HomeMy WebLinkAbout84-45B GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 11 OF 21DFi.AFT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT
APFLICATION #84-45
(MOOSERRY - BURRELL)
THE
FOR
'
HELL-14Un PROPERTY
SCH #84061909
�i
-Frepared Pori --
Butte County
Board of Supervisors
25 County Center Drive
Oroville, CA 95965
March, 1986
Prepared by.
EARTH NETRICS INCORPORATED
859 ddwaii Roam
'!
Hurlingamej CA 94010
(415) 697-7103
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-
Page
Section
PREF;ACE....................... ................
1, PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......••.•.,••••
Location and Character of Project Site ....................
.;
1 1.
1.2 Project Characteristics.
1-5
..
1.3 'Intended Use of the EIR., . .•;;.•. •.......
2. SUMMARY..
2.1 Project Impacts andMitigation Measures.... ••• ..••,,.
•...
2-1
2.2! Alternatives Evaluated ..........
2.3 Areas of Controversy/Issues to be Resolved
r3;'
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING, SIGNIFICANT ENV IVONMEITALTHEFECTS,,
AIM MITIGATION MEASURES RECOMMENDED T
SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS ......
',.
3:1-1
3.1 Land Use and Planning.•..•.•.3.12-1
3.2 Traffic an d Circulation.. .....s« .
3.3-1 ,
3.3 Geology and Hydrology ...................:... .............
3.4
3.4 Public Services and Utilities.... ••
4-1
..,.
ALTERNATIVE. TO THE PROPOSED'PROJECT :.........:.••..• ••'•`"
1
4-1
i4:1. No Project Alternative.::••••• •••••••••• ............
4-2
14.2 Expanded Project Area Alternative..:-::•• �•••
SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS WHICH CANNOT BE AVOIDED IF
5-1
5 :..........
THE PROJECT IS IMPLEMENTED.... ,.....:..••..••..••••
64 GR6IWTH INDUCING IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION..••••••• •::•`
6--1
7-1
IMPACTS... . ....:.................:......
.7. CUMULATIVE ..
8. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SHORT TERM USES OF'MAN�S
ENVIRONMENT AND THE MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT"OF
!••1
LONG TERM PRODUCTIVITY.:..:.:.:.....:.:..........,::......:..:
9 IRREVERSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES. AND•IRRETRIEVABLE•..Y�..+++.
gra
COMMITC�f "11 OF RESOURCES....:. .
r
....
10. EFFECTS NOT FOUND TO BE SIGNIFICANT.:...::.•:• 6144•y•�•••••
1. REFERENCES PUBLICATIONS AND.. PERSONS CONSULTED.....••••.•••:+•
11-1
12: PREPARERS OF THIS tPORT:.:: :
r
�a
o
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Figure
1.1-1
Regional Setting o£ the Project Site. ....... .•.•:••..... .•..
1-2'
1.1-2
j .....,..
Local Setting of the Project Site....................
1-3
1.1-3
Location of Parcels Involved in the General Plan Amendment....
1-4
3.1=1
General Plan Land Use Designations in the Project Vicinity.;...
3.1-2
3.1-2
Zoning Designations in the Project Vicinity— ........ ........
3.1-4
3.1-3
Location of'the Chico: Area Greenline ..................;.......
3.1-9`
3.2-1
20 Year Circulation System Improvement Program 1980 to 2000...
3.2-3
.. e
3.2-2
Recommended Street System at Full Buildout.................,.:
_
3.2-5-
3.2-3But
County Circulation Element Diagram..........
3.2-10
3.2 -44
Bikeways Plan of the Chico General Plan.
3.2-12
4
3.4-1
SoSem Facilities Required in the
3.0-3
Dr�nage
;Nor h ChicoArea .... ......... .�..........:... .............
iii
LIST OF TABLES
P&e_
_Table
2.1-1
Summary of project Impacts and Mitigation Measures ........,
2-2
3.2-1
Description of Level of Service for Intersections ..............
3.2-2
3 .2-2
Existing Levels .of Service at Applicable Intersections in
3.2-6
North Chico During the P.M Peak Hour Period..:!.44
3.2-3
'Existing And Projected Traffic Volumes on Major Streets
3• - 7
2
- in the Project Area,.. ...........,..........................
3.2-4
Estimated Future Daily Traffic Increases Associated With the
_
3 2-1
.
Proposed Project .................. ........... .......::.
t" 3,2-5
Existing and Projected Traffic Volumes on Major Streets in
the Project Area With and Without the Proposed Project:.......
■
iv
PREFACE
The Butte County
Planning Department has determined that an Environmental
Impact Report is 'Irequired for tthepCaliforniaroposedneral EnvironmenPlan talnQuality ment eAct, thlated e
the Bell -Muir Property. Un
purpose of an Environmental Impact Report (PIR) is to provide objective
information to public deci
sionmakers and the general public regarding
potential environmental effects resulting from project implementation,, Butte
County can then institute methods of reducing adverse impacts or consider
alternatives to the project.
This Draft Environmental Impact Report has been prepared for Butte County in
conformance with the California 'Environmental Quality Act of 1970'(CEQA) as
amended. The degree of specificity required in an n the 'underlying
activiact tort
- corresponds to the degree of specificity involved in the underlying t
s,
The proposed General Plan Amendment doees not involve ort isemoresgeneral th-ipectthe
therefore) the analysis presented inthis
anal's is which could be required,if then project were a specific development
s Impact Report: regarding the,
proposal. CEQA Guidelines Section 151u6 staves the following
degree
e of `specificity of an Environmental
i
(a) An EIR on a construction project will necessarily
be an moreodetailed in
the specific effects of the proj
ect, than 'Will be
adoption of ,a local general plan or comprehensive zoning ordinance'
because the effects of 'construction can be predicted
with greater
accuracy;
(b) An EIR on a project such as the adoption or amendment of a
a comprehensive zoning ordinance or a local general plan should focus on
the secondary effects expected to .follow from the adoption, or
amendment, but the EIR need not be as detailed as an EIR on the
specific construction projects that might follow.
The Resources Agency
of California has adopted amendments to the Guidelines
for Envirocir+ mel Impacts Reports, which incorporate the recent _changes in 1
n EIR 4h
CEQA. The Elia guidelines allow the preparation in Departmentidentifiedaaddresses n y
significant project effects. Butte County Planning a on the
number of areas in which the project could. have significant effects
envieonme-Oto including land use, F
lanningy traffic, Soils, drainage,
econuwics, public services and utilities Z`see Appendix 13.1, Initial Study).
Also included in the amended guideliea(Section
suresshalll5126 distingushsbettaeen the
ion
that "the discussion of mitigation min
measures that are proposed bynProjeeot c uPrObhettaouldbbeto ei1y reasona l the protect
bexpected to
and other measures which ar
reduce adverse impacts". Accordingly, all mitigation measueSs recommended
otherwise
reference
within this EIR are `nWhereeapproprincluded
ate dthia ElReProject incorpora esess by ref. nee with
specifically note
dbouments that are readily available to the genera). public, in aceorda
Section 15150 of the Guidelines.
- v
1._ PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
1 .1 LOCATIONAND CHARACTER OF 'PROJECT SITE
The properties involved in the proposed General Plan Amendment are located in
County, adjacent to the western. side of the City of
Chico, California.
ia. Cour approximately 270 acres of the
unineorpo
400 acres within the area bounded byaBell Road,, involves Muir Aenue, Alamo Avenue;,
East Avenue, and the Southern'Pacific Railroad tracks. The
Henshaw Avenue,
regional and local setting of the project area are ;presented in Figures 11-1
and 1.1-2, respectively. The project area and affected parcels are identified
in Figure 1.1-3• The affected parcels are listed in Append ix 13.3 by
Assessor's Parcel Number and acreage.
The; project area is currently used for residential and agricultural purposes.
Portions of the r.ject area have been subdivided into one acre parcels for
residential uses, which is inconsistent with the existing General Phan Land
. f 1
Use and zoning requirements in the area. However, the majority of the pro�,ieot
area is developed With 'walnut, orchards and other agricultural use:: on larger
parcel's..
1.2 __PROJECT.CHARACTERISTICS
The proposed project is an amendment to the Butte County General Plan Land Use
Map and a revision to the Chico Area Greenling. The amendment would change
the county's land, use designation from "Agriculture: Orchard and Field Crops"
(five acre minimum parcel size) to "Urban: Agricultural i- Residential" (one
acre minimum
parcel
size). The amendment is an administrative action and
would not involve construction. The proposed'�Jrbani Agricultural ivide ntial
land use designation will encourage private property owners to, subdivide
existing' parcels for residential development. Approximately 30 residential
total anon
units currently exist in the project area. The existing land use design of 50
would allow for the construction of an ,additional 20 units, for a _
residential units With buildout of the area.
The proposed General Plan Amendment would allow for the construction of
y residential inzits for a total. of 300 residential- units;
ap,proximatel 270 'new re"sid `
with buildout of the area.
