Agenda — Norco City Council, October 21, 2026 (part 7 of 8)

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GOAL C-3: SAFETY. The City will enhance the safety of all transportation modes, focusing on reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities.

POLICIES
C-3.1 Safe System Approach. Implement the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Safe System Approach by designing and maintaining transportation infrastructure that proactively addresses human errors, reduces crash severity, and prioritizes the safety of all users, with a focus on vulnerable populations, such as pedestrians, equestrians, and cyclists.

C-3.2 Active Transportation Access. Maintain and improve equestrian, pedestrian, and bicycle routes with access to Norco’s employment and shopping opportunities, regional destinations, and residential neighborhoods.

GOAL C-5: SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION. The City will work with partners to facilitate efficient and safe movement that supports Norco’s economic vitality while minimizing negative impacts on the community.

POLICIES
C-5.1 Active Transportation Promotion. Encourage the use of active transportation and work to reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) through land use planning, enhanced transit access, localized attractions, and access to non-automotive modes.

C-5.4 Future Mobility Corridors. Identify future rights-of-way, including off-street facilities, for sustainable transit, active transportation, and equestrian mobility.

C-5.5 Local Transit Services. Continue to support City-operated transit, such as community shuttle and Dial-A-Ride services, and coordinate with Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) to identify opportunities to expand regional transit solutions.

C-5.6 Regional Transit Connections. Collaborate with regional agencies to explore future transit connections to Metrolink stations and bus networks while ensuring that Norco’s character is preserved.

C-5.8 Mixed-Use Development. Promote mixed-use and transit-oriented developments in strategic locations, allowing residents to live near businesses and services, and reduce vehicle travel while ensuring community character is incorporated into new developments.

Implementation of policies requiring traffic impact studies, Complete Streets design, multimodal connectivity, transit coordination, and context-sensitive street design would support an integrated circulation system serving all travel modes. Implementation of these policies, together with future project-level transportation analysis and review, would ensure that future development remains consistent with applicable circulation system plans, ordinances, and policies. Therefore, the proposed 2050 GPU would not conflict with an applicable program, plan, ordinance, or policy addressing the circulation system. Impacts would be less than significant. fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required.

Significance After Mitigation
Impacts would be less than significant.

Threshold b. Would the project conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines § 15064.3, subdivision (b)?
Less than Significant Impact. The proposed 2050 GPU is a program-level planning document that would guide future land use and transportation planning within the City of Norco through the horizon year 2050. Implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would accommodate future residential and non-residential development that could increase travel demand and vehicle miles traveled. Therefore, a Transportation Study (Appendix 4.16-3) was prepared to evaluate whether implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would conflict with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3, subdivision (b), related to VMT impacts.

The Transportation Study evaluated Existing (2024), Cumulative Year (2050) No Project, and Cumulative Year (2050) Plus Project conditions using the City’s adopted VMT thresholds and significance criteria. As discussed in the Transportation Study (Appendix 4.16-3), the analysis utilized multiple methodologies, including the Full Accounting Method, Half Accounting (RTAC) Method, and Boundary Method, to evaluate VMT per service population and total regional VMT under future buildout conditions. Table 4.16-5, Full Accounting Method VMT Results summarizes Full Accounting VMT with the existing and project buildout citywide population and employment, including Countywide metrics for comparative purposes.

TABLE 4.16-5, FULL ACCOUNTING METHOD VMT RESULTS
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CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN
Location Population Employment VMT VMT/Service
Population
Existing (2024)
City of Norco 24,792 16,591 1,993,663 48.2
Riverside County 2,595,331 839,005 117,875,713 34.3
No Project Current General Plan (2050)
City of Norco 25,214 22,128 2,358,432 49.8
Riverside County 3,424,454 1,116,025 1 52,732,399 33.6
Project - Proposed General Plan (2050)
City of Norco 28,497 16,802 2,145,309 47.4
Riverside County 3,427,737 1,110,699 152,638,830 33.6
Source: Fehr & Peers. Transportation Study for City of Norco General Plan. 2025. Appendix 4.16-3.

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The Transportation Study determined that implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would result in lower VMT per service population compared to both Existing (2024) conditions and Cumulative Year (2050) No Project scenario. Specifically, under the Full Accounting Method, VMT per service population would decrease from 48.2 under Existing Conditions and 49.8 under the Cumulative Year No Project scenario to 47.4 under the proposed 2050 GPU scenario, as shown above in Table 4.16-5. Similarly, under the Half Accounting (RTAC) Method, VMT per service population would decrease from 24.9 under the No Project scenario to 23.7 under proposed 2050 GPU conditions, as shown in Table 4.16-6, Half Accounting (RTAC) Method VMT Results. In addition, the Boundary Method demonstrated a reduction in total regional VMT under proposed 2050 GPU conditions compared to the No Project Scenario, as shown in Table 4.16-7, Boundary Method VMT Results. The Transportation Study found that the RIVCOM predicts VMT/SP to decrease in the future due to improved development and transportation patterns, and the proposed 2050 GPU is expected to produce VMT at a rate that would not result in a significant impact.

TABLE 4.16-6, HALF ACCOUNTING (RTAC) METHOD VMT RESULTS TABLE 4.16-7, BOUNDARY METHOD VMT RESULTS
The proposed 2050 GPU also includes an updated Circulation Element containing key Goals and Policies intended to support multimodal transportation, active transportation infrastructure, transit connectivity, mixed-use development patterns, and reductions in per capita VMT. These Goals and Policies include the following:
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CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN
Location Population Employment VMT VMT/Service
Population
Existing (2024)
City of Norco 24,792 16,591 973,136 23.5
No Project Current General Plan (2050)
City of Norco 25,214 22,128 1,179,216 24.9
Project - Proposed General Plan (2050)
City of Norco 28,497 16,802 1,072,654 23.7
Source: Fehr & Peers. Transportation Study for City of Norco General Plan. 2025. Appendix 4.16-3.

Boundary No Project (2050) Project (2050) Difference
City of Norco 1,530,480 1,509,609 -20,871
Riverside County 82,216,891 82,184,624 -32,267
Source: Fehr & Peers. Transportation Study for City of Norco General Plan. 2025. Appendix 4.16-3.

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Circulation Element Goals and Policies
GOAL C-2: COMPLETE STREETS. The City will design and implement a transportation network that accommodates all modes of travel, ensuring safe, accessible, and efficient movement for pedestrians, equestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

POLICIES
C-2.2 Non-Motorized Travel. Integrate non-motorized travel modes into street designs that support users of all ages and abilities along relevant corridors, prioritizing project implementation for historically underinvested or underserved communities. Ensure that relevant plans are updated to reflect Complete Streets objectives.

C-2.3 Active Transportation Connectivity. Prioritize equestrian, pedestrian, and bicycle connectivity between residential neighborhoods, commercial centers, transit, schools, and public spaces to promote active transportation. Expand the network of pedestrianequestrian trails to create a fully integrated and accessible transportation system.

C-2.4 New Development Street Design. Require new developments to employ Complete Streets principles and provide amenities, such as equestrian hitching posts, holding pens, bicycle parking, and pedestrian-friendly access points, to encourage non-motorized travel.

C-5.4 Future Mobility Corridors. Identify future rights-of-way, including off-street facilities, for sustainable transit, active transportation, and equestrian mobility.

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C-5.10 Vehicle Miles Reduction. Promote reduction of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per person to below the existing baseline for development and transportation projects to support the City’s environmental and sustainability objectives.

Implementation of the proposed Circulation Element policies would further support reductions in VMT by promoting mixed-use and transit-supportive development patterns, expanding bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, improving access to transit services, and encouraging alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle travel. Policies related to active transportation, future mobility corridors, regional transit coordination, and vehicle miles reduction would support long-term transportation efficiency and reduce reliance on automobile travel throughout the city.

Compliance with these policies, combined with implementation of future transportation improvements and development review procedures, would help ensure consistency with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3, subdivision (b).

Therefore, based on the findings of the Transportation Study and implementation of the proposed 2050 General Plan Goals and Policies supporting multimodal transportation and VMT reduction, the proposed 2050 GPU would not conflict with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3, subdivision (b). Impacts related to vehicle miles traveled would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required.

Significance After Mitigation
Impacts would be less than significant.

Threshold c. Would the project substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)?
Less than Significant Impact. The proposed 2050 GPU is a program-level planning effort that does not include project-level roadway design features or site-specific geometric configurations.

Future development facilitated by the proposed 2050 GPU would occur on a project-by-project basis and would be required to comply with applicable City standards, engineering design criteria, and safety requirements.

Development under the proposed 2050 GPU would accommodate future population and land use growth that could result in roadway improvements, new access points, intersection modifications, and changes to roadway circulation patterns. However, the proposed 2050 GPU is a program-level planning document and does not identify specific roadway designs or geometric modifications that would create hazardous conditions, such as unsafe intersections, inadequate sight distance, or roadway features incompatible with surrounding land uses. Future roadway and access improvements would be subject to review by the City of Norco and, where fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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applicable, Caltrans, and would be required to comply with applicable roadway design standards, engineering criteria, emergency access requirements, and traffic safety standards.

The proposed 2050 General Plan includes an updated Circulation Element, which includes several key Goals and Policies intended to improve safety and ensure adequate emergency access, and provide safe intersection designs. These include the following:

Circulation Element Goals and Policies
GOAL C-1: MODERN MOBILITY. The City will integrate modern mobility needs in a manner that aligns with Norco’s core values and protects and preserves Norco’s natural landscape and smalltown character.

POLICIES
C-1.7 Complete Streets Design. Incorporate Complete Streets designs and speed management and safety measures to improve local road connectivity and circulation and to protect community character.

C-1.8 Arterial Level of Service Standards. Maintain a minimum Level of Service (LOS) “D” for arterial roadways and intersections.

GOAL C-2: COMPLETE STREETS. The City will design and implement a transportation network that accommodates all modes of travel, ensuring safe, accessible, and efficient movement for pedestrians, equestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

POLICIES
C-2.4 New Development Street Design. Require new developments to employ Complete Streets principles and provide amenities, such as equestrian hitching posts, holding pens, bicycle parking, and pedestrian-friendly access points, to encourage non-motorized travel.

C-2.5 Complete Streets Guidelines. Adopt and update small-town Complete Streets guidelines that establish clear design standards for pedestrian-, equestrian-, and bicyclist-friendly roadways.

C-2.7 Neighborhood Traffic Management. Minimize neighborhood cut-through traffic by directing regional and commuter traffic to the City’s arterial and collector street network and implementing context-sensitive speed management and traffic safety improvements on local residential streets, where warranted.

C-2.8 Context-Sensitive Street Design. Limit unnecessary roadway widening and utilize contextsensitive street design to ensure that road improvements blend with surrounding landscapes and built environments.

C-2.9 Multimodal Streetscape Design. Enhance streetscapes along multimodal corridors by incorporating landscaping, lighting, public art, and placemaking features that reflect fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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Norco’s core values. Adopt and update design specifications and standards to include decomposed granite (DG) shoulders where traditional sidewalks and curbs are not necessary (as determined by the City Engineer).

C-2.11 Maintenance and Safety. Establish maintenance and safety improvement programs to ensure that pedestrian-equestrian trails, bike lanes, and pedestrian pathways remain in good condition and are free from hazards.

GOAL C-3: SAFETY. The City will enhance the safety of all transportation modes, focusing on reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities.

C-3.3 High-Injury Safety Improvements. Prioritize safety improvements at crossings and key intersections to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and collisions resulting in serious injury, especially along High Injury Network (HIN) corridors.

C-3.4 Speed Management and Traffic Safety Measures. Implement speed management and traffic safety measures to naturally reduce vehicle speeds in residential and equestrianoriented areas while maintaining essential and emergency access.

C-3.5 Evacuation Route Safety. Prioritize improvements to maintain the viability and safety of evacuation routes for vehicles, equestrians, and pedestrians.

GOAL C-4: GOODS MOVEMENT. The City will enhance the safe and efficient movement of essential goods while reducing traffic conflicts and environmental impacts.

POLICIES
C-4.1 Designated Truck Routes. Continue to maintain and clearly mark designated truck routes to provide direct access to industrial and commercial zones that separate residential areas, schools, parks, and equestrian zones from freight corridors.

C-4.2 Truck Route Enforcement. Prohibit truck travel outside of designated truck routes, except for horse/ livestock trailers and local deliveries (e.g., hay), and actively enforce truck route restrictions to prevent unauthorized travel on non-designated roads, minimizing conflicts with non-motorized users.

Implementation of the proposed 2050 General Plan Goals and Policies would support safe roadway design, multimodal circulation, and compatibility among vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrian users throughout the city. Policies related to Complete Streets design, context-sensitive roadway improvements, traffic calming, evacuation route safety, and truck fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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route management would help ensure future roadway improvements and development projects are designed to minimize circulation hazards and conflicts between transportation modes and surrounding land uses. In addition, future development facilitated by the proposed 2050 GPU would undergo project-level review to ensure roadway configurations, access design, and circulation improvements comply with applicable City standards and safety requirements.

Therefore, although future development accommodated by the proposed 2050 GPU may incrementally increase traffic and modify portions of the circulation network, compliance with applicable roadway design standards, implementation of proposed General Plan policies, and project-level review procedures would ensure the proposed 2050 GPU would not substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature or incompatible uses. Impacts would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required.

Significance After Mitigation
Impacts would be less than significant.

Threshold d. Would the project result in inadequate emergency access? Less than Significant Impact. Implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would result in future development and circulation improvements through the city that could incrementally increase traffic volumes along regional and local roadways, including during emergency events and evacuations. However, the proposed 2050 GPU is a program-level planning document and does not include site-specific roadway designs or development proposals that would substantially alter existing emergency access or evacuation routes. Future development facilitated under the proposed 2050 GPU would occur on a project-by-project basis and would be required to comply with applicable City standards, General Plan policies, Fire Code requirements, and emergency access regulations related to roadway design, emergency vehicle access, and evacuation planning.

The City of Norco is served by an established circulation network that includes Interstate 15, State Route 91, and a system of arterial and collector roadways that provide regional and local connectivity throughout the city. Primary evacuation routes include Interstate 15, Hamner Avenue, Sixth Street, Hidden Valley Parkway, River Road, Norco Drive, and other east-west and north-south roadway connections that facilitate emergency response and evacuation activities.

The City of Norco’s Evacuation Assessment (Appendix 4.16-2), prepared consistent with AB 747, evaluates the capacity, safety, and viability of the City’s evacuation network under wildfire and flood emergency scenarios. The assessment identifies primary evacuation routes throughout the city, including Interstate 15, Hamner Avenue, Hidden Valley Parkway, River Road, Norco Hills Road, Crestview Drive, Sixth Street, and other arterial roadways that facilitate regional evacuation fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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and emergency response activities. The analysis evaluated evacuation clearance times under Existing Year (2024) and Cumulative Year (2050) Plus Project Conditions and found that evacuation of affected areas could generally occur within approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes for the wildfire scenario and approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes for the flood scenario under cumulative conditions. The assessment also identified localized constraints in the Norco Hills and Norco Ridge Ranch areas associated with limited access conditions and evacuation of large animals; however, the assessment includes operational recommendations, roadway management strategies, and evacuation planning measures intended to improve evacuation performance and maintain emergency access throughout the city. Future roadway improvements associated with implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would occur within existing rights-of-way where feasible and would be required to comply with applicable roadway design and safety standards established by the City, Caltrans, and emergency service providers.

The proposed 2050 General Plan includes Goals and Policies to ensure implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would not impede or substantially impact emergency access. These include the following:

Safety Element Goals and Policies
GOAL S-6: EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND EVACUATION. The City will work with partners to ensure the community is ready and able to evacuate when conditions require.

POLICIES
S-6.3 Evacuation Zones/Routes. Periodically review and update evacuation zones and routes to ensure adequate capacity and connectivity within the circulation network is provided during emergency events.

S-6.4 Evacuation Improvements. Require new development, redevelopment, and major remodels to ensure effective future evacuations during emergencies by supporting feasible enhancements to the City's evacuation network and facilities.

S-6.5 Points of Access. Require all new developments and redevelopments within Fire Hazard Severity Zones and the Wildland Urban Interface provide adequate points of access on public roads that can be used for emergency vehicle response and evacuation purposes, in compliance with applicable City, County, and State requirements.

S-6.7 Emergency Access Improvements. Identify the feasibility of constructing additional emergency access improvements for existing developments that do not meet minimum road standards for emergency equipment, such as:
• Additional vehicle pullouts at key locations
• Limiting or restricting on-street parking at key locations • Potential for the construction of new or improved emergency access routes • Roadside clearance improvements
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S-6.8 Existing Routes. Maintain functionality, make improvements, and expand capacity, where feasible, of existing emergency evacuation routes within the city, while considering current and future hazards.

Circulation Element Goals and Policies
GOAL C-2: COMPLETE STREETS. The City will design and implement a transportation network that accommodates all modes of travel, ensuring safe, accessible, and efficient movement for pedestrians, equestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

POLICIES
C-2.11 Maintenance and Safety. Establish maintenance and safety improvement programs to ensure that pedestrian-equestrian trails, bike lanes, and pedestrian pathways remain in good condition and are free from hazards.

GOAL C-3: SAFETY. The City will enhance the safety of all transportation modes, focusing on reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities.

C-3.1 Safe System Approach. Implement the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Safe System Approach by designing and maintaining transportation infrastructure that proactively addresses human errors, reduces crash severity, and prioritizes the safety of all users, with a focus on vulnerable populations, such as pedestrians, equestrians, and cyclists.

C-3.4 Speed Management and Traffic Safety Measures. Implement traffic calming measures to naturally reduce vehicle speeds in residential and equestrian-oriented areas while maintaining essential and emergency access. speed management and traffic safety measures to naturally reduce vehicle speeds in residential and equestrian-oriented areas while maintaining essential and emergency access.

C-3.5 Evacuation Route Safety. Prioritize improvements to maintain the viability and safety of evacuation routes for vehicles, equestrians, and pedestrians.

Implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would incorporate policies intended to maintain and improve emergency access and evacuation capabilities throughout the city. Safety Element Policies S-6.3 through S-6.8 require periodic review of evacuation routes, improvements to evacuation infrastructure, maintenance of existing emergency access corridors, and incorporation of adequate emergency access into future development review. In addition, Circulation Element Policies C-2.9, C-3.1, C-3.4, and C-3.5 support roadway safety, circulation system maintenance, and preservation of evacuation route functionality. Compliance with applicable roadway design standards, coordination with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, and implementation of evacuation planning and roadway improvement strategies identified in the Evacuation Assessment (Appendix 4.16-2) would support continued emergency access and evacuation operations throughout the city. Therefore, while future development facilitated by the proposed 2050 GPU may incrementally increase travel demand within the fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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circulation system, implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would not substantially impair emergency response or evacuation capabilities. Impacts would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required.

Significance After Mitigation
Impacts would be less than significant.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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4.17 Tribal Cultural Resources
This section includes a brief summary of historical background information. The tribal cultural resource information presented in this section is based on the results of a Sacred Lands File Search (SLF) conducted by the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) in August 2024, available in Appendix 4.17. This analysis evaluates the potential impacts to tribal cultural resources as a result of growth accommodated by the 2050 General Plan Update (GPU). a. Existing Conditions

1. History
The Luiseño, Gabrieleño Tongva, Cahuilla, and Serrano people originally inhabited the area now known as Norco, using it primarily for hunting and gathering. Their names were given by Spanish explorers in the 1700s, the first known Europeans to establish permanent settlements in the region. While no Native American villages are known within present-day Norco, a Luiseño village once existed in what is now the City of Corona.

Assembly Bill (AB) 52 and Senate Bill (SB) 18 Consultation In accordance with AB 52 and SB 18, the City of Norco notified California Native American tribes listed in Table 4.17-1, SB Consultation Response of the proposed 2050 GPU and invited them to participate in consultation. The City prepared and mailed letters in accordance with AB 52 and SB 18 which are contained in Appendix 4.17-2. The letters and consultation documentation from the Gabrieleño, Morongo, Luiseño, Rincon, and Augustine people are provided in Appendix 4.17- 2: AB 52 Letters.

TABLE 4.17-1, SB CONSULTATION RESPONSE

4.17 Tribal Cultural Resources
Tribal Contact
Andrew Salas, Gabrieleno Band of Mission
Indians - Kizh Nation
Bernadette Ann Brierty, Morongo Band of
Mission Indians
Shuuluk Linton, Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians
Jacobia Kirksey, Augustine Band of Cahuilla
Indians
Response
Consultation requested for future development
under the 2050 GPU.

Requested additional information and indicated
its initial response did not conclude consultation.

The City subsequently provided available cultural
resources information and invited the Tribe to
proceed with consultation. No subsequent
response was received.

Requested consultation regarding potential
impacts to cultural resources. The City
subsequently responded and invited the Tribe to
proceed with consultation. No subsequent
response was received.

No formal consultation is requested. If tribal
cultural resources are discovered during
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TABLE 4.17-1, SB CONSULTATION RESPONSE
The City received a response on February 24, 2025, from Andrew Salas, Chairman of the Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation, indicating that they concur with the 2050 GPU.

However, the Tribal government would like to request consultation with all future projects within this location.

The City received a response on March 21, 2025, from Bernette Ann Briety, Morongo Band of Indians, stating that they request additional information to ensure meaningful consultation. They indicate that the letter does not conclude consultation. Upon review of the additional information, they may provide further recommendations.

The City received a response on March 6, 2025, from Shuuluk Linton, Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, stating the identified location is within the Traditional Use Area of the Luiseño people.

They request AB52 consultation to assess potential impacts to cultural resources.

The City received a response on March 21, 2025, from Jacobia Kirksey, Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians, stating that formal consultation would not be necessary for the proposed Project. However, if any cultural resources are discovered during the Project, they requested contact with the California NAHC to ensure appropriate protocol is followed to evaluate and protect tribal cultural resources.

The City received a response on March 25, 2025, from Juan Ochoa, Pechanga Band of Indians, requesting consultation for the proposed Project and to be added to distribution list(s) for public notices and circulation of all documents, including environmental review documents, archaeological reports, development plans, conceptual grading plans (if available), and all other applicable documents pertaining to this Project. The Pechanga Band of Indians also requests to be directly notified of all public hearings and scheduled approvals concerning the proposed Project, and that comments be incorporated into record of approval for the Project.

Following receipt of the requests for consultation, the City continued its consultation efforts with the requesting Tribes. The City responded to the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians and Morongo Band of Mission Indians and provided available information regarding cultural resources within the General Plan Area. The City's responses invited the Tribes to contact the City to proceed with Tribal Contact
Juan Ochoa, Pechanga Band of Indians
Response
implementation of the 2050 GPU, requested
contact with the NAHC to ensure appropriate
protocol and evaluation of the find.

Requested consultation and project information
and requested notification of public hearings and
scheduled approvals. The City provided available
cultural resources information and arranged
consultation.
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4.17 Tribal Cultural Resources
consultation. Neither Rincon nor Morongo subsequently contacted the City to proceed with consultation. The City also continued its consultation efforts with the Pechanga Band of Indians, provided available cultural resources information, and contacted Pechanga to arrange a consultation meeting. A consultation meeting was scheduled for February 19, 2026. Pechanga subsequently cancelled the meeting, and the City invited Pechanga to contact the City to reschedule the consultation. Consultation has been scheduled and is ongoing.

The remaining groups contacted either did not respond or did not request consultation regarding the 2050 GPU. As of the date of circulation of this Draft PEIR, no specific sacred uses, tribal cultural resources, or cultural places requiring additional preservation or mitigation through the 2050 GPU have been identified through the consultation process. b. Regulatory Setting

1. State
Assembly Bill 52
California Assembly Bill 52 of 2014 (AB 52) expanded CEQA by defining a new resource category, “tribal cultural resources.” Assembly Bill 52 establishes that “A project with an effect that may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource is a project that may have a significant effect on the environment.”1 It further states that the lead agency shall establish measures to avoid impacts that would alter the significant characteristics of a tribal cultural resource, when feasible.2 PRC Section 21074 (a)(1)(A) and (B) defines tribal cultural resources as “sites, features, places, cultural landscapes, sacred places, and objects with cultural value to a California Native American tribe” and meets either of the following criteria:
a) Listed or eligible for listing in the CRHR, 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 Resource Code Section 5024.1, the lead agency shall consider the significance of the resource to a California Native American tribe.

