CITY OF MERCED
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Merced Civic Center
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
File #: 22-200 Meeting Date: 3/23/2022
Planning Commission Staff Report
Report Prepared by: Julie Nelson, Senior Planner, Development Services Department SUBJECT: General Plan Amendment #22-02 and Zone Change #430, initiated by Visionary Homes on behalf of Evan R. Rahilly and Marlea Massey, Trustees, property owners, for approximately 4.59 acres of land generally located on the east side of Parsons Avenue, approximately 300 feet south of Yosemite Parkway. The General Plan Amendment would change the General Plan land use designation from Thoroughfare Commercial (CT) to High- Medium Density (HMD) Residential. The Zone Change would change the Zoning designation from Throughfare Commercial (C-T) to Medium Density Residential (R-3-1.5). These changes would allow the construction of a 108-unit apartment complex, including a community building for the tenants, and associated parking. **PUBLIC HEARING** ACTION: PLANNING COMMISSION:
Recommendation to City Council
1) Environmental Review #22-14 (Mitigated Negative
Declaration)
2) General Plan Amendment #22-02
3) Zone Change #430
CITY COUNCIL:
Approve/Disapprove/Modify
1) Environmental Review #22-14 (Mitigated Negative Declaration) 2) General Plan Amendment #22-02
3) Zone Change #430
SUMMARY
This is a request to amend the General Plan land use designation from Thoroughfare Commercial (CT) to High-Medium Density (HMD) Residential and to change the Zoning designation from Thoroughfare Commercial (C-T) to Medium Density Residential (R-3-1.5) for a parcel generally located on the east side of Parsons Avenue, south of Yosemite Parkway (Hwy 140). These changes would allow the construction of a 108-unit affordable housing project within a gated community.
RECOMMENDATION
Planning staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval to the City Council of Environmental Review #22-14 (Mitigated Negative Declaration) and General Plan Amendment #22 CITY OF MERCED Printed on 3/15/2022Page 1 of 3
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1 ATTACHMENT 7
File #:22-200 Meeting Date: 3/23/2022
-02 and Zone Change #430 (including the adoption of the Draft Resolution at Attachment A) subject to the conditions in Exhibit A, the findings/considerations in Exhibit B, and the Mitigation Measures in Exhibit C, of the Draft Resolution at Attachment A.
DISCUSSION
Visionary Home Builders of California, Inc. have applied for a General Plan Amendment and Zone Change on behalf of the property owners. Visionary Home Builders, Inc. is a non-profit developer that has been developing affordable housing in the Central Valley since 1983.
The project site consists of approximately 4.59 acres and is located on the east side of Parsons Avenue, south of Yosemite Parkway (Hwy 140) (Attachment B). The apartments would be affordable to low-income tenants.
In addition to the General Plan Amendment and Zone Change, the applicant is requesting a Density Bonus to allow for concessions and waivers of certain design standards that would make the construction of the proposed affordable housing units infeasible. The Density Bonus will be considered as a separate action (Item E-2), after the Planning Commission has taken action on the General Plan Amendment and Zone Change.
Project Description
The proposed project consists of the construction of an apartment complex that would include 108 apartment units, a community center/office building, a sports court, playground area, and associated parking. The apartment buildings would be enclosed by a 6-foot tall wrought-iron fence.
The site would be comprised of five three-story buildings. There are two building types - Building Type A (21 units) and Type B (24 units). There are four Type A buildings and one Type B.
Access to the site is from Parsons Avenue. There are two driveway entrances with the main entrance being the northern driveway and the southern driveway for emergency vehicle access.
Surrounding uses as noted in Attachment B.
Surrounding Land Existing Use of Land City Zoning
Designation
City General Plan
Land Use
Designation
North Vacant/Commercial C-T Thoroughfare
Commercial (CT)
South Joe Herb Park R-1-6 Open Space/Park
(OS)
East Joe Herb
Park/Residential
R-1-6 and R-3-1.5 Low Density (LD)
Residential and High
-Medium Density
(HMD) Residential
West Rancho San Miguel
Shopping Center
C-N Neighborhood
Commercial (CN)
CITY OF MERCED Printed on 3/15/2022Page 2 of 3
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2 File #: 22-200 Meeting Date: 3/23/2022
Background
The project site was annexed into the City in the 1950’s. There was previously a single-family dwelling on the site, but it was demolished in 2010. Since that time there has been no development on the site.
Findings/Considerations
Please refer to Exhibit B of the Draft Planning Commission Resolution at Attachment A.
ATTACHMENTS
A) Draft Resolution
B) Location Map
C) Proposed Land Use Map
D) Site Plan
E) Floor Plans
F) Elevations
G) Initial Study
H) Presentation
CITY OF MERCED Printed on 3/15/2022Page 3 of 3
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3 - Attachment 8 of Administrative Report #22-215
- Attachment 1 of Administrative Report #22-215
- Attachment 2 of Administrative Report #22-215
- Attachment 4 of Administrative Report #22-215
- Attachment 5 of Administrative Report #22-215
PARSONS AVE
Disclaimer: This document was prepared for
general inquiries only.The City of Merced
is not liable for errors or ommissions
that might occur.Official information
concerning specific parcels
should be obtained from
recorded or adopted City documents.
Proposed Land Use Changes
GPA #22-02 & ZC #430
Subject
Site
Subject Site City Limit ¯
General Plan Amendment #22-02
Change the General Plan Designation from
Thoroughfare Commercial (CT) to High-
Medium Density (HMD) Residential.
Zone Change #430
Change the Zoning Designation from
Thoroughfare Commercial (C-T) to R-3-1.5
ATTACHMENT C
DRAFT INITIAL STUDY/
MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
FOR THE
PA
RSONS AVENUE APARTMENTS
1808 Parsons Avenue, Merced, CA
M
arch 2, 2022
P
repared for:
City of Merced
Planning and Permitting
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
Pre
pared by:
BaseCamp Environmental, Inc.
802 W. Lodi Avenue
Lodi, CA 95240
ATTACHMENT G
37 INITIAL STUDY/
MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
FOR THE
PARSONS AVENUE APARTMENTS
1808 Parsons Avenue, Merced, CA
March 2, 2022
Prepared for:
CITY OF MERCED
Planning and Permitting
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
209-385-6858
Prepared by:
BASECAMP ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.
802 W. Lodi Avenue
Lodi, CA 95240
209-224-8213
www.basecampenv.com
38 i
Public Hearing Notice
39 ii
40 iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Notice of Intent ii
Negative Declaration viii
Chapter 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1-1
1.1 Project Brief 1-1
1.2 Purpose of Initial Study 1-1
1.3 Project Background 1-2
1.4 Environmental Evaluation Checklist Terminology 1-3
1.5 Summary of Environmental Effects and Mitigation Measures 1-4 Chapter 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 2-1
2.1 Project Location 2-1
2.2 Project Details 2-1
2.3 Permits and Approvals 2-2
Chapter 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM 3-1
3.1 Aesthetics 3-1
3.2 Agriculture and Forestry Resources 3-4
3.3 Air Quality 3-5
3.4 Biological Resources 3-10
3.5 Cultural Resources 3-15
3.6 Energy 3-18
3.7 Geology and Soils 3-20
3.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions 3-26
3.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials 3-30
3.10 Hydrology and Water Quality 3-33
3.11 Land Use and Planning 3-39
3.12 Mineral Resources 3-43
41 iv
3.13 Noise 3-43
3.14 Population and Housing 3-47
3.15 Public Services 3-48
3.16 Recreation 3-51
3.17 Transportation 3-52
3.18 Tribal Cultural Resources 3-56
3.19 Utilities and Service Systems 3-58
3.20 Wildfire 3-61
3.21 Mandatory Findings of Significance 3-63
Chapter 4.0 REFERENCES 4-1
4.1. Document Preparers 4-1
4.2 Documents Cited 4-1
4.3 Persons Consulted 4-5
Chapter 5.0 NOTES RELATED TO EVALUATION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 5-1
APPENDICES
A. Air Quality Modeling Results
B. Biological Resource Materials
C. Central California Information Center Report
D. Noise Modeling Results
42 v
LIST OF TABLES
1-1 Summary of Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures 1-10 3-1 San Joaquin Valley Air Basin Attainment Status 3-6
3-2 SJVAPCD Significance Thresholds and Project Emissions 3-9 3-3 Project GHG Emissions 3-28
LIST OF FIGURES
1-1 Regional Location Map 1-5
1-2 Street Map 1-6
1-3 USGS Map 1-7
1-4 Aerial Photo 1-8
1-5 Assessor Parcel Map 1-9
2-1 Site Plan 2-4
3-1 Soils Map 3-22
43 vi
LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS DOCUMENT
AB Assembly Bill
APN Assessor’s Parcel Number
ARB California Air Resources Board
BMP Best Management Practice
CalEEMod California Emissions Estimator Model
CalEnviroScreen California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool CALGreen California Green Building Standards Code
CAP Climate Action Plan
CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
CNDDB California Natural Diversity Database
CNEL Community Noise Equivalent Level
CO carbon monoxide
CO2e carbon dioxide equivalent
dB decibel
EIR Environmental Impact Report
EPA U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
GHG greenhouse gas
gpm gallons per minute
HCP Habitat Conservation Plan
IS/MND Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
kWh kilowatt hours
Ldn Day-Night Average Sound Level
Leq Equivalent Sound Level
LOS Level of Service
MCAG Merced County Association of Governments
mgd million gallons per day
MS4 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
MUHSD Merced Union High School District
NOx nitrogen oxides
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company
PM10 particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter PM2.5 particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter ROG reactive organic gases
44 vii
RTP Regional Transportation Plan
SB Senate Bill
SCS Sustainable Communities Strategy
SJVAPCD San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District SR State Route
SWMP Storm Water Management Program
SWPPP Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan
SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board
TAC toxic air contaminant
USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
VMT vehicle miles traveled
45 viii
NEGATIVE DECLARATION
A. General Project Information
Project Title: Parsons Avenue Apartments
Date Received: February 25, 2022
Lead Agency Name and Address: City of Merced
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
Contact Person and Phone Number: Julie Nelson, Senior Planner 209-385-6858
Project Location: 1808 Parsons Avenue, Merced, California Project Sponsor Name and Address: Visionary Home Builders of California, Inc. 315 N. San Joaquin Street
Stockton, CA 95202
General Plan Designation: Thoroughfare Commercial (CT)
Zoning: C-T – Thoroughfare Commercial
Project Description: The project site is an approximately 4.7-acre parcel adjacent to and east of Parsons Avenue in the City
of Merced. The project proposes the development
of an apartment complex consisting of five three-
story residential buildings containing a total of 108
affordable housing units and a community center
building for apartment residents. City approval of
a General Plan Amendment to High -Medium
Density (HMD) Residential and rezoning to the R-
3-1.5 (Medium Density Residential) zoning district
would be required, along with a Density Bonus
application, possible Site Plan Review and a
development permit for construction within a
Special Flood Hazard Area.
Surrounding Land Uses and Setting: The project site is vacant land largely surrounded by existing urban and active open space. The site is
in the southeastern area of the City Merced , about
300 feet south of State Route (SR) 140 (Yosemite
Parkway). The project site is adjacent to Joe Herb
Park, a City park which borders the project site to
46 ix
the east and south. Commercial development along
SR 140 and vacant land border the project site to
the north, and a supermarket -anchored shopping
center is west of the project site across Parsons
Avenue. Existing s ingle-family residential areas
are located to the southwest of the site across
Parsons Avenue.
Other Public Agencies Whose
Approval is Required: None
Have California Native American No Native American Tribes have requested tribes traditionally and culturally consultation.
affiliated with the project area
requested consultation pursuant to
Public Resources Code Section
21080.3.1? If so, has consultation
begun?
B. Environmental Factors Potentially Affected
The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this project, involving at least one impact that is a “Potentially Significant Impact” prior to mitigation, as indicated by the checklist on the following pages.
Aesthetics Agriculture/Forestry
Resources
Air Quality
Biological Resources Cultural Resources Energy
Geology/Soils Greenhouse Gas Emissions Hazards/Hazardous Materials
Hydrology/Water Quality Land Use Mineral Resources
Noise Population/Housing Public Services
Recreation Transportation Tribal Cultural Resources
Utilities/Service Systems Wildfire Mandatory Findings of Significance
47 x
C. Lead Agency 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 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.
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.
CITY OF MERCED
Kim Espinosa, Planning Manager Date
Environmental Coordinator
for
3/2/2022
48 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-1 March 2022
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Brief
This document is an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the Parsons Avenue Apartments Project (project) in Merced, California. The 4.7-acre project site is located at 1808 Parsons Avenue (Figures 1 -1 to 1- 5). This IS/MND has been prepared in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). For the purposes of CEQA, the City of Merced (City) is the Lead Agency for the project.
The project applicant, Visionary Home Builders (VHB) proposes to construct a 108-unit residential apartment complex consisting entirely of affordable units. The complex would consist of five three-story buildings: four would include 21 apartment units, and one would have 24 apartment units. A ll units would be affordable for low -income households. The complex would also include a one-story community center building for apartment residents with space for staff and leasing offices, a childcare facility, and other activities. A total of 183 parking spaces would be provided for residents and visitors. Access to the site would be provided by a main entrance off Parsons Avenue, with secondary access for emergency vehicles. The project would connect to existing adjacent City and private utilities.
The proposed project would require approval of a General Plan Amendment to amend the General Plan Land Use designation from Thoroughfare Commercial (CT) to High- Medium Density (HMD) Residential , and a Zone Change to change the zoning from Thoroughfare Commercial (C -T) to R -3-1.5. This approval requires a recommendation by the Planning Commission with final action by the City Council.
1.2 Purpose of Initial Study
CEQA requires that public agencies consider and document the potential environmental effects of the agency’s actions that meet CEQA’s definition of a “project.” B riefly summarized, a “project” is an action that has the potential to result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. A project includes the agency’s direct activities as well as activities that involve public agency approvals or funding. Guidelines for an agency’s implementation of CEQA are found in the CEQA Guidelines (Title 14, Chapter 3 of the California Code of Regulations).
Provided that a project is not exempt from CEQA, the first step in the agency’s consideration of its potential environmental effects is the preparation of an Initial Study.
The Initial Study evaluates whether the project would involve “significant” environmental effects as defined by CEQA and identifies feasible mitigation measures that would avoid significant effects or reduce them to a level that would be less than significant. If the Initial Study does not identify significant effects, or if it identifies mitigation measures that would reduce all the significant effects of the project to a less -than-significant level, then the 49 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-2 March 2022
agency prepares a Negative Declaration or Mitigated Negative Declaration. I f the project would involve significant effects that cannot be readily mitigated, then the agency must prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The agency may also decide to proceed directly with the preparation of an EIR without preparation of an Initial Study.
The proposed project is a “project” as defined by CEQA and is not exempt from CEQA consideration. The City has determined that the project involves the potential for significant environmental effects and requires preparation of this Initial Study. The Initial Study describes the proposed project and its environmental setting, it discusses the potential ly significant environmental effects of the project, and it identifies feasible mitigation measures that would avoid the potentially significant e nvironmental effects of the project or reduce them to a level that would be less than significant . The Initial Study considers the project’s potential for significant environmental effects in the following subject areas:
• Aesthetics
• Agricultural Resources
• Air Quality
• Biological Resources
• Cultural Resources
• Energy
• Geology and Soils
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Hazards and Hazardous
Materials
• Hydrology and Water Quality
• Land Use and Planning
• Mineral Resources
• Noise
• Population and Housing
• Public Services
• Recreation
• Transportation/Traffic
• Tribal Cultural Resources
• Utilities and Service Systems
• Wildfire
• Mandatory Findings of
Significance
The Initial Stud y conclude d that the project would have potentially significant environmental effects, but that recommended mitigation measures would reduce all these effects to a level that would be less than significant. As of the distribution of the IS/MND for public review, the applicant has accepted all the recommended mitigation measures. As a result, the City has prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration and notified the public of the City’s intent to adopt the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. A copy of the Public Hearing Notice regarding the time available for review and comment is inside the cover of this document.
1.3 Project Background
The project site consists of vacant land in an area of southeastern Merced adjacent to and east of Parsons Avenue south of its intersection with State Route (SR) 140. The site is adjacent to and south of a commercial area along SR 140. The project vicinity contains a mix of commercial and residential land, along with Joe Herb Park, a City park that borders the project site on the south and east.
The proposed project is intended to provide multifamily rental units for lower-income households in the City in accordance with the objectives of the Merced General Plan 50 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-3 March 2022
Housing Element, adopted on July 16, 2016. The Housing Element is intended to provide citizens and public officials with an understanding of the housing needs in the community and to set forth an integrated set of policies and programs aimed at the attainment of defined goals. As of the adoption of the Housing Element, there were 3,464 households with an income that is less than or equal to 30 percent of the area’s median income. Of that number,
82.9 percent experience housing problems, which are defined as a cost burden greater than 30 percent of income and/or overcrowding and/or without complete kitchen or plumbing facilities. Approximately 89.3 percent of these households report a housing burden of more than 30% of their income and 80.3 percent have a housing burden greater than 50% of their income (City of Merced 2016). Additionally, rents in Merced have steadily increased. The Housing Element indicated that approximately 56 percent of renters were estimated to be paying 30 percent or more of their income for rent, with approximately 43 percent paying 35 percent or more. (City of Merced 2016).
The Merced General Plan, adopted in 2012, has de signated the project site for Thoroughfare Commercial use. The Thoroughfare Commercial designation accommodates auto-oriented commerce and the needs of people traveling on highways. Large recreational facilities and some “heavy commercial” uses are also co mmon. Typical uses include motels, gas stations, truck stops, restaurants, automobile sales, auto repair shops, bowling alleys, driving ranges, skating rinks, souvenir shops, car washes, and plant nurseries (City of Merced 2012). The zoning for the project site is C-T, Thoroughfare Commercial, which is consistent with the General Plan designation.
The site has remained vacant of the planned thoroughfare commercial uses since its annexation in mid -1950’s. However, there was a single -family home on the site until it was demolished in 2010. The site provides an excellent location for affordable multifamily residential development. The project as proposed would not be consistent with the existing General Plan designation or zoning. The project , however, includes a request for City approval of a General Plan Amendment and Zone Change that would be consistent with the proposed project.
1.4 Environmental Evaluation Checklist Terminology
The project’s potential environmental effects are evaluated in the Environmental Evaluation Checklist shown in Chapter 3.0. The checklist includes a list of environmental considerations against which the project is evaluated. For each question, the City determines whether the project would involve: 1) a Potentially Significant Impact, 2) a Less Than Significant Impact w ith Mitigation Incorporated, 3) a Less Than Significant Impact, or 4) No Impact.
A Potentially Significant Impact occurs when there is substantial evidence that the project could involve a substantial adverse change to the physical environment; i.e., that the environmental effect may be significant, and mitigation measures have not been defined that would reduce the impact to a less than significant level. If there are one or more Potentially Significant Impact identified in the Initial Study, an EIR is required.
51 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-4 March 2022
An environmental effect that is Less Than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated is a Potentially Significant Impact that can be avoided or reduced to a level that is less than significant with the application of mitigation measures.
A Less Than Significant Impact occurs when the project would involve effects on an area of environmental concern, but the project would not involve a substantial adverse change to the physical environment and no mitigation measures are required.
A determination of No Impact is self-explanatory.
Some existing regulatory requirements, established by the City and other agencies with jurisdiction, that are routinely implemented in conjunction with new development function as measures that mitigate environmental impacts. These requirements are described in this IS/MND as a part of the existing regulatory setting, along with how these requirements would tend to reduce or avoid the project’s environmental effects.
Where existing regulatory requirements are not adequate to reduce the project’s environmental impacts to a level that would be less than significant, this IS/MND describes additional non-regulatory mitigation measures that are needed. These mitigation measures are described in the appropriate technical section of Chapter 3.0 and are summarized in Table 1-1. As of the publication of the Notice of Intent for this project, these measures have been accepted by the project applicant. In all cases, these mitigation measures would avoid potentially significant impacts of the project or would reduce them to a level that would be less than significant.
1.5 Summary of Environmental Effects and Mitigation Measures The pages following the figures contain Table 1 -1, Summary of Impacts and Mitigation Measures. The table summarizes the results of the Environmental Checklist Form and associated narrative discussion of the project’s potential environmental effects in Chapter
3.0. The potential environm ental impacts of the proposed project are summarized in the left-most column of this table. The projected level of significance of each impact without mitigation is indicated in the second column. M itigation measures proposed to avoid or minimize significant environmental effects are shown in the third column, and the significance of the impact after mitigation measures are applied is shown in the fourth column.
52 ampB Case
Figure 1-1
REGIONAL LOCATION MAPBaseCamp Environmental
San Diego Imperial
Orange
Riverside
San Bernardino
Los AngelesVentura
Santa Barbara
KernSan Luis
Obispo
Inyo
Tulare
KingsMonterey
FresnoSan
Benito
Mono
Madera
Mariposa
Tuolumne
Calaveras
Amador
El Dorado
Sacra-
mento
Alpine
Santa
Clara
San
Joaquin
Contra
Costa
Merced
Marin
Napa
Yolo
Solano
Sutter
Placer
Nevada
SierraButteGlenn
Lake
Mendocino
Colusa Yuba
Sonoma
StanislausAlameda
Santa Cruz
San Mateo
San Francisco
www.csac.counties.org
PROJECT LOCATION
53 ampB Case
Figure 1-2
STREET MAPBaseCamp Environmental
PROJECT SITE
54 ampB Case
Figure 1-3
USGS MAPBaseCamp Environmental
PROJECT SITE
SOURCE: USGS Quadrangle Map, Merced CA , 2018.
Township T7S, R13E, S29
55 ampB Case
Figure 1-4
AERIAL PHOTOBaseCamp Environmental
SOURCE: Google Earth
PROJECT SITE
56 Figure 1-5
ASSESSOR PARCEL MAPBaseCamp Environmental
PROJECT SITE
57 TABLE 1-1
SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-10 January 2022
LEGEND: NI = No Impact; LS = Less Than Significant; PS = Potentially Significant Potential Impact
Significance
Before Mitigation
Measures Mitigation Measures
Significance
After Mitigation
Measures
3.1 AESTHETICS
a) Scenic Vistas LS None required -
b) Scenic Resources and Highways NI None required -
c) Visual Character and Quality LS None required -
d) Light and Glare LS None required -
3.2 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY RESOURCES
a) Agricultural Land Conversion NI None required -
b) Agricultural Zoning and Williamson Act NI None required - c, d) Forest Land Conversion and Zoning NI None required - e) Indirect Conversion of Farmland of Forest Land NI None required -
3.3 AIR QUALITY
a) Air Quality Plan Consistency LS None required -
b) Cumulative Emissions LS None required -
c) Exposure of Sensitive Receptors to Pollutants PS AIR-1 If substantial evidence indicating that the project may involve a significant health risk effect due to project emissions is provided to the City, the applicant shall retain a qualified air quality professional to prepare a Health Risk Assessment of the project. If the HRA results indicate that the project would involve a significant health risk, the HRA shall recommend measures that would reduce modeled
health risks to a less than significant level . Such measures may involve use of low-emission construction vehicles and other construction equipment as recommended by the air
quality professional. The project applicant shall
58 TABLE 1-1
SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-11 January 2022
LEGEND: NI = No Impact; LS = Less Than Significant; PS = Potentially Significant Potential Impact
Significance
Before Mitigation
Measures Mitigation Measures
Significance
After Mitigation
Measures
incorporate these recommendations in the construction
plans for the project.
d) Odors and Other Emissions NI None required
3.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
a) Special-Status Species
LS None required
-
b) Riparian and Other Sensitive Habitats NI None required - c) State and Federal Jurisdictional Wetlands LS None required - d) Fish and Wildlife Movement NI None required -
e) Local Biological Requirements NI None required -
f) Conflict with Habitat Conservation Plans NI None required -
3.5 CULTURAL RESOURCES
a) Historical Resources NI None required -
b) Archaeological Resources PS CULT-1: If any subsurface cultural resources are encountered during construction of the project, the City of Merced Development Services Department shall be notified and all construction activities within 50 feet of the
encounter shall be halted until a qualified archaeologist can examine these materials and determine their significance.
If the find is determined to be significant, then the
archaeologist shall recommend further mitigation
measures that would reduce potential effects on the find to a level that is less than significant. Recommended measures LS
59 TABLE 1-1
SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-12 January 2022
LEGEND: NI = No Impact; LS = Less Than Significant; PS = Potentially Significant Potential Impact
Significance
Before Mitigation
Measures Mitigation Measures
Significance
After Mitigation
Measures
may include, but are not limited to, 1) preservation in place, or 2) excavation, recovery, and curation by qualified
professionals. The project developer shall be responsible for retaining qualified professionals, implementing
recommended mitigation measures, and documenting
mitigation efforts in a written report to the City’s
Development Services Department, consistent with the
requirements of the CEQA Guidelines.
c) Human Burials PS CULT-2: If project construction encounters evidence of human burial or scattered human remains, all construction activities within 50 feet of the encounter shall be halted and the contractor shall immediately notify the County Coroner and the City, which shall in turn notify the appropriate tribal representatives. The City shall notify other federal and State agencies as required. The City will be responsible for compliance with the requirements of California Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5 and with any direction
provided by the County Coroner. If the human remains are determined to be Native American, the County Coroner
shall notify the Native American Heritage Commission ,
which will notify and appoint a Most Likely Descendant.
