Laws, Ordinances, Regulations, and Standards
Land uses deemed sensitive by the State of California (State) include schools, hospitals, rest homes, and long-term care and mental care facilities. Many jurisdictions also consider residential uses particularly noise-sensitive because families and individuals expect to use time in the home for rest and relaxation, and noise can interfere with those activities. Some jurisdictions may also 6-16
identify other noise-sensitive uses such as churches, libraries, and parks. Land uses that are relatively insensitive to noise include office, commercial, and retail developments. There is a range of insensitive noise receptors that include uses that generate significant noise levels and that typically have a low level of human occupancy.
This noise analysis was conducted in accordance with Federal, State, and local criteria described in the following sections.
Federal Noise Standards
The United States Noise Control Act of 1972 (NCA) recognized the role of the Federal government in dealing with major commercial noise sources in order to provide for uniform treatment of such sources. As Congress has the authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, regulation of noise generated by such commerce also falls under congressional authority. The Federal government specifically preempts local control of noise emissions from aircraft, railroad and interstate highways.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA offers guidelines for community noise exposure in the publication Noise Effects Handbook – A Desk Reference to Health and Welfare Effects of Noise. These guidelines consider occupational noise exposure as well as noise exposure in homes. The EPA recognizes an exterior noise level of 55 dB Ldn as a general goal to protect the public from hearing loss, activity interference, sleep disturbance, and annoyance. The EPA and other Federal agencies have adopted suggested land use compatibility guidelines that indicate that residential noise exposures of 55 to 65 dB Ldn are acceptable. The EPA notes, however, that these levels are not regulatory goals, but are levels defined by a negotiated scientific consensus, without concern for economic and technological feasibility or the needs and desires of any particular community.
State of California
The State Office of Planning and Research Noise Element Guidelines include recommended exterior and interior noise level standards for local jurisdictions to identify and prevent the creation of incompatible land uses due to noise. The Office of Planning and Research Noise Element Guidelines contain a land use compatibility table that describes the compatibility of various land uses with a range of environmental noise levels in terms of community noise equivalent level (CNEL). A CNEL is defined as the 24-hour average noise level measured in A-weighted sound pressure level for a 24-hour period with different weighting factors for the noise levels occurring during the day, evening, and nighttime periods. A noise environment of 50 to 60 CNEL is considered to be “normally acceptable” for residential uses. The Office of Planning and Research recommendations also note that, under certain conditions, more restrictive standards than the maximum levels cited may be appropriate. As an example, the standards for quiet suburban and rural communities may be reduced by 5 to 10 dB to reflect their lower existing outdoor noise levels in comparison with urban environments. Table 6-2, Land Use Compatibility Noise Guidelines – California, illustrates the State guidelines established by the State Department of Health Services for acceptable noise levels for each county and city.
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Table 6-2
Land Use Compatibility Noise Guidelines — California
Land Use Category
Community Noise Exposure (Ldn or CNEL, dBA)
Normally
Acceptable
Conditionally
Acceptable
Normally
Unacceptable
Clearly
Unacceptable
Residential - Low Density, Single-Family,
Duplex, Mobile Homes 50 - 60 55 - 70 70-75 75-85
Residential - Multiple Family 50 - 65 60 - 70 70 - 75 70 - 85 Transient Lodging - Motels, and Hotels 50 - 65 60 - 70 70 - 80 80 - 85 Schools, Libraries, Churches, Hospitals,
Nursing Homes 50 - 70 60 - 70 70 - 80 80 - 85
Auditoriums, Concert Halls,
Amphitheaters NA 50 - 70 NA 65 - 85
Sports Arenas, Outdoor Spectator Sports NA 50 - 75 NA 70 - 85 Playgrounds, Neighborhood Parks 50 - 70 NA 67.5 - 75 72.5 - 85 Golf Courses, Riding Stables, Water
Recreation, Cemeteries 50 - 70 NA 70 - 80 80 - 85
Office Buildings, Business Commercial and
Professional 50 - 70 67.5 - 77.5 75 - 85 NA
Industrial, Manufacturing, Utilities,
Agriculture 50 - 75 70 - 80 75 - 85 NA
NA: Not Applicable
Source: General Plan Guidelines, Office of Planning and Research, California, October 2003.
Normally Acceptable – Specified land use is satisfactory, based upon the assumption that any buildings involved are of normal conventional construction, without any special noise insulation requirements.
Conditionally Acceptable – New construction or development should be undertaken only after a detailed analysis of the noise reduction requirements is made and needed noise insulation features included in the design. Conventional construction, but with closed windows and fresh air supply systems or air conditioning, will normally suffice.
Normally Unacceptable – New construction or development should be discouraged. If new construction or development does proceed, a detailed analysis of the noise reduction requirements must be made and needed noise insulation features included in the design.
Clearly Unacceptable – New construction or development should generally not be undertaken.
City Noise Standards
The city of Stanton maintains a comprehensive Noise Control Ordinance within the Municipal Code that sets standards for noise levels citywide and provides the means to enforce the reduction of obnoxious or offensive noises. Chapter 9.28 of the Stanton Municipal Code establishes noise standards and enforcement procedures.
The city of Stanton has adopted a local Noise Control Ordinance (Municipal Code 9.28) in order to control unnecessary, excessive, and annoying sounds emanating from incorporated areas of the city. The Ordinance is designed to control unnecessary, excessive, and annoying sounds in residential neighborhoods by the following noise standards:
Exterior and interior noise of 55 dBA during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Exterior noise of 50 dBA during the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.; and, Interior noise of 45 dBA during the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
The Ordinance prohibits exterior noise sources to exceed the following:
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The noise standard for a cumulative period of more than thirty minutes in any hour; or The noise standard plus 5 dB(A) for a cumulative period of more than fifteen minutes in any hour; or
The noise standard plus 10 dB(A) for a cumulative period of more than five minutes in any hour; or
The noise standard plus 15 dB(A) for a cumulative period of more than one minute in any hour; or
The noise standard plus 20 dB(A) for any period of time.
Interior noise sources cannot exceed the following:
The interior noise standard for a cumulative period of more than five minutes in any hour; or
The interior noise standard plus 5 dB(A) for a cumulative period of more than one minute in any hour; or
The interior noise standard plus 10 dB(A) for any period of time.
Noise Analysis
Human response to noise varies widely depending on the type of noise, time of day, and sensitivity of the receptor. The effects of noise on humans can range from temporary or permanent hearing loss to mild stress and annoyance due to such things as speech interference and sleep deprivation. Prolonged stress, regardless of the cause, is known to contribute to a variety of health disorders. Noise, or the lack of it, is a factor in the aesthetic perception of some settings, particularly those with religious or cultural significance.
Noise impacts can be mitigated in three basic ways: by reducing the sound level of the noise generator, by increasing the distance between the source and receiver, and by insulating the receiver. Noise reduction can be accomplished by placement of walls, landscaped berms, or a combination of the two, between the noise source and the receiver. Generally, effective noise shielding requires a solid barrier with a mass of at least four pounds per square-foot of surface area which is large enough to block the line of sight between source and receiver. Variations may be appropriate in individual cases based on distance, nature and orientation of buildings behind the barrier, and a number of other factors. Garages or other buildings may be used to shield dwelling units and outdoor living areas from traffic noise.
In addition to site design techniques, noise insulation can be accomplished through proper design of buildings. Nearby noise generators should be recognized in determining the location of doors, windows and vent openings. Sound-rated windows (extra thick or multi-paned) and wall insulation are also effective. None of these measures, however, can realize their full potential unless care is taken in actual construction: doors and windows fitted properly, openings sealed, joints caulked, plumbing adequately insulated from structural members. Of course, sound-rated doors and windows will have little effect if left open. This may require installation of air conditioning for adequate ventilation. The chain of design, construction, and operation is only as effective as its weakest link.
Noise impacts can be reduced by insulating noise sensitive uses, such as residences, schools, libraries, hospitals, nursing and care homes and some types of commercial activities. But perhaps a more efficient approach involves limiting the level of noise generation at the source. State and
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Federal statutes have largely preempted local control over vehicular noise emissions but commercial and industrial operations and certain residential activities provide opportunities for local government to assist in noise abatement. Local ordinances may establish maximum levels for noise generated on-site. This usually takes the form of limiting the level of noise permitted to leave the property where it may impact other uses.
Although vehicular noise emission standards are established at the State and Federal levels, local agencies can play a significant part in reducing traffic noise by controlling traffic volume and congestion. Traffic noise is greatest at intersections due to acceleration, deceleration, and gear shifting. Measures such as signal synchronization can help to minimize this problem. Likewise, reduction of congestion aids in reduction of noise. This can be accomplished through the application of traffic engineering techniques such as channelization of turning movements, parking restrictions, separation of modes (bus, auto, bicycle, pedestrian), and restrictions on truck traffic.
Noise reduction through reduction of traffic volumes can also be accomplished with incentive programs for use of public transit facilities and high-occupancy vehicles, staggering of work hours and land use controls. Vehicle trips can be turned into pedestrian trips with integration of housing and employment into the same project or area, construction of high-density, affordable housing in proximity to employment, shopping and public transit facilities and other techniques.
FIRE PROTECTION
The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is a regional fire service agency that provides fire protection services to 22 cities in Orange County, including the city of Stanton and unincorporated areas of Orange County. Established in 1956, OCFA Fire Station #46 is located at 7871 Pacific Street in Stanton. Fire Station #46 currently maintains an Engine and Paramedic Assessment Unit (PAU) with six captains, six engineers and nine firefighters. According to the OCFA, Fire Station #46 responded to 2,352 emergency incidents in 2005, which included fire, emergency medical, hazardous material, false alarms and other incidents.1 OCFA’s Dispatch Center receives and dispatches emergency calls using a Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD) system. The Mapping and Geo-file Group maintains the Fire Station Order file (a key component of CAD to ensure the closest emergency apparatus is sent to an emergency) and produces District Maps for use by emergency apparatus to respond to the emergency scenes.2 It takes approximately three to five minutes for engines to arrive on scene after an emergency (911) call has been placed.3
Fire Hazards
As growth and development continues within the city, and Orange County, urban fires become a greater threat. Within urbanized areas the incidence of structural fires increases. Some of the most difficult fire protection problems within urbanized areas are: multiple story, wood frame, high density apartment developments; large contiguous developed areas with combustible roofcovering materials, storage, handling and use of hazardous materials on site; and natural disasters.
Opportunities to reduce the incidence and effects of urban fires include adherence to the 1 Orange County Fire Authority, “Orange County Fire Authority Partner City Stanton”, www.ocfa.org (accessed October 2006). 2 Orange County Fire Authority, “Emergency Communications”, www.ocfa.org (accessed October 2006). 3 Orange County Fire Authority, “Frequently Asked Questions”, www.ocfa.org (accessed October 2006). 6-20
Uniform Building Code requiring built in fire protection devices, improving the planning and construction of new development, public education and installing fire protection devices in older structures.
There are no CAL FIRE identified Fire Hazard Severity Zones, State Responsibility Areas, Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, or Local Responsibility Areas within the City of Stanton.
Fire Prevention
OCFA’s Planning and Development Services Section works with local jurisdictions and developers to meet fire protection requirements for buildings and developments by reviewing all architectural blue prints, development plans, and proposals submitted in OCFA's jurisdiction. This includes tract and parcel maps, permits for conditional use, site development, coastal development, environmental impact reports, and other items related to the development process.
The city’s Building Division enforces local, State and Federal laws to protect the public safety and general welfare of Stanton. The city has adopted the 2015 California Fire Code. The Building Division administers and enforces compliance with the provisions of the city’s Municipal Code to protect life and property from fire hazards. The Municipal Code requires that prior to approval, new development projects obtain a guarantee from a water purveyor or appropriate government agency that adequate water supply is available to meet fire protection needs.
The Safety & Environmental Services Section of the OCFA conducts safety inspections to enforce applicable fire codes and ordinances. This Section also maintains inventories of chemicals stored, handled and used within the jurisdiction and coordinates hazardous materials emergency plans.
An important component of fire prevention is education. OCFA provides education and training programs and informational materials for fire safety and prevention, as well as general health and safety. Programs focus on safety at home, safety at school and safety in the water.
Medical Emergencies
Generally, an OCFA paramedic engine or paramedic van accompanied by an engine responds to a medical emergency. In the event transportation to a hospital is necessary, a private ambulance company would be called, as OCFA does not maintain ambulances for patient transport.
POLICE PROTECTION
The Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) provides local law enforcement services for 12 cities, including the city of Stanton and unincorporated areas of Orange County. Police services are provided by the West Operations Division, which operate out of the West Station, located in the Stanton Civic Center at 11100 Cedar Street. With the exception of parking control, crossing guard services and code enforcement, OCSD provides full police services for the city. The West Station has 24 deputy sheriffs, one motor officer, five sergeants, four investigators and eight civilian employees.
The city is divided into three geographical areas for patrol and general crimes investigations. Each area has a team of deputies, an Investigator that conducts follow-up investigative work on general crimes occurring within the area and a supervisor designated as the area liaison. The supervisor is the designated liaison with community groups and concerned persons within that area and is
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responsible for coordinating and resolving law enforcement issues within the area.4 The investigative unit includes one sergeant, four investigators and one investigative assistant. This unit provides investigative services for the city of Stanton, pursuing cases generated from reports taken by the patrol deputies. These cases involve all crimes except homicide, rape, fraud, or narcotics, which are handled by the appropriate specialty detail of the OCSD’s Criminal Investigations Division.
The OCSD maintains crime statistics based on the type of crime or offense. Part 1 offenses include crimes such as homicides, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglary, larceny and auto theft. Part II offenses include crimes such as forgery, vandalism, narcotics, and driving while intoxicated. Part III offenses are non-criminal cases such as traffic accidents, missing persons and medical aid. In 2005, the OCSD responded to 1,086 Part I offenses, which was approximately six percent greater than the number responded to in 2004 (1,202).5
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Although definitions of hazardous materials vary, Federal, State and county agencies have generally recognized toxic substances as chemicals or mixtures whose manufacture, process, distribution, use or disposal may present an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment. The OCFA’s Hazardous Materials Area Plan provides a detailed hazard analysis of chemical hazards within Orange County.
Transportation of Hazardous Materials
Major transportation routes within Stanton include surface streets and railroads. Additionally, the Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22) is located south of the city. These transportation routes are used to transport hazardous materials from suppliers to users. Transportation accidents involving hazardous materials could occur on any of the routes, potentially resulting in explosions, physical contact by emergency response personnel, environmental degradation and exposure to the public via airborne exposure.
The Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) is the primary regulatory authority for the interstate transport of hazardous materials. The DOT establishes regulations for safe handling procedures (i.e., packaging, marking, labeling and routing). The California Highway Patrol (CHP) enforces the intrastate transport of hazardous materials and hazardous waste.
Hazardous Waste Management
State Assembly Bill (AB) 2948, enacted legislation authorizing local governments to develop comprehensive hazardous waste management plans. The intent of each plan is to ensure that adequate treatment and disposal capacity is available to manage the hazardous wastes generated within its jurisdiction.
The Orange County Hazardous Waste Management Plan (Plan) provides policy direction and action 4 Orange County Sheriff ‘s Department, “OCSD Patrol Areas City of Stanton”, www.ocsd.org (accessed October 2006). 5 Orange County Sheriff’s Department, “UCR Stats and Graphs”, www.ocsd.org, (accessed October 2006). 6-22
programs to address current and future hazardous waste management issues that require local responsibility and involvement in Orange County. The Plan discusses hazardous waste issues and analyzes current and future hazardous waste generation in the County. The Integrated Waste Management Department (IWMD) of Orange County owns and operates three active landfills, four household hazardous waste collection centers (HHWCC) and monitors ten closed landfills.
The city of Stanton adopted its Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Element in October 1991.
Section 10 of AB 2707 requires the local agency in preparing the HHW Element to comply with several requirements including using feasible methods to properly reduce, collect, recycle, treat and dispose of household hazardous waste generated within its jurisdiction; devote expenditures to the safe reduction, collection, recycling, treatment and disposal of household hazardous waste; make reasonable efforts to inform the public of and to encourage public participation in the household hazardous waste program; and the collection program be made available to all households. The HHW supports the countywide strategy to collect and dispose of household hazardous waste from the community.
Orange County and the city of Stanton have identified permanent HHWCC to manage household hazardous waste. The HHWCC are located in Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Irvine and San Juan Capistrano. The HHWCC are free of charge to Orange County residents and accept products such as latex and oil base paint, antifreeze, batteries, used oil, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and hobby supplies.
The California Health and Safety Code (H&SC) establishes regulations requiring businesses within the city to complete a chemical inventory to disclose hazardous materials stored, used, or handled on site. The disclosure information is intended to assist emergency responders in planning for and handling emergencies involving hazardous materials. The main program objective is to safeguard the lives of emergency responders, the public, and to minimize property loss. The H&SC also requires a Business Emergency Plan (BEP) to assist in mitigating a release or threatened release of a hazardous material, and to minimize any potential harm or damage to human health or the environment. Disclosure of hazardous materials is updated annually. The Fire Prevention Department of the OCFA is responsible for the distribution and handling of disclosure forms.
Additionally, the OCFA maintains the files of all chemical inventory information and business plans, which are made available for public inspection.
CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCY PLANNING
The City prepared a Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) in 2021 to promote effective and integrated actions to safeguard against anticipated impacts from climate change. The City is also in the process of creating a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The purpose of the LHMP is to promote sound public policy designed to protect residents, critical facilities, infrastructure, key resources, private property, and the environment from natural hazards, and it will include a discussion of climate change and anticipated impacts. Additionally, the County of Orange and Orange County Fire Authority collaboratively developed a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) in 2015. In May 2021, an update to the County’s LHMP was made available for public review, which also includes a discussion of climate change and associated risks. Goals, strategies, and actions are included in this Element to address the key findings of the CVA and supplement the climate change discussion within the LHMP. The CVA is included as Appendix A to the Community Health & Safety Element.
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AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS
The Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB) is a full-service joint military training center, airfield and State Disaster Support Area located on approximately 1300 acres within the city of Los Alamitos. The installation serves a wide variety of military, government and public interests and makes critical assets available to the Nation and State in the event of regional disaster or emergency. On-site facilities include two runways and associated taxiways, ramp space and hangers.
Airport Environs Land Use Plan (AELUP)
The Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) is responsible for formulating a comprehensive airport land use plan for the anticipated growth of each public use airport and its environs. The Airport Land Use Commission of Orange County has adopted the Airport Environs Land Use Plan (AELUP), which includes the Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB). City and County General Plans are required to be consistent with the AELUP unless the local legislative body can make specific findings. For consistency between local General Plans and the AELUP, the county focuses on noise, safety and building height. The majority of the city is located within the AELUP Height Restriction Zone for JFTB and the northwest corner of the city is located within the 60 CNEL noise contour for JFTB.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND OPERATIONS
In 1993, Government Code §8607 directed the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), in coordination with all interested State agencies with designated response roles in the State emergency plan and interested local emergency management agencies, to establish by regulation the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS). SEMS is the system required for managing response to multi-agency and multi-jurisdiction emergencies in California. The purpose of SEMS is to improve the mobilization, deployment, utilization, tracking, and demobilization of needed mutual aid resources. The intent is to reduce the incidence of poor coordination and communications and reduce duplication of resources. Local governments are responsible for coordinating emergency response and recovery activities within their jurisdiction. However, local governments must use SEMS to be eligible for funding of their personnel related costs under State disaster assistance programs.
The city of Stanton Emergency Operations Plan (adopted September, 2008) establishes policies and procedures to guide the city during emergency situations. The Plan provides for coordination of planning efforts of various members of the emergency staff and service elements utilizing SEMS.
The responsible parties and duties during an emergency are identified. The Plan outlines the four primary phases of emergency management: Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery, which address the city’s activities before, during and after an emergency has occurred.
The Plan also identifies the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as the location from which centralized emergency management would be performed during a major emergency or disaster.
The EOC is located at the Stanton City Hall and provides a central location of authority and information and face-to-face coordination among personnel who make emergency decisions. The management and coordination of emergency operations would occur from the EOC including receiving and disseminating information, maintaining contact with other EOCs and providing instructions to the public.
Emergency evacuation activities are coordinated by the OCSD. The OCSD will coordinate all law 6-24
enforcement and traffic control operations during a disaster including activation of any public warning systems. The unpredictability of the impact of any disaster on existing streets and highways makes evacuation route designation difficult. Although the routes to be used for an evacuation would depend upon the location of the incident, assuming major streets and freeways are functional, generally the routes would include major arterials and regional routes.
The City prepared an analysis consistent with Senate Bill 99 to identify residential developments in high hazard zones that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes. The analysis found that there are no residential developments within Stanton that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes. A White Paper describing the methodology used to map the high hazard zones and evacuation routes is included as Appendix B to the Community Health & Safety Element.
C. KEY ISSUES
The city of Stanton is located within a seismically active area of southern California. Ground failure hazards resulting from the high potential for liquefaction within the city should be reduced if possible. The standards for development should be regulated to minimize structural damage and loss of life as a result of seismic activity.
Strategy CHS- 1. 1. 1
Ensure that building code standards are enforced and maintained so that new development is located and designed to reduce the effects of a seismic event.
Continue to implement the Uniform Building Code’s seismic standards for construction of new buildings and to maintain seismic safety of existing structures.
Require the review of soils and geologic conditions to determine liquefaction susceptibility of a proposed project site.
Flooding has the potential to affect the safety of Stanton residents and severely impact the economic integrity of the city. Therefore, it is important to ensure that facilities and programs are maintained and operable to prevent excessive flood damage.
CHS- 1 Seismic
Action CHS- 1. 1. 1 ( a)
Action CHS- 1. 1. 1 ( b)
CHS- 2 Flooding
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Strategy CHS- 2. 1. 1
Ensure that facilities and programs are maintained and operable to prevent flood damage.
Minimize potential flood damage through the identification of necessary storm drain improvements.
Continue the maintenance of flood control facilities within Stanton to ensure their efficient operation.
Strategy CHS- 2. 1. 2
Expand the amount of pervious surfaces within the City to help prevent flooding.
Encourage permeable, pervious, and porous surfaces (e.g. landscape, permeable paving, turf block, etc.), bioswales, and/or catch basins.
The effects of noise on humans can range from temporary or permanent hearing loss to mild stress and annoyance due to such things as speech interference and sleep deprivation. Prolonged stress, regardless of the cause, is known to contribute to a variety of health disorders. Noise, or the lack of it, is a factor in the aesthetic perception of some settings, particularly those with religious or cultural significance. Noise impacts can be mitigated in three basic ways: by reducing the sound level of the noise generator, by increasing the distance between the source and receiver, and by insulating the receiver.
Strategy CHS- 3. 1. 1
Maintain and reduce where feasible background noise levels emanating from citywide transportation sources.
Action CHS- 2. 1. 1 ( a)
Action CHS- 2. 1. 1 ( b)
Action CHS- 2. 1. 2 ( a)
CHS- 3 Noise
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Ensure noise mitigation measures are included in the design of new developments.
Encourage programs to retrofit existing homes to reduce noise impacts in the homes.
Encourage the use of double-paned windows for residential uses along major arterials and the rail line.
Limit construction, delivery, and through truck traffic to designated routes.
Encourage, support, and enforce all State and Federal legislation designed to abate and control noise pollution.
Encourage the use of rubberized asphalt city streets.
Encourage acoustical materials in all new residential and commercial developments where noise levels exceed the
compatibility standards outlined in the Noise Element.
Ensure Community Noise Equivalent Levels (CNEL) levels for noise sensitive land uses meet or exceed normally acceptable levels, as defined by State of California standards.
Action CHS- 3. 1. 1 ( a)
Action CHS- 3. 1. 1 ( b)
Action CHS- 3. 1. 1 ( c)
Action CHS- 3. 1. 1 ( e)
Action CHS- 3. 1. 1 ( f)
Action CHS- 3. 1. 1 ( g)
Action CHS- 3. 1. 1 ( h)
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Strategy CHS- 3. 2. 1
Commercial and industrial uses, construction activity and other non-transportation related sources of noise can contribute negatively to the noise environment. Identifying and mitigating these potential noise sources will reduce negative impacts.
Periodically review the Noise Control Ordinance to ensure noise generating uses are adequately addressed.
Strive to resolve existing and potential conflicts between noise generating uses and human activities.
Prohibit significant noise generating activities from being located adjacent to residential neighborhoods and near schools.
Evaluate the noise impacts from projects and existing uses in adjacent cities and work cooperatively with these cities to develop mitigation measures that will improve ambient noise conditions in Stanton.
Strategy CHS- 3. 3. 1
Land use planning decisions directly relate to potential noise impacts. Therefore, careful consideration of noise impacts should be a part of all land use decisions.
Establish a system of locating land uses according to the maximum noise levels they generate.
Incorporate noise reduction measures into all development proposals, as necessary.
Action CHS- 3. 2. 1 ( c)
Action CHS- 3. 2. 1 ( a)
Action CHS- 3. 2. 1 ( b)
Action CHS- 3. 2. 1 ( d)
Action CHS- 3. 3. 1 ( a)
Action CHS- 3. 3. 1 ( b)
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Enforce limits set by the State to control noise levels, particularly those governing motor vehicles.
Ensure that construction noise does not cause an adverse impact to the residents of the city.
As Stanton continues to grow, maintaining a high level of community health and safety will remain a priority. Additional development in the city will place new demands on the OCFA and OCSD which may result in the need for new fire and police protection resources within the city. Greater demand for resources may require additional personnel, equipment and/or facilities. With increased growth it is important that response times and services remain adequate to protect the community.
Strategy CHS- 4. 1. 1
Ensure that adequate fire facilities and personnel are maintained by the County and contracted by the city to provide adequate service levels.
Periodically review response times to ensure emergency
response meet or exceed the standards of the OCFA.
Work directly with the OCFA to annually assess fire protection services and to evaluate the adequacy of facilities and resources serving the city.
Use the development review process to assess the impact of new development on fire protection services and to ensure that increased demand for emergency services will be adequately served.
Action CHS- 3. 3. 1 ( c)
Action CHS- 3. 3. 1 ( d)
CHS- 4 Fire and Police Protection
Provide and maintain a high level of fire protection services necessary to adequately serve the community.
Action CHS- 4. 1. 1 ( a)
Action CHS- 4. 1. 1 ( b)
Action CHS- 4. 1. 1 ( c)
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Work with the OCFA, OCSD, Caltrans, and other agencies to install/implement a traffic signal pre-emption program for emergency responders.
Strategy CHS- 4. 2. 1
Ensure that existing and new developments maintain or exceed standards for fire prevention to minimize the risk of fire.
Continue to involve the OCFA in the development review
process by forwarding development proposals for their review and comment regarding fire prevention measures.
Ensure city building codes and standards provide for adequate fire protection and meet or exceed State standards.
Locate, design, and construct new development to minimize the risk of structural loss from fires.
Install visible home and street addressing and signage.
Consider fire safe design (i.e., fire-resistant building and site design, materials, and landscaping) as part of the development review process.
Action CHS- 4. 2. 1 (d)
Action CHS- 4. 2. 1 (c)
Action CHS- 4. 1. 1 ( d)
Action CHS- 4. 2. 1 (e)
Action CHS- 4. 2. 1 ( a)
Action CHS- 4. 2. 1 ( b)
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Strategy CHS-4.2.2
Promote community education in fire prevention and fire safety.
Work with the local school districts and OCFA to establish an education program focused on fire prevention and public safety.
Work with OCFA in developing programs and brochures to be made available to all city residents on fire safety, including information on the importance of vegetation management, kitchen and grease fires, and home evacuation plans.
Strategy CHS- 4. 3. 1
Ensure that sufficient Sheriff’s facilities and personnel are maintained by the County and contracted by the city to provide adequate service levels.
Periodically review response times to ensure emergency
response reflects the standards of the Sheriff’s Department.
Work directly with the Sheriff’s Department to annually assess crime prevention and law enforcement services and to evaluate the adequacy of facilities and resources serving the city.
Evaluate Sheriff Department services to determine what services are being received, the specific cost elements of the contract, and what service enhancements could be added. As part of this review, evaluate alternatives available to the city for obtaining police services.
Action CHS- 4. 3. 1 ( b)
Action CHS- 4. 2. 2 ( a)
Action CHS- 4. 2. 2 ( b)
Provide and maintain a high level of police protection services necessary to adequately serve the community and provide a sense of safety to residents.
Action CHS- 4. 3. 1 ( a)
Action CHS- 4. 3. 1 ( c)
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Use the development review process to assess the impact of new development on police protection services and to ensure that increased demand for emergency services will be
adequately served.
Evaluate the feasibility of opening the Stanton Police Station to the public seven days a week.
Strategy CHS- 4. 4. 1
Ensure that new development is designed to discourage criminal activity and provide a level of safety.
Involve the Sheriff’s Department in the development review process by forwarding development proposals for their review and comment regarding crime and safety measures.
Encourage the use of design measures that address security and safety in residential and non-residential developments such as lighting, landscaping, access, placement of buildings, etc .
Strategy CHS- 4. 5. 1
Provide opportunities for community involvement in crime prevention and encourage safety and crime prevention at the neighborhood level.
Action CHS- 4. 3. 1 ( d)
Action CHS- 4. 3. 1 ( e)
Action CHS- 4. 4. 1 ( a)
Action CHS- 4. 4. 1 ( b)
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Continue to support the Neighborhood Watch Program by
encouraging participation in mutual assistance, training and crime prevention techniques among residents.
