Pleasant Hill City Council
May 18, 2023

CITY OF PLEASANT HILL

CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
MAY 18, 2023
SPECIAL MEETING – 5:00 PM
The meeting will be held both in person at
City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523,
150 Southfield Ave. Apt 1201, Stamford, CT 06902,
and remotely via Zoom in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act Watch on YouTube at: www.pleasanthillca.org/councilmeeting To provide comments via teleconference, click on the meeting link and enter the meeting ID and Passcode:

Meeting link: www.zoom.us
Meeting ID: 889 2340 0529
Passcode: 835999
The meeting ID and Passcode will change each meeting. See more information on Public Participation Options below.

City Council Special Meeting Agenda Page 1 May 18, 2023 City Offices, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Telephone (925) 671-5267

MAYOR TIMOTHY FLAHERTY COUNCILMEMBER SUE NOACK

VICE MAYOR MATTHEW RINN COUNCILMEMBER ZAC SHESS

COUNCILMEMBER ALLEN VINSON
Options for observing the meeting and participating in public comment are provided below.

Public Communication. The public is welcome to address the City Council on items on this special meeting agenda during the Public Comment period. Comments are generally limited to three minutes.

Public Participation Options
1) Watch the Meeting via Youtube Livestream at www.pleasanthillca.org/councilmeeting. 2) Submit Written Comments by 3 pm the Day of the Meeting to [email protected] (comments received by deadline will be provided to the City Council before the meeting). Please specify that the correspondence is for public comment at the Council meeting. 3) Make Public Comment During the Meeting
When the Mayor invites public comment, you may participate in one of the following three ways:
a. Via Zoom - Go to www.Zoom.us using your computer/smart device and enter the Meeting ID and Passcode provided near the top of this page. We ask that you state your name and city of residence for the record when you start your comments. Please use the "Raise hand" feature in Zoom. You will not be seen or heard until it is your turn to speak. You will be invited into the meeting and asked to speak when it is your turn.
b. Via Phone - Call (669) 900-6833 and enter the Zoom Meeting ID and Passcode. Press *9 to “raise your hand” to alert staff that you wish to speak.

City Council Special Meeting Agenda Page 2 May 18, 2023 c. In Person - Members of the public may attend the meeting in person and may speak on any matter within the City Council's jurisdiction. Please fill out a speaker's card, available at the entry to the Council Chambers, and turn it in to the City Clerk Recorder.

If, due to a disability, a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in this meeting, please refer to the Providing Accessible Communication to the Public Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and AB 2449 document online at www.pleasanthillca.org/accessiblecommunications and contact the ADA Coordinator 48 hours in advance of the meeting at (925) 671-5267 or via California Relay at 711.

Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Council after distribution of the agenda packet are available to the public in the City’s Public Records Portal at https://cityarchive.pleasanthillca.org/WebLink/ (click on City Council Agenda Packets) or by contacting the City Clerk at [email protected] or 925-671-5267.

City Council Meeting Recordings
Video recordings are generally available within 48 hours of the meeting, and may be viewed on the City’s website at www.pleasanthillca.org/MeetingVideos and selecting “City Council” from the meeting groups.

Agendas are Available for Review on the City Hall official noticing bulletin board (100 Gregory Lane), at the Pleasant Hill Police Department (330 Civic Drive), the Pleasant Hill Senior Center (233 Gregory Lane), and on the City’s website at www.pleasanthillca.org/agendas. Agenda packets will be available to the public on the City’s website at the same time as they are made available to the City Council.

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3. ROLL CALL

4. ACTION CALENDAR

4.1 Public Hearing and Adopt Resolution No.___-23, a Resolution of Findings and Certifying an Environmental Impact Report (SCH #2022070095) and Adopting Environmental Findings, a Statement of Overriding Considerations and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan, Adopt Resolution No.___-23 Adopting the City of Pleasant Hill 2040 General Plan, and Adopt Resolution No.___-23 Repealing the 2015-2023 City of Pleasant Hill Housing Element and Adopting the 2023-2031 City of Pleasant Hill Housing Element.

This item has been reviewed under the California Environmental Quality Act through the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report.

5. ADJOURNMENT
Next City Council Meetings: Special Meeting, May 22, 2023

CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: May 18, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO.___-23, A

RESOLUTION OF FINDINGS AND CERTIFYING AN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (SCH #2022070095) AND

ADOPTING ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS, A STATEMENT OF

OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS AND MITIGATION MONITORING
AND REPORTING PLAN, ADOPT RESOLUTION NO.___-23 ADOPTING THE CITY OF PLEASANT HILL 2040 GENERAL PLAN, AND ADOPT
RESOLUTION NO.___-23 REPEALING THE 2015-2023 CITY OF
PLEASANT HILL HOUSING ELEMENT AND ADOPTING THE 2023-
2031 CITY OF PLEASANT HILL HOUSING ELEMENT.

SYNOPSIS
The City Council is requested to consider a recommendation by the Planning Commission to adopt the City of Pleasant Hill 2040 General Plan, the 2023-2031 Housing Element and certify an accompanying Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The Planning Commission held a meeting on the items at a Special Meeting on May 3, 2023. At the meeting, the Commission received public comments, reviewed all of the documents and recommended to the City Council to adopt both the General Plan and Housing Element and certify the accompanying EIR.

DISCUSSION
Project Description
At a special meeting on May 3, 2023, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council adopt the 2040 General Plan and 2023-2031 Housing Element, and certify the associated Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The items to be reviewed include the following:

Pleasant Hill 2040 General Plan and Environmental Impact Report The Pleasant Hill 2040 General Plan is a long-range planning document that guides decisionmaking and establishes rules and standards for future development and improvements citywide.

It reflects the community's vision for the future, and is intended to provide direction through the year 2040. The 2040 General Plan process, which began in March 2019, included several

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community engagement events, where community input was solicited to help guide the future of the City.

The Pleasant Hill 2040 General Plan satisfies the requirements of State law by addressing seven mandatory elements and one optional element. The 2040 General Plan includes the following elements:

1. Economics and Economy (optional)

2. Land Use

3. Housing

4. Transportation and Circulation

5. Public Facilities, Services, and Infrastructure

6. Open Space, Parks, and Recreation

7. Environment

8. Hazards and Safety
Some of the required elements address additional issues of local interest. Each element contains goals and policies that will guide future decisions within the City. They each also identify a set of implementation programs that will be used to ensure the policies and goals in the 2040 General Plan are observed and realized.
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
The City completed an update to its Housing Element for the 2023-2031 planning period (i.e., the “6th Cycle”). The purpose of the Housing Element is to ensure there is adequate land in place to accommodate Pleasant Hill’s allocated share of new housing development, as determined by the State and apportioned through the Regional Housing Needs Allocation, or RHNA, process.

The 2023-2031 Housing Element identifies and addresses housing needs through 2031 and includes significant updates for compliance with State housing law.

Associated Environmental Impact Report
The City prepared an EIR, which evaluates any potential significant impacts that may arise from the implementation of the 2040 General Plan and Housing Element. This assessment and evaluation is required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Background/Overview
What is a General Plan?
Every jurisdiction in California must have a General Plan, which is the City’s long-term framework or “constitution” for future growth and development. The General Plan represents the community’s view of its future and expresses community development goals. The General Plan contains the goals and policies upon which both the City Council and Planning Commission will base their land use and resource decisions. California State law requires municipalities to adopt a General Plan for the physical development of the jurisdiction and any land outside its boundaries

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that bears relation to its planning. Typically, a General Plan also addresses the issues a jurisdiction anticipates facing over a 20-year time horizon.

A General Plan has three defining features:

1. General. A General Plan provides general policy guidance to direct future land use and resource decisions.

2. Comprehensive. A General Plan is comprehensive, covering topics including land use, housing, economic development, infrastructure, public safety, recreation, natural resources, among others.

3. Long-Range. A General Plan provides guidance for achieving the community’s vision for the City 20 or more years into the future. To achieve the vision, this comprehensive plan includes goals, policies, and programs/actions that address both immediate and longterm needs.

General Plan Process
The General Plan process included seven phases, starting with the kick-off of the update process, which began in March 2019 through adoption of an updated General Plan. A description of the seven phases for the 2040 Pleasant Hill General Plan follows below:

1. Phase 1: Initiation. Begin the foundation for the project, including developing tools to be used throughout the update, meeting with the City’s General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC), comprising two members of the City Council, two members of the Planning Commission, and one member of the Architectural Review Commission. This phase also includes initiating the community engagement program.

2. Phase 2: Community Engagement (ongoing throughout the update). Conduct community outreach and engagement, which includes GPAC meetings, City Council and Planning Commission meetings, Community Workshops, newsletters, and pop-up booths at festivals and events.

3. Phase 3: Existing Conditions and Trends. Compile information on existing conditions and trends within the City and overall Planning Area, based on topical areas that the General Plan covers.

4. Phase 4: Choices. Work with the community to prepare, evaluate, and ultimately define a preferred policy and land use alternative that will be the basis of the updated General Plan.

5. Phase 5: Preparing the Plan. Prepare the General Plan based on the Existing Conditions and Trends Workbook, visioning, and alternatives planning.

6. Phase 6: Assessment. Analyze the potential environmental impacts of implementing the General Plan, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

7. Phase 7: Digital Plan. Refine the General Plan through Planning Commission and City Council public hearings. Following City Council adoption of the Plan, the City will

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reformat the General Plan into a fully searchable online document to facilitate public accessibility and use.

The General Plan is currently in the later phases of the process (Phase 6/7), as the City approaches adoption.

Housing Element
Since 1969, every jurisdiction in California has been required to include a Housing Element as part of its General Plan. Unlike other mandatory General Plan elements, the Housing Element must be updated every eight years and is subject to review and approval by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Major components of the Housing Element include a housing needs assessment, the identification of sites for housing at all income levels, a review of constraints to housing, and updated policies and programs to carry out the goals of the updated element.

The purpose of a Housing Element is to provide an assessment of current and future housing needs, identify opportunities and constraints on housing production, establish goals, policies, and programs to meet those needs, and to update City practices and regulations to reflect changes in State housing laws. Contemporary housing elements often identify strategies and programs that focus on conserving and improving existing affordable housing, maximizing housing opportunities throughout the community, assisting in the provision of new affordable housing, removing governmental and other constraints to housing investment, and promoting fair and equal housing opportunities.
5 th Cycle vs. 6th Cycle Housing Element Updates
Every update of a housing element is called a cycle. For every cycle, there is a window of time for all jurisdictions in California to update their housing elements. The City’s current 2014-2022 Housing Element was adopted in 2015 as part of the statewide 5th Cycle Housing Element update. The 2023-2031 Housing Element is part of the 6th Cycle Housing Element update.

Between the 5th and 6th cycles, the State passed over a dozen new housing laws intent on lowering barriers to building affordable housing. These changes in State law are addressed as part of the 6th Cycle update. Additionally, a major component of every housing element update cycle is the identification of a jurisdiction’s capacity to support development of a determined number of housing units, as calculated by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and referred to as the Regional Housing Needs Allocation, or RHNA.

Overview of RHNA
As part of the RHNA process, HCD calculated the total number of housing units needed across California over the next decade, including the Bay Area region. The Association of Bay Area Governments/Metropolitan Transportation Commission (ABAG/MTC) was tasked with developing a methodology to apportion the region’s housing units to each of the 109 jurisdictions within the nine-county Bay Area region. In the process of updating its Housing Element, each jurisdiction must demonstrate how it will accommodate its assigned share of the HCD4.1 Packet Pg. 6
determined and ABAG/MTC-allocated housing units. Pleasant Hill was allocated 1,803 units in the current 6th Cycle.

Under State law, the RHNA is spread across the following four income categories:
• Very low household income
• Low household income
• Moderate household income
• Above moderate household income
The household income for each of these categories is based on a percentage of the Area Median Income (AMI). The breakdown of the number of units for each income category is shown below:

RHNA by Income Category for 6th Cycle
Lower Moderate Above Moderate Total RHNA
Very Low Low
Current
RHNA 566 326 254 657 1,803
As part of the inventory and analysis of adequate sites, Pleasant Hill was required to evaluate the General Plan land use designations and subsequently, the zoning ordinance, to determine whether there is enough land available to accommodate the assigned RHNA for each income category. Because existing conditions could not accommodate the production of 1,803 units over the next eight years, the City must rezone land to meet the RHNA obligation. Further, the inventory of sites and zoning designations must include land with adequate potential to satisfy the City’s 6th Cycle RHNA obligations.

Community Outreach
The General Plan process (including the Housing Element) offered a wide range of community outreach methods with a goal of reaching out to as many community members as possible to solicit their feedback on the proposed General Plan. The outreach included various public events, surveys, and the formation of a General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) that held 23 public meetings to discuss and provide input on the update.

Outreach featured the creation of a General Plan website to serve as a track record for the entire process. The General Plan website (www.pleasanthill2040.com) includes online engagement exercises, a documents library of deliverables for review, a comment/sign-up feature for community members to receive General Plan notifications, as well as a Journal page that serves as a blog for the process.

The General Plan process also included several outreach notification methods, which have provided notice to community members about upcoming meetings and events. Some of the methods are highlighted below:
 The Outlook Newsletter

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 Posting on the City of Pleasant Hill electronic billboard  NextDoor
 Facebook
 City Weekly Updates
 City Website
 Constant Contact E-blasts (Consultant generated from community events and the General Plan website)
GPAC Meetings
The City completed 23 GPAC meetings at which the Committee discussed individual elements of the General Plan and received public input; the GPAC held more than one meeting to discuss the Housing Element. This is in addition to the outreach events that occurred before and during the GPAC process. Based on this feedback, the Draft 2040 General Plan was finalized and posted for ongoing public input on the City website and the City’s pleasanthill2040.com website in December 2022. The Housing Element was also finalized and submitted to HCD in December 2022.

Analysis
The Planning Commission reviewed and discussed the proposed 2040 General Plan (including the 20230-2031 Housing Element) with a recommendation to adopt. Multiple elements (sections) make up the General Plan, a summary of these elements are provided below:

A. Introduction
The Introduction chapter provides an overview of the General Plan and the process used to develop the 2040 General Plan, including a Reader’s Guide that provides useful information on how to read and use the goals, policies, and programs presented in each element.

Vision and Guiding Principles
The Vision and Guiding Principles came from community discussion with the GPAC and Planning Commission meetings. Once this was finalized in draft form, the City Council approved and subsequently incorporated the principles into the new General Plan B. Economics and Economy Element
The Economics and Economy Element explores ways of maintaining the fiscal health of the City to ensure a high level of public services and community amenities, while contributing significantly to the quality of life. The element includes goals, policies, and programs related to retaining and expanding existing business sectors, as well as diversifying the economy to develop and attract new kinds of businesses in the City. This element is the only one of the eight elements included in 2040 General Plan that is not required by State law.

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C. Land Use Element
The Land Use Element has the most significant impact on existing and future residents, because it determines the general location of residential, commercial, industrial, public, and open space uses. The Land Use Element includes goals, policies, and programs that guide land development and shape the urban landscape of the City. The Element addresses the type and intensity of development allowed on sites, the mix of uses permitted within the City, and the character of the community.

D. Transportation and Circulation Element
The Transportation and Circulation Element discusses the City’s transportation network and services that provide mobility for residents, employees, and visitors, and the movement of goods throughout the City. This network is not only a roadway network serving automobiles, but one that also serves alternative modes of transportation including walking, bicycling, and transit.

E. Public Facilities, Services and Infrastructure Element The Public Facilities, Services and Infrastructure Element identifies convenient and efficient services, a sense of identity, and defines the visual character of the City, all of which contribute to the quality of life for both individuals and groups in the community.

Examples of typical public facilities and/or infrastructure include churches, hospitals, and police and fire stations.

F. Open Space, Parks, and Recreation Element
The City of Pleasant Hill does not provide parks and recreation services for the City (the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District, “PHRPD,” provides these services); however, the City includes a Parks and Recreation Element component to highlight its inherent benefits to a community and its citizens, including economic, health, environmental, social, and overall quality of life. The Element further identifies dna supports the services that PHRPD provides to the residents of the City. The Open Spaces component of this Element is also important, as recreational, natural resource, and cultural assets can provide wildlife habitat, wilderness protection, groundwater retention, active recreational uses, historic landscapes, and visual corridors.

G. Environment Element
The Environment Element aims to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural and historical resources that make Pleasant Hill a unique place. In the previous General Plan, many related goals, policies, and programs were located in various Elements. In this update, they have been consolidated in one place: the Environment Element. This Element touches on topics related to air and water quality; natural, biological, and cultural resources; and sustainability in Pleasant Hill.

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H. Hazards and Safety Element
The Hazards and Safety Element evaluates natural and urban safety hazards in the City and outlines goals, policies, and implementation programs to minimize risk to life and property. The primary natural hazard threats for Pleasant Hill are earthquakes, drought, localized flooding, wildland fires, and an increased number of high heat days. Many of the goals and policies in this Element correspond to local and regional safety priorities.

This Element also includes discussion of noise and hazardous materials.

I. Housing Element
As noted previously, the Housing Element has a mandated review period (every eight years) and a specific review process that involves HCD. The City held multiple meetings on the Draft Housing Element, both with the GPAC, the Planning Commission, and the City Council. A draft Housing Element was submitted to HCD in December 2022. In March 2023, the City received a comment letter from HCD (Contained in Attachment B of City Council Staff Report Attachment H). A summary of the HCD comments can be found in Attachment H, including a discussion of removing two housing opportunity sites, adding two new housing opportunity sites, and modifying the number of potential Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) per year.

Modifications for Consideration
The Planning Commission considered various modifications to the 2040 General Plan and 2023- 2031 Housing Element. Many are related to proposed Mitigation Measures of the Environmental Impact Report or comments from the March 20, 2023 City Council Study Session; others are the result of consultation with a Native American Government (Tribe). The Commission recommended the following modifications for City Council’s consideration. More detail on the modifications are provided below and in Attachments E and G.

A. Mitigation Measure Modifications
Within the Environment Impact Report are several mitigation measures that require modifications to the 2040 General Plan, including:
 Add a new policy for creation of new lighting standards to minimize impacts to protect the night sky.
 Add a new policy to review BAAQMD screening size for construction emissions and project operations and mitigate as appropriate, including requiring a health risk analysis.  Add a new policy to consider odor impacts for new development.  Add a program to reinforce compliance with existing State provisions related to minimizing impacts to nesting bird species.

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 Add a program to reinforce compliance with existing State provisions related to minimizing impacts to nesting bat species.
 Revise a program to require a historical resources evaluation for projects involving buildings aged 45 years or older, and implement appropriate mitigation, when deemed appropriate by the City.
 Revise policies to require an archaeological resources assessment for projects in areas that includes ground disturbing activities in native or previously undisturbed soils, when deemed appropriate by the City.
 Revise policies that addresses activities when unanticipated cultural resources are discovered and when tribal cultural resources are identified during construction activities.  Add a policy to require a paleontological resource analysis prior to projects beginning, when involving ground disturbance in geologic units with high paleontological sensitivity.
 Revise an existing policy to meet State emission reduction targets that reflect current State and BAAQMD greenhouse gas emissions targets.
 Note that the City will complete a Climate Action Plan by Summer 2025.  Include measures to address wildfire risk during construction activities and during project design, including fire resistant vegetation and geotechnical review for post-fire slope stability.
 Add a new policy to require certain noise mitigation measures during construction activities for future projects.
 Add a new policy to require certain vibration control mitigation measures during construction activities for future projects.
 Incorporate Transportation Demand Management programs for employment oriented land-use development projects that do not meet Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) screening criteria.

More detail on these modifications can be found in Attachments E and G.

B. City Council Modifications
The Planning Commission also supported the recommendation made by the City Council at the March 20, 2023 City Council study session a summary of the City Council’s input is provided below:
 Designate the new library site with a “Semi-Public and Institutional” land use designation.
 Designate the land directly adjacent (north of the library and a future Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District park site) with the “Park” land use designation.  References to “Mangini-Delu Winslow” should be changed to “Mangini-Delu.”

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 Ensure that all references to the Pleasant Hill Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan note that the master plan has not yet been approved.

C. Native American Government Consultation
As part of the General Plan and Environment Impact Report processes, the City invited Native American Governments to request consultation. Based on the requested consultation, the following modifications were presented for consideration by the City. The Planning Commission supported the following modifications, but noted that these should apply to projects that require preparation of a Negative Declaration or Environmental Impact Report, as through the process to prepare both documents, invitation to request consultation with Native American Governments is already required:
 Add a new program that reinforces early consultation with Native American Governments for future land use changes.
 Add a new policy that would encourage protection and avoidance of tribal cultural resources.
 Add supplemental language to consult with culturally-affiliated Native American Tribes, when a tribal cultural site is placed in permanent open space, consistent with State law.  Add provisions to encourage voluntary landowner efforts to protect cultural resources and tribal cultural sites consistent with State law.
 Add language requiring consultation with culturally-affiliated tribes prior to designating open space in order to protect the identity of any cultural places that exist on the proposed open space, and to develop a treatment plan and management plan for any such cultural places.
 Revise a proposed policy to work with culturally-affiliated tribes to acquire and hold conservation easements on terms mutually satisfactory to the tribe and landowner, for purposes of protecting tribal cultural places.
 Add a new program that requires a developer to enter into a cultural resources treatment agreement with the culturally-affiliated tribe. This agreement will address the treatment and disposition of cultural resources and human remains that may be impacted as a result of the development of the Project, as well as provisions for tribal monitors.

D. Planning Commission Recommendations
The Planning Commission also recommended the following amendments to the 2040 General Plan:
 Continue to follow up on a potential ban on new gas hookups (for appliance purposes), including completing a study on a ban if appropriate.
 Support of exploring provisions related to “Reach Codes,” while considering financial implications with codes that exceed State requirements.

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 Consider incorporating additional provisions related to airport impacts to residents, diversity and home schooling.

E. Proposed Housing Element Revisions
Based on comments received from HCD (Attachment B within the City Council Staff Report Attachment H), modifications were also recommended to the Housing Element as summarized below, with the revised document in Attachment F.

Housing Opportunity Sites
The HCD comment letter included comments pertaining to compliance with Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) provisions, and noted that location of lower income housing was concentrated within lower resource areas of the City. Thus, in response, the City has removed two sites from the Housing Opportunity Sites: (Site B – JCPenney, and the southernmost parcel of Site G – the 1.4-acre parcel at the northwest corner of the intersection of Contra Costa Boulevard and Gregory Lane). Further, the City added two new sites in higher resource areas of the City: Morello Terraces and Paso Nogal (see Attachment H).

Staff and the consultant team believe these changes will affirmatively respond to HCD comments.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
HCD noted that the number of ADUs the City projected for the 6th Cycle was too high (approximately 40 ADUs per year), and countered that 11 ADUs per year was more appropriate. However, after following up with HCD personnel, City staff reached consensus that 25 ADUs per year reflects a more appropriate rate projection, based on recent City activity.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)
There were multiple revisions related to AFFH comments from HCD. Many of the edits, for which additional requested information will be provided, include, but are not limited to demographics, historical information, and fees. Other modifications included:
 Provided additional information related to Racially Concentrated Areas of Affluence (RCAA).
 Revised the site inventory, including spreading moderate income and above moderate housing units more equitably throughout the City, and demonstrated 50 percent of the lower income RHNA provided through pipeline projects, ADUs, and vacant sites.  Provided increased clarity of households overpaying for housing.  Provided information on the condition of City housing stock.  Provided historical information on housing project completion.  Provided additional analysis related to agricultural employees.

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 Provided additional analysis of development standards, including those applicable through subdivision improvement.
 Revised costs of multifamily development within the City.  Provided additional information for the City’s Reasonable Accommodation provisions.  Completed additional analysis for special housing needs (e.g., Senior housing, residents with a disability, large households, homeless, and farm workers).  Provided additional information on the City’s code enforcement practices related to housing.

New/Modified Policies and Programs
In response to the comments provided by HCD, the following programs are proposed to be added or modified. Staff notes that many of these modifications are necessary to comply with existing State law:
 Implement a replacement unit (housing) program when applicable.  Provide the certified Housing Element to local service providers with 10 days of certification.
 Revise parking standards for emergency shelters, consistent with State law.  Allow transitional and supportive housing, without discretionary review, in multifamily residential zoning districts, consistent with State law.  Revise the City’s ADU provisions, consistent with State law.  Update programs to allow agricultural housing and residential care facilities in the City, consistent with State law.
 Update a program to remove housing constraints related to certain development standards.
 Ensure the City is consistent with Permit Streamlining and CEQA timing requirements.

F. Previously Identified Modifications
Lastly, at the Planning Commission and City Council study sessions, there was an errata attachment that contained the following modifications to the 2040 General Plan: minor edits to document language; correcting typos; and providing increased clarity.

These corrections have been incorporated into the current draft version of 2040 General Plan (Attachment D).