The Most Likely Descendant shall work with the City and a qualified archaeologist to decide the proper treatment of the human remains and any associated funerary objects in accordance with California Public Resources Code Sections 5097.98 and 5097.991. Avoidance is the preferred means
of disposition of the burial resources.
LS
3.6 ENERGY
a) Project Energy Consumption LS None required -
b) Consistency with Energy Plans. LS None required -
60 TABLE 1-1
SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-13 January 2022
LEGEND: NI = No Impact; LS = Less Than Significant; PS = Potentially Significant Potential Impact
Significance
Before Mitigation
Measures Mitigation Measures
Significance
After Mitigation
Measures
3.7 GEOLOGY AND SOILS
a-i) Fault Rupture Hazards NI None required -
a-ii, iii) Seismic Hazards LS None required -
a-iv) Landslides NI None required -
b) Soil Erosion LS None required -
c) Geologic Instability LS None required -
d) Expansive Soils LS None required -
e) Adequacy of Soils for Wastewater Disposal NI None required - f) Paleontological Resources and Unique Geological
Features
PS GEO-1: If any subsurface paleontological resources are encountered during construction of the project, the City of Merced Community Development Department shall be
notified and all construction activities within 50 feet of the encounter shall be halted until a qu alified paleontologist can examine these materials and determine their
significance. If the find is determined to be significant, then the paleontologist shall recommend mitigation measures
that would reduce potential effects on the find to a level that is less than significant. Recommended measures may include, but are not limited to, 1) preservation in place, or 2) excavation, recovery, and curation by qualified
professionals. The project developer shall be responsible for retaining qualified professional s, implementing
recommended mitigation measures, and documenting
mitigation efforts in a written report to the City’s
Community Development Department, consistent with the
requirements of the CEQA Guidelines.
LS
61 TABLE 1-1
SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-14 January 2022
LEGEND: NI = No Impact; LS = Less Than Significant; PS = Potentially Significant Potential Impact
Significance
Before Mitigation
Measures Mitigation Measures
Significance
After Mitigation
Measures
3.8 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
a, b) Project GHG Emissions and Consistency with
GHG Reduction Plans
LS None required -
3.9 HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
a) Hazardous Material Transport, Use, and Storage LS None required - b) Release of Hazardous Materials LS None required -
c) Hazardous Materials Releases near Schools NI None required - d) Hazardous Materials Sites NI None required -
e) Public Airport Operations NI None required -
f) Emergency Response and Evacuations PS HAZ-1: Prior to the start of project construction, the developer shall prepare and implement a Traffic Control Plan, which shall include as necessary such items as control requirements, resident notification of access closure, and daily access restoration. The contractor shall specify dates and times of road closures or restrictions, if any, and shall ensure that adequate access will be provided for
emergency vehicles. The Traffic Control Plan shall be
reviewed and approved by the City Department
Engineering Department and shall be coordinated with the Merced Police Department and the Merced Fire
Department if construction will require road closures or lane restrictions.
LS
g) Wildland Fire Hazards NI None required -
3.10 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY
62 TABLE 1-1
SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-15 January 2022
LEGEND: NI = No Impact; LS = Less Than Significant; PS = Potentially Significant Potential Impact
Significance
Before Mitigation
Measures Mitigation Measures
Significance
After Mitigation
Measures
a) Surface Water Quality PS HYDRO-1: The developer shall submit a Storm Water Quality Plan for the project that shall include post-
construction Best Management Practices (BMPs) as
required by the City’s Storm Water Management Program.
The Storm Water Quality Plan shall be reviewed and
approved by the City of Merced Engineering Department
prior to approval of project improvement plans. The
developer shall comply with applicable requirements of, and pay all associated fees as required by, the City’s Storm Water Management Program as set forth in its NPDES
Permit.
HYDRO-2: If required, the developer shall execute a
Maintenance Agreement with the City for stormwater
BMPs prior to receiving a Certificate of Occupancy. The developer shall remain the responsible party and provide funding for the operation, maintenance and replacement
costs of the proposed treatment devices built for the
project.
LS
b) Groundwater Supplies and Recharge LS None required - c-i, ii, iii) Drainage Patterns and Runoff LS None required - c-iv) Flood Flows PS HYDRO-3: Prior to the start of project construction, the project applicant shall obtain a development permit from the City in accordance with Merced Municipal Code Section
17.48.135. The permit application shall include a plan with the information required by Merced Municipal Code
Section 17.48.135(A), including base flood elevations and proposed elevations of the lowest floor. The project
applicant shall demonstrate compliance with all applicable requirements of Merced Municipal Code Chapter 17.48,
including construction standards and adequate drainage
LS
63 TABLE 1-1
SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-16 January 2022
LEGEND: NI = No Impact; LS = Less Than Significant; PS = Potentially Significant Potential Impact
Significance
Before Mitigation
Measures Mitigation Measures
Significance
After Mitigation
Measures
paths around structures. All applicable requirements shall be incorporated as development permit conditions.
d) Other Flooding Hazards NI None required -
e) Conflict with Water Quality or Groundwater
Plans
NI None required -
3.11 LAND USE AND PLANNING
a) Division of Established Communities NI None required - b) Conflicts with Plans, Policies and Regulations
Mitigating Environmental Effects
LS None required -
3.12 MINERAL RESOURCES
a, b) Availability of Mineral Resources NI None required -
3.13 NOISE
a) Exposure to Noise Exceeding Local Standards PS NOISE-1: The City shall require the construction contractor to implement the following measures during project
construction:
• Construction activities shall be limited to between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday to avoid
noise-sensitive hours of the evenings and nights.
Construction activities shall be prohibited on Sundays
and holidays, unless the contractor obtains prior
approval from the City.
• Construction equipment noise shall be minimized by
muffling and shielding intakes and exhaust on
construction equipment, per the manufacturer’s
LS
64 TABLE 1-1
SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-17 January 2022
LEGEND: NI = No Impact; LS = Less Than Significant; PS = Potentially Significant Potential Impact
Significance
Before Mitigation
Measures Mitigation Measures
Significance
After Mitigation
Measures
specifications, and by shrouding or shield ing impact
tools.
• Construction contractors shall locate fixed
construction equipment, such as compressors or
generators, and construction staging areas as far as
possible from nearby sensitive receptors, such as
residences, schools, and hospitals.
b) Exposure to Groundborne Vibration or Noise LS None required - c) Public Airport and Private Airstrip Noise NI None required -
3.14 POPULATION AND HOUSING
a) Unplanned Population Growth LS None required -
b) Displacement of Housing or People NI None required -
3.15 PUBLIC SERVICES
a) Fire Protection LS None required -
b) Police Protection LS None required -
c) Schools LS None required -
d, e) Parks and Other Public Facilities LS None required -
3.16 RECREATION
a, b) Recreational Facilities LS None required -
3.17 TRANSPORTATION
65 TABLE 1-1
SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-18 January 2022
LEGEND: NI = No Impact; LS = Less Than Significant; PS = Potentially Significant Potential Impact
Significance
Before Mitigation
Measures Mitigation Measures
Significance
After Mitigation
Measures
a) Conflict with Transportation Plans, Ordinances
and Policies
LS None required -
b) Conflict with CEQA Guidelines Section
15064.3(b)
LS None required -
c) Traffic Hazards LS None required -
d) Emergency Access LS None required -
3.18 TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES
a, b) Tribal Cultural Resources PS Mitigation Measure CULT-1 and CULT-2. LS
3.19 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
a) Relocation or Construction of New Facilities LS None required - b) Water Systems and Supply LS None required -
c) Wastewater Treatment Capacity LS None required -
d, e) Solid Waste Services LS None required -
3.20 WILDFIRE
a) Emergency Response Plans and Emergency
Evacuation Plans
NI None required. -
b) Exposure of Project Occupants to Wildfire
Hazards
NI None required -
c) Installation and Maintenance of Infrastructure NI None required - d) Risks from Runoff, Post-Fire Slope Instability, or
Drainage Changes
NI None required -
66 TABLE 1-1
SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 1-19 January 2022
LEGEND: NI = No Impact; LS = Less Than Significant; PS = Potentially Significant Potential Impact
Significance
Before Mitigation
Measures Mitigation Measures
Significance
After Mitigation
Measures
3.21 MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE
a) Findings on Biological and Cultural Resources PS Mitigation measures in Sections 3.4 and 3.5. LS b) Findings on Individually Limited but
Cumulatively Considerable Impacts
LS None required -
c) Findings on Adverse Effects on Human Beings LS None required -
67 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 2-1 January 2022
2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
2.1 Project Location
The project site is located on 1808 Parsons Avenue in southeastern Merced (see Figures 1-1 to 1-5). The project site is on a parcel identified as Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) 061-390-027. The site is shown on the U.S. Geological Survey’s Merced, California, 7.5- minute quadrangle map as within Section 28, Township 7 South, Range 14 East, Mt.
Diablo Base and Meridian . The approximate l atitude and longitude of the project site is 37º 17' 38" North and 120º 27' 01" West, respectively.
2.2 Project Details
The project proposes to construct an apartment complex consisting of s ix buildings on a
4.7-acre undeveloped site in the City of Merced . Five buildings would provide a total of 108 apartment units , all of which would be affordable to lower -income households .
Specifically, these units would be offered mainly to households making 30- 60% of the local Area Median Income, although some units may be made available to households of up to 80% Area Median Income. The sixth building would be a community center for apartment residents with space for staff and leasing office s, a childcare facility, and other activities. Additional project components include parking spaces, landscaping, and utility improvements.
The project proposes to construct five three-story apartment buildings . F our of these three-story buildings, labeled as Building Type A on Figure 2- 1, would have 21 units each, for a total of 84 units . The fifth apartment building, designated as Building Type B on Figure 2- 1, would have 24 units. The apartment complex overall would have 108 units. For all apartment buildings, the upper storie s would be accessed by stairs. All buildings would have two stairwells.
In the western portion of the project site, adjacent to Parsons Avenue, a one-story community center for apartment residents would be constructed. The community center would have approximately 6,000 square feet of floor area. T he community center building would have staff and leasing office s and space for computer laboratories and a Head Start day care facility . A sport court would be adjacent to and north of the community center.
A tot lot/playground are proposed at the center of the project site, between two of the apartment buildings. The site plan indicates two trash bins, which would be kept within enclosures.
The project proposes the installation of 183 parking spaces , located throughout the project site, for residents and visitors. Of these spaces, 46 would be for compact vehicles; the remainder would be full-size spaces (20 feet by 9 feet) . F ive spaces would be 68 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 2-2 January 2022
designated for vehicles for disabled persons . Access to the parking areas would be provided by a main gate-controlled driveway off Parsons Avenue at the northwestern corner of the project site. Secondary vehicular access would be provided off Parsons Avenue at the southwestern corner of the project si te. This access would be equipped with a Knox box to allow emergency vehicle entry only, but it would also be an automatic exit for residents. Driveways from Parsons Avenue to these access points would be installed in accordance with City specifications.
For water and wastewater services, t he project would connect to an existing 16-inch diameter water main and an existing eight -inch diameter sewer line respectively, both within Parsons Avenue. The project also proposes to connect to the City’s existing stor m drainage system. In accordance with City requirements, the project would be required to provide 48-hour onsite detention prior to discharge to the City’s system . While no details on the project’s storm drainage system are available, it is anticipated tha t large underground pipes may be used if surface area is not available for a detention basin. The project site is adjacent to a 12-inch diameter storm drainage line with a catch basin within Parsons Avenue. The City has sufficient capacity to serve the site with sewer and water facilities.
2.3 Permits and Approvals
The proposed project is not consistent with the current General Plan designation of Thoroughfare Commercial (CT) nor the current zoning of C-T (Thoroughfare Commercial). Therefore, the project would require a General Plan Amendment and Zone Change for the project site to designations that are consistent with the proposed project.
The project proposes to change the General Plan designation of the project site to High- Medium Density (HMD) Residential, and to rezone the site to R -3-1.5 (Medium Density Residential). The City Council must grant these approvals , with recommendations provided by the Planning Commission.
Should the project be approved by the City, building and grading permits from the City would be required, along with an encroachment permit for any work in City streets. As discussed in Section 3.10, Hydrology and Water Quality, the project shall also be required to obtain from the City a development permit for construction in a Special Flood Hazard Area.
69 Figure 2-1
SITE PLANBaseCamp Environmental
70 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-1 January 2022
3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM
3.1 AESTHETICS
Except as provided in Public Resources Code Section 21099, would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact 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) In non-urbanized areas, substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of public views of the site and its surroundings? (Public views are those that are experienced from publicly accessible vantage points.) If the project is in an urbanized area, would the project conflict with applicable zoning and other regulations governing scenic quality?
d) Create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect daytime or nighttime views in the area?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
The project site is in a mostly developed area of southeastern Merced. The site itself is a vacant parcel of mostly bare ground. The project site is adjacent to Joe Herb Par k, which has grassy areas and mature trees. Otherwise, the landscape consists mostly of commercial buildings of various sizes and uses. Views from the project site are of development to the north and west, and of Joe Herb Park to the south and east.
California’s Scenic Highway Program (California Streets and Highways Code Section 260 et seq.) was created in 1963 to preserve and protect scenic highway corridors from change which would diminish the aesthetic value of lands adjacent to highways. The program includes a list of highways that are either eligible for designation as scenic highways or have been so designated. There are only two officially designated State Scenic Highway within Merced County: Interstate 5 from the Stanislaus County Line to State Route (SR) 152 (14.9 miles), and SR 152 from Interstate 5 to the Santa Clara County Line (13.8 miles).
Both are in western Merced County (Caltrans 2018).
71 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-2 January 2022
There are no lighting features on the project site. Existing lighting in the immediate project vicinity consists mainly of security and building lighting in nearby development, and street lights along Parsons Avenue and SR 140.
Merced Municipal Code Chapter 20.36 sets standards for land scaping. For residential zoning districts, all required exterior setback areas, excluding areas required for access to the property, shall be landscaped. For all, zoning districts, natural turf areas shall be limited to no more than 50 percent of the landscaped area. A minimum of 90 percent of plants and trees shall be drought -tolerant, non-invasive species. Projects subject to the requirements of this chapter shall subm it a landscape and sprinkler plan as part of applications for all permits as required by the Zoning Ordinance and as part of subsequent Building Permit applications.
Additionally, Municipal Code Section 20.46.030 sets specific design standards for multifamily dwellings. Among these standards, blank walls shall be treated with a variety of te xtures, use of proje cting det ails th at creat e shade/shad ow, and contrasting trim materials. Parking areas shall be screened from public right-of-way by landscaping, and a minimum of one tree shall be planted for each six parking spaces. Parking spaces shall be lit at night for security reasons, but the lighting shall not spill over onto adjacent properties.
The recently revised Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines mentions California Public Resources Code Section 21099, which states that the aesthetic and parking impacts of residential, mixed-use residential, or employment center projects on an infill site within a transit priority area shall not be considered significant effects under CEQA . While the project is residential and may be considered an infill project, it is not in a designated transit priority area. Therefore, Public Resources Code Section 21099 does not apply to this project.
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Scenic Vistas.
The Merced County General Plan notes that scenic vistas in the County, where available, include views of the Coast Ranges to the west, the Sierra Nevada to the east, and the corridors of the Merced River, San Joaquin River, Los Banos Creek, and Bear Creek (Merced County 2013a). The San Joaquin and Merced Rivers and Los Banos Creek are not in the project vicinity. Bear Creek is separated from the project site by distance and intervening development. Because of existing urban and park development surrounding the project site, views of the Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada are not available.
The project involves the construction of a medium-density residential development, a community center, and related site improvements . These structures have the potential to partially obstruct or contribute to obstruction of distance views from places outside the project site . However, given their location and the degree of obstruction from existing urban development, they would not involve a significant effect on distance views. Project impacts on scenic vistas would be less than significant.
72 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-3 January 2022
b) Scenic Resources and Highways.
The project site is a vacant parcel. There are no trees, rock outcroppings, or other notable scenic features on the site. The project site is not on or near the stream corridors designated by the County General Plan as scenic areas. It is not near any of the designated State Scenic Highways. No scenic highways have been designated by either the City or Merced County.
The project would have no impact on scenic resources and highways. c) Visual Character and Quality.
As noted, the project site is a vacant parcel. The project , with its design and landscaping, may be considered an improvement to the existing on-site landscape as viewed from Parsons Avenue and Joe Herb Park, which are the main public viewing area s near the project site.
The project would be required to comply with applicable landscaping standards, as specified in the City’s Zoning Ordinance , as well as applicable standards for multifamily dwellings. Project impacts on visual quality would be less than significant. d) Light and Glare.
The project would add lighting to a site that currently has no lighting. Project lighting could result in changes in indirect illumination levels to parcels adjacent to th e project site.
However, adjacent parcels are occupied by either commercial land uses or by Joe Herb Park. Neither are considered sensitive to changes in illumination levels.
The Merced General Plan EIR states that t he following guidelines will be followe d in selecting and designing any outdoor lighting (City of Merced 2010):
• All outdoor lights, including parking lot lights, landscaping, security, path, and deck lights should be fully shielded, full cutoff luminaries. • Complete avoidance of all outdoor up-lighting for any purpose. • Avoidance of tree-mounted lights unless they are fully shielded and pointing down towards the ground or shining into dense foliage. Ensure compliance over time. • Complete avoidance of up- lighting and unshielded
lighting in water features such
as fountains or ponds.
Implementation of these guidelines would reduce potential lighting impacts on nearby properties. Project impacts on light and glare would be less than significant.
3.2 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY RESOURCES
Would the project: Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
73 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-4 January 2022
a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to non-
agricultural use?
b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract?
c) Conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, forest land (as defined in Public Resources Code Section 12220(g)), timberland (as defined by Public Resources Code Section 4526), or timberland zoned Timberland Production (as defined by Government Code Section 51104(g))?
d) Result in the loss of forest land or conversion of forest land to non-forest use?
e) Involve other changes in the existing environment, which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland to non-agricultural use, or conversion of forest land to non-forest use?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
The project site is vacant and is currently zoned for commercial development. A review of Google Earth photographs of the project site indicated no agricultural activities at least since 1999 and probably longer. Surrounding lands , as noted, have been developed with urban and park uses.
The Important Farmland Maps, prepared by the California Department of Conservation as part of its Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program, designate the viability of lands for farmland use, based on the physical and chemical properties of the soils and other factors.
The maps categorize farmland, in decreasing order of soil quality, as "Prime Farmland," "Unique Farml and," and "Farmland of Statewide Importance." Collectively, these categories are referred to as “Farmland” in the CEQA Checklist in Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines and in this document. There are also designations for grazing land and for urban/built-up areas, among others. According to the 2016 Important Farmland Map of Merced County, the most recent map available, the project site is designated as Urban and Built-Up Land (FMMP 2018).
74 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-5 January 2022
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Farmland Conversion.
The project site is vacant and not in agricultural use; State farmland mapping designate s the site as Urban and Built -Up Land. It is not designated Farmland as defined in CEQA Guidelines Appendix G ; therefore, the project would not convert Farmland to non- agricultural use. The project would have no impact on Farmland conversion. b) Agricultural Zoning and Williamson Act.
As noted, the project site is zoned for commercial uses, not for agriculture. The Williamson Act is State legislation that seeks to pr eserve farmland by offering property tax breaks to farmers who sign a contract pledging to keep their land in agricultural use. The project site is not agricultural land and therefore not under a Williamson Act contract. The project would have no impact on this issue.
c, d) Forest Land Conversion and Zoning.
The Merced County General Plan EIR states that the County has no large forests and no commercial forestry production (Merced County 2013b). There are no designated forest lands on the project site or i n the vicinity , and the project site is not zoned for timber production. The project would have no impact on forest lands. e) Indirect Conversion of Farmland and Forest Land.
Land in the vicinity of the project site is designated as Urban and Built-Up Land, which is not Farmland as defined for CEQA purposes. The land in the project vicinity has been mostly developed for urban uses; there are no active agricultural operations in the vicinity.
As noted in c, d) above, there are no forest lands in the vicinity. The project would have no impact related to indirect conversion of Farmland or forest land.
3.3 AIR QUALITY
Would the project: Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable Air Quality Attainment Plan?
b) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is non- attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard?
c) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant
concentrations?
75 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-6 January 2022
d) Result in other emissions (such as those leading to odors) adversely affecting a substantial number of people?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
Air Quality Status
The project site is within the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD), which includes Merced County, has jurisdiction over most air quality matters in the Air Basin. The SJVAPCD is tasked with implementing programs and regulations required by both the federal and California Clean Air Acts. Under their respective Clean Air Acts, both the federal government and the State of California have established ambient air q uality standards for six criteria air pollutants: ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead. California has four additional criteria pollutants under its Clean Air Act. Table 3-1 shows the current attainment sta tus of the Air Basin relative to the fede ral and State ambient air quality standards for criteria pollutants. Except for ozone and particulate matter, which are discussed below, the Air Basin is in attainment of, or unclassified for, all federal and State ambient air quality standards.
TABLE 3-1
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR BASIN ATTAINMENT STATUS
Criteria Pollutant
Designation/Classification
Federal Primary Standards State Standards
Ozone - One hour No Federal Standard Nonattainment/Severe Ozone - Eight hour Nonattainment/Extreme Nonattainment
PM10 Attainment Nonattainment
PM2.5 Nonattainment Nonattainment
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Attainment/Unclassified Attainment/Unclassified Nitrogen Dioxide (NOx) Attainment/Unclassified Attainment Sulfur Dioxide Attainment/Unclassified Attainment
Lead No Designation/Classification Attainment
Hydrogen Sulfide No Federal Standard Unclassified
Sulfates No Federal Standard Attainment
Visibility Reducing Particles No Federal Standard Unclassified Vinyl Chloride No Federal Standard Attainment
Source: SJVAPCD 2021.
76 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-7 January 2022
Air Pollutants of Concern
The San Joaquin Valley Air Basin is designated a non-attainment area for ozone. Ozone is not emitted directly into the air. It is formed when reactive organic gases (ROG) and nitrogen oxides (NO x), referred to as “ozone precursors,” react in the atmosphere in the presence of sunlight. Ozone is a respiratory irritant and an oxidant that increases susceptibility to respiratory infections and can cause substantial damage to vegetation and other materials. The SJVAPCD currently has a 2007 Ozone Plan and a 2013 Plan for the Revoked 1-Hour Ozone Standard for the Air Basin to attain federal ambient air quality standards for ozone.
The Air Basin is also designated a non -attainment area for respirable particulate matter, a mixture of solid and liquid particles suspended in air, including dust, pollen, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. In the San Joaquin Valley, particulate matter is generated by a mix of rural and urban sources, including agric ultural activities, industrial emissions, dust suspended by vehicle traffic, and secondary aerosols formed by reactions in the atmosphere. Health concerns associated with suspended particulate matter focus on those particles small enough to reach the lungs when inhaled; consequently, both the federal and state air quality standards for particulate matter apply to particulates 10 micrometers or less in diameter (PM
10) and to particulates less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5), which are carried deeper into the lungs. Acute and chronic health effects associated with high particulate levels include the aggravation of chronic respiratory diseases, heart and lung disease, coughing, bronchitis, and respiratory illnesses in children. The SJVAPCD currently has a 2007 PM
10 Maintenance Plan to maintain the Air Basin’s attainment status for federal PM10 ambient air quality standards, and a 2008 PM2.5 Plan for the Air Basin to attain federal PM2.5 ambient air quality standards.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that is highly toxic. It is formed by the incomplete combustion of fuels and is emitted directly into the air, unlike ozone. The main source of CO in the San Joaquin Valley is on-road motor vehicles (SJVAPCD 2015). The San Joaquin Valley Air Basin is in attainment/unclassified status for CO; as such, the SJVAPCD has no CO attainment plans. H owever, high CO concentrations may occur in areas of limited geographic size, referred to as “hot spots,” which are ordinarily associated with areas of highly congested traffic.
In addition to the criteria pollutants, the ARB has identified other air pollutants as toxic air contaminants (TACs) - pollutants that may cause acute or chronic long-term health effects, such as cancer. Some TACs may cause adverse effects even at low levels. Diesel particulate matter is the most common TAC, generated mainly as a product of combustion in diesel engines. Other TACs are less common and are typically associated with industrial activities.
Air Quality Rules and Regulations
As previously noted, the SJVAPCD has jurisdiction over most air quality matters in the Air Basin. It implements the federal and California Clean Air Acts, and the applicable attainment and maintenance plans, through local regulations. The SJVAPCD has developed plans to attain State and federal standards for ozone and particulate matter, 77 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-8 January 2022
which include emissions inventories to measure the sources of air pollutants and the use of computer modeling to estimate future levels of pollution and make sure that the Valley will meet air quality goals (SJVAPCD 2015). A State Implementation Plan for CO has been adopted by the ARB for the entire state. The SJVAPCD regulations that would be applicable to the project are summarized below.
Regulation VIII (Fugitive Dust PM10 Prohibitions)
Rules 8011-8081 are designed to reduce PM
10 emissions (predominantly dust/dirt)
generated by human activity, including construction and demolition activities, road construction, bulk materials storage, paved and unpaved roads, carryout and track out, landfill operations, etc.
Rule 4101 (Visible Emissions)
This rule prohibits emissions of visible air contaminants to the atmosphere and applies to any source operation that emits or may emit air contaminants.
Rule 9510 (Indirect Source Review)
Rule 9510, also known as the Indirect Source Rule, is intended to reduce or mitigate construction and operational emissions of NO
x and PM10 from new development in
the SJVAPCD. This rule requires specific percentage reductions in estimated on-site construction and operation emissions, and/or payment of offsite mitigation fees for required reductions that cannot be met on the project site. Construction emissions of NO
x and PM10 exhaust must be reduced by 20% and 45%, respectively. Operational emissions of NOx and PM10 must be reduced by 33.3% and 50%, respectively. Rule 9510 applies to residential development projects of 50 units or more; therefore, the project would be subject to Rule 9510.
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
In 2015, the SJVAPCD adopted a revised Guide for Assessing and Mitigating Air Quality Impacts ( SJVAPCD Guide ). The SJVAPCD Guide defines an analysis methodology, thresholds of significance, and mitigation measures for the assessment of air quality impacts for projects within S JVAPCD’s jurisdiction. Table 3 -2 shows the CEQA thresholds for significance for pollutant emissions within the SJVAPCD. The significance thresholds apply to emissions from both project construction and project operations.
The California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod) was used to estimate both construction and operational emissions from the proposed project. A report of the complete CalEEMod results is shown in Appendix A of this document . Table 3 -2 shows the maximum project construction emissions in a calendar year and the annual operational emissions. The construction period is assumed to be part of two calendar years. “Mitigated emissions” are the result of the application of project features that reduce air pollutant and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the project. Section 3.8, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, discusses these project features in more detail.
78 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-9 January 2022
TABLE 3-2
SJVAPCD SIGNIFICANCE THRESHOLDS AND PROJECT EMISSIONS
ROG NOx CO SOx PM10 PM2.5
SJVAPCD Significance Thresholds1 10 10 100 27 15 15
Construction Emissions2 0.43 1.71 1.53 <0.01 0.24 0.13
Above Threshold? No No No No No No
Operational Emissions3 0.80 0.79 3.80 <0.01 0.63 0.18
Above Threshold? No No No No No No
1 Applicable to both construction and operational emissions. 2 Maximum emissions in a calendar year.
3 Tons per year under mitigated conditions (see Chapter 9.0, Greenhouse Gas Emissions).
Notes: ROG – reactive organic gases; NOx – nitrogen oxide; CO – carbon monoxide; SOx – sulfur oxide; PM10 – particulate matter 10 microns in diameter; PM2.5 – particulate matter 2.5 microns in diameter.
Sources: CalEEMod Version 2020.4.0, SJVAPCD 2015.
a) Air Quality Plan Consistency.
SJVAPCD has attainment plans for ozone and particulate matter, while the State has a CO attainment plan. As indicated in Table 3-2, project construction and operational emissions would not exceed the applicable SJVAPCD significance thresholds. As the significance thresholds were established in part to ensure consistency with the objectives of air quali ty attainment plans adopted by the SJVAPCD, project emissions would be consistent with these plans.
The project would be subject to SJVAPCD Regul ation VIII, which contains measures to reduce fugitive dust emissions during construction. Dust control provisi ons are also routinely included in site improvement plans and specifications, along with construction contracts. It also would be subject to SJVAPCD Rule 9510, which requires NO x and PM10
reductions in construction exhaust and operational emissions. With a pplication of these SJVAPCD rules and regulations , project NO x and PM 10 construction and operational emissions would be further reduced. Project impacts related to air quality plans would be less than significant.
b) Cumulative Emissions.
As described above, the project would not generate operational emissions above SJVAPCD significance thresholds. Application of SJVAPCD Rule 9510 would further reduce NOx and PM 10 operational emissions. The significance thresholds are applied to evaluate regional impacts of project-specific emissions of air pollutants. Regional impacts of a project can be chara cterized in terms of total annual emissions of criteria pollutants and their impact on SJVAPCD’s ability to reach attainment of criteria pollutant standards. On that b asis, the proposed project would not result in a considerable contribution to a significant cumulative air quality impact in the Air Basin. Project impacts related to cumulative emissions would be less than significant.
79 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-10 January 2022
c) Exposure of Sensitive Receptors to Pollutants.
As defined in the SJVAPCD Guide, sensitive receptors include residences, schools, parks and playgrounds, day care centers, nursing homes, and hospitals (SJVAPCD 2015). The project site is northeast of a residential area. As noted, project construction and operational emissions would be below SJVAPCD significance thresholds for criteria pollutants.
Implementation of applicable SJVAPCD rules and regulations, especially Regulation VIII and Rule 9510, would further reduce the emissions that could potentially reach the residential area.
Potential health effects on sensitive receptors occur with long-term exposure to pollutants, particularly TACs. TACs includes diesel particulate matter, which is often associated with operation of construction equi pment. Health Risk Assessments that are conducted for projects use exhaust PM
2.5 as a surrogate for diesel particulate matter. According to the CalEEMod run for the project, construction activities would generate approximately 198 pounds of exhaust PM
2.5 for the estimated nine-month construction period, or approximately 0.74 pounds per day. This amount is readily dissipated and would not be concentrated such that nearby sensitive receptors would be affected. Construction impacts would cease with the complet ion of project work, and length of exposure time by nearby properties would be short.
Based on the CalEEMod run, project operations would generate approximately 26.4 pounds per year of exhaust PM
2.5, or approximately 0.07 pounds per day. This amount
likewise is readily dissipated and would not be concentrated such that nearby sensitive receptors would be affected. Neither project construction nor operations would generate diesel particulate matter emissions in quantities that would present a significant health risk to nearby properties.
CO hotspots have the potential to expose receptors to emissions that violate state and/or federal CO standards, even if the broader air basin is in attainment of these standards. The main int ersection that would be potentia lly affected by the project would be the SR 140/Parsons Avenue intersection. A project is considered to have potentially significant impacts related to CO if the Level of Service (LOS) at one or more intersections in the project vicinity would decline to E or F (SJVAPCD 2015). As discuss ed in Section 3.17, Transportation, LOS at the SR 140/Parsons Avenue intersection is expected to be no lower than D – above E or F. In addition, there are no sensitive receptors at this intersecti on – only commercial land uses or vacant land . Therefore, the project would have no adverse impact related to CO emissions.
Although the above analysis indicates the project construction and operation would not produce significant impacts on sensitive receptors, howe ver, if evidence is provided that suggests a potential health risk, the following mitigation measure w ould apply.
Implementation of the mitigation measure would reduce potential impacts to a level that would be less than significant.
Level of Significance: Potentially significant
80 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-11 January 2022
Mitigation Measure:
AIR-1: If substantial evidence indicating that the project may involve a significant health risk effect due to project emissions is provided to the City, the applicant shall retain a qualified air quality professional to prepare a Health Risk Assessment of the project. If the HRA results indicate that the project would involve a significant health risk, the HRA shall recommend measures that would reduce modeled health risks to a less than significant level. Such measures may involve use of low - emission construction vehicles and other construction equipment as recommended by the air quality professional. The project applicant shall incorporate these recommendations in the construction plans for the project.
Significance after Mitigation: Less than significant
d) Odors and Other Emissions.
Residential development does not generate substantial odors that would affect nearby land uses, nor would it generate substantial amounts of any other emissions such as TACs. The project would have no impact related to odors or other emissions.
3.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Would the project: Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special-status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service?
b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations or by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?
c) Have a substantial adverse effect on state or federally protected wetlands (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means?
81 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-12 January 2022
d) Interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with
established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites?
e) Conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance?
f) Conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat
Conservation Plan, Natural Conservation Community Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat
conservation plan?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
Existing Conditions
The Merced General Plan EIR identified 13 land use types and biological communities/habitats were identified in the General Plan area, including developed lands, irrigation waters, seasonal wetlands, riparian, open water, agriculture, and annual grassland (City of Merced 2010). The project site contains a flat landscape that is mostly bare soil.
Vegetation is limited to grasses and weeds. There are no trees or shrubs on the project site.
There are no irrigation waters or open water on or near the project site, as well as no streams with riparian habitat (City of Merced 2010). Although the project site has no structures, it may be considered an urban land based upon its location and lack of natural vegetation.
Special-Status Species
Special-status species are plant or wildlife species that are in one or more of the following categories:
• Legally protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, the California Endangered Species Act, or other regulations.
• Designated rare, threatened, or endangered and candidate species for listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Cal ifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
• Considered rare enough by the scientific community and trustee agencies to warrant special consideration, particularly with regard to protection of isolated populations, nesting or denning locations, communal roosts, and other essential habitat. • Considered rare or endangered under the conditions of CEQA Guidelines Section 15380, such as species identified on Lists 1A, 1B and 2 in the Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California by the Califo rnia Native Plant Society, and species that are considered sensitive or of special concern due to 82 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-13 January 2022
limited distribution or lack of adequate information to permit listing or rejection for state or federal status, such as those included on List 3 in the California Native Plant Society Inventory.
The Merced General Plan EIR identified 59 special-status species in or around the General Plan area: 26 plant species and 33 wildlife species. Of these species, five had critical habitat designated in or around the General Plan area: San Joaquin Valley Orcutt grass, hairy Orcutt grass, green tuctoria, Conservancy fairy shrimp, and vernal pool fairy shrimp (City of Merced 2010).
Waters of the U.S. and Wetlands
Waters of the U.S., including wetlands, are broadly defined under 33 Code of Federal Regulations 328 to include navigable waterways, their tributaries, and adjacent wetlands.
Jurisdictional wetlands and Waters of the U.S. include, but are not limited to, perennial and intermittent creeks and drainages, lakes, seeps, and springs; emergent marshes; riparian wetlands; and seasonal wetlands. Federal and state agencies regulate these waters. In April 2019, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopted the State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Materials to Waters of the State, which covers wetlands not regulated by federal agencies.
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Special-Status Species.
Information on special -status species provided by the Merced General Plan EIR was supplemented by information more specific to the project site provided by the IPaC database of USFWS and the Californ ia Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) of CDFW.
The IPaC search was limited to the project site, while the CNDDB search area included the area covered by the USGS Merced 7.5- minute topographic map. The results of the IPaC and the CNDDB searches are availabl e in Appendix B. Most of the species in these database results were also identified in the Merced General Plan EIR.
Special-Status Plants
The databases identified a total of 15 special-status plants in their search areas. Only one – the fleshy (succulent) owl’s clover – was specifically identified by the IPaC as potentially occurring on the project site. Fleshy owl’s clover is listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act and as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act.
The habitat of fleshy owl’s clover is vernal pools. No vernal pools have been identified on the project site, and the ground on the site has been disturbed. No critical habitat has been designated by USFWS for this plant species on the project site. Other plant species require vernal pool, marshland, and/or grassland habitat, none of which are found on the project site. The project site is not within designated critical habitat areas for San Joaquin Valley Orcutt grass, hairy Orcutt grass, or Greene’s tuctoria (City of Merced 2010).
The following are plant species identified by the databases that were not identified in the Merced General Plan EIR:
83 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-14 January 2022
• Hogwallow starfish (Hesperevax caulescens ) – habitat is vernal pools. No vernal pools are on the project site.
• Forked hare-leaf (Lagophylla dichotoma) – habitat is grassland. No grassland is on the project site.
• Watershield (Brasenia schreberi ) – grows in ponds, lakes, and slow -moving streams. No such bodies of water are on or near the project site. • Small-flowered morning-glory (Convolvulus simulans) – habitat is grassland. No grassland is on the project site.
Based on the above information, no special-status plant species are expected to occur on the project site due to lack of suitable habitat.
Special-Status Wildlife
The databases identified a total of 20 special-status wildlife species in their search areas.
Eleven were specifically identified by the IPaC as potentially occurring on the project site.
All but four of the database species had been previously identified in the Merced General Plan EIR.
The Merced General Plan EIR identifi ed the following habitats for special -status wildlife species: vernal and seasonal pools, open grassland, streams and marshes, riparian woodlands, and forests. None of these habitats are available on the project site. There are no trees or brush on the project site, and the site lacks vegetation that could provide nesting or foraging habitat. The project site is not within designated critical habitat areas for Conservancy fairy shrimp, vernal pool fairy shrimp, vernal pool tadpole shrimp, or California tiger salamander (City of Merced 2010).
The following are wildlife species identified by the databases that were not identified in the Merced General Plan EIR:
• Bald eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) – habitat includes estuaries, large lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and some seacoasts. Nests in mature or old-growth trees, snags, cliffs, and rock promontories. None of these are on the project site. • California red -legged frog ( Rana draytonii ) – found in aquatic habitats , including pools and backwaters within streams and creeks, ponds, marshes, springs, sag ponds, dune ponds and lagoons. No aquatic habitats are on the project site. • Valley elderberry longhorn beetle ( Desmocerus californicus) – habitat blue elderberry shrubs. No shrubs are on the project site.
• Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus ) – migratory species that prefer s pine, fir, and cedar trees for
roosting. The project site does not have these trees.
84 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-15 January 2022
Based on the above information, no special-status wildlife species are expected to occur on the project site du e to lack of suitable habitat. Overall, project impacts on special -status species would be less than significant.
b) Riparian and Other Sensitive Habitats.
The project site does not have any riparian vegetation, as there are no streams on or near the proje ct site . Other sensitive habitats that may be found in the San Joaquin Valley include vernal pools, oak woodlands, and native grasslands. None of these habitats were identified on the project site . The project would have no impact on riparian or other sensitive habitats.
c) State and Federal Jurisdictional Wetlands.
The National Wetlands Inventory database was searched for any recorded wetlands on the project site. The results, available in Appendix B, indicated one “riverine” feature along the eastern boundary of the project site. However, a view of current aerial photos does not indicate the presence of a defined water or associated vegetation in that area. It is possible that past activities on or adjacent to the project site have eliminated that feature. Given existing conditions on the project site, it is unlikely that an y State-protected wetlands are on the site. Project impacts on wetlands are considered less than significant. d) Fish and Wildlife Movement.
There are no streams either on or adjacent to the project site, so no fish movements would be affected by the project . There are no trees o n the project site that raptors and other protected migratory birds could use for nesting. There are also no grasslan ds on the site that could provide suitable ne sting habitat for s maller birds that may be protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The project would have no impact on fish or wildlife movement or nesting sites.
e) Local Biological Requirements.
Merced Municipal Code Chapter 20.34 seeks to preserve riparian vegetation and protect wildlife habitat and wildlife corridors along natural drainage ways by establishing development buffer areas along creeks . With limited exceptions, construction, grading or other alterations to riparian vegetation or to stre ambeds is prohibited. Since there are no creeks are on or near the project site , the provisions of Municipal Code Chapter 20.34 would not apply to the project.
Also, Municipal Code Chapter 14.12 contains provisions protecting street trees and requiring that street trees be planted with development . The City has no other ordinances applicable to biological resources. The p roject would have no impact related to local biological requirements.
f) Conflict with Habitat Conservation Plans.
Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) are plans prepared under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act that allow activities that could result in an “incidental take” of listed species 85 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-16 January 2022
to occur. Such plans are required to have measures to mitigate impacts on listed species and to monitor the effectiveness of the mitigation. Natural Community Conservation Plans are California counterparts to HCP s but are broader in their geographical range and conservation objectives, w hich include protection of ecosystems rather than specific species.
The one HCP that could apply to the Merced area is the PG&E San Joaquin Valley Operations and Maintenance HCP, prepared for the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). This plan applies to portions of nine counties in the San Joaquin Valley, including Merced County where the project is located. However, the plan area is defined to include PG&E’s gas and electrical transmission and distribution facilities, the lands owned by PG&E and/or subject to PG&E easements for these facilities, private access routes to infrastructure associated with operations and maintenance activities, minor facility expansion areas, and mitigation areas for impacts resulting from covered activities (PG&E 2006). The project site contains none of these; therefore, the HCP would not apply.
A search of the CDFW website indicated that no Natural Community Conservation Plans or similar conservation plans cover the Merced area. The project would have no impact on HCPs or similar plans.
3.5 CULTURAL RESOURCES
Would the 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 historical resource as defined in Section 15064.5?
b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a unique archaeological resource pursuant to Section 15064.5?
c) Disturb any human remains, including those interred
outside of formal cemeteries?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
Most of the information for this section was provided by the Merced General Plan and EIR.
Additional information was provided by a report prepared by the Central California Information Center at California State University Stanislaus, which provided the results of a records search. The report is available in Appendix C of this IS/MND.
The project site, along with City of Merced , lies within the ethnographic territory of the Yokuts. Section 3.18, Tribal Cultural Resources, discusses the Yokuts in more detail. 86 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-17 January 2022
Merced County was first explored by Gabriel Moraga in 1806, when he named the Merced River, "El Rio de Nuestra Señora de la Merced." Merced County was carved out of Mariposa County in 1855. The construction of the Central Pacific Railroad, beginning in 1871, brought major changes to the region. The City of Merced was laid out in January of that year, when the railroad reached the spot. Merced became the County seat in December 1872. By 1875, Merced’s commercial and industrial districts were well established .
Merced was incorporated as a charter city on April 1, 1889. Transportation facilities - first railroads, then State Route 99 - would have impacts on the City’s growth and development.
A significant event in the City’s history occurred in 2005, when the University of California Merced campus opened north of the City (City of Merced 2010, 2012b).
The Merced General Plan EIR noted that a total of 22 surveys were completed within the City of Merced S phere of Influence. A records search indicated the presence of 12 historical resources and one archaeological resource (City of Merced 2010). None of these were on or near the project site.
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Historical Resources.
A records search conducted at the Central California Informatio n Center found no documented historic al resources on the project site (CCIC 2021) . Given existing conditions, it is unlike ly that any historical resources would be found intact. The project would have no impact on historical resources.
b) Archaeological Resources.
A records search conducted at the Central California Information Center found no documented prehistoric resources on the project site. Based on existing data , the project site has a low sensitivity for the possible discovery of prehistoric and his toric archaeological resources (CCIC 2021) . However, it is conceivable that excavation associated with the project could unearth archaeological materials of significance that are currently unknown. Procedures to address archaeological discoveries if they should occur are set forth in the mitigation measure below. Implementation of the mitigation measure would reduce potential impacts to a level that would be less than significant.
Level of Significance: Potentially significant
Mitigation Measures:
CULT-1: If any subsurface cultural resources are encountered during construction of the project, the City of Merced Development Services Department shall be notified and all construction activities within 50 feet of the encounter shall be halted until a qualified a rchaeologist can examine these materials and determine their significance . If the find is determined to be signif icant, then the archaeologist shall recommend further mitigation measures that would reduce potential effects on the find to a level that is less than significant. Recommended measures may include, but are not limited to, 1) preservation in place, or 2) excavation, 87 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-18 January 2022
recovery, and curation by qualified professionals. The project developer shall be responsible for retaining qualified professionals, implementing recommended mitigation measures, and documenting mitigation efforts in a written report to the City ’s Development Services Department, consistent with the requirements of the CEQA Guidelines.
Significance after Mitigation: Less than significant
c) Human Burials.
As with other cultural resources, i t is not expected that any human burials, particularly those of Native Americans, would be uncovered by construction on the project site, given site disturbance and location distant from probable Native American settlements. However, it is conceivable that excavation associated with the project could uncover a p reviously unknown burial.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5(e) describes the procedure to be followed when human remains are uncovered in a location outside a dedicated cemetery. All work in the vicinity of the find shall be halted, and the County Coroner shall be notified to determine if an investigation of the death is required. If the Coroner determines that the remains are Native American in origin, then the County Coroner must contact the Native American Heritage Commission within 24 hours. The Native Am erican Heritage Commission shall identify the most likely descendants of the deceased Native American, and the most likely descendants may make recommendations on the disposition of the remains and any associated grave goods with appropriate dignity. If a most likely descendant cannot be identified, the descendant fails to make a recommendation, or the landowner rejects the recommendations of the most likely descendant, then the landowner shall rebury the remains and associated grave goods with appropriate dignity on the property in a location not subject to further disturbance.
Mitigation presented below would require compliance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5(e) in the event human remains are encountered. Implementation of the mitigation measure would ensure that any human remains and associated grave goods encountered during project construction would be treated with appropriate dignity. Pro ject impacts on human remains after mitigation would be less than significant.
Level of Significance: Potentially significant
Mitigation Measures:
CULT-2: If project construction encounters evidence of human burial or scattered human remains, all construction activities within 50 feet of the encounter shall be halted and the contractor shall immediately notify the County Coroner and the City, which shall in turn notify the appropriate tribal representatives. The City shall notify other federal and State agencies as required. The City will be responsible for compliance with the requirements of California Hea lth and Safety Code Section 7050.5 and with any direction provided by the County Coroner. If the human remains are determined to be Native American, the C ounty Coroner 88 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-19 January 2022
shall notify the Native American Heritage Commission, which will notify and appoint a Most Likely Descendant. The Most Likely Descendant shall work with the City and a qualified archaeologist to decide the proper treatment of the human remain s and any associated funerary objects in accordance with California Public Resources Code Sections 5097.98 and 5097.991. Avoidance is the preferred means of disposition of the burial resources.
Significance after Mitigation: Less than significant
3.6 ENERGY
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
a) Result in potentially significant environmental impacts 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?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
Electricity and natural gas are major en ergy source s for residences and businesses in California. In Merced County, electricity consumption in 2020 totaled approximately 3,262 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), of which approximately 818 million kWh were consumed by residential uses and the remainder by non-residential uses (CEC 2020a). In 2020, natural gas consumption in Merced County totaled approximately 131 million therms, of which approximately 27 million therms were consumed by residential uses and the remainder by non-residential uses (CEC 2020b).
Motor vehicle use accounts for substantial energy usage through the consumption of gasoline and diesel fuel. The Merced Cou nty Association of Governments (MCAG) estimated total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) within Merced County and its cities were approximately 2,725,000 miles daily in 2016 (MCAG 2018a). Estimated motor vehicle fuel consumption in Merced County in 2015 was 304,600 gallons of gasoline and 209,600 gallons of diesel fuel per day. Fuel consumption per capita was 1.89 gallons per day (MCAG 2018b).
The State of California has adopted comprehensive energy efficiency standards as part of its Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24. Part 6 of Title 24 is referred to as the California Energy Code. In 2009, the California Building Standards Commission adopted a voluntary Green Building Standards Code, also known as 89 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-20 January 2022
CALGreen, which became mandatory in 2011. CALGreen sets forth mandatory measures, applicable to new residential and nonresidential structures, on water efficienc y and conservation, building material conservation, and interior environmental quality . It also mentions energy efficiency, although CALGreen defers to the Energy Code for actions .
The City has adopted the 2019 versions of both the California Energy Code and CALGreen.
California has adopted a Renewables Portfolio Standard, which requires all electricity retailers in the state to generate 33% of electricity they sell from renewable energy sources (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.) by the end of 2020. As of the end of 2019, most of the retail sellers were on track to meet or exceed the 2020 target (CEC 2020). In 2015, SB 350 was signed into law, which increased the electricity generation requirement from renewable sources to 50% by 2030. In 2018, SB 100 was enacted, which accelerated the schedule for 50% electricity generation from renewable sources to 2026 and set a goal of 60% electrical generation from renewable sources by 2030. It also set the goal that zero-carbon resources will supply 100% of electricity to California by 2045.
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Project Energy Consumption.
Project construction would involve fuel consumption and use of other non- renewable resources. Construction equipment used for such improvements typically runs on diesel fuel or gasoline. The same fuels typically are used for vehicles that transport equipment and w orkers to and from a construction site. However, construction- related fuel consumption would be finite, short -term, and consistent with construction ac tivities of a similar character. This energy use would not be considered wasteful, inefficient , or unnecessary.
Electricity may be used for equipment operation during construction activities. It is expected that more electrical construction equipment would be used in the future, as it would generate fewer air pollutant emissions. This electrical consumption w ould be consistent with construction activities of a similar character; therefore, the use of electricity in construction activities would not be consi dered wasteful, inefficient , or unnecessary, especially since fossil fuel consumption would be reduced. M oreover, under California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard, a greater share of electricity would be provided from renewable energy sources
over time, so less fossil fuel consumption to generate electricity would occur.
