Appendix M
Public Comments and Responses to Comments
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Responses to Comment Letters Received on the Draft
MND
The Draft MND was circulated for public review from July 14, 2023, through August 14, 2023, in accordance with Section 15105(a) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. A total of two (2) written comment letters were received on the Draft MND from agencies and organizations, as shown in Table 1. Each of the written comment letters have been assigned an alphanumeric la bel, and the individual comm ents within each written comment letter are bracketed and numbered. For example, Comment Letter A1 contains six comments that are numbered A1-1 through A1-6.
The responses to each comment on the Draft EIR represent a good-faith, reasoned effort to address the environmental issues identified by the comments. Pursuant to Section 15088(a) of the CEQA Guidelines, the City of San Marcos (City), as lead agency, is not required to respond to all comments on the Draft EIR, but only those comments that raise environmental issues. In accordance with CEQA Guidelines Sections 15088 and 15204, the City has independently evaluated the comments and prepared the attached written responses to any significant environmental issues raised.
Table 1. Comment letters and Commenters
CComment Letter CCommenter DDate RReceived
AAgency
A1 California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) August 10, 2023 OOrganizations
O1 San Diego County Archaeological Society July 15, 2023
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“Provide a safe and reliable transportation network that serves all people and respects the environment” DISTRICT 11
4050 TAYLOR STREET, MS-240
SAN DIEGO, CA 92110
(619) 709-5152 | FAX (619) 688-4299 TTY 711
www.dot.ca.gov
August 10, 2023
11-SD-78
PM 11.49
Marcos Specific Plan Project
SCH #20230720239
Mr. Chris Garcia
Senior Planner
City of San Marcos
1 Civic Center Drive
San Marcos, CA 92069
Dear Mr. Garcia:
Thank you for including the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in the environmental review process for the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Marcos Specific Plan Project located near State Route 78 (SR-78). The mission of Caltrans is to provide a safe and reliable transportation network that serves all people and respects the environment. The Local Development Review (LDR) Program reviews land use projects and plans to ensure consistency with our mission and state planning priorities.
Safety is one of Caltrans’ strategic goals. Caltrans strives to make the year 2050 the first year without a single death or serious injury on California’s roads. We are striving for more equitable outcomes for the transportation network’s diverse users. To achieve these ambitious goals, we will pursue meaningful collaboration with our partners. We encourage the implementation of new technologies, innovations, and best practices that will enhance the safety on the transportation network.
These pursuits are both ambitious and urgent, and
their accomplishment involves a focused departure from the status quo as we continue to institutionalize safety in all our work.
Complete Streets and Mobility Network
Caltrans views all transportation improvements as opportunities to improve safety, access, and mobility for all travelers in California and recognizes bicycle, pedestrian, and transit modes as integral elements of the transportation network. Caltrans supports improved transit accommodation through the provision of Park and Ride facilities, improved bicycle and pedestrian access and safety improvements, signal prioritization for transit, bus on shoulders, ramp improvements, or other enhancements that promotes a complete and integrated transportation network.
Comment Letter A1
A1-1
A1-2
Mr. Chris Garcia, Senior Planner
August 10, 2023
“Provide a safe and reliable transportation network that serves all people and respects the environment” Early coordination with Caltrans, in locations that may affect both Caltrans and the City of San Marcos, is encouraged.
Noise
The applicant must be informed that in accordance with 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 772, the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is not responsible for existing or future traffic noise impacts associated with the existing configuration of Route 78.
Broadband
Caltrans recognizes that teleworking and remote learning lessen the impacts of traffic on our roadways and surrounding communities. This reduces the amount of VMT and decreases the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other pollutants. The availability of affordable and reliable, high-speed broadband is a key component in supporting travel demand management and reaching the state’s transportation and climate action goals.
Right-of-Way
Per Business and Profession Code 8771, perpetuation of survey monuments by a licensed land surveyor is required, if they are being destroyed by any construction.
Any work performed within Caltrans’ R/W will require discretionary review and approval by Caltrans and an encroachment permit will be required for any work within the Caltrans’ R/W prior to construction.
As part of the encroachment permit process, the applicant must provide an approved final environmental document including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination addressing any environmental impacts with the Caltrans’ R/W, and any corresponding technical studies.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Shannon Aston, LDR Coordinator, at (619) 992-0628 or by e-mail sent to [email protected].
Sincerely,
Rogelio Sanchez for
MAURICE A. EATON
Branch Chief
Local Development Review
A1-2
Cont.
A1-3
A1-4
A1-6
A1-5
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Response to Comment Letter A1
AAgency
Caltrans
August 10, 2023
A1-1 Caltrans expresses appreciation for being included in the environmental review process for the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Marcos Specific Plan Project located near State Route 78 (SR- 78). The comment provides a summary of Caltrans’ mission. The comment provides an introduction to comments that follow. The comment does not raise any specific issues related to the adequacy of the Draft MND and no further response is required.
A1-2 The comment expresses that Caltrans looks forward to potential opportunities to coordinate with the City to make improvements to safety, access, and mobility. For any potential construction related activities in the public right-of-way during the construction peri od of the Project, applicable City regulations and policies require two-way traffic to be maintained.
During operation, access for the Project would be provided via driveways on Grand Avenue and Linda Vista Drive. Four driveways would be constructed. Access to the residential area would be provided via Grand Avenue at a northern driveway, and access to the commercial area would be via Grand Avenue at a southern driveway and two driveways along Linda Vista Drive. Additionally, as described in detail in the Local Transportation Assessment prepared for the project (Appendix H-1 to the MND), the project would incorporate a Transportation Demand Management Program. The Project has been designed to incorporate all required San Marcos Fire Department standards to ensure that its implementation would not result in hazardous design features, or inadequate emergency access to the site or areas surrounding the site.
As concluded in Section 2.17 of the MND, the Project would result in less than significant impacts related to traffic and circulation.
A1-3 The comment states that the Project applicant must be informed that Caltrans is not responsible for existing or future traffic noise impacts associated with the existing configuration of SR-78. The City acknowledges this comment. The comment does not raise any specific issues related to the adequacy of the Draft MND, and no further response is required.
A1-4 The comment recognizes that teleworking and remote learning reduces impacts of traffic, reducing VMT and GHG emissions. The comment also states that reliable high-speed broadband is a key component in reaching the state’s transportation and climate action goals. The comment does not raise any specific issues related to the adequacy of the Draft MND, and no further response is required.
A1-5 The comment states that an encroachment permit would be required for any work within the Caltrans right of way, the project would be required to provide an approved final environmental document, the document must address all impacts within the Calt rans right of way, and address any impacts from avoidance or mitigation in the document. The City acknowledges this comment, and the project would
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comply with this requirement. The comment does not raise any specific issues related to the adequacy of the Draft MND, and no further response is required.
A1-6 The comment includes concluding remarks. The comment does not raise any specific environmental issues related to the adequacy of the Draft MND, and no further response is required.
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Comment Letter O1
O1-1
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Response to Comment Letter O1
OOrganization
San Diego County Archaeological Society (James W. Royle, Jr.) July 15, 2023
O1-1 The commenter, representing San Diego County Archaeological Society, provides an introduction and states that the organization concurs with the impact analysis and mitigation recommendations made in the Draft MND. The comment does not raise any specific issues related to the adequacy of the Draft MND and no further response is required.
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