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Pursuant to CEQA, the City of Pleasant Hill intends to issue an Environmental Impact Report (EIR, SCH#2022070095) for this project. The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)

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prepared for this project (Attachment K) was available for public review from January 30, 2023 through March 15, 2023, at the Planning Division and on the City of Pleasant Hill webpage at www.pleasanthillca.org. The Draft EIR has identified potential project issues requiring mitigation in the following topical areas: Aesthetics, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources, Geology and Soils, Hazards, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy, Hazards and Hazardous Materials and Wildfire, Noise, Public Services & Recreation, Transportation and Utilities and Service Systems.

Significant and Unavoidable Impacts
After mitigation measures are incorporated, the project would have significant and unavoidable impacts related to:

Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources
Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources impacts are significant and unavoidable relative to the future redevelopment of sites that contain buildings aged 45 years and older.

Greenhouse and Gas Emissions
Impacts of Greenhouse and Gas Emissions are significant and unavoidable, due to potential (re)development associated with the General Plan.

Hazards and Hazardous Materials
Hazards and Hazardous Materials and Wildfire impacts are significant and unavoidable, related to future (re)development and associated wildfire risk.

Noise
Noise impacts are significant and unavoidable, given noise associated with new (re)development anticipated with the General Plan.

Public Services & Recreation
Public Services & Recreation impacts are significant and unavoidable, related to potential new construction of necessary public schools, associated with future growth anticipated in the General Plan.

Transportation and Traffic
Transportation and Traffic impacts are significant and unavoidable, related to increase in Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), associated with future development anticipated in the General Plan.

Utilities and Service Systems

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Utilities and Service Systems impacts are significant and unavoidable, given the construction impacts associated with future (re)development, as anticipated in the General Plan, and the associated water, wastewater, stormwater, and telecommunication improvements necessary.

Mitigation for Significant Impacts
The EIR identified various potentially significant environmental effects, all which were reduced to a less-than-significant level with incorporation of mitigation measures:

Aesthetics
The EIR notes mitigation to include a policy to adopt lighting standards to minimize lighting impacts from development.

Air Quality Impacts
The EIR identifies standard mitigation for air quality impacts during construction activities and for after-construction operational impacts. In addition, mitigation requires that projects complete construction-related health risk assessments. Further, mitigation requires implementation of a new policy requiring truck-intensive uses (e.g. shipping companies, warehousing, truck storage) to contact the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) to determine an appropriate level of health risk assessment. Lastly, the EIR requires consideration of odor impacts for new land uses sited near existing odor generating uses (e.g. wastewater treatment plans, landfills).

Biological Impacts
During the nesting season, the EIR requires preconstruction migratory bird surveys, prior to ground disturbance or tree removal. Bat surveys are required prior to any construction, tree removal, or ground disturbance, and protection plans must be prepared, as necessary.

Cultural Resource Impacts
The EIR requires preparation of archaeological resource assessment prior to project approval, and follow-up implementation, requiring stop-work policies, in the event of the unanticipated discovery of cultural resources during construction, as well as a policy to suspend work around tribal cultural resources during construction.

Geology
The EIR notes that a policy is required to ensure protection of paleontological resources.

This includes the retention of a qualified, professional paleontological expert for future projects that involve ground disturbances in areas where potential impacts to paleontological resources may occur. Further, a mitigation program will be created, if necessary.

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Noise Impacts
Incorporate a new policy within the Zoning Ordinance to implement construction vibration control measures related to potential construction vibration impacts. This could include preparing a ground-borne noise and vibration analysis for activities near sensitive uses.

The Final EIR and associated Mitigation Measure Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) were also prepared for the project after the public comment review period closed on March 15.

Multiple public comments/responses were received and included in the Final EIR. The proposed Final EIR is included as Attachment M.

The EIR also includes an Alternatives analysis, including evaluation of the following project Alternatives: a) No Project; b) an increase in intensity of development in non-western portions of the City; and c) a 25-percent residential reduction. The No Project alternative is the environmentally superior alternative; however, CEQA requires that if the No Project alternative is superior, the EIR must identify an environmentally superior option among the other remaining alternatives.

In this case, the “increase in intensity in western portions of the City” alternative is the environmentally superior alternative. This alternative would not remove significant and unavoidable impacts related to wildfire, but have similar impacts in general. However, this “increase in intensity” alternative would not satisfy the proposed Plan objectives, such as the State HCD/Housing Element requirement of locating certain, such as affordable, housing types in higher resources areas (Note: The higher resource areas are more commonly found in the western areas of the City). Conversely, since the western portions of the City contains lower resource areas, and State HCD/Housing Element provisions discourages concentrating certain, such as lower income, housing development in lower resource areas in the western half of the City that are near freeways and heavily traveled vehicle routes, would not be consistent with Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) provisions.

As all of the impacts of the proposed Project cannot be reduced to a less-than-significant level, findings rejecting the proposed Alternatives are required. The proposed CEQA findings are included in a separate resolution as Attachment A.

Public Comments Associated with CEQA Document (EIR)
The City received multiple comment letters on the prepared Draft and Final Environmental Impact report (EIR). The comments and associated responses are provided in the Final EIR and in Attachment M. In addition, many public comments were received prior to, and during the May 3, 2023 Planning Commission meeting. These comments were similarly reviewed relative to CEQA, and a summary with associated responses is provided in Attachment O.

Planning Commission Meeting – May 3, 2023
At the May 3, 2023 Planning Commission meeting extensive public comment was provided, primarily on the proposed 2023-2031 Housing Element. A summary of the public comments are provided below, with the full public comments made at the meeting, available for review at the

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following link – https://youtube.com/live/WsTynEF8uLM?feature=share. In addition, numerous public comments were received through letters and email, echoing the same concerns; these comments are contained in Attachment Q.
 Concerns with the addition of two new sites (Morello Terraces and Paso Nogal) and the impacts to the area.
o Lack of adequate alternative modes of transportation in the area. o Addition of new traffic to the area, which already contains alleged hazardous conditions.
o Impacts to wildlife.
o Concerns with development on hilly property; and concerns regarding a sinkhole on the Morello Terraces site.
o Concerns with density proposed on both sites.
o Concerns with low income housing concentrated in one area of the City without adequate services or access.
 Lack of proper noticing to surrounding residents.
 Concerns with the State overriding the choices made by the City, and emphasis on the City pushing back to the State.
 The JCPenney site should be included as a housing opportunity site for low-income housing given its ideal location to services and access, and the two new sites should be removed.

After receiving and considering all of the public input, the Commission recommended (unanimously) that the City Council adopt the 2040 General Plan with the modifications noted in this staff report, including certification of the EIR, and recommended approval of the 2023-2031 Housing Element (on a 5-2 vote – Chiang and Wyler, no) with the provision that staff continue to explore additional housing opportunity sites and present them to the City Council for its consideration. Staff and the consultant further reviewed additional vacant sites within the City that would meet the parameters of what HCD is accepting as housing opportunity sites.

Compared to the Morello Terraces and Paso Nogal sites, other identified vacant sites have the following limitations that preclude their consideration for inclusion as housing opportunity sites:
 less accessibility;
 more irregular parcel shape;
 too small to supplant either of the two identified sites;  designated as open space areas;
 dedicated as project open space to accommodate more clustered development;  located within flood zone areas that are HCD considers a major constraint for lower income housing development.

Lastly, City Engineering staff reviewed the comments made about sinkholes and grading at the Morello Terraces and Paso Nogal sites. City staff found no records of a reported sinkhole on the Morello Terraces site. If either were to pose a public safety risk, or if a development application

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had been received, City staff would review and address those concerns at that time. City staff would work with any future project and encourage minimizing grading operations and off-haul of material to the greatest extent possible.

If, and when, an application is received, the City will require submission of a geotechnical study to evaluate the site’s soil composition, identify issues, and provide mitigation measures to ensure that a project can safely be built. For projects with known issues or other unique concerns, the City typically hires a geotechnical firm to provide for a third-party peer review throughout the permitting and construction process to ensure the project does not create any issues or complications for adjacent properties.

FISCAL IMPACT
There are various programs contained in both the 2040 General Plan and the 2023-2031 Housing Element that require preparation of studies, reporting and contributions that will result in the expenditure of City funds. Many of the costs are not known at this time and will require future final approval from the City before the funds are expended.

PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the City Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center and at the Pleasant Hill Police Department.

Additional noticing was provided in legal display ads in the East Bay Times Newspaper, posting notice on the City website, on A-Frame signs at the police station and library, posting at the Senior Center and at the City Hall electronic message board, the City’s pleasanthill2040.com website, social media notification, and lastly notification to those who signed up on the pleasanthill2040.com website. The agenda and staff report are posted on the City’s web page.

RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Receive the staff report, hold the public hearing, provide any direction, and certify the Environmental Impact Report, and adopt both the 2040 General Plan and the 2023-2031 Housing Element.

ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
 Adopt the 2040 General Plan and the 2023-2031 Housing Element with modifications and certify the Environmental Impact Report;
 Do not adopt the 2040 General Plan, the 2023-2031 Housing Element and do not certify the Environmental Impact Report;
 Continue the matter to a later City Council date with direction provided to City Staff.

ATTACHMENT(S):

Attachment A Proposed City Council Resolution – CEQA (including CEQA Findings and Mitigation Monitoring Report Program)

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Attachment B Proposed City Council Resolution on the 2040 General Plan Attachment C Proposed City Council Resolution on the 2023-2031 Housing Element Attachment D Proposed 2040 General Plan (Strikeout and Underline) Attachment E Proposed Modifications to the 2040 General Plan Attachment F Proposed 2023-2031 Housing Element (Policy Document and Needs Assessment - Strikeout and Underline)
Attachment G Proposed Summary of Modifications to the 2023-2031 Housing Element
Attachment H April 12, 2023 General Plan Advisory Committee Staff Memorandum and Attachments (This includes the State HCD Comment Letter of the Draft Housing Element Submittal – Attachment B, but does not include the previously submitted Draft Housing Element – Attachment C)
Attachment I Planning Commission Resolution 07-23 – 2040 General Plan Attachment J Planning Commission Resolution 06-23 – 2023-2031 Housing Element
Attachment K Draft Environmental Impact Report
Attachment L Draft Environmental Impact Report Appendices Attachment M Final EIR (including DEIR public comments) Attachment N Proposed Mitigation Monitoring Report Program (MMRP) Attachment O CEQA Related Responses to Public Comments
Attachment P Public Hearing Notice
Attachment Q Public Comments
Prepared by: Troy Fujimoto, City Planner
Reviewed by: Ethan Bindernagel, Community Development Director & Assistant City Manager Approved by: June Catalano, City Manager

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1 RESOLUTION NO. ___ - 23

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PLEASANT HILL

ADOPTING ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT, CERTIFYING THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (SCH #2022070095) FOR THE PLEASANT HILL 2040 GENERAL PLAN, INCLUDING THE 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT, ADOPTING THE

MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM, AND APPROVING

THE PROJECT
WHEREAS, the City of Pleasant Hill (“City”) proposes the Pleasant Hill 2040 General Plan, including the 2023-2031 Housing Element (the “General Plan Update” or “Project”), a comprehensive update to the City’s existing General Plan; and WHEREAS, the Project guides decision-making and established rules and standards for new development and city improvements, reflects the community’s vision for the future, and is intended to provide direction through the year 2040; and WHEREAS, the General Plan Update process, which began in March 2019, included several community engagement events where community input was solicited to help guide the future of the City; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 21067 of the Public Resources Code, and section 15367 of the State CEQA Guidelines (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15000 et seq.), the City of Pleasant Hill is the lead agency for the proposed Project; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with State CEQA Guidelines section 15063, the City evaluated the Project by preparing an Initial Study, to evaluate whether an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) was required; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with State CEQA Guidelines section 15082, on July 7, 2022, the City sent to the Office of Planning and Research and each responsible and trustee agency a Notice of Preparation (“NOP”) stating that an Environmental Impact Report (State Clearinghouse Number #2022070095) would be prepared; and
WHEREAS, The City received forty-five comment letters in response to the NOP; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21083.9 and State CEQA Guidelines sections 15082(c) and 15083, the City held a duly noticed Scoping Meeting on July 26, 2022, to solicit comments on the scope of the environmental review of the proposed Project and, 46 comments were received; and
WHEREAS, a Draft Environmental Impact Report (“Draft EIR”) was prepared, incorporating comments received in response to the NOP; and WHEREAS, the Draft EIR determined that mitigation measures were required to mitigate impacts to a less-than-significant level for the following resource areas: aesthetics, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, noise, tribal cultural resources, and utilities and service systems; and

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Attachment: Attachment A - Proposed CC Resolution - CEQA and MMRP (General Plan and Housing Element) Findings

WHEREAS, the Draft EIR further concluded that despite the incorporation of all feasible mitigation measures, the proposed Project would nonetheless result in significant and unavoidable impacts relating to air quality, cultural resources, greenhouse gas emissions, hazardous and hazardous substances, noise, public services, transportation, tribal cultural resources, and wildfire; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with State CEQA Guidelines section 15085, a Notice of Completion was prepared and filed with the Office of Planning and Research on January 30, 2023; and
WHEREAS, as required by State CEQA Guidelines section 15087(a), the City provided Notice of Availability of the Draft EIR to the public at the same time that the City sent Notice of Completion to the Office of Planning and Research, on January 30, 2023; and WHEREAS, during the public comment period, copies of the Draft EIR and technical appendices were available for review and inspection at City Hall, on the City’s website, and at the Pleasant Hill public library; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15087(e), the Draft EIR was circulated for at least a 45-day public review and comment period from January 30, 2023 to March 15, 2023; and
WHEREAS, during the public review and comment period, the City consulted with and requested comments from all responsible and trustee agencies, other regulatory agencies, and others pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15086; and WHEREAS, the City received 10 written comment letters on the Draft EIR) including an acknowledgement from the State Clearinghouse that the City has complied with CEQA environmental review requirements; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21092.5, the City provided copies of its responses to commenting public agencies at least 10 days prior to the City’s consideration of the Final EIR on April 25, 2023; and
WHEREAS, on May 3, 2023, the Planning Commission conducted the public hearing to consider the Draft EIR for the Project and solicited comments on the document. After hearing all relevant testimony from staff, the public and the City’s consultant team, the Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council certify the EIR for the Project; and WHEREAS, on April 28, 2023, the City released the Final EIR (“Final EIR”), which consists of the Draft EIR) all technical appendices prepared in support of the Draft EIR) all written comment letters received on the Draft EIR) written responses to all written comment letters received on the Draft EIR) and errata to the Draft EIR and technical appendices; and WHEREAS, the “EIR” consists of the Final EIR and its attachments and appendices, as well as the Draft EIR and its attachments and appendices (as modified by the Final EIR); and

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WHEREAS, all potentially significant adverse environmental impacts were sufficiently analyzed in the EIR; and
WHEREAS, as contained herein, the City has endeavored in good faith to set forth the basis for its decision on the Project; and
WHEREAS, all of the requirements of the Public Resources Code and the State CEQA Guidelines have been satisfied by the City in connection with the preparation of the EIR which is sufficiently detailed so that all of the potentially significant environmental effects of the Project have been adequately evaluated; and
WHEREAS, the EIR prepared in connection with the Project sufficiently analyzes the Project’s potentially significant environmental impacts and, although significant and unavoidable impacts were identified, the EIR analyzes a range of feasible mitigation measures capable of reducing these effects to a lesser level of significance; and WHEREAS, the City has made certain findings of fact, as set forth in Exhibit A to this Resolution, attached hereto and incorporated herein, based upon the oral and written evidence presented to it as a whole and the entirety of the administrative record for the Project, which are incorporated herein by this reference; and
WHEREAS, the City finds that environmental impacts that are identified in the EIR as less than significant without the incorporation of mitigation are described in Section II of Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the City finds that environmental impacts that are identified in the EIR as less than significant with incorporation of mitigation measures are described in Section III of Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the City finds that even with the incorporation of all feasible mitigation measures, the environmental impacts that are identified in the EIR as significant and unavoidable are described in Section IV of Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the cumulative impacts of the Project identified in the EIR and set forth herein, are described in Section V of Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the potential significant irreversible environmental changes that would result from the proposed Project identified in the EIR and set forth herein, are described in Section VI of Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the existence of any growth-inducing impacts resulting from the proposed Project identified in the EIR and set forth herein, are described in Section VII of Exhibit A; and WHEREAS, alternatives to the proposed Project that might further reduce the already lessthan-significant environmental impacts are described in Section VIII of Exhibit A; and WHEREAS, all the mitigation measures identified in the EIR as necessary to reduce the potentially significant impacts of the proposed Project to a level of less than significant are set

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Attachment: Attachment A - Proposed CC Resolution - CEQA and MMRP (General Plan and Housing Element) Findings

forth in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) in Exhibit B to this Resolution, attached hereto and incorporated herein; and WHEREAS, prior to taking action, the City has heard, been presented with, reviewed and considered all of the information and data in the administrative record, including but not limited to the EIR and all oral and written evidence presented to it during all meetings and hearings; and WHEREAS, the EIR reflects the independent judgment of the City and is deemed adequate for purposes of making decisions on the merits of the Project; and WHEREAS, no comments made in the public hearings conducted by the City and no additional information submitted to the City have produced substantial new information requiring recirculation of the EIR or additional environmental review of the Project under Public Resources Code section 21092.1 and State CEQA Guidelines section 15088.5; and WHEREAS, on May 18, 2023, the City conducted a duly noticed public hearing on this Resolution, at which time all persons wishing to testify were heard and the Project was fully considered; and
WHEREAS, all other legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PLEASANT HILL:

SECTION 1. The above recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference.

SECTION 2. The City Council hereby finds that it has been presented with the EIR which it has reviewed and considered, and further finds that the EIR is an accurate and objective statement that has been completed in full compliance with CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines. The City Council finds that the EIR reflects the independent judgment and analysis of the City. The City Council declares that no evidence of new significant impacts or any new information of “substantial importance” as defined by State CEQA Guidelines section 15088.5, has been received by the City after circulation of the Draft EIR that would require recirculation. Therefore, the City Council hereby certifies the EIR based on the entirety of the record of proceedings.

SECTION 3. The City Council hereby adopts the “CEQA Findings of Fact” which were prepared in accordance with State CEQA Guidelines sections 15091 and which are attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference.

SECTION 4. Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21081.6, the City Council hereby adopts the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program attached hereto as Exhibit B and incorporated herein by this reference. Implementation of the Mitigation Measures contained in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program is hereby made a condition of approval of the Project. In the event of any inconsistencies between the Mitigation Measures set forth in the EIR or the Findings of Fact and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program shall control.

SECTION 5. Based upon the entire record before it, including the EIR) Findings of Fact,

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and all written and oral evidence presented, the City Council hereby approves the proposed Project.

SECTION 6. The documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings on which this Resolution has been based are located at the City of Pleasant Hill Planning Division, City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. The custodian for these records is the City of Pleasant Hill Zoning Administrator. This information is provided pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21081.6.

SECTION 7. City staff shall cause a Notice of Determination to be filed and posted with the County Clerk and the State Clearinghouse within five working days of the adoption of this Resolution.

ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Pleasant Hill at a regular meeting held on the 18th day of May, 2023, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:
___________________________________
TIMOTHY M. FLAHERTY, Mayor
ATTEST:

Juanita Davalos, Acting City Clerk

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6 EXHIBIT A
CEQA findings OF FACT
The California Environmental Quality Act (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) (CEQA) requires that public agencies shall not approve or carry out a project for which an environmental impact report (EIR) has been certified that identifies one or more significant adverse environmental effects of a project unless the public agency makes one or more written Findings for each of those significant effects, accompanied by a brief explanation of the rationale for each Finding (State CEQA Guidelines [Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15000 et seq.], § 15091). This document presents the CEQA Findings of Fact made by the City of Pleasant Hill, in its capacity as the CEQA lead agency, regarding the 2040 General Plan (Project), evaluated in the Draft Environmental Impact Report (“Draft EIR”) and Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) for the Project.

SECTION I.

INTRODUCTION
Public Resources Code section 21002 states that “public agencies should not approve projects as proposed if there are feasible alternatives or feasible mitigation measures available which would substantially lessen the significant environmental effects of such projects[.]” Section 21002 further states that the procedures required by CEQA “are intended to assist public agencies in systematically identifying both the significant effects of proposed projects and the feasible alternatives or feasible mitigation measures which will avoid or substantially lessen such significant effects.”
Pursuant to section 21081 of the Public Resources Code, a public agency may only approve or carry out a project for which an EIR has been completed that identifies any significant environmental effects if the agency makes one or more of the following written finding(s) for each of those significant effects accompanied by a brief explanation of the rationale for each finding:

1. Changes or alterations have been required in, or incorporated into, the project which mitigate or avoid the significant effects on the environment.

2. Those changes or alterations are within the responsibility and jurisdiction of another public agency and have been, or can and should be, adopted by that other agency.

3. Specific economic, legal, social, technological, or other considerations, including considerations for the provision of employment opportunities for highly trained workers, make infeasible the mitigation measures or alternatives identified in the environmental impact report.

As indicated above, section 21002 requires an agency to “avoid or substantially lessen” significant adverse environmental impacts. Thus, mitigation measures that “substantially lessen” significant environmental impacts, even if not completely avoided, satisfy section 21002’s mandate. (Laurel Hills Homeowners Assn. v. City Council (1978) 83 Cal.App.3d 515, 521 [“CEQA does not mandate the choice of the environmentally best feasible project if through the imposition of feasible mitigation measures alone the appropriate public agency has reduced environmental damage from a project to an acceptable level”]; Las Virgenes Homeowners Fed.,

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Inc. v. County of Los Angeles (1986) 177 Cal. App. 3d 300, 309 [“[t]here is no requirement that adverse impacts of a project be avoided completely or reduced to a level of insignificance . . . if such would render the project unfeasible”].)
While CEQA requires that lead agencies adopt feasible mitigation measures or alternatives to substantially lessen or avoid significant environmental impacts, an agency need not adopt infeasible mitigation measures or alternatives. (Pub. Resources Code, § 21002.1(c) [if “economic, social, or other conditions make it infeasible to mitigate one or more significant effects on the environment of a project, the project may nonetheless be carried out or approved at the discretion of a public agency”]; see also State CEQA Guidelines, § 15126.6(a) [an “EIR is not required to consider alternatives which are infeasible”].) CEQA defines “feasible” to mean “capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, social, and technological factors.” (Pub. Resources Code, § 21061.1.) The State CEQA Guidelines add “legal” considerations as another indicia of feasibility. (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15364.) Project objectives also inform the determination of “feasibility.” (Jones v. U.C. Regents (2010) 183 Cal. App. 4th 818, 828-829.) “‘[F]easibility’ under CEQA encompasses ‘desirability’ to the extent that desirability is based on a reasonable balancing of the relevant economic, environmental, social, and technological factors.” (City of Del Mar v. City of San Diego (1982) 133 Cal.App.3d 401, 417; see also Sequoyah Hills Homeowners Assn. v. City of Oakland (1993) 23 Cal.App.4th 704, 715.) “Broader considerations of policy thus come into play when the decision making body is considering actual feasibility[.]” (Cal. Native Plant Soc’y v.

City of Santa Cruz (2009) 177 Cal.App.4th 957, 1000 (“Native Plant”); see also Pub. Resources Code, § 21081(a)(3) [“economic, legal, social, technological, or other considerations” may justify rejecting mitigation and alternatives as infeasible] (emphasis added).) Environmental impacts that are less than significant do not require the imposition of mitigation measures. (Leonoff v. Monterey County Board of Supervisors (1990) 222 Cal.App.3d 1337, 1347.)
The California Supreme Court has stated, “[t]he wisdom of approving . . . any development project, a delicate task which requires a balancing of interests, is necessarily left to the sound discretion of the local officials and their constituents who are responsible for such decisions. The law as we interpret and apply it simply requires that those decisions be informed, and therefore balanced.” (Citizens of Goleta Valley v. Board of Supervisors (1990) 52 Cal.3d 553, 576.) In addition, perfection in a project or a project’s environmental alternatives is not required; rather, the requirement is that sufficient information be produced “to permit a reasonable choice of alternatives so far as environmental aspects are concerned.” Outside agencies (including courts) are not to “impose unreasonable extremes or to interject [themselves] within the area of discretion as to the choice of the action to be taken.” (Residents Ad Hoc Stadium Com. v. Board of Trustees (1979) 89 Cal.App.3d 274, 287.)

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SECTION II.

FINDINGS REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL

IMPACTS NOT REQUIRING MITIGATION
The City Council hereby finds that the following potential environmental impacts of the Project are less than significant and therefore do not require the imposition of Mitigation Measures.

A. AESTHETICS

1. Scenic Vistas
Threshold: Would the Project have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.1-15 – 3.1-16) Explanation:

Construction
Impacts related to substantial adverse effects on a scenic vista are limited to operational impacts. Due to the temporary nature of construction, no respective construction impacts related to scenic vistas would result from implementation of the proposed plan.

Operation
Pleasant Hill includes longer range views from public streets from the western neighborhoods westward towards Briones Regional Park across the urbanized landscape of Pleasant Hill. None of these views are designated as “vistas” or “scenic corridors” in the existing (2003) Pleasant Hill General Plan or the proposed 2040 General Plan. Development implemented under the 2040 General Plan would be located along commercial corridors and/or consist of infill development. These areas are highly urbanized with retail, restaurant, commercial, and residential uses no taller than three stories.

