HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07161996 - D5 p. s
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: VAL ALEXEEFF, DIRECTOR
GROWTH MANAGEMENT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
DATE: JULY 16, 1996
SUBJECT: URBAN LIMIT LINE
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. DETERMINE whether or not to place an advisory measure on the ballot that would change
the urban limit line in the Tassajara Valley.
A. IDENTIFY boundary of area proposed.
2. DETERMINE whether or not other areas within the County should be placed on the ballot
for urban limit line consideration.
A. IDENTIFY boundary of area proposed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None known at this time.
BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:
On July 9, 1996, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to place an item on the July 16 agenda to
determine whether or not to ask the voters to retain all or a portion of the Tassajara Valley area
within the urban limit line. A map of the urban limit line in the Tassajara Valley area is provided
showing the boundaries of projects in the area.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: —YES SIGNATURE:
_RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON July 16, 1996 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED— OTHER X
See Addendum for Board action.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE,AND CORRECT
COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE
XITNANIMOUS(ABSF.NT ) MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE
DATE SHOWN.
AYES: NOES:
ATTESTED July 16, 1996
ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
PHIL BATCHELP,CLERK OFTHE BOARD OF
SUPE SORSCOUNT ' MINISTRATOR
VA:dg BY DEPUTY
ull.bo
Contact: Val Alexeeff(646-16211)
CC: County Administrator
County Counsel
GMEDA Departments
Tassajara Valley/Urban Limit Line
Board Order
July 16, 1996
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ADDENDUM TO D. 5
JULY 16, 1996
On this date the Board of Supervisors considered issues
related to urban limit lines Countywide and/or any specific area
thereto, and a proposed advisory ballot measure for the November
5, 1996, General Election.
Dennis Barry, Community Development Department, presented a
staff report on the matter.
The following persons presented testimony:
Jim Blickenstaff, 2410 Talavera Drive, San Ramon, Mt . Diablo
Sierra Club, presented written comments which were read by the
Chairman Smith;
Tom Koch, 2682 Bishop Drive #206, San Ramon, representing
Shapell Industries;
Jim Jakel, 2694 Bishop Drive, Ste 121, San Ramon, Executive
Director, Contra Costa Council;
Curt Kinney, 2439 Ascension Drive, San Ramon, presented
written comments which were read by Chairman Smith;
Linda Best, 3182 Old Tunnel Road, #E, Lafayette,
representing the Tassajara Valley Property Owners Association;
Guy Bjerke, P.O. 5160, San Ramon, representing the Home
Builders Association;
Mark Armstrong, P.O. Box 218, Danville, representing the
Tassajara Valley Property Owners Association, read a letter from
the Association;
Janet Homle, 21167 Oro Grande Place, Cupertino, spoke for
Cheryl Rapp;
Dr. Nolan Sharp, 4510 Camino Tassajara, Danville, Tassajara
Valley Property Owners Association;
Joe Case, 8651 Camino Tassajara, Danville;
Gordon Rasmussen, 6000 Highland Road, Pleasanton;
Joan Case, 8651 Camino Tassajara, Danville;
Dorothy Silva, 173 Dogwood Place, San Ramon;
Tom Mooers, 500 Ygnacio Valley Road #250, Walnut Creek,
Greenbelt Alliance;
Jack Bishop, 2800 Finley Road, Pleasanton.
The Board discussed the matter.
Supervisor Rogers moved to consider a measure on the ballot
with appropriate input from the cities and planning commission
and following that input to return to the Board of Supervisors
for decision.
Supervisor Smith seconded the motion.
Supervisor Bishop expressed support for a Countywide measure
but not an advisory vote.
The Board discussed the motion.
Supervisor DeSaulnier expressed opposition to the motion and
he moved a substitute motion to not consider this issue at this
time . There was no second to the substitute motion.
Supervisor Torlakson expressed opposition to directing staff
to come back with a ballot measure but he expressed support if
the motion were to direct staff to comeback with a report on how
to fullfill the General Plan five year review process and look at
the lines .
Supervisor Bishop and Supervisor Smith indicated
concurrence .
IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that Community Development
Department staff, following appropriate input, is DIRECTED to
report to the Board of Supervisors on a process for the
evaluation of the Contra Costa County Urban Limit Line and the
General Plan five year review process .
