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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 04012014 - C.01RECOMMENDATION(S): APPROVE the Camino Tassajara Shoulder Widening – 1.1 miles south of Highland Road to 0.3 mile north of Windemere Parkway project and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director or designee, to advertise the project, San Ramon area. Project No.0662-6R4072, DCD-CP#11-33 (District III). FIND, on the basis of the Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration and all comments received and staff responses contained herein, that there is no substantial evidence that the project may have significant effect on the environment, ADOPT the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring Program in compliance the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Article 6, Section 15070(a), (the custodian of which is the Department of Conservation and Development Director who is located at 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA), and DIRECT the Director of Conservation and Development to file a Notice of Determination with the County Clerk, and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director to pay $ 2181.25 for California Department of Fish and Wildlife fees, a $50 fee to the County Clerk for filing the Notice of Determination, and a $25 fee to Department of Conservation and Development for processing. APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 04/01/2014 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: A.Brown, (925) 313-2311 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: April 1, 2014 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: Stacey M. Boyd, Deputy cc: County Administrator's Office, CoCoCo Auditor-Controller's Office, PWD Finance, L. Chavez, PWD Environmental, S. Gospodchikov, PWD Design/Construction, J. Caldwell, PWD Design/Construction , Dept. of Conservation & Development C. 1 To:Board of Supervisors From:Julia R. Bueren, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer Date:April 1, 2014 Contra Costa County Subject:APPROVE the Camino Tassajara Shoulder Widening and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director or designee, to advertise the project, San Ramon area. RECOMMENDATION(S): (CONT'D) FISCAL IMPACT: 60% South County Area of Benefit Funds, 40% Highway Safety Improvements Program Funds. BACKGROUND: The project will widen the existing lanes to 12-foot wide travel lanes and add 8-foot paved shoulders on each side which will bring the pavement cross section along this segment of Camino Tassajara up to current Contra Costa County standards. Road widening will be conducted in varying degrees on both sides of the roadway along the entire 2,100-foot length (Project). In support of the Project, the side slope on the east side of the roadway will be re-graded to accommodate the widening. Two curve advisory flashing beacons will be installed on both approaches to notify motorists of the s-curve just north of Windemere Parkway. The road will be restriped and will include a Class II bike lane. Drainage modifications, grading, and earthwork will be conducted and utility poles and roadside obstacles will be relocated. Additional utility relocations may be necessary. The widening will conform to existing driveways; and up to 10 oaks may need to be removed. All but one of the oaks are less than four-inches diameter at breast height (dbh), one is approximately eight-inch dbh. Removal of these trees will be avoided if possible. Additional trees may need to be trimmed. Construction is expected to occur during the 2015 construction season with an estimated 40 working days to completion. Construction activities will be generally limited to the hours between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. At least one lane of traffic will be open during construction and emergency vehicles will have access at all times. Standard construction equipment will be used. Staging will occur within the County road right-of-way. Disturbed areas will be stabilized. Real property transactions such as temporary construction permits may be necessary. Acquisition of farmland and General Plan Conformance is not necessary. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: Delay in approving the project will result in a delay of design, construction, and may jeopardize funding. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: Not applicable. ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1 NOD Comment letter Response to Comment State Clearinghouse Letter CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT NOTICE OF DETERMINATION Authority cited: Sections 21083, Public Resources Code. Reference Section 21000-21174, Public Resources Code. \\PW-DATA\grpdata\engsvc\ENVIRO\TransEng\Cam Tass no. of Windemere 4072\CEQA\Final for Circulation\(2013) Notice of Determination (NOD)-template.doc Form Revised: January 2013 To: From: Office of Planning and Research Contra Costa County For U.S. Mail: Street Address: Dept. of Conservation & Development P.O. Box 3044 1400 Tenth St., Rm 113 30 Muir Road Sacramento, CA 95812-3044 Sacramento, CA 95814 Martinez, CA 94553 County Clerk County of Contra Costa 555 Escobar Street Martinez, CA 94553 State Clearinghouse Number: ____ Project Title: Camino Tassajara Shoulder Widening – 1.1 miles south of Highland Road to 0.3 mile north of Windemere Parkway, WO# 0662-6R4072, CP# 11-33 Project Applicant: Contra Costa County Public Works Department Project Location (include County): The Project is located in unincorporated Contra Costa County starting approximately 1.1 miles south of Highland Road and extending south to 0.3 mile north of Windemere Parkway in Contra Costa County. Project Description: The project will widen the existing lanes to 12-foot wide travel lanes and add 8-foot paved shoulders on each side. Road widening will be conducted in varying degrees on both sides of the roadway along the entire 2,100-foot length (Project). In support of the Project, the side slope on the east side of the roadway will be re - graded to accommodate the