Salinas City Council
August 6, 2024

ground water aquifers will be maximized to the extent possible through the storm drainage design.

The proposed project will modify the movement of water across the land surface and the infiltration of rainwater into the groundwater system. The aquifers underlying the Specific Plan Area are impacted by nitrate contamination. Groundwater in the project vicinity is subject to increasing salinity due to seawater intrusion from Monterey Bay.

This impairment affects use of the groundwater for potable water supplies and use for irrigation. The project, if no means were provided to preserve infiltration of rainwater, would likely reduce net infiltration of rainwater and runoff into the groundwater system and reduce the diluting effect of this fresh water supply. The net impact would be a further increase in sea water intrusion and build-up of contaminants in the groundwater in the Salinas basin. However, the proposed project without mitigation would also likely decrease the amounts of nitrates entering the groundwater from the Specific Plan Area, due to elimination of agricultural activity including fertilizer application. Surface water quality detention basins and BMPs also have the potential to add to groundwater contamination levels if they are not properly designed and sited.

The BMPs proposed as part of the development plan are designed to infiltrate as much storm water runoff as practicable into the ground. The predicted impact of the development, including retention basins and BMPs, is to decrease the volume of runoff from the Specific Plan Area during large rainfall events and eliminate discharges ne 9sth completely for storms up to the 95th percentile 24-hourrain event. A portion of the retained runoff (and likely the vast majority given the sandy soils) will infiltrate into the ground, helping to replenish the aquifers. The proposed BMPs are designed to trap contaminants and to beneficially make use of nutrients in the vegetated swales and planted areas. In addition, application rates of fertilizers on urbanized areas is less than that typically used in intensive agriculture. The aggregate effect of the proposed development will, therefore, be to decrease the loading of nutrients (in particular, nitrates) into the groundwater. The CASP would provide three new wells to be constructed as development progresses. The first well would be operational approximately at the time of or before the first certificate of occupancy is issued.

As noted previously, an estimated 80% of the land in the Specific Plan Area or 608 acres is presently used to grow irrigated crops - lettuce and various vegetables (strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, and alfalfa). Estimated groundwater pumping for existing irrigated agricultural use in the Specific Plan Area is 3,648 AFY.

The estimated 3,648 AFY ground water pumping for existing agricultural use in the Central Area Specific Plan is 813 AFY more than the maximum total buildout estimated water demand for the Central Area Specific Plan, which is 2,835 AFY. Therefore, the total buildout estimated water demand for the Central Area Specific Plan is projected to use less water than required for current irrigated agricultural uses. In addition, the overall effect of the CASP to groundwater resources would be beneficial, as the CASP CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

would reduce groundwater pumping compared to the existing conditions. The same is true of the proposed tentative subdivision map.

As discussed previously, the Monterey County Groundwater Management Plan was prepared in May 2006. The purpose of the Plan is "to provide a comprehensive overview of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin and to recommend various management strategies for the basin." According to the Groundwater Management Plan, the development and operation of the Nacimiento and San Antonio Reservoirs and the development of recycled water use for irrigation, represent water resource and water supply management actions, aimed at what can be considered to be the overall management objectives for the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin. In no priority, those basin management objectives are:

1. Development of Integrated Water Supplies to Meet Existing and Project Water Requirements.

2. Determination of Sustainable Yield and Avoidance of Overdraft.

3. Preservation of Groundwater Quality for Beneficial Use.

While these objectives are regional in nature, the CASP and implementing tentative subdivision maps would not conflict with these three basin management objectives. For example, the CASP and the proposed project would reduce groundwater pumping compared to existing conditions and, as such, would avoid overdraft of the groundwater basin. Additionally, with respect to the preservation of groundwater quality for beneficial use, the Groundwater Management Plan notes that this objective focuses on the impacts of intrusion of saltwater into coastal aquifers. As noted above, the aquifers underlying the Specific Plan Area are impacted by nitrate contamination. The aggregate effect of the proposed development will be to decrease the loading of nutrients (in particular, nitrates) into the groundwater. As described in detail in Section 3.11, Utilities of the Final EIR, the Cal Water Salinas District has sufficient groundwater supplies to provide for all of its service area customers, including residents and businesses within the CASP, for years to come. Overall, the project would not interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that the project may impede sustainable groundwater management of the basin.

As discussed previously, the groundwater sustainability plan was approved by the SVBGSA Board of Directors on January 9, 2020 (entitled Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin 180/400-Foot Aquifer Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan). The GSP identifies projects and actions that provide stakeholders with options to reach sustainability of the underlying aquifer, including with regard to seawater intrusion. This approach provides individual landowners and public entities flexibility in how they manage water and how the Subbasin achieves groundwater sustainability. All groundwater pumpers will be allowed to make individual decisions on how much CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

groundwater they pump based on their perceived best interests. The set of projects and actions achieve the following objectives:
• Achieving groundwater sustainability by meeting Subbasin-specific SMC by • Creating equity between who benefits from projects and who pays for projects • Establishing a source of funding for project implementation • Providing incentives to constrain groundwater pumping within limits The projects and actions included in the GSP are defined as a toolbox of options. The GSP demonstrates that sufficient options exist to reach sustainability. The projects and actions in the GSP include a water charges framework, management actions, specific projects prioritized for integrated management of the Salinas Valley, mitigation of overdraft, and other groundwater management activities. Specific details need to be developed for stakeholders to determine which projects and actions to implement. The projects and management actions described in this GSP constitute an integrated management program for the entire Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin.

The specific projects identified include:
• Project Type 1: In-lieu recharge through direct delivery of water to replace groundwater pumping;
• Project Type 2: Direct recharge through recharge basins or wells (also commonly referred to as Managed Aquifer Recharge);
• Project Type 3: Indirect recharge through decreased evapotranspiration or increased infiltration; and
• Project Type 4: Hydraulic barrier to control seawater intrusion.

This GSP lays out a roadmap for addressing all of the activities needed for GSP implementation between 2020 and 2040, focusing mainly on the activities between 2020 and 2025. The CASP and individual tentative subdivision maps for land within the CASP would replace agricultural water uses with urban water uses. The net change in water demand derived from this conversion is the difference between the existing agricultural baseline demand and water demand from development within the Plan Area. The groundwater basin is currently in overdraft. If the proposed project results in increased water demand that must be met by expanded groundwater pumping within the Pressure Subarea and/or the East Side Subarea, the proposed project would likely exacerbate overdraft and seawater intrusion conditions. In such a case, the sufficiency of water CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

supply entitlements from Cal Water and/or ALCO could be in question given the impact.

The following analysis provides an approximation of the net change in water demand.

An estimated 80% of the land in the Specific Plan Area or 608 acres is presently used to grow irrigated crops, such as lettuce and various vegetables. Estimated groundwater pumping for existing irrigated agricultural use in the Specific Plan Area is 3,648 AFY.

The estimated 3,648 AFY groundwater pumping for existing agricultural use in the Central Area Specific Plan is 835 AFY more than the maximum total buildout estimated water demand for the Central Area Specific Plan, which is 2,835 AFY.7 Therefore, the total buildout estimated water demand for the Central Area Specific Plan is projected to use less water than required for current irrigated agricultural uses.

CONCLUSION
The proposed project, without mitigating features, would reduce infiltration of rainwater and runoff into the local groundwater system due to the increase in impermeable area.

This may deplete groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge. The total annual rainfall depth in an average year is approximately 16 inches and the project surface area is approximately 760 acres, producing an annual rainfall volume of approximately 1,013 AF. Nearly all of this area is currently in agriculture, while the CASP could convert as much as 60 percent of the area to impervious surfaces, resulting in a reduction in groundwater recharge in the range of 400 to 600 AF. However, the proposed stormwater BMPs and retention basins are designed to reduce runoff below that which occurs currently during storm events and, therefore, increase groundwater recharge from the Specific Plan Area to the extent possible.

Additionally, the overall effect of the CASP and development therein on groundwater pumping would be beneficial, as the proposed project would reduce groundwater pumping compared to existing conditions. Implementation of the following mitigation measures would ensure that impacts related to groundwater recharge and groundwater management would be less than significant.

The proposed development, including water quality BMPs, detention basins, and retention basins, is designed to minimize or eliminate increases in runoff entering existing surface water courses and storm drains. The calculations completed as part of the Hydrology and Water Quality Technical Study indicate that peak runoff and total volume of runoff will be minimized by the proposed development storm drainage design which retains water to the maximum extent possible.

The proposed project will not alter drainage patterns in a manner which will cause flooding, erosion, or siltation. Surface runoff from the area will be managed via parcel- based LID measures, detention/retention basins, and flow reducing BMPs to prevent local flooding within the site. These features will also reduce peak flows from the Specific Plan Area to receiving creeks and storm drains to amounts less than such flows under existing conditions. Sediment in the stormwater flows will be captured in detention CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

ponds designed to prevent siltation. Erosion or siltation are not anticipated by the proposed project given the storm drain design and best management practices that will be implemented.

The proposed project would not substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river or through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner which would result in substantial erosion or siltation. With the implementation of Mitigation Measures 3.6-1 through 3.6-5 (see below), and with the design and construction of the improvements included in the proposed storm drainage system, the proposed project would have a less than significant impact relative to this topic.

Gabilan and Natividad Creeks are located in the Specific Plan Area. As part of the Specific Plan, areas along these two Creeks have been designated for open space uses. As noted previously, the City's storm drainage system conveys runoff to the following major receiving waters: Reclamation Ditch, Carr Lake, Gabilan Creek, Natividad Creek, Santa Rita Creek, Markley Swamp, and the Salinas River. Important water quality concerns for the Carr Lake, Santa Rita Creek, and Gabilan Creek receiving waters include: turbidity, nutrients, and fecal coliforms. Urbanized areas also produce contaminants such as heavy metals, oils and greases, pesticides, nutrients from landscape fertilizers, and household chemicals. The water quality BMPs and water quality detention basins which are included in the proposed development are designed to capture and retain the urban-associated contaminants as well as reduce turbidity and nutrients which may be mobilized in the developed areas. The water quality detention basins will also trap suspended solids and nutrients which enter the Specific Plan Area from the up-slope properties which will continue to be farmed or used for livestock grazing. The proposed development is anticipated to reduce loading of contaminants, nutrients, and turbidity to the receiving waters relative to existing conditions.

In accordance with the NPDES Stormwater Program, Mitigation Measure 3.6-1 above requires an approved SWPPP designed to control erosion and the loss of topsoil to the extent practicable using BMPs that the RWQCB has deemed effective in controlling erosion, sedimentation, runoff during construction activities. Such BMPs shall include:
temporary erosion control measures such as silt fences, staked straw bales/wattles, silt/sediment basins and traps, check dams, geofabric, sandbag dikes, and temporary revegetation or other ground cover or other equally or more effective measures. The BMPs and overall SWPPP are submitted to the RWQCB and the City of Salinas as part of the permitting process. The SWPPP is kept on site and implemented during construction activities and must be made available upon request to representatives of the RWQCB and/or the City of Salinas. The RWQCB has stated that these erosion control measures are only examples of what should be considered and should not preclude equally or more effective new or innovative approaches currently available or being developed. The specific controls are subject to the review and approval by the RWQCB.

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CONCLUSION
The proposed project would not substantially degrade water quality. The use of BMPs is intended to treat runoff close to the source during the construction and long-term operational phase of the project to reduce stormwater quality impacts. The mitigation measure listed below complies with existing regulatory requirements. Implementation of proposed project would have a less than significant impact relative to this topic.

As shown on Figure 3.6-3 in the Final EIR, delineated flood zones include areas adjacent to both creek channels; these are depicted in an aqua/green color along all corridors. Gabilan Creek has been mapped and contains Regulatory Floodway and Special Flood Hazard Areas, Zone AE. Base Flood Elevations can be determined based the creek's Flood Insurance Study.8 The areas along Natividad Creek are within the one percent annual chance flood hazard area (100-year flood zone) Zone A. Zone A includes areas subject to inundation by the one-percent-annual-chance flood event generally determined using appropriate methodologies. Because detailed hydraulic analyses have not been performed, no BFEs or flood depths are shown. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements and floodplain management standards apply Additionally, portions of the western Specific Plan Area are within the 0.2 percent annual chance flood hazard area (500-year flood zone, Zone X). Flood conditions in Zone X ("Other Flooded Areas") are limited to less than one-foot depth or less than one acre during the one-percent annual chance flood and/or are areas of 0.2-percent annual chance flood. The extent of flooding is naturally limited by existing topography. As noted previously, Natividad Creek traverses the eastern portion of the Specific Plan Area from north to south, and Gabilan Creek traverses the western portion of the Specific Plan Area from north to south. The Central Area Specific Plan notes that the areas currently identified as flood hazard Zone AE on Gabilan Creek and Zone A on Natividad Creek would be restored to a more natural creek corridor, with detention/retention/water quality basins to be installed and operated along the lateral boundaries of the corridor. Grading plans identify substantial in-fill in the flood hazard area shaded Zone X to prepare for mixed use development plans that will include housing. If grading is not properly carried out and housing were to be placed within these boundaries, those housing units could be subject to flooding.

Additionally, a series of detention/retention/water quality basins are proposed to be built along the lateral edges of restored creek corridors and may take up 50 to 66 percent of the proposed corridor space within existing Zones AE and A. Existing corridor sediments in flood Zones AE and A are primarily sandy materials with high infiltration capacities. The basins would function as stormwater and low flow receiving basins for all flows generated by the project area. Some basins could be overtopped and inundated during certain high flow runoff conditions by flows from upstream locations. If not properly designed, implemented, and maintained, a naturalized creek corridor that is largely bounded by detention/retention/water quality basins could result in flood flow impedance or redirection.

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Sediment transport of fine-grained materials from upstream and local sources could clog infiltration capacities and could fill required storage space within the stormwater basins. The non-cohesive nature of corridor sediments could result in embankment side slope failures of the detention/retention/water quality basins that are proposed to be located along the lateral extents of each creek.

CONCLUSION
As noted previously, the proposed development, including water quality BMPs, detention basins, and retention basins, is designed to minimize or eliminate increases in runoff entering existing surface water courses and storm drains. The calculations completed as part of the Hydrology and Water Quality Technical Study indicate that peak runoff and total volume of runoff will be minimized by the proposed development proposed project will not alter drainage patterns in a manner which would substantially storm drainage design, which retains water to the maximum extent possible. The increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on-or offsite, or impede or redirect flood flows.

Mitigation Measures 3.6-8 through 3.6-15 require a letter of map revision (LOMR-F), detailed grading plans and calculations which show how the project would raise the land surface elevation above the base flood elevation, design basis reports for creek corridor restoration, calculations to address sediment transport issues, calculations to address basin embankment side slope failure, procedures that address basin issues associated with sedimentation, and procedures that address basin issues associated with embankment side slope failures. With implementation of the following mitigation measures, the proposed project would have a less-than-significant impact relative to this topic.

The calculations to address these sediment transport issues may include:
• A streamflow and sediment transport (bedload and suspended sediment) data collection monitoring program that begins one- to two-years pre-construction and continues through a mandated post-project timeframe and would provide volumetric information for calculations related to the potential for sediment deposition.
• Pre-project measurements could be used to estimate sediment loading, which could inform the design of mitigation measures and enable estimates of maintenance frequencies needed ensure ongoing efficacy of the measures.

During project execution and after project completion, measurements of bedload and suspended sediment in the channel at the downstream boundary of the project could be used to verify performance of sediment management measures and avoidance of associated sediment transport impacts.

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• The United States Geological Survey gage record on Gabilan Creek (#11152600) contains limited suspended sediment data that was collected in March and April of 2017. These data could be used to compare to and/or validate measurements obtained via field data collection.

Strategies and measures to address these sediment transport issues may include:
• Bioretention Basins: Bioretention basin features provide multiple water quality functions for stormwater systems, including performing as depositional areas for sediments that settle and get trapped in the bioretention media.

An operations and maintenance plan shall be used to address specific maintenance requirements related to sediment accumulation, such that basin media remediation would take place when a threshold condition (such as a certain amount of sediment accumulation on the basin floor) is reached. For instance, if sediment deposition exceeds a depth of 2-inches, even a small patch, the sediment would require removal to keep the basin functioning properly.

Furthermore, the functional lifespan of bioretention media (mulch, soils, drain rock, underdrain) is generally about 15 years. Annual monitoring reports could be used to track basin performance under varying wet season conditions and used to guide media replacement timing.
• Treatment Wetlands: Treatment wetlands are designed to mimic the natural infiltration, nutrient cycling, habitat, and a myriad of other important ecological functions provided by natural wetlands. Treatment wetlands could be constructed at storm drain outfall locations or adjacent to or off-channel from a creek channel. Wetlands could vary between those that are highly designed and may need relatively high levels of maintenance to more naturally based designs that may need more limited maintenance, each with varying levels of treatment potential.

Treatment performance is a function of wetland to watershed ratio, wetland treatment design, area hydrology, hydraulic residence time, and source pollutants. The preferred residence time through wetlands varies based on vegetation type and quantity, water depth, temperature, and design flow rates.

Having a lower design flow rate can result in longer hydraulic residence time, which is preferred particularly at the start of a rainy season, since the "first flush" volume of stormwater runoff will generally contain the highest concentrations of pollutants. Treatment wetland design generally considers dry season irrigation return flows and first flush principles. • Vegetated Banks/Riparian Corridor: Trees and other riparian corridor vegetation CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

appropriate to the environment, such as willows, could grow rapidly on channel banks and trap sediments, removing sediment from stream flows as well as from local surface runott.
• Floodplains: Floodplains provide one of the most important storage spaces for sediment as it moves discontinuously through a watershed. Naturally functioning floodplains generally extend laterally past the immediate riparian buffer zone into relatively flat areas. Floodplain access could be provided by bank and channel grading at specified design storm flows. The rate of sediment deposition on floodplains is largely dependent on the frequency of inundating flows, the suspended sediment loads in the river, available floodplain area, and presence of vegetation.

As noted in Impacts 3.6-4 and 3.6-6, the proposed development, including water quality BMPs, detention basins, and retention basins, is designed to minimize or eliminate increases in runoff entering existing surface water courses and storm drains. The calculations completed as part of the Hydrology and Water Quality Technical Study indicate that peak flow runoff and total volume of runoff will be mitigated by the proposed development storm drainage design which retains water to the maximum extent possible. The proposed project will not alter drainage patterns in a manner which will substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on- or offsite. Surface runoff from the area will be managed via parcel- based LID measures, detention/retention basins, and flow reducing BMPs to prevent local flooding within the site. These features will also reduce peak flows from the Specific Plan Area to receiving creeks and storm drains to amounts less than such flows under existing conditions. Sediment in the stormwater flows will be captured in detention ponds designed to prevent siltation. Exceedance of the stormwater drainage capacity is not anticipated by the proposed project given the storm drain design and best management practices that will be implemented.

The proposed project would not substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river or through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner which would substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on- or offsite; create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff; or impede or redirect flood flows. With the implementation of Mitigation Measures

3.6-1 through 3.6-5 already presented above, and with the design and construction of the improvements included in the proposed storm drainage system, this impact is considered less than significant.

The Specific Plan Area is approximately 9 miles from the coast, which is sufficiently distant to preclude effects from a tsunami. Additionally, tsunami inundation maps for the area show no risk of tsunami inundation for the Specific Plan Area. Seiches are changes or oscillations of water levels within a confined water body. Seiches are CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

caused by fluctuation in the atmosphere, tidal currents or earthquakes. The effect of this phenomenon is a standing wave that would occur when influenced by the external causes. The Specific Plan Area is not adjacent to any lakes that pose significant a risk from a seiche event.

As shown in Figure 3.6-4 of the Final EIR, the elevation of the Specific Plan Area and its distance from the Salinas River channel make it extremely unlikely that failure of either dam or failure of any of the levees located along the Salinas River channel would cause flooding of the Specific Plan Area. No other levees or dams exist in the vicinity of the Specific Plan Area. The site is also elevated sufficiently above sea level to preclude any risk of inundation due to sea level rise.

CONCLUSION
The project is not located in an area that is subject to tsunamis, seiches, or significant flooding (with mitigation measures outlined in Impact 3.6-6. Mitigation Measures 3.6-7 through 3.6-14 of the Final EIR) require a LOMR-F, detailed grading plans and calculations which show how the project would raise the land surface elevation above the base flood elevation, design basis reports for creek corridor restoration, calculations to address sediment transport issues, calculations to address basin embankment side slope failure, procedures that address basin issues associated with sedimentation, and procedures that address basin issues associated with embankment side slope failures.

As such, the proposed project would not result in the release of pollutants due to project inundation as a result of flooding, tsunami, or seiche zones. This impact is considered less than significant.

The cumulative context for a cumulative analysis can be defined by region, by political subdivision or by the geography. The cumulative context for the analysis of cumulative stormwater runoff impacts is best addressed on a regional/watershed basis (geography). Because water resources are highly interconnected, the cumulative setting is based on Monterey County, which is located in the Central Coast Hydrological Region. With respect to surface waters, runoff from the Specific Plan Area currently flows toward Gabilan Creek or Natividad Creek according to general overland flow pathways. Gabilan Creek flows into the Carr Lake basin, while Santa Rita Creek flows westward and enters the Reclamation Ditch near Castroville. Runoff downstream of the Specific Plan Area is conveyed through the ditch system either as flows in the creeks or into the City of Salinas storm drain system as defined in the City of Salinas Stormwater Master Plan.

The City's storm drainage system conveys runoff to the following major receiving waters: Reclamation Ditch, Carr Lake, Gabilan Creek, Natividad Creek, Santa Rita Creek, Markley Swamp, and the Salinas River. The peak runoff resulting from the proposed project, in addition to all past, present, and probable future projects in Monterey County, would ultimately be conveyed to these waterbodies.

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The Reclamation Ditch is a major drainage channel that flows from east to west through the City. Most of the City drains to the Reclamation Ditch, which was constructed in 1917 following formation of Reclamation District No. 1665. Carr Lake is a dry lakebed on the Reclamation Ditch that now functions as detention storage for the ditch during winter rainy periods. Natividad Creek and Gabilan Creek originate north of the City, then flow south through the City and drain to the Carr Lake area. At Carr Lake, both Gabilan and Natividad Creeks are tributary to the Reclamation Ditch. During major storms with high backwater in the Reclamation Ditch, these creeks overflow at their downstream end and inundate areas of Carr Lake.

Implementation of the Central Area Specific Plan would increase the amount of impervious surfaces in the Specific Plan Area, which could increase peak stormwater runoff rates and volumes on and downstream of the Specific Plan Area. The Central Area Specific Plan includes an extensive system of on-site stormwater collection, treatment and retention facilities to accommodate the increased stormwater flows that would originate in the Specific Plan Area.

Surface runoff from the area will be managed via parcel-based LID measures, detention/retention basins, and flow reducing BMPs to prevent local flooding within the site. These features will also reduce peak flows from the Specific Plan Area to receiving creeks and storm drains to amounts less than such flows under existing conditions.

The proposed development, including water quality BMPs, detention basins, and retention basins, is designed to minimize or eliminate increases in runoff from these new impervious surfaces entering surface water courses and storm drains. The stormwater runoff calculations completed as part of the Hydrology and Water Quality Technical Study indicate that peak runoff and total volume of runoff will be minimized by the proposed development storm drainage design which retains water to the maximum extent possible.

CONCLUSION
With the design and construction of flood control improvements, and with implementation of the mitigation measures included in this section, the Central Area Specific Plan and its implementing tentative subdivision maps would not increase peak stormwater runoff. The proposed project, when considered alongside all past, present, and probable future projects (inclusive of buildout of the various General Plans within Monterey County), would not be expected to cause any significant cumulative impacts given that mitigation measures would control peak stormwater runoff.

The proposed project would not have cumulatively considerable impacts associated with stormwater runoff. Overall, implementation of the proposed project would have a less than significant and less than cumulatively considerable contribution to stormwater runoff.

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The cumulative context for a cumulative analysis can be defined by region, by political subdivision or by the geography. The cumulative context for the analysis of cumulative water quality impacts is best addressed on a regional/watershed basis (geography).

