HomeMy WebLinkAbout84-45B GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 9 OF 21Am an
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FIGIRE 1, L -J LQCAT'XQN OF PARCELS INVOT,VEb I'N GENERAL'. ELAN AMENDMENT
erth meI _-tjbjjI tcALt -
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2. SUMMARY
2.1'
PROJECT IMPACTS_AND MiTIGATION`MEASURES
The investigation conducted for this report included an examination of the
environmental impacts. The major project impacts are summarized in Table
2,1_1, The significance of eaesh imphaet is noted along with the t with ands
required o }
mpac
recommended mitigation measur a significance of each categories
without mitigation is also noted. The following impact pact; (ps) potentialre used ly
Table 2.1�-1: beneficial impacti ( - not significant impact;
or possibly significant impact (an impact Which cannot be precisely 'assessed
at this time) and (S) significant adverse' impact.
2.2 ALTERNATIVES EVALUATED
The No Project AlI.ernative and the Expanded Project Area Alternative are
evaluated' in Section 4 of this report. Under the No Project Alternative,, most
of the impacts - of the proposed project would be avoided or substantially
reduced However, the No Project Alternative may not be a long term'
ed growth inducing activities
alternative due to certain existing and plann
-which will affect residential demand in the project area. The Expanded
Project Area Alternative would involve a larger, area and additional parcels
,Allowing
development of 330 new residences (60 more residences than Would be
allowed 'under the proposed project). This alternative would incrementally
increase the significance of mostimpacts. However, this alternative would be
considered more logical and stable than the condition presented by the
proposed project.
2, AREAS OF. CONTROVERSY%ISSUBS TO BE RESOLVED
Department has identified land use and planning's
The Butte County Planning p d and public services as areas of
circulation, water quality, Beo._ogy hydrology
controversy and potentially significant environmental impacts to be_addresspd
in this EIR (see Appendix 13.1)• Public concern in response to the
information provided in this Draft EIR will be addressed
in the Final EM
The primary issues to be resolved involve interpretation of the Greenline
Po R " ermination of the''
]icy as it relates to Special Study Area Number 1 and detthe project, area
to _mit ate nitrate contamination o drainage infrastructure in
f area groundwater.
need for specific sewer and storm
x8
r
r
TABLE 2.1-1, SUMMARY OF PROJECT IMPACTS
ANb MITIGATION MEASURES
MITIGATION MEASURES t .
(Significance After
�
IMPACT
Mitigation)
(Significance)
LANG bSE PLANNING,._APPLICABLE
,'�
FLANS AND 'POLICIES
The proposed project would .encourage
Not mitigable. ('S)
the development of approximately 270
®
new dwelling units in an area of prime
�1
agricultural land and would increase
the frequency and magnitude of adverse
-°
land use compatibility impacts with
agricultural activities to the north
and west. (S)
The proposed project would alter
This impact is the subject of this
Environmental Impact Report.
planned land lases in. the project area.
of land use
Measures to improve infrastructure
The resulting pattern
designations would not be considered`
and services are proposed in other
of this report to improve
logical or stable. The subject site
to be consistent with the five
sections
consistency
criteria..ith �For dexample:
appears
site designation criteria for the
development
adequate fire protection.would be
proposed land use designation. but
inconsistent with
provided with the proposed
appeiiPs to be
conditional toning and development _
mitigation. (PS)
criteria. (PS)
Development in the project area would
Not m titmable. (S)
not be consistont with the city's
intent to encourage developffient in
other locations in the Chico Urban
Area. (S)
The Amendment of the Chico Area
Not mitigable. (s)
Greenline would Poster population
growth and would remove a constraint
area.(S)
on growth in the project
The proposed General Plan Amendment '
d or recommended. (B)
None require -
would iaorease the supply of and
competition among higher 'priced
residential units, (B)
S Significant (Adverse)
NS Not Significant (Adverse)
PS Potentially Significant (Adverde)
t. Beriexioial
(CONTINUED)
R..2 _
M,
(CONTINUED) . SUMMARY OF PROJECT
IMPACTS 1."�J MITIGATION MEASURES
TL13LE 2.1-1.
MITIGATION MEASURES
(Significance After
1
IMPACT
mitigation)
(Significance)
TRAFFIC pND CIRCULATION
Additional traffic generated by the
The following measures are
recommended by the staff of Butte
project would add to the volumes
County and the City of Chico to
presented in the'Chico Urban Area
mitigate the traffic impacts
Transportation Study and mould
in this section..
incrementally decrease levels of
Measurfied
es identified in the Butte
service at conventional and unconven-
Chico.
Circulation Element should be
tional intersections in Northern
implemented, as necessary: to
(P5) Access by emergency service
trucks) could
acquire appropriata funding from
vehioles (large fire
be hindered by unconventional.
developers, the Federal Highway'
(such as aid from
intersections. (N5)
Administration
gas tax revenue and funding); and
from CALTRANS far appropriate
traffic mitigation measures
identified in the CATS and in this
report.
Left turn pockets should be conte
strutted and on 'street parking
should be eliminated 'tin East Avenue,
between Connors Avenuc and
Esplanade,-and°on Esplanade, between ,
Lassen Avenue and Rio Undo Avenue:
These improvements sbou7.d be imple-
in the
..
medted as development occurs
�.
ts
r
project area with the
ara and v
_
"
_
objective that these improvement be
oompleted,with buildout of the
project area:
The safety and capacity of the
unconventional intersections iii the
project area to convey vehicle
traffic and emergency vehicles
should be evaluated and modified,
as necessary. When specific
SNS
dverse)
TSeant (A...
se)
Not Significant (Adverse)
_
(Adverse)-
B Ben. eficial
PS al y ,Significant
(CONTINUED)
TABLE 2.1-1 (CONTINUED). SUMMARY OF PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES
MITIGATION MEASURES
(Significance After
IMPACT
Mitigation)
(Significance)
-
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
that
case basis With the objective
,
_
all real i ents be completed with
buildout of the area.
East Avenue should be widened to
its ultimate Width including
installation of ourbs, gutters and
sidewalks by developers with front=-
age along East Avenue, (This re-
quirement is not the responsibility
of the applicants 0but should be
implemented as development occurs
icinity.)
in the project area and ..v
Butte County should require the
uture
p pcrofuture-
developersinthe projectarea and
developers
vicinity to install traffic_
signals at the intersections of East
Avenue with. Guynn Iand Nord.
installation of, the signals should
be completed with, buildout of the
project. (NS)
Accessnay vehicles (large
by emerge
See devious mitigation measures for
See
realignm ent. (NS)
unt be hindered by
five 'trucks) would (NS)
unconventional intersections.
S Significant (Adve
'tit' Not Significant (Adverse)
pS 'Potentially Significant (Adverse)
B Beneficial
(CONTINUED)
''
2-4
'(CONTINUED)-. SUMRA RY OF PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION JAEASURES
TABLE 2.1-1
MEASURES
IMITIGATION
(Significance After
IMPACT
Mitigation)
(Significance)
The propos �a? project would allow
The standards defined in the Butte
County Circulation Element (page
d:velopment along narrow substandard
and in the Butte County document
roads. (FS)
entitled Itp vement Standards fog
Subdivisions Parcel Ma s and Site
20,
Im rovements Pursuant to Cha ter
be
of the Butte.County-Code should
required for the roads in the
Project area. The applicable
typesfic
standards involve road
on specific
depending
d&61opment, proposal3. These
N
t
improvements would not be required
r7l,for
the proposed General Plan
Amendments, but would be required
When subdivisions or development
is proposed. The City of Chico
would request that these roadways
'the city or
meet the standards of
county, whichever, are more
r
■
stringent. (NS)
Site design criteria which increase x
The proposed prof eMe would allow
in the demand
opportunities for transit pationa&e
incremental increases
he CATS Route
fore transit servi0e fd�enue
should be encouraged if specific
development proposals were ' to
1 and along the Ea Corridor:
iiijolve clusters of development.
� NS)
C NS)
(Adverse)
Beneficial
NS Not Significant (AdvErse)tially
E8siggnificant
Significant (Adverse)
B
(CONTINUED')
s
OF PROJECT FACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES
TABLE 2.1-1 (CONTINUED) S(INRMARX
MITIGATION MEASURES
IMPACT
Significance After
Mitigation)
(Significance)
The proposed land usa` intensification
Eaton
Access to the future extension of
Eaton Road should be Provided via.
with Nor
1
would encourage e extension of
potential to
the Po
Bell Road. Intersections
Gu nn and Alamo should not be
*"
Road, which,presents
make Nord, GLiynn and Alamo 'major north/
Y
encouraged unless additional land
south connectors. (PS)'
use intensification and related
occur prior
roadray
fi �-.�$
m+
.improvements
to extension of these roadways.
(NS)
for conflicts
Pedestrian crossings should be
considered along East Avenue where
increased potential
between bicycles, pedestrians, and
'alEast Avenue. i,NS)
on8
p rimary pedestrian routes and
bikeways meet with East Avenue.
motor vehicles
special attention should be given,
Partridge
to safe rxossings near J.
(hS)
Elementary School.
GEOLOGY/�ROLI0
resent a
Specific engi nearing design and:
teehniQues recom-
Site soils and geology P
tential.
eonstructi'on
the soils engineer should
moderate shrink/swell po
allowable so"-pressure,.
mended by into
be incorpo rated; as, needed,
moderate
low erosion potential and seismic
Building
the croject design. with seismic
hazards. (PS)
design should comply
reAuirmenta of the current
Uniform Building Code and.the
Recommended Lateral Force -
Requirements prepared by the
Association Of
Structural Engineers
Calif orna•
Standard construction methods and
control measures should be
erosion
(including dry weather
implemented
gradin$► erosion control
to
season
plans, revegetationi and devie0s
NS Not Significant ( Adv er Je )
S Significant (A dverse)
Adverse)
B Beneficial
ps potentially Significant
(CONTINUED)
;x
(CONTINUED). SUMMARY OFPROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATIONMEASURES
TABLE 2.1-1
MITIGATION MEASURES
(,Significance After 2
IMPACT
Mitigation) i
(Significance)
-
therequirements of the Nitrate
Action Plan.
Groundwater quality monitoring, as
outlined in the Nitrate Action Plan,
should be continued to detect
potential grottndwater quality'
impacts and to identify and
implement appropriate mitigation,
_.
if neressary'.
