2014-060 - Adopting Findings Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act

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Sexlinger Farmhouse and Orchard Residential Development Project CEQA Findings 1. Impact: Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15064.5? Finding: Less Than Significant, With Mitigation Incorporated. (January 2014 EIR Attachment, p. 6; EIR pp. 5 -41.) Analysis: There is no evidence of landscape related archaeological sites such as road traces, ruins, or complex irrigation systems located within the portions of the site that will be developed with new residences. (EIR, p. 5 -38.) A field survey conducted for the proposed project found no archaeological resources within the project site. The field survey found little evidence of past activities except for one remaining standpipe and gate valve, which are typical of orange groves, and one concrete pad located south of the garage. Past plowing of the site limited the visibility of the original ground surface, and no early trash deposits were noted by the field survey, (EIR, p. 5 -41.) However the project includes ground disturbing activities and therefore there is a potential for impacts to unknown archaeological resources, With the incorporation of the following mitigation measures, this impact is reduced to a level of less than significant: CULT -1: An Orange County certified Archaeologist shall be present at the pre -grade and at the tree removal meetings to discuss the monitoring, collecting and safety procedures for the project. The archaeologist should review the construction plans and schedule. CULT -2: An Orange County certified Archaeologist shall be retained to monitor grading activities, to observe and retrieve any buried prehistoric and historic artifacts or . features that may be uncovered. CULT -4: If prehistoric or historic artifacts or deposits are uncovered, the Orange County certified Archaeologist shall temporarily halt construction activities for the immediate area until the archaeologist can evaluate the significance of the find. The archaeologist would immediately contact the field manager and project personnel. Implementation of a recovery program would follow, if the artifacts are determined potentially eligible for the California Register. CULT -5: Any recovered artifacts shall be properly collected with photographs, field notes, and locations plotted on a USGS 7.5' topographic quadrangle. Artifacts will be identified and catalogued, and stabilized for curation. Any recovered artifacts shall be offered, on a first right -of- refusal basis, to a repository with a retrievable collection system and an educational and research interest in the materials. CULT -6: A final monitoring report, including an itemized inventory and pertinent field data, shall be sent to the Lead Agency as well as copies of the reports to the South Central Coastal Information Center at the California State University at Fullerton. Implementation of the above measures will ensure that any unknown and unexpected archaeological resources discovered during construction activities are properly retrieved, 26 "Exhibit A"