SU0014674 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MOUNTAIN HOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD'F"PROJECT INITIAL STUDY Q. ENERGY Environmental Checklist Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No Impact Incorporated Impact Impact ENERGY.Would the project: a) Will the project use substantial amounts of fuel or energy, require a substantial increase in demand upon existing sources, or require the development of new sources of energy? Environmental Checklist Explanations a) Will the project use substantial amounts of fuel or energy, require a substantial increase in demand upon existing sources, or require the development of new sources of energy? A draft of the "Mountain House Community Energy Conservation Report" (CECR), prepared in February 1997, has been prepared by San Joaquin County. The CECR addresses design options to increase energy efficiency at the neighborhood scale, subdivision scale, and building scale. While the CECR recommends that individual neighborhoods be designed to maximize opportunities for solar orientation through appropriate lot and street orientation, it should be noted that solar opportunities are very limited in areas of small lots which are required due to density requirements imposed by the Master Plan and Specific Plan. For example, even if streets are oriented north-south and lots are oriented east-west to maximize the south-facing area of each lot, passive solar design is limited because of the proximity of houses to each other and the low angle of winter sunlight when passive heating is most needed. Thus, the energy conservation benefits of smaller lots(i.e., higher densities near commercial uses to encourage pedestrian and transit travel)limit the potential for solar use for individual homes. Canopy trees on all streets are required by the Master Plan. With the current subdivision proposal for Neighborhood"F", only a portion of the residential lots would have good opportunities for passive solar design. Many lots could have solar access for active, rooftop solar collectors. However, such access could be impacted by the growth of mature trees on neighbors' lots. Currently, San Joaquin County does not have any ordinances to protect solar collectors from blockage by neighboring landscaping. The CECR also mentions the use of narrow streets and minimizing cul-de-sacs to encourage pedestrian access. The proposed subdivision for Neighborhood"F"includes several cul-de-sacs and a few designated pedestrian walkways for access to the elementary school and neighboring residences. Pedestrian connections through neighborhoods are also proposed at the ends of cul-de-sacs. Pedestrian paths(other than standard sidewalks)to proposed transit stops have not been identified(as recommended in the CECR) except for three pedestrian paths connecting neighborboods to the school site. Energy savings would be achieved by the proposed landscaping identified in the Roadway Landscape Plan for collectors and arterials within Neighborhood"F". However, the CSD Design Manual has not addressed landscaping for parking areas(a location where major heat buildup can occur) or the need to protect solar access for residences. Windbreaks to minimize winter winds are addressed in the CECR and also have been addressed in the CSD Design Manual. A detailed landscaping plan for collectors and arterials within Neighborhood"F" ClJOBMCUNmAL STUDWINAUNmnLs7voY-PAMDOC(71200) 121 V.Q. ENERGY