Request to Speak Form
( THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT)
Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' ao bw
before addressing the Board.
Name.-
•
Z's-
I am speaking for myself or •
wank of o�nEsatioN
01Eac ONE: /
_ 1 wish to speak on Agenda Item #=
MrmmCoents will be: for
_ 1 wish to Weak on the abject of �
i do not wish to speak but leave Comments for the Board
x9t --to den
S
LAW OFFICES OF
GAGEN, MCCOY, MCMAHON & ARMSTRONG
WILLIAM E. GAGEN, JR. A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION DANVILLE OFFICE
GREGORY L. MCCOY '
PATRICK J. MCMAHON
279 FRONT STREET
MARK L. ARMSTRONG
P. O. BOX 218
LINN K. COOMBS
DANVILLE, CALIFORNIA 94526-0218
STEPHEN W. THOMAS
TELEPHONE: (510) 837-0585
CHARLES A. KOSS
FAX: (SIO) 838-S98S
MICHAEL J. MARKOWITZ
MICHAEL W. CARTER
NAPA OFFICE
RICHARD C. RAINES 1001 SECOND STREET, SUITE 31S
VICTOR J. CONTI July 16, 1996 NAPA, CALIFORNIA 94559-3017
BARBARA DUVAL JEWELL TELEPHONE' (707) 224-8396
ROBERT M. FANUCCI FAX: (707) 224-5817
ALLAN C. MOORE
PATRICIA E. CURTIN PLEASE REPLY TO:
STEPHEN T. BUEHL
ALEXANDER L. SCHMID Danville
CHARLES A. KLINGE
DANIEL A. MULLER
Chair Jeff Smith
and Members of the Board of Supervisors
c/o Clerk of the Board
651 Pine Street, Room 106
Martinez, CA 94553
Re: Item D. 5 and Issues Related to Urban Limit Lines
and Proposed Advisory Measure for the
November 5, 1996 General Election
Tassajara Valley Property Owners Association
Dear Chair Smith:
The Tassajara Valley Property Owners Association requests that the
Board of Supervisors decline to put an advisory measure on the
November 5th ballot concerning adjustments in the urban limit line
in the Tassajara Valley. Under the particular facts and state of
the Tassajara Valley planning process, such a measure at this time
is premature. It would not allow for meaningful participation by
the voters because the Tassajara Valley General Plan Amendment and
Zoning Study, previously authorized by the Board of Supervisors, is
not completed. A decision on voter participation should await
completion of that study and planning process which includes County
completion ofa final environmental impact report.
In 1990, the voters approved the 65/35 Land Preservation Plan.
Virtually every precinct in the County, including the San Ramon
Valley, rejected the alternative Greenbelt Initiative and supported
the 65/35 Land Preservation Plan. The 65/35 Plan with its urban
limit line locations was adopted by the Board of Supervisors
following a series of public hearings and as part of an ongoing
update of the County's General Plan. The Board and the public had
the benefit of that public planning process in making their
decisions.
After a similar public process, that Board and cities had
previously adopted in 1988 the framework for a Countywide
Transportation Plan and referred it to the voters for
consideration. These two initiatives, 1988 Measure C and the 1990
Measure C, confirm that the Board of Supervisors will involve the
W1
Chair Jeff Smith
and Members of the Board of Supervisors
July 16, 1996
Page 2
voters in making decisions on planning issues where appropriate.
A ballot measure at this time for the Tassajara Valley as proposed
by Donna Gerber is not appropriate. That her campaign manager!
Richie Ross, apparently believes that a Tassajara Valley ballot
measure would be timely to help her political campaign does not
mean that it is the correct time to meaningfully involve the voters
in planning and policy decisions related to the Tassajara Valley.
If the Board of Supervisors, following completion of the planning
process and with input from local officials and members of the
public, determines that one or more of the legislative decisions
relating to the Tassajara Valley Study should be submitted to the
voters for their consideration, the Board has the statutory ability
to do so at that time by way of initiative or referendum.
Based on previous direction from the Board as part of its Dougherty'
Valley planning process, the Tassajara Valley planning process will
evaluate whether or not the urban limit line in the Tassajara
Valley should be adjusted. That determination will in part be
dependant upon specific factual analysis with respect to the
availability of infrastructure to address traffic, schools, water,
sewer and other public service needs. If those infrastructure
issues are not addressed to the satisfaction of County and local
.officials, TVPOA recognizes that development in the Tassajara
Valley will not be approved by the Board. The Dougherty Valley
Settlement Agreement provides a useful model in that regard.