Provide support to the Chamber of Commerce in the
establishment of a Business Watch Program to encourage
participation among business owners and an increased
awareness of suspicious activity.
Work with local school districts and Sheriff’s Department to establish an education program focused on discouraging criminal, gang and drug activities.
Continue to sponsor an annual crime prevention week in
Stanton involving partnerships between the city, community groups and the Sheriff’s Department.
Explore opportunities to establish a local citizen police academy.
Explore the potential of creating a volunteer core in Stanton to assist in activities such as patrolling handicap parking spaces.
Action CHS- 4. 5. 1 ( a)
Action CHS- 4. 5. 1 ( b)
Action CHS- 4. 5. 1 ( c)
Action CHS- 4. 5. 1 ( d)
Action CHS- 4. 5. 1 ( e)
Action CHS- 4. 5. 1 ( f)
COMMUNITY HEALTH & SAFETY
6-33 Stanton General Plan
Although Stanton is responsible for coordinating emergency response and recovery activities within the city, a major emergency or disaster will most likely affect communities beyond Stanton, potentially resulting in the need for emergency management coordination on a local, regional, State and/or Federal level. The city will need to closely monitor its Emergency Operations Plan and make necessary revisions or updates to ensure a quick and appropriate response will occur in the event of an emergency or disaster.
Strategy CHS- 5. 1. 1
Ensure that the city is prepared to respond to natural and manmade emergencies or disasters in a coordinated and efficient manner.
Annually assess the status of the city’s Emergency Operations Plan and make necessary revisions to ensure the Plan is current.
Work with adjacent jurisdictions and regional and State agencies to coordinate emergency response efforts and ensure a maximum level of preparedness.
Continue to participate proactively in Orange County Cities’ Emergency Management Organization.
Maintain regular training and exercises for disaster responders.
CHS- 5 Emergency Response
Maintain a level of preparedness to respond to emergency situations in order to reduce the loss of life, injury and property damage to the community.
Action CHS- 5. 1. 1 ( a)
Action CHS- 5. 1. 1 ( b)
Action CHS- 5. 1. 1 ( c)
Action CHS- 5. 1. 1 ( d)
6-34
Identify construction methods or other methods to minimize damage to critical facilities such as hospitals and health care facilities, emergency shelters, emergency command centers, and emergency communication facilities to ensure they continue to function after a disaster.
Work with the OCFA, Sheriff’s Department and County to
define minimum standards for evacuation of residential areas and to maintain, update, and regularly exercise emergency access, protocols, and evacuation routes to assess their effectiveness under a range of emergency scenarios. If areas with inadequate evacuation routes are identified, develop appropriate mitigation measures, improvement plans, or education programs to ensure safe evacuation.
Strategy CHS- 5. 1. 2
Increase resident preparedness for a major emergency or disaster, focusing on education programs and materials.
Work with the OCFA, Sheriff’s Department and County to
establish an education program focused on home-based
emergency preparedness procedures.
Work with responders to develop disaster preparedness
materials and brochures to education residents about
evacuation procedures, community readiness, and emergency response facilities in the city. Make these materials available through the city website, and at civic locations throughout the city.
Develop an Emergency Operations Center, in consultation with the OCSD and OCFA.
Identify ways to involve citizens in emergency preparedness and response, such as Community Emergency Response Teams.
Action CHS- 5. 1. 2 ( a)
Action CHS- 5. 1. 1 ( f )
Action CHS- 5. 1. 1 ( e )
Action CHS- 5. 1. 2 ( b)
Action CHS- 5. 1. 2 ( c)
Action CHS- 5. 1. 2 ( d)
COMMUNITY HEALTH & SAFETY
6-35 Stanton General Plan
A number of businesses within Stanton utilize or store hazardous materials. Accidental release or upset of hazardous materials could endanger the community. Additionally, residential uses within the city use and dispose of hazardous materials, which could impact the environment if not disposed of properly. Hazardous materials transported through the city pose an additional concern, as accidents involving hazardous waste would most likely occur on major arterials potentially affecting surrounding communities.
Strategy CHS- 6. 1. 1
Ensure that activities within the city transport, use, store, and dispose of hazardous materials in a safe, efficient and responsible manner, which protects the public health and safety.
Coordinate with the County to ensure that commercial and industrial activities comply with all Federal, State, county, and local laws regulating hazardous materials and wastes and to identify and inventory all users of hazardous materials and all hazardous waste generators.
Support efforts of the County, CR&R, and other agencies to accept items for recycling such as used oil and batteries and accept, segregate, package and label waste by properly trained staff.
Coordinate with CR&R and other agencies to provide
informational brochures and sponsor workshops identifying regulations, alternatives to disposal and available services.
Coordinate with property owners on the cleanup of active hazardous waste sites identified by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and the State Water Board.
Action CHS- 6. 1. 1 ( a)
CHS- 6 Hazardous Materials
Protect the community and property from injury, damage or destruction from the use, transport and disposition of hazardous materials.
Action CHS- 6. 1. 1 ( b)
Action CHS- 6. 1. 1 ( c)
Action CHS- 6. 1. 1 ( d)
6-36
Senate Bill 379 requires each city in California to update their Safety Element to consider climate impacts facing the state as well as methods to adapt and increase resiliency to climate change at the city level. While climate change may not be a stand-alone hazard, it has the effect of intensifying the frequency and severity of many natural hazards. In Stanton, for example, it is anticipated that an increased variance in climate patterns could result in more intense and frequent heat waves and extended drought.
Strategy CHS- 7. 1. 1
Promote a well-prepared City that can effectively overcome natural disasters and scarcity of resources due to climate change.
Provide information and resources to the public and businesses regarding steps the City is taking to address the issue of climate change.
Develop a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
citywide consistent with other City policy objectives. Consider developing a climate action plan or other document that defines that strategy.
Strategy CHS- 7. 1. 2
Collaborate with local, regional, state and/or federal jurisdictions and agencies on climate resiliency and adaptation strategies.
Reduce communitywide greenhouse gas emissions locally by actively supporting regional efforts to reduce greenhouse gases throughout the county.
Work with responsible federal, state, and county agencies to Action CHS- 7. 1. 1 ( a)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 1 ( b)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 2 ( a)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 2 ( b)
A resilient, sustainable, and equitable community where risks to life, property, the economy, and the environment resulting from climate change, including extreme weather events, are minimized.
CHS- 7 Climate Change and Resiliency Planning
COMMUNITY HEALTH & SAFETY
6-37 Stanton General Plan
decrease air pollution emissions occurring within the air basin to reduce the risk posed by air pollution.
Coordinate with utility providers to protect interconnected infrastructure.
Explore the feasibility of decentralized energy systems powered by renewable energy.
Continue to promote the goal and policies of the Active Transportation Plan, which encourages active transportation (biking, walking, alternative modes of transportation), and continue to evaluate and update the plan as needed.
Explore opportunities associated with new development to retrofit existing public transportation facilities to withstand climate risks such as natural disasters and extreme heat to ensure these transport options are safe and reliable in the longterm.
Monitor climate change-related effects with local, regional, state, and/or federal partners and provide information about the effectiveness of existing infrastructure and programs.
Strategy CHS- 7. 1. 3
Promote plans and programs that increase sustainable energy sources.
Study the transition to energy-efficient streetlights, traffic lights, and other electrical uses to energy efficient bulbs and/or LEDs, for City-owned light facilities.
Explore the feasibility of purchasing only electric or alternativeenergy vehicles for the City vehicle fleet, as appropriate, based on the intended use of the vehicle.
Action CHS- 7. 1. 2 ( c)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 2 ( d)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 2 ( e)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 2 ( f)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 2 ( g)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 3 ( a)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 3 ( b)
6-38
Evaluate the feasibility for government-constructed and/or - operated new development to exceed the CalGreen Tier 1, or successor program, standards.
Promote the use of sustainable and carbon-neutral energy sources in new development.
Explore using renewable energy and clean generation
technologies such as solar, wind, biogas, or fuel cells to power City facilities where appropriate.
Strategy CHS- 7. 1. 4
Implement necessary actions and programs to improve preparation and response for the most vulnerable community members.
Coordinate with Community Services and/or OCTA to address the needs of individuals with limited mobility or limited access to transportation for access to safe and comfortable shelter during extreme heat events or other severe weather events.
Provide information on seismic retrofitting for older homes in the City.
Keep the public informed as to the location of important emergency facilities, such as reception centers, cooling centers, and emergency shelters point of distributions (PODS) for administering medical countermeasures (i.e., vaccines or medical testing), and distribution of emergency supplies and/or food.
Strategy CHS- 7. 1. 5
Implement programs that promote resiliency to drought.
Continue to require water-efficient and drought resistant landscaping in new developments and redevelopments.
Action CHS- 7. 1. 3 ( c)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 3 ( d)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 3 ( e)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 4 ( a)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 4 ( b)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 4 (c)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 5 (a)
COMMUNITY HEALTH & SAFETY
6-39 Stanton General Plan
Replace median landscaping with water-efficient plants.
Explore rebate programs for residents to replace lawns with water-efficient landscaping.
Encourage residents to use captured rainwater for landscape irrigation.
Promote the use of low water usage appliances.
Collaborate with utility providers on leak detection programs.
Action CHS- 7. 1. 5 (b)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 5 (c)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 5 (d)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 5 (e)
Action CHS- 7. 1. 5 (f)
November 2021
Appendix A to the Community Health & Safety Element
Climate
Vulnerability
Assessment
Prepared by:
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 1 Table of Contents
A. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 What is a Climate Vulnerability Assessment? ..................................................................................................... 2 Addressing Vulnerabilities ................................................................................................................................................. 3 B. CLIMATE IMPACTS & VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................... 4 Methodology ................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Impacts ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Extraneous Impacts Acknowledged ....................................................................................................................... 16 C. KEY FINDINGS ................................................................................................................................................................................ 20 D. REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 List of Figures
Figure 1: Extreme Heat Days In Stanton .................................................................................................................................. 6 Figure 2: Heat Island Effect ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Figure 3: Flood Control- Bioswale ............................................................................................................................................... 12 List of Tables
Table 1: Average Number of Days Exceeding 98th Percentile Summertime (April to October) High-Heat Threshold for Stanton................................................................................................................................................... 7 Table 2: Maximum One-Day Precipitation in Stanton ................................................................................................ 11 Table 3: Maximum Length of Dry Spell in Stanton ....................................................................................................... 13 Table 4: Average Annual Area Burned, Orange County ............................................................................................. 18 Appendices
Appendix A: Regulatory Framework ........................................................................................................................................ 23 City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 2 A. Introduction
Communities in California are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, conducted in 2018, identifies the Los Angeles Region as especially vulnerable to humans since approximately half the population of the state calls the region home. Climate change refers to changes in conditions that result from increased atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations, which are linked to an increase in average global temperature. The increase in global temperature and GHG result in a series of changes to the global climate, including: shifts in seasonal temperature patterns; altered precipitation timing, volume, and location; sea-level rise; ocean acidification due to increased carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption; and altered wind and storm event frequency, severity, and location. These outcomes interact, and the potential consequences may result not only of the shifts in global climate, but also changes to a variety of characteristics that define biophysical systems and human progression.
What is a Climate Vulnerability Assessment?
The purpose of a Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) is to inform City policies, plans, programs, and guidance to promote effective and integrated action to safeguard from climate change. In addition to increasing global average temperature, climate change has the effect of intensifying the frequency and the effects of many natural hazards, adding to concerns otherwise addressed in hazard mitigation planning. Climate change results in an increase in variance of climate patterns. The increase in variance means that extreme events may exhibit changes in severity, frequency, and location. For example, the increased variance in climate patterns will result in more frequent incidence of severe events, such as extreme rainfall, wind, wildfire, extreme heat, and extended drought. The increased variance therefore creates challenges for hazards planning, which previously used historic recurrence rates to predict future events.
Addressing Climate Change
Climate change can be viewed from two scales: global and local. Addressing climate change relies on two high-level approaches at both scales: mitigation and adaptation. Climate change mitigation involves the reduction of GHG emissions. Whereas, climate adaptation aims to reduce harm from the effects of a changing climate. At the global scale, mitigation appears as less dependency on fossil fuels for energy production and a shift towards renewable forms of energy; and at the local scale, an example of mitigation appears as mutli-modal and active transportation networks. At the global scale, climate adaptation can be seen as expanded emergency response teams and climate refugee aid. On the local scale, adaptation can be the preparation taken for inevitable climate-induced emergencies and the spin-off social impacts that could emerge from them. Both approaches at both scales are necessary; however, this City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 3 document focuses on identifying vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies on the local level within the City of Stanton.
Regulatory Framework
There are currently numerous laws and regulations set in place in the State of California that are aimed at reducing the impacts of climate change hazards. For decades, California has continued to adopt, update, and amend Senate and Assembly Bills; create monitoring and mitigation programs; and fund state, regional, and local agencies to promote environmental preservation.
A list of relevant bills and documents adopted by the State, region, and City are included as Appendix A. While these documents create general goals and guidelines for the State to achieve and follow, each municipality is unique and therefore can best thrive and meet environmental regulations in its own unique way. The regulatory documents included in Appendix A provide a framework for the direction Stanton should be headed, but it is up to the City to implement programs and designs to reduce the effects of climate change.
Addressing Vulnerabilities
The vulnerability that a community experiences resulting from climate change is a product of its geographical and biophysical setting in combination with the characteristics of the community, ranging from its built pattern to social, political, and economic characteristics. Put simply, the level of climate vulnerability can be calculated using the following formula:
Exposure + Sensitivity - Adaptive Capacity = Vulnerability Where:
● Exposure refers to the nature and degree to which a system or sub-population is exposed to significant climatic variations.
● Sensitivity refers to the degree to which a system or sub-population is affected by climate-related stimuli.
● Adaptive Capacity refers to the adaptability of a system or sub-population to adjust to climate change, to moderate potential damages, or to cope with the consequences.
Here is an example:
It is 100 degrees Fahrenheit (exposure) on a playground at a Stanton elementary school. Inside a classroom, Cindy is a student with a pre-existing condition (sensitivity) that leaves her at-risk of hyperthermia; however, the classroom is air-conditioned (adaptive capacity), so Cindy is able to continue learning with the rest of the students.
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 4 As shown by the example above, many factors are at play when determining the level of climate vulnerability. The California Adaptation Planning Guide identifies five steps in assessing the vulnerability of a community to climate change:
1. Exposure: what climate change effects will a community experience?
2. Sensitivity: what aspects of a community (people, structures, and functions) will be affected?
3. Potential impacts: how will climate change affect the points of sensitivity?
4. Adaptative capacity: what is currently being done to address the impacts?
5. Risk and onset: how likely are the impacts and how quickly they occur? Not only do impacts vary, but vulnerability varies across specific areas and groups. For example, future climate changes, especially increases in extreme heat, are expected to disproportionately burden low-income residents and communities of color across the region. The City of Stanton is home to people of diverse income groups and backgrounds, not all residents are expected to be equally impacted. The City of Stanton, according to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, contains disadvantaged communities; the linkage between the disproportional effects of climate change on disadvantaged communities is discussed further in this assessment.
This CVA describes vulnerabilities in terms of social vulnerabilities and physical vulnerabilities.
Social vulnerabilities examine how populations, communities, and social systems are affected by climate change. Physical vulnerabilities examine how infrastructure, critical facilities, and land are affected by climate change.
B. Climate Impacts & Vulnerability Assessment
An assessment of a community’s vulnerability to climate change begins with an understanding of local exposure to climate impacts. A primary objective of this document is to identify geographic areas, populations, and infrastructure in Stanton with heightened risk to projected climate impacts. This section first describes the methodology used to obtain climate impact projections. It then highlights each major impact projected in Stanton and asks the following questions:
● What is the local exposure?
● Where and when does this impact occur?
o To what extent will the City be exposed to this impact? o Who (or what) is the most vulnerable?
● How does this impact affect or tie into other impacts or hazards? ● How is the City currently addressing this impact?
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 5 Methodology
While the science is highly certain that California (and the world) will continue to warm and experience greater impacts from climate change in the future, specific outcomes are inherently uncertain. Future outcomes vary depending on the level of global GHG emissions. Accordingly, most climate models include a range of possible scenarios based on the level of global GHG emissions.
This document sites and pulls data, and data analysis, from California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment published in 2018. The data discussed in the assessment, derived from 32 coarseresolution (~ 100 km) global climate models (GCMs), were bias corrected and downscaled using the Localized Constructed Analogues (LOCA) statistical method. The data cover 1950-2005 for the historical period and 2006-2100 for two future climate projections using medium and high greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions scenarios.
For city-specific predictions, this document uses climate modeling from Cal-Adapt, a tool that came about as a key recommendation of the 2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy and created with oversight from the California Energy Commission (CEC) and California Strategic Growth Council. Cal-Adapt makes two predictions for the period of 2006 to 2100 using medium and high GHG and aerosol emissions scenarios. These scenarios are known as Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP). Each RCP represents a standardized set of assumptions of humanity’s trajectory in the coming years. The Medium Emissions Scenario (RCP 4.5) represents a mitigation scenario where global CO2 emissions peak by 2040 and then decline. Statewide, temperature is projected to increase 2-4 °C for this scenario by the end of this century. The High Emissions Scenario (RCP 8.5) represents a scenario where CO2 emissions continue to rise throughout the 21st century. Statewide, temperature is projected to 4-7 °C by the end of this century. Precipitation shows fewer wet days, wetter winters, drier springs and autumns, and an increase in dry years as well as maximum precipitation in a single day. Cal-Adapt also specifies that its data is derived from the 32 LOCA downscaled climate projections generated to support California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, observed historical data is derived from Gridded Observed Meteorological Data, and the data presented are aggregated over all LOCA grid cells that intersect Stanton’s boundaries.
In addition to the range of potential outcomes, climate change can produce a variety of impacts depending on location. California is expected to experience warmer temperatures, increased drought, and more extreme weather events (IPCC, 2007). This is why climate change projections include both drought and increased precipitation leading to flooding. The range of impacts anticipated in Stanton are summarized below.
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 6 Impacts
Extreme Heat & Weather
What is it?
Climate change alters seasonal temperature patterns. Effects can include changes in average temperature, the timing of seasons, and the degree of cooling that occurs in the evening. In addition to new seasonal temperature patterns, extreme events such as heat waves are projected to occur more frequently and/or last for longer periods of time. In California, temperature increases are expected to be more pronounced in the summer and in inland areas.
Phenomena such as heat waves are projected to increase not only in frequency but in geographic extent (CNRA, 2009). The degree of change experienced partially depends on global GHG emissions and atmospheric concentrations. By 2050, however, temperature increases between 1.8°F to 5.4°F are projected under both emissions scenarios examined by the State (CNRA, 2009).
Local exposure
Temperatures in Stanton are relatively mild. Stanton is not in a location subject to dangerous storms (hurricane, tornados, blizzards, etc.), tsunamis, or intense winters. Average daily temperatures peak in the afternoon between the months of April through October (climatedata.org). Over the period from 1950 to 2006, the City observed average annual average maximum temperatures of 75.2°F (Cal-Adapt, 2021). Figure 1 shows the number of days in a year when the daily maximum temperature is above a threshold temperature of 97.2°F. This threshold temperature is the 98th percentile value of historical daily maximum/minimum summer temperatures (from 1961–1990, between April and October) observed within Stanton.
Figure 1: Extreme Heat Days in Stanton
Source: Cal-Adapt, accessed October 25, 2021. https://cal-adapt.org/tools/local-climate-change-snapshot/ City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 7 As shown Figure 1, climate change is expected to increase the number of extreme heat events per year in Stanton. Table 1 supports Figure 1 in that they both demonstrate the number of annual extreme heat days is going to increase over the next century. The Baseline (1961 to 1990) modeled historical data shows a yearly average of two days that exceeded the 98th percentile high-heat threshold. By mid-century (2035 to 2064), the number of days exceeding 98th percentile high-heat threshold is expected to more than double from the Baseline average (from 2 to 7 days) under the Medium Emissions scenario (RCP 4.5) and increase by seven days (from 2 to 9 days) under the High Emissions (RCP 8.5) scenario. By the end of the century (2070 to 2099), the average number of extreme heat days is expected to increase by 8 days and 19 days past baseline for Medium and High Emissions scenarios, respectively.
Table 1: Average Number of Days Exceeding 98th Percentile Summertime (April to October) High-Heat Threshold for Stanton
Time Period Scenario 30yr Average
30yr
Range
Change
from
baseline
Baseline (1961-
1990)
Modeled
Historical
2 days* 1 - 3 days -
Mid-Century
(2035-2064)
Medium
Emissions
(RCP 4.5)
7 days
4 – 17
days
+ 5 days
High
Emissions
(RCP 8.5)
9 days
6 - 20
days
+ 7 days
End of Century
(2070-2099)
Medium
Emissions
(RCP 4.5)
10 days
6 - 28
days
+ 8 days
High
Emissions
(RCP 8.5)
21 days
12 – 55
days
+ 19 days
Source: Cal-Adapt, accessed October 25, 2021. https://cal-adapt.org/tools/local-climate-change-snapshot/ *Observed 30-year average from 1961 to 1990: 4 days
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 8 Heat waves and extreme heat days are made worse by the urban heat island effect depicted in Figure 2. Heat islands are urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than rural areas.
This is because an urbanized area’s buildings, roads, and other infrastructure absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat. Daytime temperatures in urban areas are about 1–7°F higher than temperatures in outlying areas and nighttime temperatures are about 2-5°F higher (EPA, 2008). Because Stanton is a built-out, urban community, the effects of heat island are pronounced. Heat islands can affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution and GHG emissions, heat-related illness and mortality, and water quality. As the community continues to grow and accommodate new development in infill locations, it can be expected that the impacts related to the urban heat island effect will continue.
Figure 2: Heat Island Effect
Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-effect-of-Urban-Heat-Island-UHI_fig1_326316773 Who is most vulnerable?
Everybody can be affected by extreme weather and heat, but certain groups are more sensitive and thus more vulnerable. Social vulnerabilities include people with pre-existing health conditions; people who depend on walking, biking, or transit to get around; children and older adults; and people who work outdoors. Children are at a higher risk for being adversely affected by extreme weather because they spend much of their time outdoors playing or exercising thereby increasing their body temperature already; increased activity in more extreme weather more easily leads to dehydration and skin burning. Older adults are considered highly vulnerable to extreme heat and weather because human body’s regulatory and immune systems tend to deteriorate with age and are not as prepared to be resilient against drastic changes. People experiencing homelessness are also more vulnerable to extreme weather; without safe, consistent, access to shelter, people are exposed to the natural elements more than sheltered counterparts. According to SCAG, there were 116 total individuals in 2019 experiencing homelessness in Stanton, with 71 of them classified as unsheltered (SCAG 2020).
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 9 According to the US Census, the population of Stanton is predominantly working adults (age 25-64 years), representing approximately 53 percent of the total population. Seniors (65 years and older) represent approximately 12 percent of the population, and youths (19 years and younger) represent 28 percent. This demonstrates that approximately 40 percent of the population is at heightened vulnerability due to their age.
Physical vulnerabilities include energy and transportation sectors, water delivery, water treatment, and parks and open space. As temperatures increase, an increased demand on cooling can cause strain on the energy grid and lead to blackouts. The effects of heat on the physical energy grid such as power lines can also cause strain and lead to fires. Parks and open space are affected because extreme heat can harm vegetation and wildlife. Heat can cause transportation delays or malfunctions, or damage transportation infrastructure such as roads.
One way to combat the negative effects of extreme weather and heat, and a way to reduce the impact of urban heat islands, is through incorporation of green space and urban forestry. Open green spaces replace the amount of asphalt and concrete within an area with greenery and foliage, thereby reducing the increased temperatures created by the urban environment. Urban forests can be installed within green spaces or within the urban environment (along sidewalks, road medians, plazas, and in landscaping). Trees provide shade and protect people, sidewalks, buildings and streets, from the sun, thereby decreasing temperatures. The Stanton Active Transportation Plan contains proposals and ideas to create a more comfortable and walkable city. One Recommended Pedestrian Project contained in the Active Transportation Plan focuses on green infrastructure and implementing more trees, landscaping, and other efforts to provide shade, increase habitat, and improve comfort for people to walk and bike. More people walking rather than driving, and more trees and greenery all contribute to less GHG emissions in the air, less cars on the road, and a cooler environment.
Flooding
What is it?
Flooding occurs when greater amounts of rain falls over a shorter period, even if there is less overall rain. Vegetated and pervious surfaces such as grass and soil do not have enough time to absorb the rainfall, overwhelming stormwater infrastructure. In combination, changes in temperature and precipitation may exacerbate impacts. Heavy stormwater runoff can contaminate the surrounding bodies of water with other bacteria (Cal EMA, 2012). Intense rainstorms could require evacuation and temporary or permanent displacement of people and result in property damage or loss.
Local exposure
Changes in precipitation are not expected to have major effects on Stanton (projections are not too far off current precipitation as seen in Table 2); however, increased incidences of rainfall City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 10 could lead to flooding. The City of Stanton contains no natural, permanent water features.
According to FEMA, the entire city is located within flood zone X; flood zone X is defined as areas of 500-year flood; areas of 100 year flood with average depths of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile; and areas protected by levees from 100 year flood. The City is located within the dam inundation areas of the Prado Dam and Carbon Canyon Dam.
Prado Dam is a flood control and water conservation project constructed and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District. The dam provides flood control and water conservation storage for Orange County. The dam is located approximately 23 miles northeast of Stanton, on the Santa Ana River, west of the city of Corona. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam inundation maps, in the event of dam failure the flood wave would reach Stanton in approximately 6.5 hours and would be approximately four feet deep.
Carbon Canyon Dam provides flood control in and around the drainage basin. In conjunction with Brea and Fullerton Dams, Carbon Canyon Dam is vital for the flood protection of portions of the coastal plains in Orange County, including the cities of Brea, Fullerton, Placentia, and Anaheim. The dam is located approximately 12.5 miles northeast of Stanton, approximately four miles east of the city of Brea. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam inundation maps, in the event of dam failure the flood wave would reach Stanton in approximately 7.5 hours and would be approximately one foot deep.
While California does not see the average annual precipitation changing significantly in the next 50-75 years, precipitation will likely be delivered in more intense storms and within a shorter wet season (Cal-Adapt). As a built-out, urbanized area, Stanton is especially vulnerable to flooding due to the large area of impervious surfaces such as asphalt and concrete which block rainwater from absorbing into the ground, causing runoff.
Table 2 demonstrates the predicted increase in one-day rainfall over the next century. The Baseline average is approximately 1.4 inches of rain in one day. By mid-century (2035-2064), the average rainfall within a day is expected to increase between 0.07 to 0.12 inches whereas the end of century model (2070-2099) is predicted to increase between 0.14 and 0.22 inches in one day. While these increases are not necessarily dramatic on their own, compounding them with other predicted futures (i.e. hotter days with larger fires) intensifies impacts on the City, and on the region.
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 11 Table 2: Maximum One-Day Precipitation in Stanton
Time Period Scenario 30yr Average 30yr Range
Change
from
baseline
Baseline (1961-
1990)
Modeled
Historical
1.477* inches
1.246 – 1.750
inches
-
Mid-Century
(2035-2064)
Medium
Emissions
(RCP 4.5)
1.546 inches
1.246 – 1.861
inches
+0.069
inches
High
Emissions
(RCP 8.5)
1.592 inches
1.221 – 1.962
inches
+0.115
inches
End of Century
(2070-2099)
Medium
Emissions
(RCP 4.5)
1.616 inches
1.250 – 1.946
inches
+0.139
inches
High
Emissions
(RCP 8.5)
1.693 inches
1.172 - 2.189
inches
+0.216
inches
Source: Cal-Adapt, accessed October 27, 2021. https://cal-adapt.org/tools/local-climate-change-snapshot/ * Observed 30-year average from 1961 to 1990: 1.512 inches Regional water plans, such as The OC Plan, further elaborate on water infrastructure capacity and emergency response operations. The City of Stanton does not have stormwater or integrated water management plans since its water infrastructure is a part of the broader Orange County water infrastructure network. These multi-regional plans and networks work in accordance with other utility and emergency agencies to ensure residents have safe access to clean water.
Who is most vulnerable?
Flooding impacts generally are not linked to specific populations, such as seniors, children, or individuals with disabilities. However, older housing inventories are sometimes located in lowlying, more flood-prone areas near where the community was originally established. SCAG demonstrates that a majority of the housing stock in Stanton was built between 1950 and 1980; approximately 80% of the housing stock is over 40 years old (SCAG, 2020). In such areas, there may tend to be greater concentrations of renters, elderly, and communities of color, and such neighborhoods are likely to be more affected by historical flooding than more recently developed communities. Especially vulnerable infrastructure is that which is located in low-lying, City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 12 more flood-prone areas and includes transportation (especially roadways and tunnels); public and community centers; and older buildings and roadways; for the City of Stanton, everything within City limits is all within a floodplain zone.
Potential flooding hazards can be decreased by expanding the amount of impervious surfaces within City limits. This can look like more greenery and landscaping throughout the urban, builtup environment, or implementation of strategic landscaping tools such as bioswales and catch basins. Bioswales, as depicted in Figure 3, allow for greater volumes of water to be held at once, and slowly drain and percolate the water at a rate that the water systems and natural environment can handle. Stanton’s General Plan Infrastructure and Community Services Element emphasizes goals and policies dedicated to expanding and preserving green open spaces.
