Laserfiche WebLink
riT <br />$y <br />t <br />ip,�, <br />Y i - <br />Kimley-Horn prepares a description of the existing environmental setting at the project <br />site and in surrounding areas. This section is based on Information, obtained during site visits; aerial photographs; information provided by <br />technical team members; and any relevant information that is available from existing documentatlon.The CEQA Guidelines require that <br />the environmental setting reflect the conditions that exist at the time that the NOP is issued. This section includes a summary discussion <br />of the regional and local surroundings and land uses; available public services and utilities; existing natural resources (e,g., biological <br />resources, dralnage/hydrology, topography) and man-made resources (e.g,, cultural resources, transportation network) that surround and <br />inhabit the project site. This section also provides an overview of the regulatory framework applicable to the project, including land use <br />plans, regional plans, and policies. Further details are provided in each of the topical areas contained in each chapter of the EIR, <br />Kimley-Horn clearly states the cumulative analysis methodology, <br />which is based on information gathered from several sources. Kimley-Horn recommends <br />using a conservative approach to the cumulative analysis given the propensity for project <br />opponents to attack this analysis, This recommended approach involves using both <br />methods set forth in Section 15130(b) of the CEQA Guidelines. This section allows the use <br />of either (i) a list of past, present, and reasonably anticipated future projects that could <br />produce cumulative Impacts or (2) a summary of projections contained within an adopted <br />general plan or related planning document that considers regional conditions, If agreed <br />by the City, each section of the EIR will include its own cumulative impact analysis. This <br />is our preferred format because each topical area will have its own applicable cumulative <br />area for consideration. For instance, for air quality, the applicable cumulative area under <br />consideration is the entire South Coast Air Basin, whereas the area of consideration for <br />education is limited to the school district. <br />For each topical Issue addressed, the EIR will contain a <br />discussion of the following: analysis methods; physical environment in the project area; <br />regulatory framework applicable to the project; thresholds of significance based on <br />the City of Santa Ana's environmental checklist; significant direct and Indirect environmental effects; mitigation measures; and the <br />level of significance prior to and after any mitigation. The EIR will clearly identify significant environmental effects anticipated for each <br />environmental issue. if desired, the EIR will differentiate among features of the Project Design Features (e.g. project components intended <br />to preclude the occurrence of impacts); Regulatory Requirements (e.g, codes, regulations, and other requirements that would apply to <br />a project regardless of CEQA); and mitigation measures (e.g, measures required to reduce an environmental impact), For each topical <br />issue, the EIR will identify the level of significance prior to and after mitigation, based on the established thresholds, Project effects that <br />cannot be mitigated to a level considered less than significant are identified, <br />The Kimley-Horn team will provide all of the necessary technical expertise for the following CEQA topics:AestheticsNisual Impact Analysis <br />(including shade/shadow analysis and project renderings) <br />• Agriculture and Forestry Resources <br />• Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions <br />• Biological Resources <br />+ Cultural Resources (including AB52 and 5618 consultation) <br />= Energy (pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Appendix 9 <br />• Hazards and Hazardous Materials (including Phase I <br />Environmental Site Assessments) <br />• HydrologytWater Quality <br />• Land Use/Planning <br />City of Santa Ana I EVOC7700117 <br />• Mineral Resources <br />• NoiseNibration <br />• Population/Housing <br />• Public Services and Utilities/Service Systems (including <br />infrastructure planning and design) <br />• Recreation (including landscape plans, trail pians, and park <br />master plans) <br />• Tribal Cultural Resources <br />19 KimleyoHorn <br />