In addition, we recognize that providing some land use distinctions
between Contra Costa County and Alameda County, Dublin, Danville
and San Ramon at -- the south end of the Tassajara Valley is han
important issue to be addressed in the planning process. The
appropriate location of the urban limit line to address that
planning issue can , only be effectively assessed through a
comprehensive planning process. Creating such a line different
than approved in 1990, for an advisory ballot measure this November
would be arbitrary and unfair and would not likely address in the
best and .most fair way these infrastructure and planning
objectives.
TVPOA. has played by the planning rules. It has paid the County
close to one million dollars in application fees and EIR costs. it
is only fair for the Board to allow that planning process to be
completed without, being interrupted by a premature advisory ballot
measure. If TVPOA must also participate in a Tassajara Valley
election process, then at least it should await the completion of
the Tassajara valley planning process. The Dougherty Valley
legislative planning process . was not interrupted by an advisory
measure. :If Gayle Bishop formally asked for it when she was
running, I do not, believe the Board back then would have approved
it.
�oC�.►e w D, 57
Chair Jeff Smith
and Members of the Board of Supervisors
July 16, 1996
Page 3
Donna Gerber has stated her opinion that Camino Tassajara will turn
out like Ygnacio Valley Road if the Tassajara Valley and the
Dougherty Valley are developed. Therefore, she thinks the voters
ought to now give input on whether the urban limit line should be
modified to avoid that situation. TVPOA is well aware that if
traffic analysis for the Tassajara Valley Study concludes that
Camino Tassajara will be like Ygnacio Valley Road, then the
Tassajara Valley General Plan Amendment will not be approved by
this or any other Board. Tassajara Valley will only be authorized
for development to the extent that traffic analysis using the TVTC
traffic model confirms that such development, coupled with road
improvements in Danville and San Ramon acceptable to those local
officials, will not cause traffic level of service standards
established in the Tri-Valley Action Plan in Danville and San Ramon
to be exceeded. We do not need the results of an advisory ballot
measure to reconfirm that political fact of life.
The political and planning process for the Tassajara Valley has and
will continue to be . time consuming, complicated and costly for
TVPOA. Under the facts here, it serves no legitimate public
purpose to require TVPOA to be engaged in a parallel, premature
Tassajara Valley election process. Therefore, we respectfully
request the Board -to reject Donna Gerber's request. In so doing
the Board is not rejecting the public' s opportunity to make
meaningful ballot measure decisions once more on the Tassajara
Valley. All the Board is saying is the time is not right to
provide such meaningful input. In the ordinary course of the
Tassajara Valley planning process, County and local officials, with
input from interested members of the public, will have the
opportunity to evaluate whether the voters should make further
decisions on the planning future for the Tassajara Valley, just
like they did in 1990 with the 65/35 Land Preservation Plan.
Ver truly yours,
ark L. Armstrong
MLA:kh
cc: TVPOA, Inc.
Attn: Jim Black
F:\CLMLA\I993MMITH.LTR
LAW OFFICES OF
GAGEN, MCCOY, MCMAHON & ARMSTRONG
WILLIAM E. GAGEN, JR. A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION DANVILLE OFFICE
GREGORY L. MCCOY
PATRICK J. MCMAHON
279 FRONT STREET
MARK L. ARMSTRONG
P. 0. BOX 216
LINN K. COOMBS
DANVILLE, CALIFORNIA 945 26-0218
STEPHEN W. THOMAS
TELEPHONE: (SIO) 637-0585
CHARLES A. KOSS
FAX'. (510) 838-5985
MICHAEL J. MARKOWITZ
MICHAEL W. CARTER
NAPA OFFICE
RICHARD C. RAINES 1001 SECOND STREET, SUITE 315
VICTOR J. CONTI July 16, 1996 NAPA, CALIFORNIA 94559-3017
BARBARA DUVAL JEWELL TELEPHONE: (707) 224-8396
ROBERT M. FANUCCI FAX: (707) 224-5817
ALLAN C. MOORE
PATRICIA E. CURTIN PLEASE REPLY TO:
STEPHEN T. BUEHL
ALEXANDER L. SCHMID Danville
CHARLES A. KLINGE
DANIEL A. MULLER _
Chair Jeff Smith
and Members of the Board of Supervisors
c/o Clerk of the Board
651 Pine Street, Room 106
Martinez, CA 94553
Re: Item D.5 and Issues Related to Urban Limit Lines
and Proposed Advisory Measure for the
November 5, 1996 General Election
Tassajara Valley Property Owners Association
Dear Chair Smith:
The Tassajara Valley Property Owners Association requests that the
Board of Supervisors decline to put an advisory measure on the
November 5th ballot concerning adjustments in the urban limit line
in the Tassajara Valley. Under the particular facts and state of
the Tassajara Valley planning process, such a measure at this time
is premature. It would not allow for meaningful participation by
the voters because the Tassajara Valley General Plan Amendment and
Zoning Study, previously authorized by the Board of Supervisors, is
not completed. A decision on voter participation should await
completion of that study and planning process which includes County
completion of a final environmental impact report.