Because water resources are highly interconnected, the cumulative setting is based on Monterey County, which is located in the Central Coast Hydrological Region. With respect to surface waters, runoff from the Specific Plan Area currently flows toward Gabilan Creek or Natividad Creek according to general overland flow pathways. Gabilan Creek flows into the Carr Lake basin, while Santa Rita Creek flows westward and enters the Reclamation Ditch near Castroville. Runoff downstream of the Specific Plan Area is conveyed through the ditch system either as flows in the creeks or into the City of Salinas storm drain system as defined in the City of Salinas Stormwater Master Plan.

There are no plans to discharge stormwaters into the existing City of Salinas storm drain system. Storm drains within the Specific Plan Area will convey stormwaters to detention/retention/water quality basins in the creek corridors and eventually into Gabilan Creek and Natividad Creek. Waters that do not infiltrate or evaporate will be released following discharge requirements and conveyed downstream into Carr Lake and the Reclamation Ditch system.

The storm water conveyance system would include an integrated network of open waterways and drains, underground storm drainpipes, detention/retention/water quality basins, and a wide range of LID and BMP features. Storm drain pipelines will total roughly 25,000 feet in length. Combination\ detention/retention/water quality basins are planned along both sides and much of the length of the Gabilan and Natividad Creek corridors within the Specific Plan Area.

Development of the Central Area Specific Plan could contribute to a cumulative increase in urban pollutant loading, which could adversely affect water quality.

Cumulative development in the Salinas area, including within the Specific Plan Area, would also result in increased impervious surfaces that could increase the rate and amount of runoff, thereby potentially adversely affecting existing surface water quality through increased erosion and sedimentation. The primary sources of water pollution include: runoff from roadways and parking lots; runoff from landscaping areas; non stormwater connections to the drainage system; accidental spills; and illegal dumping.

Runoff from roadway and parking lots could contain oil, grease, and heavy metals; additionally, runoff from landscaped areas could contain elevated concentrations of nutrients, fertilizers, and pesticides. The Central Area Specific Plan is required to comply with Mitigation Measure 3.6-1, which requires that the SWPPP must include BMPs to regulate stormwater quality for the Specific Plan Area. In accordance with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Program, Mitigation Measure 3.6-1 ensures compliance with existing regulatory requirements to prepare a SWPPP designed to control erosion and the loss of topsoil to the extent practicable using BMPs that the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), Central Coast Region, has deemed effective in controlling erosion, sedimentation, runoff during construction activities. The RWQCB has stated that these erosion control CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

measures are only examples of what should be considered and should not preclude the use of equally or more effective new or innovative approaches currently available or being developed. The specific controls are subject to the review and approval by the RWQCB and the City of Salinas and are an existing regulatory requirement.

While there are no assurances that other projects in the County would incorporate the same degree or methods of treatment as the Central Area Specific Plan, several of the projects within the City of Salinas would phase out existing agricultural runoff discharges from their respective sites and, similar to the Central Area Specific Plan, could provide some level of water quality improvement. Also, each project in the City that would discharge stormwater runoff would be required to comply with NPDES discharge permits from the RWQCB, which adjusts requirements on a case-by-case basis to avoid significant degradation of water quality. Therefore, while a greater quantity of urban runoff may result from implementation of other future projects, because of an increase in impervious surfaces, the associated surface water quality impacts would be expected to be less than significant because of improved or similar quality of runoff compared to existing conditions.

CONCLUSION
Compliance with City and County water quality protection regulations, approval from the RWQCB, and implementation of Mitigation Measure 3.6-1 would ensure that the Central Area Specific Plan minimizes impacts to surface water quality. The proposed project, when considered alongside all past, present, and probable future projects (inclusive of buildout of the various General Plans within Monterey County), would not be expected to cause any significant cumulative impacts given that mitigation measures would control storm water quality. The proposed project would not have cumulatively considerable impacts associated with water quality. Overall, implementation of the proposed project would have a less than significant and less than cumulatively considerable contribution to the potential for degradation of water quality.

The cumulative context for a cumulative analysis can be defined by region, by political subdivision or by the geography. Because water resources are highly interconnected, the cumulative setting is the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin Area. The Salinas Valley is the largest coastal groundwater basin in Central California, and is drained by the Salinas River. Salinas Valley extends approximately 150 miles from the headwaters to the mouth of the River at Monterey Bay, draining approximately 5,000 square miles.

The Specific Plan Area is located in the Natividad Creek-Gabilan Creek watershed.

The Central Area Specific Plan would result in new impervious surfaces and could reduce rainwater infiltration and groundwater recharge in those areas. Infiltration rates vary depending on the overlying soil types. In general, sandy soils have higher infiltration rates and can contribute to significant amounts of ground water recharge; clay soils tend to have lower percolation potential; and impervious surfaces such as pavement significantly reduce infiltration capacity and increase surface water runoff.

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The proposed development, including water quality BMPs, detention basins, and retention basins, is designed to minimize or eliminate increases in runoff from these new impervious surfaces entering surface water courses and storm drains. The stormwater runoff calculations completed as part of the Hydrology and Water Quality Technical Study indicate that peak runoff and total volume of runoff will be minimized by the proposed development storm drainage design which retains water to the maximum extent possible. Consequently, infiltration into the ground water aquifers will be maximized to the extent possible through the storm drainage design.

The project will modify the movement of water across the land surface and the infiltration of rainwater into the groundwater system. The aquifers underlying the Specific Plan Area are impacted by nitrate contamination. Groundwater in the project vicinity is subject to increasing salinity due to seawater intrusion from Monterey Bay.

Both of these impairments affect use of the groundwater for potable water supplies and use for irrigation. The proposed project, if no means were provided to preserve infiltration of rainwater, would likely reduce net infiltration of rainwater and runoff into the groundwater system and reduce the diluting effect of this fresh water supply. The net impact would be a further increase in salinity intrusion and build-up of contaminants in the groundwater in the Salinas basin. However, the proposed project without mitigation would also likely decrease the amounts of nitrates entering the groundwater from the Specific Plan Area, due to elimination of agricultural fertilizer application. Surface water quality detention basins and BMPs also have the potential to add to groundwater contamination levels if they are not properly designed and sited. Water quality concerns have been addressed through the Nitrate Management Program established by the MCWRA, as well as the public planning processes that have led to the Salinas Valley Water Project. The implementation of the Salinas Valley Water Project, the Well Relocation Project, the Urban Recycled Water Project, and the Salinas River Fish Habitat Monitoring Program complement efforts that are currently taking place in the Salinas River watershed in assisting DWR and SWRCB in meeting statewide priorities.

All probable future projects (inclusive of buildout of the various General Plans within Monterey County) would be required to address water quality concerns during their environmental review process and would be subject to the requirements of these projects and programs, as applicable.

The proposed project, without mitigating features, would reduce infiltration of rainwater and runoff into the local groundwater system due to the increase in impermeable area.

The total annual rainfall depth in an average year is approximately 16 inches and the project surface area is approximately 760 acres, producing an annual rainfall volume of approximately 1,013 AF. Nearly all of this area is currently in agriculture, while the proposed project could convert as much as 60 percent of the area to impervious surfaces, resulting in a reduction in groundwater recharge in the range of 400 to 600 AF. However, where new urban development occurs on land in active agricultural use, the potential exists for urban uses to reduce demand for groundwater relative to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

agricultural uses, as urban uses often demand less water than is required for agricultural irrigation.

CONCLUSION
The proposed project, when considered alongside all past, present, and probable future projects (inclusive of buildout of the various General Plans within Monterey County), would not be expected to cause any significant cumulative impacts given that mitigation measures require maintaining water quality standards and preserving the infiltration of rainwater within the aquifer. The proposed project would not have cumulatively considerable impacts associated with groundwater supply/recharge. However, because nitrate contamination is an ongoing problem for the overall Salinas Valley, cumulative impacts associated with groundwater supply and recharge associated with the proposed Specific Plan would be significant. Because the Specific Plan Area is designated as a future growth area by the City's General Plan, and the Plan Area is currently used for agricultural uses (which often demand more water than urban uses), implementation of the proposed project would have a less than cumulatively considerable contribution to the potential for degradation of groundwater supply or recharge.

The cumulative context for the analysis of cumulative flooding impacts is best addressed on a regional/watershed basis (geography). Because water resources are highly interconnected, the cumulative setting is based on Monterey County, which is located in the Central Coast Hydrological Region. With respect to surface waters, runoff from the Specific Plan Area currently flows toward Gabilan Creek or Natividad Creek according to general overland flow pathways. Runoff downstream of the Specific Plan Area is conveyed through the ditch system either as flows in the creeks or into the City of Salinas storm drain system as defined in the City of Salinas Stormwater Master Plan.

As shown on Figure 3.6-3 of the Final EIR, delineated flood zones include areas adjacent to both creek channels; these are depicted in an aqua/green color along all corridors. Gabilan Creek has been mapped and contains Regulatory Floodway and Special Flood Hazard Areas, Zone AE. Base Flood Elevations can be determined based the creek's Flood Insurance Study.9 The areas along Natividad Creek are within the one percent annual chance flood hazard area (100-year flood zone) Zone A. Zone A includes areas subject to inundation by the one-percent-annual-chance flood event generally determined using appropriate methodologies. Because detailed hydraulic analyses have not been performed, no BFEs or flood depths are shown. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements and floodplain management standards apply.

Additionally, portions of the western Specific Plan Area are within the 0.2 percent annual chance flood hazard area (500-year flood zone, Zone X). Flood conditions in Zone X ("Other Flooded Areas") are limited to less than one-foot depth or less than one acre during the one-percent annual chance flood and/or are areas of 0.2-percent annual chance flood. The extent of flooding is naturally limited by existing topography. As noted previously, Natividad Creek traverses the eastern portion of the Specific Plan Area from north to south, and Gabilan Creek traverses the western portion of the Specific Plan CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Area from north to south. The Central Area Specific Plan notes that the areas currently identified as flood hazard Zone AE on Gabilan Creek and Zone A on Natividad Creek would be restored to a more natural creek corridor, with detention/retention/water quality basins to be installed and operated along the lateral boundaries of the corridor. Grading plans identify substantial in-fill in the flood hazard area shaded Zone X to prepare for mixed use development plans that will include housing. If grading is not properly carried out and housing were to be placed within these boundaries, those housing units could be subject to flooding.

Future development projects in the area could result in additional discharges of stormwater during storm events. When combined, these future development projects could, in theory, lead to an incremental increase in peak stormwater runoff, and potential incremental increases in downstream flood elevations. However, in order to ensure that future development projects in the County do not increase downstream flood elevations, the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) oversees the development and implementation of water quality, water supply, and flood control projects in Monterey County, including operation and maintenance of the Reclamation Ditch. The Reclamation Ditch is part of a complex drainage system within the lower Salinas Valley which helps collect surface water stormwater flows to ensure stormwater during storm events does not increase downstream flood elevations.

Additionally, Article VI (Flood Damage Prevention) of the City's Municipal Code outlines the methods of reducing flood losses for subdivisions and other proposed developments via construction standards. The standards apply to all areas of special flood hazards within the jurisdiction of the City of Salinas, including the Specific Plan Area.

The Central Area Specific Plan includes an extensive system of on-site stormwater collection, treatment and retention facilities to accommodate the increased stormwater flows that would originate in the Specific Plan Area. Surface runoff from the area will be managed via detention/retention basins and flow reducing Best Management Practices (BMPs) to prevent local flooding within the Specific Plan Area. These features will also reduce peak flows from the Specific Plan Area to receiving creeks and storm drains to amounts less than such flows under existing conditions.

In addition to the BMPs, open space areas, which include LID features, will also be incorporated throughout the Specific Plan Area to reduce and eliminate the need for large, unattractive, industrial-looking detention/retention basins. Instead, supplemental storm water facilities, where provided or needed, will include varied slopes through grading and the use of plants and trees and other elements to create a natural appearance.

The proposed development, including water quality BMPs, supplemental detention basins, and retention basins, is designed to minimize or eliminate increases in runoff from these new impervious surfaces entering surface water courses and storm drains.

The stormwater runoff calculations completed as part of the Hydrology and Water CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Quality Technical Study indicate that peak runoff and total volume of runoff will be minimized by the proposed development storm drainage design which retains water to the maximum extent possible.

CONCLUSION
Future development in the area must be sited and designed in accordance with the aforementioned City flood damage regulations (i.e., Article VIl, Flood Damage Prevention, of the City's Code). The proposed project, when considered alongside all past, present, and probable future projects (inclusive of buildout of the various General Plans within Monterey County), would not be expected to cause any significant cumulative impacts, given that mitigation measures for new development projects require designs that ensure structures are outside the base flood elevation and that storm water flows are maintained to prevent downstream flooding. The proposed project would not have cumulatively considerable impacts associated with flooding. Overall, implementation of the proposed project would have a less than significant and less than cumulatively considerable contribution to the potential for impacts related to flooding.

Applicable Mitigation from Prior EIR (if any)
The following Mitigation Measures for Hydrology and Water Quality stated in the adopted Final Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program from the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Salinas Central Area Specific Plan dated November 2020 shall be required for any future development in the project area:

Mitigation Measure 3.6-1: Prior to issuance of grading permits, the project proponent Activity (Construction General Permit Order 2009-0009- DWQ amended by 2010-0014- DWQ & 2012-0006-DWQ). The SWPPP shall be designed with Best Management Practices (BMPs) that the RWQCB has deemed to be effective at reducing erosion, controlling sediment, and managing runoff. These include: covering disturbed areas with currently available or being developed. Final selection of BMPs will be subject to approval by City of Salinas. The SWPPP will be kept on site during construction activity and will be made available upon request to representatives of the RWQCB or the City of Salinas.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Mitigation Measure 3.6-2: Prior to issuance of grading permits, the project proponent shall submit to the Salinas Public Works Department the project Improvement Plans.

The Improvement Plans shall be consistent with the City's Development Standards, Standard Plans, and current NPDES permit requirements at the time of permitting. The NDES permit granted to the City of Salinas by the Central Coast RWQCB (RWQCB - Central Coast Region, 2019) requires the following:

1. Erosion and Sediment Control BMPs - Erosion control and sediment control BMPs shall be designed, installed, and maintained to reduce the discharge of pollutants from construction sites to the maximum extent practical (MEP) and protect water quality;
Il. Erosion and sediment from slopes and channels shall be controlled by implementing an effective combination of erosion control (source control) and other sediment control BMPs; and
III. Soil Stabilization - Stabilization of disturbed areas shall, at a minimum, be initiated immediately whenever any clearing, grading, excavating, or other earth disturbing activities have permanently ceased.

Additionally, the Improvement Plans shall be consistent with the requirements of the City's most current Stormwater Development Standards for New and Redevelopment Projects. The City of Salinas Stormwater Standards for New and Redevelopment Projects (City of Salinas, 2013) require the following practices:

I. Limit disturbance of creeks and natural drainage features and provide setbacks according to the City's latest NPDES permit;
II. Minimize compaction of highly permeable soils; and
III. Limit clearing and grading of native vegetation to the minimum needed to build the project and provide fire protection.

Mitigation Measure 3.6-3: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, the project applicant shall submit to the Salinas Public Works Department a Stormwater Control Plan detailing plans and calculations for water quality best management practices (BMPs) and water quality detention/retention basins designed to meet the applicable regulatory requirements and to reduce contaminant loadings to receiving waters to the maximum extent practicable. The approved Stormwater Control Plans shall be submitted to Central Coast RWQCB through SMARTS as part of the project's SWPPP permit documents.

Mitigation Measure 3.6-4: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, the project applicant shall submit to the Salinas Public Works Department a Stormwater Control Plan detailing plans and calculations for operational water quality best management CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

practices (BMPs) and water quality detention basins designed to prevent to the maximum extent practicable the creation of new sources of polluted runoff. Operational water quality BMPs may include extended detention basins, wet ponds/detention basins, porous pavement, inlet filters, vegetative BMPs, underground infiltration systems, vegetative swales, or storm drain stenciling and posting of signage. The detailed plans and calculations shall be subject to review and approval by the Salinas Public Works Department.

Mitigation Measure 3.6-5: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, the project applicant shall submit a Hydrologic study as part of the Stormwater Control Plan to the Salinas Public Works Department with detailed plans and calculations for supplemental retention and peak flow control. BMPs will be designed to meet regulatory requirements and to reduce peak flows during storm events below peak flows under pre-project conditions. The detailed plans and calculations shall be subject to review and approval by the Salinas Public Works Department.

Mitigation Measure 3.6-6: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, the project stormwater retention/infiltration basins and infiltration promoting BMPs sufficient to applicant shall site, and design and include an Operation and Maintenance Plan for, assure that there is no reduction in groundwater recharge. In order to assure there is no reduction in recharge, the plan shall result in circumstances which maintain infiltration to support baseflow and interflow to wetlands and surface waters, and deep vertical infiltration to groundwater. The site, design, and installation shall be consistent with the requirements of the City's Stormwater Development Standards for New and Redevelopment Projects. The contents of the site, landscaping (ground cover, bushes and trees, etc.) and irrigation (as applicable), design, and installation shall be included in a Stormwater Control Plan. The Stormwater Control Plan shall be reflected on the Improvement Plans and subject to review and approval by the Salinas Public Works Department and the City Planner. All basins shall be designed to have a natural appearance through the use of varied bank slopes (through grading) and appropriate Department and the City Planner.

Mitigation Measure 3.6-7: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, the project applicant shall site, design, and include an Operation and Maintenance Plan for, post- construction BMPs and supplemental stormwater detention basins in accordance with City of Salinas stormwater development standards. Maintenance procedures (including frequency of procedure, cleaning schedules, applicant responsibility for each procedure, performance standards, or other means) and funding mechanisms shall be established for those facilities to assure adequate long-term performance and success in treating the water and controlling infiltration into the groundwater. The Improvement Plans and Operation and Maintenance Plan shall be subject to review and approval by the Salinas Public Works Department.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Mitigation Measure 3.6-8: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, the project applicant shall submit an application for a letter of map revision based on fill (LOMR-F) to the City of Salinas floodplain administrator and FEMA with pertinent information and studies for approval that indicates no building construction would take place within remapped FEMA flood zones AE and A and that no changes to the regulated floodway will result in an increase in the base flood elevation or impact to the downstream waterways.

Mitigation Measure 3.6-9: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, the project applicant shall submit for review and approval by the Salinas Public Works Department detailed grading plans and calculations designed to place enough fill onto the shaded Zone X area as to raise the land surface elevation above the base flood elevation so that flooding hazards are minimized to a FEMA flood standard. The project applicant shall submit an application for a LOMR-F to the City of Salinas floodplain administrator and FEMA with pertinent information for approval.

Mitigation Measure 3.6-10: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, the project applicant shall submit for review and approval by the Salinas Public Works Department and the City Planner, detailed plans, calculations, landscaping (and irrigation as applicable) plans, and design basis reports for creek corridor restoration, including detention/retention/water quality basins, within the flood hazard extents identified as Zones A and AE that provide assurances that during large storm events, creek flows and sediment transport from upstream sources are not impeded at the same time as when the adjacent basins are at or near capacity. The design basis reports for creek corridor restoration shall also be submitted to the USACE, USFWS, and RWQCB and any required permitting processed prior to City approval. All basins shall be designed to have a natural appearance through the use of varied bank slopes (through grading) and appropriate landscaping (ground cover, bushes, trees, etc.) and irrigation las applicable). A landscaping plan, irrigation plan and maintenance plan (all prepared by a qualified professional) shall be submitted for review and approval of the Public Works Department and the City Planner.

Mitigation Measure 3.6-11: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, the project applicant shall submit a Stormwater Control Plan that provides sufficient supporting documentation and calculations to the Salinas Public Works Department to address sediment transport issues of fine grained materials from upstream and local sources that could clog infiltration capacities and could fill required storage space within the stormwater basins at the downstream boundaries of the project area to the extent practicable.

The calculations to address these sediment transport issues may include:
• A streamflow and sediment transport (bedload and suspended sediment) data collection monitoring program that begins one- to two-years pre-construction CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

and continues through a mandated post-project timeframe and would provide volumetric information for calculations related to the potential for sediment deposition.
• Pre-project measurements could be used to estimate sediment loading, which could inform the design of mitigation measures and enable estimates of maintenance frequencies needed ensure ongoing efficacy of the measures.

During project execution and after project completion, measurements of bedload and suspended sediment in the channel at the downstream boundary of the project could be used to verify performance of sediment management measures and avoidance of associated sediment transport impacts. • The United States Geological Survey gage record on Gabilan Creek (#11152600) contains limited suspended sediment data that was collected in March and April of 2017. These data could be used to compare to and/or validate measurements obtained via field data collection. Strategies and measures to address these sediment transport issues may include:
• Bioretention Basins: Bioretention basin features provide multiple water quality functions for stormwater systems, including performing as depositional areas for sediments that settle and get trapped in the bioretention media.

An operations and maintenance plan shall be used to address specific maintenance requirements related to sediment accumulation, such that basin media remediation would take place when a threshold condition (such as a certain amount of sediment accumulation on the basin floor) is reached. For instance, if sediment deposition exceeds a depth of 2-inches, even a small patch, the sediment would require removal to keep the basin functioning properly.

Furthermore, the functional lifespan of bioretention media (mulch, soils, drain rock, underdrain) is generally about 15 years. Annual monitoring reports could be used to track basin performance under varying wet season conditions and used to guide media replacement timing.
• Treatment Wetlands: Treatment wetlands are designed to mimic the natural infiltration, nutrient cycling, habitat, and a myriad of other important ecological functions provided by natural wetlands. Treatment wetlands could be constructed at storm drain outfall locations or adjacent to or off-channel from a creek channel. Wetlands could vary between those that are highly designed and may need relatively high levels of maintenance to more naturally based designs that may need more limited maintenance, each with varying levels of treatment potential.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Treatment performance is a function of wetland to watershed ratio, wetland treatment design, area hydrology, hydraulic residence time, and source pollutants. The preferred residence time through wetlands varies based on vegetation type and quantity, water depth, temperature, and design flow rates.

Having a lower design flow rate can result in longer hydraulic residence time, which is preferred particularly at the start of a rainy season, since the "first flush" volume of stormwater runoff will generally contain the highest concentrations of pollutants. Treatment wetland design generally considers dry season irrigation return flows and first flush principles. • Vegetated Banks/Riparian Corridor: Trees and other riparian corridor vegetation appropriate to the environment, such as willows, could grow rapidly on channel banks and trap sediments, removing sediment from streamflows as well as from local surface runoff
• Floodplains: Floodplains provide one of the most important storage spaces for bank and channel grading at specified design storm flows. The rate of sediment deposition on floodplains is largely dependent on the frequency of inundating flows, the suspended sediment loads in the river, available floodplain area, and presence of vegetation.

Mitigation Measure 3.6-12: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, the project applicant shall provide an Operation and Maintenance Plan as part of the Stormwater Control Plan with sufficient supporting documentation and calculations for review and approval by the Salinas Public Works Department demonstrating that risks associated with reduction of infiltration capacity in the detention/retention/water quality basins shall be minimized to the maximum extent practicable.

Mitigation Measure 3.6-13: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, the project applicant shall provide the Salinas Public Works Department with sufficient supporting documentation and calculations that the risks associated with basin embankment side slope failure because of the noncohesive nature of Gabilan and Natividad Creek corridor sediments will be minimized to the extent practicable.

Mitigation Measure 3.6-14: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, the project applicant shall provide operations, maintenance, and SWPPP procedures for review and approval by the Salinas Public Works Department such that any detention/retention/water quality basin issues associated with sedimentation or loss of infiltration capacities are addressed by the operations, maintenance, and SWPPP procedures. Should the Salinas Public Works Department find that sedimentation or loss of infiltration capacities are addressed and subsequently approve the operations, CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

maintenance, and SWPPP procedures, the applicant shall implement the procedures through the lifetime of the project.

Mitigation Measure 3.6-15: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, the project applicant shall provide the Salinas Public Works Department with operations, maintenance, and SWPPP procedures such that any detention/retention/water quality basin issues associated with embankment side slope failures are addressed by the operations, maintenance, and SWPPP procedures. Should the Salinas Public Works Department find that any detention/retention/water quality basin issues associated with embankment side slope failures are addressed and subsequently approve the operations, maintenance, and SWPPP procedures, the applicant shall implement the procedures through the lifetime of the project.