The most recent Residential Energy Consumption Survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration found that average annual energy consumption by apartment units in buildings with five or more units located in the western United States was 4,581 kWh of electricity per household and 159 cubic feet of natural gas per household (EIA 2018). Based on these factors, proposed development on the project site would consume approximately 494,748 kWh of electricity and 17,172 cubic feet of natural gas annually.
The project would be required to comply with applicable provisions of the adopted California Energy Code and C ALGreen in effect at the time of project approval. The provisions of these codes are intended to increase energy efficiency of buildings, th ereby 90 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-21 January 2022
reducing energy consumption. Compliance with these standards would reduce energy consumption associated with project operations. Also, as discussed in Section 3.17, Transportation, affordable housing projects such as the proposed project are not expe cted to generate substantial VMT, so fuel consumption would likely be less than for a typical market-rate residential project. Overall, project construction and operations would not consume energy resources in a manner considered wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary.
Project impacts related to energy consumption would be less than significant. b) Consistency with Energy Plans.
The City does not have adopted plans for renewable energy or energy efficiency. However, the City has adopted the California Energy Code and CALGreen, both of which contain provisions that promote energy efficiency. The project would be required to comply with the applicable requirements of these two codes, which are designed to improve energy efficiency of structure, thereby forward ing State energy conservation goals. Project impacts related to energy plans would be less than significant.
3.7 GEOLOGY AND SOILS
Would the project:
a) Directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving: Potentially Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
i) Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning
Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault? (Refer to Division of Mines and Geology Special Publication 42.)
ii) Strong seismic ground shaking?
iii) Seismic-related ground failure, including
liquefaction?
iv) Landslides?
b) Result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? c) Be located on strata 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 in Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1994), creating substantial risks to life or property?
91 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-22 January 2022
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?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
Topography and Geology
The project site lies in the San Joaquin Valley in central California. The San Joaquin Valley is the southe rn portion of the Great Valley Geomorphic Province, which is a topographically flat, northwest -trending, structural trough about 50 miles wide and 450 miles long. The San Joaquin Valley is filled with thick sedimentary rock sequences that were deposited as much as 130 million years ago. Large alluvial fans have developed on each side of the Valley. Th e Geologic Map of the San Francisco – San Jose Quadrangle (Wagner et al. 1991) designates the underlying geology of the project site as the Riverbank Formation. The Riverbank Formation, ranging in thickness from 1 to 200 feet, consists of weathered gravel, sand, and silt that were deposited between 130,000 and 450,000 years ago (DWR 2014).
Project Site Soils
Most of the soils in the San Joaquin Valley consist of sand, silt, loamy clay alluvium, peat, and other organic sediments. These soils are the result of long-term natural soil deposition and the decomposition of marshland vegetation. According to a custom soil survey for the project site, two types of soil are found (SCS 1962, NRCS 2021):
• Yokohl clay loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes (designated as YbA on Figure 3-1) is the predominant soil type on the project site. Yokohl soils that are found in terraces and alluvium derived mainly from basic igneous rocks. They are well-drained soils, but they have a clay pan as well as a strongly cemented iron- silica hardpan subsoil, which inhibit penetration of water into deeper layers . Surface runoff is slow, and there is no erosion hazard. Yokohl clay loam has a more slowly permeable surface and a thicker claypan.
• Wyman clay loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes (designated as WoA on Figure 3 -1) is found in the eastern portion of the project site. Wyman soils are well-drained soils formed in basic igneous alluvium. Permeability is moderate and runoff is slow.
There is no erosion hazard. Wyman clay loam puddles very easily.
92 Figure 3-1
SOILS MAPBaseCamp Environmental
93 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-24 January 2022
Seismic and Geologic Hazards
The Merced General Plan EIR states that, based on review of geologic maps and reports for the area, there are no known active or potentially active faults, or Alquist -Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones in the General Plan area. However, the EIR also notes that the General Plan area could be subjected to ground shaking in the event of a major earthquake on the Great Valley, Ortigalita, or Quien Sabe Faults, or other area faults (City of Merced 2010).
Differential settlement, resulting in the compaction of loose, less cohesive soils, may be caused by earthquakes and could occur in the Merced General Plan area. The most likely areas are those in which the groundwater surface is deep - otherwise liquefaction would be more likely - the soils are loose to medium -dense, and the soil profile includes strata of loose and uniformly graded sand. The potential for ground subsidence due t o earthquake motion is largely dependent on the magnitude, duration, and frequency of the earthquake waves (City of Merced 2010).
Paleontological Resources
The Merced General Plan EIR does not discuss paleontological resources in detail. Various fossil spe cimens have been recovered from the Riverbank Formation in at least two counties. However, based on local findings between Madera and Merced, t he Riverbank Formation has been assigned a low sensitivity for paleontological resources (Caltrans 2015). The project site does not contain any known paleontological resources or unique geological features.
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a-i) Fault Rupture Hazards.
As noted above, no faults, including active or potentially active faults, have been mapped in the Merced area. The project site is not in an area designated as an Alquist -Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone (California Geological Survey 2015). The closest designated active fault is the Ortigalita fault, which is a Holocene fault approximately 29 mil es to the west of the project site. The project would have no impact related to a fault rupture hazard. a-ii, iii) Seismic Hazards.
As noted above, while no seismic activity events have been recorded in Merced , the City and project site are potentially subject to ground shaking from nearby fault systems, which represent a hazard to buildings and infrastructure. All new buildings in Merced are required to be built in accordance with the most recent version of the California Building Code adopted by the City. The California Building Code includes seismic safety provisions that require buildings to be constructed to withstand anticipated ground shaking, based on occupancy type.
When coarse sediments are saturated and compact during an earthquake, soils may lose strength and become fluid, a process called liquefaction. Water from voids may be forced to the ground surface, where it emerges in the form of mud spouts or sand boils. T he 94 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-25 January 2022
Merced General Plan EIR evaluated potential liquefaction hazards and concluded t hat, based on the predicted seismic accelerations and soil and groundwater conditions typically encountered in the Merced region, general liquefaction potential is lo w (City of Merced 2010).
Differential settlement, resulting in the compaction of loose, l ess cohesive soils, may be caused by earthquakes and could occur in the Merced area. The most likely areas are those in which the groundwater surface is deep, the soils are loose to medium-dense, and the soil profile includes strata of loose and uniformly graded sand (City of Merced 2010) . The Yokohl and Wyman soils are clay loams with no sand layers, so differential settlement is unlikely to occur. Project impacts related to seismic hazards are considered less than significant.
a-iv) Landslides.
The topography of the project site and surrounding area is flat; therefore, landslides would not occur. The project would have no impact related to landslides. b) Soil Erosion.
As not ed, neither of the soil types identified on the project site has an erosion hazard.
However, project construction would involve ground- disturbing activities such as excavation and grading. Such activities would loosen onsite soils, making them susceptible to erosion.
Compliance with SJVAPCD Regulation VIII, which is discussed in Section 3.3, Air Quality, would reduce potential wind erosion impacts. Merced Municipal Code Chapter
15.50 contains provisions designed to control soil erosion. Section 15.50.120(B) regulates construction activities, requiring a ll construction projects, regardless of size, having soil disturbance or activities exposed to storm water must, at a minimum, implement Best Management Practices ( BMPs) for erosion and sediment controls, soil stabilization, dewatering, source controls, pollution prevention measures, and prohibited discharges.
For all projects that disturb one acre of land or more, a Constr uction General Permit is required from the SWRCB. The permit requirements include preparation of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) by a Qualified SWPPP Developer to address potential water quality issues. A SWPPP specifies the BMPs needed to avoid or minimize adverse water quality impacts. Construction BMPs fall within the general categories of Temporary Soil Stabilization, Temporary Sediment Control, Wind Erosion Control, Tracking Control, Non-Storm Water Management, and Waste Management and Materials Pollution Control.
BMPs applicable to the project are incorporated in the SWPPP as required. BMPs are incorporated into project improvement plans and specifications, subject to the approval of the City Engineer. BMP function and effectiveness are monitored and reported, and remediation is required to address pollution occurrence. Merced Municipal Code Section
15.50.120(B) requires construction activities to obtain a Construction General Permit if applicable.
Compliance with the conditions of the C onstruction General Permit and with applicable City regulations would minimize the amount of sediment that leaves the construction site 95 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-26 January 2022
and potential construction water qua lity effects . Project impacts related to s oil erosion would be less than significant.
c) Geologic Instability.
The Merced region is generally level to gently sloping. Slopes potentially subject to failure are not generally present where development is like ly to have a significant impact. The currently stable conditions may be changed by s lope alterations due to cuts or fills, and changes to drainage patterns, but i n general, the potential for land sliding or slope failure is very low (City of Merced 2010). As the project site is level and has no soils that have a significant erosion hazard, the likelihood of any soil instability on the site is low. Required engineering design of proposed structures and site improvements would minimize any soil stability hazards to a level that would be less than significant. d) Expansive Soils.
Expansive soils are those soils that shrink and swell in response to changes in moisture content, potentially causing serious damage to overlying structures. Soils in the area are generally moderate to deep silty and clayey loams. Some gravely and cobbly l oams are also present, primarily concentrated in the stream drainages. The soils listed in the Merced General Plan EIR, including the two soils identified in this document, are not generally considered to be expansive (City of Merced 2010). The refore, project impacts related to expansive soils would be less than significant.
e) Adequacy of Soils for Sewage Disposal.
The project would be connected to the City’s wastewater system. It doe s not propose to install any septic system or other onsite wastewater disposal system . Because of this, t he project would have no impact related to soil adequacy for sewage disposal. f) Paleontological Resources and Unique Geological Features.
The project site is flat and contains no geological features that may be considered unique.
Given past activities on the project site, it is unlikely that any intact paleontological resources would be encountered. As noted, the Riverbank Formation is considered to have low sensitivity for paleontological resources . However, paleontological resources have been recovered from the Riverbank Formation. I t is conceivable that currently unknown resources may be uncovered during project construction activities. Procedures to address paleontological discoveries should they occur are set forth in the mitigation measure below.
Implementation of this mitigation measure would reduce potential impacts to a level that would be less than significant.
Level of Significance: Potentially significant
Mitigation Measures:
GEO-1: If any subsurface paleontological resources are encountered during construction of the project, the City of Merced Community Development Department shall be notified and all construction 96 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-27 January 2022
activities within 50 feet of the encounter shall be halted until a qualified paleontologist can examine these materials and determine their significance. I f the find is determined to be significant , then the paleontologist shall recommend mitigation measures that would reduce potential effects on the find to a level that is less than significant .
Recommended measures may include, but are not limited to, 1) preservation in place, or 2) excavation, recovery , and curation by qualified professionals. The project developer shall be responsible for retaining qualified professionals, implementing recommended mitigation measures, and documenting mitigation efforts in a written report to the City ’s Community Development Department, consist ent with the requirements of the CEQA Guidelines.
Significance after Mitigation: Less than significant
3.8 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Would the project: Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact 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 adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of
greenhouse gases?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
GHG Background
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases that absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range, trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere. GHGs are both naturally occurring and are emitted by human activity. GHGs include carbon dioxide, the most abundant GHG, as well as methane, nitrous oxide, and other gases. There is a general scientific consensus that increased GHG emissions have led to an increase in t he average global temperature, thereby leading to potential changes in the global climate. The State of California has prepared Climate Change Assessments that provide scientific assessments on the potential impacts of climate change in California by region. Potential impacts occurring in the San Joaquin Valley and adjacent areas include the following (Westerling et al. 2018):
• Acceleration of warming across the region and state.
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• More intense and frequent heat waves.
• Higher frequency of catastrophic floods.
• More intense and frequent drought.
• More severe and frequent wildfires.
GHG emissions in California in 2019, the most recent year for which data are available, were estimated at approximately 418.2 million metric tons carbon dioxide equ ivalent (CO2e) – a decrease of approximately 14.6% from the peak level in 2004. Transportat ion was the largest contributor to GHG emissions in California, with almost 40% of total emissions. Other significant sources include industrial activities, with approximately 21% of total emissions, and electric power generation, both in- state and importe d, with approximately 14% of total emissions (ARB 2021).
In 2008, the most recent year for which data are available, the Merced community generated 405,748 metric tons CO
2e of GHG emissions. Approximately 36 percent of GHG
emissions were provided each by t ransportation and commercial sources (City of Merced 2012a).
Unlike the criteria air pollutants described in Section 3.3, Air Quality, GHGs have no “attainment” standards established by the federal or State government. In fact, GHGs are not generally thought of as traditional air pollutants because their impacts are global in nature, while air pollutants mainly affect the general region of their release to the atmosphere (SJVAPCD 2015). Nevertheless, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that GHG emissions endanger both the public health and public welfare under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act due to their impacts associated with climate change (EPA 2009).
GHG Emission Reduction Plans
The State of California has implemented GHG emissio n reduction strategies through AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which requires total statewide GHG emissions to reach 1990 levels by 2020, or an appr oximately 29% reduction from 2004 levels. The 2019 state GHG emissions were almost 13 million metric tons CO 2e below the
2020 target established by AB 32 (ARB 2021).
In 2016, Senate Bill (SB) 32 was enacted. SB 32 extends the GHG reduction objectives of AB 32 by mandating statewide reductions in GHG emissions to levels that are 40% below 1990 levels by the year 2030. The State has adopted an updated Scoping Plan that sets forth strategies for achieving the SB 32 target. The updated Scoping Plan continues many of the programs that were part of the previous Scoping Plans, including the cap- and-trade program, low-carbon fuel standards, renewable energy, and methane reduction strategies.
It also addresses, for the first time, GHG emissions from the natural and working lands of California, including the agriculture and forestry sectors (ARB 2017).
Cities and counties throughout California have prepared Climate Action Plans (CAPs) that outline how the local government will reduce GHG emissions, which are typically related 98 Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 3-29 January 2022
to the 2020 emission reduction target set in the State’s Climate Change Scoping Plan. The City of Merced adopted its CAP in 2012. The City’s CAP includes goals, strategies, and actions to reduce local community GHG emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020, consistent with the state objectives set forth in AB 32 (City of Merced 2012a). At this time, the City has not updated its CAP.
SB 375, enacted in 2008, requires metropolitan planning organizations to develop a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) as part of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) preparation process. An SCS must dem onstrate an approach to how land use development and transportation can work together to meet GHG emission reduction targets for cars and light trucks. MCAG, the metropolitan planning organization for Merced County and its incorporated cities, adopted its current RTP/SCS in 2018. The target for Merced County, set by the ARB in 2010, calls for the region to reduce per capita GHG emissions by 5% by 2020 and 10% by 2035 (MCAG 2018a).
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a, b) Project GHG Emissions and Consistency with GHG Reduction Plans.
The CalEEMod model estimated the total GHG construction and operational emissions associated with the project (see Appendix A). Table 3 -3 presents the results of the CalEEMod run.
TABLE 3-3
PROJECT GHG EMISSIONS
GHG Emission Type Unmitigated Emissions Mitigated Emissions Construction1 552.9 552.9
Operational2 845.9 522.3
1 Total GHG emissions for construction period in metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). 2 Annual emissions in metric tons CO2e.
Sources: California Emissions Estimator Model v. 2020.4.0.
“Mitigated emissions” are the result of project compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, along with inclusion of project features that reduce GHG emissions. These include the following:
• The density of residential development on the project site (2 3 dwelling units per acre).
• Increased diversity of land uses in the area.
• The project site is approximately 0. 1 miles from a transit stop and 2.0 miles from downtown Merced.
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• The project offers all apartment units at a rent affordable to specified lower-income households.
• The project would add sidewalks to the site that would connect to the existing network in the vicinity.
• SB X7-7, enacted in 2009, sets an overall goal of reducing per capita urban w ater use by 20% by December 31, 2020. The California Green Building Code mandates a 20% reduction in indoor water use.
• AB 341 establishes the goal of diverting 75% of California’s waste stream from landfills by 2020.
GHG construction emissions would be lim ited due to the length of time of construction activity; these emissions would cease once work is completed. Mitigated operational GHG emissions would be approximately 38.3% less than under business-as-usual (unmitigated) conditions.
Per SB 32, the State has set a 2030 reduction target of 40% below 1990 GHG emissi on levels. The Merced CAP does not have 2030 reduction targets. However, assuming the same growth in business -as-usual GHG emissions that was projected to occur between 2008 (when baseline emissio ns were established) and 2020 by the CAP, the total 2030 business-as-usual GHG emissions in Merced would be approximately 610,918 metric tons CO
2e. Based on information in the CAP, the 2030 reduction target (40% below 1990 emissions) would be 209,989 metric tons CO2e. Therefore, the percentage reduction from business-as-usual levels that would be required in 2030 would be approximately 65.6%, which would considerably exceed the State target.
The 2017 Scoping Plan proposes various measures to achieve the 2030 target. Most of these are State measures, such as use of the cap -and-trade program, the Short -Lived Climate Pollutant Plan, and achievement of the 50% renewable sources of electricity in the Renewables Portfolio Standard (see Section 3.6, Energy). Based on estimates in the 2017 Scoping Plan, State actions would account for 89.8% of GHG reductions needed by 2030, with local actions accounting for approximately 9.3% of reductions. Applying this ratio to the percentage reduction for 2030, then approximately 6.1% of the reductio n from 2030 business-as-usual levels would be achieved by local measures. A project that can shows GHG reductions greater than 6.1% can be said to be consistent with the reduction goals of SB 32. Project GHG operational emission reducti ons would exceed thi s percentage.
Therefore, the project would be consistent with the reduction goals of SB 32.
The project would also be consistent with the goal of reducing per capita GHG emissions through compact growth, as set forth in the RTP/SCS. One of the strategies i s to direct growth to existing communities through investments that provide a range of housing choices for existing and new residents. The project would be consistent with this strategy, occupying a vacant lot within an urbanized portion of the City of Mer ced. Moreover, as discussed in Section 3.11, Land Use, the project would place residents close to schools and retail stores, thereby reducing the use of cars and travel trips lengths. Finally, as discussed in Section 3.17, Transportation, affordable housing projects such as the proposed project 100
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are expected to generate less VMT than typical market -rate housing projects, thereby generating fewer GHG emissions. Overall, impacts related to GHG emissions and GHG reduction plans would be less than significant.
3.9 HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Would the project: Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact 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 or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school?
d) Be located on a site which is included on a list of
hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment?
e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard or excessive noise for people residing or working in the project area?
f) Impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan?
g) Expose people or structures, either directly or indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
This section focuses on hazards associated with hazardous materials, proximity to airports, and wildfires. Geologic and soil hazards are addressed in Section 3.7, Geology and Soils, and potential flooding hazards are addre ssed in Section 3.10, Hydrology and Water Quality.
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Data on recorded hazardous material sites are kept in the GeoTracker database, maintained by the SWRCB, and in the EnviroStor database, maintained by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. Both GeoTracker and EnviroStor provide t he names and addresses of documented hazardous material sites, along with their cleanup status. A search of both GeoTracker and EnviroStor databases indicated no hazardous material sites within or in the immediate vicinity of the project site (SWRCB 2021, DTSC 2021). The nearest listed site is the Parkway Cleaners site at 1830 Yosemite Parkway, approximately 0.35 miles west of the project site. A list of solid waste disposal sites identified by SWRCB with waste constituents above hazardous waste levels outs ide the waste management unit did not show any locations in the Merced area (CalEPA 2021a). Likewise, a list by SWRCB containing sites under Cease and Desist Orders and Cleanup and Abatement Orders showed no locations on or near the project site (CalEPA 2021b).
The Merced Regional Airport is in the southwestern portion of the City, south of SR 99.
The continued operation of the Merced Regional Airport involves various hazards to both flight (physical obstructions in the airspace or land use characteristics which affect flight safety) and safety on the ground (damage due to an aircraft accident). Growth is restricted around the Merced Regional Airport in the sou thwest corner of the City due to the noise and safety hazards associated with the flight path (City of Merced 2010). Another airport that potentially affects the City is Castle Airport, formerly Castle Air Force Base, located adjacent to the City of Atwate r northwest of Merced. Castle Airport operations would potentially affect only the northwestern part of Merced.
The Merced General Plan EIR states that both urban and wildland fire hazard potential exists in the City of Merced and surrounding areas, creating the potential for injury, loss of life, and property damage. Wildland fires affect grassland, br ush or woodlands, and any structures on or near these fires. Such fires can result from either human -made or natural causes. Urban fires comprise the majority of fires in the City of Merced, but the potential for wildland fires could increase as large blocks of undeveloped land are annexed into the City (City of Merced 2010).
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Hazardous Material Transport, Use, and Storage.
Hazardous materials that are likely to be used and stored on the project site would include cleaning products and pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers for landscaping. None of these likely to be stored or used in large quantities . Facilities that store significant amounts of hazardous materials are required to prepare a Hazardous Material Business Plan that would be submitted to the County Environmental Health Department. The Hazardous Material Business Plan must be prepared by any facility that handles a hazardous material , or mixture containing a hazardous material, of a quantity at any one time during the reporting year equal to or greater than 55 gallons for liquids, 500 pounds for solids, or 200 cubic feet for a compressed gas. None of the hazardous materials anticipated to be used by the project would be stored in such quantities. Project impacts related to transport, use, or storage of hazardous materials would be less than significant.
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b) Release of Hazardous Materials.
Construction activities on the project site may involve the use of hazardous materials such as fuels and solvents, and thus create a potential for hazardous material spills. Construction and maintenance vehicles would transport and use fuels in ordinary quantities. Fuel spills, if any occur, would be minimal and localized and would not typically have significant adverse effects. Potential hazardous materials spills during construction are addressed in the required SWPPP, descr ibed in Section 3.7, Geology and Soils . In accordance with SWPPP requirements, contractors have absorbent materials at construction sites to clea n up minor spills. Other substances used in the construction process would be stored in approved containers and used in relatively small quantities, in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations and/or applicable regulations.
As noted in a) above, project operations would not involve the transport, use, or storage of hazardous materials in substantial quan tities. Any releases of t hese materials are not expected to be in quantities large enough to pose a threat to human health and the environment. Overall, impacts related to releases of hazardous materials would be less than significant.
c) Hazardous Materials Releases near Schools.
The nearest school facility to the project site is Golden Valley High School , located approximately one-quarter mile south of the project site. However, as noted in b) above, project construction and operations would not require the handling or transport of acutely hazardous materials or waste that would endanger schools or the public. The use of small quantities of hazard ous materials during project construction would be limite d to the project site and would not occur near any schools. The project would not produce hazardous emissions. The project would have no impact on schools within one-quarter mile of the project site.
d) Hazardous Materials Sites.
As previously noted, a sea rch of the GeoTracker and EnviroStor databases, along with SWRCB lists, did not identify any active hazardous material sites on or in the immediate vicinity of the project site. As noted in Section 3.2, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, no agricultural a ctivities have occurred on the project site for at least two decades, so contamination of the soil by residual agricultural chemicals is unlikely. The project would have no impact related to hazardous material sites.
e) Public Airport Operations.
The project site is approximately 3.5 miles east of the Merced Regional Airport. Based on the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for Merced County airports, the project site is outside the safety zones for Merced Regional Airport. It is even beyond the delineated Airport Influence Area, within which projects would be subject to review by the Merced County Airport Land Use Commission. The project site is also outside the safety zones and Airport Influence Area of Castle Airport (Merced County ALUC 2012). Based on this, the project would not present a hazard to flights, nor would it place residents at risk of potential aircraft accidents. The project would have no impact related to public airport operations. 103
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f) Emergency Response and Evacuations.
The only street that would be affected by the project would be Parsons Avenue. The project would not obstruct Parsons Avenue traffic once construction work is completed. Project work within Parsons Avenue would consist of connections to utility lines and frontage improvements such as curb, gutter, and sidewalk. C onstruction work would be temporary and would cease once work is completed. However , work within Parsons Avenue has the potential of restricting lanes such that emergency response or emergency evacuation could be affected. Mitigation presented below would ensure that access would be maintained during construction activities within Parsons Avenue, thereby reducing impacts to a level that would be less than significant.
Level of Significance: Potentially significant
Mitigation Measures:
HAZ-1: Prior to the start of project construction, the developer shall prepare and implement a Traffic Control Plan, which shall include as necessary such items as control requireme nts, resident notification of access closure, and daily access restoration. The contractor shall specify dates and times of road closures or restrictions, if any, and shall ensure that adequate access will be provided for emergency vehicles. The Traffic Co ntrol Plan shall be reviewed and approved by the Merced Department of Public Works and shall be coordinated with the Merced Police Department and the Merced Fire Department if construction will require road closures or lane restrictions.
Significance After Mitigation: Less than significant
g) Wildland Fire Hazards.
