 feet of nearby residential structures, the use of a static roller in lieu of a vibratory roller shall be employed. Grading and earthwork activities within 15 feet of adjacent residential structures shall be conducted with off- road equipment that is limited to 100 horsepower or less. This mitigation measure shall be identified on the permit application drawing set and as part of the construction drawing set, and shall be implemented by the on-site Construction Manager.
c) For a project located within the vicinity of a private airstrip or 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 expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? The proposed project is not located within an airport land use plan or within 2 miles of an airport. The project would not expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive aircraft noise levels.

There would be no impact.

XII. POPULATION AND HOUSING
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
a) Induce substantial unexpected population growth or growth for which inadequate planning has occurred, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other
infrastructure)?
   
b) Displace substantial numbers of existing people or housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing
elsewhere?
   

GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.11, Population and Housing, of the General Plan EIR, addressed the impacts to population growth and displacement associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. Impacts were determined to be less than significant, and no mitigation measures were required.

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As discussed in the General Plan EIR, the General Plan would introduce approximately 12,998 new residents133 and 16,855 new jobs134 to Cupertino. These new residents and jobs combined with existing conditions would result in 71,200 residents, 24,040 households, and 33,110 jobs at the 2040 buildout horizon.135 The proposed project is anticipated to be complete in 2022. As discussed in the General Plan EIR, according to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), Cupertino is projected to have 62,500 residents and 30,110 jobs by 2020 and 66,800 residents and 31,370 jobs by 2030.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
The site is currently developed with primarily commercial uses that are partially vacant and two residential units which are vacant or used as storage for a bike shop currently operating. Applying a generation rate of 1 job to 450 square feet for commercial land uses to the existing 9,000 square feet of commercial building and 1,500 square foot bike shop, the existing businesses are capable of generating up to approximately 23 jobs.

DISCUSSION
a) Would the project induce substantial unexpected population growth or growth for which inadequate planning has occurred, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other infrastructure)? The proposed project would construct a 4,536 square-foot commercial building and 18 residential units, which would not result in any additional new population growth or employment growth beyond what was accounted for in the General Plan EIR. Table 4-15 in Section XIX, Mandatory Findings of Significance, shows the relationship of the proposed project to the other reasonably foreseeable projects in Cupertino and shows that the proposed when combined with the other reasonably foreseeable projects in Cupertino would not exceed the maximum buildout potential evaluated in the General Plan EIR.

As described in Chapter 3, Project Description, of this Initial Study, the operation of the project is estimated to generate up to 10 employees on the project site and the future homeowner’s association (HOA), required by the City, could employ landscape and maintenance personnel for the common areas of the development. As described above, the existing commercial buildings are capable of supporting approximately 23 employees. Construction of the proposed project would result in a decrease of 13 supported employees on the project site. The proposed project is not a regionally significant employer and it is anticipated that future employees of the HOA or the commercial uses of the proposed project would come from Cupertino and surrounding Bay Area communities.

133 Population is calculated by 4,421 units times 2.94 persons per household, which is the ABAG 2040 estimated generation rate.
134 Jobs are calculated applying the City’s generation rates as follows; 4,040,231 square feet of office allocation divided by 300 square feet equals 13,467 jobs; 1,343,679 square feet of commercial allocation divided by 450 square feet equals 2,986 jobs; and 1,339 hotel rooms at .3 jobs per room equals 402 jobs for a total of 16,855 jobs. 135 City of Cupertino, 2015. Cupertino General Plan Community Vision 2015-2040, Housing Element, Table HE-2.

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The proposed project would directly contribute to housing through the construction of residential units.

Based on a projected average household size of 2.87 persons,136 it is assumed the proposed project would introduce 52 residents137 to the project site, which would increase the number of residents on the site from 3 residents to approximately 52 residents at project buildout in 2022.

The 52 residents and 10 permanent jobs in combination with other future projects would not increase the overall City buildout to the year 2040 projections (see Table 4-15, Reasonably Foreseeable Development Projects in Cupertino, in Section XIX, Mandatory Findings of Significance). Therefore, the proposed project is well within the population projections considered in the General Plan EIR and adopted General Plan Housing Element. The growth occurring as a result of the project would be limited to the project site, and the project does not include infrastructure to allow indirect off-site development.

As discussed in Section X, Land Use and Planning, the project is consistent with the General Plan land use designation for the site (Commercial/Residential), but would require a Zoning Map amendment rezoning the site from P(CG) to P(CG, Res) to make the zoning consistent with the General Plan land use designation. Accordingly, there would be no impacts related to substantial unexpected population growth or growth for which inadequate planning has occurred.

b) Would the project displace substantial numbers of existing people or housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere?
As discussed, in in the Existing Conditions above, the project site currently has two residential units on- site; however, neither are used as habitable spaces. One is vacant and one is used for storage for a commercial business on-site. Because residents are not currently living on-site, the demolition of the existing residential structures would not directly displace housing or any residents. The project proposes the construction of 18 residential units on-site, which would not necessitate the construction of housing elsewhere. Therefore, the project would have no impact associated with the displacement of substantial numbers of housing.

136 This analysis is based on the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) 2019 projections of the average household size of 2.87 persons for Cupertino in 2020. This is the standard approach for population and housing analysis in Cupertino. 137 18 new units multiplied by 2.87 persons per unit equals 51.66 new residents.

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XIII. PUBLIC SERVICES
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
a) Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for any of the public services:

Fire protection?    
Police protection?    
Schools?    
Libraries?    

GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.12, Public Services and Recreation, of the General Plan EIR, addressed the impacts to public service providers and public parks associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. The General Plan EIR estimated that 80 new residents138 could occupy the project site by 2040. Impacts were determined to be less than significant, and no mitigation measures were required.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
The public service providers for the project site are as follows:
 The City contracts with the Santa Clara County Fire District (SCCFD) for fire protection, emergency, medical, and hazardous materials services.
 The City contracts with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff’s Office) and West Valley Patrol Division for police protection services.
 The project site is within the Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) and the project site is in the Monta Vista High School attendance area, which is located approximately 1 mile to the east of the project site.139

138 27 units times 2.94 persons per household for Cupertino in 2040 equals 79.34 persons. Note that the 2.94 persons per household rate for year 2040 was applied in the General Plan EIR. Applying the ABAG rates for population estimates is the standard approach for population and housing analysis in Cupertino. 139 Fremont Union High School District, District Boundary Maps, Monta Vista High School Attendance Boundary, https://www.fuhsd.org/about-us/general-information/district-boundry-maps, accessed November 15, 2018.

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 The project site is within the Cupertino Union School District (CUSD) which includes all elementary and middle schools in the city. The project site is in the attendance area of Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, located approximately 1 mile to the east of the project site, and John F. Kennedy Middle School located approximately 1 mile east of the project site.140  The Santa Clara County Library District governs and administers seven community libraries, one branch library, two bookmobiles, the Home Service Library, and the online library for all library users. The closest library to the project site is the Cupertino Library located at 10800 Torre Avenue in Cupertino.

A discussion of the existing conditions for each of these service providers is included in Chapter 4.12 of the General Plan EIR.

DISCUSSION
a) Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for any of the public services: fire protection, police protection, schools, and libraries?
The primary purpose of the public services impact analysis is to examine the impacts associated with physical improvements to public service facilities required to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives. Public service facilities need improvements (i.e., construction, renovation or expansion) as demand for services increase. Increased demand is typically driven by increases in population. The proposed project would have a significant environmental impact if it would exceed the ability of public service providers to adequately serve residents, thereby requiring construction of new facilities or modification of existing facilities.

As discussed in Section XII, Population and Housing, above, the proposed project would result in a net increase of 18 dwelling units and approximately 52 residents, which is the approximate number of dwelling units and residents anticipated and discussed in the General Plan EIR. As described in the General Plan EIR, the proposed project would include the payment of residential development impact fees, prior to issuance of construction permits, that provide support to public services to offset the project’s fair share of impacts to public service providers. The proposed project also would include 4,536 square feet of neighborhood- serving commercial space that would result in a net decrease of 13 jobs on the project site, which is within the number of jobs anticipated and discussed in the General Plan EIR.

Because impacts to public service providers were determined to be less than significant in the General Plan EIR and the proposed project would result in a similar number of residents, employees, and residential density considered in the General Plan EIR, impacts to public service providers as a result of the proposed project would also be less than significant and no mitigation measures would be required.

140 Cupertino Union School District, https://www.cusdk8.org/domain/96, accessed November 15, 2018.

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XIV. PARKS AND RECREATION
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
a) Increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities, such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated?    
b) Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered park and recreational facilities, or result in the need for new or physically altered park and recreational facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts?
   

GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.12, Public Services and Recreation, of the General Plan EIR, addressed the impacts to public service providers and public parks associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and 80 new residents141 on the site at a program level. Impacts were determined to be less than significant, and no mitigation measures were required.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
The City of Cupertino Recreation and Community Services and the Public Works Grounds Division and Facilities and Fleet Division are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the City’s recreational facilities within the city boundary. The City of Cupertino owns or manages 224 acres of parks, trails, creek corridors, sports fields and recreation facilities at 32 sites.142 The City of Cupertino has an adopted parkland dedication standard of three acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents. According to the October 2019 City of Cupertino Parks and Recreation System Master Plan, there is approximately 3.7 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents.
143
The parks nearest to the project site are Monta Vista Park, located approximately 0.3 miles to the northwest; McClellan Ranch Preserve, located approximately 0.3 miles to the northeast; and Linda Vista Park, located approximately 0.3 miles to the southeast.

141 27 units times 2.94 persons per household for Cupertino in 2040 equals 79.34 persons. Note that the 2.94 persons per household rate for year 2040 was applied in the General Plan EIR. Applying the ABAG rates for population estimates is the standard approach for population and housing analysis in Cupertino. 142 City of Cupertino Parks and Recreation System Master Plan, October 2019 (adopted by the City Council on February 18, 2020), page 4.
143 City of Cupertino Parks and Recreation System Master Plan, October 2019 (adopted by the City Council on February 18, 2020), page 51.

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Regional park facilities operated by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) and the Santa Clara County Parks could be used by residents of the project site. The closest Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District parks to Cupertino are the Fremont Older, Picchetti Ranch, and Rancho San Antonia, which are located just west of the city boundaries. Santa Clara County Park facilities that serve Cupertino include Rancho San Antonio County Park located south of I-280 and west of Foothill Boulevard, and the Stevens Creek County Park. Both County parks are roughly 1 mile from the project site. The privately operated Deep Cliff Golf Course is located approximately 0.3 miles to the southeast of the site.

DISCUSSION
a) Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities, such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated? As discussed in Chapter 3, Project Description, of this Initial Study, the proposed project includes 5,691 square feet (0.13 acres) of common open space available to residents and members of the general public.

The proposed project includes a 2,657 square-foot outdoor common-use plaza and seating area on the northern section of the project site, adjacent to the ground floor commercial of the mixed-use building, for use by residents, visitors, and members of the public.

As discussed in Section XII, Population and Housing, above, the proposed project would result in 18 residential units and 52 new residents at the project site. Therefore, this would be less than what was evaluated in the General Plan EIR (80 new residents as compared to 52 new residents), which found impacts to be less than significant at General Plan buildout. The City’s parkland-to-resident ratio is three acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents144Although the proposed project is not required to provide on- site parkland, the proposed project would include the payment of City-required impact fees to contribute to the City’s parks and recreation fund. As discussed in the General Plan EIR, the proposed project would be required to comply with Cupertino Municipal Code Chapter 14.05, Park Maintenance Fee, Chapter

13.08, Park Land Dedication, and Chapter 18.24, Dedications and Reservations, which require the payment of impact fees to maintain existing parks and recreation facilities and offset the project’s fair share of impacts to parklands. Therefore, considering the proposed project’s provision of 0.13 acres of residential open space, in conjunction with the collection of impact fees that support the City’s parks and recreation fund, the impacts to the City’s recreational facilities would be less than significant and no mitigation measures would be required.