AB 52 also establishes a consultation process for California tribes regarding those resources. AB 52 requires that, for those tribes that have requested consultation on a project, lead agencies “begin consultation with a California Native American tribe that is traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of the proposed project.” Native American tribes to be 1 Public Resource Code (PRC) Section 21084.2.
2 PRC Section 21084.3.
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included in the process are those that have requested notice of projects proposed within the jurisdiction of the lead agency.

Senate Bill 18
California Government Code Section 65352.3, adopted pursuant to the requirements of SB 18, requires local governments to contact, refer plans to, and consult with tribal organizations prior to making a decision to adopt or amend a general or specific plan. The tribal organizations eligible to consult have traditional lands in a local government’s jurisdiction, and are identified, upon request, by the NAHC. As noted in the California Office of Planning and Research’s Tribal Consultation Guidelines, “The intent of SB 18 is to provide California Native American tribes an opportunity to participate in local land use decisions at an early planning stage, for the purpose of protecting, or mitigating impacts to, cultural places.”

2. Local
City of Norco Municipal Code
The City of Norco Municipal Code, passed February 7, 2024, discusses historic preservation and agricultural heritage in Title 2 Administration and Personnel, Chapter 2.26 Historic Preservation and Agricultural Heritage Commission. The purpose of Title 2.26 states:

The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety and general welfare by providing for the identification, protection, enhancement, perpetuation and use of improvements, buildings, structures, signs, objects, features, sites, places, areas, districts, neighborhoods, streets, works of art, natural features and significant permanent landscaping having special historical, archaeological, cultural, architectural, community, aesthetic or artistic value in the city for the following reasons:

A. To safeguard the city’s heritage and agriculture as embodied and reflected in such resources;
B. As part of that heritage, to preserve and promote animal keeping, small farms, and agricultural activities as a distinctive part of Norco’s history and a defining value; C. To encourage public knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the city’s past; D. To foster civic and neighborhood pride and a sense of identity based on the recognition and use of cultural resources;
E. To promote the enjoyment and use of cultural resources appropriate for the education and recreation of the people of the city;
F. To preserve diverse and harmonious architectural styles and design preferences reflecting phases of the city’s history and to encourage complementary contemporary design and construction;
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G. To enhance property values and to increase economic and financial benefits to the city and its inhabitants;
H. To protect and enhance the city’s attraction to tourists and visitors, thereby stimulating business and industry;
I. To integrate the preservation of cultural resources and the extraction of relevant data from such resources into public and private land management and development processes; J. To conserve valuable material and energy resources by ongoing use and maintenance of the existing built environment.3
Cultural resources are discussed in Title 20 of the City of Norco Municipal Code. Chapter 20.15. outlines landmark designation criteria and states:

An improvement, object, or natural feature may be designated a landmark by the city Council upon recommendation of the Historic Preservation Commission if it is determined eligible, retains integrity and meets one or more of the following criteria:

A. Exemplifies or reflects special elements of the city’s cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering, architectural or natural history; or B. Is identified with persons or events significant in local, state, or national history; or C. Embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period, or method of construction, or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship; or D. Represents the work of a notable builder, designer, or architect; or E. Has a unique location or singular physical characteristics or is a view or vista representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood community or of the city; or F. Reflects significant geographical patterns, including those associated with different eras of settlement and growth, particular transportation modes, or distinctive examples of park or community planning; or
G. Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in history or prehistory.

A landmark shall include all improvements, objects, or natural features named in the landmark designation resolution. To qualify for landmark status, an improvement, object, or natural feature must be at least 50 years old or older.4 3 Ord. 1092 Sec. 1, 2023; Ord. 902 Sec. 1, 2008.
4 Ord. 910 Sec. 1, 2009.
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A landmark shall include all improvements, objects, or natural features named in the landmark designation resolution. To qualify for landmark status, an improvement, object, or natural feature must be at least 50 years old or older.5 c. Methodology
This section describes the potential environmental impacts of the proposed Project relevant to Tribal Cultural Resources. This impact analysis evaluates implementation of the 2050 GPU against the current conditions in the Planning Area. Potential impacts relevant to historical resources and tribal cultural resources were based on secondary source information, and Federal, State, and local regulations.
d. Impact Analysis

1. Thresholds of Significance
For the purposes of this Program EIR, implementation of the proposed Project may have an adverse impact if it would result in the following:

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:
a) Listed as eligible for listing in the CRHR, 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.

2. Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Threshold a. Is the project listed as 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)?
Less than Significant Impact. Land disturbance, demolitions, and/or development associated with implementation of the 2050 GPU has the potential to result in direct impacts to historical resources through ground disturbance, physical demolition, destruction, relocation or alteration of a significant historic building or other structure, objects of community value and importance, or individual sites.
5 Ord. 910 Sec. 1, 2009.
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As described in Section 4.5, Cultural Resources, 84 previously documented cultural resources have been identified within the General Plan Area, of which, 45 date to the historic period. The historic period resources include two (2) districts, eight (8) sites, one (1) feature of a site, 24 buildings, four (4) structures, and six (6) isolated finds. In addition to the historical resources identified above, as-yet unidentified historical resources may be present throughout the rest of the city or may become historical resources with the passage of time.

The Norconian Resort, the City’s Cultural Heritage Landmark #1, and the Wyle Laboratories Site, are historical resources located on lands identified as special planning areas in the 2050 General Plan Land Use and Community Character Element. The Norconian Resort Site is designated Preservation and Development – Norconian (PAD-NOR) and the Wyle Laboratories Site is designated Preservation and Development (PAD). Lands within these two designations are intended to manage the development of Norco’s special planning areas to protect and highlight Norco’s unique natural landscapes, open spaces, and historical buildings according to a specific planning process. All development within the PAD-NOR and PAD designations would be subject to the provisions of the Objective Development Standards, which would ensure that buildout preserves, protects, and promotes Norco’s heritage and history.

In addition, the following Land Use and Community Character Element and Open Space and Conservation Element policies of the 2050 General Plan would ensure that impacts to historical resources are taken into consideration and reduced or minimized in conjunction with future development:

GOAL LUCC-8: NORCONIAN RESORT SITE. The City will encourage the preservation, conservation, and development of the Norconian Resort Site in a way that protects and highlights Norco’s unique natural, cultural, and historic resources.

POLICIES
LUCC-8.1 Norconian Resort Site Specific Plan. Guide new development on the Norconian Site with a Specific Plan that establishes development standards requiring the following placemaking strategies:
• Land Use. Introduce new uses that are well-suited to the historic structures and natural topography of the site.
• Interconnected Public Realm and Trail Network. Introduce an interconnected street, trail, and open space network, including filling missing gaps in Norco’s trail network.
• Required Community Benefits. Fund, in-part or in-whole, high-priority community benefits, including, but not limited to:
o The preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse of existing buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, especially the historic Norconian Hotel, and any eligible and unlisted buildings to the National Register of Historic Places.
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o The provision of new open space, recreational, agricultural, and/or equestrian amenities that provide significant value to the community.

LUCC-8.2 Lake Norconian Conservation and Stewardship. Support the long-term conservation, stewardship, and enhancement of Lake Norconian through collaborative planning that preserves its scenic, natural, and historic character, protects its visual quality and ecological functions, and encourages restoration activities that reinforce the lake’s role as a prominent community landmark and defining element of Norco’s identity and sense of place.

GOAL LUCC-9: WYLE LABORATORIES SITE. The City will facilitate and encourage the development and conservation of the Wyle Laboratories Site in a way that protects open space and highlights Norco’s unique rural, equestrian-oriented atmosphere.

POLICIES
LUCC-9.1 Wyle Laboratories Site Specific Plan. Guide new development on the Wyle Laboratories Site with a Specific Plan that establishes development standards requiring the following placemaking strategies:
• Land Use. Introduce new uses that are well-suited to the natural open space and topography of the site.
• Limited Development. Limit development to the flatter portions of the site with less topography and natural features, and maintain open space buffers between any new development and adjacent neighborhoods. • Preservation and Restoration of Existing Landforms and Natural Habitat.

Preserve and restore valuable site features, including the existing creek and hillside areas as natural open space, ceding a minimum of 150 acres to an open space and habitat conservancy.
• Expansion of Norco Hills Trail Network. Create new trails along the creek connecting to the Norco Hills trail network
GOAL LUCC-10: BEACON HILL. The City will preserve the historical and visual significance of Beacon Hill while guiding compatible land use, open space, and trail planning that balances development opportunities with the protection of the area’s natural character.

POLICY
LUCC-10.1 Beacon Hill Land Use Planning. Ensure that future development and land use planning within the Beacon Hill area directs open space preservation and equestrian and recreational trail improvements to areas designated for open space, while concentrating residential and commercial development within areas designated for residential and commercial uses, in a manner that protects and recognizes the historical and visual significance of Beacon Hill in the city’s landscape.
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GOAL OSC-6: PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC RESOURCES. The City will identify and incentivize the preservation and restoration of significant historic resources that embody Norco’s heritage, character, and lifestyle.

POLICIES
OSC-6.1 Historic Resource Inventory. Update the 2012 inventory of potentially significant historic buildings, in accordance with criteria established by the National Register of Historic Places and the California Office of Historic Preservation.

OSC-6.2 Restoration and Adaptive Reuse. Pursue the restoration and adaptive reuse of older, character-defining buildings, such as the Norconian Hotel, the North Corona Land Company and Orange Heights Water Company building in the North Hamner Gateway, and the Community Center, as part of placemaking efforts. Where preservation in place is not feasible, incorporate appropriate mitigation measures through the environmental review process.

OSC-6.3 Compatible Land Use Around Historic Resources. Ensure that land use designations and development regulations surrounding historic structures support their continued preservation and use, and do not diminish the economic viability of maintaining such resources.

OSC-6.4 Compatible Development Adjacent to Historic Structures. Ensure that new development in proximity to historic structures does not impede the integrity of the historical structure, either through inappropriate design, building mass, landscaping mass, setbacks, etc.

OSC-6.5 Historic Structure Demolition Review. Prohibit the demolition of any historical structure until an assessment of the cost of rehabilitation of the existing structure has been submitted to the City.

OSC-6.6 Alternatives to Demolition. Encourage the adaptive reuse of historic buildings as an alternative to demolition and replacement.

OSC-6.7 Sensitive Rehabilitation of Historic Structures. Maintain the integrity of historic structures by avoiding inappropriate additions or alterations and ensuring that their preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction complies with the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

OSC-6.8 Local Historic Building Recognition Program. Establish and maintain a Local Historic Building Recognition Program to identify, acknowledge, and promote buildings and structures that contribute to Norco’s historical, cultural, and architectural heritage.

OSC-6.9 Lake Norconian Conservation and Stewardship. Support the long-term conservation, stewardship, and enhancement of Lake Norconian through collaborative planning that preserves its scenic, natural, and historic character, protects its visual quality and ecological functions, and encourages restoration activities that reinforce the lake’s role as a prominent community landmark and defining element of Norco’s identity and sense of place. fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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GOAL OSC-7: PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF NATURAL LANDSCAPES. The City will promote the preservation and restoration of natural landscapes that embody the region’s prehistory and reflect Norco’s heritage.

POLICIES
OSC-7.1 Habitat Restoration. Support the removal of invasive plant species and the restoration of natural habitats along the Santa Ana River through coordination with partner agencies and community stewardship efforts, while promoting habitat restoration practices that improve ecosystem health, enhance water quality, reduce fire risk, and improve trail accessibility by clearing overgrown vegetation.

OSC-7.2 Signage and Monumentation. Consider signage and monumentation that highlight the role the Santa Ana River has played in the development of Norco and adjacent communities.

OSC-7.3 New Development. Require new development to incorporate native and naturalized landscape that maintains Norco’s rural atmosphere.

While future development facilitated by the 2050 GPU may result in demolition and renovation activities that could damage and alter existing or potential historical resources, all future development would also be required to comply with applicable Federal and State laws and regulations concerning the preservation of prehistoric or historical resources, including the National Historic Preservation Act, and California Public Resources Code. The National Historic Preservation Act requires that historical resources, including those that are of traditional religious and cultural importance to Native American tribes, are managed and maintained in a way that considers the preservation of their historic, archeological, architectural, and cultural values. Conformance with specific 2050 GPU policies would ensure that new development would preserve and consider historical resources, such as the City’s Equestrian Historic District and Equestrian Landmark, and Beacon Hill, when proposed. Therefore, potential impacts to historical resources associated with growth accommodated by the 2050 GPU would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required.

Level of Significance After Mitigation
Impacts are less than significant.

Threshold b. Is the project 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.
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Less than Significant Impact. Land disturbance and/or development associated with implementation of the 2050 GPU could result in the accidental destruction or disturbance of known or as yet unidentified sacred uses/tribal cultural resources should construction activities such as grading and excavation occur in sites of tribal significance, including sacred lands, archaeological sites, or sites containing human remains.

The following Open Space and Conservation Element policies of the 2050 General Plan would ensure that impacts to tribal cultural resources are taken into consideration and reduced or minimized in conjunction with future development. These policies would guide future development, such that when possible, significant tribal cultural resources are avoided and, if avoidance is not possible, that measures to mitigate significant impacts are implemented in accordance with CEQA:

GOAL OSC-8: SENSITIVE TREATMENT OF TRIBAL RESOURCES. The City will ensure the sensitive treatment of tribal resources consistent with the values and practices of local tribal groups

POLICIES
OSC-8.1 Land Development. In coordination with local tribal groups, establish standard conditions for the treatment of tribal resources discovered during land development.

OSC-8.2 Recognition of Tribal Heritage. Pursue opportunities to recognize and honor the area’s tribal history and heritage in conjunction with community events, capital improvement projects, library programs, and public art initiatives.

All future development would be required to comply with applicable Federal and State laws and regulations that concern the preservation of tribal cultural resources, including the California Public Resources Code, the National Historic Preservation Act, and CEQA.

Pursuant to SB 18 and AB 52, the City notified Native American tribes regarding the 2050 GPU process to ensure that tribal resources were adequately considered, and to provide an opportunity for consultation. As described above, the City responded to Tribes requesting consultation, provided available cultural resources information, and undertook follow-up efforts to facilitate consultation. Consultation with the Pechanga tribe remains ongoing. All other tribal consultations have been completed.

No specific sacred uses, tribal cultural resources, or cultural places requiring additional preservation or mitigation through the 2050 GPU were identified through the consultation process. Future discretionary actions requiring a General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan Amendment, or rezone would likewise be required to undergo the SB 18 and AB 52 consultation process, which requires a consultation process with a California Native American tribe, if requested, that is traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of the specific proposed development project. Within the California Public Resources Code, Section 5097.97 protects sacred lands; Section 5097.98 specifies procedures for the handling of Native American fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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human remains; and Section 5097.993 prohibits the removal, destruction, or defacement of Native American historic, cultural, or sacred sites. As future projects are planned, they must adhere to applicable 2050 GPU policies and regulations; therefore, potential impacts to tribal cultural resources associated with growth accommodated by the 2050 GPU would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required.

Level of Significance After Mitigation
Impacts are less than significant.
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4.18 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
This section evaluates potential impacts related to utilities and service systems resulting from adoption and implementation of the 2050 General Plan Update (GPU). Utilities addressed in this section include water supply and infrastructure, wastewater, storm drain facilities, electric power, natural gas, telecommunications, and solid waste disposal capacity. Information used in this analysis was obtained from City of Norco documents, utility planning documents, applicable service provider information and the General Plan policies and programs relevant to utilities and infrastructure.
a. Existing Conditions

1. Water Supply
Water Sources
The City lies within a hot semi-arid region that receives limited rainfall and contains little perennial surface water. While the Santa Ana River has perennial flow, much of this flow consists of treated wastewater and urban runoff. The region is largely sustained by groundwater resources, comprised of subbasins subject to State-mandated Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs). Most of the city falls within the Upper Santa Ana Valley – Temescal Groundwater Subbasin, while smaller portions of the city fall within the Upper Santa Ana Valley – Chino and Upper Santa Ana Valley – Riverside-Arlington Groundwater Subbasins. Applicable GSPs indicate sufficient groundwater resources to accommodate existing and projected development over the planning horizon, subject to ongoing monitoring and groundwater management requirements.

Water Supply
The City owns and operates a potable domestic drinking water system and wastewater collection system within the city’s boundaries. The service area consists of approximately 15 square miles in western Riverside County, within the Santa Ana River Watershed. The City is a member agency of the Chino Desalter Authority (“CDA”), a Joint Powers Authority. The City is an appropriator in the Chino Basin and a part of the Chino Basin Judgement. The City is also a member of the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA), a Joint Powers Authority.

The City has groundwater wells in both the Temescal and Chino water basins. The City purchases reverse osmosis treated water from the Chino Desalter Authority, the Arlington Desalter, and the City of Riverside. The City can also purchase imported treated water from Western Municipal Water District through a meter connection to the City of Corona.

Water Supply Reliability
The City periodically evaluates water supply reliability in accordance with methodologies established by the State Water Resources Control Board and the Urban Water Management Planning Act. The City of Norco’s 2025 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) demonstrates adequate water supplies to meet projected demands during normal, single-dry, and multiplefil'~~ - CITY or NORCO 2050 GENERAL PLAN

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dry water year conditions. Table 4.18-1, Projected Water Supplies shows the City’s projected water supplies. As shown in Table 4.18-2, Normal Water Year Supply and Demand Comparison, projected water supplies are not anticipated to exceed projected demands throughout the planning horizon during normal water year conditions.

TABLE 4.18-1, PROJECTED WATER SUPPLIES
TABLE 4.18-2, NORMAL WATER YEAR SUPPLY AND DEMAND COMPARISON Because the city’s surface water supply is the only supply that is considered to be susceptible to dry water years, and because the City only relies on surface water in emergency situations, a reduction of 100 percent would not affect multiple dry-year demands. The city’s available supplies during multiple-dry water years are assumed to be no different than available supplies during single-dry water years. The projected multiple-dry water year supplies and demands from 2030 to 2050 are shown in Table 4.18-3, Retail: Multiple Dry Year Supply and Use Comparison.

During multiple dry years, water use is anticipated to remain the same in the first year but then be gradually reduced in subsequent years as water conservation measures are implemented. ~~117'"'•

CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN
Projected Water Supply
Additional 2030 2035 2040 2045
Water Supply Detail on .... .... .... .... Water Supply ~ .J!! (11 c:::::- ~.J!! (11 C :::::- ~.J!! (11 C :::::- ~.J!! (11 C :::::- ~ i E - ~ ~ ~ i E - ~ ~ ~ i E - ~ ~ ~ i E - ~ ~
Sl 'ffi 2 ~ .J!! .Q Sl 'ffi 2 ~ .J!! .Q Sl 'ffi 2 ~ .J!! .Q Sl 'ffi 2 ~ .J!! .Q m >- .g I- -~ g. m >- .g I- -~ g. m >- .g I- -~ g. m >- .g I- -~ g. 0:: <( ,E - 0:: <( ,E - 0:: <( ,E - 0:: <( ,E - Purchased or CDA, 9,900 9,900 9,900 9,900
Imported Arlington,
Water WMWD,
City of
Riverside
Groundwater Temescal 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,600
(not Basin
desalinated)
Total 11,500 0 11,500 0 11,500 0 11,500 0
Notes:

Source: City of Norco. Urban Water Management Plan. 2025.

Totals 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Supply Totals 11,500 11,500 11,500 11,500 11,500
Use Totals 6,387 6,540 6,700 6,865 7,030
Difference 5,113 4,960 4,800 4,635 4,470
Source: City of Norco. Urban Water Management Plan. 2025.

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Water use is assumed to be reduced by 5 percent in the second year and 5 percent annually in each of the remaining years as more strict water use restrictions are implemented.

TABLE 4.18-3, RETAIL: MULTIPLE DRY YEAR SUPPLY AND USE COMPARISON

2. Wastewater Collection and Treatment
Wastewater collection service within the City of Norco is provided through the City’s municipal sanitary sewer system. The City owns and operates the wastewater collection system, which consists of approximately 120 miles of sanitary sewer pipelines and 12 lift stations that convey wastewater generated by residential, commercial, and industrial land uses throughout the city.

The majority of residents and businesses within the city are connected to the municipal sewer system. Existing residences operating on septic systems are generally required to connect to the municipal sewer system where sewer infrastructure is available. With the exception of the California Rehabilitation Center, the City discharges its waste stream to the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA) Treatment plant in the City of Eastvale.

Wastewater from the California Rehabilitation Center is discharged into the Santa Ana River Intercept (SARI) line and directed wastewater to a treatment facility in Orange County. ~~117'"'•

CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN
2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF)
First Year Supply Totals 11,500 11,500 11,500 11,500 11,500 Use Totals 6,387 6,540 6,700 6,865 7,030
Surplus/(shortfall) 5,113 4,960 4,800 4,635 4,470
Second Supply Totals 11,500 11,500 11,500 11,500 11,500 Year Use Totals 6,068 6,213 6,365 6,522 6,679
Surplus/(shortfall) 5,432 5,287 5,135 4,978 4,821
Third Year Supply Totals 11,500 11,500 11,500 11,500 11,500 Use Totals 5,764 5,902 6,047 6,196 6,345
Surplus/(shortfall) 5,736 5,598 5,453 5,304 5,155
Fourth Supply Totals 11,500 11,500 11,500 11,500 11,500 Year Use Totals 5,476 5,607 5,744 5,886 6,027
Surplus/(shortfall) 6,024 5,893 5,756 5,614 5,473
Fifth Year Supply Totals 11,500 11,500 11,500 11,500 11,500 Use Totals 5,202 5,327 5,457 5,592 5,726
Surplus/(shortfall) 6,298 6,173 6,043 5,908 5,774
Source: City of Norco. Urban Water Management Plan. 2025.

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WRCRWA is a joint powers authority (JPA) comprised of the City of Norco, the City of Corona, Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD), WMWD, and Home Gardens Sanitary District (HGSD).

Wastewater collected within the city is conveyed through the municipal sewer collection system to regional treatment facilities, where it undergoes treatment in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulatory requirements prior to discharge or reuse.

The City maintains and manages its sewer collection infrastructure pursuant to its Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP), which was adopted in accordance with State Water Resources Control Board Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ, the Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems. The SSMP establishes procedures and programs intended to properly operate, maintain, and manage the sewer system, reduce the occurrence of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), and ensure reliable wastewater service.

Wastewater treatment and discharge within the region are regulated by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board pursuant to the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and the Federal Clean Water Act. Treated wastewater generated within the region may also support future recycled water and non-potable reuse initiatives identified in the proposed 2050 General Plan.

3. Stormwater Drainage
Norco lies within the Middle Santa Ana River Watershed. Stormwater runoff in Norco drains into the Santa Ana River, primarily through Temescal Creek. Flowing primarily in a southwestern direction, Temescal Creek is an approximately 29-mile-long watercourse that connects Lake Elsinore with the Santa Ana River. Stormwater drainage within the City of Norco is managed through a system of local drainage infrastructure designed to collect and convey stormwater runoff generated during precipitation events. The system consists of storm drains, culverts, drainage channels, retention basins, and other conveyance infrastructure that direct runoff to regional drainage facilities and downstream receiving waters.

Local drainage facilities within the city are integrated with regional flood control infrastructure operated by the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (RCFCWCD).

Regional facilities include storm drain channels, flood control basins, retention basins and other conveyance infrastructure that direct stormwater to downstream receiving waters and help reduce regional flood risks. The City also maintains underground storm drain systems and catch basins that capture nuisance runoff and convey flows to regional drainage facilities, Nuisance Run-Off
Rural streets
Because many of the City’s original streets were constructed without curb and gutter, there is potential for storm runoff to collect and run uncontrolled across street pavement and erode unpaved shoulders and trails. In areas where localized flooding is a recurring issue, the City has been installing curb, gutter, and storm drains to collect storm water runoff and deliver it to fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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County maintained facilities. Over the long term, the City seeks to introduce curbs and gutters along all public streets, in conjunction with storm drainage improvements, to improve drainage, enhance public safety, and protect adjacent roadways, trails, and properties.

Suburban streets
In new tracts, storm run-off is controlled with rolled curbs designed to collect surface run-off under ordinary storm situations. For a heavier storm (the worst storm that can be anticipated in 10 years) the newer streets are designed so that the run-off is contained within the top of curbline on each side of the street. For the worst storm that could be anticipated in 100 years, the newer streets are designed so that run-off is contained between the two street right-of-way lines.

