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The Development Review Committee is a committee comprised
of staff members from each department within the Resource
Management Agency. The Committee is responsible for evaluating
the environmental impacts of projects in compliance with
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Committee
determines the level of environmental review necessary for
land use applications and other projects brought before
it and ensures that significant environmental effects are
avoided where possible, or mitigated where feasible.
Most private development projects and public improvement
projects are subject to review under the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA), unless they fall under an exemption.
As part of this process, projects are circulated to federal,
state, and local review agencies, and then evaluated by
the County Development Review Committee to determine what
type of environmental document needs to be prepared. An
initial study is prepared to summarize the conclusions of
commenting agencies and to formally address the potential
for environmental effects in several categories. One of
three types of environmental documents are typically required.
For projects where it can be determined that no significant
environmental effects will be generated, a “negative
declaration” is prepared. Alternatively, if it is
found that potentially significant impacts may occur, but
that the impacts can be eliminated or reduced to less-than-significant
levels if the applicant agrees to make changes or incorporate
conditions into the project, a “mitigated negative
declaration” is prepared. Both negative declarations
and mitigated negative declarations are typically prepared
by Planning Department staff.
For projects where there is substantial evidence that significant
environmental effects would be generated, but because of
the size, scale, or nature of the project it is not immediately
possible to identify and incorporate changes to reduce impacts
to less- than-significant levels, an “environmental
impact report” (EIR) must be prepared. An EIR provides
detailed analysis of the environmental setting, identifies
and describes impacts and mitigation measures, and evaluates
project alternatives. EIRs are prepared by an independent
consultant retained by the County, and are normally prepared
only for large scale or complex projects.
The determinations and recommendations made by the Development
Review Committee are subject to appeal to the Planning Commission.
For instance, if the Committee determines that an EIR is
necessary to address the impacts of a particular project,
and the applicant believes that the preparation of an EIR
is not justified, an appeal may be filed. The Planning Commission
then evaluates the available information to determine if
there is substantial evidence that an significant impacts
will occur, and whether an EIR must be prepared.
Some of the terms commonly used as part of the Development
Review Committee’s review process as described below.
Environment
The physical conditions which exist within the area which
will be affected by the proposed project including land,
air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and
objects of historical or aesthetic significance. The area
involved shall be the area in which significant effects
would occur either directly or indirectly as a result
of the project. The "environment" includes both
natural and man made conditions.
Impacts
Impacts or effects are synonymous.
A. Effects include:
1. Direct or primary effects which are caused by
the project and occur at the same time and place.
2. Indirect or secondary effects which are caused
by the project and are later in time or farther removed
in distance, but are still reasonably foreseeable.
Indirect or secondary effects may include growth inducing
effects and other effects related to induced changes
in the pattern of land use, population density, or
growth rate, and related effects on air and water
and other natural systems, including ecosystems.
B. Effects analyzed under CEQA must be related to a
physical change.
Mitigation
A. Avoiding the impact altogether by not taking a certain
action or parts of an action.
B. Minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude
of the action and its implementation.
C. Rectifying the impact by repairing, rehabilitating,
or restoring the impacted environment.
D. Reducing or eliminating the impact over time by
preservation and maintenance operations during the life
of the action.
E. Compensating for tile impact by replacing or providing
substitute resources environments.
Significant Effect on the Environment
A substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse change
in any of the physical conditions within the area affected
by the project including, but not limited to, land, air,
water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and objects
of historic or aesthetic significance. An economic or social
change by itself shall not be considered a significant effect
on the environment.
Negative Declaration
A written statement describing the reasons that a proposed
project, not exempt from CEQA, will not have a significant
effect on the environmental and therefore does not require
the preparation of an EIR.
Mitigated Negative Declaration
A written statement describing the reasons that a proposed
project, not exempt from CEQA, will not have a significant
effect on the environmental and therefore does not require
the preparation of an EIR.
Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
An informational document which will inform public agency
decision makers and the public generally of the significant
environmental effect of a project, identify possible ways
to minimize the significant effects, and describe reasonable
alternatives to the project. The public agency shall consider
the information in the EIR along with other information
which may be presented to the agency.