Figure 3: Flood Control- Bioswale
Source: Green Earth Operations
Drought
What is it?
California’s highly variable climate is susceptible to prolonged dry spells. A warming climate will compound drought impacts, as evidenced during recent precipitation deficits in the 2000’s Southwest drought (Colorado River basin), and during the 2012-2015 drought in California and neighboring states (Pierce, et al, 2018). Furthermore, recent research suggests that extended drought occurrence (“mega-drought”) could become more pervasive in future decades (Pierce, et al, 2018).
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 13 Local exposure
California has experienced prolonged droughts off and on throughout the decades, including Southern California. The Golden State Water Company (GSWC) supplies potable water in the City of Stanton. The City is part of the West Orange County System (WOCS). Stanton, through WOCS, obtains water through a blend of groundwater pumped from the Orange County Groundwater Basin and imported water from the Colorado River Aqueduct and State Water Project (imported and distributed by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California) (GSWC).
Wells have historically supplied 85% of water in the WOCS. Since the City relies on imported water to meet its potable water needs, it is highly vulnerable to multi-regional drought. In addition, some customers use recycled water for irrigation and/or industrial uses.
Table 3, Maximum Length of Dry Spell in Stanton shows the differences in maximum dry spell lengths in the City from Baseline measurements to predicted future variations. The Baseline scenario states that the 30-year average length of a dry spell was approximately 165 days. Dry spells are predicted to increase by 8 to 9 days over Baseline conditions by the middle of the century (2035-2064), and 8 to 15 days over the baseline conditions by the End of the Century (2070-2099).
Table 3: Maximum Length of Dry Spell in Stanton
Time Period Scenario
30yr
Average
30yr Range
Change from
baseline
Baseline
(1961-1990)
Modeled
Historical
165 days*
152 - 177
days
-
Mid-Century
(2035-2064)
Medium
Emissions (RCP
4.5)
173 days
154 - 196
days
+8 days
High Emissions
(RCP 8.5)
174 days
154 - 200
days
+9 days
End of
Century
(2070-2099)
Medium
Emissions (RCP
4.5)
173 days
155 - 198
days
+8 days
High Emissions
(RCP 8.5)
180 days
155 - 212
days
+15 days
Source: Cal-Adapt, accessed October 25, 2021. https://cal-adapt.org/tools/local-climate-change-snapshot/ * Observed 30-year average from 1961 to 1990: 155 days
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 14
Who is most vulnerable?
Extreme drought (and heat) decreases soil moisture and increase plant mortality; these changes in temperature and precipitation regimes will have adverse impacts on the vegetation and foliage in the entire southern California region. Plant die-offs cause a domino effect by reducing available shade and evaporative cooling, thereby raising surrounding temperatures and reducing the thermal comfort of pedestrians.
A vulnerable group highly affected by droughts are farmers and agricultural industries. While there isn’t an established/dedicated agricultural hub in Stanton, the broader agricultural industry in the Southern California and Central Valley region will likely be adversely impacted by increased droughts, which will have reverberated effects on the City and City residents. More frequent occurrences of extreme events similar to the 2011-2016 drought could significantly decrease groundwater recharge, which is essential for the region to thrive.
People with pre-existing respiratory conditions are also extremely vulnerable: in the absence of rainfall during prolonged periods of drought, the region could experience increased concentrations of resuspended road particulates (dust), which have adverse respiratory impacts (Hall, et al. 2018).
Especially vulnerable infrastructure includes water importing systems. For Stanton this includes all water infrastructure within the GSWC and the greater Orange County area as all systems, wells, and utilities are interconnected. Water importing agencies, primarily the large Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), built a system for acquiring water from northern California, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Colorado River Basin for situations such as the predicted futures (Hall, et al. 2018).
To help protect vulnerable populations and infrastructure, Stanton can enact varying water restrictions. Some water restrictions in place in other cities and counties in California include personal and individual restrictions and limitations or increased costs. Other restrictions are designed to limit commercial and industrial water use and water waste.
Liquefaction
What is it?
Liquefaction is caused by a shock or strain from an earthquake, and involves the sudden loss of soil strength and cohesion and the temporary transformation of soil into a fluid mass.
Liquefaction occurring beneath buildings can lead to major damage.
Local exposure
Stanton is located in a seismically active area that has historically been affected by moderate to occasionally high levels of ground motion. According to the California Department of City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 15 Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology, the entire city of Stanton is located in a liquefaction hazard zone. This is also illustrated in Exhibit 6-2 of the City’s General Plan. This puts all residents and infrastructure at risk for damages associated with seismic activity and liquefaction.
Who is most vulnerable?
In terms of climate change, no one is more susceptible to liquefaction than others. Older structures within the City are vulnerable to loss by liquefaction as they may not have been constructed or reinforced to meet earthquake standards. As discussed, approximately 80 percent of Stanton’s housing stock is over 40 years old, generating a high risk for liquefaction hazards. The most vulnerable areas are those in a liquefaction zone: the entire City of Stanton.
The most vulnerable people are all residents living within the City.
Pipeline transportation infrastructure (water, gas, electricity, sanitation) is also highly vulnerable to ground motion due to the majority of it being buried underground. Seismic activity, liquefaction, or land subsidence could damage one pipe, or area, and have a cascading effect throughout the City and region. A large earthquake, or liquefaction incident could also trigger a number of other hazards that could be exacerbated due to climate change. For example, if a strong liquefaction incident were to occur, it could rupture pipelines or electricity poles; with temperatures expected to rise and the climate expected to be more drought prone, knocked over electricity poles could more easily cause an urban fire.
Hazardous Materials
What is it?
Hazardous materials are defined as a detrimental substance, including but not limited to:
pesticides, herbicides, toxic metals and chemicals, liquefied natural gas, explosives, volatile chemicals, and nuclear fuels. All materials whether they be the intentional product, or resulting by-product that can cause harm to people’s individual health, public health, or environmental health are all considered toxic and must be handled and contained safely. It is imperative to note environmental justice issues here as they are related to potential health impacts associated with land use decisions, including enforcement actions to reduce the adverse health effects of hazardous materials, industrial activity and other land uses, on residents regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, gender, race, socioeconomic status, or geographic location.
Local exposure
According to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control EnviroStar Tool, the City of Stanton has two active hazardous waste and substances sites: All Metals Processing Company or Orange County and Quicksand. All Metals Processing Company or Orange County is located at 8401 Standustrial Avenue in an industrial zone. Quicksand is located at 8358 Standustrial Avenue and is also in an industrial zone. The nearest sensitive receptors to both sites are Low Density, Medium Density, and High Density Residential areas surrounding the industrial park.
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 16 The Low and High Density Residential areas are north of Cerritos Avenue (north or the industrial park), with the Medium Density Residential west and east of the active sites. While residential areas surround this industrial sector, the hazardous sites are towards the middle of the industrial area, creating somewhat of a buffer between them and the sensitive land uses.
In addition to these two hazardous sites, the City also contains nine “Open Sites” under the State Water Board’s GeoTracker list of Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Sites. These include:
Tosco-76 #4778 (10460 Magnolia), G & M Oil #50 (10961 Beach), G & M Oil #61 (10502 Magnolia), Saranick Station (10632 Beach Boulevard), Thrifty Oil #361 (11500 Beach), Tosco-76 #5635 (7501 Katella), Rados Property (11972 Beach), Stanton 25 LLC (8971 Katella), and Imperial Stations #1 (8221 Garden Grove). These sites are all either Open yet eligible for closure (Tosco-76 #4778 and Rados Property); Open for site assessment (G & M Oil #50 and Stanton 25 LLC); Open for remediation (G & M Oil #61, Thrifty Oil #361, Tosco-76 #5635, and Imperial Stations #1); or Open for assessment and interim remediation (Saranick Station).
Imperial Stations #1, Thrifty Oil #361, Tosco-76 #5635, Stanton 25 LLC, and Rados Property are adjacent to High Density housing; and the G & M Oil #50 site is adjacent to Low Density residential housing.
As discussed, pipeline infrastructure, namely pipelines that carry oil and gas, are susceptible to becoming damaged in some way (through seismic ground shaking as an example), and could easily release hazardous materials in the ground, water, and air. This puts sensitive land uses, such as residential areas, at possible heightened risk; for Stanton this includes all housing units adjacent to the LUST sites.
Who is most vulnerable?
The most vulnerable populations to hazardous waste and materials are people and communities living closest to toxic sites. For Stanton, these are the communities closets to all the sites listed under the State Water Board’s LUST list; the high density areas adjacent to Imperial Stations #1, Thrifty Oil #361, Tosco-76 #5635, Stanton 25 LLC, and Rados Property; and the low density community adjacent to G & M Oil #50.
Local habitats, animals, and plants are extremely vulnerable if natural resources become contaminated by hazardous materials. Polluted water and air sources have an expanding impact as the species living in the immediate contaminated area either move themselves or are consumed by others and moved throughout the ecosystem then.
Extraneous Impacts Acknowledged
While several climate change hazards pose a direct threat to the residents and environment of Stanton, there are climate concerns that do not necessarily originate in the City but can affect regional spaces. This section recognizes threats that pose a danger to Orange County and the City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 17 greater Southern California region. Events such as wildfires are highly unlikely to occur directly in Stanton but the impacts created by these events, such as poor air quality, are highly likely to cascade outwards to Stanton and its residents.
Wildland & Urban Fires
What is it?
As California is expected to experience increased temperatures and reduced precipitation, there will likely be more frequent and intense wildfires and longer fire seasons. Fires spread more quickly on dry, windy days and move more easily in an uphill direction and in areas with higherdensity vegetation. Weather is one of the most significant factors in determining the severity of fires; natural fire patterns are driven by conditions such as drought, temperature, precipitation, and wind, and also by changes to vegetation structure and fuel (i.e., biomass) availability.
Wildfires pose a great threat to life and property, particularly when they move from forest or rangeland into developed areas.
Climate change is projected to increase the frequency of wildfire events, the extent of burned areas across California, and the duration of wildfire seasons. Wildfire seasons are projected to begin earlier in the spring due to drier and warmer spring conditions on average, potentially requiring longer periods for firefighting services. Greater inter-annual variability in temperature and precipitation may also affect wildfire intensity. For example, multiple wet years can result in larger fuel buildup in landscapes. This may result in increasingly intense and frequent wildfires, if followed by drought years. Wildfire risk will also vary depending on population growth and land use characteristics, including rates of residential expansion and infrastructure into fire prone areas over the next century.
Local exposure
Fire protection and emergency services in the City are provided by Division 7 of the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA). OCFA Fire Station #46 is located at 7871 Pacific Street in Stanton and currently maintains an Engine and Paramedic. CAL FIRE does not have a city-specific Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) map for the City of Stanton because they have not had to make any recommendations for the City. Additionally, the built-out nature of the City makes Stanton much less vulnerable to the threat of wildfire. However, climate change increases the risk of urban fires originating in Stanton or in surrounding areas. Fires in other locations could cause reduced air quality, putting the health of sensitive populations at risk.
VHFHSZs, as identified by CAL FIRE, within close proximity to Stanton include Crystal Cove State Park (Laguna Canyon), Chino Hills State Park, and Santiago, Silverado, Modjeska, and Trabuco Canyons, the Santa Ana Mountains, etc.
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 18 Orange County data was utilized to see the impact wildfires could have on the City of Stanton since the City has no wildland areas within City boundaries. Table 4, Average Annual Area Burned, Orange County, shows that Orange County is expected to burn approximately two to 18 additional acres around the middle of the century (2035-2064) compared to the Baseline acreage; whereas the end of century (2070-2099) is predicted to burn anywhere from 73 fewer acres compared to the Baseline to an additional 69 acres of land. While this land is not necessarily being burned within Stanton city limits, surrounding ecosystems affected are all interconnected, resulting in an adverse effect for Stanton.
Table 4: Average Annual Area Burned, Orange County
Time Period Scenario
30yr
Average
30yr Range
Change
from
Baseline
Baseline (1961-
1990)
Medium
Emissions
(RCP 4.5)
2919.9
acres
2849.8 - 295
8.7acres
--
High
Emissions
(RCP 8.5)
2,903.4
acres
2780.0 - 307
9.1 acres
--
Mid-Century
(2035-2064)
Medium
Emissions
(RCP 4.5)
2,938.6
acres 2768.5 - 309
9.0acres
+18.7 acres
High
Emissions
(RCP 8.5)
2,932.5
acres 2557.5 - 310
3.1acres
+2.1 acres
End of Century
(2070-2099)
Medium
Emissions
(RCP 4.5)
2,989.6
acres
2750.9 - 316
9.1 acres
+69.7 acres
High
Emissions
(RCP 8.5)
2,856.6
acres
2525.4 - 311
6.9 acres
-73.8 acres
Source: Cal-Adapt, accessed October 27, 2021. https://cal-adapt.org/tools/local-climate-change-snapshot/
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 19 Who is most vulnerable?
Especially vulnerable people include people with pre-existing health conditions that make them more sensitive to hazardous air, such as those with asthma. Additionally, households without access to a car may have difficulty running errands, going outside, or evacuating when the air is hazardous. As indicated by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Stanton contains disadvantaged communities; people living within disadvantaged communities often times do not have access to cars. Individuals with physical disabilities or who live in isolation may have difficulty evacuating.
Vulnerable infrastructure includes energy infrastructure (fires in other areas could cause damage to power plants or power lines causing blackouts), communications, water (water quality reduced due to ash, etc.) Natural habitats and plants and animals are extremely vulnerable to wildfires; while Stanton and the surrounding area are almost completely built out, open spaces and urban forests provide homes to plant and animal species, which are susceptible to fire hazards. The City does not have an Emergency Operations Plan, but utilizes Orange County’s various emergency resources. Orange County has a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan that discusses proper operations and procedures to take with regards to fire threats and emergencies. The Unified County of Orange and Orange County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan, developed in 2019, also provides guidance and information for the County to prepare for natural disasters.
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 20 C. Key Findings
The key findings for are summarized below to increase the City’s adaptive capacity. Climate change has the potential to increase the severity of various natural hazards, impacts, and risks in the City of Stanton.
Liquefaction due to earthquakes and seismic activity create the potentially-greatest hazard to the City of Stanton as the entire City sits on a liquefaction zone. Much of the existing infrastructure, namely residential housing units, are at an extremely high risk due to the excessive age of the general housing stock; between 40 and 70 years old. Utility infrastructure – wastewater/sewage, water, stormwater/flood control, solid waste, electricity and gas – are also at high risk of damage from drought impacts as much of the infrastructure is interconnected throughout the Orange County and Southern California regions. These facilities are also vulnerable to seismic activity, such as liquefaction, as they lay mainly in the ground and are interconnected over miles-long grids; if one pipe or facility were to be disturbed or ruptured by seismic activity, the rest of the system would be affected, creating a domino effect. Residents who live in older housing units (built between 1950-1959) are more vulnerable because not only are their homes more susceptible to seismic activity in general, but they are also placed on top of a liquefaction zone.
Highly vulnerable populations are the elderly (approximately 12 percent of the City population) as they tend to live in older structures (susceptible to liquefaction) and tend to have a higher risk with regards to extreme heat and weather. People living near hazardous materials sites are also at high risk, especially when considering the seismic activity of the area, which could exacerbate hazardous spills and hazards. The residents living around the sites identified by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control EnviroStar Tool and State Water Board’s LUST list are extremely vulnerable to hazardous materials. These include the Low and High Density residential communities adjacent to these sites.
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 21 D. References
Cal-Adapt, Local Climate Snapshot; Stanton, available at https://cal-adapt.org/tools/localclimate-change-snapshot/, accessed October 27, 2021.
California Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment, SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities, available at https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/sb535, accessed October 27, 2021.
California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA). California Adaptation Planning Guide:
Defining Local and Regional Impacts, July 2012.
California Natural Resources Agency (CRNA). 2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy, available at Climate-data.org, https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/united-states-ofamerica-163/, accessed October 27, 2021.
County of Orange, Prevention and Preparation: Fire Emergency, available at https://ocgov.com/about-county/emergency/prevention-preparation/fire-emergency, accessed October 27, 2021.
Department of Conservation (DOC), DOC Maps: Geologic Hazards, available at https://maps.conservation.ca.gov/geologichazards/, accessed October 27, 2021.
Department of Toxic Substances Control, EnviroStor; Stanton Project Search Result, available at https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov, accessed October 27, 2021.
Golden State Water Company (GSWC), West Orange County, available at https://www.gswater.com/los-alamitos, accessed November 19, 2021.
Green Earth Operations Environmental Science and Engineering, available at http://www.greenearthops.com/new/project/wusong-riverfront-treatment-wetland/4/, accessed October 27, 2021.
Hall, A., Berg N., Reich, K., (University of California, Los Angeles). 2018. Los Angeles Region Report. California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment. Publication number: SUM-CCCA4- 2018-007.
IPCC (2007) Climate Change 2007: Mitigation. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [B. Metz, O.R. Davidson, P.R. Bosch, R. Dave, L.A. Meyer (eds)],
Orange County Fire Authority, Stations, available at https://ocfa.org/AboutUs/FireStations.aspx, accessed November 18, 2021.
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 22 United States Census Bureau, ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates; Stanton, CA, available at https://data.census.gov, accessed November 19, 2021.
Pierce, D. W., J. F. Kalansky, and D. R. Cayan, (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) (2018).
Climate, Drought, and Sea Level Rise Scenarios for the Fourth California Climate Assessment.
California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, California Energy Commission. Publication Number: CNRA-CEC-2018-006.
RBF Consulting, City of Stanton General Plan, September 2008 Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), Pre-Certified Local Housing Data for the City of Stanton, August 2020.
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 23 Appendix A: Regulatory Framework
STATE
CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD
The California Air Resources Board is the agency responsible for coordination and oversight of state and local air pollution control programs in California and for implementing the California Clean Air Act (CCAA), which was adopted in 1988. The CCAA requires that all air districts in the state endeavor to achieve and maintain the California Ambient Air Quality Standards by the earliest practical date. The act specifies that districts should focus particular attention on reducing the emissions from transportation and area-wide emission sources and provides districts with the authority to regulate indirect sources.
CALIFORNIA STRATEGIC FIRE PLAN
This statewide plan guides fire policy for much of California. The plan is aimed at reducing wildfire risk through pre-fire mitigation efforts tailored to local areas. The most recent update is the 2018 Strategic Fire Plan. The 2018 Plan reflects CAL FIRE’s focus on: 1) fire prevention and suppression activities to protect lives, property, and ecosystem services, and 2) natural resource management to maintain the state’s forests as a resilient carbon sink to meet California’s climate change goals and to serve as important habitat for adaptation and mitigation. There are also Unit Fire Plans produced under the Strategic Fire Plan that are localized to a county or region; the City of Stanton falls under the Orange County Unit Fire Plan.
STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD/REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD
In California, all wastewater treatment and disposal systems fall under the overall regulatory authority of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the nine California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCBs), who are charged with the responsibility of protecting beneficial uses of State waters from a variety of waste discharges, including wastewater from individual and municipal systems. The City of Stanton falls within the jurisdiction of the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board.
The RWQCBs’ regulatory role often involves the formation and implementation of basic water protection policies. These are reflected in the RWQCBs’ Basin Plans, generally in the form of guidelines, criteria and prohibitions related to the siting, design, construction, and maintenance of on-site sewage disposal systems.
STATE WATER BOARD STORM WATER STRATEGY
The Storm Water Strategy is founded on the results of the Storm Water Strategic Initiative, which serve to direct the State Water Board’s role in storm water resources management and evolve the Storm Water Program by: a) developing guiding principles to serve as the foundation of the City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 24 storm water program; b) identifying issues that support or inhibit the program from aligning with the guiding principles; and c) proposing and prioritizing projects that the Water Board could implement to address those issues. The State Water Board staff created a document called the Strategy to Optimize Management of Storm Water (STORMS). STORMS includes a program vision, mission, goals, objectives, projects, timelines, and consideration of the most effective integration of project outcomes into the Water Board’s Storm Water Program.
URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING ACT
The Urban Water Management Planning Act has main objectives are the management of urban water demands and the efficient use of urban water. Under its provisions, every urban water supplier is required to prepare and adopt an urban water management plan. The plan must identify and quantify the existing and planned sources of water available to the supplier, quantify the projected water use for a period of 20 years, and describe the supplier’s water demand management measures.
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
The Department of Public Health contains the Division of Radiation Safety and Environmental Management (DRSEM) which, is divided into three branches: the Radiologic Health Branch, the Environmental Health Branch, and the Drinking Water and Radiation Laboratory Branch. The Radiologic Health Branch enforces the laws and regulations designed to protect the public, radiation workers, and the environment. The Environmental Management Branch regulates the medical waste industry and recreational health (public swimming pools, ocean beaches and organized camps); provides sanitary surveillance of state institutions; administers the Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) program; oversees radiological cleanup at military base closure facilities, coordinates the State's Indoor Radon Program, the Medical Waste Management Program and California Department of Public Health's Nuclear Emergency Response Program. The Drinking Water and Radiation Laboratory Branch is the State’s primary drinking water quality testing laboratory and is the state laboratory capable of measuring chemical, microbiological, and radiochemical contaminants in drinking water and drinking water supplies.
CALIFORNIA WATER CODE
California’s primary statute governing water quality and water pollution issues with respect to both surface waters and groundwater is the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act of 1970 (Division 7 of the California Water Code). The Porter-Cologne Act grants the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and each of the Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB) power to protect water quality and is the primary vehicle for implementation of California’s responsibilities under the Federal Clean Water Act. The Porter-Cologne Act grants the SWRCB and the RWQCBs authority and responsibility to adopt plans and policies, to regulate discharges to surface and groundwater, to regulate waste disposal sites, and to require City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 25 cleanup of discharges of hazardous materials and other pollutants. The Porter-Cologne Act also establishes reporting requirements for unintended discharges of any hazardous substance, sewage, or oil or petroleum product.
Each RWQCB must formulate and adopt a Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) for its region.
The regional plans conform to the policies set forth in the Porter-Cologne Act and established by the SWRCB in its State water policy. The Porter-Cologne Act also provides that a RWQCB may include within its regional plan water discharge prohibitions applicable to particular conditions, areas, or types of waste.
CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE
The California Building Standards Code (CBSC) (California Code of Regulations, Title 24) is a statewide standard that is updated every three years, with the most recent update being in 2019. The CBSC is a compilation of three types of building standards from three different origins:
Building standards that were adopted by state agencies without change from national model building codes
Building standards that were adopted from national model codes but modified to address California-specific conditions
Building standards, authorized by the California legislature, that constitute amendments not covered by national model codes, that were created to address particular California concerns.
The CBSC specifies materials requirements, construction methods, and maintenance standards for earthquake protection and resiliency. All building occupancies in California are subject to national model codes adopted into the CBSC, and occupancies are further subject to amendments adopted by state agencies. State law also authorizes local governments to enact ordinances making building standards amendments to the CBSC to address local conditions.
The law includes specific requirements for the basis for a local amendment, how the amendment language and documents must be prepared, and how the amendment must be filed with either the CBSC, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, or other state agencies as required. The City of Stanton originally adopted Volumes 1 and 2 of the CBSC into the City Municipal Code under Chapter 16.04, Building Code. The City Council then amended the municipal code chapter, incorporating the 2019 Edition of the CBSC.
CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE
The California Fire Code, as a part of Title 24, California Code of Regulations, establishes the minimum requirements consistent with nationally recognized good practices to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare from the hazards of fire, explosion or dangerous conditions in new and existing buildings, structures and premises, and to provide safety and City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 26 assistance to fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations. The provisions of this code shall apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition of every building or structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such building structures throughout the State of California.
The City of Stanton has adopted the California Fire Code into Title 16 Building and Construction, Chapter 16.21, Fire Code, of the Municipal Code.
WILDFIRE PROTECTION RESPONSIBILITY IN CALIFORNIA
Local, state, tribal, and federal organizations all have legal and financial responsibility for wildfire protection. In many instances, two fire organizations have dual primary responsibility on the same parcel of land—one for wildfire protection and the other for structural fire protection. To address wildfire jurisdiction responsibilities, in 1981 the California State Legislature outlined various wildfire responsibilities, described below, in Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 4291.5 and Cal. Health & Safety Code § 13108.5.
Federal Responsibility Areas (FRAs)
FRAs are fire-prone wildland areas that are owned or managed by a federal agency such as the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or U.S. Department of Defense. Primary financial and rule-making jurisdiction authority rests with the federal land agency. In many instances, FRAs are interspersed with private land ownership or leases. Fire protection for developed private property is usually the responsibility of the relevant local government agency, not the federal land management agency.
State Responsibility Areas (SRAs)
SRAs are lands in California where the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has legal and financial responsibility for wildfire protection. CAL FIRE administers fire hazard classifications and establishes development and building standard regulations in these areas. SRAs are defined as lands that:
are in the unincorporated county areas
are not federally-owned
have wildland vegetation cover rather than agricultural or ornamental plants have row crops or seasonal crops, or
have watershed, range, or forage values
CAL FIRE adopts SRA boundaries and updates them every 5 years. Where SRAs contain structures or development, the relevant local government agencies have fire protection responsibility for those improvements.
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 27 Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs)
LRAs include land in cities, cultivated agriculture lands, unincorporated non-flammable areas, and lands that do not meet the criteria for SRA or FRA. LRA fire protection is typically provided by city or county fire departments, fire protection districts, or by CAL FIRE under contract to local governments. LRAs may include areas of flammable vegetation and WUI.
The City of Stanton does not contain any Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
ALQUIST-PRIOLO EARTHQUAKE FAULT ZONING ACT & SEISMIC HAZARDS MAPPING ACT (1972)
The 1971 San Fernando Earthquake resulted in the destruction of numerous structures built along its fault. This led to passage of the Alquist‐Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act in 1972.
This Act prohibits the construction of buildings for human occupancy across active faults in the state. Similarly, extensive damage caused by ground failure during the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake focuses attention on decreasing the impacts of landslides and liquefaction. This led to the creation of the Seismic Hazards Mapping Act (1990), which enhances construction standards at locations where ground failures are probable during earthquakes.
SENATE BILL 610 & ASSEMBLY BILL 901 (2001)
SB 610 and AB 901 both modify the Urban Water Management Planning Act. SB 610 requires additional information in an urban water management plan if groundwater is identified as a water source supplier. It also requires that the plan include a description of all water supply projects and programs that may be undertaken to meet total projected water use. SB 610 also requires a city or county that determines a project is subject to CEQA to identify any public water system that may supply water to the project and to request identified public water systems to prepare a specified water supply assessment. The assessment must include, among other information, an identification of existing water supply entitlements, water rights, or water service contracts relevant to the identified water supply for the proposed project, and water received in prior years pursuant to these entitlements, rights, and contracts.
AB 901 requires an urban water management plan to include information, to the extent practicable, relating to the quality of existing sources of water available to an urban water supplier over a given period of time. AB 901 also requires information on the how water quality affects water management strategies and supply reliability. The bill requires plans to supplement a water source that may not be available at a consistent level of use, to the extent practicable. Additional findings and declarations relating to water quality are required.
ASSEMBLY BILL 1007 (2005)
Assembly Bill 1007 (Pavley, Chapter 371, Statutes of 2005) directs the California Energy Commission (CEC) to prepare a plan to increase the use of alternative fuels in California. As a City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 28 result, the CEC prepares the State Alternative Fuels Plan in consultation with state, federal, and local agencies. The plan presents strategies and actions California must take to increase the use of alternative non-petroleum fuels in a manner that minimizes costs to California and maximizes the economic benefits of in-state production. The Plan assesses various alternative fuels and developed fuel portfolios to meet California’s goals to reduce petroleum consumption, increase alternative fuels use, reduce GHG emissions, and increase in-state production of biofuels without causing a significant degradation of public health and environmental quality.
CALIFORNIA EXECUTIVE ORDERS S-3-05 (2005)
On June 1, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signs Executive Order S-3-05. The goal of this Executive Order is to reduce California’s GHG emissions to: 1) 2000 levels by 2010, 2) 1990 levels by 2020 and 3) 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. While two of the benchmark years have passed, the City of Stanton, along with the rest of the State, can still aim to reduce GHG emissions 80% below the 1990 levels by the year 2050.
ASSEMBLY BILL 32 & EXECUTIVE ORDER S-20-06 (2006)
In 2006, California adopts Assembly Bill (AB) 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, as an effort to address the effects of climate change and help reach the goals presented in Executive Order S-3-05. AB 32 sets the same overall GHG emissions reduction goals while further mandating that CARB create a plan, which includes market mechanisms, and implement rules to achieve “real, quantifiable, cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gases.” Executive Order S-20-06 further directs state agencies to begin implementing AB 32, including the recommendations made by the state’s Climate Action Team.
BIOENERGY ACTION PLAN- EXECUTIVE ORDER S-06-06 (2006)
Executive Order S-06-06 establishes targets for the use and production of biofuels and biopower.
The order also directs state agencies to work together to advance biomass programs while providing environmental protection and mitigation. The executive order establishes targets to increase production and use of ethanol and biodiesel fuels by a minimum of 20% by 2010, 40% by 2020, and 75% by 2050. Additionally, the executive order sets targets for the state related to the use of biomass electricity and cogeneration facilities.