All basins shall be designed to have a natural appearance through the use of varied bank slopes (through grading) and appropriate landscaping (ground cover, bushes, trees, etc.) and irrigation (as applicable). A landscaping plan, irrigation plan and maintenance plan (all prepared by a qualified professional) shall be submitted for review and approval of the Public Works Department and the City Planner.

Relevant Uniformly Applied Development Policies or Standards (if any) Not applicable.

Impact
New Less
New Than
Significant Significant
Impact or Impact or Substantially
More New Impact
Severe Less than
Impact Not Significant
Disclosed with Impact Fully
Issue in Prior Mitigation
No Analyzed in Policies or
EIR Incorporated Impact the Prior EIR Standards

11. MINERAL RESOURCES.

Would the project:
(a) Result in the loss of •
availability of a known
mineral resource that
would be of value to the
region and the residents of
the state?
(b) Result in the loss of •
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Impact
New Less
New Than
Significant Significant Substantially
Impact or
New Impact Mitigated by
Less than Uniformly
Significant Applied
with Impact Fully Development
Mitigation No Analyzed in Policies or
Issue Incorporated Impact the Prior EIR Standards
a local general plan
specific plan or other land
use plan?
Discussion
Responses a-b): As the CASP Draft EIR explained on Page 1.0-19 of the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002), there is a quarry located in the northeastern portion of the Salinas Planning Area near the FGA, but outside of the Specific Plan Area. The quarry is designated by the State Division of Mines and Geology as an Aggregate Resource Area and has been mined for Dolomite deposits for many years. Mining activities are ongoing at this quarry facility, and are anticipated to continue for at least fifty (50) years. Development within the CASP does not conflict with the mining activities at this quarry and there are no other designated mineral resources or mining activities proximate to the Specific Plan Area.

Furthermore, it was determined in the Final Supplement for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAW/AECOM 2007) that development of the Future Growth Area, including the Specific Plan Area, would not have a significant impact on mineral resources or mining activities. Additionally, the Final Supplement for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAWIAECOM 2007) indicated that impacts related to Mineral Resources associated with the GAs, which includes the Specific Plan, would not be different from those discussed in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002).

As such, implementation of the CASP and implementing tentative subdivision maps would have no impact on mineral resources and this topic does not warrant additional analysis and was not addressed further in the Draft EIR.

Applicable Mitigation from Prior EIR (if any)
No mitigation is required. The General Mitigation Measures discussed above imposed duties on the City of Salinas, and not on individual property owners within the CASP.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Relevant Uniformly Applied Development Policies or Standards (if any) Not applicable
Impact
Now ans
significan
mpact o Substantially
New Impact
Less than
Significant
Issue with Impact Fully Development
Mitigation No Analyzed in Policies or
Incorporated Impact the Prior EIR Standards

12. NOISE. Would the project
result in:
(a) Generation of a substantial • •
temporary or permanent
increase in ambient noise
levels in the vicinity of the
project in excess of
standards established in
the local general plan or
noise ordinance, or
applicable standards of
other agencies?
(b) Generation of a substantial
temporary or permanent
increase in ambient noise
levels in the vicinity of the
project in excess of
ambient levels?
(c) Generation of excessive
•
groundborne vibration or
groundborne noise levels?
(d) For a project located within
the vicinity of a private
airstrip or an airport land
use plan or, where such a
plan has
project expose people
residing or working in the
project area to excessive
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Impact
New Less
Than
Significant Substantially
Impact or
New Impact Mitigated by
Less than Uniformly
Applied
Significant Impact Fully evelopmen
with
No Analyzed in Policies o
Issue Mitigation Standards
Incorporated Impact | the Prior EIR
noise levels?
Discussion
Overall conclusion: The CASP EIR provides project-level detail with respect to the noise-related effects of the proposed tentative subdivision map, in part due to the comprehensive character of the mitigation measures required to reduce such effects.

The tentative map would create new legal parcels but would not directly authorize any development that would require future discretionary approvals from the City. Those would have to be obtained separately at a later point in time. No additional site-specific environmental analysis is required to fully address the noise-related impacts of the proposed tentative subdivision map.

Pages 3.7.1 to 3.7.36 of the Draft EIR provide a general description of the existing noise sources in the project vicinity, a discussion of the regulatory setting, and identifies potential noise impacts associated with the CASP and the development planned to occur therein. Project impacts are evaluated relative to applicable noise level criteria and to the existing ambient noise environment. Mitigation measures have been identified for significant noise related impacts. The noise analysis was completed by J.C. Brennan & Associates. Inc. (December 2018). The noise data and technical report are included as Appendix H of the Draft EIR. No comments related to noise were received during the public review period for the Notice of Preparation of the Draft EIR.

Responses a) and b):

Impact 3.7-1 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project has the potential to increase traffic noise levels at existing receptors (Significant and Unavoidable) (see Mitigation Measures 3.7-1 through 3.7-8)
Tables 3.7-8 through 3.7-11 of the Draft EIR show the predicted traffic noise level increases on the local roadway network for Existing No Project, Existing + Project, Existing + Project + West Area Specific Plan (WASP), Cumulative, Cumulative + Project, and Cumulative + Project + WASP conditions. Appendix H of the Draft EIR provides the complete inputs and results of the FHWA traffic noise modeling.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

As shown in Tables 3.7-8 through 3.7-11 of the Draft EIR, some noise-sensitive receptors located along the Specific Plan Area roadways are currently exposed to exterior traffic noise levels exceeding the City of Salinas 60 dB Ldn exterior noise level standard for residential uses. These receptors would continue to experience elevated exterior noise levels with implementation of the proposed project. For example, under Existing conditions, existing sensitive receptors located adjacent to E. Boronda Road, Constitution Boulevard, Natividad Road, and San Juan Grade Road currently experience an exterior noise levels between 61 dB and 69 dB Ldn. This exceeds the City's Normally Acceptable exterior noise level standard of 60 dB Ldn. Under Existing Plus Project conditions, exterior traffic noise levels are predicted to be approximately

68.0 dB Ldn. This would still exceed the City's Normally Acceptable exterior noise level standard of 60 dB Ldn. The CASP's contribution to these noise levels ranges between

0.4 dB and 2.5 dB and in some cases would not exceed the FICON criteria (Table 3.7- 7). Table 3.7-8 of the Draft EIR indicates where a significant increase in traffic levels occur, or a result of an exceedance of the City's criterion of 60 dB Ldn.

As shown in Table 3.7-8 of the Draft EIR, the segment of Natividad Road south of E.

Boronda Road would experience unacceptable noise levels under Existing Plus Project conditions. The project would cause noise levels along this segment to increase by 1.6 dB. It should be noted that Russell Road, east of Natividad and Constitution Boulevard, north of Boronda Road are not currently constructed and borders the north and east portions of the Specific Plan Area. There are no residential uses on the north side of the new Russell Road and the east side of Constitution Boulevard. Therefore, this analysis does not consider this to be a significant increase in noise levels. There is an analysis later in this report which evaluates the traffic noise on the new Russell Road and Constitution Boulevard, as they may affect the Specific Plan Area.

The following indicates where the project results in a significant traffic noise impact.

As shown in Table 3.7-8, the following roadway segments would experience unacceptable noise levels under the Existing Plus Project conditions:
• E. Boronda Road from Constitution to N. Sanborn (results in an exceedance of 60 dB Ldn).

As shown in Table 3.7-9 of the Draft EIR, the following roadway segments would experience unacceptable noise levels under the Existing Plus Project Plus WASP conditions:
• E. Boronda Road from San Juan Grade to McKinnon (results in a 1.9 dB increase;
• E. Boronda Road from El Dorado to Natividad (results in a 3.2 dB increase); • E. Boronda Road from Natividad to Independence (results in a 2.1 dB increase);
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• E. Boronda Road from Constitution to N. Sanborn (results in an exceedance of 60 dB Ldn);
• E. Boronda Road from N. Sanborn to Williams (results in an exceedance of 60 dB Ldn);
• Independence Blvd, south of Boronda (results in a 3 dB increase); • Natividad Road, south of Boronda (results in a 3.6 dB increase); • Natividad Road from E. Boronda to Future Russell Rd (results in a 4.2 dB increase);
• Russell Road, west of San Juan Grade (results in a 3.1 dB increase).

As shown in Table 3.7-10 of the Draft EIR, the following roadway segments would experience unacceptable noise levels under Cumulative Plus Project (CASP) conditions:
• E. Boronda Road from Independence to Hemmingway (results in a 1.6 dB increase);
• E. Boronda Road from Hemmingway to Constitution (results in a 2.9 dB increase;
• Old Stage Road north of future Constitution (results in an exceedance of 60 dB Ldn);
• Russell Road, west of San Juan Grade (results in a 1.6 dB increase).

As shown in Table 3.7-11 of the Draft EIR, significant traffic noise increases under the Cumulative Plus Project (CASP) Plus WASP traffic condition include the following:
• E. Boronda Road San Juan Grade to McKinnon - noise levels are predicted to increase by 1.7 dB from 65.4 dB to 67.1 dB Ldn. This would exceed the FICON criteria of +1.5 dB where no project noise levels are greater than 65 dB, as outlined in Table 3.7-7 of the Draft EIR
• E. Boronda Road, Natividad to Independence - noise levels are predicted to increase by 2.0 dB from 66.8 dB to 68.8 dB Ldn. This would exceed the FICON criteria of +1.5 dB where no project noise levels are greater than 65 dB, as outlined in Table 3.7-7 of the Draft EIR
• E. Boronda Road, Independence to Hemmingway - noise levels are predicted to increase by 2.1 dB from 65.5 dB to 67.6 dB Ldn. This would exceed the FICON criteria of +1.5 dB where no project noise levels are greater than 65 dB, as outlined in Table 3.7-7 of the Draft EIR
• E. Boronda Road, Hemmingway to Constitution - noise levels are predicted to increase from 57.8 dB to 60.7 dB Ldn. This would result in an exceedance of the City of Salinas exterior noise level standard of 60 dB Ldn. • N. Sanborn Road, south of E. Boronda - noise levels are predicted to increase from 59.1 Db to 60.7 dB Ldn. This would result in an exceedance of the City of Salinas exterior noise level standard of 60 dB Ldn.
• Natividad Road, E. Boronda to Future Russell Road - noise levels are predicted to increase by 3.4 dB from 64.4 dB to 67.8 dB Ldn. This would exceed the CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

FICON criteria of +3 dB where no project noise levels are between 60 to 65 dB, as outlined in Table 3.7-7 of the Draft EIR.
• Old Stage Road, north of Future Constitution Road - noise levels are predicted to increase from 59.1 dB to 61.4 dB Ldn. This would exceed the City of Salinas exterior noise level standard of 60 dB Ldn. This is part of the WASP area where future noise-sensitive uses would be located.
• Old Stage Road, Future Constitution Road to Williams - noise levels are predicted to increase from 58.7 dB to 60.2 dB Ldn. This would exceed the City of Salinas exterior noise level standard of 60 dB Ldn.
• Russell Road, West of San Juan Grade - noise levels are predicted to increase By 235 by 2.3 dB from 65.5 dB to 67.8 dB Ldn. This would exceed the FICON criteria of +1.5 dB where no project noise levels are greater than 65 dB, as outlined in Table 3.7-7 of the Draft EIR.

CONCLUSION
The CASP would cause increased noise levels exceeding the City of Salinas 60 dB Ldn exterior noise level standard at existing residential receptors. Therefore, this would be a potentially significant impact. Additionally, traffic noise level increases would exceed the FICON CEQA substantial increase criteria of 1.5 to 5 dB, as outlined in Table 3.7-7 of the Draft EIR. Therefore, this would be a potentially significant impact.

The Specific Plan Area was assumed for urban development under the City's General Plan and General Plan FEIR. As such, development of the Specific Plan Area for urban uses was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. Build-out of the City's General Plan land use map, including the Specific Plan Area, will inherently result in an increase in traffic- related noise levels. The City of Salinas certified the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (City of Salinas, 2002), adopted a statement of overriding considerations relative to this significant and unavoidable impact, and approved the Salinas General Plan. Subsequently, the Final Supplemental for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (City of Salinas, 2007) indicated that noise impacts associated with the North of Boronda Future Growth Area (FGA), which includes the Specific Plan Area (with the exception of the Settrini/Garcia/lgaz properties), would not be different than those discussed in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (City of Salinas, 2002).

Increasing the height of existing sound walls could be a potential mitigation measure in some locations; however, in some locations it may prove impractical or infeasible for a variety of reasons. The footings for the walls would need to be reengineered and resized, which may result in encroachment into private property. Such encroachment would require private property owners to allow permission to enter their property. There is a possibility that private property owners have pools or other structures proximate to the existing walls that could inhibit the reconstruction of the sound wall. Also, the height of a sounds wall could result in aesthetic impacts that are unwanted in the community.

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The use of quieter pavement technologies could be a potential mitigation measure.

Research shows that a minimum of 3 dBA can be achieved by using alternative pavements, such as rubberized asphalt or open gap materials. Costs for these pavement technologies vary, but they have been proven to be comparable to traditional pavements. However, alternative pavement tends to wear down as trucks and automobiles travel over these roadway segments, decreasing its noise reduction effectiveness and increasing replacement costs. As such, rubberized asphalt is not highly desirable in most communities in California and would not be feasible or practicable in the City of Salinas in the long term.

The CASP would implement several mitigation measures that are specifically intended to ensure compliance with the City of Salinas noise standards. This includes Mitigation Measure 3.7- 1 and -2, which impose construction related measures to mitigate construction traffic and other construction vehicle noise to the extent feasible by limiting the hours of construction activities, equipping construction equipment with factory equipped mufflers, locating stationary noise generating equipment (i.e., generators) at least 300 feet from a sensitive receptor, and locating construction staging areas at least 300 feet from a sensitive receptor. These two construction-related mitigation measures would ensure that traffic noise levels at existing sensitive receptors during construction activities are minimized by condensing the hours that construction traffic on area roadways would occur and by requiring construction vehicles associated with staging areas be located 300 feet or further from the nearest existing receptor.

Additionally, Mitigation Measures 3.7-3, -4, and -5 provide requirements for the installation of noise barriers (i.e. sounds walls/berms), and the use of building materials that will reduce traffic noise levels on adjacent noise sensitive uses. Mitigation Measure

3.7-6 provides requirements for designing parks/play areas to ensure appropriate separation/buffer between noise and the noise sensitive areas. Mitigation Measure 3.7- 7 provides requirements for design of commercial, business professional, office, or similar uses that abut residential uses to ensure that operations do not cause noise impacts. Lastly, Mitigation Measure 3.7-8 includes requirements for well sites to ensure that they are designed and built to not exceed acceptable noise levels. Nevertheless, even with implementation of these mitigation measures, there is the potential for noise levels to exceed the acceptable levels in some cases if encroachment into private property proves for the construction of sounds walls proves to be infeasible. As discussed previously, such encroachment would require private property owners to allow permission to enter their property and there is a possibility that private property owners have pools or other structures proximate to the existing walls that could inhibit the reconstruction of the sound wall. Also, the height of a sounds wall could result in aesthetic impacts that are unwanted in the community. Given that there is a possibility of not being able to feasibility install sounds walls in some locations, there will remain a possibility that the noise impact exceeds the acceptable levels. This would be a significant and unavoidable impact.

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Impact 3.7-4 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project has the potential to expose new sensitive receptors to excessive transportation noise (Less than Significant with Mitigation) (see Mitigation Measures 3.7-3, 3.7-4 and 3.7-5 below)

EXTERIOR NOISE IMPACTS
The FHWA traffic noise prediction model was used to predict Cumulative + Project + WASP traffic noise levels at the proposed residential land uses associated with the CASP. Table 3.7-14 of the Draft EIR shows the predicted traffic noise levels at the proposed residential uses adjacent to the major Specific Plan Area arterial roadways.

Table 3.7-14 of the Draft EIR also indicates the property line noise barrier heights required to achieve compliance with an exterior noise level standard of 60 dB Ldn.

The complete inputs and results to the FHWA traffic noise prediction model and barrier calculations are contained in Appendix C of the Noise Study (see Appendix H of the Draft EIR). The modeled noise barriers assume flat site conditions where roadway elevations, base of wall elevations, and building pad elevations are approximately equivalent.

To describe future noise levels due to traffic, FHWA Highway Traffic Noise Prediction Model (FHWA RD-77-108) was used. Direct inputs to the model included traffic volumes provided by Fehr & Peers (2019). The FHWA model is based upon the Calveno reference noise factors for automobiles, medium trucks and heavy trucks, with consideration given to vehicle volume, speed, roadway configuration, distance to the receiver, and the acoustical characteristics of the site. The FHWA model was developed to predict hourly Leq values for free-flowing traffic conditions. To predict Ldn/CNEL values, it is necessary to determine the day/night distribution of traffic and adjust the traffic volume input data to yield an equivalent hourly traffic volume.

CONCLUSION
Table 3.7-14 for the Draft EIR data indicate that noise barriers 6- to 8-feet in height would generally be sufficient to achieve compliance with the City of Salinas 60 dB Ldn exterior noise level standard for the proposed residential uses. However, for the residential uses located along E. Boronda Road, sound walls of 6- to 8-feet in height would only reduce exterior noise levels to 63 dB Ldn. While these noise level do not meet the City's preferred 60 dB Ldn noise standards, they would comply with the City's conditionally acceptable standard of 60 to 70 dB Ldn. Final wall heights should be determined at the discretion of the City. With implementation of the following exterior noise mitigation measures, the proposed project would have a less than significant impact relative to this environmental topic.

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INTERIOR NOISE IMPACTS
Modern construction typically provides a 25-dB exterior-to-interior noise level reduction with windows closed. Therefore, sensitive receptors exposed to exterior noise of 70 dB Ldn, or less, will typically comply with the City of Salinas 45 dB Ldn interior noise level standard. Additional noise reduction measures, such as acoustically-rated windows, are generally required for exterior noise levels exceeding 70 dB Ldn. It should be noted that exterior noise levels are typically 2 to 3 dB higher at second floor locations. Additionally, noise barriers do not reduce exterior noise levels at second floor locations. The proposed residential uses are predicted to be exposed to unmitigated first floor exterior transportation noise levels ranging between 63 to 71 dB Ldn. Therefore, second floor facades are predicted to be exposed to exterior noise levels of up to 65 to 73 dB Ldn.

Based upon a 25-dB exterior-to-interior noise level reduction, interior noise levels are predicted to range between 38 dB to 46 dB Ldn at first floor residences, and between 40 dB and 48 dB Ldn, at second floor residences. Predicted interior noise levels would exceed the City's 45 dB Ldn interior noise level standard at the first row of residential uses located closest to Boronda Road and Constitution Boulevard. Therefore, additional interior noise control measures would be required for these residential uses. To reduce interior noise levels to 45 dB Ldn, or less, it is likely that second floor facades would require windows having a Sound Transmission Class (STC) 35 rating, or higher.

Exterior walls would also likely require 3-coat stucco and RC-channels. This would specifically apply to the first row of homes along E. Boronda Road and Constitution Boulevard and would not apply to facades facing away from the roadway.

CONCLUSION
This analysis assumes that mechanical ventilation will be provided to allow residents to keep doors and windows closed, as desired for acoustical isolation. With implementation of the following interior noise mitigation measures, the proposed project would have a less than significant impact relative to this environmental topic.

Impact 3.7-5 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project has the potential to expose sensitive receptors to substantial noise from proposed park and school uses (Less than Significant with Mitigation) (See Mitigation Measure 3.7-6 below) Children playing at neighborhood parks or outdoor recreational fields (softball, soccer, basketball, tennis) are often considered potentially significant noise sources which could adversely affect adjacent noise-sensitive land uses. Typical noise levels associated with groups of approximately 50 children playing at 50 feet generally range from 55 to 60 dB Leq and 70 to 75 dB Lmax. It is expected that park activities would occur primarily during daytime hours. Therefore, noise levels from the playgrounds would need to comply with the City of Salinas exterior noise level standards of 60 dB Leq and 70 dB Lmax at the nearest residential uses.

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Based upon the referenced noise level data discussed above, the 60 dB Leq noise contour would be located approximately 50 feet from the center of playgrounds or recreational fields. The 70 dB Lmax noise contour would extend approximately 90 feet from the center of playground or recreational fields. For residential backyards located less than 90 feet from the center of a playground or recreational field, noise levels may exceed the City of Salinas 70 dB Lmax exterior noise level standard. In this case, construction of a 6-foot tall masonry sound wall would provide an approximate noise level reduction of 5 dB and would typically reduce noise levels to 60 dB Leq and 70 dB Lmax, or less. With implementation of the following exterior mitigation measure, the proposed project would have a less than significant impact relative to this environmental topic.

Impact 3.7-6: The proposed project has the potential to expose sensitive receptors to substantial noise from proposed commercial mixed uses (Less than Significant with Mitigation) (see Mitigation Measure 3.7-7 below)

COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE LAND USES
Mixed use commercial land use activities can produce noise levels which affect adjacent sensitive land uses. These noise sources can be continuous and may contain tonal components which may be annoying to individuals who live in the vicinity. In addition, noise generation from fixed noise sources may vary based upon climatic conditions, time of day, and existing ambient noise levels. The primary noise sources generally include truck deliveries, trash pickup, parking lot use, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment operation. These sources may result in noise levels exceeding the City's standards at nearby receptors.

MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
HVAC equipment can be a primary noise source associated with commercial mixed uses. These types of equipment are often mounted on roof tops, located on the ground, or located within mechanical rooms. The noise sources can take the form of fans, pumps, air compressors, chillers, or cooling towers. Noise levels from these types of equipment can vary significantly. Noise levels from these types of sources generally range between 45 dB to 70 dB at 50 feet and could exceed City standards at nearby receptors.

MEASURES TO REDUCE NOISE EXPOSURE FROM COMMERCIAL MIXED USES Use of Setbacks: Noise exposure may be reduced by increasing the distance between the noise source and the noise-receiving use. Setbacks can take the form of open space, frontage roads, recreational areas, etc. The available noise attenuation from this technique is limited by the characteristics of the noise source, but is generally 3 to 6 dB per doubling of distance from the source. The rule-of-thumb is that most traffic and railroad noise levels will decrease or increase by approximately 4.5 dB per doubling, or CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

halving of distance, respectively. Noise from point sources, such as HVAC equipment, will generally attenuate at 6 dB per doubling of distance.

Use of Barriers: Noise reduction can be accomplished by placing walls, berms or other structures, such as buildings, between the noise source and the receiver. In addition, intervening topography can be an effective barrier for noise control. The effectiveness of a barrier depends upon blocking line-of-sight between the source and receiver, and is improved with increases in distance the sound must travel to pass over the barrier as compared to a straight line from source to receiver. The difference between the distance over a barrier and a straight line between source and receiver is called the "path length difference," and is the basis for calculating barrier noise reduction. Walls within the interior of the Specific Plan are generally not encouraged.

In general, barriers are most effective when placed close to either the receiver or the source. An intermediate barrier location yields a smaller path length difference for a given increase in barrier height than does a location closer to either source or receiver.

Site Design, Building Locations, and Building Orientations: Buildings can be placed on a project site to shield other structures or areas, to remove them from noise- impacted areas, and to prevent an increase in noise levels caused by reflections. As an example, carports or garages can be used to form or complement a barrier, or shield an outdoor activity area. Placement of outdoor activity areas on the opposite side of the building facades from the noise source, or within the shielded portion of a building complex, such as a central courtyard, can also be an effective method of providing a quiet retreat in an otherwise noisy environment.

CONCLUSION
With implementation of the following exterior mitigation measure, the proposed project would have a less than significant impact relative to this environmental topic.

Impact 3.7-7 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project has the potential to expose sensitive receptors to substantial noise from proposed well sites (Less than Significant with Mitigation) (see Mitigation Measure 3.7-8 below) Typical noise levels for well sites at 50 feet are expected to be 60 dB Leq. If a backup generator is present and running, a noise level of 70 dB Leg at 50 feet would be expected. It is expected that wells could operate during daytime or nighttime hours.

