MAJOR ISSUES/TASK

Highway 1 Bridge Replacement Initial Study/
Mitigated Negative Declaration
City of Pacifica
2005

Project is replacement of the Highway 1 bridge over San Pedro Creek to accommodate flows from a 100-year flood event. Project also involved assistance with technical studies for NEPA compliance including a NES Biological Assessment and Cultural Resource Study.
Major Issues: San Pedro Creek is known habitat for the special status species steelhead trout and California red-legged frog. Initial Site Assessment performed on site revealed soils contained hazardous concentrations of lead. Lead Agency: City of Pacifica

San Juan Highway Bike Lane Initial Study/
Mitigated Negative Declaration
San Benito County, CA
2003/2004

The project is a 3.5 mile bike lane along a rural highway leading into San Juan Bautista. The project site contains drainages with wetland vegetation and potential habitat for CA red-legged frog, CA tiger salamander, western pond turtle, and tricolored blackbird. A section of the bike route crosses the 100-year flood plain. The highway right-of-way easement must be expanded onto adjacent farmland parcels by 11.5 feet for a linear distance of 2,925 feet. The public safety of bicyclists along road shoulder from highway traffic, farm equipment on adjacent property, and driveway intersections was of concern. Also of concern was adequate maintenance of the bike lane. The project involves funding from the Federal Highway Administration, so the scope of work included assisting the CEQA Lead Agency with completion of federal forms required by Caltrans. These included a Section 106 Cultural Resource Study, NES biological study, AD1006 consultation with the Natural Resource Conservation Service for agricultural impacts, a Location Hydrology Study for floodplain impacts, a wetland delineation, a Nationwide Permit application with the US Army Corps of Engineers for the expansion of a culvert into an agricultural ditch containing wetland, a Section 401b application with Regional Water Quality Control Board, a Section 7 consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and a Section 1601 Streambed Alteration Agreement with the California Department of Fish and Game. Lead Agency: Council of San Benito County Governments

San Carlos Airport EIR
San Carlos
2004

Modernization of the San Carlos Airport to meet safety, reliability, and service requirements, including increasing the existing terminal building from 7,240 square feet to 11,000 square feet; increasing on-site aircraft fuel storage from 32,000 gallons to 42,000 gallons; reconfiguring a portion of the existing aircraft parking spaces from tie-downs to enclosed hangers; adding two 300-foot by 75-foot surfaced safety stopways, one at each end of the existing runway to enhance safety; upgrading the landing aids from a visual approach slope indicator to a more modern precision approach path indicator, and adding an automated surface observing system (ASOS) for accurate airfield weather information. Issues included air traffic noise in residential areas and biological resources in adjacent wildlife refuge. Lead Agency: County of San Mateo

San Mateo County Community College Faculty/Staff Housing
IS/MND
City of San Mateo
2003

TRA prepared an initial study/mitigated negative declaration (IS/MND) for the San Mateo County Community College District Faculty/Staff Housing Project, located on the College of San Mateo campus, in the City of San Mateo. The project is 44 multifamily rental housing units on a 2.6-acre site, including two residential buildings totaling approximately 40,000 net rentable square feet, and a 950 square-foot community building. Environmental impacts associated with this project consisted of air quality impacts during construction and construction in asbestos-containing soils regulated by the BAAQMD, controlling storm water runoff impacts during construction, noise and visual impacts on adjacent neighbors, and consistency with land use planning regulations.
Lead Agency: San Mateo County Community College District

New Millennium High School Alternate Access Feasibility Study
Watsonville, CA
2001

Study assesses the feasibility of developing an alternate access route to a new high school campus located in the coastal zone. The major issues included biological impacts on Struve Slough wetlands, conversion of prime agricultural land, and growth inducement impacts. Lead Agency: Pajaro Valley Unified School District.

