Volume 2: Draft Gorst Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement

GORST PLANNED ACTION EIS | AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURESthan evaluation properties individually as they area directly affected by proposed activities. Knowledge of therelative importance of certain buildings and neighborhoods can inform the planning process. However, it isrecognized that some projects will take place before such surveys can be completed. The following impacts willaddress activity types that are known to have the potential to impact significant cultural resources (e.g.archaeological sites, historic built environment resources, TCPs). Projects proposed within High and ModerateProbability Areas that involves these activity types will be required to implement the associated mitigationmeasures in an attempt to reduce the impacts to a level of less than significant.Table 3.10-5Development and Construction Activities in High and Moderate Probability Areas DiscussionConstructionType of ImpactOperations, Indirect, andCumulative ImpactsAlternative 1Impact DiscussionTypical project impacts that could affect cultural resources in the Study Area includedemolition, removal, or substantial alteration of resources older than 50 years of age withoutconsideration of historic built environment, archaeological sites, and TCPs.Development could occur on or near parcels in the Study Area that contain previouslyidentified and/or unknown cultural resources. Development within parcels containingpreviously identified cultural resources will require further study to determine if the projecthas the potential to impact significant resources and if so, the appropriate mitigationmeasures. This development would likely include ground disturbance and modifications tobuildings and structures, which could result in potentially significant impact on culturalresources. Due to the potential to impact unknown cultural resources, a detailed review ofpotential impacts on cultural resources would be required on a project-specific basis for thoseprojects within the High and Moderate Probability Areas.Based on the information in Table 2-7 Growth Comparison by Gorst UGA Alternative, a total of approximately 41developable acres within the UGA have been identified under Alternative 1. In addition to these developableparcel acres, some land would be modified in existing or future rights of way or on lands for public purposesTherefore, in addition to future projects on already developed parcels, locations that currently do not supportdevelopment would likely be altered. Development and associated construction activities would result in grounddisturbance within 41 acres, and could contribute to increased disturbance to known and undocumentedarchaeological sites, historic built environment resources, and TCPs.Under this alternative, sand, gravel, and rock deposits would continue to be mined from the area identified withthe mineral resources overlay in Figure 3.1-1 Gorst Creek Watershed: Geology. There would be no additionalimpacts to cultural resources within the mining area because of the substantial ground disturbance that haspreviously occurred and the fact that the same activities will continue.Given that significant cultural resources are present within the Study Area, future development would have thepotential to impact these resources. It is assumed that under Alternative 1, future development projects wouldreceive the appropriate permits, and that buffers, development standards, and other mitigation measurespertaining to identifying and preserving significant cultural resources would be implemented.As the Watershed Characterization & Framework Plan would not be implemented under this alternative, therewould be no watershed-level plan for future development to assess specific impacts to cultural resources.Alternative 2A total of approximately 70 developable acres have been identified for Alternative 2. In addition to thesedevelopable parcel acres, some land would be modified in existing or future rights of way or on lands for publicpurposes. Therefore new development on currently undeveloped parcels has the potential to impact significantcultural resources on up to 70 acres, which is greater than that under Alternative 1. Additionally, small areas ofopen space and recreation would be maintained. Development and associated construction activities would resultDraft | June 2013 3-141