1
As more information about future
development and baseline groundwater
-
quality conditions in the project
area becomes available. The
e
Nitrates Action P an will involve
calculations of the potential
increases in nitrate concentrations.
as
Appropriate mitigation, so•cb
mandatory sewer hookups, abd hookups'
to Cal. Water facilities, will be
identified and implemented, if
-
necessary. Private Well owners
shall allow water quality testinl. g
-- -
by the county, as needed. (FS)
PUBLIC SERVICES AND UTILITI
ht of "arcels allowable under
llevelopme p
One new Well will be required in the
Water requi rements.
the proposed project Would require
_
day. (NS).,
area.
sha11'belmetal
(NS)
66 400 Sa llgns of water per
The proposed project would indirect�.ly
Butte'County and the City of Chico
that new development,
allow additional sewage to be generated
a require
could
shouldregaire
s a result of the
kendmeizt,
y to VicinityOf a seh
costly extensions of a sewage trunk
in the sito
proposed General Plan
follow the recommendations of the
line to prevent n ra oontam
sewerage Plan*
(PS)
#, h
(Adverse)
NS Not Significant (Adverse)
t"l
S Significant
PS ,Potentially Significant (Adverse)
B Beneficial _
-
(CONTINUED)
r
TABLE 2.1-1 (CONTINUED). SO4MARY OF PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES
r
MITIGATION MEASURES
'IMP'ACT
(Significance After
(Significance)
Mitigation)-
�;
_
a
Butte CountY and the City of Chico
should evaluate `the potential for
adverse environmental impacts
associated with a setter trunk line
extension, including impacts
related to annexation;: if develop-
merit of the project area requires
merit
t _
service.
Septic tank systems should be
designed to meet the standards and
r-equirements of the !titrate Action
V
Plan and sewerage study. (PS)
" Dee of a dditicnal residential'-
Butte Counts should consider cumula-
for service:
Development
° s would incrementally increase the
` (PS)
tive demanels police
and develop an appropriate funding
• demand for police services.
mechanism, such as an assessment-
district to maintaim future level
of service stanOlards (The
r
feasibility of this Litigation
measure is questionable _because -
recent efforts by the county do
raise revenues for this purpose- havel
been denied 'by voters.)
Butte County should require
developers of the project area to
form an assessment district to pay I
for the incremental impact
r
($28,600) Per year on poI16,e
op
services created b the 00osed
General Plan Amendment.
r
r
n
S Significant (Adverse)
NS Not Significant (Adverse)
PS Poteltjally Significant (,Adverse)
B Beneficial
r(CONTINUED)
1
�-g
r,
i
(CONTII7UED) . SUMMARY OF PROJECT IMPACTS: AND MITIGATION MEASURES
2.1-1
TABLE°
MITIGATION MEASURES
IMPACT
(Significance After
}
(significance)
Mitigation)
Development of residential uses dthe
ue t 475 per
parcetinwill the nWestc Fire
newl
demand
project area would increase the demand
County Fire Department,
Station Benefit Area" to gain
t
upon the Butte
of fire hydrants in
fun tire
tswiilbserveathe wproject tarean
and the lack
would create a significant f the
area `
safety hazard,. (S)
Butte County should seek additional
- volunteers to operate Station 42
until Station 43 is'const'ructed.
A pressurized water system should
be installed to conform to Butte
County Fire Department requirements.
Hydrants should be placed in
appropriatY locations according to
county standards defined on page 52'
of-the Butte County<Imarovement
Standards for Subdivisions Parcel
Ma's anis .Site Sm rovements Pursuant'
to Chapter 20 of t he Butte County
Th of Neal Dow School would
'e capacity
Butte County will collect builderts
to use for support of the Chita,
{
be exceeded With the add of the
Unified School District. The ,
students expected to be generated by
the
ordfied
illance allowing fees to be
students
pment in and outside of
collected, has a five year time
project area. (S)
frame due to a sunset clause. In
November, 19841 Butts County failed
in its attempt to establish an
assessment district to generate
additional :ands for nex'elementary
schools thdtl are needed for the
Chico area. (PS)
S Significant (Adverae)
NS Not Significant (Adverse)
Beneficial
PS Potentially Sgniffcant (Adverse)
H
i
(CONTINDED)
2-1 i�
TABLE 2.1-1 (CONTINUED). SUMMARY OF PROJECT' IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES
14ITIGATION MEASURES:'
IMPACT
(Significance After
(Significance)
Mitigation)
'f
New residential development in the
The City of Chico and Butte County
the recommendations,
project area would increase storm
should follow
presented in the storm drainage
i
water runoff and the demand for
waterge'eapacity. (PS)
study to mitigate impacts
associated with storm drainage, (PS)
N
The_, proposed project would increase the
Butte County should implement the
Circulation Element Policy to
demand for road maintenance on'undex-
in the project area.
develop a system of off site
developed roadways
development fees and or development
t
(PS)
agreements for road construction c
and maintenance to allow project r
y
areal roadways to be widened and
upgraded as future development ;
occurs.
The standards defined in the Butte
r
Count, Circulation Element (page 35)
arad :in the Butte County document
entitled Improvement Standards for
Subdivisions. Parcel Maps and Site 1+
Improvements Pursuant toChapter 20 l
of the Butte Count-- Code should be - ,
requiredfor the roads in the
'
project area to reduce maintenance.
The applicable standards involve
road types R3_3-A--6nd sR5-4 ; depend -
ing ,on speoific development
4
A pe,. ;
proposals: These improvements would
�,y';�Y u �," .
i�
not rd for the proposed
General Plan but vould
be required when subdivisions or
development is proposed.
S Significant (Adverse)
NS Not. Significant (Adverse)
BEtnefieial
PS Potentially Significant ('Adverse)
B
(cGNTiNt1ED)
2-11
j
.1111
TABLE 2�1-1 (CONTINUED)- SUMMI RY OF PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURE
1
MITIGATION MEASURES
(Significance After
IMPACT
(Significance)
Mitigation)
eDevelopment
develop a
allowed under the proposed
Butte County should
district to
project mould incrementally inereaaa
the demand for library, services which
countywide assessment
library
maintain acceptable libraservice
ry ,
.. q
ate alread operating below adequate
levels (materials, staff, i
service levels. (S)
operating aours).
�. .
The proposed projeot would have a.
Butte County should develop an "In
:minor incremental ,impact -on parks and
Lieu" fee program as part of the
N(a�ural
recreational facilities which Would be
ongoing development of a
cumulatively significant. (PS)
Resources and Recreation Elements)
General Plan.
for the county
i
S kgnitidAht (Adverse)
NS Not Significanet (Adverse)
PS Potentially Significant (Adverse)
B Beneficial
Rwi2
3. EFFECTS DETERMINED
y EDTO BE t
SIGNIFICANTSSIBLY T:
EXISTING SETTINGIMPACTSAND1"TIGATIQN�SIGNIF
t�ASURESICA?
.1 LAND USE,_PLANNING
APPLICABLE PLANS AND POLICIES
EXISTING SETTING
Land Uses. Land in the project area is used ,for agricultural and residential
purposes. The primary agricultural uses in the area are orchards, but other
uses such as pasture land and vineyards are present. Re:!idential uses are
located throughout the projectth ext-. side of Rodeo Dying units are located
' Clusters of dwelling
in four locations; Drive; (2) along the west
end of ;Muir Avenue; (3) along the -south half of Nord Avenue; and O along
Bell Road near Guynn Avenue.
Land uses surrounding the project area are similar to those within "the project
area; however, residential uses increase in frequency and density to the south
and east. The main Southern Pacific Transportation Company railroad line
forms the project site's western boundary. The "railroad tracks are located.
parallel to State Route 32. Industrial and commercial land uses have been
developed along both sides of State Route 32 Hest of the project area. Large
parcels north of the project, area are used for agricultural purposes.
�ricultural Character of the Protect Area and clic nits. The project area and
vicinity contain highly productive soils. These soils and other factora, such
as climate and the availability of inexpensive water, combine to.make this
area and much of Butte County highly conducive to agriculture.
The continued viability of agriculture, the ;county's biggest industry, is Ia
vital component of the -county's economy.. Both the City of Chico and the Butte
county General Plans recognize the importance of agriculture and address the
issue with specific land use planning policies and procedures. A primary land
.Use planning tool$ hfollowing discussionunderyGenera] Plan poine licipoicyy is described in the
es
�' p , j y
The character of the icultural J.ands within the ro dot area is tMpical of
agricultural lands on the edge of urban areas The incremental direct and
indirect impacts of urban activity are affecting the economic viability of
agriculturalproduotiori. The follOwing direct and indirect impacts affect the
viability of agriculture on the project site and increase the, incentive for
Property owners to discontinue agricultural production in order to capitalize
on the short term' economic gain which can be realized by urban development:
smaller parcel sizes, increasing property values, urban nuisances, such'as
,. vandalism, and impacts of agricultural activites on urban uses, such as the
application of pesticides and the generation of dist, smoke and noise.
Although these impacts are affecting agricultural 'uses on the site; they have
not prevented productive use of the project area for agriculture `o the
reseht time.
me.
GeneraX plan Land Ube.DesiAnatiobs, . Butte County's Chico Area Land Use Plan
designates the project site Por "Orchard and Field Crops" uses with five acre
minimum parcel sizes. Parcel sizes which are Less than 20 acres are
conditionally consistent with this designation. kkisting General Plan land
use designations in the project vicinity are presented in Figure 3.1-1z One
l
31-1
r _
".1-. .�.^-.+•L_ ��1 �"'. 'u' ' Cyt'-�� i `�.: 'C{ 'ir
.
-`�QRtJJ EGT SITE
— M
_ f
.77
ZLL
Mtbj b-M DENSITY RESIIIENTIAL
ORCAtM X`ND FIELD CROPS
LN DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
-
'}..�=•�.:. _--�=�sy � � INDUSTRIAL '
AGRTCVLllJkAL RESIDENTIAL
�-
VUBLVt
r
_
EIGuRE 3:]=1 CITY AND COUNTY GENERAL
PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATIONS
"MOM SCALE IN -TA PROJECT VICINITY
ea�rCi-i mcatr�as ��� 2000
family dwelling Per parcel with additional housing for .)n site
single equired maximum density for properties subje(it to this
employees is the r
r 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
sut)ject to the Orchard and Field Crop designation are as follows:
prations•
- soil conditions well suited for plant crop oprations;
adequate craterSupply;
predominant parcel sizes of five acres or more;
used for crop production ar secondary uses; and
adjacent uses compatible with primary and secondary uses.
The three conditional, zoning
and development criteria for the Orchard and
Crop. uses are: _
.Field.ries
predominate existing parcel sizes range from 5 to 10 acres;
J a y
» _
adjacent to or in the general vicinity of urban :bound if icantly
present status of agricultural 'production will not be sign
impaired,
The six "zoning factors for the Orchard and Field Crap uses are:
densities; ....
