Welcome to the Public Scoping Meeting for California State

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Transcript Welcome to the Public Scoping Meeting for California State

Welcome to the Public Scoping Meeting for
California State University, Fresno (CSUF)
Campus Master Plan
Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
1:30 to 3:00 pm
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Please take a moment to sign in. Be sure to indicate on the signin sheet if you would like to be added to the distribution list for
the CSUF Campus Master Plan Project.
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Visit our Comment Station to submit your written comments. You
may also mail or email comments to the CSUF address provided
on the comment form.
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NOP comment period (Jan 7, 08 – Feb 5, 08)
Clearinghouse number 2008011010
Introduction
Lead Agency: California State Univ. Board of Trustees
Tinnah Medina, University Planner
Project Sponsor: CSUF
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, Vice-President of
Administration
Caryl Jacobs, Administrative Project Coordinator
CEQA Consultant: Michael Brandman Associates
Dave Mitchell, Senior Project Manager
Kathryn Lee, Assistant Project Manager
Purpose of Scoping Meeting
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Present the EIR process
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Help guide the focus of the EIR
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Discuss environmental issues that you would like
to see addressed in the EIR
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Provide comment station for submitting written
comments to Lead Agency and EIR consultants
Meeting Overview
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Project Overview
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Environmental Review Process (CEQA)
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Campus Master Plan EIR (specifics)
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Required Agency Approvals
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Public Participation Process
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Comments
Project Overview
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The Project Site is located within the current
CSUF campus boundaries in Fresno County.
The project site contains 1,332 acres of
University land.
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The University is not planning to expand-additions and remodeling will occur within
existing campus boundaries.
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Project buildout (campus remodeling and
new construction) = 18 years.
Regional
Location of
Project:
(CSUF
Campus)
Project Overview
– cont.
 The Campus Master Plan periodically updated
to accommodate growth/reflect changes
needed to achieve goals and objectives
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First Master Plan (1963)
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Last major Campus Master Plan Revision
(1995)
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The current Master Plan Revision process
began in November 2005, culminating with
the current version (2007) that will be the
subject of this EIR.
Project Overview
– cont.
Project Objectives:
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Reconfigure Schools, Colleges, and administrative
and residential components of the University for
optimal function and sense of community
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Reconfigure and improve campus open space and
landscape -- more habitable and cohesive visually,
imparting a recognizable identity to the campus
Project Overview
– cont.
Specific Project Goals:
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Make optimal use of campus facilities and resources
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Improve pedestrian circulation across campus
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Develop an image and appearance for the campus
that is respectful of its agricultural heritage, yet
responsive to its changing activities and architecture
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Accommodate diversity with strategic initiatives and
aspirations
Project Overview
– cont.
Additional Project Goals:
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Bring overall order to the campus, easing navigation
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Improve the cohesion and comfort of open spaces
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Analyze existing and proposed major utility routes
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Address athletic buildings, equipment, and parking needs
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Create common design guidelines
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Prepare landscape master plan that will include
consistency, accommodate growth, create comfortable
outdoor spaces, and incorporate energy conservation and
sustainable practices
Environmental Review under CEQA
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The California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) is a public disclosure law that
applies to projects that require a
discretionary approval by a state or local
governmental agency.
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The California State University Board of
Trustees (Lead Agency) has concluded there
is a reasonable possibility that aspects of
the Project could have significant effects on
the environment and is therefore requiring
an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
Environmental Review under CEQA
– cont.
General Contents of an EIR
 Project description
 Environmental Setting
 Significant environmental effects
 Unavoidable significant adverse effects
 Growth-inducing impacts
 Cumulative impacts
 Mitigation measures
 Alternatives
Environmental Review under CEQA
– cont.
What Helps Determines EIR Focus?
Responses to NOPs
 Consultations with other agencies
 Consultations with public and/or experts
 Scoping meetings
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Campus Master Plan EIR
-Overview
Combination Project/Program EIR:
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Project Level: fully evaluate specific projects
slated for implementation during the near future
that have sufficient project details to warrant a
site-specific, project level analysis.
