HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 99-150 N.C.S. 07/26/1999
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lZesolution I~To. 99-150 ~.C. S.
of the, Cit~of Petaluma California
RESOLUTION TO REMO THE RAINIE AVENiTE CROSS-TOWN
CONNECTOR AND US ffiGHWAY 101 INTERCHANGE PROJECT FROM THE
CITE' OF PETALUMA AND PETALUMA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION'S (PCDC) LIST OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
AND TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IlVIPROVEMENTS
WHEREAS, the City Council of Petaluma did certify the Final Environmental Impact
Report (FEIR) and approve the Rainier Avenue Cross-town Connector and US Highway
101 Interchange Project on October 17, 1994 (Resolutions (94-284 N.C.S. and 94-285
N.C.S.); and
WHEREAS, the City Council and PCDC have in other past actions approved and
included this Project on its list of capital projects and traffic circulation improvements; and
WHEREAS, the Primary Objectives of the Project were stated in the Draft EIR as "to
provide a new cross-town connector (east/west route) to relieve congestion along the
Washington Street corridor; and to provide an interchange with US Highway 101 to serve
both east and west Petaluma." and
WHEREAS, subsequent examination of existing, changed and newinformation has raised
significant doubts about, and problems with, the assumptions and conclusions of the FEIR;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds such problems to include the following:
1. The Project induces new growth, and does not just accommodate growth as
claimed in the FEIR.
2. The Project induces and supports significant growth and occupancy of the
floodplain.
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3. The Project was based on floodplain mapping and constraints from the Flood
.Insurance Rate Map of September 1989, which is now over ten years out of date.
4. Such new floodplain development creates an increased risk to the public and
private health, safety and welfare that is not addressed by the FEIR.
5. The Project and. EIR does not account for impacts of the new traffic generated on
air and water quality.
6. The Project Final EIR did not include up-to-date traffic figures, calculations, and
modeling, such as not including the likely uses of several key parcels in the Project
area.
7. The new traffic induced, generated, and accommodated by the Project will
cumulatively, in a short period of time, overcome any congestion relief benefits of
the Project alone, including those at the critical Washington and McDowell
intersection.
8. The new traffic induced, generated and accommodated by the Project will
adversely affect the intersections of Rainier Avenue and US Highway 101 and
McDowell Blvd., .resulting in access to Petaluma Valley Hospital that is more
difficult from the north than it is now.
9. The Project was approved as the key component for congestion relief. However,
the City did not, and still does -not, have a comprehensive Trip Reduction Plan, nor
a Land Use, Transportation, and Circulation Plan, nor other non-structural means
of reducing congestion and delays throughout the circulation system. The results
of these efforts could likely cost less, be less environmentally damaging, and
produce longer lasting congestion relief for the City.
10. The Project, locally funded, is dependent on significant new development. This, in
effect, mandates maximal development in open lands, floodplain, riparian
Reso. 99-150 NCS Page 2 of 3
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corridors, wetlands and habitat corridors of the Corona Reach to yield the
assessment revenue necessary to provide funding for the Project.
11. Because of the limitations imposed by Proposition 218 and Special Benefit
Assessments, there would be significant inequities in sharing the cost burdens
between the properties which are accessed and benefit directly from the Project,
and from the general public, thus providing a significant public subsidy to the
development of those properties.
12. These inequities and local funding requirements for the Project and its long-term
maintenance will drain substantial public resources of the City and the PCDC from
other urgent and identified needs in the City for many years to come.
13. The project further fragments the critical habitat corridor along the Petaluma
River, especially in the reach identified as the best remaining riparian corridor and
oak-dominated valley bottom woodland'along the River.
14. The Project FEIR does not address potential. impacts to migrating steelhead (now
a listed species) and other identified endangered, threatened or special status
species within the Project area.
NOW, T~EIt>EFO>[~ BE IT RESOLVEID, that for these and other reasons and
findings, the City Council does hereby eliminate the Rainier Avenue Cross-town
Connector and U S 101 Interchange Project from its priority list of capital improvement
projects and traffic circulation improvements.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the Approved as to
Council of the City of Petaluma at a (Regular) (Adjourned) (~g(@[~tkmeetin~--- ~
on the -.26th day of ...sl.iJly 19..~~., by the
following vote: .
'ty Atto
AYES: Hamilton,. Maguire, Torliatt, Vice Mayor Keller
NOES: Healy, Mayor Thompson
ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: Cader-Thompson (due to a po conflict of interest)
ATTEST:
City Clerk Ma or
Gbuncil File......._
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