Long-term operation of the backup generator would only occur under emergency conditions and would therefore not be subject to the City of Salinas exterior noise level standards for Class A noise. However, weekly exercising of the generator may be subject to the City's 60 dB Leq daytime exterior noise level standard at the nearest noise sensitive residential receptors.

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The specific design features of the well sites are not currently known and the associated noise levels cannot be precisely determined at the nearest proposed residential units.

Therefore, the well sites should be limited to generating a noise level not exceeding the City's nighttime noise standard of 55 dB Leq at the nearest on-site residential property lines under normal operations. Generators should not exceed the City's daytime noise standard of 60 dB Leq. This will ensure compliance with the City's noise ordinance standards at both on-site and off-site receptors. With implementation of Mitigation Measure 3.7-8, the proposed project would have a less than significant impact relative to this environmental topic.

Impact 3.7-8: Cumulative exposure of existing and future noise-sensitive land uses to increased noise resulting from cumulative development (Cumulatively Considerable and Significant and Unavoidable)
The cumulative context for a cumulative analysis can be defined by region, by political subdivision or by the geography. The cumulative setting for noise includes the study roadway segments as identified in the traffic analysis in the Draft EIR. This area was chosen because it represents the area that is reasonably expected to be affected by changes to the ambient noise levels as the project builds out. Tables 3.7-10 and 3.7-11 of the Draft EIR previously referenced above provide the predicted traffic noise level increases on the local roadway network for Cumulative, Cumulative + Project, and Cumulative + Project + WASP conditions. Appendix H of the Draft EIR provides the complete inputs and results of the FHWA traffic noise modeling.

As shown in Tables 3.7-10 and 3.7-11 of the Draft EIR, some noise-sensitive receptors located along the Specific Plan Area roadways are currently exposed to exterior traffic noise levels exceeding the City of Salinas 60 dB Ldn exterior noise level standard for residential uses. These receptors would continue to experience elevated exterior noise levels with implementation of the proposed project.

In some locations, development within the CASP is predicted to cause increases in traffic noise levels which would trigger a new exceedance of the City of Salinas' 60 dB Ldn exterior noise level standard at sensitive receptor locations, or exceed the FICON allowable increase criteria outlined in Table 3.7-7 of the Draft EIR. The greatest number of significant traffic noise increases would occur under the Cumulative Plus Project Plus WASP traffic condition.

Significant traffic noise increases under the Cumulative Plus Project Plus WASP traffic condition include the following:
• E. Boronda Road San Juan Grade to McKinnon - noise levels are predicted to increase by 1.7 dB from 65.4 dB to 67.1 dB Ldn. This would exceed the FICON criteria of +1.5 dB where no project noise levels are greater than 65 dB, as outlined in Table 3.7-7 of the Draft EIR.

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• E. Boronda Road, Natividad to Independence - noise levels are predicted to increase by 2.0 dB from 66.8 dB to 68.8 dB Ldn. This would exceed the FICON criteria of +1.5 dB where no project noise levels are greater than 65 dB, as outlined in Table 3.7-7 of the Draft EIR
• E. Boronda Road, Independence to Hemmingway - noise levels are predicted to increase by 2.1 dB from 65.5 dB to 67.6 dB Ldn. This would exceed the FICON criteria of +1.5 dB where no project noise levels are greater than 65 dB, as outlined in Table 3.7-7 of the Draft EIR
• E. Boronda Road, Hemmingway to Constitution - noise levels are predicted to increase from 57.8 dB to 60.7 dB Ldn. This would result in an exceedance of the City of Salinas exterior noise level standard of 60 dB Ldn. • N. Sanborn Road, south of E. Boronda - noise levels are predicted to increase from 59.1 dB to 60.7 dB Ldn. This would result in an exceedance of the City of Salinas exterior noise level standard of 60 dB Ldn.
• Natividad Road, E. Boronda to Future Russell Road - noise levels are predicted to increase by 3.4 dB from 64.4 dB to 67.8 dB Ldn. This would exceed the FICON criteria of +3 dB where no project noise levels are between 60 to 65 dB, as outlined in Table 3.7-7 of the Draft EIR
• Old Stage Road, north of Future Constitution Road - noise levels are predicted to increase from 59.1 dB to 61.4 dB Ldn. This would exceed the City of Salinas exterior noise level standard of 60 dB Ldn. This is part of the WASP area where future noise sensitive uses would be located.
• Old Stage Road, Future Constitution Road to Williams - noise levels are predicted to increase from 58.7 dB to 60.2 dB Ldn. This would exceed the City of Salinas exterior noise level standard of 60 dB Ldn.
• Russell Road, West of San Juan Grade - noise levels are predicted to increase by 2.3 dB from 65.5 dB to 67.8 dB Ldn. This would exceed the FICON criteria of +1.5 dB where no project noise levels are greater than 65 dB, as outlined in Table 3.7-7 of the Draft EIR.

The development of the CASP would cause increased noise levels exceeding the City of Salinas 60 dB Ldn exterior noise level standard at existing residential receptors.

Therefore, there would be a cumulative exposure of existing and future noise-sensitive land uses to increased noise resulting from cumulative development.

The proposed project, when considered alongside all past, present, and probable future projects (inclusive of buildout of the General Plan), would result in a significant cumulative impact related to traffic noise. The proposed project's incremental contribution toward this significant cumulative impact would be cumulatively considerable due to the large number of vehicle trips that would be generated at buildout of the Specific Plan Area.

It is noted that the City's General Plan and General Plan EIR assumes development of the Specific Plan Area for urban uses as part of the FGA buildout. As buildout occurs it will inherently result in an increase in traffic-related noise levels. The City of Salinas CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

certified the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (City of Salinas, 2002), adopted a statement of overriding considerations relative to this significant and unavoidable impact, and approved the Salinas General Plan.

Implementation of the Central Area Specific Plan would have a significant cumulative impact and a cumulatively considerable contribution to noise.

Response c): The construction of new developments within the Specific Plan Area would increase temporary construction jobs in the area. As buildout of the project is expected to occur gradually in response to market demand, construction related employment would be similarly dispersed over time. Local construction companies are likely to find ample pools of employable personnel in the Salinas area, based on the current and projected employment trends. Due to the fact there is currently a surplus of unemployed workforce within the City, it is likely that area residents would fill the majority of these temporary construction positions.

Impact 3.7-2 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project has the potential to increase groundborne noise levels associated with construction activities (Less than Significant with Mitigation) (see Mitigation Measures 3.7-1 and 3.7-2) During the construction of the project, including roads, water, and sewer lines, and related infrastructure, noise from construction activities would add to the noise environment in the project vicinity. Existing sensitive receptors are located in the nearby residences, some of which are as close as 50 feet from the proposed construction activities. As indicated in Table 3.7-12 of the Draft EIR, activities involved in
construction would generate maximum noise levels ranging from 76 to 90 dB at 50 feet.

Construction activities would be temporary in nature and are anticipated to occur during normal daytime working hours which are the least sensitive hours. Additionally, the majority of construction activities would occur at distances of 300 to 500 feet from the nearest residences. At these further distances, the maximum noise levels due to construction at the interior of the site would range from 60 to 70 dBA.

Noise would also be generated during the construction phase by increased truck traffic on area roadways. A significant project-generated noise source would be truck traffic associated with transport of heavy materials and equipment to and from construction sites. This noise increase would be of short duration and would likely occur primarily during daytime hours. The proposed project has the potential to increase noise levels associated with construction activities. Construction activities would be temporary in nature and are exempt from noise regulation during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., as outlined in the City's Municipal Code for Type B noise. Additionally, the Specific Plan Area was assumed for urban development as part of the City's General Plan and General Plan EIR. Build-out of the City's General Plan land use map, including the Specific Plan Area, will inherently result in construction and construction-related noise levels.

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Mitigation Measure 3.7-1 requires that construction activities adhere to the hours of operation outlined in the Municipal Code, which would result in construction activities which take place during the exempt noise hours (i.e., 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.).

Construction noise would, therefore, not occur before 7:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.

Mitigation Measure 3.7-2 requires equipping construction equipment with factory equipped mufflers, locating stationary noise generating equipment (i.e. generators) at least 300 feet from a sensitive receptor, and locating construction staging areas at least 300 feet from a sensitive receptor. By locating construction equipment at least 300 feet from a receptor, the resulting construction noise from various equipment shown in Table

3.7-12 of the Draft EIR would significantly decrease as the distance from the equipment increases. This is due to the fact that noise from point sources, such as generator equipment and other stationary noise sources, will generally attenuate at 6 dB per doubling of distance. Implementation of the following mitigation measures will ensure that these potential impacts are reduced to a less than significant level.

Impact 3.7-3 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project has the potential to increase groundborne vibration association with construction activities (Less than Significant)
The primary vibration-generating activities associated with the proposed project would happen during construction when activities such as grading, utilities placement, and road construction occur. Sensitive receptors which could be impacted by construction- related vibrations, especially vibratory compactors/rollers, are located approximately 100 feet or further from the Specific Plan Area. At this distance, construction vibrations are not predicted to exceed acceptable levels. Additionally, construction activities would be temporary in nature and would likely occur during normal daytime working hours.

Construction vibration impacts include human annoyance and building structural damage. Human annoyance occurs when construction vibration rises significantly above the threshold of perception. Building damage can take the form of cosmetic or structural. Table 3.7-13 of the Draft EIR shows the typical vibration levels produced by construction equipment.

Table 3.7-13 of the Draft EIR data indicate that construction vibration levels anticipated for the proposed project are less than the 0.1 in/sec criteria at distances of 50 feet. The proposed project would not increase noise vibration associated with construction activities. Therefore, construction vibrations are not predicted to cause damage to existing buildings or cause annoyance to sensitive receptors. Implementation of the proposed project would have a less than significant impact relative to this environmental topic.

Response d): The site is located approximately three miles (3) miles from the end of runway (13-31) of the Salinas Municipal Airport and is not located within the Salinas Airport Future Noise Contours, Figure 5.3-2 of the Salinas General Plan, Final CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Environmental Impact Report, 2002. Noise impacts from airport operations will not have an adverse impact on the site.

Applicable Mitigation from Prior EIR (if any)
Mitigation Measure 3.7-1: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans and respective permits, plans shall note that construction activities shall adhere to the requirements of the City of Salinas Municipal Code with respect to hours of operation.

Mitigation Measure 3.7-2: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans and respective permits, plans shall note that all equipment shall be fitted with factory equipped mufflers and in good working order. All stationary noise generating equipment (i.e. generators) shall be located at least 200 feet from a sensitive receptor. All construction staging areas shall be located at least 200 feet from a sensitive receptor.

Mitigation Measure 3.7-3: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans and respective permits, the plans shall note the location, design, and construction details of the eight-foot to nine-foot tall sound walls and/or landscaped berm/wall combinations, as applicable, that will be constructed along the primary Specific Plan Area roadways, adjacent to proposed residential dwellings, in order to achieve the City's exterior noise standards. At the City's discretion, wall heights which achieve the City's conditionally acceptable 60-70 dB Ldn noise standard may be allowed. See the Draft EIR Table 3.7- 14 for specific noise barrier/wall heights along each roadway. Additionally, at the City's discretion, alternative noise reduction measures which achieve the City's conditionally acceptable 60-70 dB Ldn noise standard may be allowed. Alternative noise reduction measures, such as building orientation and use of noise-attenuating features, can be utilized provided that a site-specific acoustical analysis is conducted that demonstrates that the alternative methods would ensure that noise levels do not exceed the City's conditionally acceptable 60-70 dB Ldn noise standard.

Noise barrier walls shall be constructed of concrete panels, concrete masonry units, stucco or manufactured materials (with a density of four pounds per square foot or greater), earthen landscaped berms, or any combination of these materials as determined appropriate by the City of Salinas based upon the standards contained in the Central Area Specific Plan and the Salinas Zoning Code, as applicable. The design/appearance of the wall is subject to the design approval by the City of Salinas to ensure that it is visually pleasing. Wood is not permitted due to eventual warping and degradation of acoustical performance. The walls shall not have gaps or penetrations which allow sound to flank through or around the walls. Small gaps which may occur using materials such as "keystone" blocks shall be avoided.

Additionally, in accordance with Section 5-03.19 of the City's Municipal Code, best management practices shall be incorporated into the sound wall design in order to control graffiti and/or mitigate the potential impacts of graffiti. These graffiti prevention best management practices may include, without limitation:

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(1) The use or the installation and maintenance of ant-graffiti materials and surface treatments approved by the City on likely graffiti-attracting surfaces. (2) Installation and maintenance of landscaping to discourage defacement of and/or protect likely graffiti-attracting surfaces.
(3) Installation and maintenance of lighting to protect likely graffiti-attracting surfaces.
(4) Immediate removal of graffiti by appropriate means within seventy-two hours. (5) Incorporation of architectural or design elements or features to discourage graffiti defacement in accordance with the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).
(6) Authorizing right of access by city employees or contract agents to remove graffiti if not removed within specified time periods.
(7) Supplying the city at its request with paint (of the appropriate color and type), cleaning agents, and/or other materials acceptable to the city to abate or to deter graffiti.
(8) Other requirements, as deemed reasonably feasible by the city planner, to deter, to protect or to reduce the potential for graffiti defacement.

Mitigation Measure 3.7-4: Prior to the approval of building permits, the first row of residential dwellings located along E. Boronda Road and Constitution Boulevard shall include windows having a Sound Transmission Class (STC) 35, or higher, rating installed in second floor facades and rooms that have windows or doors that abut or face E. Boronda Road and/or Constitution Boulevard. Exterior walls shall also require 3- coat stucco and RC-channels, sheathing, or another acceptable construction application that effectively attenuates noise intrusion to the interior of the house. The exterior wall specifications would specifically apply to the first row of homes that abut or face E.

Boronda Road and/or Constitution Boulevard and only apply to the facades facing these roadways. The specifications do not apply to single story homes, or the first floor of a two-story home, both of which are attenuated by the sound wall. These requirements shall be included in the building plans for the specific dwelling units and noted on the building permits. A detailed analysis of any additional interior mitigation measures shall be conducted when building plans are available and prior to building permit issuance to verify these requirements. These requirements shall also be noted in the site improvement plans prior to approval by the City.

Mitigation Measure 3.7-5: Prior to the approval of building permits, mechanical ventilation shall be required in the first row of all residential dwellings that abut E.

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Boronda Road and Constitution Boulevard, as desired for acoustical isolation, to keep their doors and windows closed and still maintain acceptable interior temperature and noise levels. This requirement shall be included in the building plans for the specific dwelling units and noted on the building permits. This requirement shall also be noted in the site improvement plans prior to approval by the City.

Mitigation Measure 3.7-6: Prior to the approval of site improvement plans, as applicable, when parks or play areas are located near residential uses, the center of active play areas, such as football fields, soccer fields or other athletic fields, shall be located at a minimum distance of 90-feet from the nearest residential property lines.

Large active play areas shall comply with the 60 dB Leg and 70 dB Lmax standards, and shall include these further noise level evaluations during the design phases of future park areas.

Parks shall be designed such that residences front, or side in limited locations, where approved by the City Planner, to the park. Minimum 6-foot tall sound walls and/or landscaped berms shall be constructed where school site directly abuts a residential property line in instances where site design (i.e., minimum distances, siting of activity areas, etc.) cannot achieve the 60 dB Leq and 70 dB Lmax noise standards. No wall shall be required where residential uses are fronted towards a park or school site and separated by a roadway or a walkway.

Noise barrier walls shall be constructed of concrete panels, concrete masonry units, stucco or manufactured materials (with a density of four pounds per square foot or greater), earthen landscaped berms, or any combination of these materials as determined appropriate by the Salinas Public Works Department and the City Planner.

The design/appearance of the walls is subject to the design approval by the Salinas Public Works Department and the City Planner based upon the standards contained in the Central Area Specific Plan and the Salinas Zoning Code, as applicable to ensure that it is visually pleasing. Wood is not permitted due to eventual warping and degradation of acoustical performance. The walls shall not have gaps or penetrations which allow sound to flank through or around the walls. Small gaps which may occur using materials such as "keystone" blocks shall be avoided. Additionally, in accordance with Section 5-03.19 of the City's Municipal Code, best management practices shall be incorporated into the sound wall design in order to control graffiti and/or mitigate the potential impacts of graffiti (see Mitigation Measure 3.7-3 for further discussion of best management practices).

Mitigation Measure 3.7-7: Prior to the approval of development review permits, the plans shall demonstrate: where mixed use, commercial, business professional, office, or similar uses face residential uses or where loading docks or truck circulation routes face residential areas, the following measures shall be included in the project design:
• All HVAC equipment shall be located within mechanical rooms where possible or shielded from view with solid or grated barriers;
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

• Emergency generators shall comply with the City's noise criteria at the nearest noise sensitive receivers;
• Delivery/loading activities shall comply with the Salinas Zoning Code standards and regulations; and
• The applicant shall submit a noise study to verify that the appropriate noise control measures have been incorporated into the project design and will achieve compliance with the City's noise level standards.

Mitigation Measure 3.7-8: The potential well sites are shown in the Specific Plan. The actual wells are subject to the approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) by the City pursuant to the requirements of the Salinas Zoning Code and the Central Area Specific Plan. The potential well sites and the CUP requirement for said facilities shall be clearly noted on the site improvement plans. Prior to approval of the CUP and subsequent issuance of the building permits for the wells, the plans shall demonstrate that the following measures shall be included in the project design:
• The wells have been designed and will be built to not exceed a noise level of 55 dB Leq at the nearest residential or school property line during normal operation of the facilities;
• The generators shall not be permitted to exceed the City's daytime noise standard of 60 dB Leq;
• The generators shall be tested only during daytime hours; and • Additionally, that the wells have been designed (in accordance with the Central Area Specific Plan) to incorporate decorative screen walls, landscaping and other features to ensure compatibility with surrounding land uses.

Relevant Uniformly Applied Development Policies or Standards (if any) Not applicable.

Impact
New Less
New Than
Significant Significant
Impact or Substantially
Impact or New Impact Mitigated by
Severe Less than Uniformly
Impact Not Significant Applied
Disclosed Impact Fully Development
Issue No Analyzed in Policies or
Impact the Prior EIR Standards

13. PLANNING.

Would the project:
(a) Physically divide an • • • •
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Impact
New Less
Substantially
Mitigated by
Less than Uniformly
Significant
Impact Fully
Issue Analyzed in
the Prior EIR
established community?
(b) Cause 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?
(c) Create economic or social • • • •
effects that will reasonably
foreseeably lead
significant urban decay?
Discussion
Response a): As the CASP Draft EIR explained on Pages 1.0-18 and 1.0-19, the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002), concluded that the impact associated with planning issues would be reduced to a less than signiticant level with mitigation. Subsequently, the Final Supplement for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAW/AECOM 2007) indicated that the Land use and Planning impacts associated with Future Growth Areas (FGAs), which includes the CASP, would not be different from those discussed in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002).

As stated on Page 3.8-2 of the CASP Draft EIR, residential units are currently located within the Specific Plan Area. These residential units would to be demolished during the development of the CASP. However, the number of residential units within the Specific Plan Area is very small in comparison to the overall size of the Specific Plan Area.

Additionally, development of the Specific Plan Area would facilitate physical access to and between nearby established communities, including the residential areas located to the south of the Specific Plan Area. Buildout of the CASP would also provide access to the proposed developments that are planned to be located to the east and west of the CASP Specific Plan Area (the other proposed developments of the North Boronda FGA, including the proposed West Area Specific Plan Area. Therefore, the CASP would have CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

a limited potential to divide an established community. Implementation of the CASP would have a less than significant impact relative to this environmental topic.

Response b): The Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) noted that General Plan Land Use Plan assists in creating a balance between jobs and housing units within the City, and that a variety of land uses within the City of Salinas creates an important balance between the generation of public revenues and the provision of public services and facilities. Achieving and maintaining a balance of land uses ensures fiscal stability and also creates a desirable community in which people can live, shop, work, and recreate. New Urbanism principles, a component of the General Plan Land Use Element, were used to design a land use plan that is compact and pedestrian-friendly, with a mixture of uses surrounding activity centers/neighborhood focal points in the CASP. Higher density residential uses are proposed around retail, recreation, and public uses and all of these core activity centers are proposed to be connected with pedestrian, bicycle, and transit systems. The parcels located within the City's Sphere of Influence, but outside of the current City boundary, would be annexed to the City as part of the CASP. The Specific Plan Area would be consistent with the expected intensity of development within the Specific Plan Area under General Plan buildout conditions as analyzed in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002).

The Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) noted that the General Plan may impact the related land use plans and policies that have been adopted to avoid or mitigate an environmental effect. The Salinas Zoning Code, Salinas Redevelopment Plan, Greater Salinas Area Plan, Salinas Municipal Airport Master Plan, Monterey County Airport Land Use Plan, and Greater Salinas Area Memorandum of Understanding, are specifically mentioned. Of these documents, the proposed project does not affect an existing Specific Plan, the Salinas Municipal Airport Master Plan, or the Monterey County Airport Land Use Plan, and the Salinas Redevelopment Plan is no longer in effect. These plans/policies/regulations are not discussed further, but the other three (i.e. the Salinas Zoning Code; the Greater Salinas Area Plan; and the Greater Salinas Area Memorandum of Understanding) are discussed below.

Salinas Zoning Code: The Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) noted that implementation of the General Plan will change existing General Plan land use designations for certain parcels within the City and that existing zoning designations for those parcels may not be consistent with the new land use designations. A significant impact associated with the Zoning Code may occur where zoning on specific parcels is inconsistent with new General Plan land use designations for those parcels.

To minimize and mitigate the potential impacts, the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) presented Mitigation Measure LU1, which requires the City to review and update the Zoning Code and Subdivision CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Ordinance to ensure consistency with the General Plan and to help implement the General Plan policies and New Urbanism principles. The Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) concluded that with the implementation of the mitigation measure, the impact would be reduced to a less than significant level.

Subsequently, the Final Supplemental for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAW/AECOM 2007) indicated that impacts associated with the FGAs, which includes the CASP, would not be different from those discussed in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002). Mitigation AG5 specifically addressed Agricultural Land Conservation Easement Program, which states that the City will work with the County of Monterey, and other local jurisdictions, to create and implement an agricultural land conservation easement program including such measures as securing the dedication of easements or by paying a mitigation fee that could be used to purchase easements through a mitigation bank. Additionally, in 2006, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 19422, approving the Agricultural Land Preservation Program. The resolution adopted a per acre mitigation fee for agricultural lands currently designated by the California Department of Conservation's Farmland Mapping Program as "Prime" or "of Statewide Importance." The City certified this EIR and approved annexation of the North of Boronda Future Growth Area, which includes the Specific Plan Area.

The Specific Plan Area is currently zoned New Urbanism Interim (NI) with a Specific Plan Overlay. The CASP includes a rezone to the zones as provided within the CASP.

The purpose of the rezone is to ensure consistency between the proposed General Plan Land Use Designations and Zoning. With the approval of the rezoning application, the Specific Plan would be consistent with the Salinas Zoning Code.

Implementation of the CASP would not result in any new significant adverse impacts beyond those addressed in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) and Final Supplemental for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAW/AECOM 2007). The CASP EIR utilized the earlier analysis of this topic provided in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) and Final Supplemental for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAW/AECOM 2007) pursuant to the tiering requirements of CEQA.

The Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) concluded that with the impacts would be reduced to a less than significant level with mitigation. Subsequently, the Final Supplement for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAW/AECOM 2007) indicated that Land Use and Planning impacts associated with the GAs, which include the Specific Plan Area, would not be different from those discussed in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002).

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The City certified this prior FEIR and approved a Sphere of Influence Amendment and annexation (except for the Settrini/Garcia/lgaz properties, which were not annexed but were included in the Sphere of Influence Amendment) of the North of Boronda FGA), which includes the Central Area Specific Plan. The CASP was and remains consistent with the GSA-MOU. All development under the CASP would be required to comply with the regulations, policies, and standards identified in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002), and Final Supplement for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAW/AECOM 2007). Implementation of the CASP and supporting tentative subdivision maps would not result in any new significant adverse impacts beyond those addressed within these supporting documents. This topic does not warrant additional analysis and will not be addressed further in the EIR.

