3.11 LAND USE AND PLANNING

Transcription

1 3.11 LAND USE AND PLANNING This section evaluates the potential environmental impacts that could result from conflicts with land use plans and policies from buildout of the 2018 LRDP. A description of the plan area s existing characteristics and setting is followed by an analysis focused on the relationship between the 2018 LRDP and existing plans and policies, and the relationship with proposed on-site and existing adjacent land uses. Impacts related to potential conflicts with applicable habitat conservation plans or natural community conservation plans are discussed in Section 3.5, Biological Resources. In response to the NOP, comments were received that identified concerns with potential conflicts with the goals and policies of adjacent jurisdictions and their associated general plans, especially the City of Davis. All land-use-related comments are addressed in the environmental analysis of this section Regulatory Setting FEDERAL There are no federal plans, policies, regulations, or laws related to land use and planning that would affect the 2018 LRDP. STATE There are no state plans, policies, regulations, or laws related to land use and planning that would affect the 2018 LRDP. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Management Plan In 2005, prepared the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Management Plan for the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve. The plan, as implemented by the Office of Resource Management and Planning, is intended to maintain and enhance the health of the ecosystem within and adjacent to Putah Creek within the reserve boundaries for future educational and recreational purposes. Implementation of the plan involves removal and control of invasive species, expanding community awareness, and protecting the reserve to ensure its long term viability as a resource to, the City of Davis, and other local communities. LOCAL As noted in Section 3.0.2, University of California Autonomy,, a constitutionally created State entity, is not subject to municipal regulations of surrounding local governments for uses on property owned or controlled by that are in furtherance of the university s education purposes. However, may consider, for coordination purposes, aspects of local plans and policies for the communities surrounding the campus when it is appropriate and feasible, but it is not bound by those plans and policies in its planning efforts Long Range Development Plan EIR

2 Sacramento Area Council of Governments The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) is an association of local governments from six counties and 22 cities within the Sacramento Region. The counties include El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba. SACOG is responsible for the preparation of, and updates to, the Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (MTP/SCS) for the region and the corresponding Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP). The MTP/SCS provides a 20-year transportation vision and corresponding list of projects. The MTIP identifies short-term projects (seven-year horizon) in more detail. The 2035 MTP/SCS was adopted by the SACOG board in Land uses (existing and potential) identified in long-term plans for various entities, including, are considered during the development of growth modeling and transportation improvement identification (SACOG 2012). Consistency of the 2018 LRDP with planned projects and targets, primarily with respect to GHG emissions reductions, presented in the 2035 MTP/SCS is evaluated in Sections 3.16, Transportation, Circulation, and Parking, and 3.8, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change, respectively. City of Davis General Plan The City of Davis (City) adopted its general plan in May 2001 and most recently amended it in January 2007 (City of Davis 2007). The general plan acknowledges that the campus is not subject to City or other local land use control but states that the City seeks to work cooperatively with on planning issues of mutual interest. To aid in City of Davis planning efforts, the general plan map identifies land as academic research, institutional, and student residential use. Based on a review of the City of Davis General Plan for policies/direction that could inform the analysis of potential physical environmental impacts associated with implementation of the 2018 LRDP, the following land use and growth management goals, policies, and standards within the City of Davis General Plan may be relevant to the 2018 LRDP planning efforts: GOAL LU 1: Maintain Davis as a small, University-oriented city surrounded by and containing farmland, greenbelt, and natural habitats and reserves. Policy LU 1.1: Recognize that the edge of the urbanized area of the City depicted on the land use map under this general plan represents the maximum extent of urbanization through 2010, unless modified through the Measure J process. Policy LU 1.2: Work in concert with and the UC system to arrive at an ultimate size for the campus consistent with the City s desire to maintain itself as a small city. Policy LU 1.4: Establish a distinct permanent urban edge that shall be defined by an open space, hedgerows, tree rows, similar landscape features, passive recreation spaces, buffer containing transitional agricultural uses, or similar elements. Policy LU 1.6: For developments that are on the edge of the City, a minimum of a 150-foot-wide urban agricultural transition area is required. Policy LU 1.7: Negotiate with affected governmental jurisdictions and public and private agencies or organizations to obtain support for permanent designation of open-space and agricultural zoning within the Davis planning area beyond proposed designated urban development in the general plan. Policy LU 3.1: Create an efficient system of planning and zoning. Policy UD 2.4: Create affordable and multi-family residential areas that include innovative designs and on-site open space amenities that are linked with public bicycle/pedestrian ways, neighborhood centers Long Range Development Plan EIR