Development of additional urban uses in thr project area would require
'relocation of the City of Chico/County of Butte Greenline, which is known is
the Chico Area Greenline. The relocation at the Greenline would be considered
the proposed poo3ent and prothe vides des�sting,terureenlintiond III, fofes
the rlimits pof fut
p rt of
agricultural ure urban development tte County4 The project area
"Study Area Number 1"
liescuithin an areacdefned aaes in the Cthe Chico Arehico Atdia Of auGreenlgond Policies):
(See Section 3.1; Land ,Use; Planning, Applicable plans
EoweVer; the Greenline revision would not be the same as the line defining
The new Greetiline would follow the boundaries of the
Study Area Number '1 .
parcels affected by the General Plan Amendment (see Figure
New development allowable under the requirements of the proppsed General Plan
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■
Amendmentmay require an extension of a sewer trunk Line from the City of
Chico to the project area to minimize the addition of more nitrates into the
mo a� a 1� +�
2, SUMMARY MEASURE
2.1_ PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATI
ON S
The investigation conducted for this report inc
luded 'an examination of the
environmental it�pacta. The
hf major
impactproject
is no�:edsalongs�hrthearequiredTable
or
2.1-1. The significance o each
recommended
mitigation meas noted. TThesollowingcimpact e of acategories ware used in
without mitigation (PS) potentially
Table 2.1-1: beneficial impact;: (N�, nut,, significant impact;
act icannot be'preeisely assessed
or possibly s iKnificant impact (an imp
at this time) and (S) significant adverseimpact.
2.2. ALTERNATIVES EVALUATED
The No Project Alternative ani' the Expanded Project Area Alternative are
evaluated in Section 4 of this reportw
. Undbe
erhe No avoidedooreAlternative, most
substantially
of the impacts of the proposed Project
to
reduced. Howeve a long tern!
er, the ainpexistin8roject 1and:irnplannetative agrowth y not binducing activities
alternative due to cert The Expanded
which will affect residential demand in the proj act ,area.
Project Area Alternative mould involve ncesa(60rmorearesidencesand ithan wouldonal be
allowing development of 330 new resi
This alternative would incrementally
allowed crease the the proposed project)significance of most impacts. However, this alternative Would be
he
considered more logical and stable than the condition presented
by the
proposed project.
L2. AREAS OF CONTRAVERSY/ISSUES TO BE RE SOLVm
The Butte County Plannin&
Department has identified land use and planning;
circulation, •.►Iter quality geology, hydrology and public' services as areas of
controversy potentially significant environmental impacts to be addressed
in this EIR (see Appendix' 13.1)• public concern in response to the
information provided in this Draft FIR will be addressed in the Final EIR
ssus to be resolved involve interpretation of the Green
The primary iet line
Policy as it ssues to "Speci'al Study Area Number 1" and determination of the
need for specific s6wer and storm drainage infrastructure in the project area
to mitigate nitrate contamination.Of area groundwater.
r _
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AND
MITIGATION MEASURES
TABLE _2.1-1• SUMMARY OF PROJECT IMPACTS
p4]:TIGATION MEASURES
(Significance After
IMPACT.
Mitigation)
(Significance)
,w
LAND USE PLANNING APPLICABLE
PLANS AND POLICIES
Not Mitigab:le. (S)
ra ect wrage-
The proposed p would encou
Project 27 0
the development of approximately
new dwelling units in ren area of Prime
increase
agricultural laud and would
of .adverse
the frequency and magnitude.
QA)mpatibility impacts With
land use
� ricultural activities. (S)
is the subject of this
proposed project Would alter
The Prop J area.
Thisimpact
Environmental ImPAct Report.
improve other
project
fannere
d land uses iri the P
The resulting pattern of land use
Measures tc
posed. in
and services are Proposed in other
to improve
designations would not be COsite
The subject
sections of this report
with zoning and
logical or stable.
to be consistent with the five
consistency
development criteria -. (PS)
appears
site des 1.11 1. on criteria fon the
designation„ but
use
proposed land ent with
incz�ri�tdeve].opment_
appears to be
conditiona]: zoning
-_
criteria. (PS)
S
Not mitigable. (S)
Development in the ProJ eat area would
he city's
not be cot,sistent. "'ith .
intent to encourage-
locations in '6he 'Ch' Qo urban
oche'
Area. (S)
Not mitgablee (Si
1
The Amendment of the Chico Area
P anon..
Greenl'ine would foster0ul population-
Green a constraint
d would remove
growth an Project area. (S)
on growth in the prof",
e (
ended• B)
The proposed General Plan Amendment
None req aired or recommended.
Would increase the supply of and
competition among higher Priced
(B)
residential units.
nifcan`t'(Adverse)
Not Sig,
S Significant (Adverse)
(Adverse):
NS
g geneficial'
PS Potentially :SignjfiCant
(CONTINUED)
2-2 ;
e
e
s
0
TABLE
2.1-1 (CONTINUED). SUMMARY 'Or PROJECTIMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES
MITIGATION MEASURES
IMPACT (,Significance After
(Significance) Mitigation)
'
subdivisions or developments are
reviewed by the county, rights of
way for each of these intersections
should be reserved, as necessary,
as a part of adjacent subdivisions
or developments. Realignments
should be required on a case by
,.case basis with the objective that
,all realignments be completed with
buildout of the area.
East Avenue should be widened to
its ultimate Width including
installation of curbs; gutters and
sidewalks by developers with: front-
age along East Avenue. (This re-
quiremant is not the responsibility
of the applicants, but should be
implemented as development occurs
in the project area and vicinity.)
Butte County should require the `
Project applicants and future
developers in he project area and
vicinity to ,iistall traffic
signals at the intersections, of East
Avenue with lGuy�rn'>� and Nord .
Installation the ;signals should
be completed With buildoUt of the
Project., (NS)
Access by emergency vehicles (large See previous mitigation measures for
realignment. M)
five truclts) would be hindered byintersection
Unconventional intersections. (NS)'
_
e
t Si nificant (Adverse)
S Significant (Adverse) _ NS No g
PS Potentially Significant (Adverse) 8 Bene ficial,
(CONTINUED)
Z-4
MITIGATION 1NJEASURES
(CONTINUED). SUMMARY OF PROJECT IMPACTS AND
' 1
TABLE a,,1-
MITIGATION MEASURES
(Significance After
IMPACT
Mitigation)
(Significance)
use intensification ,
Access to the future extension of
Road should be provided via
The proposed land
encourage the extension of Eaton
would to
the
Eaton
Bell Road. Intersections with Nord
should not be
. � potential
which Presents
Road; 1
Nord, �yy,and Alamo wa�or"north/
Guywn and Alamo
encouraged unless additional land
make
south connectors. (PS)
use intation and irelated
ensific
improvements occur, prior
dway
toaitension of these roadw ays.
to e
(NS)'
for conflicts
Pedestrian crossings should be
considered along East Avenue where
Increased potential
between bicyclesn pedestrians, and
Avenue. (NS)
� routers and
P rimae pedestrian
a motor vehcles,along`East
meet givet.
Special sattenti�nhshoultiAbenue.
s near J. Partridge
to safe crossing (NS)
Elementary School.
GEOLOGYJHybROLOGY
Specific engineering design and
resent _a
Site Soils,and geology P -
.,
construction techniques recom
he soils engineer should
' moderate;shrinkjswell potential
allowable soil pressure,
mended by t to
be incorporated, as nelsded:, in
moderate
al and seismic,
loH`erosion potential
the :project design.' Building
with seismic
hazards. (PS)
design should comply
requirements of-the current,
e an
dForee the
Uniform Building
Recommended Lateral
by the
$equrements prepared
Structural Engineers Association of
California.
Standard-eonsteUation methods and
should bit
erosion control measures
implemented (including dry weather
season grading, erosion control
revegetation, and devices to
plans,
NS Not Significant (AdVerse)
S Significant (Adver se)
Significant '(AdvEr`se)
B Beneficial
y
PS Potentiallt
(CONTINUE)
r�
TABLE 2.1-1 (CONTINUED). SUMMARY OF PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES
MITIGATIONMEASURES
(Significance After
(Significance
-
IMPACT
(Significance)
retain sediment within the con-
struction area) to minimize
potential erosion impacts.
Foundation supports and utilities
should be designed to resist and
induced..ground
.withstand earthquake _
shaking• (NS)
'Development of the site would increase
Butte County and the City of Chico
should continue to jointly develop
the amount of stormwater runoff
in the. project area and would
and
drainageplement ain the rproject Plan oarea
generated
incrementally reduce the amount of
(NS)
as mandated in the Nitrate Action
groundwater infiltration.
Plan.
individual. review of subdivisions
and site plans sh%.)uld focus ,on
measures to reduce on site runoff.
