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4 Environmental Analysis
<br /> 4.11 Land Use and Planning
<br /> of Ordinances. As a discretionary action, Alameda County is a Responsible Agency for the
<br /> Project, pursuant to CEQA Section 15381. Therefore, a land use consistency analysis with
<br /> applicable Alameda County regulations is provided below for development of the proposed gen-
<br /> tle line.
<br /> Additionally, the Applicant would only design, site, and construct the gen-tie line from the Project
<br /> substation to the POCO while PG&E would design, site, and construct the gen-tie from the POCO
<br /> to their Tesla Substation. The consistency analysis in this section focuses on the Applicant's
<br /> portion of the gen-tie while PG&E's portion of the gen-tie and their improvements to the Tesla
<br /> Substation are discussed in Section 4.11.5 below.
<br /> Alameda County Zoning and Municipal Code
<br /> As described above, the proposed gen-tie transmission line and tie-in with the PG&E Tesla
<br /> Substation would be located within Alameda County, in an area zoned for Agriculture (A). Section
<br /> 17.52.020 of the Alameda County Zoning Ordinance allows for public utility uses (except for
<br /> buildings, service yards, and storage yards) in any zoning district without limitation as to height
<br /> provided that plans for such uses be submitted to the Planning Commission for a report and
<br /> recommendation prior to the acquisition of any site, easement, or ROW. Accordingly, the
<br /> proposed gen-tie transmission line would be permitted by right within the Alameda County
<br /> Agriculture zoning district if a Utility Roadway Permit were not required. However, the Project
<br /> would require a Utility Roadway Permit due to the pathway of the gen-tie crossing Midway Road,
<br /> which is parallel to the west Project site boundary.
<br /> Pursuant to Chapter 12.08, Roadway Use Regulations, of the County's Municipal Code, all
<br /> cables, conduits, wires, ducts, converters, antennas, radios, poles, guy wires, pipes, vaults, splice
<br /> boxes, meter boxes, valves, valve boxes, cabinets, or other owner or utility facilities shall be
<br /> considered as encroachments, which are subject to encroachment permits (Utility Roadway
<br /> Permit) when developed within and along public roadways. The proposed gen-tie would cross
<br /> Midway Road, thus requiring a Utility Roadway Permit.
<br /> Finally, with regard to Chapter 13.16, Underground Utility Districts, per Section 13.16.030 of the
<br /> County's Municipal Code, "utility distribution facilities" do not include wires carrying voltages
<br /> higher than 35 kV. The proposed gen-tie line would be 230 kV and, therefore, would not require
<br /> underground installation.
<br /> Therefore, if Alameda County approves the Utility Roadway Permit, the Project would not conflict
<br /> with the Alameda County Zoning Ordinance or Municipal Code.
<br /> Alameda County East County Area Plan
<br /> Development of the gen-tie line would be considered an allowable use as a utility corridor under
<br /> the LPA designation of the ECAP, and would be consistent with the applicable Land Use Element
<br /> policies of the Alameda County ECAP, including Policies 13, 54, 71, 73, 108, 114, 115, 116, 117,
<br /> 118, 119, 120, 123, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, and 173. In accordance with Policy 13, the gen-tie
<br /> line would not induce excessive growth on the East County area but would rather support the
<br /> reliability of the overall power grid. Additionally, the gen-tie line complies with Policies 54, 138,
<br /> and 139 in that the gen-tie would be considered an allowable use outside the Urban Growth
<br /> Boundary and would be sited as to avoid land use conflicts and potential health and safety risks,
<br /> which are discussed in Section 4.9, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, of this Draft El R. The gen-
<br /> Griffith Battery Energy Storage Project 4.11-22 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675
<br /> Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023
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