3 City of Davis Zoning Code The City of Davis Zoning Ordinance is codified within Chapter 40 of the Davis Municipal Code. The municipal code has been amended several times as it pertains to zoning, most recently in December 2016 with Ordinance The zoning code, which is consistent with the City of Davis General Plan, regulates the use of land, buildings, and structures, and establishes minimum regulations and standards for the development of land in Davis. Yolo County General Plan The Yolo County General Plan was comprehensively updated in November 2009 and has been subsequently amended 13 times since its adoption to reflect the completion of various planning efforts, including the County s Climate Action Plan, Housing Element, and several area and specific plans. Consistent with Yolo County s vision to remain an area of active and productive farmland and open space, the Yolo County General Plan contains policies regarding preserving agricultural land and encouraging urban development within existing communities through 2030, including the encouragement of research and development space for private businesses resulting from activities and collaboration with the City of Davis to explore land uses that complement. Although the university is not subject to local regulations, as noted above, the Yolo County General Plan factors the student population and on-campus housing into its policies. The portion of the UC Davis campus, including Teaching & Research Field space, located within Yolo County is designated as Public/Quasi-Public lands by the county (Yolo County 2009). Solano County General Plan The Solano County General Plan was adopted by the Solano Board of Supervisors on August 5, 2008 and by the Solano County voters on November 4, 2008 (the Housing Element was updated in May 2015 and the Public Health & Safety Element was updated in August 2011). Similar to Yolo County, the Solano County General Plan contains policies regarding preserving agricultural land and encouraging urban development within existing communities through On August 5, 2008, the Board of Supervisors approved Ordinance to extend the 1994 Orderly Growth Initiative (OGI) by approving a new General Plan Land Use Diagram; readopting the OGI s policies that limit the land use designation of Agriculture and Natural Resource lands through December 31, 2028; updating agricultural policies to define ten geographic agricultural regions and allowing limiting processing and support services in areas designated for agriculture; and updating the OGI s density standards for development of Agriculture or Natural Resource lands through December 31, Although Solano County does not have jurisdiction over the campus, the County, within its General Plan, has mapped the portion of within Solano County, as agriculture. Putah Creek is designated in the Park and Recreation Element as a recreation resource area (Solano County 2008) Environmental Setting Land use planning is used to direct the amount, type, and location of different land uses and to coordinate anticipated development efforts for long-term efficiency of land uses and developed systems (circulation, infrastructure, building space) within a planning area. This section describes the existing conditions related to land use and the land use designations proposed under the 2018 LRDP. UC DAVIS The approximately 5,300-acre campus is located within Yolo and Solano counties. Land use in the region is predominantly agricultural, with small cities and towns. Campus land use trends (in a west-to-east manner) from agricultural to more urban uses as it approaches the City of Davis Long Range Development Plan EIR