New residents of the project site would also be expected to use the regional park facilities operated by the MROSD and the Santa Clara County Parks. According to the MROSD’s Budget and Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2017-18, a portion of the District’s financing is provided by property taxes, which the project is required to pay. Because the project site would pay property taxes that fund the MROSD, the use of regional parks by the relatively small number of new residents of the proposed project would not result in substantial deterioration of those parks. The increase in usage that could potentially result from the proposed project is not likely to require the construction of new park facilities over and above the facilities

144 Cupertino General Plan Community Vision 2015 to 2040, Chapter 9: Recreation, Parks and Community Services Element, “Park Standards.”

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already foreseen in the long-range planning completed for the regional parks in the vicinity of the project site. Therefore, a less-than-significant impact to regional parks would occur and no mitigation measures would be required.
b) Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered park and recreational facilities, or result in the need for new or physically altered park and recreational facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts?
As discussed in criterion (a) above, the proposed project includes open space features and would be required to pay impact fees that support the City’s parks and recreation fund, which would create less- than-significant impacts to the City’s recreational facilities. The project does not propose the construction of a park or any physical alterations to an existing park or recreational facilities; however, the payment of impact fees would go toward supporting the City’s park fund that could be applied to the construction or expansion of recreational facilities that could have an adverse physical effect on the environment. It is not known at what time or location such facilities would be required or what the exact nature of these facilities would be, so it cannot be determined what specific environmental impacts would occur from their construction and operation. Because the payment of impact fees is the City requirement to offset the project’s fair share of impacts to parklands, the City would be responsible for any environmental review in accordance with CEQA, as necessary, which would ensure that any environmental impacts are disclosed and mitigated to the extent possible for any future City project related to the expansion of or improvement to a City recreational facility. Accordingly, impacts to park and recreational facilities as a result of the proposed project would be less than significant and no mitigation measures would be
required.

XV. TRANSPORTATION
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
a) Conflict with a program plan, ordinance or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities?
   
b) Would the project conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3, subdivision (b)?    
c) Substantially increase hazards due to a design feature (e.g ., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)?
   
d) Result in inadequate emergency access?    

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GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.13, Transportation and Circulation, of the General Plan EIR, addressed the impacts to the transportation network in the Cupertino area associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. The General Plan EIR estimated that and 80 new residents145 could occupy the project site by 2040. Impacts related to pedestrians, bicycles, transit, and emergency access were found to be less than significant and no mitigation measures were required. The General Plan EIR also found that the implementation of the General Plan would support and would not conflict with plans, programs and policies regarding bicycle or pedestrian facilities, or decrease the performance and safety of such facilities.

As discussed in the General Plan EIR, the VMT per capita is projected to increase from 10.5 (2013) to 10.9 (2040).

METHODOLOGY
The following discussion of impacts is based in part on analysis regarding sight distance on Stevens Creek Road (June 17, 2019); pedestrian, bicycle, and transit facilities (July 12, 2019); and existing daily and peak hour trips, and vehicle miles traveled regarding (October 16, 2019), prepared for the proposed project by TJKM Transportation Consultants, and reviewed and approved by the City of Cupertino Transportation Division. The reports are included in Appendix D, Transportation Data, of this Initial Study.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
This section describes existing conditions in the immediate project site vicinity, including bicycle and pedestrian facilities, transit facilities, and VMT.

Existing Conditions
Pedestrian Facilities
Walkability is defined as the ability to travel easily and safely between various origins and destinations without having to rely on automobiles or other motorized travel. The ideal “walkable” community includes wide sidewalks, a mix of land uses such as residential, employment, and shopping opportunities, a limited number of conflict points with vehicle traffic, and easy access to transit facilities and services.

Pedestrian facilities consist of crosswalks, sidewalks, pedestrian signals, and off-street paths, which provide safe and convenient routes for pedestrians to access destinations such as institutions, businesses, public transportation, and recreation facilities.

145 27 units times 2.94 persons per household for Cupertino in 2040 equals 79.34 persons. Note that the 2.94 persons per household rate for year 2040 was applied in the General Plan EIR. Applying the ABAG rates for population estimates is the standard approach for population and housing analysis in Cupertino.

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The project site does not have adequate pedestrian access, because sidewalks are present only on the one side of Stevens Canyon Road within the project vicinity. Existing pedestrian facilities in the vicinity of the project site are shown on Figure 4-1.

The 2018 Cupertino Pedestrian Transportation Plan (Pedestrian Plan) contains goals, policies, and specific recommendations to increase the walkability of Cupertino, including the Pedestrian Guidelines. The Pedestrian Plan is a companion document to the City of Cupertino Bicycle Transportation Plan (discussed below). It includes specific recommendations to improve pedestrian conditions. Consistent with the Pedestrian Plan and any other applicable recommendations, the project applicant would be required to contribute to implementing any recommended pedestrian improvements in the project area. The Pedestrian Plan recommends walk audits be conducted at Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road through the project area. There is no further discussion of pedestrian improvements in the project area.

Bicycle Facilities
Bicycle facilities on and near the project site include the following:
 Bike Paths (Class I). Paved trails that are separated from roadways  Bike Lanes (Class II). Lanes on roadways designated for use by bicycles through striping, pavement legends, and signs
 Bike Routes (Class III). Designated roadways for bicycle use by signs or other markings may or may not include additional pavement width for cyclists
Class II Bike Lanes are provided along both sides of the roadway at South Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road near the project site. There is adequate signage for the bicyclists to maneuver without confusion. Class III Route designated signs and pavement markings for shared use bikes signs are provided along McClellan Road on both sides of the roadway. Overall, existing bicycle facilities provide adequate connectivity between the project site and the adjacent residential neighborhoods. The existing bicycle facilities within the project vicinity are shown on Figure 4-1.

In 2016, the City of Cupertino adopted the Bicycle Transportation Plan (Bike Plan), which is a citywide plan to encourage bicycling as a safe, practical, and healthy alternative to the use of the family car . The Bike Plan illustrates Cupertino’s current bicycle network, identifies gaps in the network, and proposes improvement projects to address the identified gaps.
146 The Bike Plan includes standards for engineering,
encouragement, education, and enforcement intended to improve the bicycle infrastructure in the city to enable people to bike to work and school, to utilize a bicycle to run errands, and to enjoy the health and environmental benefits that bicycling provides cyclists of every age. The Bike Plan recommends that the existing Class II Bike Lane on South Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road through the project area be improved to a Class II Buffered Bike Lane. This recommendation is a low priority compared to other proposed projects in the Bike Plan.

146 City of Cupertino, 2016 Bicycle Transportation Plan, Figure 3-7: Bikeway projects.

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The VTA adopted the Santa Clara Countywide Bicycle Plan (CBP). The CBP guides the development of major bicycle facilities in the County by identifying Cross County Bicycle Corridors and other bicycle projects of countywide or intercity significance. The CBP maps one on-street Cross-County Bicycle Corridor (CCBC) along South Foothill Boulevard in the project area. This CCBC is not a high-priority corridor .

Transit Facilities
VTA operates bus services in the City of Cupertino and in the project vicinity. The closest bus stop is located within a 15-minute walk (about 0.6 miles feet) to and from the project site, providing access to local bus route 81. Bus route 81 provides transportation between Moffett Field/Ames Center and San Jose State University. Bus route 81 operates from 6:06 a.m. to 9:04 p.m. and has a peak headway of 25 to 35 minutes depending on the stop and direction.147
Daily Trips
Based on trip generation rates recommended by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual, 9th Edition, it is estimated that the existing uses on site generate approximately 454 daily vehicle trips.148
Vehicles Miles Traveled
As previously discussed in Section 3.1.3, Existing Site Setting, the project site currently contains 10,500 square feet of existing commercial development that generates up to 23 employees when assuming one employee per 450 square feet. The project site also includes one residential unit. As shown in Table 4-11, these uses generate daily VMT of 662 and an annual VMT of 241,524. 149
TABLE 4-11 EXISTING VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED
Type Rates Daily Annual
23 Employees 27.92 miles per worker a 642 234,388
1 Residential Unit 19.55 miles per household b 20 7,136 Total 662 241,524
Notes:
a. The Year 2020 Plan Bay Area model forecasted daily VMT of 27.92 miles per worker employed in the project area. b. The MTC model predicts a VMT of 19.55 miles per capita for households located in the project area in 2020.

Source: TJKM Transportation Consultants 2019; PlaceWorks, 2020.

147 Operating hours consider earliest and latest stop at each bus lines closest stop to the project site. Headways are defined as the time interval between two transit vehicles traveling in the same direction over the same route. 148 TJKM Transportation Consultants. October 2019, Technical Memorandum (see Appendix D of this Initial Study). 149 Applies the same assumptions to existing conditions as TJKM Transportation Consultants applied in their October 2019 memo for the proposed project (see Appendix D of this Initial Study).

Source: TJKM, 2020.

Figure 4-1
Existing Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities
0 Scale (Feet)
100
Steven
s Canyon
Rd.

S
. Foothill Blvd.

Mc. Clellan Rd.St. Andrews Ave.

Santa Lu
cia Rd.

Riverside Dr.

Palm Ave.

Stevens Creek Blvd.
2 1
Alcalde Rd.

Santa Paula Ave.

Existing Pedestrian & Bicycle Facilities
TJKM
Figure 3
Project
Site
LEGEND
Study Intersection
Stop Sign
AM Peak Hour Volumes
PM Peak Hour Volumes
Sidewalk
Class II Bike Lane
Class III Bike Lane
XX
(XX)
x
N
148-015

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

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DISCUSSION
a) Would the project conflict with a program, plan, ordinance or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities? Roadway Facilities
Operational Traffic
As previously discussed, the development of the project would not exceed the 15 dwelling units per acre currently permitted or the 25 dwelling units per acre maximum that was evaluated in the General Plan EIR. Therefore, the proposed project would not directly result in any additional new population growth or employment growth beyond what was analyzed in the General Plan EIR. As stated in Section II, Air Quality, and Section, VII, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, the proposed project is not considered a regionally significant project under CEQA Guidelines Section 15206 that would affect regional vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and warrant intergovernmental review by ABAG and MTC.

As shown in Table 4-12, the proposed project would generate 631 daily VMT, and 3230,315 annual VMT.

As shown in Table 4-13, the proposed project would generate about 322 daily trips.

TABLE 4-12 PROPOSED VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED
Rates Daily Annual
10 Employees 27.92 miles per worker a 279 101,835
18 Residential 19.55 miles per worker b 352 128,480
Total 631 230,315
Notes:
a. The Year 2020 Plan Bay Area model forecasted daily VMT of 27.92 miles per worker employed in the project area. b. The MTC model predicts a VMT of 19.55 miles per capita for households located in the project area in 2020.

Source: TJKM Transportation Consultants 2019; PlaceWorks, 2020.

TABLE 4-13 PROJECT TRIP GENERATION
Land Use (ITE Code) Size
Daily AM Peak PM Peak
Rate Trips Rate Total Rate Total
Residential Condo Townhouse a (230) 13 DU 5.81 76 0.44 6 0.52 7 Apartments b (220) 5 DU 6.65 33 0.51 3 0.62 3
Retail c (820) 5,000 SF 42.7 214 0.96 5 3.71 19
Total Trips 322 14 29

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TABLE 4-13 PROJECT TRIP GENERATION
Land Use (ITE Code) Size
Daily AM Peak PM Peak
Rate Trips Rate Total Rate Total
Notes: DU = dwelling units; SF = square feet
a. ITE Trip rates per unit for residential condominium houses. b. ITE Trip rates per unit for residential apartments.
c. ITE Trip rates per 1,000 square feet for commercial use.

Source: TJKM Transportation Consultants, Traffic Impact Study Report, July 2019, Table 2.