San Mateo County Youth Services Center Rare Plant Mitigation Plan
San Mateo County, CA
2003; Monitoring 2004-2007

Part of an IS/MND and EA/FONSI; transplantation and protection of rare serpentine grassland plants; TRA both devised and implemented the plan. Lead Agency: San Mateo County

Alza Corporation
Charleston Road Project Burrowing Owl Mitigation Plan
Mountain View, California
1996 - 2002

ALZA Corporation's plans for a new headquarters building required the removal of habitat for the western burrowing owl, a species of special concern. The City of Mountain View required a mitigation plan, which complied with guidelines recommended by the California Department of Fish and Game. Thomas Reid Associates worked closely with ALZA Corporation, burrowing owl experts, and the City of Mountain View to devise a plan that was accepted by the California Department of Fish and Game. The plan involves permanent protection and specified management of 19 acres of adjacent parklands, and the construction of several burrow mounds for the owls. Thomas Reid Associates oversaw the implementation of the mitigation plan, including construction of the mounds and monitoring of the site. Owls have been observed to use the constructed mounds every year since they were built. Client: Alza Corporation

Palo Alto Library EIR
Palo Alto, Santa Clara County
2002

The EIR assessed the impacts of the proposed expansion of Palo Alto's Main Library and Art Center. Under the proposed project, the Main Library would be expanded in either one or two phases from the present 26,000 square feet (sf) to about 66,000 sf., and the Art Center would be expanded in one to three phases from about 29,000 sf to 56,000 sf. Major Issues: Possible loss of a historic building and Heritage Trees, Aesthetics, Cultural Resources, Biology, Land Use Planning, and Recreation. Lead Agency/Client: City of Palo Alto

Terman Middle School Reopening EIR
Palo Alto, California
2000-2002

The EIR assessed the impacts of reopening a former middle school. The property had been converted to public and private uses, many of which would need to relocate. Issues: Because the project involved changing the uses of an existing development that provided community services adjacent to residential neighborhoods, the EIR focused on traffic, noise, and impacts to recreation. Lead Agency: Palo Alto Unified School District Client: Palo Alto Unified School District

Phillips Brooks School Site Visual Impact Analysis
Woodside, San Mateo County
2000

TRA produced computer-modeled simulations of aesthetic impacts, from the viewpoints of sensitive receptors. Lead Agency: Phillips Brooks School

Pacifica Police Station EIR
Pacifica, CA
2000

This EIR studied a proposal by the City of Pacifica to construct a new, state-of-the-art police station on a city-owned corporation yard site next to State Route 1 in the south central portion of the City.
Major Issues: Issues of concern or which attracted public controversy included difficulty of access to SR 1, soils conditions, visual impacts, and impacts to Calera Creek wetlands and listed endangered species. A mitigation plan prepared as part of a Corps of Engineers consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service resulted in a non-Jeopardy Opinion and approval of the project.
Lead Agency: City of Pacifica.

Oak Knoll School Initial Study
City of Menlo Park
1997

This Initial Study evaluated the potential impacts of expansion of facilities at Oak Knoll School in Menlo Park. The proposed improvements at Oak Knoll School included new parking stalls at the existing parking area, a new faculty parking area on the southern corner of the site, renovating the following: existing classrooms; art/science classrooms; small group areas; the existing multi-purpose room (or "multi"); the kitchen; student and staff restrooms; storage and custodial, and the existing portable classrooms (or "relocatables"). Proposed new construction included regular (permanent) and relocatable classrooms; a Special Day Classroom (for special education); music classroom, administration/staff/work room; kindergarten rest rooms and storage; small group areas; a library/media center; a new entry/front canopy; a covered lunch area and a covered walkway. Major Issues: traffic, geology, noise and public services. Client: Menlo Park City Elementary School District

