Fountaingrove Environmental Impact Report - City of Santa Rosa ...

ES082008001BAO_Fountaingrove_publicComments_v3.indd_090408_lho
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accordance with the CEQA guide sections. The site plans on the Lodge Draft EIR are
incomplete, contradictory, and misleading because the environmental impact and mass and
bulk of the Lodge Project are not adequately covered. In order to site the project, about 2500
lineal feet, 5 to 7 foot high concrete retaining walls are proposed. This will result in a view of
about 13,000 square feet of wall face area, which is directly visible from Thomas Lake Harris
Drive. This impact is not covered by the Draft. Sections of the site are not given in the Draft
but they should be. If they would, they would look like this (holds up a picture). Two
retaining walls are proposed within 3 feet of Thomas Lake Harris Drive, which is on the left
at an elevation of 450. The nearest building is only 15 feet back and looms about 50 feet
above the street. The main 3 story building further back is over 80 feet above Thomas Lake
Harris Drive. The walls at the street are so close together there is no room for effective
landscaping and screening. Now, the environmental impact of the 50 to 80 foot high walls
and building in the narrow Lodge site would look like this. We all recognize this picture. It's
Varenna done by the Aegis company and it now proposes to a force a 15 foot acre project
onto a 10 foot acre site.
The Draft also fails to adequately address the impact in the extent of grading which is
required to repair the large landslides reported between the building sites by the soil
engineers of Giblin and Associates.
In conclusion, the Draft EIR is inadequate and insufficient regarding the environmental
impact of the mass and extent of grading, retaining walls, buildings, tree removal and
topography modification which would be required if the Lodge Project were to go ahead.
Susan Nowacki
I live at 3734 Skyfarm Drive. I’m here to give a seven point response to the DEIR regarding
visual impact and the land degradation for the Lodge at Fountaingrove
1. Three alternatives were considered: No Project, Smaller Footprint with a taller building
and three, Higher Bonus Density. The Draft EIR is inadequate because it failed to consider a
less significant project. It’s imperative the DEIR include a full assessment of the impacts
associated with the mitigated or reduced project with less impact on its surroundings.
2. The project would have a significant effect on the environment according to CEQA
Guidelines if built as proposed. The developer’s estimate of 66% of trees being removed is
highly inaccurate. If a transparency is placed over the project, it becomes evident 95% of the
existing trees will have to be removed to accommodate the parking areas and the buildings
as well as earth moving equipment and retaining walls. Even with mitigation of the tree
removal, it will take 100 years to replace ancient oaks and other trees on the site. The DEIR
is flawed because it failed to consider the visual impact of this.
3. The EIR comments on the horizontal mass of the buildings; however, no mitigation is
proposed to reduce the huge bulk and mass of the buildings.
4. The city is responsible for certifying the EIR, including grading permits. Massive grading
was done on the neighboring Varenna project against the city and planning and engineering
recommendations. This same kind of grading is proposed on the Lodge Project. City
Ordinance 2196 Section B and B(1) states all land use areas shall seek and retain enhanced
the hillside character of the site. The DEIR is flawed due to lack of response to this issue.