Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 91-52 and Ord 641 CZ 90-14 PP-CUP 90-27 TT 26562 CITY OF PALM DESERT DEF 'MENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELO NT TRANSMITTAL LETTER I. TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council II. REQUEST: Certification of an Environmental Impact Report and approval of a precise plan, conditional use permit, change of zone and tentative tract map for a 687 unit residential development 18 hole golf course and 225 suite hotel on 420 acres located east of Portola Avenue north of Frank Sinatra Drive. III. APPLICANT: Pacific Golf Resorts 41-865 Boardwalk, Suite 102 Palm Desert, CA 92260 IV. CASE NOS: C/Z 90-14, PP/CUP 90-27, TT 26562 V. DATE: April, 25, 1991 VI. CONTENTS: A. Staff Re commendation. B. Discussion. 91-5? C. Draft Resolution No. and Ordinance No. 641_ D. Planning Commission Minutes dated April 2, 1991. E. Planning Commission Resolution No. 1504. F. Planning Commission Staff Report dated April 2, 1991. G. Related maps and/or exhibits. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: 1 . Adopt Resolution No. 91-52 certifying an Environmental Impact Report. 2. Adopt Resolution No. 91-52 approving PP/CUP 90-27 and TT 26562, subject to conditions. 3. Waive further reading and pass C/Z 90-14 to second reading. I. BACKGROUND: A. SITE DESCRIPTION: The property consists of 420 acres of undeveloped sand dunes and desert scrub straddling the Palm Springs sand ridge. General plan designation is low density residential (3-5 CITY COUNCIL ciLIrg units per acre ) . Current zoning is PR-5 (planned APPROVED residen$I.i_M dwelling units per acre) - 170 acres and R-1-M RECEIVED OTHER adt, wa `� CXZd�� cam Ct DQ cck� PP(Ct%)P q0-a-) rT a lob loa1 MEETING DATE 51RVc0 ,_,It„LAA v� � -M¢4 AYES: Earn 71-\\N.1-k o g \.1\0 0/�6‘ Q), tlY C u,,o, . l014( c(41cry ,1 ABSENT: \i'NC ¢ ¢ ABSTAIN: (NONQ 44J\vvislAjai , VERIFIED BY: Original on File with City Clerk's Office STAFF REPORT C/Z 90-14, PP/CUP 90 , TT 26562 APRIL 25, 1991 ( single family mobile home residential district) - 250 acres. The property is surrounded by similar low density residential designations. The property abuts Portola Avenue on the west, Frank Sinatra Drive on the south and Cook Street on the east. B. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: 1 . Change of Zone. The 250 acres of R-1-M zoning is proposed to be changed to PR-5. The PR-5 zone provides uniform zoning for the whole site, standards more specific to country club development and permits hotels as a conditional use. The change is consistent with the General Plan. 2. Precise Plan, Conditional Use Permit and Tentative Tract Map. The precise plan and tentative map describes a 687 unit residential country club with an 18 hole golf course and 225 suite hotel . The residential component will consist of 128 units in two story attached villas, 169 single story duplexes, 261 single story patio homes and 129 custom homes. Building heights will range from 16 feet for the duplex and patio homes, to 22 feet for the custom homes and 30 feet for the villas. The height limit for the zone is 30 feet. With the exception of the two story villas, all units will back onto the golf course. The main hotel elevation will be 40 feet in height tapering down to 30 feet for the units. The 225 suite hotel will have 400 parking spaces of which 200 will be subsurface. Landscaped perimeter setbacks on Portola and Frank Sinatra will average 30 feet ( 42 feet from curb) to accommodate the potential additions of a third lane. The Cook half street will be installed at three lanes allowing somewhat narrower perimeters. The walls will meander creating some setback areas of over 100 feet. The closest residential units will be setback 120 feet. Hotel units will be setback 110 feet with 250 feet for the main 40 feet high building. The residential component will have one main signalized entry on Frank Sinatra and secondary entries on Cook and 2 STAFF REPORT C/Z 90-14, PP/CUP 90 , TT 26562 APRIL 25, 1991 Portola. The hotel will have a separate access from Frank Sinatra. Non-signalized entries will have median controls to prevent left-turn exit. PROJECT DATA Project Ordinance Total Area: Gross 420 Net 401 Residential Area: 385 Units 687 Density 1. 8 du/ac 5 du/ac Height 16 - 30 ft. 30 ft. Common Open Space 56% 50% Hotel Area: 15.2 acres Units 225 suites Height 40 ft. 30 ft.* Parking 400 spaces 248 min. II. ANALYSIS: With the exception of the height for the main hotel building, the project complies with all PR standards. An Environmental Impact Report has been prepared. The EIR has identified a whole range of impacts typical of a residential project of this scale. Mitigation measures are identified to mitigate all impacts to a level of insignificance. Impacts and mitigation are summarized in the EIR and the attached Environmental Summary Matrix. In addition to previously described improvements, traffic mitigation will include: 1 . Participation in the Cook Street interchange. 2. Deceleration/acceleration lanes at all entries. 3. Exclusive right turn lane from Frank Sinatra westbound to Cook northbound. 4. Exclusive right turn lane from Cook southbound to Frank Sinatra westbound. 5. Dedication of right-of-way on Cook, Frank Sinatra and Portola for double left, exclusive right expanded intersections. 3 STAFF REPORT C/Z 90-14, PP/CUP 90• _. , TT 26562 APRIL 25, 1991 6. Location of bus shelters and turnouts on Cook, Portola and Frank Sinatra. 7. Ultimately a traffic signal will be required at Portola/Frank Sinatra and Cook/Frank Sinatra when warrants are met. Pacific Golf Resorts will contribute one-fourth of costs of these signals. 8. In addition to those traffic facilities directly adjacent to this project, the consultant studied five intersections in the vicinity to determine both project and regional impacts through 2010. Those intersections included were El Dorado/Country Club, Cook/Country Club, Portola/Country Club, Portola/Gerald Ford, Monterey/Frank Sinatra. ( See Table 3 page 11 of revised report ) . Portola/Gerald Ford continues level C or better in 2010 without mitigation. For the remaining four intersections, the following long-term mitigation measures are recommended. In general they involve intersection expansion with additional left turn, exclusive rights, and through lanes. a. Cook/Country Club - mitigation for LOS C 1. Third and possibly fourth eastbound lane ( tapering back to two lanes) . 2. Second west to south left-turn pocket. 3. Third and fourth westbound through lanes. 4. Third and fourth northbound through lanes. 5. Alternative grade separation Project Impact 3. 5% b. Monterey/Frank Sinatra 1. Eastbound right turn only. 2. Second left turn west to south. 3. Westbound right turn only. 4. Third southbound through lane. 5. Southbound right turn only lane. 6. Second left turn pocket north to west Project Impact 9 . 5% c. Portola/Country Club 1 . Third northbound. 2. Third westbound. Project Impact 5. 9% 4 STAFF REPORT C/Z 90-14, PP/CUP 90- .., , TT 26562 APRIL 25, 1991 d. El Dorado/Country Club 1 . Second and third eastbound lanes. 2. Left turn pocket west to south. 3. Left turn pocket east to north. 4. Second westbound through lane. 5. South to east left turn lane. 6. North to west turn pocket. Project Impact 5. 6% Since project impacts at these intersections are small relative to regional impacts, primary mitigation assigned to Pacific Golf Resorts would be through payment of TUMF. If the council determines that mitigation measures not anticipated by CVATS ( i.e. flyovers) are warranted, then additional mitigation fees may be required based upon the project' s relative impact at a particular intersection. The planning commission unanimously recommended approval of the project and certification of the EIR. The architectural commission has granted conceptual approval . The landscape architect has been directed to maximize use of drought tolerant landscaping and water efficient irrigation technology. The requested 10 foot exception to the 30 foot height limit for the hotel is justified by the 250 foot setback. The overall high quality standards of site planning and architecture appears comparable to the best examples of country clubs recently developed in the valley. Overall project intensity is one third of that permitted by the General Plan and zoning. Prepared by: et-----&-ILV-LA-9.- Reviewed and Approved by: PD/tm 5 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING MMISSION APRIL 2, 1991 Mr. Joy outlined the salient points of the staff report and noted one change to public works condition #14. Staff recommended approval . Chairperson Whitlock opened the public testimony and asked the applicant to address the commission. MR. GEORGE RITTER, 73-899 Highway 111, urged commission to approve his proposal . He questioned the need for public works condition #5 rearing a six foot wide 1 sidewalk, noting that adjacent<erea iad landscaping, not sidewalk. 4: r, .4 i Mr. Folkers informed commission that th =- : ' - originally in the county and stated that in the past .-; .e 1 s were not required, but felt it would be necessary eve lly. Staff indicated that this was something they could hek % o and commission should authorize the director to deter. , - q/ it were necessary. Mr. Ritter concurred. 4 , J0 Chairperson Whitlock asked if anyone wished to speak in FAVOR or OPPOSITION to the proposal. There was no one and the public testimony was closed. Commissioner Jonathan felt the proposal was consistent with the surrounding neighborhood. Commissioner Richards noted that it was council ' s policy to require sidewalks, but agreed with Mr. Folkers because this was an area that had been annexed into the city. Action: Moved by Commissioner Jonathan, seconded by Commissioner Downs, approving the findings as presented by staff. Carried 5-0. Moved by Commissioner Jonathan, seconded by Commissioner Downs, adopting Planning Commission Resolution No. 1503, approving PP 91-2 subject to conditions as amended. Carried 5-0. B. Case Nos. C/Z 90-14, PP/CUP 90-27, TT 26562 - PACIFIC GOLF RESORTS, Applicant Request for certification of an Environmental Impact Report and approval of a precise plan, conditional use permit, 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING 'MISSION APRIL 2, 1991 change of zone and tentative tract map for a 687 unit residential development, 18 hole golf course and 225 suite hotel on 420 acres located east of Portola Avenue north of Frank Sinatra Drive. Mr. Drell outlined the salient points of the staff report, noting that the only exception was the 40 foot height on the main hotel structure, which staff felt was warranted. Staff recommended approval. Commissioner Jonathan asked for and received clarification as to the two-story town houses proposed in comparison to other developments. Commission and staff discussed traffic issues and Mr. Folkers requested amendment of public works condition #7 relating to Cook Street to require paving at 55 feet up to 62 feet to be determined by the director of public works. Chairperson Whitlock opened the public testimony and asked the applicant to address the commission. MR. WILLIAM SWANK, a principal in Portola Development Company and Pacific Golf Resorts, 41-865 Boardwalk, Suite 102 in Palm Desert, stated that he had been working on this project for over one year and informed commission that they own the land free and clear. He indicated that their architectural team consisted of Corbin Yamafugi, CYP; Urrutia Architects; Robert Bein/William Frost Associates; and Tom Lagier was present to address engineering questions. Mr. Maurice Johns was their project manager. He indicated that the golf course was designed by Fred Bliss, formerly with Ron Friem Associates who did the Desert Falls golf course and Temecula' s Red Hawk course. He felt the 40 foot height would provide a more interesting building facade and would not be a problem with the setbacks being provided. He stated that they have an agreement with Kapinski to manage the hotel and the hotel would be delayed until Cook Street went to the freeway. Commissioner Jonathan asked for and received clarification regarding when the hotel would be constructed, when the project would be built, and height. Mr. Drell noted that the project had received conceptual architectural commission approval for the design. 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING __MMISSION APRIL 2, 1991 Chairperson Whitlock asked if anyone wished to speak in FAVOR or OPPOSITION to the proposal . MR. MAURICE JOHNS, project manager, stated that he was present to answer any questions. Commissioner Erwood noted that the letter from the South Coast Air Quality Management District raised concerns and was interested in the applicant' s response, particularly in regard to page two of the letter attachment where they discussed the emission factors and the EMFAC7C used in the draft EIR and noted that some other quotient figures or method should have been used. MR. JOHN CRIST informed commission that the district has a handbook which was still being updated that provides procedures and methodology for assessing air quality impacts of various project aspects ( i.e. traffic, fugitive dust, construction, etc. ) and they had not received this new update from the district. He stated that they would be reassessing the impacts based on the new methodology, but this was the first instance of any environmental documents in the last six months that they had asked for a new approach. Commissioner Erwood commented on the issues of cumulative impacts and transportation and the fact that SCAG' s general complaint was that they didn' t think this draft EIR fully addressed the issues they cited in their attachment. Mr. Crist indicated that this was somewhat inconsistent with the handbook which didn' t feel that the analysis they did or the traffic study took into account the cumulative impacts. There was some haggling within the district regarding the methodology they want to be used that were actually compounding the emissions, rather than accurately accounting for all the emissions that were generated from the project, or double counting. He stated that they would be in touch with the district to see if they have a fixed methodology on assessing the cumulative impacts and the generation of traffic associated with support services, induced growth and issues like that. He confirmed that this would be included in the final EIR whether that would effect any of their recommendations. 4 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING KMISSION APRIL 2, 1991 Chairperson Whitlock closed the public hearing and asked for commission comments. Commissioner Richards felt that it was a fine project and with the lower density and amount of green area this project was acceptable. He stated that he would move for approval . Commissioner Erwood agreed and felt the draft EIR was very well done. He felt this project would be a fine addition. Commissioner Downs also concurred that they did a fine job. He stated that he would second the motion. Commissioner Jonathan asked staff if this project was sensitive to the issue of water conservation. Mr. Drell stated that it would be and this was an issue before the architectural commission and was being conditioned that all drought tolerant plants and irrigation technologies be used, including the utilization of high-tech water recovery. Chairperson Whitlock stated that she liked the project and was impressed with the materials received. Action: Moved by Commissioner Richards, seconded by Commissioner Downs, approving the findings as presented by staff. Carried 5-0. Moved by Commissioner Richards, seconded by Commissioner Downs, adopting Planning Commission Resolution No. 1504, recommending to council certification of the Environmental Impact Report, PP/CUP 90-27, TT 26562, C/Z 90-14, and conditions as amended. Carried 5-0. VIII. MISCELLANEOUS None. IX. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. X. COMMENTS Commissioner Downs informed commission and staff that he would be hesitant to approve any additional projects on El Paseo 5 PLANN: COMMISSION RESOLUTION NC A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING TO CITY COUNCIL CERTIFICATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND APPROVAL OF A CHANGE OF ZONE, PRECISE PLAN AND TENTATIVE TRACT MAP FOR A 687 UNIT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE AND 225 SUITE HOTEL ON 420 ACRES LOCATED EAST OF PORTOLA AVENUE NORTH OF FRANK SINATRA DRIVE. CASE NOS. C/Z 90-14, PP/CUP 90-27, TT 26562 WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Palm Desert, California, did on the 2nd day of April, 1991, hold a duly noticed public hearing to consider the request by PACIFIC GOLF RESORTS for certification of an environmental impact report and approval of a change of zone, precise plan and tentative tract map for a 687 unit residential development, 18 hole golf course and 225 suite hotel on 420 acres located east of Portola Avenue north of Frank Sinatra Drive; and WHEREAS, said application has complied with the requirements of the "City of Palm Desert Procedure for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act, Resolution No. 80-89, " and a Draft Environmental Impact Report has been prepared in compliance with CEQA guidelines as amended; and WHEREAS, at said public hearing, upon hearing and considering all testimony and arguments, if any, of all interested persons desiring to be heard, said planning commission did find the following facts and reasons to justify a recommendation of approval: A. Environmental Impact Report. 1 . The Environmental Impact Report has been completed in compliance with CEQA and adequately addresses the impacts and mitigation measures for the proposed project. 2. These recommendations concerning the project are the result of review and consideration of the information contained within the Draft E. I .R. , in addition to written and oral comments. B. Change of Zone. 1 . The requested change of zone from R-1-M to PR-5 is consistent with the North Sphere Specific Plan and the Palm Desert General Plan. C. Precise Plan. 1 . The proposed use and design of the precise plan is consistent with the North Sphere Specific Plan, Palm Desert General Plan and the Planned Residential District. PLANNING COMMISSION I )LUTION NO. 2. The design of the precise plan will not substantially depreciate property values, nor be materially injurious to properties or improvements in the vicinity. 3. The precise plan will not unreasonably interfere with the use or enjoyment of property in the vicinity by the occupants thereof for lawful purposes. 4. The precise plan will not endanger the public peace, health, safety or general welfare. D. Tract Map. ( 1 ) That the proposed vesting map is consistent with applicable general and specific plans. ( 2 ) That the design or improvement of the proposed subdivision is consistent with applicable general and specific plans. (3 ) That the site is physically suitable for the type of development. (4) That the site is physically suitable for the proposed density of development. ( 5 ) That the design of the subdivision or the proposed improvements are not likely to cause substantial environmental damage or substantially and avoidably injure fish or wildlife or their habitat. ( 6 ) That the design of the subdivision or the type of improvements is not likely to cause serious public health problems. ( 7 ) That the design of the subdivision or the type of improvements will not conflict with easements, acquired by the public at large, for access through or use of property within the proposed subdivision. WHEREAS, in the review of this tentative tract map the planning commission has considered the effect of the contemplated action on the housing needs of the region for purposes of balancing these needs against the public service needs of the residents of the City of Palm Desert and its environs, with available fiscal and environmental resources. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City of Palm Desert, California, as follows: 1 . That the above recitations are true and correct and constitute the findings of the commission in this case. 2. That Draft Environmental Impact Report SCH 90021029 on file in the department of community development/planning is recommended to city council for certification. 2 PLANNING COMMISSION F ILUTION NO. 3. That Change of Zone 90-14 Exhibit "A" , Precise Plan/Conditional Use Permit 90-27 and TT 26562 on file in the department of community development/planning is recommended to city council for approval subject to attached conditions. PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Palm Desert Planning Commission, held on this 2nd day of April, 1991, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: CAROL WHITLOCK, Chairperson ATTEST: RAMON A. DIAZ, Secretary PD/tm 3 PLANNING COMMISSION l )LUTION NO. CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL CASE NOS. PP/CUP 90-23, TT 26562 Department of Community Development: 1 . The development of the property shall conform substantially with exhibits on file with the department of community development/planning, as modified by the following conditions. 2. Construction of portion of said project shall commence within two years from the date of final approval unless an extension of time is granted; otherwise said approval shall become null, void and of no effect whatsoever. 3. The development of the property described herein shall be subject to the restrictions and limitations set forth herein which are in addition to all municipal ordinances and state and federal statutes now in force, or which hereafter may be in force. 4. Prior to issuance of a building permit for construction of any use contemplated by this approval, the applicant shall first obtain permits and/or clearance form the following agencies: Coachella Valley Water District Palm Desert Architectural Commission City Fire Marshal Public Works Department Evidence of said permit or clearance from the above agencies shall be presented to the department of building and safety at the time of issuance of a building permit for the use contemplated herewith. 5. Trash collection services and facilities shall be coordinated with Palm Desert Disposal and shall incorporate residential and commercial recycling where applicable. 6. Project landscaping shall emphasize drought tolerant plant materials and irrigation technology to the greatest extent feasible. 7. All mitigation measures identified in the Final Environmental Impact Report as being the responsibility of Pacific Golf Resorts shall be considered a required condition of this approval. 4 PLANNING COMMISSION 1 )LUTION NO. 8. Project shall be subject to the Coachella Valley Fringe-Toed Lizard Mitigation Fee of $252, 000 payable prior to the issuance of grading permits. 9 . The hotel use will be subject to the Resort Hotel Housing mitigation fee of $225, 000. 10. Project shall be subject to the Art in Public Places Fee per Ordinance No. 473. Public Works 1 . The project shall be designed to retain drainage from a 100-year storm on-site. Drainage fees for the construction of regional drainage improvements which would be necessary regardless of the on-site drainage retention shall be paid prior to the recordation of the final map. The amount of these fees shall be based upon the City of Palm Desert Master Drainage Plan prepared by NBS\Lowery upon its adoption by the Palm Desert City Council . 2. Any drainage/retention area facilities construction required for this project shall be contingent upon a drainage study prepared by a registered civil engineer that is reviewed and approved by the Department of Public Works prior to start of construction. 3. Rights-of-way/easements as may be necessary for the construction of local/regional flood control facilities shall be provided on the final map. 4. Signalization fees, in accordance with City of Palm Desert Resolution Nos. 79-17 and 79-55, shall be paid prior to approval and recordation of the tract map. Applicant shall provide for the installation of a traffic signal on Frank Sinatra Drive at the main project entry and pay one-fourth the cost of traffic signal installation at the intersections of Frank Sinatra Drive and Portola Avenue and Frank Sinatra Drive and Cook Street. 5. As required under Palm Desert Municipal Code Section 26. 28, and in accordance with Sections 26.40 and 26.44, complete improvement plans and specifications shall be submitted to the Director of Public Works for checking and approval before construction of any improvements is commenced. Offsite improvement plans to be approved by the Public Works Department and a surety posted to guarantee the installation of required offsite improvements prior to recordation of the final map. 5 PLANNING COMMISSION OLUTION NO. 6. All public and private improvements shall be inspected by the Department of Public Works and a standard inspection fee shall be paid prior to issuance of grading permits. 7 . Full public improvements, as required by Sections 26.40 and 26.44 of the Palm Desert Municipal Code, shall be installed in accordance with applicable City standards. Minimum improvements shall include, but not be limited to the following: Frank Sinatra Drive: * Construction of a deceleration/ acceleration lane for all project entry points. * Construction of a right turn lane for west bound to north bound traffic. * Construction of an 8 foot wide meandering sidewalk. * Modification of the existing median island to prohibit left turn egress from the hotel entry. Left turn ingress shall be permitted. * Installation of perimeter landscaping and median landscaping as approved by the City of Palm Desert. * Construction of transit facilities as recommended by Sunline Transit and approved by the City of Palm Desert. Portola Avenue: * Construction of a deceleration/ acceleration lane for project entry. * Construction of an 8 foot wide meandering sidewalk. * Construction of a center median island in Portola Avenue at the project entry to prohibit left turn egress. Left turn ingress shall be permitted. * Installation of perimeter landscaping as approved by the City of Palm Desert. * Construction of transit facilities as recommended by Sunline Transit and approved by The City of Palm Desert. Cook Street: * Construction of curb and gutter and AC paving at 55 feet from centerline. * Construction of a deceleration/ acceleration lane at project entry. * Construction of a right turn lane for south bound to west bound traffic. 6 PLANNING COMMISSION 1 1LUTION NO. * Construction of one-half of a raised, landscaped median island. * Construction of an 8 foot wide meandering sidewalk. * Installation of perimeter landscaping as approved by the City of Palm Desert. * Construction of transit facilities as recommended by Sunline Transit and approved by the City of Palm Desert. Interior Streets: * Improvements as shown on the tentative map. In addition to the above noted items, those traffic mitigation measures identified in the project Traffic Impact Analysis prepared by Circulation Systems Associates and discussed within the project E. I .R. shall be provided. The subject report and proposed mitigation measures shall be approved by the Public Works Department. 8. Traffic safety striping on Frank Sinatra Drive, Portola Avenue, Cook Street and all interior streets shall be provided to the specifications of the Director of Public Works and shall include the use of approved thermoplastic paint and raised pavement markers. A traffic control plan must be submitted to, and approved by, the Director of Public Works prior to the issuance of any permits associated with this project or placement of any pavement markings. 9 . Developer shall agree to participate in the proposed City of Palm Desert Cook Street Improvement Assessment District to the extent determined by proceedings of the City of Palm Desert. 10. Landscaping maintenance on the property frontages shall be provided by the property owner and/or property owners association. 11 . In accordance with Palm Desert Municipal Code Section 26.44, complete grading plans and specifications shall be submitted to the Director of Public Works for checking and approval prior to issuance of any permits. The subject grading plan shall include detailed erosion control plans. 12. Complete tract map shall be submitted as required by ordinance to the Director of Public Works for checking and approval before issuance of any permits. 7 PLANNING COMMISSION F ILUTION NO. 13. Any and all offsite improvements shall be preceded by the approval of plans and the issuance of valid encroachment permits by the Department of Public Works. 14. Proposed building pad elevations are subject to review and modification in accordance with Chapter 27 of the Palm Desert Municipal Code. 15. Waiver of access to Frank Sinatra Drive, Portola Avenue and Cook Street, except at approved locations, shall be granted on the final map. 16. Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fees (TUMF) associated with this project shall be paid as required by ordinance. 17. Half street right-of-way at sixty-seven feet on Cook Street fifty- five feet on Frank Sinatra Drive and fifty feet on Portola Avenue as well as any additional right-of-way necessary for the construction of the required turn lanes shall be offered for dedicated on the final map. 18. Improvement plans for water and sewer systems shall be approved by the respective service districts with "as-built" plans submitted to the Department of Public Works prior to project final. 19 . As required by the Palm Desert Municipal Code, all existing overhead utilities shall be placed underground per each utility district ' s recommendation. If determined to be unfeasible, the applicant shall submit to the city, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, surety in an amount equal to the estimated construction cost for the subject undergrounding. 20. A complete preliminary soils investigation, prepared by a registered soils engineer, shall be submitted to and approved by the Public Works Department prior to the issuance of any permits. PD/tm 8 ogrfa 1 ) ,.,,,77,,•. -i-, ) I; LFr II '. 14 •!.: I • 4 M 0 r I _ F r t KI • I> ! P CD _�� i . � I l l l l ! i I I �i 33 Z 1' C \\\\\\\\\\\ \\"\\"y \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ N \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\y IoI \\\\\\\\.\\\\.\.\\\y ���\\\\ \\'\\\\\\\\' I i \\\\\\\\-a\\..\\\\\\\\ a.\\\\«t \\ \ �,,\\t 0 73 13 .\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\\ rn r— •\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\. 0 el: an Z I--;'' / a R.,,/ 7/ • • (A CD O Z V/� ;1 iI�tr rr'l I• �II'I 11 I' . (4'n a.�.1'/,4A CU15i VU U�`l�lUl1UL1 i �xaa ku i '"' ��"`�♦ 73 51U HIED WAILING DRIVE,PALM UESE(i I,CALIFORNIA 92260 — -I ELEPI LONE(G 19)346-061 1— March 6, 1991 CITY OF PALM DESERT LEGAL NOTICE CASE NOS. PP 90-27, C/Z 90-14, TT 26562 NOTICE iS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held before the Palm Desert Planning Commission to consider a request by PACIFIC GOLF RESORTS for certification of an Environmental Impact Report and approval of a Precise Plan, Change of Zone and Tentative Tract Map for a 687 dwelling unit residential development, 18 hole golf course and 225 suite hotel on 420 • acres located east of Portola Avenue north of Frank Sinatra Drive, also particularly described as: • A.P.N. 653-400-016, 018, 019 and portion of 617 653-390-017 and portion of 616 ...� NN , . L . • • GERALD FORD DR. N. �. -.. .0.. i I O•• ••••••••M•♦. . •••••••• , • VANNWAVO- • i•.m. ♦••••••••••••••••••••�,1•••♦••••0:. •• ♦•••••••••• ♦....•...• I .. umazo', wemem. iliMI , _ _,1., __ ",•'°-' ♦•••••••••♦ .••♦♦...... 1. .. .....•.... ...........4 ;� .1 ,::ram — FRANK SINATRA DRIVE i , •• SAiD public hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 2, 1991 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at the Palm Desert City Hall, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive. . Palm Desert, California, at which time and place all interested persons are invited to attend and be heard. Written comments concerning all items covered by this public hearing notice shall be accepted up to the date of the hearing. Information concerning the proposed project and/or negative declaration is available for review in the department of community • development/planning at the above address between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you challenge the proposed actions In • • court, you may be limited to raising only those issues your or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the planning commission (or city council) at, or prior to, the public hearing. PUBLISH: Desert Post RAMON A. DIAZ, Secretary ' March 13, 1991 Palm Desert Planning Commission CITY OF PALM DESERT DEP MENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELO: 1T STAFF REPORT TO: Planning Commission DATE: April 2, 1991 CASE NOS: C/Z 90-14, PP/CUP 90-27, TT 26562 REQUEST: Certification of an Environmental Impact Report and approval of a precise plan, conditional use permit, change of zone and tentative tract map for a 687 unit residential development 18 hole golf course and 225 suite hotel on 420 acres located east of Portola Avenue north of Frank Sinatra Drive. APPLICANT: Pacific Golf Resorts 41-865 Boardwalk, Suite 102 Palm Desert, CA 92260 I . BACKGROUND: A. SITE DESCRIPTION: The property consists of 420 acres of undeveloped sand dunes and desert scrub straddling the Palm Springs sand ridge. General plan designation is low density residential (3-5 dwelling units per acre) . Current zoning is PR-5 (planned residential 5 dwelling units per acre) - 170 acres and R-1-M ( single family mobile home residential district) - 250 acres. The property is surrounded by similar low density residential designations. The property abuts Portola Avenue on the west, Frank Sinatra Drive on the south and Cook Street on the east. B. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: 1 . Change of Zone. The 250 acres of R-1-M zoning is proposed to be changed to PR-5. The PR-5 zone provides uniform zoning for the whole site, standards more specific to country club development and permits hotels as a conditional use. The change is consistent with the General Plan. 2. Precise Plan and Tentative Tract Map. The precise plan and tentative map describes a 687 unit residential country club with an 18 hole golf course and 225 suite hotel . The residential component will consist of 128 units in two story attached villas, 169 single story duplexes, 261 single story patio homes and 129 custom homes. Building heights will range from 16 feet for the duplex and patio STAFF REPORT C/Z 90-14, PP/CUP 90-zi, TT 26562 APRIL 2, 1991 homes, to 22 feet for the custom homes and 30 feet for the villas. The height limit for the zone is 30 feet. With the exception of the two story villas, all units will back onto the golf course. The main hotel elevation will be 40 feet in height tapering down to 30 feet for the units. The 225 suite hotel will have 400 parking spaces of which 200 will be subsurface. Landscaped perimeter setbacks on Portola and Frank Sinatra will average 30 feet (42 feet from curb) to accommodate the potential additions of a third lane. The Cook half street will be installed at three lanes allowing somewhat narrower perimeters. The walls will meander creating some setback areas of over 100 feet. The closest residential units will be setback 120 feet. Hotel units will be setback 110 feet with 250 feet for the main 40 feet high building. The residential component will have one main entry on Frank Sinatra and secondary entries on Cook and Portola. The hotel will have a separate access from Frank Sinatra. Signals are proposed for the Portola/Frank Sinatra intersection and the main entrance. Non-signalized entries will have median controls to prevent left-turn exit. PROJECT DATA Project Ordinance Total Area: Gross 420 Net 401 Residential Area: 385 Units 687 Density 1 .8 du/ac 5 du/ac Height 16 - 30 ft. 30 ft. Common Open Space 56% 50% Hotel Area: 15.2 acres Units 225 suites Height 40 ft. 30 ft.* Parking 400 units 248 min. 2 STAFF REPORT C/Z 90-14, PP/CUP 90 TT 26562 APRIL 2, 1991 II . ANALYSIS: With the exception of the height for the main hotel building, the project complies with all PR standards. An Environmental Impact Report has been prepared. The EIR has identified a whole range of impacts typical of a residential project of this scale. Mitigation measures are identified to mitigate all impacts to a level of insignificance. Impacts and mitigation are summarized in the EIR and the attached Environmental Summary Matrix. The requested 10 foot exception to the 30 foot height limit for the hotel is justified by the 250 foot setback. The overall high quality standards of site planning and architecture appears comparable to the best examples of country clubs recently developed in the valley. Overall project intensity is one third of that permitted by the General Plan and zoning. III . RECOMMENDATION: Adopt findings and Planning Commission Resolution No. recommending to city council certification of the Environmental Impact Report - PP/CUP 90-27, TT 26562, C/Z 90-14. IV. ATTACHMENTS: A. Draft resolution. B. Legal notice. C. EIR Matrix. D. Public Agency Comments. Prepared bys Reviewed and Approved by PD/tm 3 ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMARY/MATRIX FOR TENTATIVE TRACT NO. 26562 PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL • ,SUMMARY/MATRI$ This Environmental Impact Report Significant Impacts: Are those which (EIR) has been prepared to review the constitute a substantial or potentially environmental constraints and substantial adverse change in the opportunities associated with the environment. approval of Tentative Tract Map #26562 proposed on 420± acres. The Unavoidable Impacts: Those impacts project is located immediately north of which occur as the result of project Frank Sinatra Drive, east of Portola development whose adverse effects Avenue, and west of Cook Street cannot be entirely eliminated. (extended) in the northern incorporated boundaries of the City of Insignificant Impacts: Those impacts Palm Desert. The EIR assesses the which, by virtue of the environmental environmental impacts which may conditions or the implementation of result as a consequence of approval of mitigation measures, are reduced to the proposed project. The following acceptable or "insignificant" levels. discussion briefly summarizes each category of analysis, including existing conditions, anticipated impacts and applicable mitigation measures recommended to reduce impacts to acceptable levels. Levels of impacts include: M-1 Land Use Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures Subject property is vacant. Designated Project results in development of 420± Processed as a Precise Plan with a Land Use is Low-Density Residential acres with a mix of residential change of zone from R-1-M to P.R. 5 to (3-5 DU/AC) and Residential Study housing consisting of 128 single permit the hotel use. Site and orient Zone. Site is currently zoned R-1-M Family custom homes, 269 single buildings away from future (Conventional Single Family Mobile family patio homes, 162 attached surrounding development. A 30 foot Home Residential District), P.R. 5 duplexes, 128 attached villas and a 225 wide landscape feature with a (Planned Residential 5 DU/AC) and a room resort hotel integrated with an 18 meandering wall adjacent very small portion zoned P.C. 2 hole championship golf course. arterials. Half width Stn..