Measures such as semipervious
should
walkways and parking lots
be considered. (NS)
(hydrocarbons,
None required or reerimmendedA (NS)
Urban pollutant levels
rubber and metals) could be increased
as a result of development allowed by
the proposed project, (NS)
Nitrate contamination of groundwater
Butte'County and the City of Chico
continue to jointly develop
from septic tanks could be increased.
by
should
and implement a Master Plan for
as a result of development allowed
(P5)
storm drainage and sanitary drainage
Plan.
the proposed project.
as mandated in Nitrate Action
If the use of individual sept,ie
tank end leaehfield systems is
necessary,_ the systems should be
designed to satisfy stand6t ds and
(Adverse)
i No .:
N t Significant tAdverse')
S Significant
Significant (Adverse)
73 Herieficial
PS Potentially
(CONTINUED)'
2�7
t
t
EFFEGTS_DETERMI ED-TO BE SIGNIFI
CANT OR 'POSSIBLY SIGNIFICANT:
AND MI
EXISTING SETTING
IMPACTS
MITIGATION
;1 LAND USE PL
NJ'G APPLICABLE PLANS AND: POLICIES
EXISTING SETTING
for agricultural and residential.
ro ect area is used but `other
Land
Use.,. land in the project
uses in the area are orchards,
purposes. The primary agresent. Residential uses ara
pasture land and vineyardCl stets of dwelling units are located
uses 'such as Pa area. (2) along the west
located throughout the project
Along the rest side of Rodeo Drive;... and (4) alun8
in
four locations: (1) Avenue;
end of Muir Avenue; (3) along
the south W,f of Nora
Bell Road near Guynn Avenue:
project area are similar to those within the project
the proj uency.;and density to the south
Laced jhes surrounding. es increase in'freq railroad line
area,
however, residential us rtatic�n Company
and east. The main Southern Pacific TranspoThe ,railroad taracks are located
forms the project situs western boundary• ercial- land uses have been
Industrial and comm ro ect area, Large
parallel to State Route 32� eco re
ed along
bothsidesof State Route 32 west of
P P
developed project area are used for a8,'
parcels north of the and Vicicd v. The Project area and
Pro These soils and ocher factors, such
ieultural Character of ro tiveesoi s combine to make this
vicinity y P of inexpensive water,
contain high
as climate and the availability ghly conducive to agriculture'
area and much of Butte County + biggest industry, is a
rculture, the aunty s Chico and the Butte
The of
coutanued viability of+s economy. Both the City
riculture and address the
vital component of the cauntze-the importance of d- t wary land
Caunty General Plans recogn policies 'and proeedure.�� A P
spec land use planning Po 11cy, is c eser3bed an tY►e`
issue with aP the citylcounty Greenline Po
use planning tool, Plan policies-
.following l of
discussion under General ra eoti area dir ypica
c:ulturai Lands Within'=the F 3 direct
The, character of the agr urban areas: The incremental f
agricultural lands on the edge of are affecting the economic liability ve for'
direct and indirect impacts affect the
indirect impacts of urban a+�tivity a incentive
production. T'he follolwi
ricultural ro ect site and increase th
vgiabilitp of agriculture on the
P 3cultural production in order to caPientize
be realized by urban lopffi
property awneIrs to discontinuing ch can Cesuosuch as
on the short`term eeonic re rtY values, urban nuisan h the
reel sizes, increasing P smoke and noise.
smaller Pa acts of easing prral activates on urban uses,
vandali`smi and impacts eneration of dust, a eater they have
Application of pesticides and the B ricult 'al uses on ul
Although these imp
acts .are Affecting ag ect area for agr3.eulture to the
not prevented productive use of the P 3
present tiine4Land Use 'Plan
Butte County's Chico Area
"Orchard and .,
i',ne?
Land Use pesi9na-tions. n es With five acre
118
designates the project rcex sizes hich are less ha
20 ecrees
Plan land
minimum parcel sizes. Pa Eaciatiin'Ar
conditionally consistent with this designaareopresented in Fi' ure 3i1-1•' On
nations in tYie project vicinity
use de'sig_
3-1-1
:q
Y AIRF ORT •v=� \ __
RURAL RES • --- AGRICULTURE
LbW DE
4 NSITY RES. c e
TERI STREET
^•� MEDIUM DENSITY ART
CTOR STREET
COLLE
THOROUC%FARE COMM a
'+
�•�
= w� GREEN'LINE •\�
SPHERE OF
;INFLUENCE
r '
ORCAI&RD AI3D '
FIELD CROP
,
�PROJECT,91TEw
ra 5� WIDE SF�OACK �,••+' �' /u, `� _.
80THs('i�i7 S OF ►iWY/!2 :• , -� �_____--._'.�
d
Y^i
a
pr' .amu • �. � > �
r
•Y �
�IAy�
t *" AND cOgNV `GENERAIl
FIGURE 3.1-� CITY
nESIdNaTiOt�s
PT AN LAND
IN THE `'PROJECT VICINITY
SOALE�
nth' metrics soba' f
.,.
per parcel with additional housing for on site
employeesingle smisythe erequired maximum density for properties subject to this
designation. Primary uses in this zone involve cultivation, harvest, storage,
processing, sale and distribution of all plant crops, especially .annual food
crops: The five,primary criteria for determining -whether an area should be
subject to the Orchard and Field Crop designation are as follows;
- soil conditions well suited for ;plant crop operations;
adequate water supply,
predominant parcel sizes of five acres or more;
used for crop production or secondary uses; and
adjacent uses compatible with primary and secondary uses.
The three conditional, zoningand development criteria for the Orchard and
,..
Field Crop uses are:
- predominate 6.kisting parcel sizes range from 5 to 10 acres;
- adjacent to or in the general vicinity of urban boundaries;
- present status of agricultural production will not be significantly
impaired.
!� The six zoning factors for the Orchard and 'Field Crop uses are:
existing parcel sizes and dweiing densities;
proximity to urban development;'
effects on adjacent uses;
- -potential for pest insect breeding;
_ economic viability; -
local desires. ,
The project sit0 s existing Orchard and Field Crop designation appears-to be
and aevelo tent cror designating the site and the
threeseonditionalhzonng primary crpteria.fiteria. However,, the designation
may not be, consistent with two of the six zoning 'factors (economic viability
and local desires). Economic viability was discussed, previously Underthe
heading "Agricultural Character of the Project Area and Vicinity". it local
desires includes the desires of local property owners, then the existing
designatiork is clearly inappropriate relative to this factor because the
project applicants are all local property owners;
Zo ing. The pro-feet area is subject to the requirerden'�6 of the Butte County
Comprehensive Zoning ordinance Number 1750: The ;Butte County zoning map
indicates that the requirements of twv zoning districts; (A-5) Agriculture and,,
t5-R) Suburban_Residential, apply to the area within the dark border in Figure
36j"26 The parcels affected by the proposed General plan Amendment are within
the A-5 District. The requirements of this zone are presented in Appendix
13:11. Permitted uses are consistent with the General Plan and use
]
designation of "Orchard and. Field Crop' The minimum lot area required is
five 'acres (see the previous discussion of7;oning and development criteria and
zoning factors)«
Oban DeyeJnoment Trends and Patterns. Urban development in the Chico area'
has been directed with public and private investment to properties within the,
existing urban area and to locations north, south and east of the city core:
3,1-3
1- -
m
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f,9
In addition tt, this investment, the Nitrate Action Plan for the Greater Chico
' Urban Area also encourages development in the existing urban area,
particularly within those areas served by the city's sanitary sewer system.
The Nitrate Action Plan recommends that development be limited in areas
without sewer connections (Butte County and City of Chico, 1985)
Two large private projects, Foothill Park and Rancho Arroyo, have been
approved in northern Chico. The Foothill Park development includes 551 ,acres
of residential and office uses (3,?00 dwelling units, 15 percent have been
sold) and 244 acres of industrial uses (Palmeri, 1985). The Rancho Arroyo
project includes 750 acres of residential uses (4,600 dwelling units, none
have been sold at this itime) and 25 acres of commercial uses (Palmeri, 1985).
Development in southeast Chico has included residential, commercial and light
industrial uses, primarily south of State Route 32 and east of Park Avenue.
Development West of Chico has been directed towards infill of existing parcels
y y efforts, the lack of. sewer service
planned for urban uses by local planning e. HoweVar, large parcels of
underutiliizedalandl�are available foredevel
` � ting Chico
Area Greenline:
development within the ex s
The population of the Chico Area was approximately 64,000 persons in 1985 and
ie estimated to increase to 102,000 by the year 2000 and to 171,000 after
stud prepared in 1982• The population of the project Urban Area Transportation
as th
buildout of the General. Plan according to the Ch'o Ut vicinity defined as the
area north and west of Bell Road, Cussick Avenue, Lindo Channel (Traffic Zone
_0 of the Chico Urban Area Traffic Study) is expected to increase from 2,006
persons to 2,114 by the year 2000 (Chico Urban Area Transportation Study;
1982) .
n �
-- General Plan Policies
CAICO AREA GREENLINE. The City of Chico and Butte County have established a
boundary to define the limits of future urban development which may occur on
Agricultural lands in the Mico area of Butte County: The Greenline is
' delineated in Figure 3.1-1. "rhe project site is not included within the Urbain
boundary line, but has been designated as "Study Area Number '1." The
designation 'would allow the County Board of Supervisors, after making
appropriatefindings and providing a simple majority vote, to, revise the
location of the Chico Area Greenline so as to place the affected parcels
within Study ' Area !lumber 1, in the urban. portion of the Chico Area Greenline.