Publicly available views throughout the General Plan area are largely limited by intervening development, mature landscaping, and large street or median trees.

Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would largely be infill, some of which could be up to 35 feet in height. From streets and public places (e.g., parks and trails) in Pleasant Hill, intervening development prevents expansive views of the hills to the west. Views in most of the General Plan area are of the built environment. Views of the natural environment are prevented by one- to three-story development, although views down the streets of the built environment and street trees are intact and create a sense of place.

Since scenic vistas of the hills west of Pleasant Hill are not widely available from public viewing areas and new development would be limited to 35 feet

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in height (as mandated in Pleasant Hill Municipal Code Title 18, Planning and Land Use), scenic vistas would continue to be available where they currently exist. Therefore, impacts of development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan related to scenic vistas would be less than significant.

2. Scenic Resources
Threshold: Would the Project substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.1-16 – 3.1-17) Explanation:

Construction
Impacts related to substantial damage to scenic resources are limited to operational impacts. No respective construction impacts would occur under development facilitated by the proposed plan.

Operation
The closest designated State scenic highways to Pleasant Hill are a segment of I-680 and a segment of SR 24 both located within the City of Walnut Creek. The portion of I-680 that traverses Pleasant Hill is not designated as a State scenic highway
The segments of I-680 and SR 24 designated as a State scenic highway are located approximately two miles south of the General Plan area’s southern border at which point Pleasant Hill is not visible from these freeway alignments. No development would be facilitated by the 2040 General Plan near this State-designated Scenic Highway, and views from such designated State scenic highways do not include the General Plan area. Furthermore, there are no City-designated scenic resources within the General Plan area.

Therefore, the 2040 General Plan would result in no operational impact related to effects on scenic resources within a State scenic highway.

3. Visual Character
Threshold: In non-urbanized areas, would the project substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of public view of the site and its surroundings? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.1-17 – 3.20)

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Explanation:

Construction

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B. AGRICULTURE AND FOREST RESOURCES

1. Farmland Conversion
Threshold: Would the Project convert Primate Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide significance, as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to non-agricultural use?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, 3.3-34 – 3.3-35) Explanation: Construction and Operation
The General Plan area is almost entirely designated as Urban and Built-Up Land area. A small parcel along Taylor Boulevard in the western portion of Pleasant Hill (the General Plan area) is designated as Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, and Grazing Land. Additionally, Paso Nogal Park, located within northwestern Pleasant Hill, is designated as Other Land, which includes land not categorized in another mapping class.

However, these areas designated as farmland are not planned for any zoning changes or land use changes under the 2040 General Plan. Additionally, development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan and implementation of General Plan policies would not modify Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance, including the small areas designated as such within Pleasant Hill. Although these areas are classified by the DOC

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as farmland, no land is currently zoned for agricultural uses within Pleasant Hill. These areas are also not being considered as housing opportunity site locations per the 2040 General Plan Housing Element. As such, development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would not be located on agricultural land. Finally, no land within the General Plan area is currently under a Williamson Act contract. As such, the proposed plan would not conflict with agricultural zoning or Williamson Act contracts for preservation of agricultural use. Therefore, development construction facilitated by the 2040 General Plan and operational implementation of General Plan policies would result in no impacts related to conversion of agricultural uses to non-agricultural uses or Williamson Act zoning consistency.

2. Agricultural Zoning
Threshold: Would the Project conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.3-34 – 3.3-35) Explanation: See Farmland Conversion above.

3. Forestland Zoning
Threshold: Would the Project conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, forest land (as defined in Public Resources Code section 12220(g)), timberland (as defined by Public Resources Code section 4526), or timberland zoned Timberland Production (as defined by Government Code section 51104(g)?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, p. 3.3-35)
Explanation: Construction and Operation
2040 General Plan
Pleasant Hill (the General Plan area) does not contain land identified as forested or timber area. As such, development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would not result in or promote the conversion of land used for forestry or timber purposes. In addition, no land within the General Plan area is currently zoned as forest/timberland. As such, the proposed plan would not conflict with forest/timberland zoning for preservation of forestry use. Therefore, development construction facilitated by the 2040 General Plan and operational implementation of General Plan policies would result in no impacts related to conversion of forestry uses to non-forestry uses or forest/timberland zoning consistency.

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4. Loss of Forest Land
Threshold: Would the Project result in the loss of forest land or conversion of forest land to non-forest use?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, p. 3.3-35)
Explanation: See Forestland Zoning above.

5. Conversion of Farmland or Forestland
Threshold: Would the Project involve other changes in the existing environment which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland, to non-agricultural use or conversion of forest land to non-forest use? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, p. 3.3-35)
Explanation: See Forestland Zoning above.

C. AIR QUALITY

1. Air Quality Plans and Air Quality Standards
Threshold: Would the Project conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan; violate any air quality standard or contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.2-20 – 3.2-27) Explanation:

Construction and Operation
2040 General Plan
The most recently adopted air quality plan in the SFBAAB is the 2017 Clean Air Plan. The 2017 Clean Air Plan is a roadmap showing how the San Francisco Bay Area will achieve compliance with the State one-hour ozone standard as expeditiously as practicable, and how the region will reduce transport of ozone and ozone precursors to neighboring air basins. The 2017 Clean Air Plan does not include control measures that apply directly to construction and operation of individual development projects. Instead, the control strategy includes stationary-source control measures to be implemented through the BAAQMD regulations; mobile-source control measures to be implemented through incentive programs and other activities; and transportation control measures to be implemented through

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transportation programs in cooperation with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), local governments, transit agencies, and others. The 2017 Clean Air Plan also represents the Bay Area’s most recent triennial assessment of the region’s strategy to attain the state onehour ozone standard. In this, the 2017 Clean Air Plan replaces the 2010 Clean Air Plan. Under BAAQMD’s methodology, a determination of consistency with CEQA Guidelines thresholds should demonstrate that a project:
 Supports the primary goals of the 2017 Clean Air Plan;  Includes applicable control measures from the 2017 Clean Air Plan; and
 Does not disrupt or hinder implementation of any 2017 Clean Air Plan control measures.

The following includes a discussion of consistency with these criteria for the 2040 General Plan. The 2017 Clean Air Plan contains 85 control strategies aimed at reducing air pollution and protecting the climate in the Bay Area. For consistency with climate planning efforts at the State level, the control strategies in the 2017 Clean Air Plan are based on the same economic sector framework used by CARB, which encompass stationary sources, transportation, energy, buildings, agriculture, natural and working lands, waste management, water, and super-GHG pollutants. Error! Reference source not found. (Draft EIR, p. 3.2-21) identifies applicable control measures, discusses 2040 General Plan consistency, and shows corresponding policies from the 2040 General Plan that address the measures.

As indicated in Error! Reference source not found., the 2040 General Plan would be consistent with the three criteria for evaluating consistency with the 2017 Clean Air Plan. As such, the 2040 General Plan would not conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan.

Therefore, the impact related to air quality management plan consistency would be less than significant.

D. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

1. Riparian Habitat
Threshold: Would the Project have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations or by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, 3.3027 – 3.3-29)

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Explanation:

Construction
Riparian habitats have been recorded in and around the General Plan area.

According to the NWI database (see Error! Reference source not found.), areas of freshwater forested/shrub wetland occur in the eastern part of the General Plan area along Walnut Creek. Additionally, several riverine features occur throughout the General Plan area including Grayson Creek, Murderers Creek, and in drainage canals running throughout Pleasant Hill.

Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan that would be located near or be bisected by waterways and other tributaries and drainages throughout the General Plan area, would be potentially subject to USACE, CDFW, and RWQCB permitting requirements.

Most of the development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be located on infill sites that are already developed with structures and/or parking and are not proximate to wetlands or waterways. Because these areas are urbanized and currently developed, they are unlikely to contain jurisdictional wetlands or other surface waters and associated riparian vegetation zones. However, the infill development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would increase density in some areas, which could require upgraded utilities or stormwater drainage. The construction of these upgraded facilities could require work, including dredge or fill, within jurisdictional wetlands and streams and could require ground disturbance in riparian habitat associated with these wetlands and streams. For development that would occur in these areas, an aquatic resources delineation would be required to identify the limits and potential jurisdiction of protected waters, wetlands, and sensitive natural communities.

Therefore, any proposed development in areas identified as jurisdictional waters and/or wetlands, streambed/banks, or riparian vegetation would be subject to the permit requirements of the USACE, RWQCB, and CDFW, pursuant to Section 404 and 401 of CWA, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and/or California Fish and Game Code Section 1600 et seq.

Actual jurisdictional areas are determined by the State and federal authorities at the time that permits are requested.

Reasonably foreseeable development within or adjacent to sensitive habitats could result in potential direct impacts through removal of vegetation, filling of wetland habitat, runoff of pollutants into riparian habitats or wetlands, compaction of soils, and/or indirectly through dust and vegetation thinning. The issuance of a grading permit by the Director of Public Works and Community Development for ministerial and discretionary projects requires obtaining other permits required by State or federal agencies. These include but are not limited to streambed alteration permits from the CDFW and permits for grading in the vicinity of wetlands and certain watercourses from the USACE and RWQCB. These permit clearances may also be

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required as conditions of approval for grading work to commence. Approval of permits also requires findings that the proposed grading will not result in erosion, stream sediment, or other adverse off-site effects to riparian habitat.

On future project sites one acre or larger, implementation of the required Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Best Management Practices, in accordance with the NPDES construction general permit, during project construction would reduce the potential for eroded soil and any contaminants attached to that soil to contaminate a waterbody following a storm event. Additionally, PHMC Section 15.10.280 provides design standards to address erosion and sedimentation. Future developments facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would employ erosion and stormwater control measures as outlined in the PHMC Chapter 15.05, Stormwater Management and Discharge Control, to protect and enhance the water quality in the city’s watercourses pursuant to, and consistent with, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and the CWA. Additionally, this chapter carries out the conditions in the city’s NPDES permit that require appropriate source control and site design measures and stormwater treatment measures for projects that replace or create greater than 10,000 square feet of impervious surface (as amended August 15, 2006). Impacts related to drainage and pollution are further discussed in Section 3.8, Hydrology and Water Quality.

The 2040 General Plan contains goals and policies that would further reduce impacts to riparian and wetland habitats. The following goal and policies address development in or near riparian habitat:

Goal ENV-2 Protect the quality of water resources in Pleasant Hill.

Policy ENV-2.6 Creek Preservation. Creek setbacks, where feasible, should exceed minimum regulatory setback guidelines to protect native vegetation and enhance creek environments.

Policy ENV-2.7 Watercourse Preservation. Preserve natural watercourses or provide naturalized drainage channels within the city. Where feasible, implement restoration and rehabilitation opportunities.

Policy ENV-2.8 Creek Clean-up. Collaborate with local and regional agencies, businesses, property owners, and organizations proactively to reduce litter, illegal dumping, and reestablish native vegetation along local creeks and waterways.

Goal ENV-3 Preserve and restore streams, wetlands, and riparian areas to function as open space and wildlife corridors.

Policy ENV-3.1 Creek Protection Zone Establishment for New Development. Establish creek protection zones for creeks that extend a minimum

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of 25 feet (measured from the top of a bank and a strip of land extending laterally outward from the top of each bank), with wider buffers where significant habitat areas or high potential wetlands exist. The City shall prohibit development within creek protection zones, except as part of greenway enhancement, including habitat conservation, bike and walking paths, wildlife habitat, and native plant landscaping.

City approval is required for the following activities within the creek protection zones:

1. Construction, alteration, or removal of any structure;

2. Excavation, filling, or grading;

3. Removal or planting of vegetation (except for removal of invasive plant species); or

4. Alteration of any embankment.

Policy ENV-3.2 Creek Contamination and Sedimentation Prevention.

Require new development to use site preparation, grading, and construction techniques that prevent contamination and sedimentation of creeks and streams.

Policy ENV-3.3 Creek Bank Stabilization. Require new development proposals to include appropriate measures for creek bank stabilization, and any additional steps necessary to reduce erosion and sedimentation but preserve natural creek channels and riparian vegetation.

Policy ENV-3.4 Stream, Wetland, and Riparian Reclamation. Reclaim degraded streams, wetlands, riparian areas, and wildlife migration corridors, where possible, in cooperation with the Flood Control District, and other local and regional organizations.

Policy ENV-3.5 Reclamation with New Development. Require new development adjacent to creek protection zones to encourage the reclamation of adjacent creeks, wetlands, and riparian areas.

Policy ENV-3.6 Natural Stream Corridor Retention and Improvement.

Actively support the use of natural waterways within the city. The City will actively work to avoid any new channelization of creeks and waterways within the city and shall work with regional agencies to restore channelized sections to a more natural channel, where feasible.

Policy ENV-3.7 Erosion Control Plans. Require erosion control plans for new development that require significant grading or are near streams, wetlands, and riparian areas. The plans shall include recommendations for grading practices that prevent erosion, loss of topsoil, and scour of drainageways, consistent with biological and aesthetic values.

Policy ENV-3.8 Educational and Research Access. Work with public and

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private landowners adjacent to creeks to allow access to creeks, waterways, and riparian areas for educational and research programs.

Policy ENV-3.9 Restoration and Creek Maintenance. Encourage all landowners in the city to remove invasive species, plant native plant species, and prevent pollution from entering local creeks and waterways.

Program H Creek Restoration Funding. Seek regional, State, and federal funding sources to reclaim, restore, and enhance local creeks and waterways in order to:

Reduce embankment erosion and deterioration;
Clearing debris to maintain free flowing waterways; and Stabilize and restore stream banks through the planting of new vegetation.

Implementation of these goals and policies, as well as Policy ENV-4.1 and ENV-4.2 described under Impact BIO-1, would reduce direct impacts to waters, wetlands and riparian areas during construction and operation by reducing direct and indirect modifications to creeks, embankments, and other waterways in the General Plan area. Furthermore, if potentially jurisdictional waters occur on any site identified by the 2040 General Plan for development, an aquatic resources delineation and permits issued by the relevant State and/or federal authorities (USACE, RWQCB, and CDFW) would be required that would address potential impacts to those waters.

Additionally, under Implementation Program H, the City of Pleasant Hill is required to seek sources of funding to reclaim, restore, and enhance local creeks and waterways within the General Plan area, thus further improving these resources for the future. Adherence to State and federal regulations, the PHMC, and implementation of proposed 2040 General Plan goals and polices would result in a 2040 General Plan sensitive natural community construction impact that is less than significant.

Operation
Given that potential impacts to riparian habitats and wetlands would occur during construction either directly via fill or indirectly related to habitat modification, there would be no 2040 General Plan operational impacts related to sensitive natural communities.

2. Wetlands
Threshold: Would the Project have a substantial adverse effect on federally protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means?

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Finding: No impact. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.3-27- 3.3-30)
Explanation: See Riparian Habitat above.

3. Wildlife Movement
Threshold: Would the Project interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.3-30 – 3.3-32) Explanation:

Construction
Most of the General Plan area is developed and urbanized and does not provide for wildlife movement corridors. Wildlife movement corridors in the General Plan area are generally limited to riparian corridors and creeks and areas of open space in local and regional parks. These creeks may be used by migratory fish and riparian corridors and other undeveloped areas in the city may provide corridors for wildlife movement, including migratory birds and Alameda whipsnake, California tiger salamander, and California red-legged frog when migrating to aquatic breeding habitat and during juvenile dispersal. The 2040 General Plan does not include changes to existing Parks and Open Space land use designations, including along creeks and waterways in the General Plan area. As such, the 2040 General Plan would not facilitate permanent development within these wildlife movement corridors. Wildlife movement within areas of open space would not be affected by the 2040 General Plan, because the 2040 General Plan facilitates development in the urbanized areas of Pleasant Hill.

The 2040 General Plan would focus on infill development along corridors and on parcels currently developed with structures and/or parking lots.

Additionally, proposed 2040 General Plan Goal ENV-3, listed above under Impact BIO- 2, addresses preservation and restoration of habitats that may serve as open space and wildlife corridors. Under this goal, several policies listed above under Impact BIO-2 require development setbacks along creek protection zones, riparian areas, wetlands, and other areas that function as fish and wildlife movement corridors. Implementation Program H, listed above, supports restoration of local creeks and waterways that would restore wildlife movement corridors provided by streams. Proposed 2040 General Plan Policy ENV-3.4 and ENV-3.5, also listed above under Impact BIO- 2, require new development adjacent to creek protection zones to reclaim, retain, and improve streams, wetlands and riparian areas, and wildlife movement corridors, where possible. These policies would help to preserve

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important local wildlife corridors as new development is permitted throughout the General Plan area.

Furthermore, proposed 2040 General Plan Goals OSP-1 and ENV-4 and associated policies would provide for a connected open space network that in turn could facilitate wildlife movement.

Goal OSP-1 Preserve, enhance, and protect a continuous system of open space areas, hillsides, and natural features.

Policy OSP-1.1 Open Space Preservation. Keep open space and undeveloped hillsides free of future development.

Policy OSP-1.4 Connected Open Space Areas. Integrate, wherever possible, the local open space and parks systems with the open space systems of nearby communities and the region to create and preserve a continuous and connected system of open space areas.

Goal ENV-4 Protect and preserve natural habitat, plants, and wildlife.

Policy ENV-4.3 Fish Bypass Facilities. Support efforts of the County to determine the feasibility of constructing fish bypass facilities for flood control drop structures in area creeks.

Considering that the 2040 General Plan would not facilitate development in open space areas, including stream corridors, and that it contains policies to reduce impacts to stream corridors and protect wildlife movement corridors and open space, 2040 General Plan construction impacts related to wildlife movement corridors would be less than significant.

Operation
Given that potential impacts to wildlife movement corridors would occur during construction either directly via fill or indirectly related to open space development, there would be no 2040 General Plan operational impacts related to wildlife movement corridors.

4. Local Policies and Ordinances
Threshold: Would the Project conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance? Finding: No impact. (Draft EIR, pp 3.3-32 – 3.3-33)
Explanation:

Construction

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Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would occur on parcels that have mature street trees along their boundaries and sometimes have mature trees on the project site. Removal or alteration of these trees would be subject to the City’s Tree Preservation Ordinance codified in PHMC section 18.50.110. This section addresses the preservation of trees throughout the community and establishes provisions for protecting heritage trees and other “protected trees”. Additionally, this section establishes the procedures for review and approval of tree removal and/or replacement and requires applicants to retain a certified arborist report when applying for a tree removal permit.

Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be required to comply with PHMC Section 18.50.110 for the preservation of heritage and protected trees throughout the community. This section provides standards for the planting, pruning, removal, alteration, or any other work on a street tree as well as requirements for a tree removal permit and replacement plantings for any protected tree that would be removed during project construction. In addition to requiring tree removal permits, PHMC Section

18.50.110 requires measures to protect existing trees during project construction during specific grading activities.

Additionally, the following proposed 2040 General Plan policies and implementation program would help protect trees and other vegetation in the General Plan area:

Policy ENV-4.6 Urban Forestation. Increase urban forestation by promoting urban site design that retains existing trees and includes native species, reducing the urban heat island effect.

Policy ENV-9.6 Urban Tree Canopy. Encourage discretionary development to include the planting of shade trees on each property and within parking areas to reduce the retention and radiation of heat.

Policy PFS-3.1 Grow the Urban Forest. The City shall update the City’s Tree Inventory and Management Report and adopt an associated implementation plan to support opportunities to grow the urban forest by planting new trees, managing and caring for publicly-owned trees, and working to retain healthy trees.

Policy PFS-3.2 Reduce Urban Forest Loss. The City shall support the identification and removal of aging or diseased trees near the end of their lifespan to prevent potential hazards and should support succession plantings to reduce net loss to the urban forest.

Implementation Program J. Tree Planting and Maintenance Strategy.

Prepare and update as necessary the tree planting and maintenance strategy to reduce ambient air temperature on hot sunny days. This plan should be reviewed and updated, as appropriate.

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Implementation of these policies and implementation program would require protection of street trees and the urban forest consistent with the PHMC. Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be required to comply with the PHMC requirements and 2040 General Plan policies and implementation program listed above. Therefore, 2040 General Plan construction impacts related to consistency with local biological resources policies and ordinances would be less than significant.

Operation
Given that potential impacts to trees would occur during construction, there would be no 2040 General Plan operational impact related to consistency with local biological resources policies and ordinances.

5. Habitat Conservation Plans
Threshold: Would the Project conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.3-33 – 3.3-34) Explanation:

Construction and Operation
There are no adopted HCPs or NCCPs within Pleasant Hill (the General Plan area). As such, there are no HCPs or NCCPs applicable to the 2040 General Plan. Therefore, development construction facilitated by the 2040 General Plan and operational implementation of General Plan policies would result in no impacts related to consistency with an adopted HCP, NCCP, or other approved local, regional, or State habitat conservation plan.

E. CULTURAL RESOURCES

1. Human Remains
Threshold: Would the Project disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of dedicated cemeteries?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.4-25 – 3.4-26 Explanation:

Construction
Human burials outside of formal cemeteries can occur in prehistoric archaeological contexts. Excavations during construction activities could

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have the potential to disturb these resources that could include Native American burial sites. As such, ground disturbing activities that may occur with Pleasant Hill (the General Plan area) during implementation of the 2040 General Plan have the potential to unearth previously unidentified human remains.

Human burials, in addition to being potential archaeological resources, have specific provisions for treatment in PRC Section 5097. The California Health and Safety Code (Section 7050.5, 7051, and 7054) has specific provisions for the protection of human burial remains. Existing regulations address the illegality of interfering with human burial remains, and protect them from disturbance, vandalism, or destruction. They also include established procedures to be implemented if Native American skeletal remains are discovered. PRC Section 5097.98 also addresses the disposition of Native American burials, protects such remains, and established the NAHC to resolve any related disputes.

All development projects are also subject to State of California Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5, which states that, if human remains are unearthed, no further disturbance can occur until the county coroner has made the necessary findings as to the origin and disposition of the remains pursuant to the PRC Section 5097.98. If the remains are determined to be of Native American descent, the coroner has 24 hours to notify the NAHC, which will determine and notify a most likely descendant (MLD). The MLD shall complete the inspection of the site and make recommendations to the landowner within 48 hours of being granted access.

Furthermore, the proposed 2040 General Plan Environment Element includes the following implementation program that would reduce potential impacts related to human remains, specifically, Native American remains:

Implementation Program: Tribal Consultation. Require the determination of the significance of the cultural resource(s) and development and implementation of any data recovery program shall be conducted by a qualified professional and in consultation with interested Native American tribes. All Native American human remains and associated grave goods shall be returned to their most likely descendent and repatriated. The final disposition of artifacts not directly associated with Native American graves shall be negotiated during consultation with interested tribes. If Native American tribes do not accept the artifact, it shall be offered to an institution staffed by qualified professionals, as determined by the City Planner. Artifacts include material recovered from all phases of work, including the initial survey, testing, indexing, data recovery, and monitoring.

The implementation program listed above would require evaluation, protection, and tribal consultation related to human remains encountered

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during construction associated with development under the 2040 General Plan. As such, adherence to this implementation program as well as existing regulations discussed above would reduce the potential for human remains to be adversely impacted by ground-disturbing activities associated with development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan. Therefore, 2040 General Plan construction impacts related to human remains would be less than significant.

Operation
Given that potential impacts to human remains would occur during construction, there would be no 2040 General Plan operational impact related to human remains.

F. ENERGY

1. Wasteful Use of Energy
Threshold: Would the Project result in potentially significant impact due to wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources, during project construction or operation?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.6-39 – 3.6-42) Explanation:

Construction
Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would involve the use of energy during construction. Energy use during construction would be primarily in the form of fuel consumption to operate heavy equipment, light-duty vehicles, machinery, and generators for lighting. Temporary grid power may also be provided to construction trailers or electric construction equipment. Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would utilize construction contractors that comply with applicable CARB regulations such as accelerated retrofitting, repowering, or replacement of heavy-duty diesel on- and off-road equipment, and restricted idling of heavy-duty diesel motor vehicles. Construction contractors are required to comply with the provisions of CCR Title 13, sections 2449 and 2485, prohibiting dieselfueled commercial and off-road vehicles from idling for more than five minutes, minimizing unnecessary fuel consumption. Construction equipment would be subject to the USEPA Construction Equipment Fuel Efficiency Standard, which would minimize inefficient fuel consumption.

These construction equipment standards (i.e., Tier 4 efficiency requirements) are contained in 40 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 1039, 1065, and 1068. Electrical power would be consumed during demolition and construction activities, and the demand, to the extent required, would

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be supplied from existing electrical infrastructure in the area.

Overall, demolition and construction activities would not have any adverse impact on available electricity supplies or infrastructure. Demolition and construction activities would utilize fuel-efficient equipment consistent with State and federal regulations and would comply with state measures to reduce the inefficient, wasteful, or unnecessary consumption of energy. Per applicable regulatory requirements of CALGreen, development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would comply with construction waste management practices to divert construction and demolition debris from landfills. These practices would result in efficient use of energy by construction facilitated by the 2040 General Plan.

