Initial Study MND - Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and ...

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Taylor MountainINITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATIONwould avoid the effects or mitigate the effects to a point where clearly no significanteffects would occur, and(2) There is no substantial evidence, in light of the whole record before the agency, that theproject as revised may have a significant effect on the environment.Based on the analysis in the Initial Study, it has been determined that all project-relatedenvironmental impacts could be reduced to a less than significant level with the incorporationof feasible mitigation measures. Therefore, adoption of this IS/MND will satisfy therequirements of CEQA.A.2 Project BackgroundThe project is a proposed Master Plan and County General Plan amendment/zoning change forthe approximate 1,100-acre Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve(Preserve), which is located adjacent to and south of the City of Santa Rosa. The Master Planhas been developed jointly by the District and Regional Parks through a two-year process thatincluded property surveys, technical reports, conceptual design and extensive communityinvolvement. Additional Master Plan information is online at: www.sonoma-county.org/parks/mt_taylor.htm.Previous CEQA documentation includes an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND)(2008) and Recirculated Initial Study/MND (2009) to support the current Interim Public AccessPermit Program for recreational use of the property.A.3 AlternativesThe purpose of an alternatives analysis pursuant to CEQA is to identify options that wouldfeasibly attain most of a project’s objectives while reducing the significant environmentalimpacts resulting from a proposed project. CEQA does not require the inclusion of analternatives analysis in MNDs because the Initial Study concludes that, with incorporation ofmitigation measures, there would be no significant adverse impacts resulting from the land usedesignation/zone district change or implementation of the proposed Master Plan. Therefore,no alternatives analysis is provided, nor is it required to be provided, in the Initial Study. Manyalternative uses for the property were considered during development of the Master Plan. Theproposed uses in the Master Plan are the result of a lengthy evaluation and planning processthat involved the public.A.4 Environmental FindingsThis Initial Study was prepared to identify the potential environmental effects resulting fromthe proposed project. The relevant guidelines and standards described in the proposed MasterPlan are incorporated into the proposed project.Based on the analysis and conclusions of the Initial Study, the impacts of the proposed projectwould be mitigated to less than significant levels with the implementation of the mitigationmeasures presented herein. Therefore, the analysis confirms that no significant adverseFinal A-2 September 2012
Taylor MountainINITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATIONimpacts would result from implementation of the Master Plan or General Plan land usedesignation/zone district amendments.The additional mitigation measures identified in Parts B (§ B.3) and C supplement the guidelinesand standards that are included in the proposed Master Plan. The District and Regional Parkshave agreed to implement all of the recommended mitigation measures for the proposedproject. Implementation of these mitigation measures would avoid potentially significantimpacts identified in the Initial Study or reduce them to less than significant levels.A.5 IS/MND Contents and OrganizationThis IS/MND was prepared in conformance with CEQA Guidelines and includes the followingsections:Part A: Introduction, describes the purpose and background of the IS/MND and provides anoverview of its scope and findings, public review process and documents incorporated byreference.Part B, Section B.1: Project Description, describes the project location, proposed General Planand zone district changes, proposed Master Plan uses, existing onsite and surrounding uses andpermits required.Part B, Section B.2: Environmental Determination, provides the required summary statementregarding the type of CEQA document appropriate for the project, considering theenvironmental factors analyzed within the Initial Study.Part B, Sections B.3–B.16: Initial Study Environmental Setting, Impacts and MitigationMeasures, evaluates, by resource issue area, the potential environmental impacts associatedwith changing the General Plan land use designation, rezoning and implementation of theproposed Master Plan. The analysis provides an assessment of the potential short-term andlong-term impacts of the project and a description of the mitigation measures that wouldreduce or eliminate impacts.Part B, Section B-17: Mandatory Findings of Significance, includes the findings required by CEQAfor a MND.Part C, Mitigation Monitoring Plan, provides a table listing mitigation measures, responsibleagencies and the timing and reporting requirements for each measure.Part D, References, lists the documents, agencies, and persons consulted in the preparation ofthis document.Part E, Report Preparation, lists those involved with the preparation of this document.Appendix - Response to Comments Summary: The Response to Comments Summary addressesall written and oral comments on the Draft IS/MND and includes the full content of commentletters.September 2012 A-3 Final
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