SENATE BILL 375 (2008)
California's Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (SB 375) requires transportation agencies to develop a regional “Sustainable Communities Strategy” of land use, housing, and transportation policies that will move the region towards meeting the GHG reduction target set by the CARB. On September 3, 2020, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the metropolitan planning organization responsible for Stanton and surrounding regions, adopt Connect SoCal (2020–2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy), which sets forth a long-range visioning plan that City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 29 balances future mobility and housing needs with economic, environmental, and public health goals.
ASSEMBLY BILL 162 (2009)
This bill requires, upon the next revision of the housing element, on or after January 1, 2009, the Conservation Element of the General Plan to identify rivers, creeks, streams, flood corridors, riparian habitat, and land that may accommodate floodwater for purposes of groundwater recharge and stormwater management. By imposing new duties on local public officials, the bill creates a state-mandated local program.
This bill also requires, upon the next revision of the housing element, on or after January 1, 2009, the safety element to identify, among other things, information regarding flood hazards and to establish a set of comprehensive goals, policies, and objectives, based on specified information for the protection of the community from, among other things, the unreasonable risks of flooding.
ASSEMBLY BILL 341 CALIFORNIA’S MANDATORY COMMERCIAL RECYCLING LAW (2012) The purpose of AB 341 is to reduce GHG emissions by diverting commercial solid waste to recycling efforts and to expand the opportunity for additional recycling services and recycling manufacturing facilities in California.
CALIFORNIA SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT (2014) On September 16, 2014, Governor Brown signs into law a package of bills (SB 1168, AB 1739 and SB 1319) collectively called the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The Act requires local governments and water agencies with high and medium priority groundwater basins to halt overdraft and bring basins into sustainable levels of pumping and recharge. For each basin, local agencies are required to form new groundwater sustainability agencies and prepare groundwater sustainability plans with quantifiable objectives for achievement of sustainability within 20 years.
SENATE BILL 379 (2015)
SB 379 revises Government Code Section 65302(g)(4) to require cities and counties to update their safety elements to address climate adaptation and resiliency strategies applicable to their jurisdiction. The updates are required at the next update of their local hazard mitigation plan (LHMP) on or after January 1, 2017. Local jurisdictions without an LHMP must update their safety elements beginning on or before January 1, 2022. The safety element update must include:
A vulnerability assessment identifying the risks that climate change poses to the local jurisdiction
A set of goals, policies, and objectives based on a vulnerability assessment for the protection of the community
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 30 A set of feasible implementation strategies to carry out the goals, policies, and objectives
STATEWIDE EMERGENCY WATER CONSERVATION REGULATIONS (2016) In 2016, the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) adjusts emergency water conservation regulations in recognition of the differing water supply conditions and ongoing drought across the state to comply with the Governor’s executive order declaring a drought emergency.
Executive Order B-37-16, Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life, updates temporary emergency water restrictions and transitions to permanent, long-term improvements in water use by:
Providing for wiser water use
Eliminating water waste
Strengthening local drought resilience
Improving agricultural water use efficiency and drought planning In April 2017, a new Executive Order lifts the drought emergency, but retains many of the conservation requirements. Most regulations are still in effect except for water supply “stress test” requirements and conservation standards for urban water suppliers. The temporary restrictions establish a baseline of the types of benefits that are possible from water conservation requirements.
SENATE BILL 1383 (2016)
In September 2016, Governor Brown signs SB 1383, Short-Lived Climate Pollutants: Organic Waste Methane Emissions Reductions, establishing methane emissions reduction targets in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) in various sectors of California’s economy. The bill codifies the CARB’s SLCP Reduction Strategy, established pursuant to SB 605 (2014), in order to achieve reductions in the statewide emissions of short-lived climate pollutants. Actions to reduce short-lived climate pollutants are essential to address the many impacts of climate change on human health, especially in California’s most at-risk communities, and on the environment.
CALIFORNIA STATE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN (2018)
The 2018 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan is the state’s primary hazard mitigation guidance document. It seeks to help communities with their mitigation and disaster resiliency efforts to reduce or eliminate potential risks and impacts of natural and human-caused disasters.
The 2018 plan was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on September 28, 2018, and includes:
An updated statewide risk assessment, disaster history, and statistics City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 31 Recent mitigation progress, success stories, and best practices Updated state hazard mitigation goals, objectives, and strategies Updated climate mitigation progress and adaptation strategies CALIFORNIA WATER PLAN (2018)
The California Water Plan is the state's strategic plan for sustainably managing and developing water resources for current and future generations. Required by Water Code Section 10005(a), it presents the status and trends of California’s water-dependent natural resources; water supplies; and agricultural, urban, and environmental water demands for a range of plausible future scenarios. The plan is updated every 5 years, with the most recent update occurring in 2018.
LOCAL
CITY OF STANTON GENERAL PLAN
A variety of policies contained in the existing City of Stanton General Plan address climate change vulnerabilities. Specific goals included within the General Plan that are most related to climate change include:
Land Use
Goal LU-3.1: A range and balance of residential densities which are supported by adequate city services.
Community Design
Goal CD-4.1: Create a well-connected, multi-modal urban environment that increases mobility for all Stanton residents, whether they choose or are required to travel through the city by car, bicycle, foot, or public transportation modes. Strategy CD-4.1.1: Promote a pedestrian friendly environment with attractive, walkable neighborhoods and commercial areas.
Strategy CD-4.1.2: Increase the number, quality, and connectivity of the city’s bikeways and multi-use trails.
Infrastructure & Community Services
Goal ICS-3.1: Reduce the environmental impacts of the city’s infrastructure systems, promoting sustainable continuation of services to Stanton residents. Strategy ICS-3.1.1: Reduce the quantity of waste generated by the city of Stanton by increasing the city’s role in the source reduction and recycling components of waste management.
Strategy ICS-3.1.2: Promote opportunities to decrease demand on the city’s potable water supply and infrastructure.
Strategy ICS-3.1.3: Encourage the protection of natural drainage methods.
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 32 Strategy ICS-3.1.4: Encourage the mitigation of waterborne pollutants. Goal ICS-4.1: Create and maintain a system of public parks that are accessible to all residents, and provide a range of recreational amenities and opportunities. Strategy ICS-4.1.1: Seize opportunities to expand park acreage and maintain a higher ratio of park acreage per resident.
Community Health & Safety
CHS-1.1 Minimize loss of life, injury, and property damage from seismic events and resulting hazards.
CHS-1.1.1 Ensure that building code standards are enforced and maintained so that new development is located and designed to reduce the effects of a seismic event. CHS-2.1 Protect Stanton residents from potential flood hazards, including dam inundation.
CHS-2.1.1 Ensure that facilities and programs are maintained and operable to prevent flood damage.
CHS-4.1 Provide and maintain a high level of fire protection services necessary to adequately serve the community.
CHS-4.1.1 Ensure that adequate fire facilities and personnel are maintained by the County and contracted by the city to provide adequate service levels. CHS-4.2 Minimize loss of life, injury, and property damage from urban fires. CHS-4.2.1 Ensure that existing and new developments maintain or exceed standards for fire prevention to minimize the risk of fire.
CHS-4.2.2 Promote community education in fire prevention and fire safety. CHS-5.1 Maintain a level of preparedness to respond to emergency situations in order to reduce the loss of life, injury and property damage to the community. CHS-5.1.1 Ensure that the city is prepared to respond to natural and manmade emergencies or disasters in a coordinated and efficient manner. CHS-5.1.2 Increase resident preparedness for a major emergency or disaster, focusing on education programs and materials.
CHS-6.1 Protect the community and property from injury, damage or destruction from the use, transport and disposition of hazardous materials. CHS-6.1.1 Ensure that activities within the city transport, use, store, and dispose of hazardous materials in a safe, efficient and responsible manner, which protects the public health and safety.
CHS-7.1 A resilient, sustainable, and equitable community where risks to life, property, the economy, and the environment resulting from climate change, including extreme weather events, are minimized.
CHS-7.1.1 Promote a well-prepared City that can effectively overcome natural disasters and scarcity of resources due to climate change.
City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 33 CHS-7.1.2 Collaborate with local, regional, state and/or federal jurisdictions and agencies on climate resiliency and adaptation strategies. CHS-7.1.3 Promote plans and programs that increase sustainable energy sources. CHS-7.1.4 Implement necessary actions and programs to improve preparation and response for the most vulnerable community members.
CHS-7.1.5 Implement programs that promote resiliency to drought.
Regional Coordination
Strategy RC-2.1.7: Develop land use strategies and incentives to reduce the amount of vehicle miles traveled within city limits.
Goal RC-3.1: Clean and safe air quality.
Strategy RC-3.1.1: Enact and support policies and efforts that not only limit and decrease emissions within the boundaries of Stanton but also the region as whole. Strategy RC-3.1.2: Reduce the negative impacts of poor air quality on the city’s sensitive receptors.
Strategy RC-3.1.3: Minimize stationary pollution sources (point sources and area sources) in urbanized land areas.
Strategy RC-3.1.4: Implement control measures to reduce the amount of particulates in the city and the region.
Strategy RC-3.1.6: Provide leadership in reducing employee-related air pollutant emissions.
Strategy RC-3.1.7: Encourage the use of alternative fuel vehicles, alternative transportation methods, and reduction of vehicles on the road to reduce vehicle emissions.
Strategy RC-3.1.8: Encourage the use of alternative fuel vehicles, alternative transportation methods, and reduction of vehicles on the road to reduce vehicle emissions.
CITY OF STANTON MUNICIPAL CODE
Title 6, Health and Sanitation (6.04 Integrated Waste Management; 6.20 Stormwater Discharge and Water Quality; 6.24 Water Conservation, and 6.28, Fats, Oils, and Grease Discharges into the Sanitary Sewer System) all pertain to proper handling, maintenance, and transportation of water, wastewater, sewer water that come into and out of the City.
Title 10, Vehicles and Traffic (10.20 Mobile Source Emissions) discusses various fees administered for the purpose funding mobile source air pollution reduction programs.
Title 11, Floodplain Management (11.08 General Provisions and 11.12 Provision for Flood Hazard Reduction) states that no structure or land shall be constructed, developed, located, extended, converted, or altered without full compliance with the terms of Title 11 and other applicable City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 34 regulations. The Title then specifies standards for construction, utilities, subdivisions, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, and floodways.
Title 13 Public Utilities (13.04 Sewer Construction, Maintenance, and Connections) covers regulations regarding sewer construction standards, infiltration, installation, inspections of private sewer facilities, sewage overflow, and prohibited discharges into sewer systems.
Title 14 Community Services (14.04 Parkland and Playground Use) aims to keep community and public facilities clean and safe for users. Chapter 14.04 provides rules and regulations that slow and prevent deterioration of parks and playgrounds with the goal of creating a clean, green space for children, families, and users.
Title 16, Building and Construction, Division I, Buildings and Construction, contains Stanton’s adoption of the California Building Code (16.04.010), and its amendments (16.04.020). Title 16 also contains the City’s Electrical Code (16.06), Plumbing Code (16.08), Energy Code (16.10), Green Building Standards Code (16.14), Fire Code (16.21), Wells code (16.40), Public Safety Radio System Protection Program (16.46), and Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction plans (16.50). All of these codes and programs are incorporated into the City with the aim of decreasing potential hazards and risks and promoting general safety and public welfare.
Title 16, Building and Construction, Division II, Grading and Excavation Code, sets forth rules and regulations to control excavation, grading, and earthwork construction, including fills and embankments, and establishes administrative requirements for issuance of permits and approval of plans and inspection of grading construction in accordance with the requirements for grading and excavation as contained in the Uniform Building Code, as well as relevant water quality requirements.
Title 16, Building and Construction, Division III, Transportation Demand Management, intends to meet the requirements of AB 1791, Section 65089(b)(3) which requires development of a trip reduction and travel demand element to the congestion management plan (CMP), and Section 65089.3(b) which requires adoption and implementation of the trip reduction and travel demand ordinance.
Title 17, Fire (17.04 Safe and Sane Fireworks, 17.08 Fire Code, 17.17 Fees, and 17.30 Hazardous Materials Disclosure) is dedicated to reducing and extinguishing fire threats and hazards. The City of Stanton has adopted the California Fire Code, including amendments and appendices, as of 2016 (17.08.010). Chapter 17.30 requires that hazardous materials must be disclosed, and the proper way to file a hazardous materials disclosure form.
CITY OF STANTON ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN (2021)
The City’s Active Transportation Plan is part of a move away from the auto-centric approach of the past, and toward a sustainable, multi-modal transportation system that serves all residents, City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 35 regardless of age, ability, identity, or income. The recommendations for streets envision 23 miles of new bikeways and sidewalks, and represent an investment in multi-modal, equitable transportation in our community. Collectively the policies, programs, projects, and recommendations in this Plan will create an environment that enhances active transportation in Stanton, and makes walking and biking a safe, healthy, and enjoyable means of transportation and recreation.
COUNTY OF ORANGE AND ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY DRAFT LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN (LHMP) (2021)
An update to the 2015 LHMP was developed collaboratively with emergency management staff, County and external partners, and Orange County residents. As of the writing of this Climate Vulnerability Assessment, a draft of the LHMP is currently available for public review. The update is a critical step in continuing Orange County’s commitment to hazard mitigation as one component of its comprehensive emergency management program. As a multi-jurisdiction plan, the LHMP focuses on mitigating all natural hazards impacting unincorporated areas of the County as well as County and Orange County Fire Authority owned facilities.
The mission of this LHMP is to promote sound public policy designed to protect residents, critical facilities, infrastructure, key resources, private property, and the environment from natural hazards in unincorporated areas, fire hazards in the Fire Authority service area, and County and Fire Authority owned facilities.
UNIFIED COUNTY OF ORANGE & ORANGE COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREA EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN (2019)
The Unified County of Orange (County) and Orange County Operational Area (OA) Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) provides guidance and procedures for the County and the County as the OA to prepare for and respond to natural, technological, conflict-related, and human-caused incidents creating situations requiring a coordinated response. It provides guidance for management concepts, identifies organizational structures and relationships and describes responsibilities and functions of the emergency organization to protect life and property. The plan describes the emergency organization and the process of preparing, responding to, and recovering from disasters.
THE NORTH AND CENTRAL ORANGE COUNTY WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AREA
INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT (IRWM) PLAN- THE OC PLAN The North and Central Orange County Watershed Management Area Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan (The OC Plan) identifies and implements water management solutions on a regional scale. The OC Plan updates and combines two existing IRWM plans that were prepared by the County of Orange. The North Orange County Watershed Management Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan was completed in 2011 and the Integrated City of Stanton │ Climate Vulnerability Assessment │ Page 36 Regional Water Management Plan: Central Orange County Management Area was completed in 2012. Preparation and implementation of The OC Plan builds on collaborative watershed planning in Orange County that began more than a decade ago.
The goals of The OC Plan are to increase water supply, protect water quality, enhance the environment and habitat, provide flood risk management, improve the quality of life, and address climate change. The OC Plan accomplishes these goals through an established process of ranking projects to help further state and regional goals.
SB 99 Analysis
White Paper
Residential Emergency Evacuation Route Analysis
November 2021
Appendix B to the Community Health & Safety Element
Prepared by:
1 City of Stanton SB 99 Analysis White Paper
In coordination with its focused Community Health & Safety Element Update (2021), the City of Stanton has prepared an analysis consistent with Senate Bill 99 to identify residential developments in high hazard zones that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes. The analysis found that there are no residential developments within Stanton that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes. The following is an explanation of the methodology used to map the evacuation routes.
Definitions & Data Sources
Residential Developments
Residential developments were defined at the parcel level using the following criteria:
Having an existing General Plan Land use of LDR, MDR, or HDR Having an assessed use of Residential Single Family or Residential Multiple Family High Hazard Zones
High Hazard Zones within the City of Stanton were defined as areas that are in one or more of the following pre-defined hazard zones:
1. FEMA’s 100-year flood zone (present)
2. California OES dam inundation area (Completely inundated by Prado Dam, old Safety Element also shows inundation in the north by Carbon Canyon Dam)
3. California Geological Survey’s Map Sheet 58 Landslide Susceptibility classes 8, 9, or 10 (only 0 and 7 present)
4. California Geological Survey’s Potential Liquefaction Zones (present), Potential Landslide Zones (none present), and Fault Zones (none present), mapped as part of the California Seismic Hazard Zonation Program
5. CalFire’s High and Very High Fire Threat zones (none present)
6. CalFire’s Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas (none present) The entire Stanton Planning Area is within the Prado Dam inundation area AND considered at high risk for seismic-induce liquefaction. Because these two hazards cover the entire mapped extent, they are not shown on the map on page 3.
Evacuation Routes
The Orange County roads database was used to identify points of exit from clusters (neighborhoods) of residential parcels. According to the Stanton General Plan (2008), the city’s circulation consists of a grid of arterials connecting local streets. Therefore, the road centerlines were divided into two categories:
1. Arterials – Cerritos Ave, Katella Ave, Orangewood Ave, Chapman Ave, Lampson Ave, Garden Grove Blvd (East-west trending) and Knott Ave, Western Ave, Beach Blvd (Highway 39), Dale Ave, and Magnolia Ave (north-south trending).
2 2. Local/Minor Roads – These roads are generally the first roads a resident will encounter when departing their residence, and these roads feed into the arterials.
Assumptions & Methodology
Identification of Residential Developments in High Hazard Zones Because the entire Stanton Planning Area is within the Prado Dam inundation area AND considered at high risk for seismic-induce liquefaction, all residential developments within the Stanton Planning Area are within a High Hazard Zone.
Identification of Residential Development Exit Points
The goal of this analysis was to find at least two separate points of exit from residential developments in High Hazard Zones by following a rudimentary roadway network in which vehicles move from Local/Minor Roads to Arterials, and eventually to a Freeway. The following assumptions apply:
1. Residential developments have immediate access to Local/Minor Roads but are distant from Freeways.
2. Arterials connect Local/Minor Roads to the Freeways.
3. Residential exit points are the points where Local/Minor Roads intersect Arterials, thereby providing eventual access to a Freeway.
Analysis & Results
Analysis
Upon visual analysis, residential parcels within the Stanton Planning Area were assigned to one of four categories:
1. One exit point with some distance to a single arterial
2. One exit point directly onto a single arterial
3. Multiple exit points with access to a single arterial (loop road)
4. Multiple exit points with access to multiple arterials Results
Because of Stanton’s gridded street network, approximately 80% of the residential parcels have multiple exit points with access to multiple arterials. These parcels are shown in green on the map on page 3.
Approximately 12% of the parcels have multiple exit points with access to a single arterial. These parcels are shown in yellow on the map. They tend to be neighborhoods or condominium complexes characterized by a loop road.
Approximately 8% of the parcels have just one exit point, but that exit point is directly onto an arterial road. These parcels are shown in orange on the map. They are mostly apartment complexes with one entrance off an arterial road.
There are no residential areas within Stanton that have only one exit point with some distance to an arterial.
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-06
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-06
ADOPTING AN ADDENDUM TO THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
FOR THE REVISED CITY OF STANTON GENERAL PLAN FOR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. GPA 22-01 FOR THE 2021-2029 PLANNING PERIOD AND
UPDATE TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT
WHEREAS, On January 19, 2022, the Planning Commission of the City of Stanton unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2547, recommending City Council approve General Plan Amendment No. GPA 22-01 and to adopt an Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Revised City of Stanton General Plan; and WHEREAS, On February 8, 2022, the City Council of the City of Stanton conducted a duly noticed public hearing, as required by law, for an adoption of an Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Revised City of Stanton General Plan, certified in 2008; and
WHEREAS, The project proponent is the City of Stanton, 7800 East Katella Avenue, Stanton, CA 90680; and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000, et seq. (“CEQA”), the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Sections 15000, et seq.), and the City’s Local CEQA Guidelines, the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Revised City of Stanton General Plan was prepared for the General Plan Update in 2008 and certified by the City Council on September 23, 2008; and
WHEREAS, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, is an Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report to the Revised City of Stanton General Plan (“Final Environmental Impact Report”) for the City’s Housing Element for the 2021-2029 Planning Period and the updated Community Health and Safety Element (Exhibit A). The City has analyzed the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element with respect to the Final Environmental Impact Report, as required by CEQA, and pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164 has prepared and Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report; and
WHEREAS, All legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STANTON DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS :
SECTION 1. That the above recitations are true and correct and, accordingly, are incorporated as a material part of this Resolution.
Attachment: G
Click here to return to the agenda.
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-06
SECTION 2. That the environmental effects of the project are within the scope described in the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Revised City of Stanton General Plan which was certified in 2008. The City Council further finds that no subsequent EIR is necessary on the basis that no substantial evidence exists, in the light of the whole record, regarding any substantial changes in the project, or the circumstances under which the project is undertaken, which would require major revisions of the previous certified Final EIR; and, further, the City Council hereby certified that the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Revised City of Stanton General Plan was completed in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act of 1972, as amended, and the Guidelines promulgated thereunder, and further that the City Council has reviewed and considered information contained in said Final Environmental Impact Report.
SECTION 3. The Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element have been environmentally reviewed pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 2100, et seq. (“CEQA”), the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 15000, et seq.) and the City’s Local CEQA Guidelines. An Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report was prepared for the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element and is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full.
SECTION 4. That the Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report has been prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970, as amended, and the Guidelines promulgated thereunder, and further, this Council has reviewed and considered the information contained in said addendum, with respect to the Housing Element, Community Health and Safety Element, and Final Environmental Impact Report identified in this resolution.
SECTION 5. That facts supporting the findings are contained in the Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report, the staff report, and attachments and the information provided to this Council during the public hearing conducted with respect to the Housing Element and the Community Health and Safety Element.
SECTION 6. Based on the findings and conclusions set forth in the Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report, the City Council hereby approves and adopts the Housing Element Update and Community Health and Safety Element Update of the Stanton General Plan (General Plan Amendment No. GPA 22-01)
SECTION 7. The Mayor shall sign this Resolution and the City Clerk shall attest and certify to the passage and adoption thereof.
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-06
ADOPTED, SIGNED AND APPROVED this 8th day of February, 2022.
DAVID J. SHAWVER, MAYOR
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
HONGDAO NGUYEN, CITY ATTORNEY
ATTEST:
I, Patricia A. Vazquez, City Clerk of the City of Stanton, California DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution, being Resolution No. 2022-06 has been duly signed by the Mayor and attested by the City Clerk, all at a regular meeting of the Stanton City Council, held on February 8, 2022, and that the same was adopted, signed and approved by the following vote to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
PATRICIA A. VAZQUEZ, CITY CLERK
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-06
EXHIBIT A
ADDENDUM TO THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE
REVISED CITY OF STANTON GENERAL PLAN
Addendum to the
City of Stanton General Plan
Final Environmental Impact Report
2021‐2029 Housing Element Update and Community Health and Safety Element Update
December 2021
Prepared for:
City of Stanton
Community & Economic Development Department
Planning Department
7800 Katella Avenue
Stanton, CA 90680
Prepared by:
De Novo Planning Group
180 E. Main Street, Suite 108
Tustin, CA 92780
De Novo Planning Group
A Land Use Planning, Design, and Environmental Firm
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 1‐0
1.1 PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................ 1‐0
1.2 CEQA REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................................ 1‐0
1.3 INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE..................................................................................................................... 1‐2 2 ADDENDUM FINDING............................................................................................................................... 2‐1 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ............................................................................................... 3‐1
3.1 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................................ 3‐1
3.2 PROJECT LOCATION AND SETTING................................................................................................................... 3‐1
3.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF PROPOSED PROJECT REVISIONS/ADDITIONS ........................................................................ 3‐3 4 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................... 4‐1
4.1 AESTHETICS ............................................................................................................................................... 4‐2
4.2 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY RESOURCES ....................................................................................................... 4‐4
4.3 AIR QUALITY .............................................................................................................................................. 4‐6
4.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES............................................................................................................................. 4‐11
4.5 CULTURAL RESOURCES ....................................................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
4.6 ENERGY .................................................................................................................................................. 4‐14
4.7 GEOLOGY AND SOILS ................................................................................................................................. 4‐16
4.8 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS..................................................................................................................... 4‐20
4.9 HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ........................................................................................................ 4‐23
4.10 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY............................................................................................................... 4‐28
4.11 LAND USE AND PLANNING .......................................................................................................................... 4‐32
4.12 MINERAL RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................ 4‐34
4.13 NOISE..................................................................................................................................................... 4‐35
4.14 POPULATION AND HOUSING........................................................................................................................ 4‐39
4.15 PUBLIC SERVICES....................................................................................................................................... 4‐41
4.16 RECREATION ............................................................................................................................................ 4‐45
4.17 TRANSPORTATION..................................................................................................................................... 4‐46
4.18 TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES..................................................................................................................... 4‐49
4.19 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS .................................................................................................................. 4‐50
4.20 WILDFIRE ................................................................................................................................................ 4‐54
4.21 MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE ...................................................................................................... 4‐56 Tables and Figures TABLE 1: STANTON GENERAL PLAN EXPECTED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY .......................................................... 3‐3 TABLE 2: PROGRESS TOWARDS THE RHNA................................................................................................................... 3‐5 TABLE 3: COMPARISON OF RHNA CANDIDATE SITES REALISTIC CAPACITY AND RHNA.......................................................... 3‐7 FIGURE 1: REGIONAL LOCATION MAP ......................................................................................................................... 3‐11 FIGURE 2: GENERAL PLAN PLANNING AREA.................................................................................................................. 3‐12 City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND
The City of Stanton is the Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”).
On September 23, 2008, the City Council adopted the City of Stanton General Plan, including the Housing Element, and certified the Stanton General Plan Final Environmental Impact Report (“FEIR”) (State Clearinghouse No. 2008041050). The City Council then adopted the City of Stanton General Plan Housing Element (2014-2021 Housing Element) for the 5th cycle in October of 2013.
The City now proposes the current 2021-2029 Housing Element for the 6th cycle and Community Health and Safety Element Update (referenced herein as “Modified Project” or “Project”). The Modified Project involves minor changes/additions to the Housing Element in compliance with State Housing Element Law Government Code Sections 65580-65590 and minor changes/additions to the Community Health and Safety Element to meet the requirements of California Government Code Section 65302(g).
Following preliminary review of the proposed Housing Element Update and Community Health and Safety Element Update, the City of Stanton, as Lead Agency, has determined that the proposed Project is subject to CEQA (Public Resources Code [PRC] Sections 21000-21177). This Addendum to the FEIR has been prepared by the City to demonstrate that the proposed Housing Element Update and Community Health and Safety Element Update do not meet the conditions warranting preparation of a Subsequent or Supplemental EIR, as the potential environmental impacts associated with the Housing Element Update and Community Health and Safety Element Update do not result in any new or greater environmental impacts than were previously analyzed, disclosed, and mitigated, as described further.
1.2 CEQA REQUIREMENTS
The purpose of this Addendum is to analyze any potential differences between the impacts identified in the FEIR and those that would be associated with the proposed Project. Pursuant to provisions of CEQA and State CEQA Guidelines, the City is the Lead Agency charged with the responsibility of deciding whether to approve the Project. As part of its decision-making process, the City is required to review and consider whether the proposed Project would create new significant impacts or significant impacts that would be substantially more severe than those disclosed in the General Plan FEIR.
Additional CEQA review beyond this Addendum would only be triggered if the Project created new significant impacts or impacts that are more severe than those disclosed in the FEIR used to approve the Stanton General Plan. To use an Addendum as the appropriate CEQA document for the proposed Project, the City must find that major revisions to the FEIR are not necessary and that none of the conditions described in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 calling for the preparation of additional CEQA documentation has occurred.
In accordance with the State CEQA Guidelines, prior to approving further discretionary action and depending upon the situation, the lead agency must generally either: (1) prepare a Subsequent EIR; (2) prepare a Supplemental EIR; (3) prepare a Subsequent Negative Declaration; (4) prepare an Addendum to the EIR or Negative Declaration; or (5) prepare no further documentation (see State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15162 – 15164). State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 states:
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When an EIR has been certified or a negative declaration adopted for a project, no subsequent EIR shall be prepared for that project unless the lead agency determines, on the basis of substantial evidence in the light of the whole record, one or more of the following:
(1) Substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions of the previous EIR or negative declaration due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects;
(2) Substantial changes occur with respect to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken which will require major revisions of the previous EIR or Negative Declaration due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects; or
(3) New information of substantial importance, which was not known and could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the time the previous EIR was certified as complete or the Negative Declaration was adopted, shows any of the following:
(A) The project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the previous EIR or negative declaration;
(B) Significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in the previous EIR;
(C) Mitigation measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible would in fact be feasible, and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the project, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative; or
(D) Mitigation measures or alternatives which are considerably different from those analyzed in the previous EIR would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative.
Section 15164 of the State CEQA Guidelines explains when an Addendum to an EIR is appropriate.
Per this section, where some changes or additions are necessary to the previously certified EIR, but none of the conditions described in Section 15162 calling for the preparation of a subsequent EIR (as described above) have occurred, then the lead agency is directed to prepare an Addendum to the certified EIR (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15164). Further, the Addendum should include a “brief explanation of the decision not to prepare a subsequent EIR pursuant to Section 15162,” and that “explanation must be supported by substantial evidence” (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15164 [e]). The Addendum need not be circulated for public review but may simply be attached to the certified EIR (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15164 [c]).