— (Planned Commercial District). improvement to Cook Street (extended) for the length of property. Traffic/Circulation Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures Analyzed major streets are Generates 9,321 ADT. There are three The Monterey Avenue/Frank Sinatra substantially built out, and operate at access points planned for the project; intersection will require an additional acceptable Levels of Service. (LOS-A). two located on Frank Sinatra Drive north bound left turn pocket to allow the with exception of Country Club Drive and a minor access on Portola intersection to perform at LOS C for the (LOS-C). Site is vacant but has Avenue. The proposed project and 1995 and 2010 project plus background potential to generate 12,500 to 20,900 surrounding approved developments plus cumulative impacts. Inst ADT at current General Plan will impact the Monterey traffic signals at the Frank Sinatra designations. Avenue/Frank Sinatra Drive Drive/Portola intersections and at the intersection,reducing operations tot main access drive/Frank Sinatra LOS D in 1995& 2010. Drive intersection, and provide controlled turning movements. Participate in the development of Cook Street/I-10 interchange. Payment of TUMF fees. M-2 • Soils and Geology Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures Soils composed of MaB, MaD and CpA Potential exists for seismic activity, Presoak & recompact soils. fine sands and occurs on the Palm including sever groundshaking and Plan/Implement erosion control Springs Sand Ridge. Site is located in seismically induced settling. Site also measures. Develop and secure an Active Blowsand Hazard Area. No subject to wind erosion. Site not subject approval of wind erosion control known active or potentially active to liquefaction or ground rupture plans. Design for 0.5g ground faults present. Nearest fault three hazard. acceleration, and conform wi miles to northeast. Area of potentially applicable UBC and other desi high ground acceleration. parameters. Conduct additional testing. Document conditions at site before and during construction at prescribed intervals or certain points i n development & construction process. Hydrology Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures Site in the service area of CVWD Mid- The average runoff yield from the site Design project to retain/detain on site Valley Stormwater Channel. No off- in the developed condition for a 10 year the complete 100 year storm volume per site drainage tributary to the site. event will generate approximately 1.7 requirement of CVWD. Shall include Perimeter roads along the boundary cfs/acre and approximately 3.1 strategies to handle all on-site and All provide some water conveyance. cfs/acre during a 100 year event. off-site flows which pass through t Undeveloped site will generate an subject property. Participate in the average of 0.48 cfs/acre in a 10 year Mid-Valley Stormwater Channel event and an average of 1.13 cfs/acre a program. 100 year event. M-3 Water Resources/Quality Existing Conditions Project Imoacta Mitigation Measures Coachella Valley Water District Residential consumption projected at Provide well sites and wells for provides domestic water. Water supply 108,809 gallons per day, max. hotel use enhanced production. Construct from wells mining Whitewater projected at up to 91,575 gallons per day, additional distribution system. Use subbasin. Quality is good to excellent. and golf course demand estimated at drought tolerant landscaping. Install Existing 18" main in Frank Sinatra 1.3 million gallons. Total water efficient irrigation systems, drip Drive along entire southern boundary. demand will be approximately 1.4 irrigation & low moisture detect million gallons per day. Contributes to Install low-flush toilets & wai on-going overdraft condition. conserving shower heads, faucets and other conserving technologies. Provide written materials in hotel to encourage conservation by guests. Biological Resources Existing Condition* Project Imoacts Mitigation Measures Creosote scrub plant community and Removes 420± acres from vacant Payment of required fees for 420± associated species present at site. status, decrease wildlife habitat & acres designated as fee mitigation Fauna comprised of typical species of desert vegetation. Will impact known area by the Fringe toed Lizard HI the Colorado Desert floor. Possibility of habitat of federally listed Fringe-toed approximate fee is $252,000. Excli invasive plants from landscaping occurrence sensitive species, Lizard, and suspected sensitive or rare palette. Conduct spring survey for including Coachella Valley milk plant and animal species. desert tortoise and other sensitive vetch, Desert Tortoise, Flat tailed species. Encourage use of native and Horned Lizard and Coachella Valley other habitat enhancing plant Fringe-toed Lizard. materials. M-4 Air Quality Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures 1989 PM10 suspended particulates Impacts include: fugitive dust Develop and implement dust control exceeded state standards 67.2% of time potential during construction of up to plan in conformance with applicable sampled (Indio Station) and 28.3% 503.4 tons/month. Buildout related AQMD management plans. Provide (Palm Springs Station). Ozone impacts could result in: CO - 422 site watering & downwind fences exceeded federal standards on 37 lb./day; NO - 180 lb/day; ROG - 71 during construction. Designate truck sample days; state standard exceeded lb./day. Stationary source emissions routes. Maintain on-site WE 108 days (Palm Springs), exceeded are from power plant(s) and sources. Halt construction during federal standards on 16 sample days consumption of natural gas; moving and 2nd stage smog alerts. Provide and state standards 76 days (Indio) emissions from vehicular traffic. van/shuttle service for guests. when samples were taken. Threshold criteria exceeded for Implement carpooling program. nitrogen oxides only. Encourage use of public transit. Provide bus shelter & turnout. Noise Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures Existing noise environment relatively Impacts are: construction-related Provide mufflers on construction quiet. Ambient or average noise levels noise (70-95 dB(A) @ 50 feet); noise equipment; restrict hours of operation. ranged from 51.4 dB(A) to 60.6 dB (A). from mechanical equipment (70-75 Construct 6-7 foot masonry walls along Vehicular traffic is the major noise dB(A), outdoor recreation noise and project boundaries. Design, select generator with some impact from traffic noise on adjacent streets (0.4- place mechanical equipment Lo railroad operations. 2.2 dB(A) contribution. minimize impact; equip w/silencers or barriers. Utilize recommended building materials. Enforce Title 25 construction standards. M-5 Public Services and Facilities Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures Domestic water and sewage disposal Larger sewage collection system Sewage disposal: Extend sewer line provided by Coachella Valley Water required. On-site retention required approximately 11,000 to 12,000 feet. District; natural gas by Southern (see Hydrology). Trunk line Provide six well sites on the project California Gas; electrical by Southern extension for telephone service site. Natural gas: Use efficient water California Edison; telephone by required. Impact on protective services heaters, furnaces, etc. Enforce Title General Telephone Company; police (police, fire, medical) is cumulative. 24. Electrical service: Enforce T'`'- and fire by Riverside County; medical 24. Use energy efficient desi by Eisenhower Medical Center. Install only necessary outdoor lighting and efficient mechanical equipment. Fire protection: Equip structures with sprinklers. Install fire alarm system in hotel complex. Enforce Uniform Building, Fire and other applicable codes. Provide operational fire hydrants within 250' of all construction; determine & document fire flows. Any area more than 150' from hydrant must have Class 3 stand pipes. Operational '-- brigade required. M-7 Scenic Resources Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures Site 12± miles from eastern toe of San Two storey structures are the suite hotel Viewshed analysis indicates that Jacinto Mountains, 4 miles from Santa and the attached villas, neither development impacts mitigated by pad Rosa Mountains. Good viewsheds to exceeding forty feet in height. Hotel elevations, setbacks and landscape northeast, west and south. facility planned at corner of Cook treatment. Review during design & Street and Sinatra Drive. construction. Socio-Economic Resources Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures Palm Desert current population Property tax generated for City - Project will result in a net positive estimated at 20,650. Employment has a $693,937.30. Sales tax generated for benefit of approximately $672,000 major emphasis on the service City - $331,763. Sales Tax for Roadway annually, or a benefit to cost ratio of occupation. Median household income Improvements $66,352. Transient about 1.49 to 1. in 1988 was $28,652. Housing stock has occupancy tax generated for City - grown on average about 5% a year. $582,064. Costs: General government Strong growth pattern and revenue cost- $709,090. Cost of police protection - generation. $221,000. Cost of fire protection - $71,910. M-6 Public Services and Facilities Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures Domestic water and sewage disposal Larger sewage collection system Sewage disposal: Extend sewer line provided by Coachella Valley Water required. On-site retention required approximately 11,000 to 12,000 feet. District; natural gas by Southern (see Hydrology). Trunk line Provide six well sites on the project California Gas; electrical by Southern extension for telephone service site. Natural gas: Use efficient water California Edison; telephone by required. Impact on protective services heaters, furnaces, etc. Enforce Title General Telephone Company; police (police, fire, medical) is cumulative. 24. Electrical service: Enforce "'"'e and fire by Riverside County; medical 24. Use energy efficient di L. by Eisenhower Medical Center. Install only necessary outdoor lighting and efficient mechanical equipment. Fire protection: Equip structures with sprinklers. Install fire alarm system in hotel complex. Enforce Uniform Building, Fire and other applicable codes. Provide operational fire hydrants within 250' of all construction; determine & document fire flows. Any area more than 150' from hydrant must have Class 3 stand pipes. Operations' r-e brigade required. M-7 '*ATE'? kV/ ESTABLISHED IN 1918 AS A PUBLIC AGENCY %%STRICT COACIIELLA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT POST OFFICE BOX 1058• COACHELLA, CALIFORNIA 92236• TELEPHONE(619)398-2651 DIRECTORS OFFICERS TELLIS CODEKAS,PRESIDENT TIIOMAS E LEVY,GENERAL MANAGER CHIEF ENGINEER RAYMOND R.RUMMONDS,VICE PRESIDENT BERNARDINE SUTTON,SECRETARY JOHN W.McFADDEN OWEN McCOOK,ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER DOROTHY M.NICHOLS March 21, 1991 REDWINE AND SHERRILL,ATTORNEYS THEODORE J.FISH File: 0126.1 0421.1 Philip Drell Planning Department City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, California 92260 Dear Mr. Drell: Subject: Draft Environmental Impact Report, Pacific Golf Resorts, Tentative Tract 26562 (SCE 90021029) This letter is in response to the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Pacific Golf Resorts. The Coachella Valley Water District appreciates the opportunity to comment on this document. A collection of the Coachella Valley Water District 's comments will be addressed in Attachment "A," enclosed. If you have any questions or require additional information please contact Joe Cook, planning engineer, extension 292 . Yours very truly, Tom Levy General Manager-Chief Engineer JEC:cb/e3 Enclosure/ as TRUE CONSERVATION USE WATER WISELY 8. Page III-24, Distribution Facilities under the subheading "Project Impacts," first and second paragraphs to read as follows: With the proposed 557 single family dwelling units having an estimated maximum peak demand of 4.0 gallons per minute per dwelling unit, the maximum peak water demand consumption would be 3,208,320 gallons per day. The proposed 128 villas will also generate a maximum peak demand of 5,760 gallons per day, per unit, or approximately 737,280 gallons per day. For purposes of this analysis, the hotel unit maximum peak demand has been applied; 504 gallons per room. All ancillary hotels uses including laundry, restaurants, general operations and landscape maintenance, are included in this range. The proposed 225 hotel rooms and auxiliary uses will generate a maximum peak demand of approximately 113,400 gallons per day. (Exclude Footnotes Nos. 22 and 23.) 9. Page III-25, Mitigation Measures, third paragraph, third and fourth sentences to read as follows: Due to the fire flow requirement of 5,000 gpm for the hotel, a looped 18-inch main line will be required to serve this facility. The hotel site will be developed with a two-feed system. (Footnote No. 26 shall be omitted.) 10. Page III-39, Item No. 1 This section shall emphasize water saving methods for dust control. These methods may include soil stabilizers or other means to reduce continuous site watering. Also see Item No. 6 in this appendix. 11. Page III-64, Project Impacts under the subheading "Domestic Water Services", second sentence to read as follows: The developer has also planned to provide sir well sites and will be fully equipping two sites to serve the proposed development. -9-- File: 0126.1 0421. 1 ATTACHMENT A 1 . Page M-4, Water Resources/Quality under the subheading "Project Impacts" to read as follows: Residential maximum peak demand is projected at 3,945,600 gallons per day. Hotel maximum peak demand is projected at 113,400 gallons per day and golf course demand estimated at 1.3 million gallons. Accumulative peak water demand will be approximately 5.4 million gallons per day which contributes to the on-going overdraft condition. 2. Page M-4, Water Resources/Quality under the subheading "Mitigation Measures" first and third sentences to read as follows: Provide six well sites and two fully equipped wells for demand production. Use low water use landscaping. 3. Page M-5, Air Quality under the subheading "Mitigation Measures" after second sentence to include as follows: Apply soil stabilizers when possible in order to reduce the water spent for dust control. 4. Page M-7, Public Services and Facilities under the subheading "Project Impacts," second sentence to read as follows: On-site retention of stormwater runoff is required. (See hydrology.) 5. Page I-4, under the heading "Hydrology," last sentence to read as follows: These shall be reviewed and approved by the Coachella Valley Water District and the city engineer. 6. Page III-18, Mitigation Measures under the subheading "Wind Erosion", Item No. 2 to address the following: This section describes and discusses maintaining moist surface soils. This method is prescribed by CEQA as a means to control soil erosion and reduce PM-10. It is the concern of the Coachella Valley Water District that this practice will expend a great deal of water. No estimate has been provided in this report to address the amount of water required to keep the ground surface moist in this desert environment. The District will require that this report be augmented to emphasize and give more detail to dust controllmeasures which will serve to reduce the amount of water used for dust control. 7. Page III-20, Hydrology under subheading "Existing Conditions," third paragraph after the second sentence to include the following: The implementation of the Mid-Valley Stormwater Channel is subject to and dependent on the participation of the affected communities of the Mid-Valley area. -1- 41)11mtii) South Coast AIR % ALI I Y MANAGEMEN r DISTRICT 9150 FLAIR DRIVE, EL MONTE, CA 91731 (818) 572-6200 Match 1, 1991 Mr. Phillip Drell Department of Planning City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm desert, CA 92260 Dear Mr. Drell: Subject: Draft EIR: Pacific Golf Resorts Tentative Tract # 26562 SCQAMD#RC910131-02 The South Coast Air Quality Management District (District) has reviewed the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the proposed Pacific Golf Resorts Tentative Tract #26562 Project. The project has the potential to generate significant short-term and long-term air quality impacts. Based on District staffs review of the project, these impacts and potentiall mitigation measures have not been fully assessed in the Draft EIR. The District is responsible for adopting, implementing, and enforcing air quality regulations in the South Coast Air Basin (Basin) which includes Riverside County. As a responsible agency, the District reviews and analyzes El Rs for projects (within the jurisdiction of the District) that may generate significant adverse air quality impacts. The District's role is advisory to the lead agency. The District's review of the project indicates that there are significant air quality issues relative to the size, scale, and location of the proposed project that need to be further clarified and included in the Final EIR. The attached staff assessment presents a detailed discussion of the District's analysis of the Draft EIR. The District appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Pacific Golf Resorts Project. If you have any questions regarding these comments please contact Connie Day, Program Supervisor, at (818) 307-4507. Sincerely, 6_,4) Jack P. Broadbent Planning Manager JPB:CAD:KU:PF: Attachment ATIACI I MIENT SCAQMD ASSESSMENT OF PACIFIC GOLF RESORTS TENTATIVE TRACT # 26562 Project Description The proposed Pacific Golf Resorts Tentative Tract # 26562 Project encompasses the development of 420 acres for a mixed use development with 687 residential dwelling units, a 225 suite-hotel and restaurant, and an 18-hole golf course. Air Quality Setting The Draft EIR accurately characterizes the air quality setting relative to the project. According to air quality monitoring conducted in 1989 at the District's Palm Springs monitoring station, the closest station to the study area, ozone levels exceeded federal standards on 37 days; and oxides of nitrogen levels did not exceed federal standards. The Coachella Valley also exceeded the federal standards for PM10. The measurements at Palm Springs exceeded the federal 24-hour standards on 3.3 percent of the days in 1989 based on a 60-day sample. The Coachella Valley has been designated as a Group I area for PM to. Group I is defined as having a 95- percent of probability of violating the standards. Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act, Group I "Moderate" nonattainment areas are required to meet federal PM10 standards within three years of an EPA-approved State Implementation Plan (SIP). The Draft Final State Implementation Plan for PM10 in the Coachella Valley was adopted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District Board on November 30, 1990. Short-Perm Air Quality Impacts Short-term air quality impacts from this project are mainly due to grading, excavation, and construction activities. Construction emissions would result from fugitive dust, heavy-duty construction equipment, building equipment and necessary vehicular trips (truck and personnel). The predicted PMI0 emission levels due to construction-related work is approximately 2.1 tons/day. The Draft EIR does not analyze emissions caused by the construction equipment, vehicles used by construction personnel, and other construction-related activities such as lane closures, detours, etc. The Final EIR should analyze emissions from all sources and propose measures to mitigate short-term construction impacts. See Table 1 for potential mitigation measures. Additional mitigation measures for reduction of PMIo are included in Attachment 1 2 Long-Term Air Quality Impacts Long-term air quality impacts arising from the project are primarily due to approximately 9,300 average daily trips. There will also be impacts due to the growth-inducing nature of the project which have not been fully analyzed. The following analyses are recommended for inclusion in the Final EIR: Emission Factors EMFAC7C was used in the Draft EIR for calculating vehicle emissions. EMFAC7D, which was available at the time of the preparation of the DEIR, or EMFAC7E, which may be presently available, should be used in the Final EIR to calculate the emissions. Transportation Demand Management The Draft EIR recommends Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs as effective measures to mitigate the impacts of additional traffic generated by the project. The DEIR recommends Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) as a mitigation measure; however, no specific information regarding the method of funding is provided. The Final EIR should analyze the TMAs in detail, discussing how and when the TMAs will be formed. District staff recommends that TMAs should be operational at the beginning of the project. The potential for transit improvements such as planned improvements to transit services, and plans to incorporate car-pools and vanpools at the beginning of the project should also he considered. Implementing a trip reduction plan at the inception of the project would help reduce vehicular emissions. These measures should be included in the Final EIR. Cumulative Impacts The DEIR does not analyze the cumulative impacts of the projects within the project area. There is no analysis of the additional vehicle miles travelled (VMT) that could generate significant cumulative impacts. "I he cumulative impacts of this project and the projects within the area should he included in the analysis of the growth-inducing impacts. The Final EIR should analyze the potential for additional trips resulting from the use of the hotel and the golf club. Additional Mitigation Measures Additional mitigation measures which are recommended by the District should be incorporated into the Final EIR. The need to reduce indirect emissions through energy-efficient construction methods, and use of landscaping with native drought- resistant plant species should be analyzed in the Final Elk. See attached Table 1 for a list of potential mitigation measures. • TABLE I POTENTIAL MITIGATION MEASURES FOR THE PACIFIC GOLF RESORTS TENTATIVE TRACT# 26562 PROJECT 1. Minimize Construction Activity Emissions o Water construction site morning and evening. o Remove dirt from paved roads adjacent to site every work-day. o Cover dirt in trucks during on-road hauling. o Cease construction during periods of high winds or during Stage 1 and 2 episodes. o Spread soil binders on site, unpaved roads, and parking areas. o Reestablish ground cover on construction site through seeding and watering. 2. Reduce Construction Equipment Emissions o Wash off trucks and their wheels when leaving site. o Properly tune and maintain construction equipment. o Use low-sulfur fuel for construction equipment. o Avoid use of on-site temporary electric power generation by using less- polluting power from the grid. 3. Reduce Construction-Related Magic Congestion o Provide rideshare incentives for construction personnel. o Provide transit incentives for construction personnel. o Provide a flagperson as needed to ensure safety at the construction site. 4. Limit Long-Tenn Emissions o Install automated traffic signals as appropriate. o Ensure traffic flow management at key intersections. 5. Limit Emissions From Vehicle Trips and VAST o Expand the EIR Transportation Demand Management Plan, as appropriate, in accordance with District Regulation XV. o Provide worker rideshare incentives. o Provide worker transit incentives and assistance to the site. o Encourage alternative work schedules. o Encourage telecommuting programs. o Encourage scheduling the movement of goods for off-peak traffic hours. o Provide dedicated turn lanes as appropriate. 6. Minimize Indirect-Source Emissions o Implement energy conservation measures more stringent than State requirements. o Require the installation of solar water heaters. o Install energy-efficient lightin o Include energy costs in capital expenditur c analyses. o Landscape with native drought-resistant plant species to reduce water consumption and to provide passive solar benefits. ii 111 Mlle I 'Atrt MEMBER AGENCIES Cathedral City Coachella Desert Hot Springs Indian Wells Indio La Quinta E� � V)� Palm Desert wary 20 , 1991 Palm Springs Rancho Mirage FE `� 61991 Riverside County fgMMUYiIY DEv/)pi MITT!DEN CITYR)III,IE pI INIM°ISM Mr. Phillip Drell Planning Department City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 RE: Rancho Portola Dear Mr. Drell: Thank you for the opportunity to review the Environmental Impact Report on the Rancho Portola project. On page III-13 the consultant has summarized SunLine ' s concerns as it regards to transit. However, the language concerns us in that a commitment to provide the transit amenities has not been stated. We request your assistance in insuring that transit mitigation measures are included as a condition to the project. If I can be of further assistance on this project, please feel free to give me a call . Yours very truly, SUNLINE TRANSIT AGENCY �11_ C{c: Debra Astin Director of Planning DA/n cc: City of Palm Desert File 32-505 Harry Oliver Trail •Thousand Palms, CA 92276 .(619) 343-3456 • FAX (619) 343-3845 A Prlhlir Annnry SunLine Transit MEMBER AGENCIES Cathedral City Coachella Desert Hot Springs March 27 , 1991 Indian Wells Indio La Quinta Palm Desert Palm Springs Rancho Mirage Riverside County Mr. Phillip Drell Planning Department City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 RE: Rancho Portola Dear Mr. Drell: I recently had an occasion to look at the environmental impact report on the Rancho Portola project again. Previously, I had replied and asked that bus turnouts and passenger waiting shelters be included on Frank Sinatra and Portola Avenue. After re-reviewing the plans, we also note that the project will extend to Cook Street. Because Cook Street is an arterial and will serve this project in addition to other projects in the surrounding area, we ask that a bus turnout and a passenger waiting shelter also be included on Cook Street. We suggest that this turnout be located on the west side of Cook Street just south of the northern property line, far side of the entrance to the maintenance yard. I realize that you are receiving this information rather late in the process. However, I hope that you will still be able to accommodate our request. Yours very truly, SUNLINE TRANSIT AGENCY alue- Debra Astin Director of Planning DA/n cc: Terra Nova Planning and Research, Inc. 275 N. El Cielo, D-3 Palm Springs, CA 92262 File 32-505 Harry Oliver Trail •Thousand Palms, CA 92276 •(619) 343-3456 •FAX (619) 343-3845 A Public Agency INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM CITY OF PALM DESERT TO: PHIL DRELL FROM: BRENT CONLEY SUBJECT: PP 90-27 DATE: DECEMBER 13, 1990 The site of the proposed project could affect police response time within the development . Manned entry gates or locator boards at all entrances would assist arriving emergency vehicles. The police department would like to reserve comment on the proposed project until final plans are submitted as it relates to dwelling units and proposed hotel . If you have any questions please call me at Ext. 303 . f BRENT CONLEY RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF ' S BC: la Z T. • . Palmer aibi suon • Date: � r`O / To: / df/ • 92z d Attention: �Aaz7., ,dw Regarding : 6 (>2 Palmer has existing plant at this location to jr4'1 serve this project . II Palmer will serve this project , but a line extension will be needed, the extent of which will be determined at the time we receive plans. LExisting plant is away . A major line extension will be necessary to serve this project. t Out of our area, will be unable to serve project . Sincerely, Clara Sal sbury Account Executive CLS:blt Ctyrsp 41.725 Cook Street, fox 368 Telephone: 1619)3111 1312 Palmer CableVision/Channel 10 Palm Desert,CA 92261 Telecopiur: 16191 310 23R1 Services of Palmer Communication,Inc. '`' PALM SPRINGS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 333 SOUTH FARRELL DRIVE PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 92262 - 7994 ter-- _ (619) 327-1581 .�.zl / . a BOARD OF EDUCATION: MEREDY SHOENBERGER,President—LESLIE DeMERSSEMAN,Clerk RICHARD CROMWELL III,Member—MICHAEL McCABE,Member—MINNA MARYANOV,Member March 15, 1991 City of Palm Desert 73- 510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 Attn: Mr. Phil Drell Re: Draft EIR - Pacific Gulf Resorts Tentative Tract #265262 Dear Mr. Drell: The District is in receipt of the Draft EIR for the references project and offers the following comments: • The number of employees generated, both directly and indirectly, by the project should be estimated. ▪ If the project falls within a redevelopment project area, an estimate should be given for numbers of low/medium housing units which will be constructed with redevelopment monies set aside for this purpose. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the draft EIR. Sincerely, (f) k" ' David B. MacEwan Director Facilities Planning & Development DBM: im cc: Luke Christe, Terra Nova Planning & Research • CH Y 0( k 11'1°:1 Ir1II 1 GE March 18, 1991 1_ 1 Mr. Phillip Drell Senior Planner City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 Re: Pacific Golf Resorts Dear Mr. Drell: Thank you for allowing us to comment on the EIR. Our comments are limited to traffic impacts that affect Rancho Mirage through additional traffic loads on Monterey Avenue. The additional traffic will cause a need for dual left turn lanes on Monterey Avenue. The need for the dual left turn lanes would be greatly reduced if the Cook Street interchange to Interstate 10 were constructed before the hotel is occupied. May we recommend a mitigation measure be made a Condition that requires the construction of the Interstate 10/Cook Street in- terchange prior to occupancy of the hotel or before the project is 50% built out. If this project will not construct the inter- change, then significant impacts will occur at Frank Sinatra Drive/Monterey Avenue. Overriding considerations should not be considered when a viable mitigation measure like constructing the interchange is available. An alternative "mitigation measure" could be delayed construction of the project until in- stallation of the circulation infrastructure can adequately match the pace of development. A less desirable but nevertheless helpful interim measure would be for the developer to work with us in obtaining right-of-way and provide for the construction of an additional left turn lane southbound on Monterey Avenue at Frank Sinatra Drive. This would be much more helpful in mitigating traffic impacts of the project than dual northbound left turn lanes recommended in the EIR. Please forward to us a copy of the Final EIR when it becomes available. Sincerely, /1 -067=4ek Randal K. By er Associate Planner :cep\D\PLANNING\MISC\3-18-L1 69-825 HIGHWAY ill / PAI it I If r.11ft ,(11- CA (1-270-2898 /(r 19) 324-451 1 / FAX (619) 324-8830 9FAH801SfRViCF fOUTHERII CRUFOR01R AJIOCIRTIOR OF GOVERRR1ERTf 818 West Seventh Street,l2th Floor • Los Angeles, California 90017-3435 ❑ (213) 236-1800 • FAX(213)236-1825 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Interim President March 18, 1991 Representative,Ventura County John Flynn,Supervisor Second Vice President Rep,City of Los Angeles Robert h arrel 1,Caurtrihnemher Past President Mr. Phillip Drell Rep.,Cities of Los Angeles County City of Palm Desert Christine E.Reed,Counrilntcmher Santa Monica 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 Past President Mike osonvic ,Su County err RE: Draft EIR, Pacific Golf Resorts, Tentative Tract #26562 Mike Antonovich,Supervisor Imperial County SCAG # RI-54633-EDR Abe Seabolt,Supervisor Los Angeles County Deane Dana,Supervisor Orange County Dear Mr. Drell : Harriett Wie er,Supervi.sor Ri County Melba Dunlap, Thank you for submitting the Draft EIR for Pacific Golf Resorts to Melba Uunlap,.Superrisnr San Bemardino County SCAG for review and comment. As areawide clearinghouse for Jon Mikels,Supervisor regionally $1 significant f l c d n t cities orlmperi:dcounty 9 projects, SCAG assists cities, counties and Stella Mendoza,Masor other agencies to review projects and plans for consistency with the Brawley Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RIINA) , the Regional Mobility Cities of Orange County (RMP) , Growth Management (GMP) , and Air Quality Management (AQMP) Irwin Fried,Coun ilmenrher YorbaLinda Plans, all of which are included in the State Implementation Plan Cities of Riverside County (SIP) . Jack Clarke,Counrilnterrrher Riverside Cities of San Bernardino County The attached comments are meant to provide guidance for completing John ongcille,Mgsrrr Rialto the proposed project within the context of our regional goals and Rialto Cities of Ventura County plans, which are based in part upon state and federal mandates. John Melton,Counrilnn•mber While neither the project sponsor nor the lead agency is required to Santa Paula City of Los Angeles undertake the specific actions recommended by SCAG or other agencies Tom Bradley,Mayor through the Inter-Governmental Review Process, there are requirements Gloria Molina,Caunrilmemher in state and federal laws for consistency with regional goals and City of Long Beach plans. Clarence Smith,Counrilmemher POLICY CHAIRS If you have any questions about the attached comments, please Judy ber Claremont,Chair.CorTransportation contact Jim Birckhead, (213) 236-1915, or Paul Hatanaka, and Communications (213) 236-1809. They will be happy to work with you to address the Robert Gentry,Councilniemher comments presented herein and, if necessary, develop a mitigation Laguna Beach,Chair.Energy and Environment plan which meets regional , state and federal requirements. Robert Wagner,Vice Mayor Lakewood,Chair.Community, Economic,and Human Development Sincerely, AT-LARGE DELEGATES j' Robert Bartlett,Mayor (,)t/ /111/ _d C' `- Monrovia Vicky Howard,Couneilntemher A N N E BAKER Simi Valley Director of Environmental Planning Ruthelyn Plummer,Mayor Newport Beach ALTERNATES Imperial County o Jeanne Vogel,Supervisor• Los Angeles County o Ed Edelman,Supervisor and Pete Schaharum,.Stprerrisnr • Orange County o Gaddi Vasquez,Supervisor • Riv- erside County o (Vacant) • San Bernardino County o Larry Walker,Supervisor• Ventura(',,arty o James Dougherty,.Svc',no, • Cities of Imperial County o Victor Sanchez,Jr., Mayor.Westmorland • Cities of Los Angeles County o John Crossley,City DO error,Pasadena . Cities of(hant'c•County a John Kanel,Mayor,Cypress• Cities of Riverside County o Richard Deininger,Jr.,Councihnernher.Corona• Cities of San Bernardino County o Larry Rhinehart.Mang.Montclair • Cities at Ventura County a Vicky Howard,Couneilmember, Simi Valley• City of Los Angeles o Richard Alatorre,('nunnhne,nl,e, o Jay I'icus,(.,wn,rArremhrr a Michael 1%ou,('aura i/rruemhcr • Long Beach 2nd position o Jeffrey Kellogg, Counrilrnenther• At Large o Judy Wright,C'num ibnenher,Claremont o Judy N'ieburger, rbm•nrher,Marcum Valley o ,John Erskine,Colt rrrilme,nher,Huntington Beach i M3Fx,.n.ti Mr. Phillip Drell March 18, 1991 Page 2 SCAG Comments on Draft EIR for Pacific Golf Resorts GROWTH MANAGEMENT Description: The proposed project includes a 225 suite hotel complex and restaurant facility, an 18-hole championship golf course with clubhouse facilities, and approximately 687 dwelling units on a 420 acre site. Findings: The project will create 687 net new housing units and a 225 suite hotel complex which should create approximately 203 net new jobs and is therefore consistent with the GMP. TECHNICAL NOTE: The Regional Growth Management Plan' s Trend Projections for the Riverside Desert Subregion indicate an increase of 88,900 jobs and 142,400 dwelling units from 1984 to 2010. This is a ratio of .62 jobs per housing unit. The policy forecasts for the subregion, which incorporate the jobs/housing balance policy, increase the proportion of jobs to housing, resulting in a ratio of .77 jobs per housing unit. This ratio is considered the jobs/housing balance performance goal for the Riverside Desert Subregion. The Pacific Golf Resorts project would create an additional 687 housing units. The number of jobs associated with this number of dwelling units using the Trend Projection ratio for the Riverside Desert Subregion is: 687 * .62 = 426 Under the jobs/housing balance forecast ratio, the number of jobs is: 687 * .77 = 529 The appropriate number of added jobs associated with the jobs/housing balance . J / g policy for the project is the difference between the adopted GMP Forecast, p which includes the implementation of the jobs/housing balance policy, and the jobs production under the Trend Projection. This is 529 - 426 = 103 jobs which should be associated with the project to reflect the regional jobs/housing balance policy. The project should create 203 jobs and therefore exceeds the requirement for consistency with the GMP. Jr rou n c.uroani■ nnoc,mon a wurnnwrw 818 W.Seventh Strert,121I, r Ire^r n I.os Alin^I , r,A nf)nt 7 ' , 11 (2t;e)23G-1800 • FAX(213)236-1825 Mr. Phillip Drell March 18, 1991 Page 3 SIP CONFORMITY A project is found to be in conformance with the State Implementation Plan (SIP) when it has satisfied the following three criteria: 1. It improves the subregion' s jobs/housing balance performance ratio. 2. It reduces vehicle trips and vehicle miles traveled to the maximum extent feasible by implementing transportation demand management strategies. 