Furthermore, in the interest of cost efficiency, construction contractors would not utilize fuel in a manner that is wasteful or unnecessary. The 2040 General Plan is a response to economic demand for more housing and commercial, neighborhood business, and mixed-use land uses that, if not fulfilled by the proposed plan, would likely result in new construction elsewhere, with associated increases in commuter VMT. The energy used to construct development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan is necessary, because the 2040 General Plan is intended to meet these demands.

Therefore, demolition and construction activities associated with the 2040 General Plan would not result in potentially significant environmental effects due to the wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy, and construction energy impacts would be less than significant.

Operation
Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would involve the use of energy during operation. Daily operation of the regional transportation system uses energy in the form of fuel consumed by propulsion of passenger vehicles, including automobiles, vans and trucks, and transit vehicles, including buses and trains. In addition, longer-term operation of development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would require permanent grid connections for electricity and natural gas service to power internal and exterior building lighting, and heating and cooling systems.

Transportation-related Energy Use
Increases in motor vehicle trips are primarily a combined function of population and employment growth. The 2040 General Plan emphasizes reducing VMT on area roadways through emphasizing greater residential density, proximity of residents to commercial uses, and the support of alternative methods of transportation. The 2040 General Plan policies that support a VMT reduction, and thus a reduction in energy usage from transportation fuel, include Policies LU-3.2 (Connectivity), LU-3.4 (Clustering Development), LU-4.3 (Neighborhood Connectivity), LU4.1.a Packet Pg. 47
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4.34(Capture Local Spending), LU-4.3 (Vertical and Horizontal MixedUse), LU-4.3 (Enhanced Connectivity), LU-6.16 (Walkable Environment), LU-6.25 (Transit-Oriented Development), LU-6.31 (Increased Residential Development), LU-7.2 (Alternative Transportation Improvement), LU-7.3 (Remove Physical Barriers), TC-4.4 (Infill Development), TC-4.5 (Correlation Between Land Use and Transportation), TC-5.1 (Evaluate Multimodal Facility Needs), TC-5.3 (Mobility Technology Support), TC6.1 (Encourage Non-Driving Forms of Personal Mobility), TC-6.2 (Private Development of Transportation Facilities), TC-6.3 (Non-Vehicular Transportation Requirement), TC-6.4 (Amenities for Non-Driving Modes of Transportation), TC-6.5 (Encourage Development of Alternative Fuel Infrastructure), TC-8.1 (Complete Streets Policies), TC-11.1 (Bicycle and Pedestrian Network), TC-11.3 (Protected Bicycle Facilities), TC-12.6 (Bike Route Connectivity), TC-12.8 (Bicycle Parking), TC-13.1 (Bus and Rail Services), TC-13.2 (Innovative Transportation Technologies), TC-15.1 (TDM Alternatives), TC-15.2 (Require TDM Programs), TC-15.3 (TDM for New Development), TC-15.6 (TDM Measures for Non-Residential Land Uses), ENV-8.4 (Land Use and Transportation Priorities), E-6.2 (Transportation Systems), E-6.3 (Active Transportation), and Program N (Clean Fleet Program) listed with further detail under Impact GHG-1.

Error! Reference source not found. (DEIR, p. 3.6-40) shows existing (2022) daily VMT, estimated fuel consumption, and fuel consumption per service population in Pleasant Hill and proposed (2040) conditions with implementation of the 2040 General Plan. As shown therein, daily fuel consumption per service population would be reduced by approximately

16.7 percent under the 2040 General Plan.

In addition to the above policies and implementation programs, the 2040 General Plan would encourage infill and transit- and pedestrian- oriented development to reduce overall energy consumption and result in greater energy efficiency throughout the City. For example, the 2040 General Plan contains land-use strategies to encourage higher-density and mixed-use development near transit and along commercial corridors. Mixed-use, transit-oriented, and higher-density development improve energy efficiency as it places City residents closer to places of employment, businesses those residents patronize, and public transit facilities. By placing services and amenities close to where people live and work, the land use scenario envisioned by the 2040 General Plan would minimize the need to drive and reduce per capita energy consumption.

Building-related Energy Use
Operation of the development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would consume natural gas and electricity for building heating and power, lighting, and water conveyance, among other operational requirements. The 2040 General Plan contains goals, policies, and implementation programs that

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would help minimize the occurrence of inefficient, wasteful, and unnecessary energy consumption during operation of building development facilitated by the General Plan. The 2040 General Plan goals, policies, and implementation programs that would result in reduced building-related energy consumption include the policies listed below as well as Policy ENV-8.9 (Sustainable Community Facility Design), and Program O (Climate Action Plan) as listed in further detail above under Impact GHG1:

Goal ENV-9 Improve efficiency and conservation in all development.

Policy ENV-9.1 Energy Conservation Education. Partner with utility providers to educate residents, employers, and business owners/managers on the energy conservation programs available.

Policy ENV-9.2 Energy Efficiency Improvements. Require energy efficiency improvements, including alternative energy technology, be made as a part of residential and commercial building renovations when a building permit application is submitted to the City.

Policy ENV-9.3 Local Partnerships. Partner with local businesses and organizations to secure grants and incentives that facilitate energy efficiency and renewable energy production.

Policy ENV-9.4 Municipal Buildings Efficiency and Conservation. Require the design new public buildings to exceed State standards for water and energy efficiency.

Policy ENV-9.5 Battery Energy Storage Systems. Encourage battery energy storage systems as an option for optimizing the management of electricity generated by renewable resources.

Policy ENV-9.7 Energy-Efficient Lighting. Require public facilities to use energyefficient lighting technology for outdoor and indoor spaces.

Program R Energy Conservation Education. Create a program to educate, provide access to a clearinghouse of available grants, and other funding sources to promote energy conservation and the application of alternative energy technology.

Program C Energy Efficiency Public Campaign. Develop a public outreach campaign on the benefits of energy efficiency and what steps residents and businesses can take to be more energy efficient.

Program D Green Retrofit Program. Seek funding to develop a program that provides financial assistance and informational resources to incentivize homeowners and businessowners to retrofit their properties with green infrastructure.

Program INatural Gas Ban Study. Prepare a study to analyze the implementation of a natural gas ban for all new residential development.

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The 2040 General Plan would reduce energy consumption by providing education about energy conservation programs, requiring energy efficiency improvements, forming partnerships with local businesses to secure grants and incentives to facilitate energy efficiency, require public buildings to exceed water and energy efficiency standards, and encourage battery energy storage systems. By implementing these 2040 General Plan policies and implementation programs, the operation of buildings associated with buildout under the 2040 General Plan would minimize per capita and overall energy consumption.

Overall
Implementation of the 2040 General Plan policies and programs listed above, as well as other policies and implementation programs contained in the 2040 General Plan that would result in indirect energy conservation, such as the promotion of alternative transportation, water conservation, and waste reduction, would promote greater transportation and building energy efficiency in municipal and community operations and development.

Furthermore, the 2040 General Plan contains a land-use strategy that actively promotes infill mixed-use and transit- and pedestrian-oriented development, which would result in greater transportation energy efficiency overall for Pleasant Hill residents, businesses, and municipal operations.

Therefore, operation of the 2040 General Plan would not result in potentially significant environmental effects from wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy, and operational energy impacts would be less than significant.

2. Energy Efficiency Plans
Threshold: Would the Project conflict with or obstruct a state of local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.6-42 – 3.6-44) Explanation:

Construction
Policy consistency is limited to operational energy use discussion. No 2040 General Plan construction impact related to consistency with an applicable energy or energy efficiency plan would occur.

Operation
Relevant plans and policies that aim to increase energy efficiency and the production of renewable energy include SB 100, the 2022 California Green

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Building Standards Code (CALGreen or Title 24 Part 11), and the 2022 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24 Part 6). SB 100 supports the reduction of GHG emissions from the electricity sector by accelerating the State’s Renewables Portfolio Standard Program and requires electricity providers to increase procurement from eligible renewable energy resources to 33 percent of total retail sales by 2020, 60 percent by 2030, and 100 percent by 2045. CALGreen (Title 24 Part 11) institutes mandatory minimum environmental performance standards for all ground-up new non-residential and residential structures and major renovations. In addition, the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24 Part 6) establishes energy-efficiency standards for residential and non-residential buildings in order to reduce California’s energy demand. CCR Title 24 (Parts 6 and 11) is updated periodically to incorporate and consider new energy-efficiency technologies and methodologies as they become available. New structures and major renovations must demonstrate their compliance with the current Building Energy Efficiency Standards through submission and approval of a Title 24 Compliance Report to the local building permit review authority and the CEC.

Consistency with State Renewable Energy Plans
Pleasant Hill is part of the MCE community choice aggregate, which provides electricity primarily from clean, renewable sources. Pleasant Hill would continue to reduce its use of nonrenewable energy resources as the electricity generated by renewable resources provided by MCE continues to increase to comply with SB 100 requirements for electricity providers to increase procurement from eligible renewable energy resources to 33 percent of total retail sales by 2020, 60 percent by 2030, and 100 percent by 2045. The 2040 General Plan includes policies to reduce energy use and increase production of renewable energy, as discussed further below, and would, therefore, align with the overall intent of SB 100 and be consistent with this State renewable energy plan.

Consistency with State Energy Efficiency Plans
In addition, the City of Pleasant Hill has adopted State energy conservation plans, including CALGreen (Title 24 Part 11) and the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24 Part 6), pursuant to Pleasant Hill Municipal Code Title 14. Therefore, operations associated with infrastructure projects stemming from the 2040 General Plan would be designed to comply with the energy source standards of the CALGreen and the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Future projects would be required to demonstrate compliance with the CALGreen and the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards by implementing sustainability and energy efficiency measures such as high-efficiency lighting and HVAC systems, low-flow water fixtures, dual-paned windows,

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and water efficient landscaping and irrigation systems. Compliance with these regulations would minimize potential conflicts with the aforementioned State energy efficiency plans.

Overall
Proposed 2040 General Plan ENV policies seek to decrease non-renewable (i.e., natural gas) consumption and overall energy consumption in new and existing buildings by encouraging the production and storage of local renewable energy as well as requiring energy efficient improvement, incentivizing energy-efficient retrofits, and providing energy conservation education programs. These actions are consistent with the goals and policies established by SB 100, CALGreen, and the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards. As such, the 2040 General Plan would not conflict with adopted renewable energy or energy conservation plans, and impacts related to consistency with State and local renewable energy and energy efficiency plans would be less than significant.

G. GEOLOGY AND SOILS

1. Fault Rupture
Threshold: Would the Project directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault; strong seismic ground shaking; seismic-related ground failure including liquefaction; or landslides?
Finding: No impact. (Draft EIR, p. 3.5-22)
Explanation:

Construction
Impacts related to risks associated with hazards involving fault rupture are limited to operational impacts. No respective construction impacts would occur.

Operation
Pleasant Hill (i.e., the General Plan area) does not contain Alquist Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones. Therefore, persons and property associated with development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would not be directly or indirectly subject to effects involving rupture of a known earthquake fault,

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and no operational impact would occur.

2. Soil Erosion
Threshold: Would the Project result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.5-25 – 3.5-26) Explanation:

Construction
Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would involve construction activities such as stockpiling, grading, excavation, paving, and other earth-disturbing activities. Loose and disturbed soils are more prone to erosion and loss of topsoil by wind and water.

Construction activities that disturb one or more acres of land surface are subject to NPDES General Permit for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Construction and Land Disturbance Activities (Order No. 2012-0006- DWQ) adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).

Compliance with the permit requires each qualifying development project to file a Notice of Intent with the SWRCB. Permit conditions require preparation of a SWPPP, which must describe the site, the facility, erosion and sediment controls, runoff water quality monitoring, means of waste disposal, implementation of approved local plans, control of construction sediment and erosion control measures, maintenance responsibilities, and non-storm water management controls. As described in Section 3.8, Hydrology and Water Quality, development within Pleasant Hill would be required to comply with NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction and Land Disturbance Activities, otherwise known as the Construction General Permit (Order 2009-0009, as amended by Orders 2010-0014-DWQ and 2012-006-DWQ), which requires measures to reduce and eliminate stormwater pollutants, installation of appropriate BMPs to control stormwater runoff from construction sites, and that grading and drainage permits be obtained prior to construction. Grading and drainage plans accompanying the permit application must include BMPs for erosion prevention and sediment control, fencing at waterways and in sensitive areas, and limitation of disturbed areas through temporary features. The permit applications must also demonstrate compliance with NPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permits (MS4) provisions. Enforcement of these permit requirements would reduce soil erosion impacts.

Additionally, Pleasant Hill Municipal Code requirements for erosion prevention and sediment control would apply to construction facilitated by the proposed plan. These include erosion prevention and sediment control

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in accordance with Chapter 15.10 of the Pleasant Hill Municipal Code, conformance of plans to erosion prevention and sediment control BMPs, grading restrictions during the winter rain period, potential need for water sprinkling equipment on site during grading, and regulations of cut and fill slopes. Adherence to the requirements of the Pleasant Hill Municipal Code BMPs would reduce the potential for development facilitated by the project to cause erosion or the loss of topsoil by ensuring proper management of loose and disturbed soil. Therefore, 2040 General Plan construction impacts related to soil erosion and loss of topsoil would be less than significant.

Operation
Impacts related to soil erosion or loss of topsoil are limited to construction impacts. No respective operational impacts would occur.

3. Unstable Soils
Threshold: Would the Project be located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the project, and potentially result in on- or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction or collapse?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.5-23 – 3.5-24) Explanation:

Construction
Impacts related to risks associated with seismic-related hazards and location on an unstable geologic unit or soil are limited to operational impacts. No respective construction impacts would occur.

Operation
Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would result in additional residential, commercial, and retail development that would be potentially exposed to the effects of strong seismic ground shaking (as identified as Strong [VII Intensity or above] on the Mercalli Scale), seismic-related ground failure (liquefaction, lateral spreading, subsidence), and landslides resulting from local and regional earthquakes. Structures built in landslide zones would be exposed to an existing risk of landslide or, if improperly constructed, could exacerbate existing landslide conditions, especially construction on sites in the western portion of Pleasant Hill that is vulnerable to landslide hazard. New structures within the General Plan area could also experience substantial damage during seismic ground shaking events that are likely to occur in the future within the seismically active San Francisco Bay Area. The General Plan area is not located in a Statedesignated earthquake induced landslide hazard zone, but there have been

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landslides throughout the western portion of Pleasant Hill. Additionally, the eastern portions of Pleasant Hill could experience liquefaction, lateral spreading, or subsidence due to a seismic event.

Development within Pleasant Hill would be required to be built to current seismic standards that could better withstand the adverse effects of strong ground shaking. Potential structural damage and the exposure of people to the risk of injury or death from structural failure would be minimized by compliance with CBC engineering design and construction measures.

Foundations and other structural support features would be required to be designed to resist or absorb damaging forces from strong ground shaking and liquefaction. Allowable increases in height as a result of the 2040 General Plan could require foundations and other structural support features to be more robust to support the additional height; however, compliance with CBC regulations would ensure that the buildings would meet seismic safety standards.

In addition to compliance with mandatory CBC requirements that address safe building development, including requirements to seismically upgrade existing structures, related to these hazards, the following 2040 General Plan goals and policies would further minimize potential adverse effects related to strong ground shaking, seismic-related ground failure, and landslides:

Goal HS-2 Reduce the potential harm to people and property from geologic and seismic hazards.

Policy HS-2.1 Earthquake Hazard. Require new development to be sited away from high-risk earthquake hazard or liquefaction-susceptibility zones, or if located in a high-risk zone, to incorporate building technologies to reduce risk to an acceptable level.

Policy HS-2.2 Geotechnical Study Requirement. Require geotechnical studies for new development in areas with moderate to high liquefaction potential that include analysis of seismic settlement potential and specify appropriate mitigation.

HS-2.3 Seismic Retrofit Incentives. Work with regional, State, and Federal agencies and organizations to incentivize seismic retrofits of structures.

HS-2.4 Slope Failure. Work with regional, State, and Federal agencies and organizations to incentivize seismic retrofits of structures.

HS-2.8 Resilient Infrastructure. Require the location, design, and construction of new public utilities, communication infrastructure, and transportation facilities to minimize risk and maximize functionality during and after an earthquake.

HS-2.9 Slope Stability Assessment. Continue to require slope stability

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assessments by appropriately registered professionals upon the initiation of new development proposals in areas of known slope instability and/or on slopes steeper than 15 percent.

Implementation of these 2040 General Plan goals and policies, in addition to compliance with applicable laws and regulations such as CBC requirements, would minimize the potential for loss, injury, or death related to strong ground shaking, seismic-related ground failure, and landslides caused by a seismic event within the General Plan area. Thus, overall, compliance with all aforementioned policies and requirements for both proposed and existing structures would minimize the potential for loss, injury, or death related to strong ground shaking, seismic-related ground failure, and landslides caused by a seismic event. Therefore, 2040 General Plan operational impacts related to strong seismic ground shaking, seismic-related ground failure risk, and landslide hazard would be less than significant.

4. Expansive Soils
Threshold: Would the Project be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code, creating substantial risks to life or property? Finding: Less than significant with mitigation. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.5-26- 3.5-27) Explanation:

Construction
Impacts related to risks associated with location on expansive soil are limited to operational impacts. Construction of development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would comply with the CBC and applicable federal, State, and local regulations that would ensure construction activities (e.g., excavation of subterranean space) would not cause direct or indirect impacts to nearby properties in areas where expansive soils could potentially exist.

No respective construction impacts would occur.

Operation
Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan on expansive soils, as defined by Table 1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1994), within the eastern portion of Pleasant Hill could be subject to damage or could become unstable when the underlying soil shrinks or swells. The adverse effects of expansive soils can be avoided through proper subsoil preparation, drainage, and foundation design. In order to design an adequate foundation, it must be determined if the site contains expansive soils through appropriate soil sampling and laboratory soils testing. Expansive soils are identified through expansion tests of samples of soil or rock, or by means of the interpretation of Atterberg limit tests, a standard soils testing

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procedure. The CBC includes requirements to address soil-related hazards, including testing to identify expansive soils and design specifications where structures are to be constructed on expansive soils. Typical measures to treat expansive soil conditions involve removal, proper fill selection, and compaction. In cases where soil remediation is not feasible, the CBC requires structural reinforcement of foundations to resist the forces of expansive soils. Compliance with the requirements of the CBC, as well as relevant General Plan policies (as discussed in detail under Impact GEO-2), would reduce risks related to expansive soils. Therefore, 2040 General Plan operational impacts related to expansive soils would be less than significant.

5. Septic Tanks
Threshold: Would the Project have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative waste water disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of waste water?
Finding: No impact. (Draft EIR, 3.5-27)
Explanation:

Construction
Impacts related to the soil capability of supporting the use of alternative wastewater disposal systems are limited to operation. No construction impacts would occur.

Operation
Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would occur in urbanized areas where existing wastewater infrastructure exists. The proposed plan would not include or require the use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems. Therefore, no operational impacts would occur.

H. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

1. Hazardous Materials
Threshold: Would the Project create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.7-30 - 3.7-33) Explanation: The use of hazardous materials is typically associated with industrial land uses. Activities such as manufacturing, plating, cleaning, refining, and

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finishing, frequently involve chemicals that are considered hazardous when accidentally released into the environment.

To a lesser extent, hazardous materials may also be used by various commercial enterprises, as well as residential uses. In particular, dry cleaners use cleaning agents considered to be hazardous materials.

Hardware stores typically stock paints and solvents, as well as fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Swimming pool supply stores stock acids, algaecides, and caustic agents. Most commercial businesses occasionally use commonly available cleaning supplies that, when used in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations, are considered safe by the State of California, but when not handled properly can be considered hazardous.

Private residences also use and store commonly available cleaning materials, paints, solvents, swimming pool and spa chemicals, as well as fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.

If improperly handled, hazardous materials can result in public health hazards through human contact with contaminated soils or groundwater, or through airborne releases in vapors, fumes, or dust. There is also the potential for accidental or unauthorized releases of hazardous materials that would pose a public health concern. The use, transport, and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes are required to occur in accordance with Federal, State, and local regulations. In accordance with such regulations, the transport of hazardous materials and wastes can only occur with transporters who have received training and appropriate licensing.

Additionally, hazardous waste transporters are required to complete and carry a hazardous waste manifest, which includes forms, reports, and procedures designed to seamlessly track hazardous waste.

Additional protective regulations apply to projects that could use or disturb potentially hazardous products near or at schools. The California Public Resources Code requires projects that would be located within 0.25 mile of a school and might reasonably be expected to emit or handle hazardous materials to consult with the school district regarding potential hazards.

Numerous day care facilities, charter schools, and private schools are also located throughout Pleasant Hill.

Construction
Construction associated with the 2040 General Plan would primarily consist of infill and redevelopment construction throughout Pleasant Hill. Infill and redevelopment construction can involve demolition of existing structures.

Demolition could result in emission of lead and asbestos if building materials contain these substances. However, lead-based materials and asbestos exposure are regulated by the CalOSHA. CCR Section 1532.1 requires testing, monitoring, containment, and disposal of lead-based materials such that exposure levels do not exceed CalOSHA standards.

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Under this rule, construction workers (and by extension, neighboring properties) may not be exposed to lead at concentrations greater than 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight-hour period and exposure must be reduced to lower concentrations if the construction workday exceeds eight hours. Similarly, CCR Section 1529 sets requirements for asbestos exposure assessments and monitoring, methods of complying with exposure requirements, safety wear, communication of hazards, and medical examination of workers.

The control of asbestos during demolition or renovation of buildings is regulated under the Federal Clean Air Act. The Federal Clean Air Act requires a thorough inspection for asbestos where demolition will occur and specifies construction work practices to control emissions, such as removing all asbestos-containing materials, adequately wetting all regulated asbestos-containing materials, sealing the material in leak tight containers and disposing of the asbestos-containing waste material as expediently as practicable. Compliance with applicable standards would ensure construction impacts related to hazardous materials, specifically asbestos, release would be less than significant.

Friable ACMs are regulated as a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act. As a construction worker safety hazard, they are also regulated under the authority of CalOSHA and by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. In structures that would be demolished, any ACMs would be abated in accordance with State and Federal regulations prior to the start of demolition or renovation activities and in compliance with all applicable existing rules and regulations, including the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. These programs would ensure that asbestos removal would not result in the release of hazardous materials to the environment that could impair human health. As such, construction impacts related to hazardous materials, specifically ACMs, release would be less than significant.

Fluorescent lighting ballasts manufactured prior to 1978, and electrical transformers, capacitors, and generators manufactured prior to 1977, may contain PCBs. In accordance with the Toxic Substances Control Act and other federal and State regulations, individual projects would be required to properly handle and dispose of electrical equipment and lighting ballasts that contain PCBs during demolition of older buildings, ensuring that construction impacts related to hazardous materials, specifically PCBs, release would be less than significant.

The use of construction machinery would involve the transport, use, and disposal of hazardous materials such as paints, solvents, oils, grease, and caulking. Additionally, hazardous materials would be needed for fueling and servicing construction equipment. These types of hazardous materials are not acutely hazardous, and all storage, handling, use, and disposal of

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these materials are regulated by County, State, and Federal regulations and compliance with applicable standards discussed under Section 3.7.3, Regulatory Framework, would ensure construction impacts related to the transport, use, and disposal of hazardous materials would be less than significant.

Compliance with existing applicable regulations and policies would minimize risks from routine use, transport, handling, storage, disposal, and release of hazardous materials during construction. Oversight by the appropriate federal, State, and local agencies and compliance by new development with applicable regulations related to the handling and storage of hazardous materials would minimize the risk of the public’s potential exposure to these substances. There are ten schools located within the General Plan area. Four of these schools, as shown in Figure 3.11-2 of Section 3.11, Public Services and Recreation, are located near an identified hazardous materials transportation route. Transport of hazardous materials along the I-680 and Contra Costa Boulevard routes would be subject to Federal, state, and local regulations as discussed under Section 3.7.3, Regulatory Framework, that would reduce potential impacts of hazardous materials releases proximate to schools. Therefore, 2040 General Plan construction impacts related to a hazard to the public or the environment through routine transport, use or disposal of hazardous materials or reasonably foreseeable upset and/or accidental release of hazardous materials, including within 0.25 mile of a school, would be less than significant.

Operation
Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would result in the addition of residential units and commercial, office, school, semi-public, and industrial development throughout Pleasant Hill. Housing and other residential uses do not utilize substantial quantities of hazardous materials and, thereby, pose little risk of exposing the public to hazardous materials.

Commercial, office, and semi-public development would be subject to compliance with CCR, Cal OSHA, and other agencies to ensure hazardous materials risks to the public are minimized during operational use and transport as well.

The proposed plan would facilitate residential, commercial, office, school, semi-public, and industrial development in the vicinity of some existing schools. However, the various land uses facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be required to comply with applicable laws and regulations for the handling of hazardous materials. These land uses would not emit large quantities of hazardous materials or substances. Development and redevelopment of sites within Pleasant Hill may have pre-existing contamination and would be remediated through coordination with the

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appropriate regulatory agency pursuant to federal, State, and local regulations as listed in Section 3.7.3, Regulatory Framework.

