Olsen Chander Ranch project headed to next step
–The proposed Olsen/South Chandler Ranch project is about to get its Environmental Impact Report (EIR) underway and the City of Paso Robles is asking the developer to gather public input during that process.
The project proponent, Olsen Ranch 212, LLC, has submitted applications for Specific Plan Amendment and Rezone for property located on the southern portion of Chandler Ranch at the east end of Sherwood Road, and the Olsen Ranch between Linne, Meadowlark, and Hansen Roads at the far eastern side of the city limits.
The combined Olsen/South Chandler Ranch Specific Plan project proposes to construct up to 1,233 new residences with a mix of housing types on approximately 352 acres on the east side of the city.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act given the scope of environmental issues to analyze and evaluate for the project, an environmental impact report (EIR) is necessary to be prepared.
A formal environmental issues “scoping” meeting will be scheduled for public participation upon initiation of this EIR to hear from the public and affected agencies (e.g. the Paso Robles School District, Caltrans, SLO County) the environmental issues they feel should be studied and evaluated in this EIR.
The date for the scoping meeting has not yet been determined, however, the city and consultants will be as inclusive as possible to ensure the EIR evaluates all pertinent issues including, but not limited to: water resources, emergency services, traffic, and school district impacts; and identifies all potential feasible mitigation measures to consider in the EIR to reduce potential environmental impacts that may result from this project.
The city solicited requests for proposals from six professional environmental planning firms, and received two proposals to prepare this EIR. The city interviewed both firms and recommends Rincon Consultants be selected by the council to complete the EIR for this project. The cost of the study is in the amount of $224,340, to be paid by the project developer.
Council will review the recommendation of the selection of Rincon Consultants to conduct the EIR, with the public meeting dates to gather resident input to be announced later this year.
Full documentation can be found in the staff report on the 11/20/2018 City Council agenda.
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