2009-034 (2) - Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report for Fairhaven/Lincoln

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4. Environmental Setting 4.3 LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ENTAL SETTING 4. .1 On -Site and Surrounding din Land Use The project site consists of two intersections and a short roadway segment along Lincoln Avenue. All construction would take plane within the read right -of -way, The two intersections and the railroad tracks are in a p red orninantly urban environment. Medi um- to Iow- d ens ity residential land uses, including both single - and multifamily residences, are on either side of the existing rail road rig ht-of-way from Fairhaven Aven ue to Santa Clara Avenue. The railroad tracks parallel ,Lincoln Avenue and the street separates the tracts from the residences on the west side of Lincoln Avenue. Residences on the east side of the tracks are separated from the tracks by a series of backyard galls of primarily concrete block construction, from approximately five to eight feet high. Surrounding land uses are shown in Figure 4 -1, Aerial Photograph. Photographs of the roadway improvement locations are shown in Figures 4-2, 4-3, and 4-4, Site Photographs. As shown on the aerial photograph, Lincoln Avenue is a north /south roadway. Lincoln Avenue on the northern end and Fairhaven Avenue on the western end converge at the railroad tracks to form an is intersection. As shown in the photographs, the Fairhaven /Lincoln intersection currently has the newly constructed railroad track crossing elements (crossing arm assembly with lights, overhead lights, and bells on both sides of the double track), raised medians on both sides of the track on Fairhaven, and solid concrete barriers blocking through traffic. Santa Mara Avenue is located south of Fairhaven Avenue. The newly constructed railroad track crossing at Santa Mara Avenue includes crossing arm assembly with lights and bells on both sides of the double track. The Santa Clara /Lincoln intersection has a four-way stop. This is an unusual intersection because the Santa Mara Avenue and Aspen Street are not aligned to form a straight through street at Lincoln Avenue. Both Santa Mara Avenue and Aspen Street form a slightly offset `T' intersection at Lincoln, with Banta Clara Avenue offset to the south. 4.4 ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING UMUL ITI E IMPACTS Section 15130 of the CEQA Guidelines states that cumulative impacts shall be discussed where they are significant. It further states that this discussion shall reflect the level and severity of the impact and the likelihood of occurrence, but not in as great a level of detail as that necessary for the project alone, Section 15355 of the Guidelines defines cumulative impacts to be "...too or more individual effects which, when considered together, are considerable or which compound or increase other environmental impacts." Cumulative impacts represent the change caused by the incremental impact of a project when added to other proposed or committed projects in the vicinity. The CEQA Guidelines (Section 1 130 [b] [1 ] state that the information utilized In an analysis of cumulative impacts should come from one of two sources, either: 1 list of past, present and probable future projects producing related cumulative impacts, including, if necessary, those projects outside the control of the agency; or summary of projections contained in an adopted general plan or related planning document designed to evaluate regional or area -wide conditions. The cumulative impact analyses in Section 5 , Environmental Analysis , of this Draft S E I R uses Method 2. The assumptions are described under Cumulative Impacts in each topical section. Page 4-2 a The Planning Center March 2009 Resolution No. 2009 -034 Page 40 of 130