TERCERO HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

Transcription

1 TERCERO HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS Tiered Initial Study Negative Declaration OFFICE OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING University of California One Shields Avenue 376 Mrak Hall Davis, California February 2003

2 TERCERO HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS Draft Tiered Initial Study Negative Declaration Prepared By: OFFICE OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING University of California One Shields Avenue 376 Mrak Hall Davis, California February 2003 Contact: A. Sidney England Director of Environmental Planning (530)

3 TERCERO HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PRJOECTS TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables... ii List of Figures... ii I. PROJECT INFORMATION... 3 II. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL... 6 Introduction... 6 Scope of the Focused Tiered Initial Study... 7 Public and Agency Review... 8 Organization of the Tiered Initial Study... 8 III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION UC Davis Project Description Construction Schedule and Staging Project Approvals IV. CONSISTENCY WITH THE LRDP LRDP Scope of Development LRDP Population Projections LRDP Land Use Designation LRDP Objectives LRDP EIR Cumulative Analyses V. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED VI. DETERMINATION VII. EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Introduction Land Use and Planning Agricultural Resources Population and Housing Transportation/Circulation Noise Air Quality Hazards and Hazardous Materials i -

4 8. Biological Resources Hydrology and Water Quality Geology and Soils Mineral Resources Cultural Resources Aesthetics Public Services Recreation Utilities and Service Systems Mandatory Findings of Significance Fish and Game Determination VIII. REFERENCES IX. COMMENTS AND RESPONSES TO COMMENTS X. AGENCIES AND PERSONS CONTACTED XI. REPORT PREPARERS APPENDIX A. APPENDIX B. APPENDIX C. Amendments to the 1994 Long Range Development Plan and Revisions to the 1994 Long Range Development Plan Environmental Impact Report (through May 2001) Negative Declaration Cumulative Impacts Analysis - Focus on Potential Environmental Effects Associated with Projected Student Enrollment Increases through LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Projected Population Increases for Projects Currently Under Environmental Review LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Regional Location Figure 2. Project Area and Phasing Figure 3. Building Footprint and Site Diagram ii -

5 TERCERO HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PRJOECTS ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA February 24, 2003 CAMPUS: Davis I. PROJECT INFORMATION 1. Project title: Tercero Housing Improvement Projects 2. Project location: University of California, Davis Yolo County 3. Lead agency name and address: Office of Resource Management and Planning University of California One Shields Avenue 376 Mrak Hall Davis, CA Project sponsor s name and address: See Item 3 5. Contact person and phone number: A. Sidney England Director of Environmental Planning (530) Location of the administrative record for this project: See Item Identification of previous EIRs relied upon for tiering purposes (including all applicable LRDP and project EIRs) and address where a copy is available for inspection: This environmental analysis is tiered from the 1994 Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (State Clearinghouse No ), as updated and revised by a number of subsequent documents (listed below). These documents are available for review during normal operating hours at the UC Davis Office of Resource Management and Planning, 376 Mrak Hall on the UC Davis campus; at Reserves in Shields Library on the UC Davis campus; at the Yolo County Public Library, 315 E. 14 th Street, Davis; at the Vacaville Public Library, 1020 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville; and online at (technical appendices are not available online). Hereafter, reference to the 1994 LRDP EIR includes the 1994 LRDP EIR as revised by the documents listed below. Revisions to the 1994 LRDP EIR identified in subsequent environmental review documents are summarized in the list below. Appendix A of this Tiered Initial Study includes further information about the changes to the 1994 LRDP and LRDP EIR since original publication

6 Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Replacement Project EIR (State Clearinghouse Nos and ): Updated 1994 LRDP EIR analysis to reflect changes to land use designations presented in the 1994 LRDP (Section 4.6 of the WWTP Replacement Project Draft EIR). Identified the loss of an additional 20 acres of prime agricultural land and ruderal/annual grassland habitat over the amount identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR analysis and increased the magnitude of land use and biological resource impacts associated with this loss (Sections 4.4 and 4.6 of the WWTP Replacement Project Draft EIR, and Appendix G of the Final EIR). Reevaluated cumulative 1994 LRDP EIR Hydrology and Water Quality, Hazardous Materials and Public Safety, and Air Quality impacts (Sections 4.1, 4.3, and 4.3 of the Draft EIR) Major Capital Improvement Projects Supplemental EIR (SEIR) (State Clearinghouse No ): Updated 1994 LRDP EIR analysis to reflect changes to land use designations presented in the 1994 LRDP (Sections 5.3, 6.3, and 7.3 of the Draft SEIR). Identified the loss of an additional 20 acres of prime agricultural land and 31 acres of ruderal/annual grassland habitat over the amount identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR. To mitigate this loss, identified measure to redesignate 20 acres of prime farmland and ruderal/annual grassland habitat at the Russell Ranch from land designated as Academic and Administrative Low Density to Teaching and Research Fields (Sections 5.3, 5.5, 6.3, 6.5, 7.3, and 7.5 of the Draft SEIR). Identified the loss of 11 acres of ruderal/annual grassland habitat over the amount identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR analysis and increased the magnitude of biological resource impacts associated with this loss (Appendix A of the Final SEIR). Included project-specific mitigation measure to reduce the magnitude, but not the level of significance, of the cumulative impact on burrowing owl nesting habitat (Section 2 of the Draft SEIR). Included updated transportation and circulation analysis to assess a new traffic survey and the decision by the City of Davis not to expand the Richards Boulevard undercrossing from two to four lanes. Revised 1994 LRDP EIR transportation Mitigation Measure (b) to account for the new traffic information (Section 8 of the Draft SEIR). Reevaluated cumulative air quality and noise impacts (Section 8 of the Draft SEIR)