4 The campus is surrounded by extensive agricultural uses to the west and south and by residential, institutional, and commercial land uses to the north and east in the City of Davis, which is a university-oriented community with over 65,000 residents. The campus consists of four general units: the central campus, the south campus, the west campus, and Russell Ranch. The central, south, and west campuses are generally divided by the existing transportation corridors, State Route (SR) 113 and Interstate 80 (I-80). In addition, the University of California owns several properties in the City of Davis, including buildings in downtown Davis and buildings and vacant parcels in the South Davis Research Park, located south of I-80 (see Exhibit 2-1 in Chapter 2, Project Description ). The following sections describe each campus unit and the off-campus properties of. Central Campus. The central campus, which is located within Yolo County, consists of approximately 900 acres and is generally bounded by I-80 to the south, SR 113 to the east, Russell Boulevard to the north, and First and A Streets to the east. The central campus is also directly adjacent to the downtown core area of the City of Davis and the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR). The central campus includes most of the developed resources on campus, including the majority of academic and administrative uses, housing areas, recreational facilities, open space, parking, and support facilities for campus utilities. South Campus. The south campus, which is located within Solano County, consists of approximately 600 acres south and east of I-80, north of Putah Creek, and west of privately owned agricultural lands within Yolo County. Land uses on the south campus include agricultural land that is used for teaching and research, animal pastures, academic and administrative research buildings, and support facilities, such as the campus wastewater treatment plant and an electrical substation. West Campus. The west campus consists of approximately 2,200 acres. It is bounded by Russell Boulevard to the north, SR 113 to the east, Putah Creek to the south, and privately owned agricultural lands to the west. Uses on the west campus include agricultural land for teaching and research, support facilities such as the University Airport and the Campus Landfill, and academic and administrative buildings such as those that comprise the California National Primate Research Center. Russell Ranch. Russell Ranch consists of approximately 1,600 acres. It is bordered by privately owned agricultural land to the north, east, and west and by Putah Creek to the south. Land uses on Russell Ranch include agricultural uses, including agricultural teaching and research space; the Russell-Ham home, which is used for academic and administrative uses; and habitat mitigation and restoration along Putah Creek. Off-Campus Properties. owns several properties within the City of Davis. These parcels are used for student housing (located north of Russell Boulevard and east of SR 113), the Chancellor s residence (located north of Russell Boulevard on College Park), mixed-use housing (located at the intersection of A Street and Third Street), and academic and administrative uses (located off A Street north of First Street and south of I-80 and Cowell Boulevard). In addition, owns vacant parcels in the southern portion of the City of Davis, south of Cowell Boulevard. Land Use Acreages within Existing land use within has been developed overtime and most recently through implementation of the 2003 LRDP, which would be replaced with the 2018 LRDP. The development and land uses within the campus currently are intended to support the current campus population and academic mission of. Table identifies the existing land use designations and associated acreage of the campus currently. Exhibit shows the distribution of land use designations across Long Range Development Plan EIR

5 Land Use and Planning Exhibit : Existing Land Use 2018 Long Range Development Plan EIR

6 Table Existing Land Use Designations Acreage Land Use Designation Existing Acreage Academic Land Use Designations Academic & Administrative Teaching & Research Fields 2, Open Space Land Use Designations Arboretum & Public Garden Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Campus Recreation & Athletics Community Gardens 7.03 Undeveloped Open Space Residential Land Use Designations Student Housing Faculty & Staff Housing 5.47 Infrastructure Land Use Designations Streetscapes & Roadways Parking Campus Utilities University Airport Total acreage 5, Source: 2017 LAND USE The 2018 LRDP and the 2003 LRDP, which would be replaced by the 2018 LRDP, provide comprehensive definitions of land use designations. The following paragraphs provide a general characteristic of individual land use designations currently present on campus. Academic Land Use Designations Academic & Administrative The Academic & Administrative land use designation is the primary land use associated with the academic enterprise. The buildings in this land use designation accommodate most instruction and research space. The vast majority of the overall campus building area (i.e., not open space or agricultural fields) also is associated with this land use designation. The Academic & Administrative land use designation also includes important programs that sustain the academic enterprise and the campus community, such as the Coffee House and the Student Community Center, the Police and Fire departments, the Unitrans service yard, and the Student Health and Wellness Center. The Academic & Administrative land use designation includes a modest amount of student housing. The Academic & Administrative land use designation also allows for parking lots (up to 100 parking spaces) and temporary parking uses to support campus housing. Teaching & Research Fields Existing agricultural lands represent the largest, in terms of land area, land use of the campus and include active teaching and research fields, as well as leased agricultural lands, Long Range Development Plan EIR