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1.3 INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Stanton General Plan
The City Council comprehensively adopted the Update to the City of Stanton General Plan on April September 23, 2008. The Stanton General Plan is a policy document designed to guide the city of Stanton in achieving its economic and community development goals. It outlines specific steps to be taken to direct Stanton’s land use planning, economic development, image, and overall quality of life.
The General Plan is a comprehensive legal document that identifies a community vision for the future and establishes a framework to guide future decisions regarding development, resource management, public safety, public services, and the overall quality of the community. The General Plan is Stanton’s fundamental policy document regarding community and economic development of the City. The General Plan describes Stanton’s goals and strategies regarding land use, economic development, transportation, housing, open space/conservation, safety, public facilities, infrastructure and community design. Along with these goals and strategies is an action guide geared toward implementing these goals and strategies. In order to minimize redundancies or to better address local issues, general plans may merge or consolidate elements. The Stanton General Plan includes the mandatory “elements” in accordance with California Government Code Section 65302, which are organized into seven (7) chapters to most accurately reflect the issues and needs of Stanton. These chapters are: Community Development; Community Design; Economic Development; Infrastructure & Community Services; Community Health & Safety; Housing; and Regional Coordination.
The 6th Cycle Housing Element Update and Community Health and Safety Element Update are the subject of this Addendum.
Stanton General Plan Final EIR
The City Council certified the General Plan FEIR in September of 2008. The General Plan FEIR provides a program-level analysis of the general environmental impacts resulting from the development of land uses and implementation of goals and strategies established within the Stanton General Plan. The General Plan FEIR’s analysis is based on the change between development under existing conditions (at the time of document preparation) and those projected for likely development in accordance with the General Plan by theoretical expected development capacity. Based on General Plan FEIR Section 3.0, Project Description, the General Plan FEIR assumed and analyzed the environmental impacts resulting from the following: approximately 5,751 additional dwelling units and approximately 1.4 million fewer square feet of non-residential land uses over existing conditions. The General Plan FEIR concluded that full implementation of the General Plan would result in less than significant impacts or less than significant impacts with the implementation of mitigation measures for all issue areas analyzed except for Section 5.5, Air Quality (Short-Term Construction Emissions; Long-Term Mobile and Stationary Source Emissions; Short-Term Cumulative Construction Impacts; and General Plan Buildout Cumulative Impacts.), Section 5.6, Noise (Long-Term Operational Impacts; and Long-Term Cumulative Operational Impacts.), and Section 5.15, Parks and Recreation Facilities (Parks and Recreational Facilities and Cumulative Park and Recreational Facilities Impacts) which were determined to be significant City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
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environmental effects which cannot be avoided with the implementation of the proposed General Plan.
Stanton Municipal Code
The City of Stanton Municipal Code consists of the City’s regulatory and penal ordinances, and certain administrative ordinances. The City’s Zoning Ordinance is codified into Title 20, Zoning.
The purpose of the Zoning Ordinance is to carry out the strategies and actions of the Stanton General Plan by classifying and regulating the uses of land and structures within the City consistent with the General Plan. This Zoning Code is adopted to protect and to promote the public health, safety, comfort, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare of residents and businesses in the City. More specifically, the purposes of this Zoning Code are to: provide standards and guidelines to ensure the City’s continuing orderly growth and development and to assist in protecting its character and community identity; promote conservation of energy and water resources and protection of air quality; create a comprehensive and stable pattern of land uses upon which to plan energy, sewage, transportation, water supply, and other public facilities and utilities; encourage development patterns that allow less reliance on motor vehicles for mobility and result in reduction in vehicle miles traveled and corresponding greenhouse gas emissions; and Ensure compatibility between different types of development and land uses.
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2 ADDENDUM FINDING
As detailed herein, on the basis of substantial evidence in the light of the whole record, a Subsequent or Supplemental EIR is not appropriate for the proposed Project because none of the criteria permitting such a document under State CEQA Guidelines section 15162 are met.
The 2021-2029 Housing Element Update and Community Health and Safety Element Update would result in no new significant impacts that were not analyzed in the General Plan FEIR, nor would the proposed Project cause a substantial increase in the severity of any previously identified environmental impacts. The potential impacts associated with the proposed Project would either be the same or less than those described in the General Plan FEIR. In addition, there are no substantial changes to the circumstances under which the proposed Project would be undertaken that would result in new or more severe environmental impacts than previously addressed in the General Plan FEIR, nor has any new information regarding the potential for new or more severe significant environmental impacts been identified. Therefore, in accordance with Section 15164 of the State CEQA Guidelines, this Addendum to the previously certified General Plan FEIR is the appropriate environmental documentation for the proposed Project. In taking action on any of the approvals, the decision-making body must consider the whole of the data presented in the Final EIR.
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3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT
3.1 BACKGROUND
3.1.1 HOUSING ELEMENTS AND REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION The Housing Element is a State-mandated element of the General Plan. The City of Stanton must update its Housing Element every eight years. Updates to the Housing Element must meet the requirements of California Government Code Sections 65580-65589. The purposes of the Housing Element are to identify the community's housing needs; to state the community’s goals and objectives with regard to housing production, rehabilitation, and conservation to meet those needs; and to define the policies and programs that the community will implement to achieve the stated goals and objectives.
State law requires that the City accommodate its “fair share” of regional housing needs, which are assigned by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) for all jurisdictions in the SCAG region. SCAG established the 2021-2029 Regional Housing Needs Plan (RHNP) to assign each city and the unincorporated county in the region its fair share of the regional housing need based on a number of factors established by State law (Government Code Section 65584) and regional housing burdens and needs. The objectives of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) are:
• Increase housing supply and the mix of housing types; • Promote infill, equity, and environment;
• Ensure jobs housing balance and fit;
• Promote regional income equity; and
• Affirmatively further fair housing.
Beyond the income-based housing needs established by the RHNA, the Housing Element must also address special needs groups such as seniors, persons with disabilities including developmental disabilities, single female parents, large families, farmworkers, and homeless persons.
3.1.2 SAFETY ELEMENTS
The Community Health and Safety Element is a State-mandated element of the General Plan.
Updates to the Safety Element will meet the requirements of California Government Code Section 65302(g) (Section 65302) as updated by Senate Bills 1241, 379, 99, and 1035. The Safety Element addresses potential and existing hazards in the City, which are outlined in the following categories:
Geologic Hazards and Seismicity; Landslides; Drainage/Flood Hazards; Noise; Fire Protection; Police Protection; Hazardous Materials; Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Planning; Aircraft Operations; and Emergency Response and Operations. Updates to the Safety Element are largely focused on the topics of fire hazards, evacuation routes, and climate adaption.
3.2 PROJECT LOCATION AND SETTING
The City of Stanton is located in northwestern Orange County. Stanton is bordered by the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Cypress and is within six miles of the Pacific Ocean (northeast).
California State Route 22 and State Route 39 (Beach Boulevard) provide regional access. Stanton City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
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has a population of 39,077 (Department of Finance, 2020) and is approximately 3.1 square miles in size. Stanton is an urban suburb that is experiencing a redevelopment renaissance. Recent development activity, particularly along the main corridor Beach Boulevard, is widening the range of housing, employment, and lifestyle opportunities within the City.
The General Plan identifies the most prevalent land uses in Stanton as residential, consisting of approximately 47 percent of the Planning Area; Mixed-Use District, consisting of approximately 13 percent of the Planning Area; Public/Institutional and Open Space/Recreation, consisting of approximately 11 percent of the Planning Area, combined; Industrial, consisting of approximately 8 percent of the Planning Area; and General Commercial, consisting of approximately 3 percent of the Planning Area.
The Community Development Element identifies the distribution, location, and intensity of all land use types throughout the City. To fully reflect the range of physical attributes that are important for Stanton’s success, the Element also contains goals and policies to guide community form and design, and the provision of community facilities and urban services. The Community Development Element is primarily implemented by the City’s Zoning Code, which specifies districts and performance standards for various types of land uses described in the General Plan. Each General Plan land use designation has a corresponding zone or zones that implement and regulate the intent of the land use. The zone districts specify the permitted uses for each category and applicable development standards.
The General Plan identifies the expected development capacity associated with the distribution of planned land uses specified in the Land Use Map (Exhibit 2-1 of the Community Development Element). Table 1, Stanton General Plan Expected Residential Development Capacity, summarizes the expected development capacity for residential uses within Stanton based on reasonable density assumptions for the City and SOI.
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Table 1: Stanton General Plan Expected Residential Development Capacity
3.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF PROPOSED PROJECT
REVISIONS/ADDITIONS
The project analyzed in this Addendum involves the City of Stanton 2021-2029 Housing Element Update and Community Health and Safety Element Update Project (“Project”). The Project includes revisions to policy documents and would not modify the City of Stanton General Plan Land Use Map, land use designations, or intensities/densities identified within the General Plan Community Development Element. No changes to the maximum development potential approved for the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan FEIR would occur with the Project.
3.3.1 HOUSING ELEMENT
In compliance with State Housing Element Law requirements, the City of Stanton has prepared the 2021-2029 Housing Element to:
• Provide goals, policies, quantified objectives, and scheduled programs to preserve, improve, and develop housing
• Identify and analyze existing and projected housing needs for all economic segments of the community
• Identify adequate sites that are zoned and available within the 8-year housing cycle to meet the City’s fair share of regional housing needs at all income levels • Affirmatively further fair housing
• Be certified (approved) by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as complying with State law
• Be internally consistent with other parts of the General Plan Residential Land Use Designation Density Range Existing Acreage Expected
Development Capacity
(Dwelling Units)
Low Density Residential 1 – 6 du/ac 436.4 2,618
Medium Density Residential 6.1 – 11 du/ac 166.4 1,830
High Density Residential 11.1 – 18 du/ac 321.8 5,780
General Mixed-Use1 25 – 45 du/ac 112.5 3,038
North Gateway Mixed-Use District1 25 – 45 du/ac 22.4 605 South Gateway Mixed-Use District1 60 – 90 du/ac 92.7 3,337 Town Center Mixed-Use District1 Up to 60.0 du/ac 37.9 1,364 Total 18,572
Source: City of Stanton General Plan Community Development Element, Table 2-2.
1. Mixed-use build-out potential based on 60% residential density and 40% commercial intensity.
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Housing Element Organization
The proposed Housing Element Update covers the October 15, 2021 through October 15, 2029 planning period and is comprised of the following components:
Part 1: Housing Plan
Part 1 of the 2021-2029 Housing Element is the City’s “Housing Plan,” which includes the goals, policies, and programs the City will implement to address housing needs and constraints. The City’s overall strategy for addressing its housing needs has been defined according to the five goals:
1. Provide a broad range of housing opportunities to meet the existing and future needs of all Stanton residents.
2. Protect, encourage, and provide housing opportunities for persons of lower and moderate incomes.
3. Preserve and maintain the existing housing stock so that all residents live in neighborhoods free from blight and deterioration.
4. Reduce or remove governmental and nongovernmental constraints to the development, improvement, and maintenance of housing where feasible and legally permissible.
5. Affirmatively further fair housing practices, promoting equal opportunity for all residents to reside in housing of their choice.
The Housing Plan includes only minor modifications to the City’s current Housing Element goals and policies. The Housing Plan includes a number of new programs to address State Housing law including future required updates to the Stanton Municipal Code, new programs to support affirmatively furthering fair housing, and tracking and reporting requirements for housing sites.
Part 2: Background Report
Part 2 of the 2021-2029 Housing Element is the “Background Report,” which identifies the nature and extent of Stanton’s housing needs, including those of special populations, potential constraints to housing production, potential housing resources (land and funds), and an assessment of fair housing. In addition to identifying housing needs, the Background Report also presents information regarding the setting in which these needs occur. The Background Report comprehensively updates the background context and conditions identified in the City’s current Housing Element.
Appendix A: Housing Sites Inventory
The Housing Element must include an inventory of land suitable and available for residential development to meet the City’s regional housing need by income level. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) requires that the Housing Sites Inventory be prepared using a State-approved format, included as Appendix A. No land use changes are proposed to accommodate the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA); future residential development is expected to occur in those areas already identified for residential uses including land within the City’s mixed-use districts. All sites identified in the City’s Housing Sites Inventory are currently identified for new development consistent with the potential development capacities identified in Appendix A.
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Appendix B: Public Engagement Summary
As part of the Housing Element Update process, the City hosted numerous opportunities for the community and key stakeholders to provide feedback on existing housing conditions, housing priorities, priority areas for new residential growth, and topics related to fair housing. Public engagement was facilitated in both English and Spanish to further engage the Stanton community.
Public participation played an important role in the refinement of the City’s housing goals and policies and in the development of new housing programs, as included in Part 1: Housing Plan. The public’s input also helped to validate and expand upon the contextual information included in Part 2: Background Report. The City’s efforts to engage the community in a meaningful and comprehensive way are summarized in Appendix B.
Capacity to Meet Regional Housing Needs
As determined by SCAG, the City of Stanton’s fair share allocation (RHNA) is 1,231 new housing units during this planning cycle. This includes: 165 units affordable to extremely/very low-income households; 145 units affordable to low-income households; 231 units affordable to moderateincome households; and 690 units affordable to above moderate-income households. State Income Limits which are used to determine affordability levels are set annually by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Progress Towards the RHNA
RHNA uses June 30, 2021 as the baseline for growth projections for the 2021-2029 planning period.
Jurisdictions may count toward the RHNA housing units that have been developed, are under construction, and/or have received their building permits after June 30, 2021. Since this time, 540 housing units have been developed, are under construction, or have received their building permits in Stanton. Jurisdictions may also count projects that are approved/entitled but not yet built or under construction; 413 units across all income categories have been approved/entitled and are expected to be developed within the planning period. Based on this progress, the City has already achieved approximately 77% of its overall RHNA with housing units constructed, under construction, or approved/entitled (953 units). With these units taken into account, the City has a remaining RHNA of 282 units (26 extremely low/very low-income units, 133 low-income units, zero moderate-income units, and 123 above moderate-income units) as shown in Table 2, Progress Towards the RHNA, below.
Table 2: Progress Towards the RHNA
Status Extremely
Low/Very Low
Low Moderate Above
Moderate
TOTAL
RHNA Allocation 165 145 231 690 1,231
Constructed, Under
Construction/
Permits Issued
(Since 6/30/2021)
79 12 114 335 540
Units
Approved/Entitled 60 0 121 232 413
Remaining
Allocation 26 133 0 (-4) 123 282
Sources: City of Stanton, 2021; Southern California Association of Governments, 2021 City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
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Residential Sites Inventory to Accommodate Remaining RHNA The City has sufficient land appropriately zoned for residential uses throughout the community to accommodate its remaining RHNA (282 units) for the 2021-2029 planning period. The City of Stanton’s 6th Cycle residential sites fall into four categories:
1) Proposed development sites. Three projects in various stages of planning review are included as sites. The densities and unit counts proposed by these projects are realistic and consistent with similar projects that have been approved and successfully developed (or are under construction) in Stanton. The three sites are expected to yield 120 units, seven of which will be affordable to low-income households and 113 units affordable to above moderate-income households. The projects are summarized and quantified in Table 5-4 of the Background Report.
2) Accessory dwelling units. In response to new ADU laws, Stanton has continually updated its Zoning Code to align with State law and better facilitate the production of ADUs and Junior ADUs. ADUs are allowed on any lot that is zoned for single-family or multifamily dwelling residential use, including lots that are zoned for such use within a specific plan area. The City has been successful in its efforts, having issued building permits for 13 ADUs in 2018, 12 ADUs in 2019, and 19 ADUs in 2020. The City has taken an average of the annual number of ADUs constructed over the past three years (14.7 units) and multiplied that by 8 years to arrive at a reasonable expectation of how many new ADUs will likely be constructed during the planning period, at a minimum.
Development of ADUs is expected to yield 117 units.
3) Vacant residential sites. As part of this Housing Element update, the City conducted a parcel-by-parcel analysis of vacant residential sites based on data obtained from the City’s geographic information system (GIS) and county data. There are minimal areas of vacant land remaining in the City currently zoned for residential development (exclusive of the mixed-use overlays). There are a total of 6 vacant parcels with the capacity for 37 residential units. It is assumed that the potential of 10 dwelling units on five of the parcels would be comprised of market-rate residential units. Parcels with RH (High Density Residential) zoning provide the capacity for 27 units to be counted toward meeting the City’s lower income needs.
4) Mixed-Use Sites. Stanton is an entirely built out city with very limited vacant land available to accommodate new development of any sort. The City has established three mixed-use districts to accommodate additional residential development in areas along major corridors. Current development trends in mixed-use areas show that high residential density is feasible and realistic, and appropriate to accommodate housing for all income levels, including the lower income RHNA. Site selection in the mixed-use overlay zones includes both vacant sites and underutilized sites, which were chosen given their size and location. Mixed-use sites are along major streets in the City, particularly along Beach Boulevard. The City’s three mixed-use land use designations allow for high-density residential capacities up to 60 du/ac. Government Code Section 65583.2(c)(3)(B)(iv) allows jurisdictions in metropolitan counties, such as Stanton, to include sites with a minimum density of 30 units per acre as appropriate sites to City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
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accommodate lower income households, allowing sites in the mixed-use zones to be counted toward meeting housing needs for all income groups in the City (including lower income). Based on other successful projects in the area, it is assumed that the market can continue to create affordable units at this density. The City has evaluated the development capacity of the mixed-use areas to determine realistic potential development yield based upon evaluation of existing land uses, infrastructure capacity, land use controls, and site improvements.
Key sites with existing uses that are suitable for redevelopment typically contain older structures and are underutilized given the development potential afforded by the mixed-use development standards. Examples of existing uses include small-scale commercial uses, used car dealerships and auto repair shops, motels, restaurants, and structures with large surface parking lots. Some sites with existing residential uses provide the opportunity for significant capacity increases. The following criteria was used to identify underutilized parcels in mixed-use zones:
Improvement value is less than half of the land value (ratio is less than 1.00) Structure was built prior to 1990 (and therefore over 30 years of age) General characteristics such as unit vacancy, declining uses, low existing floorarea ratio (FAR), etc. Location near recent mixed-use or residential development activities on properties exhibiting similar characteristics
Known redevelopment interest
The mixed-use sites identified to meet the RHNA can facilitate 1,288 units. These sites contain existing commercial and/or residential uses that are of marginal economic viability, are at or near the end of their useful life, and/or the existing intensity of development is substantially lower than allowed by existing zoning. Sites that are smaller than 0.5 acres have multiple parcels that are adjacent to each other and are appropriate for consolidation into larger development projects, achieving a lot size of at least 0.5 acres. These sites have common ownership, function as a part of a larger site currently, such as a commercial building with an adjacent parking lot, and/or are significantly underutilized and have been identified by developers for potential projects.
Table 3: Comparison of RHNA Candidate Sites Realistic Capacity and RHNA Status Extremely
Low/Very Low
Low Moderate Above
Moderate
TOTAL
Remaining 6th
Cycle RHNA 26 133 0 123 282
Proposed
Developments 0 7 0 113 120
ADUs 30 50 35 2 117
Vacant Residential
Sites 0 27 0 10 37
Mixed-Use Sites 138 128 256 766 1,288
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Total Capacity 168 212 291 891 1,562
Surplus/Shortfall 142 79 291 768 1,280
Note: The realistic capacity analysis of vacant and underutilized sites assumes that (i) all RM and RH sites will develop at 75% of maximum capacity, and (ii) mixed-use sites that are less than 1.0 acre in size will develop at 50% of maximum capacity, while sites ≥1.0 acre in size will develop at 80% of maximum capacity. If the sites develop closer to their full capacity, which has been realized as part of past projects, the City’s surplus of units would be higher.
Summary of Housing Element Modifications
As previously noted, State law requires that the Housing Element be reviewed and updated not less than every eight years, in order to remain relevant and useful, and to reflect the community’s changing housing needs. The proposed Housing Element Update involves minor changes/additions to the Housing Element and environmental conditions under which it would be implemented. The following summarizes the modifications to the Housing Element, as compared to the 2013-2021 Housing Element:
Goals, Policies, and Programs (Part 1: Housing Plan)
The City made minor modifications to the goals and policies included in the Housing Element to reflect the City’s current housing needs and State mandates. The following programs are included in this 2021-2029 Housing Element:
• Proposed HE Program 1: Residential Sites Inventory
• Proposed HE Program 2: Monitor Residential Capacity (No Net Loss) • Proposed HE Program 3: Public Property Conversion to Housing • Proposed HE Program 4: Replacement of Affordable Units • Proposed HE Program 5: Facilitate Affordable and Special Needs Housing Construction • Proposed HE Program 6: Mixed-Use Development
• Proposed HE Program 7: Accessory Dwelling Units
• Proposed HE Program 8: Density Bonus Implementation
• Proposed HE Program 9: Redevelop the Tina/Pacific Neighborhood • Proposed HE Program 10: California Accessibility Standards Compliance Program • Proposed HE Program 11: Rental Assistance
• Proposed HE Program 12: Preservation of Existing Affordable Units • Proposed HE Program 13: Homeowner Rehabilitation Program • Proposed HE Program 14: Proactive Code Enforcement
• Proposed HE Program 15: Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency Opportunities • Proposed HE Program 16: Monitor Changes in Federal and State Housing, Planning, and Zoning Laws
• Proposed HE Program 17: Zoning Code Amendments – Housing Constraints • Proposed HE Program 18: Fair Housing Services
• Proposed HE Program 19: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Outreach and Coordination
• Proposed HE Program 20: Economic Displacement Risk Analysis Background Information (Part 2: Background Report)
The Background Report of the Housing Element has been comprehensively updated to include current information. This section of the Housing Element includes: Introduction, Accomplishments Under 5th Cycle Housing Element, Housing Needs Assessment, Constraints, Housing Resources, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Analysis, Other Requirements, and References.
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Appendix A: Housings Sites Inventory
The City has updated its Housing Sites Inventory to demonstrate capacity to accommodate its 2021-2029 RHNA. The Housing Sites Inventory includes a list of sites appropriate to accommodate the RHNA at the appropriate densities and income levels and includes sites identified in the current Housing Element and other sites designated for residential development consistent with the City’s General Plan, Zoning Code, and Specific Plans. No land use changes are proposed as part of the 2021-2029 Housing Element.
Appendix B: Public Engagement Summary
The public engagement program conducted as part of the Housing Element Update project is summarized in Appendix B.
3.3.2 COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT
In compliance with State law, the City of Stanton has prepared an update to its Community Health and Safety Element to further address fire hazards, emergency preparedness, and climate adaptation. Natural and human-caused events have the ability to impact productivity by causing substantial damage to life, property, and economic prosperity. The Community Health and Safety Element addresses these potential issues with goals, policies, and actions to continue to serve and protect Stanton and its residents.
Community Health and Safety Element Organization
The Community Health and Safety Element includes an Introduction to the Element, Background, and Key Issues which outline the goals and policies, and implementation/action programs.
Summary of Community Health and Safety Element Modifications Within the Background section of the Community Health and Safety Element, the Fire Hazards discussion was updated to include current information regarding the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones, of which there are none in the City of Stanton. The City has updated the discussion on Emergency Response and Operations. Specifically in accordance with SB 99, the City conducted an evaluation of evacuation routes serving residential developments in hazard areas. This analysis is presented in a White Paper attached as an appendix and the results of the analysis found that there are no residential developments within Stanton that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes. Lastly, the City prepared a Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) to promote effective and integrated actions to safeguard against anticipated impacts from climate change.
No goals, policies, or programs from the current Community Health and Safety Element were eliminated as part of this update. The following modifications or additions were made:
Flooding
• Proposed Strategy CHS-2.1.2: Expand the amount of pervious surfaces • Proposed Action CHS-2.1.1(c): Encourage permeable paving Fire and Police Protection
• Proposed Action CHS-4.2.1(c): Minimize the risk of structural loss from fires • Proposed Action CHS-4.2.1(d): Visible addressing and signage • Proposed Action CHS-4.2.1(e): Consider fire safe design City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Description of the Proposed Project 3-10
Emergency Response
• Proposed Action CHS-5.1.1(e): Regulate the location of critical facilities • Proposed Action CHS-5.1.1(e): Minimum standards for evacuation of residential areas Hazardous Materials
• Proposed Action CHS-6.1.1(d): Cleanup of any active hazardous waste sites P a c i f i
c
O
c
e
a
n
L O S A N G E L E S L O S A N G E L E S
C O U N T Y C O U N T Y
O R A N G E C O U N T Y O R A N G E C O U N T Y
R I V E R S I D E R I V E R S I D E
C O U N T Y C O U N T Y
S A N S A N
B E R N A R D I N O B E R N A R D I N O
C O U N T Y C O U N T Y
S A N D I E G O S A N D I E G O
C O U N T Y C O U N T Y
§¨¦605
§¨¦605
§¨¦15
§¨¦15
§¨¦105
§¨¦405
§¨¦405
§¨¦5
§¨¦5
UV22
UV142
UV57
UV55
UV73
UV73
UV90
UV133
UV72
UV1
UV91
UV74
UV1
UV261
UV261
UV1
UV39
UV241
UV241
Orange
Santa Ana
Fullerton
Anaheim
Laguna
Niguel
Seal Beach
Tustin
Brea
Mission Viejo
Garden Grove
Newport Beach
San Clemente
Costa Mesa Lake Forest
Laguna Beach
Westminster
Buena
Park
Villa Park
Placentia
Cypress
Los Alamitos
Stanton
La Palma
Rancho Santa
Margarita
Aliso
Viejo
Huntington
Beach
Yorba Linda
Laguna Woods
Laguna
Hills
Dana
Point
La Habra
Fountain
Valley
San Juan
Capistrano
Irvine
LEGEND
City of Stanton
County Boundary S a n t a
A n a
M o
u n t
a i n
s
Sources: California State Geoportal. Map date: December 13, 2021. 0 o2½ 5
Miles
Figure 1.
Regional Location
Santa Rosalia St
Rutle d ge Ave
G A R D E N G R O V E
Dale St
Beach Blvd
Cerritos Ave
Katella Ave
Orangewood Ave
Magnolia Ave
Western Ave
Chapman Ave
Dale Ave
Lampson Ave
Chapman Ave
Magnolia St
Cerritos Ave
Ball Rd
Springdale St
Lampson Ave
Gilbert St
Orangewood Ave
Knott Ave
Garden Grove Blvd
Western Ave
Holder St
Dale Ave
Knott St
Katella Ave
Santa Rosalia St
Bell St
Stanford Rd
Acacia Ave
Fulton Wy
Kermore Ln
Briarwood St
Yana Dr
Cody Ave
Syracuse Ave
Sherrill S
L
t
owden St
Nearing Dr
Georgian St
Grandoaks Dr
Lola Ave
Monroe Ave
Ruthann Ave
Jane Ave
Ben Ave
Poe s St
1st St
Via Irana
Alley
2nd St
Central Ave
Chester Ave
Mac St
Starr St
Lessue Ave
Fern Ave
Hynes Rd
Moen St
Mossler St
Bock Ave
Yorkshire Ave
Eileen St
Main St
Monroe Ave
A N A H E I M
G A R D E N G R O V E
W E S T M I N S T E R
B U E N A
P A R K
C Y P R E S S
Figure 2.
Planning Area Map
LEGEND
Stanton City Boundary
Sphere of Influence
Planning Area/Sphere of Influence
Surrounding Municipality
Unincorporated Orange County
0 1,500 3,000
Feet
o
UV22
UV39
Pacific Electric Railroad
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-1
4 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The scope of the City’s review of the proposed Project is limited by provisions set forth in CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines. This review is limited to evaluating the environmental effects associated with the proposed Project to the General Plan Project as set forth in the General Plan FEIR. This Addendum also reviews new information, if any, of substantial importance that was not known and could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable due diligence at the time the General Plan FEIR was certified. This evaluation includes a determination as to whether the changes proposed by the Project would result in any new significant impacts or a substantial increase in a previously identified significant impact.
The section is patterned after the CEQA Guidelines Appendix G Checklist and provides a summary of impacts associated with the proposed actions, as described in the General Plan FEIR, and includes an analysis of the potential impacts associated with the proposed 2021-2029 Housing Element Update and Community Health and Safety Element Update. This comparative analysis provides the City with the factual basis for determining whether any changes in the Project, any changes in circumstances, or any new information since the General Plan FEIR was certified would require additional environmental review or preparation of a Subsequent EIR or Supplemental EIR.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-2
4.1 AESTHETICS
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Except as provided in Public Resources Code Section 21099, would the project:
a. Have a substantial adverse effect on a
scenic vista? X
b. Substantially damage scenic resources,
including, but not limited to, trees, rock
outcroppings, and historic buildings
within a state scenic highway?
X
c. In non-urbanized areas, substantially
degrade the existing visual character or
quality of public views of the site and its
surroundings? (Public views are those
that are experienced from publicly
accessible vantage point). If the project
is in an urbanized area, would the project
conflict with applicable zoning and other
regulations governing scenic quality?
X
d. Create a new source of substantial light
or glare which would adversely affect
day or nighttime views in the area?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
Over the life of the General Plan, new development and redevelopment are expected to result in a general intensification of the planning area and has the potential to disrupt scenic vista resources such as hillsides, ridgelines, and open space. Infill development of vacant parcels and general intensification of development may limit some viewsheds of hills or reduce the feeling of open space. There are no State scenic highways within or adjacent to the planning area. Further, the General Plan Update does not identify any scenic vistas or resources within the boundaries of the City of Stanton; the General Plan FEIR concluded that no impacts would occur in this regard.
