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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDEIR Ch 10 10. Growth-Inducing Impacts of the Project Pursuant to Sections 15126(d) and 15126.2(d) of the CEQA Guidelines, this section is provided to examine ways in which the proposed project could foster economic or population growth, or the construction of additional housing, either directly or indirectly, in the surrounding environment. Also required is an assess- ment of other projects that would foster other activities which could affect the environment, individually or cumulatively. To address this issue, potential growth inducing effects will be examined through analysis of the following questions: . Would the project remove obstacles to growth, e.g., through the construction or extension of major infrastructure facilities that do not presently exist in the project area, or through changes in existing regulations pertaining to land development? . Would this project result in the need to expand one or more public services to maintain desired levels of service? . Would this project encourage or facilitate economic effects that could result in other activities that could significantly affect the environment? . Would approval of this project involve some precedent setting action that could encourage and facilitate other activities that could significantly affect the environment? Please note that growth inducing effects are not to be construed as necessarily beneficial, detrimental, or of little significance to the environment. This issue is presented to provide additional information on ways in which this project could contribute to significant changes in the environment, beyond the direct consequences of developing the land use concept examined in the preceding sections of this EIR. Remove Obstacles to Growth? ~ The General Plan Update in and of its self does not include extension or construction of any major infrastructure. No new undeveloped areas are planned for annexation. The Martin Ranch area on the northern boundary of the City has been added to the SOl but development has already been occurring there. Most of the land use designation changes proposed are map corrections to reflect the development that has already occurred. The annexation of the remainder of the Arrowhead Springs property is part of the proposed project; however, Arrowhead Springs has always been self sustaining in terms of infrastructure and would continue to be so after annexation. Extensions of existing utility facilities in the City from surrounding roadways will provide a sufficient tie-in to the existing utility systems to accommodate the demands of this project at full buildout. However, the amount of growth predicted would require expansion of water and wastewater processing facilities. The University District Specific Plan includes only aesthetic changes, and does not require any extension of utility facilities, nor does it remove any obstacles to growth. Concerning the Arrowhead Springs Specific Plan, approximately 200 acres of the Arrowhead Springs property is currently developed with infrastructure sufficient for those uses. The infrastructure proposed for the scope of this plan would be sufficient only for this plan, not for future growth. Water and sewer systems are currently provided from resources on-site and would continue to be provided on-site, although expanded to accommodate this plan. Any additional development will need to include the expansion or replacement of the proposed infrastructure. Development of the site is currently allowed by the existing General Plans for both the City and the County of San Bernardino (for the portion that lies in the County). Approval of the proposed Specific Plan would limit development to selected areas of the property (leaving 1,400 acres of the1,906-acre property for open space) and thus reduce the amount of land available for future development on-site, which is not restricted by current land use designations, thereby limiting growth-inducing impacts associated with the proposed project. General Plan Update and Associated Specific Plans EIR City of San Bernardino . Page 10-1 10. Growth-Inducing Impacts of the Project Require Expansions of One or More Public Services? As discussed in Section 5.12, there will be significant growth inducing consequences with respect to this project. Future development of the General Plan and development of the Arrowhead Springs area will necessitate additional fire protection, medical aid, police protection, school, parks and other recreational facilities. Elements of the specific plan for the University District include mainly aesthetic improvements, as previously mentioned, and will not necessitate any additional resources. None of the public service agencies consulted during the preparation of this EIR have indicated that this project would necessitate the immediate expansion of their existing resources, in order to main- tain desired levels of service. This project would not, therefore, have significant growth inducing consequences with respect to public services. Encourage or Facilitate Economic Activities? During project construction, a number of design, engineering, and construction-related jobs would be created. This would be a temporary situation, lasting until project construction is completed. This would be a direct, growth inducing effect of this project. As new homes are developed and occupied, residents of the proposed project would seek shopping, entertainment, employment, home improvement, auto maintenance and other economic opportunities in the surrounding area, inclusive of nearby areas, the entire City of San Bernardino and probably most of northwest San Bernardino County. This would represent an increased demand for such economic goods and services and could, therefore, encourage the creation of new businesses, and/or the expansion of existing businesses which address these economic needs San Bernardino has always been viewed as a jobs center However, the proposed project is balanced in that it also provides commercial uses to serve the shopping needs of the future residents which will generate additional employment opportunities. Therefore, the proposed project will have a direct growth inducing effect, although indirect growth-inducing effects will be minimized due to the balanced nature of the land use plan. This analysis and conclusion also applies to the Arrowhead Springs Specific Plan. Involve a Precedent Setting Action? The proposed project entails an update of the General Plan for the City of San Bernardino, in addition to specific plans for the Arrowhead Springs area and the University District. No changes to existing zoning standards, or to any of the City's building safety standards (Le., building, grading, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, fire codes) are proposed or required to implement this project. Mitigation measures have been identified where necessary in the preceding Sections 5.1 to 5.15 to ensure that subsequent subdivision maps and site-specific development projects comply with all applicable City plans, policies, ordinances, etc., to ensure that there are no conflicts with adopted land development regulations and that environmental impacts are minimized as this project is completed over the next several years or decades in the case of the General Plan update. Pressures to develop other land in the surrounding area would derive from regional economic conditions and market demands for housing, commercial and industrial land uses that are not directly or indirectly influenced by zoning actions on a particular property. Approval of the proposed project would not, therefore, involve a precedent setting action that could be applied to other properties and thereby encourage or facilitate growth that would not otherwise occur. Page 10-2 . The Planning Center July 2005