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Given the reduced vehicle trips, impacts on the intersections and freeway ramp junctions would <br /> be reduced. As with the Reduced Project Size alternative, it is expected that intersections <br /> operating at LOS D with the proposed Project under cumulative conditions would likely operate <br /> at a minimally acceptable LOS C under this alternative. As indicated in the Project traffic <br /> analysis, however, LOS D and LOS F occurred under cumulative conditions with the proposed <br /> Project at the SR 12/North Thornton Road intersection during AM and PM peak hours, <br /> respectively. For the proposed Project, a mitigation measure requiring signal coordination at the <br /> three intersections studied in the traffic analysis was recommended. This same mitigation would <br /> apply under this alternative. Freeway ramp junctions would continue to operate at LOS D under <br /> both existing and cumulative conditions under this alternative and this alternative would <br /> contribute traffic to these unacceptable LOS. As any contribution of traffic to the ramp junctions <br /> operating at LOS D would be a significant impact, and because no feasible mitigation is <br /> available, as is the case for the proposed Project, the ramp junction impacts for this alternative <br /> would be significant and unavoidable under both existing and cumulative conditions. The <br /> potential elimination of heavy-duty truck traffic, however, may have a more positive effect on <br /> this issue. As such, though traffic generation may be reduced under this alternative, impacts <br /> under this alternative would be similar to those of the proposed Project. (DEIR,p. 7-11.) <br /> The potential for this alternative to reduce traffic generation will only be realized if the <br /> remainder of the site is not developed. If the entire site were developed with additional gas <br /> station and convenience market uses, trip generation would increase approximately 300 percent <br /> as compared to the Project. (Omni Means Technical Memo,p. 4.) If the remainder of the Project <br /> site under this alternative were developed with retail uses allowed under the C-FS zoning, an <br /> approximately 200 percent increase in trips as compared to those of the Project would occur. <br /> Based on these significant increases in trip generation, this alternative could result in a <br /> significant deterioration in intersection LOS conditions as compared to the proposed Project LOS <br /> conditions. (Omni Means Technical Memo, p. 5.) <br /> Air Quality <br /> Reduction in traffic volumes would also reduce the amounts of air pollutant emissions that would <br /> be generated, particularly NOx emissions. ROG, NOx and PMIO emissions under this <br /> alternative would be below the SJVAPCD significance thresholds. In addition, due to <br /> elimination of service for heavy-duty trucks, diesel particulate matter emissions would be <br /> reduced, thereby reducing the potential health risks associated with these emissions. (DEIR, p. <br /> 7-11.) As noted above, the DEIR reached this conclusion after assuming 10.43 acres of the <br /> Project site would remain undeveloped under Alternative 3. In the long term, this remaining <br /> acreage could be developed with combination gasoline stations or other commercial uses, <br /> thereby increasing trip generation and air quality impacts_ <br /> 3. Feasibility of Alternative 3 <br /> The Combination Gasoline Station alternative could result in a reduction in environmental <br /> effects associated with air quality and traffic impacts as compared to the proposed Project. This <br /> alternative would generate the least traffic among all the alternatives considered in detail and is <br /> considered the environmentally superior alternative. The reduction in environmental impacts <br /> associated with this alternative would be limited, as most of the potentially significant <br /> Love's Travel Stops Project 20 Findngs of Fact and <br /> Statement of Overriding Considerations <br />