TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: David Morrison - Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Trevor Hawkes, Planner III - (707)253-4388
SUBJECT: Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Environmental Services Associates, Inc., for Environmental Analysis of the Proposed Inn at the Abbey Project.
RECOMMENDATION
title
Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services requests approval of and authorization for the Chair to sign an agreement with Environmental Services Associates, Inc. (ESA), for a maximum of $338,415 for the term August 24, 2021 through June 30, 2022 with an automatic rollover at the end of each fiscal year for up to two (2) additional one-year terms, for purposes of assisting to conduct an environmental analysis, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), of the proposed Inn at the Abbey project.
body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On February 15, 2019, Geoff Scott, on behalf of Jackson Family Investments III, LLC (the Applicant), filed Use Permit Major Modification Application P19-00038-MOD requesting County zoning approval to redevelop 15.1 acres, covering six parcels, located at approximately the northeast and southeast corners of Lodi Lane and St. Helena Highway, in unincorporated Napa County. The proposed redevelopment consists of demolition of 3 existing structures, changes in use to existing structures, and construction of 6 structures for the operation of a 79-room hotel with restaurant, spa and retail tenant space. Approval of this Agreement will allow the County to retain ESA, an environmental consulting firm, for purposes of assisting the County in preparing an environmental impact report (EIR) that will identify potential effects on the environment that could occur as a result of the project. In accordance with County policy, the Applicant will be responsible for funding the full contract amount plus costs related to staff management of the consultant. The Applicant has submitted a deposit in the amount of 25 percent of the contract dollar amount.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
|
Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
|
Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
|
Where is it budgeted? |
17000-02, Applicant CEQA Reviews, includes appropriations based on average expenditures for consulting services over the year. Any requested adjustments due to a higher than average need for consulting services would be brought before the Board of Supervisors for authorization. The Applicant pays for the full cost of the contract, plus County staff costs associated with consultant management, in accordance with Section 104(c) of Napa County’s Local Procedures for Implementing CEQA. |
|
Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Mandatory |
|
Discretionary Justification: |
N/A |
|
Is the general fund affected? |
No |
|
Future fiscal impact: |
Depending on the extent of public comment received during the Draft EIR comment period and project public hearings, administration of the Agreement could extend into future fiscal years, with potential automatic extensions through June 30, 2024. In the event that the agreement extends into future fiscal years, revenue and expenditures would be budgeted accordingly. Consultant and consultant management costs would continue to be the responsibility of the Applicant to fund. |
|
Consequences if not approved: |
The EIR will inform County decision-makers about the proposed project’s potential effects on the environment. If the Agreement is not approved, the County would be unable to conduct the required analysis of the proposed project in accordance with CEQA, and County decision-makers would be unable to make a fully informed decision about the possible environmental consequences of their action to approve or to deny the requested use permit. |
|
County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Healthy, Safe, and Welcoming Place to Live, Work, and Visit |
|
Additional Information |
N/A |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines), and therefore, CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Applicant has applied for a Use Permit Major Modification to demolish existing structures, change the use of existing structures, and construct six new structures and site improvements for the operation of a 79-room hotel, restaurant, spa and tenant retail space. The entire project covers 6 parcels totaling 15.1 acres at approximately the northeast and southeast corners of Lodi Lane and St. Helena Highway (Assessor’s Parcel No. 022-130-023, -024, -027, -028 & 022-220-028, -029) in unincorporated Napa County, California.
Staff and the Applicant agree that an EIR would be appropriate in order to evaluate the potential environmental impacts that could occur as a result of a decision to approve or deny the application. On November 30, 2020, Staff released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Environmental Consulting Services on the Planning, Building and Environmental Services Department website and other various CEQA/environmental consulting website which host RFP’s. After the RFP window closed on December 18, 2020, a selection committee was formed to review the proposals that were received, score the proposals based on an established rubric, and select a consultant to prepare the Inn at the Abbey EIR.
The Applicant will reimburse the County for the full costs of retaining ESA to assist staff with preparation of the proposed project’s EIR, in accordance with the County’s adopted CEQA procedures.
Part of the EIR process had already begun in the summer of 2020, which included the drafting of a CEQA initial study, the distribution of a Notice of Preparation (NOP) to nearby property owners and responsible agencies, and a publicly held scoping meeting. Upon execution of the contract, ESA will pick up where the process was left off, which includes a review of data needs and the preparation of the Draft EIR.
Public hearings and meetings will also be scheduled during the comment period on the Draft EIR and prior to certification of the Final EIR, in advance of any public hearing to consider approval or denial of the use permit request. Staff will prepare notices of these meetings in the same manner as described above.