In 1990, the voters approved the 65/35 Land Preservation Plan.
Virtually every precinct in the County, including the San Ramon
Valley, rejected the alternative Greenbelt Initiative and supported
the 65/35 Land Preservation Plan. The 65/35 Plan with its urban
limit line locations was adopted by the Board of ,Supervisors
following a series of public hearings and as part of an ongoing
update of the County's General Plan. The Board and the public had
the benefit of that public planning process in making their
decisions.
After a similar public process, that Board and cities had
previously adopted in 1988 the framework for a Countywide
Transportation Plan and referred it to the voters for
consideration. These two initiatives, 1988 Measure C and the 1990
Measure C, confirm that the Board of Supervisors will involve the
Chair Jeff Smith
and Members of the Board of Supervisors
July 16, 1996
Page 2
voters in making decisions on planning issues where appropriate.
A ballot measure at this time for the Tassajara Valley as proposed
by Donna Gerber is not appropriate. That - her campaign manager,
Richie Ross, apparently believes that a Tassajara Valley ballot
measure would be timely to help her political campaign does not
mean that it is the correct time to meaningfully involve the voters
in planning and policy decisions related to the Tassajara Valley.
If the Board of Supervisors, following completion of the planning
process and with input from local officials and members of the
public, determines that one or more of the legislative decisions
relating to the Tassajara Valley Study should be submitted to the
_ voters for their consideration, the Board has the statutory ability
to do so at that time by way of initiative or referendum.
Based on previous direction from the Board as part of its Dougherty
Valley planning process, the Tassajara Valley planning process will
evaluate whether or not the urban limit line in the Tassajara
Valley should be adjusted. That determination will in part be
dependant upon specific factual analysis with respect to the
availability of infrastructure to address traffic, schools, water,
sewer and other public service needs. If those infrastructure
issues are not addressed to the satisfaction of County and local
officials, TVPOA recognizes that development in the Tassajara
Valley will not be approved by the Board. The Dougherty Valley
Settlement Agreement provides a useful model in that regard.
In addition, we recognize that providing some land use distinctions
between Contra Costa County and Alameda County, Dublin, Danville
and San Ramon at the south end of the Tassajara Valley is an
important issue to be addressed in the planning process. The
appropriate location of the urban limit line to address that
planning issue can only be effectively assessed through a
comprehensive planning process. Creating such a line different
than approved in 1990, for an advisory ballot measure this November
would be arbitrary and unfair and would not likely address in the
best and most fair way these infrastructure and planning
objectives.
TVPOA has played by the planning rules. It has paid the County
close to one million dollars in application fees and EIR costs. It
is only fair for the Board to allow that planning process to be
completed without being interrupted by a premature advisory ballot
measure. If TVPOA must also participate in a Tassajara Valley
election process, then at least it should await the completion of
the Tassajara Valley planning process. The Dougherty Valley
legislative planning process was not interrupted by an advisory
measure. If Gayle Bishop formally asked for it when she was
running, I do not believe the Board back then would have approved
it.