7 Center for the Arts Performance Hall and South Entry Roadway and Parking Improvements Tiered Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (State Clearinghouse No ): Updated 1994 LRDP EIR analysis to reflect changes to land use designations presented in the 1994 LRDP (page 29 of the Initial Study). Identified the loss of 8.5 acres of prime farmland and ruderal/annual grassland habitat over the amount assessed in the 1994 LRDP EIR. To mitigate this loss, identified measure to redesignate 8.5 acres of prime farmland and ruderal/annual grassland habitat designated as Support to Teaching and Research Fields (pages and 60 of the Initial Study). USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Complex Tiered Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (State Clearinghouse No ): Updated the 1994 LRDP EIR analysis to reflect changes to land use designations presented in the 1994 LRDP (pages of the Initial Study). Revised a project-specific mitigation measure presented in the Major Capital Improvement Projects SEIR that reduced the magnitude, but not the level of significance, of the cumulative impact on burrowing owl nesting habitat (page 65 of the Initial Study). Veterinary Medicine Laboratory and Equine Athletic Performance Laboratory Facilities Focused Tiered EIR (State Clearinghouse No ): Further updated the 1994 LRDP EIR cumulative transportation and circulation impact analysis to account for more accurate estimates of campus population growth in the Health Sciences District. The updated analysis identified that the intersection of Hutchison Drive and Health Sciences Drive would exceed level of service standards. Included a mitigation measure to reduce the impact at this intersection to a less-than-significant level (Section 3 of the Final EIR). Segundo Housing Improvement Projects Tiered Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (State Clearinghouse No ): Updated the 1994 LRDP EIR analysis to reflect changes to the land use designations presented in the 1994 LRDP (pages 33 to 35 of the Initial Study). Conference Center, Hotel, and Graduate School of Management Building Focused Tiered EIR (State Clearinghouse No ): Updated the 1994 LRDP EIR analysis to reflect changes to the land use designations presented in the 1994 LRDP (Appendix A of the Final EIR)

8 II. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL INTRODUCTION This environmental analysis is a Tiered Initial Study for the proposed Tercero Housing Improvement Projects (proposed project). The environmental analysis for the proposed project is tiered from the UC Davis 1994 LRDP EIR in accordance with Sections and of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines and Public Resources Code Section The 1994 LRDP EIR is a Program EIR, prepared pursuant to Section of the CEQA Guidelines (Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Sections et seq.). The 1994 LRDP EIR analyzed full implementation of uses and physical development proposed under the 1994 LRDP through the year and identified measures to mitigate the significant adverse project and cumulative impacts associated with that growth. The CEQA concept of "tiering" refers to the coverage of general environmental matters in broad program-level EIRs, with subsequent focused environmental documents for individual projects that implement the program. This environmental document incorporates by reference the discussions in the 1994 LRDP EIR (the Program EIR) and concentrates on project-specific issues. CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines encourage the use of tiered environmental documents to reduce delays and excessive paperwork in the environmental review process. This is accomplished in tiered documents by eliminating repetitive analyses of issues that were adequately addressed in the Program EIR and by incorporating those analyses by reference. Section 15152(d) and 15168(d) of the State CEQA Guidelines provide for simplifying the task of preparing environmental documents on later parts of the program by incorporating by reference factors that apply to the program as a whole. Where an EIR has been prepared or certified for a program or plan, the environmental review for a later activity consistent with the program or plan should be limited to effects that were not analyzed as significant in the prior EIR or that are susceptible to substantial reduction or avoidance. Accordingly, the tiering of the environmental analysis for the proposed project allows this Tiered Initial Study to rely on the 1994 LRDP EIR for the following: a discussion of general background and setting information for environmental topic areas; overall growth-related issues through ; issues that were evaluated in sufficient detail in the 1994 LRDP EIR for which there is no significant new information or change in circumstances that would require further analysis; and cumulative impacts assessment. The purpose of this Tiered Initial Study is to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the project with respect to the 1994 LRDP EIR to determine what level of additional environmental - 6 -