The project site is in a mainly developed urban area with no wildlands ; ongoing maintenance of the site minimizes wildland fire potential on the site . The project would reduce the existing fire hazard on the site by replacing an undeveloped area with a few grasses and weeds with a developed and paved area. The project would have no impact related to wildfires. Section 3.20, Wildfire, provides a more detailed analysis of wildfire impacts.
3.10 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY
Would the project: Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
a) Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements or otherwise substantially degrade surface or ground water quality?
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b) Substantially decrease groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that the project may impede sustainable groundwater management of the
basin?
c) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river runoff or through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner which would:
i) Result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off-site? ii) Substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on- or off-site?
iii) Create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of
polluted runoff?
iv) Impede or redirect flood flows?
d) In flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones, risk release of pollutants due to project inundation?
e) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of a water
quality control plan or sustainable groundwater management plan?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
Surface Waters
There are no natural streams on or adjacent to the project site. The nearest surface water feature is Bear Creek, approximately one mile to the north. Surface water quality in the Merced area is maintained through the City’s Storm Water Management Program (SWMP), developed in compliance with the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program and with the SWRCB’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit. The SWMP is intended to limit, to the maximum extent practicable, the discharge of pollutants from storm sewer systems, including the City’s. Merced Municipal Code Chapter 15.50 incorporates several provisions regarding storm water management and discharge, including provisions related to construction as described in Section 3.7, Geology and Soils.
One of the implementing actions of the SWMP is the development of a Post-Construction Standards Plan, which provides information on how to meet the SWRCB’s requirements for mitigating the negative impact of increases in storm water runoff caused by new development and redevelopment. The plan accomplishes this goal through the incorporation of Low Impact Development standards and hydromodification management 105
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techniques. Low Impact Development standards mitigate excessive runoff by using storm water control measures that utilize evapotranspirat ion, infiltration , capture/reuse, and biotreatment to mimic runoff control of a natural environment. Hydromodification techniques are used to design development sites so that post-construction runoff flow rates do not exceed those of the pre-construction conditions (City of Merced 2014a).
Groundwater
The project site is within the Merced Groundwater Subbasin, which underlies 767 square miles of central and eastern Merced County. The estimated storage capacity of the Merced Subbasin as of 1995 was 21,100,000 acre-feet to a depth of 300 feet and 47,600,000 acre- feet to the base of fresh groundwater. Both natural and applied water recharge in the Subbasin was estimated at 290,000 acre -feet, while urban and agricultural extractions totaled 546,000 acre-feet. This has led to a decline in groundwater levels of 30 feet between 1970 and 2000, although there was a period of groundwater level increase from 1978 to 1988 (DWR 2017).
The City relies on groundwater for its water supply , which is provided by 20 active wells (see Section 3 .19, Utilities and Service Systems). Data from a nearby U.S. Geological Survey well indicates that the depth to groundwater in the area is approximately 88 feet below ground surface (USGS 2021). Groundwater quality in the Merced area is generally good; the most recent Consumer Confidence Report indicated that City water does not violate any drinking water quality standards (City of Merced 2020).
In 2014, the State enacted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. This act requires the formation of local groundwater sustainability agencies that must assess conditions in their local water basins and adopt locally based Groundwater Sustainability Plans for sustainable use of gr oundwater and avoidance of overdraft. Plans for “critically overdrafted” basins must be completed and adopted by January 31, 2020, while plans for high- and medium-priority basins have an adoption deadline of January 31, 2022. The Merced Irrigation -Urban Groundwater Sustainability Agency, of which t he City is a member, was formed in 2017. A Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Subbasin, classified as critically overdrafted, was adopted on January 28, 2020.
The primary means for achieving sustainability in the Subbasin will be reduction in groundwater pumping achieved through implement ation of a framework to allocate the sustainable yield to the Groundwater Sustainability Agenc ies. This framework will be supplemented by the implementation of projects and management actions that will either increase surface water supplies to augment the sustainable groundwater yield or will increase groundwater recharge, which will in turn increase the amount of groundwater that may be sustainably used (Merced SGMA 2019).
Flooding Hazard
A Flood Insurance Rate Map prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) indicates that the project site is designated Zone AO. Zone AO is considered a portion of the 100-year floodplain – the floodplain commonly used to asses s potential flooding impacts and considered a Special Flood Hazard Area. Therefore, the project site 106
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is within the 100 -year floodplain as defined by FEMA. Flooding within the area of the project site would reach a depth of one foot (FEMA 2008). The source of potential flooding in the area appears to be Bear Creek, north of the project site.
In 2007, the State of California approved SB 5 and a series of related Senate and Assembly bills intended to set new flood protection standards for urban areas in the Central Valley.
This group of bills, referred to collectively in this document as “SB 5,” establish the State standard for flood protection in these areas as protection from the 200- year fr equency flood. Under SB 5, urban and urbanizing areas must be provided with 200- year flood protection no later than 2025. The Merced General Plan indicates the project site is outside the 200-year floodplain (City of Merced 2012b).
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Surface Water Quality.
The project would not directly affect surface waters. As noted in Section 3.7, Geology and Soils, construction activities would disturb soils, which could be transported off site and could eventually enter surface waters. Project development and operation would lead to contamination of storm runoff with fuels, oils, metals, and other substances associated with motor vehicles, particularly from the parking areas. Since the project proposes to connect to the City’s storm drainage system, the potentially contaminated runoff could eventually enter surface waters. This is considered a potentially significant impact.
As noted, the City of Merced has adopted a SWMP, which is intended to minimize the potential storm water quality impacts of development. Program elements most applicable to land development include construction storm water discharge requirements and the incorporation of post -construction BMPs . A Post -Construction S tandards Plan was prepared for the City that provides to guide project proponents and municipal plan checkers through the various site design requirements of the Phase II MS4 Permit to mitigate the negative impact of increases in storm water runoff caused by new development and redevelopment. This is accomplished through the incorporation of Low Impact Development standards and hydromodification management techniques. Low Impact Development mitigates excessive runoff with storm water control measures includ ing evapotranspiration, infiltration, capture/reuse, and biotreatment to mimic the runoff control characteristics of a natural environment. Hydromodification techniques are used to design development sites so that post -construction runoff flow rates do not exceed those of the pre-construction conditions. The City shall verify that applicable projects have been properly conditioned with the post-construction standards (City of Merced 2014a).
Compliance with the provisions of the City’s SWMP, which are specified in the mitigation measures below, would reduce impacts to a level that would be less than significant. In addition, compliance with the City provisions and Construction General Permit conditions, as described in Section 3.7, Geology and Soils, would minimize water quality impacts from construction activities.
Level of Significance: Potentially significant
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Mitigation Measures
HYDRO-1: The developer shall submit a Storm Water Quality Plan for the project that shall include post -construction Best Management Practices (BMPs) as required by the City’s Storm Water
Management Program . The Storm Water Quality Plan shall be reviewed and approved by the City of Merced Engineering Department prior to approval of project improvement plans . The developer shall comply with applicable requirements of, and pay all associated fees as required by, the City’s Storm Water Management Program as set forth in its NPDES Permit.
HYDRO-2: If required, t he developer shall execute a Maintenance Agreement with the City for stormwater BMPs prior to receiving a Certificate of Occupancy. The developer shall remain the responsible party and provide funding for the operation, maintenance and replacement costs of the proposed treatment devices built for the project.
Significance After Mitigation: Less than significant
b) Groundwater Supplies.
As noted, the City relies on groundwater for its primary source of water. The project would not draw directly from the underlying aquifer, but it would be connected to the City’s water system, and so it would indirectly affect groundwater supplies . A dequate water supply exists to accommodate this demand. Section 3.19, Utilities and Service Systems, discusses this in detail.
The project would replace an existing vacant parcel with urban development and pavement.
This would substantially reduce the amount of precipitation that would percolate into the ground at the site, thereby reducing groundwater recharge. G iven the relatively small acreage of the project site and the extent of other lands available for recharge in and surrounding the City, the project is not expected to interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that there would be a net deficit in aquifer volume or a lowering of the local groundwater table level. The Merced Integrated Regional Water Management Plan indicates an abundance of available land suitable for groundwater recharge in the Merced vicinity (RMC Water and Environment 2013). Low Impact Development standards would also tend to increase percolation of rainfall and reduce storm water runoff from the site.
Project impacts on groundwater are considered less than significant. c-i, ii, iii) Drainage Patterns and Runoff.
The project w ould alter existing storm drainage patterns, due to site grading and the installation of buildings and pavement. In addition, proposed improvements on the project site would result in the generation of additional runoff due to the introduction of impervious surfaces. As noted in a) above, runoff would be likely to collect pollutants, mainly deposits from motor vehicles.
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The project proposes to connect to the City’s existing storm drainage system. As described in a) above, Drainage improvements would need to comply with City design standards and post-construction BMPs in accordance with the City’s SWMP, which was prepared with the intent of maintaining surface water quality in the Merced area. Project impacts on drainage and runoff are considered less than significant. c-iv) Flood Flows.
As noted, the project site is within a 100- year floodplain as indicated by the FEMA map for the area. Because of this, the project could impede or redirect any flood flows. Flooding on the project site could reach a depth of one foot.
Merced Municipal Code Chap ter 17.48 addresses flood damage prevention and construction within Special Flood Hazard Areas. Section 17.48.135 requires a development permit before the start of construction within a Special Flood Hazard Area. The application for a development permit sh all include plans that, among other requirements, show base flood elevation information and proposed elevation, in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest floor. Section 17.48.140 sets forth construction standards for structures within the Special Flood Hazard Area, including the use of materials resistant to flood damage, the use of construction methods and practices that minimize flood damage, and (for AH and AO zones) adequate drainage paths around structures on slopes to guide floodwaters around and away from proposed structures . In addition, new construction and substantial improvement in Zone AO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or at least two feet if no depth number is specified. For this project, the elevation would be one foot.
Compliance with the requirements of Merced Municipal Code Chapter 17.48, which is required by the mitigation measure below, would reduce potential flooding impacts related to the project, including impeding or redirecting flood flows. Project impacts after mitigation would be less than significant.
Level of Significance: Potentially significant
Mitigation Measures:
HYDRO-3: Prior to the start of projec t construction, the project applicant shall obtain a development permit from the City in accordance with Merced Municipal Code Section 17.48.135. The permit application shall include a plan with the information required by Merced Municipal Code Section 17.48.135(A), including base flood elevations and proposed elevations of the lowest floor. The project applica nt shall demonstrate compliance with all applicable requirements of Merced Municipal Code Chapter 17.48, including construction standards and adequate drainage paths around structures . All applicable requirements shall be incorporated as development permit conditions.
Significance after Mitigation: Less than significant
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d) Other Flooding Hazards.
The Merced General Plan indicates that the project site is not within a potential inundation zone for any dam failure in the area (City of Merced 2012b). The proj ect site is in a topographically flat region away from the coast, with no large bodies of water in the vicinity. Therefore, the project would not be affected by seiches or tsunamis. The project would have no impact related to other flooding hazards. e) Conflict with Water Quality or Groundwater Plans.
As described above, the project would be required to comply with the provisions of the City’s SWMP, wh ich is designed to maintain local water quality. The Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Merced Subbasin has been adopted. There are no projects or implementing actions in the Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Merced Subbasin that apply specifica lly to the project, other than a Merced Region Water Use Efficien cy Program that will be implemented by multiple water purveyors to increase the level of water conservation and ensure long-term water use efficiency by the region’s urban and agricultural users. It is expected that the project would comply with any requirements that are designed to implement this action. The project would have no impact related to water quality or groundwater plans.
3.11 LAND USE AND PLANNING
Would the project: Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact 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?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
Existing Land Uses and Regulations
The project site is a flat, undeveloped area that is vacant. The area surrounding the project site consists of commercial development to the north, which includes a convenience store and a self -storage facility among other businesses. A commercial center is west of the project site and includes a Rancho San Miguel grocery market and a C VS Pharmacy, among other businesses. A s ingle-family residential area is southwest of the site . As previously noted, the project site is adjacent to Joe Herb Park, which borders the project 110
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site to the south and east. Beyond Joe Herb Park to the south is Golden Valley High School, a public high school (see Section 3.15, Public Services).
The Merced Vision 2030 General Plan was adopted in 2012, with the Housing Element updated in 2016. The Merced General Plan serves as the blueprint for the community’s future growth and development to the year 2030. As noted in Chapter 2.0, Project Description, the current City General Plan designation for the project site is Thoroughfare Commercial, which does not allow for the land use proposed by the project.
The Merced Zoning Ordinance in incorporated in Merce d Municipal Code Title 20. The Zoning Ordinance implement s the Merced General Plan and protect s the public health, safety, and general welfare of the Merced community by establishing land uses zones and allowable land uses within each zone. It also sets both general development standards and development standards for specific zones. T he current zoning for the project site is C-T, Thoroughfare Commercial, which does not allow for the land use proposed by the project.
Environmental Justice
Environmental justi ce is not an issue that CEQA explicitly requires to be addressed; however, the State of California has recently emphasized the incorporation of environmental justice in land use and environmental planning. State law defines “environmental justice” as “the fair treatment of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” The State has enacted SB 535, which seeks to address the adverse environmental impacts of projects that disproportionately affect minority and/or lower-income communities, particularly those already burdened with environmental problems.
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has developed the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool (CalEnviroScreen) to identify “environmental justice” or “disadvantaged” communities. CalEnviroScreen measures poll ution and population characteristics using 20 indicators such as air and drinking water quality, waste sites, toxic emissions, asthma rates, and poverty. It applies a formula to each U.S. Census tract in California to generate a score that rates the level of cumulative impacts on each area. A census tract that scores in the top 25% is considered a disadvantaged community. The project site is within Census Tract 6047000170, which includes most of the City of Merced and some adjacent rural areas. This Census tract has an overall CalEnviroScreen score in the 80-85 percentile, which makes it a disadvantaged community as defined by State law. The tract has a relatively low score of 64 for pollution burden, but a score of 86 for population characteristics (OEHHA 2021).
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Division of Established Communities.
The project is proposed on a site currently designated for commercial development . The project would not divide existing residential communities in the area, which are located 111
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southwest of the project site. The project would have no impact on division of established communities.
b) Conflicts with Plans, Policies and Regulations Mitigating Environmental Effects.
Project development would not be consistent with current Merced General Plan and zoning designations for commerci al development, which does not allow for the high- medium density residential development proposed by the project. The project includes an application for a General Plan Amen dment to amend the General Plan designation from Thoroughfare Commercial (CT) to High- Medium Density (HMD) Residential and Zone Change to change the zoning designation from Thoroughfare Commercial (C -T) to R -3-
1.5. These changes would allow the residential development proposed by the project. The project would not be inconsistent with e xisting development in the area, as residential development has occurred southwest and east of the project site . Also, by providing affordable housing for lower income resid ents, the project would be consistent with the City’s Housing Element Goal H- 1: New Affordable Housing Construction. Supporting policies and actions in the Housing Element include:
• Policy H-1.2: Support Development of Affordable Housing • Policy H-1.4: Provide Priority Review and Permitting for Affordable Housing Projects
• Action 1.1.a: Evaluate for Multi-Family Housing Development The project may potentially conflict with General Plan Policy 3.1, which seeks to avoid or minimize the risk of flooding to new de velopment. As described in Section 3.10, Hydrology and Water Quality, the project is within a Special Flood Hazard Area. However, the project would comply with the provisions of Merced Municipal Code Chapter 17.48, which addresses flood damage prevention and construction within Special Flood Hazard Areas. This would be consistent with Ge neral Plan Implementing Action 3.2.b, which requires
new development and substantial improvements or upgrades in identified FEMA flood hazard zones (i.e., 100- and 500-year floodplains) to be constructed in accordance with applicable city, State, and feder al regulations, including compliance with the minimum standards of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Flood Improvement Program to avoid or minimize the risk of flood damage.
This IS/MND discusses other potential project impacts that could affect City ordinances and Merced Municipal Code provisions. The project would comply with these ordinances and provisions. Project impacts would be less than significant.
Environmental Justice
The project proposes construction in a mostly developed area of Merced. The project would not contribute to the issues pertaining to Census Tract 6047000304, as indicated by CalEnviroScreen, except for PM2.5. As discussed in Section 3.3, Air Quality, PM2.5 would be generated mainly during project construction, and compliance with SJVAPCD rules and regulations on dust control would reduce PM2.5 construction impacts to a level that would be less than significant.
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It should be noted that the project is intended to provide affordable housing for City households with low incomes , which would address the high CalEnviroScreen indicator score for poverty in the Cen sus tract (OEHHA 2021). Moreover, this housing would be located near a high school and retail stores, which would reduce the need for apartment residents to use a car, with its attendant environmental impacts and its costs for households.
Therefore, the project would not have significant adverse effects related to environmental justice, and it would likely have beneficial impacts.
3.12 MINERAL RESOURCES
Would the project: Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
a) Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region and the
residents of the state?
b) Result in the loss of availability of a locally important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan, or other land use plan?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
The City of Merced, including the project site, does not contain any mineral resources that require managed production. The California Division of Mines and Geology, now part of the California Geological Survey, has classified portions of the state into Mineral Resource Zones. No Mineral Resource Zones exist within the City of Merced or in the area designated for future expansion of the City (City of Merced 2012b). There are no active oil or natural gas wells in the project vicinity (DOGGR 2021).
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a, b) Availability of Mineral Resources.
There are no identified mineral resources areas on the project site. As no Mineral Resource Zones have been designated in the Merced area, t he project would have no effect on the availability of o r access to locally designated or known mineral resources. The project would have no impact on mineral resources.
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3.13 NOISE
Would the project result in: Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact 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 applicable standards of other agencies?
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?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
Noise Background
Assessment of noise impacts focuses on the “ambien t" noise level, which is the general noise level in a project area. The project site is in an area that is mostly developed. Noise sources in the area include vehicle traffic on Parsons Avenue and on SR 140 north of the project site. Data from the Merced General Plan 2040 EIR indicate the noise level on the segment of Parsons Avenue from Childs Avenue to SR 140 is 60 decibels (dB) at 100 feet from the road centerline, and the noise level on the segment of SR 140 from Parsons Avenue to Campus Parkway is 67 dB at 100 feet from centerline (City of Merced 2010).
Another noise source in the vicinity is train traffic on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks, which parallel SR 140 east of the intersectio n of SR 140 and Santa Fe Avenue, east of the project site. A measurement at a site on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe track indicated an average sound exposure level of approximately 100 dB at 110 feet from the track centerline . The number of train events on this track was 26. Without horn use, the noise level along the track was estimated at 72 dB at 100 feet from centerline (City of Merced 2010).
The Noise Element of the Merced General Plan establishes noise standards applicable to projects. Implementing Action 1.2.c states that new development o f noise-sensitive land uses may not be permitted in areas exposed to existing or projected levels of noise from transportation noise sources which exceed the levels specified in Table N -3 of the Noise Element. Table N-3 indicates that the maximum allowable exposure of outdoor areas of 114
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residential land uses to transportation noise is 60 dB from roadways and 65 dB from railways. Interior noise levels are required to be 45 dB.
The decibel measurements in the City’s noise standards are in terms of the noise descriptors Day-Night Average Level (Ldn) and Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL). The Ldn is based upon the average hourly equivalent sound level over a 24-hour day, with a +10- dB weighting applied to noise occurring between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The night time weighting is based upon the assumption that people react to nighttime noise exposures as though they were twice as loud as daytime exposures. The CNEL is the same as the L dn, with an additional +5-dB weighting applied to noise occurring between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Exposure to Noise Exceeding Local Standards.
The project would result in a permanent increase in ambient noise levels over existing conditions, as the site is currently vacant. Noise would be generated mainly by t raffic to and from the apartment complex. Land uses along SR 140 are mostly commercial uses that are not sensitive to changes in traffic noise levels. Therefore, the focus of this analysis would be on traffic noise along Parsons Avenue.
Specific noise impacts along Parsons Avenue would depend on the direction trip distribution on the street. Nevertheless, an approximation of noise levels generated by traffic on Parsons Avenue can be estimated using the Highway Traffic Noise Predicti on Model developed by the Federal Highway Administration. The model generates noise contours based on daily traffic, distances from the roadway, and traffic speeds. For this project, estimated daily traffic volumes were provided by the Merced General Plan EIR and from expected daily traffic from the project site (see Section 3.17, Transportation).
Appendix D contains the results of the Highway Traffic Noise Prediction Model for the project. At a distance of 100 feet from the Parsons Avenue right -of-way, the traffic noise level under existing conditions would be 59.1 dB. With the addition of traffic from the project, the noise level would be 59.8 dB . This is a less than 1 -dB increase, which is considered an imperceptible change in noise levels (Egan 1988). Project impacts on traffic noise levels in the area are considered less than significant.
Activities on the project site, particularly in the residential units, could potentially disturb residents in the area. Merced Municipal Code Chapter 9.64 gives the Me rced Police Department authority to take action to abate noise disturbances created by an individual or by parties and gatherings at private property. Enforcement of this provision would ensure that noise generated by project site activities deemed excessive would reduce noise impacts on nearby residences to a level that would be less than significant.
Construction of the proposed project would involve temporary increases in ambient noise levels, due to the use of construction equipment and vehicle traffic to and from the construction site. Typical equipment involved in construction generate s maximum noise levels ranging from 76 to 90 dB at a distance of 50 feet (FHWA 2006). Although project 115
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construction noise would cease once constructi on work is completed, this is considered a potentially significant short -term impact, as the project site is near existing residential development. Mitigation described below would reduce the amount of construction noise reaching nearby residential develop ment, thereby reducing impacts to a level that would be less than significant.
Level of Significance: Potentially significant
Mitigation Measures:
NOISE-1: The City shall require the construction contractor to implement the following measures during project construction:
• Construction activities shall be limited to between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday to avoid noise-sensitive hours of the evenings and nights. Construction activities shall be prohibited on Sundays and holidays, unless the contractor obtains prior approval from the City.
• Construction equipment noise shall be minimized by muffling and shielding intakes and exhaust on construction equipment , per the manufacturer’s specifications , and by shrouding or shielding impact tools.
• Construction contractors shall locate fixed construction equipment, such as compressors or generators, and construction staging areas as far as possible from nearby sensitive receptors, such as residences, schools, and hospitals.
Significance after Mitigation: Less than significant
b) Exposure to Groundborne Vibration or Noise.
Groundborne vibration is not a common environmental problem. It is typically associated with transportation facilities, although it is unusual for vibration from sources such as buses and trucks to be perceptible, even in locations close to major roads. Some common sources of groundborne vibration are trains, buses on rough roads, and construction activities such as blasting, pile-driving, and operating heavy earth-moving equipment.
Other than operation of construction equipment during construction, the project would not involve these potential noise sources. In most cases, vibration induced by typical construction equipment does not result in adverse effects on people or structures. Noise from the equipment typically overshadows any meaningful ground vibration effect s on people (Caltrans 2013). As the nearest residence is approximately 90 feet from the southwestern corner of the project site and is separated from it by Parsons Avenue, the residence is unlikel y to receive any vibrations from the project site that would be perceptible. In any case, any vibrations generated by construction activities would cease once construction work is completed, and project operations would not generate any vibrations. Project impacts related to groundborne vibrations would be less than significant. 116
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c) Public Airport and Private Airstrip Noise.
As discussed in Section 3.9, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, the nearest public airport to the project site is Merced Regional Airport, approximately 3.5 miles to the west . The project site is outside the established noise contours for Merced Regional Airport , which extend as far as 55 dB (Merced County ALUC 2012). There are also no private airstrips in the project vicinity. The project would have no impact associated with noise from airport or airstrip operations.
3.14 POPULATION AND HOUSING
Would the project: Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
a) Induce substantial unplanned population growth in an area, 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?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the population of Merced is 86,333, an increase of approximately 9.8% from its 2010 population of 78,958. As of January 1, 2021, the City of Merced had an estimated 30,041 housing units - an increase from 27,446 in 2010 (U.S.
Census Bureau 2021) . Of the total housing units in 2021, 19,167 were single -family detached units (typical houses), approximately 63.8% of the total. Approximately 16.5% of the total housing units were multifamily units of five or more per building. The total number of such units in 2021 was 4,956, an increase from 4,712 in 2010 (California Department of Finance 2021).
The U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the median gross rent is $1,111 (U.S. Census Bureau 2021). As noted in Chapter 1.0, Introduction, 3,464 households earned less than or equal to 30 percent of the area’s median income. Of those households, 82.9 percent had a housing cost burden greater than 30 percent of their income and 80.3 percent had a cost burden greater than 50 percent of their income (City of Merced 2016).
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Unplanned Population Growth.
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The project would involve the construction of 108 multifamily residential units on an approximately four-acre site. Based upon the average of 3.18 persons per household in Merced (California Department of Finance 2021) , the project would result in a potential population addition of approximately 343 people.
