2015-004 - Santa Ana-Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project

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Santa Ana — Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project Findings and Facts in Support of Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations • The Santa Ana River is the only potential special aquatic feature within the Study Area. It is concrete lined and contains no wetlands or hydrophytic vegetation. Therefore, no impact related to wetlands and riparian habitat would occur. • The Study Area is already heavily developed and additional development would not interfere with wildlife movement. The Study Area does not provide a major or local wildlife corridor or travel route because it does not connect two significant habitats for either fish or wildlife species. Operational activity within the ROW may frighten urban wildlife, such as raccoons and opossums. However, operational noise would cause most animals to avoid streetcar activity. Therefore, a less- than - significant impact related to wildlife movement would occur. • The proposed alignment would be located within existing surface streets or within the PE ROW. Operational activities would not result in the removal of special species trees listed in the City's Tree Preservation Policy. Therefore, the proposed project would not conflict with local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as the tree preservation policy, and a less- than - significant impact related to biological resources would occur. • The Study Area is not located within a Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local (including the City of Garden Grove), regional, or State habitat conservation plan. Therefore, no impact related to conservation plans would occur. E. Architectural Resources (pages 3 -96 and 3 -191 of the EA/DEIR) • Construction and operation of the proposed project would not result in significant impacts to any architecturally significant (historic) properties, including the Old Pacific Electric Santa Ana River Bridge. Although the proposed project would require an alteration to the west abutment of the Old Pacific Electric Santa Ana River Bridge to allow the Santa Ana River Trail on both the east and west sides of the river to be separated, the abutment of the bridge is not an original component of the bridge and is not an element or feature that contributes to the historic quality of the bridge. Therefore, a less- than - significant impact related to architectural resources would occur. F. Geology and Soils (pages 3 -97 and 3 -192 of the EA/DEIR) • The Study Area is not within an earthquake fault zone as delineated on the most recent Alquist - Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map. There is no known evidence of a fault surface rupture expressed in the regional geomorphology and available historic aerial photographs. Given that there is no mapped earthquake fault zone within seven miles of the Study Area, the potential for fault rupture is low. Therefore, a less- than - significant impact related to fault rupture would occur. • The subsurface condition of the Study Area is composed mostly of alluvium that could potentially be exposed to strong seismic ground shaking. This ground shaking could damage streetcar tracks, the Santa Ana River Bridge, the Westminster Avenue Bridge, or the O & M Facility. In addition, the segment of the alignment between Harbor Boulevard and Raitt Street may be impacted by liquefaction due to the potential shallow depth to groundwater of less than 20 feet. The impacts of liquefaction could include potential 10 January 2015