Appendix D-1
Cultural Technical Memorandum for the
Reduced Development Footprint Alternative –
Vernal Pool Minimization
13534
MEMORANDUM
To: Saima Qureshy, City of San Marcos
From: Matthew DeCarlo, MA, RPA
Subject: Cultural Resources Impact for the Reduced Development Footprint Alternative – Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan for the Pacific Specific Plan Project, City of San Marcos, California
Date: March 19, 2024
cc: Vanessa Scheidel, Dudek
Attachment(s): Figures
This letter summarizes a review of potential cultural resource impacts of the Reduced Development Footprint Alternative – Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan for the Pacific Specific Plan Project (Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan), located in the City of San Marcos , California. The Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan would reduce the number of proposed residential units from the original 449 to 2 28 units. Dudek conducted a cultural resources inventory for the original 33.2-acre Project site (DeCarlo 2022) (Figure 1. Project Location) which included the current Vernal Pool Impact Minimi zation Plan’s area of potential effect (APE) (Figure 2. Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan Map). The original inventory was conducted in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and was reviewed by the City of San Marcos as lead agency. The 2022 study of the original Project included a review of archival records, Native American outreach, and pedestrian survey.
Cultural Resources Inventory Results
Dudek requested a records search from the SCIC for the original Project site and a one -mile buffer on March 13, 2021 (DeCarlo 2022) . The records search revealed that 69 previous cultural resources studies have been completed within 1-mile of the original Project site, one of which consisted of a records search, archival review, and a pedestrian survey of the entire original Project site. This study identified no cultural resources within the original Project site. The SCIC records search also revealed that no cultural resources have been recorded within the original Project site; the closest resources consisting of highly disturbed prehistoric artifact scatters located 0.4 miles from the original Project site. As no previously recorded resources were identified within the original Project Site, no previously recorded resources were identified within the Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan APE.
Memorandum
Cultural Resources Impacts for the Reduced Development Footprint Alternative – Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan for the Pacific Specific Plan Project 13170
2 March2024
In addition to the SCIC records search, Dudek conducted an on -line review of historic aerial photographs of the original Project site and general vicinity. The review of the historic aerial images demonstrate s that, besides unofficial dirt roads and some limited clearing, there has been no development of the Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan APE (DeCarlo 2022).
Dudek requested a Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) search of the Sacred Lands File (SLF) on March 12, 2021 for the original Project site and 1 -mile (DeCarlo 2022). The NAHC reported that the SLF did not identify any known Native American cultural resources within the original Project site or the surrounding one -mile buffer.
The NAHC additionally provided a list of Native American tribes and individuals/organizations with traditional geographic associations that might have knowledge of cultural resources in this area. Dudek sent outreach letters to all Native American group representatives included on the NAHC contact list. The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians responded stating the original P roject site is located within the Band’s specific Area of Historic Interest, and requests a survey of the property, a professional tribal monitor during the survey, a copy of the final study for review and comment, and request for further consultation with the City. The second response is from the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, stating the original Project site has cultural significance or ties to the Kumeyaay Nation and recommends notifying the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, requests all CEQA, National Environmental Policy Act, and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act regulations be followed, and requests immediate contact of San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians on any changes or inadvertent discoveries. Two San Pasqual Band representatives were included in Dudek’s Native American outreach but no responses were received.
In compliance with Assembly Bill 52 and Senate Bill 18, the City, as lead agency, is responsible for conducting government to government consultation with pertinent tribal entities. During consultation, Cheryl Madrigal, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for Rincon Band, shared concerns with the City that the original Project site might have been a prehistoric meeting location (Dudek 2022). Ms. Madrigal, Dudek representatives, and City representatives met on the original Project site, including the Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan APE, on July 12, 2022. They discussed the Project details and Ms. Madrigal stated that she would share her recommendations with the City via email. The City also negotiated and agreed with Tribal representative to mitigation measures to protect unknown TCRs that may be buried within the original Project site.
Dudek archaeologist conducted a pedestrian survey of the original Project site on March 23, 2021 (DeCarlo 2022).
The original Project site was undeveloped but surrounded by numerous industrial buildings. Portions of the original Project site have been previously disturbed, as evidenced by the presence of several dirt roads with deep ruts and numerous well-worn foot paths. The pedestrian survey did not identify any cultural resources within the original Project site; thus, no cultural resources were identified within the Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan APE.
Management Considerations
Dudek’s cultural resources inventory for the Project did not identify any cultural resources within the original Project site, thus, no cultural resources were identified in the reduced Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan APE. Neither the original Project site nor the Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan APE pose the potential to impact known cultural resources. However, following Native American consultation pursuant to Assembly Bill 52 and Senate Bill 18, the City negotiated mitigation measures with consulting tribes to assure identification and appropriate handling of potentially buried Tribal Cultural Resources (TCR) within the original Project site. As the proposed Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan APE proposes less land development than does the original Project site, the Vernal Pool Memorandum
Cultural Resources Impacts for the Reduced Development Footprint Alternative – Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan for the Pacific Specific Plan Project 13170
3 March2024
Impact Minimization Plan APE has a reduced potential of impacting TCRs that may be buried within the Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan APE. The mitigation measures developed for the original Project site are sufficient for the reduced Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Plan APE.
References
DeCarlo, M. 2022. Cultural Resource Inventory Report for the Pacific GPA/Rezone Project, City of San Marcos, California.
78 Project Location
Pacific GPA/Rezone EIR
SOURCE: USGS 7.5-Minute Serues San Marcos Quadrangle
Date: 3/23/2021 - Last saved by: agreis - Path: Z:\Projects\j1317001\MAPDOC\DOCUMENT\Cultural\Figure1-ProjectLocation.mxd 02 , 0 0 0 1,000
Feet
Project Boundary
FIGURE 1
Chula Vista
Solana Beach
Encinitas
San Diego
Carlsbad
Oceanside
La Mesa
Santee
Poway
San Marcos
Escondido
Vista
Imperial
Beach
Del Mar
Coronado
Riverside
County
Mexico
905
209
75 52
94 125
241
9854
73 274
195
56 86
111
67 74
74 76 79
78 805
215
15 5
8 Project Site
SOURC
E: Summ
a Architecture,
2024
Z:\Projects\j1317001\MAPDOC\DOCUMENT\EIR
FIGURE 2
Reduced Development Footprint Alternative - Vernal Pool Impact Minimization Pacific Project EIR