Stormwater Quality
The segment of the Santa Ana River that extends through Norco is subject to Federal Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) standards. The Federal Clean Water Act Section 303(d) requires that states identify waters that do not or are not expected to meet water quality standards with the implementation of technology-based controls. Once a waterbody has been placed on category 5 of the 303(d) list of impaired waters, states are required to develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) to address each pollutant causing impairment. A TMDL defines how much of a pollutant a waterbody can tolerate and still meet water quality standards. Each TMDL must account for all sources of the pollutant. TMDLs allocate allowable pollutant loads for each source, and identify management measures that, when implemented, will ensure that water quality standards are attained.

Norco is a member of the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (RCFCD), which administers the Riverside County Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit. To maintain this permit, the City must ensure that new development in Norco complies with the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). This requires that specific measures be taken by developers to prevent stormwater pollution before, during, and after construction. Developers demonstrate compliance with Federal and State clean water regulations through a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP), which addresses short-term stormwater issues during project construction, and a Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP), which outlines long-term best management practices to be implemented through the life of the project.

The City coordinates stormwater planning and infrastructure improvements with RCFCWCD through implementation of regional drainage facilities, localized storm drain improvements, and future infrastructure planning efforts identified in the proposed 2050 GPU and associated drainage planning documents. Planned improvements include continued maintenance of the City’s storm drainage infrastructure, installation of localized drainage improvements where needed, and coordination of drainage infrastructure investments with future land use and circulation planning.
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Management
The City’s Public Works Department maintains the storm drains that convey typical surface nuisance run-off to County maintained facilities. Regional facilities are maintained by RCFCD and are constructed in conjunction with the City. The City's Five-Year Capital Improvement Program establishes a prioritized, multi-year program for the planning, funding, and implementation of major public infrastructure projects.

Funding
Norco's storm drain improvements are funded through a combination of local development impact fees, Measure R sales and use tax revenues, regional funding from the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, and State grants.

4. Electric Power
Electrical service within the City of Norco is provided by Southern California Edison (SCE), an investor-owned utility that supplies electricity to much of Southern California. SCE is responsible for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers within the city. Electrical infrastructure within the city includes transmission lines, substations, overhead and underground distribution lines, and local distribution facilities that deliver power throughout the community.

SCE supplies power to approximately 98% of local ratepayers. Riverside Public Utilities provides electricity to the remaining 2% of the community. Electricity is distributed through a combination of overhead poles and underground distribution lines. Overhead utility infrastructure is generally located east of the I-15 freeway and along Hamner Avenue and River Road, while underground distribution lines are more common west of the freeway, the hillside neighborhoods, and Sixth Street.

SCE has proposed the Riverside Transmission Reliability Project (RTRP), aiming to enhance Riverside's electrical grid by constructing a 10-mile, double-circuit, 230-kilovolt transmission line.

This line is designed to connect Riverside Public Utilities' new substation to two existing SCE substations in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, thereby providing a second connection to the Statewide power grid and improving regional electricity reliability. A segment of the proposed transmission line is planned to traverse the City of Norco along the Santa Ana River.

Norco City officials and residents have expressed significant concerns about this plan, primarily due to the increased wildfire risk associated with overhead power lines in the wind-prone and high fire hazard areas. The City advocates for undergrounding the transmission lines to mitigate these risks and protect public safety.

The City of Norco assists residents and businesses reduce energy consumption, utility costs, and greenhouse gas emissions by directing residents and businesses to local and State programs and rebate deals. In addition, the City of Norco partners with the Community Action Partnership fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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of Riverside County to help qualified residents with utility bill assistance; to lower heating and cooling costs by making their homes more energy efficient though weatherization, repair or replacement of air conditioning and heating units and refrigerator replacements; and to provide cool and warm centers that provide relief from both high temperatures in summer and chilly weather in winter.

5. Natural Gas
Natural gas services within the City of Norco are provided by Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), which operates an extensive natural gas transmission and distribution system throughout Southern California. SoCalGas provides natural gas services for residential, commercial, industrial, and public land uses within the city through an interconnected network of transmission and distribution infrastructure. Natural gas infrastructure within the city includes transmission pipelines, distribution mains, service lines, and associated facilities that deliver natural gas throughout the community.

6. Telecommunications
Telecommunications involve the transmission of information over long distances using electronic and wireless technologies. Telecommunications infrastructure within the city includes wired and wireless networks, such as telephone lines, fiber optic systems, radio communications, broadband infrastructure, and satellite systems. Telecommunications technologies continue to evolve rapidly in response to advances in science and communications technology. The City supports continued expansion and modernization of telecommunications infrastructure to improve communication services, support local businesses, and enhance quality of life for residents.

Wired transmission within the City of Norco is conveyed via a combination of above-ground poles (mainly in the neighborhoods located east of the I-15 freeway and along Hamner Avenue and River Road) and underground lines (in the neighborhoods located west of the freeway, the hillside neighborhoods, and Sixth Street). A range of private companies provide telephone, internet, and television service to Norco residents and businesses, install and maintain the appropriate infrastructure, and bill customers directly. Major telecommunications providers serving the City include AT&T, Spectrum, and Crown Castle.

7. Solid Waste
The City contracts with USA Waste of California, Inc. (Waste Management) (WM) to provide waste collection services within Norco. WM provides collection services for general refuse, recyclable materials, manure, and organic waste, including food scraps and yard debris. Residents utilize a four-bin waste collection system consisting of general trash, recyclable materials, manure, and organic waste containers. Residents without self-haul permits are required to participate in the City’s manure collection program, which is also operated by WM. Commercial and industrial uses within the city are required to arrange for recycling and organic waste collection services through fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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WM curbside collection programs or approved self-hauling operations to approved processing facilities.

WM transports collected solid waste to the El Sobrante Landfill, a privately-owned facility in the City of Corona. The City and WM coordinate to reduce the volume of waste disposed at landfills through source reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, and organic waste diversion programs consistent with State solid waste reduction requirements. Solid waste collection, recycling, and organics management services within the city are intended to support long-term landfill capacity conservation and compliance with applicable State diversion mandates. b. Regulatory Setting

1. Federal
Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act
The Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 regulates the discharges of pollutants into “waters of the US” from any point or non-point source.

In 1972, the CWA was amended to prohibit the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States unless the discharge is in compliance with a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The CWA focused on tracking point sources, primarily from wastewater treatment facilities and industrial waste dischargers, and required implementation of control measures to minimize pollutant discharges. The CWA was amended again in 1987 to provide a framework for regulating municipal and industrial stormwater discharges. In November 1990, the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) published final regulations that establish application requirements for specific categories of industries, including construction projects that encompass greater than or equal to 5 acres of land. The Phase II Rule became final in December 1999, thus expanding regulated construction sites to those greater than or equal to 1 acre. The regulations require that stormwater and non-stormwater runoff associated with construction activity which discharges either directly to surface waters or indirectly through municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) must be regulated by an NPDES permit. In the State of California, the program is administered by the local Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB).

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was established in 1974 to protect the quality of drinking water in the U.S. This law focuses on all waters actually or potentially designed for drinking use, whether from above ground or underground sources. The SDWA authorizes the EPA to establish minimum standards to protect water systems to comply with these primary (health related) standards. Under the Act, the US EPA also establishes minimum standards for State programs to protect underground sources of drinking water from endangerment by underground injection fluids.
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Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
This law was enacted in 1976 and is the principal Federal law in the United States governing the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) oversees waste management regulation pursuant to Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Under RCRA, however, states are authorized to carry out many of the functions of the Federal law through their own hazardous waste programs and laws, if they are at least as stringent (or more so) than the Federal regulations. Thus, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) manages the State of California’s solid waste and hazardous materials programs pursuant to US EPA approval.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Program The NPDES permit program was established in the Clean Water Act (CWA) to regulate municipal and industrial discharges to surface waters of the United States. Discharge from any point source is unlawful unless the discharge is in compliance with an NPDES permit. Federal NPDES permit regulations have been established for broad categories of discharges, including pointsource municipal waste discharges and nonpoint-source stormwater runoff. NPDES permits generally identify effluent and receiving water limits on allowable concentrations and/or mass emissions of pollutants contained in the discharge; prohibitions on discharges not specifically allowed under the permit; and provisions that describe required actions by the discharger, including industrial pretreatment, pollution prevention, self-monitoring, and other activities.

2. State
California Water Boards
California’s Water Boards consist of the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) and the RWQCB. The mission of the Water Boards is to preserve, enhance, and restore the quality of California’s water resources and drinking water for the protection of the environment, public health, and all beneficial uses, and to ensure proper water resource allocation and efficient use for the benefit of present and future generations. Together they are authorized to implement the Federal Clean Water Act in California. The City of Norco is located within the jurisdiction of the Santa Ana RWQCB, Region 8.

State Water Resources Control Board General Construction Permit The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has adopted a Statewide Construction General Permit (Order No. 2012-0006-DWQ) for stormwater discharges associated with construction activity. These regulations prohibit the discharge of stormwater from construction projects that include one acre or more of soil disturbance. Construction activities subject to this permit include clearing, grading, and other disturbance to the ground, such as stockpiling or excavation, that results in soil disturbance of at least one acre of total land area. Individual developers are required to submit Permit Registration Documents (PRDs) to the SWRCB for fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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coverage under this general permit prior to the start of construction. The PRDs include a Notice of Intent (NOI), risk assessment, site map, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), annual fee, and a signed certification statement. The PRDs are submitted electronically to the SWRCB via the Stormwater Multiple Application and Report Tracking System (SMARTS) website. This general Construction General Permit requires all dischargers to (1) develop and implement a SWPPP, which specifies best management practices (BMPs) to be used during construction of the project; (2) eliminate or reduce non-stormwater discharge to stormwater conveyance systems; and (3) develop and implement a monitoring program of all specified BMPs. The two major objectives of the SWPPP are to (1) help identify the sources of sediment and other pollutants that affect the water quality of stormwater discharges and (2) to describe and ensure the implementation of BMPs to reduce or eliminate sediment and other pollutants in stormwater as well as non-stormwater discharges.

Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act
The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act established the principal State program for water quality control. The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act also authorized the SWRCB to implement the provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act. The act divided the State into nine RWQCB areas. Each RWQCB implements and enforces provisions of the Porter-Cologne Act and the CWA subject to policy guidance and review by the SWRCB. The Porter-Cologne Act requires each RWQCB to develop a Basin Plan for all areas within its region. The Basin Plan is the basis for each RWQCB’s regulatory programs.

Urban Water Management Planning Act
The Urban Water Management Planning Act (UWMPA) (Water Code, Section 10610 et. seq.) requires urban water suppliers that provide water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers, or more than 3,000 acre-feet per year (AFY) of water, to prepare an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP). The intent of UWMP is to assist water supply agencies in water resource planning given their existing and anticipated future demands. A UWMP must include a water supply and demand assessment comparing the total water supply available to the water supplier with the total projected water use over a 20-year period. It is also mandatory that the management plans be updated every five years.

State Water Quality Control Board Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ was adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board on May 2, 2006. This order provides Federal and State agencies, municipalities, counties, districts, and other public entities waste discharge requirements for sanitary sewer systems.

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (2014)
In 2014, the State legislature enacted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which established a comprehensive framework for the sustainable management of groundwater fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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resources in California. SGMA requires the formation of local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) to manage groundwater basins designated as high- or medium-priority by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and to prepare and implement Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) or approved alternatives that achieve long-term groundwater sustainability.

California Water Code, Title 22
The California Water Code requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to establish water reclamation criteria. In 1975, the DHS prepared Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

Title 22 regulates production and use of recycled water in California by establishing three categories of recycled water:
• primary effluent, which typically includes grit removal and initial sedimentation or settling tanks;
• adequately disinfected, oxidized effluent (secondary effluent), which typically involves aeration and additional settling basins; and
• adequately disinfected, oxidized, coagulated, clarified, filtered effluent (tertiary effluent), which typically involves filtration and chlorination.
• In addition to defining recycled water uses, Title 22 also defines requirements for sampling and analysis of effluent and requires specific design requirements for plants.

The Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SB X7-7)
SB X7-7 was enacted in November 2009, requiring all water suppliers to increase water use efficiency. Specifically, the legislation sets an overall goal of reducing per capita urban water use by 20 percent by December 31, 2020. The State is required to make incremental progress towards this goal by reducing per capita water use by at least 10 percent by December 31, 2015.

Effective 2016, urban retail water suppliers who do not meet the water conservation requirements established by this bill are not eligible for State water grants or loans. Subsequent legislation has expanded upon these conservation requirements.

Senate Bill 610 and Senate Bill 221
SB 610 and SB 221, amended into State law effective January 1, 2002, improve the linkage between certain land-use decisions made by cities and counties and water supply availability. SB 610 requires that specified large development projects subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) include a WSA in the environmental review process. SB 221 requires verification of sufficient water supply prior to approval of certain subdivision maps under the Subdivision Map Act.

Pursuant to California Water Code Section 10912, projects subject to SB 610 include, among others, residential developments of more than 500 dwelling units; mixed-use developments that fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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include qualifying land uses; or projects that would demand an amount of water equivalent to or greater than that required by a 500-dwelling unit residential development. A WSA evaluates whether a public water system’s total projected water supplies available during normal, singledry, and multiple-dry water years over a 20-year projection would be sufficient to meet the projected water demands of the proposed project, in addition to existing and planned future demands. Pursuant to the requirements of SB 610, a WSA was prepared for the Project and includes a comprehensive assessment of historical demands, and a projection of future demands based on forecasted development of the County’s service area.

California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) CalRecycle is responsible for implementing State solid waste management, recycling, and waste diversion programs pursuant to the California Public Resources Code and Title 27 of the California Code of Regulations. CalRecycle administers programs intended to reduce landfill disposal, promote recycling and composting, and ensure that solid waste handling and disposal facilities operate in a manner protective of public health and the environment.

Assembly Bill 341
Assembly Bill (AB) 341, approved in 2011, amended the California Public Resources Code (Section 42649 et. seq.) to establish a Statewide goal of reducing, recycling, or composting at least 75 percent of solid waste generated in California by 2020. AB 341 also requires businesses and public entities that generate a specified amount of solid waste to arrange for recycling services, thereby expanding Statewide recycling efforts, and reducing the amount of waste disposed of in landfills. The law also requires jurisdictions to implement commercial recycling programs and conduct outreach and education to ensure compliance. These requirements are intended to increase landfill diversion, conserve natural resources, and extend the useful life of existing landfill facilities. The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is responsible for implementing and overseeing compliance with AB 341.

Assembly Bill 939
Assembly Bill 939, known as the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, establishes a Statewide framework for reducing the amount of solid waste disposed of in landfills. The law requires cities and counties to develop and implement integrated waste management programs that prioritize source reduction, recycling, and composting. AB 939 established a Statewide goal of diverting at least 50 percent of solid waste from landfill disposal through waste reduction and recycling programs. The Act also requires local jurisdictions to prepare Source Reduction and Recycling Elements (SRREs) and other planning documents that describe how each jurisdiction will meet diversion targets. The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is responsible for implementing and enforcing the provisions of AB 939 and for overseeing local jurisdiction compliance with Statewide waste diversion requirements.
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Senate Bill 1383
Senate Bill 1383 sets methane emissions reduction targets to be met through the reduction of organic waste disposed of by 75% by 2025 and the rescue of 20% of currently disposed surplus food by 2025. Compliance with SB 1383 requires residential developments to have organic waste services provided. Local jurisdictions must educate residents on proper use of organic waste services.

Assembly Bill 1826 Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling AB 1826 requires jurisdictions to implement an organic waste recycling program for businesses, including outreach, education, and monitoring of affected businesses. Additionally, each jurisdiction is to identify a multitude of information, including barriers to organic waste recycling facilities, as well as closed or abandoned sites that might be available for new organic waste recycling facilities. AB 1826 defines “organic waste” as food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, non-hazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste that is mixed in with food waste. It also defines a “business” as a commercial or public entity, including, but not limited to, a firm, partnership, proprietorship, joint stock company, corporation, or association that is organized as a for-profit or nonprofit entity, or a multifamily residential dwelling consisting of five or more units. In January 2017, businesses that generated 4 cubic yards or more of organic waste per week were subject to this requirement. In September 2020, CalRecycle reduced this threshold to 2 cubic yards of solid waste (i.e., total of trash, recycling, and organics) per week generated by covered businesses.

California Public Utilities Commission
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulates privately owned electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies, in addition to authorizing video franchises. CPUC is responsible for regulating electric utility rates, electric power procurement and generation, some electric infrastructure, ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs, and other areas. The CPUC evaluates the necessity for additional power generation by the regulated utilities in California in both the long and short term, accomplished using public input, data provided by the utilities, the California Energy Commission, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), and following the regulations of the Commission, the Public Utilities Code, and FERC. CPUC has primary ratemaking jurisdiction over the funding of distribution related expenditures generally for power lines of 66 kV (kilovolts) or less. While CPUC does not have ratemaking responsibility for transmission lines, CPUC does have a substantial role in permitting transmission and substation facilities.

CPUC regulates natural gas rates and natural gas services, including in-State transportation over the utilities' transmission and distribution pipeline systems, storage, procurement, metering, and billing. Additionally, CPUC regulates telecommunications and broadband operations and infrastructure in the State, being responsible for licensing, registration, and the processing of fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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tariffs on local exchange carriers, competitive local carriers, and non-dominant interexchange carriers. It is also responsible for registration of wireless service providers and franchising of video service providers, among other duties.

3. Regional
Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board Basin Plan The City of Norco is located within the jurisdiction of the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), Region 8. The RWQCB administers the Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin (Basin Plan), which establishes water quality objectives, beneficial uses, and implementation programs designed to protect surface water and groundwater resources within the region. The Basin Plan implements provisions of both the Federal Clean Water Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and serves as the primary regulatory framework for maintaining and improving water quality within the Santa Ana River watershed. The RWQCB implements the Basin Plan through various regulatory mechanisms, including waste discharge requirements, NPDES permits, and other water quality control programs.

Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA)
The Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) is a joint powers authority formed to coordinate water resource planning and management within the Santa Ana River watershed.

SAWPA works collaboratively with regional water agencies, groundwater basin managers, and regulatory agencies to address issues related to water supply reliability, water quality protection, recycled water use, flood management, and watershed sustainability. Through its regional planning efforts, SAWPA facilitates coordination among member agencies and promotes integrated approaches to managing water resources within the watershed.

Santa Ana River Watershed Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP)
The Santa Ana River Watershed Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) provides a comprehensive strategy for managing water resources within the Santa Ana River watershed.

The IRWMP identifies regional priorities related to water supply reliability, groundwater management, water quality protection, flood management, and ecosystem restoration. The plan promotes coordination among local water agencies, municipalities, and regional stakeholders and supports the implementation of projects that improve water resource management and sustainability throughout the watershed.

Riverside County Integrated Waste Management Plan
The Riverside County Integrated Waste Management Plan establishes policies and programs for managing solid waste generated within Riverside County. The plan provides guidance for waste reduction, recycling, composting, and landfill capacity planning consistent with Statewide waste diversion requirements established by the California Integrated Waste Management Act. The fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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plan also coordinates solid waste management activities among local jurisdictions, waste service providers, and regional agencies to ensure adequate waste disposal capacity and compliance with State waste diversion goals.

4. Local
City of Norco Municipal Code
The City of Norco Municipal Code establishes local regulations governing the provision and operation of public utilities and service systems within the city. These regulations address the installation and maintenance of water distribution systems, wastewater collection infrastructure, stormwater drainage facilities, and solid waste collection services. The City Municipal Code also establishes standards intended to ensure that development projects provide adequate utility infrastructure and comply with applicable health, safety, and environmental requirements.

Chapter 15.70 of the City’s Municipal Code establishes ordinances for stormwater/urban runoff management and discharge controls.

City of Norco Urban Water Management Plan 2020
The City of Norco’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) was prepared in compliance with the Urban Water Management Planning Act (UWMPA), as amended by Assembly Bills 2661, 1869, 11X, and 2067; Senate Bills 1420 and 1036; and the Water Conservation Act of 2009. The UWMP evaluates existing and projected water demands over a 20-year planning horizon and assesses the reliability of available water supplies under normal, single-dry, and multiple dry year conditions. The UWMP identifies the City’s water supply sources, including groundwater and imported water, and establishes water conservation and demand management measures to ensure long-term water supply reliability. The UWMP serves as a key planning document used by the City to demonstrate that sufficient water supplies are available to meet current and future development.

City of Norco General Plan
The City of Norco 2050 General Plan establishes the community’s long-term vision for land use, development patterns, infrastructure planning, resource conservation, and community character. The 2050 General Plan includes land use designations, goals, and policies that guide growth and development within the city. The currently adopted General Plan serves as the baseline planning framework against which the proposed 2050 GPU is evaluated.

City of Norco General Plan Conservation Element
The purpose of the City of Norco’s 2014 General Plan Update of the Conservation Element is to provide direction to the City regarding the preservation, development, and utilization of natural resources. Natural resources discussed in this element include water, energy, soil, minerals, and wildlife.
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Sewer System Management Plan
The City of Norco Public Works Department-Sewer Division was required to develop a Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) per the State Water Resources Control Board Order No. 2006- 0003, Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sewer Systems (Order No. 06-03).

The City of Norco's SSMP was adopted by Resolution No. 2019-14 of the Norco City Council on April 17, 2019. The next update to the City of Norco’s SSMP must be completed every five years and is planned for 2024.
c. Methodology
Implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU could result in impacts related to water supply, wastewater treatment and conveyance, stormwater drainage infrastructure, solid waste disposal capacity, and utility services associated with projected population and employment growth. The utilities and service systems analysis evaluates whether existing and planned infrastructure, facilities, and service providers would be capable of accommodating forecasted growth under the proposed 2050 GPU. The analysis also considers whether implementation of the proposed 2050 General Plan policies would reduce potential impacts associated with increased demand for utilities and service systems or whether additional mitigation measures would be required.

Information reviewed for this analysis includes the City’s UWMP, SSMP, storm drainage planning documents, landfill facility information, utility provider data, applicable regulatory requirements, and other relevant public planning documents.
d. Impact Analysis

1. Thresholds of Significance
The following thresholds are based on Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines. An impact is considered significant if the 2050 GPU would:
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, which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments;
d) Generate solid waste in excess of State or local standards, or in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals; or
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e) Comply with Federal, State, and local management and reduction statutes and regulations related to solid waste.

2. Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Threshold a. Would the project 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?
Threshold b. Would the project have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project and reasonably foreseeable future development during normal, dry and multiple dry years?
Threshold c. Would the project result in a determination by the waste water treatment provider, which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments?
Water
Less than Significant Impact. Development under the proposed 2050 GPU would increase water demand associated with projected population and land use growth. However, implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would not require the construction of new water treatment facilities beyond those already planned by regional and local water providers.

The City of Norco relies on a combination of local groundwater and imported treated groundwater supplies, including sources from the Arlington Desalter, Chino Desalter Authority, and the City of Riverside. The City has developed a diversified water supply portfolio and maintains multiple supply sources to meet existing and future demands under varying hydrologic conditions, including normal, single-dry, and multiple-dry years.

The City’s 2025 UWMP includes water demand projections through at least 2050 and evaluates supply reliability under normal, dry, and multiple dry year conditions. According to the UWMP, total available water supplies are projected to remain approximately 11,500 acre-feet per year (AFY) through the planning horizon, while projected water demand under normal-year conditions is anticipated to increase from approximately 6,387 AFY in 2030 to approximately

7.030 AFY in 2050. This would leave an approximate surplus of 4,470 AFY in 2050, indicated that available supplies would continue to exceed projected demand throughout the planning horizon. These analyses compare projected water demand with available supply sources and demonstrate that the City has planned for long-term water service reliability through a combination of supply diversification, regional coordination, and infrastructure improvements. fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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In addition, the UWMP identifies ongoing and planned regional and local water supply projects, including groundwater management, recycled water development, and regional conveyance improvements, which are intended to enhance long-term supply reliability and accommodate future growth.

While future development under the proposed 2050 GPU would increase water demand, the City’s projected 2050 demand of 8,246 AFY would remain well below the UWMP’s projected available supply of 11,500 AFY. In addition, the City maintains a diversified water supply portfolio consisting of local groundwater and imported supplies from multiple regional providers, which enhances supply reliability under normal, single-dry, and multiple dry-year conditions.

Furthermore, compliance with the Urban Water Management Planning Act and ongoing coordination with regional water providers would help ensure that adequate water supplies are maintained over time.