7 reserved for future teaching and research. Most of the orchards, vineyards, croplands, and pastures are located on south campus, west campus, and Russell Ranch. The Student Farm and the vineyards near the Robert Mondavi Institute for Food and Wine represent the remaining agricultural lands to be preserved in the central campus. The Teaching & Research Fields land use designation also includes numerous building structures oriented primarily toward agricultural research and general operation and maintenance of fields. Low-intensity animal support facilities, open-air shade structures, horse paddocks, gravel service roads, and laydown space, as well as irrigation wells, culverts, tailwater ponds, and roadside drainage swales, exemplify the agrarian character of this land use designation. The land use designation also includes a few greenhouses located on campus. Open Space Land Use Designations Arboretum & Public Garden The Arboretum & Public Garden land use designation includes all the Arboretum, as well as the formal campus landscapes in the core campus area, such as the Quad, the Mrak Promenade, and the cork oak alleys throughout campus. This designation also includes the Core Campus streets because they function primarily as long, linear parkways, used primarily by bicyclists and pedestrians. The Arboretum & Public Garden land use designation includes a significant amount of bicycle infrastructure. These bicycle streets are considered vital linkages in the campus open space network. Putah Creek Riparian Reserve The Putah Creek Riparian Reserve is a stream, riparian, and grassland ecosystem managed for teaching, research, wildlife, and habitat protection and currently occupies approximately 660 of the campus, primarily within the west and central campuses. Campus Recreation & Athletics Recreational fields on campus are used by recreational programs, intercollegiate athletics, and members of the community and function as open space in general. The Campus Recreation & Athletics land use designation includes these fields as well as the various facilities associated with recreation and athletics, such as the Activities and Recreation Center, Aggie Stadium, and Schaal Aquatic Center. The various fields and facilities associated with intercollegiate athletics represent an important aspect of public life where members of the greater community come together for competitive as well as other cultural events, such as graduation and music performances. These lands host large groups of people for a variety of events and serve as an important component of the open space network. The Campus Recreation & Athletics land use designation may also include utility infrastructure systems such as stormwater facilities, field illumination, bicycle infrastructure, and pedestrian amenities. Community Gardens The Community Garden land use designation includes two community gardens. One of the gardens is located between Solano Park Apartments, the UPRR tracks, and Old Davis Road, and the other, the Experimental College Garden, is located between the Domes and the Student Farm. Undeveloped Open Space Much of the underused or informally used lands on campus (approximately 140 acres) are designated as undeveloped open space. The designation of open space as undeveloped signifies a temporal aspect of the land and the long-term intention for development Long Range Development Plan EIR