Compliance with existing applicable regulations and policies would minimize risks from routine use, transport, handling, storage, disposal, and release of hazardous materials. Oversight by the appropriate federal, State, and local agencies and compliance by new development with applicable regulations related to the handling and storage of hazardous materials would minimize the risk of the public’s potential exposure to these substances.

While I-680 and Contra Costa Boulevard are located near four schools, transport of hazardous materials along these routes would be subject to federal, State, and local regulations as listed in Section 3.7.3, Regulatory Framework, that would reduce potential impacts of releases proximate to schools. Therefore, 2040 General Plan operational impacts related to a hazard to the public or the environment through routine transport, use or disposal of hazardous materials or reasonably foreseeable upset and/or accidental release of hazardous materials, including within 0.25 mile of a school, would be less than significant.

2. Accident or Upset
Threshold: Would the Project create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.7-30 - 3.7-33) Explanation: See Hazardous Materials above.

3. Hazards Near Schools
Threshold: Would the Project emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.7-30 - 3.7-33) Explanation: See Hazardous Materials.

4. Waste Sites
Threshold: Would the Project be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.7-33 – 3.7-35)

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Explanation:

Construction
Given that potential construction sites are required by DTSC and the Regional Water Quality Control Board to be remediated and/or capped in a manner deemed appropriate by the responsible agency prior to construction activities occurring, construction impacts would be reduced through federal, State, and local regulations. Therefore, the 2040 General Plan would not create a hazard to the public or environment during construction, and impacts related to locating buildings within the General Plan area on a hazardous materials site per Government Code Section 65962.5 would be less than significant.

Operation
Existing sites that use or have previously used hazardous materials or that may contain contaminants in soils or groundwater in Pleasant Hill include large- and small-quantity generators of hazardous waste, such as gas stations, dry cleaners, and industrial uses. Specifically, there are 10 sites containing or potentially containing hazardous materials contamination located in Pleasant Hill, five of which are located along northwestern Contra Costa Boulevard, one along southeastern Contra Costa Boulevard north of Gregory Lane, two are located in the southeastern area of the city along Vincent Road north of Mayhew Way, and the last two are located along Hookston Road in the southeastern area of Pleasant Hill. Potential development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan on identified hazard sites would be preceded by investigation, remediation, and cleanup under the supervision of the Regional Water Quality Control Board, the Contra Costa Health Services, or DTSC, before any development activities could begin as currently required by federal, State, and local regulations. The agency responsible for oversight would determine the types of remediation and cleanup required and could include excavation and off-haul of contaminated soils, installation of vapor barriers beneath habitable structures, continuous monitoring wells onsite with annual reporting requirements, or other mechanisms to ensure the site does not pose a health risk to workers or future occupants. Compliance with the following 2040 General Plan Hazards and Safety Element goals and policies would also apply to future development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan:

Goal HS-8: Reduce the exposure to hazardous substances and the resulting potential for injuries, economic and social displacement, and loss of life.

HS-8.1Hazardous Materials Business Plans. Monitor and regulate hazardous materials by requiring the preparation and periodic updating Hazardous Materials Business Plans for and periodic inspections of all businesses in the city that handle, store, use, or transport hazardous materials.

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HS-8.2Water and Air Supply Protection. Work with public agencies and private organizations to identify and eliminate hazardous material releases into the water and air supply.

HS-8.3Site Assessment Requirement. Require Phase I Site Assessments for projects on all properties where toxins could occur.

HS-8.4Alternative Practices. Minimize the use of toxic and hazardous materials in Pleasant Hill, promoting sustainable materials and practices where possible.

HS-8.5Household Hazardous Waste. Expand and promote household hazardous waste programs to safely dispose of items such as paint, gasoline, engine oil, batteries, and cleaners.

HS-8.6Hazardous Material Transportation Routes. Work with appropriate agencies to identify and require all transport of hazardous materials to follow approved routes.

It is also possible that underground storage tanks (UST) in use prior to permitting and record keeping requirements may be present in the General Plan area. If an unidentified UST were uncovered or disturbed during construction activities, it would be removed under permit from the City; if such removal would potentially undermine the structural stability of existing structures, foundations, or impact existing utilities, the tank might be closed in place without removal. Tank removal activities could pose both health and safety risks, such as the exposure of workers, tank handling personnel, and the public to tank contents or vapors. Potential risks, if any, posed by USTs would be minimized by managing the tank according to existing standards contained in Division 20, Chapters 6.7 and 6.75 (UST Program) of the California Health and Safety Code as enforced and monitored by the Environmental Programs Division.

The extent to which groundwater may be affected by an UST or other potential contamination source, if at all, depends on the type of contaminant, the amount released, the duration of the release, distance from source, and depth to groundwater. If groundwater contamination is identified, characterization of the vertical and lateral extent of the contamination and remediation activities would be required by the Regional Water Quality Control Board prior to the commencement of any new construction activities that would disturb the subsurface. If contamination exceeds regulatory action levels, the developer would be required to undertake remediation procedures prior to grading and development under the supervision of the Regional Water Quality Control Board, depending upon the nature of any identified contamination. Compliance with existing State and local regulations would result in the 2040 General Plan not increasing the likelihood for development of identified hazard sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5. Therefore, the 2040 General Plan would not create a hazard to the public or environment during operation,

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and impacts related to locating buildings within the General Plan area on a hazardous materials site per Government Code Section 65962.5 would be less than significant.

5. Public Airports
Threshold: For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.7-35 – 3.7-37) Explanation:

Construction
Construction equipment would be required to comply with all ALUCP height limits and other safety requirements. Impacts related to safety hazards and excessive noise for people residing or working the plan areas are limited to operational impacts. No respective construction impacts would occur.

Operation
Aviation Safety Hazards Exposure
The Buchanan Field Airport is a public airport that has a recently renovated runway, aviation services and facilities, emergency response services, access to Bay Area transportation and business centers, and related transportation amenities. The northeast portion of the city is located within Safety Zones 3 and 4.

Further, individual projects as a result of development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be subject to all development standards if projects are located within Safety Zone 4, in the northeastern portion of the city, and other policies contained within the Contra Costa County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan intended to reduce land use conflicts with airport operations. Such measures are required for the Buchanan Field Airport.

The following policies from the 2040 General Plan would serve to reduce aviation safety hazard associated with operation of the Buchanan Field Airport:

Goal HS-6 Ensure that airport operations do not adversely affect quality of life and safety for residents.

Policy HS-6.1 Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Adherence. Ensure

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consistency with the County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan development restrictions.

Policy HS-6.2 Airport Coordination. Coordinate with Buchanan Field Airport on land use considerations where compatibility issues may occur on the border of the airfield.

Compliance with these 2040 General Plan policies and the Buchanan Field Airport ALUCP goals and policies would reduce operational impacts related to aviation safety hazards to less than significant.

Excessive Aviation Noise Exposure
A significant impact would occur if a project would expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels for a project located within the vicinity of a private airstrip or an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport.

Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would not be expected to significantly increase airport activities and airport noise. Existing requirements for airports would reduce the noise impacts of airport activity on residents and workers. Title 21 of the California Code of Regulations establishes noise standards for airports and the responsibilities of the regional Airport Land Use Commissions, which prepare land use compatibility plans with thorough evaluations of airport noise as detailed in Section 3.10, Noise. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administrative Regulation Part 150 Airport Noise Compatibility Program is designed to reduce the effect of airport noise on the surrounding communities as airports expand.

The Buchanan Field Airport is a public airport that has a recently renovated runway, aviation services and facilities, emergency response services, access to Bay Area transportation and business centers, and related transportation amenities. Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan is not expected to directly increase airport activities and airport noise.

Existing requirements for airports would reduce the noise impacts of airport activity on residents and workers. Title 21 of the California Code of Regulations establishes noise standards for airports and the responsibilities of the regional Airport Land Use Commissions, which prepare land use compatibility plans with thorough evaluations of airport noise, as described above in Section 3.10, Noise. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administrative Regulation Part 150 Airport Noise Compatibility Program is designed to reduce the effect of airport noise on the surrounding communities as airports expand.

Further, individual projects as a result of development facilitated by the

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2040 General Plan would be subject to all development standards if the project is located within Safety Zone 4 of the Buchanan Field Airport, and other policies contained within the Contra Costa County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan intended to reduce land use conflicts with airport operations. Such measures are required for the Buchanan Field Airport, which are outlined in Section 3.10, Noise.

As required by General Plan 2040 Policy HS-7.1, new development would be required to be designed and constructed to meet acceptable noise level standards adopted by the City. Additionally, as required by Policy HS-7.2, noise impacts from new development would be evaluated based on the potential for significant increases in noise levels and compliance with acceptability standards. Acoustical design features would be required, if necessary, to comply with City noise standards. Program O of the Hazards and Safety Element also requires the establishment of acoustical study requirement areas which would determine when acoustical studies shall be required for sensitive land uses.

Lastly, the following proposed 2040 General Plan Hazards and Safety Element policies would reduce noise from the Buchanan Field Airport.

Goal HS-6 Ensure that airport operations do not adversely affect quality of life and safety for residents.

Policy HS-6.1: Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Adherence. Ensure consistency with the County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan development restrictions.

Policy HS-6.2: Airport Coordination. Coordinate with Buchanan Field Airport on land use considerations where compatibility issues may occur on the border of the airfield.

With the aforementioned requirements in place and implementation of proposed 2040 General Plan policies and programs, Buchanan Field Airport activity would not expose residents and workers in the General Plan area to excessive noise levels. Therefore, 2040 General Plan operational impacts related to consistency with land use compatibility standards would be less than significant.

I. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY

1. Water Quality Standards
Threshold: Would the Project violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.8-20 - 3.8-26)

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Explanation:

Construction
During construction of individual projects facilitated by the 2040 General Plan, ground-disturbing activities would temporarily alter site-specific drainage patterns; BMPs would be implemented through the SWPPP required for compliance with the Clean Water Act and the CCCWP, as discussed under Impact HYD-1. Construction-related impacts would be site-specific and temporary in nature, limited to the construction period for the respective development, and would not affect groundwater recharge rates and patterns. Therefore, construction-related impacts related to groundwater supply and recharge would be less than significant.

Operation
Water service is provided to much of Pleasant Hill by the CCWD, which obtains its water supply exclusively from the Delta via the Contra Costa Canal, through contract with the United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). The CCWD does not pump or distribute groundwater; therefore, water obtained from the CCWD by the Pleasant Hill to support development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would not consist of groundwater, and would not deplete groundwater resources. The Martinez Water District and EBMUD also serve some areas of the western portion of Pleasant Hill, but similarly do not provide groundwater as a supply source (except through conjunctive use and groundwater recharge programs developed for the purpose of managing groundwater sustainably). As such, development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would connect to the existing Pleasant Hill water supply system and would not install groundwater supply wells or conduct on-side groundwater pumping to meet water demands. Therefore, development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would not affect groundwater through direct pumping, and potential operational groundwater impacts would be limited to indirect means such as through alteration of infiltration and recharge, as discussed below.

The General Plan area is primarily built-up, and development would be focused on infill within previously disturbed areas, and reuse of existing development. Previously undisturbed areas would not be affected by the proposed plan. Goals and policies of the 2040 General Plan encourage the use of LID features and explicitly aim to increase areas of permeable surfaces, which would facilitate increased stormwater retention and infiltration to the subsurface. This includes Goal ENV-3, which is introduced under Impact HYD-1, and would be further implemented through the policies below, which aim to protect, reclaim, and improve natural stream corridors as part of the development that would be facilitated by the 2040 General Plan.

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Policy ENV-3.4 Stream, Wetland, and Riparian Reclamation. Reclaim degraded streams, wetlands, riparian areas, and wildlife migration corridors, where possible, in cooperation with the Flood Control District, and other local and regional organizations.

Policy ENV-3.5 Reclamation with New Development. Require new development adjacent to creek protection zones to encourage the reclamation of adjacent creeks, wetlands, and riparian areas.

Policy ENV-3.6 Natural Stream Corridor Retention and Improvement.

Actively support the use of natural waterways within the city. The City will actively work to avoid any new channelization of creeks and waterways within the city and shall work with regional agencies to restore channelized sections to a more natural channel, where feasible.

Policies ENV-3.4, ENV-3.5, and ENV-3.6 would serve to minimize or avoid potential indirect impacts to groundwater recharge that might otherwise occur as a result of channelizing or alteration to existing natural cover areas including streams, wetlands, and riparian areas.

Also as discussed under Impact HYD-1, the 2040 General Plan includes policies to require LID features for new development (Policies PFS-3.3, HS-5.6, ENV-2.4, ENV-2.5), as well as for the retrofitting of existing development (Policy PFS-3.4). While development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan could increase impervious surfaces throughout the General Plan area, LID features associated with development would minimize potential to increase impervious surfaces and adversely affect infiltration and runoff; such features may include bioretention systems, swales, green roofs, infiltration systems, and permeable pavers. This would in turn facilitate infiltration of surface water to the subsurface and help filter contaminants out of surface runoff as it infiltrates soil to underlying groundwater resources. Therefore, operational impacts related to groundwater supply and recharge would be less than significant.

2. Erosion or Siltation
Threshold: Would the Project substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, in a manner which would result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or offsite? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.8-26 – 3.8-28) Explanation:

Construction
Alteration of Drainage Resulting in Erosion/Siltation

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Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would not alter the course of any stream or river. In addition, as discussed under Impact HYD-2, above, the 2040 General Plan includes policies under Goal ENV-3 to reclaim degraded streams (Policy ENV-3.4), maintain creek protection zones (Policy ENV-3.5), and avoid any new channelization of creeks and waterways in the city (Policy ENV-3.6), which would collectively reduce or avoid adverse construction-related impacts associated with drainage pattern alterations, by protecting and improving existing drainage patterns.

The potential for erosion to occur during construction is addressed under Impact HYD-1, which details how compliance with regulatory requirements would include BMPs to minimize or avoid potential for erosion to occur during construction activities. Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would not result in substantial drainage pattern alterations, and would not result in substantial erosion on-or off-site.

Therefore, construction impacts related to flooding or alteration of flood flows would be less than significant.

Operation
Increased Runoff Resulting in Flooding
The discussion provided under Impact HYD-1 addresses potential for runoff and describes that development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan, including implementation of LID features, could include infiltration ponds and features to manage stormwater runoff in a way that minimizes runoff.

Specifically, Policies PFS-3.3 and PFS-3.4 encourage design features that maximize stormwater infiltration, which reduces the velocity of stormwater runoff, and Policy HS-5.6 explicitly applies LID features to new development as well as remodeling and public projects. In addition, Policies ENV-2.4 and ENV-2.5 further complement requirements for LID features by facilitating use of materials and methods that increase infiltration of surface water, which reduce runoff. These policies and the 2040 General Plan are consistent with the County Flood Control and Water Conservation District’s 50-Year Plan, which encourages local communities to plan for modifying flood control channels to incorporate natural features.

Therefore, while future development could result in site-specific drainage pattern alterations, due to the use of LID features and stormwater management in accordance with the aforementioned policies, the proposed plan would not result in increased runoff, and potential impacts would be less than significant.

Additional Source of Runoff Exceeding Storm Drain System Capacity The potential for water quality degradation to occur as a result of polluted runoff is addressed under Impact HYD-1; the 2040 General Plan would not

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create or contribute substantial new sources of polluted runoff.

Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be concentrated as infill development, and would not include drainage pattern alterations that would result in exceedance of the storm drain system. As with existing development throughout the General Plan area, future development would connect to the City’s existing storm drain system. The 2040 General Plan includes Policies ENV-2.1 and ENV-2.2, under Goal ENV-2 (introduced under Impact HYD-1), which address the active maintenance and improvement of the city drainage system.

Policy ENV-2.1 Drainage System Maintenance. Maintain and upgrade the city drainage system, including regularly clearing drainage systems of debris build up that exacerbates flood impacts.

Policy ENV-2.2 Drainage Improvements. Cooperate with regional agencies to complete regional storm drainage improvements.

Policy ENV-2.1 ensures that drainage system capacity is maintained to appropriately accommodate runoff from development within the General Plan area, and Policy ENV-2.2 supports ongoing improvements to the existing storm drainage system. In addition, Policy PFS-3.2, under Goal PFS-2 (introduced under Impact HYD-1), ensures appropriate conveyance capacity for all drainage facilities.

Policy PFS-3.2 Drainage Facility Maintenance. Collaborate with property owners and the Flood Control District to regularly maintain and provide funding for all drainage facilities to ensure that they continue operating at full carrying capacity.

In addition, as stated in Section 3.8.2, Environmental Setting, under “Surface Water Hydrology,” development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would require verification by the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District and the City Engineering Division that adequate storm drainage facilities exist or are funded prior to project approval. Although the proposed plan would not alter drainage patterns such that exceedance of storm drain system capacity occurs, future development would connect to the existing storm drain system; with appropriate maintenance, as supported through the 2040 General Plan and the policies presented above, potential impacts would be less than significant.

Impedance or Redirection of Flood Flows
As shown on Error! Reference source not found., there are two classified flood zones within Pleasant Hill, a 100-year floodplain and 500-year floodplain. Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be concentrated as infill within previously developed areas, and would not impede or redirect existing flood flows. Below are policies from the Land

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Use (LU) Element of the 2040 General Plan, which address flood control in the General Plan area, and require that new development complies with performance standards (Policy LU-5.3) and contributes to flood control services (Policy LU-5.5).

Goal LU-5 Protect and enhance Pleasant Hill’s quality of life and unique identity while continuing to grow and change.

Policy LU-5.3 Compliance with Performance Standards. Require that all new development comply with the City's performance standards for fire, police, parks, water, flood control, sanitary sewer, and transportation facilities.

Policy LU-5.5 Development Contribution Requirement. Require all new development to contribute to or participate in the improvement of park, school, police, sanitary, water, and flood control services in proportion to the demand generated by the development's occupants and users.

Policies LU-5.3 and LU-5.5 ensure that development within the General Plan area is appropriately served by flood control facilities and programs, and development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would not result in drainage pattern alterations that impede or redirect flood flows.

3. Flooding
Threshold: Would the Project substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, in a manner which would substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on- or off-site? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.8-26 – 3.8-28) ) Explanation: See Erosion and Siltation above.

4. Runoff
Threshold: Would the Project substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, in a manner which would create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantially additional sources of polluted runoff or impede or redirect flood flows?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.8-26 – 3.8-28) ) Explanation: See Erosion and Siltation above.

5. Flood Hazard

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Threshold: In flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones, would the Project risk release of pollutants due to project inundation?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.8-29 – 3.8-29) Explanation:

Construction
Potential impacts associated with risk of release of pollutants during construction activities are addressed under Impact HYD-1. As discussed therein, potential construction-related impacts would be less than significant through regulatory compliance and through implementation of policies to protect and enhance water quality. The presence of construction activities within a FEMA-designated Flood Hazard Area would not alter the potential for water quality impacts to occur, including as related to potential risk of release of pollutants. No construction impacts to water quality resulting from a Flood Hazard Area would occur.

Operation
The General Plan area is not located within the inundation area of any dams, or within a tsunami hazard area, and no enclosed surface water bodies are present that could result in inundation due to seiche. Therefore, the proposed plan would not introduce a risk of pollutant release due to inundation from dam failure, tsunami, or seiche.

There are areas of both 100-year and 500-year floodplains within the General Plan area. Error! Reference source not found. shows that these areas area occur along a north-south alignment in the eastern portion of the city. The aerial imagery in Error! Reference source not found. shows that these flood hazard areas are located within portions of the General Plan area that are fully developed. Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be concentrated as infill development. The Impact HYD-3 impact discussion related to “Impedance or Redirection of Flood Flows” identifies 2040 General Plan Goal LU-5 and associated policies that address flood control in the General Plan area and require that new development comply with performance standards (Policy LU-5.3) and contribute to flood control services (Policy LU-5.5). These policies ensure that development within the General Plan area is appropriately served by flood control facilities and programs, which minimizes the potential for inundation from flooding to occur, and thereby reduces the potential for risk of pollutant release to occur. Through Policies LU-5.4 and LU-5.5, new development would be served by appropriate flood control services and facilities. Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would not introduce new potential sources of polluted runoff, or new hazardous materials or potential for pollutant releases to occur in the General Plan area. Therefore, while

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portions of the General Plan area are within flood hazard areas, the proposed General Plan would not alter existing potential for inundation or pollutant release, and 2040 General Plan operational impacts related to water quality resulting from a Flood Hazard Area would be less than significant.

6. Water Quality Control Plan
Threshold: Would the Project conflict with or obstruct implementation of a water quality control plan or sustainable groundwater management plan? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.8-30) Explanation:

Construction
The potential to result in impacts to groundwater management would be limited to operation, when groundwater supply and recharge could be affected by permanent land use changes. In addition, construction activities would be required to adhere to water quality control regulations, including BMPs, to be included in project-specific SWPPPs for any construction project disturbing more than one acre, as discussed under Impact HYD-1.

Therefore, construction of the 2040 General Plan would not conflict with or obstruct implementation of a surface water quality or groundwater quality control plan or sustainable groundwater management plan, and impacts would be less than significant.

Operation
Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be required to adhere to NPDES drainage control requirements as well as municipal requirements to manage surface water quality during operations, as discussed under Impact HYD-1. The proposed plan would not conflict with or obstruct implementation of a water quality control plan. Similarly, groundwater resources are addressed under Impact HYD-2, which details how potential impacts to groundwater would be less than significant. In addition, as discussed in Section 3.8.2, Environmental Setting, under “Groundwater Resources,” the General Plan area overlies the Ygnacio Valley Groundwater Basin, which is designated by DWR as Very Low Priority and, thus, not required to be managed under a GSP for SGMA.

Water supply for development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be purchased from CCWD, EBMUD, and Martinez Water District and would not affect groundwater resources. Therefore, operation of the 2040 General Plan would not conflict with or obstruct implementation of a surface water or groundwater quality control plan or sustainable

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groundwater management plan, and impacts would be less than significant.

J. LAND USE AND PLANNING

1. Established Communities
Threshold: Would the Project physically divide an established community? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.9-10 – 3.9-13) Explanation:

Construction
Impacts related to physical division of an established community are limited to operational impacts. To the extent that construction activities obstruct roads, it would be temporary and would not constitute a division of an established community. No respective construction impacts would occur related to potential division of a community.

Operation
Most of the land within the General Plan area is currently developed, with more than 70 percent of Pleasant Hill’s land occupied with residential uses.

As summarized in Error! Reference source not found., commercial uses are mostly concentrated along I-680 in the eastern portion of Pleasant Hill and account for less than five percent of Pleasant Hill’s existing land use.

Vacant parcels comprise approximately two percent of all land within the General Plan area; this limits new housing and development opportunities.

Most vacant parcels are small and would require parcel consolidation to accommodate future development. As such, most new housing and development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would occur through development of existing underutilized land and reuse of existing buildings and would increase the density and intensity of the existing land uses within Pleasant Hill. The proposed plan does not include substantial land use or circulation changes that would physically divide an established community, residential, or otherwise. For example, no major roads or other facilities would be constructed that would physically divide established communities within Pleasant Hill.

The potential growth associated with the 2040 General Plan is based on development assumptions/projections for residential and non-residential development for all land within the General Plan area through the year 2040.

Vacant and underutilized parcels were identified using existing land use data from the Assessor’s Office. Collectively, the existing uses, development capacity on the vacant and underutilized sites, planned and

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approved projects, and intensified development for residential, commercial, and civic uses sum up to be Pleasant Hill’s total buildout capacity in 2040.

The 2040 General Plan seeks to ensure that infill development is done in a way that captures opportunities to increase the local base of high-paying jobs while achieving a commercial business mix of uses that better serves resident needs and attracts visitors.

Pleasant Hill is surrounded by existing development and natural features, such as Briones Regional Park (located to the west), I-680 (located on the eastern edge), and neighboring development within the Cities of Concord and Martinez to the north and Walnut Creek to the south. As discussed above in Section 3.9.2, Environmental Setting, much of Pleasant Hill is developed with residential uses with established recreational parks and green spaces. The 2040 General Plan includes policies and establishes land use designations that identify the type and intensity of uses permissible in the General Plan area. Infill development and the creative reuse and development of existing sites have emerged as the primary means for accommodating future growth in Pleasant Hill. Intensity/density standards are established for each land use classification. The intent of the land use designations is to adequately classify and distinguish the various land uses needed within the General Plan area. The 2040 General Plan also aims to direct growth within the Pleasant Hill Sphere of Influence to ensure orderly buildout in density and intensity while maintaining existing neighborhood characteristics and encourage economic development that is compatible with existing uses to reinforce and create a cohesive community.

The existing transportation network in Pleasant Hill also presents constraints to future development, despite the ample variety of regional transportation connections. The 2040 General Plan notes that one of the greatest challenges is congestion on arterials like Contra Costa Boulevard and Taylor Boulevard, and I-680 interchange areas. Adding roadway lanes is not feasible nor would roadway expansion resolve congestion over the long term. Solutions like improving access to public transit and encouraging walking and bicycling may relieve congestion. Further, many residential and collector streets have discontinuous sidewalks, making it difficult to safely walk throughout Pleasant Hill. As adjacent parcels develop or redevelop, Pleasant Hill typically requires sidewalk improvements.