The proposed 2050 General Plan contains several Goals and Policies, described below, that relate to water facilities and supply.

GOAL OSC-9: POTABLE WATER. The City will maintain adequate potable water service that exceeds minimum Federal and State water supply and quality requirements.

POLICY
OSC-9.1 Sustainable and Resilient Potable Water Supply. Maintain a potable water supply that provides for future generations of Norconians and withstands extreme weather events and other natural hazards.

GOAL OSC-10: WATER CONSERVATION. The City will facilitate water conservation efforts that contribute to Norco’s water security and reduce costs for residents and businesses.

POLICIES
OSC-10.1 Sustainable and Resilient Water Conservation. Promote water conservation through public information, pricing mechanisms, and incentives.

OSC-10.2 Irrigation. Promote efficient and sustainable irrigation practices.

GOAL OSC-11: WATER QUALITY AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. The City will continue to implement and enforce all applicable water quality and stormwater management policies, regulations, and protocols as promulgated by Federal, State, and regional agencies.

POLICIES
OSC-11.1 Water Resource Protection. Protect water resources from pollutants through enforcement of the Clean Water Act with the issuance of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for new development, as applicable, fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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including Storm Water Pollution Protection Plans (SWPPP) during construction and Water Quality Management Plans (WQMP) post construction.

OSC-11.2 Reclaimed Water Discharge. Pursue opportunities to reduce the amount of reclaimed water discharged into the Santa Ana River, including installation and activation of a reclaimed water system for irrigation.

OSC-11.5 Animal Keeping Impacts on Water Quality. Maintain public information campaigns that educate residents regarding the importance of following proper manure storage and disposal best practices in order to minimize pollutant runoff and nutrient leaching into groundwater and surface waters.

OSC-11.6 Groundwater Extraction Overlay. In those areas where groundwater extraction occurs, consider applying a groundwater protection overlay zone that places restrictions on land uses with the potential to contaminate groundwater, restrictions on the use of certain fertilizers and pesticides, well management protocols, and secondary containment standards.

GOAL IF-1: WATER SYSTEM. The City will maintain its water system to meet the needs of the Norco community, in coordination with State and regional water agencies.

POLICIES
IF-1.1 Agency Coordination. Work with the Arlington Desalter Facility, the Chino Basin Desalter Authority, and the City of Riverside to ensure an adequate supply of domestic water facilities to sustain existing and projected water needs.

IF-1.2 Infrastructure Maintenance. Continue to maintain, improve, and replace aging water infrastructure to ensure the reliable provision of service to the community.

IF-1.3 Funding. Ensure that adequate funding is available to maintain and upgrade existing water facilities, construct new infrastructure as needed, manage water assets, and promote water use efficiency programs and educational resources.

IF-1.4 New Development. Require new development to provide adequate water infrastructure to serve the development.

IF-1.5 Water Programs. Create and promote water conservation incentive programs and educational resources for property owners.

The proposed 2050 General Plan includes Goals and Policies that support long-term water supply reliability, water conservation, infrastructure maintenance, and regional coordination. Goal OSC10 and Policy OSC-10.1 support maintenance of a sustainable and resilient potable water supply capable of meeting future demand under varying hydrologic conditions. Goal OSC-11 and Policies OSC-11.1 and OSC-11.2 promote water conservation and efficient irrigation practices to reduce water demand and improve long-term supply reliability.

In addition, Goal OSC-12 and associated policies support protection of water resources and continued implementation of water quality and stormwater management requirements, fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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including compliance with applicable NPDES permit requirements and groundwater protection measures. Goal IF-1 and Policies IF-1.1 through IF-1.5 further support coordination with regional water providers, maintenance and expansion of water infrastructure, implementation of water conservation programs, and continued funding for water system improvements necessary to accommodate future growth.

Collectively, these policies would ensure that water demand associated with future development is managed through a combination of supply diversification, conservation measures, and infrastructure improvements, consistent with the water supply assumptions and reliability planning identified in the City’s UWMP.

Therefore, based on the City’s 2020 UWMP, which demonstrates that available water supplies would substantially exceed projected demand under normal, single-dry, and multiple dry-year conditions, and with implementation of the proposed 2050 General Plan policies related to water supply reliability, conservation, infrastructure maintenance, and regional coordination, the proposed 2050 GPU would not require new or expanded water treatment facilities beyond those already planned. Adequate water supplies would be available to serve the implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU and reasonably foreseeable future development. Impacts related to water supply and infrastructure would be less than significant.

Wastewater Treatment
Less than Significant Impact. As described above, wastewater generated within the City of Norco is conveyed through the City’s sewer collection system to the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA) treatment facility in the City of Eastvale. Wastewater from the California Rehabilitation Center is conveyed separately via the Santa Ana River Interceptor (SARI) line to a treatment facility in Orange County. These regional facilities provide treatment for wastewater generated within the city in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

The City maintains and manages its sewer infrastructure pursuant to its Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP), which is intended to ensure adequate system capacity, minimize sanitary sewer overflows, and provide reliable service. Based on the City’s SSMP, the City has an approximate treatment capacity of 2.7 million gallons per day (MGD) and conveyance capacity of 2.5 MGD. Existing average daily wastewater flows are approximately 1.8 MGD, indicating that the City is currently operating below both its treatment and conveyance capacities. This represents approximately 67 percent of treatment capacity and 72 percent of conveyance capacity, leaving available capacity within the system. According to the SSMP, there are no known hydraulic deficiencies within the City’s sanitary sewer system, and the system is designed and maintained to accommodate existing and planned flows. Additionally, any capacity improvements required to serve future development would be addressed through the City’s capital improvement planning and development review process.

Development under the proposed 2050 GPU would increase wastewater generation associated with future residential, commercial, and industrial growth. Wastewater generated by future fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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4.18 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
development would continue to be conveyed through the City’s existing sewer collection system and treated at regional wastewater treatment facilities.

Based on projected growth under the proposed 2050 GPU, the City’s population is expected to increase from approximately 25,389 persons to 28,495 persons, representing an increase of approximately 3,106 residents, or about 15 percent. Assuming wastewater generation rates generally correspond to population growth, average daily wastewater flows could increase from approximately 1.8 MGD to approximately 2.1 MGD under buildout conditions. This represents an increase of approximately 0.3 MGD compared to existing conditions. Even with this increase, projected flows would remain below the City’s available treatment capacity of 2.7 MGD and conveyance capacity of 2.5 MGD, utilizing approximately 78 percent and 84 percent of those capacities, respectively. This increase of approximately 0.3 MGD would represent approximately 33 percent of the remaining treatment capacity (0.9 MGD) and approximately 43 percent of the remaining conveyance capacity (0.7 MGD), based on existing unused system capacity, indicating that the system would continue to operate within its available limits under projected buildout conditions. As such, sufficient capacity would remain within the system to accommodate projected growth.

Although wastewater flows would increase under implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU, the City’s existing sewer infrastructure and regional treatment facilities are currently operating below available treatment and conveyance capacity and are designed to accommodate future growth. In addition, the proposed 2050 General Plan includes Goals and Policies that support continued infrastructure maintenance, coordination with regional wastewater providers, funding for system improvements, and long-term wastewater planning. These policies would help ensure adequate wastewater conveyance and treatment capacity is maintained to serve projected development within the General Plan Area. Furthermore, the proposed 2050 General Plan contains Goals and Policies, described below, that address the need for increased wastewater treatment and sanitary sewer system capacity to meet the demand from new growth and development envisioned for the General Plan Area.

GOAL IF-2: WASTEWATER SYSTEM. The City will maintain its wastewater system to serve the needs of existing and new development within the city.

POLICIES
IF-2.1 Agency Coordination. Continue to coordinate with the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority to ensure reasonable and adequate wastewater treatment capacity is available to serve current and future demand.

IF-2.2 Infrastructure Maintenance. Continue to maintain, improve, and replace aging wastewater infrastructure to ensure the reliable provision of service to all areas of the community.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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IF-2.3 Funding. Ensure adequate funding to maintain and improve existing wastewater facilities and to construct new infrastructure as needed.

IF-2.4 Potable Water Reuse. Work with the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA) to monitor State Water Resources Control Board standards and implementation measures to expand potable water reuse.

Implementation of Goal IF-2 and Policies IF-2.1 through IF-2.4 would support continued maintenance, coordination, funding, and long-term planning for the City’s wastewater infrastructure and regional treatment facilities. Policy IF-2.1 would support continued maintenance and replacement of aging infrastructure, while Policy IF-2.2 would ensure coordination with the WRCRWA regarding available treatment capacity for future demand. Policy IF-2.3 would provide for continued funding of wastewater infrastructure improvements, and Policy IF-2.4 would support long-term potable water reuse planning and implementation measures.

Based on the existing regulatory framework and ongoing system management practices, sufficient treatment capacity is expected to remain available to serve projected growth. As discussed above, average daily wastewater flows are projected to increase from approximately

1.8 MGD to approximately 2.1 MGD under buildout conditions, representing an increase of approximately 0.3 MGD. Even with this increase, projected flows would remain below the City’s available treatment capacity of 2.7 MGD and conveyance capacity of 2.5 MGD, utilizing approximately 78 percent and 84 percent of those capacities, respectively. In addition, continued compliance with applicable regulations and continued coordination with regional wastewater providers would ensure that adequate treatment capacity is maintained over time. Therefore, projected increases in wastewater generation would not exceed available treatment or conveyance capacity, and impacts would be less than significant.

Stormwater Drainage
Less than Significant Impact. Development under the proposed 2050 GPU would increase impervious surfaces and stormwater runoff associated with future development. Stormwater drainage improvements would include expansion, replacement, or maintenance of storm drain infrastructure, water quality facilities, detention basins, and related conveyance facilities. Future stormwater infrastructure improvements would be reviewed by the City of Norco and applicable regulatory agencies during the development review process to ensure consistency with applicable National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit requirements. The proposed 2050 General Plan includes Goals and Policies related to stormwater management, water quality protection, infrastructure maintenance, and regulatory compliance that would reduce potential impacts associated with stormwater drainage facilities. These policies include:
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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GOAL OSC-11: WATER QUALITY AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. The City will continue to implement and enforce all applicable water quality and stormwater management policies, regulations, and protocols as promulgated by Federal, State, and regional agencies.

OSC-11.3 Best Management Practices. Employ best management practices and sustainable stormwater control measures in capital improvement projects, as appropriate.

OSC-11.4 Constructed Wetlands. As an alternative to conventional storm drainage facilities, design and manage constructed wetlands that mimic natural wetlands and contribute to the filtration and cleansing of stormwater.

GOAL IF-3: STORMWATER SYSTEM. The City will design and maintain storm drain and flood control facilities that protect the community from flooding and safeguard sensitive streams and watercourses.

POLICIES
IF-3.1 Agency Coordination. Coordinate with regional, State, and Federal flood control agencies to mitigate flood risk in the city.

IF-3.2 Infrastructure Maintenance. Continue to maintain, improve, and replace aging storm drain infrastructure to safeguard the community from flooding and reduce the costs of repairing erosion damage.

IF-3.3 Funding. Ensure that adequate funding is available to maintain and upgrade existing storm drain facilities and construct new infrastructure as needed. fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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4.18 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
IF-3.4 NPDES Compliance. Ensure project developer compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit requirements.

IF-3.5 NPDES Public Awareness. Continue to work with co-permittees of the NPDES permit to promote public awareness of water quality issues.

IF-3.6 Sustainable Agricultural Practices. Work with the agricultural community to reduce or eliminate surface and groundwater contamination due to agricultural activities.

These policies collectively support continued maintenance and improvement of the City’s stormwater drainage system while minimizing potential environmental impacts associated with future stormwater facilities. Policies OSC-12.1 and IF-3.4 require compliance with NPDES and water quality requirements through implementation of SWPPPs, WQMPs, and MS4 permit requirements. Policies OSC-12.3, IF-3.1, IF-3.2, and IF-3.3 support coordination with regulatory agencies and continued maintenance, funding, and upgrading of storm drain infrastructure to accommodate future growth. In addition, Policies OSC-12.4 through OSC-12.6 and IF-3.5 through IF-3.6 promote sustainable stormwater management practices, groundwater protection, public awareness, and agricultural best management practices to reduce pollutants and runoff impacts. Therefore, implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would not require new or expanded stormwater drainage facilities that would result in significant environmental effects, and impacts would be less than significant.

Electric Power
Less than Significant Impact. Development under the proposed 2050 GPU would increase demand for electricity and could require extension, upgrades, or modification of existing electrical transmission and distribution infrastructure to serve future growth. Electrical service would continue to be provided by SCE, and the sizing and placement of new or upgraded electrical infrastructure would be determined at the project level in coordination with applicable regulations under CPUC jurisdiction and City review processes. The proposed 2050 General Plan includes Goals and Policies that address electrical demand monitoring, system maintenance and upgrades, and energy efficiency, which support reliable service and help reduce the needs for unnecessary infrastructure expansion.

The proposed 2050 General Plan’s Open Space and Conservation Element and the Infrastructure and Facilities Element contain several policies related to electric power, which would address electricity impacts under development of the proposed 2050 GPU.

GOAL OSC-12: SUFFICIENT AND RESILIENT ENERGY SUPPLY. The City will ensure sufficient and resilient energy supply to meet current needs and accommodate projected growth.

POLICIES
OSC-12.1 Energy Demand. Continue to monitor local electricity and natural gas demand in coordination with the Inland Regional Energy Network (I-REN). fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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OSC-12.3 System Maintenance and Upgrading. Coordinate with the investor-owned utilities to ensure the adequacy and timely maintenance and upgrading of energy distribution systems.

GOAL OSC-13: ENERGY INDEPENDENCE. The City will achieve greater energy independence through local renewable energy harvesting and enhanced energy efficiency.

POLICY
OSC-13.4 Energy Efficiency. Promote energy efficiency in both municipal operations and within the community at-large.

GOAL OSC-14: REDUCED RELIANCE ON CARBON-EMITTING ENERGY SOURCES. The City will reduce its reliance on non-renewable, carbon-emitting fuels, in compliance with State requirements.

POLICIES
OSC-14.1 Building Electrification. Promote building electrification through cost-effective building design and technologies.

Proposed 2050 General Plan Infrastructure and Facilities Element GOAL IF-4: ENERGY. The City will work with utility providers to provide efficient electricity and natural gas utilities that serve the needs of existing and future residents and businesses.

POLICIES
IF-4.1 Agency Coordination. Work with Southern California Edison and the Southern California Gas Company to ensure that cost-effective utilities are provided, maintained, and operated in a safe manner.

IF-4.2 Utility Undergrounding. Require all new developments to install utilities underground to enhance public safety, improve visual character, and reduce service disruptions.

IF-4.3 New Underground Utilities. Work with Southern California Edison to install new subsurface distribution lines.

IF-4.4 Transmission Line Landscape Maintenance. Enforce Federal standards, industry best practices, and State/local regulations around electric transmission and communication lines to prevent or reduce the potential for felled branches or trees to cause power outages and disrupted communications.

IF-4.5 Distribution Line Landscape Maintenance. Support and facilitate regular tree trimming and vegetation management around electric distribution lines to reduce wildfire risk, protect public safety, and maintain reliable electric service, consistent fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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4.18 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
with California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) safety regulations, State wildfire mitigation requirements, and City tree-protection standards.

These policies collectively reduce the likelihood that implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would require new or expanded electrical facilities that cause significant environmental effects.

Policy OSC-13.1 supports monitoring of electricity demand to plan for adequate service, while OSC-13.3 promotes coordination with utilities to maintain and upgrade distribution systems in a timely manner. OSC-14.3 and OSC-15.1 further reduce long-term demand growth through energy efficiency and electrification measures. IF-4.1 through IF-4.3 supports coordination with SCE and appropriate siting and installation practices, including undergrounding, which can reduce service disruptions and construction-related conflicts. Together, these policies provide a framework to manage demand, coordinate upgrades, and avoid unnecessary new facilities, supporting a lessthan-significant conclusion for the threshold.

Electrical infrastructure improvements needed to serve future development would typically occur within existing developed areas and utility corridors and are often co-located with other utilities. Environmental effects associated with construction or expansion of electrical facilities are addressed in other resource sections of this Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), as applicable. With implementation of the proposed 2050 General Plan Goals and Policies related to system maintenance, demand management, and energy efficiency, impacts associated with the need for new or expanded electric power facilities would be less than significant.

Natural Gas
Less than Significant Impact. Development under the proposed 2050 GPU would increase demand for natural gas and may require the extension and, in some cases, upgrading of natural gas infrastructure to serve future development. Such improvements could include installation of new distribution lines and associated infrastructure. The sizing and placement of natural gas facilities would be determined during the planning and design of individual development projects and would be reviewed by the City of Norco and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) for consistency with applicable standards and service requirements. The proposed 2050 GPU includes a goal and associated policies related to utility coordination and undergrounding that would support the safe, efficient, and reliable provision of natural gas service under future development conditions.

GOAL IF-4: ENERGY. The City will work with utility providers to provide efficient electricity and natural gas utilities that serve the needs of existing and future residents and businesses.

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4.18 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
IF-4.2 Utility Undergrounding. Require all new developments to install utilities underground to enhance public safety, improve visual character, and reduce service disruptions.

These policies support coordination between the City and utility providers to ensure adequate and reliable natural gas infrastructure is provided to serve future development under the proposed 2050 GPU. Policy IF-4.1 promotes coordination with SoCalGas regarding the provision, maintenance, and operation of utility infrastructure, while Policy IF-4.2 requires utility undergrounding to reduce service disruptions and improve public safety. Through implementation of these policies and project-level review of future infrastructure improvements, the proposed 2050 GPU would reduce the potential for significant impacts associated with new or expanded natural gas facilities.

Natural gas infrastructure is typically constructed within existing developed areas, such as roadways and utility corridors, and is often co-located with other underground facilities. Based on anticipated coordination with SoCalGas, implementation of applicable proposed 2050 General Plan policies, and project-level review of future infrastructure improvements, SoCalGas would be able to accommodate the projected increase in demand associated with implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU, and impacts related to natural gas infrastructure would be less than significant.

Telecommunication Facilities
Less than Significant Impact. Development under the proposed 2050 GPU would require extension and, in some cases, upgrading of telecommunications infrastructure to serve future residents and businesses. Such improvements may include installation of telephone, broadband, wireless and cable facilities. Plans for telecommunications infrastructure would be prepared and submitted in conjunction with future development applications and would be subject to review and approval by the City of Norco. The proposed 2050 General Plan includes a goal and associated policies related to telecommunications infrastructure, undergrounding, colocation, and public safety that would help minimize environmental impacts associated with future telecommunication facilities.

GOAL IF-5: TELECOMMUNICATIONS. The City will work with utility providers to provide highquality telecommunication services and utilities that meet the needs of existing and future residents and businesses.

POLICIES
IF-5.1 Visual and Environmental Impacts. Encourage the placement of telecommunication facilities in a manner that reduces aesthetic and environmental concerns while maintaining service efficiency.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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4.18 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
IF-5.2 Utility Undergrounding. Require all new telecommunication distribution lines to be installed underground. Work with utility providers to underground existing utility distribution lines.

IF-5.3 Co-location and Infrastructure Sharing. Support co-location of telecommunication equipment on existing towers, buildings, and other structures to minimize the number of new facilities.

IF-5.4 Public Health and Safety. Ensure that all telecommunication facilities comply with Federal, State, and local safety standards, including radio frequency (RF) exposure limits.

IF-5.5 Public Notification and Community Input. Require public notices and hearings for proposed installations, especially in residential or sensitive areas to ensure community concerns are addressed.

These policies collectively support the efficient expansion and operation of telecommunications infrastructure while minimizing potential environmental impacts associated with new facilities.

Policy IF-5.1 encourages placement of telecommunications facilities in a manner that reduces visual and environmental concerns, while Policy IF-5.2 promotes undergrounding of distribution lines to reduce aesthetic impacts and service disruptions. Policy IF-5.3 supports co-location and infrastructure sharing to minimize the need for new telecommunications facilities, and Policy IF5.4 and IF-5.5 ensure compliance with public safety standards and consideration of community concerns during project review. Together, these policies provide a framework for accommodating future telecommunications demand while reducing the potential for significant environmental effects.

Telecommunications infrastructure is typically installed within existing or planned utility corridors and is often co-located with other utility systems. Through implementation of the proposed 2050 General Plan policies related to telecommunications facility siting, undergrounding, infrastructure sharing, and public safety, adequate telecommunications infrastructure would be available to serve future development, and impacts related to telecommunications facilities would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required because impacts would be less than significant.

Significance After Mitigation
Impacts would be less than significant.

Threshold d. Would the project generate solid waste in excess of State or local standards, or in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals? Threshold e. Would the project comply with Federal, State, and local management and reduction statutes and regulations related to solid waste? fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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Less than Significant Impact. As described above, WM transports waste to the El Sobrante Landfill, a privately owned facility in the City of Corona. Table 4.18-4, Annual Solid Waste Disposal Per Capita – Norco shows the El Sobrante Landfill has received between 25,829 and 31,708 tons per year of solid waste from the City of Norco from 2011 and 2019. Using these reported volumes of solid waste, and the population of the city during each of these years, a per capita solid waste disposal rate was calculated for the city. The average per capita solid waste disposal rate in the itcy, in recent years, is approximately 1.1 tons per year per person.

TABLE 4.18-4, ANNUAL SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL PER CAPITA – NORCO Implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would accommodate an estimated population of approximately 28,496 residents at buildout. Based on the average per capita solid waste disposal rate for the city between 2011 and 2019, as shown in Table 4.18-4, implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would generate approximately 31,300 tons of solid waste annually at buildout. This estimate is conservative because it does not account for future increases in waste diversion associated with continued compliance with State regulations, recycling requirements, organics diversion programs, and local waste reduction efforts. Thus, the approximately 31,300 tons of solid waste generated annually after implementation of the 2050 GPU would represent a reasonable projection of future disposal demand.

The approximately 31,300 tons of solid waste that would be generated annually at buildout would be equivalent to approximately 86 tons per day. The El Sobrante Landfill is permitted to receive up to 16,054 tons per day. Thus, under implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU, solid waste generated by the City of Norco would be well below the permitted daily capacity of the landfill. The projected disposal at buildout of approximately 86 tons per day would represent less than 1 percent of the landfill’s total permitted daily capacity. Therefore, the El Sobrante ~~117'"'•

CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN
Year
Solid Waste Disposal
Population
Solid Waste Disposal
Originating from per Capita (annual
Norco (annual tons) tons)
2011 31,708 26,937 1.18
2012 25,829 26,971 0.96
2013 25,870 26,416 0.98
2014 27,081 26,213 1.03
2015 28,151 25,364 1 .11
2016 29,361 25,698 1.14
2017 28,942 25,624 1.13
2018 29,476 25,415 1.16
2019 30,556 25,148 1.22
Source: CalRecycle 2019; U.S. Census Bureau; California Department of Finance.

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4.18 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
Landfill has sufficient permitted capacity to accommodate the solid waste disposal needs associated with projected growth under the proposed 2050 GPU.

As described above, the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (Assembly Bill 939) requires local jurisdictions to divert at least 50 percent of solid waste from landfill disposal. In addition, Assembly Bill 341 establishes a Statewide goal of 75 percent waste diversion through source reduction, recycling, and composting. More recently, Senate Bill 1383 requires further reductions in organic waste disposal and mandates increased diversion of organic materials from landfills. The City of Norco complies with these State regulations through implementation of recycling, green waste, and organic waste collection programs, which reduce the amount of solid waste requiring landfill disposal. As a result, diversion rates are expected to continue to increase over time, further reducing disposal demand at landfill facilities.

The proposed 2050 General Plan includes policies intended to reduce solid waste generation, increase recycling and organics diversion, and minimize landfill disposal.

GOAL IF-13: SOLID WASTE. The City will encourage customers to minimize the volume of solid waste that enters regional landfills and increase the amount of recycling.

POLICIES
IF-13.1 Recycling. Encourage recycling and organics collection and processing in all sectors of the community to divert items from entering landfills.

IF-13.2 Organics Facilities. Consult with public agencies and private contractors to ensure adequate organics processing facilities are available.

Because the amount of solid waste that would be generated from implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would remain below the permitted daily capacity of the El Sobrante Landfill, and the proposed 2050 General Plan contains a goal and policies intended to promote recycling, organics diversion, and waste reduction, impacts related to landfill capacity and solid waste disposal would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required because impacts related to solid waste would be less than significant.