9 review, if any, is appropriate. Based on the analysis contained in this Tiered Initial Study, one of the following determinations will be made: the project is exempt from CEQA; the project incrementally contributes to, but does not exceed, environmental impacts previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR, no additional mitigation measures are required, and preparation of Findings consistent with this determination is appropriate; the project would result in new impacts that were not previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR, but there is no substantial evidence that such new impacts may have a significant effect on the environment and preparation of a Negative Declaration is appropriate; the project would result in new potentially significant impacts that were not previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR, but proposed project-specific mitigation measures would reduce such impacts to a point where clearly no significant effects would occur and there is no substantial evidence that the project as mitigated may have a significant effect on the environment, and preparation of a Mitigated Negative Declaration is appropriate; or the project would result in new significant environmental impacts not previously identified in the LRDP EIR, and preparation of a tiered EIR is appropriate. Mitigation measures identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR that apply to the proposed project will be required to be implemented as part of the project. SCOPE OF THE TIERED INITIAL STUDY Based on the analysis presented in this Tiered Initial Study, it has been determined that the proposed project would not result in any potentially significant impacts that cannot be mitigated to a less-than-significant level through implementation of 1994 LRDP EIR mitigation measures or are not sufficiently addressed by the 1994 LRDP EIR. The analysis contained in this Tiered Initial Study concludes that the proposed project would result in the following categories of impacts, depending on the environmental issue involved: no impact; less-than-significant impact; less-thansignificant impact with the incorporation of 1994 LRDP EIR; or contribute to a significant unavoidable impact that was adequately analyzed in the 1994 LRDP EIR for which no new mitigation measures are available and no new analysis is proposed. The preparation of a Negative Declaration is appropriate (the Negative Declaration is presented in Appendix B). Since none of the conditions described in CEQA or the CEQA Guidelines calling for preparation of a subsequent EIR have occurred, this Tiered Initial Study includes only minor technical changes or additions to the analysis set forth in the 1994 LRDP EIR. The analysis presented in this document does not raise important new issues about the significant effects on the environment analyzed in the 1994 LRDP EIR

10 PUBLIC AND AGENCY REVIEW Public and agency comments on the Draft Tiered Initial Study and Proposed Draft Negative Declaration will be accepted from February 24, 2003 to March 25, Copies of the Tiered Initial Study are available during normal operating hours at the UC Davis Office of Resource Management and Planning, 376 Mrak Hall on the UC Davis campus; at Reserves in Shields Library on the UC Davis campus; at the Yolo County Public Library, 315 E. 14th Street, Davis; at the Vacaville Public Library, 1020 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville; and online at Copies of the 1994 LRDP, 1994 LRDP EIR, WWTP Replacement Project EIR, Major Capital Improvement Projects SEIR; Center for the Arts Tiered Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration; USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center Tiered Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration; Veterinary Medicine Laboratory and Equine Athletic Performance Laboratory Facility Tiered EIR; the Segundo Housing Improvement Projects Tiered Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration; and the Conference Center, Hotel, and Graduate School of Management Building Focused Tiered EIR are also available at these locations. Comments on this Draft Tiered Initial Study must be received by 5pm on March 25, 2003 and can be ed to or sent to: John A. Meyer Vice Chancellor - Resource Management and Planning 376 Mrak Hall One Shields Avenue University of California Davis, CA ORGANIZATION OF THE TIERED INITIAL STUDY This Tiered Initial Study is organized into the following sections. Section I - Project Information: provides summary background information about the proposed project, including project location, lead agency, and contact information. Section II - Environmental Review and Approval: includes a summary of the Tiered Initial Study's relationship to the 1994 LRDP EIR, the scope of the Tiered Initial Study, public and agency review information, and an overview of the document's organization. Section III - Project Description: includes the description of the proposed project. Section IV - Consistency with the 1994 LRDP: describes the consistency of the proposed project with the 1994 LRDP and the 1994 LRDP EIR. Section V - Environmental Factors Potentially Affected: identifies which environmental factors were determined to be a "Potentially Impact" as indicated by the Tiered Environmental Checklist