FoxJever, the special policies and procedures related to the Greenline, as
described in the Butte County General plan, would apply'to any amendments
related to this area. The Chico Area Greenline Policy is presented in
Appendix 13.54 The purposes of the policy and procedures for amendment and
review of the Greenline Ave summarized as follows.
-� Purposes of Greenline Policy, The purposes of the Chico Area, Greenline
are: ! uture urban development which may tic
a) To define the limits f f cur on
L of Butte Countyz
agricultural lands in ,he Chico area
fib) To provide for tbd long term protection of Agricultural resources of
the Chico area of Butte County:
r
POS ds
by urban
C) To mitigate the threat to agricultural resources . P
onversion
Of agricultural lan
encroachment into and cds in the Chico
area of Butte County• nfliet"s in the Chico area of Butte
' d`) To reduce agricultural/urban co
County
V
cooperation with the City of Chico in land use
e) To establish Count
n and agricultural lands located in the Chico area
'planning of urban
of Butte County.
urban development Limits in or near agr
useioflaucertaral inds
f) To identify rs Chico area Land Use Plan by
within the county
bald dashed boundary line•
.- clear,poliey,text -for Butte County's
gj Will
To establish a certain ;and enhance anal uphold the
Chico Ai"ea Land
boundary mline ent �and hpolicy text.
aforementioned of
establish certain land use designations for the Chid area
line and
h), To es with the aforementioned boundary
Butte County in conformity
r policy text.
e or Amendment of the-Greenline Folicy. The Butte County
s f through a
Procedures amend the Cuico Greenline Policy supported by
Board of Supervisors may written findings of fact, supe
majority vote after adopting ub'lic record:, showing the following'
substantial evidence in the P agricultural land to
iblic benefits of converting the ag ed
(a) that the P� outweigh the
urban p
land substantially-ublic benefits of continued
ag `cultural production; and
ri other urban or suburban lands reasonable available and
('b) there' are no
'table for the proposed development:.
sua
procedures for Review of the Greenliae Polioy•' The Greenline Policy
states that the location of the Greenling shall be reviewed 2uld in
five years to insure that local. land use yniedduef the
evaluated every met. The first rev�.ew of the P etition
Griioa area are being also states that a! individual including a
1987 ,0 uwofeSupervisors for a General Plan Amendment,
the polio-
the B in accordance with the
change in the locatiaolcies of
frButte County and the State of California
applicable laws acid P
pendia 13.51•
(see Ap have adopted Housing
ot'chiro and Butte ;County measure to implement the
IOUSING.'EL NT. The City brie primary lands for
Elements as part of their General Plans: which reserves la
Element defines the policies
- Element is the Genera].. Plan hard Use �aP'
reusing The city in the city:
Residential ases. ion of housing
' of Chico Housing
and recommendations related to the provision
programs s 11 ling pted to summarize
The following text from the CitY
Element was oda
' Chico housing policies:
3.1-6`
f I
g for all
t and
e Chico
In planning for the provision primary
goal isito provide for anvarietyuo£rhousing
residents, the city s primary gand of
types in an atmosphere conducive to the well being housingyrang n8nin}cost.
particularly to provide for an adequate supply
demands of students, low and moderate income persons, the
to meet thespecial needs of the elderly and handicapped, and to provide an
opportunity for first time home buyers.
The Housing Element recognizes the constraints of today's housing market
such eds'buildng costs, mortgage interest rates, the preservation of
agricultural 'land, provision of sanitary sewers, storm drainage and
' streets,, the Provision of ot'ner public services such as police and fire
facilities and parks; concern for design, preservation
protection, school
of'ne:ighborhoods and historical structures, as well as concern energy
conservation within housing units. The Housing Element states that all of
i
these factn,,s'must `be considered in concert with one ,another, and ro
single item can be emphasized at the expense of another if Chico is to
pursue a balanced and realistic approach to the provision of housing for
' current and future Chico residents (City of Chico, 1985)
Housing Element also defines policies, programs, and
The Butte County
recommendations related to the provision ofhousing. The following policies
'apply to the project area.
A governmental framework shall be established and maintained which
encourages, 'andfaeilitateaccommodatpingfthehousingthe
needsprivate
the county's
honiebuilding. industry in
current and projected population.
Planning and zoning'-cotsiderations affecting housing production shall be
~ applied in a matter Which seeks to balance the meed for protecting and
enbanoing the environment with the need for housing at affordable
prices.
New housing construction shall be encouraged in locations with
ar
reasonable 'proximity to centers of employment and shopping facilities,
and Which respect
the conservation of energy. The private homebuilding
industry shall be encouraged to give priority consideration to
developing Within eX sting urbanized areas or in locations adjacent to
such areas (Butte County, 1984)• ,
IMPACTS
Land Uses• The proposed General Plan Amendment Would 'not directly affect
developed land uses; however,
it Would encourage private property
and for residential development:
oWnerto subdivide prime agricultural lAn
s t
additional, 210 new residential units could be allowed in the project area if
the project is approved (Tuttle 19 5)• Without approval of the project, only
20 additiohal residential Uftit3 could be .developed in the project area.
The conversion Of additional agricultural land to urban uses mould increase
the frequency olid magnitude of adverse land use compatibility impacts -between
within and around the
e. 'fhec hcrPmentaldandaCtnulat vealosseof agricultural a
the remaining ag land is
project sit.
SA
a�
significant local, regional, state and national concern due to the importance:
of Zgricultur6 in the economy.
Agricultural production levels can be reduced to the point where the economic
feasibility of agricultural activities or support services such as.processing,
packaging and transportation can be threatened. Once regional production
reduces to costsrmainthreshold increase, oreservicespport may bEereduced. Inrvices may the
service y , y o area,
the reduction of parcel sizes and the encroachment of urban uses has had an
incremental effect on reducing production levels. The proposed General Plan
Amendment would also incrementally affect production by encouraging reduced
parcel sizes and by encouraging further applications for General Plan
Amendments within the revised GreenlinP (see Section 4.2., Expanded Project
Area Alternative; Section 6, Growth Inducing Impacts; and a later discussion
tin this section regarding the Chico Area Greenline).
Planned Land Uses. The proposed project would revise the. General Plan Land'
Use and Zoning designations on the affected parcels. The designation of
adjacent
properties and properties almost surrounded by the affected parcels
would not be changed. The resulting land use pattern would not be logical or
stable .com compared to a project involving ;all of the parcels in the project area,
P
or a project with better boundary delineation, such as roads or creeks (see
Section 40 Expanded Project Area and Section 6i Growth Inducing Impacts);:,
The new land use designation for the project area would be "Urban,:
Agricultural Residential" with one acre minimum parcel sizes. The applicable
zoning designation could be 8R-1 (see Appendix.. 13.4). The secondary impacts
associated with these revisions to planned land uses are the subject of this
report.
Urban beyelopment Trends and Patterns. The proposed General Plan Amendment
and subsequent development of residential uses in the project area could
result in the development of up to 270 additional residential units and
app,-."imately 648 persons at 2.4 persons per residence). beyelopment in this
are4i-rould not be consistent with the cityfs intent to encourage development
in other locations in the Chico Urban Area. The addition of 648 persons to
the project area would exceed the population projected in l,be Chico 'Urban Area
Transportation Studer by approximately 31 'percent of the population projected
year,P-006
and,
bewould representzoneibyfbhe year2006the projected
numbereof people 6 (648 vs: 106),.
Although the addition of the 648 persons to the project vicinity would not be
considered a significant adverse impact; the expansion of the 'housing market
into prime agricultural land at the expense of focusing development in other
areas with existing sewer connections would be considered a significants
a
GrPenline)+ (see following discussion on the Chico Are
adverse planna.ng inconsistency
Chita Area Greenjine. Approval of the proposed Geherai Plan Amendment would
regMire relocation of the Chico Area Geeenline within Study Area Number i
The change is shown in Vigure 3.1-x. This relocation of the Chico Area
Green line must be supported by substantial evidence in the public record,
' shorting that t
the public benefits of the agricultural land to urban
land substantially outweigh are no other urban or suburban lands reasonably
production; and that there the public benefits of continued agricultural
,pp
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OS
EXISTING GREF NLINE
AREA OF G'. P, A. , BOUIV
�EEENLINE
DARiES OF' RgVISEb '
ALTERNATIVE AREA
IIiIII1If11N GREENLTNE' WITH ALTEMATIVE AREA
�i
66c►Ch metrics M
SCAV
FIGURE 3,1-� LOCATION. QF .t'HE GHICO ARTA G�tNLI
N
available and suitable for the proposed development (see Impacts on Land
Uses).