When compared to existing conditions, the proposed project would generate both fewer daily trips (322 proposed daily trips compared to 454 existing daily trips), less daily VMT (631 proposed daily VMT compared to 662 existing daily VMT), and less annual VMT (230,315 proposed annual VMT compared to 241,524 existing annual VMT). Therefore, the project would generate fewer daily trips and fewer VMT than existing conditions and would have a net benefit with respect to roadway facilities.

The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research’s Technical Advisory On Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA150 and the City’s White Paper SB 743 Implementation Decisions for the City of Cupertino151 provide guidance on evaluating transportation impacts for small projects, redevelopment projects on infill sites, and projects that are consistent with the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)/Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS). According to the OPR, the proposed project is consistent with the following scenario that concludes with less-than-significant transportation impacts:
 Where a project replaces existing VMT-generating land uses, if the replacement leads to a net overall decrease in VMT, the project would lead to a less-than-significant transportation impact.152 In addition, according to these guiding documents, a project that generates less than 110 daily trips may be assumed to cause a less-than-significant transportation impact.153 This threshold is based on CEQA’s categorical exemption154 for existing facilities (Class 1), including additions to existing structures of up to 10,000 square feet, so long as the project is in an area where public infrastructure is available to allow for maximum planned development and the project is not in an environmentally sensitive area (CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(e)(2)). Typical project types for which trip generation increases relatively linearly with building footprint (i.e., general office building, single tenant office building, office park, and business park) generate or attract an additional 110 to 124 average daily trips or 836 VMT per 10,000 square feet.

150 Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, Technical Advisory On Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA, December 2018.
151 City of Cupertino White Paper SB 743 Implementation Decisions for the City of Cupertino, Appendix E: Appendix E, Small Project Screening for SB 743, February 2021.
152 Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, Technical Advisory On Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA, page 17, December 2018.
153 Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, Technical Advisory On Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA, December 2018, page 12 and City of Cupertino White Paper SB 743 Implementation Decisions for the City of Cupertino, Appendix E: Small Project Screening for SB 743, February 2021, pages 138 and 139. 154 Section 15300 of the CEQA Guidelines, Categorical Exemptions, states that Section 21084 of the Public Resources Code requires these Guidelines to include a list of classes of projects which have been determined not to have a significant effect on the environment and which shall, therefore, be exempt from the provisions of CEQA.

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A 20-unit housing project generates an equivalent number of VMT to a 10,000-square-foot non- residential project.155 Therefore, absent substantial evidence otherwise, OPR and the City determined that it is reasonable to conclude that the addition of 20 housing units or 10,000 square feet of non-residential space could be considered a less-than-significant impact.

Furthermore, the OPR’s Technical Advisory On Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA also recognizes that for redevelopment projects on infill sites, such as the proposed project, where a project replaces existing VMT-generating land uses, if the replacement leads to a net overall decrease in VMT, the project would lead to a less-than-significant transportation impact.156 This is consistent with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3(b), which states that projects that decrease VMT in the project area compared to existing conditions should be presumed to have a less-than-significant transportation impact.

On February 16, 2021, the City adopted CMC Chapter 17.08, Evaluation of Transportation Impacts Under the California Environmental Quality Act, which provides screening criteria and VMT thresholds for land- use development projects, transportation projects, and other projects pursuant to the CEQA. CMC Chapter 17.08 went into effect on April 1, 2021. Under CMC Chapter 17.08, a project would be screened out from more detailed VMT analysis if the project is consistent with applicable General Plan policies and supported by substantial evidence demonstrating cumulative VMT is declining. Project screening may be used for projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:
 A project located within one-quarter mile of a High-Quality Transit Corridor or transit stop as defined by CEQA;
 Local-serving retail of 50,000 square feet or less; or  Land-use projects consisting of 100 percent affordable housing.

Under CMC Chapter 17.08, a project would have a significant impact if:
 The total project generated VMT per service population would exceed the City’s target VMT reduction of 14.4 percent below the citywide baseline VMT rate, and  If the project increases total countywide VMT compared to baseline conditions.

As described in Section X, Land Use and Planning, the proposed project is consistent with the General Plan and applicable policies. The proposed project, an infill redevelopment project currently served by existing public infrastructure and not in an environmentally sensitive area, would generate 631 daily VMT, which as described above is equivalent to the standards applied to a project qualifying for a CEQA exemption.

The proposed project would generate fewer VMT than existing conditions (proposed 631 daily VMT and 230,315 annual VMT compared to existing 662 daily VMT and 241,524 annual VMT), which demonstrates a contribution to a decline in cumulative VMT. Accordingly, the proposed project would meet the

155 Using statewide average data from the 2012 California Household Travel Survey (CHTS), the amount of daily VMT associated with 10,000 square feet of non-residential space is 836 VMT. Also using statewide average CHTS data, this level of VMT is associated with 20 housing units.
156 Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, Technical Advisory On Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA, page 17, December 2018.

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standards to be screened out from detailed VMT evaluation under the City’s standards as well as CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3(b), which as previously stated finds that projects that decrease vehicle miles traveled in the project area compared to existing conditions should be presumed to have a less-than- significant transportation impact. Accordingly, transportation impacts during operation of the proposed project would be less than significant.

Construction Traffic
Demolition and construction would take place over a 10-month period, which is anticipated to begin in June 2021 and end in March 2022, subject to regulatory approval. During this period, the project would result in changes to existing transportation conditions. New traffic would be generated by construction employees and construction activities, including haul trucks. Construction traffic is temporary and would generate fewer trips than the projected trips during project operation. During demolition and construction, vehicle, equipment, and materials would be staged and stored on a portion of the project site. The construction site and staging areas would be clearly marked, and construction fencing would be installed to prevent disturbance and safety hazards. No staging would occur in the public right-of-way.

Therefore, no hazards for pedestrians and bicyclists in the area would occur during this phase.

Pedestrian Facilities
The proposed project is expected to increase the number of pedestrians using the existing sidewalks and crosswalks in the area. The project site and surrounding uses would continue to use the existing sidewalks along Stevens Canyon Road, McClellan Road, and St. Andrews Avenue. The project would construct new sidewalks along the west side of South Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road. The proposed sidewalk would also connect to the existing sidewalk to the north of the project site on west side of South Foothill Boulevard and existing sidewalk to the south of the project. The proposed project would have 5- foot sidewalks along Stevens Canyon Road, on the project side. The proposed project is expected to improve overall pedestrian access and facilities by providing sidewalks and ADA compliant ramps at existing crosswalks within the project vicinity with adequate accessible design (per the ADA) that meets the City of Cupertino design standards. The proposed project provides adequate and appropriate facilities for safe non-motorized mobility. Pedestrians would have safe access to the site via the existing crosswalks marked with ladder stripping on Stevens Canyon Road connecting to McClellan Road and St. Andrews Avenue. The proposed project would contribute to the pedestrian facilities in the project vicinity and would not eliminate or impede any existing pedestrian facilities, nor would it conflict with any of the goals and policies in the City’s Pedestrian Plan.

Bicycle Facilities
Class II Bike Lanes are located along both sides of the roadway at South Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road in the vicinity of the project site. The proposed project would not remove any existing bicycle facilities, nor would it conflict with any adopted plans or policies for new bicycle facilities. The proposed project would be required to provide Class 1 bicycle parking spaces (bicycle lockers or secure rooms) and Class 2 bicycle parking spaces (publicly accessible bicycle racks) for commercial users and

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employees of the mixed-use building. Therefore, the proposed project would not obstruct or hinder the implementation of the City’s Bike Plan and would support the use of bicycling by providing adequate bike facilities for commercial users and employees of the mixed-use building.

Transit Facilities
VTA operates bus services in the City of Cupertino and in the project vicinity. The closest bus stop is located within a 15-minute walk (about 0.6 miles feet) to and from the project site, providing access to local bus route 81. The VTA has not established policies or significance criteria related to transit vehicle delay. The 52 residents and 10 permanent jobs that would result from construction and operation of the proposed project are anticipated to come from Cupertino and surrounding Bay Area communities and would not introduce new riders to the VTA operated bus services that serve the project area. Therefore, the new transit trips generated by the project are not expected to create demand in excess of the transit service that is currently provided.

Conclusion
In summary, the proposed mixed-use, infill project would be expected to generate 132 fewer daily vehicle trips, 31 fewer daily VMT, and 11,209 fewer annual VMT than the existing use. The proposed project would not displace modify or interfere with any sidewalk, bicycle lanes, or sidewalks. In addition, the project would not generate a demand for transit that would exceed the capacity of the system. Therefore, the project would not conflict with adopted policies, plans, or programs regarding pedestrian, bicycle or pedestrian facilities. Accordingly, impacts would be less than significant. b) Would the project conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3, subdivision (b)? CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3, which took effect on July 1, 2020, contains new requirements for evaluating a project’s transportation impacts. As of July 1, 2020, impacts on auto delay or level of service are no longer be considered a significant impact under CEQA for land use projects.

VMT measures the overall effects of a project on the transportation system. VMT is the sum of all of the vehicle trips generated by a project multiplied by the lengths of their trips to and from the site on an average weekday. A vehicle driven 1 mile is 1 VMT. Therefore, a project with a higher VMT would have a greater environmental effect than a project with a lower VM T.

The trip lengths vary by the land use type and the trip purpose. For example, a trip from a residence to a job may be longer than the trip from a residence to a neighborhood school. The VMT values stated below represent the full length of a given trip, and are not truncated at city, county, or region boundaries.

Many factors affect travel behavior and trip lengths such as density of land use, diversity of land uses, design of the transportation network, distance to high-quality transit, and demographics. Low-density development separated from other land uses and located in areas with poor access to transit generates more automobile travel and higher VMT compared to development located in urban areas with more access to transit. As discussed in the General Plan EIR, the VMT per capita is projected to increase from

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10.5 to 10.9 under General Plan buildout conditions. The proposed project would construct a mixed-use project, which is consistent with the land use evaluated in the General Plan EIR and would not directly result in any additional new population growth or employment growth beyond what was accounted for in the General Plan EIR. Accordingly, implementation of the project would be consistent with and would have no effect on the VMT estimates presented in the General Plan EIR.

As discussed in criterion (a), the proposed project would be consistent with the analysis conducted in the General Plan EIR, and implementation of the proposed project would reduce VMT from the existing conditions at the project site. Therefore, the proposed project would not conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3(b) and impacts would be less than significant. c) Would the project substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)? The project proposes a two-lane entrance/exit circulation pattern with the access points on South Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Canyon Road, which is the same as how the site is currently accessed. As discussed in criterion (a), the proposed project would generate fewer daily trips than the existing conditions and would not create a significant impact on the expected left-turn or right-turn queues or sight distance at the study intersections.

The proposed project would not modify any design features to a public road or introduce a potentially unsafe feature that would increase hazards. No impacts would occur, and no mitigation measures would be required.
d) Would the project result in inadequate emergency access? The proposed project is located in a predominately residential neighborhood with residential driveways and neighborhood streets adjacent and in close proximity to the project site. There are three streets in the proposed project: McClellan Road extension, St. Andrews Avenue extension, and a new roadway on the project site to connect the streets. Service and emergency vehicles would be accommodated with two access points as well as sufficiently wide aisle ways for entering and turning. The internal circulation was reviewed for issues related to queueing, turning radii, safety and circulation aisles. All circulation aisles are 20 feet wide, and the turning radii are adequate for emergency and service vehicles. The SCCFD and City of Cupertino Building Division coordinate the review of building permits. All access driveways would be designed in accordance with City of Cupertino standards and would have to be reviewed and approved by SCCFD.

Project plans include approved fire and emergency access through all phases of construction and operation. Compliance with the provisions of the CFC and the CBC (described above), would ensure that adequate access would be provided. Therefore, the proposed project would not result in inadequate emergency access, no impacts would occur, and no mitigation measures would be required.