The proposed development is currently not consistent with the Merced General Plan, which designates the project site for commercial development. However, the project w ould be consistent with the objectives in the H ousing Element of the Merced General Plan to increase affordable housing for lower -income households and to ma ke more multifamily housing available (City of Merced 2016). The lower-income housing need is based largely upon the projected population growth in Merced.
The project would provide employment opportunities in Merced during its construction, which may attract people from outside the Merced area. However, these opportunities would be limited in number and would most likely be met from the existing population in the Merced area. Project impacts on unplanned population growth would be less than significant.
b) Displacement of Housing or People.
The project si te is currently vacant and has no structures, residential or otherwise.
Therefore, the project would not displace housing or people. The project would have no impact on displacement of people or housing.
3.15 PUBLIC SERVICES
Would the project:
a) Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of, or the need for, 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:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
i) Fire protection?
ii) Police protection?
iii) Schools?
iv) Parks?
v) Other public facilities?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
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Fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical response service are provided by the Merced Fire Department. The Fire Department consists of 62 uniformed firefighters and three civilian staff. It operates five fire stations th at serve its own district in th e City of Merced. The project site is within the district of Fire Station 54, which is located at 1425 East 21
st Street. The Fire Department has a goal of maintaining a response time of four to six minutes for the first crew to arrive at a fire or medical emergency within an assigned district. As the City continues to grow in population and area, the fire protection system would have to change if it is to maintain this response time standard. This would require two existing stations to be relocated and five new facilities with personnel and equipment to be added to the system (City of Merced 2010).
Police protection services are provided by the Merced Police Department from its station at 611 West 22nd Street. The current City budget shows an allocation for 138 positions, which includes sworn officers and other staff. There were 111 sworn officers on Police Department staff in 2009 (City of Merced 2013). The City uses the service ratio of 1.32 sworn officers per 1,000 population. Staffing levels were adequate to meet existing needs (City of Merced 2010) . The Police Department provides patrol, investigation, code enforcement, animal control, and dispatch services.
The project site is within the boundaries of the Weaver Union Elementary School District, which pr ovides elementary and middle school services (kindergarten to 8 th grade).
Elementary school students residing on the project site would attend Pioneer Elementary School at 2950 Gerard Avenue. Enrollment at this school during the 2019-20 school year was 1,053 students. Weaver Middle School, the only middle school in the Weaver School District, is located at 3076 East Childs Avenue. The school had an enrollment of 948 students as of the 2019-20 school year (EdData 2021).
High school services are provided by the Merced Union High School District (MUHSD).
The project site is north of Golden Valley High School, which is at the northeast corner of the intersection of Parsons Avenue and Childs Avenue . During the 2019-20 school year, enrollment at Golden Valley High School was 1,843 students (EdData 2021).
The Merced Parks and Community Services Department manages parks and recreation programs in the City. The project site is adjacent to Joe Herb Park, a City park that borders the project site. Section 3.16, Recreation, describes City parks in more detail. Other public facilities include the Merced branch of the Merced County Library at 2100 O Street, and the Merced County Courthouse at 2260 N Street.
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a-i) Fire Protection.
The project would generate a demand for fire protection services by the Merced Fire Department. The project site is already served by the Fire Department, so the day- to-day increase in service demand would be related to emergency medical services for residents.
Buildings constructed as part of the project would be required to comply with the 201 9 California Fire Code, as amended by the City in Merced Municipal Code Chapter 17.32. 119
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The Fire Code contains provisions designed to improve fire safety in structures, including installation of sprinkler systems, alarm systems, and portable fire extinguishers, along with requirements for hydrants and fire flows. The project also would be subject to the City’s adopted Building and Ele ctrical Codes with their applicable provisions related to fire safety, including the installation of smoke detectors and sprinkler systems. Entryways would be constructed t o City standards, which consider emergency vehicle accessibility.
Compliance with these requirements would minimize fire risk to residents and buildings of the proposed project development.
The Merced Fire Department has indicated a need for new and improved facilities to serve the City. N ew development is required under Merced Municipal Code Chapter 17.62 to pay Public Facility Impact Fees to the City for future construction or improvement of Fire Department facilities, among other capital improvements. The Public Facility Impact Fee for multifamily development is $4,107 per dwelling unit, but would increase to $8,520 per unit on March 23, 2022. The fees would be used in part to pay for new fire stations and the remodeling of an existing station (City of M erced 2021). Compliance with the applicable codes and City standards, along with payment of fees, would reduce project impacts on fire protection services to a level that would be less than significant. a-ii) Police Protection.
The project would generate a demand for police protection services by the Merced Police Department. The project site is within City limits and thus is already served by the Police Department. The Police Department anticipates that at least one new police station would be needed to serve the City’s population. While the proposed project would not necessarily require new police facilities, new development is required to pay Public Facility Impact Fees to the City, which would in part pay for a new central station that is planned (City of Merced 2021). With payment of Public Service Impact Fees, p roject impacts related to police protection services would be less than significant. a-iii) Schools.
The proposed project is likely to house students who would attend both Weaver School District and MUHSD schools. Based on a student generation rate of 0.5 used in a fee justification study (Weaver Union School District 2018), the project would generate approximately 54 elementary and middle school students. Additionally, based on a student generation rate of 0.072 students per unit used in a MUHSD fee justification study (MUHSD 2020), the project would generate approximately eight high school students.
The Weaver School District, in its fee justification study, stated that it currently exceeds its kindergarten-8th grade capacity and will continue to exceed its capacity into the 2022- 2023 school year (Weaver Union School District 2018) . The MUHSD’s fee justification study indicated that it currently has adequate capacity to accommodate existing students, but no excess capacity would be available for students generated by new development not subject to mitigation agreements (MUHSD 2020). As such, the project would likely generate a requirement for new or expanded facilities at both Weaver School District and MUHSD.
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To assist in meeting construction costs for future facilities, both the Weaver School District and the MUSHD collect developer fees for industrial, commercial, and residential projects in accordance with state law. Residential developer fees for both the Weaver School District and MUHSD are $3.48 per square foot; however, the Weaver School District shares one-third of its collected fees with MUHSD , and MUHSD shares two -thirds of its fees with its feeder elementary school districts, including Weaver . The project would pay required developer fees to both the Weaver School District and MUHSD. Under State law, payment of developer fees is considered adequate mitigation of potential environmental impacts for CEQA purposes , so project impacts on schools are considered less than significant.
a-iv, v) Parks and Other Public Facilities.
The addition of the units could result in an increase in residents who may visit parks and libraries and use other public facilities within the City. As discussed in Section 3.14, Population and Housing, the population increase resulting from the project is not expected to be significant. Therefore, additional demands on parks and other public facilities such as libraries are expected to be incremental, and no new or expanded public facilities would be required. Project impacts would be less than significant.
3.16 RECREATION
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
a) Increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facilities would occur or be accelerated?
b) Include recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities that might have an adverse physical effect on the environment?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
The City ’s Parks and Community Services Department s responsible for the landscape maintenance of approximately 300 acres of municipal parks, landscaped areas, traffic medians, athletic fields and open land areas while maintaining approximately 17 miles of associated bikeways. The City manages six parks that offer a variety of amenities, along with a senior community center. The nearest park to the project site is Joe Herb Park, which borders the project site on the south and east. Joe Herb Park, approximately 26.74 acres in size, offers several baseball diamonds and batting cages. It also has a picnic shelter with 121
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nearby restroom facilities, a playground, three horseshoe pits, a barbeque pit with a sink , and five large picnic tables.
Outside the City, McConnell State Recreation Area is on the Merced River approximately 16 miles northwest of the project site . This recreational area offers picnic and camping facilities. Yosemite National Park , which offers a variety of recreational lands and facilities, is approximately 50 miles northeast of the project site.
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a, b) Recreational Facilities.
As noted in Section 3.14, Population and Hous ing, the project is e xpected to generate an occupancy of approximately 343 residents. This is not considered a significant increase in population. The residents of the proposed project would generate a demand for recreational facilities and services. However, the existing parks and recreational facilities are expected to accommodate the additional residents without causing a substantial physical deterioration of these facilities.
Merced Municipal Code Chapter 17.38 requires an applicant for a building permit for residential development to pay a park and recreation facilities fee, which would be used to finance the acquisition, improvement , and expansion of public parks, playgrounds , and recreational facilities. The fee for the project would be $282 per unit; however, Municipal Code Section 17.38.050 indicates that such fees may be reduced for low-cost housing. The project applicant would be required to pay the park and recreation facilities fee. However, as of March 23, 2022, this fee has been repealed and Park fees are collect ed as part of the Public Facilities Financing Program.
In addition, the project proposes to construct a community center that would provide some recreational amenities. This would reduce the impact on offsite facilities that may occur with the increase in localized population resulting from the project. With payment of fees plus provision of an onsite community center, project impacts on recreational facilities are considered less than significant.
3.17 TRANSPORTATION
Would the project: Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
a) Conflict with a program, plan, ordinance, or policy
addressing the circulation system, including transit,
roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities?
b) Conflict with or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3, subdivision (b)?
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c) Substantially increase hazards to a geometric design feature (e g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e g, farm equipment)?
d) Result in inadequate emergency access?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
Existing Transportation Facilities and Services
The project site would be accessed from Parsons Avenue. Parsons Avenue is a four-lane, north-south City street that currently extends south from SR 140 to beyond Childs Avenue, from which it proceeds into Merced County. There are plans to connect Parsons Avenue to other road segments to the north, eventually converting it to a main north- south road in Merced. The Merced General Plan classifies Parsons Avenue as a “minor arterial”. The Merced General Plan EIR indicated that traffic volume on Parsons Avenue between Childs Avenue and SR 140 was 9,600 (City of Merced 2010). Since no significant development appears to have occurred in the area since the EIR was released, the current traffic volume on Parsons Avenue would be approximately the same.
Parsons Avenue intersects with SR 140 north of the project site. SR 140 is a two-lane, east- west State highway that connects the Merced area with Interstate 5 to the west and Yosemite National Park to the east. It serves local traffic and a high volume of recreational traffic. SR 140 enters the City from the west at the intersection of 13th and V Streets, crosses the City via SR 99, and continues eastward. Traffic volume on SR 140 west of the Parsons Avenue intersection was 15,100, and 7,550 east of the intersection (City of Merced 2010).
Public transportation services in Merced are provided by Merced County Transit ( The Bus), which is overseen by the Transit Joint Powers Authority for Merced County and is managed through MCAG. The Bus operates intercity rou tes within Merced, including the M5 route that connects southeastern Merced to the downtown area. The M5 route goes along Parsons Avenue by the project site, and a bus shelter is across Parsons Avenue from the site. Dial -A-Ride service is available for sen ior citizens, the handicapped, or those without a regularly scheduled fixed route bus operating within one mile of their residence.
The City of Merced has an extensive system of bicycle routes. An existing bike path extends along Parsons Avenue from SR 140 to Golden Valley High School, and an existing bike lane extends south of Childs Avenue . There are sidewalks on both side s of Parsons Avenue, including along the project site frontage.
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Transportation Plans and Guidelines
Merced General Plan
The Transportation and Circulation Element of the Merced General Plan sets goals and policies intended to coordinate transportation/circulation with land use and other pertinent areas of the General Plan, while promoting the efficient movement of people, goods and services within the Merced area. Policy T-1.8 states that a minimum peak hour LOS D shall be used as a design objective for mos t existing City streets except under special circumstances. LOS is a measure of traffic flow on roadways and traffic delays at intersections using a scale from A to F, with A representing the best traffic flow or shortest intersection delays and F representing the worst traffic flow or longest intersection delays.
LOS is still used as a measure of traffic performance, but its use to determine CEQA is now superseded by VMT (see below).
State CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3
The State of California has recently added Section 15064.3 to the CEQA Guidelines, which is meant to incorporate SB 743 into CEQA analysis. SB 743 was enacted in 2013 with the intent to balance congestion management needs and the mitigation of the environmental impacts of traffic with statewide GHG emission reduction goals, mainly by developing an alternative mechanism for evaluating transportation impacts. Section 15064.3 states that VMT is the preferred method for evaluating transportation impacts, rather than the commonly used LOS. The VMT metric measures the total miles traveled by vehicles as a result of a given project. VMT accounts for the total environmental impact of transportation associated with a project, including use of non-vehicle travel modes.
While a quantitative analysis of VMT is preferred, a qualitative analysis may be used if existing models or methods are not available to estimate VMT for the project being considered. The City of Merced currently does not have traffic impact standards based on VMT. The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research has issued a Technical Advisory on evaluating transportation impacts using VMT (OPR 2018).
Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy MCAG adopted the current version of its Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) in 2018. The RTP seeks to ensure that the Merced County transportation system will continue to operate efficiently over the next 25 years with sufficient capacity to meet demand and with mobility options available for all of Merced County’s residents. The RTP focuses on regional transportation infrastructure needs, which includes roadways, railways, airports, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities . Transportation improvements proposed near the project site that are part of the RTP include sidewalks on Childs Avenue from Parsons Avenue to Campus Parkway, and new road construction on Parsons Avenue from SR 140 to Stretch Drive (MCAG 2018a).
Part of the RTP is the SCS, which must demonstrate an approach to how land use development and transportation can work together to meet GHG emission reduction targets for cars and light trucks. Section 3.8, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, discuss es the SCS in more detail.
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Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Conflict with Transportation Plans, Ordinances and Policies.
Development of the project would generate new vehicle trips and potentially affect traffic operations at nearby intersections. The number of vehicle trips the project would generate would be approximately 587 on weekdays, with fewer trips on weekends. This trip estimate is based on the CalEEMod run for the project. Cal EEMod bases its trip estimates on trip generation rates for apartments from the Institute of Transportation Engineers Trip Generation Manual. As noted, traffic volume on Parsons Avenue was 9,600, and this traffic volume was expected to change little from the last count. With the estimated vehicle trips generated by the project added, the total volume on Parsons Avenue would be 10,187.
The Merced General Plan describes traffic volume thresholds fo r LOS, based on the type of road or street. For a two- lane arterial such as Parsons Avenue, the maximum volume under which LOS D can be maintained is 16,800 (City of Merced 2012b). Therefore, Parsons Avenue would be able to maintain the minimum required LOS D with the project.
The project would not lead to a conflic t with the transportation goals and policies of the Merced General Plan.
The project would result in an increase in demand for public transit service. The frequency and proximity of future transi t service is not known at this time and, as a result, demand for transit cannot be quantified. However, it is expected that The Bus routes can accommodate the additional passengers the project would generate. This would be consistent with the goals of the RTP /SCS, which encourage further use of public transit.
Impacts on public transit are considered less than significant.
The project would result in an increase in demand for bicycle and pedestrian facilities. As noted, bicycle and pedestrian facilities already exist in the area and can accommodate the additional demand. Project impacts on bicycle and pedestrian facilities would be less than significant.
b) Conflict with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3(b).
As discussed above, VMT is now the preferred method for evaluating transportation impacts, rather than LOS. The City currently does not have its own traffic impact standards based on VMT. Therefore, guidance provided by the OPR Technical Advisory is used for this analysis.
The OPR Technical Advisory identif ies screening criteria that can be used to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to presume a project will have a less -than-significant VMT impact without conducting a detailed study. One of the criteria applies to an affordable housing project, defined as a project consisting of deed -restricted affordable housing. OPR states that a project consisting of a high percentage of affordable housing may be a basis for the lead agency to find a less-than-significant impact on VMT. Evidence supports a presum ption of less -than-significant impact for a 100% affordable residential development in infill locations (OPR 2018).
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The proposed project is an affordable housing project by the OPR definition, as 100% of its units would be affordable to very- low income households. Therefore, project impacts based on VMT are co nsidered less than significant. This conclusion is supported by the project’s proximity to retail services and schools (see Section 3.11, Land Use), as well as the location of existing transit services. Therefore, the project would not c onflict with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3(b), and impacts would be less than significant. c) Transportation Hazards.
The project site is located along Parsons Avenue, which has curb, gutter, and sidewalk improvements in accordance with City standards and specifications. The project proposes a driveway that would allow vehicles to enter the project site without queuing on Parsons Avenue. Traffic generated by the project would be mostly passenger vehicles, similar in composition to current traffic on Parsons Avenue. Vehicles that could affect traffic flow, such as farm equipment, would not be generated by the project. The project would not create any road hazards; therefore, project impacts would be less than significant. d) Emergency Access.
As described in Chapter 2.0, Project Description, the project would have one main entrance and a second entrance accessible to emergency vehicles only. Adequate access for emergency vehicles would be provided to the project site . Pr oject impacts related to emergency access would be less than significant.
3.18 TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES
Would the 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:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
a) 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
b) 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 Resources Code Section 5024.1? In applying the
criteria set forth in subdivision (c) of Public Resources Code Section 5024.1, the lead agency shall consider the
significance of the resource to a California Native American tribe.
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
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Environmental Setting
The project site, along with City of Merced, l ies within the ethnographic territory of the Yokuts. The Yokuts territory covered portions of the San Joaquin Valley from the Tehachapi Mountains in the south to Stockton in the north. Settlements were oriented along the water ways, with their village sites normally placed adjacent to these features for their nearby water and food resources. House structures varied in size and shape, with most constructed from the readily available tules found in the extensive marshes of the low-lying valley areas. Economic subsistence was based on the acorn, with substantial dependency on gathering and processing of wild seeds and other vegetable foods. The rivers, streams, and sloughs that forme d a maze within the San Joaquin V alley provided a bundant food resources such as fish, shellfish, and turtles. Game, wild fowl, and small mammals were trapped and hunted to provide protein augmentation of the diet. Trade for goods was well- developed with tribes on the coast and in the Sierra Nevada and Gr eat Basin (City of Merced 2010).
In 2004, the California Legislature enacted SB 18, which requires local governments to consult with tribes on potential cultural resource impacts when a general plan or a specific plan is adopted or amended, or when an open space area is designated. This project proposes a General Plan Amendment, so SB 18 potentially applies. However, SB 18 addresses land use planning, not CEQA environmental review.
In 2014, the California Legislature enacted AB 52, which focuses on CEQA consultation with Native American tribes on projects potentially affecting the tribes. The intent of this consultation is to avoid or mitigate potential impacts on “tribal cultural re sources,” which are defined as “sites, features, places, cultural landscapes, sacred places, and objects with cultural value to a California Native American tribe.” Under AB 52, when a tribe requests consultation with a CEQA lead agency on projects within its traditionally and culturally affiliated geographical area, the lead agen cy must provide the tribe with notice of a proposed project within 14 days of a project application being deemed complete or when the lead agency decides to undertake the project, if it is the agency’s own project. The tribe has up to 30 days to respond to the notice and request consultation; if consultation is requested, then the local agency has up to 30 days to initiate consultation.
Matters which may be subjects of AB 52 consult ation include the type of CEQA environmental review necessary, the significance of tribal cultural resources, and project alternatives or appropriate measures for preservation or mitigation of the tribal cultural resource that the tribe may recommend to the lead agency. The consultation process ends when either (1) the resource in question is not considered significant, (2) the parties agree to mitigate or avoid a significant effect on a tribal cultural resource, or (3) a party, acting in good faith and aft er reasonable effort, concludes that mutual agreement cannot be reached. Reg ardless of the outcome, a lead agency is still obligated under CEQA to mitigate for any significant environmental effects, as explicitly noted in AB 52.
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a, b) Tribal Cultural Resources.
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As noted in Section 3.5, Cultural Resources, no archaeological resources have been recorded on or near the project site. A records search conducted as part of the Merced General Plan EIR revealed only one recorded Native American archaeological resource in the Planning Area - a prehistoric bowl mortar in the southwest sector. It was noted that there was a possibility of the presence of unrecorded prehistoric period sites near the watercourses in the Merced area (City of Merced 2010) . However, the project site is not near any watercourses.
Given the limited number of recorded Native American resources in the Merced area and the distance from a watercourse, the project site is considered unlikely to have any tribal cultural resources. Nevertheless, the City is expected to contact local tribes that may have an interest in the Merced area in accordance with SB 18 and AB 52 requirements.
Project construction could potentially uncover previously unknown archaeological resources, including those of Native American origin. Mitigation Measure CULT-1 would require construction work to stop at an uncovered resource site under an archaeologist can evaluate the resource and give recommendations for its disposition. Mitiga tion Measure CULT-2 sets procedures for the treatment of any Native American remains that may be uncovered during project construction. Implementation of these mitigation measures would reduce potential impacts on tribal cultural resources to a level that would be less than significant.
Level of Significance: Potentially significant
Mitigation Measures: Implementation of Mitigation Measures CULT-1 and CULT-
2. Significance after Mitigation: Less than significant
3.19 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
Would the project: Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
a) Require or result in the relocation or construction of new or expanded water, wastewater treatment, or storm water drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities, the construction or relocation of which could cause significant environmental effects?
b) Have sufficient 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 that would serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project's projected demand in addition to the provider's existing commitments?
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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 management and reduction statutes and regulations related to solid waste?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
Wastewater
The City of Merced collects and treats wastewater generated by City residents and businesses, along with wastewater generated by UC Merced to the north. The City’s wastewater collection syst em consists of more than 400 miles of sewer lines ranging in diameter from 6 to 48 inches (City of Merced 2017). A sewer line is located adjacent to the project site along Parsons Avenue.
The collected wastewater is conveyed to the wastewater treatment and reclamation facility southwest of Merced. The treatment facility has a current cap acity of 12 million gallons per day (mgd). As of 2017, t he average wastewater flow into the treatment facility was approximately 8 mgd (City of Merced 2017). The City has plans to expand the treatment capacity of the existing facility to 20 mgd and to construct a new treatment facility to serve North Merced (City of Merced 2017).
Potable Water
The City provides potable water to City residents and business, as well as to UC Merced .
As noted in Section 3.10 , Hydrology and Water Quality, the City obtains its w ater from local aquifers through 20 active wells. The design capacity of the wells ranges from 1,200 to 4,000 gallons per minute (gpm), and total capacity is approximately 60,300 gpm, which translates into approximately 116,810 acre -feet per year. Annual demand as of 2012 was 25,899 acre-feet (City of Merced 2014b).
The City has approximately 280 miles of water system pipelines. The pipelines generally range from 4 to 16 inches in diameter and are made of cast iron, ductile iron, and polyvinyl chloride. The City’s water system also includes four storage tanks with a total capacity of
1.5 million gallons. A water line 16 inches in diameter is located beneath Parsons Avenue adjacent to the project site (City of Merced 2014b).
Storm Drainage
Storm drainage generated in the developed areas of the City are collected by a municipal system. The system consists of approximately 112 miles of underground storm drain lines, detention ponds, underground storage pipes, 56 storm pump stations, basins, and associated storm inlet and discharge lines (City of Merced 2013) . There are currently six discharge 129
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points of drainage collected by the City’s system: one in southeastern Merced at the Merced Irrigation District’s Doane Lateral, and five west of Merced into creeks and sloughs (Merced Storm Water Group 2007).
As noted in Section 3.10, Hydrology and Water Quality, the City has a n adopted SWMP, developed in compliance with the federal NPDES program and with the SWRCB’s MS4 General Permit. The SWMP requires preparation of a construction Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and incorporation of post -construction BMPs into the proje ct to protect water quality. Project disposal of storm drainage would be required to conform to the adopted SWMP.
Solid Waste
The City collects s olid waste from both residential and commercial customers, and it provides recycling and green waste services. Solid waste collected in Merced is transported to one of two la ndfills in Merced County. The B illy Wright Landfill, approximately one mile west of Interstate 5 near Los Banos, has a maximum permitted disposal capacity of 14,800,000 cubic yards. As of September 30, 2010, this landfill had a remaining capacity of 11,370,000 cubic yards (CalRecycle 2018a). The Highway 59 Landfill, along SR 59 approximately six miles north of Merced, has a maximum permitted disposal capacity of 30,012,352 cubic yards. As of September 1, 2005 – the latest date for which information was avai lable – this landfill had a rem aining capacity of 28,025,334 cubic yards (CalRecycle 2018b).
Other Utilities
Natural gas and electrical power in the City are supplied by PG&E. The Merced Irrigation District also provides electrical service to some customer s in the area. Telephone service is provided by various vendors. Cable television is available from Comcast, and satellite television is available from several sources. Similarly, cellular telephone service can be purchased from several vendors. Existing p oles with attached electrical and communication lines are situated along Parsons Avenue along the western boundary of the project site. State -regulated franchise utilities are obligated to extend services t o new development sites as necessary.
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Relocation or Construction of New Facilities.
The project would connect to existing water, sewer, storm drainage, electricity, natural gas, and cable television lines in the project vicinity. As noted in Chapter 2.0, P roject Description, the project can be served by the City for the provision of water, wastewater, and storm drainage services. Also, as noted in Chapter 2.0, a 16- inch diameter water line and eight-inch sewer line are already beneath Parsons Avenue. No new utility facilities would need to be constructed or relocated to provide these services, other than connecting lines to the project site. All connecting lines to City systems would be constructed in accordance with City standards and specifications. Project impacts related to relocation or construction of new facilities would be less than significant. 130
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b) Water Systems and Supply.