However, where development is unlikely in the near-term, a prioritized plan for addressing these gaps in the network is needed.

The 2040 General Plan emphasizes the integration of land use and transportation as a major focus to reinforcing community cohesion and accessibility in the Land Use Element. Policies in the 2040 General Plan Land Use Element, as well as the Circulation Element, support Pleasant Hill in embracing changes to circulation issues created by land use choices by planning for the future and maintaining flexible land use regulations that embrace smarter land use planning around transportation. Providing this

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link between land use and transportation planning reduces the necessity for new high volume arterial roads that could otherwise physically divide communities.

The 2040 General Plan Land Use Element contains goals and policies, listed below, that would maintain existing communities within Pleasant Hill and ensure that established communities would not be divided by development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan.

Goal LU-1 Promote a city image that reflects the community’s diversity, inclusivity, forward-thinking, and high quality of life.

Policy LU-1.2 City Image. Continue efforts to define and enhance the City’s image by emphasizing the high quality, intergenerational park facilities and recreational opportunities in the city; dedication to education, including the presence of Diablo Valley College and its potential to provide cultural and lifelong learning opportunities; and the vital, progressive nature of the city as a diverse residential community and a supportive environment for business.

Policy LU-1.3 Well-Defined Street Fronts. Require new buildings to maintain a street front that creates or maintains a well-defined streetscape.

Policy LU-1.5 Public Amenities/Art. Require installation of public art, landscaping, and/or other public amenities in conjunction with all new public and private development and major rehabilitation or expansion of existing development.

Policy LU-1.6 Transition in Scale. Require that new development transition appropriately in building scale, height and massing in relation to the physical and visual character of adjoining neighborhoods.

Policy LU-1.8 Citywide Beautification. Promote a clean and attractive city through periodic clean-up and beautification of commercial areas and neighborhoods.

Policy LU-1.9 Connectivity Between Existing and New Development.

Encourage linking new development to existing development, parks, and trails through the creation of internal circulation systems that allow travel by foot, bicycles, vehicles, and other alternative modes of travel.

Goal LU-3 To provide a variety of housing types that offer choices for Pleasant Hill residents and create complete, livable neighborhoods.

Policy LU-3.1 Neighborhood Character. Maintain and enhance the character and quality of existing residential neighborhoods, ensuring adequate public services and facilities maintained by the City such as streets and drainage are provided.

Policy LU-3.2 Connectivity. Encourage new residential and mixed-use

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development to incorporate design features that promote walking within neighborhoods and citywide.

Policy LU-3.3 Neighborhood Access. Ensure that new residential development include safe and convenient pedestrian and bicycle access to existing residential neighborhoods.

Policy LU-3.4 Clustering Development. Encourage new residential development to be clustered to support increased densities, open space, and efficiencies of public facilities and services.

Goal LU-4 To ensure that commercial and mixed-use development in the city is consistent with the overall community character and serves the existing and future needs of residents and visitors.

Policy LU-4.1 Retail Center Enhancement. Encourage new commercial uses to group into clustered areas or centers containing professional offices, retail sales and services. Clustered development shall locate at the intersections of major thoroughfares
Policy LU-4.3 Neighborhood Connectivity. Encourage commercial and mixeduse development to link to adjoining residential neighborhoods by incorporating well-designed and attractive streetscapes with sidewalks, bicycle paths, and street amenities
Goal LU-6 Create distinct and identifiable places for future development within Pleasant Hill that enhance community character, prosperity, and civic pride.

Policy LU-6.4 Enhanced Connectivity. Support the expansion of alternative transportation options including enhancements to the multi-use trail, expanded bike lanes along Golf Club Road, and additional connections between new and existing development.

Policy LU-6.10 Cluster Development. Promote clustered development on the Mangini-Delu site to allow for enhanced opportunities to preserve and/or create open space and resident amenities.

Policy LU-6.16 Walkable Environment. Enhance the pedestrian connections between Downtown, Crescent Drive, City Hall, and adjacent commercial centers along Contra Costa Boulevard.

Policy LU-6.24 Flexible Development. Ensure that zoning regulations in the Municipal Code pertaining to industrial development are flexible enough to facilitate the conversion of underperforming industrial sites, into higher intensive uses.

Policy LU-6.25 Transit-Oriented Development. Encourage the design and

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development of transit-oriented developments along Contra Costa Boulevard to support future transportation system enhancements.

Policy LU-6.49 Mobile Home Park Preservation. Encourage privatesector investments to maintain the existing mobile home park and discourage the conversion of the mobile home park to alternative uses.

Goal LU-7 Improve the health and well-being of all Pleasant Hill residents.

Policy LU-7.3 Remove Physical Barriers. Remove or plan for ways to address physical barriers that bisect neighborhoods and discourage walking or biking.

These 2040 General Plan goals and policies would help maintain existing communities in Pleasant Hill and prevent division of established communities by development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan.

Specifically, Goal LU-1 and associated policies would support strategic development that prioritizes connectivity, rehabilitation of existing development, and an overall well-maintained city. Goal LU-3 and associated policies encourages connected and accessible clustered neighborhoods that maintain neighborhood character. Policies LU-4.1, LU4.3, LU-6.4, LU-6.10, and LU-7.3 further promote connected, clustered and accessible neighborhoods. Lastly, Policy LU-6.49 explicitly encourages maintenance of the existing mobile home park and discourages conversion to other uses.

Overall, the 2040 General Plan would promote orderly development in Pleasant Hill by encouraging growth in designated development focus areas and at infill sites near transit and other amenities while promoting the enhancement of the Pleasant Hill multimodal circulation system, maximizing connections, and minimizing barriers to connectivity.

Therefore, the 2040 General Plan would not physically divide Pleasant Hill, and development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would result in a less than significant impact.

2. Conflicts With Plans
Threshold: Would the Project cause a significant environmental impact due to a conflict with any land use plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.9-14 – 3.9-17) Explanation:

Construction
Impacts related to consistency with applicable land use plans and policies are limited to operational impacts. No respective construction impacts

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would occur from development facilitated by the proposed plan.

Operation
Consistency with the Pleasant Hill Downtown Specific Plan The PHDSP serves as a regulatory framework and development guide for land use in the downtown area of Pleasant Hill. The goal of the PHDSP is to develop a downtown that is a competitive retail and commercial center with an entertainment/recreational focus and sufficient public amenities to establish a sense of place and positive image for Pleasant Hill. Error! Reference source not found. includes five relevant PHDSP guiding policies and analysis that addresses whether the 2040 General Plan would be consistent with the policies.

As shown in Error! Reference source not found., the 2040 General Plan would be consistent with the guiding policies contained in the PHDASP.

Consistency with ABAG/MTC Plan Bay Area 2050
Plan Bay Area 2050 is a long-range land use and transportation plan for the San Francisco Bay Area region. The plan contains 11 overarching strategies with associated specific strategies that seek to promote healthy, safe, and equitable communities by reducing impacts from air pollution, protecting open space and agriculture, and increasing active transportation. 2040 General Plan consistency with such strategies in the Plan Bay Area 2050 are addressed below in Error! Reference source not found..

As shown in Error! Reference source not found., the 2040 General Plan would be consistent with the goals contained in the Plan Bay Area 2050.

Consistency with the Contra Costa County ALUCP
Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan in Pleasant Hill areas north of Gregory Lane and east of Pleasant Hill Road would be located within the Buchanan Field Airport Influence Area. The Buchanan Field Airport itself is located directly to the northeast of Pleasant Hill. As discussed in Section 3.9.3, Regulatory Setting, the Contra Costa ALUC would be responsible for review of the 2040 General Plan prior to approval by the City of Pleasant Hill, pursuant to ALUCP Policies 1.5.1 and 1.5.3.

As such , future development facilitated by the proposed plan within the Buchanan Field Airport environs would be subject to additional review at the time of future development proposals. Additional noise and safety compatibility considerations regarding Buchanan Field Airport are discussed in Sections 3.10, Noise, and 3.7, Hazards, Hazardous Materials, & Wildfire, respectively.
2040 General Plan Hazards and Safety Element Goal HS-6 and associated

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policies, listed below, would ensure that development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be consistent with the ALUCP, and that coordination with Buchanan Field Airport with regard to land use considerations would occur.

Goal HS-6: Ensure that airport operations do not adversely affect quality of life and safety for residents.

Policy HS-6.1 Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Adherence. Ensure consistency with the County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan development restrictions.

Policy HS-6.2 Airport Coordination. Coordinate with Buchanan Field Airport on land use considerations where compatibility issues may occur on the border of the airfield.

Implementation of the various 2040 General Plan goals and policies identified within this Impact LU-2 analysis would result in 2040 General Plan consistency with applicable, adopted, land use plans, regulations, and policies. Therefore, 2040 General plan operational impacts related to land use plans and policies consistency would be less than significant.

K. MINERAL RESOURCES

1. Regional and Statewide Mineral Resources
Threshold: Would the Project result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region and the residents of the state? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.5-31) Explanation: Construction and Operation
There are no significant mineral deposits or active mining operations within or in the vicinity of the General Plan area. In addition, implementation of the proposed plan would not affect a locally important mineral resource recovery site delineated by an applicable land use plan. Therefore, the proposed plan would not result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource or a locally important mineral resource recovery site during construction or operational activities. No construction or operational mineral resources impacts would occur.

2. Locally-Important Mineral Resource

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Threshold: Would the Project result in the loss of availability of a localy-important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan or other land use plan?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.5-31) Explanation: See Regional and Statewide Mineral Resources above.

L. NOISE

1. Airport Noise
Threshold: For a project located within the vicinity of a private airstrip or an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.10-35 – 3.10-37) Explanation:

Construction
Potential noise impacts related to location proximate to a private airstrip or public use airport are limited to operational impacts. No respective construction impacts related to effects of airport activity noise would occur.

Operation
The Buchanan Field Airport is a public airport that has a recently renovated runway, aviation services and facilities, emergency response services, access to Bay Area transportation and business centers, and related transportation amenities. Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan is not expected to directly increase airport activities and airport noise.

Existing requirements for airports would reduce the noise impacts of airport activity on residents and workers. Title 21 of the California Code of Regulations establishes noise standards for airports and the responsibilities of the regional Airport Land Use Commissions, which prepare land use compatibility plans with thorough evaluations of airport noise, as described above in Section 3.10.3, Regulatory Setting. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administrative Regulation Part 150 Airport Noise Compatibility Program is designed to reduce the effect of airport noise on the surrounding communities as airports expand.

Further, individual projects as a result of development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be subject to all development standards if the project is located within Safety Zone 4 of the Buchanan Field Airport, and other policies contained within the Contra Costa County Airport Land Use

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Compatibility Plan intended to reduce land use conflicts with airport operations. Such measures are required for the Buchanan Field Airport, which are outlined in Section 3.10.3, Regulatory Setting.

As required by General Plan 2040 Policy HS-7.1, new development would be required to be designed and constructed to meet acceptable noise level standards adopted by the City. Additionally, as required by Policy HS-7.2, noise impacts from new development would be evaluated based on the potential for significant increases in noise levels and compliance with acceptability standards. Acoustical design features would be required, if necessary, to comply with City noise standards. Program O of the Hazards and Safety Element also requires the establishment of acoustical study requirement areas which would determine when acoustical studies shall be required for sensitive land uses.

Lastly, the following proposed 2040 General Plan Health and Safety Element policies would reduce noise from the Buchanan Field Airport.

Goal HS-6 Ensure that airport operations do not adversely affect quality of life and safety for residents.

Policy HS-6.1: Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Adherence. Ensure consistency with the County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan development restrictions.

Policy HS-6.2: Airport Coordination. Coordinate with Buchanan Field Airport on land use considerations where compatibility issues may occur on the border of the airfield.

With the aforementioned requirements in place and implementation of proposed 2040 General Plan policies, airport activity would not expose residents and workers to excessive noise. Therefore, the 2040 General Plan operational impact related to consistency with noise land use compatibility standards and effects of airport activity noise would be less than significant.

M. POPULATION AND HOUSING

1. Population Growth
Threshold: Would the Project induce substantial unplanned population growth in an area, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of road or other infrastructure? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.9-18 – 3.9-20) Explanation:

Construction

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Impacts related to inducing substantial unplanned population growth in an area, either directly or indirectly are limited to operational impacts. No respective construction impacts would occur from development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan.

Operation
Error! Reference source not found. presents population, dwelling units, and employment projections through 2040 (the 2040 General Plan horizon year) for Pleasant Hill (the General Plan area), based on Plan Bay Area 2040 estimates. The projections suggest that Pleasant Hill’s population will grow approximately 5.6 percent between 2022 and 2040. This translates to an estimated 1,899 new residents by 2040. New dwelling units are expected to increase less than 0.1 percent between 2022 and 2040, for a total of 52 new units. Increased land uses and cultivation of a commercial business mix of uses that better serve residents needs and attract visitors is anticipated to increase employment by approximately 12.5 percent from 2022 levels, for a total of approximately 2,200 new jobs by 2040. This would increase the Pleasant Hill jobs-housing ratio by 7.7 percent.

Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would result in approximately 19,216 net new residential units in Pleasant Hill through 2040. This additional housing, coupled with ongoing and planned development, would lead to an increase of approximately 46,119 net new residents in the City from 2022 to 2040, based on an estimated 2.4 persons per household. In the unlikely event that all potential buildout of the 2040 General Plan occurs, the total population of Pleasant Hill in 2040 would be 80,145, which is 123 percent above ABAG’s 2040 population forecast of 35,925, as shown in Error! Reference source not found.. However, the ABAG growth projection is based on the land use assumptions in the existing (2003) Pleasant Hill General Plan. Growth anticipated under the proposed 2040 General Plan is intended in part to meet regional housing needs over the long term. Although the 2040 General Plan would facilitate development beyond what is forecasted by ABAG, it would bring the forecasts for the Pleasant Hill General Plan and RTP/SCS into consistency when the RTP/SCS is next updated to reflect new forecasts for each city in the region. Note that growth assumptions within this EIR are conservative and potentially unlikely to come to complete fruition, and accordingly future RTP/SCS forecasts may provide more realistic growth assumptions, which would be lower than the growth presented here.)
Given that the State is currently in an ongoing housing crisis due to an insufficient housing supply, the additional units under the 2040 General Plan would further assist in addressing the existing crisis and meeting the housing needs of Pleasant Hill communities.

The increase in affordable housing units would provide housing

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opportunities in proximity to jobs for those employed in Contra Costa County that earn below median household income categories. Most of those employed in Pleasant Hill commute from areas outside Pleasant Hill and affordable housing units would provide for a better balance of jobs and housing in the region.

As shown on Error! Reference source not found., Pleasant Hill has a current jobs-household ratio of 1.3; this means that there are not enough households in Pleasant Hill to support employment opportunities and that workers must commute to Pleasant Hill. Growth facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would result in a more balanced jobs-household ratio by 2040 by increasing the number of residential units available in Pleasant Hill (Error! Reference source not found.). Therefore, such growth would not result in substantial adverse effects associated with an increased imbalance of jobs and housing in Pleasant Hill.

The following 2040 General Plan Land Use and Transportation and Circulation Element policies would encourage integration of development into surrounding neighborhoods and existing land use patterns, increasing the orderly nature of growth induced by the 2040 General Plan:

Policy LU-1.6 Transition in Scale. Require that new development transition appropriately in building scale, height and massing in relation to the physical and visual character of adjoining neighborhoods.

Policy LU-6.9 Transition between Surrounding Development. Require development of the Mangini-Delu site to incorporate design and development techniques meant to implement a seamless transition between existing residential neighborhoods and proposed development.

Policy LU-6.38 Neighborhood-Serving Mixed-Use. Encourage the development of Gregory Lane to attract low-intensity neighborhood-serving mixed-use development.

Policy LU-6.39 Development Compatibility. Require Gregory Lane mixed-use projects to apply design and development techniques to ensure a seamless transition between adjacent low-density residential.

Policy LU-6.42 Neighborhood-Serving Mixed-Use. Encourage the development of Oak Park Boulevard to attract low-intensity neighborhood-serving mixed-use development.

Policy LU-6.43 Development Compatibility. Require Oak Park Boulevard mixed-use projects to apply design and development techniques to ensure a seamless transition between adjacent low-density residential.

Policy TC-4.4 Infill Development. Support infill and development in existing

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urban areas and around key transit facilities.

Finally, one purpose of the 2040 General Plan is to direct future development in such a way as to minimize the impacts of growth by emphasizing the intensification and reuse of already developed areas, thus minimizing pressure to develop on the remaining open space in Pleasant Hill and directing growth and development to infill areas. Because the 2040 General Plan is designed for planned and orderly growth, and residential development would be completed in accordance with State law, development facilitated by and in accordance with the 2040 General Plan would not directly or indirectly induce substantial unplanned growth in Pleasant Hill. Therefore, operational 2040 General Plan impacts related to substantial unplanned population growth would be less than significant.

2. Displacement of Housing
Threshold: Would the Project displace substantial numbers of existing housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere; and displace substantial numbers of people, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.9-20 – 3.9-21) Explanation:

Construction
Impacts related to displacement of substantial existing people or housing are limited to operational impacts. No respective construction impacts related to population or housing displacement would occur from development facilitated by the proposed plan.

Operation
2040 General Plan
“Substantial” displacement would occur if allowed land uses would displace more residences than would be accommodated through growth facilitated by the 2040 General Plan. The 2040 General Plan would accommodate new development in the General Plan area under land use designations that encourages higher-density and mixed-use projects. Full buildout of the 2040 General Plan would result in 19,216 net new housing units by 2040. The types of housing units anticipated under the 2040 General Plan would generally fall into the following categories of development projects: single-family, multi-family residential, and/or mixed-use development, development of existing nonresidential, and residential sites that would allow residential use or higher density residential use.

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Development in the General Plan area would not result in significant displacement of existing residences in order to accommodate the planned increase in development intensity considering that existing residences are not proposed for demolition. In addition, the 2040 General Plan would facilitate the development of 19,216 net new dwelling units throughout the General Plan area. As such, the 2040 General Plan would not result in the net loss or displacement of housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere. Therefore, operational 2040 General Plan impacts related to population or housing displacement would be less than significant.

N. PUBLIC SERVICES

1. Fire Protection
Threshold: Would the Project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for fire protection?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.11-14 - 3.11-15) Explanation:

Construction
The 2040 General Plan would allow a net increase of approximately 19,216 residential units and facilitate the addition of 45,740 net new residents in Pleasant Hill. As a result, CCCFPD could need to incrementally increase their fire protection services to the City of Pleasant Hill through the year 2040, which could in turn require the construction of new facilities to accommodate subsequent personnel, equipment, and vehicles. In addition, the proposed plan would allow for a net increase of 1,401,063 gross square feet of semi-public and institutional land uses that could include fire protection facilities. The specific placement and potential impacts of new fire protection facilities are unknown at this time; if construction or expansion of future facilities are needed or proposed, then separate environmental review would be required that could determine and require future project-specific construction-related mitigation measures. The 2040 General Plan would facilitate development within areas of Pleasant Hill that are currently developed. As such, construction of new fire protection facilities, if required, would likely occur on property previously disturbed or developed and, thus, within the programmatic analysis for buildout under the 2040 General Plan as analyzed throughout this EIR. Additionally, construction would be required to comply with all applicable federal, State,

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and local regulations governing the provision of fire protection services, including adequate fire access, fire flows, and number of hydrants. This includes the 2022 California Fire Code or its latest iteration, which contains project-specific requirements such as construction standards in new structures and remodels, road widths and configurations designed to accommodate the passage of fire trucks and engines, and requirements for sprinkler systems and minimum fire flow rates for water mains. This would reduce the potential for adverse construction impacts associated with construction of new or expanded fire facilities associated with implementation of the 2040 General Plan. Therefore, construction impacts related to potential need for new or expanded fire protection facilities would be less than significant.

Operation
As future buildout occurs under the 2040 General Plan, the CCCFPD will evaluate operations and deployment of services to efficiently use resources.

Additionally, new development under buildout of the 2040 General Plan would be required to comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local regulations governing the provision of fire protection services, including adequate fire access, fire flows, and number of hydrants. This includes the 2022 California Fire Code or its latest iteration, which contains projectspecific requirements such as construction standards in new structures and remodels, road widths and configurations designed to accommodate the passage of fire trucks and engines, and requirements for sprinkler systems and minimum fire flow rates for water mains. Further, the 2040 General Plan would allow approximately 19,216 residential units and facilitate the addition of 45,740 net new residents in the 2040 General Plan area, which would increase the demand for fire protection services. As a result, CCCFPD would need to incrementally increase their fire services to the City of Pleasant Hill through the year 2040.

In addition, the 2040 General Plan Public Facilities, Services, and Infrastructure Element contains a number of goals and associated policies, listed below, for providing adequate fire protection services in Pleasant Hill.

Goal PFS-8 Advocate for high-quality fire emergency response citywide to prevent and minimize injury, loss of life, and property damage.

Policy PFS-8.1 First Response Travel Time. Work with the CCCFPD to ensure that first response travel time is maintained and enhanced where possible.

Policy PFS-8.2 Emergency Response Facilities and Personnel. Work with the CCCFPD to continue to increase the emergency response facilities and personnel necessary to meet residential and employment growth in the city.

Policy PFS-8.3 Fire Safety Requirements for New Developments.

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Require new development to incorporate adequate emergency water flow, fire resistant design and materials, and evacuation routes.

Policy PFS-8.4 Emergency Vehicle Accessibility. New development shall incorporate necessary emergency vehicle access and not impede the ability of service providers to provide adequate emergency response.

Policy PFS-8.5 Secondary Emergency Access Route Requirement.

Require secondary emergency access routes for all areas of the city currently lacking dual access.

Consistent with Policy PFS-8.2, as future buildout occurs under the 2040 General Plan, the City will evaluate operations and deployment of services to efficiently use resources and ensure that development does not exceed the service capacity of CCCFPD. Further, Policies PFS-8.3 and PFS-8.4 would ensure that development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be served by adequate water supplies and would comply with applicable fire access and building standards so that CCCFPD can continue to adequately serve the City. Because the 2040 General Plan regulates the provision of fire protection services concurrently with 2040 General Plan development and population growth, operational impacts related to provision of fire protection services would be less than significant.

In summary, there is potential for CCCFPD to increase staffing levels through the year 2040 to meet established standards under buildout of the 2040 General Plan. Because the 2040 General Plan regulates the provision of fire protection services concurrently with development and population growth, operational impacts related to provision of fire protection services would be less than significant.

2. Police Protection
Threshold: Would the Project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for Sheriff Law Enforcement Services?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.11-16 – 3.11-17) Explanation:

Construction
The 2040 General Plan would allow a net increase of approximately 19,216 residential units and facilitate the addition of 45,740 net new residents in Pleasant Hill. As a result, PHPD could need to incrementally increase their

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police services through the year 2040, which could in turn require the construction of new facilities to house subsequent personnel, equipment, and vehicles. In addition, the proposed plan would allow for a net increase of 1,401,063 gross square feet of semi-public and institutional land uses that could include police protection facilities. The specific placement and potential impacts of new police facilities are unknown at this time; if construction or expansion of future facilities are needed or proposed, separate environmental review would be required that could determine and require future project-specific construction-related mitigation measures.

The 2040 General Plan would facilitate development within areas of Pleasant Hill that are currently developed. Therefore, construction of new police facilities, if required, would likely occur on property previously disturbed or developed, and thus, within the programmatic analysis for buildout under the 2040 General Plan as analyzed throughout this EIR. This would reduce the potential for adverse construction impacts associated with construction of new or expanded police protection facilities associated with implementation of the 2040 General Plan. Thus, construction impacts related to potential need for new or expanded police protection facilities would be considered less than significant.

Operation
As future buildout occurs under the 2040 General Plan, the City will evaluate operations and deployment of services to efficiently use resources.

New development under buildout of the 2040 General Plan would be required to comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local regulations governing the provision of police protection services, including adequate emergency access and community safety measures. Further, the 2040 General Plan would allow approximately 19,216 residential units and facilitate the addition of 45,740 net new residents in Pleasant Hill. As a result, PHPD would need to incrementally increase their police services through the year 2040.

In addition, the 2040 General Plan Public Facilities, Services, and Infrastructure Element contains goals and associated policies, listed below, for providing adequate police protection services in Pleasant Hill.

Goal PFS-6 Provide high-quality public safety and crime reduction services to maintain a safe and secure community.

Policy PFS-6.1 Police Staffing. Maintain Police Department staffing levels in line with community needs.

Policy PFS-6.2 Development Review. Include the Police Department in the review of development proposals to ensure that crime and safety issues are consistently addressed in the review of new development. Such review shall take a comprehensive approach to public safety and promote the implementation of Crime

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Prevention Through Environmental Design principles, as appropriate.

Because the 2040 General Plan regulates the provision of police protection services concurrently with 2040 General Plan development and population growth, operational impacts related to provision of police protection services would be less than significant.

In summary, there is potential for PHPD to increase staffing levels through the year 2040 to meet established standards under buildout of the 2040 General Plan.

Because the 2040 General Plan regulates the provision of police protection services concurrently with development and population growth, operational impacts related to provision of police protection services would be less than significan

3. Parks
Threshold: Would the Project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives for parks?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.11-20 -3.11-22) Explanation:

Construction
The 2040 General Plan would allow a net increase of approximately 19,216 residential units and facilitate the addition of 45,740 net new residents in Pleasant Hill, but the proposed 2040 General Plan does not include designation of additional land for parks, recreational facilities, or open space within the City. Consequently, existing parks and recreational facilities in Pleasant Hill could be used more frequently and potentially deteriorate at an accelerated pace and the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District could need to incrementally increase their parks and recreational services through the year 2040, which could in turn require the construction of new facilities to accommodate subsequent recreational visitors and facility space. If construction or expansion of future facilities is needed or proposed, then separate environmental review would be required that could determine and require future project-specific construction-related mitigation measures. The 2040 General Plan would facilitate development within areas of Pleasant Hill that are currently developed. Therefore, construction of new parks and recreational facilities, if required, would likely occur on property previously disturbed or developed and, thus, within the programmatic analysis for buildout under the 2040 General Plan as analyzed throughout this EIR. This would reduce the potential for adverse construction impacts associated with construction of new or expanded parks

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and recreational facilities associated with implementation of the 2040 General Plan. Thus, construction impacts related to potential need for new or expanded parks and recreational facilities would be considered less than significant.

Operation
The Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District currently maintains 13 parks, one area of open space, and seven areas of undeveloped open space, totaling approximately 147 acres. Currently, there are approximately 4.3 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents in Pleasant Hill (147 acres of parkland divided by 34 thousand residents). which exceeds the City’s goal to provide three acres of developed parkland per 1,000 residents. As discussed in Section

3.9, Land Use Planning, Population, and Housing, the 2040 General Plan would add approximately 19,216 net new residential units to Pleasant Hill, which would support approximately 45,740 net new residents. The current (January 2022) population of Pleasant Hill is 34,026, and the proposed plan would result in a population of approximately 79,766 by 2040; thus, the 2040 General Plan would result in a ratio of 1.8 acres of developed parkland per 1,000 residents (147 acres of parkland divided by approximately 80 thousand residents). This would be below the City’s target ratio of three acres of developed parkland per 1,000 residents. As such, implementation of the 2040 General Plan would require the development of additional parkland to maintain the City’s established parkland to population ratio.

The 2040 General Plan would not include designation of additional land for parks or recreational facilities within the City. However, as discussed previously, the 2040 General Plan would facilitate the addition of approximately 45,740 residents in Pleasant Hill. To ensure that parkland and park access increase concurrently with population growth, the Open Space, Parks, and Recreation Element of the 2040 General Plan includes the goals and policies related to parks and recreation. Goals and policies from the 2040 General Plan related to park land, access, and recreation are as follows:

Policy LU-1.2 City Image. Continue efforts to define and enhance the City’s image by emphasizing the high quality, intergenerational park facilities and recreational opportunities in the city; dedication to education, including the presence of Diablo Valley College and its potential to provide cultural and lifelong learning opportunities; and the vital, progressive nature of the city as a diverse residential community and a supportive environment for business.

Policy LU-1.9 Connectivity Between Existing and New Development.

Encourage linking new development to existing development, parks, and trails through the creation of internal circulation systems that allow travel by foot, bicycles, vehicles, and other alternative modes of travel.

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Goal OSP-2 Support the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District’s efforts to offer high-quality park, recreation (e.g., sports fields), and trail facilities for residents and visitors.

Policy OSP-2.1 Recreation Facilities Planning. Plan for appropriate sites for new recreational facilities, including playing fields, tennis courts, and other facilities.

Policy OSP-2.2 Recreational Programs for All. Advocate for and support PHRPD in their efforts to provide a wide range of recreation programs that are appropriate to a wide range of ages (e.g., youths, seniors), interests (e.g., sports, arts), and backgrounds which reflect Pleasant Hill’s cultural diversity.

Policy OSP-2.3 Expand Youth Programs. Encourage new and expanded youth recreation and extracurricular educational programs.

Policy OSP-2.4 Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities. Advocate for and support PHRPD in their efforts to provide recreation programs accessible to those with disabilities and strive to improve accessibility of existing recreation programs.

Policy OSP-2.5 Accessibility for Persons of All Income Levels. Advocate for and support PHRPD in their efforts to make all programs available regardless of participants’ ability to pay, through scholarships, fee waivers, program cost underwriting, and other available methods.

Policy OSP-2.6 Parkland Standard. Work with the PHRPD to establish and achieve a standard of 3 acres of developed parkland per 1,000 population.

Policy OSP-2.7 Expand Recreation and Park Facilities. Work with the PHRPD in supporting implementation outlined in the2020 Parks, Facilities & Recreation Master Plan to facilitate development and expansion of recreation and park facilities.

Policy OSP-2.8 Equitable Access to all Parkland. Work with the PHRPD to identify parcels for new parks and open space preservation to ensure all residents have access to parkland within a one-mile radius of their place of residence regardless of socio-economic status.

Policies OSP-2.1 through OSP-2.5 would ensure that the City would continue to plan for parks and recreational facilities through the year 2040.

Further, Policies OSP-2.6 and OSP-2.8 would facilitate the addition of parkland in Pleasant Hill in a manner that would meet the City’s standard of three acres of developed parkland per 1,000 residents. These policies would increase the amount of parkland available to City residents, which currently exceeds the City’s standard of 3 acres per 1,000 residents. The provision of parkland in accordance with this standard would ensure that

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substantial physical deterioration of existing parks would not occur or be accelerated. Because the 2040 General Plan and the Municipal Code regulate provision of parkland concurrently with development and population growth and because of substantial parkland available immediately outside of City Limits and with payment of mandatory parkland impact fees by developers for future projects in the City, operational impacts related to provision of, access to, and potential deterioration of parks and recreation facilities would be less than significant.

4. Other Public Facilities
Threshold: Would the Project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives for other public facilities?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.11-23 – 3.11-24) Explanation:

Construction
The 2040 General Plan would allow approximately 19,216 residential units and facilitate the addition of 45,740 net new residents in Pleasant Hill. The proposed 2040 General Plan does not include designation of additional land for libraries or other public facilities within the City that would require construction and might have an adverse physical effect on the environment.

However, the proposed plan would allow for a net increase of 1,401,063 gross square feet of semi-public and institutional land uses, which could include library facilities. Additionally, Contra Costa County Libraries could need to incrementally increase their library services to the City of Pleasant Hill through the year 2040, which could in turn require the construction of new facilities to accommodate subsequent library visitors and facility space.

The specific placement and potential impacts of a new library facilities are unknown at this time; if construction or expansion of future facilities are needed or proposed, separate environmental review would be required that could determine and require future project-specific construction-related mitigation measures. The 2040 General Plan would facilitate development within areas of Pleasant Hill that are currently developed. Therefore, construction of new library facilities, if required, would likely occur on property previously disturbed or developed, and thus, within the programmatic analysis for buildout under the 2040 General Plan as analyzed throughout this EIR. This would reduce the potential for adverse construction impacts associated with construction of new or expanded library facilities associated with implementation of the 2040 General Plan.

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Thus, construction impacts related to potential need for new or expanded library facilities would be considered less than significant.

Operation
The 2040 General Plan would facilitate the addition of approximately 45,740 residents in Pleasant Hill. An increase in population would increase demand for public facilities.

In addition to 2040 General Plan goals and policies already listed in this section, goals and policies from the Land Use Element of the 2040 General Plan support enhancement of Pleasant Hill’s existing public facilities and encourage adaptations in the future to meet the City’s needs. Relevant goals and policies are listed below.

Policy LU-3.4 Clustering Development. Encourage new residential development to be clustered to support increased densities, open space, and efficiencies of public facilities and services.

Policy LU-5.2 Costs of Growth. Require that new development pays its fair share of costs associated with the overall growth in the region.

Policy LU-5.3 Compliance with Performance Standards. Require that all new development comply with the City's performance standards for fire, police, parks, water, flood control, sanitary sewer, and transportation facilities.

Policy LU-5.5 Development Contribution Requirement. Require all new development to contribute to or participate in the improvement of park, school, police, sanitary, water, and flood control services in proportion to the demand generated by the development's occupants and users.

Policy LU-5.6 Fiscal and Economic Impact. Consider fiscal impact analyses for major development proposals to identify any burden or unintended negative economic impacts on the City, the school district, or other public agencies and to ensure the burdens are sufficiently mitigated.

Goal PFS-10 Ensure access to library facilities and services to meet the education and informational needs of the community.

Policy PFS-10.1 City Library Facility. Ensure that the City Library facility continues to provide high-quality services and education forums for residents and seeks to serve all members of the community.

Policy LU-3.4 and Policies LU-5.2 through LU-5.6 would ensure that adequate public facilities, including fire, police, public school, recreation, and library facilities, are planned to support current and future residents of Pleasant Hill.

Policy LU-3.4 would support the efficiency of public services and the provision of parks and open space, and Policy LU-5.3 would ensure that existing

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performance standards for fire, police, parks, and other facilities are maintained as future development occurs. Policies LU-5.2, LU-5.5, and LU-5.6 would ensure that development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would pay its fair share of costs and impacts to parks, schools, police, and other public services.

Finally, Goal PFS-10 and Policy PFS-10.1 would ensure the provision of library services to residents of Pleasant Hill. With implementation of the goals and policies included in the 2040 General Plan, impacts related to public facilities, including libraries, associated with development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be less than significant.

O. RECREATION

1. Increased Use
Threshold: Would the Project increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated? Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.11-20 -3.11-22) Explanation:

Construction
The 2040 General Plan would allow a net increase of approximately 19,216 residential units and facilitate the addition of 45,740 net new residents in Pleasant Hill, but the proposed 2040 General Plan does not include designation of additional land for parks, recreational facilities, or open space within the City. Consequently, existing parks and recreational facilities in Pleasant Hill could be used more frequently and potentially deteriorate at an accelerated pace and the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District could need to incrementally increase their parks and recreational services through the year 2040, which could in turn require the construction of new facilities to accommodate subsequent recreational visitors and facility space. If construction or expansion of future facilities is needed or proposed, then separate environmental review would be required that could determine and require future project-specific construction-related mitigation measures. The 2040 General Plan would facilitate development within areas of Pleasant Hill that are currently developed. Therefore, construction of new parks and recreational facilities, if required, would likely occur on property previously disturbed or developed and, thus, within the programmatic analysis for buildout under the 2040 General Plan as analyzed throughout this EIR. This would reduce the potential for adverse construction impacts associated with construction of new or expanded parks and recreational facilities associated with implementation of the 2040 General Plan. Thus, construction impacts related to potential need for new or expanded parks and recreational facilities would be considered less than

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significant.

Operation
The Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District currently maintains 13 parks, one area of open space, and seven areas of undeveloped open space, totaling approximately 147 acres. Currently, there are approximately 4.3 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents in Pleasant Hill (147 acres of parkland divided by 34 thousand residents). which exceeds the City’s goal to provide three acres of developed parkland per 1,000 residents. As discussed in Section

3.9, Land Use Planning, Population, and Housing, the 2040 General Plan would add approximately 19,216 net new residential units to Pleasant Hill, which would support approximately 45,740 net new residents. The current (January 2022) population of Pleasant Hill is 34,026, and the proposed plan would result in a population of approximately 79,766 by 2040; thus, the 2040 General Plan would result in a ratio of 1.8 acres of developed parkland per 1,000 residents (147 acres of parkland divided by approximately 80 thousand residents). This would be below the City’s target ratio of three acres of developed parkland per 1,000 residents. As such, implementation of the 2040 General Plan would require the development of additional parkland to maintain the City’s established parkland to population ratio.

The 2040 General Plan would not include designation of additional land for parks or recreational facilities within the City. However, as discussed previously, the 2040 General Plan would facilitate the addition of approximately 45,740 residents in Pleasant Hill. To ensure that parkland and park access increase concurrently with population growth, the Open Space, Parks, and Recreation Element of the 2040 General Plan includes the goals and policies related to parks and recreation. Goals and policies from the 2040 General Plan related to park land, access, and recreation are as follows:

Policy LU-1.2 City Image. Continue efforts to define and enhance the City’s image by emphasizing the high quality, intergenerational park facilities and recreational opportunities in the city; dedication to education, including the presence of Diablo Valley College and its potential to provide cultural and lifelong learning opportunities; and the vital, progressive nature of the city as a diverse residential community and a supportive environment for business.

Policy LU-1.9 Connectivity Between Existing and New Development.

Encourage linking new development to existing development, parks, and trails through the creation of internal circulation systems that allow travel by foot, bicycles, vehicles, and other alternative modes of travel.

Goal OSP-2 Support the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District’s efforts to offer high-quality park, recreation (e.g., sports fields), and trail facilities for residents and visitors.

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Policy OSP-2.1 Recreation Facilities Planning. Plan for appropriate sites for new recreational facilities, including playing fields, tennis courts, and other facilities.

Policy OSP-2.2 Recreational Programs for All. Advocate for and support PHRPD in their efforts to provide a wide range of recreation programs that are appropriate to a wide range of ages (e.g., youths, seniors), interests (e.g., sports, arts), and backgrounds which reflect Pleasant Hill’s cultural diversity.

Policy OSP-2.3 Expand Youth Programs. Encourage new and expanded youth recreation and extracurricular educational programs.

Policy OSP-2.4 Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities. Advocate for and support PHRPD in their efforts to provide recreation programs accessible to those with disabilities and strive to improve accessibility of existing recreation programs.

Policy OSP-2.5 Accessibility for Persons of All Income Levels. Advocate for and support PHRPD in their efforts to make all programs available regardless of participants’ ability to pay, through scholarships, fee waivers, program cost underwriting, and other available methods.

Policy OSP-2.6 Parkland Standard. Work with the PHRPD to establish and achieve a standard of 3 acres of developed parkland per 1,000 population.

Policy OSP-2.7 Expand Recreation and Park Facilities. Work with the PHRPD in supporting implementation outlined in the2020 Parks, Facilities & Recreation Master Plan to facilitate development and expansion of recreation and park facilities.

Policy OSP-2.8 Equitable Access to all Parkland. Work with the PHRPD to identify parcels for new parks and open space preservation to ensure all residents have access to parkland within a one-mile radius of their place of residence regardless of socio-economic status.

Policies OSP-2.1 through OSP-2.5 would ensure that the City would continue to plan for parks and recreational facilities through the year 2040.

Further, Policies OSP-2.6 and OSP-2.8 would facilitate the addition of parkland in Pleasant Hill in a manner that would meet the City’s standard of three acres of developed parkland per 1,000 residents. These policies would increase the amount of parkland available to City residents, which currently exceeds the City’s standard of 3 acres per 1,000 residents. The provision of parkland in accordance with this standard would ensure that substantial physical deterioration of existing parks would not occur or be accelerated. Because the 2040 General Plan and the Municipal Code regulate provision of parkland concurrently with development and population growth and because of substantial parkland available

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immediately outside of City Limits and with payment of mandatory parkland impact fees by developers for future projects in the City, operational impacts related to provision of, access to, and potential deterioration of parks and recreation facilities would be less than significant.

2. Construction and Expansion
Threshold: Does the Project include recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities which might have an aderse physical effect on the environment?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.11-20 -3.11-22) Explanation: See Increased Use above.

P. TRANSPORTATION / TRAFFIC

1. Plans, Policies, and Ordinances
Threshold: Would the Project conflict with a program, plan, ordinance or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.12-20 – 3.12-32) Explanation:

Construction
Roadway, Transit, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Facilities
Construction activities related to implementation of the 2040 General Plan could create potential conflicts with other roadway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian users, such as construction related activities resulting in lane, bicycle path, or sidewalk closures along the frontages of individual development projects facilitated by the proposed plan, construction vehicles queuing within the public right-of-way waiting entry to the site, construction worker parking in non-designated parking areas, or construction debris on public streets. Construction impacts would be temporary in nature and encroachment permits from Caltrans would be required for facilities under its administration, such as I-680, SR 4, SR 24, and SR 242. However, most construction would occur along local streets, transit routes, bicycle paths, and sidewalks, but implementation of General Plan Policy TC-2.1, included below, would require a construction traffic plan to avoid construction-related impacts.

Policy TC-2.1 Traffic Plan Requirement. Require new development to establish

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comprehensive construction traffic plans, for approval by City staff, which denote haul routes, detours, and other factors that may impact public safety.

Therefore, with respect to conflicts with circulation system policies related to roadway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities, 2040 General Plan construction impacts would be less than significant.

Operation
Roadway Facilities
The 2040 General Plan includes modifications to existing street facilities to create a more pedestrian-oriented and bicycle-oriented street network.

These modifications could cause existing and future local and regional traffic to circulate differently. The expected influence on existing and future traffic would be minimal because roadway modifications would conform to State and local standards and generally be implemented to improve circulation. Overall, the 2040 General Plan’s proposed bicycle and pedestrian improvements would not conflict with existing or planned roadway facilities, because the proposed street changes are additions of pedestrian and bicycle facilities and do not specifically propose any reduction in roadway vehicle lanes.

The 2040 General Plan includes policies that would support development consistent with applicable plans, such as Plan Bay Area 2050 and Contra Costa CTP. In addition, the following 2040 General Plan policies related to roadway facilities would ensure consistency:

Policy LU-1.9 Connectivity Between Existing and New Development.

Encourage linking new development to existing development, parks, and trails through the creation of internal circulation systems that allow travel by foot, bicycles, vehicles, and other alternative modes of travel.

Policy LU-5.3 Compliance with Performance Standards. Require that all new development comply with the City's performance standards for fire, police, parks, water, flood control, sanitary sewer, and transportation facilities.

Policy LU-6.29 Limit Driveways and Curb Cuts. Support limiting new driveways and curb cuts and encourage consolidating existing driveways and curb cuts as Contra Costa Boulevard redevelops.

Policy LU-6.41 Taylor Boulevard Access. Support limiting access points from development fronting Taylor Boulevard to enhance pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicular safety.

Policy LU-6.50 Circulation Enhancements. Require upgrades to the Monument Boulevard street network to improve overall traffic flow pending approval of new development.

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Policy TC-1.1 Rights-of-Way. Maintain existing circulation system rights-of-way, except as necessary to address localized congestion areas.

Policy TC-1.2 Multimodal Travel Options. Develop a connected network of vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities that provide continuous, safe, and comfortable travel for users of all ages, abilities, and transportation modes.

Policy TC-2.1 Traffic Plan Requirement. Require new development to establish comprehensive construction traffic plans, for approval by City staff, which denote haul routes, detours, and other factors that may impact public safety.

Policy TC-2.3 LOS Standards and Conditions of Approval. Approve new development which at least meets or is mitigated to meet adopted LOS standards as documented in the City Findings of Consistency.

Policy TC-2.4 Traffic Impact Study. Require traffic impact studies (including VMT and LOS analysis) as part of the application review process for development projects.

Policy TC-2.5 Transportation Demand Management (TDM). Require robust transportation demand management with all new private development that requires establishment of incentives and programs to reduce traffic congestion including annual reporting to ensure transportation demand management goals for a project are being met and to correct transportation demand management practices.

Policy TC-3.1 Residential Streets. Prioritize traffic calming improvements and enforcement efforts along residential roadways that have recurring cut-through traffic or excessive speeding.

Policy TC-3.2 Arterial and Collector Streets. Minimize opportunities for regionally generated cut-through vehicle travel in the city as part of new roadway projects or projects within public roadways.

Policy TC-3.3 Vehicle Traffic Calming Devices. Consider traffic calming devices such as lane narrowing, widening medians, neighborhood traffic circles, roundabouts, and landscaping to discourage cut-through vehicle traffic.

Policy TC-3.4 Alternative Methods to Prevent Cut-Through Vehicle Traffic.

Consider the use of alternative street surfacing materials, traffic diverters, special designs, and stop signs to prevent cut-through traffic on residential streets.

Policy TC-3.5 Monument Triangle Congestion. Support the reconfiguration of the Monument Triangle circulation network and to improve vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle safety while reducing congestion anticipated from future development.

Policy TC-3.6 School Area Congestion. Work with the Mount Diablo Unified School District, private schools, and Diablo Valley College to address traffic speeds and congestion near schools and on key access routes.

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Policy TC-4.5 Correlation Between Land Use and Transportation. Support land use patterns that make more efficient use of the transportation system, such as locating development near transit routes and high-quality bicycle/pedestrian facilities, minimizing new driveways, consolidating parking, and other best practice urban design measures.

Policy TC-7.1 Multi-Jurisdictional Transportation Planning. Participate in multi-jurisdictional transportation planning through TRANSPAC and CCTA activities to ensure all City planning efforts, projects, and developments comply with regional requirements and standards.

Policy TC-8.5 Reduce Vehicle Speeds. Support the reduction of vehicle speeds using engineering and design techniques, community education, and evaluation and planning strategies rather than relying solely on enforcement.

Policy TC-8.8 New Development Neighborhood Traffic Impacts. Require developer participation in the cost of installation of traffic calming measures to reduce neighborhood traffic impacts through fee payments or direct contribution as a condition of approval, if applicable.

Policy TC-8.11 Traffic Safety Corridors. Identify Traffic Safety Corridors along Suggested Routes to School and protected residential neighborhoods as allowed through California Assembly Bill 43 – Traffic Safety to establish lower speed streets to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Policy TC-14.1 Minimize Truck Conflicts. Minimize potential conflicts between trucks and pedestrian, bicycle, and transit travel on streets designated as truck routes.

Policy TC-14.2 Minimize Truck Loading and Unloading Conflicts. Minimize potential conflicts between truck loading and unloading and pedestrian, bicycle, and transit travel.

Policy TC-14.4 Truck Route Network. Develop a signage program that identifies truck routes.

Implementation of the above 2040 General Plan policies would ensure consistency with circulation system policies related to roadway facilities.

Buildout of the 2040 General Plan land use plan would lead to an approximately 100 percent increase in residential units and a 50 percent increase in non-residential uses, which in turn would increase the vehicle travel demand on the Pleasant Hill roadway network. Increased vehicle travel demand may result in increased congestion, because no roadway widenings are proposed as part of the 2040 General Plan. The travel demand forecasting performed for the 2040 General Plan indicates that certain segments of the

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following roadways would exceed the daily vehicle capacities, as defined in the Contra Costa Countywide Travel Demand Model:
 Contra Cost Boulevard, Beth Drive to Sunvalley
Boulevard
 Ellinwood Drive. East of Contra Costa Boulevard
 Buskirk Avenue, Monument Boulevard to Hookston
Road
 Oak Park Boulevard, Hook Avenue to Putnam
Boulevard
It is important to note that the forecasting encompasses full build-out of all parcels to their maximum capacity, and represents growth over a much longer period than the 18 years represented in the travel demand model (2022 to 2040). Therefore, these over-capacity conditions may not materialize by 2040. ,
Growth associated with implementation of the 2040 General Plan could interfere with the operation of existing roadway facilities or conflict with planned roadway facilities; however, implementation of the aforementioned roadway facility policies would minimize such potential conflicts.

Therefore, with respect to conflicts with circulation system policies related to roadway facilities, operational impacts of the 2040 General Plan would be less than significant.

Transit Facilities
Development under the 2040 General Plan would not obstruct existing transit services or facilities, nor would it conflict with existing or planned facilities. All new development would be subject to City discretionary review, allowing the City to ensure that project designs would not interfere with transit operations. Buildout of the 2040 General Plan would increase the number of potential transit users on the various transit systems serving the city. Increased users would result in a correlated increase in demand for transit. Additionally, roadway traffic congestion caused from population and employment growth in the city facilitated by the 2040 General Plan could affect transit corridors by increasing travel times and decreasing headway reliability for transit vehicles.

The 2040 General Plan includes policies that would support development consistent with applicable plans, like Plan Bay Area 2050 and Contra Costa CTP. 2040 General Plan contains the following goals and policies that would support reducing traffic congestion and improving transit connectivity:

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 Policy LU-1.9 Connectivity Between Existing and
New Development. Encourage linking new
development to existing development, parks, and trails
through the creation of internal circulation systems that allow travel by foot, bicycles, vehicles, and other
alternative modes of travel.
 Policy LU-5.3 Compliance with Performance
Standards. Require that all new development comply
with the City's performance standards for fire, police, parks, water, flood control, sanitary sewer, and
transportation facilities.
 Policy LU-6.25 Transit-Oriented Development.

Encourage the design and development of transitoriented developments along Contra Costa Boulevard to support future transportation system enhancements.

Goal TC-1: Establish and maintain a safe and efficient circulation system that emphasizes the use of existing arterial and collector roadways, paths, and bike lanes.

Policy TC-1.2 Multi-Modal Travel Options. Develop a connected network of vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities that provide continuous, safe, and comfortable travel for users of all ages, abilities, and transportation modes.

Policy TC-1.3 Community Input on Complete Streets. When planning and designing for complete streets, receive input from groups and individuals representing the various types of users of City streets.

