Lakewood Branch Library Facility and Learning Center Project Mitigated Negative Declaration
Project: Lakewood Branch Library Facility and Learning Center Project Lead Agency:
Nathan Scribner
Assistant City Engineer
Department of Public Works
City of Sunnyvale
Phone: 408-730-7605
Email: [email protected]
Project Proponent:
Nathan Scribner
Assistant City Engineer
Department of Public Works
City of Sunnyvale
Phone: 408-730-7605
Email: [email protected]
Availability of the Initial Study:
The Initial Study for this Mitigated Negative Declaration is attached and available for review on the City’s website at the following web address: https://www.sunnyvale.ca.gov/business-and- development/planning-and-building/ceqa-environmental-notices Project Location and Description:
The approximately 2.4-acre project site is located at 750 Lakechime Drive, within Lakewood Elementary School property, in the City of Sunnyvale. A portion of the project site includes Lakewood Park. Lakewood Elementary School and Lakewood Park are surrounded by residential land uses.
The project proposes to construct a new library facility and learning center within Lakewood Elementary School property, with some proposed site improvements occurring on the adjacent Lakewood Park property. The project would consist of a 22,771 square foot, single-story library and learning center building that would also include a small kitchen, community room, and storage. The library would be a maximum height of 34 feet, with shorter masses at 22 to 24 feet in height at the top of the parapet. The project would also expand the existing surface parking lot on the site through the removal of the former swimming pool. The proposed facility will include joint use areas that will be shared by both the library and learning center staff and patrons. There is a joint use agreement between the City of Sunnyvale, Sunnyvale School District, and Fremont Union High School District.
Refer to the Initial Study for additional details on the project components.
Attachment 3
Mitigated Negative Declaration Page 2
Proposed Findings:
The City has prepared the attached Initial Study and determined that the analysis in the Initial Study identifies potentially significant project effects, but:
1. Mitigation measures incorporated into the project by the City would avoid or mitigate the effects to a point where no significant effects would occur; and
2. There is no substantial evidence, in light of the whole record before the agency, that the project with implementation of mitigation measures may have a significant effect on the environment. Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15064(f)(3) and 15070(b), a Mitigated Negative Declaration has been prepared for the project.
Basis of Findings:
Based on the environmental evaluation presented in the attached Initial Study, the project would not cause significant adverse effects related to aesthetics, agricultural and forestry resources, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, hydrology and water quality, land use/planning, mineral resources, population/housing, public services, recreation, transportation, utilities/service systems, and wildfire.
The project does not have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable. The environmental evaluation has determined that the project would have potentially significant impacts on air quality, biological resources, cultural resources (including tribal cultural resources), geology/soils, hazards/hazardous materials, and noise/vibration and the implementation of the mitigation measures listed below would reduce impacts to a less than significant level.
Mitigation Measures:
Air Quality
MM AIR-3.1: The project shall implement the below measures to meet BAAQMD single-source health risks thresholds for diesel particulate matter (DPM) and fugitive particulate matter (PM2.5).
• The project shall develop a plan demonstrating that the off-road equipment used onsite to construct the project would achieve a fleet-wide average 69-percent reduction in diesel particulate matter (DPM) exhaust emissions or greater. One feasible plan to achieve this reduction would include the following:
o All diesel-powered off-road equipment, larger than 25 horsepower, operating on the site for more than two days continuously shall meet, at a minimum, meet U.S. EPA
particulate matter emissions standards for Tier 3 engines with CARB-certified Level 3 Diesel Particulate Filters or
equivalent. Equipment that is electrically powered or uses non-diesel fuels would also meet this requirement.
Attachment 3
Mitigated Negative Declaration Page 3
Biological Resources
MM BIO-1.1: Construction shall be scheduled to avoid the nesting season to the extent feasible.
The nesting season for most birds, including most raptors, in the San Francisco Bay area extends from February 1 through August 31.
If it is not possible to schedule construction and tree removal between September and January, then pre-construction surveys for nesting birds shall be completed by a qualified ornithologist to ensure that no nests shall be disturbed during project implementation. This survey shall be completed no more than 14 days prior to the initiation of grading, tree removal, or other demolition or construction activities during the early part of the breeding season (February through April) and no more than 30 days prior to the initiation of these activities during the late part of the breeding season (May through August).