The project would connect to the existing water line located along Parsons Avenue . The existing water supply line has adequate capacity to serve the project; no new or expanded water lines beyond connecting lines from the project site would be required.
The project would place additional demand on the City’s water supply. As indicated above, the City’s water system had approximatel y 90,911 acre-feet of water per year available.
Based on a water usage factor of 2.9 acre- feet per year per unit of high- medium density residential development, estimated water usage by the project would be 313.2 acre-feet per year. The City has adequate water supplies to satisfy this demand, even during multiple dry years (City of Merced 2014b). No new or expanded water entitlements would be required.
Project impacts on water systems and supply would be less than significant. c) Wastewater Treatment Capacity.
The project would place additional demand on the City’s wastewater collection and treatment system. Based on a factor of 7,188 gallons per day per acre for high- medium density residential users (City of Merced 2017), the estimated amount of wastewater that would be generated by the project would be 33,783.6 gallons per day (0.034 mgd). As indicated above, the City’s wastewater treatment facility currently has available capacity of 4.0 mgd on average, and there are plans to expand facility capacity by another 8.0 mgd.
Thus, the City’s wastewater treatment facility would have adequate capacity to accommodate wastewater generated by the project. Project impacts on wastewater services would be less than significant.
d, e) Solid Waste Services.
The project would generate solid waste consistent with residential land uses. The project is not anticipated to create a significant amount of solid waste. All solid waste generated during construction and operations would be removed in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations. The Highway 99 Landfill, with 93% of its capacity available, could accommodate project-generated solid waste. Project impacts would be less than significant.
3.20 WILDFIRE
If located in or near State Responsibility Area s or lands classified as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, w ould the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
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 i nstallation or maintenance of associated infrastructure (such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water
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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?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
Environmental Setting
The Merced General Plan states that wildland and vegetation fire hazards exist in Merced County, mostly outside urban areas. The Valley's long, hot, dry summers and extensive vegetation creates a fire season that extends from late spring to early fall. As the City has annexed large blocks of undeveloped land, the potential for wildland and vegetation fires within the City has increased (City of Merced 2012b).
Cal Fire ’s Fire and Resource Assessment Program identifies fire threat based on a combination of two factors: 1) fire frequency, or the likelihood of a given area burning, and 2) potential fire behavior (hazard). These two factors are combined in determining the following Fire Hazard Severity Zones: Moderate, High, Very High, Extreme. These zones apply to areas designated as State Responsibility Areas – areas in which the State has primary firefighting responsibility. The project site is not within a State Responsibility Area and therefore has not been placed in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone for such areas (Cal Fire 2007a). Both the project site and surrounding area are in a Local Responsibility Area, and both areas are not in any designated fire hazard severity zones (Cal Fire 2007b).
Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures
a) Emergency Response Plans and Emergency Evacuation Plans.
The project site is not part of a State Responsibility Area, and Cal Fire maps indicate the site is not designated within a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone or a zone of higher severity for either state or local responsibility areas. The project site is in a predominantly urban area, which is not prone to wildfires. As discussed in Section 3.9, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, the project would not obstruct any roadways once construction work is completed. The project would have no impact related t o wildfire emergency response plans or emergency evacuation plans.
b) Exposure of Project Occupants to Wildfire Hazards.
The project site is not part of a State Responsibility Area, and Cal Fire maps indicate the site is not designated within a Very High F ire Hazard Severity Zone or a zone of higher severity for either state or local responsibility areas. The project site is in a predominantly urban area, which is not prone to wildfires. The project site itself contains little vegetation; however, the proje ct would reduce the existing fire hazard on the site by replacing an existing vacant that has some grasses and weeds with developed area and landscaping. The project would have no impact related to exposure of project occupants to wildfire hazards. 132
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c) Installation and Maintenance of Infrastructure.
The project proposes the installation of roads and parking areas and the extension of utilities. The installation of these facilities is not expected to exacerbate the wildfire risk on the project site, which is minimal as explained in b) above. The project would have no impact related to exacerbation of wildfire hazards by infrastructure improvements. d) Risks from Runoff, Post-Fire Slope Instability, or Drainage Changes.
The project site is in a topographically flat area. There are no streams or other channels that cross the site. As such, it is not expected that people or structures would be exposed to significant risks from changes resulting from fires in steeper areas, including downslope or downstream flooding or landslides. The project would have no impact related to risks from runoff, post-fire slope instability, or drainage changes.
3.21 MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact No Impact
a) Does the project have the potential to substantially 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,
substantially 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?
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
a) Findings on Biological and Cultural Resources.
The project’s potential biological , cultural, and tribal cultural resource impacts were described in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.18, respectively. Potentially significant environmental 133
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effects were identified in these issue areas, but these effects would be reduced to levels that would be less than significant with implementation of identified mitigation measures. b) Findings on Individually Limited but Cumulatively Considerable Impacts.
The potential cumulative impacts of urban development of the site were accounted for in the Merced General Plan EIR (City of Merced 2010). The potential environmental effects identified in this IS/MND have been considered in conjunction with each other as to their potential to generate other potentially significant effects.
As described in this IS/MND, the potential environmental effects of the project would either be less than significant or would have no impact at all. Where the project involves potentially significant effects, these effects would be avoided or reduced to a level that is less than significant with proposed mitigation measures and/or compliance with applicable regulations and conditions of required permits. The various potential environmental effects of the project would not combine to generate any potentially significant cumulative effects.
Overall, the cumulative effects of the project were determined to be less than significant. c) Findings on Adverse Effects on Human Beings.
Potential adverse effects on human beings were discussed in Section 3.7, Geology and Soils (seismic hazards); Section 3.9 , Hazards and Hazardous Materials; Section 3.10, Hydrology and Water Quality (flooding); Section 3.17, Transportation (traffic hazards); and Section 3.20, Wildfire . All potential adverse effects on human beings identified i n those sections are either less than significant or would be reduced to levels that are less than significant through mitigation measures or through compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.
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4.0 REFERENCES
4.1 DOCUMENT PREPARERS
This IS/MND was prepared by BaseCamp Environmental , Inc. for use by and under the supervision of the City of Merced. The following persons were involved in preparation of the IS/MND:
BaseCamp Environmental, Inc.
Charlie Simpson, Principal
Terry Farmer, AICP, Senior Environmental Planner
Krista Simpson, Graphics
4.2 DOCUMENTS CITED
California Air Resources Board (ARB). 2017. California’s 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan. November 2017.
______. 2021. California Greenhouse Gas Emissions for 2000 to 2019: Trends of Emissions and Other Indicators. July 28, 2021.
California Department of Conservation, Division of Land Resources Protection, Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP). 2018. Merced County Important Farmland 2016, Sheet 1 of 2 (map). Map published February 2018.
California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR). 2021. Well Finder – CalGEM GIS. Available online at https://maps.conservation.ca.gov/doggr/wellfinder/. Accessed October 20, 2021.
California Department of Finance. 2021. Report E-5 - Population and Housing Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State, January 1, 2011-2021, with 2010 Benchmark.
Released May 1, 2021.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). 2007a. Fire Hazard Severity Zones in SRA, Merced County (map). Adopted November 7, 2007. ______. 2007b. Draft Fire Hazard Severity Zones in LRA, Merced County (map).
October 2, 2007.
California Depar tment of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery (CalRecycle). 2018a.
Facility/Site Summary Details: Billy Wright Disposal Site. Available at http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/SWFacilities/Directory/24-AA-0002/Detail/.
Accessed September 23, 2018.
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Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 4-2 January 2022
______. 2018b. Facility/Site Summary Details: Highway 59 Disposal Site. Available at http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/SWFacilities/Directory/24-AA-0001/Detail/.
Accessed September 23, 2018.
California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). 2021. EnviroStor database, www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov. Accessed October 14, 2021.
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). 2013. Transportation and Construction Vibration Guidance Manual. September 2013. ______. 2015. Paleontological Evaluation Report and Preliminary Paleontological Mitigation Plan for the Madera 41 South Expressway Project, Madera County, California. Prepared by Cogstone Resource Management Inc. November 2015. ______. 2018. List of Officially Designated State Scenic Highways. Available online at http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LandArch/16_livability/scenic_highways/ scenic_hwy.htm. Accessed September 23, 2018.
California Department of Water Resources (DWR). 2014. Geology of the Northern Sacramento Valley. June 2014, updated September 22, 2014. ______. 2017. California’s Groundwater. DWR Bulletin 118. Last update June 2017.
California Energy Commission (CEC). 2020a. Electricity Consumption by County – Merced County. Available online at ecdms.energy.ca.gov/elecbycounty.aspx. ______. 2020b. Gas Consumption by County – Merced County. Available online at ecdms.energy.ca.gov/gasbycounty.aspx.
California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). 2021a. Sites Identified with Waste Constituents Above Hazardous Waste Levels Outside the Waste Management Unit. Available online at https://calepa.ca.gov/wp-content/ uploads/sites/6/2016/10/SiteCleanup-CorteseList-CurrentList.pdf.
Accessed March 5, 2021.
______. 2021b. List of "Active" CDO and CAO from Water Board. Available online at http://www.calepa.ca.gov/SiteCleanup/CorteseList/default.htm. Accessed January 14, 2021.
California Geological Survey. 2015. CGS Information Warehouse: Regulatory Maps.
Available online at http://maps.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/informationwarehouse/ index.html?map=regulatorymaps. Accessed September 22, 2018.
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). 2021.
CalEnviroScreen 4.0. Available online at oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/report/ calenviroscreen-30. Accessed October 15, 2021.
Central California Information Center (CCIC). 2021. Records Search File #11950I, Parson Apartments, 1808 Parsons Avenue, Merced, California. October 19, 2021. 136
Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 4-3 January 2022
City of Merced. 2010. Draft Program Environmental Impact Report, City of Merced Merced Vision 2030 General Plan. Prepared by Quad Knopf. August 2010. ______. 2012a. Merced Climate Action Plan. October 1, 2012. ______. 2012b. Merced Vision 2030 General Plan. January 2012. ______. 2013. City of Merced Municipal Service Review. Prepared by Economic and Planning Systems, Inc. Adopted by LAFCo May 23, 2013.
______. 2014a. Post-Construction Standards Plan. Copyright by WGR Southwest, Inc. ______. 2014b. City of Merced Water Master Plan. Prepared by AECOM. January 2014. ______. 2016. Housing Element of the Merced Vision 2030 General Plan. Adopted July 18, 2016.
______. 2017. City of Merced Wastewater Collection System Master Plan (draft).
Prepared by Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. December 15, 2017. ______. 2020. City of Merced Consumer Confidence Report, Reporting Year 2020. ______. 2021. Public Facilities Financing Plan – Projects and Impact Fees (brochure).
EdData. 2021. Census Day Enrollment. Available online at ed-data.org/school/Merced/.
Accessed October 14, 2021.
Egan, M. David. 1988. Architectural Acoustics. McGraw Hill, New York.
Federal Emergency Management Agency. 2008. Flood Insurance Rate Map (FEMA #06047C0200G). Merced County, California. Effective date December 2, 2008.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). 2006. Roadway Construction Noise Model User’s Guide. FHWA-HEP-05-054. January 2006.
Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR). 2018. Technical Advisory on Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA. December 2018.
Merced County. 2013a. 2030 Merced County General Plan. December 10, 2013. ______. 2013b. 2030 Merced County General Plan Update Recirculated Draft Program Environmental Impact Report. July 2013.
Merced County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC). 2012. Merced County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan. Prepared by Mead and Hunt. Adopted June 21, 2012.
Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG). 2018a. Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy for Merced County. ______. 2018b. Draft Program Environmental Impact Report for the MCAG 2018 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy. May 2018. 137
Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 4-4 January 2022
Merced Storm Water Group. 2007. Storm Water Management Program. Prepared by Stantec. April 2007.
Merced Sustainable Groundwater Management Agency (SGMA). 2019. Merced Groundwater Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan. Prepared by Woodard and Curran. November 2019.
Merced Union High School District (MUHSD). 2020. Development Fee Justification Study. Prepared by Odell Planning and Research, Inc. May 2020.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). 2006. Final PG&E San Joaquin Valley Operations and Maintenance Habitat Conservation Plan. Prepared by Jones and Stokes. December 2006.
RMC Water and Environment. 2013. Merced Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. August 2013.
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD). 2015. Guide for Assessing and Mitigating Air Quality Impacts. March 19, 2015. ______. 2021. Ambient Air Quality Standards and Valley Attainment Status. SJVAPCD website, http://www.valleyair.org/aqinfo/attainment.htm. Accessed March 5, 2021.
State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). 2021. GeoTracker website, www.geotracker.swrcb.ca.gov. Accessed October 14, 2021.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2021. Geographic Profile - Merced, California. Available online at https://data.census.gov/cedsci/. Accessed October 26, 2021.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 2021.
Custom Soil Resource Report for Merced Area, California, 1808 Parsons Avenue.
October 14, 2021.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service (SCS). 1962. Soil Survey, Merced Area, California. Issued July 1962.
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). 2018. 2015 Residential Energy Consumption Survey: Energy Consumption and Expenditures Tables. Table CE4.10: Annual household site end‐use consumption by fuel in the West - averages, 2015. Release date May 2018.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2009. Endangerment and Cause of Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases Under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act. Federal Register Vol. 74, No. 239, pp. 66496-66546. December 15, 2009.
U.S. Geological Survey. 2021. USGS Groundwater Watch – Site No. 371832120231201 - 007S014E24K001M. Available online at https://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/ AWLSites.asp?mt=g&S=371832120231201&ncd=awl. Accessed October 25, 2021.
138
Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 4-5 January 2022
Wagner, D. L., E. J. Bortugno, and R. D. McJunkin. 1991. Geologic Map of the San Francisco-San Jose Quadrangle, California, 1:250,000. California Division of Mines and Geology, Regional Geologic Map Series.
Weaver Union School District. 2018. Level I Developer Fee Study for Weaver Union School District. Prepared by Jack Schreder and Associates, Inc. March 21, 2018.
Westerling, Leroy, Josue Medellin-Azuara, and Joshua Viers. 2018. San Joaquin Valley Summary Report. California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment. Publication number: SUM-CCCA4-2018-003.
4.3 PERSONS CONSULTED
Viviano Rodriguez, Visionary Home Builders
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Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 5-1 January 2022
5.0 NOTES RELATED TO EVALUATION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The following notes are included in the Environmental Information Checklist shown in Appendix G of the State CEQA guidelines. The notes provide guidance as to the proper use of the form.
1) A brief explanation is required for all answers except “No Impact ” answers that are adequately supported by the information sources a lead agency cites in the parentheses following each question. A “No Impact” answer is adequately supported if the referenced information sources show that the impact simply does not apply to projects like the one involved (e.g., the project falls outside a fault rupture zone). A “No Impact” answer should be explained where it is based on project -specific factors as well as general standards (e.g., the project will not expose sensitive receptors to pollutants, based on a project-specific screening analysis). 2) All answers must take account of the whole action involved, including off-site as well as on -site, cumulative as well as project -level, indirect as well as direct, and construction as well as operational impacts.
3) Once the lead agency has determined that a particular physical impact may occur, then the checklist answers must indicate whether the impact is potentially significant, less than significant with mitigation, or less than significant. “Potentially Significant Impact” is appropriate if there is substantial evidence that an effect may be significant. If there are one or more “Potentially Significant Impact” entries when the determination is made, an EIR is required.
4) “Negative Declaration: Less Than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated” applies where the incorporation of mitigation measures has reduced an effect from “Potentially Significant Impact” to a “Less Than Significant Impact.” The lead agency must describe the mit igation measures, and briefly explain how they reduce the effect to a less than significant level (mitigation measures from “Earlier Analyses,” as described in (5) below, may be cross-referenced). 5) Earlier analyses may be used where, pursuant to the tier ing, program EIR, or other CEQA process, an effect has been adequately analyzed in an earlier EIR or negative declaration. Section 15063(c)(3)(D). In this case, a brief discussion should identify the following:
a) Earlier Analysis Used. Identify and state where they are available for review. b) Impacts Adequately Addressed: Identify which effects from the above checklist were within the scope of and adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and state whether such eff ects were addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis.
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Parsons Avenue Apartments IS/MND 5-2 January 2022
c) Mitigation Measures: For effects that are “Less than Significant with Mitigation Measures Incorporated,” describe the mitigation measures , which were incorporated or refined from the earlier document and the extent to which they address site-specific conditions for the project.
6) Lead agencies are encouraged to incorporate into the checklist references to information sources for potential i mpacts (e.g., general plans, zoning ordinances).
Reference to a previously prepared or outside document should, where appropriate, include a reference to the page or pages where the statement is substantiated. 7) Supporting Information Sources: A source li st should be attached, and other sources used or individuals contacted should be cited in the discussion. 8) This is only a suggested form, and lead agencies are free to use different formats; however, lead agencies should normally address the questions fr om this checklist that are relevant to a project’s environmental effects in whatever format is selected. 9) The explanation of each issue should identify:
a) the significance criteria or threshold, if any, used to evaluate each question; and b) the mitigation measure identified, if any, to reduce the impact to less than significance.
141
APPENDIX A AIR QUALITY MODELING RESULTS
142
Parsons Avenue Apartments
Merced County, Annual
Project Characteristics -
Land Use - Actual acreage.
Construction Phase - No demolition.
Grading - Actual acreage.
Trips and VMT - Estimated hauling trips.
Architectural Coating - Per SJVAPCD Rule 4601.
Woodstoves - No fireplaces.
Area Coating - Per SJVAPCD Rule 4601.
Construction Off-road Equipment Mitigation -
Mobile Land Use Mitigation -
Area Mitigation - Per SJVAPCD Rule 4601.
