HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - April 17, 1996 (68)AGENDA TITLE: Resolution of the Lodi City Council certifying the filing of a Negative Declaration by the
Community Development Director as adequate environmental documentation for the Lodi
Central Revitalization Project
MEETING DATE: April 17, 1996
PREPARED BY: Community Development Director
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council adopt a resolution certifying the filing of a Negative
Declaration by the Community Development Director as adequate environmental
documentation for the Lodi Central City Revitalization Project.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City of Lodi, in an effort to improve the economic vitality of the
historic Central Business District and the Cherokee Lane commercial
corridor, has created a revitalization plan. This plan has a number of
different approaches to accomplishing the task of revitalization, which
include incentive programs, promotional programs, marketing strategies, and public improvements. The public
improvements element of the plan will require physical changes to the project areas. These changes will include
the installation of new aesthetic features and improvements to the appearance and design of existing public and
private facilities.
Part of the planned improvements will be taking place in the City's Downtown. Improvements will be made on
School Street between Locust Street and Lodi Avenue, and similar improvements will also take place on Pine
Street and Oak Street between Church Street and Sacramento Street. Planned improvements will also take place
on Cherokee Lane between Century Boulevard and Pioneer Drive.
Most of the improvements that will take place in the project areas would be considered Categorically Exempt by
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because they are improvements being made to existing public
and private facilities. The temporary impacts on pedestrian and traffic access, noise, and air quality were given
special consideration in order to mitigate their impacts to less than significant levels.
FUNDING: None required at this time.
✓Konradt Bartlam
Community Development Director
Prepared by Mark Meissner, Associate Planner
KB/M M/Iw
Attachment
APPROVED:
H. bixon Flynn -- City Ma ger
cC9611.DOC 04!10!96
NEGATIVE DECLARATION
Notice is hereby given that the City of Lodi Planning Department has determined
that the following proposal will have no "Significant Impact on the Environment".
Supporting documentation is available in the form of a "Preliminary Environmental
Assessment" and is available for public review in the Planning Department Office,
City Hall Building, 221 W. Pine Street.
Date: March 22, 1996 Project Title: Lodi Central City Revitalization Project.
Responsible Agency: Lodi Planning Department Contact Person: Mark Meissner
NAME OF PERSON, FIRM, OR AGENCY UNDERTAKING PROJECT:
City of Lodi
Address: 221 West Pine Street City: Lodi County: San Joaquin Co.
Phone: (209) 333-6711
PROJECT DESCRIPTION OF NATURE, PURPOSE, AND LOCATION
The purpose of the Lodi Central City Revitalization Project is to construct physical
improvements in the historic central Lodi business district and the Cherokee Lane
commercial corridor that will serve as a catalyst to begin the economic and commercial
revitalization of the Downtown Lodi and the Cherokee Lane areas. The Revitalization
Project is one component of a comprehensive and detailed action program consisting of
public improvements, incentive programs, promotional programs and marketing strategies.
Project Location City Project Location County
LODI SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
Address Where Preliminary Environmental
Assessment is Available:
LODI CITY PLANNING DEPT.
221 W. Pine St., Lodi, CA 95240
Phone: (209) 334-5634
Environmental Assessment
INITIAL STUDY
1. PROJECT TITLE Lodi Central Citv Revitalization Project.
2. LOCATION See attached map.
3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The City of Lodi, in an effort to improve the
economic vitality of the historic central Lodi business district and the Cherokee Lane
commercial corridor, has created a revitalization plan. This plan has a number of
different approaches to accomplishing the task of revitalization, which include
incentive programs, promotional programs, marketing strategies, and public
improvements. The public improvements element of the plan will require physical
changes to the project areas. These changes will include the installation of new
aesthetic features and improvements to the appearance and design of existing public
and private facilities.
Part of the planned improvements will be taking place in the City's Downtown.