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Program Level: analyze environmental impacts
associated with potential campus growth, full
building program and other improvements
required to serve the new population through a
10-year and 20-year planning horizon
Campus Master Plan EIR
-Project Level EIR
(Near-Term Projects)
Utilities & Infrastructure Upgrades
 Parking Structure
 Satellite Student Union Expansion
 Agricultural Research Center
 Athletics Improvements
 Equine Center
 Relocation of University High School
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Tertiary Wastewater Treatment Plant
Campus Master Plan EIR
-Program Level EIR
(10-year Planning Horizon)
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Agricultural Research (Viticulture and Enology),
International Center for Water Technology (ICWT),
Institute for Food and Nutrition Innovation (IFNI)
Athletic facilities including Student Athlete Center,
Tennis Center and External Affairs and
Administration Building
Classroom and Faculty Offices Building
New main campus entry near Henry Madden Library
Parking garage on Lot J or suitable site
Campus Master Plan EIR
-Program Level EIR
(10-year Planning Horizon)-cont.
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Parking enhancements (e.g. photovoltaic arrays)
Quadrangle building replacements
Research Institutes and Specialized academic
program centers
Satellite Student Union expansion or renovation
Turf lab and playing field on Lot Q
Various landscape, circulation, lighting, navigation
improvements
University Farm Laboratory Enhancements
Campus Master Plan EIR
-Program Level EIR
(10-year Planning Horizon)-cont.
Table 1: Proposed Ten-year Build-out Summary (2016)
Campus Master Plan EIR
-Program Level EIR
(20-year Planning Horizon)
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Allied research facilities
Additional structured parking
Center for Agricultural Excellence
Classrooms, labs and faculty offices
Replacement retrofit student housing
Performing arts center
Science buildings
Campus Master Plan EIR
-Program Level EIR
(20-year Planning Horizon)– cont.
Table 2: Proposed 20 Year Build-out Summary (2026)
Environmental Review under CEQA
– cont.
Technical Sections
Aesthetics
Agriculture
Air Quality
Biology
Cultural
Geology/Soils
Hazardous
Materials
 Hydrology
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Land Use/Planning
Mineral resources
Noise
Population/Housing
Public Services and
Utilities
Recreation
Transportation/traffic
Campus Master Plan EIR
–
Impacts not Significant
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Agricultural Resources
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Mineral Resources
Impacts not significant will be briefly addressed in a
separate section of the EIR.
Campus Master Plan EIR
- Potentially Significant Impacts
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Traffic Impacts – due to addition of students
on existing infrastructure
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Air Quality Impacts – cumulative growth in a
highly impacted air basin
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Public Services and Utilities – sewage
treatment onsite to conserve water and
address City of Fresno capacity issues
Campus Master Plan EIR
- Cumulative impacts
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The EIR will include an analysis of
reasonably foreseeable projects within a
defined study area, developed in consultation
with the Cities of Fresno and Clovis, that may
result in cumulative impacts associated with
the proposed project.
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Cumulative effects will be discussed within
each technical section.
Campus Master Plan EIR
–
Alternative Analysis
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EIR must describe a range of reasonable
alternatives to the Project – must feasibly
attain basic objectives but avoid or
substantially lessen significant effects of the
Project, and evaluate comparative merits of
alternatives.
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The selected alternatives will be analyzed
at a qualitative level of detail for comparison
against the impacts identified for the
proposed Project.
Required Agency Approvals
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Lead Agency: California State University Board of Trustees
– Certify the EIR
– Approve the Campus Master Plan Revision
– File a Notice of Determination (NOD) indicating EIR adoption
– Approve expenditure of funds for project construction.
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Other Public Agencies
– Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB)
– San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (SJVUAPCD)
Public Involvement Opportunities
During EIR Process
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Notice of the Preparation (NOP) of the EIR and
Scoping Meeting
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Review and Comment on the Draft EIR
– Availability of Draft EIR will be announced in newspaper
– 45-day comment period will commence when NOC is filed
with the State Clearinghouse
– Draft EIR will be available for review at the Madden
Library on campus, on the web at
http://www.csufresno.edu/masterplan
– Public Hearing on the Draft (midpoint of the 45 day
circulation)
Public Comments Welcome
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We encourage those who wish to comment on the EIR to
submit their comments in written format.
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For additional information regarding the project, or to
submit a written comment concerning the scope/content
of the Draft EIR, contact:
Caryl Jacobs, Administrative Project Coordinator
California State University, Fresno
5241 North Maple Avenue, M/S TA52
Fresno, CA 93740-8027
[email protected]