SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

XII. SUMMARY OF COMMMENTS AND RESPONSESB. SUMMARY OF COMMENTS AND RESPONSESResource Conservation Area designation (which includes bay lands, agriculture, hillsides, ranchlands, open space reserve, regional parks’) is to encourage land uses and densities appropriate tothe rural unincorporated areas that also:a. help preserve rural character;b. conserve natural, scenic, and cultural resources;c. protect public health and safety from natural and man-made hazards;d. preserve agriculture and prime agricultural soils;e. protect watersheds and water quality;f. enhance air quality; andg. minimize the demand for and cost of public services and facilities.” Page III.A-12.POLICY R-PR 39: “The natural scenery along many of Santa Clara’s highways should beprotected from land uses and other activities that would diminish the aesthetic beauty.”Page III.A-15. Shouldn’t this apply to HWY. 84 and I-680 and why doesn’t it??Why are these policies not included in Alameda County since the same conditions exist?’(Maryanne Canaparo)Response: As is stated on pages III.A-1 and A-2 of the EIR, the General Plans of the Counties ofAlameda and Santa Clara are presented for informational purposes only. Further, the SFPUCdoes not have jurisdiction over the content of the general plans of Alameda or Santa Claracounties. The City and County of San Francisco, as a chartered city and county, and its SFPUC,as a public utility, receive intergovernmental immunity under California Governmental CodeSections 53090 et.seq. Such immunity exempts the extraterritorial lands owned by the City andCounty of San Francisco, through its SFPUC, from the planning laws of a city or county in whichthose lands are located. As stated on DEIR page III.A-1, these policies are included in the EIRbecause Alameda and Santa Clara Counties are entitled to review and determine consistency of aproject with the applicable general plan. Regarding Santa Clara County Policy R-PR 39; thispolicy does not apply to Highway 84 or the Watershed portion of I-680 because those roadwaysare not within Santa Clara County. As noted, these policies are not included in AlamedaCounty’s General Plan and the City and County of San Francisco and the SFPUC do not havejurisdiction over the Alameda County General Plan. Inclusion of such policies in the AlamedaCounty General Plan would need to be implemented by Alameda County.3.0 PROGRAMMATIC NATURE OF THE DRAFT ALAMEDAWATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANComment A-5: “The Plan includes various suggestions for commercial development, recreation,camping, and modifications to existing mining permits, some or all of which may require Countyapproval at the time they are officially proposed. The County will be a Responsible Agency withrespect to projects for which environmental review is not completed, and will rely on the EIRprepared by San Francisco when reviewing the future implementation of the Plan’s managementactions and related projects.NOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan C&R.6 ESA / 930385