Improvements will be made on School Street between Locust Street and Lodi
Avenue, and similar improvements will also take place on Pine Street and Oak Street
between Church Street and Sacramento Street. Planned improvements will also take
place on Cherokee Lane between Century Boulevard and Pioneer Drive. (See
attached map)
The physical improvements on School Street will consist of extensive amounts of
construction to realign existing underground utilities, to replace existing sidewalks, to
install new tree wells, to re -pave the areas of construction, to replace the existing
street lighting with decorative street light standards and to add a decorative gateway
that will span the north part of the intersection of Lodi Avenue and School Street.
Realignment of the underground utilities is necessary to provide room for the
installation of the street -tree wells in their new locations. Replacement of the
sidewalks is necessary to improve and encourage pedestrian traffic as well as to
enhance downtown's appearance. The street trees will be increased in number and
moved from the sidewalks to the street in order to increase shade for autos and
pedestrians, and to make the street more of a parking area than a thoroughfare. The
street lighting is intended to improve lighting for evening activities as well as to
enhance downtown's appearance.
The physical improvements to Cherokee Lane will be to upgrade existing
underground utilities, to install new landscaping in the existing median planters
between Century Boulevard north to Delores Street, to install a new median with
landscaping and trees between Delores Street north to Pioneer Drive, and to replace
the existing street lighting with new decorative street light standards.
Upgrading the existing underground utilities is a part of this plan because it makes
sense to replace an aged utility system before the street is re -paved. The new median
along with the improvements to the existing median is planned primarily to increase
MGM CAMy Documents\LIBR.4RYUNITSTUD\1SASSESS.doc ]
the aesthetic properties Cherokee Lane and marketable value of its surrounding
properties. As with the improvements to the Downtown street lighting, the
improvements to Cherokee Lane's street lighting is intended to improve lighting for
evening activities as well as to enhance its appearance.
The following information is a detailed description of the improvements that will be
taking place in the Downtown and Cherokee Lane project areas. The information was
taken from the Ent?ineer's Report for Lodi Central City Revitalization Assessment
District No. 95-1
DESCRIPTION OF IMPROVEMENTS
The improvements as shown on the preliminary plans and specifications,
and as proposed to be constructed in the Lodi Central City Revitalization
Project will consist of, but will not be limited to, the following: Downtown
Zone (Zone A) - Revitalization Improvements The revitalization
improvements proposed to be constructed within the Downtown Zone,
will extend along School Street, Oak Street and Pine Street. The limits and
the general scope of the proposed improvements will include but is not
limited to the following:
1. Installation of pedestrian -scale street lighting at appropriate intervals
along both sides of School Street, from Lodi Avenue to Locust
Avenue.
2. Installation of parking zone street trees at appropriate intervals,
including irrigation, boxed trees, up -lighting, curbed planters, etc.
along both sides of School Street, from Lodi Avenue to Locust
Avenue.
3. Miscellaneous demolition and patching of existing improvements, and
removal of existing trees and planters along School Street.
4. Installation of pedestrian benches approximately every 150 feet along
both sides of School Street, from Lodi Avenue to Locust Avenue.
5. Installation of trash receptacles approximately every 150 feet along
both sides of School Street, from Lodi Avenue to Locust Avenue.
6. Construction of a mini pedestrian plaza adjacent to the existing Post
Office.
7. Installation of custom information kiosks along School Street, at
various locations between Lodi Avenue and Locust Avenue.
s. Installation of custom public art and/or posters for placement at the
information kiosks.
9. Installation of sidewalk planter pots along both sides of School Street,
at various locations between Lodi Avenue and Locust Avenue.
1o. Replacement of existing sidewalks and curbs with architectural
hardscaping along both sides of School Street, from Lodi Avenue to
Locust Avenue.
MGM CAMy Documents\LIBRARY\INITSTUDIISASSESS.doc 2
i i. Installation of an architectural gateway on the north side of the
intersection of School Street and Lodi Avenue.
