Reso 2010-035 - Laserfiche WebLink

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EXPLANATION: a) Adoption of the Housing Element would not result in any transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials. Additional housing in San Leandro would probably lead to increased volumes of household hazardous wastes, but these increases have already been accounted for in the General Plan EIR and the TOD Strategy EIR. Policies have already been integrated into the General Plan to address potential impacts. Policy 34.06 promotes public education about safe disposal of hazardous waste and Action 34.06-A calls for publicity of household hazardous waste collection events and the location and hours of hazardous waste collection facilities. Because the Housing Element is focused on residential uses, there would be no impact associated with industrial or commercial sources of hazardous waste generation. b) The Housing Element would not result in any increased risk of upset or accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment. Some of the housing sites may contain older structures that would be demolished, creating the potential for asbestos, lead, mercury, and PCB releases. This potential was already analyzed in the General Plan EIR and is addressed through policies in the Plan. Policy 34.07 in the General Plan indicates that the City will "ensure the safe and proper handling of hazardous building materials", and further notes that any such materials must be handled and disposed in a manner that protects human health and the environment. The Housing Element does not propose development in areas that were not previously assessed for this hazard in the General Plan. Furthermore, any subsequent development project on the housing sites identified in the Element would be subject to environmental review. This would include hazardous materials release risk assessments, along with a requirement to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local hazardous materials regulations. c) The proposed Housing Element would not cause the emission of hazardous materials or require the handling of hazardous materials within one-quarter mile of a school. Future construction on any of the housing sites would require clearance from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District regarding the presence of any potentially hazardous materials that could be emitted during demolition or site grading. d) Some of the housing opportunity sites identified in the proposed Housing Element were previously used (or are currently used) for commercial purposes. The housing sites include gas stations, car sales lots, car rental lots, auto repair businesses, and a furniture warehouse. In some cases, past activities may have introduced contaminants that will require clean-up before the site may be safely redeveloped. Other sites may have been in agricultural use before they were commercially developed and could have residual herbicides or pesticides in the soil. The need for clean-up on such sites has already been analyzed in the General Plan EIR and TOD strategy EIR. The development proposed by the Housing Element is consistent with the development proposed by those plans in terms of quantity (density) and location. No additional impacts are expected as a result of Housing Element adoption. The General Plan EIR included mitigation measures to address the potential for adverse impacts. These measures correspond to General Plan policies, including Policy 34.02 which requires clean-up prior to the development or reuse of any contaminated site. The General Plan EIR also included a mitigation measure which requires a Phase I environmental assessment prior to the redevelopment of any site where hazardous materials may be present. This would apply to some of the housing opportunity sites that were previously used for agricultural, industrial, or heavier commercial uses. e) Housing Element adoption will not result in a safety hazard for people residing or working near areas covered by an airport land use plan. The Element is consistent with the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for Oakland International Airport. Although there are long-established residential areas in the approach path to the North Field at Oakland International Airport, none of the city's 86 housing sites are located in this area. Housing sites 10 and 86 are located in the approach path to North Field but are in the Bayfair Mall Area which is four miles from the runway. Consistent with the General Plan, any proposal to place housing in the area covered by the Airport Land Use Plan would be coordinated through the Alameda County Airport Land Use Commission. Impacts resulting from anticipated growth on airport-related hazards were addressed in the General Plan EIR; the Housing Element proposes no new or increased impacts. f) There are no private airstrips in or adjacent to San Leandro. Housing Element Initial Study and Negative Declaration 17 February 2010