11 Section VI - Determination: indicates whether impacts associated with the proposed project are significant, and what, if any, additional environmental documentation is required. Section VII - Evaluation of Environmental Impacts: contains the Tiered Environmental Checklist form for each resource area. The checklist is used to assist in evaluating the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project with respect to the 1994 LRDP EIR. The checklist identifies potential project effects as follows: (1) new potentially significant project impacts that were not adequately analyzed in the 1994 LRDP EIR, or previously identified significant impacts for which new feasible mitigation measures are available; (2) new less-than-significant impacts with mitigation incorporated; (3) environmental impacts of the project that were adequately analyzed and mitigated in the 1994 LRDP EIR; (4) less-than-significant impacts; and (5) effects that would not result in any adverse environmental impact. This section also contains an explanation of all checklist answers and recommended mitigation measures. Section VIII - References: lists references used in the preparation of this report. Section IX Comments and Responses to Comments: will be prepared for the final Initial Study and will summarize all comments received during the comment period. Section X - Agencies and Persons Consulted: provides the names of individuals contacted in preparation of this document. Section XI - Report Preparers: lists the names of individuals involved in the preparation of this report. Appendix A - Amendments to the 1994 LRDP and Revisions to the 1994 LRDP EIR: summarizes amendments to the 1994 LRDP and revisions to the 1994 LRDP EIR through November Appendix B Negative Declaration: presents the proposed Negative Declaration for the project. Appendix C - Cumulative Impacts Analysis - Focus on Potential Environmental Effects Associated with Projected Student Enrollment Increases through : presents an evaluation of currently anticipated campus growth through and associated potential cumulative environmental effects

12 III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION UC DAVIS The 5,300 acre UC Davis campus (the campus) is located in Yolo and Solano Counties approximately 72 miles northeast of San Francisco, 15 miles west of the City of Sacramento, and adjacent to the City of Davis (see Figure 1). The campus, in general, is comprised of four campus units: the central campus, the south campus, the west campus, and Russell Ranch (see Figure 3-2, Regional and Local Setting, on page 3-5 of the 1994 LRDP Draft EIR). The "main campus" refers to the central, south, and west campus units, excluding Russell Ranch. Most of the academic and extracurricular activities occur within the central campus. The central campus is bounded approximately by Russell Boulevard to the north, State Route 113 (SR 113) to the west, Interstate 80 (I-80) and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks to the south, and A Street to the east. The south campus is located south of I-80 and north of the South Fork of Putah Creek. The west campus is bounded by SR 113 to the east, Putah Creek to the south, Russell Boulevard to the north, and extends approximately one-half mile west of County Road 98. The south and west campus units are contiguous with the central campus and are used primarily for field teaching and research. The 1,590 acre Russell Ranch portion of the campus lies to the west, separated from the west campus by approximately one and one-half miles of privately owned agricultural land. Russell Ranch was acquired by the campus in 1990 and is intended for use in large-scale agricultural and environmental research and the study of sustainable agricultural practices. Russell Ranch is bordered roughly by County Road 96 on the east, Putah Creek on the south, Covell Boulevard on the north, and Russell Boulevard on the west and northwest. In addition, UC Davis owns several buildings in Research Park, located in the City of Davis south of I-80. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed project includes facility expansion and improvements to the Tercero housing area in the Central Campus at UC Davis. Three specific projects with associated utility connections are proposed: 1) new dormitory housing for 1,200 first-year students; 2) renovation and expansion of the existing Tercero dining commons building; and, 3) construction of a new centralized catering kitchen building for the UC Davis campus (Figure 2). The existing Tercero Housing area provides housing and dining facilities for approximately 1,110 students on approximately 12.3 acres. The proposed project would provide housing for an additional 1,200 students and would increase the occupied acreage of the Tercero area by approximately 6 acres. The proposed housing expansion would include three phases, each providing new housing for 400 first-year students. Each phase would include two buildings housing approximately 200 students each. The buildings would be four-stories tall with approximately 50,000 gross square feet (gsf) each. No additional parking is proposed to accompany the new housing because freshman students are generally not permitted to park on-campus and adequate parking is available for firstyear community college transfer students. Each building would include lounge space, study space, and a main floor entry and lobby area. The new housing is proposed to provide on-campus housing for expected increases in freshman enrollment. Phase 1 construction would start in 2004 with occupancy expected in Phase 2 construction would start in 2005 with occupancy expected in Phase 3 construction would start in 2007 or 2008 with occupancy expected in

13 2010 (Figure 3)