- existing p
arcel sizes and dwellng
proximity to urban development;
effects on adjacent uses;
- potential for pest insect breeding;
economic viability;
- local desires. d Field Crop designs ars
tion apps to be
The project site's existing Orchard.
ary criteria for designating the site and the
consistent with the five primary teria. However, the designation
o ent 'eri
three conditional zoning
and devel pm
may not be consistent with two of the six zoning factors CeoUsly viability
and local desires). Eeoncmic viability was discussed previously under the
heading ",Agricultural. Character of the Project Area and vicinitye ti' "local
desires" include the desires of local property 'owners, then the existing
designation is clearly inappropriate relative to this factor because the
project applicants are all local property owners.
Zoning. `�hO Project t area is subject to the ioquirements of the Butte County
P sof two zoning districts, EA-5y zoning map
Com rehensive Zoning Ordinance Number 1?5Q: 'The Butte Coi�inty zAgricultu,re and:
indicates that the requirement
3�1�R2.SuThebAn parcelsdentitd fect
apply to the area Within the dark border ;in Figure
affected by the proposed General :• Plan Amendu►ent are within
the Ai Hietrict. The requirements of this zone are presented in Aopehdix
Permitted uses are consistent With the General Plan land use
The minimum lot area required is
designation of,"Oreherd and Field Crop .
five acres Cade the ,previous discussion of zoning and development criteria and
zoning factors)
Man Development Trends and Patterns. Urban development in the Chico area
has been dire operties wii=hin the
i ure6oted withdPuallooatians�north hsoutheandteast of the city core.
existing
In addition. to 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). x
Two large private projects, Foothill Park and Rancho Arroyo,
have been
approved in northern Chico. The Foothill Park development acres
of residential and office uses (3,200 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 (44,600 dwelling units, none
have been sold at this time) 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 toaards infill of:existing parcels
planned for 'urban uses by local planning efforts, the lack of sewer service
connections, and the city/county Greenline. However, large parcels of
underutilized land are available for development within the existing Chico
Area Greenline.
The population of the incorporated area of Chico was approximately 31,150 in
' 1985 according to state Department of. Finance calculations dated April 29,
1985. The 1985 population accounted or approximately,44 percent of the total
population of incorporated areas of Butte County and 19 percent of the total
count population in 1985 (see Append 13.7). A summary repcontrolled
Y ed
Y breakdowns b
county population estimates for Janna 1 1985,. including b ort of cont goes
housing unit type, estimated vacancy rates, and the average number of per
per household for incorporated and unincorporated areas in Butte County, is
presented in Appendix 13.8• The population of the incorporated and
unineo'rporated "Chico Area" was approximately 64,000 persons in 1985 and was
estimated to increase to 102,000 by the year 2000 and to 17T000 after
buildout of the General Plan Land Use Map, according to the Chico Urban Area
Transportation Study prepared in 1982. Table 3.1-1 presents a more recent
population forecast for buildout of the Chico Area.
The population of the project vioinity defined as the area north and west of
Bell Roadi the Chico Urban
Area Traff4d Study)Ais expectedotohincrease rfrom 2jo06 persons to 2,1141 by the
year 2014 ('h
ioo Urban Area Transportation Study;1982),
General PltAh policies.
CHICO AREA GREENLZNE 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 Chico area of Butte County. The Greenline is
delineated in Figure -1i The project site is not included within the urban
.boundary line, blit has been designated. as "study Area Number 1," The
designation would allow theL County Board of Supervisors, after making
appropriate. findings and "providing a simple majority vote, to revise the
location of the 'Chico Area Greenline so at) to place the affected parcels
within Study Area Number 1, in the urban portion of the Chino Area Greenline
however, the special policies end procedures related to the Greenline, as
described in the Butte County General plan, would apply to any amendments
3.15
related to this area. The Chico Area Greenline Policy is presented in Appendix
the: Greenline are summarized as follows.dment and review of
13.5. The purposes of the policy and procedures for amen
Purposes of Greenline Policy. The purposes of the Chico. Area Greenline
are':
a) To define the limits of future urban development which may occur on,
agricultural lands in the Chico area of Butte County,
b) To provide for the long term protection of agricultural.resources of
the Chico area of Butte County.
e) To mitigate the threat to agricultural resource -'s Dosed by urban
encroachment into and conversion of agriculturial lands in the Chico
area of Butte County.
d) To reduce agricultural/urban conflicts in the, Chico area of Butte
,
County.
e') To establish County cooperation with the City of Chico in land use
planning of urban and agricultural lands located in the Chico area
of Butte County.
f) To identify urban development limits in or near agricultural lands
within the county's 'Chico area Land Use Plan by use of a certain
bold dashed boundary line,
1' g) To establish a certain and clear policy text for Butte County's
Chico Area Land_ Use Element which will enhance and uphold the
aforementioned .boundary line and poli-oy text.
h) To establish certaini land_ i tions for the Chico area of
y ..use h them orementioned boundary line and
Butte Count in conformity with. the of
policy text.
e Butte Count'
Procedures for Amendment of the Greenling Policy. Th y
Board of Supervisors may amend the Chico Greenling 'Policy through a
majority vote after adopting 11ritten findings of fact, supported by
substantial evidence in the public record. shorting the following:
(a) th"at t�be public benefits of converting the agricultural land to
urban land substantially outweigh the public benefits of continued
agricultural production; and
(b) there are no other ,� ent� available and
ro sed di�velo
suitable for sheer urpoban or suburban lands. reasonable
p
Procedures Poor Bev
states that f Review of the Greenling Policy: The Greenline ;Policy
atidn of the Greenline shall 'be reviewed and
evaluated every five years to insure that local laud use needs of the
Chico area are 'being met. The first ,review of the 'policy is due in
1987: 9owever, the policy also states that an individual may petition
MIid Board of Supervisors for a General Plan Amendment, including a
3:1.7
change in the location of the Gireenline, in accordance With the
applicable laws and policies of Butte County and the; State of Caljfornia
(see Appendix '13.5).
HOUSING ELEMENT. The City of Chico and Butte County have adopted Housing
Elements as part of their General Plans. The primary measure to implement the
Hauling Element is the General Flan Land Use Map, which reserves lands for �
residential uses. The City of Chico Housing Element defines the policies,
programs, and recommendations related to the provision of housing in the city.
The ,following text from the city°s Housing Element was adapted to summarize
Chico bousing 9olicies.
In planning for the provision of housing for all present and future Chico
residentu the 'city's primary goal is to provide for :a variety of housing
types in an atmosphere conducive to the well being of cite residents, and
particularly to provide for.an adequate supply of housing ranging in, cost
to meet the demands of students, low and moderate income persons, the
special needs of the elderly and handicapped, and to ppovide as
opportunity for first time home buyersi t rket
The Housing Element recogni
such as building coatstoorteS"gabehinterest arateintss ftheapreaervation of ,
agricultural .land, provision of sanitary sewers, storm drainage and
streets, the provision of other'publi seritices such, as police and fire
Protection* Pohool faeilitieo and parks, concern for design, preservation~:
of neighborhoods and historical structure:►, as Well as concern for energy
conservation within housing .units. The Housing Element states that "all
of these factors must be considered in concert with one another, and no
single item can be emphasized at the expense ofanother if Chico is to
pursue a balanced and realistic approach to the provision of housing for
current and future Chico residents (Citiy of Chico, 1985).
The Butte County Housing Element also defines policies, programs, and
recommendations related to the; provision of :housing;. The following policies
apply to the project area.
A governmental framework shall be estiablshed and maintained Which
encourages and facilitates maximu.ra performance of the private
homebuilding industry in aeeomm atin$ the housing .needs of the county -*s
current,and projected populat
Planning and zoning considerations affectin8 housing production shall be,
1 applied in A manner Which seeks to talanoe the need for 'protecting and
enhancing the environment with the hOO 'for housing at affordable
Prices.
"i construction shall be encouraged in laaatioas with
�- New housing ing facilities,
reasonable proximity to centers of employment and shopp
and which respect the eonser.tion of energy. The private homebuilding
industry shall be enaourat,ed to give priority consideration to
developing wthinekis� `ing urbanized areas or in locations adjacent, to
�
i such .areas ('Butte"County-* 1984)
e3,1=g
' IMPACTS
LandUses. The prop osed 'General Plan Amendment would not directly affect
existing, develcp3dland uses; ,however, it would encourage private property
owners to subdivide prime agricultural land for residential development. An 4
additional 270 new residential units could be allowed in the project area if
project my
the ro ect is approved (Tuttle 19a5). Without approval �f the project, o
20, additional resi.>ential units could be developed in the project area.
The conversion of additional agricultural land to urban uses would increase
the frequency an magnitude o` adverse land use compatibility impacts between
the remaining agricultural land and residential uses within and around the.
project site. The incremental and cumulative loss of agricultural land is a
significant local, regional, state and national concern due to the importance
of ,agriculture 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 certain threshold levelst support services may be relocated,
service costs may increase, or sorvioes may be reduced. In the Chico area,
t 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 iucrementally affect production by encouraging reduced
parcel sizes and by encouraging further applications for General Plan
Amendments within the revised Greenline (see Section,4.2,' Expanded Project
Area Alternative; Section 6, Growth Inducing Impacts; and a later discussion,
in this section regarding the Chico Area Greenline).
Planned. Land t;ses. The :proposed project Would revise the General Plan Land
n the affected parcels. The designation of
adjacent Use and Zpropertieahibg s8i
andproperties almost surrounded by the affected parcels
would not be. changed. The resulting land use pattern would not be logical or
stable compared to a project involving all of the pexee19 in the project area
or a project with better boundary delineation, such as roads or creaks (see
Section 4, Expanded Project Area and Section 6) Growth Inducing Impacts).
The new land use designation for the project area would be "Urban:
agricultural Residential" with one 'acre minimule parcel sizes. The applicable
zoning designation could be SR -1 (see Appendix 13.4). The secondary impacts
associated with these revisions to planned land uses are the subject of thio
report.
14Pgyn_nMaat Treads and Patterns. The proposed General Plan Amendment
std 8w:50equent development of residential uses in the project area could
result in the development of up to 270 ad�itional residential units and
approximatoly 648 persons Cat 2.4 persons per dwelling uinit)., Development in
this area would not be consistent with the city's intent to encourage
development in other locations in the Chico Urban Area. The addition of 648
persons to the project area (Tratt".10 Zone 10) would exceed the. population
projected in the Chico Urban Area Transportation Study by approximately 31
percent of the population projected for the year 2000 and would represent a
00 648 Vs, 106).
number of people to be added in this zone
to
106). Although the addition of the 648 personstosix fold increase in the
i
by the year 2d
II
the project vioinIity would not be oonsidered a significant adverse impact, the
r expansion.of the housing market into prime agricultural land at the expanse of
focusing development in other areas with existing sewer connections would be
considered a significant, adverse planninginconsistency (see following
discussion on the Chico Area Greenline)i,
Chien Area Greenline: Approval of the proposed General Plan kmendment would
Area. Greenline within Study Area Number 1.
require relocation of the Chico
r The change is shown in Figure 3.1-3• This relocation of the Chico Area
Greenline must be supported by substantial evidence in the public record
showing that the public benefits of converting the agricultural land to urban.
land substantially outweigh the public benefits of continued agricultural
production; and that there are no other urban or suburban lands reasonably
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'gt;,ath inducing by
directly fostering population growth and by removing the Greenline as a
on 6, Growth Inducing Impacts). Review of the.