Significance After Mitigation
Impacts would be less than significant.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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DRAFTPEIR

4.19 Wildfire
This section of the Program EIR (PEIR) describes existing wildfire hazards, emergency response and evacuation considerations, and wildfire risk conditions within the Planning Area and evaluates impacts associated with wildfire hazards as a result of implementation of the City of Norco 2050 General Plan Update (GPU). The analysis addresses the potential for the proposed 2050 GPU to exacerbate wildfire risks, including exposure of people and structures to wildfire hazards and constraints related to emergency access and evacuation. The City of Norco Safety Analysis (Appendix 4.7) provides information related to the protection of the Norco community from any unreasonable risks associated with wildfire hazards. Information from this analysis is included throughout the Wildfire Draft PEIR section.
a. Existing Conditions
Portions of the city are under threat of potential wildland fires, specifically areas located in or adjacent to hillsides in the city. The State Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps identify locations where fire threat is elevated based on fuels, terrain, weather, and other relevant factors. The presence of these fire hazard severity zones triggers the requirement for a jurisdiction to address wildfire hazards and develop policies and actions that support mitigation and risk reduction. Figure

4.19-1, Fire Hazard Severity Zones (March 2025) depicts the locations within the city located within the very high fire hazard severity zone. Portions of the city located within the Cal Fire recognized Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). Additionally, the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) has identified fire hazard threat zones within the city. The CPUC has also identified areas of elevated wildfire threat associated with electrical infrastructure through Statewide fire-threat mapping. According to the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, the eastern portion of the city ranks high or very high fire hazard.

Figure 4.19-2, Historic Fire Perimeters depicts the historic wildfire perimeters that have occurred in or near the city. Wildfire or the potential of, can be directly related to the City’s land use and development patterns. The City’s low-density, equestrian-oriented atmosphere also contributes to wildfire risk due to the presence of outbuildings, barns, feed storage areas, and other combustible materials commonly associated with equestrian land uses.

Significant development in the city and its surrounding areas are considered wildland-urban area interface areas that have experienced prolonged droughts or are excessively dry at risk of wildfires. In addition, the Santa Ana winds pose an additional threat to the community for spreading wildland fires.1 The City also has large open areas containing dry vegetation, hillsides and slopes which can hinder firefighting capability. There are also portions of the community designated as conservation areas which are designed to maintain wildlife habitat, which includes provisions restricting the removal of vegetation despite its proximity to nearby development. 1 City of Norco. “Emergency Operations Plan. Part I: Basic Plan.” November 7, 2018. Accessed March 2026. https://www.norco.ca.us/home/showpublisheddocument/8/637504384528170000.

LUJ'fW' CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

4.19 Wildfire

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4.19 wILDFIRE
Approximately 20% of the city consists of either open space, conservation, or limited development areas. Fires within or adjacent to the commercial and industrial areas of the city could have a larger economic and financial impact within the community. The size of fires associated with industrial and commercial properties is also a concern, as the resources to combat these fires can be massive and put a strain on local fire jurisdictions. These areas also present an increased potential of fire hazards due to the presence of hazardous materials, chemical storage and use, heavy duty equipment/machinery, and industrial byproducts associated with manufacturing or fabrication processes.

According to the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, the City contains a few constraints that may limit evacuation capacity. The city is bounded by the Santa Ana River to the north, with three bridges providing access to cross the river (I-15, Hamner Avenue, and River Road). Southern and western evacuation routes are plentiful as the City’s street grid integrates directly with surrounding regional grids, such as the City of Corona. Easterly evacuation is limited by the Norco Hills and topographic barriers.

The City of Norco contracts with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department for fire suppression, prevention, and emergency medical services (EMS), and with the County of Riverside Emergency Management Department (EMD) for natural disaster preparedness services. Currently, there are three fire stations that serve the City of Norco. Fire Station 47 (east of I-15 at Sixth Street and Hillside Avenue), Fire Station 57 (west of I-15 on Corydon Avenue south of Fifth Street), and Fire Station 14 (west of I-15 on Hamner Avenue between Second Street and First Street). b. Regulatory Setting

1. Federal
The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires a State mitigation plan as a condition of disaster assistance. There are two different levels of State disaster plans: “Standard” and “Enhanced.” States that develop an approved Enhanced State Plan can increase the amount of funding available through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The Act has also established new requirements for local mitigation plans.

2. State

CAL FIRE
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is the State agency responsible for wildfire protection and fire prevention in State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) throughout California. The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, which operates within CAL FIRE, establishes Statewide wildfire protection policies and adopts regulations related to fire prevention and fire safety. These regulations include fire-safe standards for development in wildfire-prone areas and guidance for wildfire hazard planning. The Board of Forestry and Fire fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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


  




LEGEND
Norco City Boundary
Other City Boundaries
Water Body
River
Streets
Very High
High
Moderate
Unzoned Local Responsibility Area (LRA)
Federal Responsibility Areas (FRA)
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)
Fire Hazard Severity


DRAFT




 
 























 
 






















 
 
























 
 










City Hall
Norco Sheriff’s Substation
Fire Station 47
Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Fire Station 57
Fire Station 14
2 Public Safety Facilities
1 3
4 4
1 2
3 Source: ESRI, City of Norco, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection N
SOURCE: ESRI; California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. FIGURE 2-3

DRAFT PEIR

4.19 WILDFIRE
PAGE 4.19.3
FIGURE 4.19-1, FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES (MARCH 2025)
-
- •
•
• •
~~i.ft]® CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

Page 693 of 848 ends

§¨¦








 







  


































  


LEGEND
Norco City Boundary
Other City Boundaries
Water Body
River
Streets
Historic Fire Perimeter (1878 - 1999)
Historic Fire Perimeter (2000-2023)
Mann Fire (2020) - Approximate Location
n/a

DRAFT



















































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City Hall
Norco Sheriff’s Substation
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3 Source: ESRI, City of Norco, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection N
SOURCE: ESRI; City of Norco; California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. FIGURE 2-3

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4.19 WILDFIRE
PAGE 4.19.4
FIGURE 4.19-2, HISTORIC FIRE PERIMETERS
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2050 GENERAL PLAN
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Protection also reviews local general plan safety elements to ensure consistency with State wildfire planning requirements. Through these programs, CAL FIRE and the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection help reduce wildfire risks and improve wildfire preparedness across the State.

Office of State Fire Marshal
The California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), within CAL FIRE, is responsible for developing and enforcing Statewide fire prevention and fire safety regulations. The OSFM oversees fire safety standards related to building construction, fire protection systems, hazardous materials, and fire prevention programs. The Office also participates in the development and implementation of wildfire safety regulations, including wildland-urban interface building standards and other fire protection requirements contained in the California Fire Code and California Building Code. Through these programs, the OSFM helps ensure that development throughout California incorporates fire-safe construction practices and adequate fire protection measures to reduce wildfire risks.

California Fire Code
The California Fire Code establishes Statewide regulations governing fire prevention and fire protection systems. The Fire Code includes requirements related to fire access roads, fire flow, and water supply, fire hydrant installation, emergency vehicle access, and fire protection systems such as sprinklers and alarms. Provisions of the Fire Code are intended to reduce fire hazards and ensure adequate emergency response capabilities for new developments. Local jurisdictions adopt and enforce the California Fire Code, often with local amendments, as part of their municipal fire safety regulations.

California Building Code
The California Building Code establishes building standards intended to protect life and property from fire hazards. Chapter 7A of the California Building Code contains specific building standards applicable to development in wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas. These standards address ignition-resistant construction, including requirements for roofing materials, exterior walls, vents, decks, and other structural components designed to reduce the risk of structure ignition during wildfire events.

Public Resources Code
The California Public Resources Code establishes fire safety standards applicable to development in wildfire-prone areas. Section 4290 authorizes the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to adopt fire-safe regulations for development within SRAs, including standards related to emergency access, water supply, road design, and signage. Section 4291 establishes defensible space requirements, which require property owners to maintain fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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vegetation clearance around structures in order to reduce wildfire hazards and improve firefighter access during wildfire events.

California General Plan Safety Element Law
Under California Government Code Section 65302, cities and counties are required to adopt a Safety Element as part of their General Plan to address risks associated with natural hazards, including wildfire. The Safety Element must identify wildfire hazard areas, evaluate wildfire risks, and establish policies and implementation measures to reduce potential impacts to people and property. State law requires local jurisdictions to periodically update the Safety Element to address wildfire hazards and coordinate with State agencies such as the Board of Forestry and Fire protection during the update process.

1. Regional
Riverside County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan The Riverside County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies natural hazards affecting jurisdictions throughout Riverside County, including wildfire hazards. The plan was prepared in coordination with local jurisdictions, State agencies, and emergency management organizations to assess regional hazard risks and identify strategies to reduce potential impacts from natural disasters. The plan includes an assessment of wildfire hazards within the region and establishes mitigation goals and actions intended to reduce wildfire risk, improve emergency preparedness, and enhance community resilience. This information is used in this analysis to provide regional context for wildfire hazards affecting the Planning Area.

CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
The Fire Hazard Severity Zone Program, administered by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, identifies areas throughout California that are subject to varying levels of wildfire hazards based on factors such as vegetation, topography, weather patterns, and fire history. Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZs) are classified as Moderate, High, or Very High and are used by local jurisdictions to inform land use planning, building standards, and wildfire mitigation measures. Local governments are required to consider these maps when planning development and implementing wildfire risk reduction measures within their jurisdictions.

CAL FIRE Unit Strategic Fire Plan
CAL FIRE prepares regional Unit Strategic Fire Plans that guide wildfire preparedness and response efforts within specific geographic areas of the State. These plans identify wildfire risks, prioritize hazardous fuel reduction projects, and establish strategies for improving wildfire prevention, emergency response, and community preparedness. The plans are developed in coordination with local fire agencies, land management agencies, and other stakeholders to improve wildfire resilience at the regional level.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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2. Local
City of Norco Emergency Operations Plan
The City of Norco released a revised Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), which is designed as a reference and guidance document, and is the foundation for response and recovery operations for the City of Norco. The City’s EOP coordinates with the Riverside County Operational Area EOP and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to facilitate effective response to any emergency. The plan establishes the emergency organization, assigns tasks, and specifies policies and general procedures during both response and recovery phases of an emergency. It also provides for coordination with the County as the Operational Area (OA) Lead Agency. This plan includes the critical elements of the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), Incident Command System (ICS) and the National Response Framework (NRF).

Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
The City of Norco relies on the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) to understand potential risks and plan for evacuation in the event of severe conditions. The plan evaluates wildfire risks, evacuation capacity and routes within the city.

City of Norco General Plan
The City of Norco 2050 General Plan establishes the community’s long-term vision for land use, development patterns, infrastructure planning, resource conservation, and community character. The 2050 General Plan includes land use designations, goals, and policies that guide growth and development within the city. The currently adopted 2050 General Plan serves as the baseline planning framework against which the proposed 2050 General Plan is evaluated.

City of Norco General Plan Safety Element
The City of Norco 2013 General Plan Update of the Safety Element addresses preventing the loss of life and property and minimize injuries and property damage in the event of hazards. The City of Norco 2013 General Plan Update of the Safety Element includes information on the management of hazardous materials, fire and evacuation hazards. c. Methodology
The analysis provided in this section is based on review of secondary source information, such as the 2050 GPU Existing Conditions Reports (Safety Analysis, Circulation and Mobility Analysis), the City of Norco 2050 GPU Evacuation Assessment (included as Appendix 4.16-2) and fire hazard severity zone mapping.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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d. Impact Analysis

1. Thresholds of Significance
The following thresholds are based on Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines. An impact is considered significant if the 2050 GPU would:
a) Substantially impair an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan; b) Due to slope, prevailing winds, and other factors, exacerbate wildfire risks, and thereby expose project occupants to pollutant concentrations from a wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire;
c) Require the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure (such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water resources, power lines or other utilities) that may exacerbate fire risk or that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment; or 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.

2. Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Threshold a. Would the project substantially impair an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan?
The proposed 2050 GPU would allow the development of new structures and infrastructure within the City of Norco. The proposed Safety Element and Infrastructure and Facilities Element identify measures to protect public safety in the event of an emergency. The proposed Safety Element includes Goals and Policies that address emergency response and evacuation, including maintaining adequate roadway capacity, emergency access, and evacuation route connectivity.

Specifically, Policies S-2.21, S-2.23, and S-2.25 require that new development incorporate improvements to ensure roadway capacity, adequate infrastructure, and multiple points of access to support emergency response and evacuation. In addition, Policies S-6.1, S-6.3, S-6.4, and S-6.8 require the City to plan for, maintain, and improve evacuation routes and connectivity to ensure adequate capacity during emergency events. Policies S-5.1 and S-5.2 further require the City to maintain relaible emergency response services nad coordinate with public safety agencies to ensure adequate service levels.

Under Goal PFS-8 of the proposed Infrastructure and Facilities Element, the City would prioritize prompt and reliable emergency services. Compliance with these policies would ensure that implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would not substantially impair an adopted emergency response or evacuation plan. The City would continue to coordinate with the Riverside County Fire Department/ CAL FIRE and the Riverside County Emergency Management Department to review and approve new development and ensure that adequate emergency access, response capabilities, and evacuation planning are maintained. Implementation of the fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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proposed 2050 GPU would not alter the City’s emergency response framework or designted evacuation routes.

Although future development would increase population and vehicle trips, all development would be required to comply with applicable roadway design, access, and emergency service standards, which would maintain adequate emergency access and evacuation capacity.

Therefore, implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would not substantially impair an adopted emergency response or evacuation plan.

Safety Element Goals and Policies
GOAL S-2: FIRE HAZARDS. The City will work with public safety partners and strive to reduce wildfire risks and impacts.

POLICIES
S-2.21 Existing Development. Ensure new development incorporates the necessary improvements to ensure roadway capacity for existing development can maintain evacuation and emergency equipment access capabilities.

S-2.22 Street Names and Numbers. Ensure street naming and numbering systems adequately identify properties in compliance with Fire Safe Regulations, adopted California Fire Code, and local ordinances to avoid potential confusion for emergency response vehicles.

S-2.23 Adequate Infrastructure. Require all new developments and major redevelopments to have adequate infrastructure in place to support daily demands and emergency response capabilities without degrading service levels for existing developments.

S-2.24 Response Capability. Ensure a high level of emergency response capability through the following measures:
■ Ensure annual budgeting accounts for current and future emergency service needs.
■ Periodically assess and update the City's priorities for future emergency service needs.
■ Coordinate with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department on effective use and training of fire equipment and personnel.

S-2.25 Two-Points of Access. Require all new subdivisions to provide at least two points of access to the circulation network that rely on two different roadways, wherever possible.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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GOAL S-5: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. The City will work with partners to implement emergency management strategies that increase resilience and improve the quality of life.

POLICIES
S-5.1 Emergency Response. Maintain reliable and timely emergency responses by ensuring the integrity of emergency facilities.

S-5.2 Emergency Services. Collaborate with public safety agencies to provide the types of emergency services and levels of support necessary to meet current and future community needs.

S-5.5 Training and Exercises. Collaborate with the Riverside County Emergency Management Department and surrounding jurisdictions on disaster preparedness training programs and emergency management exercises.

S-5.6 Development Review. Ensure the development review process incorporates input from public safety agencies regarding emergency management and response considerations that are incorporated into development plans and conditions of approval.

S-5.7 Public Safety. Promote improved public safety through zoning, subdivision requirements, building regulations, and environmental assessment practices as part of development review.

S-5.9 Encourage Compatibility. Promote land use and design policies and regulations that encourage a mixture of compatible uses to promote and increase the safety of public use areas and pedestrian/equestrian travel.

S-5.10 Plan Integration. Ensure emergency management plans and programs are up to date and maintained to address existing and emerging community issues and hazards.

GOAL S-6: EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND EVACUATION. The City will work with partners to ensure the community is ready and able to evacuate when conditions require.

POLICIES
S-6.1 Evacuation Planning. Ensure areas prone to hazardous conditions requiring evacuation are prioritized in emergency management planning and training efforts.

S-6.3 Evacuation Zones/Routes. Periodically review and update evacuation zones and routes to ensure adequate capacity and connectivity within the circulation network is provided during emergency events.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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S-6.4 Evacuation Improvements. Require new development, redevelopment, and major remodels to ensure effective future evacuations during emergencies by supporting feasible enhancements to the City's evacuation network and facilities.

S-6.6 Private Streets. Design and ensure all private streets, as allowed by the Norco Municipal, Code are maintained for access of unrestricted emergency equipment and personnel in compliance with the California Fire Code, local ordinances, and Fire Safe Regulations.

S-6.7 Emergency Access Improvements. Identify the feasibility of constructing additional emergency access improvements for existing developments that do not meet minimum road standards for emergency equipment, such as:
■ Additional vehicle pullouts at key locations
■ Limiting or restricting on-street parking at key locations ■ Potential for the construction of new or improved emergency access routes ■ Roadside clearance improvements
S-6.8 Existing Routes. Maintain functionality, make improvements, and expand capacity, where feasible, of existing emergency evacuation routes within the city, while considering current and future hazards.

In addition, the City of Norco is served by the CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, which contracts with the City to provide fire suppression, emergency medical services, and fire prevention. CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department reviews and approves projects to ensure that emergency access meets City standards. Additionally, all new development would have to comply with Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, including Fire Code Chapter 10 which addresses fire related Means of Egress, including Fire Apparatus Access Road width requirements. Fire Code Section 4906 also contains existing regulations for vegetation and fuel management to maintain clearances around structures.

The proposed Safety Element identifies designated fire evacuation routes, also shown below in Figure 4.19-3, Norco Resilient IE Evacuation Routes. These routes facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles and the evacuation of residents during emergency situations. Major regional transportation corridors servicing the City, including I-15 and SR 91, provide important regional fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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connections that may be used during large-scale emergency evacuations. Table 4.19-1, Evacuation Routes in the City of Norco, show evacuation routes that traverse through the city.

In the event that a fire requires evacuation for public safety, the City would coordinate the evacuation in acordance with these designated routes.

TABLE 4.19-1, EVACUATION ROUTES IN THE CITY OF NORCO
As part of the 2050 GPU, an Evacuation Assessment (Appendix 4.16-2) was prepared to evaluate the capacity and performance of the City’s evacuation network under wildfire and flood scenarios. The assessment found that, while the City’s primary evacuation network generally has sufficient capacity to accommodate modeled evacuation scenarios, localized constrains exist in certain areas, particularly in hillside and single-access neighborhoods such as Norco Hills and Norco Ridge Ranch. In these areas, limited access, terrain constraints, and the presence of largeanimal evacuation needs may increase evacuation times and reduce overall system efficiency, as shown in Figure 4.19-4, Fire Evacuation Scenario. In addition, the assessment notes that evacuation modeling is subject to inherent uncertainty and does not guarantee performance under all emergency conditions. Therefore, while the analysis provides a useful planning framework, it does not ensure that adequate emergency access and evacuation capacity would be maintained under all future development scenarios.

The proposed 2050 GPU does not propose physical changes such as realigned or closed-off roadways or changes in general transportation circulation and access that would interfere or impair emergency response or evacuation within or throughout the plan areas. As such, the proposed 2050 GPU would also not result in changes to emergency evacuation routes such that use of an evacuation route would be hindered or impacted.

Development under the proposed 2050 GPU would accommodate growth and would increase vehicle trips that could lead to increased roadway congestion during emergency evacuations.

However, in coordination with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, the City would review ~~117'"'•

CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN
North / South East /West
Interstate 15 (1-15) Norco Drive
Hamner Avenue Sixth Street
Corydon Avenue Fifth Street
River Road Second Street
California Avenue First Street
Mountain Avenue
Hidden Valley Parkway
Arlington Avenue
Source: City of Norco. Safety Analysis. November 13, 2023. Appendix 4.7.

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FIGURE 4.19-3, NORCO RESILIENT IE EVACUATION ROUTES

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4.19 WILDFIRE
SOURCE: Western Riverside Council of Governments, Resilient IE – 2020. PAGE 4.19.13 Caltrans Local Bridges
LEGEND
Caltrans State Bridges
Water Crossings
Evacuation Routes
City Boundary
Sphere of Influence
WRCOG Boundary
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2050 GENERAL PLAN
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0 ½ 1
Miles
Primary Evacuation Routes
Road Closure
Norco, CA
1/4 mi Buffer
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Moderate
High
Very High
Scenario Evacuation
Route
Norco Hills Road
Schleisman Road
Chandler Street
Citrus Street
Norco Drive
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Hidden Valley Parkway Rincon Street
Hamner Avenue
Hellman Avenue
Archibald Avenue
Corydon Street
Arlington Avenue
Scholar Way
Sumner Avenue
River Road
Promenade Avenue
Crestview Drive
California Avenue
68th Street
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Pine Avenue
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Source: Resilient IE, Cal Fire
FIGURE 4.19-4, FIRE EVACUATION SCENARIO

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4.19 WILDFIRE
SOURCE: Fehr & Peers; Reslient IE; Cal FIRE. PAGE 4.19.14 --- - (
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and approve projects to ensure that emergency access meets City standards. Development under the proposed 2050 GPU would also comply with road standards to ensure development would not interfere with evacuation routes and would not impede the effectiveness of evacuation plans.

Development allowed by the proposed 2050 GPU may include improvements within existing roadway rights-of-way, including facilities under the jurisdiction of Caltrans. Such improvements would be required to comply with applicable Caltrans permitting requirements and traffic control standards, including the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

Compliance with these requirements would ensure that adequate emergency access is maintained during construction activities and would not interfere with emergency response or evacuation.

Implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would facilitate additional development within areas of the city, including locations in or adjacent to Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and the wildland-urban interface. However, the proposed 2050 GPU includes policies intended to improve emergency access, evacuation planning, and emergency response coordination. In addition, future development projects would be required to comply with applicable fire and building code requirements and would be subject to review by CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department to ensure adequate emergency access and evacuation capabilities are maintained.

Therefore, implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would not substantially impair an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan, and impacts would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required because impacts related to emergency response and evacuation plans would be less than significant.

Significance After Mitigation
Impacts would be less than significant.

Threshold b. Would the project 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?
The proposed 2050 GPU would allow additional development and facilitate population growth within the City of Norco, including in areas identified as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and within the wildland-urban interface (WUI). As described in the Existing Conditions, wildfire risk within the city is influenced by a combination of environmental and land use factors, including the presence of dry vegetation, open space areas, hillsides, and slope conditions, all of which can contribute to wildfire intensity, fire behavior, and rates of fire spread. In addition, fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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prevailing Santa Ana wind conditions can exacerbate wildfire conditions by increasing ember transport, fire spread rates, and fire intensity during wildfire events.

The City’s rural and equestrian-oriented atmosphere further contributes to wildfire risk due to the presence of combustible materials such as barns, outbuildings, feed storage, and other ancillary structures. Additionally, portions of the city include conservation and open space areas where vegetation management may be limited, thereby increasing combustible fuel loads in proximity to developed areas. Industrial and commercial uses may also contribute to wildfire hazards due to the presence of hazardous materials, combustible materials, equipment, and byproducts that could increase fire intensity or create secondary fire risks during wildfire events.

Implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU could result in new development within these highrisk areas, thereby increasing the number of people and structures exposed to wildfire hazards.

Future residents, employees, and visitors could be exposed to smoke, ash, embers, and other pollutant concentrations generated during wildfire events, as well as hazards associated with the uncontrolled spread of wildfire. The proposed 2050 General Plan includes Goals and Policies intended to reduce wildfire risk, improve fire protection and emergency access, and minimize exposure to wildfire hazards. However, implementation of additional development within the wildland-urban interface could increase human activity, ignition sources, and infrastructure in fire-prone areas, which may exacerbate wildfire risk despite compliance with applicable fire safety requirements.

Safety Element Goals and Policies
GOAL S-2: FIRE HAZARDS. The City will work with public safety partners and strive to reduce wildfire risks and impacts.

POLICIES
S-2.4 Vulnerability Assessment. Assess fire risk for new development, redevelopment, and major remodels proposed in fire-prone areas to determine vulnerability to fire and potential sources of fire.

S-2.5 Functionality and Aesthetics. Encourage all fire prevention measures used in wildland areas to mFeet fire prevention functional needs, while maintaining the aesthetic character of the natural area.