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XVI. TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less-Than-
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
a) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource, defined in Public Resources Code Section 21074 as either a site, feature, place, cultural landscape that is geographically defined in terms of the size and scope of the landscape, sacred place, or object with cultural value to a California Native American Tribe, and that is:
i) Listed or eligible for listing in the California
Register of Historical Resources, or in a local register of historical resources as defined in Public Resources
Code Section 5020.1(k), or
ii) A resource determined by the lead agency, in
its discretion and supported by substantial evidence,
to be significant pursuant to criteria set forth in
subdivision (c) of Public Resource Code Section 5024.1.

In applying the criteria set forth in subdivision (c) of the Public Resource Code Section 5024.1 for the
purposes of this paragraph, the lead agency shall
consider the significance to a
California Native
American tribe.
   

GENERAL PLAN EIR
As described above in Section IV, Cultural Resources, the General Plan EIR addressed impacts to cultural resources associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. The impacts were found to be less than significant, and no mitigation measures were required. The cultural resources study prepared for the General Plan EIR consists of archival research at the Northwest Information Center at Sonoma State University, examination of the library and files, field inspection, and contact with the Native American community. The cultural resources study addressed impacts associated with archeological resources, including those of Native Americans. As shown in Table 4.4-2, Cultural Resources in the Project Study Area and Vicinity, and on Figure 4.4-1, Cultural Resources, of the General Plan EIR, there are no identified cultural resources, including those affiliated with Native Americans, present on the project site.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
CEQA Sections 21074 and 21084.2 contain CEQA standards of significance that relate to Native American consultation and added “tribal cultural resources” to the specific cultural resources protected under CEQA. CEQA sections 21080.3.1 requires the CEQA lead agency to begin consultation with any California Native American Tribe that is traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of a proposed project if the Tribe requests in writing, to be informed by the lead agency through formal notification of

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the proposed projects in the area. The consultation is required before the determination of whether a negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration, or EIR is required. In addition, CEQA Section 21080.3.1 includes time limits for certain responses regarding consultation. Pursuant to CEQA Section 21084.3, public agencies shall, when feasible, avoid damaging effects to any tribal cultural resources.

Information shared by tribes as a result of consultation shall be documented in a confidential file, as necessary, and made part of a lead agency’s administrative record. The City of Cupertino has not received a request from any Tribes in the geographic area with which it is traditionally and culturally affiliated with or otherwise to be notified about projects in the city.

CEQA Section 21074.3(a) defines a tribal cultural resource as a site, feature, place, cultural landscape that is geographically defined in terms of size and scope, sacred place, and object with cultural value to a California Native American tribe that is either included or eligible for inclusion in the California Register of Historic Resources or included a local register of historical resources, or if the City, acting as the lead agency, supported by substantial evidence, chooses at its discretion to treat the resource as a tribal cultural resource.

DISCUSSION
a) Would the proposed project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a Tribal Cultural Resource, defined in Public Resources Code Section 21074 as either a site, feature, place, cultural landscape that is geographically defined in terms of the size and scope of the landscape, sacred place, or object with cultural value to a California Native American Tribe, and that is:
i) Listed or eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, or in a local register of historical resources as defined in Public Resources Code Section 5020.1(k), or ii) A resource determined by the lead agency, in its discretion and supported by substantial evidence, to be significant pursuant to criteria set forth in subdivision (c) of Public Resource Code Section 5024.1. In applying the criteria set forth in subdivision (c) of the Public Resource Code Section 5024.1 for the purposes of this paragraph, the lead agency shall consider the significance to a California Native American tribe? The discussion in Section IV, Cultural Resources, is applicable to impacts to tribal cultural resources. As discussed under criteria (b) and (c) in Section IV, Cultural Resources, no known archeological resources, ethnographic sites, or Native American remains are located on the project site. As discussed under criterion (b), implementation of Mitigation Measure CULT-1 would reduce impacts to unknown archaeological deposits, including tribal cultural resources, to a less-than-significant level. As discussed under criterion (c), compliance with State and federal regulations would reduce the likelihood of disturbing or discovering human remains, including those of Native Americans. Therefore, implementation of Mitigation Measure CULT-1, which is not a General Plan EIR mitigation measure, and compliance with State and federal regulations related to the protection of human remains would reduce impacts to tribal cultural resources to a less-than-significant level.

Impact TRC-1: The proposed project could cause a substantial adverse impact to an unknown Tribal Cultural Resource.

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Mitigation Measure TCR-1: Implement Mitigation Measure CULT-1.

XVII. UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
Would the proposed project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
a) Require or result in the relocation or construction of new or expanded water, wastewater treatment or stormwater
drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities, the construction or relocation of which could cause significant environmental effects?
   
b) Have insufficient water supplies available to serve the project and reasonably foreseeable future development during normal, dry and multiple dry years?
   
c) Result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments?
   
d) Generate solid waste in excess of State or local standards, or in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals?
   
e) Comply with federal, state, and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste?    

GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.14, Utilities and Services Systems, of the General Plan EIR, addressed the impacts to water supply, wastewater, and solid waste associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. Impacts were found to be less than significant with mitigation. The City is required to implement General Plan Mitigation Measures UTIL-6a through UTIL-6c, and UTIL-8, which were previously adopted and incorporated into the General Plan, to ensure impacts related to wastewater and solid waste are less than significant. General Plan Mitigation Measures UTIL-6a through UTIL-6c require the City to work with the Cupertino Sanitary District (CSD) to increase the available citywide treatment and transmission capacity, identify appropriate and current wastewater generation rates that are approved by CSD and establish a monitoring and tracking system for wastewater generation to better understand the City’s need for potential capacity upgrades from CSD. General Plan Mitigation Measure UTIL-8 requires the City to continue current recycling and zero-waste practices, monitor solid waste generation, and seek new landfill sites to replace the Altamont and Newby Island landfills at such time that these landfills are closed. These mitigation measures, which were previously adopted by the City and incorporated into the General Plan, will be implemented by the City.

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EXISTING CONDITIONS
The existing conditions for each of the utility providers is listed below:
 The Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) is the primary water resources agency for Santa Clara County. The project site is located within the San José Water (SJW) service area until 2022. SJW would supply water to the project site. Water supply for the SJW is a combination of groundwater from wells in the Santa Clara Groundwater Basin, treated water purchased from SCVWD, and local mountain surface water from the Santa Cruz Mountains.
 Cupertino Sanitary District (CSD) provides sanitary sewer services for the project site. Wastewater would be treated at the San José/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (SJ/SCWPCP).  Recology South Bay (Recology) would provide curbside recycling, garbage, and compost and yard waste service to the residents of the project. The City has a contract with Newby Island Sanitary Landfill (NISL)157 until 2023. According to CalRecycle, the landfill had a remaining capacity of 21,200,000 cubic yards as of October 31, 2014 and a permitted maximum disposal capacity of 4,000 tons per day.158 The landfill is scheduled to operate until 2041. In 2019, the landfill accepted 582,174 tons of waste, which equates to approximately 1,940 tons/day.159 This results in a residual capacity of about 2,060 tons/day.
 Electricity and natural gas would be supplied to the project site via infrastructure maintained by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). Electricity would be supplied by Silicon Valley Clean Energy.  Telephone service would be provided by AT&T and other providers. Cable television service would be available from numerous providers, including Comcast.

DISCUSSION
a) Would the project require or result in the relocation or construction of new or expanded water, wastewater treatment or stormwater drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects? Water Treatment Facilities
The Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) operates three treatment plants. The Rinconada Water Treatment Plant, which serves the project site, draws water from the South Bay Aqueduct and the San Luis Reservoir, which is treated and supplied to residential and commercial water dealers, such as SJW , which serves the site. The plant can provide up to 80 million gallons of water per day. The water treatment plant

157 City of Cupertino, Garbage and Recycling Services Fact Sheet, http://www.recyclestuff.org/Guides/CityGuideCupertino.pdf, accessed May 7, 2019. 158 Calrecycle website, http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/SWFacilities/Directory/43-AN-0003/Detail/, accessed May 29, 2019. 159 Assuming 300 operational days/year; the landfill is open six days a week.

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is currently under renovation to modernize the system and will result in an increased capacity of 100 million gallons per day as well as improved water quality and greater seismic stability.160 As discussed in the General Plan EIR and criterion b) below, buildout of the General Plan including the proposed project would not result in insufficient water supplies from SJW under normal year conditions or during single-dry year and multiple-dry years, with the proposed and existing water conservation regulations and measures in place. Therefore, implementation of the project would not require any new water treatment facilities or improvements other than those currently under construction.

Wastewater Treatment Facilities
Wastewater from the project site would be discharged to the CSD sewer collection system, which the conveys the wastewater to the SJ/SCWPCP , which is jointly owned by the cities of San José and Santa Clara. The NPDES permit for this facility (NPDES No. CA0037842) is currently in the process of being renewed by the San Francisco Bay RWQCB (Tentative Order No. R2-2020-XXXX). The NPDES permit allows for dry weather discharges of up to 167 million gallons per day (mgd) with full tertiary treatment. The plant is designed to route fully treated secondary effluent in excess of the filtration design capacity around the filters (250 mgd) during extreme wet weather flow events and recombine it with filter effluent prior to disinfection. As discussed below in criterion (c), future demands from the proposed project would not exceed the design or permitted capacity of the SJ/SCWPCP that serves the project site. Future wastewater treatment demand was assessed in consultation with the City of Cupertino and includes consideration of development in the city through the 2040 buildout horizon of the General Plan. Therefore, development of the proposed project would not require any improvements not already considered, and the impact of the proposed project on SJ/SCWPCP would be less than significant.

Stormwater Drainage
Municipal storm water discharges in the City of Cupertino are subject to the Waste Discharge Requirements of the Municipal Regional Permit (MRP; Order Number R2-2015-0049, as amended by Order No. R2-2019-0004) and NPDES Permit Number CAS612008. As previously discussed in Section IX, Hydrology and Water Quality, the proposed project would be subject to Provision C.3 guidelines for stormwater control. Through C.3 compliance, the proposed project would minimize runoff from the project site as described in Section IX, Hydrology and Water Quality. The proposed project also would comply with CMC Chapter 9.18, described in Section 3.1.4.2, Zoning, which implements the requirements of the NPDES permit issued to the City. Additionally, the project would submit an SMP to the City for review and approval prior to the start of construction that describes the stormwater treatment measures that would be implemented to reduce stormwater runoff to the City’s storm drain system.

The project site is within an area where some of the storm drains are deficient in conveying the water from a 10-year storm, based on the 2018 Storm Drain Master Plan. Stormwater from the southern portion of the site would discharge to the City’s existing 18-inch storm drain that is aligned beneath St. Andrews

160 Santa Clara Valley Water District, 2020. Rinconada Water Treatment Plant. Accessed at https://www.valleywater.org/node/98 on January 11, 2021.

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Avenue; this storm drain does not currently have capacity issues. However, stormwater from the northern portion of the site would discharge to the City’s existing 18-inch storm drain near the intersection of South Foothill Boulevard and McClellan Road. The storm drain beneath Stevens Canyon Road/South Foothill Boulevard that continues to Stevens Creek Boulevard is currently under capacity and is designated as high priority for replacement.161 The proposed project would not exacerbate this existing condition, however, because it will increase the amount of pervious surfaces through landscaping and reduce the amount of impervious surfaces, resulting in a net reduction in stormwater runoff. Additionally, the project would provide two bioretention facilities that would collect runoff from roof areas, parking lots, sidewalks and streets for treatment and flow control prior to discharge into the internal storm drain system, which connects to the City’s storm drain system at Stevens Canyon Road/South Foothill Boulevard and St.

Andrews Avenue. The City has determined that the on-site stormwater treatment areas would meet the C.3 requirements of the MRP . In addition, a hydrology and hydraulics report will be prepared for submittal and review by the Director of Public Works prior to the start of construction to ensure that the stormwater runoff from the site does not exceed the capacity of the City’s storm drain system.

The proposed project would not require the expansion of existing stormwater facilities or the construction of new facilities, the construction of which could otherwise have significant impacts. Therefore, impacts would be less than significant, and no mitigation measures would be required.