Greater Salinas Area Plan: The Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) noted that implementation of General Plan will result in development outside the existing City limits, into the Greater Salinas Planning Area. Development occurring outside of the City limits is subject to the Greater Salinas Area Plan. The Greater Salinas Area Plan is a part of the Monterey County General Plan, and was first published in 1986. It was most recently updated in January 1996.

The implementation of the City of Salinas General Plan may conflict with the Greater Salinas Area Plan, resulting in a significant impact.

To minimize and mitigate the potential impacts, the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) presented Mitigation Measure LU2, which requires the City to be consistent with a portion of Draft Policy LU 3.4 of the Monterey County Draft General Plan, and to cooperate with LAFCO and the County of Monterey to direct growth outside the City limits to the Future Growth Area, on lands that are served or are planned to be served, with a full range of urban services, such as public water and sewer, an extensive road network, public transit, safety and emergency response services, parks, trails, and open space. The Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) concluded that with the implementation of this mitigation measure, the impact would be reduced to a less than significant level.

Subsequently, the Final Supplemental for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAWIAECOM 2007) indicated that impacts associated with the FGAs, which include the CASP, would not be different from those discussed in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002). The City certified this EIR and approved annexation of the North of Boronda Future Growth Area, which includes the CASP.

The CASP as approved is consistent with the Greater Salinas Area Plan. All development under the CASP would be required to comply with the above-referenced regulations, policies, and standards. Implementation of the CASP and supporting tentative subdivision maps would not result in any new significant adverse impacts CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

beyond those addressed in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) and Final Supplemental for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAW/AECOM 2007). The CASP EIR utilized the earlier analysis of this topic provided in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) and Final Supplemental for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAW/AECOM 2007) pursuant to the tiering requirements of CEQA.

Greater Salinas Area Memorandum of Understanding (GSA-MOU): The Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) noted that implementation of General Plan will result in the eventual annexation of land will be converted from agricultural use to urban use. additional land to the City in order to accommodate future growth, and that annexed To minimize and mitigate the potential impacts, the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) presented the following two mitigation measures: Mitigation Measure LU5 requires the City to continue to cooperate with the County of Monterey to implement the GSA-MOU, which directs that City growth generally to the north and east away from the most productive farmland; and Mitigation as priority permit processing and density bonuses for such developments. The Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) concluded that with the implementation of this mitigation measure, the impact would be reduced to a less than significant level.

Subsequently, the Final Supplemental for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAW/AECOM 2007) indicated that impacts associated with the FGAs, which include the Specific Plan Area, would not be different from those discussed in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002).

The City certified this EIR and approved annexation of the North of Boronda FGA, which includes the CASP.

The project as proposed is consistent with the GSA-MOU. All development under the CASP and the proposed tentative subdivision map would be required to comply with the above-referenced regulations, policies, and standards. Implementation of the CASP and the proposed project would not result in any new significant adverse impacts beyond those addressed in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) and Final Supplemental for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAW/AECOM 2007). As stated above, the Final EIR identified no impacts or mitigation measures to be considered for Planning. This topic will be addressed in a section of the EIR that focuses on topics that have a tiered analysis.

Responses c): The Specific Plan Area is not within an area governed by an adopted CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan; therefore, there are no conflicts with a habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan.

Implementation of the proposed project would have no impact relative to this environmental topic.

Applicable Mitigation from Prior EIR (if any)
No mitigation is required. The General Mitigation Measures discussed above imposed duties on the City of Salinas, and not on individual property owners within the CASP.

Relevant Uniformly Applied Development Policies or Standards (if any) Not applicable.

Impact
New Less
Than
Significant
Impact or Substantially
New Impact Mitigated by
Less than Uniformly
Impact Not Significant Applied
with Impact Fully Developmen
Issue Mitigation No Analyzed in Policies or
Incorporated 1 Impact L the Prior EIR Standards

14. POPULATION AND
HOUSING. Would the project:
(a) Induce substantial • •
unplanned population growth
in an area, either directly (for
example, by proposing new
nomes and businesses) or
indirectly for example
through extension of roads
or other infrastructure)?
(b) Displace substantial • •
numbers of existing people
or housing, necessitating the
construction of replacement
housing elsewhere?
Discussion
Overall conclusion: The CASP EIR provides project-level detail with respect to the proposed tentative subdivision map's effects on population and housing. The tentative CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

map would create new legal parcels but would not directly authorize any development that would require future discretionary approvals from the City. Those would have to be obtained separately at a later point in time. No additional site-specific environmental analysis is required to fully address the impacts of the proposed tentative subdivision map related to population and housing.

Response a): Population and Housing is discussed on pages 3.8-1 to 3.8-21 of the Draft EIR. As the CASP Draft EIR explained on Page 1.0-19 of the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002), it is anticipated that Specific Plan Area will have approximately 11,635 residents at project build-out (City of Salinas 2013). This level of development is consistent with the expected intensity of development within the Specific Plan Area under General Plan buildout conditions as analyzed in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002).

Impact 3.8-1 of the Draft EIR: The proposed Project has the potential to induce unplanned substantial population growth in an area (Less than Significant)

BACKGROUND
Section 15126.2(d) of the CEQA Guidelines requires that an EIR evaluate the growth- inducing impacts of a proposed action. A growth-inducing impact is defined by the CEQA Guidelines as:

The way in which a proposed Project could foster economic or population growth, or the construction of additional housing, either directly or indirectly, in the surrounding environment. Included in this are projects which would remove obstacles to population growth...lt is not assumed that growth in an area is necessarily beneficial, detrimental, or of little significance to the environment.

Based on the CEQA Guidelines, growth inducement refers to any growth that exceeds planned growth of an area and results in new development that would not have taken place without implementation of the project. A project can have direct and/or indirect growth inducement potential. Direct growth inducement would result if a project, for example, involved construction of new housing. A project would have indirect growth inducement potential if it established substantial new permanent employment opportunities (e.g., commercial, industrial, or governmental enterprises) or if it would involve a construction effort with substantial short-term employment opportunities that would indirectly stimulate the need for additional housing and services to support the new employment demand (Napa Citizens for Honest Government v. Napa County Board of Supervisors (2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 342). Similarly, a project would indirectly induce growth if it would remove an obstacle to additional growth and development, such as removing a constraint on a required public service. A project providing an increased water supply or wastewater treatment/collection in an area where this service historically limited growth could be considered growth-inducing.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

The CEQA Guidelines further explain that the environmental effects of induced growth are considered indirect impacts of the proposed action. These indirect impacts or secondary effects of growth may result in significant, adverse environmental impacts.

Potential secondary effects of growth include increased demand on other community and public services and infrastructure, increased traffic and noise, and adverse environmental impacts such as degradation of air and water quality, degradation or loss of plant and animal habitat, and conversion of agricultural and open space land to developed uses.

Growth inducement may constitute an adverse impact if the growth is not consistent with or accommodated by the land use plans, growth management plans and policies for the area affected. Local land use plans provide for land use development patterns and growth policies that allow for the orderly expansion of urban development supported by adequate urban public services, such as water supply, roadway infrastructure, sewer service, and solid waste service.

Components of Growth: The timing, magnitude, and location of land development and population growth in a region are based on various interrelated land use and economic variables. Key variables include regional economic trends, market demand for residential and non-residential uses, land availability and cost, the availability and quality of transportation facilities and public services, proximity to employment centers, the supply and cost of housing, and regulatory policies or conditions. Since the general plan of a community defines the location, type, and intensity of growth, it is the primary means of regulating development and growth in California.

GROWTH EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT
Direct Population Growth: The Central Area Specific Plan authorizes development on the approximately 760-acre Specific Plan Area, including housing units that would result in direct population growth. The CASP could include up to 3,911 total residential units.

The addition of up to 3,911 housing units at full buildout has the potential to increase the population of the city by an estimated 14,353 persons (based on a persons per dwelling unit factor of 3.67, in accordance with the Salinas General Plan and Section 31-802 of the City Subdivision Ordinance).

The Salinas General Plan (2002) and General Plan Program EIR analyzed impacts to population and housing and found that future development resulting from implementation of the General Plan had the potential to result in a significant, but mitigable impact related to substantial population and housing unit growth over existing conditions.

The 2002 General Plan identifies growth within the GAs. The Salinas General Plan Land Use Table LU-3 of the Draft EIR identifies the development capacity of the FGAs.

This includes 15,873 residential units, resulting in an additional population of 58,253 CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

within the city's FGAs. In addition to the West Area Specific Plan (adjacent to the Specific Plan Area, which was approved in December of 2019, includes 4,340 units with the potential to increase the population of the city by an estimated 16,101 persons, the proposed Central Area Specific Plan proposes a maximum of 3,911 residential units with the potential to increase the population of the city by an estimated 14,353 persons.

This anticipated growth is within the projections identified in the Salinas General Plan.

Additionally, the General Plan identified GAs as areas of the City where future urban development will be directed. FGAs were established as a part of the General Plan maps, and include the Specific Plan Area, as well as other nearby areas. The General Plan provides development guidance within the GAs so that they are developed as urban neighborhoods using the principles of New Urbanism. The principles of new urbanist design are further detailed in the City's Municipal Code Chapter 37 Zoning.

Prior to approval of the CASP, the Specific Plan Area was previously designated New Urbanism Interim (NI) by the City's zoning map. The purpose of the NI zoning district was to provide a transitional zone for the FGAs of the City located north of East Boronda Road (including the Specific Plan Area that are within the City limits and were or remain subject to the preparation of specific plans and subsequent subdivision maps.

The New Urbanism Districts promote the principles of New Urbanism and the creation of distinct identifiable neighborhoods that have Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) characteristics as expressed in the Salinas General Plan and are intended to guide the development of the North of Boronda FGA. The FGA is also subject to a Specific Plan Overlay district. The Overlay requires that a Specific Plan be approved by the City prior to the development of any land located in the FGA. As such, the approved Specific Plan will regulate the development in the FGA.

As previously indicated, the Specific Plan Area was formerly zoned New Urbanism Interim (NI) with a Specific Plan Overlay district. In conjunction with the approval of the Central Area Specific Plan, the Specific Plan Area now includes the following zoning districts and General Plan Land Use Designations.

New Zoning Districts General Plan Land Use Designations Neighborhood Edge (NE) A Low Density Residential
Neighborhood Edge (NE) B Low Density Residential
Neighborhood General (NG) A Medium Density Residential
Neighborhood General (NG) B Medium Density Residential
Neighborhood General (NG) C Medium Density Residential/High Density Residential Village Center (VC-A & VC-B) Mixed Use and High Density Residential Open Space (OS) Open Space
Park (P) Park
Public/ Semipublic (PS) Public/Semipublic
*A Specific Plan Overlay District applies to each Zoning district.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

The CASP development is within the development types and intensities identified in the General Plan and its associated Final Program EIR. The CASP does not change limits, amount, type, or intensity of development allowed in the Specific Plan Area beyond what was analyzed in the certified Final Environmental Impact Report for the General Plan and Supplemental EIR for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (SCH#2007031055). While there will be new growth, no new or increased significant population and housing impacts beyond those identified and analyzed in the General Plan Final Program EIR would occur.

Indirect Population Growth: As described above, projects that include employment generating uses have the potential to result in indirect population growth through the creation of jobs or the extension of infrastructure into areas that were not previously served.

Implementation of the Central Area Specific Plan would provide job growth to the area and include a maximum of 489,700 square feet of total commercial space. The Salinas General Plan designates land uses to ensure a balance between new residential development and jobs-creating uses. The Sphere of Influence Amendment Area (inclusive of the Specific Plan Area is planned for up to 9.023 million square feet of commercial/retail/mixed use, general industrial uses, and public/semi-public uses (Final Supplement for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR, 2007). The maximum 489,700 square feet of total commercial space developable by the CASP is within the development capacities stated in the Salinas General Plan.

It is anticipated that local employment would be increased to provide administrative, management, and retail services. The proposed project is expected to require both full- time and part-time employees. It is anticipated that the employment growth would be met both by existing residents and through the attraction of new residents. Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019) indicates that the City has an unemployment rate of approximately 4.5%, as of November 2019, which is higher than the State and national averages at 3.9% and 3.5%, respectively (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). Many of the newly created jobs are expected to be in the retail/commercial sector and would be opportunities well-suited for second wage earners in households, the younger workforce, and others, which generally depend on the local workforce. Due to the fact there is currently a surplus of unemployed workforce within the City, it is likely that current residents would fill the majority of new positions. Additional population growth induced by the creation of new businesses could be supported by the available housing within Salinas as well as new housing planned as part of the Central Area Specific Plan.

The construction of new developments within the Specific Plan Area would increase temporary construction jobs in the area. As buildout of the CASP is expected to occur gradually in response to market demand, construction related employment would be similarly dispersed over time. Local construction companies are likely to find ample pools of employable personnel in the Salinas area, based on the current and projected CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

employment trends. Due to the fact there is currently a surplus of unemployed workforce within the City, it is likely that area residents would fill the majority of these temporary construction positions.

CONCLUSION
Development of the North of Boronda FGA is a component of the City's planned long- term growth as identified in the General Plan. Infrastructure needed to support development within the Specific Plan Area and the remainder of the North of Boronda FGA, and the subsequent population, housing and employment increases expected through implementation of the Central Area Specific Plan has already been planned and evaluated at the General Plan level. Therefore, development of the Specific Plan Area Will not induce growth in the Specific Plan Area or adjacent undeveloped parcels that has not already been accounted for in the General Plan and evaluated in the Final General Plan EIR for the General Plan and Supplemental EIR for the City of Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (also herein Final General Plan EIR).

The Final General Plan EIR did, however, identify significant impacts to population and housing as a result of implementation of the General Plan; because the CASP and implementing tentative subdivision maps are consistent with the development assumed under the General Plan, the significant impacts to population/housing resulting from implementation of the project would be the same as those identified by the Final General Plan Program EIR. Mitigation measures were identified in the Final General Plan EIR that would reduce population and housing impacts created by implementing the General Plan, and these mitigation measures would continue to apply to implementation of the CASP. A summary of mitigation measure provided in the City of Salinas General Plan FEIR are described below:
• PH1. The City will implement Implementation Program HE-2, which requires the City to continue to work with the LAFCO to ensure that sufficient land, infrastructure, and services are available to support housing development. • PH2. The City will implement Implementation Program LU-12, which requires the City to review the level of services and funding levels at budget time, adjusting when necessary to ensure that adequate levels of services are provided and facilities are maintained.
• PH3. The City will implement Implementation Program C-3, which requires the City to continue to update on an annual basis the Capital Improvement Plan to plan for and fund future improvements to the circulation system, as well as other public facilities, including improvements to the existing pedestrian and bicycle system, within the community.
• PH4. The City will implement Implementation Program COS-9, which requires the City to continue to cooperate with the County of Monterey to implement the CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Boronda Memorandum of Understanding, which directs that City growth occur generally to the north and east from the most productive farmland. • PH5. The City will implement Implementation Program COS-29, which requires the City to promote retrofit programs by the City to reduce energy usage and consequently reduce emissions from energy consumption. Encourage utility companies to provide informational literature about available retrofit programs at City offices, the Permit Center, and libraries.
• PH6. The City will implement Implementation Program CD-11, which requires the City to use the Smart Growth Network's Getting to Smart Growth: 100 Policies for Implementation (ICMA, 2002) or other similar policy manual, perform an "audit" of the City's Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances to identify potential impediments to the development of smart growth and traditional neighborhood development projects. Revise, adopt, and implement new standards and procedures as necessary to encourage smart growth and traditional neighborhood development in Salinas.
• PH7. The City will implement Implementation Program COS-23, which requires the City to continue to cooperate with the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District to implement the most recent Air Quality Management plan to address regional motor vehicle emissions. In particular, coordinate with the District and AMBAG, providing technical assistance and demographic data when available, during the development of future population projections by AMBAG.

While the CASP would result in growth within the City, it is not anticipated to significantly induce growth beyond what is anticipated because growth in the Specific Plan Area has been accounted for the General Plan and subsequent General Plan EIR, and Supplemental EIR. Thus, implementation of the proposed project would have a less than significant impact relative to this topic.

Impact 3.8-2 of the Draft EIR: Cumulative impact on the potential to induce substantial population growth in an area (Less than Significant and Less than Cumulatively Considerable)
The cumulative context for a cumulative analysis can be defined by region, by political subdivision or by the geography. The cumulative setting for population and housing includes Monterey County. This area was chosen because it represents the area that is reasonably expected to be affected by population and housing changes generated by the proposed project. Monterey County was also the geographic area evaluated under the cumulative analysis contained within the Final General Plan EIR.

Continued development in Salinas and Monterey County will result in housing unit and population increases in the region. Future development according to the land uses CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

identified in the Salinas General Plan will result in a population growth of approximately 69,300 people in the City between the years of 2000 and buildout of the General Plan.

Based on the growth projected to occur in the planning area, the Final General Plan EIR concluded a potentially significant impact associated with substantial growth is anticipated. However, the Final General Plan EIR concluded that implementation of the mitigation measures contained in the FEIR would reduce the population and housing impacts created by implementation of the General Plan to a less than significant level.

Mitigation measures identified in the Final EIR would apply to the implementation of the CASP.

Development of the North of Boronda FGA is a component of the City's planned long- term growth as identified in the City's General Plan. Infrastructure needed to support development of the Specific Plan Area and the GAs, and the subsequent population, housing and employment increases expected through implementation of the Central Area Specific Plan, have already been planned and evaluated. Additionally, all lands within the General Plan jurisdiction have been planned to accommodate growth within the City have been evaluated in the General Plan FEIR. The CASP does not change the intent, intensities, or densities of land uses identified within the General Plan; therefore, development of the Specific Plan Area will not induce growth in the Specific Plan Area, adjacent undeveloped parcels, or within the City that has not already been accounted for in the General Plan, and evaluated for environmental impacts by the City in the Final General Plan EIR.

The proposed project, when considered alongside all past, present, and probable future projects (inclusive of buildout of the various General Plans within Monterey County, would not be expected to cause any significant cumulative impacts. The proposed project would not have cumulatively considerable impacts associated with population and housing. As such, implementation of the proposed project would have a less than significant and less than cumulatively considerable contribution to impacts to population and housing.

Response b: The Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) noted that the General Plan would not result in the displacement of substantial numbers of existing housing units or persons since the majority of the FGA designated for future development consist of vacant, agricultural, or redevelopment of nonresidential land. Additionally, any individual units that require removal would be offset by the increase in housing by the development of approximately 18,397 dwelling units at General Plan buildout.

The CASP could potentially result in the removal of some existing houses within the Specific Plan Area; however, any individual units ultimately removed would be offset by the increase in housing by the development of up to approximately 3,911 additional dwelling units at Specific Plan buildout. As such, the proposed project would not displace substantial numbers of existing housing or people. Implementation of the proposed project would not result in any new significant adverse Population and CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Housing impacts beyond those addressed in the in the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002) and Final Supplement for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (EDAW/AECOM 2007). This topic does not warrant additional analysis and will not be addressed further in the EIR.

Applicable Mitigation from Prior EIR (if any)
No mitigation is required. The General Mitigation Measures discussed above imposed duties on the City of Salinas, and not on individual property owners within the CASP.

Relevant Uniformly Applied Development Policies or Standards (if any) Not applicable.

Impact
Significant
Impact or Substantially
Mitigated by
Uniformly
Applied
Impact Fully Pollies or
Issue Mitigation No Analyzed in
Incorporated Impact the Prior EIR Standards

15. PUBLIC SERVICES. 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 any of the
public services:
(a) Fire protection?
Police protection? •
(b)
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Impact
New Less
Than
Significant Significant
Substantially
New Impact
Less than
Significant
with Impact Fully
Issue Analyzed in
Incorporated the Prior EIR Standards
(c) Schools? D •
(d) Parks? •
(e) Other public facilities? •
Discussion
Overall conclusion: The CASP EIR provides project-level detail with respect to the proposed tentative subdivision map's effects on public services, in part due to the mitigation measures required to reduce some of these effects. The tentative map would create new legal parcels but would not directly authorize any development that would require future discretionary approvals from the City. Those would have to be obtained separately at a later point in time. No additional site-specific environmental analysis is required to fully address the proposed tentative subdivision map's effects on public services.

Responses 15) a-e): As the CASP Draft EIR explained on Pages 3.9-1 to 3.9-28, implementation of the proposed project would result in increased demand for police and fire protection in the Specific Plan Area. The project may also increase demand for local schools, parks and other public facilities. It has been determined that the potential impacts from increased demands on public services caused by the proposed project will require a detailed analysis in the EIR. As such, the lead agency will examine each of the five environmental issues listed in the checklist above in the EIR and will decide whether the proposed project has the potential to have a significant physical impact associated the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, the need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts to public services. A detailed analysis with adequate mitigation measures was prepared in the EIR. This analysis included the examination of public facilities impact fees as well as police, library and park fees.

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Impact 3.9-1 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project may require the construction of fire department facilities which may cause substantial adverse physical environmental impacts (Significant and Unavoidable) (see Mitigation Measure 3.9- 1 below).

The SFD protects life, property and the environment from the hazards of fire, explosion and hazardous materials incidents, and provides Advanced Life Support emergency medical services to City residents, businesses, and visitors. These services are provided 24-hours per day from six fire stations strategically located throughout the City of Salinas. General Plan Table LU-4 includes a service standard that calls for fire protection facilities necessary to provide a 6-minute response from receipt of a 911 call for arrival of first company 90% of the time.

The SFD service area includes the entire area within the existing political boundaries of the City of Salinas and the future growth areas. The Fire Department also provides contractual fire services to approximately 31 square miles of Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District (MCRFPD) surrounding the city. As noted above, fire protection service level is generally defined in terms of the timely arrival of a sufficient number of appropriately trained personnel and equipment necessary to stabilize and mitigate various types of emergencies. This is accomplished through a deployment plan that strives to meet an initial response service level (6 minutes or less, 90% of the time).

The project area is currently served by Station 5 located at 1400 Rider Avenue. Station 5 houses a Type 1 Engine, a Ladder Truck, a Type 3 Wildland Engine, and the Type 1 Haz-Mat vehicle. The construction was funded with Measure G funds and has been operational since 2017. There are seven personnel at this station. The Engine has one Captain, one Engineer, and one Firefighter. The Ladder Truck has one Captain, one Engineer and two Firefighters. For both of these apparatus, one crew member will also be a paramedic.

In order to maintain the General Plan's six-minute or less first response service standard, one to two fire station facilities and an engine company will be required within the North of Boronda Future Growth Area (FGA). One new station is required within the proposed Central Area Specific Plan Area of the North of Boronda FGA to accommodate the buildout of the West Area Specific Plan and the Central Area Specific Plan. A second station would be required in the eastern portion of the FGA to serve the proposed East Area Specific Plan Area. No application has been submitted to the City for the East Area Specific Plan to date. The new station in the Central Area Specific Plan, or temporary facilities agreed upon by SFD is to be available before new residential development occurs outside of the existing 6-minute response area. An approximately 2.0-acre site for the new fire station has been identified within the Specific Plan Area at the Northeast corner of Natividad Road and the Southerly Greenway Street.

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Physical impacts from construction of a new fire facility within the Specific Plan Area are addressed in relevant environmental topics included in the Draft EIR, such as: air quality (Section 3.1), biological resources (Section 3.2), cultural resources (Section 3.3), and utilities (Section 3.11). A detailed discussion of relevant operational and construction impacts can be found in each respective section of the CASP EIR.

Furthermore, additional site-specific environmental analysis would be required for each station prior to approval of a design for the facility and would consider any site-specific impacts unknown at this time. For the purposes on this report, however, it is assumed that the entire site would be disturbed, resulting in physical impacts of the entire site associated with the conversion of currently undeveloped farmland uses to developed uses, each of which are identified in relevant sections of the Draft EIR as noted above.