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16 The site of the Phase 3 construction includes temporary modular office buildings currently used by Communication Resources staff. These modular buildings would be relocated or removed prior to the construction of Phase 3 in Program needs and the decision to remove or relocate the modular buildings would be made at that time. Options could include moving and reusing the trailers at another campus location or disposing of the trailers and distributing the workers to existing or future campus buildings. Due to the uncertainty of the future use of these modular buildings, this CEQA evaluation does not include the relocation or removal of the modular buildings. The trailers are relatively new and do not have lead or asbestos contamination. The proposed renovation and expansion of the Tercero dining commons building would provide additional dining capacity and study space to match the capacity needed for the planned addition of 1,200 students in the Tercero housing area. The dining commons building would be expanded by approximately 25,000 gsf, from 35,000 gsf to approximately 60,000 gsf but would remain a two-story structure. The proposed expansion would take place on the south, west, and east sides of the building and would include increased baking facilities, meal serving, a student lounge, a maintenance shop, and study space on the first floor and dining room and support space on the second floor (Figure 3). The proposed catering kitchen building would consist of a two-story, 10,000 gsf structure west of the existing Tercero dining commons buildings and east of Dairy Road (Figure 3). The building would include space for food preparation, food storage, restrooms, dishwashing, offices, a conference room, and a loading dock for receiving food materials and for loading distribution trucks. Project Site The proposed projects would be located on approximately 6 acres. The Tercero housing area is located near the southwest portion of the UC Davis core campus and is bounded by Bioletti Way on the east, Dairy Road on the west, South La Rue Road on the south, and Tercero Hall Circle on the north. The housing expansion would take place on 2.0 acres currently used as a recreation field, 2.5 acres currently used for 313 parking spaces, and 0.5 acres currently used for temporary modular offices. The dining commons expansion would take place on approximately 12,500 square feet adjacent to the existing dining commons building in an area that includes a bike path and landscaping. The catering kitchen building would occupy a site of approximately 0.5 acres. The site is currently landscaped on the west side and the east side is currently developed with a solar hot water system that formerly supplied a portion of the hot water needs for the existing Tercero dining commons building. The solar hot water system is no longer operational because of equipment failures and age and will be removed to provide an adequate site for the catering kitchen building. Project Background and Need The growing California population has resulted in increased enrollment and a projection for further increases in UC Davis enrollment through UC Davis seeks to offer housing to all eligible first-year students and the existing UC Davis freshman housing is at capacity. The Segundo Infill housing project will be completed in September 2003 and will provide freshman

17 housing for approximately 380 students. Additional housing is needed to accommodate the expected enrollment increases from 2003 to First-year housing units do not include kitchen facilities and the planned increase in housing in the Tercero area would result in insufficient capacity to feed the increased number of students. The proposed dining commons renovation and expansion would increase the capacity for food production at the Tercero dining commons and would increase the available dining space for students. In addition, the expansion would include study space for students. The proposed catering kitchen building would consolidate the campus catering operations in order to increase efficiency and quality of service. The building would replace space currently used in multiple parts of the campus for managing, preparing, and distributing food to campus events. The existing facilities at the UC Davis Memorial Union and the Silo do not meeting current or expected space needs for catering operations, and the separation of the existing facilities into two locations decreases the efficiency of the catering operation. In addition, the space currently used by the catering staff is needed to expand other campus food service operations and will be absorbed by the existing food service entities at the Memorial Union and the Silo. Project Objectives The campus identified the following objectives for the proposed project: Provide increased housing capacity for first-year students. The proposed addition of 1,200 units would match the housing demand for the foreseeable increase in first-year students. The increased housing for first-year students would help implement the goal of the 1994 LRDP of offering housing to all eligible incoming first-year students. Design a project to create an environment that encourages social interaction among residents and achieves privacy, comfort, and safety. Provide adequate food production and dining commons space for the increased number of first-year students. The student experience of living on campus in a dormitory setting includes frequent social interactions during trips to and from the dining commons. The objective of this project is to provide adequate dining commons space to meet the need of the increased number of students. The proposed expansion would provide adequate space to retain a pleasant dining experience for students as well as study, recreational, advising, and computer laboratory space in close proximity to the eating facility and to the housing facilities. Provide a centralized catering kitchen facility close to the core campus to minimize food transit times, maximize food quality, and enable student catering employees to quickly get to and leave work. Project Elements Housing Expansion First-year housing for 1,200 students phased in 400 student increments

18 Six four-story buildings with approximately fifty students per building floor (50,000 gsf per building). Lounge and study space in each building. Dining Commons Expansion Approximately 25,000 gsf of building space. Increased dining room and food service capacity, new lounge and study space, recreational, advising, and computer laboratory space, and new quick-serve food area. Loading dock improvements. Catering Kitchen Building Food and equipment storage with approximately 3,000 gsf. Food preparation and clean-up space with approximately 5,500 gsf. Office and conference room for catering management and catering sales with approximately 1,500 gsf

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20 Population The proposed housing expansion would result in housing for an additional 1,200 students at UC Davis. The dining commons expansion would result in approximately ten new employees. The catering kitchen building is not expected to directly result in any new employees but the space vacated on campus by the existing catering kitchen staff would be fully reoccupied by growth in other food service operations at UC Davis. Therefore, for the purposes of this analysis, the campus assumes that the catering kitchen project would increase the on-campus population by approximately 15 employees. Landscaping Landscaped areas would be provided adjacent to all of the new buildings and would provide outdoor gathering places, enhanced building entries, and offer improved pedestrian walkway connections. Landscape design would use appropriate plantings, in terms of cost, durability, and aesthetics. To encourage infiltration and reduce runoff, an effort would be made to minimize impervious surfaces. Stormwater drainage on the project site would be channeled, where possible, through swales and over other pervious surfaces to filter runoff and maximize percolation. Utilities The proposed project would require connections to campus utilities including domestic/fire water, utility water, sewer, storm drainage, natural gas, chilled water, steam, electricity, and telecommunications. The capacities of existing utility systems are analyzed in the Utilities and Service Systems section of the attached Environmental Checklist (Section VII). Domestic/Fire Water The proposed project would connect to the existing campus domestic/fire water system at a point located east of the Phase 3 housing expansion buildings in the area of the existing temporary modular buildings. The water connection would be looped via Diary Road to a second connection in South La Rue Road. Utility Water For irrigation of the project's landscaped areas, the proposed project would connect to an existing utility water line at a point west of the project in Dairy Road. Sewer The project would connect to the existing campus sanitary sewer system at a point west of the project in Dairy Road. Natural Gas