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■ Installation of automatic fire extinguishing systems in new buildings S-2.12 New Development – Low Risk Areas. Encourage new development outside of the very high fire hazard severity zone. If development is proposed in this zone, require fire safe design, including but not limited to defensible space and home hardening, and compliance with fire safe regulations, the adopted California Fire Code, and local ordinances.

S-2.13 New Development – Fire Safe Regulations. Require all new developments, redevelopments, and major remodels located in the Wildland Urban Interface or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone to meet or exceed Statewide Fire Safe Regulations [(Title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 2, articles 1-5, commencing with section 1270, local Fire Safe Regulations) and (Title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 3, article 3, commencing with section 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations)].

S-2.14 New Development – Design Measures. Require new development to incorporate design measures that enhance fire protection in areas of elevated fire risk, including the Wildland Urban Interface and Fire Hazard Severity Zones. This shall include, but is not limited to, the incorporation of fire-resistant structural design, use of fire-adapted landscaping, home hardening, defensible space, and vegetation management around the perimeter of structures.

S-2.15 New Development – Codes and Regulations. Require new developments and major remodels or renovations to comply with the California Building Code, California Fire Code, Fire Safe Regulations, and local ordinances for construction and adequacy of water flow and pressure, ingress/egress, and other measures to ensure adequate fire protection.

S-2.17 Fire Hazard Reduction. Coordinate with local and regional agencies, such as CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department or Caltrans, and require vegetation management and long-term maintenance of fire hazard reduction projects, including community fuel breaks on all private/public roads and properties in Wildland Urban Interface and Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

S-2.18 Fire Defense. Maintain fuel breaks and other fire defense improvements on public property and require similar measures for private property in compliance with Fire Safe Regulations.

S-2.19 Open Space. Ensure City-owned open space brush areas, susceptible to wildfire risk, are adequately maintained in accordance with Fire Safe Regulations, California Fire Code, and local ordinances.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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Collectively, these policies would reduce wildfire risk through implementation of fire-safe development standards, defensible space requirements, fuel management practices, emergency preparedness practices, emergency preparedness planning, vegetation management, and coordination with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department. In addition, the proposed policies would require compliance with applicable fire codes and fire-safe regulations, incorporation of fire-resistant design features, maintenance of adequate firefighting infrastructure and water supply, and continued emergency service coordination for future development within the city, including areas located in or adjacent to Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and the wildland-urban interface.

Implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would facilitate future development within areas of the city, including areas located in or adjacent to Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and the wildland-urban interface. However, the proposed 2050 GPU includes policies requiring fire-safe development standards, defensible space, vegetation management, emergency preparedness planning, and coordination with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department. In addition, future development would be required to comply with applicable fire and building code requirements intended to reduce wildfire risk. Compliance with these policies and regulations would reduce potential wildfire hazards and exposure risks. Therefore, implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would not exacerbate wildfire risks or substantially expose people or structures to significant wildfire hazards, and impacts would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required because impacts related to wildfire risk and exposure would be less than significant.

Significance After Mitigation
Impacts would be less than significant.

Threshold c. Would the project require the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure (such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water resources, power lines or other utilities) that may exacerbate fire risk or that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment? Implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would facilitate future development within the City of Norco, which would require the installation, expansion, and ongoing maintenance of supporting infrastructure, including roadways, water supply systems, fire protection and fire flow infrastructure, fuel modification areas, and utility systems such as electrical transmission and distribution lines. As described in the Existing Conditions, much of the city is located within or adjacent to wildland-urban interface areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, where wildfire hazards are elevated due to the presence of dry vegetation, open space areas, steep slopes, and hillside terrain.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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The expansion of infrastructure into these areas has the potential to exacerbate wildfire risk and result in environmental disturbances. For example, utility infrastructure such as overhead electrical transmission and distribution lines has been identified by the California Public Utilities Commission as a potential source of wildfire ignition. Similarly, roadway improvements, fuel modification activities, vegetation clearing, and construction of fire protection infrastructure may alter existing vegetation patterns and result in impacts such as habitat disturbance, soil exposure, erosion, and changes to drainage patterns.

In addition, ongoing maintenance of infrastructure, including vegetation management and fuel reduction activities, may result in recurring disturbance to biological resources, natural landscapes, and open space areas. Although such activities are intended to reduce wildfire hazards and improve fire protection, they may also affect natural landscapes, particularly within open space areas, conservation areas, and the wildland-urban interface.

The proposed 2050 GPU includes policies and programs that require coordination with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department and other agencies to ensure that infrastructure improvements, fuel modification activities, and fire protection measures are designed and maintained in a manner intended to reduce wildfire hazards while supporting emergency response and fire protection capabilities.

Safety Element Goals and Policies
GOAL S-2: FIRE HAZARDS. The City will work with public safety partners and strive to reduce wildfire risks and impacts.

S-2.6 Project Review. Incorporate the following fire prevention and suppression strategies during development review, where necessary:
■ Adequate access to buildings
■ Adequate separation between buildings
■ Adequate building setbacks from fuel modification areas ■ Installation of automatic fire extinguishing systems in new buildings S-2.12 New Development – Low Risk Areas. Encourage new development outside of the very high fire hazard severity zone. If development is proposed in this zone, require fire safe design, including but not limited to defensible space and home fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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4.19 wILDFIRE
hardening, and compliance with fire safe regulations, the adopted California Fire Code, and local ordinances.

S-2.13 New Development – Fire Safe Regulations. Require all new developments, redevelopments, and major remodels located in the Wild Urban Interface or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone to meet or exceed Statewide Fire Safe Regulations [(Title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 2, articles 1-5, commencing with section 1270, local Fire Safe Regulations) and (Title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 3, article 3, commencing with section 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations)].

S-2.18 Fire Defense. Maintain fuel breaks and other fire defense improvements on public property and require similar measures for private property in compliance with Fire Safe Regulations.

S-2.20 Water Supply. Ensure Water Supply capacity and availability meet current and future needs through the following:
■ Coordinate with water providers to maintain and enhance water supply infrastructure to ensure adequate supplies for existing and future daily demands and firefighting suppression requirements.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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PAGE 4.19.21

DRAFTPEIR

4.19 wILDFIRE
■ Ensure new developments do not degrade water supplies and capacities for existing development by incorporating infrastructure upgrades to maintain/enhance services.
■ Support regional and subregional efforts to ensure adequate water supply for daily use and f irefighting purposes remain available to the City to meet current and future demands.
■ Ensure infrastructure meets current and future daily demands and fire flow requirements while still meeting desired community character.

Collectively, these policies would reduce potential wildfire and environmental impacts associated with infrastructure installation and maintenance through implementation of fire-safe development standards, defensible space requirements, vegetation management practices, fuel modification measures, fire protection infrastructure, and coordination with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department. In addition, the proposed policies would require compliance with applicable fire codes and regulations, maintenance of adequate firefighting water supply and infrastructure, and incorporation of wildfire risk reduction measures into future development and infrastructure improvements within areas located in or adjacent to Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and the wildland-urban interface.

Compliance with applicable regulations, including the California Fire Code, Public Resources Code Sections 4290 and 4291, and other fire safety standards, would reduce potential wildfire and environmental impacts associated with infrastructure installation and maintenance. As discussed above, the proposed 2050 GPU includes policies requiring fire-safe development standards, vegetation management, fuel modification measures, and coordination with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department. Compliance with these policies and regulations would reduce potential impacts associated with infrastructure improvements and maintenance activities. Therefore, implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would not require infrastructure improvements that would substantially exacerbate wildfire risk or result in significant environmental impacts, and impacts would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required because impacts would be less than significant.

Significance After Mitigation
Impacts would be less than significant.

Threshold d. Would the project 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? fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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PAGE 4.19.22

DRAFTPEIR

4.19 wILDFIRE
Implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would facilitate future development within areas of the City of Norco that are subject to wildfire hazards, including Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and wildland-urban interface areas. As described in Existing Conditions, portions of the city include hillsides, slopes, and open space areas containing dry vegetation. Wildfire events in these areas have the potential to remove stabilizing vegetation cover and destabilize soils, resulting in increased susceptibility to erosion, sediment transport, debris flows and slope failure.

Post-fire conditions can substantially alter drainage patterns and increase runoff rates and volumes of stormwater runoff due to the loss of vegetation and reduced soil stability and changes in soil infiltration characteristics. This can result in downstream flooding, debris flows, and sediment transport that may affect developed areas and infrastructure. In addition, slope instability and landslides may occur in hillside areas following wildfire events, particularly during intense precipitation and storm events.

Implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would introduce new development and infrastructure into areas that may be subject to post-fire flooding, erosion, debris flows, and slope instability, thereby increasing the number of people and structures exposed to such hazards. The proposed 2050 GPU includes policies and programs intended to reduce wildfire risk and improve emergency preparedness, infrastructure planning, drainage management, and coordination with applicable agencies. In addition, future development would be required to comply with applicable building and fire codes, drainage requirements, erosion control standards, and slope stability regulations intended to reduce risks associated with post-fire conditions.

Compliance with applicable regulations, including building and fire codes, would reduce potential risks associated with post-fire flooding, erosion, debris flows, and slope instability.

Therefore, implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU would not expose people or structures to substantial risks associated with post-fire conditions, and impacts would be less than significant.

Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required because impacts would be less than significant.

Significance After Mitigation
Impacts would be less than significant.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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PAGE 5.1

DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives

5. Alternatives
a. Purpose and Scope
Section 15126.6(a) of the CEQA Guidelines requires Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) to describe “a range of reasonable alternatives to the project…, which would feasibly attain most of the basic objectives of the project but would avoid or substantially lessen any of the significant effects of the project and evaluate the comparative merits of the alternatives.” An EIR need not consider every conceivable alternative to a project. Instead, a reasonable range of potentially feasible alternatives must be considered that fosters informed decision-making and public participation. An EIR is not required to consider alternatives that are infeasible.

In defining “feasibility” (e.g., “feasibly attain most of the basic objectives of the project”), CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6(f)(1) states, in part:

Among the factors that may be taken into account when addressing the feasibility of alternatives are site suitability, economic viability, availability of infrastructure, general plan consistency, other plans or regulatory limitations, jurisdictional boundaries (projects with a regionally significant impact should consider the regional context), and whether the proponent can reasonably acquire, control or otherwise have access to the alternative site (or the site is already owned by the proponent). No one of these factors establishes a fixed limit on the scope of reasonable alternatives.

The lead agency is responsible for selecting a range of project alternatives for examination and must publicly disclose its reasoning for selecting those alternatives. There is no ironclad rule governing the nature or scope of the alternatives to be discussed other than the rule of reason.

Section 15126.6(b) describes the purpose of the alternatives analysis as follows:

Because an EIR must identify ways to mitigate or avoid the significant effects that a project may have on the environment (Public Resources Code Section 21002.1), the discussion of alternatives shall focus on alternatives to the project or its location which are capable of avoiding or substantially lessening any significant effects of the project, even if these alternatives would impede to some degree the attainment of the project objectives or would be more costly.

Consideration of the “no project” alternative is required by CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6[e].

The CEQA Guidelines require analysis that compares the impacts of alternatives with the impacts of the project as proposed.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

5.1 Introduction

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PAGE 5.2

DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
The range of alternatives included for analysis in an EIR is governed by the “rule of reason.” The selection and discussion of alternatives fosters informed decision-making and informed public participation. This is accomplished by providing sufficient information to enable readers to reach conclusions about the alternatives. This approach avoids assessing an unmanageable number of alternatives or analyzing alternatives that differ too little to provide additional meaningful insights about their environmental effects. The alternatives addressed in this Draft Program EIR (PEIR) were selected in consideration of one or more of the following factors:
• The extent to which the alternative would accomplish most of the basic objectives of the project.
• The extent to which the alternative would avoid or reduce any of the identified significant environmental effects of the project.
• The feasibility of the alternative, taking into account site suitability and parcel sizes, and consistency with applicable public plans, policies, and regulations. • The appropriateness of the alternative in contributing to a reasonable range of alternatives necessary to permit a reasoned choice.

The alternatives analyzed in this EIR were chosen based on the ability of each alternative to feasibly attain the basic project objectives while avoiding or reducing one or more significant impact identified for the project. The comparative analysis provides readers with adequate information to compare the effectiveness of identified mitigation for significant adverse impacts and to enable readers to make decisions about the project. a. Project Objectives
As described in Section 2.0, Project Description, the following project ojectives are established for the 2050 General Plan Update (GPU) and will aid decision-makers in the review of the proposed project, the project alternatives, and associated environmental impacts. • Keep Norco “Norco.”
• Preserve Norco’s small-town character.
• Support and attract businesses.
• Establish a more prominent downtown environment.
• Position Norco as a prime visitor destination.
• Create safe streets and trails.
• Expand and enhance Norco’s amenities and services.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

5.2 Development of Project Alternatives

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PAGE 5.3

DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
As discussed in CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6, there were no alternatives initially considered or suggested that were rejected as infeasible during the Notice of Preparation (NOP) scoping process.

Suitable alternatives are those which:
• Can substantially reduce potential significant impacts; • Can feasibly attain most of the basic project objectives; • Create safe streets and trails; and
• Expand and enhance Norco’s amenities and services.

The following alternative was initially considered by the City during preparation of the PEIR, but rejected because it would not meet these criteria.
a. Alternative Location
The proposed project covers the existing City of Norco and the City’s Sphere of Influence.

Alternative locations are typically evaluated when significant impacts could be avoided or lesseded by considering an alternative location for a project. To be feasible, an alternative location must be able to meet most of the project’s basic objectives. Given the nature of the proposed project, adoption of a general plan for the entire city and sphere of influence area, it is not possible to consider an off-site alternative because the City boundaries have been established through incorporation. For this reason, an alternative location was considered infeasible pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6(c) and was rejected as a feasible project alternative.

Even if no significant impacts are found, an EIR must still analyze the “No Project” alternative and, if the No Project Alternative is the environmentally superior alternative, identify another environmentally superior alternative. The scope is limited to feasible, reasonable alternatives that foster informed decision-making under the “rule of reason” Based on the project objectives, the following alternatives have been determined to represent a reasonable range of alternatives which have the potential to feasibly attain most of the basic objectives of the project. These alternatives are summarized in this section:
• No Project/Existing General Plan; and
• Norconian Resort Site Alternative

5.3 Alternatives Eliminated from Detailed
Consideration

5.4 Alternatives Selected for Further Analysis
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
a. No Project/Existing General Plan Alternative
The No Project Alternative is required to discuss the existing conditions at the time the notice of preparation is published and evaluate what would reasonably be expected to occur in the foreseeable future if the proposed project is not approved (CEQA Guidelines, Section 15126.6(e)).

Pursuant to CEQA, this Alternative is based on current plans and consistent with available infrastructure and community services. Accordingly, the No Project/Existing General Plan Alternative assumes that the proposed project would not be adopted, and the development and associated growth allowed by the existing General Plan would occur.

Table 5-1, Norco 2010 General Plan Projected Growth, shows the growth projected from implementation of the current General Plan.

TABLE 5-1, NORCO 2010 GENERAL PLAN PROJECTED GROWTH
Because the Planning Area would be the same under the 2010 General Plan and the proposed 2050 GPU, potential impacts related to development within the City’s Planning Area, such as biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils would be similar for the No Project Alternative and proposed 2050 GPU. The projected population from implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU is 28,495, approximately 3,281 more residents than would occur with the No Project Alternative. The reduced population under this alternative would generally result in a reduction in intensity related impacts. For example, this alternative would generate fewer auto trips, traffic noise would be less, and impacts on services and utilities would be less.

It should be noted that the growth not accommodated in the city under this alternative would likely occur in other communities in the region. This could result in encroachment into open space or other areas with sensitive resources if adequate developable land is not available in those communities. While this alternative would reduce overall impacts as compared to the proposed 2050 GPU, it would not likely reduce any of the impacts identified as significant as the proposed 2050 GPU does not result in significant impacts. b. Norconian Resort Site Alternative
This alternative would implement the Norco 2050 GPU, as evaluated in this PEIR, with additional land uses on the Norconian Resort Site. It should be noted that the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would implement all the same Goals and Policies outlined in the 2050 General Plan. ~~117'"'•

CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN
Scenario City Area Households Jobs Population (acres)
Existing Conditions 9,808 7,147 15,006 25,389
201 0 General Plan Projected Growth 0 +187 -22,218 -175 Projected Total 9,808 7,334 -7,210 25,214

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PAGE 5.5

DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
Growth projected under the 2050 GPU is summarized in Table 5-2, Norco 2050 General Plan Projected Growth. The table represents anticipated growth at full buildout of the 2050 GPU.

TABLE 5-2, NORCO 2050 GENERAL PLAN PROJECTED GROWTH

The additional growth that would occur under this alternative would be associated with the Norconian Resort Site, which was once one of the nation’s premier destinations with a rich and layered history. Built in 1929 atop natural hot springs, the resort quickly became a celebrated luxury destination. As the resort’s success declined during the economic downturn of the Great Depression, the property later transitioned to U.S. Navy ownership in the early 1940s. During World War II, the U.S. Navy converted the hotel into a hospital, adding ancillary structures to expand capacity. In the 1960s, the State of California acquired the northern portion of the property and repurposed the hotel and adjacent buildings as the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC). Although the hotel was vacated in the early 2000s due to seismic retrofit needs, the ancillary buildings continued operating as a prison. In 2025, the State announced that CRC would close in 2026, creating an opportunity for restoration, adaptive reuse, and redevelopment of the historically significant site. Several buildings and structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, underscoring its cultural value. Additional features and amenities near the site include the City-owned and -operated Wayne Makin Shearer Sports Complex, located just to the west, and the Corydon Staging Area, Santa Ana River, and its extensive trail network just beyond (refer to Figure 5-1, Norconian Resort Site Existing Context).

The Norconian Resort site presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a thoughtfully planned, economically sustainable destination that blends residential, commercial, recreational, and resort uses in a way that reflects Norco’s history and core values. The vision for the site includes the restoration of the historic Norconian Hotel, the adaptive reuse of the surrounding historically significant buildings, the development of a master-planned sports complex, and the creation of a mixed-use neighborhood that integrates housing and neighborhood-serving commercial uses while preserving historic resources. Key components of the project, as shown in Figure 5-2, Norconian Resort Site Concept, include:
• Historic Norconian Hotel and Hilltop Resort. This area focuses on the restoration of the Norconian Hotel and the adaptive reuse of the adjacent historic buildings (Tea House and Nurse’s Quarters) to create a destination that supports resort-style amenities, hospitality uses, and unique visitor experiences.
~~117'"'•

CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN
Scenario City Area Households Jobs Population (acres)
Existing Conditions 9,808 7,147 15,006 25,389
Growth from Proposed Land Use Plan 0 +1,110 +1,794 +3,106 Projected Total by Year 2050 9,808 8,257 16,800 28,495

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PAGE 5.6

DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
• Expanded Sports Complex. This area reimagines the existing sports fields into a master-planned, consolidated sports complex. As part of this vision, Western Avenue would likely be realigned so it no longer bisects the central activity area. • Current Sports Fields. This area is owned and operated by the City of Norco and would be thoughtfully integrated into the expanded sports complex master plan. • Residential/Commercial Redevelopment and Adaptive Reuse. This area would be shaped by market demand. The preferred approach is to adaptively reuse the historic buildings (Powerhouse, Annex, Chapel, Theater, Gym, and Corpsman’s Quarters) for the most feasible uses while creating a walkable community that blends neighborhood-serving commercial use with a variety of for-sale and rental housing options. New construction would reflect Spanish Mediterranean architecture, feature agricultural amenities, and be thoughtfully integrated with Norco’s horse trail network.

The anticipated land use projections for the above concept are summarized in Table 5-3, Norconian Resort Site Land Uses.

TABLE 5-3, NORCONIAN RESORT SITE LAND USES
~~117'"'•
Component
Historic Hilltop Resort
Area
(acres)

26.69 Expanded Sports Complex 15.47
Lower
Residential/Commercial
Neighborhood
Total

45.44 87.6
Residential
(units)
6642
664
Neighborhood Retail
(sf)
50,000
50,000
Resort/
Visitor
Serving (sf)
479,3871
54,2903
533,677
Office (sf)
146,5854
146,585
Assumes adaptive reuse of 397,790 sf historic Norconian Hotel building and 81,597 historic Nurse's Quarters building.
2 Includes 589 residential units of new construction and 75 units of adaptive reuse in the historic Corpsman's Quarters building. New construction determined by multiplying the area of the Lower Residential/Commercial Neighborhood times a gross density of 15 du/ac (and a net density of 20 du/ac, that assumes 75% of area devoted to streets and open space). Number of adaptive reuse units assumed at 1,000 sf gross per unit.
3 Assumes renovation of 28,894 sf historic Theater building, 12,000-sf Gym building and 13,396-sf historic Chapel building.
4 Assumes adaptive reuse of 146,585 sf historic Hospital Annex building.

CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

Page 718 of 848 ends

Western Ave
Fifth St
Santa Ana River
Lake
Norconian
Historic Norconian
Hotel
U.S. Navy
Property
State of
California
Property
Wayne Makin Shearer
Sports Complex
Source: Google (2023), Sargent Town Planning (2026)
FIGURE 5-1, NORCONIAN RESORT SITE EXISTING CONTEXT

DRAFT PEIR

5. ALTERNATIVES
SOURCE: Google Earth – 2023; Sargent Town Planning – 2026. PAGE 5.7 fil~lft]® CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN
1 r---------
------

Page 719 of 848 ends

Historic Norconian Hotel and Hilltop Resort
Expanded Sports Complex
Current Sports Fields
Lower Residential/Commercial Redevelopment
and Adaptive Reuse
Western Ave
Fifth St
Lake Norconian
Corydon Ave
Source: City of Norco, Sargent Town Planning (2026)
2 4
1 3
5 6
National Historic Register District
Hotel
Tea Room
Powerhouse
Contributing to Historic District
Nurses’ Quarters
Annex
Chapel
Theater
Gym
Corpsman’s Quarters
7 8
9 2
4 1
3 5
6 8 7 9
Legend
SOURCE: Google Earth – 2023; City of Norco; Sargent Town Planning – 2026. FIGURE 2-3

DRAFT PEIR

5. ALTERNATIVES
PAGE 5.8
FIGURE 5-2, NORCONIAN RESORT SITE CONCEPT
~~i.ft]® CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN
-
-
-
-

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PAGE 5.9

DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
Future adaptive reuse or development of the Norconian Resort site would be guided by a Specific Plan that, at a minimum, includes the following studies and placemaking strategies. • Preparation of Market Study. Perform a market study to determine uses that would be successful on the site, such as recreational facilities, hospitality, and housing. • Restoration of Norconian Hotel and Other Buildings. The restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic hotel is the top priority for this site. This is followed by the restoration and adaptive reuse of contributing ancillary buildings, such as the Gymnasium, Powerhouse, Teahouse, Chapel, Nurses’ Quarters, Corpsman’s Quarters, Hospital Annex, and Theater. • Complete, Interconnected Public Realm Framework. The introduction of an interconnected small-town street network lined by sidewalks and street trees that connects a variety of parks, recreational facilities, and athletic fields (potentially absorbing Clark Field, relocated from the North Hamner Gateway area).
• Introduction of Compatible, Active New Uses. Potential uses that are well-suited to the historic structures and topography of the site include hotel, resort, hospitality, neighborhood-serving commercial space, for-sale and rental housing options, , professional offices, research and development, business park, open space, recreational facilities, and amphitheater.
• Building and Landscape Design. New buildings, landscape, and open space are designed to complement the Norconian Hotel’s Spanish Mediterranean architectural style. • Equestrian Amenities and Trail Network. The redevelopment of the site complements Norco’s equestrian amenities, including connecting to Norco’s extensive trail network, the Corydon Staging Area, and the Santa Ana River.

This alternative would include the development of the 2050 GPU as discussed in this PEIR with addition to the Norconian Resort Site. The projected growth under this alternative is summarized in Table 5-4, Norconian Resort Site Alternative Projected Growth. This represents the anticipated growth to occur under full development of the 2050 GPU.

TABLE 5-4, NORCONIAN RESORT SITE ALTERNATIVE PROJECTED GROWTH ~~117'"'•

CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN
Scenario City Area Households Jobs Population (acres)
Existing Conditions 9,808 7,147 15,006 25,389
Growth from Proposed Land Use Plan 0 +1, 110 +1,794 +3,106 Norconian Resort Site Alternative 0 +664 +2,455 +1,328
Projected Total by Year 2050 9,808 8,921 19,255 29,823
Difference 0 664 2,455 1,328

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PAGE 5.10

DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
TABLE 5-4, NORCONIAN RESORT SITE ALTERNATIVE PROJECTED GROWTH The following is a summary of impacts by topic area for the Norconian Resort Site Alternative compared to the 2050 GPU. Implementation of the Goals and Policies under the 2050 General Plan are assumed for the Norconian Resort Site Alternative that would avoid or lessen potential significant impacts to less than significant are assumed.