Other Utility Facilities
Other utility facilities that serve the project site include electric power, natural gas, and telecommunications facilities. PG&E would supply natural gas and electricity infrastructure and Silicon Valley Clean Energy would provide electricity to the project site. AT&T and other providers would provide telephone service. Cable television service would be available from numerous providers, including Comcast.

The proposed project is an infill development project that would result in an increase in land use intensity in a portion of the city that has access to existing infrastructure and services, which was accounted for in the General Plan EIR. The proposed project would include appropriate on-site infrastructure to connect to the existing PG&E and telecommunication systems and would not require new off-site facilities and distribution infrastructure or capacity enhancing alterations to any existing facilities. Accordingly, impacts would be less than significant.
b) Would the project have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project and reasonably foreseeable future development during normal, dry and multiple dry years? As described in the General Plan EIR in Chapter 4.14, the water supply for the City of Cupertino at project buildout year 2022 would be 13,078 acre-feet
162 per year (afy) and at General Plan buildout year 2040 would be 16,984 afy. Buildout associated with the General Plan would result in sufficient water supplies

161 Schaaf & Wheeler Consulting Civil Engineers. 2018. Cupertino Storm Drain Master Plan. 162 One acre-foot equals about 326,000 gallons, or enough water to cover an acre of land, about the size of a football field, one foot deep.

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from SJW under normal year conditions or during single-dry year and multiple-dry years, with the implementation of proposed and existing water conservation regulations and measures. The Water Supply Evaluation prepared for the General Plan EIR included new development on the project site at a greater number of units than proposed for the project (27 net new units as compared to 18 new units for the proposed project); therefore, water supply impacts were adequately addressed in the General Plan EIR.

The proposed project’s water demand was calculated using the applicable water demand generation factors included in the Cupertino Sanitary District’s Flow Modeling Analysis.163 For the residential component of the project, a total indoor residential water demand of 155 gallons/day/unit was calculated.

For the commercial portion of the property, the water demand factor of 0.11 gpd/square foot from the Water Supply Evaluation prepared for the General Plan Amendment was used. The irrigation demand was based on the Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) pursuant to the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. This conservatively assumes that all the pervious area at the site will be irrigated; actual irrigation water usage will most likely be less than the calculated amount. The results are provided in Table 4-14.

TABLE 4-14 WATER DEMAND FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT
Development Type Water Demand Factor Size Water Demand
Residential 155 gpd/unita 18 units 2,790 gpd
Retail/Commercial 0.11 gpd/square foot 4,536 square feet 499 gpd Irrigation -- 16,602 square feet of
pervious surfaces 639 gpd
Total Water Demand 3,928 gpd
Note:
a. Water demand factor calculated as 60 gallons/resident/day x 2.87 residents per unit x 10 percent reduction for new construction and low-flow fixtures.

Sources: Water Supply Evaluation (Yarne & Associates), May 20, 2014; prepared with input from the City of Cupertino. Mark Thomas & Company, Inc, 2019.

Cupertino Sanitary District, Flow Modeling Analysis, Homestead Flume Outfall to City of Santa Clara.

The projected water demand for the project would be approximately 3,928 gpd or 4.4 AFY. This is less than 0.03 percent of Cupertino’s water supply at buildout and the proposed project was accounted for in the General Plan EIR at a higher density land use and water demand rate. There is no shortage in water supply to the City of Cupertino by SJW under normal year, single-dry year, and multiple dry years.

Accordingly, the proposed project’s water demand would not exceed the available water supply in 2022 at project buildout or General Plan buildout by year 2040 and impacts to water supply under the proposed project would be less than significant.
c) Would the project result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments?
The calculated wastewater demand for the proposed project is provided in Table 4-15. The proposed project with 4,536 square feet of commercial space and 18 residential units would generate approximately 2,982 gallons/day of wastewater, or 0.0030 mgd of wastewater. The wastewater demand

163 Mark Thomas & Co. Inc., December 6, 2019, Cupertino Sanitary District Flow Modeling Analysis Homestead Flume Outfall to City of Santa Clara.

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calculations are based on the residential water demand factor of 155 gpd/unit and the assumption that 95 percent of the water demand would result in wastewater generation. For the retail/commercial component of the project, the wastewater demand factor of 0.073 gpd/sq ft for retail/commercial land use from the CSD ‘s Flow Modeling Analysis was used.

TABLE 4-15 WASTEWATER DEMAND FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT
Development Type Wastewater Demand Factor Size Water Demand Residential 147 gpd/unit a 18 units 2,651 gpd
Retail/Commercial 0.073 gpd/square foot b 4,536 square feet 331 gpd Total Water Demand 2,982 gpd
Notes:
a. Water demand factor of 155 gpd/unit x 95 percent (amount of water demand that becomes wastewater). b. From source reference for retail/commercial.

Source: Mark Thomas & Company, Inc, 2019. Cupertino Sanitary District, Flow Modeling Analysis, Homestead Flume Outfall to City of Santa Clara.

The wastewater demand under existing conditions was also calculated to determine the net increase in wastewater demand with implementation of the proposed project. Based on the CSD’s Flow Modeling Analysis, the wastewater demand factor for retail and commercial uses of 0.073 gpd per square foot, and assuming that the existing commercial buildings total 13,225 square feet, the current wastewater demand would be 965 gpd or approximately 0.0008 mgd of wastewater . The proposed project would generate up to 2,982 gpd or approximately 0.0024 mgd of wastewater. 164 Therefore, the proposed project would
increase wastewater generation at the site by 2,017 gpd or 0.0016 mgd of wastewater. However, the estimated project wastewater demand would be much less than that generated for the proposed buildout of the site in the General Plan, which assumed 27 new units for a wastewater demand of 3,969 gpd. In addition, the wastewater demand calculations are conservative, because no credit is taken for water conservation measures that would be applicable with new construction, thus reducing the amount of wastewater generated.

The SJ/SCWPCP’s projected peak wet weather capacity stated in The San Jose Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant Master Plan, November 2013, is 450 mgd. The proposed project’s wastewater generation (0.0030 mgd) and the existing wastewater generated in the SJ/SCWPCP’s service area (110 mgd) would not exceed the SJ/SCWPCP’s current total peak wet weather capacity of 450 mgd. The ADWF capacity is 167 mgd pursuant to the most recent National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the SJ/SCWPCP (Order No. R2-2014-0034, NPDES No. CA0037842). Combined, the proposed project’s wastewater generation (0.0030 mgd) and the existing wastewater generated (110 mgd) would not exceed the SJ/SCWCP’s current ADWF capacity limits (167 mgd).

The CSD has a contractual maximum treatment allocation of 7.85 mgd with the SJ/SCWPCP . At the time of the General Plan EIR, the CSD estimated the existing wastewater generation rate for the City of Cupertino

164 Mark Thomas & Co. Inc., December 6, 2019, Cupertino Sanitary District Flow Modeling Analysis Homestead Flume Outfall to City of Santa Clara.

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to be 5.3 mgd and the proposed General Plan build-out would generate 7.2 mgd of wastewater .165 Combined, the existing wastewater flow (5.3 mgd) plus the proposed project (0.0030 mgd) would not exceed the City’s contractual allocation limits (7.85 mgd). Furthermore, the proposed mixed-use development was included within the 4,421 residential units and the 1,343,679 square feet of commercial land use evaluated in the General Plan EIR. Furthermore, as demonstrated in Table 1.1 in Section 1.2, Tiering Process, the and the site was originally assumed to have a higher density land use. Therefore, the project would not result in an exceedance of the City’s contractual agreement with SJ/SCWPCP and there would be no significant impact with respect to wastewater treatment capacity.

However, the CSD’s wastewater flows through a portion of the City of Santa Clara’s sewer system. The contractual agreement between CSD and the City of Santa Clara, for this portion of the Santa Clara sewer system, allows the City 13.8 mgd of capacity in the sewer system during peak wet weather flows. The existing CSD peak wet weather flow into the Santa Clara system is 13.14 mgd.166 However, the estimated wastewater generation from the proposed project and from other potential projects in Cupertino, as established by the General Plan and other approved projects, is approximately 14.61 mgd, which is the total capacity needed to serve the General Plan buildout.167 Therefore, the proposed project, and other approved and potential projects as established by the General Plan buildout, will require a reduction in sewer generation from the CSD system prior to flowing into the City of Santa Clara system, or additional capacity rights will need to be acquired from the City of Santa Clara.

Until such corrections to the system can occur, future projects in Cupertino, including the proposed project would exceed the 13.8 mgd contractual limit through the City of Santa Clara sewer system resulting in a potentially significant impact.

Impact UTIL-1: Implementation of the proposed project may result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider, which serves or may serve the proposed project, that it does not have adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments.

2. Reduce inflow and infiltration in the CSD system to reduce peak wet weather flows; or

165 City of Cupertino, General Plan (Community Vision 2015–2040, Appendix B: Housing Element Technical Report, 4.3 Environmental, Infrastructure & Public Service Constraints, page B-93. 166 Mark Thomas & Co. Inc, December 6, 2019, Cupertino Sanitary District Flow Modeling Analysis Homestead Flume Outfall to City of Santa Clara.
167 Mark Thomas & Co. Inc, December 6, 2019, Cupertino Sanitary District Flow Modeling Analysis Homestead Flume Outfall to City of Santa Clara.

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3. Increase on-site water reuse, such as increased grey water use, or reduce water consumption of the fixtures used within the proposed project, or other methods that are measurable and reduce sewer generation rates to acceptable levels, to the satisfaction of the CSD.

Alternatively, if the prior agreement between CSD and the City of Santa Clara that currently limits the permitted peak wet weather flow capacity of 13.8 mgd through the Santa Clara sanitary sewer system were to be updated to increase the permitted peak wet weather flow, this impact would then be less than significant. If this were to occur prior to the City’s approval of building permits, then Mitigation Measure UTIL-1 would no longer be required to be implemented.

Significance with Mitigation: Less than significant. Implementation of Mitigation Measure UTIL-1 would guarantee that no development on the project site could occur that would exceed the 13.8 mgd peak wet weather flow contractual limit through the City of Santa Clara and CSD by ensuring that no building permit would be issued for any structures or units that result in the contractual limit being exceeded until: (1) additional capacity is available through the City of Santa Clara’s sewer system; (2) improvements are made to the CSD sewer system that reduce the peak wet weather flows that enter the City of Santa Clara system; (3) improvements are made on the project site that ensure the contractual limit is not exceed; or (4) the completion of any combination of these approaches that adequately addresses potential capacity issues. Accordingly, impacts would be less than significant with mitigation. d) Would the project generate solid waste in excess of State or local standards, or in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals? The City contracts with Recology to provide solid waste collection services to residents and businesses in the city. The City has a contract with Newby Island Sanitary Landfill (NISL) until 2023, but has not secured a new landfill contract for landfill disposal after that date. However, according to the Integrated Waste Management Plan, the landfills in the County (including NISL where the City’s collected solid waste is currently being landfilled) have adequate disposal capacity beyond 2026 and NISL’s’ operational life has recently been extended to 2041.
168 The City, therefore, has options for landfill service once the City’s existing contract with NISL ends in 2023. In addition to the Newby Island Landfill, solid waste generated in Cupertino can also be disposed of at the Altamont Landfill and Resource Recovery facility, the Corinda Los Trancos Landfill, Forward Landfill Inc., Guadalupe Sanitary Landfill, Kirby Canyon Recycling and Disposal Facility, the Monterey Peninsula Landfill, Recology Hay Road, the Vasco Road Sanitary Landfill, the Zanker Material Processing Facility, and the Zanker Road Class III Landfill.

