Full Notification

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED WARNER AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS AND WIDENING PROJECT NOW AVAILABLE

SANTA ANA, CA (January 12, 2014) - The City of Santa Ana (City), which is the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) leady agency, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in accordance with the CEQA guidelines for the proposed improvement and widening of Warner Avenue between Main Street and Grand Avenue in the City of Santa Ana.

Warner Avenue is a regionally significant arterial roadway, providing east-west travel through the City of Santa Ana (City). To meet future planned growth and alleviate current congestion, the City proposes to improve and widen the 1-mile segment of Warner Avenue from Main Street to Grand Avenue from four to six lanes. When completed, the proposed project will improve mobility and safety and create a consistent major arterial facility as designated in the City’s General Plan Circulation Element and in the County of Orange’s Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH).

Due to growth trends and anticipated future traffic volumes, Warner Avenue from Main Street to Grand Avenue would be widened to a total of six lanes (three lanes in each direction). The proposed project would also include improvements, including improvements for pedestrian and bike mobility and safety, such as raised landscaped medians and parkway, wider sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes, increased storm drain size, partial and full acquisitions of properties, and the underground of existing utilities along the project segment.

POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The Draft EIR analyzed the following environmental resource areas: air quality, cultural resources, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use, noise, population and housing, transportation and traffic, and utilities and service systems. The Draft EIR analysis identified that the proposed project would result in significant environmental impacts related to noise and traffic during construction.

The City will assist the impacted property owners to relocate pursuant to the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 during the right-of-way phase. All other impacts were found to be less than significant with mitigation measures incorporated.

WHERE TO REVIEW?
The Draft EIR is available during regular business hours at the following locations:

Public Works Counter
Ross Annex Bld, 1st Floor
20 Civic Center Plaza
Mon-Thurs (8am – 5pm) Every Other Fri (8am – 4pm)

City Clerk’s Office
City Hall, 8th Floor
20 Civic Center Plaza
Mon-Thurs (8am – 5pm) Every Other Fri (8am – 4pm)

Main Public Library Information Desk
26 Civic Center Plaza
Mon-Thurs (10am – 9pm) Fri-Sat (10am – 6pm)

Delhi Center
Reception Desk
505 E Central Ave
Mon-Thurs (8:30am–5pm)

The Draft EIR will also be posted on the City’s website at the following link: http://www.santa-ana.org/pwa/

WHEN AND HOW TO COMMENT?
The Draft EIR is available for public review/comment commencing January 12, 2015. The purpose of the public review and comment period is to afford interested parties the opportunity to provide their input on the adequacy of the environmental document. Comments on the document will be accepted until February 26, 2015. Comments must be submitted in writing to:

Kenny Nguyen, City of Santa Ana, 20 Civic Center Plaza M-36, P.O. Box 1988, Santa Ana, CA 92702
or
Email: [email protected]

PUBLIC MEETINGS
The public meetings will be held to receive public comments on the Draft EIR on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm and on Saturday, February 7, 2015 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am at Manuel Esqueda Elementary School, 2240 S. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92707

CONTACT
For more information about this document, contact the City of Santa Ana at 714-647-5013.