No impact to the General Fund. The proposed GPA is being funded 50% from Measure J Return to Source Funds and 50% from Local Road Funds.
STAFF DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The proposed project consists of a County-initiated GPA to update the Transportation and Circulation Element, Roadway Network Plan, regarding Camino Tassajara and the area of the proposed TriLink (aka State Route 239) and Vasco Road–Byron Highway Connector, and add a policy to the Land Use Element related to the TriLink and Connector.
Camino Tassajara
Camino Tassajara is a principal arterial in Contra Costa County running from the Town of Danville to the Contra Costa/Alameda County line, where the roadway name changes to Tassajara Road in the City of Dublin. Both the Contra Costa County and City of Dublin General Plans identify an ultimate six-lane road configuration in the vicinity of the County line. Since 2010, the County Public Works Department has been coordinating with the City of Dublin to realign the roadway between Windemere Parkway and Fallon Road as part of the Camino Tassajara/Tassajara Road Realignment Project.
In 2014 the County was approached by the City of Dublin regarding policies for Camino Tassajara in the vicinity of the County line. Specifically, Dublin asked if the County would participate in a study to determine if future traffic volumes warranted a six-lane Camino Tassajara/Tassajara Road. The County and Dublin then initiated the Tassajara Road/Camino Tassajara Capacity Analysis ("Analysis"). Roadway improvements in this area are subject to certain requirements in the Dougherty Valley Settlement Agreement (DVSA), one of which is consultation with the Town of Danville and City of San Ramon. Both jurisdictions were consulted on the Analysis and engaged in the process. The Analysis determined that reducing future Camino Tassajara/Tassajara Road from six to four lanes (two in each direction) would result in minimal traffic diversion to other roads, similar levels-of-service at area intersections, and minimal increase in travel times compared to a six-lane configuration.
Because of the DVSA requirements, on December 7, 2015, staff reported the above findings to the Dougherty Valley Oversight Committee, which adopted a motion to approve widening Camino Tassajara/Tassajara Road to four lanes instead of six.
Staff proposes amending the Roadway Network Plan to indicate a future four-lane roadway where a six-lane roadway is currently indicated (see Attachment 2 - Proposed Revisions to Roadway Network Plan). Such amendment is a policy change that will result in the Public Works Department eventually developing a Precise Alignment for a narrower right-of-way for the effected portion of Camino Tassajara (approximately 3,400 linear feet). There are several anticipated benefits:
a. The costs to acquire land and construct the project will be lower.
b. Construction of a narrower roadway presumably will result in fewer impacts to the natural environment.
c. A narrower roadway would be more consistent with the rural character of the area.
d. As building setbacks are typically measured from property lines, a narrower right-of-way will allow the seven private properties adjacent to the subject stretch of Camino Tassajara to retain and utilize more land.
TriLink and Vasco Road-Byron Highway Connector
The proposed Vasco Road-Byron Highway Connector would provide an east-west vehicular connection between Vasco Road and Byron Highway, thereby improving regional traffic flow in the southeastern portion of the County and access to Byron Airport. The Connector is considered part of the larger TriLink project, but has independent utility and can move ahead as a stand-alone project. CCTA has suggested that the County’s General Plan make reference to the TriLink and Connector projects.
While the County’s Roadway Network Plan currently indicates a proposed expressway in the area envisioned for the TriLink and Connector, final alignments have not been identified for these projects. These alignments will be determined based on several factors including physical constraints, cost, impacts to existing residents and land uses, and impacts to biological and cultural resources. Given the uncertainty regarding the alignments, staff proposes amending the Roadway Network Plan to delete the existing reference to a proposed expressway and indicate a “Special Planning Area” where potential conflicts with the alignments should be considered in land use decisions (see Attachment 2).
Staff also proposes adding the following policy to the Land Use Element as Policy 3-77 under the Policies for the Southeast County Area subheading:
3-77. The TriLink (State Route 239) and Vasco Road–Byron Highway Connector (Airport Connector) projects are proposed in the Southeast Area of the County. The “Special Planning Area” indicated on the Roadway Network Plan encompasses the area of potential right-of-way alignments for these projects. Because the final alignments have not been determined, potential alignment conflicts within the Special Planning Area shall be considered in land use decisions.