12. Demolition of existing intersection planters and installation of comer
bow -outs, including storm drain modifications, at the intersections of
School Street and Walnut Street, School Street and Oak Street, School
Street and Pine Street, School Street and Elm Street, School Street and
Locust Street.
13. Installation of parking zone, pedestrian -scale street lighting at
appropriate intervals along both sides of Pine Street, from Church
Street to Sacramento Street.
14. Installation of trash receptacles approximately every 150 feet along
both sides of Pine Street, from Church Street to Sacramento Street.
15. Demolition of existing intersection planters and installation of corner
bow -outs, including storm drain modifications, at the intersections of
Pine Street and Church Street, and Pine Street and Sacramento Street.
16. Installation of parking zone, pedestrian -scale street lighting at
appropriate intervals along both sides of Oak Street, from School
Street to Sacramento Street.
17. Installation of parking zone street trees at appropriate intervals,
including irrigation, boxed trees, up -lighting, curbed planters, etc.
along both sides of Oak Street from School Street to Sacramento
Street.
18. Miscellaneous demolition and patching of existing improvements, and
removal of existing trees and planters along Oak Street.
19. Installation of trash receptacles approximately every 150 feet along
both sides of Oak Street, from School Street to Sacramento Street.
20. Demolition of existing intersection planters and installation of corner
bow -outs, including storm drain modifications, at the intersections of
Oak Street and Sacramento Street.
Cherokee Lane Zone - Revitalization Improvements
The revitalization improvements proposed to be constructed within the
Cherokee Lane Zone, will extend along Cherokee Lane from Pioneer
Drive on the north, to Century Boulevard on the south. The general scope
of the proposed improvements is more particularly described as follows.
1. Renovation of existing street median.
2. Installation of median trees at appropriate intervals, including soil
preparation, irrigation, boxed trees, etc..
3. Installation of median treatment including landscaping, decomposed
granite, bollards, etc..
4. Construction of upgrades and improvements to existing medians.
5. Installation of decorative street lights at appropriate intervals.
MGM C:\My Documents\LIBRARY\INITSTUD\ISASSESS.doc 3
4. General Plan Designations
DC, Downtown Commercial and GC, General Commercial
5. Site Description and Surrounding Land Use:
Both the School Street and Cherokee Lane right-of-ways are existing and developed
facilities.
School Street between Locust Street and Lodi Avenue is located within the City's
downtown commercial district. There are approximately one -hundred existing businesses
that front School Street with most of the businesses with there storefronts at the back of
the sidewalk.
The bulleted statements below contain exerts from the Draft Central City Downtown
Revitalization Plan which describes the Downtown area and provides a detail of School
Street and a detail of the Downtown's surrounding residential neighborhoods.
Downtown Lodi is generally regarded as the area bounded by Lockeford Street
on the north, Lodi Avenue on the south, the westerly frontage of Church Street
on the west, and Sacramento Street and the Southern Pacific Railroad on the east.
School Street has many attractive older brick and masonry buildings, many two
stories or more in height, line the street. Pine Street is a major east -west cross -
street that bisects School Street. Commercial buildings extend from Pleasant
Avenue on the west to Washington Street on the east and are concentrated
between Church and Sacramento Streets. School Street's traditional main street
character breaks down adjacent to Lockeford Street on the north and Lodi
Avenue on the south.
Lockeford Street and Lodi Avenue are crosstown arterials and they exhibit the
characteristics of typical commercial strips; e.g. fast-food and other "chain" types
of businesses, buildings set back from the street behind parking lots, pole -
mounted signs of various shapes and sizes located along the frontage.
• The School Street/Church Street commercial area includes Lodi's most important
landmarks and civic and cultural facilities. These include the main Post Office,
City Hall and the Civic Center, the Library, and the Lodi train station; City Hall
and the Carnegie Forum (Council Chambers) are both on the State Historic
Buildings Inventory. The Lodi Arch is located on Pine Street adjacent to the
railroad station. It is a portal that marks the eastern edge of the district and is
Downtown's most well-known Iandmark. Hutchins Street Square.. a renovated
school, is located on Hutchins Street at the terminus of Walnut Street, four
blocks west of School Street. It contains a senior citizens center, community
meeting rooms, and is proposed for construction of a performing arts theater.