8 Residential Land Use Designations Student Housing Most of the land dedicated to campus housing is contained in the Student Housing land use designation. In general, there are two types of student housing on campus: residence halls for primarily first-year students and campus apartments for undergraduates, graduates, and students with families. The residence halls include support programs to help students transition into university life, dining commons, and other support facilities associated with the operation and maintenance of these facilities. Some residence halls contain large assembly space that serve the community and function as classroom space for campus. For the most part, students living in residence halls are not provided parking spaces and are not eligible for parking permits. Campus apartments include support programs (e.g., community centers, laundry facilities, and day care centers), on-site parking, stormwater infrastructure, and, potentially, solar energy facilities. Campus apartments may also include community kitchens, fitness centers, and studios for yoga and dance. Faculty & Staff Housing The Faculty & Staff Housing land use designation primarily pertains to land in the West Village neighborhood but also Aggie Village. West Village is planned as local, below market employee housing. Aggie Village, currently the main faculty and staff housing on campus, is a small residential area with a mixture of building types. It has traditional detached single-family homes, duplexes, and garden cottages. The Faculty & Staff Housing land use designation includes the individual parcels associated with the housing, as well as the local streets, parking, and community center. Infrastructural Land Use Designations Streetscapes & Roadways The Streetscapes & Roadways land use designation includes most major roadways and associated streetscapes. The streetscape includes landscaping, dedicated multiuse trails, walkways, wayfinding elements, sculptures, pedestrian lights, benches, and stormwater infrastructure. The roadway portion of this land use designation includes all lanes for vehicle movement and dedicated Class II bicycle lanes, as well as on-street parking, medians, crosswalks, and signage. The vehicular portion of the roadways is the most common location for the routing of the various campus utility networks. Parking The Parking land use designation includes major parking infrastructure for all commuters and visitors traveling to campus; however, parking lots associated with the Residential Space land use designation or with fewer than 100 spaces are not included in this land use designation. The Parking land use designation also includes adjacent landscaping and allows for installation of solar arrays for renewable energy/sustainability purposes. Campus Utilities The Campus Utilities land use designation includes a domestic water supply system, separate irrigation systems for core campus landscapes and agricultural fields, a stormwater drainage system with localized green infrastructure, a water reclamation facility for campus sewage, an electrical system that produces and distributes electricity and interconnects with the main grid, a closed landfill, a telecommunication network, and a heating and cooling system for the core campus that relies on water as a thermal medium to both heat and cool buildings. The Campus Utilities land use designation applies to all these systems Long Range Development Plan EIR

9 University Airport The University Airport land use designation applies to the existing airport, which is located within the central portion of west campus. The airport opened in 1946 and operates one runway, approximately 3,200 feet long. SURROUNDING LAND USES Adjacent to the central campus on the east is the core area of downtown Davis, which consists of a mixture of residential and commercial land uses. The downtown core area is arranged in a traditional grid pattern with mostly residential uses for the first two blocks east of the central campus. Further east, the land use pattern transitions to predominantly commercial uses. North of the central campus, across from Russell Boulevard, the land uses in the City of Davis are predominantly residential from A Street to SR 113 except for the retail land uses on the east and west sides of Anderson Road. West of the central campus, SR 113 separates the west campus from the central campus. South of the central campus is I-80 and the Union Pacific Railroad, with the south campus and agricultural uses south of I-80 and the railroad. West of SR 113 and north of Russell Boulevard are residential land uses, including single-family dwelling units, duplexes, and multifamily dwelling units. In addition to the residential uses, a small professional office building, a church, and a day care center are located immediately north of Russell Boulevard at the Arthur Street intersection. Farther west along the south side of Russell Boulevard and east of County Road 98 are additional residential, church, day care and school uses established in the Patwin Neighborhood Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIA Based on Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines, the project would result in a potentially significant impact on land use if it would: physically divide an established community; or conflict, or create an inconsistency, with any applicable land use plan, policy, or regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over the project (including, but not limited to the general plan, specific plan, local coastal program, or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect. As noted above, impacts related to potential conflicts with applicable habitat conservation plans or natural community conservation plans are discussed in Section 3.5, Biological Resources. ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY The evaluation of potential land use impacts is based on review of documents pertaining to the 2018 LRDP plan area, as well as potential compatibility of the 2018 LRDP with existing and planned land uses near the campus. As part of this review, local planning documents and land use plans were reviewed to determine whether implementation of the 2018 LRDP would impede or conflict with those plans such that an environmental impact would occur. In determining the level of significance, this analysis assumes that the 2018 LRDP would comply with relevant state regulations and local General Plan policies, where feasible Long Range Development Plan EIR