As described in Section 2.0, Project Description, of the CASP EIR, the proposed land use mix in the Central Area Specific Plan would result in the addition of up to 3,911 new residential units and 14,353 residents at project build-out (based on 3.67 persons per dwelling unit, in accordance with the Salinas General Plan and Section 31-802 of the City Subdivision Ordinance). The CASP also includes a business component that identifies approximately 489,700 square feet of commercial uses that would also require fire services.

The proposed Specific Plan would create a need for new or expanded fire protection facilities that could result in offsite physical impacts on the environment. Any future development under the approved General Plan, which includes all development within the North of Boronda FGA, is required to comply with regulations, policies, and standards included in the General Plan, Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (City of Salinas, 2002), and Final Supplement for the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR (City of Salinas, 2007). Additionally, impact fees will recover future development's proportionate share of Fire Department capital asset costs. The City collects impact fees from new development based upon projected impacts from the development, for purposes of mitigating for project impacts on public facilities, including fire protection facilities. The City also reviews the adequacy of impact fees on an annual basis to ensure that the fee is commensurate with anticipated future facilities demands, assessed on a fair share basis for new development.

Project implementation would result in the need for the construction of new fire facilities, which has the potential to cause substantial adverse physical environmental impacts.

Potential environmental impacts associated with the future construction of fire facilities within the Specific Plan Area are addressed throughout the CASP EIR. The CASP EIR analyzes the physical environmental effects that may occur as a result of development and introduction of new urban land uses within the Specific Plan Area. Future stations, if constructed, would fall within the footprint of the Specific Plan Area and would fall within the range of environmental impacts disclosed in the CASP EIR. Such construction of a CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

fire facility would be subject to all relevant mitigation measures included in the CASP EIR. It is noted, however, that development of a fire facility within the Specific Plan Area would contribute to identified significant and unavoidable impacts related to air quality (Impacts 3.1-2, and 3.1-7), biological resources (Impacts 3.2-2, 3.2-9 and 3.2-12), greenhouse gases (Impacts 3.4-1 and 3.4-4), noise (Impacts 3.7-1, and 3.7-8), and transportation and circulation (Impacts 3.10-3, and 3.10-4).

CONCLUSION
The proposed project would require the construction of fire department facilities, which may cause substantial adverse physical environmental impacts. Payment of the applicable impact fees by the project applicant, and ongoing revenues that would come from property taxes, sales taxes, and other revenues generated by the project and/or as specified in the Development Agreement for the CASP. These revenue sources would ensure the provision of adequate fire services to project residents. Consistent with the analysis included in this Draft EIR, however, the environmental impacts related to constructing new fire facilities to serve the proposed Project are considered significant and unavoidable.

Impact 3.9-2 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project may result in, or have the potential to require the construction of police department facilities which may cause substantial adverse physical environmental impacts (Less than Significant) The current service ratio for the City of Salinas Police Department is 1.00 officers per 1,088 people (148 sworn officers/161,042 people), as identified by the Police Department. As described in Section 2.0: Project Description of the Draft EIR, the Specific Plan land use mix would result in the addition of up to 3,911 new residential units and 14,353 residents. The CASP also includes a business component that identifies approximately 489,700 square feet of commercial uses that would also require police services.

To keep current staffing levels throughout the City, the CASP would require an additional 13 sworn officers according to the current service standard; It is of note that the service ratio from 2000 through 2012 averaged 1.21 Police Officers per 1,000 population. 1 Staffing levels are determined by the City on an annual basis. The addition of 14,353 residents would require an additional 17 sworn officers, based upon the 1.21 officers per capita standard.

Police service is evaluated and addressed annually on a citywide basis by the Salinas City Council, City Manager and Police Chief. The City Council adopts an annual budget allocating resources to police services, which effectively establishes the service ratio for that particular year. The annual budget is based on an assessment of community needs and available resources as determined by the City Council, City Manager, and the Police Chief. The City of Salinas Police Department (Department) operates out of a single station located at 312 East Alisal Street.

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CONCLUSION
The proposed project would not result in, or have the potential to require the construction of police department facilities which may cause substantial adverse physical environmental impacts. Development of the Specific Plan Area did not directly trigger the need for a new facility; however, additional staffing and patrols are required to serve the proposed Specific Pan Area. The City collects impact fees from new development based upon projected impacts from the development. The City also reviews the adequacy of impact fees on an annual basis to ensure that the fee is commensurate with anticipated future facilities demands, assessed on a fair share basis revenue sources would ensure the provision of adequate police services to project residents. Because no physical construction is needed to provide such services, the environmental impacts related to providing such police services are less than significant.

Impact 3.9-3 of the Draft EIR: Project implementation may result in the need for the construction of new schools, which has the potential to cause substantial adverse physical environmental impacts (Significant and Unavoidable) As described in Section 2.0 (Project Description) of the Draft EIR, the Specific Plan land use mix would result in the addition of up to 3,911 new residential units and 14,353 residents at project build-out. The 3,911 new residential units and increased population of 14,353 people would result in the introduction of additional students to the Salinas Union High School District (SUHSD) and the Alisal Union School District (AUSD). Table

3.9-10 of the Final EIR (showing revisions to the table as it appeared in the Draft EIR) provides a list of the most recent student generation rates provided by these two school districts.

As shown in the revised version of Table 3.9-11 of the Draft EIR, the Final EIR calculated that the CASP could generate up to approximately 3,178 additional students.

This value was very conservative, however, since the projection was based on the use of the highest student generation factors of all the three school districts then under consideration for each grade cohort (as described in the tables notes under Table 3.9- 11 of the Final EIR) - SUHSD, AUSD, and the Santa Rita Union School District (SRUSD).

It should be noted that, at the time the Final EIR was published, a district boundary change between the AUSD and the SRUSD was underway. When the change was subsequently completed, SRUSD no longer had territory within the CASP Area and the AUSD took over territory formerly subject to SRUSD jurisdiction. In anticipation of this possible outcome, the Draft and Final EIRs included two separate tables showing CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

anticipated student enrollment/generation. The first (Table 3.9-11) reflects the student generation in the event the district boundary adjustment did not occur. The second (Table 3.9-12) reflected the student generation in the event the district boundary change did occur. This second table became the one that reflected circumstances as they actually subsequently occurred with the boundary change. Like Tables 3.9-10 and 3.9- 11, Table 3.9-12 was updated in the Final EIR.

Because the AUSD-SRUSD boundary change went through, the figure of up to 3,178 students generated in the CASP proved to be substantially too high. As shown in the revised version of Table 3.9-12 found in the Final EIR, the CASP under that scenario is projected to generate only approximately 2,025 students. In this this scenario, only two school districts (instead of three would serve the Specific Plan Area, and the Final EIR used the student generation factors for the two school districts remaining to serve the Specific Plan Area (AUSD and SUHSD). SRUSD generation rates were excluded.

It is also important to understand that special legal principles apply to impacts to school facilities. According to Government Code Section 65996, the development fees authorized by Senate Bill 50 (1998) (described earlier in the Draft EIR) are deemed to be "full and complete school facilities mitigation" for impact caused by new development. The Development allowed under the Specific Plan would be required pay all applicable school impact fees in effect upon the time of or prior to the issuance of building permits.

The legislation also recognized the need for the fee to be adjusted periodically to keep pace with inflation. The legislation indicated that in January 2000, and every two years thereafter, the State Allocation Board would increase the maximum fees according to the adjustment for inflation in the statewide index for school construction. However, even where applicants have agreed to pay school impact mitigation fees, if the proposed development requires the construction or expansion of additional facilities that would cause other physical environmental impacts, then those physical impacts to non- school resources may be analyzed under CEQA (Gov. Code § 65995(i)).

As approved, the CASP includes land identified for the construction of the following school facilities:
• One (or Two) K - 6th grade elementary school, within the Alisal Union School District. The new elementary school would be expected to serve students residing in the Specific Plan Area and adjacent areas. Attendance areas will ultimately be adopted by the Board of Trustees.
• One 7th - 8th grade middle school within the Salinas Union High School District. The middle school is expected to serve students both within and outside of the Specific Plan Area. Attendance areas will ultimately be adopted by the Board of Trustees. Additionally, high school students would be expected to addend SUHSD high school facilities in the neighboring West Area Specific CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Plan area. Attendance areas will ultimately be adopted by the Board of Trustees. The school site is currently owned by the SUHSD.• It is noted that the CASP development team met with AUSD and School Site Solutions (a consultant) regarding student generation and school facility needs within the Plan Area dating back to approximately 2006. Between the beginning of this consultation effort and present day, the overall layout of the Land Use Plan, including the number of, and location of school facilities, has not changed much.

The environmental review and permitting responsibilities for development of any of the above-mentioned new school facilities, or any additional facility not identified in the CASP, will lie with the relevant school districts). There are specific applicable CEQA requirements governing school districts' duties as CEQA lead agencies. (See Pub.

Resources Code, § 21151.8.) Under this statute and others found in the Education Code, school districts have the authority to evaluate property that they may desire for a School facility, and to acquire that property at their discretion. Here, the City of Salinas would serve as a responsible agency under CEQA, in a capacity whereby the City would provide municipal services (i.e. sewer, water, storm drainage, police, fire, etc.) to service the School facility. School district boards have relatively broad discretion as to where to site new school facilities. By a two-thirds majority vote, such a board "may render a city or county zoning ordinance inapplicable to a proposed use of property by the school district!.J" though such action may not be taken "when the proposed use of the property by the school district is for nonclassroom facilities, including, but not limited to, warehouses, administrative buildings, and automotive storage and repair buildings. (Gov. Code, § 53094.)
In approving the CASP, the City committed to consulting with AUSD and SUHSD as part of the City's process for considering proposed tentative subdivision maps within the Specific Plan area. Such consultations allow the City to keep the school districts apprised of the landowners' progress in seeking and obtaining entitlements for incremental amounts of new development within the Plan Area, thereby helping the Districts to keep pace with new residential development as it occurs. Over time, as the Plan Area gradually builds out, the Districts might reassess their needs or consider new or different sites for their proposed facilities, depending on factors such as the number of potential students living within newly developed areas and the number of additional students projected to live within the Plan Area at buildout. These tentative map consultations, then, will provide a kind of development phasing that will allow the Districts to proactively plan for obtaining the sites and construction funds they will need to allow for the timely construction of new schools as the demands for them materialize over time.

Physical impacts from construction of the planned school sites within the Specific Plan Area would be related to relevant environmental topics included in the Draft EIR, such as: air quality (Section 3.1), biological resources (Section 3.2), cultural resources (Section 3.3), greenhouse gas emissions and climate change (Section 3.4), hazards CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

and hazardous materials (Section 3.5), hydrology and water quality (Section 3.6), noise (Section 3.7) population (Section 3.8), public services (Section 3.9), transportation (Section 3.10), and utilities (Section 3.11). A detailed discussion of relevant operational and construction impacts is found in each respective section of the CASP EIR.

Furthermore, as explained above, site-specific environmental review would be required for each school by each school district prior to approval of a design for the facility and would consider any site-specific impacts unknown at this time.

The placement of new school sites within new growth areas is a common land use planning exercise to try to ensure that new students have school facilities proximate to their homes. In helping to formulate and process the proposed Central Area Specific Plan, the City and the area landowners worked with the affected School Districts to ensure that there is adequate land set aside for the development of new school facilities within the Specific Plan Area. That planning effort by the City resulted in the new school sites that are within the Specific Plan Area, as well as other schools in other parts of the Future Growth Area that are outside the Specific Plan Area.

To date, neither AUSD nor SUHSD has notified the City of any specific alternative facility development plans, boundary changes, or proposed bussing plans that would be needed to educate future students living in the CASP in the event that new schools are not funded and constructed within the CASP boundaries. In recent litigation against the City (Alisal Union School Dist. v. City of Salinas [Monterey County Superior Court Case No. Case No. 20CV003402]), AUSD generally contended some such new facilities or other AUSD response strategies might be needed, but offered no specifics. As described by AUSD's legal counsel in a brief filed during the litigation, AUSD's comments on the Draft EIR for the CASP "contained a detailed description of the school funding apparatus in California, and demonstrated that due the high improbability of obtaining sufficient funding, AUSD would not be able to construct the three new educational facilities assumed by the FEIR. [Citation.] As a result, the Districts 'will be significant environmental impacts related to an influx of students on the existing school facilities, which CEQA required the City to address." (Petitioners' Opening Brief in Support of First Amended Petition for Writ of Mandate and Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief [Monterey County Superior Court Case No. 20CV003402], p. 13.) At the parties' request, however, the Monterey County Superior Court ultimately rejected this line of argument, finding that "[blased upon Santa Rita Union School District v. City of Salinas (2023) 94 Cal.App.5th 298, the Court denies the CEQA Cause of Action in the First Amended Petition and enters Judgment in favor of the City on all Causes of Action. Based upon this conclusion and the denial of the other causes of action in the First Amended Petition, judgment is hereby entered in favor of the City and against the District." (Stipulated Judgment Denying First Amended Petition for Writ of Mandate and Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, p. 7.) CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

The Santa Rita Union court decision cited by the superior court refers to the final Court of Appeal opinion in separate but very similar litigation filed by SRUSD against the City over the City's 2019 approval of the West Area Specific Plan (WASP). (See Santa Rita Union School Dist. v. City of Salinas [Monterey County Superior Court Case No. Case No. 20CV000242].) In that case, SRUSD made legal arguments under CEQA very similar to those put forward by AUSD against the CASP. In that appellate decision, the Court of Appeal reasoned as follows in upholding the EIR for the WASP:
we conclude that based on the non-specific, uncertain, and vague nature and quality of the information provided by the Districts, in the context of a land-use and long-range planning document like the Specific Plan, the Final EIR for the Specific Plan and the City's responses to the Districts' comments were adequate under CEQA. This is especially true when the generally identified potential indirect and off-site impacts related to existing school facilities were impacts that might flow and could be identified only from later decisions by the Districts themselves, which impacts may call for later project-level environmental review by the Districts, not the City.

The City was not required to "dimly guess" about potential impacts based on uncertain and non-specific information and many unknowns. [Citation.] To the extent the City reached the conclusion that the Districts' comments were speculative, noted the conclusion, and terminated the discussion, the City complied with Guidelines section 15145 concerning speculation and section 15088 on responses to comments. (See, Guidelines, § 15088, subds. (a) & (c) [lead agency must respond to comments on "significant environmental issues" in good faith, giving detailed reasons why specific comments and suggestions were not accepted but level of detail may correspond with level of detail provided in comment; responses to general comments may be general].) Given the non-specificity of the comments and the extent to which information about decisions the Districts might make in the future to accommodate additional students if new schools were not built, and any related environmental impacts resulting from those future decisions, was not yet known, additional discussion, analysis, or response by the City could not possibly be meaningful in the sense CEQA intends and requires to serve its informational and decision-making purposes.
(94 Cal.App.5th at p. 349.)
As noted above, the City is currently unaware of any specific alternative facility development plans, boundary changes, or proposed bussing plans that AUSD could claim that it needs to pursue in lieu of, or beyond, the construction and operation of new new schools within the CASP boundaries. Notably, the CEQA Guidelines provide categorical exemptions for (i) minor alterations in existing public facilities, (ii) the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures, (iii) CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

minor alterations to land, (iv) construction or placement of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing institutional facilities, (iv) minor additions to existing schools (including portable classrooms) within existing school grounds where the addition does not increase original student capacity by more than 25% or ten classrooms, whichever is less, and (v) infill development in cities on sites of five acres or smaller and meeting certain requirements. (CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15301, 15303, 15304, 15311, and 15314.) These exemptions are available to AUSD in the event that, in the future, it may feel the need to make physical modifications or additions to any of its existing facilities.

Notably, in the litigation filed by AUSD against the City over the CASP, the City obtained, and submitted to the superior court, expert evidence indicating a downward trend in AUSD enrollment numbers. This evidence not only suggested that AUSD would not need to build new student capacity outside the boundaries of the CASP in lieu of new schools within the CASP, but that AUSD could absorb the full anticipated CASP student population within its existing facilities. In a document entitled, Central Area Specific Plan, Analysis of School Enrollments, Capacity, and Capital Funding in Alisal Union School District (Oct. 24, 2022), expert Olga Bez of JCJ Partners reached conclusions that she summarized in a sworn declaration as follows:

Petitioners' Opening Brief contains the statement that, "Ihjere, neither the DEIR nor the FEIR for the CASP adequately informed the public that due to the high probability of a lack of sufficient funding to build new schools, there will be significant environmental impacts ... due to the inevitable need to modify the Districts' facilities to accommodate the influx of students." (POB, p. 11:22-25.) This statement is unsubstantiated, inaccurate, misleading, and untrue for the following reasons:
a. Demographic trends and existing available school capacity in AUSD show that AUSD has experienced declining enrollment since the 2015- 2016 school year, and will continue to experience declining enrollment.

The decrease in enrollment will accommodate the projected 1,384 students from the CASP in existing facilities without modifications, as described in detail in the attached JCJ Partners Analysis. I draw this conclusion based on the following facts:
(i) AUSD enrolled 7,851 students in the 2021-2022 school year.

Enrollment has declined by 1,431 students from the peak of 9,282 total students in 2015-2016.
(ii) The number of births in the zip codes served by the AUSD has declined by 18.6% from 2010 to 2020, a larger decrease than in Monterey County overall (-17.2%) and in statewide births (-17.6%) over the same period
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(il) A decline in births leads to lower incoming preschool and kindergarten classes in 4 to 5 years, increasing districtwide decline over time.

Based on these facts, the AUSD enrollment decline is expected to continue in the coming years.
***
AUSD claims that "it is undisputed that there were potentially significant environmental impacts related to the need of the Districts to modify their existing facilities that went unanalyzed in the FEIR, and intentionally so." (POB, p. 13:3-5.) This statement is unsubstantiated, inaccurate, misleading, and untrue because, as outlined above and shown in Charts 6 and 7 of the JCJ Partners Analysis, and supported by long-term projections through buildout of the CASP in Exhibit D of the same analysis, existing available school capacity will continue to exceed enrollment districtwide and at the nearest schools even with the addition of CASP students and the complete Transitional Kindergarten. No modification of campuses specific to CASP students is required. (Declaration of Olga Bevz in Support of Respondents' Opposition to First Amended Petition for Peremptory Writ of Mandate and Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, pp. 7, 8-9, original italics.) In sum, the City is unaware of any need or legal obligation to consider steps that AUSD might need to take to address the need to educate future school children that might live in areas affected by the proposed project.

CONCLUSION
Potential environmental impacts associated with the future construction of schools within the Specific Plan Area are addressed throughout the EIR. The CASP EIR analyzes the physical environmental effects that may occur as a result of development and introduction of new urban land uses within the Specific Plan Area. Each future school, if constructed, would fall within the range of environmental impacts disclosed in the CASP EIR, and would be subject to relevant mitigation measures included in the Draft EIR. It is noted, however, that development of a school within the Specific Plan Area would contribute to significant and unavoidable impacts related to air quality (Impacts 3.1-2, and 3.1-7), biological resources (Impacts 3.2-2, 3.2-9 and 3.2-12), greenhouse gases (Impacts 3.4-1 and 3.4-4), noise (Impacts 3.7-1, and 3.7-8), and transportation and circulation (Impacts 3.10-3, and 3.10-4). Therefore, consistent with the analysis included in this Draft EIR, impacts related to constructing new school facilities to serve the proposed Project are considered significant and unavoidable (see Mitigation Measure 3.9-2 below).

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Impact 3.9-4 of the Draft EIR: Project implementation may result in effects on parks, or has the potential to require the construction of park facilities which may substantial adverse physical environmental impacts (Significant and cause
Unavoidable)
The General Plan establishes a park dedication standard of three acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, which is consistent with the State Quimby Act. The CASP includes a total of approximately 148 net acres of land are dedicated to public parks and open space uses within the Specific Plan area. These areas are subject to the requirements of Article III, Divisions 6 and 7, of the Zoning Code respectively, except as otherwise provided for in the Specific Plan.

The diversity of park types and open space provides a full range of recreational areas and green spaces to be enjoyed by the Central Area residents and the surrounding community. See Figure 3.9-1 (Public Facilities) for the location of the proposed parks and open space areas. Approximately 148 net acres within the Specific Plan Area are dedicated to parks and open space uses. A total of 44.06 net acres of public parks are provided in the Specific Plan to meet the General Plan requirement of 3 acres of developed parkland per 1,000 residents. The public parks will consist of seven (7) neighborhood parks (more than 3.0 acres) with sport fields and tot lots and eighteen (18) small parks, many with ball courts and tot lots. Neighborhood Parks are 3 to 5+ acres in size, and small parks are one half to two acres in size. While the proposed project would increase the demand for parks and other recreational facilities based on the population growth, the amount of parkland and open space provided within the Specific Plan Area sufficiently meets the City's General Plan parkland requirements. No additional need for park space is required, and it is not anticipated that any substantial physical deterioration of existing facilities would occur or be accelerated.

CONCLUSION
Project implementation may result in effects on parks, or has the potential to require the construction of park facilities which may cause substantial adverse physical environmental impact. Potential environmental impacts associated with the future construction of park and other recreational facilities within the Specific Plan Area are addressed throughout the CASP EIR. The CASP EIR analyzes the physical environmental effects that may occur as a result of development and introduction of new urban land uses within the Specific Plan Area. Each future park, if constructed, would fall within the range of environmental impacts disclosed in the CASP EIR, and would be subject to relevant mitigation measures included in the CASP EIR.

It is noted, however, that development of park land within the Specific Plan Area would contribute to significant and unavoidable impacts related to air quality (Impacts 3.1-2, and 3.1-7), biological resources (Impacts 3.2-2, 3.2-9 and 3.2-12), greenhouse gases (Impacts 3.4-1 and 3.4-4), noise (Impacts 3.7-1, and 3.7-8), and transportation and circulation (Impacts 3.10-3, and 3.10-4). Therefore, consistent with the analysis included CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

in this Draft EIR, impacts related to constructing new park facilities to serve the proposed project are considered significant and unavoidable.

Impact 3.9-5 of the Draft EIR: Project implementation may result in effects on other public facilities (Significant and Unavoidable)
The proposed project would increase demand for other public facilities within the City of Salinas, such as libraries, and community/recreation buildings. However, to mitigate increased demand on library and community facilities, the City collects public facilities impact fees trom new development based upon projected impacts from the development. The City also reviews the adequacy of impact fees on an annual basis to ensure that the fee is commensurate with the service or facility.

The City has identified an approximately 2.0-acre site in the Central Area Specific Plan for a new branch library. Based on the 2-mile service area prescribed in the General Plan, the new branch library will also service significant areas of the existing City of Salinas, south of Boronda Road. The West Area Specific Plan will contribute its fair share to the acquisition of the site and the construction of the new branch library through the Public Facilities Impact Fee program.

The City also seeks to develop one or more recreation centers within the proposed neighborhood parks of the FGA. The precise location and configuration of recreation centers is yet to be determined by the City. The timing and phasing of construction of the recreation centers will be determined by the City concurrently with development of the FGA. The Specific Plan provides that the Central Area Specific Plan will contribute its fair share of the costs of construction of the recreation centers through the Public Facilities Impact Fee program.

CONCLUSION
Project implementation may result in effects on other public facilities. The Central Area Specific Plan would result in new demand for public facilities, including library facilities and recreational facilities. The Specific Plan does propose a library and potentially would include other public facility such as a community building within the Specific Plan Area; therefore, development of these facilities would have a direct physical impact on the environment. The Central Area Specific Plan would be responsible for paying the applicable impact fees, and ongoing revenues from the Specific Plan would be generated from property taxes, sales taxes, and other appropriate fees/payments. Such fees/payments would be the financial contribution for any new demand created by the Central Area Specific Plan as required by Mitigation Measure 3.9-1. However, development of public facilities within the Specific Plan Area would contribute to significant and unavoidable impacts related to air quality (Impacts 3.1-2, and 3.1-7), biological resources (Impacts 3.2-2, 3.2-9 and 3.2-12), greenhouse gases (Impacts 3.4- 1 and 3.4-4), noise (Impacts 3.7-1, and 3.7-8), and transportation and circulation (Impacts 3.10-3, and 3.10-4) through the development of currently undeveloped sites.