These findings are to be made by the County Board of Supervisors. The
amendment of the Chico Area Greenline could be considered growth inducing by
directly fostering population growth and by removing the Greenline as a
constraint to growth (See Sis still expected to-occur in 1987+ection 6, Growth Inducing Impacts). Review of the
Chico Area Folic
Greenline
Housing. The proposed General Plan Amendment would increase the supply of
available residential land in the Chico Urban Area. The future residential
units would not be expected to serve students or low to moderate income
persons, but would increase the supply of and competition among higher priced
units. This impact Mould be beneficial. At this time, the conversion of this
peousih policies, which indicate 4he neednot be consistent with '
citorycProm ountyaghriculgtupal uses to residential uses may to balance
Y
preservation of agricultural land and/or the environment with increasing the
Trends of housing. The previous'diseussion� pertaining to Urban Development
supply
r s and Patterns and the Chico Area Greenline indicate that the loss of the
subject agricultural land is a significant impact and that the availability of
housing in.other areas of eastern and northern Chico may not justify the
proposed General flan Amendment at this time.
MITIGATION-MEASURES. The following significant adverse land use and planning
impacts identified in this section would be unavoidable if the project were
approved. No mitigation measures are feasible. The No Project Alternative is
discussed ;in Sedtion u of this rep(rt'.
Unavoidable Im
oact§�
1. The proposed project would encourage the development of approximately
270 new dwelling Un, s in an area o£ prime agricultural land and would
increase the frequency and magnitude of adverse land use compatibility
impacts with agricultural activities (Cumulative financial loss of
county crop production; and related impacts to support industries and
employment).
1
24 Future development consistent With the proposed lard t=se'designation
may hot be consistent with Conditional zoning and dev#ll�pment criteria
for the Agricultural and T=,:�gi ential Use`Designa'tien. (This is the
subject of this Envit6fimental Impact Report. Measures to improve
' ihfrastructure aad services are proposed in other sections of this
report to improve consistenty kith zoning and development criteria.)
' 3: Development in the project area would not be consistent with the cit;lts
and county'ci. intent to encourage development in other locations in tlae
Chico Urban Area (undetndines efforts to redirect growth by not allowing
the east, side of Chico to realize its development potential).
4. The amendment of the Chico Area Greenline would foster population
growth and would remove a constraint on growth in the project Vicinity
1 by weakening the Greehline policy as a f irm'geowth iaahag6bent tool.
3:1-o
A-2 RAFFIC AND_ CIRCULATION
EXISTING SETTING
Roadway S"te�n_ The roadway system within the project area is presented in
Figure 1.1�-2. Roadways serv�8 the project area include: Muir
aceessAvenue,
roadwaysBell
Road, Alamo Avenue, Guynn Avenue, Nord Avenue. The primary
serving the project area are East Avenue, State `Route 32 and The 'Esplanade:
Muir Avenue, Bell Road, Alamo Avenue, Guynm Avenue and Nord, Avenue are two
lane local roadways, East Avenue is,a two lane arterial south of the project
site, but widens to four lanes just to the West of The Esplanade intersection.
east/west arterial in northern Chico: State Route
East Avenue is the primary Orland, Interstate
32 is
a two lane highway providing access to Hamilton State Route 32 is aRfour
'1
5, and southern Chico (see Figures .1-1 and 1.1-2)•
lane :roadway southeast of First Street.
ending to Stateeor Routet99ewhiehnprovides
oute
99 is a primary north/south art
(to the south). The Esplanade also provides -access t and
Southern California access to.
north south access to Red Bluif, Redd
ing (to the north) and to
camme,cial areas including downtown'G
hico
Most of the intersections in the project vicinity are the conventional, 90
degree angle type, but some of the intersections have an angle of incidence
which is significantly less than 90 degrees. These intersections and the
e typically able to
substandard construction 'of the associated roadways ar
accommodate fewer vehicles than conventional intersections and standard
roadways. Project area roadways can also present unsafe maneuvering,
onventional ctions are located intersein the
conditions. The following une Bell/Alamo, Bell/Jones,
' project area: Be11/Muir, Bell/2tord, Be11/Guynn Kennedy%State Route
Tlell/Elkwood, Bell/Butterfly, Bell/Cussiek, dori riot
roadway
32, and Rodeo/Nord: The following roadways do not meet .county
standards: Alamo, Gwynn, Nord, Rodeo, henshaw _ and Muir.
Local Trai'fie Conditions and Levels of Service. Table 3'.2-1 provi es: a
description of levels of service for intersections, Existing traffic volumes
on roadways within the project vicinity produce acceptable levels of service
(relatively free flow)• However, levels of servind are being incrementally
reduced by increasing traffic volumes at the following intersections: East/
State Route 32 East/The Esplanade, East/State Route 99, )ast/Cohasset and The
Esplanade/Cohasset (see Figure 1.1-2)- Table 3,.2-2 ,provides the existing P.M -
Peak hour leve]s of 'service at these intersections. At some locations, the
level of service is estimated based on observations rather than calculationL,.
Areawide Traffic Conditions. In 1.,82, the City of Chico prepared an areawide .
o the
trsnsporiJR
tation study. For purposes of documenting "the traffic setti
K and
Chico Urban Area Transit 5tudv,(CAT5), prepared for the city Y
Associates, is hereby incorporated by reference. The CATS has not been
adopted by the county', Some of the assumptions/findings presented in CATS
may not be current;, prudent, or accurate. This EZR recogniizes and aecownts
for these inadequacies to the extent feasible. The Lotuit will cooperate and
encourages the city to refine ..the CATS ,
The objective of the Chico Urban Area Transportation Study poet to predict
n the Chico area and identify transportation
future traffic levels i - .
improvements, that will be hecessary to accommodate this future travel demand
e13'z'l
The CATS information is to be updated and revised based upon the most current
data available and represents a basis from which cumulative traffic analyses
can begin. For purposes of cumulative traffic impact analysis in the project
area, the CATS assumptions represent all reasonably foreseeable projects in
the area of potentially environmental impact (Palmer, 1986) Table 3.2-3
presents existing and projected traffic volumes on°>aajor streets in the
project area. Figure 3.2-1 shows the major improvements required by the year
2000 according to the CATS. Figure 3.2-2 shows the major improvements
required by buildout of the General Plan capacity according to the CATS,. The
following are the primary improvements identified in the CATS for the project
area. These improvements are expected by the year 2000
- `Jidening of East. Avenue to four lanes between State Route 32 and
The Esplanade.
- Vi dening of East Avenue to six Panes between The :Esplanade and State
Route -=99. {Butie County questions the feasibility of this improvement.
' The maximum feasible width of East Avenue in
this location is expected
-mss Videning would eliminate on street parking along
to be `fire lanes ,a
East Avenue in this location.)
Intersection improvements at Lassen/The Esplanade, Lassen/State Route
99, and The Esplanade/CohasSet.
The additional primary improvements in the project area identified in the CATS
for buildout of the General Plan capacity would be
- A new four lane connection between State Route 32 and State Route 99 via
Lassen Avenue, including a new :interchange
at State Route 99•
A new two lane connection between State Route 32 and. State Route99via
Eaton Road -_
The following taxt from CATS clarifies traffic conditions and planned
involves the area north of 11th Avenue and west the Narthwest Chico
improvements in the Northwest Chico Subarea. Gena west of eoNorthw:
subarea
"The major bottleneck in, the Northwest Subarea will be East Avenue, Where
traffic of up to 55,000 vehicles per day is forecast • East Avenue will
have to carry all east -west traffic between the commercial areas on Nord
Avenue (State Route 32) and Cohasset Road. To avoid massive widening of
East Avenue, Lassen Avenue should be extended West to Nord Avenue and be
made a four
lane arterial throughout. The existing sections of Lassen
Avenue Would be widened frog► 40 to 48 feet except for under the freeway,
where the bridge abutments are only 52 feet apart. Such a parallel road,
which would also be linked to the Route '99 freeway,; would "attract as much
as 30% of the East -Avenue traffic.
Further relief could be provided by extending Eaton Road west 'to Mord
Avenue, This would divert about 5,000 external trips a day between Route
32 and northeast Chico as well as two to three thousand trips between Route
32 and the Route 99 freeway. Thus, with the Lassen and Eaton extensions,
about -000 trips would be diverted to Eaton;_ and around 15,000 trips would
be, diverted
' trips on East Avenue
to Las"sen, leaving only around 27 000
TABLE 32-2iEXISTING L'EYELS OF
P.M.
SERVICE AT APPLICABLE
PEAK HOUR
INTERSECTIONS IN ,NORTH
CHICO DURING THE
P.M.
PEAR
HOUR
INTERSECTIONa)
LEVEL OF'SERVIGE
A
(b)
East/SR 32
A
(b)
East/Kennedy
■
SR 32/Kennedy
A
'(b)'
■
East/The Esplanade:
NA
East/SR 99 -._
A
(.u7)
North Ramp
A
(.57)
South Ramp
B
(A2)
East/Cohasset
tThe
The Esplanade/West Shasta
A
(b)
Esplanade/West Lassen
A
(b)
The Esplanade/Henshaw
B
(b)
:
The Esplanade/Cohasset
C
SR 99/Eaton
NA Not Available -1 for desoriptions of levels of
(a) See Table 3 •
service for intersections.