Chico Area Greenline Poli'cyeisistill expected to occur in 1987.'
constraint to growth
Housing. The proposed General. Plan Amendment would increase the supply of
available residential ?and in the Chico Urban Area. The future residential
units would not be expected to serve students'or low to moderate income
persons, but would :,;crease the supply of and competition among higher priced
units. This impact would be beneficial. At this times the conversion of this
property from agrioultural uses to residential uses may not be consistent with
city or county housing Policies, which indicate the need to balance
preservation -of agrioultural land and/or the environment with increasing the
supply of housing. The previous discuasi'ona pertaining to IIrban Development
Trends and Patterns and the Chico Area Greenline indicate that the lass of the
subject agricultural laid is A significant impact and that the availability of
housing in other areas of eastern and northern Chico may not justify the
proposed General Plan Amendment at this time.
ASURESMITIGATION
The following significant adverse land use and planining
easible. The No Project, Alternative
impacts identified in this section would be unavoidable if the project were is
approved: No mitigation measures are f
disouased in section 4 of this report.'
Unavoidable rffivaets
1. The proposed project would encourage the development of approximately
,2To new dwelling units in an area of prime agricultural land and would
increase tfrequency act
`3es. fre4uencand
dmagnitude of adverse land use compatibility
impacts withagricultural-
24 Cumulative financial
loss
scand employmentduetion, and related
impacts to support instrie
3. Future development conditional nal toning and developmex�
�peteriteria
with the g
may not be .consistent with: .
for the Agr.euitural and Residential. Use Designation. (This is the
3:1'-10
subject of this Environmental Impaot, Report. .Measures to improve
infrastructure, and services are proposed in other sections of this
report to improve consistenOy With zoning and _development criteria.)'
4 Development in the project area would not be consistent with the city's
locations in the -h
and county's intent to encourage development in other
Chico Urban Area (undermines efforts to redirect growth by not allowing
the east side, of Chico to realize its development potential).
The amendment of the Chico Area rewould 5 Th G�enline foster population
growth and would remove a constraint .on growth in the project vicinity
as a firm growth management tool.
I'
by .weakening the Greenline policy
,r
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�?Vb40aS EXISTII�GGGp � I80.
ARRA 0 � s UNDARIES OF R1;VISED
ORMLINE
�.a ALTERNATIVE AREA
11011IIiiRI GREENLINE WITH ALTERNATIVE AREA
e . FIGURE 3 1-3 tOGC ,TION 01±' THE CHICO AREA GRHENL t E
'SCALE
�et^Ch metP'!c9 k� i 2D0bk ,.
,2 TRAFFIC..,AND CIRCULATION
EXISTING SETTING
adway Syetem. The roadway system within the project area is presented in
Figure 1.1-2. Roadways serving the project area include: Muir Avenue, Bell
Road, Alamo Avenue, Guynn Avenue, Nord Avenue. The primary access roadways
serving the project area are East Avenue, State Route 32 and The Esplanade.
Muir Avenue, Bell Road; Alamo Avenue, Guynn 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 Avenue is the primary east/west arterial in northern Chicoa State Route
32 is a two lane highway providing access to Hamilton City, Orland, Interstate
5, and southern .Chico (see Figures 1.1-1 and 1.1-2). State Route 32 is a four
lane roadway southeast of First Street. The Esplanade or State Business Route
99 is a primary 'north/south arterial reading to State Route 99 which provides
north/south access to Red Bluff, Redding (to the north) and to Sacramento and
Southern California (to the south). The Esplanade also provides access to
commercial areas, including downtown Chico.
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
r which is significantly less than 90 degrees. These intersections and "the
substandard construction of the associated roadways are typically able to
accommodate fewer vehicles than conventional intersections and standard
y
:roadways. Project area roadways can also present ansafe maneuvering
conditions. The following; unconventional intersections are located in the
,project area: Bell/Mule, Bell/Nord, Bell/Guynn, Bell/Alamoj Bell/Jones,
Bell/Elkwood, Bell/Butterfly, Bell/Cussick, East/Kennedy, Kennedy/State Route
32, and Rodeo/Nord. The following roadways do not meet county roadway
standardak,- Alamo, Guynn, Nord, Rodeo, Henshaw .
and Muir
Local..Traffic Conditions and Levels of Service. Table 3.2-1 provides 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 "service are being incrementally
reduced by increasing traffic volumes at the following intersections: East/
State Route 32 East/The Esplanades East/State Route 99, East/Cohasset and The
Esplanade/Cohasset (see Figure 1.1-2) Table 3:2-2 provides the existing P.M.,
i peakhour, levels of service at these intersections. At some locations, the,
'level of service is estimated based on observations rather than calculations.
r Areawide Traffic Conditions. In 19821 the City of Chico prepared an areawide
trAhbpoetation study. For purposes of documenting the traffic setting, the
Chico Urban Area Transit Study (WS. )i prepared for the city by M and
Associates,, is hereby incorporated by reference. The CATS has riot been
' adapted by the county: dings presented in 'CATS
Some of the At,
may not be current,,prudent, or accurate. This EIR recognizes and accounts
for these inadequacies to the rartent feasible. The county will 'cooperate and
encourages the city to refine the CATS:
The objective of the Chico Urban Area Transportation Study was to predict
future traffic levels in the Chico area and identify transpartat On
improvements that Kill be ne
cessary to accommodate this future travel demand.
3:2-1
a
1�c
The CATS information is to be updated and revised based upon the most current
I available and represents a basis from which cumulative traffic analyses
can begin. FOP 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 3.273
presents existing and projected traffic volumes on major streets in the
project area. Figure 3.2-1 shows the major improvements required by the year f
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
primary improvements identified in the CATS for the project
Theseeimprovements
areal p are expected b the
p- Y year. 2000...
Widening of 'East Avenue to four lames between Stage Route 32 and
The Esplanade.
Widening of East Avenue to six lanes between T
- � he Esplanade and State
Route 99. (Butte County questions the feasibility of this improvement.
The maximum feasible width of East Avenue in this location is expected
to be five lanes. Widening would eliminate on street parking along East
Avenue in this location.)
t-
intersection improvements at Lassen/The Esplanade, Lassen/State Route
99,, and The Esplanade/Cohasset.
Tile 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 interchangb at State Route 99,
- Anew two lane connection bel.:ween State Route 32 and State Route 99 via
Eaton Road.
The ;following text from CATS clarifies traffic conditions and planned
improvements in the Northwest Chico Subarea. Generally, the Northwest Chico
subarea involves the area north of lith Avenuo and west of Cohasset.
"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 411 east -West traffic between the commercial areas oto Nord
Avenue (Stato ,Ioute 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 lure arterial throughout. The existing sections of Lassen
Avenue would bc. Widened from 40 to 48 feet except for under, the freeway;
where the bride abutments are Only 52 feet apart,, Such a parallel road,
Which would. also be linked to the Route 99 freeway, Would attract as mush
as 80% Of the East Avenue traffic,
Further relief could be .:provided by extending Eaton Road' west to Nord
Avehue. This would divert about 5,000 external trips a day between Route
32 and northeast Chico as well as two to thrse thousand trips between Route
32 and the Route 99 freeway. Thus; With the Lassen and Eaton extensions,
about 7,000 trips would be diverted to Eaton, and around 15000 trips would
be diverted to Lassen, leaving only around27000 trips on East Avenue
3.2-4
TABLE 3.2-2`. EXISTING LEVELS OF SERVICE AT APPLICABLE INTERSECTIONS IN NORTH,
CHICO DURING TETE P.M. PEAK HOUR
7
P.M. PEAR 'HOUR
INTERSECTION
LEVEL OF SERVICE (a)
■
--
East/SR 32
A (b_ )
East/Kennedy
A (b) -
SR '32/Kennedy
A (b)
East/The- Esplanade.. __
NA_
East/SR 99
A (.47)
North Ramp
South Ramp
A (.57)
East/Cohssset
B (.62)
The Esplanade/West Shasta
A (b)
The Esplanade/West Lassen
A (b)
The Esplanade/Henshaw
B (b)
The Esplanade/Cohasset
C (.81)
SR 99/Eaton
D (b)
NA Not Available
(a) See Table 3.2-1 for descr_,stions>of levels of service for intersections.
(b) This level of seevioe is assumed by the
city based on observations
-
rather than turning movement volumes, because no recent counts have been
performed (Derrick, 1985).
Sources Derrick, 1986.
r
r
r
.32-6
TABLE 3.2-3• EXISTING AND PROJECTED TRAFFIC VOLUMES_.ON MAJOR
STREETS IN THE
iROJECT AREA
i
STREET SEGMENT LXISTING
FUTURE (2000)
DAILY VOLUME
DAILY VOLUME
r
1981 (a) 1986 (b)
EAST AVENUE,
SR 32 to Dixon/Cussick 8,800 9,716
15,500
Dj:xon/Cussick to The Esplanade 10,400 '11,257
26,700
The Esplanade to SR 99 14,800 16,340
;,x9700
SR 99 to Cohasset 111300 12,476
181600
THE ESPLANADE'
Eaton to Lassen 71400 8,170
1`8,500,
Lassen to East 13,300 14,684
25,800
East to Cohasset 23,600 26,056
25,600 (c)'
STATE ROUTE32
Porth of East NA NA
12,700
�r
South of East 8,700 9,606
11,400
(a), SOuree: Butte County Circulation Elooant, 1584.
(b) 1981 volumes increased by two peree:t per year for five
years; Derrick,
1986.
(c) Indicates underestimated;Puture volume or overestimated 1986 volumew
rNA
Not Available
Source. Earth Metrics 1985,1 13L to County Circulation Element,, 1984; and
Derrick, 1986, Pierce, 1986.
rNest
of The Esplanade). East of the The esplanade, the
traffie on East
I ill be further, reduced by theL proposed Laren Avetaue interchange
Which
will divert much local traffic. "Thus, traffic along East
Avthue betweeh
N PI andCohasset would probably range from 25,000 to 30,000
vehicles 1pde
Kith traffic on Lassen xangiiig from 15,000 (at Nord)
to 95,000 (west
of the freeway) vehiel'es per day: Thus, East Avenge may
still be able to
ion as a four lane road, although It has been shown
ndw
as a 6 lane
and ton
=f siah
Y Pigure lebeocAvenuehonlyswidened
extens onnpro3eetsshould done First, and East
to
six l anes if congestion on Fast still occurs.
r3.2-7
1
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 Eaton Road a four
lane road between The Esplanade and Cohasset" (City of Chico, 1982)•
ated by
Another improvement Which is not in a oned, inCALTRANS "Routehe SConceptsR port"prelated
the City of Chic is identified in a this improvement would involve
to State Route 32• In the project vicinity,
the Widening State Route 32 to three lanes, including a central two tray left
turn lane, and the construction of bicycle lanes.
