To: Planning Commission
From: Planning and Building Department
Agenda Section: Departmental Report
SUBJECT:
title
Adopt a Vehicle Miles Traveled Policy by Resolution for CEQA Threshold and Screening Criteria
Assessor Parcel Numbers (APN) 000-000-000
Record No.: LRP-2023-18792
Unincorporated Humboldt County.
Recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt by resolution a policy establishing a Humboldt County Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) CEQA threshold of significance and screening criteria for new development projects, to comply with California Senate Bill 743.
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Planning Commission take the following actions:
1. Adopt the resolution [Attachment 1] recommending that the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors take the following action:
a) Find that the proposed policy for VMT threshold is not a project pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(3) and 15378 (b)(5) of the State CEQA Guidelines; and
b) Adopt the proposed VMT Threshold Policy Guidelines [Attachment 2] establishing thresholds of significance and screening criteria for the purpose of analyzing VMT transportation impacts under CEQA.
Body
DISCUSSION:
Executive Summary:
The Planning Commission is being asked to provide a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors on a policy document establishing thresholds for Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). In 2020 legislation (SB 743) took effect that changed traffic impact analysis from the traditional Level of Service analysis (LOS) to VMT. Under this legislation, the County has the discretion to devise VMT thresholds of significance to assess projects under CEQA or continue to evaluate a project's transportation impacts on a case-by-case basis. Adopting standardized thresholds and screening criteria provides a consistent and repeatable format for transportation impact analysis, and increases VMT reduction for the County. The proposed thresholds and screening criteria outlined in the VMT Policy Threshold Guidelines, or ...
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