21 Natural gas for the housing expansion will connect to an existing gas line near the temporary modular buildings. Natural gas for the dining commons and the catering kitchen building will be provided by an existing gas line immediately south of the building. Storm Drainage New catch basins throughout the project area will be connected to an existing underground storm drain located west of the project site in Dairy Road. Chilled Water and Steam The campus chilled water and steam systems would cool and heat the proposed housing buildings and would connect to the campus system approximately 250 yards north of the proposed building. The proposed connection to the campus steam system would be placed underground in the landscaped area east of Dairy Road. The proposed chilled water connection would be placed within Dairy Road. Electricity Electricity would be provided for the proposed project from a transformer located at the intersection of Bioletti Way and Bainer Hall Drive. From the transformer to the project site, the electrical connection would be placed underground in the landscaped area between the existing Tercero dining commons building and Bioletti Way. Telecommunications The proposed project would connect to the telecommunications facilities in the Tercero dining commons building. Roadways and Parking Vehicles would access the housing from Dairy Road and South La Rue Road and from Parking Lot 47 on the east side of the housing development. Service vehicles would have additional access to service areas adjacent to each building. Vehicles would access the dining commons building via the existing driveway from Dairy Road to the loading dock on the west side of the building. Vehicles would access the catering kitchen building via the dining commons driveway from Dairy Road. Bikes would continue to access the project sites from Dairy Road, South La Rue Road, and from the bike paths within the Tercero housing area. Bicycle parking would be provided adjacent to all of the proposed buildings. CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE AND STAGING The housing project would be constructed in three phases with construction beginning in 2004 and ending in The dining commons building expansion would be take place in 2004 and The schedule for the catering kitchen building is currently not certain but would probably

22 take place between 2004 and Construction staging would take place adjacent to each phase of construction. PROJECT APPROVALS As a public agency principally responsible for approving or carrying out the proposed project, the University of California (the University) is the Lead Agency under CEQA and is responsible for reviewing and certifying the adequacy of the environmental document and approving the proposed project. The housing projects and the dining commons expansion project will be considered by the Board of Regents in May It is anticipated that the UC Davis Facilities and Enterprise Policy Committee (FEPC) will consider design approval of the catering kitchen building in January The UC Davis Chancellor is the Chairperson of the UC Davis FEPC

23 IV. CONSISTENCY WITH THE LRDP In order to determine the project s consistency with the 1994 LRDP and 1994 LRDP EIR, the following questions must be answered: Is the proposed project included in the scope of the development projected in the 1994 LRDP? Is the proposed location of the project in an area designated for this type of use in the 1994 LRDP? Are changes to campus population that would result from the proposed project included within the scope of the 1994 LRDP population projections? Are the objectives of the proposed project consistent with the objectives adopted for the 1994 LRDP? Is the proposed project within the scope of the cumulative analysis in the 1994 LRDP EIR? The following discussion describes the proposed project s relationship to development projections, population projections, land use designations, and objectives contained in the 1994 LRDP and the project s consistency with each of these items. The proposed project's consistency with the 1994 LRDP EIR cumulative analysis is also discussed below. Appendix A of this document summarizes the amendments to the 1994 LRDP and the revisions and updates to the 1994 LRDP EIR since original publication LRDP SCOPE OF DEVELOPMENT The 1994 LRDP anticipated additional housing needs to serve the increased population and identified future housing projects occurring either as infill housing within the existing area of campus housing or as expansions of the student housing provided in the Tercero area (page 60 of the 1994 LRDP). The 1994 LRDP identified the campus policy of providing on-campus housing to all freshman students who desire such housing. The proposed project would contribute towards the objective of providing housing for 25 percent of campus student enrollment (page 60 of the LRDP). This proposed development is a component of the development expected under the 1994 LRDP and would not exceed planned growth

24 TABLE 1. PROJECTED POPULATION INCREASES FOR PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Program Student Population Faculty & Staff Population Total On-Campus Population Built or Approved through February, , ,500 36,370 Campus Child Care Center Catering Kitchen Building Tercero Housing Expansion Tercero Dining Commons Expansion Veterinary Medicine Instructional Facility Expected Campus Enrollment Increase ( ) 1, ,980 Total Proposed 1, ,030 Existing, Approved and Proposed Projects 26, ,550 38,400 Projections for (LRDP) 26,000 12,630 38, three-quarter average student headcount 2. Projected three-quarter average headcount LRDP LAND USE DESIGNATION The proposed project would include uses that are consistent with the 1994 LRDP land use designation of Housing for the project sites LRDP POPULATION PROJECTIONS The on-campus population anticipated under the 1994 LRDP for is 38,630 (26,