Trans ortation Element of the Chico General Plan• The Transportation Element
of the Chico General Plan is directed towards achieving a balanced
transportation system, whicheednpatternssures nvenient of land useesand°r allmini.mizesChicdisruption
residents, serves the propos P
Of the environment. The discussions focus on: 1) the ixnPem�vateo
and fpublic
coordinated multi modal transport s; thhe°scenicienhancement of the
motor vehicles,
landscape;c3)lthe abatement of noise generated by transportation
highway and 5) separation of modal systems. Noise uas not found
systems; 4) safety;
to be a significant. environmental issue for the proposed project, according to
the Initial Study prepared by Butte 'Coutty (see Appendix 13.1)• The following
■ p summarize the Transportation Element. accommodate
policies to
Insure
that the existing and proposed circulation
areuin endedYtoesem. a with a
the multi. modal traffic functions they
.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 Transporta
tion Study,
rTraffic Setting).
Develop a public transit system responsive to'hhe needs of the greater - -
Chico community. Actively promote the system as an alternative to
automobiles. (The Chico Area Transit System is an existing aerviee)•
Develop a system of bicycle facilities that provides, where possible,
separate access to major destinations and assures the safety of all (see
discussion on pedestripi and bicycle facilities)
Protect and enhance the seeiric qualities of State Routes 32 and 99 and
other major entry Kays to the city. A11 neK commercial development
j L quately landscaped.
Adjacent to State. Routes 32 avid 99 should be ads
Circulation Element of the But a Coup Gene.A Pi The Circulation Element
t tv �_
of the Butte County General Plan eras prepared iii, 198 • The ob"lat it is a guide
And developing the future transportation and circulation system in
to, managing _ e of the EXer�ent carries to,the year 2000;
the county. The intended tbaefram
with analysis, evaluation, and planninT eotlementcused nisoorganizeddinto three
within five and ten year 'timeframes• Pblidy,is intended
basic components. 'The first component, Part Oh- Basis for,
transportation
e basis for developingBA to Coun%y's
tolic ah analytical and desc.riptiv Policies, +sets forth
p y Transpot'tation Issues and an
programs to the year 2000: The Ap
Cation goals, objectives, policies, an
_. a Appendices of the Circulation Element contain
county�ride and urban area trap
3�2"8
w
r ed to b the previous text,
additional information.. and data supplemen�s referr Y.
including the Element's environmental impact report. The Butte County
Circulation. Element Diagram is presented in Figure 3.2-3• The primary
improvement shown in Figure 3.2-3 that relates 'to the project area is the
whichEaton Road extension would be constructed after the year 2000 to provide
additional east/Ost capacity in North Chico.
The following policies, programs ar:d requirements of the Butte County _
Circulation Element specifically relate to the project area and proposed
General Plan Arendment p-oJect:
2.1.2 Butte County Will encourage and support sincere efforts by county
rresidents to form assessment districts for road maintenance and road
drainage.,
2,2.4 The county will pursue the development of A comprehensive fiscal
Impact model or program, including for traffic or road impacts, to
- assist in the analysis of .cost and revenue
.balances from proposed
development projects.
2.P program: The county will study, develop and implement, as feasible,
the following road related fiscal pro
grams, over time;
1) Road assessment districts for maintenance of raw d'evelopment.'
2) Development fees for off site traffic impacts caused by new
development. This program should first develop plans and
schedules for speaifie developments that will contribute to the
impact of circulation in surrounding locations. A long term
goal of a countywide developer fee program for tr6ffCompimpacts
sive'
should be studied and implemented ata ater s',atez
road development fee ;programs should be --jointly developed --
between thecountyand the cities of Butte County.c
t
3) Drainage assessuent districts in 'problem areas.
4) Enforceable road development agreements.
4 -J,4 Right of wdy needed for new roads or expansion of existing roads
shall be plannEd for. land uses that would preclude the timely
develapment of such right of way shall be prohibited.
4A.6 usable road "easements of adequate width shall be located as to most
beneficially serve the needs of all:parcels.
4.1.8 ?rivate subdivision roads will be built to pull, county standards and
I' they will be privately maintained as such through their maintenance
cycle.
4;1.10 New Jand'divisions should be held responsible for their fair share
of the off site road3mprovo.taents needed to handle the traffic
increases, that they cause``
4..1.11 The county :should encourage the utilization of development
agreements as one way of ensuring; that road development standards
and plans are meta
14.1.1 The county will maintain the integrity of the Chico Area Greenline
qadopted in 1982.
Pedestrian and Bievcle Facilities. Pedestrian and bicycle activities
generated from 'Within the project area are relatively low due to the low
q
density of development in the area. No sidewalks or formal bicycle lanes exist
along roadways in the .area, rut.the low traffic volumes and low residential
density make walking and bicycling relatively safe activities. Henshaw
f Avenue, Lassen Avenue, and Cussick Avenue, south of Bell Road, are designated
as long range Class III bikeways, Class III is bQuivalent to a bike route
with no on street right Of Ways or improvements.
qPublic._Transit. The Chico'Urban Area is served by the Chico Area Transit
System. Regular scheduled bus service is provided near the project area by
Route 1, which serves East Avenue and The Esplanade, east and south of the
q project area. The route serves North Valley Plaza Mail, 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.
q Intensification 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 anew route 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 to the perimeter of the project area is lciated at the
intersection of :East Avenue with The Esplanade, approximately one mile east
o
the project area. Bus service Weekdays is provided between 6:30 A.M.
and 7-030
P.M..- Saturday service is available between 8:30A.M. and 6:30 P.M. Most
transfer points are located in the downtown area. Regional transit serviceis
provided by Butte County Transit, which operates routes from the City of Chico
to,Butte .College and the community centers of oroville and paradise.
q Access routes to and throughout the pro,jeet area are
Emergency A�cess�
presented in Figure-3 2-1 No emev,�6ency vehicle access restrictions currently
exist within or around the project area. i�owever, the unconventional
intersections identified previously in this section present minor obstacles to
large vehicles, such "as fire trucks;
IMPACTS
iia Genetion: The proposed General Plan Amendment would allots up
to 270
new residential units to be approved in the project area. These residences
would generate approximately 2;700 trip ends (inbound or outbound) per day,;
based upon a trip g
eneraton rate oftentrip ends per residence per day
(Ina
titute of Transportation Engineers, 1982): Peak hour trip generation from
the 270 residential units kould be approximately 270 ,trip ends during each of '
the A.Ai. and RaAl. peak hour periods. The A.Ai. and P.'Mj peak hour period's "are
one hour "periods
with the highest traffic volumes betVdt
A.Mi6:30 and 8:30
the and 4:00 and 6 t 00 P.A.
q3.,2-11
1 _
esfr/rtit�.m l Widow rlP
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a
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Ile
`
CLASS I (OATH)
(LANE?, ' ils.k � ,.�
riLAS5 �I d -. ?i i ti,; {..e. • r f /
• 7 '''lIILLL
tt
CLASS lit (ROUTEI `*^ • '� ♦' + �'.
YatlYlt/NtY�t s r1� S'it'gY�lt�1j X. ~' i`r"°
`0, Z '',1 ➢� ,r,
4 1 a a� .L -1•{�y
� ♦
SCAy1+1 �My 4� ;rd a 7
LE:
earth ICUR 3. Z��+ BiIC WXy8 P7,' OF TEEE 'G�tICO GENERAL PLAN
W rniotrli36
Trip Distribution. The total number of trips generated by the proposed
project (2,700 trips) were distributed within the existing roadway system by
making general assumptions about where new vehicle trips would be destined.
The 'primary assumptions were as follows;
rFive percent of all trips would use State Route 32 north of Muir Avenue.
- 20 percent of all trips would uae State Route 32 south of East Avenue.
70 percent of all trips would use West Shasta (104), West Lassen (104)
r !
Henshaw (154) and East Avenue (354)
Five percent of all trips would use Guynn-Avenue (2.5%) and Cussick
Avenue (2.54) south of East Avenue,:
Table 3.2-4 presents the expected incremental increase i,n vehicle volumes
projected to occur from 270 additional residential units inthe project area.
Table 3.2-5 presents the relative impact expected with and without the
;proposed projecton the circulation system.:
Traffic Conditions. The addition of up to 270 residential units to the
project y a would incrementally increase the traffic volumes on area
roadways. ''this additional traffic would add to projected volumes in the
project vicinity abd Would decrease levels of service at affected`
intersections. The following discussions clarify where impacts could occuras
-a result of the additional 'trips generated by the project 'in one future year
(2000)•
proposed General Plan Amendment the number of left under
STATE ROUTE 32. The additional'.trips by development allowable
the turns
from East Avenue to State Route 32, would increase traffic on the east/west
portion of Kennedy Avenue, and Would increase traffic at the State Route 32/
Muir Avenue intersection. Although these impacts would reduce travel capacity
somewhat along State Route 32, they would not .be considered significant and
would not require mitigation, such as signals or turn 'lanes, due to the
relatively low traffic volumes involved and the remaining capacity of these
intersections. Planned, long term traffic improvements, such as the
construction of a third lane (two way. eft turn lane) along State Route 32 and
othereast side connectors, are expected to maintain acceptable p levels of
service in 'the future. Other measures to reduce conflicting traffic
.
tq,taielintersections of
keennedyAvenuearerecommendedlaterin thissection toimprovelevels
of
service along State Route 32.
EAST AVENUE. East Avenue Fiould carry a large portion of the trips generated
by the urban growth anticipated by the year 2000 and the residential growth'
allowable tinder the proposed project: The additional traffic At the west end
of East Avenue generated by the proposed project would not be significant.
(See the previous discussion pertaining to State Route 32:) However, the
additional traffie"ereated At the intersections of East Avenue with Mord,
`'
Guyon and The Esplanade and State Route 99 Would reduce leV616 Ofservice at
these locations. Previously planned and recommended roadway improvements and
related measures 'identified at the end or this section should be ,implemented
to mAintain acceptable levels of service in these locations.
3 :2:.13'.
ESTIMATED FUTURE DAILY TRAFFIC INCREASES ASSOCIATED WITH THE
'
TABLE 3.2-4..