168 Santa Clara County Integrated Waste Management Plan, County of Santa Clara Environmental Resources Agency, 1996.

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Waste management for the proposed project includes recycling and composting. Solid waste generated by construction of the proposed project would largely consist of demolition waste from the existing buildings as well as construction debris. The project would be required to comply with CMC Chapter 16.72, Recycling and Diversion of Construction and Demolition Waste, and the City’s Zero Waste Policy, which requires the recycling or diversion of at least 65 percent of all construction and demolition (C&D) waste by salvage or by transfer to an approved facility.
169,170 Prior to the issuance of any demolition, grading, and/or building permits, the applicant is required to submit a properly completed Waste Management Plan to the Cupertino Public Works Department, Environmental Programs Division. The Waste Management Plan shall do the following:
 Identify the materials to be diverted from disposal by recycling, reused on the project, or salvaged for future use or sale.
 Specify if materials would be sorted on-site or mixed for transportation to a diversion facility.  Identify the diversion facility where the material collected will be taken.  Identify construction methods employed to reduce the amount of waste generated.  Specify that the amount of materials diverted shall be calculated by weight or volume, but not by both.

Compliance with CMC Chapter 16.72 and the City’s Zero Waste Policy would reduce solid waste and construction-related impacts on landfill capacity.

Once the project is operational, there would be 52 residents and 10 employees at the site. In 2019, the City of Cupertino’s disposal rate for residents was 3.5 pounds per day (PPD) and for employees was 3.4 PPD. This is much than lower than the CalRecycle’s target rate of 4.3 PPD for residents and 8.1 PPD for employees.
171 The City of Cupertino’s disposal rates for residents and employees have been below target rates and decreasing since 2007, with the exception of 2014, when the rate (9.8 PPD) exceeded the target (8.10 PPD).172 Applying these disposal rates, the project would generate approximately 211 PPD or 0.11 tons per day of new waste. The Newby Island Sanitary Landfill has a permitted daily disposal capacity of 4,000 tons per day and in 2019, the average daily disposal rate was approximately 1,940 tons/day.

Therefore, the residual daily landfill capacity of 2,060 tons/day is more than sufficient to meet the solid waste generation rate for the project of 0.11 tons/day. Additionally, the proposed project would comply with the City’s current recycling ordinances and zero-waste policies, which would further reduce solid waste disposed of in the landfill. Therefore, implementation of the project would not generate solid waste

169 Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 16, Buildings and Construction, Chapter 16.72, Recycling and Diversion of Construction and Demolition Waste, Section 16.72.040, Diversion Requirement. 170 City of Cupertino, Public Works, Garbage & Recycling, https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/environment- sustainability/waste, accessed May 30, 2019.
171 CalRecycle. 2017. Jurisdiction Per Capita Disposal Trends. https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/LGCentral/AnnualReporting/ReviewReports, accessed May 30, 2019. 172 CalRecycle. 2017. Jurisdiction Per Capita Disposal Trends. https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/LGCentral/AnnualReporting/ReviewReports, accessed May 30, 2019.

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in excess of State or local standards, or excess the capacity of the landfill, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals and would be less than significant. e) Would the project comply with federal, state, and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste? The City’s per capita disposal rate for residents and employees in 2018 was 3.1 PPD and 3.2 PPD, respectively, which is below the 4.3 PPD and 8.1 PPD target rate established by CalRecycle.173 As part of the Countywide Integrated Waste Management Plan to address waste management conditions within Santa Clara County, Cupertino adopted a Source Reduction and Recycling Element (SRRE)174 and Household Hazardous Waste Element (HHWE)175 in compliance with the California Integrated Waste Management Act.176 The City has gone beyond the SRRE by implementing several programs, including the City’s and Recology’s organics or food waste collection program, and Environmental Recycling Day events offered to residents three times per year by Recology.

In December 2017, the City adopted a Zero Waste Policy. 177 According to the Zero Waste Policy, the City
will require, through the City’s waste hauling franchise agreement, steadfast and ongoing efforts by the City’s franchisee to maintain a minimum residential and commercial waste diversion rate of 75 percent with a goal of reaching and maintaining 80 percent by 2025. In 2019, the City’s solid waste diversion rate was 69 percent. These programs will be sufficient to ensure that future development in Cupertino, including the proposed project, would not compromise the ability to meet or exceed the State mandated target.

Construction and any demolition debris associated with the project would be subject to CMC Chapter

16.72, requiring that a minimum of 65 percent of C&D debris be diverted from landfill.178 In addition, the City’s Zero Waste Policy requires that all private construction projects that come through the City’s permitting process, and all City projects (through contract requirements), recover and divert at least 65 percent of the construction waste generated by the project. Compliance with applicable statutes and regulations would ensure that the impact would be less than significant, and no mitigation measures would be required.

173 CalRecycle. 2017. Disposal Rate Calculator. https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/LGCentral/AnnualReporting /DisposalRate Calculator, accessed May 30, 2019.
174 City of Cupertino, Public Works. 1992. Source Reduction and Recycling Element, September 21, 1992. 175 City of Cupertino, Public Works. 1992. Household Hazardous Waste Element, September 21, 1992. 176 Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 9, Health and Sanitation, Chapter 9.6, Solid Waste, Non-Organic Recycling and Recycling Areas, Section 9.16.010(a), Purpose.
177 City of Cupertino, Public Works, Garbage & Recycling, https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/environment- sustainability/waste, accessed May 30, 2019.
178 Cupertino Municipal Code, Title 16, Buildings and Construction, Chapter 16.72, Recycling and Diversion of Construction and Demolition Waste, Section 16.72.040, Diversion Requirement.

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XVIII. WILDFIRE
If located in or near State responsibility areas or lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones, would the project:

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
a) Substantially impair an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan?    
b) Due to slope, prevailing winds, and other factors, exacerbate wildfire risks, and thereby expose project occupants to, pollutant concentrations from a wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire?
   
c) Require the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure (such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water sources, power lines or other utilities) that may exacerbate fire risk or that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment?
   
d) Expose people or structures to significant risks, including downslope or downstream flooding or landslides, as a result of runoff, post-fire slope instability, or drainage changes?    

GENERAL PLAN EIR
Chapter 4.7, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, of the General Plan EIR, addressed the impacts to wildfire hazards associated with buildout of the General Plan including the redevelopment of the project site with up to 27 dwelling units and a 30-foot height maximum at a program level. Impacts were found to be less than significant, and no mitigation measures were required. This section of the Initial Study also addresses additional questions regarding wildfire related impacts pursuant to the updated CEQA Guidelines that were adopted by the California Natural Resource Agency in December 2018.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
Wildland fire protection in California is the responsibility of either the State, local government, or the federal government. State Responsibility Areas (SRA) are the areas where the State of California has the primary financial responsibility for the prevention and suppression of wildland fires. The SRA includes a 31-million-acre area, in which the State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) provides a basic level of wildland fire prevention and protection services. Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) include lands within incorporated cities, cultivated agriculture lands, and portions of the desert. LRA fire protection is typically provided by city fire departments, fire protection districts, counties, or by CAL FIRE under contract to local government.179 CAL FIRE determines fire hazard zones within the LRA using an extension of the SRA Fire Hazard Severity Zone model as the basis. The LRA hazard rating reflects flame and ember intrusion from adjacent wildlands and from flammable vegetation in the urban area.

179 California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CAL FIRE). Frequently Asked Questions. http://www.fire.ca.gov/firepreventionfee/sra_faqs, accessed May 30, 2019.

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CAL FIRE designates fire hazard severity zones (FHSZs) as authorized under California Government Code Sections 51175 et seq. CAL FIRE considers many factors such as fire history, existing and potential fuel (natural vegetation), flame length, blowing embers, terrain, and typical weather for the area. There are three types of FHSZs: moderate, high, and very high.

According to the California Office of Emergency Services, a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) is defined as any area where structures and other human development meet or intermingle within wildland vegetation.180 Developments in the wildland-urban interface exacerbate fire occurrence and fire spread in several ways, including:
 Increased numbers of human-caused wildfires.
 Wildfires become harder to fight.
 Firefighting resources are diverted from containing the wildfire to protecting lives and homes.  Letting natural fires burn becomes impossible; leading to buildup of fuel, increasing wildfire hazard further .
181
The project site is located within an LRA and the SCCFD currently provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city and project site. The nearest SRA is approximately 0.5 miles to the west and is designated as a High FHSZ. The nearest Very High FHSZ within the Cupertino LRA is located approximately

1.5 miles to the southeast. The project site is not located within the Cupertino designated WUI.182 However, it is located within the CalOES defined WUI, which is an area of transition between wildland (unoccupied land) and land with human development (occupied land).;183 therefore, impacts related to wildfire are discussed below.

DISCUSSION
a) Substantially impair an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? The City of Cupertino Office of Emergency Services is responsible for coordinating agency response to disasters or other large-scale emergencies in the City of Cupertino with assistance from the Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services and the SCCFD. The Cupertino EOP establishes emergency planning, mitigation, response, and recovery policies within the city.

As described in Section VIII, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, emergency vehicle access would be provided at two points on the project site and the proposed project would not block roads or impede emergency access to surrounding properties or neighborhoods during either construction or operation of the project. The Emergency Circulation Plan includes a fire truck circulation route in addition to designated fireman access routes to reach the rear of the structures. During demolition and construction,

180 Cal OES. 2018. California State Hazard Mitigation Plan. 181 Radeloff, Volker; Helmers, David; Kramer, H., et al. 2018. Rapid Growth of the US Wildland-Urban Interface Raises Wildfire Risk. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS): Volume 115 No. 13. Accessed May 30, 2019 at https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/115/13/3314.full.pdf. 182 Cupertino Municipal Code, Section 16.74, Wildland Urban Interface Fire Area. 183 CAL FIRE. 2018. Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Threat. http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=d45bf08448354073a26675776f2d09cb, accessed May 7, 2019.

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vehicles, equipment, and materials would be staged and stored on a portion of the project site and no staging would occur in the public right-of-way.

As stated in Section VIII, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, the proposed project would not interfere or impair with an adopted emergency response plan, or emergency evacuation plan; therefore, impacts would be less than significant.

Due to slope, prevailing winds, and other factors, exacerbate wildfire risks, and thereby expose occupants to, pollutant concentrations from a wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire? As stated in Section 3, Project Description, of this Initial Study, the project site is classified as “urban area” under the CALVEG classification system and is surrounded by residential and other urban uses. The site is characterized as generally flat and surrounding by low topographic relief. Prevailing winds in Cupertino derive from the west from February to November, and from the north from November to February, with the windier part of the year occurring from March to July with wind speeds averaging 7.6 miles per h o u r.
184 The project site is not located within an SRA or Very High FHSZ in an LRA. The project site is also not located within the Cupertino Wildland Urban Interface Fire Area as defined in CMC Chapter 16.74, Wildland Urban Interface Area Adopted.

The proposed landscaping includes a variety of low water use plants with shrubs and trees surrounding the exterior of the site, as shown in Figure 3-13. The proposed buildings and landscaping would be required to comply with CMC Chapter 9.22.020, Property Maintenance, which requires the upkeep of vegetation and landscaping on the properties to prevent fire and health hazards. CMC Chapter 16.40, Fire Code, would also require the proposed project to comply with the 2019 California Fire Code and 2015 International Fire Code, which provide specific regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion. Therefore, the proposed project would have fire prevention and management measures and would not expose occupants and the surrounding neighborhoods to pollutant concentrations or the uncontrolled spread of wildfire. Impacts would be less than significant, and no mitigation would be required.

Require the installation of maintenance of associated infrastructure (such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water sources, power lines, or other utilities) that may exacerbate fire risk or that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment?
As discussed in Section 3.1.1, Existing Site Character, of the Project Description, the project site is fully developed with commercial buildings and associated parking, and utility infrastructure already serves the project site. The proposed project would not include new roads, fuel breaks, or sources of emergency water . Overhead power lines are currently located above the eastern edge of the project site, and new power lines are not proposed as part of the project. Minor alterations such as water, natural gas, and sewer line piping would be installed to connect existing utilities to the proposed residential units.

Therefore, installation and maintenance of infrastructure would not exacerbate wildfire risks and new

184 Weather Spark. 2019. https://weatherspark.com/y/504/Average-Weather-in-Cupertino-California-United-States-Year- Round, accessed June 3, 2019.