The Post Office is one of School Street's principal attractions, bringing residents
and others to Downtown who might not otherwise visit the district.
MGM CAMy Documents\LIBRAR AINITSTUDMSASSESS.doc 4
• Sacramento Street parallels School Street one block to the east. The easterly
frontage is vacant for the most part, with scattered auto -related and light
industrial businesses adjacent to the railroad right-of-way. A multi -modal
Transit Center is planned for the site by the City. Storefront commercial
buildings are located along the westerly frontage and are concentrated in the
three blocks between Oak Street on the south and Locust Street on the north.
Church Street parallels School Street one block to the west. The easterly
frontage is lined by public and private parking lots that serve the School Street
frontage, drive-in banks and ATM machines, and scattered commercial
businesses. The westerly frontage includes a number of churches, most notably
St. Anne's at the corner of Walnut Street. It also provides access to Downtown's
most important civic facilities, including the City Hall, Civic Center, and Library.
• To the west of Downtown is a large, predominantly single-family residential
area. It is one of Lodi's older neighborhoods and it contains tree -lined street and
many attractive older homes. To the east of Downtown is another relatively large
residential area. It is also one of Lodi's older neighborhoods. Both
neighborhoods are within a 5-10 minute walk from Downtown.
The following contain additional exerts from the Draft Central City Downtown
Revitalization Plan which describe the Cherokee Lane project area.
• Cherokee Lane stretches for approximately 2 miles between the northerly and
southerly Highway 99 off -ramps, and its frontage consists of a mixture of large
and small-scale commercial businesses, public facilities like the Fairgrounds and
the vacant Lincoln School, and light industrial development. The Cherokee Lane
corridor has a mix of auto sales and services, motels, drive-in restaurants, liquor
stores, and the K-Mart/Orchard Supply shopping center. Auto sales and services
and lodging both oriented to highway traffic, remain the most prominent forms of
development along the street.
Cherokee Lane is crossed by Kettleman Lane, the City's primary east -west
arterial, as well as Lodi Avenue and Pine Street both of which lead to
Downtown. From the southerly Highway 99 off -ramp, the street presents an
attractive first impression of the City. Wide, grassy setbacks, a median
containing a low hedge, and a canopy of large walnut trees project the rustic yet
well -tended qualities that characterize the best of the Central Valley. North of
Kettleman Lane, however, the street looks like a typical older commercial strip.
Landscaping is minimal. Tall, pole -mounted signs and parking lots line the
roadway. There is a jumble of different building types and a variety of
relationships between buildings and the street frontage. Street lighting is
intermittent.
NIGM CAMy Documents\LIBRARYIINITSTUDUSASSESS.doc 5
• The surrounding land uses for the Cherokee Lane project area consist mainly of
State Highway 99 and industrial uses to the East, residential neighborhoods to the
West, North and South.
6. Zoning
C-2, General Commercial
Will the Proiect Have a Significant Effect
Through Any of the Following Impacts?
7. a. Substantial alteration of natural topography, soil or subsoil features? NO
b. Substantially degrade surface or ground water quality? NO
c. Substantially deplete surface or ground water resources? NO
d. Substantially interfere with ground water flow or recharge? NO
e. Cause a significant affect related to flood, erosion or siltation? NO
f. Substantial interference with the habitat of any species of fish, wildlife or plant?
NO
g. Violate ambient air quality standards or create substantial air emissions or
objectionable odors? MAYBE
h. Substantially increase ambient noise or glare level for adjoining areas? MAYBE
i. Substantial reduction of existing cropland? NO
j. Expose individuals or property to geologic, public health, traffic, flood, seismic or
other hazards? NO
k. Have a substantial, demonstrable, negative aesthetic effect? NO
1. Result in the disruption or alteration of an archeological, historical or
paleontological site? NO
in. Cause or allow substantial increase in consumption in any natural resources?