Water Mitigation -
1.1 Land Usage
Land Uses
Size
Metric
Lot Acreage
Floor Surface Area
Population
Apartments Mid Rise
108.00
Dwelling Unit
4.70 108,000.00
309
1.2 Other Project Characteristics
Urbanization
Climate Zone
Urban
3 Wind Speed (m/s)
Precipitation Freq (Days)
2.2 49
1.3 User Entered Comments & Non-Default Data
1.0 Project Characteristics
Utility Company
Merced Irrigation District
2023
Operational Year
CO2 Intensity
(lb/MWhr)
290.98
0.033
CH4 Intensity
(lb/MWhr)
0.004
N2O Intensity
(lb/MWhr)
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Waste Mitigation -
2.0 Emissions Summary
Table Name
Column Name
Default Value
New Value
tblArchitecturalCoating
EF_Residential_Exterior
150.00
50.00 tblArchitecturalCoating
EF_Residential_Interior
150.00
50.00 tblAreaCoating
Area_EF_Residential_Exterior
150
50 tblAreaCoating
Area_EF_Residential_Interior
150
50 tblAreaMitigation
UseLowVOCPaintResidentialExteriorValu
e
150
50 tblAreaMitigation
UseLowVOCPaintResidentialInteriorValu
e
150
50 tblConstDustMitigation
WaterUnpavedRoadVehicleSpeed
0 15
tblConstructionPhase
NumDays
20.00 0.00
tblConstructionPhase
PhaseEndDate
6/2/2023
5/5/2023
tblConstructionPhase
PhaseEndDate
6/28/2022
5/31/2022
tblConstructionPhase
PhaseEndDate
7/15/2022
6/17/2022
tblConstructionPhase
PhaseEndDate
7/5/2022
6/7/2022
tblConstructionPhase
PhaseStartDate
7/16/2022
6/18/2022
tblConstructionPhase
PhaseStartDate
7/6/2022
6/8/2022
tblConstructionPhase
PhaseStartDate
6/29/2022
6/1/2022
tblFireplaces
NumberGas
59.40 0.00
tblFireplaces
NumberNoFireplace
48.60 108.00
tblGrading
AcresOfGrading
7.50 4.70
tblGrading
AcresOfGrading
8.00 4.70
tblGrading
MaterialImported
0.00 102,366.00
tblLandUse
LotAcreage
2.84 4.70
tblTripsAndVMT
HaulingTripNumber
0.00 5,118.00
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2.1 Overall Construction
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Year
tons/yr
MT/yr
2022
0.1691
1.7090
1.5275
4.2400e-
003
0.1737
0.0692
0.2429
0.0649
0.0650
0.1299
0.0000
384.9479
384.9479
0.0471
0.0273
394.2530
2023
0.4333
0.7725
0.9778
1.8000e-
003
0.0342
0.0364
0.0705
9.1600e-
003
0.0342
0.0434
0.0000
157.2142
157.2142
0.0306
2.3900e-
003
158.6910
Maximum
0.4333
1.7090
1.5275
4.2400e-
003
0.1737
0.0692
0.2429
0.0649
0.0650
0.1299
0.0000
384.9479
384.9479
0.0471
0.0273
394.2530
Unmitigated Construction
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Year
tons/yr
MT/yr
2022
0.1691
1.7090
1.5275
4.2400e-
003
0.1297
0.0692
0.1989
0.0432
0.0650
0.1082
0.0000
384.9477
384.9477
0.0471
0.0273
394.2528
2023
0.4333
0.7725
0.9778
1.8000e-
003
0.0342
0.0364
0.0705
9.1600e-
003
0.0342
0.0434
0.0000
157.2140
157.2140
0.0306
2.3900e-
003
158.6909
Maximum
0.4333
1.7090
1.5275
4.2400e-
003
0.1297
0.0692
0.1989
0.0432
0.0650
0.1082
0.0000
384.9477
384.9477
0.0471
0.0273
394.2528
Mitigated Construction
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ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio-CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N20
CO2e
Percent
Reduction
0.00 0.00
0.00 0.00
21.17 0.00
14.04 29.32
0.00 12.53
0.00 0.00
0.00 0.00
0.00 0.00
Quarter
Start Date
End Date
Maximum Unmitigated ROG + NOX (tons/quarter)
Maximum Mitigated ROG + NOX (tons/quarter)
1 6-1-2022
8-31-2022
1.0090
1.0090
2 9-1-2022
11-30-2022
0.6044
0.6044
3 12-1-2022
2-28-2023
0.5652
0.5652
4 3-1-2023
5-31-2023
0.4013
0.4013
5 6-1-2023
8-31-2023
0.4549
0.4549
Highest
1.0090
1.0090
2.2 Overall Operational
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Area
0.4798
9.2500e-
003
0.8021
4.0000e-
005
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
0.0000
1.3099
1.3099
1.2600e-
003
0.0000
1.3414
Energy
6.8600e-
003
0.0586
0.0250
3.7000e-
004
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
0.0000
124.1255
124.1255
7.6800e-
003
2.0200e-
003
124.9187
Mobile
0.3117
0.7270
2.9767
7.1500e-
003
0.6124
7.4800e-
003
0.6199
0.1643
7.0500e-
003
0.1713
0.0000
663.7447
663.7447
0.0338
0.0448
677.9258
Waste
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
10.0846
0.0000
10.0846
0.5960
0.0000
24.9842
Water
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
2.2324
7.0747
9.3071
0.2301
5.5100e-
003
16.7017
Total
0.7984
0.7948
3.8037
7.5600e-
003
0.6124
0.0167
0.6291
0.1643
0.0162
0.1805
12.3170
796.2548
808.5718
0.8688
0.0523
845.8718
Unmitigated Operational
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2.2 Overall Operational
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Area
0.4798
9.2500e-
003
0.8021
4.0000e-
005
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
0.0000
1.3099
1.3099
1.2600e-
003
0.0000
1.3414
Energy
6.8600e-
003
0.0586
0.0250
3.7000e-
004
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
0.0000
124.1255
124.1255
7.6800e-
003
2.0200e-
003
124.9187
Mobile
0.2490
0.4634
1.8959
3.9600e-
003
0.3287
4.2200e-
003
0.3329
0.0882
3.9700e-
003
0.0922
0.0000
367.6042
367.6042
0.0244
0.0276
376.4238
Waste
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
2.5212
0.0000
2.5212
0.1490
0.0000
6.2460
Water
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
1.7859
5.6598
7.4457
0.1841
4.4100e-
003
13.3614
Total
0.7356
0.5313
2.7229
4.3700e-
003
0.3287
0.0134
0.3421
0.0882
0.0132
0.1013
4.3071
498.6994
503.0065
0.3664
0.0340
522.2913
Mitigated Operational
3.0 Construction Detail
Construction Phase
Phase
Number
Phase Name
Phase Type
Start Date
End Date
Num Days
Week
Num Days
Phase Description
1 Demolition
Demolition
6/1/2022
5/31/2022
5 0
2 Site Preparation
Site Preparation
6/1/2022
6/7/2022
5 5
3 Grading
Grading
6/8/2022
6/17/2022
5 8
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio-CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N20
CO2e
Percent
Reduction
7.86 33.16
28.41 42.20
46.33 19.57
45.62 46.33
18.98 43.87
65.03 37.37
37.79 57.82
35.00 38.25
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4 Building Construction
Building Construction
6/18/2022
5/5/2023
5 230
5 Paving
Paving
6/3/2023
6/28/2023
5 18
6 Architectural Coating
Architectural Coating
6/29/2023
7/24/2023
5 18
OffRoad Equipment
Phase Name
Offroad Equipment Type
Amount
Usage Hours
Horse Power
Load Factor
Architectural Coating
Air Compressors
1 6.00
78 0.48
Paving
Cement and Mortar Mixers
2 6.00
9 0.56
Demolition
Concrete/Industrial Saws
1 8.00
81 0.73
Building Construction
Cranes
1 7.00
231
0.29 Demolition
Excavators
3 8.00
158
0.38 Grading
Excavators
1 8.00
158
0.38 Building Construction
Forklifts
3 8.00
89 0.20
Building Construction
Generator Sets
1 8.00
84 0.74
Grading
Graders
1 8.00
187
0.41 Paving
Pavers
1 8.00
130
0.42 Paving
Paving Equipment
2 6.00
132
0.36 Paving
Rollers
2 6.00
80 0.38
Demolition
Rubber Tired Dozers
2 8.00
247
0.40 Grading
Rubber Tired Dozers
1 8.00
247
0.40 Site Preparation
Rubber Tired Dozers
3 8.00
247
0.40 Building Construction
Tractors/Loaders/Backhoes
3 7.00
97 0.37
Grading
Tractors/Loaders/Backhoes
3 8.00
97 0.37
Residential Indoor: 218,700; Residential Outdoor: 72,900; Non-Residential Indoor: 0; Non-Residential Outdoor: 0; Striped Parking Area: 0 (Architectural Coating
–
sqft)
Acres of Grading (Site Preparation Phase): 4.7
Acres of Grading (Grading Phase): 4.7
Acres of Paving: 0
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 148
3.1 Mitigation Measures Construction
Water Exposed Area
Reduce Vehicle Speed on Unpaved Roads
Paving
Tractors/Loaders/Backhoes
1 8.00
97 0.37
Site Preparation
Tractors/Loaders/Backhoes
4 8.00
97 0.37
Building Construction
Welders
1 8.00
46 0.45
Trips and VMT
Phase Name
Offroad Equipment
Count
Worker Trip
Number
Vendor Trip
Number
Hauling Trip
Number
Worker Trip
Length
Vendor Trip
Length
Hauling Trip
Length
Worker Vehicle
Class
Vendor
Vehicle Class
Hauling
Vehicle Class
Demolition
6 15.00
0.00 0.00
10.80 7.30
20.00 LD_Mix
HDT_Mix
HHDT
Site Preparation
7 18.00
0.00 0.00
10.80 7.30
20.00 LD_Mix
HDT_Mix
HHDT
Grading
6 15.00
0.00 5,118.00
10.80 7.30
20.00 LD_Mix
HDT_Mix
HHDT
Building Construction
9 78.00
12.00 0.00
10.80 7.30
20.00 LD_Mix
HDT_Mix
HHDT
Paving
8 20.00
0.00 0.00
10.80 7.30
20.00 LD_Mix
HDT_Mix
HHDT
Architectural Coating
1 16.00
0.00 0.00
10.80 7.30
20.00 LD_Mix
HDT_Mix
HHDT
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 149
3.2 Demolition - 2022
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Off-Road
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Total
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Unmitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Vendor
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Worker
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Total
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Unmitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 150
3.2 Demolition - 2022
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Off-Road
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Total
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Mitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Vendor
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Worker
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Total
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Mitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 151
3.3 Site Preparation - 2022
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Fugitive Dust
0.0477
0.0000
0.0477
0.0251
0.0000
0.0251
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Off-Road
7.9300e-
003
0.0827
0.0492
1.0000e-
004
4.0300e-
003
4.0300e-
003
3.7100e-
003
3.7100e-
003
0.0000
8.3599
8.3599
2.7000e-
003
0.0000
8.4274
Total
7.9300e-
003
0.0827
0.0492
1.0000e-
004
0.0477
4.0300e-
003
0.0517
0.0251
3.7100e-
003
0.0288
0.0000
8.3599
8.3599
2.7000e-
003
0.0000
8.4274
Unmitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Vendor
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Worker
1.8000e-
004
1.3000e-
004
1.4700e-
003
0.0000
3.6000e-
004
0.0000
3.6000e-
004
1.0000e-
004
0.0000
1.0000e-
004
0.0000
0.3071
0.3071
1.0000e-
005
1.0000e-
005
0.3106
Total
1.8000e-
004
1.3000e-
004
1.4700e-
003
0.0000
3.6000e-
004
0.0000
3.6000e-
004
1.0000e-
004
0.0000
1.0000e-
004
0.0000
0.3071
0.3071
1.0000e-
005
1.0000e-
005
0.3106
Unmitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 152
3.3 Site Preparation - 2022
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Fugitive Dust
0.0215
0.0000
0.0215
0.0113
0.0000
0.0113
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Off-Road
7.9300e-
003
0.0827
0.0492
1.0000e-
004
4.0300e-
003
4.0300e-
003
3.7100e-
003
3.7100e-
003
0.0000
8.3598
8.3598
2.7000e-
003
0.0000
8.4274
Total
7.9300e-
003
0.0827
0.0492
1.0000e-
004
0.0215
4.0300e-
003
0.0255
0.0113
3.7100e-
003
0.0150
0.0000
8.3598
8.3598
2.7000e-
003
0.0000
8.4274
Mitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Vendor
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Worker
1.8000e-
004
1.3000e-
004
1.4700e-
003
0.0000
3.6000e-
004
0.0000
3.6000e-
004
1.0000e-
004
0.0000
1.0000e-
004
0.0000
0.3071
0.3071
1.0000e-
005
1.0000e-
005
0.3106
Total
1.8000e-
004
1.3000e-
004
1.4700e-
003
0.0000
3.6000e-
004
0.0000
3.6000e-
004
1.0000e-
004
0.0000
1.0000e-
004
0.0000
0.3071
0.3071
1.0000e-
005
1.0000e-
005
0.3106
Mitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 153
3.4 Grading - 2022
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Fugitive Dust
0.0324
0.0000
0.0324
0.0144
0.0000
0.0144
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Off-Road
7.7900e-
003
0.0834
0.0611
1.2000e-
004
3.7600e-
003
3.7600e-
003
3.4600e-
003
3.4600e-
003
0.0000
10.4219
10.4219
3.3700e-
003
0.0000
10.5062
Total
7.7900e-
003
0.0834
0.0611
1.2000e-
004
0.0324
3.7600e-
003
0.0361
0.0144
3.4600e-
003
0.0179
0.0000
10.4219
10.4219
3.3700e-
003
0.0000
10.5062
Unmitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
9.6600e-
003
0.3863
0.0758
1.5500e-
003
0.0438
3.9700e-
003
0.0477
0.0120
3.7900e-
003
0.0158
0.0000
148.9831
148.9831
5.6000e-
004
0.0234
155.9768
Vendor
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Worker
2.4000e-
004
1.8000e-
004
1.9600e-
003
0.0000
4.8000e-
004
0.0000
4.8000e-
004
1.3000e-
004
0.0000
1.3000e-
004
0.0000
0.4094
0.4094
2.0000e-
005
1.0000e-
005
0.4141
Total
9.9000e-
003
0.3865
0.0777
1.5500e-
003
0.0442
3.9700e-
003
0.0482
0.0122
3.7900e-
003
0.0160
0.0000
149.3925
149.3925
5.8000e-
004
0.0234
156.3908
Unmitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 154
3.4 Grading - 2022
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Fugitive Dust
0.0146
0.0000
0.0146
6.4700e-
003
0.0000
6.4700e-
003
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Off-Road
7.7900e-
003
0.0834
0.0611
1.2000e-
004
3.7600e-
003
3.7600e-
003
3.4600e-
003
3.4600e-
003
0.0000
10.4219
10.4219
3.3700e-
003
0.0000
10.5062
Total
7.7900e-
003
0.0834
0.0611
1.2000e-
004
0.0146
3.7600e-
003
0.0183
6.4700e-
003
3.4600e-
003
9.9300e-
003
0.0000
10.4219
10.4219
3.3700e-
003
0.0000
10.5062
Mitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
9.6600e-
003
0.3863
0.0758
1.5500e-
003
0.0438
3.9700e-
003
0.0477
0.0120
3.7900e-
003
0.0158
0.0000
148.9831
148.9831
5.6000e-
004
0.0234
155.9768
Vendor
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Worker
2.4000e-
004
1.8000e-
004
1.9600e-
003
0.0000
4.8000e-
004
0.0000
4.8000e-
004
1.3000e-
004
0.0000
1.3000e-
004
0.0000
0.4094
0.4094
2.0000e-
005
1.0000e-
005
0.4141
Total
9.9000e-
003
0.3865
0.0777
1.5500e-
003
0.0442
3.9700e-
003
0.0482
0.0122
3.7900e-
003
0.0160
0.0000
149.3925
149.3925
5.8000e-
004
0.0234
156.3908
Mitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 155
3.5 Building Construction - 2022
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Off-Road
0.1194
1.0931
1.1454
1.8900e-
003
0.0566
0.0566
0.0533
0.0533
0.0000
162.2077
162.2077
0.0389
0.0000
163.1792
Total
0.1194
1.0931
1.1454
1.8900e-
003
0.0566
0.0566
0.0533
0.0533
0.0000
162.2077
162.2077
0.0389
0.0000
163.1792
Unmitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Vendor
1.9200e-
003
0.0467
0.0144
1.8000e-
004
5.5600e-
003
5.2000e-
004
6.0800e-
003
1.6100e-
003
5.0000e-
004
2.1000e-
003
0.0000
17.0018
17.0018
1.0000e-
004
2.5300e-
003
17.7592
Worker
0.0219
0.0164
0.1781
4.1000e-
004
0.0435
2.8000e-
004
0.0438
0.0116
2.5000e-
004
0.0118
0.0000
37.2571
37.2571
1.4800e-
003
1.2900e-
003
37.6797
Total
0.0239
0.0631
0.1925
5.9000e-
004
0.0491
8.0000e-
004
0.0499
0.0132
7.5000e-
004
0.0139
0.0000
54.2589
54.2589
1.5800e-
003
3.8200e-
003
55.4389
Unmitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 156
3.5 Building Construction - 2022
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Off-Road
0.1194
1.0931
1.1454
1.8900e-
003
0.0566
0.0566
0.0533
0.0533
0.0000
162.2075
162.2075
0.0389
0.0000
163.1790
Total
0.1194
1.0931
1.1454
1.8900e-
003
0.0566
0.0566
0.0533
0.0533
0.0000
162.2075
162.2075
0.0389
0.0000
163.1790
Mitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Vendor
1.9200e-
003
0.0467
0.0144
1.8000e-
004
5.5600e-
003
5.2000e-
004
6.0800e-
003
1.6100e-
003
5.0000e-
004
2.1000e-
003
0.0000
17.0018
17.0018
1.0000e-
004
2.5300e-
003
17.7592
Worker
0.0219
0.0164
0.1781
4.1000e-
004
0.0435
2.8000e-
004
0.0438
0.0116
2.5000e-
004
0.0118
0.0000
37.2571
37.2571
1.4800e-
003
1.2900e-
003
37.6797
Total
0.0239
0.0631
0.1925
5.9000e-
004
0.0491
8.0000e-
004
0.0499
0.0132
7.5000e-
004
0.0139
0.0000
54.2589
54.2589
1.5800e-
003
3.8200e-
003
55.4389
Mitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 157
3.5 Building Construction - 2023
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Off-Road
0.0708
0.6473
0.7310
1.2100e-
003
0.0315
0.0315
0.0296
0.0296
0.0000
104.3121
104.3121
0.0248
0.0000
104.9325
Total
0.0708
0.6473
0.7310
1.2100e-
003
0.0315
0.0315
0.0296
0.0296
0.0000
104.3121
104.3121
0.0248
0.0000
104.9325
Unmitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Vendor
6.3000e-
004
0.0243
7.8700e-
003
1.1000e-
004
3.5700e-
003
1.6000e-
004
3.7300e-
003
1.0300e-
003
1.5000e-
004
1.1800e-
003
0.0000
10.5416
10.5416
4.0000e-
005
1.5700e-
003
11.0095
Worker
0.0129
9.1300e-
003
0.1033
2.5000e-
004
0.0280
1.7000e-
004
0.0282
7.4400e-
003
1.5000e-
004
7.5900e-
003
0.0000
23.1819
23.1819
8.5000e-
004
7.6000e-
004
23.4285
Total
0.0135
0.0335
0.1112
3.6000e-
004
0.0316
3.3000e-
004
0.0319
8.4700e-
003
3.0000e-
004
8.7700e-
003
0.0000
33.7235
33.7235
8.9000e-
004
2.3300e-
003
34.4380
Unmitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 158
3.5 Building Construction - 2023
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Off-Road
0.0708
0.6473
0.7310
1.2100e-
003
0.0315
0.0315
0.0296
0.0296
0.0000
104.3120
104.3120
0.0248
0.0000
104.9324
Total
0.0708
0.6473
0.7310
1.2100e-
003
0.0315
0.0315
0.0296
0.0296
0.0000
104.3120
104.3120
0.0248
0.0000
104.9324
Mitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Vendor
6.3000e-
004
0.0243
7.8700e-
003
1.1000e-
004
3.5700e-
003
1.6000e-
004
3.7300e-
003
1.0300e-
003
1.5000e-
004
1.1800e-
003
0.0000
10.5416
10.5416
4.0000e-
005
1.5700e-
003
11.0095
Worker
0.0129
9.1300e-
003
0.1033
2.5000e-
004
0.0280
1.7000e-
004
0.0282
7.4400e-
003
1.5000e-
004
7.5900e-
003
0.0000
23.1819
23.1819
8.5000e-
004
7.6000e-
004
23.4285
Total
0.0135
0.0335
0.1112
3.6000e-
004
0.0316
3.3000e-
004
0.0319
8.4700e-
003
3.0000e-
004
8.7700e-
003
0.0000
33.7235
33.7235
8.9000e-
004
2.3300e-
003
34.4380
Mitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 159
3.6 Paving - 2023
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Off-Road
8.2600e-
003
0.0791
0.1097
1.7000e-
004
3.9200e-
003
3.9200e-
003
3.6200e-
003
3.6200e-
003
0.0000
14.7407
14.7407
4.6300e-
003
0.0000
14.8565
Paving
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Total
8.2600e-
003
0.0791
0.1097
1.7000e-
004
3.9200e-
003
3.9200e-
003
3.6200e-
003
3.6200e-
003
0.0000
14.7407
14.7407
4.6300e-
003
0.0000
14.8565
Unmitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Vendor
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Worker
6.6000e-
004
4.7000e-
004
5.3000e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.4400e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.4400e-
003
3.8000e-
004
1.0000e-
005
3.9000e-
004
0.0000
1.1888
1.1888
4.0000e-
005
4.0000e-
005
1.2015
Total
6.6000e-
004
4.7000e-
004
5.3000e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.4400e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.4400e-
003
3.8000e-
004
1.0000e-
005
3.9000e-
004
0.0000
1.1888
1.1888
4.0000e-
005
4.0000e-
005
1.2015
Unmitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 160
3.6 Paving - 2023
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Off-Road
8.2600e-
003
0.0791
0.1097
1.7000e-
004
3.9200e-
003
3.9200e-
003
3.6200e-
003
3.6200e-
003
0.0000
14.7407
14.7407
4.6300e-
003
0.0000
14.8565
Paving
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Total
8.2600e-
003
0.0791
0.1097
1.7000e-
004
3.9200e-
003
3.9200e-
003
3.6200e-
003
3.6200e-
003
0.0000
14.7407
14.7407
4.6300e-
003
0.0000
14.8565
Mitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Vendor
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Worker
6.6000e-
004
4.7000e-
004
5.3000e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.4400e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.4400e-
003
3.8000e-
004
1.0000e-
005
3.9000e-
004
0.0000
1.1888
1.1888
4.0000e-
005
4.0000e-
005
1.2015
Total
6.6000e-
004
4.7000e-
004
5.3000e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.4400e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.4400e-
003
3.8000e-
004
1.0000e-
005
3.9000e-
004
0.0000
1.1888
1.1888
4.0000e-
005
4.0000e-
005
1.2015
Mitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 161
3.7 Architectural Coating - 2023
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Archit. Coating
0.3379
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Off-Road
1.7200e-
003
0.0117
0.0163
3.0000e-
005
6.4000e-
004
6.4000e-
004
6.4000e-
004
6.4000e-
004
0.0000
2.2979
2.2979
1.4000e-
004
0.0000
2.3014
Total
0.3396
0.0117
0.0163
3.0000e-
005
6.4000e-
004
6.4000e-
004
6.4000e-
004
6.4000e-
004
0.0000
2.2979
2.2979
1.4000e-
004
0.0000
2.3014
Unmitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Vendor
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Worker
5.3000e-
004
3.7000e-
004
4.2400e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.1500e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.1600e-
003
3.1000e-
004
1.0000e-
005
3.1000e-
004
0.0000
0.9511
0.9511
3.0000e-
005
3.0000e-
005
0.9612
Total
5.3000e-
004
3.7000e-
004
4.2400e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.1500e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.1600e-
003
3.1000e-
004
1.0000e-
005
3.1000e-
004
0.0000
0.9511
0.9511
3.0000e-
005
3.0000e-
005
0.9612
Unmitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 162
3.7 Architectural Coating - 2023
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Archit. Coating
0.3379
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Off-Road
1.7200e-
003
0.0117
0.0163
3.0000e-
005
6.4000e-
004
6.4000e-
004
6.4000e-
004
6.4000e-
004
0.0000
2.2979
2.2979
1.4000e-
004
0.0000
2.3014
Total
0.3396
0.0117
0.0163
3.0000e-
005
6.4000e-
004
6.4000e-
004
6.4000e-
004
6.4000e-
004
0.0000
2.2979
2.2979
1.4000e-
004
0.0000
2.3014
Mitigated Construction On-Site
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Hauling
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Vendor
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Worker
5.3000e-
004
3.7000e-
004
4.2400e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.1500e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.1600e-
003
3.1000e-
004
1.0000e-
005
3.1000e-
004
0.0000
0.9511
0.9511
3.0000e-
005
3.0000e-
005
0.9612
Total
5.3000e-
004
3.7000e-
004
4.2400e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.1500e-
003
1.0000e-
005
1.1600e-
003
3.1000e-
004
1.0000e-
005
3.1000e-
004
0.0000
0.9511
0.9511
3.0000e-
005
3.0000e-
005
0.9612
Mitigated Construction Off-Site
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 163
4.0 Operational Detail - Mobile
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Mitigated
0.2490
0.4634
1.8959
3.9600e-
003
0.3287
4.2200e-
003
0.3329
0.0882
3.9700e-
003
0.0922
0.0000
367.6042
367.6042
0.0244
0.0276
376.4238
Unmitigated
0.3117
0.7270
2.9767
7.1500e-
003
0.6124
7.4800e-
003
0.6199
0.1643
7.0500e-
003
0.1713
0.0000
663.7447
663.7447
0.0338
0.0448
677.9258
4.1 Mitigation Measures Mobile
4.2 Trip Summary Information
4.3 Trip Type Information
Average Daily Trip Rate
Unmitigated
Mitigated
Land Use
Weekday
Saturday
Sunday
Annual VMT
Annual VMT
Apartments Mid Rise
587.52
530.28
441.72
1,626,790
873,152
Total
587.52
530.28
441.72
1,626,790
873,152
Increase Density
Increase Diversity
Improve Destination Accessibility
Increase Transit Accessibility
Integrate Below Market Rate Housing
Improve Pedestrian Network
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 164
Miles
Trip %
Trip Purpose %
Land Use
H-W or C-W
H-S or C-C
H-O or C-NW
H-W or C-W
H-S or C-C
H-O or C-NW
Primary
Diverted
Pass-by
Apartments Mid Rise
10.80 7.30
7.50 46.90
17.40 35.70
86 11
3 4.4 Fleet Mix
Land Use
LDA
LDT1
LDT2
MDV
LHD1
LHD2
MHD
HHD
OBUS
UBUS
MCY
SBUS
MH
Apartments Mid Rise
0.507674
0.048153
0.157435
0.157913
0.031283
0.007497
0.013742
0.047950
0.000797
0.000458
0.021748
0.002230
0.003119
5.0 Energy Detail
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Electricity
Mitigated
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
56.2311
56.2311
6.3800e-
003
7.7000e-
004
56.6209
Electricity
Unmitigated
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
56.2311
56.2311
6.3800e-
003
7.7000e-
004
56.6209
NaturalGas
Mitigated
6.8600e-
003
0.0586
0.0250
3.7000e-
004
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
0.0000
67.8944
67.8944
1.3000e-
003
1.2400e-
003
68.2979
NaturalGas
Unmitigated
6.8600e-
003
0.0586
0.0250
3.7000e-
004
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
0.0000
67.8944
67.8944
1.3000e-
003
1.2400e-
003
68.2979
5.1 Mitigation Measures Energy
Historical Energy Use: N
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 165
5.2 Energy by Land Use - NaturalGas
NaturalGa
s Use
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Land Use
kBTU/yr
tons/yr
MT/yr
Apartments Mid
Rise
1.27229e
+006
6.8600e-
003
0.0586
0.0250
3.7000e-
004
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
0.0000
67.8944
67.8944
1.3000e-
003
1.2400e-
003
68.2979
Total
6.8600e-
003
0.0586
0.0250
3.7000e-
004
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
0.0000
67.8944
67.8944
1.3000e-
003
1.2400e-
003
68.2979
Unmitigated
NaturalGa
s Use
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Land Use
kBTU/yr
tons/yr
MT/yr
Apartments Mid
Rise
1.27229e
+006
6.8600e-
003
0.0586
0.0250
3.7000e-
004
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
0.0000
67.8944
67.8944
1.3000e-
003
1.2400e-
003
68.2979
Total
6.8600e-
003
0.0586
0.0250
3.7000e-
004
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
4.7400e-
003
0.0000
67.8944
67.8944
1.3000e-
003
1.2400e-
003
68.2979
Mitigated
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 166
6.1 Mitigation Measures Area
6.0 Area Detail
5.3 Energy by Land Use - Electricity
Electricity
Use
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Land Use
kWh/yr
MT/yr
Apartments Mid
Rise
426037
56.2311
6.3800e-
003
7.7000e-
004
56.6209
Total
56.2311
6.3800e-
003
7.7000e-
004
56.6209
Unmitigated
Electricity
Use
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Land Use
kWh/yr
MT/yr
Apartments Mid
Rise
426037
56.2311
6.3800e-
003
7.7000e-
004
56.6209
Total
56.2311
6.3800e-
003
7.7000e-
004
56.6209
Mitigated
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 167
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
Category
tons/yr
MT/yr
Mitigated
0.4798
9.2500e-
003
0.8021
4.0000e-
005
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
0.0000
1.3099
1.3099
1.2600e-
003
0.0000
1.3414
Unmitigated
0.4798
9.2500e-
003
0.8021
4.0000e-
005
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
0.0000
1.3099
1.3099
1.2600e-
003
0.0000
1.3414
6.2 Area by SubCategory
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
SubCategory
tons/yr
MT/yr
Architectural
Coating
0.0338
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Consumer
Products
0.4218
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Hearth
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Landscaping
0.0242
9.2500e-
003
0.8021
4.0000e-
005
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
0.0000
1.3099
1.3099
1.2600e-
003
0.0000
1.3414
Total
0.4797
9.2500e-
003
0.8021
4.0000e-
005
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
0.0000
1.3099
1.3099
1.2600e-
003
0.0000
1.3414
Unmitigated
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM
Parsons Avenue Apartments - Merced County, Annual
EMFAC Off-Model Adjustment Factors for Gasoline Light Duty Vehicle to Account for the SAFE Vehicle Rule Not Applied 168
Apply Water Conservation Strategy
7.1 Mitigation Measures Water
7.0 Water Detail
6.2 Area by SubCategory
ROG
NOx
CO
SO2
Fugitive
PM10
Exhaust
PM10
PM10
Total
Fugitive
PM2.5
Exhaust
PM2.5
PM2.5
Total
Bio- CO2
NBio- CO2
Total CO2
CH4
N2O
CO2e
SubCategory
tons/yr
MT/yr
Architectural
Coating
0.0338
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Consumer
Products
0.4218
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Hearth
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
Landscaping
0.0242
9.2500e-
003
0.8021
4.0000e-
005
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
0.0000
1.3099
1.3099
1.2600e-
003
0.0000
1.3414
Total
0.4797
9.2500e-
003
0.8021
4.0000e-
005
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
4.4400e-
003
0.0000
1.3099
1.3099
1.2600e-
003
0.0000
1.3414
Mitigated
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 10/25/2021 2:45 PM