EDUCATION
Prepared a comprehensive inventory of service districts (e.g. water, sewer,etc.) and community service areas (CSAs) in the northern portion of Monterey County for the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) of Monterey County. This study, adopted by LAFCO in 2006, provides the LAFCO Board with objective information that is used in their decisions about the expansion, reorganization and other changes to service districts in the North County area.
Prepared the Expanded Initial Study to evaluate the environmental effects of constructing a 4.2 mile linear park along the Guadalupe Creek corridor in the City of San José Tasks included managing others in the project team and coordinating directions from three primary agencies/firms: the project sponsor, City of San José Parks Division; the landscape architecture firm designing the project, Callander Associates; and the City of José Planning Department.
Lead project planner to evaluate the City's proposal to expand their municipal landfill on agricultural land within the County's jurisdiction. The project included a complex group of proposed amendments to the General Plan, Local Coastal Program, County's Agricultural Resources Map and zoning ordinance. Impacts to both biotic resources and surrounding agricultural uses were other major issues that were analyzed. Acted as the primary liaison between the County and the City regarding this project. When the County's approval of the project was appealed to the California Coastal Commission, I represented the County at Coastal Commission hearings. The Commission approved the project with amended conditions.
Managed the EIR for a 125 dwelling unit project on a vacant 190 acre site in the Aptos area. This was the first project in the County which proposed the encroachment on and removal of the habitat of a federally listed wildlife species, the Santa Cruz Long-toed salamander. Other environmental issues included impacts to rare and locally unique plant and animal species, conservation of oak woodlands, ridgetop development and visual impacts to scenic corridors and school overcrowding. Tasks included management of a complex EIR, review of the proposed Habitat Conservation Plan, presentations at the three public hearings conducted by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, representing the County at the Coastal Commission hearing and assisting County Counsel with defending litigation against the project. The project was approved, based on staff recommendation, for 107 units with a 125 acre biological preserve by the Board of Supervisors on November 1, 1994. This approval was sustained by the Coastal Commission on appeal. After approval, Kim monitored the implementation of mitigation measures and other permit requirements at the project site.
Managed the original EIR and Supplemental EIR and authored the Final SEIR and Monitoring Plan for a County regional park project located on a vacant 62 acre site in Aptos. Prepared the agricultural viability analysis which became the basis for one chapter of the EIR. Environmental issues included loss of prime agricultural soils, excessive noise generation to adjoining neighborhoods, traffic impacts to substandard local streets and intersections and the potential for an endangered wildlife species to inhabit the site. The first two issues dealt with unavoidable adverse impacts. Tasks also included coordination the inter-departmental staff working group and presentations at multiple public hearings on the project. The Planning Commission certified the EIR and approved the project based on the EIR mitigations and the staff recommendation.
Managed the EIR prepared to evaluate the effects of implementing new policies contained in a new County General Plan and three alternative General Plan scenarios. Worked extensively with the EIR consultant on the text and format of the document and the analysis of some of the issues under a very constrained time frame. The EIR was prepared simultaneously with preparation of the Draft General Plan/LCP. Issues included growth outpacing the provision of public services and facilities, loss of agricultural land to accommodate growth near the City of Watsonville and increased traffic. The Board of Supervisors certified the EIR and approved the General Plan on December 19, 1994 after its certification by the Coastal Commission. The plan is currently in effect as the primary guidance document for land use development and conservation policies for Santa Cruz County.
Managed the EIR and was the project planner preparing the Specific Plan for the expansion of a Christian conference center and youth camp on a 85 acre campus in the Santa Cruz mountains. Both the Plan and the EIR addressed a series of complex issues including the proposal to expand visitor serving accommodations to 886 beds in an area that is experiencing groundwater overdraft and has federally listed endangered species inhabiting the site. The project was approved on May 1, 2001.