Chair Jeff Smith
and Members of the Board of Supervisors
July 16, 1996
Page 3
Donna Gerber has stated her opinion that Camino Tassajara will turn
out like Ygnacio Valley Road if the Tassajara Valley and the
Dougherty Valley are developed. Therefore, she thinks the voters
ought to now give input on whether the urban limit line should be
modified to avoid that situation. TVPOA is well aware that if
traffic analysis for the Tassajara Valley Study concludes that
Camino Tassajara will be like Ygnacio Valley Road, then the
Tassajara Valley General Plan Amendment will not be approved by
this or any other Board. Tassajara Valley will only be authorized
for development to the extent that traffic analysis using the TVTC
traffic model confirms that such development, coupled with road
improvements in Danville and San Ramon acceptable to those local
officials, will not cause traffic level of service standards
established in the Tri-Valley Action Plan in Danville and San Ramon
to be exceeded. We do not need the results of an advisory ballot
measure to reconfirm that political fact of life.
The political and planning process for the Tassajara Valley has and
will continue to be time consuming, complicated and costly for
TVPOA. Under the facts here, it serves no legitimate public
purpose to require TVPOA to be engaged in a parallel, premature
Tassajara Valley election process. Therefore, we respectfully
request the Board to reject Donna Gerber' s request. In so doing
the Board is not rejecting the public's opportunity to make
meaningful ballot measure decisions once more on the Tassajara
Valley. All the Board is saying is the time is not right to
provide such meaningful input. In the ordinary course of the
Tassajara Valley planning process, County and local officials, with
input from interested members of the public, will have the
opportunity to evaluate whether the voters should make further
decisions on the planning future for the Tassajara Valley, just
like they did in 1990 with the 65/35 Land Preservation Plan.
iark
truly yours,
L. Armstrong
MLA:kh
cc: TVPOA, Inc.
Attn: Jim Black
F:\CLMLA\19938\SMITH.LTR
Request to Speak Form 14s
( THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT)
Complete fib form and place it in the box near the speakers rostrum
before addressing the Board.
1Van�e: v �,LJ�JC *hone• ��� �/
• -`�3�r'
I am rpealang for nhrW ,or organha ion:
a m of o�nisatioN
fC�C
ONE:
I wish to speak on Agenda Item #.
My comments will be: general _for_#gainst _ x/' .
_ i wish to speak on the abject of
1 . �41to speak but leave oom for the Board
t0 corader.' �F1-`N r/h on� •�'�, -A � ,
- � �.. _ ��_N�i c,c� c?2 �S.Pa� . �'.�ma,,.J- ���� _/arty! ��.�
_ _ _. /mac.`rJ���m�o�� ��C1�' S.� .r -
Mount Diablo Regional Group
Sierra Club - San Francisco Bay Chapter
P.O. Box 4457, Walnut Creek, CA 94596.
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23RD FLOOR
SAV FRANCISCO,CALIFORNIA 411:1.3677
192-7077
MCQUAID, METZLER, MCCORMICR {x VAN ZANDT LLP FAX(4415)392.3969
FILE Y;;NBRR
DIRECT 01A:.
July 16, 1996
Board of Supervisors
Contra Costa County
c/o Application and Permit Center
651 Pine Street, 2d Floor, North Wing
Martinez, California
Re: Hearings on Club Hyatt, County File # DP953089,
LP932099, July 16, 1996
Honorable Supervisors:
We represent the Club Hyatt Project (the "Project") and we
are submitting this letter in response to the letter, dated July
11, 1996, submitted on behalf of the Hotel Employees & Restaurant
Employees Local 2850 by its attorney, Mr. Andrew Kahn of Davis,
Cowell & Bowe. we disagree with the points raised in Mr. Kahn's
letter and most especially with his conclusion that the Negative
Declaration proposed for the Project is legally insufficient.
For the reasons cited herein, we believe the negative declaration
is sufficient under the California Environmental Quality Act
VICEQA") and believe Mr. Kahn,s letter rails to provide any
substantial evidence to support his conclusions.
First and foremost, Mr. Kahn states that the legal standard
to be used in this situation is whether "no 'fair argument, can
be made that the project May cause an environmental impact. . . .
(emphasis in original) . Mr. Kahn cites to Quail Botanical
gardens Foundation v. City of Encinitas (1994) 29 Cal. App. 4th
1597, 1603. However, the Quail~ Case dealt with a negative
declaration which was used as the initial study for a project.
ZAL at 1600.
The accurate legal standard for determining whether a
subsequent or supplemental environmental impact report (WEIR") is
required is contained in Cal. Public Resources Code J 21166.
