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483, Construct a tennis court, Studies & Reports• • City 0/ ledlin JhEld INCORPORATED JANUARY 24, 1957 ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION AND CHECKLIST (INITIAL STUDY) CITY OF ROLLING HILLS DATE: APPLICATION NO. SITE LOCATION: ZONING & SIZE: APPLICANT: REPRESENTATIVE: NO. 2 PORTUGUESE BEND ROAD ROLLING HILLS, CALIF. 90274 (213) 377-1521 FoR FAX: (213) 377-7288 AUGUST 17, 1992 ZONING CASE NO. 483 42 PORTUGUESE BEND ROAD (LOT 120-RH) RAS-2, 5.0 ACRES DR. AND MRS. MOHAN1 BHASKER MR. DOUGLAS MCHATTIE, SOUTH BAY ENGINEERING REQUEST: A request for a Conditional Use Permit to permit the construction of a tennis court. The following analysis is a description of the findings contained in the Environmental Information and Checklist Form which preceded this page. A detailed discussion of all potential environmental impacts checked "Yes" or "Maybe" is provided, along with appropriate mitigation measures. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS The City of Rolling Hills is a residential community with single family dwellings on estate -size lots. The project site has an existing single family dwelling, garage, swimming pool, stable and sports court. The project site has an undulating topography. Item 39. Earth. a-d. Although approval of the subject project will not result in unstable earth conditions or in changes in geologic substructures, it should be noted that portions of the City exhibit unstable earth conditions, including active landslides and soil creep. Because the City is located in seismically active southern California, all development is exposed to potential groundshaking in the event of an earthquake. The Palos Verdes fault, considered potentially active, is located approximately one mile northeast of the City. Approval of the subject project could result in further disruptions, displacements, compaction, or overcovering of the soil. An illegal clay sports court was previously constructed at another site on the property with a retaining wall in 1990. Applications for a Variance and Conditional Use Permit were made to reconstruct the sports court in 1991. Approval was granted for the sports court by the Planning Commission. Then, while awaiting approval of the sports court permits, grading for that court commenced without permits. INITIAL REVIEW .'"ZONING CASE NO. 483 PAGE 2 Any displacement and recompaction of the soil will be required to conform with local ordinances and engineering practices requiring balanced cut and fill and should not cause a significant environmental impact. Mitigation Measures 1. The applicant shall prepare and submit to the City a preliminary grading plan showing proposed drainage direction and facilities, driveways, building pad(s), stable,corral, and blue line streams, for the lot at least 30.days prior to the Planning Commission hearing on the subject case. e-g. There will be further removal of natural vegetative cover for. a second recreational court on the property which is not similar to surrounding residential properties in the community. A retaining wall will be constructed to protect people and property from geologic hazards. Mitigation Measures 2. A biological assessment for the lot shall be prepared by a City approved qualified biologist prior to commencement of project grading and construction. The biological assessment shall include a description of all significant plant and animal life on the lot along with recommendations for preservation, mitigation or relocation of such resources. •The developer shall incur the cost for preparation of the biological assessment and shall comply with mitigation measures recommended in the biological assessment as approved by the City. Item 40. Air. a-c. The proposed project may generate slight increases in vehicle trips and objectionable odors during construction, the resultant impact on air quality will be less than significant. Item 41. Water. a. Future development of a second recreational court will not alter fresh or marine water currents. b. The proposed'project may alter drainage patterns, increase surface runoff and reduce water absorption by the placement of a second recreational court, the introduction of impervious surface materials and irrigation systems. INITIAL REVIEW ZONING CASE NO. 483 PAGE 3 c: No major floodplains.exist in the City. Flood waters generally flow through the canyon areas. The General Plan does not permit development in the canyons, and so changes in the course or flow of floodwaters is not anticipated. d. No water bodies are located in the project area. .Future development in the project area is not expected to result in change in the amount of any water bodies located in the vicinity. i. No major floodplains exist in the City, and development is not permitted in the canyon areas most likely to be affected by flooding. No open bodies of water occur within the City, thus no such'hazard. exists. The project is located high enough and far enough away from the ocean'that tsunami hazards do not exist. Item 42. Plant Life a-d. Any additional development within the City. will reduce the amount of native vegetation which will be replaced, in some instances, by non-native species. And,.though limited growth (i.e. a second. recreational court) is proposed, the impact will not be significant. In addition, the General Plan and Zoning Code set forth policies which encourage the retention and use of native drought tolerant vegetation in landscaping. No known rare and endangered species of plants exist in the City. Refer to Mitigation Measure 2. Item 43. Animal Life a'. As further development occurs in Rolling Hills, the natural habitat of the area will be slightly reduced. But, the impact of the current proposal is expected to be less than significant. b.. Large lot, estate density development proposed for .this subdivision provides the opportunity to 'retain substantial amounts of existing habitat.. --The only animal listed 'by the Federal Government is the Palos Verdes Blue, a butterfly which was last seen in the -Rolling Hills -area in May, 1986.. Several other animals do occur, however, that are considered as candidates.for protection by either the Federal Government or the .State Government. The Tiger Beetle, while not considered to be endangered or threatened, does maintain a sensitivity to 'humans, exists to an extent that may be cause for concern. The Rolling Hills General Plan, shows animals. that are either listed or considered for listing 'in the Rolling Hills area. The impact of the proposed future development maybe less than significant and could be controlled through on site location management. Refer to Mitigation Measure 2. INITIAL REVIEW ZONING CASE.NO. '483 PAGE 4 Item 44. Noise. a.. The future development of a second, larger recreational court may result in a significant increase in ambient noise levels. And, construction noise may reach high levels in the short term. Mitigation Measures 3. A sound baffle screen, along with mature.shrub and tree landscape screening, shall, be provided for the tennis court and shall be maintained so as not to interfere with the viewscape of the owners of surrounding property, nor shall it interfere with the views of users of community easements. Thr proposed height, design, location and materials used for the sound baffle screen shall be' subject to City staff review and approval prior to installation. Item 41. Cultural.Resources a. While prior tilling and dry farming practices may have disrupted potential remains, grading an additional 7,200 square foot recreational court may uncover a cultural resource. Mitigation Measures 4. In the event that subsurface material of an archaeological, paleontological or other cultural resource is encountered during project grading or development, all grading and construction shall cease in the immediate area, and the find shall be left untouched until a qualified professional archaeologist or paleontologist, whichever is appropriate, is contacted and called in to evaluate the find and makes recommendations as to disposition, mitigation or salvage. The developer shall incur the cost of such professional investigation. The developer shall comply with the mitigation measures recommended and approved by the City for the disposition, mitigation or salvage of such material. INITIAL REVIEW ZONING CASE NO. 483 PAGE 5 On the basis of this initial evaluation: (check one) I find the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. X I find thatalthough the proposed 'project could have a significant effect on the environment,there will not be a significant effect in this case because the mitigation measures described on an attached sheet have been added to the project. A NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. Date I find the project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is.. required. LOLA M. UNGAR For the City of Rolling Hills (Lead Agency)