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Therefore, consistent with the analysis included in this Draft EIR, impacts related to constructing new facilities to serve the proposed project and surrounding areas are considered significant and unavoidable.

Impact 3.9-6 of the Draft EIR: Under cumulative conditions the proposed project may result in the construction of public facilities, which may cause substantial adverse physical environmental impacts (Cumulatively Considerable and Significant and Unavoidable)
The cumulative setting would include all areas covered in the service areas of the City of Salinas Police Department, City of Salinas Fire Department, City of Salinas Recreation and Community Services Department, Salinas Union High School District, the Alisal Union School District, and the Salinas Public Library System. This geographic area was chosen because these service providers would be required to serve the proposed project and contains those service providers that have to potential to bear a cumulative impact from the proposed project, when the proposed project is considered together with all past, present, and probably future projects within these providers' service areas.

Under cumulative conditions future local and regional growth will result in increased demand for schools, police protection, fire protection, schools, parks/recreation, and library services. The City and its associated service providers must continue to evaluate the levels of service desired and the funding sources available to meet increases in demand.

The 2002 General Plan Final Program EIR analyzed impacts to public services (including police protection, fire and emergency services, schools, parks, and libraries), and found that General Plan policies addressed the public services needs of future development resulting from implementation of the General Plan. The specific environmental impact of constructing new facilities could not be determined at the time, but the Final Program EIR found that construction and operation of such facilities could potentially cause significant impacts. These potential impacts, however, were addressed and mitigated to the greatest extent feasible by the General Plan policies and mitigation measures included in Sections 5.1 through 5.12 of the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR.

CONCLUSION
Under cumulative conditions the proposed project may result in the construction of public facilities, which may cause substantial adverse physical environmental impacts.

The impact fees developed and reviewed by the City will recover future development's proportionate share of City-related capital asset costs. Fees, as applied only to new development, represent future development's proportionate share of public services and facilities capital costs.

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However, while new development will avoid project level impacts associated with service ratios to the extent allowed by the associated impact fees, there are existing deficiencies with regard to library services that will need to be addressed by the City in order to meet service goals set forth by the General Plan. It is important to note that impact fees may not be used to correct existing deficiencies, but may be used to pay for increased demand for public facilities or increased demand upon existing capital facilities provided that those facilities are needed to serve additional development and have the capacity to do so, given relevant level-of-service standards.

It is also important to note that, in addressing public service demand issues under CEQA, the appropriate focus is on the environmental effects of whatever steps might be necessary to achieve or maintain adequate service. For example, if proposed new development would create an increased demand for law enforcement or fire protection services, an EIR should inquire as to whether new or expanded physical facilities may be required in order to provide such service. The "impacts" addressed under CEQA are the physical effects of providing service, not any possible failure to provide adequate service under applicable standards. (See City of Hayward v. Board of Trustees of the Cal. State University (2015) 242 Cal.App.4th 833, 843 ['It]he need for additional fire protection services is not an environmental impact that CEQA requires a project proponent to mitigate"]; Goleta Union School Dist. v. Regents of Univ. of Cal. (1995) 37 Cal.App.4th 1025, 1031- 1034 [school overcrowding attributable to new development is not an environmental effect subject to CEQA, though the physical effects of new facility construction to serve new students would be]; and CEQA Guidelines, § 15131, subd. (a) [e]conomic or social effects of a project shall not be treated as significant effects on the environment"].)
Moreover, it is critical to understand that special legal principles apply to impacts to school facilities. According to Government Code Section 65996, the development fees authorized by Senate Bill 50 (1998) (described earlier) are deemed to be "full and complete school facilities mitigation" for impact caused by new development. The legislation also recognized the need for the fee to be adjusted periodically to keep pace with inflation. The legislation indicated that in January 2000, and every two years thereafter, the State Allocation Board would increase the maximum fees according to the adjustment for inflation in the statewide index for school construction.

Section 65996 also prohibits public agencies from using CEQA or "any other provision of state or local law" to deny approval of "a legislative or adjudicative act, or both, involving, but not limited to, the planning, use, or development of real property or any change in governmental organization or reorganization" on the basis of the project's impacts on school facilities.

The construction and operation of future public facilities required to serve cumulative development (including the Central Area Specific Plan Area) could potentially cause significant impacts. Cumulative development including additional fire stations, parks, schools, library, and other public facilities within the city and service area would CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

contribute to significant and unavoidable cumulative impacts that have been identified within the CASP EIR related to: air quality (Impacts 3.1-2, and 3.1-7), biological resources (Impacts 3.2-2, 3.2-9 and 3.2-12), greenhouse gases (Impacts 3.4-1 and 3.4- 4), noise (Impacts 3.7-1, and 3.7-8), and transportation and circulation (Impacts 3.10-3, and 3.10-4). Therefore, consistent with the analysis included in this Draft EIR, cumulative impacts related to the construction of public facilities needed to meet future demand are considered significant and unavoidable and cumulatively considerable.

Applicable Mitigation from Prior EIR (if any)
Mitigation Measure 3.9-1: Prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for each dwelling unit (and prior to issuance of building permits for non-residential uses), the applicant shall pay all applicable project impact fees per the impact fee schedule.

Mitigation Measure 3.9-2: Prior to the issuance of building permits for each dwelling unit, the applicant shall pay applicable school fees mandated by SB 50 to the Salinas Union High School District (SUHSD) and Alisal Union School District (AUSD).

Relevant Uniformly Applied Development Policies or Standards (if any) Not applicable.

Impact
New Less
New Than
Significant Significant
Impact or Impact or Substantially
More New Impact Mitigated by
Less than Uniformly
Impact Not Significant Applied
Disclosed with Impact Fully Development
Issue in Prior Mitigation No Analyzed in Policies or
EIR Incorporated Impact the Prior EIR Standards

16. RECREATION. Would the
project:
• • •
(a) Meul the project increase existing
neighborhood and regional
parks or other recreational
such that
substantial physical
deterioration of the facility
would occur or be
accelerated?
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Impact
New Less
Than
Significant Significant
Impact or Substantially
New Impact Mitigated by
Less than
Significant
with Impact Fully
Issue in Pro Mitigation No Analyzed in
Incorporated Impact the Prior EIR
(b) Does the project include •
recreational facilities or
require the construction or
expansion of recreational
facilities, which might have
an adverse physical effect
on the environment?
Discussion
Responses a-b): As the CASP Draft EIR explained on Pages 1.0-19 and 1.0-20 of the Final Environmental Impact Report, Salinas General Plan (Cotton Bridges Associates 2002), the future residents and employees of the CASP are expected to increase demand for park and recreational facilities, some of which may increase the use of existing regional parks or other recreational facilities. However, much of the demand for park and recreational facilities will be met by the construction of new parks and recreational facilities within the boundary of the Specific Plan area. The new demand is not anticipated to cause substantial physical deterioration of existing facilities. The impacts from construction of new facilities will be analyzed within the context of each environmental topic of the Draft and Final EIR as part of the overall land use plan.

Applicable Mitigation from Prior EIR (if any)
Mitigation Measure 3.9-1: Prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for each dwelling unit (and prior to issuance of building permits for non-residential uses), the applicant shall pay all applicable project impact fees per the impact fee schedule.

Relevant Uniformly Applied Development Policies or Standards (if any) Not Applicable
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Impact
New Less
Substantially
Mitigated by
Uniformly
Significant Applied
with Impact Fully Poilies or t
Issue No Analyzed in
Incorporated Impact the Prior EIR Standards

17. TRANSPORTATION. Would
the project:
(a) Conflict with a program
plan, ordinance or policy
addressing the circulation
system, including transit,
roadway, bicycle and
pedestrian facilities?
• •
(b) Would the project conflict
or be inconsistent with
CEQA Guidelines Section
15064.3, Subdivision (b)?
(c) Substantially increase
hazards due to a
geometric design feature
(e.g., sharp curves or
dangerous intersections)
or incompatible uses (e.g.,
farm equipment)?
(d) Result in inadequate
emergency access?
Overall conclusion: The CASP EIR provides project-level detail with respect to the proposed tentative subdivision map's transportation-related effects. The tentative map would create new legal parcels but would not directly authorize any development that would require future discretionary approvals from the City. Those would have to be obtained separately at a later point in time. No additional site-specific environmental analysis is required to fully address the transportation-related impacts of the proposed tentative subdivision map. The CASP EIR devoted a lot of attention to the extent to which the then-proposed Specific Plan could adversely affect "level of service" (LOS), which ceased to be a recognized transportation effect under CEQA as of late 2018 and early 2019. LOS-related issues were addressed comprehensively through recommended conditions of approval in analysis that, strictly speaking, was not analysis under CEQA.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Responses a), b), c), and d): As the CASP Draft EIR explained on Pages 3.10-1 to

3.10-104, information in this section is derived primarily from The Central Area Specific Plan Draft Transportation Impact Analysis prepared by Fehr & Peers (2019), which is included as Appendix I in Volume Il of the Draft EIR.

As the Draft EIR explained at length, although the document included detailed analysis of the effects of the CASP on LOS on area roadways, LOS had ceased to be a CEQA category of environmental impact by the time the Draft EIR was released (June 2020). (See Draft EIR, pp. 3.10-7 - 3.10-9.) For this reason, recommendations for maintaining acceptable LOS were styled as proposed conditions of approval rather than CEQA Mitigation Measures.

Impact 3.10-1: Under Existing Plus Project conditions, implementation of the proposed Specific Plan would conflict with the performance measures established by the City of Salinas, Monterey County, and Caltrans (Not Adverse with Recommended Conditions of Approval)
Implementation of the Specific Plan, without mitigating conditions of approval, results in unacceptable operation at five of the study intersections, and two of the U.S. 101 ramp junctions. All study segments of U.S. 101 performed within the County CMP standards.

This would be a potentially adverse impact. The reductions in automobile LOS attributable to the Central Area Specific Plan include the following intersections:
• North Main Street/West Laurel Drive (#32): LOS E during the PM peak hour • Natividad Road/East Laurel Drive (#33): LOS E during both peak hours • North Sanborn Road/Boronda Road (#35): LOS F during both peak hours • Sherwood Drive/Natividad Road/East Bernal Drive/La Posada Way (#38): LOS E during both peak hours
• South Sanborn Road/North Sanborn Road/John Street (#45): LOS E during the AM peak hour
In addition, the following ramp junctions would function below County CMP standards during the PM peak hour:
• U.S. 101 Northbound Boronda Road Off-Ramp: LOS E (35.1 passenger cars per vehicle per lane)
• U.S. 101 Northbound West Laurel Drive Off-Ramp: LOS E (35.6 passenger cars per vehicle per lane)
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Because these potential impacts are attributable to the addition of project-generated traffic to existing volumes, development within the Central Area Specific Plan would generally be responsible for funding the required physical improvements needed to address congestion. Operation at all five of these intersections and both the aforementioned ramp junctions could be improved to acceptable levels of delay under Existing Plus Project conditions. With implementation of the recommended improve- ments described below, operation at all five of the affected intersections and both ramp junctions, as identified above, would be improved to acceptable levels:
• North Main Street & West Laurel Drive (#32): Optimize existing signal timings. This improvement was found to improve level of service to LOS D, with

48.6 seconds of delay during the evening peak hour. As this impact is a result of project traffic, the project applicant would be responsible for its funding and implementation at the project approval stage. With the implementation of the identified improvement, the impact would not be adverse. This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design.
• Natividad Road & East Laurel Drive (#33): The proposed improvement is to widen the intersection to add additional northbound and southbound through lanes. This measure was found to improve the level of service to D, with 52.3 seconds of delay and 51.5 seconds of delay in the morning and evening peak periods, respectively. This improvement is part of the City's Traffic Improvement Program. As this impact is a result of project traffic, the project applicant shall be responsible for its funding and implementation at the project approval stage. With the implementation of the identified condition of approval, the impact would not be adverse.
• North Sanborn Road/Boronda Road (#35): Install a roundabout. The roundabout shall be of adequate size and configuration to adequately serve forecast traffic levels in accordance with City General Plan policies. As this impact is a result of project traffic, the project applicant shall be responsible for its funding and implementation at the project approval stage. With the implementation of the identified improvement, the impact would not be adverse.
• Sherwood Drive/Natividad Road & East Bernal Drive/La Posada Way (#38):

Optimize existing signal timings and add an eastbound left turn pocket. The proposed improvement is to add an eastbound left turn pocket and optimize the existing signal timing to better accommodate the expected changes in traffic distribution and volume in the with-project scenario. The proposed improvement was found to improve LOS in the morning and evening peak periods to LOS B, with 15.7 seconds of delay and 15.3 seconds of delay, respectively. As this impact is a result of project traffic, the project applicant shall be responsible for its funding and implementation at the project approval stage. With the CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

implementation of the identified condition of approval, the impact would not be adverse.
• South Sanborn/North Sanborn/John Street (#45): Optimize signal timing.

The optimization of the existing traffic signal timing and splits at this uncoordinated intersection would mitigate the identified impact. With the implementation of this proposed improvement, the operation of the intersection would improve to LOS C with 28.0 seconds of delay per vehicle during the morning peak hour. As this impact is a result of project traffic, the project applicant shall be responsible for its funding and implementation at the project approval stage. With the implementation of the identified improvement, the impact would not be adverse.
• U.S 101 Ramp Junctions: Contribution to the TAMC RDIF Program and payment of the City of Salinas's Traffic Impact Fees. The proposed payments for this impact are to contribute to the TAMC Regional Development Impact Fee (RDIF) Program and the City of Salinas's Traffic Impact Fee (TIF) Program. These programs include improvements to U.S. 101 that would improve mainline and ramp junction operations, which would reduce this project impact to a level that is not adverse.

CONCLUSION
Under Existing Plus Project conditions, implementation of the proposed Specific Plan would conflict with the performance measures established by the City of Salinas, Monterey County, and Caltrans. While the use of LOS within CEQA is no longer permitted, the City desires to manage congestion levels to maintain consistency with its General Plan and the County's General Plan. In accordance with these guidelines, conditions of approval are identified and recommended to manage congestion levels to those specified within the current General Plans. With implementation of these recommended conditions of approval, the impacts to the above five intersections and two ramp junctions are considered not adverse, and no further conditions of approval are required.

RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-1: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share funding for the optimization of existing signal timings at North Main Street/Laurel Drive, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement. This condition shall include the CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-2: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share funding for the widening of the intersection at Natividad Road/East Laurel Drive to add additional northbound and southbound through lanes, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non- residential development). This improvement is part of the City's Traffic Improvement Program. Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-3: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share funding for the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of North Sanborn Road/East Boronda Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-4: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share funding for the optimization of existing signal timings and to add an eastbound left turn pocket at the intersection of Sherwood Drive/Natividad Road & East Bernal Drive/La Posada Way, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. This condition includes the addition of an eastbound left turn pocket and optimization of the existing signal timing to better accommodate the expected changes in traffic distribution and volume with implementation of the proposed project. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement. This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-5: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share funding for the optimization of existing signal timings and splits at the South Sanborn/North Sanborn/John Street intersection, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for nonresidential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-6: Prior to the approval of final improvement plans for each tentative map, each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall contribute its fair-share funding to the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) Regional Development Impact Fee (RDIF) Program and the City of Salinas' Traffic Impact Fee (TIF) Program, as determined by the TAMC and the City of Salinas, respectively, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant. These programs include improvements to U.S. 101 that would improve mainline and ramp junction operations, which would mitigate the proposed project's impact to the U.S. 101 ramp junctions affected by the proposed project (i.e. the Northbound Boronda Road Off-Ramp and Northbound West Laurel Drive Off-Ramp.

Impact 3.10-2: Under Existing Plus Project and West Area Specific Plan conditions, implementation of the proposed Specific Plan may conflict with the performance measures established by the City of Salinas, Monterey County, and Caltrans (Not Adverse with Recommended Conditions of Approval) Implementation of the Specific Plan would result in unacceptable operation at ten of the study intersections, and two of the U.S. 101 ramp junctions, under the Existing Plus Project and Central Area Specific Plan scenario. All study segments of U.S. 101 performed within the County CMP standards. This would be a potentially adverse impact.

The reductions in automobile LOS attributable to the Central Area Specific Plan plus West Area Specific Plan scenario include the following intersections:
• San Juan Grade Road/Van Buren Avenue (#14): LOS F during both peak hours • North Main Street/Boronda Road (#17): LOS F during PM peak hour • San Juan Grade Road/East Boronda Road (#19): LOS F during PM peak hour • North Main Street/West Laurel Drive (#32): LOS E during PM peak hour • Natividad Road/East Laurel Drive (#33): LOS F during both peak hours • North Sanborn Road/Boronda Road (#35): LOS F during both peak hours • Sherwood Drive/Natividad Road & East Bernal Drive/La Posada Way (#38):

LOS F during both peak hours
• Williams Road/Boronda Road (#40): LOS F during both peak hours • South Sanborn Road/North Sanborn Road/John Street (#45): LOS E during AM peak hour
• Salinas Street/North Main Street/West Market Street/East Market Street (#55):

LOS F during both peak hours.

In addition, the following ramp junctions would function below County CMP standards during the p.m. peak hour:

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

• U.S. 101 Northbound Boronda Road Off-Ramp: LOS E (36.6 passenger cars per vehicle per lane)
• U.S. 101 Northbound West Laurel Drive Off-Ramp: LOS E (37.0 passenger cars per vehicle per lane)
Operation at all ten of these intersections and both of the aforementioned ramp junctions could be mitigated to acceptable levels of delay under Existing Plus Project and West Area Specific Plan conditions. With implementation of the recommended Improvements described below, operation at all ten of the affected intersections and both ramp junctions, as identified above, would be improved to acceptable levels:
• San Juan Grade Road & Van Buren Avenue (#14): Install traffic signal. The addition of a traffic signal would improve the intersection LOS to A for both peak periods, with 4.9 seconds of delay and 4.2 seconds of delay during the AM and PM peak hours, respectively. As this impact is a result of project traffic, the project applicant would be responsible for its funding and implementation at the project approval stage. The improvement is also a recommended condition of approval for the West Area Specific Plan; thus, the project shall contribute fair share funding towards its implementation if the West Area Specific Plan proceeds. With the implementation of the identified improvement, the impact would not be adverse.
• North Main Street & East Boronda Road (#17): Optimize signal timing. The optimization of the existing traffic signal timing and splits at this coordinated intersection would mitigate the identified impact. With the implementation of the identified improvement, the impact would not be adverse. • San Juan Grade Road & East Boronda Road (#19): Optimize existing signal timing. Optimizing the intersection's signal timing during the PM peak hour would improve its operation to LOS D (50.1 seconds). As this impact is a result of project traffic, the project applicant would be responsible for its funding and implementation at the project approval stage. With the implementation of the identified improvement, the impact would not be adverse. • North Main Street & West Laurel Drive (#32): Optimize existing signal timings. This proposed improvement was found to improve level of service to LOS D, with 49.1 seconds of delay during the evening peak hour. As this impact is a result of project traffic, the project applicant would be responsible for its funding and implementation at the project approval stage. With the implementation of the identified improvement, the impact would not be adverse. • Natividad Road & East Laurel Drive (#33): Convert the eastbound right turn lane to a shared through-right turn lane. With the implementation of the proposed improvement, as well as implementation of the previously identified CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Condition of Approval 3.10-2 (which requires fair share payments for the widening of the intersection and the addition of northbound and southbound through lanes), the impact would not be adverse.
• North Sanborn Road/Boronda Road (#35): Install a roundabout. The roundabout shall be of adequate size and configuration to adequately serve forecast traffic levels in accordance with City General Plan policies. With the implementation of this proposed improvement, the impact would not be adverse.
• Sherwood Drive/Natividad Road & East Bernal Drive/La Posada Way (#38):

Optimize existing signal timings and add an eastbound left turn pocket. The improvement is also a recommended condition of approval for the West Area Specific Plan; thus, the project shall contribute fair share funding towards its implementation if the West Area Specific Plan proceeds. With the implementation of the recommended improvement, the impact would not be adverse.
• Williams Road/East Boronda Road (#40): Install a traffic signal or roundabout, to improve the intersection's LOS to A during the evening peak hour. With the implementation of the recommended improvement, the impact would be less than significant.
• South Sanborn Road/North Sanborn Road/John Street (#45): Optimize signal timing. With the implementation of the recommended improvement, the impact would be less than significant.
• Salinas Street/North Main Street/West Market Street/East Market Street (#55): Add a southbound left turn lane and optimize the traffic signal's timing.

The improvement is also a recommended condition of approval for the West Area Specific Plan; thus, the project shall contribute fair share funding towards its implementation if the West Area Specific Plan proceeds. With implementation of this recommended improvement, the impact would not be adverse.
• U.S. 101 Ramp Junctions: Contribution to the TAMC RDIF Program and payment of the City of Salinas's Traffic Impact Fees for the U.S. 101 Northbound Boronda Road Off-Ramp and the U.S. 101 Northbound West Laurel Drive Off-Ramp. The proposed method for addressing this impact is the project requirement to contribute to the TAMC Regional Development Impact Fee (RDIF) Program and the City of Salinas's Traffic Impact Fee (TIF) Program. These programs include improvements to U.S. 101 that would improve mainline and ramp junction operations, which would reduce this project impact to a level that is not adverse.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

CONCLUSION
Under Existing Plus Project and West Area Specific Plan conditions, implementation of the proposed Specific Plan may conflict with the performance measures established by the City of Salinas, Monterey County, and Caltrans. While the use of LOS within CEQA is no longer permitted, the City desires to manage congestion levels to maintain consistency with its General Plan and the County's General Plan. In accordance with these guidelines, conditions of approval are identified and recommended to manage congestion levels to those specified within the current General Plans. With implementation of Recommended Conditions of Approval 3.10-1 through 3.10-6, and the following additional recommended conditions of approval, the impacts to the ten intersections and two ramp junctions described above are considered not adverse, and no further recommended conditions are required.

RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-7: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share funding for the installation of a traffic signal at San Juan Grade Road/an Buren Avenue, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans for each stage of project development shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement. This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design, as specified by the City of Salinas Public Works Department.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-8: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share of funding to optimize the existing traffic signal timing and splits at intersection of North Main Street/East Boronda Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement. This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design, as specified by the City of Salinas Public Works Department.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-9: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share funding for the optimization of the existing signal timing at San Juan Grade Road/East Boronda Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement. This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design, as specified by the City of Salinas Public Works Department.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-10: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share of funding to convert the eastbound right turn lane to a shared through-right turn lane at Natividad Road/East Laurel Drive, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for nonresidential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement. This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design, as specified by the City of Salinas Public Works Department.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-11: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share of funding for the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of North Sanborn Road/East Boronda Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement. This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-12: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share of funding for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Williams Road/East Boronda Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement. This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-13: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share of funding to add a southbound left turn pocket and optimize traffic signal timings at the traffic signal at Salinas Street/North Main Street/West Market Street/East Market Street, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement. This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design. This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design, as specified by the City of Salinas Public Works Department.

Impact 3.10-3: Under Cumulative Plus Project conditions, implementation of the proposed Specific Plan may conflict with the transportation performance measures established by the City of Salinas, Monterey County, and Caltrans (Adverse and Unavoidable)
Per the Draft EIR, implementation of the Specific Plan under the cumulative Plus Project scenario would result in unacceptable operation at fourteen of the study intersections, and three of the freeway segments. This would be a potentially adverse impact.