_
(b) This level of service is
turning movement
assumed by the city
volumes,[beeause
based on observations
the no recent county have
')rather
than.
been pe,rforzhed (Derrick,
µ
19 85
Source: Derrick, 1986
3.2-6
■
TABLE 3.2-3. EXISTING AND PROJECTED TRAFFIC VOLUMES ON MAJOR STREETS IN THE
PROJECT AREA
EXISTING
FUTURE (2000)
STREET SEGMENT DAILY VOLUME
DAILY VOLUME'
1981' (a) 1986 (b)
EAST AVENUE -
SR 32 to Dixon/Cussick 8,800 9,'116
Dixon/to The Esplanade 10;400' T1 ,257
15,500
26,700:Cussick
14,800 16,340
29700
Esplanade to SF 99
tot 11,300. ' 12,u76
18,600
C
SRe99tooh
THE ES�ANAA...�•
7,400 8,170
18,500
s
Eaton 'to Lassen
13,300 14,.684
26,800
Lassen to East
,,056
23,600 26East
25,806 (c)
to Cohasset
STATE ROUTE 32
NA NA
12 00
North of East $,700 9 ,606
yi,.400
South of East
(a) Source. Butte County Circulation Element, 1984.
increased by two percentyear for
five years; Derrick,,
(b) 1981 volumes _per
(e) Indicates underestimated future volume or overestimated 1986 volume.
NA: Not Available
Sourde: Earth Metrics; 1985; Butte County`Cireulation
Element, 1984; and
Derrick, 1986; Pierce, 1986:
est of The Espl EspTnnade;
(wEsplanade). East of the The
the ,traffic on East
intnrchaneebeeen
will be further `reduced by the proposed Lassen Avenue
Thus, trafPlo along East A�en
will divert much local traffic.
Nord and Cohasset Mould probably range fray .,".x;000 to 30000 vehicles per
to (west
day, with traffid on Lassen ranging from 15,00U (at Nord)
l be
freetJay) vehcl es per day. Thus, East Avenue may still be able to
of the
funetioln as a four. lane road, ;although it has been shown as a 6 land
the Lassen ant Eaton
roadt�iay `ori Figure 19 to be conservative. In any case,
done first, and Avenue only widen e o
extension projects shouldnbe ,East
..six. an es if Congestion o East still occurs.
8.2-7
r
■
77
Other necessary improvements in the Northwest Subarea include widening
Cohasset Road to four lanes between The Esplanade and Mangrove (adequate
.right of way exists along most its length), and making,FAton Road a four
lane roadi between The Esplanade and Cohasset" (City of Chico, 1982).
Another improvement which is not mentioned in the CATS, but is anticipated by
the City of Chico, is identified in a CALTRANS`"Route Concept Report" related
to State;Route 32. 2n the project -vicinity, thin improvement Would ,involve
the Widening State Route 32 to three lanes, including a central two vay left
turn lane, and the construction of bicycle lanes.
Transportation Elemerit of the Chico General Plan. The Transportation Element
of the Chico General Plan is directed towards achieving a balanced
transportation system, which ensures convenient access for all Chico
residents* serves the proposed patterns of land use, and minimizes disruption
of the environment. The discussions focus on: 1) the implementation of a
coordinated multi modal transportation system accommodating private and public
motor vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians; 2) the scenic enhancement of the
highway landscape; 3) the abatement of noise generated by transportation
systems; 4) safety; and 5) separation of modal 'systc!ms. Noise Was not found
to be a significant environmental issue fox the proposed project, according to
the Initial. Study prepared by Butte County (see ;Appendix 13.1) The followirig
policies summarize the Transportation Element.
Insure that the existing and proposed circulation systems accommodate
the multi modal traffic functions they are intended to serve with a
minimum adverse impact on the environment of the city. Coordinate all
systems to maximize safety and efficiency and minimize conflict between
modes (see following discussion on the Chico Area Transportation Study,
Traffic Setting)w
Develop a public transit system responsive to the needs of the
greater
Chico community'. Actively promote the system as an alternative to
automobiles. (The Chico Area Transit System is an existing service).
-Develop a system of bicycle facilities that provides* where possible,
separate access to major destinations and assures the safety of all. see
Y Y
discussion on Pedestrian rian and bicycle facilities)
.,
Protect and enhance the scenicqualities of State Routes 32 and qg and
other major entry ways to the city. All new commercial development'
adjacent to State Routes 3? and 99 bhould,ie adequately landscaped.
Circulation Element of the Butte -_County General Plan. The Circulation Element
of the Butte County General Plan was prepared in 1984. The Element is a guide
to managing and-'developing'the future transportation and circulation system in
the county. The intended timeframe of the Element carries to the year 2000,*
With analysis, evaluation,and planning focused on policies and prograims
Within five and ten year timeframes. The Element: is orgahized into three
basic components. The first component, Part One -Basis This Policy* is intended
to be an analytical and descriptive basis for developing a transportation
Polieyi Transportation Issues and Policies, sets forth Butte Countyis
countywide and urban area transportation goals, objectives, policies; and,
programs to the year 2000. The Appendices of the Circulation Element contain
e
3,�_a
additional information and data supplements referred to by the previous "text,
including the Element's environmental impact report. The Butte County
Circulation Element Diagram is presented in Figure 3.2-3, The
improvement shown in F primary
Figure 3.2-3 that relates. to the project area is the:.
Eaton Road extension which would :be constructed
additional east/west capacity in North Chico, after the year 2000 to provide
The following policies
programs and requirements of the Butte County
Circulation Element specifically relate to the project area and, proposed
General Plan Amendment project's
2.1.2 Butte County will encourage and support sincere efforts by county
residents to form assessment districts for road maintenance and road
drainage,
2.2.4 The count will P
impact model or -program; includingfor traffic oreroadive fiscal.
y pursue the development of a com
Y r road impacts, to
assist in the analysis of cost, and revenue balances from proposed
development projects.
the Y Kill study, develop and implement, as feasible
2:P Program: The count
following road -related f' '
fiscal programs,. over time:
1) Road assessment districts for maintenance of new development.
2) Development fees for off site traffic impacts caused by new
development. This program should first develop plans and
schedules for specific developments that will contribute to the
impact of circulation in surrounding locations. A long term
goal of a countywide drweloper fee program for traffic impacts
should be studied and implemented ata later -date. Comprehensive.
road development fee programs, should be jointly developed
between the county and the cities of Butte County.
3) Drainage assessment districts in problem: areas.
Enforceable road development agreements.
4.1.4 Right of tray needed for new roads or expansion of existing roads
shall be planned for; land uses that would preclude the timely
of such right,of Way ;shall be prohibited.
development
beneficially serve the needs or ail parcels.
located as to most
4 1.6 Usable road easements of adequate width shall be
p
.1: Private
atesubdivision roads will be built to full county
stand
arils And
they will be privatel maintained as 60ch through h their
maintenance
4:1.10 New land divisions should be held responsible for their fair share
of the off site road impt'ovements needed to handle the traffic
increases that they cause.
3.9-5
i
4,1.11 The county. Should encourage the utilization of development
agreements as one way of ensuring that road development standards
and plans .are met.
14.1.1 .The county will maintain the integrity of the Chico Area Greenline
adopted in.1982,'
' Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities. Pedestrian and bicycle activities
generated from within the 'project area are relatively low due to the low
density of development in the area, No sidewalks or ,formal bicycle lanes exist ;
along roadways in the area, but the
low traffic volumes and low residential
density make walking and ..icycling relatively safe activities. Henshaw
Avenue, Lassen Avenin, and Cussick Avenue, south of Bell Road, are designated
r with' -no on street right of wayy equivalent to a bike route
sgbr improvements,eQuiv
as long range Class III bikewa
Public Transit. The Chico, Urban Area is served by the Chico Area Transit
by
Route 1,, which serves East Avenue and The Esplanade, ea the project area e
System, Regular scheduled bus service is provided near
and south of the
project area: The route sPrve,4 North Valley Plaza Mall, both Chico hospitals,
and the Social Security office. The .capacity of this route -is equaled during
peak hour periods. No route changes are anticipated in the near future.
InteIsification of development along 'East :Avenue and the increasing importance
of East Avenue as a key arterial, however, may result in a_modification of
Route 1 or the addition of a nev-�•oiata serving properties along East Avenue,
between The Esplanade and State Route 32. No schedule for this improvement
has been adopted (Derrick, 1986)
The closest bus stop tk� the perimeter of the project area 3a located at the
intersection of East Avenue with The Esplanade apPPoXimately one mile east of
the projact area. Bus service weekdays is ';provided between 6:30 A.M. and 7;30
P.M. Saturday service is available between 8:s0 A.M. and .6:30 P -M. Most
transfer points are located in the downtown area. Regional transit service is
provided by Butte County Transit, which operates routes from tho'City of Chico
to Butte College and the .community centers of Orovill;e and Paradise.