Section 21166 states:
When an environmental impact report has been prepared
for a project pursuant to this division, no subsequent
or supplemental environmental impact report shall be
required by the lead agency or by any responsible
3t%RCM8%VANt M2%3YATT.LTB,
A LI.�uTHo LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP INCLI:DINC PROFESSIONAL CORPORATIONS
SAN FRANCISCO,CALIFORNIA LOS ANCSLE9,CALIFORNIA
MC tJAID, METZLEP, 1T CCOR ICK & VANT ANTZAND 1 LL?
Board of Supervisors
July 16, 1996
Page 2
agency, unless one or more of the following events
occurs:
(a) Substantial changes are proposed in the project
which will require major revisions of the environmental
impact report.
(b) Substantial changes occur with respect to the
circumstances under which the project is being
undertaken which will require major revisions in the
environmental impact statement.
(c) New information, which was not known and could not
have been known at the time the environmental impact
report was certified as complete, becomes available.
The standard of review to be applied to the lead agency-'s
decision in the case of a determination under section 21166 not
to require a subsequent or supplemental SIR on a project is "the
traditional, deferential substantial evidence test. " gra Club
y. County of Sonoma (1992) 6 Cal.App.4th 1307, 1318. "The court
decides only whether the administrative record as a whole
demonstrates substantial evidence to support the determination
that the changes in the project or its circumstances were not so
substantial as to require major modifications of the EIR. " I�L
Here there is more than substantial evidence in the record to
support the County negative declaration.
Mr. Kahn's letter fails utterly to provide the Board with
any evidence that any of these changed circumstances have
occurred. His anecdotal statements about changes and cumulative
impacts are merely that and do not rise to the level of
"substantial evidence. " Newberry 912rings W4t2r AGa I nV. County
of San Bernardino (1984) 150 Cal.App. 3d 740, 749. Therefore,
without any substantial evidence to support Mr. Kahn's position,
his arguments must be rejected.
Mr. Rahn also states that the County cannot rely on tiering
of the EIR while the "first tier" documents are undergoing
revision. However, the legal standard is whether the changes
brought by the project are outside the scope of the original EIR
and whether there are changed circumstances caused by the
proposed project which require a subsequent or supplemental EIR.
Mr. Kahn has failed to provide any evidence that any such changes
exist in this case and further he fails to articulate any
specific impacts from the Project on the changes he does cite.
s:�saes�vwxa�i�ssrrr.s.�
MCQUAID, METZLER, MCCORItiIICK & VAN ZAINTDT LLP
__. .. .........
-- -- --- ----. _ -.
Board of Supervisors
July 16, 1996
Page 3
Therefore, Mr. Kahn's letter fails to present substantial
evidence in support of his contention and must be rejected.
N&W erre, 150 Cal. App. 3d at 749.
Mr. Kahn argues that the change from an office building to a
health club is a substantial change from the old use. However,
Mr. Kahn fails to support his contention that this change will
cause a change in the environmental impact analysis. In fact, as
to traffic the analysis shows that the peak hour traffic use of
the facility will actually decrease.
As to the argument that the Board is not looking at a true
project but at a piece of a project, the case cited by Mr. Kahn
dealt with a situation where a city took the position that no ETR
would be required for changes to a general plan as long as
somewhere down the road an EIR was required. Christward Ministry
v. suparior Court (1986) 184 Cal.App.3d 180, 193. This is
clearly not our case.
Moreover, there is no evidence in the record that a health
club as opposed to offices would have a growth-inducing effect on
the neighborhood. The space utilized by the health club would be
less than the office space and whether it would cause any growth
is more speculation. See Merz V. Board of Supervisors (1983) 147
Cal.App.3d 933 .
Finally, as to Mr. Kahn*s assertion that the County may not
require "interested parties to sift through a variety of
documents and files, " is an exaggeration at best. The case cited
by Mr. Kahn dealt with a situation where a negative declaration
cited to no less than 19 separate environmental studies.
Emmington v. Solana County (1987) 195 Cal.App.3d 491, 496. This
is clearly not our case where only an EIR and a supplemental EIR
are the basis of the analysis.
For the foregoing reasons, the Unions arguments should be
rejected and the negative declaration approved.
sincerel ,
F
Michael Va Za dt
cc: County Counsel
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