widening. Two curve advisory flashing beacons will be installed on both approaches to notify motorists of the s-curve just north of Windemere Parkway. The road will be restriped and will include a Class II bike lane. Drainage modifications, grading, and earthwork will be conducted and utility poles and roadside obstacles will be relocated. Additional utility relocations may be necessary. The widening will conform to existing driveways; and up to 10 oaks may need to be removed. All but one of the oaks are less than four -inches diameter at breast height (dbh), one is approximately eight-inch dbh. Removal of these trees will be avoided if possible. Additional trees may need to be trimmed. Construction is expected to occur during the 2015 construction season with an estimate d 40 working days to completion. Construction activities will be generally limited to the hours between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. At least one lane of traffic will be open during construction and emergency vehicles will have access at all times. Standard construction equipment will be used. Staging will occur within the County road right-of-way. Disturbed areas will be stabilized. Real property transactions such as temporary construction permits may be necessary. Acquisition of farmland and General Plan Conformance is not necessary. The project was approved on: 1. The project [ will will not] have a significant effect on the environment. 2. An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA. A Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA. 3. Mitigation measures [ were were not] made a condition of the approval of the project. 4. A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan [ was was not] adopted for this project. 5. A statement of Overriding Considerations [ was was not] adopted for this project. 6. Findings [ were were not] made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA. Notice of Determination sent to Office of Planning and Research.* This is to certify that the final EIR with comments and responses and record of project approval, or the Negative Declaration, is available to the General Public at: Contra Costa County Public Works Department 255 Glacier Drive, Martinez, CA 94553 Signature (Contra Costa County): Title: Date: Date Received for filing at OPR: AFFIDAVIT OF FILING AND POSTING I declare that on ____________________________________________ I received and posted this notice as required by California Public Resources Code Section 21152(c). Said notice will remain posted for 30 days from the filing dat e. Signature Title: Applicant: Department of Fish and Game Fees Due Public Works Department EIR - $2,995.25 Total Due: $ 255 Glacier Drive Neg. Dec. - $2,181.25 Total Paid $ Martinez, CA 94553 DeMinimis Findings - $0 Attn: Ave’ Brown County Clerk - $50 Receipt #: Environmental Division Conservation & Development - $25 Phone: (925) 313-2311 *Notice of Determination may be sent by fax to (916) 323-3018, if followed up with a duplicate mailed copy. LAW OFFICES OF BROWN & SULLIVAN, LLP 1051 PACIFIC MARINA. SUITE 101 ALAMEDA. CALIFORNIA 94501 SENDER'S E·MAIL tps@brOwn-$ultivan,com TELEPHONE FACSIMILE (SIO) S21·1211 (HO) HI·1819 March 13,2014 Via Email and Federal Express abrow@pw.cccounty.us Ave Brown Environmental Analyst II Contra Costa County Public Works Department 255 Glacier Drive Martinez. CA 94553 Re: Camino Tassajara Road Shoulder Widening; County File No. CP-33 Dear Ms. Brown: This office represents the principals of the Shennan Family Trust ("Owners") which owns the property located at 7500 Camino Tassajara ("Property"). The Property is located roughly at the midway point of the above-referenced street-widening project ("Project"). I have reviewed the Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for the Project with the Owners and they have one primary concern discussed below. Presumably, one of the reasons for the Project is to help "flatten" the existing "S curve" on this particular stretch of roadway. Having owned the Property for nearly sixteen years the Ovmers have witnessed the results of many very serious accidents in front ofthe Property and generally are supportive of any measures designed to reduce the existing hazardous conditions. Not surprisingly. many of the accidents in this area are the result of vehicles travelJing at excessive speed. However, another major contributing factor is that a passing lane for northbound traffic begins roughly at the midpoint ofthe S curve. Over the years, the Owners have had numerous conversations with California Highway Patrol officers responding to the scene of serious accidents in front of the Property and those officers were unifonnly critical of this passing lane. Logic suggests that if the S curve is flattened average speeds will only tend to increase, thus potentially making the passing lane even more dangerous. Compounding the problem is the threat that the passing lane poses for north bound vehicles slowing to tum left into the Property. Such vehicles have, on occasion, been passed by vehicles from behind on their left because ofthe passing lane. Since most drivers turning left are concerned about traffic coming toward them in the opposite direction, and not with traffic behind them potentially passing them on their left, it is remarkable that a serious accident has not resulted from this situation. For the foregoing reasons, the O\\-ners request that when the newly widened roadway is striped, that the existing passing lane be removed or, alternatively, that it be relocated so that it begins well north ofthe entrance to the Property. This should markedly reduce the risk of serious future accidents resulting from the conditions described above. Ave Brown March 13,2014 Page 2 Thank you for your consideration of the important issues raised in this letter. Please ensure that a copy of this letter is included in the Board packet for the County Board of Supervisor's meeting on April 1 ,2014. Please direct any future communications regarding this matter to the undersigned. Ve Iy you,," -P SlA)j6----- cc: The Shennan Trust