Dumbarton TOD - Final Environmental Impact Report - City of Newark

Response to Comments Chapter 9With regard to lighting, the Specific Plan proposes lighting standards “toensure that lighting . . . does not create excessive “spillover” light and glareinto adjacent residential areas and habitat areas, including the adjacentRefuge.” Thus, the Specific Plan includes standards to ensure that impactsto sensitive species are minimized. In addition, as noted above, the projectarea is not located in a remote, rural area removed from urban lighting. Theproject area is located in an industrial area where some industrial operationscurrently take place and lighting associated with these facilities occurs.2-5 This comment suggests that the project consider building farther away fromthe baylands or analyze the potential need for additional flood protectiondue to sea level rise. Sea level rise is addressed on page 4.6-27 of the DraftEIR. Minor revisions have been made to the Draft EIR to acknowledge thesea level rise mapping that has been completed by the Bay Conservation andDevelopment Commission (BCDC) (refer to Chapter 10 of this Final EIR).Based on the mapping conducted by BCDC and acknowledged in the DraftEIR, a portion of the Specific Plan area could be affected by sea level rise.As addressed in the Draft EIR, the forecasted sea level rise could increaseflood related impacts, especially from storm-surge induced flood events.Section 15.40.51 of the City’s Municipal Code has flood elevation standardsfor lands within special flood hazard areas as defined by FEMA. If sea levelrise was determined to be a significant threat, protective measures such aslevees installed by regional and local governments would be available toprotect urbanized areas.The BCDC forecast expressly notes that it does not account for existingshoreline protection or wave activity and that, where necessary, future leveesare an appropriate mechanism for protecting against flood damage fromrises in sea levels. Ultimately, the National Oceanic and AtmosphericAgency, FEMA, the USACE, cities, counties and flood control districts areresponsible for protecting the public and the San Francisco Bay ecosystemfrom flood hazards. The City's Municipal Code flood elevation standardswould protect the Specific Plan area based upon flood risks as determinedby FEMA, the City and these other regional and local agencies.The Draft EIR provides a reasonable range of alternatives, and includesalternatives to the proposed project that would preserve open space adjacentto the baylands. Alternatives 2 and 3 would concentrate development9-18 Dumbarton TOD Specific Plan Final EIRCity of Newark