The City is primarily built out and is an urbanized city. Future development under the General Plan Update is not anticipated to degrade the existing quality of development within the City of Stanton. The proposed land use designations would establish consistent and compatible development intensities within the mixed-use land use designations, improving the overall visual character/quality of these areas. Compliance with the goals, strategies and actions of the General Plan Update would enhance the visual quality and character of the City. The Community Development Element would ensure that future development would be compatible with existing development in the surrounding area. Additionally, the City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-3
General Plan Update includes a Community Design Element. Goals, strategies and actions in the Community Design Element are anticipated to enhance the quality of the visual environment and character of Stanton. Goals, strategies and actions in the General Plan Update provide supplemental support to maintain and enhance the aesthetic quality of the City. The General Plan FEIR concluded that compliance with the goals and actions provided in the General Plan Update would reduce potential impacts related to visual quality to less than significant levels.
The majority of light and glare generating land uses presently exists in the City as it is highly built out and urbanized. The General Plan Update introduces four new mixed-use land use designations that would encourage mixed-use development within the northern and southern portions of the City and adjacent to Beach Boulevard and Katella Avenue at greater intensities than currently exists. The placement of sensitive receptors (i.e. residential uses) adjacent to commercial areas could result in light and glare impacts.
Future development projects would be reviewed on a project-by-project basis. Subsequent development projects would be reviewed by the City to evaluate lighting and glare and ensure that the City’s Municipal Code, Zoning Code, and local ordinances are met.
Therefore, the General Plan FEIR concluded that implementation of the General Plan Update would not result in adverse light and glare impacts.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Project does not propose site-specific development, but is rather an update to a policy document to comply with new laws and reinforce existing policy direction. The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the City.
However, potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. Further, the Community Health and Safety Element would not result in any modifications to existing land use designations or modify any General Plan actions or programs specific to visual resources. The Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element strategies and actions would not have an impact on existing General Plan strategies and actions protecting aesthetic and visual resources.
The revisions to the Housing and Community Health and Safety Elements would not result in new aesthetic impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR, as there are no officially designated visual resources within the City. Following compliance with the recommended General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts to aesthetics as a result of the proposed Project.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-4
4.2 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY RESOURCES
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project:
a. Convert Prime Farmland, Unique
Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide
Importance (Farmland), as shown on the
maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland
Mapping and Monitoring Program of the
California Resources Agency, to nonagricultural use?
X
b. Conflict with existing zoning for
agricultural use, or a Williamson Act
contract?
X
c. Result in the loss of forest land or
conversion of forest land to non-forest
use?
X
d. Involve other changes in the existing
environment, which, due to their location
or nature, could result in conversion of
Farmland, to non-agricultural use or
conversion of forest land to non-forest
use?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
Future development within the Planning Area pursuant to the land use policies of the General Plan Update will not result in the conversion of Prime or Unique Farmland, or Farmland of State and Local Importance to non-agricultural use as no land within the City is designated Farmland under the General Plan or by the Department of Conservation. Implementation of the General Plan Update would not result in significant impacts related to conflict with agricultural zoning or forest land, as there no agriculturally zoned or forest lands with the Planning Area. There are also no Williamson Act contracts in the Planning Area; the General Plan FEIR found effects not to be significant.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Project does not propose site-specific development, but is rather an update to a policy document to comply with new laws and reinforce existing policy direction. Potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses. The Planning Area does not contain any agricultural land, therefore, any future development under the proposed Project would not result in the loss or conversion of agricultural land. Further, the Community City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-5
Health and Safety Element would not result in any modifications to existing land use designations specific to agricultural resources.
Subsequent to adoption of the General Plan FEIR, amendments to the CEQA Guidelines resulted in the addition of forestry resources as a topical area to be addressed within CEQA Guidelines Appendix G. There are no forest lands located within the General Plan Update study area.
Additionally, the General Plan area is not designated or zoned as forest land. No impacts related to this environmental topic were anticipated as a result of implementation of the General Plan Update, and no mitigation measures were required.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in any agricultural or forestry resource impacts, consistent with the findings in the General Plan FEIR.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-6
4.3 AIR QUALITY
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project:
a. Conflict with or obstruct implementation
of the applicable air quality plan? X
b. Result in a cumulatively considerable
net increase of any criteria pollutant for
which the project region is nonattainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard?
X
c. Expose sensitive receptors to
substantial pollutant concentrations? X
d. Result in other emissions (such as those
leading to odors) adversely affecting a
substantial number of people?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
The General Plan FEIR explains that the City is located within the South Coast Air Basin and adheres to the regional 2007 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). Projects that are considered consistent with the 2007 AQMP would not interfere with attainment, because this growth is included in the projections utilized in the formulation of the 2007 AQMP.
Therefore, projects, uses, and activities that are consistent with the applicable assumptions used in the development of the 2007 AQMP would not jeopardize attainment of the air quality levels identified in the 2007 AQMP, even if they exceed the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s recommended daily emissions thresholds.
Generally, if a project is planned in a way that results in the minimization of vehicle miles traveled, both within the project area and the surrounding area in which it is located, and consequently the minimization of air pollutant emissions, that aspect of the project is considered consistent with the 2007 AQMP. Goals, strategies and actions contained in the General Plan Update serve to promote infill and mixed use development of vacant and underutilized parcels. Thus, the General Plan Update would be consistent with the AQMP in the reduction of vehicle miles traveled. The General Plan FEIR determined no conflict with the regional air quality plan will result, and no adverse impact will occur. Implementation of the General Plan Update would result in new emissions being generated from construction activities. Many of the individual projects would be small and generate construction emissions that would not exceed the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s recommended thresholds of significance. Although the City would not consider City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-7
these projects to cause a potentially significant air quality impact, each project would be required to implement the General Plan Update strategies and actions that address air quality in order to minimize emissions. Other projects could be large enough to generate construction emissions that exceed thresholds (i.e., development within the City’s Mixed Use Areas). The General Plan FEIR found that through the environmental review process for individual projects, additional mitigation may also be required to further reduce emissions and potential impacts; however, even with mitigation it may not be possible to mitigate impacts to a less than significant level. The General Plan FEIR established Mitigation Measure Air Quality (AQ)-1 to help mitigate daily construction emissions that exceed thresholds. However, it would be speculative and difficult, to quantify the emissions related to construction activities under the General Plan Update, as the scale and timing of each construction event is currently unknown. Because the thresholds are established for individual development projects, and it is assumed that some of the projects that would be implemented under the General Plan Update could individually exceed the South Coast Air Quality Management District thresholds, the total amount of construction within the Planning Area under the General Plan Update could also exceed the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s recommended thresholds of significance, and the General Plan FEIR considers this impact to be significant. Implementation of General Plan Update goals, strategies and actions, and Mitigation Measure AQ-1 would lessen construction-related impacts by reducing air pollutant emissions from construction activities. However, even with implementation of the strategies and actions and recommended mitigation, construction-related emissions would not be reduced to a less than significant level; thus, the General Plan FEIR concluded that significant and unavoidable impacts would occur in this regard.
Implementation of the General Plan Update would result in new emissions being generated due to buildout of the City. The thresholds of significance that have been recommended by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) for these new emissions were developed for individual development projects. Under the General Plan Update, varying amounts of development would likely occur over time until buildout of the General Plan Update is achieved. Many of the individual projects would be small and generate mobile and stationary emissions that do not exceed the SCAQMD’s recommended thresholds of significance. Although the City would not consider these projects to cause a potentially significant air quality impact, each project would be required to implement the General Plan Update strategies and actions that address air quality in order to minimize emissions.
Through the environmental review process for individual projects, additional mitigation may also be required to further reduce emissions and potential impacts; however, even with mitigation it may not be possible to mitigate impacts to a less than significant level.
The destination of motor vehicles, which are the primary contributors to air pollution, vary widely and cross many jurisdictional boundaries. Future site-specific development proposals would be evaluated for potential air emissions once development details have been determined and are available. Individual projects may not result in significant air quality emissions. Strategies and actions in the proposed General Plan Update would reduce the significance of such impacts. However, because the thresholds are established for City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-8
individual development projects, and it is assumed that some of the projects that would be implemented under the General Plan Update could individually exceed the South Coast Air Quality Management District thresholds, the impacts would remain significant and unavoidable.
With regard to daily operational emissions and the cumulative net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the region is in nonattainment, this is considered to be a potentially significant cumulative impact, due to nonattainment of O3 and PM10 standards in the South Coast Air Basin. The contribution of daily construction and operational emissions from the buildout associated with the General Plan Update could be cumulatively considerable. The General Plan FEIR considered this cumulative impact is considered to be significant and unavoidable.
A detailed carbon monoxide analysis was conducted in the federal Attainment Plan for Carbon Monoxide (CO Plan). The locations selected for microscale modeling in the CO Plan are worst-case intersections in the South Coast Air Basin, and would likely experience the highest CO concentrations. Of these locations, the Wilshire Boulevard/Veteran Avenue intersection (located outside of the City) experiences the highest CO concentration (4.6 ppm), which is well below the 35-ppm 1-hr CO federal standard. The Wilshire Boulevard/Veteran Avenue intersection is one of the most congested intersections in Los Angeles County with an average daily traffic (ADT) volume to about 100,000 vehicles/day.
As the CO hotspots were not experienced at the Wilshire Boulevard/Veteran Avenue intersection, it can be reasonable inferred that CO hotpots would not be experienced at any locations within the City of Stanton due to the volume of traffic experienced under buildout conditions, and the relatively low ambient concentration. Therefore, impacts would be less than significant in this regard.
Goals, strategies and actions have been specified in the General Plan Update Regional Coordination Element to encourage the use of alternative energy sources, reduce vehicle miles traveled, add additional trees/vegetation, and develop a public education program emphasizing air quality conditions, and promoting innovative approaches to reduce harmful impacts to the atmosphere. The intent of these new strategies and actions is to reduce overall cumulatively considerable air quality impacts throughout the City. Mitigation Measures AQ-3 and AQ-4 would provide additional energy conservation measures. Cumulative development is not expected to expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations. Thus, exposure of substantial pollutant concentrations to sensitive receptors is considered to be a less than significant cumulative impact. Future ambient CO concentrations resulting from the General Plan Update would be substantially below National and State standards. Therefore, the General Plan Update FEIR found the Project’s contribution to the impact to be less than cumulatively considerable, and the cumulative impact would be less than significant.
The General Plan FEIR states that cumulative development would not have a potentially significant impact in terms of the creation of objectionable odors affecting a substantial City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-9
number of people. Odors resulting from the construction of projects that would occur with implementation of the General Plan Update are not likely to affect a substantial number of people, since construction activities occur in a limited area and do not usually emit odors that are considered offensive. Other odor impacts resulting from these projects are also not expected to affect a substantial amount of people, as solid waste from these projects would be stored in areas and in containers as required by City regulations, and restaurants are typically required to have ventilation systems that avoid substantial adverse odor impacts. Therefore, the General Plan FEIR concluded that cumulative odor impacts would thus be less than significant.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. However, potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use plan and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. Future housing development would be reviewed for consistency with policies and programs aimed to reduce impacts to air quality as a result of new development and would be required to implement General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measures to reduce potential impacts to air quality due to construction-related emissions (General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measure AQ-1) and operational activities by reviewing future development proposals for potential regional and local air quality impacts per CEQA and, if identified, require mitigation to reduce the impact to a level less than significant.
The proposed amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element would not modify the existing land use plan or allow for development at a greater intensity/density than previously considered in the General Plan FEIR.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in new air quality impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR. Following compliance with the recommended General Plan FEIR mitigation measures and General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts to air quality as a result of the proposed Project.
General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measures:
AQ-1 For projects that may exceed daily construction emissions established by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Best Available Control Measures shall be incorporated to reduce construction emissions to below daily emission standards established by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Project proponents shall prepare and implement a Construction Management Plan, which shall include, Best Available Control Measures among others. Appropriate control measures shall be determined on a project by project basis, and would be specific to the pollutant for which the daily threshold is exceeded. Such control measures shall include the following, among others:
Minimizing simultaneous operation of multiple construction equipment units; City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-10
Implementation of South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 403, Fugitive Dust Control Measures;
Watering the construction area to minimize fugitive dust; Require that off-road diesel powered vehicles used for construction shall be new low emission vehicles, or use retrofit emission control devices, such as diesel oxidation catalysts and diesel particulate filters verified by the California Air Resources Board; and Minimizing idling time by construction vehicles.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-11
4.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project:
a. Have a substantial adverse effect, either
directly or through habitat modifications,
on any species identified as a candidate,
sensitive, or special status species in
local or regional plans, policies, or
regulations, or by the California
Department of Fish and Game or U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service?
X
b. Have a substantial adverse effect on any
riparian habitat or other sensitive natural
community identified in local or regional
plans, policies, regulations or by the
California Department of Fish and Game
or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?
X
c. Have a substantial adverse effect on
federally protected wetlands as defined
by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act
(including, but not limited to, marsh,
vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct
removal, filling, hydrological
interruption, or other means?
X
d. Interfere substantially with the
movement of any native resident or
migratory fish or wildlife species or with
established native resident or migratory
wildlife corridors, or impede the use of
native wildlife nursery sites?
X
e. Conflict with any local policies or
ordinances protecting biological
resources, such as a tree preservation
policy or ordinance?
X
f. Conflict with the provisions of an
adopted Habitat Conservation Plan,
Natural Community Conservation Plan,
or other approved local, regional, or
state habitat conservation plan?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
The General Plan FEIR concluded that significant biological resources do not occur within the City and that implementation of the General Plan would not have a substantial adverse effect on biological resources.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-12
Analysis of Modified Project
The Project does not propose site-specific development, but is rather an update to a policy document to comply with new laws and reinforce existing policy direction. Potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses. The Planning Area does not contain significant biological resources, therefore, future development under the proposed Project would not result in a substantial adverse impact to biological resources. Further, the revisions to the Community Health and Safety Element would not result in in a substantial adverse impact to biological resources.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in new biological resources impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR. There would be no new significant or significantly different impacts to biological resources as a result of the proposed Project.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-13
4.5 CULTURAL RESOURCES
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project:
a. Cause a substantial adverse change in
the significance of a historical resource
pursuant to § 15064.5?
X
b. Cause a substantial adverse change in
the significance of an archaeological
resource pursuant to § 15064.5?
X
c. Disturb any human remains, including
those interred outside of formal
cemeteries?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
The General Plan FEIR concluded that significant cultural resources do not occur within the City and that implementation of the General Plan would not have a substantial adverse effect on cultural resources.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Project does not propose site-specific development, but is rather an update to a policy document to comply with new laws and reinforce existing policy direction. Potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses. The Planning Area does not contain significant cultural resources, therefore, future development under the proposed Project would not result in a substantial adverse impact to cultural resources. Further, the revisions to the Community Health and Safety Element would not result in in a substantial adverse impact to cultural resources.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in new cultural resources impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR. There would be no new significant or significantly different impacts to cultural resources as a result of the proposed Project.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-14
4.6 ENERGY
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project:
a. Result in potentially significant
environmental impact due to wasteful,
inefficient, or unnecessary consumption
of energy resources, during project
construction or operation?
X
b. Conflict with or obstruct a state or local
plan for renewable energy or energy
efficiency?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
The General Plan FEIR does not include a stand-alone Energy analysis section. Since certification of the General Plan FEIR, the CEQA Guidelines Appendix G Checklist has been revised to include a discreet category for Energy impacts. The topic of energy is addressed in the General Plan FEIR’s Electricity and Natural Gas and Air Quality sections.
Implementation of the General Plan Update would result in an increase in demand for electrical power and service. The City has an existing electricity infrastructure located throughout the City, which would serve future development projects associated with the implementation of the General Plan Update. The anticipated service demands created by implementation of the General Plan Update are within the service parameters of Southern California Edison (SCE) current transmission and service infrastructure.
All new developments that require new electricity lines to be installed would be required to pay applicable fees assessed by SCE to extend electricity lines to serve the specific project site. All new construction in the State of California is subject to the energy conservation standards set forth in Title 24 of the California Administrative Code. These are prescriptive standards that establish maximum energy consumption levels for the heating and cooling of new buildings. Therefore, the General Plan FEIR determined impacts would be less than significant in this regard.
New development associated with implementation of the General Plan Update would generate an increased need for natural gas over existing conditions. The City of Stanton has existing gas mains, located throughout the City, which would serve new developments.
At this time, the Southern California Gas Company (SCGC) natural gas supplies are adequate to serve the City; however, a natural gas survey is required to assess project- City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-15
specific impacts to natural gas supplies and services. Future developments that require new infrastructure/gas main extensions would be required to pay any applicable fees assessed by SCGC necessary to accommodate the specific project. The General Plan Update includes goals, strategies and actions to address the future impacts of new development on public infrastructure and services. Individual development projects would be analyzed to identify project-specific impacts to utility infrastructure on a project-by-project basis.
Therefore, impacts to natural gas supply and services would be less than significant.
Proposed General Plan Update goals, strategies, and implementation actions address the impact of new development to energy services. The General Plan emphasizes the efficient development and use of modern technologies that can minimize energy demand and consumption. To ensure that future energy supplies are available to support additional development pursuant to the General Plan, the General Plan FEIR includes Mitigation Measures AQ-3 and AQ-4, requiring the use of renewable energy and energy-efficient appliances. The General Plan FEIR concluded energy impacts will be less than significant.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. However, potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. The Stanton General Plan includes strategies and actions to reduce potential impacts to energy resources, which are also referenced in the Housing Element Update. Additionally, Stanton has adopted the 2019 California Green Building Standards Code (CALGREEN) in its entirety, which establishes mandatory statewide green building standards to enhance resource efficiency and sustainability. Future housing development, consistent with the Stanton General Plan, would be reviewed for consistency with policies and programs aimed to reduce potential impacts to energy resources. The Community Health and Safety Element strategies and actions would not have an impact on General Plan strategies addressing energy resources.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in new energy resource impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR. Following compliance with General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts to energy resources as a result of the proposed Project.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-16
4.7 GEOLOGY AND SOILS
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project:
a. Directly or indirectly cause potential
substantial adverse effects, including
the risk of loss, injury, or death
involving:
Rupture of a known earthquake
fault, as delineated on the most
recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake
Fault Zoning Map issued by the
State Geologist for the area or
based on other substantial
evidence of a known fault? Refer
to Division of Mines and Geology
Special Publication 42.
Strong seismic ground shaking?
Seismic-related ground failure,
including liquefaction?
Landslides?
X
b. Result in substantial soil erosion or the
loss of topsoil? X
c. Be located on a geologic unit or soil that
is unstable, or that would become
unstable as a result of the project, and
potentially result in on- or off-site
landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence,
liquefaction or collapse?
X
d. Be located on expansive soil, as defined
in Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building
Code (1994), creating substantial direct
or indirect risks to life or property?
X
e. Have soils incapable of adequately
supporting the use of septic tanks or
alternative waste water disposal
systems where sewers are not available
for the disposal of waste water?
X
f. Directly or indirectly destroy a unique
paleontological resource or site or
unique geologic feature?
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
The General Plan FEIR concluded that the General Plan Update would not directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-17
Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault.
Strong seismic ground shaking could result in substantial damage to some buildings within the City. After the 1971 San Fernando earthquake, modern building codes and design standards were implemented for structures and infrastructure within the City. The effects of ground shaking would be sufficiently mitigated for buildings designed and constructed in conformance with current building codes and engineering standards. However, there is the possibility of partial to total collapse of buildings built prior to 1933 and some tilt-up concrete block buildings built prior to 1972. There are no unreinforced masonry buildings located within the City, therefore, it is not anticipated that any existing buildings would need to be retrofitted. The City’s Building Department would continue to inspect buildings that may deteriorate over time and unsafe structures would be condemned if necessary.
The City has identified protective measures within the goals, strategies and actions incorporated into the General Plan Update. These measures acknowledge safety concerns pertaining to seismic ground shaking and would minimize potential hazards to a less than significant level.
The General Plan FEIR concluded that the General Plan Update would not directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving landslides.
According to the California Department of Conservation, the City of Stanton is located in a liquefaction hazard zone. In addition to the goals, strategies and actions identified in the General Plan Update to reduce seismic hazard impacts, mitigation requiring site-specific geologic investigation of liquefaction potential for subsequent new development projects within the City has been identified. If a site-specific geologic report concludes liquefaction impacts cannot be reduced to less than significant, with mitigation as necessary, development would not be permitted. Therefore, with compliance to Mitigation Measure GEO-1, impacts would be less than significant in this regard. The majority of the slopes in Stanton are less than ten percent. Much of the area available for new development would be on infill sites covered by primarily disturbed vegetation or impermeable surfaces. This would result in minimal soil erosion or loss of topsoil. Grading plans for proposed development projects would include an approved drainage and erosion control plan to minimize the impacts from erosion and sedimentation during grading. Plans would be required to conform to all standards adopted by the City and meet the requirements set by Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) mandated by California State Water Resources Control Board. Impacts related to soil erosion or the loss of topsoil would be less than significant in this regard. There are no known ongoing or planned large-scale extractions of groundwater, gas, oil, or geothermal energy that would cause subsidence within Stanton. Therefore, impacts would be less than significant in this regard. Due to the City’s flat topography and lack of significant slopes, the City is not subject to lateral spreading conditions. Therefore, impacts City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-18
would be less than significant in this regard. Alluvial sediments, deposited by an ancestral Santa Ana River, underlie the City of Stanton. With implementation of mitigation measure GEO-1, which requires a geologic study for future development, including the identification of expansive soils and recommendations to minimize impacts related to expansive soils, if such soils are identified, impacts would be reduced to a less than significant level. The General Plan FEIR concluded that the General Plan Update would not have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative waste water disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of waste water. The General Plan FEIR concluded that the General Plan Update would not directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Project does not propose site-specific development, but is rather an update to a policy document to comply with new laws and reinforce existing policy direction. The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. However, potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. The Stanton General Plan includes strategies and actions to reduce potential impacts associated with geology and soils. Future housing development, consistent with the Stanton General Plan, would be reviewed for consistency with policies and programs aimed to reduce potential impacts associated with geology and soils, including preparation of site-specific geotechnical analysis and required compliance with the Stanton Municipal Code. The Community Health and Safety Element Update would not modify the existing land use plan or allow for development in areas not previously considered or at a greater intensity/density than identified in the General Plan FEIR. The proposed Community Health and Safety Element would continue to provide actions specific to reducing potential risks associated with geologic hazards within the City.
Further, General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measure GEO-1 ensures that the City would continue to require geological reports for new developments prior to any issuance of grading permits.
The proposed amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element includes current information regarding fire hazard planning and emergency preparedness, as well as an evaluation of evacuation routes in hazard areas. Proposed policies would continue to promote development consistent with the adopted land use policy that considers natural and human-induced hazards and the overall safety of Stanton’s residents.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in new impacts to geology and soils beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR. Following compliance with the recommended General Plan FEIR mitigation measures and General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts to geology and soils as a result of the proposed Project.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-19
General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measures:
GEO-1 Prior to the issuance of a grading permit, new development within the City shall have a site-specific geologic report prepared by a registered geologist or soils engineer and submitted to the City Building and Safety Division for approval. The geologic report shall address geological hazards, including ground shaking, liquefaction and subsidence. The geologic report shall provide construction recommendations to minimize impacts related to ground shaking, liquefaction and subsidence. The geologic report shall also indicate whether the soil types within the project area are considered expansive soils. The geologic report shall provide construction recommendations to minimize impacts related to expansive soils, if such soils are identified within the project site. All recommendations in the geologic report shall be implemented during site preparation, grading, and construction. New construction shall be prohibited were structural solutions to identified hazards cannot be mitigated to a less than significant level.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-20
4.8 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project:
a. Generate greenhouse gas emissions,
either directly or indirectly, that may
have a significant impact on the
environment?
X
b. Conflict with an applicable plan, policy
or regulation adopted for the purpose of
reducing the emissions of greenhouse
gases?
X
In March 2010, the Natural Resources Agency revised Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines to include a checklist item relating to a project’s impacts relating to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions. In particular, Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines now includes a checklist item that provides:
VIII. Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Would the project:
(a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment?
(b) Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases?
The City certified the General Plan Final EIR in 2008, several years before the above checklist item was added to the State CEQA Guidelines. California courts have held that where a new guideline or threshold is adopted after the certification of an EIR, an Addendum to the EIR need not include additional environmental analysis relating to that guideline or threshold where the potential environmental impact at issue in the new guideline or threshold was known or could have been known at the time the EIR was certified. (See Citizens Against Airport Pollution v. City of San Jose (2014) 227 Cal.App.4th 788, 806 [even though State CEQA Guidelines were amended on March 18, 2010 to address greenhouse gas emissions, lead agency’s 2010 Addendum to a 1997 EIR did not require analysis of greenhouse gas emissions because “information about the potential environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions was known or could have been know at the time the 1997 EIR and the 2003 SEIR for the [project] were certified”]; Concerned Dublin Citizens v. City of Dublin (2013) 214 Cal.App.4th 1301, 1319-1320 [“the adoption of guidelines for analyzing and evaluating the significance of data does not constitute new information if the City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-21
underlying information was otherwise known or should have been known at the time the EIR was certified”]; see also Citizens for Responsible Equitable Environmental Development v. City of San Diego (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 515, 532.). Because potential impacts relating to Greenhouse Gas Emissions were not known or could not have been known when the General Plan FEIR was certified in 2008, California law does not require these impacts to be analyzed in this Addendum.
The Final EIR does not include a stand-alone Greenhouse Gas Emissions analysis section. GHG Emissions are generally discussed in the Air Quality section.
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
Population growth anticipated to occur under the General Plan Update is expected to result in increased emissions of greenhouse gases, largely due to increased vehicle miles traveled, as well as increased energy consumption and waste generation. Increased concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions could also potentially conflict with the requirement of Assembly Bill 32 to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions. The General Plan FEIR provides the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions from area, indirect, and mobile sources for existing and General Plan Update buildout conditions. Emission reduction measures targeting sources of greenhouse gas emissions called for in Assembly Bill 32 will likely be adopted in the near future, although no measures have yet been adopted, and it is unknown at this time if these measures will apply to local governments.
Since future (i.e., 2020) greenhouse gas emissions are projected to exceed existing levels by a sizeable margin, the incremental greenhouse gas emissions associated with development under the General Plan Update would cause a cumulatively considerable incremental contribution to the cumulative (worldwide) impacts when viewed in connection with worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. Goals, strategies and actions have been specified in the Regional Coordination Element to encourage the use of alternative energy sources, reduce vehicle miles traveled, add additional trees/vegetation, and develop a public education program emphasizing air quality conditions, and promoting innovative approaches to reduce harmful impacts to the atmosphere. Furthermore, Mitigation Measure AQ-2, from the Air Quality section, would require the City to create and implement a Climate Protection Action Plan to set up an enforceable framework for the City to achieve the objectives outlined in AB 32 and Executive Order S-3-05.
The City’s process for the evaluation of discretionary projects includes environmental review and documentation pursuant to CEQA, as well as analysis of those projects for consistency with the goals, strategies, and recommendations of the General Plan Update.
In general, implementation of the goals, strategies and actions in the General Plan Update, as well as compliance with federal, state, and local regulations would avoid or reduce their incremental contribution to the significant worldwide increase in GHG emissions. However, for some projects it is possible that adherence to the strategies and actions in the General Plan Update may not adequately avoid or reduce incremental impacts, and such projects would require additional measures. These additional measures would be considered mitigation. For each future discretionary project requiring mitigation, project specific measures would be identified with the goal of reducing incremental project level impacts City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-22
to less than significant or the incremental contributions of a project may remain significant and unavoidable where no feasible mitigation exists. Where mitigation is determined necessary and feasible, these measures would be included in a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the project. Mitigation measures would include the comprehensive General Plan Update strategies and actions designed to reduce the GHG emissions of future development. The measures may be updated, expanded, and refined when applied to specific future projects based on project specific design and changes in existing conditions, and local, state, and federal laws.
The degree of future impacts and applicability, feasibility, and success of future mitigation measures cannot be adequately determined for each specific future project at this programmatic level of analysis. Therefore, the cumulatively considerable incremental contribution to the worldwide increase in GHG emissions represented by development that is anticipated to occur with implementation of the General Plan Update is considered significant and unavoidable.
Analysis of Modified Project
It is noted that the Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. However, potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use plan and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. Future housing development, consistent with the Stanton General Plan, would be reviewed for consistency with policies and programs aimed to reduce GHG emission impacts as a result of new development and construction-related emissions and operational activities. More specifically, proposed projects would be reviewed for consistency with the General Plan Regional Coordination Element, Goal RC-3, which advocates for clean and safe air quality and contains numerous strategies and actions addressing energy efficiency. General Plan Goal CD-4.1, supports a well-connected, multi-modal urban environmental to reduce vehicle trips and encourage alternative transportation options. Additionally, the General Plan and Zoning Code maximize the potential for mixed-use and other creative residential development types, which would help the City achieve greenhouse gas reductions through reduced vehicle trips.