Emergenev Aeces,s. Access routes to and throughout the project area are
Presented in Figure 3.2-1. No emergency vehicle access restrictions currently
exist within or around the project arraa. HoVei�.'r, the unconventional
intersections identified previously in this section present minor obstacles to
large vehicles, buc?a'
as fire trucks,
IMPACTS
,p.G ner�t on. The proposed General Plan Amendment would allow up to 270
new residential Vl!, to to be approved in the project area. These residences
would generate appr6ximately 2,700 trip ends (inbound ori outbound) per day,
based upon: a trip generation -,-,ate of tel trip ends per residence per day
(institute of Transportati0ft ETigzneelr,) 1982) . peak hour trt-,p generation from
the 270 residential uni.q would, be a�proximately 270 trip ends during each of
the A.H and P.M. P peak hOUr peri6&i. The L,Mk., and M. pk'ak hour per; ods are
tho nne hour periods with the highest, traf`f'ic 'Volumes betwF,en 6:30 wtd 8:30
h.Mw and 4.A0 and 6.00
P.M, -
3:2-i1
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IN 7NOUSANb", 00' Pik C tX f `y ,. _, ••••i. rpq• •`tet • . e
obfr+thURE BIKEWAYS 'PL
op TJA CHICO GENt RAL ''PLAN
FIG3.��4
Trip Distribution. The total number of trips generated by the proposed
mb
Project (2,
7D0 trips) were distributed within the 'existing roadway system by
meIing general assumptions about where new vehicle trips would be destined.
The primary assumptions were as follows:
Five percent of all trips would use State Route 32 north of Muir Avenue.
outUaF East Avenue.
20 percent of all trips would use. State Route 3L
1
70 percent of all, trips would use West Shasta (10%), West Lass
sen (10�)
Henshaw (15p) and East Avenue (35$).
FweP ercent of all trips would use Guynn Avenue (2.5%) and cussiek'
- -
Avenue (2.5%) south of East Avenue.
Table 3.2-4 presents the expected in increase in vehicle volumes
projected to Occur from 270 afive+iimaaeteexpected lWith and without its in the othe
ject area.
Table 3.2-5 presents the rel stem•
proposed project on the circulation sy
Traffic Conditions. The addition of up to 270 residential units to the
project area would incrementallyoltraffic wouldeaddt�toraffic volumes projected volumesainathe
roadways. This additional Of service at affected
project vicinity and would decrease levels
intersections. The following discussions clarify where impacts could occur as
r ed by the project in one future year
a result of the additional trips generated
(2060).
STATE ROUTE 3 1 2i The additional trips generated by development allowable under
the,proposed General plan Amendment would -increase the number of _left turns
Avenue to State Route 32, would increase traffic on the east/gestate Route /
ortion of ^
from East, Kennedy Avenue, the
Althoughdtheseeiinpactsase rwould fid treduce ttravel capacity
p
Muir Avenue intersectio
someHhat along State Route 32, they would not be,consi.dered significant an.
would not require mitigation, s involve and theals rremaini rturn emainings, due o
Capacity of
relatively low traffic volumes
intersect onsof Plan edlane(twowerm tea
ay left turn l
ffic improvements, such as the
'ane} along State Route 32 and
constructs
ceptable levels of
other east side connectors, are expected to maintain ac -
service in the future. Other measures to reduce conflicting traffic
mov-Oti0fis Of
ements, succi; as those associaed ted withater in thisdbhvtion�tolimprove elevels of
Kenn
edy Avenue, are recommend
service along State _Route ,32+
EAST iVENDE. East Avenue would carry a large portion of the trips generated
by the urban growth anticipated`by the year 200Qtraffied the dattthe WestiAl end
allowable under the proposed "project. The Additional
of East Avenue generated by the; proposed project would not be significant.
(See the previous discussion pertaining to State Route 32.)
t3owever, the
h 146rdt
t the ibt
additional traffic createcldaState Rout e�ers99twouldiOhS oreduce levels off rga8t Avenue service:at,
Gu"ynn and The Esplanade an
these lbcationsi previously planned and recommended roadway imPx-mplemen ed
related measures identified at the end of this section should be implemented
to maintain acceptable levels or service in these locations
3_ 3
TABLE 8..2-4. ESTIMATED FUTURE DAILY TRAFFIC INCREASES ASSOCIATED WITH THE
PROPOSED PROJECT
PROJECT GENERATED'
ROADWAY SEGMENT
VEHICLE TRIPS (a)
EAST AVEN•JE
500 Max
SR 32 to Cussick
950
Cussick to The Esplanade
500
The Esplanade to SR 99' _ _
_-
450
SR 95' to Cohasset
eTHE
ESPLANADE
100
Eaton to Lassen
500
Lassen to East
1040
East to Cohasset
STATE ROUTE 32
North ;of Muir
135
100
Muir to East
South of East
540
270
WEST SHASTA
270
WEST LASSEN
400
HENSHAW
-
70
GUYNN (Soot b of East)
CUSSICK
''West Shasta t o Henshaw
150
20
HetshaH to East
70
South of East
eereasd it'
(a)Represents incremental
traffic in both direetiohs on
by the proposed project.
theseroadways dUetothe1deVlopment
AllbWed
Soureei Earth Metrics Incoripor•ated; i9SS�
3:2-1
EXISTING AND
ONMAJORSTREETS IN THE
PROJECTED TRAFFIC VOLUMESO
TABLE 3.2-5. PROJECT AREA
WITH AND WITHOUT; THE PROPOSED
STREET SEGMENT
EXISTING
'VOLUME '(a)
FUTURE (2000)
DAILY VOLUI9`E
FUTURE (2000)
DAILY VOLUME
DAILY
W/O PROJECT (b)
W/ PROJECT
EAST AVENUE
SR 32 to Dixon/Cussiek
9,716
15,500
26,700
16,000
27'fi50.::.
Dixon/Cussick to The Esplanade 11x257
16,340
29,700_
301200
The Esplanade to SR 99
12,476
18,600
19,050
SR 99 to Cohasset
THE ESPLANADE
18 600
n to Lassen
Eaton
8,170
14j684
18,500
26,800
,
27,300
Las8eu to ;East
26,056
25,800 (b)
26,840
East'to Cohasset
STATE RObTE 32
12,835
NA
1 2,7b 0
North f East
gi160�
11 , 400
11,,940
Souti, of 'East
teased by tt"o percent per
year for five years; Derrick,
r
(a) 1981 voltunes
�
1986 'Element,
Circulation
C ireulatian Elee
(e) From the
1984,y
overestimated existing
volume.
ated future or
(, ) Ind3cates$unrares imy,
Nle Not Available
,
Earth etrics,
source: M
1085 ii Butte: County Circulation
1986.
Element,
i9843
Derrick, 19863
,and Pierce,
3 ,2-15
THE ESPLANADE. The additional traffic generated on West Lassen, West Shasta,
ersectionsy The impacts of this
Henshaw,
and East Avenue would affect travel,capacity along The Esplanade by
increasing left turn conflict3 at main int
traffic at The Esplanade intersections With West Shasta, West Lassen, and
Hganshaw would not be considered significant and would not require mitigation
caacity
due to the relatively low traffic. Volumes involved and Lhe remaining
of these signalized intersections. However, the loss of travel capacity at
'
and The
n would
the intersections of Th�inedaithe CATS.ade/East Esplanade/Cobasset
require mitigation asdf
Cons istency'with Local Transportation Plann n
The proposed project does not
present any significant impacts which would substantially alter the data bases
utilized for transportation plannifig in the Chico area. However, the existing
data bases did not anticipate the proposed development density In the project
area. The construction of the Eaton Road extension would not be affected by
traffic in ed development bu' ;could encourage
hrdensit GandrwouZdal ainereaseent or related project area in the ,future.
urbanY gated prior to approval
The impacts o7 the extension would be examined and mit
of such a project.
The proposed General Plan Amendment appears to be inconsistent with the policy
in the County Circulation Element which a Green7,ine (see Section 3.1, indicates that the county will
Use,
maintain the integrity of the Chico Are
Planning, Applicable Plans and Policies for -a discussion of the Chico Area
Greenline). The Circulation Elementts intent in maintaining the Chico Area
Greenling is probably to reduce trip generation in areas of low urban density
Greenlinedi would require d.stantial improvements to meet county standards.
would
require
and requirements presented in the Existing Setting of
The remaining P of these measures
this report address financing of roadway improvements: �y
apply directly to roadway improvements recommended as mitigation-measures in:
this report.
icycle Facilities. The proposed project would increase
Pedestrian and B
" by allowing increased urban density, in the
pedestrMi- d bicycle activities
p, j et area. The projected increases would not be expected to create
ro e
significant safefry impacts or vehicle conflicts on local roadways, such as
� Hens
haw Avenue. Safety impacts Along major arterials Would not be
project rela6ed bicycle activity and motor vehicle
significant, however, the p � pedestrian street
trips would increase the need for appropriate bikew<<Ys and
crossings along 'major arterials, such as East Avenue, especially near schools
such'as J,. Partridge `Elementary: The Chico bike rotate along Henshaw Avenue
would not be significantly affected due to the small increase in.Lraffie
projected for this street:
P blie Transmit+` The `proposed project would allow development which could
increase patronage of Route 1 of the'Chieo;Area Transit System, However,
in re se the distance between most of the project area and the closest bus stop
is more than one mile, maily of the residents may not utilize the bus service.
impact's from the future development are not expected to be significant, but
would ittcrementally increase transit dema"rd along the, East Avenue corridor.