The locations that would operate with unacceptable LOS under the cumulative scenario include the following intersections:
• U.S. 101 Southbound Ramps/Echo Valley Road/Crazy Horse Canyon Road (#1): LOS F during the PM peak hour
• U.S. 101 Northbound Ramps/Crazy Horse Canyon Road (#2): LOS E during the PM peak hour
• Crazy Horse Canyon Road/San Juan Grade Road (#5): LOS F during the PM peak hour
• Natividad Road/Rogge Road (#12): LOS E during the PM peak hour • Natividad Road/Russell Road (#13): LOS F during the PM peak hour • North Main Street/Boronda Road (#17): LOS E during the PM peak hour • North Main Street/West Laurel Drive (#32): LOS F during the PM peak hour • Natividad Road/East Laurel Drive (#33): LOS F during both peak hours • Constitution Boulevard/East Laurel Drive (#34): LOS E during the PM peak hour • Old Stage Road/Williams Road/Private Road (#36): LOS F during both peak hours
• North Main Street/East Bernal Drive (#37): LOS E during both peak hours • Sherwood Drive/Natividad Road/East Bernal Drive/La Posada Way (#38): LOS F during both peak hours
• South Davis Road/Blanco Road (#53): LOS F during both peak hours • Salinas Street/North Main Street/West Market Street/East Market Street (#55):

LOSE during both the PM peak hour
• South Main Street/West Blanco Road/East Blanco Road (#56): LOS E during the PM peak hour
In addition, the following freeway segments would operate with unacceptable LOS under the cumulative scenario:

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

• San Juan Road to Crazy Horse Canyon Road:
o Southbound: LOS E during PM peak hour
• San Miguel Canyon Road to SR 156:
• Northbound: LOSE during AM peak hour and LOS F during PM peak hour
o Southbound: LOS F during PM peak hour
• SR 156 to Sala Road (southbound): LOS E during the PM peak hour All ramp junctions perform at or above the minimum standards set by the County CMP under this scenario.

With implementation of the recommended improvements described below, operation at all fourteen of the affected intersections and each of the freeway segments would be improved:
• U.S. 101 Southbound Ramps/Echo Valley Road/Crazy Horse Canyon Road (#1): Install a traffic signal at this intersection. However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to mitigate its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement.

Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable. • U.S. 101 Northbound Ramps/Crazy Horse Canyon Road (#2): Install traffic signal. However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• Crazy Horse Canyon Road/San Juan Grade Road (#5): Install traffic signal.

However, while the project would make a fair share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• Natividad Road/Rogge Road (#12): Install traffic signal. However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• Natividad Road/Russell Road (#13): Install traffic signal. However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

• North Main Street/East Boronda Road (#17): Install southbound and westbound left turn lanes. The project should make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this adverse cumulative adverse impact. Additionally, implement previously described recommendation to optimize signal timing (see Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-8). As the City has been collecting funds from other development projects to improve this intersection, this contribution would offset the project's contribution to the adverse cumulative impact at this location.
• North Main Street/West Laurel Drive (#32): Install northbound right turn overlap phase. Additionally, implement previously described recommendation to optimize existing signal timings (see Recommended Condition of Approval

3.10-1). However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• Natividad Road/East Laurel Drive (#33): Install northbound and southbound through lanes, and previously identified recommendation to convert the eastbound right turn lane to a shared through-right turn lane (see Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-10). However, under cumulative conditions, the degradations in service levels are considered to be adverse cumulative impacts based on the City's significance thresholds. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable. • Constitution Boulevard/East Laurel Drive (#34): Install southbound left turn lane. However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• Old Stage Road/Williams Road/Private Road (#36): Install traffic signal.

However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• North Main Street/East Bernal Drive (#37): Install a northbound through lane, add in a northbound right turn overlap phase, and convert the westbound through lane to a westbound shared through-left turn lane. However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

• Sherwood Drive/Natividad Road & East Bernal Drive/La Posada Way (#38):

Install northbound and southbound through lanes. Additionally, implement the previously identified recommendation to optimize existing signal timings and add an eastbound left turn pocket (see Recommended Condition of Approval

3.10-4). However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• Williams Road/East Boronda Road (#40): Install a traffic signal or roundabout, to improve the intersection's LOS to A during the evening peak hour. Additionally, implement previously identified recommendation to install an eastbound left turn lane (see Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-25).

As this improvement is part of the City's Traffic Improvement Program, the City has been collecting funds from other development projects to improve this intersection, this contribution would offset the project's contribution to the adverse cumulative impact at this location.
• South Davis Road/Blanco Road (#53): Install a westbound left turn lane. This improvement is part of the City's Traffic Improvement Program. As the City has been collecting funds from other development projects to improve this intersection, this contribution would offset the project's contribution to the adverse cumulative impact at this location.
• Main Street/Blanco Road (#56): Install a northbound left turn lane. This improvement is part of the City's Traffic Improvement Program. However, even with this mitigation, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• U.S. 101 Mainline Segments: Contribution to the TAMC RDIF Program and payment of the City of Salinas's Traffic Impact Fees for the U.S. 101 Northbound Boronda Road Off-Ramp and the U.S. 101 Northbound West Laurel Drive Off-Ramp (see previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-6). The proposed condition of approval for this impact is the project requirement to contribute to the TAMC Regional Development Impact Fee (RDIF) Program and the City of Salinas's Traffic Impact Fee (TIF) Program. These programs include improvements to U.S. 101 that would improve mainline and ramp junction operations, which would reduce this project impact to a less than adverse level.

CONCLUSION
Under Cumulative Plus Project conditions, implementation of the proposed Specific Plan may conflict with the transportation performance measures established by the City CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

of Salinas, Monterey County, and Caltrans. While the use of LOS within CEQA is no longer permitted, the City desires to manage congestion levels to maintain consistency with its General Plan and the County's General Plan. In accordance with these guidelines, conditions of approval are identified and recommended to manage congestion levels to those specified within the current General Plans. The proposed project under the cumulative scenario would require the implementation of the following recommended conditions of approval, as well as previously identified Recommended Conditions of Approval 3.10-1 through 3.10-13, which are provided within the Traffic Impact Assessment developed by Fehr & Peers. However, even with implementation of these conditions of approval, the project would have a cumulatively considerable and adverse and unavoidable impact under this scenario.

RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-14: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall contribute its fair-share of funding to the TAMC Regional Development Impact Fee to provide improvements addressing this impact identified as the installation of a traffic signal at intersection of U.S. 101 Southbound Ramps/Echo Valley Road/Crazy Horse Canyon Road. Regional fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas in consultation with TAMC. This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design, as specified by the City of Salinas Public Works Department.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-15: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall contribute its fair-share of the TAMC Regional Development Impact Fee to provide improvements addressing this impact identified as the installation of a traffic signal at intersection of U.S. 101 Northbound Ramps/Crazy Horse Canyon Road. Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas in consultation with TAMC Fees are payable to final improvement plans for each tentative map.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-16: Prior to the approval of final improvement plans for each tentative map, each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share contribution for the installation of a traffic signal at intersection of Crazy Horse Canyon Road/San Juan Grade Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant. Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement. This condition shall consider the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design, as specified by the City of Salinas Public Works Department.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-17: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share contribution for the installation of a traffic signal at intersection of Natividad Road/Rogge Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement. This condition shall consider the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design, as specified by the City of Salinas Public Works Department.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-18: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share contribution for the installation of a traffic signal at intersection of Natividad Road/Russell Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement. This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design, as specified by the City of Salinas Public Works Department.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-19: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share contribution for the installation of southbound and westbound left turn lanes at the intersection of North Main Street/East Boronda Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non- residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design, as specified by the City of Salinas Public Works Department.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-20: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share contribution for the installation of a northbound right turn overlap phase at the intersection of North Main Street/West Laurel Drive, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non- residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-21: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share contribution for the installation of a southbound left turn lane at the intersection of Constitution Boulevard/East Laurel Drive, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

nonresidential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-22: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share contribution for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Old Stage Road/Williams Road/Private Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design, as specified by the City of Salinas Public Works Department.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-23: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share contribution for the installation of a northbound through lane, the addition of a northbound right turn overlap phase, and the conversion of the westbound through lane to a westbound shared through-left turn lane at the intersection of North Main Street/East Bernal Drive, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note these improvements and the fair-share funding requirement.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-24: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share contribution for the installation of a northbound and southbound through lanes at the intersection of Sherwood Drive/Natividad Road & East Bernal Drive/La Posada Way, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-25: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share contribution for the installation of an eastbound left turn lane at the intersection of Williams Road/East Boronda Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-26: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share contribution for the installation of a westbound left turn lane at the intersection of South Davis Road/Blanco Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-27: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share contribution for the installation of a northbound left turn lane at the intersection of Main Street/Blanco Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

Impact 3.10-4: Under Cumulative Plus Project with West Area Specific Plan conditions, implementation of the proposed Specific Plan may conflict with the transportation performance measures established by the City of Salinas, Monterey County, and Caltrans (Adverse and Unavoidable) Implementation of the Specific Plan would result in unacceptable operation at twenty- two of the study intersections, and four of the freeway segments, under the cumulative Plus Project with West Area Specific Plan scenario. This would be a potentially adverse impact.

The locations that would operate with unacceptable LOS under the cumulative plus project with Central Area Specific Plan scenario include the following intersections:
• U.S. 101 Southbound Ramps/Echo Valley Road/Crazy Horse Canyon Road (#1): LOS F during the PM peak hour
• U.S. 101 Northbound Ramps/Crazy Horse Canyon Road (#2): LOS F during the PM peak hour
• Crazy Horse Canyon Road/San Juan Grade Road (#5): LOS F during the PM peak hour
• Hebert Road/San Juan Grade Road (#6): LOS E during the PM peak hour • Old Stage Road/Herbert Road (#7): LOS E during PM peak hour • Natividad Road/Rogge Road (#12): LOS F during the PM peak hour • Natividad Road/Russell Road (#13): LOS F during both peak hours • San Juan Grade Road/Van Buren Avenue (#14): LOS F during both peak hours • North Main Street/Boronda Road (#17): LOS F during the PM peak hour • Natividad Road/Boronda Road (#22): LOS F during PM peak hour CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

• North Main Street/West Laurel Drive (#32): LOS F during the PM peak hour • Natividad Road/East Laurel Drive (#33): LOS F during both peak hours • Constitution Boulevard/East Laurel Drive (#34): LOS F during both peak hours • North Sanborn Road/Boronda Road (#35): LOS F during PM peak hour • Old Stage Road/Williams Road/Private Road (#36): LOS F during both peak hours
• North Main Street/East Bernal Drive (#37): LOS E during both peak hours • Sherwood Drive/Natividad Road/East Bernal Drive/La Posada Way (#38): LOS F during both peak hours
• Williams Road/East Boronda Road (#40): LOS F During PM peak hour • East Front Street/Sherwood Drive/Market Street (#51): LOS E during PM peak hour
• South Davis Road/Blanco Road (#53): LOS F during both peak hours • Salinas Street/North Main Street/West Market Street/East Market Street (#55):

LOS F during both peak hours
• South Main Street/West Blanco Road/East Blanco Road (#56): LOS E during PM peak hour
In addition, the following freeway segments would operate with unacceptable LOS under the cumulative plus project with Central Area Specific Plan scenario:
• San Juan Road to Crazy Horse Canyon Road:
• Southbound: LOS F during the PM peak hour
• Northbound: San Juan Road to Crazy Horse Canyon Road
(northbound): LOS E during both peak hours
• Crazy Horse Canyon Road to San Miguel Canyon Road: (southbound) LOS E during the PM peak hour
• San Miguel Canyon Road to SR 156:
o Northbound: LOS F during both peak hours
o Southbound: LOS E during AM peak hour and LOS F during PM peak hour
• SR 156 to Sala Road (southbound): LOS F during the PM peak hour All ramp junctions perform at or above the minimum standards set by the County CMP under this scenario.

With implementation of the recommended improvements described below, operation at all twenty-two of the affected intersections and the each of the freeway segments would be improved:
• U.S. 101 Southbound Ramps/Echo Valley Road/Crazy Horse Canyon Road (#1): Install a traffic signal at this intersection. However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement.

Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

• U.S. 101 Northbound Ramps/Crazy Horse Canyon Road (#2): Install a traffic signal at this intersection. However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable. • Crazy Horse Canyon Road/San Juan Grade Road (#5): Install traffic signal.

With the implementation of the identified improvement, the cumulative impact would be less than significant.
• Old Stage Road/Hebert Road (#7): Install traffic signal. With the implementation of the identified improvement, the cumulative impact would be less than significant.
• Natividad Road/Rogge Road (#12): Install traffic signal. However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, , there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• Natividad Road/Russell Road (#13): Install traffic signal. However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• San Juan Grade Road/Van Buren Avenue (#14): Install traffic signal. With the implementation of the identified improvement, the cumulative impact would be less than significant.
• North Main Street/East Boronda Road (#17): Install southbound and westbound left turn lanes. Additionally, implement previously described recommendation to optimize signal timing (see Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-8). However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable. • Natividad Road/Boronda Road (#22): No further physical improvements are possible at this location. This cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• Natividad Road/East Laurel Drive (#33): Install northbound and southbound through lanes. However, under cumulative conditions, the degradations in CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

service levels are considered to be adverse cumulative impacts based on the City's significance thresholds. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• Constitution Boulevard/East Laurel Drive (#34): Install southbound left turn lane. Additionally, implement previously recommendation to install an eastbound left turn lane (see Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-29).

However, even with these improvements, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• North Sanborn Road/Boronda Road (#35): Install a roundabout. The roundabout shall be of adequate size and configuration to adequately serve forecast traffic levels in accordance with City General Plan policies. With the implementation of the identified improvement, the cumulative impact would not be adverse.
• Old Stage Road/Williams Road/Private Road (#36): Install traffic signal. With the implementation of the identified improvement, the cumulative impact would not be adverse.
• North Main Street/East Bernal Drive (#37): Install a northbound through lane, add in a northbound right turn overlap phase, and convert the westbound through lane to a westbound shared through-left turn lane. However, even with this improvement, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• Sherwood Drive/Natividad Road & East Bernal Drive/La Posada Way (#38):

Install northbound and southbound through lanes. Additionally, implement the previously identified recommendation to optimize existing signal timings and add an eastbound left turn pocket (see Recommended Condition of Approval

3.10-4). However, while the project would make a fair-share contribution to offset its contribution to this impact, there is no mechanism to ensure the full funding and completion of the improvement. Thus, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• Williams Road/East Boronda Road (#40): Install a traffic signal or roundabout, to improve the intersection's LOS to A during the evening peak hour. Additionally, implement previously identified recommendation to install an eastbound left turn lane (see Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-25).

With the implementation of the identified improvements, the cumulative impact would not be adverse.
• East Front Street/Sherwood Drive/Market Drive (#51): Install southbound left turn lane. With the implementation of the identified improvement, the cumulative impact would not be adverse.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

• South Davis Road/Blanco Road (#53): Install a westbound left turn lane.

However, even with this improvement, , this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• Salinas Street/North Main Street/West Market Street/East Market Street (#55): Install southbound left turn lane and optimize signal timings. In addition, implement previiously identified recommendation to install an eastbound through lane (see Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-32). However, even with these improvements, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• South Main Street/Blanco Road (#56): Install a northbound left turn lane. This improvement is part of the City's Traffic Improvement Program. However, even with this improvement, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.
• U.S. 101 Mainline Segments: Contribution to the TAMC RDIF Program and payment of the City of Salinas's Traffic Impact Fees. The proposed method for addressing this impact is the project's required contribution to the TAMC RDIF Program and the City of Salinas's TIF Program. These programs include improvements to U.S. 101 that would improve mainline and ramp junction operations. However, even with these payments, this cumulative impact is considered adverse and unavoidable.

CONCLUSION
Under Cumulative Plus Project with West Area Specific Plan conditions, implementation of the proposed Specific Plan may conflict with the transportation performance measures established by the City of Salinas, Monterey County, and Caltrans. While the use of LOS within CEQA is no longer permitted, the City desires to manage congestion levels to maintain consistency with its General Plan and the County's General Plan. In accordance with these guidelines, conditions of approval are identified and recommended to manage congestion levels to those specified within the current General Plans. The proposed project under the cumulative Plus West Area Specific Plan scenario would require the implementation of the following mitigation measure, as well as previously identified Recommended Conditions of Approval 3.10-1 through 3.10- 27, which are provided within the Traffic Impact Assessment developed by Fehr & Peers. However, even with implementation of these conditions of approval, the project would have a cumulatively considerable and adverse and unavoidable impact under this scenario.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-28: Prior to the approval of final improvement plans for each tentative map, each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share contribution for the installation of a traffic signal at intersection of Old Stage Road/Hebert Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant. Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement. This condition shall include the use of currently available Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) in the intersection design.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-29: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share of funding for the installation of an eastbound left turn lane at Constitution Boulevard/East Laurel Drive, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-30: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share of funding for the installation of an appropriately sized roundabout at North Sanborn Road/Boronda Road, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-31: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share of funding for the installation of a southbound left turn lane at East Front Street/Sherwood Drive/Market Drive, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non-residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-32: Each project applicant for development within the Specific Plan Area shall provide its fair-share of funding for the installation of an eastbound through lane at Salinas Street/North Main Street/West Market Street/East Market Street, in proportion to the area planned for development by such project applicant, in accordance with City policies (payable prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for residential and prior to building permit issuance for non- residential development). Total fees shall be determined by the City of Salinas. The final CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

improvement plans shall note this improvement and the fair-share funding requirement.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-33: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-14, which identifies the need to install a traffic signal at the intersection at U.S. 101 Southbound Ramps/Echo Valley Road/Crazy Horse Canyon Road.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-34: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-15, which identifies the need to install a traffic signal at the intersection at U.S. 101 Northbound Ramps/Crazy Horse Canyon Road
Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-35: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-16, which identifies the need to install a traffic signal at the intersection at Crazy Horse Canyon Road/San Juan Grade Road.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-36: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-28, which identifies the need to install a traffic signal at the intersection at Old Stage Road/Hebert Road.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-37: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-17, which identifies the need to install a traffic signal at the intersection at Natividad Road/Rogge Road.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-38: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-18, which identifies the need to install a traffic signal at the intersection at Natividad Road/Russell Road.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-39: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-7, which identifies the need to install a traffic signal at the intersection at San Juan Grade Road/Van Buren Avenue.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-40: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-8 and 3.10-19, which identifies the need to install southbound and westbound left turn lanes, and to optimize signal timing, at North Main Street/East Boronda Road.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-41: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-2, which identifies the need to install northbound and southbound through lanes at Natividad Road/East Laurel Drive.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-42: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-21 and 3.10-29, which identify the need to Install southbound left turn lane and an eastbound left turn lane at Constitution Boulevard/East Laurel Drive.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-43: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-3, which identifies the need to install a roundabout at the intersection at North Sanborn Road/Boronda Road.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-44: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-22, which identifies the need to install a traffic signal at the intersection at Old Stage Road/Williams Road/Private Road.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-45: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-23, which identifies the need to install a northbound through lane, add in a northbound right turn overlap phase, and convert the westbound through lane to a westbound shared through-left turn lane at the intersection of North Main Street/East Bernal Drive.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-46: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approvals 3.10-4 and 3.10-24, which identify the need to install northbound and southbound through lanes, Optimize existing signal timings, and add an eastbound left turn pocket, at the intersection of Sherwood Drive/Natividad Road & East Bernal Drive/La Posada Way.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-47: Implement previously identified Recommended Conditions of Approval 3.10-12 and 3.10-25, which identify the need to traffic signal or roundabout, to improve the intersection's LOS to A during the evening peak hour, and to install an eastbound left turn lane, at the intersection of Williams Road/East Boronda Road
Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-48: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-31, which identifies the need install a southbound left turn lane at the intersection of East Front Street/Sherwood Drive/Market Drive.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-49: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-26, which identifies the need install a westbound left turn lane at the intersection of South Davis Road/Blanco Road.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-50: Implement previously identified Recommended Conditions of Approval 3.10-13 and 3.10-32, which identify the need to install a southbound left turn lane and optimize signal timings, and to install an eastbound through lane, at the intersection of Salinas Street/North Main Street/West Market Street/East Market Street.

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-51: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-27, which identifies the need to install a northbound left turn lane at the intersection at South Main Street/Blanco Road.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-52: Implement previously identified Recommended Condition of Approval 3.10-6, which identifies the need to contribute to the TAMC RDIF Program and payment of the City of Salinas's Traffic Impact Fees for the U.S. 101 Mainline Segments.

Impact 3.10-5: Implementation of the proposed Specific Plan would not substantially increase hazards due to a design feature (Less than Significant) The Specific Plan Area is within the jurisdiction of the City of Salinas and is subject to all design standards which minimize hazards due to design features. The proposed land use changes that are estimated to add traffic to current and proposed streets would be carefully evaluated through the development review process. If needed, individual projects would be conditioned to construct or provide funding for improvements that minimize or eliminate potential hazards. Typical improvements include shoulder widening, adding turn pockets, adding sidewalks or crosswalks, realigning sharp curves, prohibiting certain turning movements, and signalizing intersections, among other options. Newly constructed and upgraded roadways needed to accommodate new development would be designed according to applicable State and local design standards.

Conclusion: Implementation of the proposed Specific Plan would not substantially increase hazards due to a design feature. Development within the Specific Plan Area would include new streets, access points, paths, and other circulation improvements that would be reviewed and checked for compliance with design and safety standards as part of the entitlement process conducted by the City of Salinas. Therefore, this impact would be less than significant.

Impact 3.10-6: Implementation of the proposed Specific Plan would not result in impacts related to emergency access (Less than Significant) Buildout of the proposed Specific Plan would result in increased development densities and land use intensities within the Specific Plan Area. As a result of buildout of the Central Area Specific Plan, which includes the development of an internal transportation network within the Plan Area, the volume of users travelling within the Specific Plan Area is expected to increase. Emergency access along proposed and existing roadways must be accommodated in conjunction within the expected population and employment growth. Fire Departments, Police Departments and ambulance providers adjust their services over time to provide response times in accordance with their local, state and national mandates. As traffic and congestion levels shift over time, these services adapt to provide response times within their governing requirements. The recommended conditions of approval provided herein as implemented will reduce the need for local departments to modify and/or augment their services to provide acceptable emergency vehicle response times. Plans submitted for individual developments to be constructed in the Specific Plan Area would be reviewed for compliance with emergency access CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

requirements by public safety officials during the City's entitlement process.

Implementation of the proposed Specific Plan would not result in impacts related to emergency access. Given these conditions, any impacts to emergency access are anticipated to be less than significant.

Impact 3.10-7: Implementation of the proposed Specific Plan would not conflict with adopted multi-modal circulation policies, plans, or programs, and would not decrease the performance or safety of public transit, bicycle, or pedestrian facilities (Less than Significant)
Impacts to Pedestrians and Bicyclists: Overall, existing plans and policies are supportive of multimodal activity including bicycling and walking within the City of Salinas. City policies related to biking and walking are defined in the existing General Plan Circulation Element through Goal C-4 and Goal C-5. Together, these goals set citywide policies that provide for safe and accessible bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Additionally, the 2002 Salinas Bikeways Plan and 2004 Salinas Pedestrian Plan provide prioritized lists of projects and programs in service of the above goals. In accordance with the standards of significance, the Central Area Specific Plan would not have significant impacts on the bicycle and pedestrian network because the Specific Plan does not interfere with existing plans or policies related to biking and/or walking. In addition, the Specific Plan proposes a robust internal network of pedestrian and bicycle facilities in accordance with adopted multi-modal circulation policies, plans and programs.

As estimated by Fehr & Peers (2019), the CASP is expected to generate approximately 1,900 daily walking and biking trips; 280 of which are anticipated in the morning peak hour and 240 of which are anticipated in the evening peak hour. The CASP includes specifications to include new bicycle and pedestrian facilities that will provide access to the site.

Implementation of the Specific Plan would be consistent with, and would expand upon, the pedestrian and bicycle network identified in the 2002 Salinas Bikeways Plan. The Specific Plan would improve the existing bicycle and pedestrian circulation infrastructure within the Specific Plan Area, as well as adjacent areas in the City of Salinas.

Ultimately, the planned pedestrian and bicycle circulation networks, as well as policies pertaining to pedestrian and bicycle circulation, encourage active transportation.

Impacts related to pedestrians and bicyclists would be less than significant.

Impacts to Public Transit: Implementation of the proposed Specific Plan is expected to increase population and employment within the Specific Plan Area, as well as the City of Salinas. According to Policy C-3.1 and Policy C-3.2 of the current Salinas General Plan, the City shall support Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) in developing frequent and effective public transportation service, including to and from new development areas. The Central Area Specific Plan is estimated to generate approximately 800 new transit trips on a daily basis, as well as 130 trips in the morning CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department