In addition to the store, the site development permit would allow construction of a 742-vehicle parking facility, landscaping, loading facilities, and a possible additional 30,000 square feet of store space. The project also includes a proposal to amend the Airport Industrial Park Planned Development to allow "commercial uses", currently defined as "conditional", to become "principal" uses in a portion of the Planned Development currently designated for Office Commercial, Highway Oriented Commercial, and Industrial/Commercial.
In June, 1990, the City, Wal-Mart and the MEC agreed that the approval of the project would be set aside along with the approved Negative Declaration and that an EIR would be prepared prior to any future City determination of whether to approve or deny the project.
On November 15, 1990, the first of the required public procedures in the EIR process, a "Scoping" meeting, was held at the Ukiah City Hall. Comments, both written and oral, made at this meeting, will be used to determine the final scope of the EIR, which at this point includes at least the following issues:
1. Possible geologic hazards and geologic impacts resulting from grading and filling; assessment of erosion impacts.
2. Adequacy of area drainage to handle increased runoff from the Wal-Mart project; impacts on water quality and downstream flooding.
3. Impacts on biota including the possible presence of a rare plant population.
4. Impacts on local air quality due to increased vehicular use in the area.
5. Possible noise constraints due to the proximity of Highway 101.
6. Consistency with zoning and land use plan designations.
7. Traffic impacts on Talmage Road, State Street, and intersections on those streets including the ramps on and off Highway 101.
8. Impacts on public services including fire, police, sewage, and water systems.
9. Impacts on area views and aesthetics.
10. Archaeological and historic resources.
11. Economic impacts on existing downtown businesses.
12. Cumulative impacts, growth-inducing impacts, and project alternatives will be fully assessed per requirements of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The EIR process is now proceeding, and we will continue to keep you informed of progress. If you wish to be included in the process and be notified of the preparation of the Draft EIR, attend future public hearings, etc., you may call and give your name to Michael Harris at the City Planning Department, 463-6242.
We are very glad that the EIR process is happening, and that the community now has the opportunity to fully participate. In that regard, we believe it is very important that the EIR process integrate closely with the Growth Management Task Force that is now working to develop a unified and comprehensive plan for what we wish the City to be in the future.
It is essential that planning be comprehensive in nature, and fully take into account how proposed developments either contribute to or detract from the ability to realize overall visions for the community; it would be a shame for this EIR process to proceed in a vacuum without the benefit of evaluating how this proposed project would impact proposals evolving from this Task Force. (If you would like more information regarding the Growth Management Planning Process, you may call the City Manager's office, 463-6200.) Call the MEC at 468-1660 if you'd like more details about the Wal-Mart EIR process.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2004
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited