EIRdraft

Notice of Availability - Draft Environmental Impact Report

(on City of Berkeley Website)

Congregation Beth El Synagogue and School 1301 Oxford Street

A Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) has been prepared for the Congregation Beth El Synagogue and School. It is now available for public review and comment. The review period is 45 days, from July 25, to September 8, 2000 at 5pm. This period is to provide interested parties with an opportunity to comment on the DEIRÍs adequacy.

The DEIR is available for review or purchase at the City of Berkeley Permit Center, 2120 Milvia Street during normal office hours. Copies will be available shortly for review at the Berkeley Main and the North Branch Berkeley Public Libraries.

Please submit written comments to: Environmental Review Officer, Permit Service Center, 2120 Milvia Street, Berkeley Ca 94704.

Proposed Project: Congregation Beth ElÍs proposal is a two-story, approximately 33,000 square-foot religious assembly use that would include a 7,500 square-foot nursery school and afternoon religious school. This project requires the Berkeley Zoning Adjustment Board's approval of several use permits as well as the Landmarks Preservation Commission's approval. As required by State regulations it is noted that the project is not listed as a toxics hazard site.

Public Hearings: Two City of Berkeley public bodies will hold hearings to accept testimony on the DEIR's adequacy. Attendance at these hearings is not required in order to comment on the document, written comments may be submitted. These hearings are as follows:

• 1. The Landmarks Preservation Commission, on Monday, August 7, 2000, at the North Berkeley Senior Center, Workshop B, Hearst Avenue and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. The public meeting will start at 7:30 p.m.

  2. The Zoning Adjustments Board on: Thursday, August 10, 2000 in the Council Chambers on the Second Floor (wheelchair accessible) of Old City Hall; 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The public meeting will start at 7:10 p.m.

Following the comment period and preparation of a Final EIR in response to comments, these two bodies will hold further public hearings to take action on the proposal. These hearings will be similarly noticed.

Communication Access: To request a meeting agenda in large print, Braille, or on audio cassette or to request a sign language interpreter for the meeting, call (510) 644-6480 (voice) or 644-6915 (TDD); at least FIVE working days notice will ensure availability. Agendas are also available on the Worldwide Web at: www.ci.Berkeley.ca.us.

Potentially Significant Impacts. The DEIR lists the following as significant impacts unless they are mitigated:

• • Noise Impacts: 4.3-1 associated with the facility's play area, 4.3-2 associated with the on-site parking and circulation, and 4.3-3 construction noise [The DEIR uses these numbers (i.e. 4.3-2) to reference each environmental impact and any associated mitigation measures. The numbers also indicate sections where the DEIR discusses the impact, i.e. section 4.3.]

  • Air Quality Impacts: 4.4-1 construction related ñfine particulate matter (dust), and 4.4-2 potential asbestos materials from demolition,

  • Geology, Soils and Hydrology Impacts: 4.5-1 exposure to earthquake related ground shaking, 4.5-2 increased storm water runoff, 4.5-3 potential instability of project soils due to the use of permeable paving, 4.5-4 construction and project related soils erosion, 4.5-5 impacts to on-site drainage and drainage outfall, and 4.5-6 project related increased non-point pollution of Codornices Creek;

  • Biological Resources Impacts: 4.6-3 to mature trees from mitigation sound wall, 4.6-5 to several Coastal Live Oak trees, 4.6-7 work below the ñordinary high water markî of Codornices Creek, 4.6-8 increased storm water run off resulting in potential increases in pollution discharges and erosion, and 4.6-9, -10; -11 construction and project related water quality impacts could affect fish, particularly trout;

  • Aesthetics Impacts: 4.8-1 and 4.8-3 the institutional appearance of project walls and site lighting would be inconsistent with the neighborhood character, 4.8-2 noise mitigation wall would block views to Berryman Path and create an institutional appearance.