NO
n. Results in the use or waste of substantial amounts of fuel or energy? NO
o. Necessitate major extensions of water, sewer, storm drain, electrical lines or
public roads? NO
p. Substantial increase in demand for or utilization of public services such as
schools or fire or police protection? NO
q. Substantially change transportation patterns related to existing traffic load, street
capacity, parking availability or traffic safety? MAYBE
r. Induce substantial growth, concentration or displacement of population? NO
s. Result in an alteration or conflict with existing or planned land uses? NO
t. Conflict with adopted plans, goals or policies of the City of Lodi? NO
Adverse impacts of the project and their magnitude:
7g. Violate ambient air quality standards or create substantial air emissions or
objectionable odors?
During construction and installation of the improvements for both Downtown and
Cherokee Lane there may be substantial air emissions in the form of dust and diesel
.MGM CAMv Documents\LIBRARY\INITSTUD\ISASSESS.doc 6
exhaust due to the use of earth moving and other construction activities. Vehicle
emissions will not increase as a result of the installation of these improvements,
because the improvements in the Downtown and Cherokee Lane project areas take
place in existing right-of-ways. Any adverse impact on ambient air quality standards
will be limited to the construction period of the project.
7h. Substantially increase ambient noise or glare level for adjoining areas?
During construction and installation of the improvements for both Downtown and
Cherokee Lane there will be a substantial amount of noise produced by construction
vehicles and equipment. Any adverse impact on the ambient noise levels will be
limited to the construction period of the project.
7q. Substantially change transportation patterns related to existing traffic load, street
capacity, parking availability or traffic safety?
The diversion of traffic will be necessary during construction and installation of the
improvements for both Downtown and Cherokee Lane. Traffic and on -street parking
will be disrupted in the project areas due to these diversions. Any adverse impact on
the ambient noise levels will be limited to the construction period of the project.
Mitigation Measures to Reduce Adverse Impacts Identified by Initial Study:
AIR QUALITY: During construction and installation of the improvements for both
Downtown and Cherokee Lane there may be substantial air emissions in the form of dust
and diesel exhaust due to the use of earth moving and other construction equipment.
Chapter 15, Air Quality, of the City of Lodi General Plan Environmental Impact Report
states that "the City of Lodi will coordinate development project review with the San
Joaquin County APCD in order to minimize future increases in vehicle travel and to
assist in implementing any indirect source regulations adopted by the APCD."
The City of Lodi shall implement a number of mitigation measures prescribed by the San
Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District in order to reduce the potential
impact from fugitive dust due to earth moving and other construction activities. The
mitigations will be listed as follows:
• All material excavated or graded should be sufficiently watered to prevent
excessive amounts of dust. Watering should occur at least twice a day with
complete coverage, preferably in the late morning and after work is done for the
day.
• All clearing, grading earth moving or excavation activities shall cease during
periods of high winds greater than 20 mph average over one hour.
• All material transported off-site shall be either sufficiently watered or securely
covered to prevent excessive amount of dust.
• The area disturbed by clearing, earth moving or excavation activities should be
minimized at all times.
MGM CAMv Documents\LIBRARY\INITSTUD\1SASSESS.doc 7
On-site vehicle speed shall be limited to 15 mph.
No new right-of-way will be added to the City's street system. All improvements will be
taking place on existing public property. Vehicle exhaust may be reduced in the
Downtown project area after the improvements have been completed, because the street
has been designed to be more pedestrian oriented to encourage foot traffic and to be more
of a parking area than a standard thoroughfare.
By implementing the mitigation measures listed above, the temporary impacts from
construction on air quality will be reduced to less than significant levels.