Mount Washington Cellars and Resort Village EIR
1995

TRA prepared an EIR on a proposed resort development on a 25-acre site in Calistoga. The project comprised of 80 units of timeshare resort housing, and a 22-room bed and breakfast inn. The project site was controversial to the City of Calistoga for many years. Although zoned Planned Unit Development that would allow up to 400 townhomes or 900 motel rooms, two earlier proposals on a slightly larger parcel including the project site -- one for a 400 room hotel and another for a 345-space recreational vehicle resort -- were turned down as being too intensive development or incompatible with community values. Issues of concern for the EIR included the geotechnical safety of siting a large water reservoir on the top of a hill, cumulative impacts on city services (water, wastewater, fire protection), aesthetics, and whether the project will be an economic benefit to the community as a whole. An economics subconsultant is being retained as part of the EIR team, at the City's request. Lead Agency: City of Calistoga

Santa Cruz Factory Outlet Mall Phase II EIR
City of Santa Cruz
1992

Thomas Reid Associates prepared an EIR for the City of Santa Cruz on a proposed factory outlet mall on an approximately 3 acre parcel. Phase II of the factory outlet mall consisted of a two-story 73,000 square foot commercial building and a 400 space parking structure. The project was designated and zoned for multi-family residential development and required General Plan, Master Plan, and Local Coastal Plan amendments, and a Downtown Recovery Plan amendment and rezoning. Significant unavoidable impacts included construction noise primarily associated with the excavation, pile driving and foundation preparation required for the parking structure, and cumulative traffic impacts. Significant but mitigated impacts include loss of residential zoned property, geology and hydrology, public service impacts on the Police Department, light and glare and nuisance impacts on adjacent residential uses, and parking and traffic impacts. This project was controversial because of its location adjacent to existing residential uses, its impact on existing merchants in downtown Santa Cruz and traffic impacts. The EIR addressed seven different alternatives including the No Project Alternative, two alternative locations for the outlet mall, a residential alternative on the project site, and two alternative outlet mall configurations. Lead Agency: City of Santa Cruz

Outdoor Resorts EIR
Calistoga, Napa County
1989

This EIR addressed the impacts of a proposed 345-space destination recreational vehicle (RV) resort to be located on a 47-acre parcel near the center of Calistoga. The project also included a 9-hole golf course, three shallow lakes, two pools, bath houses, tennis courts and maintenance buildings. The RV lots were to be sold into private ownership with the option of owner occupancy or rental. Significant issues for the EIR analysis were the visual and biological impacts of development on a wooded hill, public service impacts to the limited city water supply and sewage treatment capacity, traffic impacts of large vehicles on the narrow streets and roads of the northern Napa Valley, noise, aesthetic impacts of the change in land use, and the public health impacts of irrigating site landscaping and the golf course with reclaimed wastewater. Lead Agency: City of Calistoga

Skyway Property Development EIR
San Mateo County
1989

The EIR addressed the proposed redevelopment of a closed sewage treatment plant site into a private 179-room motel and two restaurants. The parcel is adjacent to the San Carlos general aviation airport. Environmental issues included air safety, contaminated soils and groundwater from the previous use, traffic, noise, public services, and visual impacts. Project revenues were also discussed in the EIR. Lead Agency: City of San Carlos

Pescadero Community Water Supply Environmental Assessment
San Mateo County
1987

The goal of the water supply project for the Community of Pescadero was to provide a reliable source of potable water sufficient to meet the current needs of the community and reduce the health hazard posed by the existing non-potable supply. Pescadero is eligible to apply for State funding for the water supply project under the Drinking Water Bond Law. This Environmental Assessment was prepared partially in support of San Mateo County's application for State funding of the project.

After investigating several alternatives, the impacts of three water supply systems were selected for detailed treatment in the Environmental Assessment: the Warheit Well, a potable well other than the Warheit Well, and a creek diversion/brackish well combination. The preferred alternative selected by the County would be analyzed further by hydrological and engineering studies to assure the adequacy of the source. The EA was designed to be flexible -- it provided an assessment of the impacts of the three alternatives in equivalent detail, and eliminated the need for additional environmental studies if the County's preferred alternative would prove infeasible.

The significant issues for this project were growth-inducing impacts on this rural coastside community, possible effects on the riparian community and endangered species habitat in Pescadero Marsh, and the aesthetic impacts of water tank placement. Lead Agency: San Mateo County