Serramonte Condominiums and Hotel EIR
Daly City
2004

The project is a luxury condominium complex and hotel on an approximately six-acre undeveloped site. The development proposed extensive grading and slope stabilization of the steep site, which required detailed geomorphic analysis in the EIR. Because the site was covered in dense vegetation, TRA prepared a visual simulation to assess the aesthetic impacts of the project from three key vantage points. The EIR also included a detailed discussion of traffic impacts both during construction and occupancy. An economic analysis was prepared to evaluate the costs versus tax benefits of the project and alternatives. Lead Agency: Daly City

Coyote Estates Initial Study
City of Morgan Hill
2002

The project is an expansion phase of 51 housing units in a previously approved development. The major issues included burrowing owl habitat on the property and cumulative traffic impacts. Lead Agency: City of Morgan Hill

Scenic Southside Estates EIR
San Benito County
2002

San Juan Vista Estates EIR
San Benito County
2001

The project consists of a 31 lot subdivision, hotel, 2 restaurants, and a gas station. The project would require rezoning and general plan amendment to allow commercial uses. The EIR assessed the aesthetic impacts of residential development on a hillside highly visible to local views, biological impacts on a seasonal wetland subject to Army Corps jurisdiction containing tiger salamander, traffic impacts of the hotel and restaurants of concern to nearby residents, and agricultural impacts as a result of the change in land use from rural to commercial along the undeveloped Highway 101 corridor in San Benito County. Lead Agency: County of San Benito

Stonebridge Subdivision EIR
Town of Hillsborough, CA
2000-01

14 unit infill subdivision. The applicant proposed large, luxury homes on about one acre parcels on a steep site with varied topography and exposure. The project required annexation of a three acre parcel in San Mateo County. While consistent with land uses, the proposed homes were close to the backyards of neighbors in the City of San Mateo. Major issues included impacts of concern to the neighbors, removal of native trees, geology and soils, encroachment on a blue line stream riparian corridor, traffic impacts on local streets, construction noise, and visual impacts. The Applicant committed to rigorous construction mitigations and a Landscape Maintenance Declaration that bound the future homeowners to replace lost trees and maintain new plantings, and restore degraded habitat. Lead Agency: Town of Hillsborough

Rajkovich Project EIR
Hollister
1999

The project consists of prezoning 22 acres of farmland outside the city limits of Hollister for Low Density Residential development. This zoning designation would allow the future development of up to 101 single family detached homes. Prezoning the property was the first step toward annexation into the city and its ultimate use for residential housing. The impacts of the project were assessed in relation to the overall growth levels occurring through the planning area of the City. The EIR addressed the impacts of changing the land from agricultural to urban use and the impact of the future residents on the demand for city services. Lead Agency: City of Hollister

Mt. Washington Cellars EIR
Calistoga
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 was retained as part of the EIR team, at the City's request. Lead Agency: City of Calistoga

Outdoor Resorts EIR
Hotel/Resort Project
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