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infrastructure would not cause temporary or ongoing impacts on the environment. Impacts would be less than significant, and no mitigation measures would be required.

Expose people or structure to significant risks, including downslope or downstream flooding or landslides, as a result of runoff, post-fire instability, or drainage changes? As stated in criterion b), the project site is characterized as generally flat and is surrounded by low topographic relief. The project site is not located within a floodplain or an area that has a high potential for landslides. As discussed in Section IX, Hydrology and Water Quality, the proposed project would result in a 4,556 square foot decrease in the amount of impervious surface and provide 267 additional square feet of water treatment area through two bioretention areas that would hold and treat stormwater before it is released into the City’s off-site storm drain infrastructure, which will reduce runoff on the project site.

Therefore, the proposed project would not expose people or structures to flooding or landslides that result from post-fire instability and runoff, and impacts would be less than significant.

XIX. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE

Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less
Than
Significant
No
Impact
a) Does the project have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self - sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory?
   
b) Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? ("Cumulatively considerable" means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects)?
   
c) Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly?
   

DISCUSSION
a) Does the project have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict the range of a

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rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory?
The project site is in an urbanized and extensively developed area of Cupertino. The project site and surrounding area is entirely built out with existing commercial and residential development and associated surface parking. The project site is currently developed with commercial buildings that are partially vacant, and a vacant single-family home. Landscaping currently consists of a few green spaces with trees surrounding the buildings and the eastern edge of the project site. There are no identified sensitive natural communities, no areas of sensitive habitat, and no areas of critical habitat on the project site. In addition, there are no buildings currently listed or eligible for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources, no recorded archaeological sites, and no known paleontological resources located on the project site. The implementation of Mitigation Measures AQ-1, AQ-2, BIO-1, CULT-1, GEO-1, NOISE-1, NOISE-2, TCR-1, and UTIL-1 would serve to protect the quality of the air, nesting birds, and unknown cultural and tribal resources, as well as ensure adequate services are provided and that no additional physical impacts would occur elsewhere. Therefore, implementation of the proposed project would result in a less-than-significant impact to the quality of the environment, wildlife, and major periods of California history or prehistory.
b) Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? (“Cumulatively considerable” means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects)?
CEQA Guidelines Section 15355 defines cumulative impacts as two or more individual effects which, when considered together, are considerable or which compound or increase other environmental impacts.

Cumulative impacts may result from individually minor, but collectively significant projects taking place over a period of time. CEQA Guidelines Section 15130(b) advises that a discussion of cumulative impacts should reflect both the severity of the impacts and the likelihood of their occurrence. To accomplish these two objectives, CEQA Guidelines Section 15130 permits two different methods for completion of a cumulative impact analysis and allows for a reasonable combination of the two approaches:
 The ‘list’ approach permits the use of a list of past, present, and probable future projects producing related or cumulative impacts, including projects both within and outside the city; and  The ‘projections’ approach allows the use of a summary of projections contained in an adopted plan or related planning document, such as a regional transportation plan, or in an EIR prepared for such a plan. The projections may be supplemented with additional information such as regional modeling.

Table 4-16 shows the other reasonably foreseeable projects in Cupertino and how they relate to the maximum buildout potential evaluated in the General Plan EIR.

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TABLE 4-16 REASONABLY FORESEEABLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN CUPERTINO

Hotel Residential Commercial Office
General Plan EIR: Maximum
Development Potential 1,339 4,421 1,343,679 4,040,231
Reasonably Foreseeable Projects
Marina Plaza a 122 188 23,000
The Hamptons Redevelopment a 600
The Forum a 23
The Village Hotel a 185
De Anza Hotel a 155
Westport a 267 20,000
Public Storage a, d 209,485
Scandinavian Design a 2,235
Vallco a ,c 2,402 400,000 1,810,000
Loc-N-Stor b, d 96,432
22690 Stevens Creek Boulevard 9
Total Foreseeable Development 463 3,443 764,381 1,810,000 General Plan EIR: Remaining
Development Potential 876 978 579,298 2,230,231
Notes:
a. The project has been approved or is under construction. b. The project is under review.
c. The buildout numbers are for the Vallco SB 35 Application (0 hotel rooms, 2,402 units, 1,810,000 square feet commercial, and 400,000 square feet commercial).
d. The storage facility sites currently have existing storage facilities and the square footage shown in this table is the net new.

Source: City of Cupertino, 2019.

The General Plan EIR evaluated the cumulative effects of the General Plan Amendments, Housing Element Update, and Associated Rezoning using the summary of projections approach provided for in CEQA Guidelines Section 15130(b)(1)(B). The General Plan EIR took into account growth from the General Plan within the Cupertino city boundary and Sphere of Influence (SOI), in combination with projected growth in the rest of Santa Clara County and the surrounding region, as forecast by ABAG.

As provided for by CEQA Guidelines Section 15130, the cumulative context considered in the General Plan EIR varies, depending on the nature of the issue being studied, to best assess each issue‘s geographic extent. For example, the cumulative impacts on water and air quality can be best analyzed within the boundaries of the affected resources, such as water bodies and air basins. For other cumulative impacts, such as hazard risks, traffic, and the need for new public service facilities, the cumulative impact is best analyzed within the context of the population growth and associated development that are expected to occur in the region or the public service providers’ jurisdiction.

The General Plan EIR included an assessment of the redevelopment of the project site with mixed-use, with commercial and residential projects. The residential assumptions included a residential density of 25 dwelling units per acres with a 30-foot height maximum, which would result in up to 27 residential units.

Therefore, as shown in Table 4-16, when combined with the other reasonably foreseeable projects in Cupertino the project would not exceed the maximum buildout potential evaluated in the General Plan

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EIR. The impact discussions in Section I through Section XVIII above describe the proposed project‘s relationship to and consistency with the scope of development, land use designations, population projections, and cumulative impacts analyses contained in the General Plan EIR. As shown, the project’s cumulative impacts were determined to be less than significant or less than significant with mitigation in the cumulative context.

Since the certification of the General Plan EIR, the City has considered new development at the Vallco project site. While, as shown in Table 4-16, this development at the Vallco site is consistent with the maximum buildout potential in the General Plan EIR for citywide cumulative discussions (e.g., population and housing, water supply, etc.), the General Plan EIR did not evaluate the specific amount of buildout at the Vallco site that is shown in Table 4-16, therefore, localized cumulative impacts such as traffic, traffic related noise, and utilities infrastructure were not captured in the General Plan EIR. Due to the distance between the proposed Canyon Crossings Mixed-Use Project and the Vallco project site, the proposed project’s impacts would result in no localized cumulative impacts related traffic, noise, or utilities in combination with development of the Vallco site.

As described in the environmental checklist, the impacts of the proposed project would be mitigated to less-than-significant levels. The proposed project would incrementally contribute to, but would not exceed, the cumulative impacts analyses included in the General Plan EIR. Therefore, the proposed project would not be expected to contribute to significant cumulative impacts when considered along with other impacts under the General Plan.
c) Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly?
As discussed previously, the proposed project would not result in a significant impact that could not be mitigated to a less-than-significant level, thus the proposed project’s environmental effects would be less than significant.

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Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting
Program
This Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) has been prepared for the Canyon Crossings Mixed-Use Project. The purpose of the MMRP is to ensure the implementation of project-specific mitigation measures identified as part of the environmental review for the proposed project. The MMRP includes:
 The full text of the mitigation measures;
 The party responsible for implementing the mitigation measures;  The timing for implementation of the mitigation measures;  The agency responsible for monitoring the implementation; and  The monitoring action and frequency.

The City of Cupertino must adopt this MMRP , or an equally effective program, if it approves the proposed project with the mitigation measures that were adopted or made conditions of project approval.

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AIR QUALITY
Mitigation Measure AQ-1: The project’s construction contractor shall comply with the following best management practices for reducing construction emissions of fugitive dust (PM10 and PM2.5) as required by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Revised California Environmental Quality Act Air Quality Guidelines:
 Water all active construction areas at least twice daily, or as often as needed to control dust emissions. Watering should be sufficient to prevent airborne dust from leaving the site. Increased watering frequency may be necessary whenever wind speeds exceed 15 miles per hour. Reclaimed water should be used whenever possible.  Pave, apply water twice daily or as often as necessary to control dust, or apply (non-toxic) soil stabilizers on all unpaved access roads, parking areas, and staging areas at construction sites.  Cover all trucks hauling soil, sand, and other loose materials.  Sweep daily (with water sweepers using reclaimed water if possible) or as often as needed all paved access roads, parking areas and staging areas at the construction site to control dust.  Sweep public streets daily (with water sweepers using reclaimed water if possible) in the vicinity of the project site, or as often as needed, to keep streets free of visible soil material.
 Hydroseed or apply non-toxic soil stabilizers to inactive construction areas.
 Enclose, cover, water twice daily, or apply non-toxic soil binders to exposed stockpiles (dirt/sand).
 Limit vehicle traffic speeds on unpaved roads to 15 miles per hour.  Replant vegetation in disturbed areas as quickly as possible and water appropriately until vegetation is established.
 Install sandbags or other erosion control measures to prevent silt runoff from public roadways.
 All exposed surfaces shall be watered at a frequency adequate to maintain minimum soil moisture of 12 percent. Moisture content can be verified by lab samples or moisture probe.

Applicant During construction City of Cupertino
Public Works
Department
And Building
Department

Plan Review and
Approval

During scheduled
construction site
inspections

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TABLE 5-1 MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM
Mitigation Measures
Party Responsible
for Implementation
Implementation
Timing
Agency Responsible
for Monitoring
Monitoring
Action
Monitoring
Frequency
Mitigation Measure AQ-2: During construction, the construction contractor(s) shall:
 Use construction equipment that have engines that meet either the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) or California Air Resources Board (CARB) Tier 4 Interim emissions standards for off-road diesel-powered construction equipment with more than 50 horsepower, unless it can be demonstrated to the City of Cupertino Building Division that such equipment is not available. Any emissions control device used by the contractor shall achieve emissions reductions that are no less than what could be achieved by Tier 4 Interim emissions standards for a similarly sized engine, as defined by the CARB’s regulations.
 Prior to issuance of any construction permit, ensure that all construction plans submitted to the City of Cupertino Planning Department and/or Building Division clearly show the requirement for Tier 4 Interim emissions standards for construction equipment more than 50 horsepower.
 Maintain a list of all operating equipment in use on the project site for verification by the City of Cupertino Building Division official or their designee. The construction equipment list shall state the makes, models, and number of construction equipment on site.
 Ensure that all equipment shall be properly serviced and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
 Communicate with all sub-contractors in contracts and construction documents that all nonessential idling of construction equipment is restricted to 5 minutes or less in compliance with CARB Rule 2449 and is responsible for ensuring that this requirement is met.