25 students and 12,630 faculty and staff). The on-campus population estimate was 35,370 (24,870 students and 10,500 faculty and staff). Recently built and approved projects would bring this total to approximately 36,370 (24,870 students and 11,500 staff). The proposed project would contribute approximately 25 new campus employees and would provide housing space for approximately 1,200 additional students that are expected to be enrolled through Population growth accommodated with the proposed project would not exceed population projections assumed in the 1994 LRDP EIR. The proposed project together with the Veterinary Medicine Instructional Facility, the Campus Child Care Center, and expected enrollment increases would add approximately 50 new campus employees and 1,768 new students to this total (Table 1). The expected increases would not exceed the on-campus population anticipated under the 1994 LRDP LRDP OBJECTIVES The purpose of the 1994 LRDP is to guide campus land use and development in response to projected population growth and the changing nature of academic programs. The 1994 LRDP responds to projected growth in the campus-related population by: providing new instructional space and classrooms required to serve the anticipated growth in student population, providing expanded instruction and research space projected for the biological sciences, agricultural sciences, physical sciences, and veterinary medicine, and providing flexibility for significant expansions in response to future academic missions. In addition, the LRDP contains specific objectives that are of relevance to the proposed project, including: Housing 25 percent of student enrollment on campus. [page 60 of the LRDP] Student Housing within the freeways. Concentrate new student housing east of Highway 113. [Student Housing Objective, page 60 of the LRDP.] Infill new student housing. Locate new student housing as expansions of existing housing neighborhoods on campus. [Student Housing Objective, page 60 of the LRDP.] The proposed projects would help implement both of the identified objectives by concentrating new student housing east of Highway 113 and by providing new student housing as infill of an existing campus housing area LRDP EIR CUMULATIVE ANALYSIS The 1994 LRDP EIR contained cumulative analyses for the projected buildout of the 1994 LRDP. The cumulative context in the 1994 LRDP EIR varied depending on the nature of the issue being studied. Cumulative effects were classified by either natural resources boundaries (i.e., biological

26 resources, hydrology, geology, and air quality); or by population growth and associated development within the City of Davis and Yolo and Solano counties (i.e., public and community services, transportation, hazardous materials, noise, aesthetics, and cultural resources). The cumulative impact analysis for each environmental issue in the EIR was defined based on the cumulative context that best defined the geographic extent of the possible cumulative effect (see Section 5.2, Cumulative Impacts, of the 1994 LRDP EIR). The proposed project includes construction and operation of the Tercero Housing Improvement Projects. As discussed above, the proposed project is within the scope of development and population assumed in the 1994 LRDP EIR. Therefore, the proposed project incrementally contributes to, but does not exceed, the cumulative impact evaluation presented in the 1994 LRDP EIR, as revised. The technical discussions in the Tiered Initial Study Environmental Checklist, attached hereto, conclude that the proposed project would: not contribute to significant and unavoidable cumulative impacts identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR related to loss of prime agricultural land (Item 2a), use and disposal of radioactive materials (Item 7 a, b), use and disposal of biohazardous materials (Item 7a, b), loss of valley elderberry longhorn beetle habitat (Item 8a); and groundwater recharge (Item 9b) incrementally contribute to, but not exceed, significant and unavoidable impacts identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR related to intersection level of service (Item 4b), increased noise sources (Item 5a, c), construction air pollutants (Item 6b), criteria air emissions (Item 6b, c), toxic air emissions (Item 6b, c, d), use and disposal of hazardous materials (Item 7a, b), development on potentially contaminated sites (Item 7d), demand for emergency response (Item 7g), loss of ruderal/annual grassland (Item 8a), receiving water quality (Item 9a), demand for water from the deep aquifer (Item 9b), seismic effects (Item 10a), loss of cultural resources (Item 12b, d), loss of rural character (Item 13b, d), City of Davis fire protection services (Item 14a[i]), City of Davis police protection services (Item 14 a[ii]), and contribution of school-age students in the Davis Joint Unified School District (Item 14 a[iii]); and incrementally contribute to, but not exceed, less-than-significant cumulative impacts identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR related to carbon monoxide emissions (Item 6b, c), water demand from the shallow/intermediate aquifer (Item 9b), demand for parks and recreation (Item 14a[iv] and 15a), demand for libraries (Item 14a[v]), demand for electricity (Item 16h), wastewater capacity (Item 16a, b, e), and solid waste disposal capacity (Item 16f). Adequacy of the 1994 LRDP EIR through As presented in Appendix C of this document, the campus has updated projections for campus growth through based on information provided by the University regarding enrollment growth and based on reasonably foreseeable campus projects. As presented in Appendix C, the