Compliance with the AQMP and General Plan strategies and actions would contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions. Further the proposed amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element would not modify the existing land use plan or allow for development at a greater intensity/density than previously considered in the General Plan FEIR.
The proposed Project would not result in new impacts to GHG emissions beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR. Following compliance with the General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts to greenhouse gas emissions as a result of the proposed Project.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-23
4.9 HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project:
a. Create a significant hazard to the public
or the environment through the routine
transport, use, or disposal of hazardous
materials?
X
b. Create a significant hazard to the public
or the environment through reasonably
foreseeable upset and accident
conditions involving the release of
hazardous materials into the
environment?
X
c. Emit hazardous emissions or handle
hazardous or acutely hazardous
materials, substances, or waste within
one-quarter mile of an existing or
proposed school?
X
d. Be located on a site which is included on
a list of hazardous materials sites
compiled pursuant to Government Code
Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it
create a significant hazard to the public
or the environment?
X
e. For a project located within an airport
land use plan or, where such a plan has
not been adopted, within two miles of a
public airport or public use airport,
would the project result in a safety
hazard or excessive noise for people
residing or working in the project area?
X
f. Impair implementation of or physically
interfere with an adopted emergency
response plan or emergency evacuation
plan?
X
g. Expose people or structures, either
directly or indirectly, to a significant risk
of loss, injury or death involving
wildland fires?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
There are a variety of existing business operations in the City of Stanton that use, store, or transport hazardous substances, as well as generate hazardous waste. Therefore, any non-residential development that occurs within the City may result in an increase in hazardous materials use, transport, or generation of hazardous waste. Since the General Plan Update does not include any specific development projects, no specific type of hazard City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-24
associated with the use of these materials can be identified and the likelihood of a hazard presenting a serious health or safety to the public cannot be determined at this time.
However, it can be generally concluded that any additional non-residential development in the City would result in an increase in the use and transport of hazardous materials and an increase in the generation of hazardous waste. The consequence of this increased presence of hazardous materials in the City would be an increase in the potential for human exposure to these substances, with possible public health and safety consequences.
While the risk of exposure to hazardous materials cannot be eliminated, measures can be implemented to maintain risk to acceptable levels. Compliance with measures established by Federal, State and local regulatory agencies is considered adequate to offset the negative effects related to the use, storage and transport of hazardous materials in the City. In addition, General Plan Update goals, strategies, and actions, as well as the recommended mitigation measures (Public Health and Safety (PHS)-1, PHS-2, PHS-3, and PHS-4), would further reduce hazardous materials impacts to a less than significant level. Implementation of the General Plan Update would result in an overall decrease in nonresidential development. However, the General Plan Update proposes four mixed-use land use designations, which would include commercial uses. Implementation of the General Plan Update has the potential to result in an increase in the use and transport of hazardous materials in the City of Stanton. The increased use and transport of hazardous materials in the City increases the potential for accidental releases of hazardous materials, which poses a threat to the health and safety of residents. Depending on the nature and extent of the contamination, groundwater supplies could become unsuitable for use as a domestic water source. Accidental releases would most likely occur in the commercial and industrial areas and along transport routes leading to and from these areas. Currently, the primary concentration of commercial uses is located along State Route 39 (Beach Boulevard) and industrial uses are located to the east of Beach Boulevard and to the north of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
The Orange County Fire Authority oversees the submittal of Business Emergency Plans, which are intended to mitigate potential release of hazardous substances and minimize potential harm or damage. Oversight by the appropriate agencies and compliance with applicable regulations are considered adequate to offset the negative effects related to the accidental release of hazardous materials in the City.
Compliance with measures established by Federal, State and local regulatory agencies is considered adequate to offset the negative effects related to the reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials in the City. In addition, General Plan Update goals, strategies, and actions, and PHS mitigation measures would further reduce accidental release of hazardous materials impacts to a less than significant level.
Several elementary and high schools are located within the City. New businesses that locate near residential areas or within 1⁄4-mile from a school may expose these sensitive land City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-25
uses to greater risk of exposure to hazardous materials, wastes, or emissions. Methods such as a buffer in the form of a major street, channel, or intervening land use can be used to separate residential areas from industrial areas. The General Plan FEIR concludes that General Plan Update goals, strategies, and actions, as well as the recommended mitigation measures (PHS-1, PHS-2, PHS-3, and PHS-4), would reduce hazardous materials impacts to a school to less than significant level.
The General Plan FEIR did not identify any sites in Stanton included on the Department of Toxic Substances Control Hazardous Waste and Substance List (Cortese List) and impacts were determined to be less than significant.
The City of Stanton is not located within the accident potential zone of the Joint Forces Training Base; the closest aircraft base to the City. However, the northwest portion of the City is located within the AELUP height restriction zone for JFTB. This portion of the City is composed of low-density residential land uses. This land use designation would not change upon the General Plan Update. Upon implementation of the height restrictions that are currently being imposed by the AELUP and the additional recommended mitigation measures (PHS-5 through PHS-9), potential impacts to people residing or working in the AELUP would be reduced to less than significant levels. The Community Health and Safety Element of the General Plan includes the goal to:
"Maintain a level of preparedness to respond to emergency situations in order to reduce the loss of life, injury and property damage to the community." (Goal 5.1, Community Health and Safety Element). However, the General Plan FEIR does not contain a discussion on possible impairment of implementation an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan; effects found not to be significant. The General Plan FEIR concluded that the General Plan Update would not expose people or structures, either directly or indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Project does not propose site-specific development, but is rather an update to a policy document to comply with new laws and reinforce existing policy direction. The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. However, potential development of vacant and underutilized site to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. The Stanton General Plan includes strategies and actions to reduce potential impacts due to hazards or hazardous materials.
The proposed amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element would not modify the existing land use plan or allow for development at a greater intensity/density than previously considered in the General Plan FEIR. Updates to the Community Health and Safety Element are largely focused on the topics of fire hazards, emergency preparedness, evacuation routes, and City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-26
climate adaption. The Fire Hazards discussion was updated to include current information regarding the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones, of which there are none in the City of Stanton. In accordance with SB 99, the City conducted an evaluation of evacuation routes serving residential developments in hazard areas. This analysis found that there are no residential developments within Stanton that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes. Lastly, the City prepared a Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) to promote effective and integrated actions to safeguard against anticipated impacts from climate change.
No goals, strategies, or actions from the current Community Health and Safety Element were eliminated as part of this update. Proposed modifications or additions related to natural hazards were made to Flooding, Fire and Police Protection, Emergency Response, and Hazardous Materials strategies and actions. Strategy 2.1.2 promotes the expansion of pervious surfaces, while Action
2.1.1 (c ) encourages permeable paving. Action 4.2.1(c ) minimizes the risk of structural loos from fires; Action 4.2.1(d) supports creating visible addressing and signage; and Action 4.2.1 (e) considers fire safe design. Action 5.1.1 (e) regulates the location of critical facilities and advocates for minimum standards for evacuation of residential areas. Proposed Action 6.1.1 (d) promotes cleanup of any active hazardous waste sites.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in new hazards and hazardous materials impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR.
Following compliance with the recommended General Plan FEIR mitigation measures and General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts related to hazards and hazardous materials as a result of the proposed Project.
General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measures:
PHS-1 Provide information to businesses on viable alternatives to hazardous materials. Create an informational pamphlet with existing hazardous material substitutions and retailers that sell the materials. Offer the information to applicable business owners who are required to file as a hazardous waste handler in the City.
PHS-2 Provide information on viable alternatives to household hazardous materials on the City’s website so households may use alternatives. Information will also educate the public to the health, safety, and environmental benefits of using non-hazardous substitutions.
PHS-3 Ensure that all new land uses within the City of Stanton comply with applicable laws regarding hazardous substances transport, storage, use, and handling; and incorporate precautions that protect adjoining uses from unacceptable health and safety risks.
PHS-4 Establish and adopt development standards which ensure that new mixed use districts that include residential uses near industrial development does not create an unacceptable risk of human exposure to hazardous materials.
PHS-5 Limit development height within the flight approach to the Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB) Los Alamitos to minimize safety hazards to aircraft and protect the airfield.
PHS-6 Monitor legislation and regulations established by the Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB) Los Alamitos.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-27
PHS-7 Applicants of future development projects shall comply with all requirements of the FAA should any portion of the development encroach within 100 to 1 imaginary surface surrounding the Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos. Encroachment within the 50 to 1 approach will require approval by the FAA. A Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration (Form 7460-1) may be required by the FAA in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration Regulations Part 77.
PHS-8 Applicants of future development projects seeking a Conditional Use Permit or similar approval for the construction or operation of a heliport or helistop, shall comply with the State permit procedure provided by law and with conditions of approval imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), by the Airport Land Use Commission for Orange County (ALUC), and by Caltrans Division of Aeronautics. This requirement shall be in addition to other City development requirements.
PHS-9 Future development or redevelopment projects with residential uses located within the Los Alamitos Impact Zones, Joint Forces Training Base shall disclose that the units are within the vicinity of the Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos. The disclosure shall be provided in sales literature and/or sales/rental/lease agreements.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-28
4.10 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project:
a. Violate any water quality standards or
waste discharge requirements or
otherwise substantially degrade surface
or groundwater quality?
X
b. Substantially decrease groundwater
supplies or interfere substantially with
groundwater recharge such that the
project may impede sustainable
groundwater management of the basin?
X
c. 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 on- or off-site;
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?
X
d. In flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche
zones, risk release of pollutants due to
project inundation?
X
e. Conflict with or obstruct implementation
of a water quality control plan or
sustainable groundwater management
plan?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
All future development would be subject to compliance with Chapter 6.20, Stormwater Discharge and Water Quality Ordinance of the City’s Municipal Code, and NPDES requirements. Construction sites with 1.0 acre or greater of soil disturbance or less than
1.0 acre, but part of a greater common plan of development, would be required to apply for coverage for discharges under the General Construction Permit. As part of its City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-29
compliance, a NOI would need to be prepared and submitted to the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), providing notification and intent to comply with the General Permit. Prior to grading or construction, a SWPPP would be required for the construction activities onsite. Implementation of recommended mitigation (i.e., compliance with the NPDES requirements) would reduce construction-related impacts to water quality to a less than significant level.
A Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) would be required for all future development.
The WQMP would be specific to the expected pollutants that would be present in the stormwater flow from the project site after completion of construction. The specified mitigation requires preparation of a comprehensive WQMP for each future development.
The WQMP would be required to include both Structural and Non-Structural BMPs, and comply with the requirements of the DAMP, as required by the Santa Ana RWQCB and NPDES permits. With mitigation, potential impacts in this regard would be reduced to a less than significant level.
Wells have historically supplied 85 percent of water in the West Orange County System.
The General Plan Update proposes 5,751 additional dwelling units and a reduction of 1,433,635 square feet of non-residential development. Projected development and increased population would result in an ultimate increase in the demand for water supplies and strain existing water facilities. The projected increase in demand is not anticipated to substantially deplete groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge. The Orange County Water District would continue to regulate the amount of groundwater pumped from the Basin and establish the Basin Production Percentage (BPP) for all pumpers to ensure groundwater resources are adequate. Additionally, the City has identified water conservation measures within the General Plan Update strategies, actions and implementation measures. Specifically, strategies include decreasing demand on the City’s potable water supply, using recycled water and water conservation. With Federal and State requirements along with the following strategies, actions and implementation measures included in the General Plan Update, impacts to groundwater resources would be less than significant in this regard.
Some effects were found not to be significant by the General Plan FEIR; implementation of the General Plan Update would not result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off-site; nor would it substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on- or offsite. However, the General Plan FEIR did find some impacts to be significant with regard to stormwater capacity.
The City of Stanton is primarily built out and has an existing stormwater infrastructure.
Development associated with implementation of the General Plan Update may contribute to the runoff, which may exceed the capacity of the existing drainage system. New development projects associated with implementation of the General Plan Update would be required to ensure project-specific and citywide drainage systems have adequate capacity to accommodate new development. Strategies and actions in the General Plan Update serve to ensure all new developments pay a fair share of the cost for storm drain infrastructure improvements. Furthermore, implementation of the required mitigation measure (HYD-1) City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-30
would ensure new development projects are designed to result in less than significant impacts related to the drainage system capacity. Compliance with strategies and actions included in the General Plan Update and the required mitigation measure would ensure drainage system capacity impacts are reduced to a less than significant level. The General Plan FEIR concluded that the General Plan Update would not in flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones, risk release of pollutants due to project inundation.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Project does not propose site-specific development, but is rather an update to a policy document to comply with new laws and reinforce existing policy direction. The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. However, potential development of proposed development, ADU, vacant and mixed-use sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. Future housing development, consistent with the Stanton General Plan, would be reviewed for consistency with policies and programs aimed to reduce potential impacts associated with hydrology and drainage, including preparation of site-specific analysis and required compliance with the Stanton Municipal Code. Further, the proposed amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element would not modify the existing land use plan or allow for development at a greater intensity/density than previously considered in the General Plan FEIR. The Stanton General Plan includes strategies and actions to reduce potential impacts to hydrology and water quality. Additionally, General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measures HYD1 through HYD-3 outline strategies to mitigate drainage impacts, decrease runoff pollutants, and prepare WQMPs.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in new hydrology and water quality impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR.
Following compliance with the recommended General Plan FEIR mitigation measures and General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts related to hydrology and water as a result of the proposed Project.
General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measures:
HYD-1 Prior to approval of project tract maps, the project owner/developer(s) shall be required to coordinate with the City of Stanton Director of Public Works to determine requirements necessary to mitigate impacts to drainage improvements required to accommodate storage volumes and flood protection for existing and future runoff. Proposed projects shall implement mitigation measures, if required, to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works.
HYD-2 Prior to issuance of any Grading or Building Permit, and as part of the future development’s compliance with the NPDES requirements, a Notice of Intent shall be prepared and submitted to the Santa Ana RWQCB providing notification and intent to comply with the State of California General Construction Permit. Also, a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) shall be reviewed and approved by the Director of Public Works and the City City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-31
Engineer for water quality construction activities onsite. A copy of the SWPPP shall be available and implemented at the construction site at all times. The SWPPP shall outline the source control and/or treatment control BMPs to avoid or mitigate runoff pollutants at the construction site to the “maximum extent practicable.” HYD-3 Prior to issuance of any Grading Permit, all future development shall prepare, to the satisfaction of the Stanton Director of Public Works and the City Engineer, a Water Quality Management Plan, which includes both Structural and Non-Structural BMPs in order to comply with the requirements of the current DAMP and NPDES.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-32
4.11 LAND USE AND PLANNING
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project:
a. Physically divide an established
community? X
b. Cause a significant environmental
impact due to a conflict with any land use
plan, policy, or regulation adopted for
the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an
environmental effect?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
The City of Stanton is primarily developed. Only a very limited amount of vacant land (57.8 acres) located throughout the City remains. The General Plan Update anticipates 5,751 additional residential units and 1,433,635 fewer square feet of non-residential uses over existing conditions. No physical division would result from development pursuant to the General Plan Update; the General Plan FEIR found effects not to be significant. The General Plan Update contains strategies and implementing actions that continue to support current procedures followed by the City when development applications are reviewed, including the referral of plans to appropriate Federal and State agencies to ensure consistency between City and other agency regulations and requirements.
Strategies and actions in the General Plan Update continue to provide for implementation of and participation in area-wide planning efforts. The consistency of the General Plan Update with specific Federal and State plans is presented in Table 5.1-2 of the General Plan FEIR.
The General Plan Update includes relevant strategies and actions that reflect and respond to SCAG’s regional goals. The Community Development Element is intended to establish the overall policy direction for land use planning decisions in the City of Stanton. In addition, strategies and actions in the Community Development and Housing Elements address regional jobs/housing balance objectives, in regards to providing affordable housing while providing a range of housing and employment opportunities. The General Plan FEIR assesses the General Plan Update’s relationship and consistency to pertinent policies contained in various chapters of the Regional Comprehensive Plan and Guide, as identified by SCAG; the General Plan Update is consistent with all SCAG policies.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-33
The SCAG Growth Vision Report (GVR) contains principles and numerous strategies to guide regional development and transportation improvements throughout Southern California.
The General Plan FEIR provides a detailed analysis of the project’s consistency with the principles and strategies of the GVR. The General Plan Update would be consistent with all applicable strategies of the SCAG Southern California Compass Growth Visioning Program.
As such, the General Plan FEIR determined that the project would not conflict with the SCAG Growth Visioning Program and no adverse impacts are anticipated in this regard.
The General Plan FEIR concludes that the General Plan Update would be consistent with the City’s Zoning Ordinance and Redevelopment Plan.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Project does not propose site-specific development, but is rather an update to a policy document to comply with new laws and reinforce existing policy direction. Potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use plan and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. Further, the Community Health and Safety Element would not result in any modifications to existing land use designations or modify any General Plan strategies or actions specific to land use and planning. Future housing development, consistent with the Stanton General Plan, would be reviewed for consistency with land use policies and programs. The Stanton General Plan includes strategies and actions to reduce potential impacts resulting from new development and intensification of land uses.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in new land use and planning impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR. Following compliance with the recommended General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts to land use and planning as a result of the proposed Project.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-34
4.12 MINERAL RESOURCES
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
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?
X
b. Result in the loss of availability of a
locally-important mineral resource
recovery site delineated on a local
general plan, specific plan or other land
use plan?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
Future development within the Planning Area pursuant to the land use policies of the General Plan Update will not result in the loss of a known mineral resource as no mineral resources within the City have been determined by the California Geological Survey; the General Plan FEIR found effects not to be significant.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. However, potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. Further, the Community Health and Safety Element would not result in any modifications to existing and use designations or modify any General Plan actions or strategies specific to mineral resources.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in new mineral resources impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR. There would be no new significant or significantly different impacts to mineral resources as a result of the proposed Project.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-35
4.13 NOISE
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
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?
X
b. Generation of excessive groundborne
vibration or groundborne noise levels? X
c. For a project located within the vicinity
of a private airstrip or an airport land use
plan or, where such a plan has not been
adopted, within two miles of a public
airport or public use airport, would the
project expose people residing or
working in the project area to excessive
noise levels?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
Construction-related activities will be short-term temporary sources of groundborne noise that could affect occupants of neighboring uses. It is unlikely the City would experience intensive construction activity with implementation of the General Plan Update. Section
9.28.070 of the Municipal Code, Special Provisions, exempts “noise sources associated with construction, repair, remodeling, or grading of any real property,” provided said activities occur between the hours of 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday. The City would require each project to implement the General Plan Update strategies and actions and mitigation measures (NOI-1) that address construction-related noise in order to minimize impacts to surrounding sensitive receptors. Through the environmental review process for individual projects, additional mitigation may also be required to further reduce construction-related noise impacts to a less than significant level. Development under the General Plan Update would primarily involve commercial and residential uses, thus significant impacts are not anticipated for groundborne vibration. Compliance and/or adherence to the City’s Noise Ordinance, strategies and actions in the General Plan Update, and adherence to the recommended mitigation measures (NOI-1), would reduce shortterm construction noise impacts to less than significant levels.
With implementation of the General Plan Update, some residential uses would experience noise levels that would exceed the City’s Noise and Land Use Criteria Compatibility Criteria City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-36
due to the increase in roadway noise. It is noted that the computer noise model used to project the potential ambient noise levels with implementation of the General Plan Update does not consider the existing noise attenuating features such as sound walls, buildings, landscaping, or topography. As such, the roadway noise contours may not reflect true noise conditions. Intervening structures or other noise-attenuating obstacles between the roadway and sensitive receptors may reduce roadway noise levels at the receiving receptor.
However, there would almost certainly be receptors that would experience roadway noise levels very similar to those indicated by the noise contours. Existing railroad operations would not create a significant noise-related impact as the existing noise levels are less than significant. However, any future plans to increase the use of the railroads or operate the railroad during nighttime hours would potentially create a significant impact. If operations of the railroads change, acoustical barriers and measures would be necessary to mitigate potential impacts to less than significant levels. Thus, a less than significant impact would occur with implementation of mitigation measures. Adherence to the City’s Noise Ordinance, strategies and actions in the General Plan Update, and the recommended mitigation measures would mitigate ambient noise impacts. However, even with implementation of feasible mitigation measures (NOI-2 through NOI-4) and applicable strategy and action measures, ambient noise impacts would not be reduced to a less than significant level. A significant and unavoidable impact would occur.
In the City of Stanton, there are four mixed-use areas: the General Mixed-Use, the North Gateway Mixed-Use District, the South Gateway Mixed-Use District, and the Town Center Mixed-Use District. Future noise from the mixed-use areas would be consistent with existing mixed-use areas, as they would be similar. Commercial uses would generally be placed below residential uses, however noise strategies and actions require the reduction of noise transmission between commercial and residential uses. Implementation of NOI-5 would ensure reduction of noise transmission between these two uses to less than significant levels.
Compliance and/or adherence to the City’s Noise Ordinance, and strategies and actions in the General Plan Update would reduce stationary noise impacts for the City to less than significant.
The City is within the Joint Forces Training Base – Los Alamitos Airport 60 CNEL noise contour. Single-family residential uses are within the 60 CNEL noise contour, however impacts due to operations of the airport would be less than significant to residents as these sensitive receptors do not exceed the “normally acceptable” threshold presented in the General Plan FEIR. Therefore, it was concluded that a less than significant impact would occur in this regard.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Project does not propose site-specific development, but is rather an update to a policy document to comply with new laws and reinforce existing policy direction. The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. However, potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-37
RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. Future housing development, consistent with the Stanton General Plan, would be reviewed for consistency with actions and strategies aimed to reduce potential impacts associated with noise, including preparation of site-specific analysis and required compliance with the Stanton Municipal Code. The proposed amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element would not modify the existing land use plan or modify General Plan strategies and actions specific to noise. The Stanton General Plan includes strategies and actions to reduce potential impacts to ambient noise levels as a result of groundborne vibration or exposure to excessive noise levels. Further, General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measures NOI-1 through NOI-5 ensure review and enforcement of noise standards on new and existing development, development of noise reducing design measures, and require construction activities to reduce potential impacts related to noise.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Public Safety Element would not result in noise impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR. Following compliance with the recommended General Plan FEIR mitigation measures and General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts related to noise as a result of the proposed Project.
General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measures:
NOI-1 At the discretion of the City of Stanton’s Community Development Director, construction activities that may occur under the proposed General Plan Update shall include, but not be limited to the following:
During construction, stationary construction equipment shall be placed such that emitted noise is directed away from sensitive noise receptors. All construction equipment shall use available noise suppression devices and properly maintained mufflers. All internal combustion engines used in the project area shall be equipped with the type of muffler recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. In addition, all equipment shall be maintained in good mechanical condition to minimize noise created by faulty or poorly maintained engine, drive-train, and other components.
Construction noise reduction methods (i.e., shutting off idling equipment, installing temporary acoustic barriers around stationary construction noise sources, maximizing the distance between construction equipment staging areas and occupied sensitive receptor areas, and use of electric air compressors and similar power tools, rather than diesel equipment) shall be employed where feasible. Staging of construction equipment and unnecessary idling of equipment shall be avoided whenever feasible. “Feasible,” as used here, means that the implementation of this measure would not have a notable effect on construction operations or schedule.
NOI-2 At the discretion of the City of Stanton’s Community Development Director, all new development that may occur under the proposed General Plan Update shall include noise reduction design measures (i.e., attenuation barriers, double pane windows, sound attenuating building walls, incorporate architecturally attenuating features, landscaping, etc.) where conditions exceed the Noise and Land Use Compatibility Criteria “Normally Acceptable” noise exposure levels.
NOI-3 At the discretion of the City of Stanton’s Community Development Director, all new stationary sources shall include noise reduction practices (i.e., mufflers, well maintained City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-38
mechanical equipment, etc.) where conditions exceed the regulations within the Municipal Code. In addition, areas adjacent to sensitive receptors that are in excess of the City’s Noise Ordinance (i.e., parking lots, public trash receptacles, truck delivery areas, etc.), shall implement applicable noise attenuation features (i.e., attenuation wall, mufflers, etc.).
NOI-4 At the discretion of the City of Stanton’s Community Development Director, any increase or change in railroad operations shall warrant an Acoustical Assessment to ascertain the potential noise impacts to surrounding sensitive receptors. Mitigation measures (i.e., attenuation barriers, double pane windows, sound attenuating building walls, incorporate architecturally attenuating features, landscaping, etc.) shall be implemented where conditions exceed the Noise and Land Use Compatibility Criteria of “Normally Acceptable” noise exposure levels.
NOI-5 At the discretion of the City of Stanton’s Community Development Director, all new mixed use areas shall include noise reduction practices (i.e., well maintained mechanical equipment, increased building insulation, upgraded party wall-to-floor ceiling assembly acoustical treatments, etc.) where conditions exceed the regulations for residential uses within the Municipal Code. In addition, where outdoor activities exceed the City’s Noise Ordinance (i.e., parking lots, public trash receptacles, truck delivery areas, etc.), applicable noise attenuation features (i.e., attenuation wall, mufflers, etc.) shall be implemented.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-39
4.14 POPULATION AND HOUSING
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project:
a. Induce substantial unplanned
population growth in an area, either
directly (for example, by proposing new
homes and businesses) or indirectly (for
example, through extension of roads or
other infrastructure)?
X
b. Displace substantial numbers of existing
people or housing, necessitating the
construction of replacement housing
elsewhere?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
The General Plan Update would allow for the construction of approximately 5,751 additional dwelling units within the City of Stanton, resulting in a total of approximately 18,537 dwelling units at buildout. Additionally, buildout of the General Plan Update would result in a net reduction of 1,433,635 square feet of non-residential development within Stanton, resulting in a maximum of 6,144,748 square feet of non-residential development at buildout. Implementation of the General Plan Update is anticipated to increase the City’s population by 20,416 persons, resulting in a total population of approximately 59,397 persons. As the City is predominately built out, future development would occur on existing vacant parcels, through infill development of underutilized parcels, or redevelopment of currently developed parcels, which is consistent with SCAG’s policies that call for jurisdictions to maximize the use of existing urbanized areas that are accessible to transit through infill and redevelopment and utilize existing infrastructure. With the General Plan Update, the City of Stanton would establish policy direction towards the intensification of the City in key areas with four new mixed-use land use designations. Implementation of the General Plan Update would adequately meet the housing needs of the anticipated population growth within the City; therefore, the impacts are considered less than significant. Strategies and actions in the General Plan Update would further reduce any housing related impacts associated with buildout of the General Plan Update.
The City’s General Plan Update accounts for the increased growth and proposes strategies and actions to reduce potential population related impacts associated with buildout of the General Plan Update. Additionally, the increase in population would occur over a 15-year City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-40
period, allowing for development of necessary services and infrastructure to accommodate this growth. Therefore, impacts are considered to be less than significant.
The General Plan FEIR projects the City’s labor market under General Plan Update conditions and indicates approximately 11,430 jobs would be provided in the City at buildout. Buildout of the General Plan Update would decrease the City’s employment opportunities by approximately 24 percent (3,631 jobs) less than existing conditions. In 2007, the City of Stanton had a jobs/housing ratio of approximately 1.18. Buildout of the proposed General Plan Update would result in 11,430 jobs and 18,513 housing units, which represents a jobs/housing ratio of approximately 0.62. Therefore, implementation of the General Plan Update would result in a reduction in the City’s jobs/housing balance.
Additionally, SCAG anticipates that in 2020 the County will have a jobs/housing balance of
1.74. Therefore, the Orange County subregion would have an adequate jobs/housing balance, and since jobs/housing balance is considered at a subregional/regional level, impacts would be considered less than significant in this regard. Additionally, the General Plan Update would include several strategies and actions within the Community Development and Economic Development Elements that promote employment opportunities for Stanton residents, further reducing impacts to a less than significant level. The General Plan will allow the development of a variety of uses. However, this new development under the General Plan Update will not displace substantial numbers of housing units or people; the General Plan FEIR found effects not to be significant and no impacts will result.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. However, potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. Additionally, the proposed amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element would not modify the existing land use plan or allow for development at a greater intensity/density than previously considered in the General Plan FEIR. Future housing development, consistent with the Stanton General Plan, would be reviewed for consistency with strategies and actions aimed to reduce potential impacts associated with substantial unplanned population growth and displacement.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in housing and population impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR. Following compliance with General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts related to population and housing as a result of the proposed Project.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-41
4.15 PUBLIC SERVICES
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
a. 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:
Fire protection?
Police protection?
Schools?
Parks?
Other public facilities?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
Development projects anticipated to occur pursuant to General Plan policy will result in increased demand for fire and police protection, and emergency services and facilities.
Subsequent development would be reviewed by overseeing agencies, such as the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSCD), in order to assess fire and police protection services on a project-by-project basis.