During this survey, the ornithologist shall inspect all trees and other possible nesting habitats within and immediately adjacent to the construction area for nests. If an active nest is found sufficiently close to work areas to be disturbed by construction, the ornithologist, in consultation with CDFW, shall determine the extent of a construction-free buffer zone to be established around the nest to ensure that nests of bird species protected by the MBTA or Fish and Game code shall not be disturbed during project construction.
A final report of nesting birds, including any protection measures, shall be submitted to the Director of Public Works prior to the start of grading or tree removal.
Cultural Resources/Tribal Cultural Resources
MM CUL-1.1: In the event that buried, or previously unrecognized archaeological deposits or materials of any kind are inadvertently exposed during any construction activity, work within 50 feet of the find shall cease until a qualified archaeologist can assess the find and provide recommendations for further treatment, if warranted.
Construction and potential impacts to the area(s) within a radius determined by the archaeologist shall not recommence until the assessment is complete.
MM CUL-1.2: In the event of the discovery of human remains during construction, there shall be no further excavation or disturbance of the site within a 50-foot radius of the remains or any nearby area reasonably suspected to overlie adjacent remains. The Santa Clara County Coroner shall be notified and shall make a determination as to whether the remains are Native American. If the Coroner determines that the remains are not subject to his authority, the Coroner shall notify the Native American Heritage Commission who shall attempt to identify descendants of the deceased Native American. If no satisfactory agreement can be reached as to the Attachment 3
Mitigated Negative Declaration Page 4
disposition of the remains pursuant to State law, then the land owner shall re-inter the human remains and items associated with Native American burials on the property in a location not subject to further subsurface disturbance.
Noise/Vibration
MM NOI-1.1: The project shall prepare a noise control plan in consultation with a qualified noise consultant implementing the following measures to reduce the generation of construction noise:
• Equipment and trucks used for construction shall use the best available noise control techniques (e.g., improved mufflers, equipment redesign, use of intake silencers, ducts, engine enclosures, and acoustically attenuating shields or shrouds);
• Impact tools (e.g., jackhammers, pavement breakers, and rock drills) used for construction shall be hydraulically or electrically powered wherever possible to avoid noise associated with compressed air exhaust from pneumatically powered tools; and
• Stationary noise sources shall be located as far from adjacent receptors as possible, and they shall be muffled and enclosed within temporary sheds, incorporate insulation barriers, or include other measures.
MM NOI-2.1: The following measures shall be implemented where vibration levels due to construction activities would exceed 0.25 inches per second (in/sec) peak particle velocity (PPV) at nearby buildings:
• Prohibit the use of heavy vibration-generating construction equipment within 25 feet of adjacent buildings.
• Use a smaller vibratory roller, such as the Caterpillar model CP433E vibratory compactor, when compacting materials within 25 feet of adjacent buildings. Only use the static compaction mode when compacting materials within 15 feet of educational buildings. • Avoid dropping heavy equipment and use alternative methods for breaking up existing pavement, such as a pavement grinder, instead of dropping heavy objects, within 25 feet of adjacent educational buildings.
• Designate a person responsible for registering and investigating claims of excessive vibration. The contact information of such person shall be clearly posted on the construction site.
Attachment 3
Mitigated Negative Declaration Page 5
Public Review Period
Before 5:00 pm on November 28, 2023 any person may:
1. Review the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) as an informational document; or
2. Submit written comments regarding the analysis in the Draft MND. Written comments should be submitted to Nathan Scribner, Assistant City Engineer, Department of Public Works, 456 West Olive Avenue, City of Sunnyvale, or via email to [email protected]. Before the MND is adopted, staff will prepare written responses to any comments, and revise the Draft MND, if necessary, to reflect any concerns raised during the public review period. All written comments will be included as part of the Final MND.
_______________________________________
Chip Taylor
Director of Public Works
Circulation period: November 8 – November 28, 2023
Attachment 3