The City is working towards reducing the impact from vehicle emissions by establishing
programs for alternate transportation. Programs such as the City's existing Dial -A -Ride
system, which is a door to door service; or the recently established Grape Line, which is a
fixed route transit system; or even the City's recently adopted Bicycle Transportation
Master Plan; will all help to reduce City wide vehicle emissions. The City's programs
along with the programs from the Federal, State, and County levels will help to reduce
vehicle emissions to less than significant levels.
NOISE: During construction and installation of the improvements for both Downtown
and Cherokee Lane there will be a substantial amount of noise produced by construction
vehicles and equipment. Street construction equipment is inherently noisy, for example,
jack -hammers to remove existing sidewalks. Stopping construction activities is the only
way to mitigate the sound levels of the construction necessary to complete these projects.
In order to mitigate noise impacts for the project and surrounding areas, the City's
existing Noise Ordinance will be applied. The City's noise ordinance limits construction
activities that produce excessive noise to the hours between 7 in the morning and 10 at
night.
By encouraging construction methods that create less noise (e.g., using a back -hoe and
concrete saw to remove pavement instead of using a jack -hammer), and by applying the
City's existing noise ordinance, the temporary adverse impacts to the ambient noise levels
in and around the project site will be reduced to a less than significant level.
CIRCULATION AND PARKING: Street capacity and parking availability in and
around the project areas will be impacted during the construction periods. The
Downtown project area will be impacted more so than the Cherokee Lane project area
given the closer proximity of businesses on School Street to the improvements.
Businesses in the School Street project area are in most cases located directly at the back
of the sidewalk and rely primarily on parking on the street in front of their businesses.
With street, sidewalk, curb, and gutter replacement/improvements taking place directly in
front of the businesses, disruption of business access will be great. In order to limit the
impacts on businesses from parking, traffic and pedestrian access problems, the City will
be establishing a construction phasing program. The construction phasing program will
be created with the participation of the affected business owners. A detailed construction
phasing program could allow businesses to continue to operate during most and possible
MGM CAMy Documents\LIBRARY\INITSTUDUSASSESS.doc 8
all stages of construction. Implementation of this program will help to reduce the
temporary parking and access problems to less than significant levels.
The majority of the Cherokee Lane improvements will be taking place in the center of the
right-of-way (median) and will not require traffic detours onto parallel streets. All traffic
detours will remain on Cherokee Lane. Temporarily shifting two-way traffic to the east
two lanes or the west two lanes will be necessary to accommodate traffic flow. Parking
in the Cherokee Lane project area will not be effected to the same degree as the
Downtown because off-street parking (parking -lots) are provided at most businesses.
Businesses that do not have this luxury, may take part in the construction phasing
programs mentioned above.
The installation of the project area improvements will not create a permanent substantial
impact on the circulation of the City. In order to mitigate the temporary impacts on
parking and traffic to less than significant levels, the City shall finalize the construction
phasing program with the Downtown and Cherokee Lane property owners.
RECOMMENDATION: MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
JAMES B. SCHROEDER
Environmental Review Officer
By, ' +�a r _Date 03/22/95
MGM CAMy DocumentsUBRARYUN[TSTUDUSASSESS.doc 9
RESOLUTION NO. 96-35
A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL
CERTIFYING THE NEGATIVE DECLARATION AS ADEQUATE ENVIRONMENTAL
DOCUMENTATION FOR THE LODI CENTRAL CITY REVITALIZATION PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the City of Lodi, in an effort to improve the economic vitality of the
historic Central Business District and the Cherokee Lane commercial corridor has created a
revitalization plan;
WHEREAS, it is the recommendation of the Community Development Director
that the City Council certify the filing of a Negative Declaration as adequate environmental
documentation for the Lodi Central Revitalization Project; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed all documentation and hereby certifies
the Negative Declaration as adequate environmental documentation for the Lodi Central
City Revitalization Project.
Dated: April 17, 1996
I hereby certify that Resolution No. 96-35 was passed and adopted by the City
Council of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held April 17, 1996, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - Mann, Pennino, Sieglock and Warner (Mayor)
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - Davenport
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None
IFE PERRIN
ty Clerk
96-35