1. Aesthetics
Although visual character would change throughout the city with new development due to the 2050 GPU or implementation of the Norconian Resort Site Alternative, the change would be consistent with or enhance existing surroundings and would not be degraded. As future projects are planned, they would adhere to the applicable policies and regulations. Therefore, potential impacts to visual character associated with the Norconian Site Alternative, like the 2050 GPU, would be less than significant.

All future development projects associated with the 2050 GPU and the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be required to comply with 2050 GPU policies and regulations that concern light and glare, including lighting standards for each zoning designation provided in the City Municipal Code. In addition the 2050 GPU and Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be required to adhere the City’s Municipal Code Chapter 15.12 “Security and Safety Standards” which provides lighting standards regulating energy efficiency, position, maximum illumination, and other parameters of lighting fixtures throughout the city. These standards would reduce impacts associated with the 2050 GPU and the Norconian Resort Site Alternative to less than significant.

2. Agricultural
There are no lands classified as Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance within the Planning Area. In addition, according to the California Department of Conservation Williamson Act contract map, there are no active Williamson Act contracts within the city. Lastly, there is no Timberland Production or equivalent zoning district in the City of Norco, nor are there any zoning districts in the city that allow timber production as a use by right.

Consequently, the Norconian Resort Site Alternative, like the 2050 GPU, would result in less than significant impacts.

3. Air Quality
Future development facilitated by the 2050 GPU, or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative, would continue to be subject to applicable South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) regulations, the Norco Municipal Code, and project-specific environmental review, as appropriate.

Scenario
Percentage Difference
City Area
(acres)
0 Households

8.0%
~~117'"'•

CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN
Jobs Population

14.6% 4.1%

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PAGE 5.11

DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
Accordingly, the 2050 GPU would not conflict with or obstruct implementation of the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) or other applicable regional air quality planning efforts. Therefore, associated impacts associated with the 2050 GPU and the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

Future discretionary development projects facilitated by the 2050 GPU would continue to undergo project-specific review and would be required to comply with applicable SCAQMD regulations. Through implementation of the 2050 GPU's land use framework, Goal C-7 and associated Air Quality Element policies, and applicable regulatory requirements, the 2050 GPU and Norconian Resort Site Alternative would support regional efforts to attain applicable air quality standards and would not result in a cumulatively considerable contribution to regional criteria pollutant emissions. Therefore, impacts under the 2050 GPU and the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant
Future development projects with the potential to expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations would continue to be evaluated during project-specific environmental review and would be required to comply with applicable SCAQMD regulations and other regulatory requirements. Through implementation of Goal C-7, associated Air Quality Element policies, and applicable regulatory requirements, exposure of sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations under the 2050 GPU and Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be minimized. Potential impacts associated with the 2050 GPU and Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

4. Biological Resources
As future development is planned under the 2050 GPU and the Norconian Resort Site Alternative, must adhere to applicable 2050 GPU policies and regulations; the intent of which is to provide the protection and conservation of sensitive natural communities and species.

Adherence to these and other policies would ensure that impacts to these resources would be less than significant. Consequently impacts associated with the 2050 GPU or Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

Future developments would be required to comply with applicable Federal, State, and regional laws and regulations that concern the preservation of significant wildlife movement corridors, including the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (WR-MSHCP), Multiple Biota Technical Area (MBTA), and CEQA. As future projects are planned, they must adhere to applicable 2050 GPU policies and regulations, which would ensure that land use and development regulations are applied to reduce developmental impacts to sensitive biological areas such as wildlife movement corridors. Accordingly, under both the 2050 GPU and Norconian Resort Site Alternative, impacts to wildlife corridors would be less than significant.

All future development would be required to undergo project-specific environmental review pursuant to CEQA, which requires an evaluation of impacts with respect to conflict with the WRfil'~~ - CITY or NORCO 2050 GENERAL PLAN

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PAGE 5.12

DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
MSHCP and mitigation for significant impacts. As future projects are planned, they must adhere to applicable 2050 General Plan policies. Therefore, future development under the 2050 GPU and the Norconian Site Alternative would be similar and would not conflict with the WR-MSHCP.

Potential impacts associated with growth forecast under the 2050 GPU and the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

5. Cultural Resources
Conformance with specific 2050 General Plan policies would ensure that new development would preserve and take into consideration historical resources, such as the City’s Equestrian Historic District and Equestrian Landmark, and Beacon Hill under the 2050 GPU. In addition, these policies would ensure that under the Norconian Resort Site Alternative that the restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic hotel, the Gymnasium, Powerhouse, Teahouse, Chapel, Nurses’ Quarters, Corpsman’s Quarters, Hospital Annex, and Theater would occur. Therefore, potential impacts to historical resources associated with growth accommodated by the 2050 GPU and the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

Accordingly, while future development facilitated by the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative could result in impacts to archaeological resources, such impacts would be addressed through project-level environmental review, regulatory compliance, and implementation of the Goals and Policies of the 2050 General Plan. Therefore, impacts on archaeological resources under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

All developments facilitated by the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be required to adhere to existing regulations regarding the treatment of human remains. Thus, impacts on human remains, including those interred outside of formal cemeteries, would be less than significant.

6. Energy
Although implementation of the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would increase overall energy demand as a result of planned growth within the city, this increase would be consistent with projected population, housing, and employment growth and would occur within a framework of energy-efficient land use planning, renewable energy development, utility infrastructure planning, building electrification, active transportation improvements, and mandatory State energy efficiency requirements. Potential impacts due to the 2050 GPU or Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

The 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would accommodate future growth within the City's existing boundaries while promoting renewable energy development, energy efficiency, electrification, active transportation, and efficient utility planning. As a result, implementation of the 2050 GPU would support, rather than obstruct, the objectives of fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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PAGE 5.13

DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
applicable State and local plans related to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Therefore, the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would not conflict with or obstruct a State or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency, and impacts would be less than significant.

7. Geology and Soils
As future projects are planned and developed, they will be required to adhere to the 2050 GPU policies and applicable State laws and local regulations. Therefore, the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative’s potential soil erosion impacts would be less than significant.

Projects in areas with known potential for soil erosion would be required to prepare a sitespecific geotechnical investigation and soils report, per Policy C-8.1, as well as adhere to the grading and other recommendations to minimize impacts associated with erodible soils. As future projects under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative are planned and developed, they will be required to adhere to the 2050 General Plan policies and applicable State laws and local regulations. Therefore, potential soil erosion impacts associated with the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

Projects in areas with known geologic instability conditions would be required to prepare a sitespecific geotechnical investigation and soils report, per Policy C-8.1, as well as adhere to the grading and other recommendations to minimize impacts associated with unstable soils. This would ensure that potential site-specific liquefaction hazards are identified and properly mitigated prior to development. As future projects are planned and developed under the 2050 or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative, they will be required to adhere to the 2050 General Plan policies and applicable State laws and local regulations. Therefore, potential geologic instability impacts associated with the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

Implementation of 2050 General Plan policies, compliance with the California Building Code, City ordinances and established development and engineering standards and codes, as well as conformance to the recommendations of a site-specific geotechnical report, would help minimize risks in conjunction with future development related to expansive soils. Therefore, potential expansive soil impacts associated with growth accommodated by the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

Future development under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative could result in direct impacts on paleontological resources should grading occur in areas of high paleontological sensitivity. Construction activities such as grading and excavation may result in accidental destruction or disturbance of paleontological resources. Consequently, in the areas of high sensitivity for paleontological resources, as well as other areas in the city where no sensitivity mapping has occurred, the implementation of Policy OSC 19.1, which requires paleontological resource assessments for development projects in areas with moderate to high fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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PAGE 5.14

DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
paleontological sensitivity, and implement appropriate measures to avoid, minimize, document, and preserve significant paleontological resources. Therefore, potential impacts associated with the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

8. Greenhouse Gases
Expressed on a per-service-person basis, the City's baseline efficiency rate of 4.92 Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent per Service Point (MTCO2e per SP) in 2017 is projected to improve to approximately 2.75 MTCO2e per SP by 2030 and approximately 0.80 MTCO2e per SP by 2050 under State measures, and to approximately 0.76 MTCO2e per SP under State and local GPU measures. The combination of mandatory State regulatory programs phasing in through 2050 and the 2050 GPU's active transportation and land use policies provides a welldocumented pathway to achieving the threshold at the applicable horizon year. Therefore, growth accommodated by the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would not generate GHG emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment. Potential impacts under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

The 2050 General Plan includes Goals and Policies that affirmatively support the transportation, land use, and building decarbonization strategies of the 2022 Scoping Plan. The 2050 GPU supports the land use integration strategy of SCAG's 2024–2050 Regional Transportation Plan / Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) and is consistent with the Western Riverside Council of Governments Subregional Climate Action Plan. Future development under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative will be subject to all mandatory State (Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction requirements. The 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would not create conditions under which the goals of any applicable GHG reduction plan, policy, or regulation could not be achieved. Potential impacts under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

9. Hazards and Hazardous Material
Future development would be required to comply with applicable Federal and State laws and regional regulations pertaining to the transport, use, disposal, and accidental release of hazardous materials, including but not limited to Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Title 22 of the California Public Health and Safety Code, the Uniform Fire Code, and Chapter

15.09 of the City’s Municipal Code which requires adherence to State fire laws and the Fire Chief regarding the storage, use, and handling of hazardous materials. Adherence to the 2050 General Plan policies would ensure that all hazardous materials transported through the city are along designated routes and avoid sensitive land uses. As future projects are planned and developed under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative, they must adhere to the 2050 General Plan policies and applicable Federal and State laws and local regulations. Therefore, fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

Page 726 of 848 ends

PAGE 5.15

DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
potential hazardous materials impacts associated with the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative, would be less than significant.

All future development under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be required to comply with applicable Federal and State laws and regional regulations. Compliance with requirements of the Hazardous Materials Management System and existing applicable Federal, State, and regional regulations, as well as adherence to applicable policies of the 2050 General Plan, would minimize the risks associated with exposure of sensitive receptors within schools to hazardous materials. Accordingly, impacts under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

While the Planning Area is within the Airport Influence Area for the Corona Municipal Airport, development facilitated by the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would adhere to the requirements of the Corona Municipal Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, as well as other applicable Federal and local regulations which ensure public safety. Accordingly, impacts under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

Future development under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be reviewed and approved by the Riverside County Fire Department prior to issuance of building permits to ensure that it would not preclude or interfere with emergency access or fail to comply with fire department standards. Adherence to Resilient IE and 2050 General Plan policies would ensure that the City’s emergency response plan and City ordinances are updated regularly to reflect current evacuation and emergency procedures Accordingly, impacts under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

10. Hydrology
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Construction permit requires preparation and implementation of Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP), which must include erosion and sediment control Best Management Practices (BMP) that would meet or exceed measures required by the NPDES General Permit, as well as BMPs that control hydrocarbons, trash and debris, and other potential construction-related pollutants. Chapter 15 of the City Municipal Code also provides regulations for stormwater management and discharge control, including proof of compliance with the NPDES permits prior to the issuance of grading, development, or occupancy permits. As future projects are planned under either the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative, they must adhere to the 2050 General Plan policies and regulations. Therefore, implementation of the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site would result in impacts that are less than significant.

Future development projects under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be required to comply with applicable laws and regulations that concern stormwater runoff and protection of drainage patterns, including the City Municipal Code. Chapter 17 of the City’s Municipal Code controls the development of drainage facilities. As future projects are fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
planned, they must adhere to the 2050 General Plan policies and regulations. Therefore, implementation of the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site would result in impacts that are less than significant.

Future development projects under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be required to comply with applicable laws and regulations that concern flooding. As future projects are planned under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative, they must adhere to 2050 General Plan policies and regulations. Therefore, potential impacts relative to impeding or redirecting flood flows associated with the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

Construction and operation of the development envisioned under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would not violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements or otherwise substantially degrade water quality. Implementation of projects under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be restricted to projects for which sufficient water supplies have been secured and approved. Therefore, potential impacts associated with the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

11. Land Use
Implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would not physically divide the City of Norco as currently established. Implementation of the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would primarily occur through infill development, redevelopment of opportunity sites, and incremental growth within and adjacent to existing developed areas of Norco. Future development anticipated under the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would remain integrated with the City’s existing circulation network, neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and community facilities. Collectively, the Goals and Policies within the 2050 General Plan would promote integrated development patterns, interconnected circulation and trail networks, and coordinated planning that maintains connectivity throughout Norco rather than creating physical barriers between established neighborhoods. Future development under the proposed 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would generally occur within established growth areas, along existing corridors, and within identified opportunity and focus areas already connected to the City’s existing roadway and trail network. Therefore, implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site would not physically divide the City of Norco as currently established, and impacts would be less than significant.

Collectively, the proposed 2050 General Plan Land Use and Community Character Element Goals and Policies would support compatible land use patterns, preserve neighborhood character, maintain connectivity between existing and future development areas, and minimize potential land use conflicts. The proposed policies include requirements for compatible transitions fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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5. Alternatives
between residential and non-residential uses, interconnected trail and circulation networks, context-sensitive development standards, preservation of open space areas, coordinated redevelopment of key opportunity sites, and land use planning that protects historical, visual, and natural character of areas such as Beacon Hill. These policies are intended to guide future growth under either the 2050 GPU or Norconian Resort Site Alternative in a manner that maintains community character, protects adjacent neighborhoods, and avoids physical and operational land use conflicts. Therefore, implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site would result in impacts that are less than significant.

12. Mineral Resources
Implementation of the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would not result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region or the residents of the State, nor would it result in the loss of availability of a locally important mineral resource recovery site. Therefore, implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site would result in impacts that are less than significant.

13. Noise
Implementation of the 2050 GPU or Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be required to comply with the City’s Municipal Code, Noise Element policies, and applicable development review procedures intended to evaluate and reduce stationary noise impacts. Through implementation of these policies and existing regulatory requirements, the 2050 GPU and Norconian Resort Site Alternative would minimize the potential for substantial stationary noise conflicts between future development and existing noise-sensitive land uses. Potential noise impacts associated with the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

Because implementation of the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would continue to require compliance with the City’s Municipal Code and applicable Noise Element policies intended to reduce groundborne noise and vibration impacts, exposure of persons to excessive groundborne noise or vibration levels would be less than significant.

Future discretionary development projects implemented under the 2050 GPU and the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would continue to undergo project-specific review to evaluate potential operational noise impacts and ensure consistency with the City’s Municipal Code and General Plan Noise Element policies. Therefore, implementation of the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would not result in a substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels above levels existing without the project, and impacts would be less than significant
Implementation of the Municipal Code requirements and Noise Element policies would reduce the potential for substantial temporary or periodic increases in ambient noise levels associated with future development under the 2050 GPU and the Norconian Resort Site Alternative. In fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
addition, future discretionary development projects with the potential to generate substantial temporary construction noise would continue to undergo project-specific review to evaluate potential impacts and identify feasible mitigation measures, where necessary.

Future discretionary development projects located within airport influence areas will continue to undergo project-specific review for consistency with applicable airport land-use compatibility requirements and noise standards. Through compliance with the Riverside County ALUCP, the City’s Municipal Code, and applicable Noise Element policies, implementation of the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would not expose people residing or working within the project area to excessive airport-related noise levels. Therefore, impacts would be less than significant.

14. Population and Housing
The 2050 GPU and Norconian Resort Site Alternative includes a more conservative population and housing growth forecast compared to Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) 2050 projections, implementation of the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would not result in substantial unplanned population growth or a substantial increase in housing demand beyond what is anticipated and planned for within the city. Further, the acreage of residential land uses designated by the 2050 GPU and Norconian Resort Site Alternative is consistent with State requirements that a general plan provides appropriately designated land to accommodate future housing demand.

The 2050 GPU and the Norconian Resort Site Alternative do not propose any large-scale public works projects, such as new roadways, airports, reservoirs, utilities, or other infrastructure that would result in the displacement of existing housing. Given that the 2050 General Plan includes Goals and Policies to increase overall housing in the city and that there are no current plans for displacement of housing, the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be required to adhere to the 2050 General Plan Goals and Policies. Potential impacts associated with the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

15. Public Services
Adherence to the 2050 General Plan Goals and Policies would ensure that future development incorporates adequate fire protection infrastructure, emergency access, water supply capacity, and emergency response planning to reduce potential impacts related to fire protection services. The development of the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be required to adhere to the Goals and Policies of the 2050 General Plan. Therefore, impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered fire protection facilities under either the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less significant with implementation of General Plan policies.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
No new police facilities are proposed as part of implementation of the proposed 2050 GPU or implementation of the Norconian Resort Site Alternative. However, future growth accommodated by the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative could increase demand for police protection services and may require additional staffing, equipment, facility improvements, or expanded emergency response capabilities over time. Adherence to the Goals and Policies of the 2050 General Plan would ensure impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered police facilities would be less than significant.

Potential environmental impacts associated with future school facility construction would be evaluated on a project-specific basis, as applicable. Future development would also continue to comply with applicable State requirements regarding school impact fees and school facility planning. Implementation of the proposed Goals and Policies would support coordination with the Corona–Norco Unified School District to plan for future educational facility needs. Potential impacts associated with the 2050 GPU or the development of the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

No new library or public facilities are proposed as part of the 2050 GPU. Because the implementation of 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative is a program-level planning document, the precise timing, location, and design of future public facilities are not known at this time. Future public facility improvements would be evaluated on a specific basis, as applicable. Potential impacts associated with the 2050 GPU or the development of the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

Because the 2050 General Plan includes policies intended to maintain and expand recreational resources while planning for future growth, implementation of the 2050 GPU would not result in substantial deterioration of existing recreational facilities or create significant adverse physical environmental effects associated with new or expanded recreational facilities. The Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be required to adhere to the 2050 General Plan Goals and Policies.

Potential impacts associated with the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

16. Transportation
Since 2020, vehicle miles of travel, or VMT, has been used to understand the impacts of a project on the transportation system. For evaluating VMT, it is typically normalized based on residents or service population (SP) (residents plus employees) to identify if a project results in a more efficient land use pattern or a less efficient land use pattern (e.g. the lower the VMT per resident or per service population would indicate a more efficient land use and transportation system which would be beneficial to the environment – less VMT/resident results in less greenhouse gas emissions, less air pollution, etc.).

CEQA also requires a qualitative assessment for alternative evaluation. So, when looking at the potential transportation effects on the environment associated with redevelopment of the fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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DRAFT PEIR

5. Alternatives
Norconian Resort Site Alternative, a qualitative assessment is appropriate to determine if this development would generally increase or decrease VMT; or, in simpler terms, would this redevelopment generally make travel more efficient or less efficient within the city.

To complete this assessment, Fehr & Peers reviewed the travel demand forecasting runs that were completed for the General Plan. Figure 5-3, Norco PA VMT/Resident Map shows the VMT/Resident at the production-attraction (PA) stage of the model run (note, the PA stage does not include VMT associated with trips outside of the model boundary nor does it include truck VMT, but it is the state of the model where VMT can be isolated for only the residential uses).

This figure indicates that the Norconian Resort Site Alternative is located at one of the most efficient areas of the city for residential uses and intensification of residential at this location would benefit the environment and is consistent with the City’s adopted VMT policy direction.

In addition to the information presented on Figure 5-3 we also reviewed VMT/Service Population (SP) as presented on Figure 5-4, Norco OD/VMT SP Map includes origin-destination (OD) VMT which represents all VMT on the network (truck VMT and VMT that leaves the model boundary) and is normalized by SP. The benefit to the OD metric is that it includes all the VMT generated in the area; the detriment to this metric is that we can no longer isolate VMT by land use type.

It should be noted that the immediate use on the Norconian site is likely not representative of what could be constructed there as it reflects the existing institutional uses on the site (which generate high VMT); but looking at the uses surrounding the site is a good indicator of how efficient VMT is in the general vicinity. The figure indicates that VMT/SP around the Norconian site is also in an efficient area of the city (especially the areas to the north, west and south of the site); whereas the retail uses to the east are more regional serving in nature. Furthermore, the retail and park use will be community serving in nature–promoting the efficient VMT component of the site.

After reviewing the VMT mapping from the City’s General Plan, the results indicate that intensifying land use on the Norconian Resort Site Alternative especially residential uses, would result in lower VMT/Resident and lower VMT/SP compared to the rest of the city (especially when considering that the other uses (like a local park and local serving retail) would be serving the proposed and existing communities). Given the efficient location of the Norconian, an alternative that would intensify use of the site would result in lower VMT/Resident and lower VMT/SP. This would reduce the impact of the General Plan on the transportation sector with secondary benefits to other sectors as well (such as greenhouse gas, air quality, noise, and energy). fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

Page 732 of 848 ends

LEGEND
No Residents
Lower than Existing
City Average PA VMT/
Resident
Equal to or Higher
than Existing City
Average PA VMT/
Resident
FIGURE 5-3, NORCO PA VMT / RESIDENT MAP

DRAFT PEIR

5. ALTERNATIVES
SOURCE: City of Norco. PAGE 5.21
)/ AveragelCity PA VMT/SP:15.31
/
'
...... . ... .. ..... !

KORONEBURG

FAIRE SITE
CORONA
MUNICIPA.

AIRPORT

BUTTERFIELD
PARK

8.76 NORCO

COLLEGE J

11.92 fil~ lft]® CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN
-
-
-

18.35 18.83

18.12 15.33

16.35 16.65

HILLCREST
~~t!~Q '

Page 733 of 848 ends

LEGEND
No Service Population
Lower than Existing
City Average OD
VMT/SP
Equal to or Higher
than Existing City
Average OD VMT/SP
FIGURE 5-4, NORCO OD / VMT SP MAP

DRAFT PEIR

5. ALTERNATIVES
SOURCE: City of Norco. PAGE 5.22
Average City OD VMT/SP •: 48.17

KORONEBURG

FAIRE SIITE
CORON.A

MUNICIPAL

AIRPORT

BUTTERFIELD
PARK
104.97

48.43 32.32

44.78 34.86
-
-

LA SIERRA

UNIVERSITY
~ [ft]® CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

HILLCREST

HIGH SCHOOL

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5. Alternatives

17. Tribal Resources
Conformance with specific 2050 General Plan policies would ensure that new development would preserve and consider historical resources, such as the City’s Equestrian Historic District and Equestrian Landmark, and Beacon Hill, when proposed. In addition, these policies would be applicable to the Norconian Resort Site Alternative. Therefore, potential impacts on historical resources associated with growth accommodated by the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

Pursuant to SB 18 and AB 52, Native American tribes were contacted early in the 2050 GPU process to ensure that tribal resources were adequately considered. Since the consultation was done on a citywide level, this included the Norconian Resort Site Alternative. No sacred uses/tribal cultural resources have been identified in Tribal communications. As future projects are planned, they must adhere to applicable GPU policies and regulations; therefore, potential impacts to tribal cultural resources associated with growth accommodated by the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

18. Utilities
Water. Based on the City’s 2025 UWMP, which demonstrates that available water supplies would substantially exceed projected demand under normal, single-dry, and multiple dry-year conditions, and with implementation of the 2050 General Plan policies related to water supply reliability, conservation, infrastructure maintenance, and regional coordination, the 2050 GPU would not require new or expanded water treatment facilities beyond those already planned.

The Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be required to adhere to the 2050 General Plan Goals and Policies. Adequate water supplies would be available to serve the implementation of the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative resulting in less than significant impacts.

Wastewater Treatment. Sufficient treatment capacity is expected to remain available to serve projected growth. Average daily wastewater flows are projected to increase from approximately

1.8 million gallons per day (MGD) to approximately 2.1 MGD under buildout conditions for either the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative, representing an increase of approximately 0.3 MGD. Even with this increase, projected flows would remain below the City’s available treatment capacity of 2.7 MGD and conveyance capacity of 2.5 MGD, utilizing approximately 78 percent and 84 percent of those capacities, respectively.

Stormwater Drainage. Implementation of the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would not require new or expanded stormwater drainage facilities. The Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be required to adhere to the 2050 General Plan Goals and Policies.