3. Its environmental document includes an air quality analysis which demonstrates that the project will not have a significant negative impact on air quality in the long term. Findings: As described in the draft EIR, the Pacific Golf Resorts does conform to the SIP at this time. 10011 818 W.Seventh Street,l2th Floor • Los Angl'l-s,CA 9001 '1135 ❑ (213)236-1800 • FAX(213)236.1825 RECEIVED MAR 2 9 1991 M C C U L L O C H 8C WITT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CITY OF PALM DESERT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS ROBERT L. McCULLOCH, C.P.A. SUITE 4 PROFESSIONAL PLAZA WEST P. O. BOX 2050 WESLEY A. WITT, C.P.A. 2145 EAST TAHOUITZ - McCALLUM WAY /4 PALM SPRINGS, CA 92263-2050 MICHAEL R. McCULLOCH, C.P.A. PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 92262-7070 TELEPHONE ERIC W. MARTIN, C.P.A. 619/327-1417 March 27, 1991 FAX 619/322-6343 City of Palm Desert Palm Desert Planning Commission 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, California 92260 Re: Case Nos. PP 90-27 C/Z 90-14, TT 26562 Pacific Golf Resorts Dear Commission: As a property owner on Portola Avenue (Portola Properties) and as a trustee for the nearby Hadley Trust properties, I endorse the project enthusiastically. Very truly yours, /A)j-v 1,471 Certified Public Accountant WAW:bf REVISED TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY FOR TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 26562 PACIFIC GOLF RESORTS APRIL 9, 1991 Prepared for City of Palm Desert Public Works Department 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 Prepared by Circulation Systems Associates P.O. Box 10783 Santa Ana, CA 92711 1. PACIFIC GOLF RESORTS TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY INTRODUCTION Background This revised traffic impact study incorporates the responses to 35 comments received from Mr. Sayed Safavian, an Associate Traffic Engineer with the City of Palm Desert. The intent of this revised study is to document the study process, to document existing traffic conditions in the vicinity of the planned Pacific Golf Resorts mixed-use development, to document forecast traffic conditions at year 1995 build out of this development, and to forecast cumulative year 2010 traffic conditions. The Study objectives are 1) to evaluate traffic conditions at seven existing intersections and one future intersection during worse case conditions, 2) to identify existing and cumulatively needed traffic improvements to attain or maintain levels of service (LOS) not worse than LOS C, and 3) to estimate equitable improvement cost percentage participation by the Pacific Golf Resorts development. Methodology Consistent with the Transportation Project Priority Program, prepared for the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) in April 1990, this Study uses the Intersection Capacity Utilization (ICU) method. As indicated in the CVAG report, the ICU method is commonly applied to traffic analyses throughout Southern California, and has been used in traffic impact analyses in the Coachella Valley. The ICU method is used to calculate volume to capacity ratios for each lane group at the respective intersection approaches, and to determine the percentage of intersection capacity used by the critical conflicting movements during the peak hour. This approach is entirely compatible with the direction received from the City of Palm Desert's Associate Traffic Engineer in a letter dated October 29, 1990 (i.e. , comment 1.b) . The use of ICU methodology was subsequently confirmed in a telephone conversation. In that conversation it was agreed that a more conservative and uniform value of 1, 700 vehicles per hour per lane (vphpl) would be used rather than the 1, 800 vphpl used for through lanes in the CVAG report, and that a more conservative 10 percent loss of capacity due to the clearance interval would be used rather than the five percent used in the CVAG report. It is emphasized that the ICU methodology implicitly assumes signal installation, and that signal phasing and timing will be optimized. This approach is judged as superior to the 1985 Highway Capacity Manual delay-based capacity planning analysis. That planning Y P Y analysis does not indicate a level of service; rather, one of three results are possible. -1- . Figure A Vicinity Map ers?$4e IO Gerald Ford Drive ; 1 , x 0 Subject Sinatra Drive a \ Frank a) 0 > ) a cQ s. as .-- a) 0 Ca o U W Country Club Drive Circulation Systems Associates P.O. Box 10783 No Scale -3- Santa Ana, CA. 92711 Forecast Year 2010 Traffic Impacts and Mitigation Measures With the addition of traffic forecast for the four related projects identified for study by the City plus a conservatively high esti- mate of cumulative traffic, improvement projects are forecast to be needed at six of the eight locations studied. These are priority listed below in terms of improvement phasing, together with indication of the equitable percentage participation by the Pacific Golf Resorts. Equitable participation is based on project assigned traffic as a percent of the cumulatively added peak hour traffic. 1. Cook Street/Country Club Drive: As a condition of approval for Pacific Golf Resorts and other area development, gain a third eastbound through lane. Additional improvements that may be necessary for year 2010 include Country Club Drive widening for a second left turn pocket from westbound to southbound, fourth eastbound through lane, third and fourth westbound through lanes; widen Cook Street for third and fourth northbound through lanes. An alternative improvement may involve grade separation of this intersection by the year 2010. The Pacific Golf Resorts equitable participation for improvements at this intersection is estimated at 3 . 5 percent. 2 . Pacific Golf Resorts main access/Frank Sinatra Drive: As a condition of approval for the Pacific Golf Resorts and other area development, provide main access driveway with three outbound and two inbound lanes (project responsibility) , one eastbound left turn pocket (project responsibility) , a third eastbound through lane, and a third westbound through lane. These added through lanes are not forecast to be needed for the existing plus background plus project forecast, but are needed with the addition of related projects traffic. The third through lanes on Frank Sinatra Drive may be provided for about 400-foot distances on each side of the main access intersection, with tapers back to existing curbs. It is also recommended that the project be conditioned to participate with related projects to construct a warranted traffic signal at the main access/Frank Sinatra Drive, and to modify the existing raised median island along Frank Sinatra Drive between Portola Avenue and Cook Street. This raised median modification should provide for a 300-foot long eastbound left turn pocket into the main project access, and a 60-foot long eastbound left turn pocket into the hotel access.The Pacific Golf Resorts equitable participation is estimated at 17 . 9 percent. -5- We concur with the recommendation in the Traffic Impact Analysis Report prepared for Project Area Number 3 by DKS Associates, that a traffic model be conducted to more accurately forecast the new distribution due to the new interchange. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT The Pacific Golf Resort, as noted in the Summary, is proposed for development on 419 . 5 acres bounded by Portola Avenue on the west, Cook Street on the east and Frank Sinatra Drive on the south. The development plan is for an 18-hole championship public golf course integrated with 397 single family homes, 162 attached duplexes, 128 attached villas, and a 225 room suite hotel. For the purpose of this traffic study, the project was estimated to be completed in 1995 . Trip generation factors applied in this Study were extracted from the Institute of Transportation Engineer ' s (ITE) Trip Generation Handbook, Fourth Edition. Project trip generation forecasts are presented in Table 1 for average daily, A.M. peak hour of adjacent street traffic, and P.M. peak hour of adjacent street traffic. Table 1 Pacific Golf Resorts Trip Generation Rates ITE Land Use Average Daily A.M. Peak Hour P.M. Peak Hour Golf per acre 8 . 33 0 . 266 0 . 386 (#430; p. 643) Single Family 10 . 062 0 . 754 1. 005 (#210; p. 257) Duplexes/Apts. 6 . 103 0. 532 0. 673 (#220 ; p. 294) Villas/Condos 5 . 86 0 . 446 0 . 561 (#230; p. 348) Hotel Suite 8 . 7 0. 502 0 . 432 (#311; p. 487 Project Trips Generated Land Use Average Daily A.M. Peak Hour P.M. Peak Hour 18 Hole Golf 1, 615 52 76 397 SFD 4 , 010 298 397 162 Duplexes 988 86 110 128 Villas 750 58 73 225 Hotel Ste. 1, 958 112 97 Totals: 9 , 321 606 753 -7- Table 2 ADT Information Arterial Segment 1984 ADT 1990 ADT 2010 ADT Annual % Country Monterey 12 , 000 N/A Club Dr. to Portola 18 , 100 + 1.95 Country Portola to 10, 200 25, 610 +25. 17 Club Dr. Cook 10, 500 + 0. 11 Country @ Cook 8 , 800 24 , 230 +29 . 20 Club Dr. 27 , 200 + 8 . 04 Portola @ Frank 5, 100 2 , 510 - 8 . 46 Avenue Sinatra 13 , 500 + 6. 33 Cook @ Frank 4, 200 11, 040 +27 . 14 Street Sinatra 7 , 500 + 3 . 02 Source: Coachella Valley Area Transportation Study, March 1987 . The City of Palm Desert' s Associate Traffic Engineer, in a letter dated February 22, 1991, requested that the source of data shown on Table 2 for 1984 counts be identified. As previously discussed with the Associate Traffic Engineer, the source of this data was the Coachella Valley Area Transportation Study (CVATS) . The source exhibit is included in Appendix B to document that the study did show the subject locations. Also included in Appendix B is the Year 2010 projected peak hour volumes forecast in CVATS. The Project Manager for that study is no longer with the Southern California Association of Governments, and the specifics of traffic decreases on Country Club Drive and Cook Street between 1990 and 2010 are not certain. Table 3 presents a summary of intersection V/C ratios and LOS for existing peak hour, with the addition of Pacific Golf Resort forecast traffic, with the addition of related projects traffic (detailed in Table 4) , and with the addition of cumulative traffic and mitigations. PROJECT TRAFFIC IMPACT AND MITIGATION Project Impacts The Pacific Golf Resort project traffic impact was forecast based on trip distribution patterns confirmed with the City of Palm Desert' s Associate Traffic Engineer. This entailed 29 percent to/from the north; 16 percent to/from the east; 30 percent to/from the south; and 25 percent to/from the west. The P.M. peak hour project traffic assignment is illustrated in Figure B. At the specific direction of the City of Palm Desert' s Associate Traffic Engineer, the Pacific Golf Resort' s Portola Avenue access was assigned a 15 percent utilization. -9- In response to the subsequentwritten request from the same City of Palm Desert Associate Traffic Engineer to explain the basis for 15 percent utilization of the Portola Avenue access, it is noted that the earlier specific direction given by the City of Palm Desert's Associate Traffic Engineer is the basis for the assignment. Table 3 Intersection Service Levels Summary apvp Intersection Existing 1995 Plus Plus Cum- With V/C/ Back- Project Related ula- Mit. LOS ground Projects tive El Dorado/ 0.46 0. 52 0. 55 0. 67 0.92 0. 80 Country Club A A A B E C Cook Street/ 0. 74 0. 85 0. 87 0. 93 1. 38 0.74 Country Club C D D E F C Portola/ 0. 54 0. 62 0. 65 0.71 1. 03 0.75 Country Club A B B C F C Cook Street/ 0. 35 0. 39 0.43 0. 55 0.73 N/A Frk Sinatra A A A A C Main Access/ N/A N/A 0. 61 0. 95 1. 07 0.77 Frk Sinatra B E F C Portola/ 0. 26 0. 28 0. 32 0.40 0. 51 N/A Gerald Ford A A A A A Portola/ 0.43 0. 48 0. 56 0.73 0.94 0.78 Frk Sinatra A A A C E C Monterey/ 0. 61 0.70 0.73 0. 92 1.27 0. 78 Frk Sinatra B B C E F C Project Mitigations As seen in Table 3 , project mitigation may involve equitable participation in cumulatively needed improvement projects at six of the eight intersections studied. These are priority listed below, together with indication of the equitable percentage participation by the Pacific Golf Resorts. Equitable participation is based on project assigned traffic as a percent of the cumulatively added peak hour traffic. The basis of these calculations was data from the ICU calculation sheets included in Appendix A. 1. Cook Street/Country Club Drive: As a condition of approval for Pacific Golf Resorts and other area development, gain a third eastbound through lane. -11- I 132' . I • . r, r 3 14' 12' 12' 14.' I j,, A -- -- --- 1 11 12 , ' r� .. . 6° ..... 1 1 1 2' 1 3 l ,j 13' 1 1 2' 1 1' CROSS SECTION I I1 1 I � I 1 ro ¢ ' I I 1 Lu J O i I I m -, I L� • I pi I �i '1 1 I - CROSS --�` � — 1 - F. ' 51 ---- -- ) -. . STREET 1 . 1 ---. e I cl I I lg I U I w m I i ► •r .1 i 1 I I I 1 • , I PLAN VIEW I Figure c TYPICAL FLYOVER 11 13_ • At the request of Caltrans, project ADT impacts were forecast for I-10. Based on 20 percent of project traffic assigned to/from the northwest on I-10, the project would add 1, 864 ADT to I-10 at Monterey Avenue. During the P.M. peak hour 145 trips would be added, of which 85 would be inbound and 60 would be outbound. Thus the project will add little more than one vehicle per minute in each direction during the peak hour. Although this is of no impact, the Monterey Avenue interchange existing deficiency will be addressed through project participation in the Cook Street project. RELATED PROJECTS TRAFFIC IMPACT AND MITIGATION Build out of four related projects was included in the forecast of traffic conditions for 1995, the estimated year of completion for the Pacific Golf Resort. The related projects, obtained from the City of Palm Desert' s Associate Traffic Engineer, were distributed via the same percentages directed by the Associate Traffic Engineer for use for the project. Trip generation for these projects is shown in Table 4 . The resulting traffic assignments are illustrated in Figure D for the 327, 900 square feet of retail approved in the vicinity of the Monterey Avenue/I-10 interchange; in Figure E for the Baron Development; in Figure F for the Roberts Development; and in Figure G for the Temple Development. Table 4 Related Projects Trip Generation Rates ITE Land Use Average Daily P.M. Peak Hour Discount Retail 71. 16 6. 109 (#815; p. 1087) Single Family 10. 062 1. 005 (#210; p. 257) Condominiums 5. 86 0. 561 (#230; p. 348) Mobile Homes 4 .81 0. 559 (#240; p. 390) Related Projects Trips Generated Developer Land Use P.M. Peak Hour Trips Price Club, Home 327, 900 square feet 2 , 000 Club, Other retail discount retail Baron' s (#60) 277 Single Family 278 Roberts (#32) 723 Mobile Homes 405 Temple (#29) 89 Single Family 89 Temple Cont. 1, 187 Condominiums 666 Totals: 3 , 438 -15- • Figure E PM Peak Traffic Assignments for Barons Development Frank Sinatra Drive Access Monterey Avenue/Frank Sinatra Drive Frank Sinatra Drive/Portola Avenue Frank Sinatra Drive/Cook Street i 1 26 1 j I [51 _J+ + 15 4 5 Al__ 44_ --426 70 =,- _;�4--41 8 4--14 lirr 1 1 D 53 75421 I [14r Portola Avenue/Country Club Drive El Dorado Drive/Country Club Drive Portola Avenue/Gerald Ford Drive 15 8 14 —, 4.— __> 4— 14 =-1, 15 53 r iir ---1 Country Club Drive/Cook Street Baron's Acce an Sinatra Drive 16 41/ [>_5 4, 14 53+95 —+ -52+28 —D 4 7 r 1 r71 32 175 In 5 103 Out CIRCULATION SYSTEMS ASSOCIATES P. O. BOX 10783 -1 - SANTA ANA, CA 92711 ..........-- Figure G PM Peak Traffic Assignments , for Temple Development at Frank Sinatra Drive Access Monterey Avenue/Frank Sinatra Drive Frank Sinatra Drive/Portola Avenue Frank Sinatra Drive/Cook Street JilL I lid 111 5 4._ —___4 Q, 73 t___ 125 -D .4--64 271—y 64 5o —;. 4--26+137 --V *-- 64 --if t-25 [5r Portola Avenue/Country Club Drive El Dorado Drive/Country Club Drive Portola Avenue/Gerald Ford Drive 25 26 /R. j I 25 ‘—.".'.."'n 73 50 40 Country Club Drive/Cook Street Temple's Access/Frank Sinatra Drive 25 1 JIL ______,,. _____,› , _____,. ,__ __, „..._ ___> 4_ _____+ ,_____ 7111F 71IrF 502 In 253 Out CIRCULATION SYSTEMS ASSOCIATES P. O. BOX 10783 -19- SANTA ANA, CA 92711 APPENDIX A INTERSECTION CAPACITY UTILIZATION / 3 COOK STREET/COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE (Count source: DKS February 7, 1991 report) 1995 RELATED EXISTING BACKGROUND PROJECT PROJECT(S) CUMULATIVE TOTAL LANES CAPACITY VOLUME V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL CUMULATIVE V/C CRITICAL MITIGATIONS NL 1 1,700 82 0.05 14 0.06 0 0.06 0 0.06 57 0.09 154 0.09 NT 2 3,400 830 0.24 0.24 145 0.29 0.29 67 0.31 0.31 137 0.35 0.35 581 0.52 0.52 1760 0.26 0.26 3RD + 4TH THRU NR 1 1,700 65 0.04 11 0.04 0 0.04 0 0.04 46 0.07 122 0.07 SL 1 1,700 120 0.07 0.07 21 0.08 0.08 0 0.08 0.08 8 0.09 0.09 84 0.14 0.14 233 0.07 0.07 2ND LEFT ST 2 3,400 210 0.07 37 0.08 38 0.09 61 0.11 147 0.16 493 0.16 SR 0 0 31 0.00 5 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 22 0.00 58 0.00 EL 1 1,700 65 0.04 11 0.04 0 0.04 0 0.04 46 0.07 122 0.07 ET 2 3,400 881 0.26 0.26 154 0.30 0.30 7 0.31 0.31 48 0.32 0.32 617 0.50 0.50 1707 0.25 0.25 3RD + 4TH THRU ER 1 1,700 213 0.13 37 0.15 0 0.15 0 0.15 149 0.23 399 0.23 WL 1 1,700 110 0.06 0.06 19 0.08 0.08 0 0.08 0.08 0 0.08 0.08 77 0.12 0.12 206 0.06 0.06 2ND LEFT IIT 2 3,400 743 0.22 130 0.26 10 0.26 52 0.28 520 0.43 1455 0.29 3RD THRU WR 1 1,700 70 0.04 12 0.05 0 0.05 14 0.06 49 0.09 145 0.09 LOSS TIME: 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 V/C RATIO: 0.74 0.85 0.87 0.93 1.38 0.74 LOS: C D D E F C ,,,I.\ . ' 7 MONTEREY AVENUE/FRANK SINATRA DRIVE (Count source: Inland Traffic Counts, March 5, 1991) 1995 RELATED EXISTING BACKGROUND PROJECT PROJECT(S) CUMULATIVE TOTAL LANES CAPACITY VOLUME V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL CUMULATIVE V/C CRITICAL MITIGATIONS NL 1 1,700 207 0.12 0.12 36 0.14 0.14 0 0.14 0.14 0 0.14 0.14 145 0.23 0.23 388 0.11 0.11 2ND LEFT NT 2 3,400 485 0.14 85 0.17 0 0.17 364 0.27 340 0.37 1273 0.37 NR 1 1,700 54 0.03 9 0.04 0 0.04 0 0.04 38 0.06 101 0.06 SL 2 3,400 60 0.02 11 0.02 116 0.05 282 0.14 42 0.15 511 0.15 ST 2 3,400 572 0.21 0.21 100 0.25 0.25 0 0.25 0.25 336 0.36 0.36 400 0.50 0.50 1409 0.28 0.28 3RD THRU SR 0 0 138 0.00 24 0.00 0 0.00 48 0.00 97 0.00 307 0.18 RIGHT TURN LANE EL 1 1,700 64 0.04 11 0.04 0 0.04 52 0.07 45 0.10 172 0.05 2ND LEFT ET 2 3,400 259 0.13 0.13 45 0.15 0.15 117 0.18 0.18 232 0.25 0.25 181 0.34 0.34 835 0.25 0.25 ER 0 0 175 0.00 31 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 123 0.00 328 0.19 RIGHT TURN LANE WL 1 1,700 89 0.05 0.05 16 0.06 0.06 0 0.06 0.06 0 0.06 0.06 62 0.10 0.10 167 0.05 0.05 2ND LEFT WT 2 3,400 355 0.12 62 0.15 89 0.19 128 0.25 249 0.33 883 0.26 WR 0 0 65 0.00 11 0.00 66 0.00 67 0.00 46 0.00 255 0.15 RIGHT TURN LANE LOSS TIME: 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 V/C RATIO: 0.61 0.70 0.73 0.92 1.27 0.78 LOS: B B C E F C A MAIN ACCESS/FRANK SINATRA DRIVE 1995 RELATED EXISTING BACKGROUND PROJECT PROJECT(S) CUMULATIVE TOTAL LANES CAPACITY VOLUME V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL CUMULATIVE V/C CRITICAL MITIGATIONS NL 1 1,700 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 71 0.04 0.04 0 0.04 0.04 71 0.04 0.04 NT 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 NR 1 1,700 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 32 0.02 0 0.02 32 0.02 SL 1 1,700 0 0.00 0 0.00 79 0.05 79 0.09 0 0.09 158 0.09 ST 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.10 SHARED LANE SR 1 1,700 0 0.00 0 0.00 175 0.10 0.10 175 0.21 0.21 0 0.21 0.21 350 0.10 0.10 EL 1 1,700 0 0.00 0 0.00 248 0.15 0.15 248 0.29 0.29 0 0.29 0.29 496 0.15 0.15 2ND LEFT ET 2 3,400 283 0.08 50 0.10 30 0.11 922 0.42 198 0.48 1483 0.32 3RD THRU ER 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 148 0.00 0 0.00 148 0.00 WL 1 1,700 0 0.00 0 0.00 9 0.01 89 0.06 0 0.06 98 0.06 WT 2 3,400 608 0.18 0.18 106 0.21 0.21 46 0.26 0.26 537 0.45 0.45 426 0.57 0.57 1723 0.38 0.38 3RD THRU WR 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 111 0.00 111 0.00 0 0.00 222 0.00 LOSS TIME: 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 V/C RATIO: 0.28 0.31 0.61 1.09 1.21 0.77 LOS: A A B F F C 1 PORTOLA AVENUE/GERALD FORD DRIVE (Count source: Inland Traffic Counts, March 7, 1991) 1995 RELATED EXISTING BACKGROUND PROJECT PROJECT(S) CUMULATIVE TOTAL LANES CAPACITY VOLUME V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL ADDED V/C CRITICAL CUMULATIVE V/C CRITICAL NL 2 3,400 250 0.07 0.07 44 0.09 0.09 75 0.11 0.11 185 0.16 0.16 175 0.21 0.21 729 0.21 0.21 NT 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 NR 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 SL 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 ST 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 SR 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 EL 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 ET 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 ER 2 3,400 280 0.08 0.08 49 0.10 0.10 53 0.11 0.11 73 0.13 0.13 196 0.19 0.19 651 0.19 0.19 WL 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 WT 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 WR 0 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 LOSS TIME: 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 V/C RATIO: 0.26 0.28 0.32 0.40 0.51 0.51 LOS: A A A A A A f f Figure 2-2 `q 1984 Highway System Usage .. (In Average Daily Traffic Volumes During the Peak Months of 1984) Art- r_ • ....,..: T 41)jo,Wil iii,. O.S Va.But. .Ia..0 N a F < ' ��1 AP w e.