Saticoy & Wells Community Plan & Development ... - City Of Ventura

Saticoy & Wells Community Plan and Code EIRSection 5.0 Growth Effects and Other CEQA Sections5.1.2 Removal of Obstacles to GrowthThe Project would not facilitate development in any undeveloped areas where developmentcould not already occur under the 2005 Ventura General Plan. Consequently, although limiteddevelopment on certain undeveloped properties and existing agriculture lands within theProject Area could occur, the Project would not open up new areas to development or otherwiseremove obstacles to growth.It is the specific purpose of the Project to create six distinct, yet interconnected, walkableneighborhoods that improve over time by requiring well-designed development, thoroughfaresusable by all modes of transportation, and providing neighborhood amenities that meet theunique needs of the Saticoy and Wells communities. The Project’s purpose is to accommodatethe orderly development of the Saticoy and Wells communities. Therefore, by its nature, theProject is intended to reduce the potential for uncontrolled growth and associatedenvironmental impacts.The majority of undeveloped areas within the Project Area, all of which are in the City’s Sphereof Influence, are bordered by urban uses. As discussed in Section 4.9, Land Use and Planning,annexation of any of these areas to the City would require the approval of the Ventura CountyLocal Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). City services, roads and other infrastructureare available to serve these areas but would require improvements. However, withimplementation of the policies and actions proposed in the Community Plan, in combinationwith additional actions recommended in this EIR, service and infrastructure needs could be metfor all of the Project Area. These improvements would not be likely to facilitate additionalperipheral development in the future. This is due to the natural physical boundaries of theSanta Clara River located adjacent the southern boundary of the Project Area and the Ventura-Santa Paula Greenbelt Agreement area located adjacent to the eastern boundary of the ProjectArea. Therefore, the adverse impacts due to removal of obstacles to growth would be less thansignificant.5.2 IRREVERSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTSThe CEQA Guidelines require that EIRs evaluating projects involving amendments to publicplans, ordinances, or policies contain a discussion of significant irreversible environmentalchanges. CEQA also requires decisionmakers to balance the benefits of a proposed projectagainst its unavoidable environmental risks in determining whether to approve a project. Thissection addresses non renewable resources, the commitment of future generations to theproposed uses, and irreversible impacts associated with the proposed development.Construction facilitated by the Project would involve the use of building materials and energy,some of which are non-renewable resources. Consumption of these resources would occur withany development in the region and are not unique to Ventura or the Project Area. The additionof new residential and non-residential development in the City through 2025 would irreversiblyincrease local demand for non-renewable energy resources such as petroleum and natural gas.Increasingly efficient building fixtures and automobile engines, as well as implementation ofpolicies and actions in the Community Plan, are expected to offset the demand to some degree.5-2City of Ventura