Implementation of the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would result in less than significant impacts.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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5. Alternatives
Electric Power. With implementation of the 2050 General Plan Goals and Policies related to system maintenance, demand management, and energy efficiency, impacts associated with the need for new or expanded electric power facilities would be less than significant.

19. Wildfire
Implementation of the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would facilitate additional development within areas of the city, including locations in or adjacent to Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and the wildland-urban interface. However, the 2050 General Plan includes policies intended to improve emergency access, evacuation planning, and emergency response coordination. In addition, future development projects would be required to comply with applicable fire and building code requirements and would be subject to review by CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department to ensure adequate emergency access and evacuation capabilities are maintained. The Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be required to adhere to the 2050 General Plan Goals and Policies. Potential impacts associated with the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative would be less than significant.

CEQA requires a lead agency to identify the “environmentally superior alternative” for the proposed project. Table 5-5, Comparison of Project Alternatives to the Proposed Project outlines impacts associated with each scenario. Because the No Project Alternative would result in an overall reduction in the level of impacts identified for the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site Alternative, the No Project Alternative has been identified as “environmentally superior.” TABLE 5-5, COMPARISON OF PROJECT ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT

5.5 Environmentally Superior Alternative
Project
Topic Environmental No Project
Determination
Aesthetics LS
Agriculture and Forestry Resources LS
Air Quality LS
Biological Resources LS
Cultural Resources LS
Energy LS
Geology and Soils LS
Greenhouse Gas Emissions LS
Hazards and Hazardous Materials LS
Norconian
Resort Site
Alternative
~~117'"'•

CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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5. Alternatives
TABLE 5-5, COMPARISON OF PROJECT ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT In addition to lessening significant impacts, an alternative must also attempt to meet most of the project objectives. Table 5-6, Comparison of Project Alternatives to Project Objectives, compares each of the alternatives to Project Objectives. While the No Project Alternative would result in an overall reduction in the level of impacts identified for the 2050 GPU or the Norconian Resort Site, the No Project Alternative would not meet most of the project objectives.

TABLE 5-6, COMPARISON OF PROJECT ALTERNATIVES TO PROJECT OBJECTIVES ~~117'"'•
Topic
Hydrology
Land Use
Mineral
Noise
Population and Housing
Public Services
Transportation
Tribal Resources
Utilities
Wildfire
Project
Environmental
Determination
LS
LS
LS
LS
LS
LS
LS
LS
LS
LS
No Project
Norconian
Resort Site
Alternative
Note: The symbols in the table indicate the following: No Impact (NI), Less Than Significant (LS), Less Than Significant with Mitigation (LSM), Significant and Unavoidable (SU); Similar Impacts(=), Less Severe Impacts (-), More Severe Impacts(+).

Objective No Project Norconian Resort
Alternative Site
Alternative
Keep Norco "Norco" Meets Meets
Preserve Norco's small-town character Meets Meets
Support and attract businesses Does Not Meet Meets
Establish a more prominent downtown environment Does Not Meet Meets Position Norco as a prime visitor destination Does Not Meet Meets Create safe streets and trails Meets Meets

CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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5. Alternatives
TABLE 5-6, COMPARISON OF PROJECT ALTERNATIVES TO PROJECT OBJECTIVES Because the 2050 GPU and the Norconian Resort Site Alternative result in similar impacts to each other and they both meet the project objectives as set by the City of Norco, these are considered the environmentally superior alternative.

Objective
Expand and enhance Norco's amenities and services
Overall
No Project
Alternative
Does Not Meet
Does Not Meet
Norconian Resort
Site
Alternative
Meets
Meets
~~117'"'•

CITY OF NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

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DRAFTPEIR

6. Other CEQA Considerations

6. Other CEQA Considerations
This section discusses other topics identified in the CEQA Guidelines for discussion in an Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). These additional topics include the potential for a project to induce growth and create significant and irreversible impacts on the environment, as set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.2(e) requires that EIRs discuss the ways in which a project may induce population or economic growth, either directly or indirectly, or the construction of additional housing, either directly or indirectly, in the surrounding environment by removing obstacles to growth or facilitating other activities that could cause significant environmental effects.

The 2050 General Plan Update (GPU) would facilitate growth by encouraging growth within the urbanized areas of the city. Development in these areas would consist of infill development on the remaining vacant sites or redevelopment of underutilized sites. However, infrastructure is largely in place, and commercial growth would be required to comply with the City’s zoning regulations and standards for public services and utilities. For this reason, the secondary effects associated with this growth do not represent a new significant environmental impact that has not already been addressed in the analysis of environmental topics in Section 4.0 of this Program EIR (PEIR).
a. Population and Economic Growth
As shown in Table 6-1, 2050 GPU–Projected Growth, the 2050 GPU includes a more conservative population and housing growth forecast than the SCAG 2050 growth projections. For this reason, implementation of the 2050 GPU would not result in substantial unplanned population growth or a substantial increase in housing demand beyond what is already included in regional growth projections. Further, the amount of residential land designated by the 2050 GPU is consistent with State requirements that a general plan provide appropriately designated land to accommodate future housing demand. The growth facilitated by the 2050 GPU is within regional forecasts and is not considered to be growth-inducing.

The 2050 GPU forecasts job growth to be about 12 percent between 2024 and 2050, bringing total employment in Norco to 16,800 jobs. Additionally, the 2050 GPU would generate temporary employment opportunities during construction of future development projects. Because construction workers would be expected to be drawn from the existing regional work force, construction of future development projects would not be growth-inducing from a temporary employment standpoint.
fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
2050 GENERAL PLAN

6.1 Growth-Inducing Impacts

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DRAFTPEIR

6. Other CEQA Considerations
TABLE 6-1, 2050 GPU–PROJECTED GROWTH
Overall, the 2050 GPU is not expected to induce substantial population or economic expansion to the extent that direct physical environmental effects would result beyond those disclosed in this PEIR. Moreover, the environmental effects associated with any future development in or around Norco as a result of the 2050 GPU would be addressed as part of the CEQA environmental review for such development projects.
b. Removal of Obstacles to Growth
The 2050 GPU encourages growth in areas of Norco either currently planned to accommodate development or planned to expand on existing development. The 2050 GPU would increase employment opportunities so that residents can live and work in Norco. Reducing the need to commute outside the city will reduce vehicle miles traveled, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Because the growth is directed to areas already developed, it is not anticipated that major new infrastructure will be needed. The City is choosing to accommodate both the assigned regional housing need and expansion of employment within the existing developed portions of the city, which will reduce pressure to develop other land in the surrounding area.

All future individual development projects will need to demonstrate consistency with the 2050 GPU and that project-specific environmental impacts have been addressed. As this PEIR addresses the citywide impacts associated with future growth, and site-specific analysis will need to be prepared to demonstrate compliance, subsequent impacts would not significantly affect the environment. The proposed project does not approve the construction of specific development projects and would largely accommodate growth based on market conditions.

Section 15126.2(d) of the CEQA Guidelines requires a discussion of non-renewable resources during the initial and continued phases of project development. Significant irreversible changes as defined by CEQA (Section 15126.2(d)) include the commitment of non-renewable resources toward an alternative and any irreversible environmental changes that could result from the project’s implementation. Development consistent with the 2050 GPU would require an irreversible commitment of material or natural resources for building construction, such as wood, refined metal, petroleum, sand, gravel, and stone. It would result in the irretrievable commitment of energy and water resources to support planned uses, including fossil fuels, natural gas, gasoline, and diesel. Additional vehicle trips due to implementation of 2050 GPU ~~117'"'•

6.2 Irreversible Environmental Effects

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DRAFTPEIR

6. Other CEQA Considerations
would contribute to future cumulative air quality impacts, both adverse and beneficial impacts on increased transit ridership, and efficient allocation of higher intensity land uses in proximity to existing major transportation infrastructure improvements.

The changes in land use designations proposed by the 2050 GPU would result in commitment of areas to be designated uses for the foreseeable future. Irreversible changes are also likely to occur due to future excavation, grading, and construction activities associated with the development of uses allowed under the 2050 GPU. Although these changes can generally be addressed by mitigation measures, the potential for disturbance would represent an irreversible change. Additionally, mitigation measures may not prevent or reduce all potentially significant impacts resulting from construction activities. As described in Section 4.5, Cultural Resources, and Section 4.17, Tribal Cultural Resources of this PEIR, construction activities could have potentially significant impacts on historical, archaeological, and tribal cultural resources, but adherence to the Goals and Policies within the 2050 General Plan would be reduced to a lessthan-significant level.

Section 15126.2(c) of the CEQA Guidelines requires that an EIR describe any significant impacts that cannot be avoided. Specifically, Section 15126.2(c) states that an EIR shall: “Describe any significant impacts, including those which can be mitigated but not reduced to a level of insignificance. Where there are impacts that cannot be alleviated without imposing an alternative design, their implications and the reasons why the project is being proposed, notwithstanding their effect, should be described.” The Executive Summary of this Draft PEIR contains a detailed summary that identifies the 2050 GPU environmental impacts as compared to existing conditions, proposed mitigation measures, and the level of significance of any impacts after mitigation. Implementation of the 2050 GPU would not result in any impacts that are considered significant, adverse, and unavoidable. All environmental topics analyzed in this Draft PEIR were determined to result in less-than-significant impacts, or can be reduced to less-than-significant levels with the incorporation of mitigation measures or the adherence to the Goals and Policies of the 2050 General Plan.

Cumulative impacts refer to two or more individual effects which, when considered together, compound or increase the environmental impact of a proposed project. In accordance with Section 15130 of the CEQA Guidelines, this section of the PEIR addresses cumulative impacts that could occur with respect to the proposed 2050 GPU.

The CEQA Guidelines require a discussion of the cumulative impacts of a project “when the project’s incremental effect is cumulatively considerable,” e.g., when “the incremental effects of

6.3 Significant and Unavoidable Environmental
Effects

6.4 Cumulative Impacts
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6. Other CEQA Considerations
an individual 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.” The Guidelines provide further direction as to the scope of a cumulative impact analysis. The discussion “need not provide as great detail as is provided for the effects attributable to the project alone” and “should be guided by the standards of practicality and reasonableness.” An adequate discussion of significant adverse cumulative impacts can be accomplished by analyzing either (1) “a list of past, present, and probable future projects producing related or cumulative impacts, including, if necessary, those projects outside the control of the agency” or (2) “a summary of projections contained in an adopted general plan or related planning document, or in a prior environmental document which has been adopted or certified, which described or evaluated regional or area wide conditions contributing to the cumulative impact.” As opposed to an individual development project, which has impacts that must be considered together with the impacts of other development proposals in the area, the nature of this proposed Project (namely a long-term citywide planning tool) dictates that this PEIR consider the likely effects of the maximum development potential of the proposed 2050 GPU over an approximately 25-year timeframe. In this sense, this PEIR is inherently cumulative in nature and each of the environmental impact discussions contained in Sections 4.1 through 4.19 consider the cumulative effects of adopting the 2050 GPU.

To further broaden the scope of analysis in determining long-term cumulative effects, the traffic analysis contained in this PEIR (which is also used as the basis for the air quality, noise, greenhouse gas analysis) includes an additional annual growth rate of 0.5 percent, which, over a period of 25 years is roughly equivalent to growth projections for the Riverside County region as provided by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). These SCAG projections are detailed in Section 4.14, Population and Housing of this PEIR. Therefore, these analyses not only account for citywide growth in Norco over 25 years, but also for neighboring growth in the communities of Corona, Eastvale, and Riverside. fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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7. List of Preparers

7. List of Preparers
The following individuals participated in the preparation of this Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR).

City of Norco
Community Development Department
2870 Clark Avenue
Norco, California 92860
Lisette Free, City Manager
Amanda Hamilton, Deputy City Manager, Director of Community Operations Colby Cataldi, Community Development Director
Sam Nelson, Public Works Director
Kelli Anderson, Communications Manager
Erika Woods-Diaz, Associate Planner
Sargent Town Planning
87 East Green Street, Suite 205
Pasadena, California 91105
David Sargent, Senior Principal
Peter VanderWal, Principal
Juan Gomez-Novy, Senior Associate
Meridian | A Trinity Company
374 Poli Street, Suite 200
Ventura, California 93003
Tony Locacciato, AICP, Principal Consultant
Mark Austin, Managing Consultant
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7.1 Lead Agency

7.2 EIR Preparation

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7. List of Preparers
Christ Kirikian, INCE Associate, Director of Air Quality and Acoustics Monica Hernandez, Project Planner
Lisa Maturkanic, Publications/QA Manager
Fehr & Peers
3750 University Avenue, Suite 255
Riverside, California 92501
Jason Pack, Principal
Baldwin Ngai, Senior Engineer and Planner
Atlas Planning
6578 Barranca Drive
Riverside, California 92506
Aaron Pfannenstiel, Principal

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8. References

8. References
Avian Discovery Bird Identification. Little Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii brewsteri). Accessed May 2026. https://www.aviandiscovery.com/bird-identification/little-willow-flycatcherempidonax-traillii-brewsteri/.

California Air Resources Board. “2022 State Implementation Program.” https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/2022-state- strategy-stateimplementation-plan-2022-state-sip-strategy. Accessed January 9, 2025.

California Air Resources Board. “Advanced Clean Cars Program.” Accessed May 2026. ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/advanced-clean-cars-program.

California Air Resources Board. “CARB amends Low Carbon Fuel Standard for wider impact.” 2018. ww2.arb.ca.gov/index.php/news/ carb-amends-low-carbon-fuel-standard-widerimpact. Accessed January 9, 2025.

California Air Resources Board. “Current California GHG Emission Inventory Data.” https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/ghg-inventory-data. Accessed June 2026.

California Air Resources Board. “Hydrogen Sulfide & Health.” Accessed June 2026. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/hydrogen-sulfide-and-health.

California Air Resources Board. “Low Carbon Fuel Standard, About.” ww2.arb.ca.gov/ourwork/programs/low-carbon-fuel-standard/ about. Accessed January 9, 2025.

California Air Resources Board. “Sustainable Communities & Climate Protection Program, About.” ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/ programs/sustainable-communities-climateprotection-program/about. Accessed December 22, 2023.

California Air Resources Board. “Vinyl Chloride & Health.” Accessed June 2026. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/vinyl-chloride-and-health.

California Air Resources Board. “Visibility-Reducing Particles and Health.” Accessed June 2026. https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/aaqs/common-pollutants/vrp/vrp.htm.

California Air Resources Board. 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality. Appendix D.

December 2022.

California Air Resources Board. 2022 Scoping Plan. Appendix D, p. 4.

California Air Resources Board. 2022 Scoping Plan. Appendix D, p. 9.

California Air Resources Board. California Greenhouse Gas Emissions from 2000 to 2022: Trends of Emissions and Other Indicators. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2024-09/nc2000_2022_ghg_inventory_trends.pdf. June 2026. fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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8. References
California Air Resources Board. California’s 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan. November 2017.

California Air Resources Board. California’s 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan. Table 3, p. 31.

California Air Resources Board. California’s Advanced Clean Cars Midterm Review. P. ES-17, C-9.

California Air Resources Board. Clean Car Standards—Pavley, Assembly Bill 1493.

California Air Resources Board. Climate Change Scoping Plan: A Framework for Change.

December 2008.

California Air Resources Board. Final 2022 Climate Change Scoping Plan (Chapter 1). Adopted December 2022.

California Air Resources Board. First Update to the Climate Change Scoping Plan: Building on the Framework. 2014.

California Air Resources Board. News Release: CARB finds vehicle standards are achievable and cost-effective. ww2.arb.ca.gov/ news/carb-finds-vehicle-standards-are-achievable-andcost-effective. Accessed January 9, 2025.

California Air Resources Board. Press Release Number 18-37. ”Climate pollutants fall below 1990 levels for the first time.” July 11, 2018.

California Air Resources Board. SB 375 Regional Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Targets. 2018.

California Building Standards Commission. 2010 California Green Building Standards Code. 2010.

California Code of Regulations 10564.5.

California Code of Regulations 14, Section 15064(h)(3).

California Code of Regulations 14, Section 15064.4(b).

California Code of Regulations 17, Section 95811(b).

California Code of Regulations 17, Section 95812.

California Code of Regulations 17, Sections 95100–95158.

California Code of Regulations 17, Sections 95800–96023.

California Code of Regulations 17, Sections 95811, 95812.

California Department of Conservation. “California Important Farmland Finder.” 2022. Accessed April 2026. https://maps.conservation.ca.gov/DLRP/CIFF/.

California Department of Conservation. “Williamson Act Enrollment Finder.” Accessed May 2026. https://maps.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/WilliamsonAct/App/index.html. fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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8. References
California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System – Black Rail. Accessed May 2026. file:///C:/Users/Mhernandez/Downloads/LHA_B143.pdf.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System.

January 2000. Accessed May 2026.
file:///C:/Users/Mhernandez/Downloads/LHA_A028%20(3).pdf.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fish and Game Commission: Western Burrowing Owl Becomes CESA Candidate. October 2024. Accessed May 2026. https://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/fish-and-game-commission-western-burrowingowl-becomes-cesa-candidate-wildlife-prosecutor-of-the-year-named-waterfowlers-hallof-fame-inductees-recognized.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Protocol for Evaluating Bald Eagle Habitat and Populations in California. 2004. Accessed May 2026.
https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Survey-Protocols#377281284-birds.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Santa Ana River Woollystar (Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum). Accessed May 2026.
https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Plants/Endangered/Eriastrum-densifolium-sspsanctorum.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Swainson’s Hawks in California. Accessed May 2026. https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Birds/Swainsons-Hawk.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan. August 2025.

Accessed May 2026. https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/EnvironmentalReview/WJT/Conservation-Plan.

California Department of Toxic Substances Control. “Corona Naval Weapons Station.” EnviroStor. Accessed May 2026.
https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/profile_report.asp?global_id=80001224.

California Department of Toxic Substances Control. “Wyle Labs – Norco Facility.” EnviroStor.

Accessed May 2026.
https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/profile_report.asp?global_id=33730084.

California Department of Water Resources. South Coast Hydrologic Region. Accessed March 2026. https://www.calwater.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Appendix_D_-_Basin24.pdf.

California Education Code. Section 17210 et seq.

California Energy Commission, California Public Utilities Commission, and California Air Resources Board. 2021 SB 100 Joint Agency Report Achieving 100 Percent Clean Electricity in California: An Initial Assessment, CEC-200-2021-001. March 2021. fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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8. References
California Energy Commission. “2025 California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen).” Accessed May 2026. https://www.energy.ca.gov/proceeding/2025-california-greenbuilding-standards-code-calgreen.

California Energy Commission. Building Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and NonResidential Buildings. 2025. Accessed May 2026. https://www.energy.ca.gov/publications/2025/2025-building-energy-efficiencystandards-residential-and-nonresidential.

California Environmental Protection Agency. Cortese List. Accessed May 2026. https://calepa.ca.gov/sitecleanup/corteselist/.

California Fish and Game Code, Section 1900 et seq.

California Government Code, Section 66477(a).

California Legislative Information. AB 1279 The California Climate Crisis Act. 2022.

California Legislative Information. SB-100 California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program:

Emissions of Greenhouse Gases.

California Natural Resources Agency. California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15064.5(a), CEQA Guidelines.

California Natural Resources Agency. California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15064.5(b), CEQA Guidelines.

California Natural Resources Agency, Final Statement of Reasons for Regulatory Action (December 2009), pp. 11–13, 14, 16.

California Public Utilities Commission. “Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) Program.” Accessed May 2026. https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/rps.

California Public Utilities Commission. California Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS). 2018.

City of Norco. “§ 18.55.20 Storm Management and Rainwater Retentions.” Municipal Code.

Accessed May 2026.
https://ecode360.com/48457828?highlight=groundwater&searchId=159608353952945 #48457828.

City of Norco. “Chapter 6.32 Excavations.” Municipal Code. Accessed May 2026. https://ecode360.com/48448033?highlight=dust&searchId=1871637687049039#4844 8033.

City of Norco. “Chapter 12.08.040 Tree Removal.” Municipal Code. Accessed May 2026. https://ecode360.com/48450597?highlight=tree&highlight=trees&searchId=155931667 9683314#48450597.
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8. References
City of Norco. “Chapter 15.09 Fire Code.” Municipal Code. Accessed May 2026. https://ecode360.com/48452833?highlight=hazardous&highlight=hazards&highlight=m aterials&searchId=1894547601512443#48452833.

City of Norco. “Chapter 15.10 Existing Building Code.” Municipal Code. Accessed May 2026. https://ecode360.com/48452863?highlight=seismic&searchId=1869318905099276#48 452863.

City of Norco. “Chapter 15.12 Security and Safety Standards.” Municipal Code. Accessed April 2026. https://www.codepublishing.com/CA/Norco/#!/Norco15/Norco1512.html.

City of Norco. “Chapter 15.60: Floodplain Management.” Municipal Code. Accessed May 2026. https://ecode360.com/48453057#48453057.

City of Norco. “Chapter 15.90 City of Norco Grading Requirements.” Municipal Code. Accessed May 2026.
https://ecode360.com/48453396?highlight=grade&highlight=grading&searchId=186902 3512007623#48453396.City of Norco. Municipal Code. Accessed April 2026. https://www.codepublishing.com/CA/Norco/.

City of Norco. “Chapter 15.70 City of Norco Stormwater/Urban Runoff Management and Discharge Controls.” Municipal Code. Accessed May 2026. https://ecode360.com/48453351?highlight=quality&highlight=water&searchId=155372 680710861#48453351.

City of Norco. “Chapter 18.41: Architectural Review.” Municipal Code. Accessed April 2026. https://www.codepublishing.com/CA/Norco/#!/Norco18/Norco1841.html.

City of Norco. “Emergency Operations Plan. Part I: Basic Plan.” November 7, 2018. Accessed March 2026.
https://www.norco.ca.us/home/showpublisheddocument/8/637504384528170000.

City of Norco. “Title 17 Subdivisions.” Municipal Code. Accessed May 2026. https://ecode360.com/48453528#48453528.

City of Norco. “Title 18 Zoning.” Municipal Code. Accessed May 2026. https://ecode360.com/48454659#48454659.

City of Norco. “Zoning Map.” Accessed April 2026.
https://www.norco.ca.us/departments/planning/general-plan-elements-zoning-maps.

City of Norco. 2021–2029 Norco General Plan Housing Element. October 2022. Accessed May 2026. https://www.norco.ca.us/departments/planning/general-plan-elements-zoningmaps/housing-element-update.

City of Norco. General Plan. Accessed April 2026.
https://www.norco.ca.us/departments/planning/general-plan-elements-zoning-maps. fil'~~ - CITY or NORCO
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8. References
City of Norco. Ordinance 902, Section 1, 2008.

City of Norco. Ordinance 910, Section 1, 2009.

City of Norco. Ordinance No. 1007. September 2016. Accessed May 2026. https://www.norco.ca.us/departments/public-works-engineering/water-system/-folder201#docfold_599_1380_520_201.

City of Norco. Ordinance 1092, Section 1, 2023.

Climate Watch. “Historical GHG Emissions.” https://www.climatewatchdata.org/ghgemissions?chartType=area&end_year=2022&start_year=1990. Accessed June 2026.

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, Section 10.12.

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, Section 21.11.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Tricolored Blackbird. Accessed May 2026. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tricolored_Blackbird/overview.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Willow flycatcher. Accessed May 2026. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Willow_Flycatcher/id.

Cornell Law School. Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 5, § 14010 - Standards for School Site Selection. Accessed May 2026. https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/5-CCR-14010.

Energy+Environmental Economics. Achieving Carbon Neutrality in California, PATHWAYS Scenarios Developed for the California Air Resources Board. October 2020.

Federal Emergency Management Agency. “National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) Viewer.” Accessed May 2026. https://hazardsfema.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8b0adb51996444d4879338 b5529aa9cd.

Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. “Technical Advisory on Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA.” Accessed March
2026. https://opr.ca.gov/docs/20190122-743_Technical_Advisory.pdf.

Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. Technical Advisory – CEQA and Climate Change:

Addressing Climate Change through California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Review.

OPR is currently known as Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI).

Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. Technical Advisory. CEQA and Climate Change:

Addressing Climate Change Through California Environmental Quality Act Review. June 2008. p. 5. OPR is currently known as LCI.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Fourth Assessment Report, Working Group I Report:

The Physical Science Basis. 2007. Table 2.14.
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Norco City CouncilOctober 21, 2026

Norco City Council
October 21, 2026