Laserfiche WebLink
Santa Ana — Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project <br />Findings and Facts in Support of Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations <br />D. Biological Resources <br />Due to the site - specific nature of biological impacts (i.e., tree removal), biological impacts are <br />typically assessed on a site - specific basis, rather than a cumulative basis. The Study Area does <br />not include threatened or endangered species or sensitive habitats. In addition, brush clearing <br />and tree removal would be on a small scale as the Study Area is entirely urban. Nonetheless, <br />cumulative growth could result in impacts to biological resources including locally protected <br />trees or violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Related projects and other future <br />development projects would be subject to the local, regional, State and federal regulations <br />pertaining to biological resources, including the migratory bird act. With adherence to these <br />regulations, the combined effect of the proposed project with the No Build Alternative would not <br />result in a cumulative impact. Therefore, biological resources impacts would not be <br />cumulatively considerable. <br />E. Cultural Resources <br />Cultural resources include significant paleontological, archaeological and built environment <br />resources. Cumulative impacts to these cultural resources are directly related to the presence <br />and significance of these resources within the area of direct effect. No significant previously- or <br />newly- recorded paleontological and prehistoric or historic archaeological sites have been <br />identified within the Study Area. Given the lack of direct impacts to significant paleontological or <br />archaeological resources associated with the proposed project, no significant cumulative <br />impacts are anticipated as a result of concurrent construction activities in the area. <br />The cultural resources assessment prepared for the proposed project has determined that the <br />proposed project would not result in an adverse effect to cultural resources. Based on record <br />searches and historic research, there are a number of significant or potentially significant <br />cultural resources located within the proposed project vicinity. These cultural resources could <br />be impacted on the regional level by the development of all cumulative projects, in addition to <br />the proposed project. Therefore, the proposed project could incrementally contribute to a <br />cumulative effect. However, the above - mentioned projects are subject to CEQA -level <br />environmental review and include provisions to preserve historic structures and districts. <br />Consequently, impacts to significant or potentially significant cultural resources can typically be <br />mitigated through the avoidance of important cultural resources, the development and <br />implementation of a data recovery plan, and /or following the Secretary of the Interior's <br />Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. With adherence to these regulations, <br />cultural resource impacts would not be cumulatively considerable. <br />F. Geology and Soils <br />Geotechnical hazards are site - specific, and there is little, if any, cumulative geological <br />relationship between the proposed project and the related projects. Nevertheless, cumulative <br />development in the area would increase the overall population and number of structures, thus, <br />increasing the risk of exposure to seismically- induced hazards. Related projects and other <br />future development projects would be subject to the same local, regional, State, and federal <br />regulations pertaining to geology and soils. With adherence to these regulations, the combined <br />25 January 2015 <br />