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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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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 • Please take a moment to sign in. Be sure to indicate on the sign-in sheet if you would like to be added to the distribution list for the CSUF Campus Master Plan Project. • 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. • 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 • Present the EIR process • Help guide the focus of the EIR • Discuss environmental issues that you would like to see addressed in the EIR • Provide comment station for submitting written comments to Lead Agency and EIR consultants
Meeting Overview • Project Overview • Environmental Review Process (CEQA) • Campus Master Plan EIR (specifics) • Required Agency Approvals • Public Participation Process • Comments
Project Overview • The Project Site is located within the current CSUF campus boundaries in Fresno County. The project site contains 1,332 acres of University land. • The University is not planning to expand--additions and remodeling will occur within existing campus boundaries. • Project buildout (campus remodeling and new construction) = 18 years.
Project Overview – cont. • The Campus Master Plan periodically updated to accommodate growth/reflect changes needed to achieve goals and objectives • First Master Plan (1963) • Last major Campus Master Plan Revision (1995) • 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: • Reconfigure Schools, Colleges, and administrative and residential components of the University for optimal function and sense of community • 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: • Make optimal use of campus facilities and resources • Improve pedestrian circulation across campus • Develop an image and appearance for the campus that is respectful of its agricultural heritage, yet responsive to its changing activities and architecture • Accommodate diversity with strategic initiatives and aspirations
Project Overview – cont. Additional Project Goals: • Bring overall order to the campus, easing navigation • Improve the cohesion and comfort of open spaces • Analyze existing and proposed major utility routes • Address athletic buildings, equipment, and parking needs • Create common design guidelines • 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 • 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. • 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
Campus Master Plan EIR-Overview Combination Project/Program EIR: • 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. • 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 • Tertiary Wastewater Treatment Plant
Campus Master Plan EIR -Program Level EIR(10-year Planning Horizon) • 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. • 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) • 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 • Land Use/Planning • Mineral resources • Noise • Population/Housing • Public Services and Utilities • Recreation • Transportation/traffic
Campus Master Plan EIR– Impacts not Significant • Agricultural Resources • Mineral Resources Impacts not significant will be briefly addressed in a separate section of the EIR.
Campus Master Plan EIR- Potentially Significant Impacts • Traffic Impacts – due to addition of students on existing infrastructure • Air Quality Impacts – cumulative growth in a highly impacted air basin • Public Services and Utilities – sewage treatment onsite to conserve water and address City of Fresno capacity issues
Campus Master Plan EIR- Cumulative impacts • 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. • Cumulative effects will be discussed within each technical section.
Campus Master Plan EIR– Alternative Analysis • 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. • 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 • 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. • Other Public Agencies • Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) • San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (SJVUAPCD)
Public Involvement Opportunities During EIR Process • Notice of the Preparation (NOP) of the EIR and Scoping Meeting • 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 • We encourage those who wish to comment on the EIR to submit their comments in written format. • 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 cjacobs@csufresno.edu