27 campus has concluded that, because development and the environmental effects associated with projected increases in the campus population through will be within the parameters assumed in the 1994 LRDP, the cumulative impacts of growth through have been adequately addressed in the 1994 LRDP EIR. Environmental Effects through The University has recently determined that enrollment throughout the University system will increase by approximately 60,000 to 70,000 students within the next 10 to 15 years. This growth in enrollment is related to projected demographic changes that are expected to increase the demand for a college education in California. UC Davis is currently considering how it should plan to accommodate the campus' share of this enrollment growth. The campus' share of this growth could bring the three-quarter average on-campus student population to approximately 29,500 by The 1994 LRDP already assumed 26,000 of these students. This anticipated enrollment growth and associated increases in employees and facility construction for would surpass the assumptions identified in the 1994 LRDP for and evaluated in the 1994 LRDP EIR. The campus will prepare a new LRDP to identify the changes required to accommodate anticipated growth, and the campus will prepare an EIR to assess the environmental impacts of such changes. It is anticipated that The Regents will review and consider approval of the updated LRDP and its EIR in the fall of To the extent that growth and physical development anticipated for were not considered in the 1994 LRDP EIR, additional environmental effects that were not previously identified may occur. However, it would be speculative to determine or analyze these effects now because most components of the next LRDP are not currently known. Nevertheless, the campus has prepared a Cumulative Impacts Analysis, presented as Appendix C of this document, that serves to inform the public concerning all that is currently known about the campus' potential growth through

28 V. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this project, involving at least one impact that is a Potentially Impact as indicated by the checklist on the following pages. Land Use/Planning Hazards & Hazardous Materials Aesthetics Agricultural Resources Biological Resources Public Services Population/Housing Hydrology/Water Quality Recreation Transportation/Traffic Geology/Soils Utilities/Service Systems Noise Mineral Resources Mandatory Findings of Significance Air Quality Cultural Resources Based on the analysis presented in this Tiered Initial Study, it has been determined that for all resource areas, the proposed project would: not result in any significant impacts that cannot be mitigated to a less-than-significant level or are not sufficiently addressed by the 1994 LRDP EIR, as revised. This Tiered Initial Study has concluded that the project would incrementally contribute to, but not exceed, certain significant impacts previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR, and that for such impacts, no new mitigation measures, other than those previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR, are required. Therefore, preparation of a Negative Declaration is appropriate. The proposed Negative Declaration is presented in Appendix B of this document

29 VI. DETERMINATION Pursuant to Sections and of the CEQA Guidelines, this Tiered Initial Study has been prepared to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project in relation to the programmatic environmental analysis contained in the 1994 LRDP EIR. On the basis of the evaluation that follows, I find that: _X The proposed project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to the general exemption (CEQA Guidelines, 15061(b)(3)), a statutory exemption, and/or a categorical exemption, and that if a categorical exemption, none of the exceptions to the exemption apply. A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION will be prepared. Pursuant to Section 15168(c)(2) of the CEQA Guidelines, the proposed project may incrementally contribute to, but will not exceed, the significant environmental impacts previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR, and the project will otherwise result in no new significant environmental impacts. Further, having been avoided or mitigated pursuant to the 1994 LRDP EIR, no new mitigation measures, other than those previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR, are required. FINDINGS consistent with this determination will be prepared. The proposed project may incrementally contribute to, but will not exceed, significant environmental impacts previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR. Further, the proposed project will result in no new significant impacts other than those previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR. However, the project will have environmental impacts not previously addressed in the 1994 LRDP EIR, but there is no substantial evidence that such impacts may have a significant impact on the environment. No new mitigation measures, other than those previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR, are required. A NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. (The Negative Declaration is presented in Appendix B). The proposed project may incrementally contribute to, but not exceed, certain significant cumulative impacts previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR, and that for such impacts, no new mitigation measures, other than those previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR, are required. In addition, the project may result in a potentially significant impact not previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR, but a proposed project specific mitigation measure would reduce the effect of such impact to a point that clearly no significant impact would occur. On the basis of the Tiered Initial Study and implementation of all proposed project specific mitigation measures, there is no substantial evidence that the project as mitigated may have a significant effect on the environment. A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. The proposed project may incrementally contribute to, but will not exceed, certain significant environmental impacts previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR. For such impacts, no new mitigation measures, other than those previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR, are required and are incorporated by reference. Further, there is substantial evidence that the project may result in a significant environmental impact that was not previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR, and/or will exacerbate a significant environmental impact previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR. An Environmental Impact Report will be prepared that addresses the new impacts not previously identified in the 1994 LRDP EIR and supplements the 1994 LRDP EIR. Planning Date John A. Meyer Vice Chancellor - Resource Management and