Applicant During construction City of Cupertino
Public Works
Planning & Building
Department

Plan Review and
Approval

During scheduled
construction site
inspections

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Mitigation Measure BIO-1: Nests of raptors and other birds shall be protected when in active use, as required by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the California Fish and Game Code. The construction contractor shall indicate the following on all construction plans, if Applicant Prior to construction
During construction
Qualifying biologist
in consultation with
California
Department of Fish
Preconstruction
Survey

Once for survey;
ongoing if nesting
birds identified
and until they
have left the nest

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TABLE 5-1 MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM
Mitigation Measures
Party Responsible
for Implementation
Implementation
Timing
Agency Responsible
for Monitoring
Monitoring
Action
Monitoring
Frequency
construction activities and any required tree removal occur during the breeding season (February 1 and August 31).
 Preconstruction surveys shall:
 Be conducted by a qualified biologist prior to tree removal or grading, demolition, or construction activities. Note that preconstruction surveys are not required for tree removal or construction, grading, or demolition activities outside the nesting period.
 Be conducted no more than 14 days prior to the start of tree removal or construction.
 Be repeated at 14-day intervals until construction has been initiated in the area after which surveys can be stopped.  Document locations of active nests containing viable eggs or young birds.
 Protective measures for active nests containing viable eggs or young birds shall be implemented under the direction of the qualified biologist until the nests no longer contain eggs or young birds, and the young have left the nest and are foraging independently, or the nest is no longer active. Protective measures shall include:
 Establishment of clearly delineated exclusion zones (i.e., demarcated by identifiable fencing, such as orange construction fencing or equivalent) around each nest location as determined by the qualified biologist, taking into account the species of birds nesting, their tolerance for disturbance and proximity to existing development. In general, exclusion zones shall be a minimum of 300 feet for raptors and 75 feet for passerines and other birds.  Monitoring active nests within an exclusion zone on a weekly basis throughout the nesting season to identify signs of disturbance and confirm nesting status.
 An increase in the radius of an exclusion zone by the qualified biologist if project activities are determined to be adversely affecting the nesting birds. Exclusion zones may be reduced by the qualified biologist only in consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
and Wildlife as
needed

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PLACEWORKS 5-5

CULTURAL RESOURCES
Mitigation Measure CULT-1: Mitigation Measure CULT-1: A tribal representative from the Tamien Nation shall be retained and permitted on-site at all times during ground disturbance (including grading, demolition and/or construction) to monitor for potential prehistoric or historic subsurface cultural resources. Notice shall be given to the Tribe Tamien Nation in a manner requested by the Tribe Tamien Nation at least 48 hours five (5) days before any ground disturbing activity. Prior to ground disturbance activities, construction workers conducting the ground disturbing activities shall undergo cultural resource sensitivity training conducted by the on-site tribal Tamien Nation representative.

Plan Review and
Approval

As needed if
resources are
unearthed

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TABLE 5-1 MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM
Mitigation Measures
Party Responsible
for Implementation
Implementation
Timing
Agency Responsible
for Monitoring
Monitoring
Action
Monitoring
Frequency
appropriate tribe(s) Tamien Nation to evaluate the significance of the resource and to recommend appropriate and feasible
avoidance, testing, preservation, or mitigation measures, in light of factors such as the significance of the find, proposed project design, costs, and other considerations. If avoidance is infeasible, other appropriate measures (e.g., data recovery) may be implemented.
 All significant non-tribal cultural materials recovered shall be, as necessary, and at the discretion of the consulting archaeologist, subject to scientific analysis, professional museum curation, and documentation according to current professional standards.

GEOLOGY AND SOILS
Mitigation Measure GEO-1: The construction contractor shall incorporate the following in all grading, demolition, and construction plans:
 In the event that fossils or fossil-bearing deposits are discovered during grading, demolition, or building, excavations within 50 feet of the find shall be temporarily halted or diverted.
 The contractor shall notify the City of Cupertino Building Department and a City-approved qualified paleontologist to examine the discovery.
 The paleontologist shall document the discovery as needed, in accordance with Society of Vertebrate Paleontology standards (Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 1995), evaluate the potential resource, and assess the significance of the finding under the criteria set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5.
 The paleontologist shall notify the appropriate agencies to determine procedures that would be followed before construction is allowed to resume at the location of the find.
 If the project applicant determines that avoidance is not feasible, the paleontologist shall prepare an excavation plan for mitigating the effect of the proposed project based on the qualities that make the resource important. The excavation plan shall be submitted to the City for review and approval prior to implementation.

Applicant During construction City of Cupertino
Public Works &
Building Department

Plan Review and
Approval

During scheduled
construction site
inspections

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED - USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM

PLACEWORKS 5-7

REVISED FINAL DRAFT
TABLE 5-1 MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM
Mitigation Measures
Party Responsible
for Implementation
Implementation
Timing
Agency Responsible
for Monitoring
Monitoring
Action
Monitoring
Frequency
NOISE
Mitigation Measure NOISE-1: The following shall be incorporated in all activity phases and construction plans, as required by the Cupertino Municipal Code (CMC). Construction activities shall take place only during daytime hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and due to the close proximity of the adjacent residential land use to the west, construction may occur on the weekends, holidays or nighttime only if a special exception has been granted by the City. In addition, the construction crew shall adhere to the following best management practices:
 At least 90 days prior to the start of any construction, demolition or grading activities, all off-site businesses and residents within 300 feet of the project site will be notified of the planned activities. The notification will include a brief description of the project, the activities that would occur, the hours when activity would occur, and the construction period’s overall duration. The notification should include the telephone numbers of the contractor’s authorized representatives that are assigned to respond in the event of a noise or vibration complaint.
 The project applicant and contractors shall prepare and submit a Construction Noise Control Plan to the City’s Building Department and Code Enforcement for review and approval prior to issuance of any grading, demolition, and/or building permits. The Construction Noise Plan shall demonstrate compliance with the 80-dBA limit in the CMC. The details of the Construction Noise Control Plan, including those details listed herein, shall be included as part of the permit application drawing set and as part of the construction drawing set, shall be implemented by the on-site Construction Manager, and shall include, but not be limited to, the following available controls to comply with the 80 dBA performance standard:
 At least 10 days prior to the start of construction activities, a sign will be posted at the entrance(s) to the job site, clearly visible to the public, which includes permitted construction days and hours, as well as the telephone numbers of the City’s and contractor’s Applicant Prior to issuance of
building permits

City of Cupertino
Public Works
Department

Plan review and
approval/site
inspections

Once for plan
review/ during
scheduled
construction site
inspections

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED - USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM
5-8 DECEMBER 2021

REVISED FINAL DRAFT
TABLE 5-1 MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM
Mitigation Measures
Party Responsible
for Implementation
Implementation
Timing
Agency Responsible
for Monitoring
Monitoring
Action
Monitoring
Frequency
authorized representatives that are assigned to respond in the event of a noise or vibration complaint. If the authorized contractor’s representative receives a complaint, they will investigate, take appropriate corrective action, and report the action to the City.
 During the entire active construction period, equipment and trucks used for project construction will utilize the best available noise control techniques (e.g., improved mufflers, equipment re-design, use of intake silencers, ducts, engine enclosures, and acoustically attenuating shields or shrouds), wherever feasible.
 Include noise control requirements for equipment and tools, including concrete saws, to the maximum extent feasible. Such requirements could include, but are not limited to, erecting temporary plywood noise barriers between construction areas and nearby sensitive receptors; performing work in a manner that minimizes noise; and undertaking the noisiest activities during times of least disturbance to nearby sensitive receptors.  During the entire active construction period, stationary noise sources will be located as far from sensitive receptors as possible, and they will be muffled and enclosed within temporary sheds, or insulation barriers or other measures will be incorporated to the extent feasible.
 During the entire active construction period, noisy operations will be conducted simultaneously to the degree feasible in order to reduce the time periods of these operations.
 Select haul routes that avoid the greatest amount of sensitive use areas and submit to the City of Cupertino Public Works
Department for approval prior to the start of the construction phase.
 Signs will be posted at the job site entrance(s), within the on-site construction zones, and along queueing lanes (if any) to reinforce the prohibition of unnecessary engine idling. All other equipment will be turned off if not in use for more than 5 minutes.  During the entire active construction period and to the extent feasible, the use of noise producing signals, including horns,

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED - USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM

PLACEWORKS 5-9

The construction manager will use smart back-up alarms, which automatically adjust the alarm level based on the background noise level or switch off back-up alarms and replace with human spotters in compliance with all safety requirements and laws.

Mitigation Measure NOISE-2: Mechanical equipment shall be selected and designed to reduce impacts on surrounding uses to meet the Cupertino Municipal Code noise limits of 60 dBA and 50 dBA at residential uses during daytime and nighttime, respectively, and 65 dBA and 55 dBA at non-residential sensitive uses during daytime and nighttime, respectively. A qualified acoustical consultant shall be retained to review mechanical noise as these systems are selected to determine specific noise reduction measures necessary to reduce noise to comply with the City’s noise level requirements. Mechanical equipment shall be selected and designed to reduce impacts on surrounding uses to meet the City’s noise level requirements. Noise reduction measures could include, but are not limited to:
 Selection of equipment that emits low noise levels;
 Installation of noise dampening techniques, such as enclosures and parapet walls, to block the line-of-sight between the noise source and the nearest receptors; or
 Locating equipment in less noise-sensitive areas, where feasible.

Applicant Prior to and during
construction
Qualified acoustical
consultant and City
of Cupertino Public
Works & Building
Department

Plan review and
approval/site
inspections

Once for plan
review/ during
scheduled
construction site
inspections

Applicant During construction Qualified acoustical
consultant and City
of Cupertino Public
Works & Building
Department

Plan review and
approval/site
inspections

Once for plan
review/ during
scheduled
construction site
inspections

TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES
Mitigation Measure TCR-1: Implement Mitigation Measure CULT-1.

Applicant During construction Consulting
archeologist and
City of Cupertino
Plan Review and
Approval

As needed if
resources are
unearthed

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED - USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM
5-10 DECEMBER 2021

UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
Mitigation Measure UTIL-1: No building permits shall be issued by the City for the proposed Canyon Crossing Mixed-Use Project that would result in exceeding the permitted peak wet weather flow capacity of

13.8 mgd through the Santa Clara sanitary sewer system. The project applicant shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the City of Cupertino and Cupertino Sanitary District (CSD), that the proposed project would not exceed the peak wet weather flow capacity of the Santa Clara sanitary sewer system by implementing one or more of the following methods:

Reduce inflow and infiltration in the CSD system to reduce peak wet weather flows; or
Increase on-site water reuse, such as increased grey water use, or reduce water consumption of the fixtures used within the proposed project, or other methods that are measurable and reduce sewer generation rates to acceptable levels, to the satisfaction of the CSD.

unless alternative (i.e., lower) generation rates achieved by the proposed project are substantiated by the project applicant based on evidence to the satisfaction of the CSD. To calculate the peak wet weather flow for a 10-year storm event, the average daily flow rate shall be multiplied by a factor of 2.95 as required by CSD pursuant to their December 2019 flow modeling analysis.

Applicant Prior to construction Cupertino Sanitary
District, City of
Cupertino Public
Works and Building
Departments

Plan Review and
Approval

During scheduled
construction site
inspections

PLACEWORKS 6-1

REVISED FINAL DRAFT
Organizations and Persons Consulted
This Initial Study was prepared by the following consultants and individuals:

LEAD AGENCY

CITY OF CUPERTINO
Benjamin Fu …………………………………………………………………….………………. Director of Community Development Piu Ghosh…………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………… Principal Planner Erick Serrano…………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………. Senior Planner Chad Mosley…………………………………………………………………….………….……..…… Assistant Director of Public Work David Stillman…………………………………………………………………….…….………………….………. Transportation Manager Winnie Pagan…………………………………………………………………….…….…………………………………. Senior Civil Engineer

REPORT PREPARERS
PlaceWorks
Terri McCracken …………………………………………..………………………….……. Associate Principal, Principal-in-Charge Jacqueline Protsman …………………………………………………………………….………………… Associate, Project Manager Nicole Vermilion …………………………………………..…. Principal, Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Practice Leader Cathy Fitzgerald …………………………………………………………………….………………………………………. Principal Engineer Steve Bush …………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………. Senior Engineer John Vang ………………………………………………………..Senior Associate, Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas, and Energy Josh Carman …………………………………………………………………….……………………. Senior Associate, Noise Specialist Alejandro Garcia…………………………………………………………………….……………………………Associate, Noise Specialist Kristie Nguyen ……………………………………………………Project Scientist, Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas, and Energy Torina Wilson …………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………….……. Associate Grant Reddy …………………………………………………………………….……………………………………..……. Graphics Specialist

CANYON CROSSINGS MIXED - USE PROJECT INITIAL STUDY

CITY OF CUPERTINO

ORGANIZATIONS AND PERSONS CONSULTED
6-2 DECEMBER 2021

REVISED FINAL DRAFT
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Cupertino City CouncilJanuary 13, 2022

Cupertino City Council
January 13, 2022