If cluster 'development ,is proposdd# Measures toencourage ' transit patronage'
should be required during site plan revi
EmerBency'Access. The additional dwelling units
allowed by the :propo'sed
General Plan Amendment would increase the need for emergencyserv3cc access to
i
the project area. Unconventional intersections in the project area sho•ald be
evaluated and modified, as necessary, when specific subdivisions are reviewed
by the county.
MITIGATION MEASURES. The following measures are recommended by the staff of
Butte County and the City of Chico to mitigate the traffic impacts identified
in this section. Measures identified in the Butte County Circulation Element
should be implemented, as necessary, to acquire appropriate funding from
developers, the Federal Highway Administration (such as aid from gas tax
revenue and funding), and from CALTRANS for appropriate ,traffic mitigation
measures identified in the CATS and in this report.
The safety and capacity of the unconventional intersections in the
project area to convey vehicle traffic and emergency vehicles should be
evaluated and modified, as necessary, when specific subdivisions or
developments are reviewed by the county. Rights of way for each of
these intersections should be reserved, as necessary, as a part of
adjacent subdivisions or developments. Realignments should be required.
on a case �y case,basis with the objective that all realignments be
completed with buildout of the area:
The standards defined in the Butte Count
_ Y Circulation Element (page 35)
and in the Butte County document entitled: "Improvement standards for
Subdivisions, Parcel Maps and Site Improvements Pursuant to CY►apter 20
of the Butte 6unty Code", should be required for the roads A the
project area: The applicable standards involve road types R3 -3A and
SRS -1, depending on specific development proposals. These improvements
would •not
e required for the proposed General Plan Amendments, but
would berequired when subdivisions or development is proposed. The
thecity orcounty, whichever are more stringent.
Cityof Chioo would request that these roadways meet tha standards of
_
Left turn pockets should be constructed and
.on street parking should be
eliminated on East Avenue, between Connors Avenue and The Esplanade, and.
on The 'Esplanade, between Lassen Avenue and Rio Undo Avenue. These
projects should be implemented as development occurs in the project area
and vicinity with the objective that the projects be completed with
' buildout of the project area:
East Avenue should be widened to its ultimate width, including
installation of euObs, gutters and sidewalks' by, developers with frontage
along East venue. (This requirement .is not the responsibility of the
applicants, but should be implemented as development occurs in the
project area and vicinity.)
Butte County should require the project applicants and future developers
in the project area and vicihity to install traffic signals At the ,
intersections of East Avenue with'Guywn and gorcl: Installation of the
signals should be completed with buildout of the ,project area•,
Site design criteria which increases opportunities for transit patronage
should be encouraged if specific development proposals-invol."ve clusters
of development:
8Z16i7
Access to the future extension of Eaton.Road should be provided via Bell
Alamo should not be encouraged T',
Road. Intersections With Nord,. Guymon",acid
lon and related roadway improvements
unless future land use ntensifica
'
occur prior to extension of these roadways.
- Pedestrian crossings should be considered along East Avenue where
primary pedestrian "routes and bikeways meet with East Avenue.
w
3,2-1 8
GEOLOGY/MUROLOrY
EXISTING SETTING
olo The project urea is iocaated on a broad alluvial Plain. o Palley between then as the
Chico Fan,
Gh �which is la:ated in'the northern Sa
Sacramento River to the fleet and the Sierra Nevadafoothills
alluvium consisting TOf
he
project area is underlain by Recent Age coarse gr
ravel and cobbles. The coarse grained alluvium is
unconsolidated! silt, sand, g Sierra Nevada'
overlain by a loamy surface soil layer and is underlain by
"volcanic rocks,
foothilla project area are composad :primarily
metamorphic and curring in the P j
SOILS. Surf inial sto s t ). The Vina
of loans` belonging to the race Fizzed good natura7.Gdrainage, , moderately slcnr .
Farwell association is characterized by B
to moderate Subsoil pecrmeability, slc7itt to medium runoff and no erosion hazard.
The Vina Farwell association also possesses a moderate shrink/swell
change of a soil with a change
(expansion oteent�and amod rate alloxabe of the leesoill pressure rating, a measure
in moisture content,
� .; pressure. is
,; �,�;�„.;,Lity of a soil for foundation
The Soil. Conservation Service identifies ° ultural potential
and rates the "a&i'
and limitations oi° soils into eight land capability classifications -
and
in
are considered agricultural:
and soi.ts in Classes V to VIII
Classes I to. IV
possess' characteristics which limit �rtiont The Vina�Farwellbsoils haveebeen
for forestry, range, wildlife ar recreation.
identified as Class I and II prime agriculture] soils.
Portions Of the project area also contain surficiai soils composed_ of clay
s association. The Conejo Berrendos
loam's belonging to the Cenejo Berrendo cod.natural drainage, moderately B16W
_ association soils are csharacterized by g
rmeab.lity, Slott runoff and no erosion hazard. However,
to slow subsoil pe become highly impermeable (Edell,
when these Boils ere rampacbed, they can shrink/swell.
1086). The. Conejo B�errendos soils also possess moherCone jo B ate to high
soils
potentiod
al and moderate allowable aril pr
are Class III, prime agricultu_'^al soils.
SEISMICITY. The Chico"area does not have a history of severe seismic activity
' ctive faults or
(City of Chico, 1976) There are no active or potentially, Sea ' ch ii1clude6
Alquist priolo Spe
e3,a1 5titdies Zones located in the CLioo ar
tu
the project 'area: There is no record of surface histoound fail Occurrsnughin�Chieo.
In OtUre addition, there ��s'n° eadiment lurching f
and differential settlement in
liquefaction, lateral bpr n8r
Chico.
The Cleveland Hi.l fa known active fault in But+moo County is
" t�� the only
"0 miles southeast of the�projeet area. Movtdont alonglocated hoer Scale)
the Cleveland Hi ,l fault was "responsioie for thy. 5.7 mag
august f 1975 The Orovill.e earthquake was felt' in
Oroviiie earthq,�iake in
o damage as rocoeded. A series of Oce- miles noethVest of the
trending inactive faux
Chico but no dam a �,. roxi.mateiy
is are located apP
project area,
3 i�r1
1 In addition to the 1975 Oeoville earthquake, ground shaking from earthquake
picenters outside th;e .immediate area has been felt previously,'in the Chico
area. However, the greatest intensity of ground shaking recorded in Chs o was
5.0 on the Richter scale and there is no historical. evidence .of any
significant damage having occurred. A statistical estimation of earthquake
Richter Scale magnitude, as a function of "`Estimated return:pariod for
California, indicates Chico could experience an earthquake! of :magnitude 13.0on
the Richter Scale once every 40 years. Other studies, have, however, sui,19ested
smaller maximum intensities (City of Chi o ► 197
�drolo�y
DRAINAGE. The overall topography in the project art -,a slopes gently `to the,
northwest toward Mud Creek, whilch is. located approximately ane mile rthwest
of the project area,. Lindo Channel is located Approximately,0.75 miles south
of the project area. At present, there are no existing storm drainage
facilities within the project area. Overland runoff ;in the project arc%a ponds
and percolates into the soil. There are no well defined surface drainage
nour:ses In the ;project aroas See Section 3.4, Public Services And Utilities,
+Gr �Sisaiisbion of existing and planned `storm drainage i'acilit►;es in the
project area.
A storm drainage study completed for, the north Chico Brea, including the;
project area, has recommended installation, Of collector storm .drain lines just.
south of the Southern Pacific Railroad and along Bell Road in order to
accommodate potential urban development of the storm dreinage study area (see
Figure 3.4-1).` These collector ]lines would flow by gravity to Shasta union
Drainage Assessment District (SUDAD) channels which Would ultimately 'dibdharge
into Aiud Creef (Rolls, Anderson and 'Rolls, 1985) . The proposed collector
lines have been designed to carry 100 year storm flows, in accordance
brllth
Butte County Public Works Despartment and Butte Coanty Improvement Standards.
Annexation to 'SUDAD Would be required prior to the use of their facilities.
c area Which includes 'thebub,parcels (see Sectir
plan for 'the nol th Chico on
The county and city are currently jointly develo ing a storm drainage ornate
p
3.4, Public Services and utilities).
FLOODING. The subject parcels are not located in the 100 year floodplain'
(u.s. Department of dousing and Urban Development, 1974). Mud Creels and Lindo
Channel are modified ephemeral channels designed to provide flood c;ontrcl for
Big Chico Creek. The projeut urea may, however; be subject to minor,,
localized stormwater ponding Niue to the lack of" drleinage inPrastructur+e and
soil compaction.
GROUt�D�TATER. The project area and Chico 'vic,.nty is underlain by eartensive
groand�tater supplies of the Sacramento Valley groundwater basin (California
DcOartment of hater Resoitlrces 1980)• Section 3.4, Puhlia 5ervfees and
Utilities, contains a discussion of water supply and distribution in the
»o�gCt ;area. There are three water bearing zones beneath Chico: these zonas
the shallow intermediate, and deep guifers. Groundwater generally moves
}, deep, uifer. the
*,w� de to intermediate aquifer and From.
intLc k� dicta � �w pd�x�n the shal;leM
3.3-