-te j ...anew O I. I/ im JNg lwn 1 1.7 +7 1.9 r. V w<y.n0.a / i" _. F 7 .. .t Sli IIkY r. o 4 Pena. l EV t l '�\r/ Va1MW Bee New ; r IIJ y5 •,. I `". N W a �� J4 ' O OM* ae. Tr" ,�Y 74. VI' • e PIM I N _ .. a 1 ,5 nM a w" • cr. rF: • o AM offs R�[�7 c-a „Nilsandim �� • N 00.0:Average Daily Traffic - �:� 2-Way Volume During the .�� 4 Peak Months of 1984 (In Thousands) 4 APPENDIX C TRAFFIC SIGNAL WARRANT FRANK SINATRA DRIVE/MAIN ACCESS RESPONSE TO COMMENTS ON DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE PACIFIC GOLF RESORTS Tentative Tract No.26562 State Clearinghouse No.90021029 AGENCY COMMENTS/RESPONSE TO COMMENTS The Response to Comments on the Draft EIR for the Pacific Golf Resorts Tentative Tract No. 26562 has been prepared in accordance with Sections 15088, 15089 and 15132 of the State CEQA Guidelines. The following agencies and public interest groups have commented on the Draft EIR. Please note that Section I contains agency comments and subsequent responses. Section II contains the full text of commenting agency correspondence. These responses to comments, together with the Draft EIR document, constitute the Final EIR as required by CEQA. SECTION I AGENCIES PAGE A. California Department of Transportation, District 11 4 B. South Coast Air Quality Management District 5 C. Coachella Valley Water District 11 D. Sunline Transit (2/20/91 & 3/27/91 Comments) 14 E. Riverside County Sheriffs Department 15 F. City of Rancho Mirage 16 SECTION II A. California Department of Transportation, District 11 18 B. South Coast Air Quality management District 19 C. Coachella Valley Water District 23 D. Sunline Transit (2/20/91 & 3/27/91 Comments) 26 E. Riverside County Sheriffs Department 28 F. City of Rancho Mirage 29 G. Palmer CableVision 30 H. Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) 31 I. California Office of Planning & Research/State Clearinghouse 34 2 SECTION I RESPONSE TO COMMENTS A. Introduction The following comments were received concerning the adequacy of the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Pacific Golf Resorts Project. Some comments related to potential impacts resulting from the proposed project's development. Responses have been prepared to address concerns raised in these comments. Comments are quoted verbatim from the agency correspondence. Each is followed by a response and any additional technical information which may have been necessary to clarify issues or to augment information provided in the Draft EIR. 3 A. STATE OF CALIFORNIA.TRANSPORTATION DEPT.DIST. 11 1. Comment: The construction of the proposed development needs to be timed with local street and interchange improvement project. This will help to insure that adequate transportation facilities are operational at the time the proposed development is completed. 1. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. 2. Comment: A Project Study Report (PSR) for the construction of a new interchange on I-10 at the proposed extension of Cook Street in the City of Palm Desert is currently in progress. The City has identified a need for this interchange to accommodate development and to relieve traffic congestion at the adjacent interchanges at Monterey Avenue and Washington Street. The proposed interchange at Cook Street will be 100%funded by the City. 2. Response: Comment noted and information hereby incorporated into the EIR. 3. Comment: Two separate feasibility studies for improvements to the existing interchanges on I-10 at Monterey Avenue and Washington Street have been requested by the County of Riverside. A PSR is currently underway for Monterey Avenue and the County is preparing the necessary technical data that will initiate studies for Washington Street. The interchange improvements will be 100%funded by the County. 3. Response: Comment noted and information hereby incorporated into the EIR. 4. Comment: We recommend that the land development decisions for Pacific Golf Estates be coordinated with the aforementioned feasibility studies. Our contact person is Mike McManus, Project Manager, Local Funded Projects,(619)688-3392. 4. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. 4 B. SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT 1. Comment: The Draft EIR does not analyse emissions caused by the construction equipment, vehicles used by construction personnel, and other construction-related activities such as lane closures, detours, etc. The Final EIR should analyze emissions from all sources and propose measures to mitigate short-term construction impacts. 1. Response: Methodologies modelling direct and indirect emissions related to the operation of construction equipment over the life of the construction phase of the project provide only gross indications of the emissions potential from this source. Furthermore, the phasing efficiencies of site development will be effected by numerous uncontrollable factors. Fugitive dust potential associated with development of the site was assessed in the Draft EIR and will be the most significant construction-related impact to air quality. At the request of District staff, a methodology utilizing the construction equipment emissions tables in the SCAQMD Air Quality Handbookl has been used to provide some measure of the level of impacts that may be expected from construction equipment emissions. 1 Mr Quality Handbook For Preparing Environmental Impact Reports ,South Coast Air Qimlity Management District.Revised April 1987. 5 CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE ENIISSIONS DIESEL-POWERED CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT POLLUTANTS in lbs/8hr. day Type of Equipment Carbon Exhaust Nitrogen Sulfur Parti- Monoxide Hydro- Oxides Oxides culates carbons Tracktype Tractor 3.78 1.29 13.6 1.51 1.18 Whelled Tractor 38.65 2.02 13.71 0.97 1.45 Whelled Dozer - - - - - - 3.76 1.78 Scraper 13.52 3.05 40.72 4.99 4.38 Motor Grader 1.63 0.42 0.58 0.93 0.66 Wheeled Loader 6.18 2.7 20.43 1.971 1.84 Tracktype Loader 2.17 1.06 8.9 0.82 0.63 Off-Highway Truck 19.45 2.06 44.98 4.9 2.76 Roller 3.28 0.79 9.3 0.72 0.054 Miscellaneous 7.29 1.65 18.27 1.53 1.5 CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE ENIISSIONS GASOLINE-POWERED CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT POLLUTANTS in lbs/8hr. day Type of Equipment Carbon Exhaust Evapo Crank Nitrogen Sulfur Part Mono Hydro rative Case Oxides Dioxides icu xide carbons Hydro Hydro- lates carbons carbons Whelled Tractor 102.87 3.9 0.74 0.78 4.64 0.16 0.25 Motor Grader 130.73 4.42 0.71 0.88 3.45 0.17 0.22 Wheeled Loader 168.12 5.73 0.72 1.14 5.6 0.25 0.32 Roller 144.78 6.6 0.67 1.32 0.2 0.2 0.28 Miscellaneous 183.84 6.04 0.6 1.2 0.25 0.25 0.28 Source:"Air Quality Hanbook for EIRs", Appen.K.South Coast Air Quality Managment District,Revised Apri11987. 6. 2. Comment: EMFAC7C was used in the Draft EIR for calculating vehicle emissions. EMFAC7D, which was available at the time of the preparation of the DEIR, or EMFAC7E, which may be presently available, should be used in the Final EIR to calculate the emissions. 2. Response: In its response to the Notice of Preparation on the subject EIR,no referenced was made nor materials provided by the SCAQMD on the above referenced alternative methodologies. Consultations with SCAQMD staff 2 indicate that the above referenced methodologies (EMFAC7D & EMFAC7E) have been provided by the California Air Resources Board in a "raw" form, and are still being appropriately modified for use in the AQMD handbook. District staff also indicated that the results of the EMFAC7C methodology are generally considered more conservative than the forthcoming methodologies mentioned in the District's comments and that the methodology and analysis included in the Draft EIR is acceptable. 3. Comment: The Draft EIR recommends Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs as effective measures to mitigate the impacts of additional traffic generated by the project. The DEIR recommends Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) as a mitigation measure; however, no specific information regarding the method of funding is provided. The Final EIR should analyze the TMAs in detail, discussion how and when the TMAs will be formed. District staff recommends that TMAs should be operational at the beginning of the project. 3. Response: Comment noted. The establishment of a Transportation Management Association (TMA) should be required of the developer for the country club or hotel facilities, to the extent that employment generation requires that a TMA be formed. Efforts are underway to coordinate the establishment of car pooling and other alternative travel modes to reduce traffic congestion. 4. Comment: The potential for transit improvements such as planned improvements to transit services, and plans to incorporate car-pools and van-pools at the beginning of the project should also be considered. Implementing a trip reduction plan at the inception of the project would help reduce vehicular emissions. These measures should be included in the Final EIR. 4. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the Final EIR. Mitigation measures set forth in Section III-G of the Draft EIR provide for transit services and facilities and the provision of car pooling programs at the hotel complex. Section III-B of the Draft EIR provides a detailed discussion of transit services and facilities. 2 Fernando,Philip,Air Quality Specifialist,South Coast Air Quality management District. Personel telecommunication.April 9, 1991. 7 5. Comment: The DEIR does not analyze the cumulative impacts of the project area. There is no analysis of the additional vehicle miles travelled (VMT) that could generate significant cumulative impacts. The cumulative impacts of this project and the projects within the area should be included in the analysis of the growth-inducing impacts. The Final EIR should analyze the potential for additional trips resulting from the use of the hotel and golf club. 5. Response: The trip generation calculations carried out on the proposed development and subsequently applied in the air quality analysis are considered to be conservative. They include calculations for the golf course which do not take into account resident members and hotel guests who will absorb and preclude a major portion of the estimated 1,615 average daily trips (ADT). Hotel trip generation rates include trips by service and other indirect trips expected to be generated by the hotel use. In an effort to respond to this comment, an analysis was prepared of the aggregate moving emissions associated with the various components of the proposed development, the maximum potential for off-site employee housing demand (assumed to be single family) and nearby projects under construction or planned for near-term development. 8 Table III-15 A Moving Exhaust Emission Rates (Calendar Year 1994) (pounds/day) Miles Travelled in one day: 35,940* SPEED PARTICULATES (MPH) CO TOG ROG NO TIRE WEAR EXHAUST 5 1,783 153 136 135 17 6 10 1,272 109 97 120 17 6 15 967 83 74 109 17 6 20 757 65 58 102 17 6 25 603 52 47 97 17 6 30 488 44 39 96 17 6 35 401 36 32 95 17 6 40 337 32 28 97 17 6 45 291 28 25 101 17 6 50 260 25 23 106 17 6 55 239 24 21 116 17 6 Crankcase Blowby 0 0 (Pounds/mile) Diurnal Emissions (TOG or ROG) 103 Hot Soak (TOG or ROG) 85 * Assumptions include: (1) 1,958 ADT for hotel ; (2) 4,010 ADT for SFD; (3) 1,738 ADT for attached dwelling units; (4)1,615 ADT for Golf Course; (5) Total of 9,321 ADT. The maximum potential for off-site employee housing demand (assumed to be single family) and nearby projects under construction or planned for near-term development were also factored into this analysis. 6. Comment: The need to reduce indirect emissions through energy-efficient construction methods, and use of landscaping with native drought- resistant plant species should be analysed in the Final EIR. 6. Response : Section III-K of the Draft EIR discusses projects impacts on energy resources and public services and facilities. Title 24 of the California Administrative Code is referenced, and the use of alternative energy systems is encouraged. Domestic and commercial energy-efficient appliances have been recommended. Efficient and thoughtful design of structures is recommended. Participation in load management programs and cooperation with SCE is also required. 9 Section III-E of the Draft EIR assesses the projects impacts on the area groundwater resource and recommends that the developer integrate drought resistant desert landscaping in the project to the greatest extent possible. Efficient irrigation practices and technology are also encouraged and are regulated by the City and the Coachella Valley Water District. The developer shall also be required to comply with Section 17921.3 of the Health and Safety Code, Title 20, California Administrative Code Section 1601 (b), and portions of Title 24 of the State Code applicable to water conservation. 10 C. COACHELLA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT 1. Comment: Page M-4, Water Resources/Quality under the subheading "Project Impacts" to read as follows; Residential maximum peak demand is projected at 3,945,600 gallons per day. Hotel maximum peak demand is projected at 113, 400 gallons per day and golf course demand estimated at 1.3 million gallons. Accumulative peak water demand will be approximately 5.4 million gallons per day which contributes to the on-going overdraft condition. 1. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. The Draft EIR applied a national average daily per capita use rate which was substantially lower than rates typical for the proposed type of uses in the project. The District's use rate for this type of development is estimated a 4.0 gallons per minute per unit3. This equates to an average daily consumption rate of about 1,950 gallons per person per day. 2. Comment: Page M-4. Water Resources/Quality under the subheading "Mitigation Measures" first and third sentence to read as follows; Provide six well sites and two fully equipped wells for demand production. Use low water use landscaping. 2. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. 3. Comment: Page M-5. Water Resources/Quality under the subheading "Mitigation Measures" after second sentence to include as follows; Apply soil stabilizers when possible in order to reduce the water spent for dust control. 3. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. 4. Comment: Page M-7. Public Services and Facilities under the subheading "Project Impacts." second sentence to read as follows; On-site retention of stormwater runoff is required. (See hydrology.) 3 John Corella,Domestic Water Engineer,Coachella Valley Water District.Personel telecommunication.April 19,1991. 11 4. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. 5. Comment: Page I-4. under the heading "Hydrology." last sentence to read as follows; These shall be reviewed and approved by the Coachella Valley Water District and the city engineer. 5. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. 6. Comment: Page III-18. Mitigation Measures under the subheading "Wind Erosion", Item No. 2 to address the following; This section describes and discusses maintaining moist surface soils. This method is prescribed by CEQA as a means to control soil erosion and reduce PM-10. It is the concern of the Coachella Valley Water District that this practice will expend a great deal of water. No estimate has been provided in this report to address the amount of water required to keep the ground surface moist in this desert environment. The District will require that this report be augmented to emphasize and give more detail to dust control measures, which will serve to reduce the amount of water used for dust control. 6. Response: The District's concern regarding the use of extensive amounts of water for erosion and dust control is understood. It should be kept in mind that the impacts associated with these control measures are of a relatively short duration and are considered insignificant when compared to the potential average annual water consumption associated with the project's buildout and operation. Nonetheless, the City may wish to coordinate the review of the grading plan and related soil erosion/dust control plan with CVWD to assure the optimal efficiency of water use for this purpose. 7. Comment: Page III-20, Hydrology under subheading "Existing Conditions." third paragraph after the second sentence to include the following: The implementation of the Mid-Valley Stormwater Channel is subject to and dependent on the participation of the affected communities of the Mid- Valley area. 7. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. 8. Comment: Page III-24. Distribution Facilities under the subheading "Project Impacts" first and second paragraphs to read as follows; 12 With the proposed 557 single family dwelling units having an estimated maximum peak demand of 4.0 gallons per minute per dwelling unit, the maximum peak water demand consumption would be 3,208,320 gallons per day. The proposed 128 villas will also generate a maximum peak demand of 5,760 gallons per day, per unit, or approximately 737,280 gallons per day. For purposes of this analysis, the hotel unit maximum peak demand has • been applied; 504 gallons per room. All ancillary hotels uses including laundry, restaurants, general operations and landscape maintenance, are included in this range. The proposed 225 hotel rooms and auxiliary uses will generate a maximum peak demand of approximately 113,400 gallons per day. 8. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. Also see response to CVWD Comment No. 1. The District does not feel that project consumption rates, in and of themselves, constitute a significant impact to the groundwater resource. However, the District does note that the development will contribute to the continued overdraft status of the water basin. 9. Comment: Page III-25. Mitigation Measures. third paragraph. third and fourth sentences to read as follows Due to the fire flow requirement of 5,000 gpm for the hotel, a looped 18-inch main line will be required to serve this facility. The hotel site will be developed with a two-feed system. 9. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. 10. Comment: Page III-39.Item No 1 This section shall emphasize water saving methods for dust control. These methods may include soil stabilizers or other means to reduce continuous site watering. Also see Item No. 6 in this appendix. 10. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. 11. Comment: Page III-64. Project Impacts under the subheading "Domestic Water Services". second sentence to read as follows: The developer has also planned to provide six will sites and will be fully equipping two sites to serve the proposed development. 11. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. 13 D. SUNLINE TRANSIT 2/20/91 1. Comments: On page III-13, the consultant has summarized SunLine's concerns as it regards to transit. However, the language concerns us in that a commitment to provide the transit amenities has not been stated. We request your assistance in insuring that transit mitigation measures are included as a condition to the project. 1. Response: Comment noted. The City has indicated that it will work and coordinate with Sunline Transit in the location of requested transit facilities, and will condition the applicant to provide said facilities. SUNLINE TRANSIT 3/27/91 2. Comment: After re-reviewing the plans, we also note that the project will extend to Cook Street. Because Cook Street is an arterial and will serve this project in addition to other projects in the surrounding area, we ask that a bus turnout and a passenger waiting shelter also be included on Cook Street. We suggest that this turnout be located on the west side of Cook Street just south of the northern property line, far side of the entrance to the maintenance yard. 2. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. Also see response to Comment No. 1 above. 14 E. RNERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT 1. Comment: The site of proposed project could affect police response time within the development. Manned entry gates or locator boards at all entrances would assist arriving emergency vehicles. 1. Response: Comment noted. The City shall review detailed plans for the various entrys planned for this project. It is therefore recommended that during the review of these access facilities that plans be transmitted to the Sheriff for review and comment. 2. Comment: The police department would like to reserve comment on the proposed project until final plans are submitted as it relates to dwelling units and proposed hotel. 2. Response: Comment noted and hereby incorporated into the EIR. 15 F. CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE 1. Comment: The additional traffic will cause a need for dual left turn lanes on Monterey Avenue. The need for the dual left turn lanes would be greatly reduced if the Cook Street interchange to Interstate 10 were constructed before the hotel is occupied. May we recommend a mitigation measure be made a Condition that requires the construction of the Interstate 10/Cook Street interchange prior to occupancy of the hotel or before the project is 50% built out. If this project will not construct the interchange, then significant impacts will occur at Frank Sinatra Drive/Monterey Avenue. Overriding considerations should not be considered when a viable mitigation measure like constructing the interchange is available. An alternative "mitigation measure" could be delayed construction of the project until installation of the circulation infrastructure can adequately match the pace of development. 1. Response: Comment noted. To clarify, impacts to the Monterey Avenue/Frank Sinatra Drive intersection are considered to be insignificant; in the worst case, the project absorbs approximately 3% of capacity on the Sinatra eastbound leg of the intersection. The comment provided is appropriately directed at the anticipated cumulative impacts from anticipated background traffic and approved projects. Neither have project impacts been determined significant with regard to the future construction of the Cook Street/I-10 interchange. The development of these facilities are not a pre-requisite to the full development of the proposed project, including the resort hotel. 2. Comments: A less desirable but nevertheless helpful interim measure would be for the developer to work with us in obtaining right-of way and provide for the construction of a additional left turn lane southbound on Monterey Avenue at Frank Sinatra Drive. This would be much more helpful in mitigating traffic impacts of the project than dual northbound left turn lanes recommended in the EIR. 2. Response: As noted above, the proposed development will not have a significant impact, in and of itself, on the Monterey/Sinatra intersection. However, comment is hereby noted and should be considered with other interim measures, which will be necessary to assure acceptable operating conditions at this intersection as future development comes on line. 16 SECTION II CORRESPONDENCE ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT 17 MAR-'1-1991 13:34 FROM RADIO ROOM TO 84733018 P.03 State of California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency Memorandum To 1 State Clearinghouse Dote : March 20, 1991 Attention R. Colliau File No.: ii-RIV-010 P.M. 46.6/47.2 District 11 From : DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Subject: DEIR For Pacific Golf Resorts - SCH 90021029 The construction of the proposed development needs to be timed with local street and interchange improvement projects. A.-1 This will help to insure that adequate transportation facilities • are operational at the time the proposed development is complet- ed. A Project Study Report (PSR) for the construction of a new interchange on I-10 at the proposed extension of Cook Street in the City of Palm Desert is currently in progress. The City has identified a need for this interchange to accommodate development A.-2 and to relieve traffic congestion at the adjacent interchanges at Monterey Avenue and Washington Street. The proposed interchange at Cook Street will be 100% funded by the City. Two separate feasibility studies for improvements to the existing interchanges on I-10 at Monterey Avenue and Washington . Street have been requested by the County of Riverside. A PSR is A-3 '"currently underway' for Monterey Avenue and the County is prepar- ing the necessary technical data that will initiate studies for Washington Street. The interchange improvements will be 100% funded by the County. • We recommend that the land development decisions for Pacific A-4 Golf Estates be coordinated with the aforementioned feasibility studies. Our contact person is Mike McManus, Project Manager, Local Funded Projects, (619) 688-3392 . i— 4 .- ,-- dAMES T. CHESHIRE, Chief Environmental Planning Branch 18. 0 South Coast AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT 9150 FLAIR DRIVE, EL MONTE, CA 91731 (818) 572-6200 March 1, 1991 Mr. Phillip Drell Department of Planning City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm desert, CA 92260 Dear Mr. Drell: Subject: Draft EIR: Pacific Golf Resorts Tentative Tract # 26562 SCQAMD#RC910131-02 The South Coast Air Quality Management District (District) has reviewed the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the proposed Pacific Golf Resorts Tentative Tract #26562 Project. The project has the potential to generate . significant short-term and long-term air quality impacts. Based on District staffs review of the project, these impacts and potential mitigation measures have not been fully assessed in the Draft EIR. The District is responsible for adopting, implementing, and enforcing air quality regulations in the South Coast Air Basin (Basin) which includes Riverside County. As a responsible agency, the District reviews and analyzes EIRs for projects (within the jurisdiction of the District) that may generate significant adverse air quality impacts. The District's role is advisory to the lead agency. The District's review of the project indicates that there are significant air quality issues relati ve to the size, scale, and location of the proposed project that need to be further clarified and included in the Final EIR. The attached staff assessment presents a detailed discussion of the District's analysis of the Draft EIR. The District appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Pacific Golf Resorts Project. Ifan have you questions regarding these comments please contact Connie Y g g Day,Program Supervisor, at (818) 307-4507. Sincerely, P 674_,I.,(ti Jack P. Broadbent Planning Manager JPB:CAD:KU:PF: Attachment 19. ATTACHMENT SCAQMD ASSESSMENT OF PACIFIC GOLF RESORTS TENTATIVE TRACT# 26562 Project Description The proposed Pacific Golf Resorts Tentative Tract # 26562 Project encompasses the development of 420 acres for a mixed use development with 687 residential dwelling units, a 225 suite-hotel and restaurant, and an 18-hole golf course. Air Quality Setting The Draft EIR accurately characterizes in 198alit9 at thesettin District's relative to the project. Palm Springs According to air quality monitoring conducted monitoring station, the closest station to the study area, ozone levels exceeded federal standards on 37 days; and oxides of nitrogen levels did not exceed federal standards. The Coachella Valley also exceeded the federal standards for PMio. The measurements at Palm Springs exceeded the federal 24-hour standards on 3.3 percent of the days in 1989 based on a 60-day sample. The Coachella Valley has been designated as a Group I area for PMIo. Group I is defined as having a 95- percent of probability of violating the standards. Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act, Group I "Moderate" nonattainment areas are required to meet federal PM10 standards within three years of an EPA-approved State Impplementation Plan (SIP). The Draft Final State Implementation Plan for PM10 in it e Coachella Valley was adopted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District Board on November 30, 1990. Short-Term Air Quality Impacts Short-term air quality impacts from this project are mainly due to grading, excavation, and construction activities. Construction emissions would result from fugitiveheavy-duty dust, hea -dut construction equipment, building equipment and necessary vehicular trips (truck and personnel). The predicted PMIo emission levels due to construction-related work is approximately 2.1 tons/day. The Draft EIR does not analyze emissions caused by the construction equipment, vehicles used by construction personnel, and other construction-related activities B.-1 such as lane closures, detours, etc. The Final EIR should analyze emissions from all sources and propose measures to mitigate short-term construction impacts. See Table 1 for potential mitigation measures.i Additional mitigation measures for reduction of PMIo are included in Attachment 1 20. 2 Long-Term Air Quality Impacts Long-term air quality impacts arising from the project are primarily due to approximately 9,300 average daily trips. There will also be impacts due to the growth-inducing nature of the project which have not been fully analyzed. The following analyses are recommended for inclusion in the Final EIR: Emission Factors EMFAC7C was used in the Draft EIR for calculating vehicle emissions. B 2 EMFAC7D, which was available at the time of the preparation of the DEIR, or EMFAC7E, which may be presently available, should be used in the Final EIR to calculate the emissions. Transportation Demand Management The Draft EIR recommends Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs as effective measures to mitigate the impacts of additional traffic B.3 generated by the project. The DEIR recommends Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) as a mitigation measure; however, no specific information regarding the method of funding is provided. The Final EIR should analyze the TMAs in detail, discussing how and when the TMAs will be formed. District staff recommends that TMAs should be operational at the beginning of the project. The potential for transit improvements such as planned improvements to transit services, and plans to incorporate car-pools and vanpools at the beginning of the . B.-4 project should also be considered. Implementing a trip reduction plan at the inception of the project would help reduce vehicular emissions. These measures should be included in the Final EIR. Cumulative Impacts The DEIR does not analyze the cumulative impacts of the projects within the B:5 project area. There is no analysis of the additional vehicle miles travelled (VMT) that could generate significant cumulative impacts. The cumulative impacts of this project and the projects within the area should be included in the analysis of the growth-inducing impacts. The Final EIR should analyze the potential for additional trips resulting from the use of the hotel and the golf club. Additional Mitigation Measures Additional mitigation measures which are recommended by the District should be B._6 incorporated into the Final EIR. The need to reduce indirect emissions through energy-efficient construction methods, and use of landscaping with native drought- resistant plant species should be analyzed in the Final EIR. See attached Table 1 for a list of potential mitigation measures. 21 . TABLE 1 POTENTIAL MITIGATION MEASURES FOR THE PACIFIC GOLF RESORTS TENTATIVE TRACT#26562 PROJECT Minimize Construction Activity Emissions o Water construction site morning and evening. o Remove dirt from paved roads adjacent to site every work-day. o Cover dirt in trucks during on-road hauling. o Cease construction during periods of high winds or during Stage 1 and 2 episodes. o Spread soil binders on site, unpaved roads, and parking areas. o Reestablish ground cover on construction site through seeding and watering. 2. Reduce Construction Equipment Emissions o Wash off trucks and their wheels when leaving site. o Properly tune and maintain construction equipment. o Use low-sulfur fuel for construction equipment. o Avoid use of on-site temporary electric power generation by using less- polluting power from the grid. 3. Reduce Construction-Related Traffic Congestion o Provide rideshare incentives for construction personnel. o Provide transit incentives for construction personnel. o Provide a flagperson as needed to ensure safety at the construction site. 4. Limit Long-Term Emissions o Install automated traffic signals as appropriate. o Ensure traffic flow management at key intersections. 5. Limit Emissions From Vehicle Trips and VMT o Expand the EIR Transportation Demand Management Plan, as appropriate, in accordance with District Regulation XV. o Provide worker rideshare incentives. o Provide worker transit incentives and assistance to the site. o Encourage alternative work schedules. o Encourage telecommuting programs. o Encourage scheduling the movement of goods for off-peak traffic hours. o Provide dedicated turn lanes as appropriate. 6. Minimize Indirect-Source Emissions o Implement energy conservation measures more stringent than State requirements. o Require the installation of solar water heaters. o Install energy-efficient lighting. o Include energy costs in capital expenditure analyses. o Landscape with native drought-resistant plant species to reduce water consumption and to provide passive solar benefits. 22. *ATER ESTABLISHED IN 1918 AS A PUBLIC AGENCY kVO OISTRICt COACHELLA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT POST OFFICE BOX 1058• COACHELLA, CALIFORNIA 92236•TELEPHONE(619)398.2651 OFFICERS DIRECTORS THOMAS E.LEVY,GENERAL MANAGER-CHIEF ENGINEER RAYMOND N R.RU,PRESIDENT BERNARDINE SUTTON,SECRETARY W. R.RUMMONDS,VICE PRESIDENT OWEN McCOOK,ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER JOHN M.NICHOLS March 21, 1991 REDWINE AND SHERRILL,ATTORNEYS DOROTHY M. THEODORE J.FISH File: 0126.1 0421.1 Philip Drell Planning Department City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, California 92260 Dear Mr. Drell: Subject: Draft Environmental Impact Report, Pacific Golf Resorts, Tentative Tract 26562 (SCH 90021029) This letter is in response to the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Pacific Golf Resorts. The Coachella Valley Water District appreciates the opportunity to comment on this document. A collection of the Coachella Valley Water District's comments will be addressed in Attachment "A," enclosed. If you have any questions or require additional information please contact Joe Cook, planning engineer, extension 292. Yours very truly, Tom Levy General Manager-Chief Engineer JEC:cb/e3 Enclosure/as TRUE CONSERVATION USE WATER WISELY 23. File: 0126.1 0421.1 ATTACHMENT A 1 . Page M-4, Water Resources/Quality under the subheading "Project Impacts" to read as follows: Residential maximum peak demand is projected at 3,945,600 gallons per day. CA Hotel maximum peak demand is projected at 113,400 gallons per day and golf course demand estimated at 1.3 million gallons. Accumulative peak water demand will be approximately 5.4 million gallons per day which contributes to the on-going overdraft condition. 2. Page M-4, Water Resources/Quality under the subheading "Mitigation Measures" first and third sentences to read as follows: C:2 Provide six well sites and two fully equipped wells for demand production. Use low water use landscaping. 3. Page M-5, Air Quality under the subheading "Mitigation Measures" after second sentence to include as foll ows:: C.-3 Apply soil stabilizers when possible in order to reduce the water spent for dust control. 4. Page M-7, Public Services and Facilities under the subheading "Project C Impacts," second sentence to read as follows: On-site retention of stormwater runoff is required. (See hydrology.) "Hydrology," sentence to read as follows: 5. Page 1-4, under the headinglast C.-5 These shall be reviewed and approved by the Coachella Valley Water District and the city engineer. 6. Page II1-18, Mitigation Measures under the subheading "Wind Erosion", Item No. 2 to address the following: This section describes and discusses maintaining moist surface soils. This C.-6 method is prescribed by CEQA as a means to control soil erosion and reduce PM-10. It is the concern of the Coachella Valley Water District that this practice will expend a great deal of water. No estimate has been provided in this report to address the amount of water required to keep the ground surface moist in this desert environment. The District will requir9 that this report be augmented to emphasize and give more detail to dust controllmeasures which will serve to reduce the amount of water used for dust control. 7. Page 11I-20, Hydrology under subheading "Existing Conditions," third paragraph after the second sentence to include the following: The implementation of the Mid-Valley Stormwater Channel is subject to and C.7 dependent on the participation of the affected communities of the Mid-Valley area. 24. 8. Page III-24, Distribution Facilities under the subheading "Project Impacts," first and second paragraphs to read as follows: With the proposed 557 single family dwelling units having an estimated maximum peak demand of 4.0 gallons per minute per dwelling unit, the C$ maximum peak water demand consumption would be 3,208,320 gallons per day. The proposed 128 villas will also generate a maximum peak demand of 5,760 gallons per day, per unit, or approximately 737,280 gallons per day. For purposes of this analysis, the hotel unit maximum peak demand has been applied; 504 gallons per room. All ancillary hotels uses including laundry, restaurants, general operations and landscape maintenance, are included in this range. The proposed 225 hotel rooms and auxiliary uses will generate a maximum peak demand of approximately 113,400 gallons per day. (Exclude Footnotes Nos. 22 and 23.) 