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other communities is inevitable. The impacts of all traffic issues discussed above will <br /> require additional review with an EIR. <br /> Groundwater Quantity <br /> The Department of Public Works has informed the applicant that he must provide <br /> documentation adequate to enable the department to determine conformance with the <br /> County's Water Policy. The policy, which was adopted by the Board of Supervisors <br /> under Resolution No. R-91-973, states that, "Any General Plan Amendment approved by <br /> the County shall not result in increased demand upon the water supply available to San <br /> Joaquin County as of April 2, 1991." This information is required prior to additional <br /> review of the project which includes the preparation of an EIR. <br /> Public Utilities <br /> The Environmental Health Department has expressed concerns regarding sewage <br /> disposal and impacts to groundwater quality and determining adequate quantities of <br /> potable water for any proposed project. The proposed project site's lack of public <br /> services could have potentially significant impacts on the environment. <br /> The project would result in an expansion of the rural community of Vernalis. Rural <br /> communities shall be planned to serve the immediate needs of the community 's <br /> residents or the surrounding agricultural community (General Plan Volume I, pp. IV-5). <br /> The proposed project is considered urban development because it will serve more than <br /> the needs of the community residents. Urban development shall only occur when <br /> adequate public services (including public water supply, sewerage, and terminal <br /> drainage) exist or are provided to satisfy the needs of the project (General Plan Volume <br /> I, B. Key Plan Strategies, 1. Growth Accommodation, pp. III-3). Again, the expansion of <br /> the rural community of Vernalis could potentially create a significant impact on the <br /> environment because of the lack of public services available. <br /> Air Quality <br /> The project site is approximately four (4) miles east of the Interstate 5/State Route 132 <br /> interchange, and approximately one (1) mile east of the State Route 33/State Route 132 <br /> interchange. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has stated that the <br /> General Plan amendment and Zone Reclassification to C/RS and C-RS respectively, <br /> could result in a significant impact on the ambient air quality. However, the District is <br /> unable to estimate what those air quality impacts are since no specific project is planned <br /> for the area. <br /> Growth Inducing <br /> Expanding the rural community of Vernalis has the potential to be growth inducing. The <br /> General Plan states that rural communities shall grow primarily through infill and should <br /> not be expanded. Rural areas encompass all land outside designated communities and <br /> shall accommodate minimal growth because opens space and agricultural preservation <br /> are paramount in these areas (Volume I, B. Key Strategies, 1. Growth Accommodation, <br /> pp. III-2). Changing the General Plan designation and zoning from A/G to C/RS and AG- <br /> 40 and C-X to C-RS, respectively, could potentially be setting a land use precedent for <br /> this area as well as the other fourteen (14) rural communities within San Joaquin <br /> County. <br />