PROPOSED PROJECT
PROJECT GENERATED
VEHICLE TRIPS (a) -
ROADWAY SEGMENT
EAST AVENUE
SR 32 to Cussick
500 Max
500
950
Cusick to The Espl anade
500
The Esplanade:'to SR 99
450
1
SR 99 to Cohas set
THE ESPLANADE
100
Eaton to Lassen
500
Lassen to East
1040
East to Cohasset
STATE ROUTE 32
135'
North of Muir
100
Muir to East
540
South of East
270
WEST SHASTA
270:
WEST LASSEN
400
HENSHAW
70
GUYNN (South of East)
CUSSICt'
Wdst Shastato
270
150
HenshaWtoaEastHenshaw
70
South of East
-
(a) Represents increasen
by }both directions on
traffic ithe .proposed project.
ythese
ahincremental
ei
roadw ys duedevelopmn
allowed
source: Earth Metres xnootpbrated 198b.
32-1
THE ESPLANADE. ,The additional traffic generated on West Lassen, West Shasta,
Henshaw, and East Avenue would affect travel capacity along The Esplanade by
increasing left turn conflicts at main intersections. The impacts of this
andtraffic at The
Henshaw wouldnotpbenintersections
consideredsignificant andtShasta,
wouldnot,requiregmitigation
due to the relatively ;lo1a traffic volumes involved and the remaining capacity
of these signalized intersections. However, the loss of travel capacity at
the intersections of The Esplanade/East and The Esplanade/Cohasset would
require mitigation as ;defined in the EATS.
Consistency with Local Transportation Planning. The proposed project does not
present any significant impacts which would substantially alter the data bases
utilized for transportation planning 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 the project 'area in the ere.e
velopme-Ot but would
the proposed General Plan Amendmentfuture.
or related e
urban density and. would increase
The impacts of the extension would be examined and mitif;ated prior to approval
of such a project..
The propound General Element whichears to be indicates thatnthetent with county will
the
policy
in the County Cireulati n
maintain the integrity of the Chico Area Greenline (see Section 3.1, "Wand Use,
* Chico Area
Greenline). The Circulation Element s intent in maintaliningttheChico Area
Planning, Applicable Plans and Policies for a discussi
Greenline is probably to reduce trip generation in areais of low urban density
where roads would require substantial improvements to meet county standards.
The remaining policies and requirements presented in the Existing Setting of
this report address financing of roadway improvements. Many of these measures
apply directly to roadway improvements recommended as mitigation measures in
this report:
Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities. The proposed project would increase
pedestrian and bicycle activities by allowing increased urban density in the
project area.. The projected increases would not be expected to create
significant safety impacts or vehicle conflicts on local roadways, such as
Henshaw Avenue. Safety, impacts along major arterials would not be
significant, however, the project related bicycle activity and motor vehicle
trips would increase the need for appropriate bikeways and pedestrian street
crossings along major arterialsy such as East Avenue* especially near schools
such as J Partridge Elementary., The Chico bike route along Henshaw Avenue
would not be significantly affected due to the small increase in *toffis
projected for this street:
Public Transit. The proposed project would allow development which could
j increase patronage of Route 1'6t the Chico Area Transit System. However,
because the distance between most of the project area and the closest bus stop
is more than one milej May .. bury service.
Impacts from the future development ddevelopmentany of the rarenot� utilize
tobersignificant but
would incrementally increase transit demand along the East Avenue corridor,
If cluster development is proposed* measures to encourage transit patronage
should berequiredduring, site plan review.;
EmerohdyAccess. The additional dwellibg'units 'allowed by the peopo3ed
General Plan Amendment would increase the need for emergency service ,access to
3.2�1b
r
the project area. Unconventional intersections project area should
evaluated and modified, as necessary, When specific subdivisions are reviewed
by
ed
in the
by the county, vie
MITIGATION MEASURES. The following measures are recommended by the staff of 4
Butte County and the City of Chico to mitigate the traffic impacts identified }
in thus section. Measures identified in the Butte County Circulation Element
should be implemented, as necessary, to acquire appropriate funding from
developers, the I 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 foe each of
these intersections should be reserved, as necessary, as a part of
adjacent subdivisions or developments. Realignments should be req►.tired
on a case by case basis with the objective that all realignments be
completed with buildout of the area.
The standards defined in the Butte County Circulation Element (page 35)
and in the 1�utte County document entitled: "Improvement standards for
Subdivisions, Parcel daps and Site Improvements Pursuant to'Cnapter 20`
of the
etBarea.CoUntY applicable standards
be required for the roads in the
The le standards involve road types R3 -3A and
SRS -1, depending on specific development proposals. These improvements
would not be required for the proposed General Plan Amendments, but
r would be required when subdivisions or _development is proposed. The
City of Chico would request that these roadways meet ,the standards of
the city or county,, whichever are more stringent.
Left turn pockets should be constructed and on street parking should be
eliminated on East Avenue, between Connors Avent!. and The Esplanade, and
on The'Esplarade, between Lassen Avenue and Rio Lindo Avenue. These
a projects should be implemented as development occurs in the projedt area
and vicinity with the objective that the projects be completed with
buildout of the project area.
S East k�enue should be widened to its ultimate width� including
_ n8
installation of curbs', gutters and sidewalks by developers With frontage
' along East Avenue. (This requirement is not the responsibility of the
applicants, but 'should be implemented as development occurs in the
project Area and`vioinityi)
- Butte Count should require the prooject applicants and future developers
Y q
in the project area and vicinity t stall traffic signals at the
p y
intersections of East Avenue With Gu nn and Nord: 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 ffspecifio de'velopmeht proposals involve clusters
of development.
3' 3 GEOLOGY/HYDROLOGY
EXISTING .�?T_TIiiG
Geoloyy. The project area is located on a broad alluvial plain known as the
Chico 'Fan, which is lc,,ated in the northern Sacramento valley between the
Sar,ramento River to thj west and the Sierra Nevada foothills to, the east. The *-
project area is underlainby Recent Age coarse grained alluvium consisting of
unconsolidated silt, sand, gravel and cobbles. The coarse grained alluvium is
overlain by a loamy surface soil !aye. and is underlain by Sierra Nevada
foothill metamorphic and volcanic rocks.
S. project area are composed primarily
SOILS. S`urficaal soils occurring. in the roation (USDA, 1976): Tb-,- Fina .
f loams belonging to the 'Viva Farwell assoc
Farwell association is characterized by good natural drainage, moderately slow
to moderate subsoil permeability, slow to medium runoff and no erosion hazard.
The Vina. Farwell association also possesses a moderate shrink/swell
(expansion) .potential,,, a measture of the volume change of a soil with a chaLge
in moisture content, and a moderate allowable soil pressure rating, a measure
of suitability of a soil for foundation pressure.
The Soil Conservation Service identifies and rates the agricultural potential
and limitations of soils into eight land capability classifications. Soils in
Glasses I to IV are considered agricultural, and soils ,in Classes V to VIII
possess characteristics which limit agricultural uses and are better suited
foe forestry, range, wildlife or recreation. The Vina `Farwell soils have been
identified as Class I and II prime agricultural soils;:
Portions of the project area also contain surficial soils composed of clay
loams belonging to the Conejo Berrendos association. The Conejo Berrendos
association soils are-characterized by good---natural drainage;, moderately slow
to slow subsoil permeability, slow runoff tuad no erosion hazard: However;
when these soils are compacted, they can become highly impermeable (Edell,
1986). rhe Conejo Berrendos soils also possess moderate to high shrink/sUell
potential and moderate allowable soil presstb�e. T'ae Conejo Berrenc!aa soils
are Class III, prime agricultural soils.
SEISHICITY. The Chico erea does not have a histoty of severe seismic activity,
(City of Chicor 1976) • There are'no active ars potentially active f"Its or
area whii;h includes
t ;There is no record of surface rupture ciao" g �'
A)gUist Priolo Special Studies Zones located in the Chico ar su'
the project area..
In addition, there is no documtented history of ground failw e,ring n Chico.;
liquofaetian, lateral spreading, lurching and differential settlement in
Chico.
The Cleveland Hill eatilt, the oily known active fault in Butte Pb�zty is
located approxiwatelj 50 miles 1�o!itheast of the project area: Movement along
ttihe Cleve�tand Hill F,sult was r0ponsiblo, for the 54 magnitudes (Richter Scale)
Oroville earthquake in Lugustt 1975. In6.Oroville earthquake waa'felt in
Chico, but no damage vas recordsd. A series of shorn, nortt/:iorthwesti
trending inactive ;faults are located approximately ten miles northwest of, the'
project area.
3.3-1
In addition to the X975 Oroville earthquake, ground shaking from the Chico
immediate arca has been felt previously in the Chico
picenters outside the mme ;
area. However, the greatest intensity of ground sb.aking recordedin Chico was
r Scale and there is no historical evidence of any
5.0 on the Richte,take
significant damage having occurred. A statistical estimation of earth4°
'r Richter Seale magnitude, Es a function of estimated return period for
California, indicates,'Chico could experience an earthquake df Magnitusu suggested ed
the Richter Scale once every 40 yQars.
Other studies have, however, suggested
. smaller maximum intensities (City of Chico, 1976),
flvdrolot.
DRATIIAGE. The overall topography in the project area slopes gently to the
northwest t�jward Mud Creek, which is located approximately
pproxim tel lode mile75 Eorthwest
south
of the project area. Lando Channel here
located existing
of the project area. At resent, there are: no existing storm drainage nd.
facilities within t'ae' ersoilct area
t There are to well defined surfacen6ffin the edrainage�
and percolates into th
s,
existing. i. d p
r
courses in the project steer .. a Section 3•a� Public Services and Utilities,
® nage facilities in the
■ for a discussion ox -' planned storm drat
1
project area._
di
A storm drainage study completed ion ofhcollecterander to.
area,
stormedraingli
as nes dust
project area, hrecommended installat
south of the Southern Pacific Railroad end `along Bell Road in
ent of the storm drainage study area (see
accommodate potential urban development gravity to Shasta Union, 1
Figure 3.4_1). 'These collector lines would flow by
Drainage Assessment District (SODAD) channels which would ultimately discharge
into Mud Creek (Rolls, ALnderson and Rolls, 19g5)� in accordance with
The Proposed collector,
lines have been designed to carry 100 ye$p'r storm flo�ls, ',
Butte County Public Works Department ;and Butte -OUnty Improvm-r- cilsta-It rds.
or
Annexation LO SUDAD would be requiredprior
to the ping a storm
areaThe county and city are currently jointly,
plan for the north Chico
d ea Ubic)iincludes the sul�jeot parcels (ser; Section
an
3.4, Public Se subject parcels are not located in the 100 year floodplain
pLOODI:NG. Th
(U:S,: Department of Housing and Urban DE:velopment, 19714) • tfild Creek and Lando
Channel are modified ephemeral ehannels designed to provide flood control for
Big
Channel
a e Mod The project area may, h&ever' be subject to minor,
k of drainage
uctur a and
localized Li.ormwater ponding due to the len infrastr
soil dbtpaction`.
GROUNDWATER. T'ne project area and Chico vicinity is wderlai.n by extensive
` g�otndtaatei` supplies of the Sacramento Valley groundwater basin (Californi:a
1980 ).•
Section 1449 Public services
Department ois Water Resoureesron of water supply and distributionthe s
IItilities e�:ntainsea discussion
water bearing zones beneath Chico:
These zone
project eree« Ther. uifers. Groundwater generally moves
' are the shall
otic intermediate, `and deep aq
westerly and downward from the shallop to intermediate aquifer and from the
intermediate to deep aquifer,
The shallow zone contains unconfined groundwater at depths less than 20 feet
below ground surface in thick alluvial material. The shallow zone receives
recharge directly for infiltration of precipitation,. streami'1', domestic'
wastewater from leachfields, and urban runoff frau drainage wells.
Groundwater in the intermediate aquifer occurs at depths 20 to 50 feet below
the ground surface in older alluvium. The intermediate aquifer receives I
recharge from streams incised in older alluvium, through vortical leakage from V
overlying saturated alluvium ;andpossible subsurface inflow from the Tuscan Formation.
The deep aquifer is located in, the sand and gravel ot the Tuscan Formation,
which is confined by less permeable clay, tuff and mudflow layers. The deep
aquifer, which yields large amounts of groundwater to deep irrigation and
municipal wells, receives, recharge mainly from etreams that drain the foothill.
area east of Chico (CDWR, 1984).
Since 1961, recharge of the local groundwater basin generally has exceeded
local discharges in the Chico region,in contrast to other localities in the
Sacramento Valley groundwater basin which have experienced an overdraft.
Groundwater tables in the Chico area were 'lowered by'an estimated 1Q feet
between 1912.and 1961 as a result of intensified agricultural irrigation, but
have since stabilized, or have risen between two and ,sin feet (Butte County,
1982).
WATER QUALITY. Specific water quality data are not available for project area
surface water or groundwater. Runoff from the subject parcels would be
expected to contain minor amounts of sediment and contaminants characteristic
of agricultural and urban development in the area.
Groundwater in the deep aquifer is generally of good mineral quality,
reflect!! ng the excelldnt -mineral quality of surface graters in creeks which
e provide Voundvatet recharge. Poorer quality grolmdwater is found in parts of
shallower aquifers with nitrate concentrations eseeeding drinking water
standards of 45 milligrams per liter (mg/1) (awk 1984). Idi.trates are toxic
p Y nths old.
to htmmans artieu.larl children leafs, than three to six mo
Each area of high nitrate coneentrations, two of which are located 0:75 miles
' northeast and south of the peojoet area, underlies unsevered residential areas
and g of groundwater flow from urban development
drainage wells] in
obelow) The ,numerous individual disposal
s '
systems which :return domestic Wastewater containing nitrogen; phosphorus and
chlorides to the shallow oundwater zone are a major source of the elevated
nitrate. Concentrations. There are also more than 40 known drainage Wells at
Off site locations that return to the 'shadow groundwater zone surface water
runoff from areas of inadequate surface 'rater drainage g systems (CDWR 1984)
To resolve the existing nitrate problem in the Chico 'area and prevent
additional tater quality impairment or valuable groundVater resources in the
area, the;CDWP recommended that (1) un6ewered residential areas in the Cbico
Area connect to the existing sewerage syAtem as soou as feasibl3; and (2)
construction of additional & inage wells should ba prohibited and all
existing dray°,nage dells should to rblimihatbd as mon 'as feasible. Other+ study
Pecommendationa pertain to appropriate well construction and monitoring of
shallow aquifer groundwater quality (GDO, 1984).
The City of Chico and Butte County have adopted a Nitrate Action Plan for the
Greater Chico Urban Area (Butte County and City of Chico, 1985) • The goal of
the Nitrate Action Plan is to prevent further degradation and to minimize the
existing nitrate problem in the groundwater. The primary objectives of the
Nitrate Action Plan are to jointly develop a, Sanitary Sewerage Plan and a
Storm Drainage Plan for the Chico area.
The sewerage plan would include standards and requirements for sanitary
sewerage facilities, land use designations and densities maximums for
nomsewered areas, and a time schedule for requiring the elimination of septic
tanks and connection to the sanitary sewerage system. 'The drainage plan would
include standards for the elimination of all existing drainage wells and
standards. .for. the installation of temporary drainage facilities, such as leachfields. At
both sewers andstormdrains (seenSectioi. 3.4,oPublicServiccesmand U plans s)
present, Y Y j Ystudyingfor
d Utilities) .
A feasibility study of providingsanitary sewer service' to the north Chico
area, including the project ;area, recommended innt4llation of a trunk sewer
Which would accommodate: potential: urban development of the area. The trunk
sewer, which would pass approicimately 750 f66t northwest of the project area,
,ould connect the project area to the ,sewage treatment plant in Chico.
eIMPACTS
olo . Residential development allowed ss a result of the General Plan
Amendment and amendment of the Chico Ivrea Green Line would have no significant
impacts on the geologic setting of the project area.
Sons. surficial soils located to the project area would not present
significant development rsonstraints to potential residentialL development
resulting from the General Plan Amendment. Potentia] impacts due=-to the -_
moderate s4hrink/swell potential and moderate allowable soil pressure of the
project area soils (the Vina Farnell and Conejo Bdrrendos associations) could
be reduced to insignificant J#vela with implementation of standard engineering
design and construction methods. The loss of prime agriculture soils is
discussed in Section 3.1, Land Use, Planning, and Applicable Plans and
Policies.
The due to�healevel nature nofotherproject�area;al construction
donot Potentian erosion hazard
related
gn uld be reduced to
insignificantlevelswithstandarderosion control prkdtidG64 Potential urban
t
develo*cnt on minimura one acre parcels would act involve unusual or extensive,
grading or soil redistribution, further minimizing potPatial,erosional
atribution Oculd simply involve
impacts. The expe'eted grading and soilreds
.
cats for foundations and minor fill for landacape purposes, (See 'Section 3.1,
Land Une, Planning, ,Applicable Plans and Policiesy, for 'a discussion of
Potential ag'ricult'ural impacts as a result of the.proposad project.)
S91SWCityi The primary, potential seismic hazard to the project area is
ground' Shaking. As discussed in the Existing Setting, there is a high
Probability that cthe aria would continue to experienoe: ground shaking in the
future. Various intensities of ground shaking have been predicted for the
Chico areas The inten6lIty of ground snaking would depend on a oombinat4on of
M-4 . Ir
nitude Of
the type' Of fault, the distance to the earthquake epicenter, the mag and the:
r the earthquake, the types of
materials botween the fault and the area,
propertied end thic:mess ofthe atioil develapmentandastarm ;train Or sewet the site- r
Gr cog impacts to residential standard engineering design and construction,
ound ahakt reduced by
uld be red Building Code and the Recommended Lateral- Force
in accordance with ti -,e Uniform nears Association of California.
Requirements prepared by the Structural Engineers
The potential for liquefaction, a ;process by 'Which water saturated,
,
cohesiaaless (clay free) soils lose strength and become liquid during
earthquake induced ground shaking, in moderate in the site area (Butte County,
4 Se ting, the Chico 'area has no documented
1977). As discussed in the Existing lateral
history' of ground or ground failure, including liquefaction,
ten and.
spreading, urehing and differential engineering
With �andaconstruction
a ropriate en8ineering design future
methods whichftakeninto�ace unt all known seismic information,
consistent with the Butte
residential development in the project area would be no significant seismic
County Seismic Safety Element (Butte County, 1977),
andhazards would be expected.
gvdr lam and proposed
DRAINAGE. Due t minimum
o the level nature of '.the pro jest areaand
c� tharea xould net
construction, developm
one acre parcel sizes limiting patterns. The potential development of the
alter the orverall natural drainagepa driveways, roadways') which
1 pe s (buildings,
rvious surtaceIIe in the volume of runoff generated
laouldresultninesscorresponding increase, a stow drainage study
Within the area.
As discussed in the Existing Setting,
'of collector storm drain, lines to accommodate
has re"mmended the installationSee Section 3•49 public Services and
future development in the area. a improv_Aents required for the
Utilities, for a discussion, of iatorm drainag
' project area.
FLOODING. The project area is not i tsurfacesnwouldlcreate a miinorlincrease
Development of the area with imparvi0AT( I� storm drains are
in the amount of runoff generated frOW the area.
constructed to collect surface runoff, the minor additional runoff would not
ected to cause downstream fl If storm drains
a ncontiUtto�oceur
be exp minor locAlized stormwater ponding Y
with development, _ = dw si otn*ater
Development of the area would ba ble to direct any localized st
ponding away
from residences and roA aY
the 'year 2000, groundwater extraction in the Chico area is
GROUNDWATER, BY although reduced irrigated
not -expected to exceed the rate of recharge, 1 82 • Future
scree a Will reduce the quantity Of recharge (Butte County, 9 )
g
development in the projeat area aould'e ewo would. represent
sting va
an�crtmentalant
eel's With impervious surfaces, whi
acted to result 3n face
reduction in gr info stxcau]tdo otz7b hype) due to increased n verse
pat'
1 runoff. The reduced recharge
;impact to groundwater levels due to the limite1constructionuturedevilopmentt are
dtbnacre parcela•SeCtiont3:11 Public Set�v'ices anof water dpUilites.
addressed
3,
WATER QUALITY. Developmentng
resulting from the proposed General Plan Amendment..
Mould result in minor, increases in urban pollutant quantities in runoff
generated by increased vehicular traffic (hydrocarbons, rubber, iron), and
from application of pesticides and fertilizers. Development would not
Introduce any new pollutants to area surface craters that are not already
present. Overall surface water quality Impacts, therefore, are not expected
Y
to be significant. As addressed previously in the soils ,disettasion, adverse "
erosion impacts and associated Water quality imparts from sedimentation are
not expected to be significant,
mg/1 have ed in the.ExistingSetting, ng areas of ;nitrate concentrations above 45
As discussed i detected in the shallow aquifer in the project area; This
degradation has been due ;primarily, to, individualized septic tanks and
approximately 40 surface water runoff drainage wells. The city and county are
Jointly preparing sewer and drainage master plans. At the present, it appears
that unless the project area is annexed into the sanitary sewer system service
area, future development on the subject parcels, at least temporarily, would.
be required to use septic tanks and leachfields for wastewater disposal
(Nunez, 1986).Consequently, potentially adverse groundwater ualit impacts
could occur in the site area: quality pacts
Septic tic
systems in recharge areas could result in potentia]public health
impacts. Specific increases of nitrate concentrations in
.groundwater cannot
be projected at this time. The feasibility and effectiveness of septic tank
and leachfield systems are, dependent upon several constraints, such as soil
Percolation rate, soil depth, slope, the level of seasonally high groundwater,
and development density. The septic system should be located in soils with
adequate percolation rates for the design hydraulic loading of the system.