Policy TC-1.4 Community Input on Roadway Improvements. Support the sponsoring of forums to obtain citizen input to develop roadway improvements aimed at improving traffic circulation, reduce traffic speeding, and maximizing person throughput.

Goal TC-4: Reduce congestion and vehicle trips through land use planning.

Policy TC-4.1 Transportation Mode Mix. Plan for appropriate mix of transportation modes and the infrastructure to support these modes to meet community needs.

Policy TC-4.2 Develop Thoroughfares. Develop and improve thoroughfares based on existing and proposed land use patterns and projected demand.

Policy TC-4.4 Infill Development. Support infill and development in existing urban areas and around key transit facilities.

Policy TC-4.5 Correlation Between Land Use and Transportation. Support land use patterns that make more efficient use of the transportation system, such as

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locating development near transit routes and high-quality bicycle/pedestrian facilities, minimizing new driveways, consolidating parking, and other best practice urban design measures.

Goal TC-5: Support a vibrant, walkable environment that encourages alternative ( non-driving_ modes of transportation.

Policy TC-5.1 Evaluate Multi-Modal Facility Needs. Evaluate the needs of transit, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities and/or access for new development as part of the review process, and require new development to incorporate transit, bicycle, and pedestrian access where feasible and appropriate, consistent with the Circulation Element and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (when adopted).

Goal TC-8: Encourage the development of a comprehensive and integrated transportation network with infrastructure and design features that allow safe and convenient travel along and across streets for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, users and operators of public transportation, seniors, youth, and families.

Policy TC-8.1 Complete Streets Principles. Apply complete streets principles when building new, or rehabilitating existing, roadways, consider the following design elements:
 Sidewalks and curbs as a standard design principle.
 Bicycle lanes and/or shared lanes as a standard design principle.  Transit accessibility as a standard design principle.  Shade trees and planting strips as a standard design principle along roadways Policy TC-8.2 Review for Complete Streets. Review street reconstruction, new development, and utility projects to incorporate complete street elements when feasible, including trails, bus stop enhancements, and bicycle/pedestrian facilities.

Goal TC-13: Reduce congestion and vehicle trips through non-automobile transportation.

Policy TC-13.1 Bus and Rail Services. Coordinate with local transit providers (i.e., bus, paratransit, and rail service) to provide expanded schedules and services that meet the needs of Pleasant Hill residents.

Policy TC-13.2 Innovative Transportation Technologies. Work with transit providers, employers, schools, and developers to encourage innovative technologies that promote more effective and expanded use of transit and facilitate other innovations to serve first and last mile travel, such as mobility hubs and micro-mobility (e-scooters, e-bikes).

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Policy TC-13.3 Support County Connection Improvements. Support County Connection to improve all types of accessibility and comfort for their facilities and to incorporate intermodal facilities where feasible.

Policy TC-13.4 Transit for Commuters and Special Needs Populations.

Work with transit providers and other regional TDM entities to promote and incentivize use of transit for commuters, seniors, students, and persons with disabilities.

Policy TC-13.5 Senior Van Service. Maintain the City's Senior Van Service for residents over the age of 55, subject to the availability of funding. 2040 General Plan goals and policies listed above encourage an increase in transit ridership, decreased dependence on motor vehicles, and reduce transit delays. While the proposed plan could add peak hour transit riders, implementation of the proposed plan would not disrupt existing or interfere with planned transit services or facilities.The CCTA CTP contains goals and policies, as listed under Section 3.12.3, Regulatory Framework, to manage the County’s transportation system, including several policies relating to the preservation and enhancement of transit service, in partnership with local jurisdictions, as the County grows. These goals and policies are consistent with the 2040 General Plan goals and policies and would result in coordinated planning for the expansion of transit service to meet demand as the City of Pleasant Hill grows under the 2040 General Plan.

Implementation of the above 2040 General Plan policies would ensure consistency with circulation system policies related to transit facilities.

Therefore, with respect to conflicts with circulation system policies related to transit facilities, operational impacts of the 2040 General Plan would be less than significant.

Bicycle Facilities
Growth in residential and non-residential uses under the 2040 General Plan could result in more bicycle use on existing facilities. The 2040 General Plan includes complete streets policies, new bicycle facilities, and transportation and circulation goals and policies to accommodate increased bicycle demands generated by new development. This network would accommodate bicycle demand generated by the land development.

Examples of goals and policies consistent with applicable plans, like Plan Bay Area 2050 and Contra Costa CTP, in the 2040 General Plan that would encourage bicycle transportation modes while also ensuring bicycle facilities are adequate include those listed under the Transit Facilities impact discussion above, and the following:
 Policy LU-3.3 Neighborhood Access. Ensure that

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new residential development include safe and
convenient pedestrian and bicycle access to existing
residential neighborhoods.
 Policy LU-7.3 Remove Physical Barriers. Remove
or plan for ways to address physical barriers that bisect neighborhoods and discourage walking or biking.

Goal TC-11: Increase the number of bicycle and pedestrian trips by users of all ages and abilities.

Policy TC-11.1 Bicycle and Pedestrian Network. Support a network of safe and comfortable bikeway and pedestrian facilities connecting neighborhoods and destinations in Pleasant Hill and adjacent jurisdictions.

Policy TC-11.2 Street Design. Require street cross-sections to accommodate bicyclists, micro-mobility users, and pedestrians.

Policy TC-11.3 Protected Bicycle Facilities. Consider incorporating protected bicycle and pedestrian facilities in higher density land use areas and along major transportation corridors to the greatest extent feasible.

Goal TC-12: Strive to eliminate all fatal and serious injury bicycle and pedestrian related crashes.

Policy TC-12.1 Collision Database. Create a traffic count data and collision database and work with applicable City departments and law enforcement to map collision data for identifying problem areas.

Policy TC-12.2 Design Standards. Support design upgrades to bicycle and pedestrian facilities to increase connectivity and safety citywide.

Policy TC-12.3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Education. Support bicycle and pedestrian safety education in all Pleasant Hill schools. Continue to support Safe Routes to Schools programs to address pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Policy TC-12.4 Safe Routes to School (SR2S). Support Safe Routes to School infrastructure and education & encouragement programs to address and enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety. Develop Suggested Route to School maps for Pleasant Hill schools to help prioritize infrastructure improvements along routes supporting student commutes.

Policy TC-12.5 Technology Safety Enhancements. Identify and deploy technology solutions to support bicycle and pedestrian safety through the City including passive detection systems at traffic signals and trail crossings.

Policy TC-12.6 Bike Route Connectivity. Develop and sign a network of bicycle routes that provide connectivity between homes, job centers, schools and

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other frequently visited destinations.

Policy TC-12.7 Emphasis on Walking and Biking. Encourage more people to walk and bicycle for a variety of purposes.

Policy TC-12.8 Bicycle Parking. Support the expansion of the bicycle parking network in Pleasant Hill.

Policy TC-12.9 Supportive Infrastructure. Encourage the implementation of supportive infrastructure and programs.

Policy TC-12.10 Safe Intersections for Bicycles. Ensure adequate crossing times and detection for bicycle users at signalized intersections.

Policy TC-12.11 Commute Information. Promote 511 Contra Costa alternative commute mode materials to encourage reduced reliance on vehicular use.

Policy TC-12.12 Bike to Work Day. Promote and support a Bike to Work Day.

Policy TC-12.13 Speed Limit Modifications. Using future accommodations provided through AB 43 – Traffic Safety, re-survey speed limits in the City to identify speed limit reduction opportunities that focus on traffic safety for vulnerable roadway users.

The 2040 General Plan would encourage bicycling by improving bicycle connectivity with a comprehensive community-wide network of on-street and off-street bicycle facilities, which would be defined in the City of Pleasant Hill Draft BPMP. Implementation of the 2040 General Plan would not interfere with existing bicycle facilities or conflict with planned bicycle facilities or adopted bicycle system plans, guidelines, policies, or standards.

Furthermore, implementation of the 2040 General Plan would create new bicycle facilities consistent with the City of Pleasant Hill Draft BPMP, which would have a beneficial effect on bicycle circulation and access.

Therefore, with respect to conflicts with circulation system policies related to bicycle facilities, operational impacts of the 2040 General Plan would be less than significant.

Pedestrian Facilities
Growth in residential and non-residential uses under the 2040 General Plan could result in more use and demand on existing pedestrian facilities. The 2040 General Plan includes complete streets policies, new pedestrian facilities, and transportation and circulation goals and policies to accommodate increased pedestrian demands generated by the development envisioned in the 2040 General Plan. The 2040 General Plan would encourage walking by improving pedestrian facilities and connectivity with

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a safe and continuous pedestrian network to shorten walking distances and improve pedestrian connections to popular local destinations. Examples of goals and policies in the 2040 General Plan that would encourage walking trips and ensure pedestrian facilities are adequate include the following, and those listed under Transit Facilities and Bicycle Facilities above:
 Policy LU-1.7 Multi-Story Development. Require
multi-story buildings to incorporate step backs on upper floors to create a more human-scale and comfortable
pedestrian environment.
 Policy LU-3.2 Connectivity. Encourage new
residential and mixed-use development to incorporate
design features that promote walking within
neighborhoods and citywide.
 Policy LU-4.2 Strip Commercial Conversion.

Encourage existing strip commercial uses to be
redeveloped into pedestrian friendly, contemporary
shopping environments
 Policy LU-6.16 Walkable Environment. Enhance
the pedestrian connections between Downtown,
Crescent Drive, City Hall, and adjacent commercial
centers along Contra Costa Boulevard.
 Policy LU-6.27 Pedestrian Oriented Development.

Support the transformation of existing auto-oriented and strip commercial uses into attractive pedestrian-oriented developments that enhance the visual character and
interest of the boulevard.
 Policy LU-6.37 Pedestrian Friendly Design.

Encourage the expansion of Gregory Lane pedestrian
and bicyclist infrastructure to create a more multi-modal friendly environment that increases overall safety.
 Policy LU-6.48 Pedestrian Connectivity. Require
Monument Boulevard pedestrian upgrades including
signalized crossings, bulb outs, and expanded sidewalks.

Goal TC-9: Prioritize a safe and connected pedestrian
network for users of all ages and abilities.
 Policy TC-9.1 Pedestrian Safety. Maintain and
upgrade the City’s pedestrian system by installing or
upgrading sidewalks, warning devices, crosswalks, and

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other pedestrian aids where appropriate, including
particular consideration for the needs of users of all ages and abilities.
 Policy TC-9.2 Pedestrian Connections. Require
new development to use best practices in providing
pedestrian connections between sites and existing and
planned pedestrian facilities, including those identified in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and other
relevant plans and documents.
 Policy TC-9.3 Enhance Pedestrian Crossings.

Enhance pedestrian crossings on all arterial and collector roadways.
 Policy TC-9.4 Sidewalk Maintenance. Maintain
existing sidewalk to meet ADA requirements, including
removal or relocation of objects obstructing pedestrian path and installation of wider or detached sidewalks with a buffer separation from vehicular traffic, where feasible.  Policy TC-9.5 Sidewalk Guidelines and
Standards. Establish sidewalk standards and guidelines
for enhancing existing sidewalk and installation of new sidewalks.
 Policy TC-9.6 Planning for Pedestrian
Improvements. Ensure all planning processes, such as
PUD Concept Plans, master plans and specific plans,
identify areas where pedestrian improvements can be
made, such as new connections, increased sidewalk
width, improved crosswalks, improved lighting, and new
street furniture.
 Policy TC-9.7 Enhance Street Lighting. Enhance
street lighting to provide for better pedestrian safety.  Policy TC-9.8 Sidewalk Improvements. Improve
sidewalks to facilitate access by users of all ages and abilities.
 Policy TC-9.9 Sidewalk Gap Closure Plan. Create
a sidewalk gap closure plan that identifies high-priority sidewalk throughout the city and establishes an
implementation plan for eliminating the gaps.

Goal TC-10: Provide well-designed and well-maintained

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off-street paths and trails.
 Policy TC-10.1 Prioritize Linkages. Design and
maintain a pedestrian system that provides connections
between trails and access to roadways and parking.
 Policy TC-10.2 Safe and Interconnected Trails.

Work with other responsible/owner agencies to ensure
the trails system is designed to be safe and
interconnected, incorporating on-street connections
where needed, designed for pedestrians and/or bicyclists, and consistent with other relevant plans.
 Policy TC-10.3 Safe Trail Crossings. Provide safe
trail crossings at surface streets for all non-motorized users. This requires the installation of signs, striping, pavement markings, and actuated traffic control devices, where applicable.
 Policy TC-10.4 New Trails. Coordinate with East
Bay Municipal Utility District and other agencies to
explore new trail opportunities to provide connections to parts of the city without off-road bicycle and pedestrian connections.

Implementation of the above 2040 General Plan policies would ensure consistency with circulation system policies related to pedestrian facilities.

Therefore, with respect to conflicts with circulation system policies related to pedestrian facilities, operational impacts of the 2040 General Plan would be less than significant.

2. Design Hazards
Threshold: 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)?
Finding: Less than significant. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.12-37 – 3.12-41) Explanation:

Construction
Construction of the proposed plan is anticipated to utilize vacant areas within the plan areas to accommodate storage of large construction vehicles.

Such staging areas would reduce the amount of heavy construction vehicles using adjacent roads. During construction, truck deliveries would be expected to use collectors and would avoid adding additional heavy duty

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truck traffic on feeder streets and local streets. Furthermore, these truck routes are specifically designated to avoid impacts to pedestrian and bicyclists. Thus, because the construction trucks would travel along the designated truck routes, there would not be a conflict with the automobile vehicle, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian design and activity along roadways on and near the plan area. Therefore, construction impacts related to roadway design safety hazards would be less than significant.

Operation
Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would increase the number of users on the Pleasant Hill transportation system, which could increase transportation circulation design safety hazards associated with future projects in the General Plan area. Primary operational vehicular access to and through the General Plan area would be provided by existing signalized intersections and highways.

Improvements to the transportation and circulation system in the City would be implemented over time through buildout year of 2040. Pleasant Hill maintains improvement standards that guide the construction of new transportation facilities to minimize design hazards for all users of the system. Through the environmental review process, land use proposals that would add traffic to streets not designed to current standards are evaluated.

If needed, mitigation measures are identified therein, and the project is conditioned to construct or provide funding for an improvement that would minimize or eliminate the hazard. Typical improvements Include shoulder widening, adding turn pockets, adding sidewalks or crosswalks, realigning sharp curves, prohibiting certain turning movements, signalizing intersections, and increasing sight distance, among other measures. New and upgraded roadways needed to accommodate new development would be designed according to applicable Federal, State, and local design standards. Development and infrastructure projects in Pleasant Hill would be required to comply with the General Plan Update, Pleasant Hill Municipal Code, and applicable State and local regulations. As a result, and in consideration of the 2040 General Plan’s policies regarding infrastructure safety, listed below, this impact would be less than significant. The 2040 General Plan establishes the following goals and policies that are intended to result in roadway designs that safely accommodate all users:

Goal TC-1: Establish and maintain a safe and efficient circulation system that emphasizes the use of existing arterial and collector roadways, paths, and bike lanes.

Policy TC-1.2 Multi-Modal Travel Options. Develop a connected network of vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities that provide continuous, safe, and comfortable travel for users of all ages, abilities, and transportation modes.

Goal TC-2: Improve traffic circulation along the city roadway network.

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Policy TC-2.1 Traffic Plan Requirement. Require new development to establish comprehensive construction traffic plans, for approval by City staff, which denote haul routes, detours, and other factors that may impact public safety.

Policy TC-2.6 Safe Routes to School (SR2S). Establish a Safe Routes to School program in collaboration with the school districts and private schools that identifies and promotes suggested routes to school and incentivizes students and parents to use alternative transportation modes for school commutes.

Goal TC-3: Encourage slower vehicle speeds and discourage cut-through traffic along City roadways, especially within residential neighborhoods and along freeway bypass routes.

Policy TC-3.1 Residential Streets. Prioritize traffic calming improvements and enforcement efforts along residential roadways that have recurring cut-through traffic or excessive speeding.

Policy TC-3.2 Arterial and Collector Streets. Minimize opportunities for regionally generated cut-through vehicle travel in the city as part of new roadway projects or projects within public roadways.

Policy TC-3.3 Vehicle Traffic Calming Devices. Consider traffic calming devices such as lane narrowing, widening medians, neighborhood traffic circles, roundabouts, and landscaping to discourage cut-through vehicle traffic.

Policy TC-3.4 Alternative Methods to Prevent Cut-Through Vehicle Traffic.

Consider the use of alternative street surfacing materials, traffic diverters, special designs, and stop signs to prevent cut-through traffic on residential streets.

Policy TC-3.5 Monument Triangle Congestion. Support the reconfiguration of the Monument Triangle circulation network and to improve vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle safety while reducing congestion anticipated from future development.

Policy TC-3.6 School Area Congestion. Work with the Mount Diablo Unified School District, private schools, and Diablo Valley College to address traffic speeds and congestion near schools and on key access routes.

Goal TC-5: Support a vibrant, walkable environment that encourages alternative (non-driving) modes of transportation.

Policy TC-5.1 Evaluate Multi-modal Facility Needs. Evaluate the needs of transit, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities and/or access for new development as part of the review process, and require new development to incorporate transit, bicycle, and pedestrian access where feasible and appropriate, consistent with the Circulation Element and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (when adopted).

Policy TC-5.3. Mobility Technology Support. Identify and implement

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technology that supports walking, biking, commuting, and other alternative transportation modes within the City including infrastructure that supports micro mobility use within the City.

Goal TC-8: Encourage the development of a comprehensive and integrated transportation network with infrastructure and design features that allow safe and convenient travel along and across streets for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, users and operators of public transportation, seniors, youth, and families.

Policy TC-8.1 Complete Streets Principles. Apply complete streets principles when building new, or rehabilitating existing, roadways, consider the following design elements:
 Sidewalks and curbs as a standard design principle.
 Bicycle lanes and/or shared lanes as a standard design principle.  Transit accessibility as a standard design principle.  Shade trees and planting strips as a standard design principle along roadways.

Policy TC-8.2 Review for Complete Streets. Review street reconstruction, new development, and utility projects to incorporate complete street elements when feasible, including trails, bus stop enhancements, and bicycle/pedestrian facilities.

Policy TC-8.3 Regional Complete Streets Planning. Coordinate internally and with other agencies to plan for the provision of complete streets regionally.

Policy TC-8.4 Multi-Modal Roadways. Consider the needs of vehicles, bicycle, and pedestrians on all city roadways and facilities.

Policy TC-8.5 Reduce Vehicle Speeds. Support the reduction of vehicle speeds using engineering and design techniques, community education, and evaluation and planning strategies rather than relying solely on enforcement.

Policy TC-8.6 Wide Sidewalks for Shared Use. Provide wide sidewalks to allow shared use by pedestrians, bicyclists, and non-motorized modes of transportation as directed by the City Engineer.

Policy TC-8.7 Limit Roadway Widening. Limit roadway widening and prioritize bicycle and pedestrian facility improvements within the right of way to increase roadway capacity that does not conflict with emergency access requirements.

Policy TC-8.11 Traffic Safety Corridors. Identify Traffic Safety Corridors along Suggested Routes to School and protected residential neighborhoods as allowed through California Assembly Bill 43 – Traffic Safety to establish lower speed streets

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to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Goal TC-9: Prioritize a safe and connected pedestrian network for users of all ages and abilities
Policy TC-9.1 Pedestrian Safety. Maintain and upgrade the City’s pedestrian system by installing or upgrading sidewalks, warning devices, crosswalks, and other pedestrian aids where appropriate, including particular consideration for the needs of users of all ages and abilities.

Policy TC-9.3 Enhance Pedestrian Crossings. Enhance pedestrian crossings on all arterial and collector roadways.

Policy TC-9.4 Sidewalk Maintenance. Maintain existing sidewalk to meet ADA requirements, including removal or relocation of objects obstructing pedestrian path and installation of wider or detached sidewalks with a buffer separation from vehicular traffic, where feasible.

Policy TC-9.5 Sidewalk Guidelines and Standards. Establish sidewalk standards and guidelines for enhancing existing sidewalk and installation of new sidewalks.

Policy TC-9.6 Planning for Pedestrian Improvements. Ensure all planning processes, such as PUD Concept Plans, master plans and specific plans, identify areas where pedestrian improvements can be made, such as new connections, increased sidewalk width, improved crosswalks, improved lighting, and new street furniture.

Policy TC-9.7 Enhance Street Lighting. Enhance street lighting to provide for better pedestrian safety.

Goal TC-10: Provide well-designed and well-maintained off-street paths and trails.

Policy TC-10.2 Safe and Interconnected Trails. Work with other responsible/owner agencies to ensure the trails system is designed to be safe and interconnected, incorporating on-street connections where needed, designed for pedestrians and/or bicyclists, and consistent with other relevant plans.

Policy TC-10.3 Safe Trail Crossings. Provide safe trail crossings at surface streets for all non-motorized users. This requires the installation of signs, striping, pavement markings, and actuated traffic control devices, where applicable.

Goal TC-11: Increase the number of bicycle and pedestrian trips by users of all ages and abilities.

Policy TC-11.1 Bicycle and Pedestrian Network. Support a network of safe and comfortable bikeway and pedestrian facilities connecting neighborhoods and destinations in Pleasant Hill and adjacent jurisdictions.

Policy TC-11.2 Street Design. Require street cross-sections to accommodate

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bicyclists, micro-mobility users, and pedestrians.

Policy TC-11.3 Protected Bicycle Facilities. Consider incorporating protected bicycle and pedestrian facilities in higher density land use areas and along major transportation corridors to the greatest extent feasible.

Goal TC-12: Strive to eliminate all fatal and serious injury bicycle and pedestrian related crashes.

Policy TC-12.1 Collision Database. Create a traffic count data and collision database and work with applicable City departments and law enforcement to map collision data for identifying problem areas.

Policy TC-12.2 Design Standards. Support design upgrades to bicycle and pedestrian facilities to increase connectivity and safety citywide.

Policy TC-12.3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Education. Support bicycle and pedestrian safety education in all Pleasant Hill schools. Continue to support Safe Routes to Schools programs to address pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Policy TC-12.4 Safe Routes to School (SR2S). Support Safe Routes to School infrastructure and education & encouragement programs to address and enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety. Develop Suggested Route to School maps for Pleasant Hill schools to help prioritize infrastructure improvements along routes supporting student commutes.

Policy TC-12.5 Technology Safety Enhancements. Identify and deploy technology solutions to support bicycle and pedestrian safety through the City including passive detection systems at traffic signals and trail crossings.

Policy TC-12.10 Safe Intersections for Bicycles. Ensure adequate crossing times and detection for bicycle users at signalized intersections.

Goal TC-14: Provide for the safe and efficient movement of goods to support commerce, industry, and the community.

Policy TC-14.1 Minimize Truck Conflicts. Minimize potential conflicts between trucks and pedestrian, bicycle, and transit travel on streets designated as truck routes. [Source: New Policy]
Policy TC-14.2 Minimize Truck Loading and Unloading Conflicts. Minimize potential conflicts between truck loading and unloading and pedestrian, bicycle and transit travel.

The above goals and policies are intended to result in roadway designs that safely accommodate all users including pedestrians, bikes, and vehicles. Therefore, with respect to increases of hazards due to design features, the General Plan would result in a less than significant operational impact.

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3. Emergency Access
Threshold: Would the Project result in inadequate emergency access? Finding: No impact. (Draft EIR, pp. 3.12-42 – 3.12-43)
Explanation:

Construction
Impacts related to inadequate emergency access are limited to operational impacts. During future projects construction, two-way travel would be maintained. Should any roadways in the General Plan area experience temporary one-way travel restrictions or be closed to travel, there are multiple access routes to these plan areas, and construction detour signage would be provided. No respective construction impacts would occur.

Operation
As discussed in Section 3.9, Land Use/Planning and Population/Housing, the 2040 General Plan would result in an increase in population and development. Development facilitated by the 2040 General Plan would be required to meet all applicable current State and local codes and ordinances related to fire protection, which includes emergency access.

As mentioned in Section 3.11, Public Services and Recreation, development facilitated by the General Plan would be adequately served by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Stations No. 2 and No. 5.

Further, as mentioned in Section 3.7, Hazards/Hazardous Materials and Wildfire, development facilitated by the General Plan would not impede emergency access and response. Therefore, development within the General Plan area would be adequately served in case of a fire-related emergency.

Development facilitated by the General Plan would be required to provide adequate accommodation of fire access to structure frontages, multiple access points to development, as well as adequate width, height, and turning radius of roadways and access points, pursuant to California Building Code requirements. Future projects that would not meet required standards and codes would not be allowed to be permitted by the City. Development facilitated by the General Plan would be required to comply with City and County standards and requirements and would undergo review by public safety officials as part of the approval process.

Emergency vehicle response times would continue to be reduced over time due to the ability of emergency vehicles to use vehicle preemption technology (where possible) and sirens; this capability would remain regardless of any roadway capacity modification. Roadway segments that would experience a reduction in vehicular roadway capacity, if any, would

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