City of Pinole: General Plan Update (2009)

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT NOW AVAILABLE
The City has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and State CEQA Guidelines. The Final EIR assesses the expected environmental impacts resulting from the General Plan Update project and associated impacts from subsequent implementation of this project. The Final EIR responds to comments received on the Draft EIR. The Draft EIR together with the written responses to the Draft EIR comments and textual revisions as necessary to address the comments constitutes the Final EIR.

The City will review and consider the Final EIR at upcoming General Plan Update public hearings conducted by the Planning Commission and City Council. If the City finds that the Final EIR shows a good faith effort at full disclosure of environmental information and provides sufficient analysis for decision-making, then the City may certify the Final EIR.

Final Environmental Impact Report

Appendices

GENERAL PLAN UPDATE PROJECT OVERVIEW
The City is preparing a comprehensive update of development policies and regulations for the community. The update includes a revision to the City’s General Plan; the preparation of a Specific Plan for portions of the San Pablo Avenue, Pinole Valley Road, and Appian Way corridors; and a revision to the City’s Zoning Code. The General Plan was last comprehensively updated in 1995. The General Plan is the 20-year blueprint for future development throughout the City and its Planning Area. The Three Corridor Specific Plan includes both policy direction and development standards to guide future development and encourage private investment along the City’s three major transportation corridors. The Zoning Code Update includes updated regulations to provide procedural clarity and reflect legal changes that affect land use throughout the City. The Specific Plan and Zoning Code Update are required to be consistent with the General Plan. The City has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) to analyze the impacts of the proposed General Plan Update project and satisfy environmental review requirements. All four draft documents are now available to review.

Further information will be provided throughout 2010 within the City Manager Weekly Reports that may be viewed at http://www.ci.pinole.ca.us/admin/welcome.html and on Pinole TV. For questions or additional project information, please contact Planning Manager Winston Rhodes at (510) 724-9832 or via email at wrhodes@ci.pinole.ca.us or Anne Hersch, Associate Planner at (510) 741-3895 or e-mail at ahersch@ci.pinole.ca.us

Written or oral input on these planning documents from members of the community is essential to guide thoughtful decision-making. This is an opportunity to participate in the comprehensive update of development regulations to help shape the City’s future. We encourage your participation.

DRAFT GENERAL PLAN

DRAFT THREE CORRIDORS SPECIFIC PLAN

The Specific Plan includes both development policies and detailed regulations for three key roadway corridors that serve the City: San Pablo Avenue, Pinole Valley Road, and Appian Way. The Specific Plan provides a focused planning tool to communicate community expectations and encourage investment and revitalization over time along these three transportation corridors. Topics addressed in the Specific Plan for the three corridors include: Economic Development, Circulation, Land Use and Development Standards, Design Guidelines, Infrastructure and Public Facilities, and Implementation.

DRAFT ZONING CODE UPDATE

The Zoning Code provides regulations that communicate how development proceeds within specific locations of the City. Most of the current Zoning Code was prepared during the 1980s and 1990s and is being updated to reflect current concerns within the community and satisfy legal requirements as well as to ensure consistency with the General Plan. The Zoning Code is utilized to help implement the goals and policies expressed in the General Plan during review of specific development proposals. Topics addressed in the Zoning Code Update include: Zoning Code Administration, Zoning Districts, Allowed Uses, Development Standards, Site Planning Standards, Standards for Specific Land Uses, and Resource Conservation.

GENERAL PLAN UPDATE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
A Draft Environmental Impact Report has been prepared to analyze the impacts of the proposed General Plan Update and satisfy California Environmental Quality Act requirements. The proposed General Plan Update could result in significant environmental impacts in the areas of: Air Quality, Traffic, Noise, Biological Resources and Public Services (wastewater treatment capacity). These environmental issue areas and others are addressed in the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR).

REVIEW PERIOD: Written comments on the Draft General Plan Update DEIR will be accepted from July 7, 2010 to August 20, 2010 at 5:30pm, at the following address: City of Pinole, Community Development Department, 2131 Pear Street, Pinole, CA 94564, Attn: Planning Manager Winston Rhodes or via e-mail wrhodes@ci.pinole.ca.us.

PUBLIC MEETING: The public is invited to attend and provide oral comment on the DEIR at a public meeting on August 9, 2010 at 7:00 pm in the City Hall Council Chamber at 2131 Pear Street Pinole, CA 94564

AVAILABILITY OF THE DEIR: The DEIR is available for viewing at the City of Pinole Planning Division at the address above during regular office hours: Monday and Tuesday 7:30-11:30 am and Wednesday and Thursday 1:30-5:30pm.