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-2- The City has been working with residential developers on the proposed Central Lathrop Specific Plan for the area that is currently within the City's Sphere of Influence and is covered by the City's General Plan. That area is only approximately 1,800 feet south of the proposed pig feed lot/animal-raising site. The City's General Plan designates this site for residential, commercial and golf course development. The proposed use of the subject property will create objectionable odors to the existing residences in the area, to the proposed new residents of the Central Lathrop Specific Plan area and the prevailing winds will carry the objectionable odors to the existing residential areas currently within the City of Lathrop. The immediately surrounding area also has many small properties surrounding the subject site and the City believes that these homesteads will be significantly impacted by this proposed project. The existing urbanized area of the City is located immediately southeast of the subject site and the residents and businesses in the community would be adversely affected by this proposed development. Response to Appeal Statement 1 In January of 2000, the City of Lathrop filed an application to amend the City's Sphere of Influence boundaries to include an additional 1,400 acres of land. The project site is located within the new proposed boundary. According to LAFCO, the application has been deemed incomplete due to inadequate municipal service review. The project parcel is approximately one (1) mile from the western boundary of the City of Lathrop. The surrounding properties are designated A/G (General Agriculture) in the General Plan and are zoned AG-40 (General Agriculture, 40-acre minimum). The residences in the area are located on parcels designated for agricultural uses Appeal Statement No. 2 In its appeal, the City of Lathrop states: The Negative Declaration provides an inadequate level of environmental review for the project under the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA) because it does not address the adverse impacts of the project with regard to noise, odor, air quality and traffic. Noise Impacts The Staff Report to the County Planning Commission indicated that the noise impacts are less than significant. The Report further states that noise emanating from agricultural operations on agricultural land is exempt. However, it is the City's position that the raising of 500 swine on a site located in close proximity and upwind from the existing community of Lathrop and the proposed new development areas will have a significant adverse effect on the community. Waste Disposal Condition of Approval No. #3A requires that a Soil Suitability/Nitrate Loading Study be prepared to determine that the area is suitable for handling the amount of animal waste to be generated by the number of swine proposed. This represents delayed information which is needed before a determination can be made on the level of CEQA analysis required for this project and before the project can be acted upon. This manure generated by 500 pigs is significant but there is no indication on how the manure disposal will be handled.