Additionally, new developments associated with the buildout of the General Plan Update would be required to comply with all applicable fire and safety codes and ordinance requirements for construction, access, water mains, fire flows, and hydrants. Action CHS4.1.1(c) of the General Plan Update requires new developments be reviewed to assess the impact of new development on fire protection services and to ensure that increased demand for emergency services will be adequately served. Project-specific recommendations to mitigate impacts to police protection services would be assessed on a project-by-project basis. Prior to project-specific approvals, the OCFA requires Project Developers to enter into a Secured Fire Protection Agreement with the OCFA and/or City of Stanton, in order to mitigate impacts to fire protection facilities, equipment and/or personnel. The General Plan FEIR determines that implementation of the goals, strategies and actions in the General Plan Update, recommended mitigation measures (PS-1, PS-2, and PS-3) and approval of subsequent project-specific Secured Fire Protection Agreements would reduce impacts to fire and police protection services to less than significant.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-42
Residential development projects anticipated to occur pursuant to General Plan Update will result in demand for new or expanded education facilities to adequately accommodate new students. The Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD), Anaheim Unified High School District (AUHSD), Magnolia School District (MSD) and Savanna School District (SSD) are responsible for the provision of public school facilities (kindergarten though high school) in the City of Stanton. Currently, nine of the 16 schools serving the City are at or above capacity levels. Implementation of the General Plan Update would result in the addition of 5,751 dwelling units citywide. Buildout of the proposed General Plan Update would result in the addition of approximately 3,811 students dispersed throughout all grade levels and school facilities. According to GGUSD, impacts associated with implementation of the General Plan Update could result in the need for additional or relocation of portable classrooms, noise abatement measures, school recreational facilities, parking impacts, potential designation for school bus loading issues, and city safe routes to school/cross guards. The SSD anticipates the school district would not be impacted by implementation of the General Plan Update. Applicable developer and redevelopment fees to mitigate impacts to the SSD and AUHSD are shared between the two districts. Pursuant to SB 50, payment of fees to the applicable school district is considered full mitigation for project impacts, including impacts related to 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, or other performance objectives for schools. Therefore, individual project applicants would be required to pay the statutory fees, so that space can be constructed, if necessary, at the nearest sites to accommodate the impact of projectgenerated students, reducing impacts to a less than significant level. Mitigation Measure SCH-1 is required to ensure applicable developer fees are paid prior to the issuance of certificate of occupancy.
The City of Stanton is built out with little available vacant land for parkland dedication and conversion. Additional recreational facilities within and adjacent to the City are available to serve residents. The population increase resulting from the General Plan Update would create new demand on current recreational infrastructure including parks, facilities and programs. In order to offset the existing parkland deficiency, the City has taken several measures to provide alternative facilities and options for recreational opportunities including, creation of mini, community and neighborhood parks; utilizing local school acreage to augment available parkland (joint-use facilities); and seeking open space opportunities for passive recreation amenities such as multi-use fields, play areas, and green space which serve to benefit several local neighborhoods. Individual development projects would be reviewed to determine their potential impact on park and recreation facilities. The City’s Municipal Code Chapter 19.42 and Section 20.10.070 require dedication of land and/or payment of in lieu fees as a condition of approval for residential subdivisions. The City has proposed several goals, strategies and actions in the General Plan Update to assist in providing parkland and recreational facilities for residents of Stanton, including acquisition of land and updating the Parks and Recreation Master Plan to identify where additional parks and the types of facilities are needed. However, with the City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-43
City’s existing deficiency and the future growth associated with buildout of the General Plan Update, along with the limited land available to develop additional parks, impacts to parks and recreational facilities would be considered significant and unavoidable. According to the General Plan FEIR, no mitigation measures beyond the goals, strategies and actions identified in the General Plan Update are available; leaving Parks impacts significant and unavoidable.
Residential development projects anticipated to occur pursuant to General Plan Update will result in demand for library resources. The current General Plan Update contains actions that promote the expansion of library services.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. Potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses. Further, the proposed amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element would not modify the existing land use plan or allow for development at a greater intensity/density than previously considered in the General Plan FEIR. The Stanton General Plan includes strategies and actions to reduce potential impacts to public services as a result of new development and intensification of land uses. Further, General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measures PS1, PS-2, PS-3, and SCH-1 ensure acceptable service ratios and response times of police, fire, emergency medical, and educational services.
The Community Health and Safety Element update includes updated information regarding fire hazard planning and emergency preparedness, as well as an evaluation of evacuation routes for residents. Proposed policies would continue to promote development consistent with the adopted land use policy that considers natural and human-induced hazards and the overall safety of Stanton’s residents, including the provision of adequate services and facilities.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in public services impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR. Following compliance with the recommended General Plan FEIR mitigation measures and General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts related to public services as a result of the proposed Project.
General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measures:
PS-1 Prior to project approval, all development projects shall be required to enter into a Secured Fire Protection Agreement with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and /or City of Stanton.
PS-2 All traffic signals on public access ways shall include the installation of optical pre-emption devices.
PS-3 All electrically operated gates within a project, or addition to an existing facility or residence, shall install an emergency access key over-ride switch approved by the OCFA.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-44
SCH-1 Prior to the issuance of certificate of occupancy, individual project applicants shall submit evidence to the City of Stanton that legally required school impact mitigation fees have been paid per the mitigation established by the applicable school district.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-45
4.16 RECREATION
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
a. Would the project increase the use of
existing neighborhood and regional
parks or other recreational facilities such
that substantial physical deterioration of
the facility would occur or be
accelerated?
X
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?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
This topical area is addressed in the General Plan FEIR’s Parks and Recreational Facilities section; refer to Section 4.15, Public Services.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. However, potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. Further, the proposed amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element would not modify the existing land use plan or allow for development at a greater intensity/density than previously considered in the General Plan FEIR. The Stanton General Plan Update includes strategies and actions to reduce potential impacts to parks and recreation facilities as a result of new development and intensification of land uses. Further, the Stanton Municipal Code sets parkland dedication requirements in accordance with the Quimby Act.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in additional parks and recreation facilities impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR. Following compliance with General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts related to recreation as a result of the proposed Project.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-46
4.17 TRANSPORTATION
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project:
a. Conflict with a program, plan, ordinance
or policy addressing the circulation
system, including transit, roadway,
bicycle and pedestrian facilities?
X
b. Would the project conflict or be
inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines
section 15064.3, subdivision (b)?
X
c. Substantially increase hazards due to a
geometric design feature (e.g., sharp
curves or dangerous intersections) or
incompatible uses (e.g., farm
equipment)?
X
d. Result in inadequate emergency
access? X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
The City of Stanton is required to demonstrate compliance with the Orange County Congestion Management Program (CMP). Beach Boulevard and Katella Avenue are designated as Orange County CMP facilities. The target operation for CMP facilities is Level of Service (LOS) E or better; Beach Boulevard and Katella Avenue roadway segments would operate at LOS D or better under forecast General Plan Buildout conditions. Therefore, impacts to CMP facilities would be less than significant in this regard. Additionally, goals, strategies and implementation measures in the General Plan Update would further CMP objectives.
Public transportation is available to Stanton’s residents through the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) bus service. The General Plan Update would increase population in the City, thus, increasing the demand for transit service. Additionally, the General Plan Update would establish four new mixed-use land use designations, which would encourage the use of transit and alternative modes of transportation. Potential impacts in this regard would be reduced to less than significant levels following compliance with General Plan Update strategies and actions which call for a citywide framework plan for improving transit and transit supportive development within the City and working with OCTA to study alternative uses of the Pacific Electric and Union Pacific Corridors and promotion of mass transit systems, which would ensure that public transportation needs City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-47
are accounted for as development occurs. Implementation of the General Plan Update would not conflict with adopted policies, plans, or programs supporting alternative transportation (i.e., bus routes) and a less than significant impact would occur in this regard.
The traffic conditions at build-out of the City were projected to determine whether the City’s circulation system was capable of accommodating the future traffic demands of the City’s land use plan. The General Plan is forecast to reduce citywide trips by approximately 3,127 daily trips. While the overall change in traffic generation with implementation of the General Plan Update is a reduction in trips, the change occurs in 19 focus areas, so some roadways may have an increase in trips while some show a reduction in trips. With the addition of project generated trips, all of the study roadway segments are forecast to operate at an acceptable LOS according to City of Stanton performance criteria for forecast General Plan buildout conditions. No mitigation measures beyond the goals, strategies and actions identified in the General Plan Update are required; the General Plan FEIR concludes impacts to be less than significant.
Buildout of the General Plan Update is not anticipated to result in inadequate design features or incompatible uses. Through the City’s development review process, future developments would be evaluated to determine the appropriate land use permit for authorizing their use and the conditions for their establishment and operation. At a minimum, compliance with relevant Code standards would be required. Therefore, the General Plan Update would not substantially increase hazards due to design feature or incompatible uses. A less than significant impact would occur in this regard. Future development projects would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure that adequate access and circulation to and within the development would be provided. Access to development sites would be required to comply with all City design standards and would be reviewed by the City and the Orange County Fire Authority to ensure that inadequate design features or incompatible uses do not occur. The City and the Orange County Fire Authority would review future development in order to ensure that they are designed to meet adopted standards and provide adequate emergency access. Therefore, the General Plan FIER concluded that implementation of the General Plan Update would not result in significant impacts involving inadequate design features or incompatible uses. Proposed development projects would be required to comply with the City’s development review process including review for compliance with the City’s Zoning Code. New developments associated with the buildout of the General Plan Update would be required to comply with all applicable fire code and ordinance requirements for construction and access to the site. Individual projects would be reviewed by the Orange County Fire Authority to determine the specific fire requirements applicable to the specific development and to ensure compliance with these requirements. This would ensure that new developments would provide adequate emergency access to and from the site. Further, the City and the Orange County Fire Authority would review any modifications to existing roadways to ensure that adequate emergency access or emergency response would be maintained. Additionally, emergency response and evacuation procedures would be City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-48
coordinated through the City in coordination with the police and fire departments, resulting in less than significant impacts, as determined by the General Plan FEIR.
Analysis of Modified Project
The General Plan FEIR did not address potential impacts to Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) because at the time of preparation of the General Plan FEIR, VMT was not the primary metric used as the basis for determining the significance of transportation impacts under CEQA. However, the proposed Project does not include site-specific development or result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was considered in the General Plan FEIR.
Thus, the proposed Project would result in similar VMT as would occur under the existing General Plan and would not result in new impacts or substantially more significant impacts related to VMT.
The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. However, potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. Further, the proposed amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element would not modify the existing land use plan or allow for development at a greater intensity/density than previously considered in the General Plan FEIR. The Stanton General Plan includes strategies and actions to reduce potential impacts to the circulation system, including increased hazards and emergency access, as a result of new development and intensification of land uses.
The Community Health and Safety Element update includes current information regarding fire hazard planning and emergency preparedness, as well as an evaluation of evacuation routes in hazard areas. Proposed policies would continue to promote development consistent with the adopted land use policy that considers natural and human-induced hazards and the overall safety of Stanton’s residents.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in transportation impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR. Following compliance with the General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts related to transportation as a result of the proposed Project.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-49
4.18 TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource, defined in Public Resources Code section 21074 as either a site, feature, place, cultural landscape that is geographically defined in terms of the size and scope of the landscape, sacred place, or object with cultural value to a California Native American tribe, and that is:
a. Listed or eligible for listing in the
California Register of Historical
Resources, or in a local register of
historical resources as defined in Public
Resources Code section 5020.1(k), or
b. A resource determined by the lead
agency, in its discretion and supported
by substantial evidence, to be significant
pursuant to criteria set forth in
subdivision (c) of Public Resources
Code Section 5024.1. In applying the
criteria set forth in subdivision (c) of
Public Resources Code Section 5024.1,
the lead agency shall consider the
significance of the resource to a
California Native American tribe.
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
Since certification of the General Plan FEIR, the CEQA Guidelines Appendix G Checklist has been revised to include a new category for Tribal Cultural Resources impacts. This topical area is addressed in the General Plan FEIR’s Cultural Resources section; refer to Section 4.5.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-50
4.19 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
Would the project:
a. Require or result in the relocation or
construction of new or expanded water,
wastewater treatment or storm water
drainage, electric power, natural gas, or
telecommunications facilities, the
construction or relocation of which
could cause significant environmental
effects?
X
b. Have sufficient water supplies available
to serve the project and reasonably
foreseeable future development during
normal, dry and multiple dry years?
X
c. Result in a determination by the
wastewater treatment provider which
serves or may serve the project that it
has adequate capacity to serve the
project’s projected demand in addition
to the provider’s existing commitments?
X
d. Generate solid waste in excess of State
or local standards, or in excess of the
capacity of local infrastructure, or
otherwise impair the attainment of solid
waste reduction goals?
X
e. Comply with federal, state, and local
management and reduction statutes and
regulations related to solid waste?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
The increase in population from the General Plan Update would occur over a 25-year period, allowing for development of necessary services and infrastructure to accommodate the proposed growth. However, the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) treatment facilities are limited to levels associated with the approved growth identified by SCAG.
Implementation of the General Plan Update would result in an increase in demand for electrical power and natural gas service. The anticipated service demands created by implementation of the General Plan Update are within the service parameters of SCE current transmission and service infrastructure. SCE would update existing facilities or add new facilities in the City based upon specific requests for service from end users. The City of Stanton is primarily built out and contains Southern California Gas Company (SCGC) natural gas supplies that are adequate to serve the City. Future developments that require City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-51
new infrastructure/gas main extensions would be required to pay any applicable fees assessed by SCGC necessary to accommodate the specific project. In addition, the General Plan Update includes goals, strategies and actions to address the future impacts of new development on public infrastructure and services. Individual development projects would be analyzed to identify project-specific impacts to utility infrastructure on a project-byproject basis. Therefore, impacts to natural gas supply and services would be less than significant. A more detailed discussion on electricity and natural gas impacts can be found in Section 4.6, Energy.
Buildout of the General Plan Update is projected to increase population within the City of Stanton and Golden State Water Company (GSWC) service area, and therefore increase demand for water. According to the GSWC, no new facilities are planned for the West Orange County System. GSWC will construct new wells, pipelines and treatment systems as needed, as part of its normal maintenance and Capital Investment Program, in order to maintain its supply and meet distribution system requirements. The existing water supply for the City is sufficient to meet projected water demands associated with the General Plan Update build out, assuming source and supply capacities remain consistent with current conditions. GSWC facilities currently serving the West Orange County System, including the City of Stanton, are adequate to meet anticipated service demands associated with buildout of the General Plan Update. In addition, the City has outlined a series of goals, strategies and actions in the General Plan Update to ensure the continued protection of its water resources. A fair-share cost-sharing program is designed to hold individual projects responsible for water supply and service impacts. The General Plan FEIR found that these measures, along with the conservation and management efforts by Municipal Water District of Orange County and GSWC to protect future water supplies, should reduce impacts from the General Plan Update build out to less than significant. Buildout of the General Plan Update would increase the amount of wastewater flow to the OCSD treatment facilities. The increase of approximate 1.5 mgd of wastewater associated with implementation of the General Plan Update would represents less than one percent of the current capacity (229 mgd) at these treatment facilities. The City of Stanton Public Works Department and the OCSD indicate that presently no deficiencies exist within their facilities serving the City. According to the City of Stanton Public Works Department, the local sanitary sewer system has adequate capacity to accommodate development associated with implementation of the General Plan Update. Individual developments would be reviewed by the City’s Public Works Department and the OCSD to determine if sufficient sewer capacity exists to serve the future development. Both districts charge fees for the privilege of connecting to its sewerage system or increasing the existing strength and/or quantity of wastewater attributable to a particular parcel or operation already connected.
The fees are required to construct new sewer infrastructure and/or incremental expansions to the existing sewerage system to accommodate individual development, which would mitigate the impact of the development on the sewerage system. The City’s Public Works Department and the OCSD would only allow new developments to connect to its sewer systems if there is sufficient capacity or planned expansions of its facilities to accommodate new developments proposed. Therefore, new development would not be permitted to City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-52
exceed the capacity of wastewater conveyance systems or treatment facilities, since adequate capacity must be demonstrated in order to contribute flows to the system. All expansions of local and regional sewer facilities must be sized and service phased to be consistent with the SCAG regional growth forecasts for the southern California counties.
The available capacities of the OCSD facilities are limited to levels associated with the approved growth identified by SCAG.
The General Plan Update proposed strategies and actions include: assuring adequate linear infrastructure through a fair share cost sharing program; implementation of a six-year capitol improvement program for city sewer projects; and continuous assessment of the wastewater infrastructure on a project by project basis. The proposed Action ICS-2.1.1 of the General Plan Update would require all projects to pay its fair share of the cost of all essential linear infrastructure improvements, including improvements to the sewer, stormwater, and potable water city systems. With implementation of mitigation requiring individual development projects to verify with the City’s Public Works Department and the OCSD that sufficient wastewater transmission and treatment plant capacity is available to serve the subsequent development (WW-1, WW-2, and WW-3), the General Plan FEIR found that impacts would be reduced to a less than significant level. Solid waste projections for buildout of the General Plan Update indicates solid waste generated within the City would decrease. CR&R anticipates no impacts to solid waste services would result from buildout of the General Plan Update. Compliance with City and County waste reduction programs and policies would reduce the volume of solid waste entering landfills. Individual development projects within the City would be required to comply with applicable State and local regulations, thus reducing the amount of landfill waste by at least 50 percent. Buildout of the General Plan Update would generate less than one percent of the landfills daily permitted capacity. Additionally, these landfills all have adequate remaining capacity to serve the buildout of the General Plan Update. The various landfills have anticipated closure dates ranging from 2013 to 2067, which assures the ongoing availability of solid waste disposal capacity through the General Plan buildout in 2020. The General Plan FEIR concluded that impacts would be less than significant in this regard.
All development projects would be required to comply with State and local regulations related to solid waste. Pursuant to the AB 939, every city and county in the State is required to divert 50 percent of solid waste generated in its jurisdiction away from landfills.
Implementation of source reduction measures, such as recycling and converting waste to energy, on a project-by-project basis would serve to divert solid waste away from landfills.
Since buildout of the General Plan Update would generate less solid waste than existing conditions and adequate landfill capacity is available to serve the City through 2037, the General Plan Update would be less than significant. Therefore, the General Plan FEIR decided that impacts related to solid waste would be less than significant.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-53
Analysis of Modified Project
The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. However, potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. Further, the proposed amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element would not modify the existing land use plan or allow for development in areas not previously considered or at a greater intensity/density than identified in the General Plan FEIR.
The Stanton General Plan includes strategies and actions to reduce potential impacts to utilities and service systems as a result of new development and intensification of land uses. Additionally, General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measure WW-1 requires projects to pay user fees to offset impacts; and WW-2 and WW-3 requires projects to prepare studies to determine system adequacy and provide evidence that there is sufficient capacity within the system. The Housing Element policies and programs would not have an impact on existing General Plan strategies and actions addressing utilities and service systems.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in new utilities and service systems impacts beyond those identified in the General Plan FEIR.
Following compliance with the recommended General Plan FEIR mitigation measures and General Plan strategies and actions, there would be no new significant or significantly different impacts related to utilities and service systems as a result of the proposed Project.
General Plan FEIR Mitigation Measures:
WW-1 Prior to issuance of a wastewater permit for any future development project, the Project Applicant shall pay applicable connection and/or user fees to City of Stanton Public Works Department.
WW-2 Prior to issuance of a building permit for any future development project, the Project Applicant shall prepare an engineering study to determine the adequacy of the sewer systems and submit the engineering study to the City for review and approval.
WW-3 Prior to issuance of a building permit for any future development project, the Project Applicant shall provide evidence that the Orange County Sanitation District has sufficient wastewater transmission and treatment plant capacity to accept sewage flows from buildings for which building permits are being requested.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-54
4.20 WILDFIRE
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
If located in or near state responsibility areas or lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones, would the project:
a. Substantially impair an adopted
emergency response plan or emergency
evacuation plan?
X
b. Due to slope, prevailing winds, and other
factors, exacerbate wildfire risks, and
thereby expose project occupants to,
pollutant concentrations from a wildfire
or the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire?
X
c. Require the installation or maintenance
of associated infrastructure (such as
roads, fuel breaks, emergency water
sources, power lines or other utilities)
that may exacerbate fire risk or that may
result in temporary or ongoing impacts
to the environment?
X
d. Expose people or structures to
significant risks, including downslope or
downstream flooding or landslides, as a
result of runoff, post-fire slope
instability, or drainage changes?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
Since certification of the General Plan FEIR, the CEQA Guidelines Appendix G Checklist has been revised to include a new category for Wildfire impacts. The City of Stanton is not located within or adjacent to state responsibility areas or lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones.
The General Plan FEIR determined that there were no impacts regarding exposure to wildland fires.
This topical area is addressed in the General Plan FEIR’s Traffic and Circulation, Public Health, and Hazards and Hazardous Materials sections.
Analysis of Modified Project
The Project does not propose site-specific development, but is rather an update to a policy document to comply with new laws and reinforce existing policy direction. The Housing Element Update proposes housing policies that would encourage housing production within the Planning Area. However, potential development of vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA would be consistent with the adopted land use policy and would not result in any changes to existing land uses or allow for greater development than what was analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. Further, the proposed amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element would not modify the existing land use plan or allow for development at a greater intensity/density than City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-55
previously considered in the General Plan FEIR. The Stanton General Plan does not include specific strategies or actions to reduce potential impacts due to wildfires, as the City is not located within or adjacent to lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones.
The proposed amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element would not modify the existing land use plan or allow for development at a greater intensity/density than previously considered in the General Plan FEIR. The Safety Element addresses potential and existing hazards in the City including Fire Protection and Emergency Response and Operations. In compliance with State law, the City of Stanton has prepared an update to its Community Health and Safety Element to further address fire hazards, emergency preparedness, and climate adaptation. Within the Background section of the Safety Element, the Fire Hazards discussion was updated to include current information regarding the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones, of which there are none in the City of Stanton. The City has updated the discussion on Emergency Response and Operations. Specifically in accordance with SB 99, the City conducted an evaluation of evacuation routes serving residential developments in hazard areas. This analysis found that there are no residential developments within Stanton that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes.
No goals, strategies, or actions from the current Community Health and Safety Element were eliminated as part of this update. Modifications or additions related to fire hazards were proposed to Action 4.2.1 (c,d,e) to further support the goal to minimize injury, loss of life, and damage to property resulting from urban fire. More specifically, Action 4.2.1 (c) minimizes the risk of structural loss from fires, Action 4.2.1 (d) focuses on enhancing visible addressing and signage and Action 4.2.1(e) considers fire safe design.
The revisions to the Housing Element and Community Health and Safety Element would not result in wildfire impacts, consistent with the findings in the General Plan FEIR.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-56
4.21 MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE
Thresholds:
Substantial
Change in
Project
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Substantial
Change in
Circumstance
Requiring
Major EIR
Revisions
Information
Showing
Greater
Significant
effects than
Previous EIR
No
Additional
Significant
Impact/
Less Than
Significant
Impact
With
Application
of
Mitigation
from FEIR
Less Than
Significant
Impact/No
Changes or
Information
Requiring
Preparation
of an MND
or EIR
No Impact
a. Does the project have the potential to
substantially degrade the quality of the
environment, substantially reduce the
habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause
a fish or wildlife population to drop
below self-sustaining levels, threaten to
eliminate a plant or animal community,
substantially reduce the number or
restrict the range of a rare or endangered
plant or animal or eliminate important
examples of the major periods of
California history or prehistory?
X
b. Does the project have impacts that are
individually limited, but cumulatively
considerable? (“Cumulatively
considerable” means that the
incremental effects of a project are
considerable when viewed in connection
with the effects of past projects, the
effects of other current projects, and the
effects of probable future projects)?
X
c. Does the project have environmental
effects which will cause substantial
adverse effects on human beings, either
directly or indirectly?
X
General Plan FEIR Conclusions
As described above, the General Plan FEIR concluded that full implementation of the General Plan Update would result in less than significant impacts or less than significant impacts with the implementation of mitigation measures for all issue areas analyzed except for Section 5.5, Air Quality (Short-Term Construction Emissions; Long-Term Mobile and Stationary Source Emissions; Short-Term Cumulative Construction Impacts; and General Plan Buildout Cumulative Impacts), Section 5.6, Noise (Long-Term Operational Impacts and Long-Term Cumulative Operational Impacts) and Section 5.15, Parks and Recreation Facilities (Parks and Recreational Facilities, and Cumulative Park and Recreational Facilities Impacts) which were determined to be significant and unavoidable. The General Plan FEIR’s background and policy information and environmental impact conclusions are cited throughout this Addendum.
City of Stanton | 2021-2029 Housing Element Update &
Community Health and Safety Element Update 2021-01 Addendum to the General Plan FEIR Environmental Analysis 4-57
Analysis of Modified Project
Future housing would not significantly impact, directly or through habitat modifications, sensitive vegetation communities and/or sensitive plant and wildlife species or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory, as significant biological resources and cultural resources do not occur within the City; refer to Section 4.4 and Section 4.5, above.
Following compliance with the established regulatory framework no new significant impact to biological or cultural resources or substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant impacts would occur with implementation of the Project.
The General Plan FEIR determined that cumulative impacts would result in the following areas:
Short-Term Cumulative Construction Impacts and General Plan Buildout Cumulative Impacts; cumulative impacts associated with mobile source noise impacts and Long-Term Cumulative Operational Impacts; and Cumulative Park and Recreational Facilities Impacts. All other cumulative impacts were determined to be less than significant.
The anticipated housing development and Community Health and Safety Element update would not result in environmental effects that would cause substantial adverse effects on human beings. 1 CITY OF STANTON
REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
DATE: February 8, 2022
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTERS 19.23 AND
20.211 TO THE STANTON MUNICIPAL CODE TO REGULATE URBAN
LOT SPLITS AND TWO-UNIT PROJECTS UNDER SB 9; AND FINDING
THE ACTION TO BE EXEMPT FROM CEQA
REPORT IN BRIEF:
Adopt the proposed Ordinance to update the Municipal Code to address recent changes to the Government Code regarding urban lot splits and two-unit projects in residentially zoned neighborhoods.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1. City Council conduct a public hearing; and
2. Find the project is Categorically Exempt per California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resource Code Section 15301, Class 1(a) (Existing Facilities); and
3. Introduce Ordinance No. 1119, entitled:
“AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTERS 19.23 AND 20.211 TO THE
STANTON MUNICIPAL CODE TO REGULATE URBAN LOT SPLITS
AND TWO-UNIT PROJECTS UNDER SB 9; AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE EXEMPT FROM CEQA”; and
4. Set Ordinance No. 1119 for second reading and adoption at the February 22, 2022 regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
BACKGROUND:
The California legislature recently passed, and Governor Newsom signed into law, Senate Bill 9 (“SB 9”). SB 9 goes into effect on January 1, 2022, and will require the City to both: (1) allow any lot in a single-family residential zone to be split, roughly into halves, with resulting lots as small as 1,200 sf and (2) allow any lot in a single-family residential zone to be developed with up to two single-family primary dwellings. SB 9 requires the City to approve eligible lot splits and two-unit projects ministerially (i.e., without discretionary review, conditions, or a hearing). Property owners can also utilize both of Item: 7B
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2 SB 9’s provisions, meaning that an SB 9 lot split may be followed with an SB 9 two-unit project on each of the two new lots, resulting in four total dwellings on what was formerly one single-family residential lot — all with only ministerial approval.
ANALYSIS/JUSTIFICATION
SB 9 allows cities to impose objective zoning, subdivision, and design standards (collectively “objective development standards”) on covered lot splits and two-unit projects. An objective standard is a regulation that does not involve personal or subjective judgment and that is verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion (e.g., a height limit).
The proposed ordinance establishes such standards for SB 9 projects in the City. Among other things, the ordinance includes regulations governing the followings:
• Location (SFR zone; not in sensitive, dangerous, historic areas; not on rental property (within last 3 years))
• Lot Size (2,400 sf to split; 1,200 sf min for resulting) • Lot Access (adjoin ROW)
• Unit Size (800 sf max / du)
• Lot Coverage and Open Space (50 percent max and min, respectively) • Unit Height (16 feet max, unless lot is smaller than 2,000 sf) • Setbacks (normal, except as necessary to allow two units at 800 sf each; but no less than 4 feet side and rear)
• Use (residential-only, no short-term rental)
• Parking (one space, unless exempt by statute)
3 • Owner occupancy (three-year minimum on urban splits; permanent on two-unit projects)
• Architecture (must match other dwelling or dwellings on property; no direct lines of sight)
• Landscaping (limits on tree removal; required screening) • Utilities (direct connections to service providers; all underground) • Separate Conveyance Within a Lot (prohibited; no condos, no timeshares or separate-use co-ownerships)
• Deed Restriction (required; no short-term rental, non-residential use, or separate conveyance; development limited to SB 9 projects)
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is an administrative item updating the regulations of the City and has no anticipated impact on the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Under California Government Code sections 65852.21, subd. (j), and 66411.7, subd. (n), the adoption of an ordinance by a city or county implementing the provisions of Government Code sections 66411.7 and 65852.21 (both enacted by SB 9) and regulating urban lot splits and two-unit projects is statutorily exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”). Therefore, adoption of the proposed ordinance is statutorily exempt from CEQA in that the proposed ordinance implements these new laws enacted by SB 9.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION:
Public notice for this item was made through the regular agenda process.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
6 – Maintain and Promote a Responsive, High Quality and Transparent Government 4 Prepared By: Approved by:
/s/ Jennifer A. Lilley /s/ Jarad L. Hildenbrand
____________________ _____________________
Jennifer A. Lilley, AICP Jarad L. Hildenbrand
Community and Economic Development Director City Manager Attachment:
A. Ordinance No. 1119
ORDINANCE NO. 1119