Climate Action Plan Consistency Review Checklist
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CLIMATE ACTION PLAN CONSISTENCY REVIEW CHECKLIST
INTRODUCTION
The City of San Marcos (City) adopted an updated Climate Action Plan (CAP) in December, 2020. The CAP outlines strategies and measures that the City will undertake to achieve its proportional share of State greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets. The purpose of the CAP Consistency Checklist (Checklist), in conjunction with the CAP, is to provide a streamlined review process for all proposed development projects that are subject to discretionary review and/or trigger environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Analysis of GHG emissions and potential climate change impacts from new development is required under CEQA. The City's CAP is a qualified greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction plan in accordance with State CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15064(h)(3), 15130(d), and 15183(b), a project's incremental contribution to a cumulative GHG emissions effect may be determined not to be cumulatively considerable if it complies with the requirements of a CAP.
The purpose of this Checklist is to implement GHG reduction measures from the CAP that apply to new discretionary development projects. New development would demonstrate consistency with relevant CAP strategies and would not conflict with the City's ability to achieve the identified GHG reduction targets through implementation of applicable measures. Projects that are consistent with the CAP, as determined through the use of this Checklist, may rely on the CAP for the cumulative impact analysis of GHG emissions.
Projects that are not consistent with the CAP must prepare a comprehensive project-specific analysis of GHG emissions, including quantification of existing and projected GHG emissions and incorporation of the measures in this Checklist to the extent feasible. Cumulative GHG impacts would be significant for any project that is not consistent with the CAP.
This Checklist may be updated periodically to incorporate new GHG reduction techniques or to comply with later amendments to the CAP or local, State, or federal law. Comprehensive updates to this Checklist will be coordinated with each CAP update. Administrative updates to the Checklist may occur regularly, as necessary for the purpose of keeping the Checklist up-to-date and implementable. Updates to the CAP Checklist associated with an update to the City's CAP would also require City Council approval and shall comply with CEQA.
Development Services 1 Civic Center Drive San Marcos, CA 92069 (760) 744-1050 www.san-marcos.net
1 In this context, a project is any action that meets the definition of a “Project” in Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelin es.
Application Information
STEP 1: LAND USE CONSISTENCY
The first step in this section evaluates a project's GHG emissions consistent with the City's Guidance to Demonstrating Consistency with the City of San Morcos Climate Action Pion: For Discretionary Projects Subject to CEQA (Guidance Document). New discretionary development projects subject to CEQA review that emit fewer than 500 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) annually would not contribute considerably to cumulative climate change impacts as stated in the City's Guidance Document, and therefore, would be considered consistent with the CAP and associated emissions projections .
For projects that are subject to CAP consistency review, the next step in determining consistenc y is to assess the project's consistency with the growth projections used in the development of the CAP. This section allows the city to determine a project's consistency with the land use assumptions used in the CAP.
Development Services 1 Civic Center Drive San Marcos, CA 92069 (760) 744-1050 www.san-marcos.net Step 1: Land Use Consistency
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STEP 2: CAP MEASURES CONSISTENCY
The second step of CAP consistency review is to evaluate a project's consistency with the applicable strategies and measures of the CAP. Each Checklist item is associated with a specific GHG reduction measure in the City's CAP. "N/A" should only be checked based on the direction provided in each Checklist Item question. All projects for which the measure is applicable must demonstrate that they would implement measures consistent with the Checklist Item, or fully substantiate how the item would be infeasible for project implementation. "N/A" responses are subject to Planning Division review and approval. If " No" is provided as a response to a question, the project would be determined to be inconsistent with the CAP and result in a significant GHG impact.
Development Services 1 Civic Center Drive San Marcos, CA 92069 {760) 744-1050 www.san-marcos.net Step 2: CAP Measures Consistency
Checklist Item
(Check the appropriate box and provide an explanation for your answer. Please use additional sheets if necessary)
Yes No N/A
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Step 2: CAP Measures Consistency
Checklist Item
(Check the appropriate box and provide an explanation for your answer. Please use additional sheets if necessary)
Yes No N/A
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2 The designated number of car -share, carpool, vanpool, and/or park -and-ride parking spaces provided at a rate equal to or greater than CALGreen minimum requirements.
3 Measure T -10 requires projects to increase alternative mode share by seven percent. Th e baseline mode share for alternative transportation (i.e. carpool, public transit, bicycle, walk, and telecommute) is 22 percent based on 2010 Census Data.
Step 2: CAP Measures Consistency
Checklist Item
(Check the appropriate box and provide an explanation for your answer. Please use additional sheets if necessary)
Yes No N/A
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4 All four Sprinter stations and some bus stops are considered eligible for reduced parking for Mul ti-family residential projects.
Consult with City staff to confirm if your project is subject to this CAP Measure.
Step 2: CAP Measures Consistency
Checklist Item
(Check the appropriate box and provide an explanation for your answer. Please use additional sheets if necessary)
Yes No N/A
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5 City of San Marcos Landscape Manual: https://www.san -marcos.net/hom e/showdocument?id=13984 Step 2: CAP Measures Consistency
Checklist Item
(Check the appropriate box and provide an explanation for your answer. Please use additional sheets if necessary)
Yes No N/A
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