9. Page III-25, Mitigation Measures, third paragraph, third and fourth sentences to read as follows: C.-9 Due to the fire flow requirement of 5,000 gpm for the hotel, a looped 18-inch main line will be required to serve this facility. The hotel site will be developed with a two-feed system. (Footnote No. 26 shall be omitted.) 10. Page III-39, Item No.1 C;-10 This section shall emphasize water saving methods for dust control. These methods may include soil stabilizers or other means to reduce continuous site watering. Also see Item No. 6 in this appendix. 11. Page III-64, Project Impacts under the subheading "Domestic Water Services", second sentence to read as follows: C.-11 The developer has also planned to provide six well sites and will be fully equipping two sites to serve the proposed development. 25 . SunLine Transit MEMBER AGENCIES Cathedral City Coachella Desert Hot Springs Indian Wells Indio La Quinta REEEIXA=m- ary 20, 1991 Palm Desert Palm Springs FEB2 6 1991 Rancho Mirage Riverside County MAMMY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CITY OF PALM DESERT Mr. Phillip Drell Planning Department City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 RE: Rancho Portola Dear Mr. Drell: Thank you for the opportunity to review the Environmental Impact Report on the Rancho Portola project. On page II1-13 the consultant has summarized SunLine's concerns as it regards to transit. However, the language concerns us in that a commitment D:1 to provide the transit amenities has not been stated. We request your assistance in insuring that transit mitigation measures are included as a condition to the project. If I can be of further assistance on this project, please feel free to give me a call. Yours very truly, SUNLINE TRANSIT AGENCY Debra Astin Director of Planning DA/n cc: City of Palm Desert File 32-505 Harry Oliver Trail •Thousand Palms, CA 92276 •(619) 343.3456 •FAX (619)343-3845 A Public Agency SunLine Transit MEMBER AGENCIES Cathedral City Coachella March 27, 1991 Desert Hot Springs Indian Wells Indio La Quints Palm Desert Palm Springs Rancho Mirage Riverside County Mr. Phillip Drell Planning Department City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 RE: Rancho Portola Dear Mr. Drell: I recently had an occasion to look at the environmental impact report on the Rancho Portola project again. Previously, I had replied and asked that bus turnouts and passenger waiting shelters be included on Frank Sinatra and Portola Avenue. After re-reviewing the plans, we also note that the project will extend to Cook Street. Because Cook Street is an arterial and will serve this project in addition to other projects in the surrounding area, we ask that a bus turnout and a passenger D.-2 waiting shelter also be included on Cook Street. We suggest that this turnout be located on the west side of Cook Street just south of the northern property line, far side of the entrance to the maintenance yard. I realize thatyou ou are receiving this information rathe r late in the process. However, I hope that you will still be able to accommodate our request. Yours very truly, SUNLINE TRANSIT AGENCY 0 1 ji-c-e-- g7===:.___ Debra Astin Director of Planning DA/n cc: Terra Nova Planning and Research, Inc. 275 N. El Cielo, D-3 Palm Springs, CA 92262 File 32-505 Harry Oliver Trail •Thousand Palms, CA 92276 •(619)343-3456 •FAX (619)343-3845 A Public Agency 27. INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM CITY OF PALM DESERT TO: PHIL DRELL FROM: BRENT CONLEY SUBJECT: PP 90-27 DATE: DECEMBER 13, 1990 The site of the proposed project could affect police response E_1 time within the development. Manned entry gates or locator boards at all entrances would assist arriving emergency vehicles. The police department would like to reserve comment on the proposed project until final plans are submitted as it relates to E.-2dwelling units and proposed hotel. If you have any questions please call me at Ext. 303. //BRENT CONLEY RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF' S BC: la 28. CITY OF R O MIRAGE March 18, 1991 Mr. Phillip Drell Senior Planner City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 Re: Pacific Golf Resorts Dear Mr. Drell: Thank you for allowing us to comment on the EIR. Our comments are limited to traffic impacts that affect Rancho Mirage through additional traffic loads on Monterey Avenue. The additional traffic will cause a need for dual left turn lanes on Monterey Avenue. The need for the dual left turn lanes would be greatly reduced if the Cook Street interchange to Interstate 10 were constructed before the hotel is occupied. F:1 May we recommend a mitigation measure be made a Condition that requires the construction of the Interstate 10/Cook Street in- terchange prior to occupancy of the hotel or before the project is 50% built out. If this project will not construct the inter- change, then significant impacts will occur at Frank Sinatra Drive/Monterey Avenue. Overriding considerations should not be considered when a viable mitigation measure like constructing the interchange is available. An alternative "mitigation measure" could be delayed construction of the project until in- stallation of the circulation infrastructure can adequately match the pace of development. A less desirable but nevertheless helpful interim measure would be for the developer to work with us in obtaining right-of-way and provide for the construction of an additional left turn lane southbound on Monterey Avenue at Frank Sinatra Drive. F.-2 This would be much more helpful in mitigating traffic impacts of the project than dual northbound left turn lanes recommended in the EIR. Please forward to us a copy of the Final EIR when it becomes available. Sincerely, / -S1k Randal K. By er Associate Planner :cep\D\PLANNING\MISC\3-18-L1 69-825 HIGHWAY 111 I RANCHO MIRAGE, CA 92270-2898/(619) 324-4511 /FAX (619) 324-8830 29 . Palmer CbV ision (5%0/ Date: To: #(-/a/ 922 6 Attention: Aae S-2 Regarding: / Palmer has existing plant at this location to serve this project . Palmer will serve this project , but a line extension will be needed , the extent of which will be determined at the time we receive plans. Existing pl ant is away. A major line extension will be necessary to serve this project . Out of our area, will be unable to serve project. I I Sincerely, Clara Sal sbury Account Executive CLS:blt Ctyrsp 41-725 Cook Street, Box 368 Telephone: (619)340-1312 Palmer CableVision/Channel 10 Palm Desert,CA 92261 Telecopier: (619)340-2384 Services of Palmer Communication,Inc. 1 � 30. sEAgs144117 VI lOUTBERR CPUFORRIR • RIIOCIRTIOR OF GOWN RIERT! 818 West Seventh Street,l2th Floor • Los Angeles, California 90017-3435 0 (213) 236-1800 • FAX(213)236-1825 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Interim President March 18, 1991 Representative,Ventura County John Flynn,Supervisor Second Vice President Rep..Cit r of Los Angeles Robert I'arrell,Cnuneifncmher Mr. Phillip Drell Rep.,Citie o g y City of Palm Desert Rep;,Cities of Los Angeles County Santa Monica 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 Past President M(ke LAsnlonoAngelehvtch,SuCountpervisor RE: Draft EIR, Pacific Golf Resorts, Tentative Tract #26562 Mike A Imperial County SCAG # RI-54633-EDR Abe Seabolt,Supervisor Los Angeles County Deane Dana,Supervisor Orange Countyy Dear Mr. Drell : Harrtett WieJer,Supervisor Ri Melba Dunlap, Thank you for submitting the Draft EIR for Pacific Golf Resorts to Melba Dunlap,Supervisor San Bernardino County SCAG for review and comment. As areawide clearinghouse for Jon Mikels,Supervisor regionally significant projects, SCAG assists cities, counties and Cities oflmpel CountyStella Mendoza, other agencies to review projects and plans for consistency with the Brawley Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) , the Regional Mobility Cities of Orange County (RMP) , Growth Management (GMP) , and Air Quality Management (AQMP) Irwin Fried,Councilmenther YorbaLinda Plans, all of which are included in the State Implementation Plan Cities of Riverside County (SIP) . Jack Clarke,Councilmemher Riverside Cities of San Bernardino County The attached comments are meant to provide guidance for completing John Longville,Mayor the proposed project within the context of our regional goals and Rialto plans, which are based in part upon state and federal mandates. Cities of Ventura County John Melton,Councilmemher While neither the project sponsor nor the lead agency is required to Santa Paula undertake the specific actions recommended by SCAG or other agencies City of Los Angeles Tom Bradley,Mayor through the Inter-Governmental Review Process, there are requirements Gloria Molina,Councilntemher in state and federal laws for consistency with regional goals and City of Long Beach plans. Clarence Smith,Council/timber POLICY CHAIRS If you have any questions about the attached comments, please Judy Wright,Conncilmember Claremont,Chair.Transportalion contact Jim Birckhead, (213) 236-1915, or Paul Hatanaka, and Communications (213) 236-1809. They will be happy to work with you to address the Robert Gentry,Councilntember comments presented herein and, if necessary, develop a mitigation Laguna Beach,Chair.Energy and Environment plan which meets regional , state and federal requirements. Robert Wagner,Vice Mayor Lakewood,Chair.Community, Sincerely, , Economic,and Human Development y AT-LARGE DELEGATES A Robert Bartlett,Mayor /`�/'/J/Mt"grA-14e/L Monrovia Vicky Howard,Counciimember ANNE BAKER Simi Valley Director of Environmental Planning Ruthelyn Plummer,Mayor Newport Beach ALTERNATES Imperial County o Jeanne Vogel,Supervisor• Los Angeles County o Ed Edelman,Supervisor and Pete Schabarum,Supervisor• Orange County o Gaddi Vasquez,Supervisor • Riv- erside County o (Vacant)• San Bernardino County o Larry Walker,Supervisor• Ventura County o James Dougherty,Supervisor• Cities of Imperial County o Victor Sanchez,Jr., Mayor.Westmorland• Cities of Los Angeles County o John Crowley,City Director,Pasadena• Cities of Orange County o John Kanel,Mayor.Cypress• Cities of Riverside County o Richard Deininger,Jr.,Counc•ilnremher.Corona• Cities of San Bernardino County o Larry Rhinehart,Mayor,Montclair• Cities of Ventura County o Vicky Howard,Councilmember, Simi Valley• City of Los Angeles o Richard Alatorre,Conncilmemher o Joy l'icus,Councilntemher o Michael Woo,Councilntemher• Long Beach 2nd position o Jeffrey Kellogg, Councilntemher• At Large o Judy Wright,Councilmemher,Claremont o Judy Nieburger,Councilmenuher,Moreno Valley o John Erskine,Councilmember,Huntington Beach 31 . Mr. Phillip Drell March 18, 1991 Page 2 SCAG Comments on Draft EIR for Pacific Golf Resorts GROWTH MANAGEMENT Description: The proposed project includes a 225 suite hotel complex and restaurant facility, an 18-hole championship golf course with clubhouse facilities, and approximately 687 dwelling units on a 420 acre site. Findings: The project will create 687 net new housing units and a 225 suite hotel complex which should create approximately 203 net new jobs and is therefore consistent with the GMP. TECHNICAL NOTE: The Regional Growth Management Plan' s Trend Projections for the Riverside Desert Subregion indicate an increase of 88,900 jobs and 142,400 dwelling units from 1984 to 2010. This is a ratio of .62 jobs per housing unit. The policy forecasts for the subregion, which incorporate the jobs/housing balance policy, increase the proportion of jobs to housing, resulting in a ratio of .77 jobs per housing unit. This ratio is considered the jobs/housing balance performance goal for the Riverside Desert Subregion. The Pacific Golf Resorts project would create an additional 687 housing units. The number of jobs associated with this number of dwelling units using the Trend Projection ratio for the Riverside Desert Subregion is: 687 * .62 = 426 Under the jobs/housing balance forecast ratio, the number of jobs is: 687 * .77 = 529 The appropriate number of added jobs associated with the jobs/housing balance policy for the project is the difference between the adopted GMP Forecast, which includes the implementation of the jobs/housing balance policy, and the jobs production under the Trend Projection. This is 529 - 426 = 103 jobs which should be associated with the project to reflect the regional jobs/housing balance policy. The project should create 203 jobs and therefore exceeds the requirement for consistency with the GMP. m.LL.,C.1110.111. ,aoc1000N o#.OV,i,mtau 818 W.Seventh Street,l2th Floor • Los Angeles,CA 90017-3435 ❑ (213)236-1800 • FAX(213)236-1825 32. Mr. Phillip Drell March 18, 1991 Page 3 SIP CONFORMITY A project is found to be in conformance with the State Implementation Plan (SIP) when it has satisfied the following three criteria: 1. It improves the subregion' s jobs/housing balance performance ratio. 2. It reduces vehicle trips and vehicle miles traveled to the maximum extent feasible by implementing transportation demand management strategies. 3. Its environmental document includes an air quality analysis which demonstrates that the project will not have a significant negative impact on air quality in the long term. Findings: As described in the draft EIR, the Pacific Golf Resorts does conform to the SIP at this time. 33. ro.... 818 W.Seventh Street,l2th Floor • Los Angeles,CA 90017-3435 0 (213)236-1800 • FAX(213)236-1825 STATE OF CALIFORNIA PETE WILSON, Governor GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH ;�; 1400 TENTH STREET SAC ENI9,0tI :A ., JOHN D. CRISTE AICP CITY OF PALM DESERT C/O TERRA NOVA 275 N. EL CIELO SUITE D-3 PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262 Subject: RANCHO PORTOLA SCH # 90021029 Dear JOHN D. CRISTE AICP: The State Clearinghouse has submitted the above named draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to selected state agencies for review. The review period is now closed and the comments from the responding agency(ies ) is (are) enclosed. On the enclosed Notice of Completion form you will note that the Clearinghouse has checked the agencies that have commented. Please review the Notice of Completion to ensure that your comment package is complete . If the comment package is not in order, please notify the State Clearinghouse immediately. Remember to refer to the project' s eight-digit State--Clearinghouse_number so that we may respond promptly. Please note that Section 21104 of the California Public Resources Code required that: "a responsible agency or other public agency shall only make substantive comments regarding those activities involved in a project which are within an area of expertise of the agency or which are required to be carried out or approved by the agency. " Commenting agencies are also required by this section to support their comments with specific documentation. These comnentsmare are forwarded for your use in preparing your final EIR. Y information or clarification, we recommend that you contact the commenting agency(ies ) . This letter acknowledges that you have complied with the State Clearinghouse review requirements for draft environmental documents, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. Please contact Russell Colliau at ( 916 ) 445-0613 if you have any questions regarding the environmental review process . Sincerely, David C . Nunenkamp Deputy Director, Permit Assistance Enclosures Resources Agency cc : 9 Y 34. STATE OF CALIFORNIA PETS WILSON, Governor GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH 1400 TENTH STREET r 4-:* ) SACRAMENTO,CA 95814 Mar 21, 1991 JOHN D. CRISTE AICP CITY OF PALM DESERT C/O TERRA NOVA 275 N. EL CIELO SUITE D-3 PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262 Subject: RANCHO PORTOLA SCH # 90021029 Dear JOHN D. CRISTE AICP: The State Clearinghouse submitted the above named environmental document to selected state agencies for review. The review period is closed and none of the state agencies have comments . This letter acknowledges that you have complied with the State Clearinghouse review requirements for draft environmental documents , pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act . Please call Russell Colliau at ( 916 ) 445-0613 if you have any questions regarding the environmental review process . When contacting the Clearinghouse in this matter, please use the eight-digit State Clearinghouse number so that we may respond promptly. Sincerely, David C. Nunenkamp Deputy Director, Permit Assistance 35 . Sea hail toe /tots Clmnimstmum, 1100 Tenth attest.hom 111.a.rtrrto,O. 9Se14-91V11S-0e12 Sal f 900Wt Woo .{ 29 hoTlot or oo___A9m DN xaosarr/t mama a'"M°QiDd'Iaet 1 ►ml•ct Thiel Tentative Tract Map /26562 2. i.a,p.eye City of Pstlm flacrrt 3. omtsctPersune Phillip Drell 2. SU..t Mir..., 73-510 Fred Waring Drive m.Stye Palm ❑wart Riverside 2d.rip, 92760 2..Meor.e 619-340-0611 '`'tb"ty` Palm Desert r�Im2� 1 oantyl Riverside 1..ucy/�n1tY1 /n.A..raore■Paul)b. a.section 33 Tvp. 4 South h.q. 6 Fact fur Anal.Mart s. c�o..Streets. Frank Sinatra/Portola/Cock s0. damn ltY. Slats Air- eatr-Southern a W.I."1. Within 2 hurl I. i f 1 1 1/1-10 W.ports C.soya Pac i f is rye 7. I1X1212CLLOS S. Wala0331.1MM 9. IDOiM1911.37aZ DM 01._General Plan Update 01.XJI..tdriuo11 touts 687 , .. 420 01.___SOP to._JCL 02.--Pm Llment 02.__Offices 9i.Pt. 02. Y rill Om. 07._7t1C 03._Gemral Pim Mendeent Arras anplcy.r . 01.-1..9 Dec OIL_KO 04._- 1.� Abot•t Plan Oh hp.rt: 04.X-O[.ft Silt 05._,fn..etiCn Acrr hoploy.as 91pple..N/ 06. Specific Plan 04._Indention S9.Pt. OS._subsequent[IA Acrr dPt%w Rile.SOS M.e 01._Commits Plan t� OS. eeti 5lO9 t OS._hater facilities. MS e,�(� ' 09.__Amon. 06._Tr.n.{urt.tione Type ;' r rUSF. NSA draft 10.XJred Division 07.Jtlnfn9e M1t.ra1 ,.. 09.COI 11. _a (aebdtvision, etcl 0e._.Pease►= Typs Wtte ;1�•.. 10._lolSI 12._Jw M•P.'hue hop,,etc.) 11._um Penit 09.--W.te Treata.ntl Type 13.__lolrht tnaa..ht 12.-_)Irts h.DK PI.1 10._06 Misted 14.-final Oooaeet 13._fermi 9.9 Stemma 11._Oth.rl Is._seer 11 x ot..r Precise Plan 10. la 7s1 U.19aL.,1cva0a'i1 IS._,Septic Symms 73.�sut Wtilty 12. 01. x Arthetic,Nls.r1 OS.%r1ooding' singe 16. 'I S'e.e f C.peitf 24.x 1met/Apply 02._Jq[Icults[al larhd 09. x Ceolegic/asimlc 17.Xaoctal 25. onla.d7Pi.rlan 03.X J•tr Cmlity 10._...-•Ion./tJ0 in9 Mime 1e..e-.oil W.ton 26.X W11Q1fe 04.Jrde.eolo9lcal/tllatotinl 11.-Wotal. 19.X_Solid Waste 27._.Cmvth Ird.clnp OS._Oa.stal Is. y 12..X.Jhdoo ar 20._SOa1C/Wsrdaue 26. ®Dnt1We Lander 06. . ._rmm nle 11. x�tb X T 1lc Service. 21. ref tic/Circulation 29.JyO dative Effects Ol.._Jlu hazard 14.�Tbo1s 22.X V.9etetlon 30.__.Other 11. roam(appeal) Pelletal S State$ Total$ 11 _, -.,.Q„m:rwM. Vacant land. General Plan Land Use designation-Low Density Residential (3-5 DU/AC) 8 Residential Study Zone. Zoning designation - R-I-M (Conventional Single Family/Mobile Home) 8 P-R-5 (5 DU/AC) 15. 1717037S7MIC=17. Construct 397 detached Single Family units, 290 attached Duplexes/Villas, a 225 Suite Hotel Complex, and 18 hole Championship golf course with clubhouse, 5 tennis courts and amenities on approximately 420 acres. CLEARINGHOUSE CONTACT: Russ Collisu (916) 445-0613 CHT SNT GiieTSNT - (-4/ ��� _EResources STATE REVIEW BEGAN: ? DEPT REV TO AGENCY: ./ - b (-)/ AGENCY REV TO SCH : 3 - /1 / _ �Pish L Came SCH COMPLIANCE 3 - PLEASE RETURN ROC WITH ALL COMMENTS L-'w motion 0 SWRCB:--Wtr Ri hts _ Reg. WQCS / • AQMDIAPCD: ? -) (Resources: 2 I C ) 1('.( ( (,,,,,D-r V / rCaltrans i / / _ PUC Q Housing & eves aillIllIllMIMIIIIkg 36. _ State Lands Comm -- -- J