10 ISSUES NOT EVALUATED FURTHER Physical Division of an Existing Community The physical division of an established community refers to the construction of a physical feature such as an interstate highway, major roadway, utility infrastructure expansion, or the removal of access features that would impair connections within a community. The proposed 2018 LRDP involves modifications to the existing land plan established as part of the 2003 LRDP to support potential growth predominantly through redevelopment of existing facilities and construction on previously developed land. No land acquisition or expansion of the existing facility would occur as part of the 2018 LRDP. Further, land use changes that may occur under the 2018 LRDP would not involve development within existing, established communities such that physical division of an existing community may occur. The 2018 LRDP will not result in any physical division to the surrounding community of the City of Davis, Yolo County or Solano County. The impact is not further discussed in the EIR. IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Impact : Conflict with applicable land use plans, policies, or existing zoning adopted for the purposes of avoiding or mitigation of an environmental effect. Implementation of the 2018 LRDP would not conflict with existing land use, policies, or zoning. Because the UC holds jurisdiction over campus-related projects, projects carried out by would be consistent with the 2018 LRDP. Further, potential conflicts with adjacent land use, policies, or zoning are not anticipated. Therefore, impacts associated with land use, policies, or zoning would be less than significant. The 2018 LRDP, if adopted, would become the applicable campus land use plan. Pursuant to the University of California s constitutional autonomy (refer to Section 3.0.2, University of California Autonomy ), is the only agency with land use jurisdiction over campus projects. The 2018 LRDP would not involve the extension of the existing campus boundary, and as such, the 2018 LRDP would not involve the potential acquisition of lands currently subject to municipal planning efforts. Under the 2018 LRDP, existing campus land use designations would be modified to primarily allow for increased academic and administrative space and housing for students and faculty/staff, as shown in Table These land use changes identified in the 2018 LRDP and the potential development that may occur with them represent an intensification of existing university-related uses in the central campus with some expansion into teaching and research field space and undeveloped open space in the west and south campuses. With respect to the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Management Plan, the acreage associated with the reserve would increase under the 2018 LRDP, and as a result, would not conflict with the overarching goal of maintaining the reserve as a resource to both and the local area. Thus, campus development occurring consistent with the 2018 LRDP would have no land use impact under this threshold. Nonetheless, has considered County and City land use plans and policies because of its continued and vested interest in effective campus planning and engaging the local communities. As the 2018 LRDP does not change the type of land uses present within the campus, especially along the border of the campus with the City of Davis, Yolo County, and Solano County, the 2018 LRDP is not expected to conflict with local plans and policies adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect. Further consideration of specific policies is provided in the various resource-specific sections of this EIR Long Range Development Plan EIR

11 Table Land Use Designations Acreage Summary Table Land Use Designation Existing Acreage 2018 LRDP Acreage Net Change Academic Land Use Designations Academic & Administrative Teaching & Research Fields 2, , Open Space Land Use Designations Arboretum & Public Garden Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Campus Recreation & Athletics Community Gardens Undeveloped Open Space Residential Land Use Designations Student Housing Faculty & Staff Housing Infrastructure Land Use Designations Streetscapes & Roadways Parking Campus Utilities University Airport Total acreage 5, , Source: 2017 Projected campus population growth that may occur under the 2018 LRDP would be accommodated on-campus through the development of additional structures on-campus, including housing and academic/administrative buildings, thereby increasing the potential for land use conflicts with the surrounding area. However, the types of land use changes (primarily to student housing and academic/administrative space with some athletic fields and open space) that would occur within UC Davis would remain consistent with the current types of land uses, especially with respect to the interfaces between campus and local jurisdictions. For example, along A Street, implementation of the 2018 LRDP may result in additional academic/administrative space, north of 3 rd Street, however, this type of land use is already present south of 3 rd Street, extending to 1 st Street, and the land use change would not result in potential incompatibility with surrounding land uses. Therefore, due to the presence of similar land uses along the interfaces between and local jurisdictions, development under the 2018 LRDP is not anticipated to result in land use conflicts. Refer to Exhibits 2-3 and 2-4 of Chapter 2, Project Description, for further clarification. Therefore, while is not subject to municipal planning efforts within their own jurisdictions, implementation of the 2018 LRDP would not be in conflict with existing plans, policies, and regulations set forth by local jurisdictions for the purposes of reducing or mitigation environmental impacts nor would it result in land use conflicts. Impacts would be less than significant. Mitigation Measures No mitigation measures are necessary Long Range Development Plan EIR

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