The soil should be of sufficient depth (seven or more Peet) to remove organic
material and microorganisms in the wastewater. The slope should be adequate
to minimize oversaturation. If the groundwater rises to the leywer surface of
1 the l.eachf;field, the soil would become saturated, the effluent would
contaminate the groundwater and; effluent may acoumulate on the ground surface.
The maximum number of soil absorption
stems which maty operate suoeesafully
in a given area is dependent upon the ability of the Wil to absorb septic,
tank effluent. To ensure adequate Wastewater treatmento minimum sizes of
' developed areas must be established to control the density of on .site di,aposaI
systems. 3:n geheral, a standard, minimum developed area size of one acre is
recommended to prevent hydraulic Oterloading of the soil: Other information
contained in a Journal of Environmental ilealth suggests that 0.5 to one acre
of land for leachfield disposal bias been determined to be reasonable for
sPlan' d' 1:9861: These genera]. guidelines.
satisfied the titrate Action .
se tie tanks in nitrate areas (E' which sets a hiailing unit density not to
exceed three dwelling units per ,acre ('Butte County a:iii City of Chico, 19806
As stated previously, specific project related increases in nitrate
.concentrations cannot be projeoted at this time. Metticr, are available to
estimate the
potential degree of increase (Reid, 1986), Studies to calculate
the potential increases in nitrate concentrations should be bompieted once
more :information, about potential development as well As baseline groundwater
' conditions is itvailable. The results oould 'then be usedto Identify
gApropriate mitigation, if necest4iry. dro'undVater quality monitoring as
outli"tied in the titrate Action Plan should also be continued to detect'
3.3-�:
potential groundwater quality pacts and to identify andim Plenient
roprate mitigation. In addition• in ` order to protect groundwater quality
a
PP Potent and,
impacts, the county and city shovd oontinue joint
and minimize
ry sewer system, and elimination of
development and connection to a sanita eliminate,
ent of sewer and drainage gaster plans to include to slim
septic tonics }
drsinage wells.
MITIGATION t+EASS URHM
lly
Residential development of the project area is geoteo reduce Gear - me to insignificant levels.,e
feasible. The fallocring mitigation measures are recommended to reduc
potential geologic; and seismic imps construction techniques recommended by
specific engineering design and constru
_ the soils engineer should be incorporated, as needed, into the project
design. h seismic r
equirements of the current
Building design should comply wit
Uniform Building Code and the Recommended Lateral Force Requirements
prepared by
the Structural Engineers Association of California.
Foundation supports and utilities should be designed to resist and
Withstand earthquake induced grc"und shaking.
Standard construction methods and rerosian °Oolbe
erosion conmeasures t ol
implemented (including dry weather season grading,
plans, revegetation, and devices to retain sediment within the
minimize po
tential erosion impacts.
construction area) to minim
�_ fir. �hd follat3ng mitigation measures and recommended to reduce
Avdrol_o
impacts to "nsigafioant levels.
potential hydrologicPa Chic should continue to jointly develop
Butte County and the City of Ch sewers As
and implement tester plans for storm drainage and sanitary
mandated in. the;,Nitratd Action Plan.
Ii the use of individual sEptio tank and lea chfield 'systems is
the systems should be, designed to satisfy county health
necessary,
standards and the requirements of the Action Plan...
Groundwater quality monitoring,
as outlined in the Nitrate Action Plan,
should `be continued to detect potential groundwater quality, impacf,s and
t6 identify and implement approif necessary
priate mitigation,
�
' and baseline grouudw;Ater,
As mote iaformatian about future development
quality conditions in the pinjn�itrate c�noeatrati.onsgshould be�completed
r area- becA
of the potential increase
trate mimitigationshould be identified: and imPlenente , if
and appro P
neCesa&rY •.
should be oonaidered to reduce surface water runoff and
increase on following
of strrmwater.
Individual review of subdivisions and site plans should focus on
measures to reduce Aisite runoff. Measures such As semipervious
walkways and parking lots should be 'considered.
.0 PUBLIC SERVICES AND UTILITIES
EXISTING SETTING: Public services provided in the project area include
fire protection, education
services such as water supply, sheriff protection,
Most public services available to residents of
and road maintenance.
incorporated of the City Of Chico, such as street sweeping and regular
as the project
police patrols, are not provided to unincorporated areas, such
the primary services available in
area. The following discussions ,describe
the North Chico Urban Area.
Water Sunalv.. Water is supplied to theprojectarea primarily, through private
(CWSC), a private Water utility,
Wells California dater Services Company
the project area with eight inch water mains at
serves the southeast side of
All Chico and its unincorporated areas receive eater from:
Custidk Avenue.. of
wells. Some new development in the project are& will involve additional
lines. CWSr currently
private wells rather than connections to CWSC water
n
well site near Guynn Avenue;rant, 1985)•
m.
looking at the purchase of anew
The
on
Seger Service. The project area is curently are.�served by septic tan Pollution
the
nearest sewer main connedtint, project main
of BastAvenue
Control Plant is located on Jhe northnedge
located of East Avenue.anItti.stuncerta n'
be
only serve the area limit
whether the portion of the project area north of t;heurGrentlytis being
study
served by gravity flaw. A ;.fewer Master Plan
City of Chico as required by the city and
conducted py Butte County and the
Plan (see Section 3.3, Geology/Hydrology).
county Nitrate Action
The Chico Water Pollution Control.Plant is currently operating below capacity.
been allocated for other areas of
However, thr unused capacity already has
expected growth.
Payment of three fees ;Would be required to obtain a connection to the city
(1) a water pollution control. plant
sewage collection and treatment sys tem;
capacity fee, and (3)"a main lane extension fee. The
fee, (2) a trunk line des may
and nonresidential areas and (order
rates may ear}; between residential to
+ -at area must be
change accard,ing toimplementation of the Sewer Maser Plan. In
-
"control plant, the proje
connect to the city+s water pollution
property owners would be required to
annexed to the City of Chico, oe affected to
The aexation agreement xaivea the riga
nn
-sign an annexation agreement. ._
future annekation actions (Reid) 19860 Nunez, 1985).
oppose
Imple�pentat'ion of the city and county Nitrate Action Plan requires Butte
ich will
r
County and the City of Chico to develop standardsyandwrequirementshfor
an
. served
include. the area to be
facilities; the area to be served by septic tanks, with
time
sanitary sewerage
designation of land use and maximum denssitisfortnankseandQconnectionato
sabedule for requiring the ;eliminationseptic
Nitrate Aati on Plan indicatesthat the city and
.sanitary aexerage system: .The d determine the
develop a fnancii�g plan by January 1, 1985 and
sewer,
count will of
y
availabil.ty.of.'g"rants or low interest loans for the exte
unserved areas to minimize and avoid
drainage andlor grater facilities tb and
The Sewerage Has
"citrate contanination be the groundwater,
been completed ora ,proved at; this time.
Finan ding Plan have not
__
Storm Drainage. There are no storm drains in the project area. Butte. County
requires storm drains on lots with a gross area of one acre or less. Mater
easily percolates into the sandy loam soil ,in the project area and runoff has
not caused ;significant flooding. The project area isnot within a 100 year
floodplain, according to the National 'Flood Inourance Program (FEMA, 1977)-
The cost of storm drain infrastructure generally is paid by either the
property owner or the developer (Edell; 1986).
Since storm water runoff has been listed along with septic tanks as being the
most contributory and the most controllable sources of nitrates, the Nitrate
Action Plan has required a sewerage plan and a storm drainage plan for'the
greater Chico Urban Area. The drainage plan will include: the standards for
the elimination of all of the existing off site drainage wells; the standards
for the installation of temporary drainage facilities aiad leachfields and a
financing plan for construction of net drainage facilities. In 1985, a Storm
Drainage Study was prepared for the North Chico Area by Rolls, Anderson and
Rolls: This study included 1 1,338 acres of land in the northwestern portion .of
the Chico Urban Area: The study area included the project area and provided a
description of specific projectsand related costs. The storm drainage
improvements proposed 11ithlin the project vicinity are shown in Figure 3.4-1.
The costs for these improvements and others identified in the study exceed
$9,000,000. The Drainage MasterPlan required as a part of the Nitrate Action
Plan will supersede the 1085 study. The Storm D*ainage Master Plan study is
currently in progress.
Police Services: The 'Butte County Sheriff's Departmeni". provides police
service for unincorporated areas of Butte County. Ten deputy sheriffs serve
the northern half of Butte County (approximately 800 square `mile. using a
beat patrol system, The nearest station is four to five miles from the
project area at 475 E: Park Avenue and Highway 99• The average response time
to the pro:jeet area depends upon the priority of the servicecall. If called
for a life and death emergency, response time cotild be`less`than five minutes.
A nonurgent call could take as long as three or more hours. The county
sheriff's department is "severely" understaffed, with only two patrol officers
at any given time serving 65,000 people. For minimum staffing, the But,,.
County Sheriff's Department would ne6d to have 60 patrol officers based on a.
standard of one deputy per '1,000 population. Presently, Butte County
Sheriff's Department has only 21 officers (Grey, 1986). The sheriff's
department has a mutual aid agreement with the City of Chico Police Department
and the California Highway Patrol (Grey, 1986). Future service expansions are
anticipated if appropriate funning is made available.
Fire Protection. The Butte County Fire Department is responsible for fire
- protection within unigearporatect areas of .Butte County. ` Station 42 at
Frontier Circle and Cohasset Road serves the protect Prea. The department
operates with one paid firefighter per station in the winter and an additional
paid fireffgh: 61, in the summer. a De ` .aid t alto
The Butte County Fire Department also has
volunteer firefighters who are radio dispatabed to as p p, The
Chico area has approximately 40 volubteerso volunteersStation 49 is one of the twelve
"patd" stations n the county. The service Berea of Station 42 has an
Insuranoe Service 6V%'ice (ISO) rating of Class .5 Hhen 'within 1, 000 feet of 'a
fire hydrant and Class 5 beycnd '11000 feet.
i!
1 �•�1�2
54" .
45� e
SM94ARY01~ STORM bAt-NAGE VAGILITi S 1000 ttED YH THE
NokTtt ckdO AR%A