The proposed policy requires consideration of potential conflicts, but does not prohibit development within the potential alignments. The intent is to make the public and decision makers aware of the issue, not to restrict use of private property.
If the proposed policy is adopted, then existing Policy 3-77 will become Policy 3-78 and all subsequent policies will be renumbered to conclude at Policy 3-217.
AGENCY COMMENTS
The proposed GPA was circulated to the CCTA and the Regional Transportation Planning Committees (RTPCs) for the affected areas [Southwest Area Transportation Committee (SWAT) for Camino Tassajara and TRANSPLAN for the TriLink/Connector]. Neither CCTA nor the RTPCs submitted comments.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed project consists of a group of minor revisions to the General Plan. A GPA qualifies as a project under CEQA and is therefore subject to environmental review. Staff has determined that the proposed project would not have a significant impact on the environment for the following reasons:
1. None of the proposed revisions to the General Plan confer a right or entitlement for development.
2. The specific projects discussed in the proposed revisions to the General Plan, namely the Camino Tassajara/Tassajara Road widening and the TriLink and Vasco Road-Byron Highway Connector, would be subject to their own CEQA reviews, allowing any project-specific environmental impacts to be studied at the time each project was undertaken.
3. The Tassajara Road/Camino Tassajara Capacity Analysis conducted by the County and City of Dublin, in consultation with the Town of Danville and City of San Ramon, determined that widening Camino Tassajara/Tassajara Road to four lanes (two in each direction) would result in minimal traffic diversion to other roads, similar levels-of-service at area intersections, and minimal increase in travel times compared to the previously-planned six-lane configuration.
4. Constructing a narrower Camino Tassajara/Tassajara Road would presumably result in fewer impacts to the natural environment, especially given the biological sensitivity of the project area.
5. The revisions regarding the TriLink and Vasco Road-Byron Highway Connector projects are informational and provide guidance on application processing; they do not impact the environment in any way.
Based on the foregoing, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the proposed project is exempt from CEQA because it can be seen with certainty that the project would not have a significant effect on the environment.
COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING
The CPC considered the proposed GPA at its hearing on October 25, 2016, and voted 6-0 to adopt a resolution recommending that the Board of Supervisors approve the project. Public comments were received from Bill Newman of 7300 Camino Tassajara and Gretchen Logue of 1111 Country Lane, San Ramon.
Mr. Newman inquired as to whether it would be possible to restrict through-traffic on Camino Tassajara. The CPC responded that that was beyond the matter at hand and such a proposal could be directed to the supervisor for the area and/or appropriate County staff.
Ms. Logue commented that the CEQA finding for the project was inadequate because increasing the width of Camino Tassajara from two lanes to four would increase greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, and would impact wildlife and local residents. Ms. Logue proposed retaining the two-lane road and adding bike lanes instead. Staff responded that the proposed project was actually to decrease the current planned width of Camino Tassajara from six lanes to four and project-specific impacts of the sort mentioned would be studied prior to commencing the widening to four lanes. Ms. Logue also proposed installing informational signage on Camino Tassajara at the entrances to Tassajara Valley (see Attachment 4). Staff responded that there was precedent for installing road signs highlighting a unique area of the county (Vasco Road Green Energy Corridor) and that too could be directed to the supervisor for the area and/or appropriate County staff.
CONCLUSION
The proposed GPA would update and clarify the Transportation and Circulation Element and Land Use Element based on recently completed studies and would not result in significant environmental impacts. Therefore, staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors find the project to be exempt from CEQA and adopt the proposed GPA.
If the Board does not adopt the GPA, then the General Plan will: 1) continue to call for a six-lane configuration for the portion of Camino Tassajara between Windermere Parkway and the Contra Costa/Alameda County line where it has been established that only four lanes are necessary; and 2) remain ambiguous regarding future alignments for the Vasco Road-Byron Highway Connector and TriLink, potentially compromising the County's ability to make progress on these projects.
CLOSED the public hearing; FOUND the project is exempt from CEQA ; ADOPTED the proposed GPA, amending the Land Use Element and Transportation and Circulation Element of the 2005-2020 Contra Costa County General Plan, as the second consolidated GPA for calendar year 2016; and DIRECTED Department of Conservation and Development staff to file a CEQA Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk.