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  • SECURITY NATIONAL GUARANTY, INC. VS. CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION ET AL WRITS OF MANDATE OR PROH., CERTI., ETC./ADMIN. AGEN document preview
  • SECURITY NATIONAL GUARANTY, INC. VS. CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION ET AL WRITS OF MANDATE OR PROH., CERTI., ETC./ADMIN. AGEN document preview
  • SECURITY NATIONAL GUARANTY, INC. VS. CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION ET AL WRITS OF MANDATE OR PROH., CERTI., ETC./ADMIN. AGEN document preview
  • SECURITY NATIONAL GUARANTY, INC. VS. CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION ET AL WRITS OF MANDATE OR PROH., CERTI., ETC./ADMIN. AGEN document preview
  • SECURITY NATIONAL GUARANTY, INC. VS. CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION ET AL WRITS OF MANDATE OR PROH., CERTI., ETC./ADMIN. AGEN document preview
  • SECURITY NATIONAL GUARANTY, INC. VS. CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION ET AL WRITS OF MANDATE OR PROH., CERTI., ETC./ADMIN. AGEN document preview
  • SECURITY NATIONAL GUARANTY, INC. VS. CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION ET AL WRITS OF MANDATE OR PROH., CERTI., ETC./ADMIN. AGEN document preview
  • SECURITY NATIONAL GUARANTY, INC. VS. CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION ET AL WRITS OF MANDATE OR PROH., CERTI., ETC./ADMIN. AGEN document preview
						
                                

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= oOo ODN DO oO FF WwW NY NOSSAMAN LLP STEVEN H. KAUFMANN (SBN 61686) skaufmann@nossaman.com 777 S. Figueroa Street, 34th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90017 Telephone: 213.612.7800 Facsimile: 213.612.7801 Attorneys for Petitioner SECURITY NATIONAL GUARANTY, INC. ELECTRONICALLY FILED Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco 04/04/2017 Clerk of the Court BY:RONNIE OTERO. SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO SECURITY NATIONAL GUARANTY, INC., a California Corporation, Petitioner, vs. CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION, a State Agency; JOHN AINSWORTH, in his official capacity as Executive Director of the California Coastal Commission, and DOES 1- 25, Respondents. 51453956.V1 Deputy Clerk Case No: — CPF-16-515401 Assigned for all purposes to: Hon. A. James Robertson II [Reservation #30604 11-02] DECLARATION OF EDMOND GHANDOUR IN SUPPORT OF MOTION FOR JUDGMENT [EXHIBITS 10 - 12] Hearing Date: April 11, 2017 Time: 9:30 a.m. Dept.: 302 Date Action Filed: 12/14/2016 Trial Date: None Set DECLARATION OF EDMUND GHANDOUR IN SUPPORT OF MOTION FOR JUDGMENT — EXHIBITS 10 - 12November 11, 2015 for the S Sand City, Monterey Peninsula, California EMC PLANNING GROUP INC CCC00234CCC002351.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ....cccccseceeeee erect senses een eeees 1 1.1 Project approval and regulatory background 1 1.2 Project Area... 11 1.3 Project Description 11 EXISTING CONDITIONS AND EXPECTED IMPACTS... 1 2.1 Existing Conditions ...................e cece cece ee eee eee cee sees 1 2.2 Expected Changes to the Site and Potential Impacts. . 10 BIOLOGICAL DATA AND EXPECTED IMPACTS ON SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES 1 3.1 Special Status Species Known to Occur on the Site al 3.2. Species with Potential to Occur on the Site 14 MEASURES TO AVOID, MINIMIZE AND MITIGATE IMPACTS TO SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES ad 4.1 Biological Goals/Standards ........... 2 4.2 Description and Delineation of Management Areas ...............5 3 4.3 Biological Objectives/Standards for Specific Management Areas 7 4.4 Management Elements and Techniques.............2....e:ese serene ee 13 4.5 Specific Management Techniques for Each Management Area 32 4.6 Species-Specific Mitigation Measures ..............eeeeeee tanta ween 42, 4.7 Other Mitigation and long-term Measures .............:eceeeeeeeeeeee 45 4.8 Summary of Mitigation/Responses to USFWS Concerns....... 48 REFERENCES.. 1 CCC00236Appendices Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Appendix G Appendix H Appendix I Appendix J Appendix K Appendix L Appendix M Appendix N Appendix O Appendix P Appendix Q CDP (issued November 9, 2015) Revised Findings and Addendum (Adopted August 15, 2014) Irrevocable Offer of Dedication-Dune Conservation Area Easement (Recorded October 27, 2015) Irrevocable Offer of Dedication-Public Access Easement (Recorded October 27, 2015) Deed Restriction (Recorded October 27, 2015) Dune Restoration Plan (Approved October 14, 2015, updated July 2016) Lighting Plan (Approved November 4, 2015) Landscape Plan (Approved November 4, 2015) and Supplemental Landscape Plan(July 7, 2016) Public Access Management Plan {Approved October 14, 2015) Signage Plan (Approved November 4, 2015) Site Photographs Duties of the Biologist (updated August 24, 2016) Predator Management Plan (updated August 24, 2016) Revised Plans — Vesting Tentative Map (Approved November 4, 2015) Resort Pathway & Access (Approved November 4, 2015) Grading Plan (Approved November 4, 2015) Construction Plan (Approved November 4, 2015) CC00237Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Tables Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Site Vicinity . 113 Site Plan Proposed Building Cluster Design Aerial Photographry....cccccccccccseecsseseseseer cease eeeseeeanseaeneneeeeeceeeecserseeseepeses Vegetation Map sere 25 Habitat Management Areas.....ccccceceeeesseeceereetensenseneeeenneneenee cenenaees 4-5 Land Use Easements and Open Space Western Snowy Plover Nesting Activity on the Monterey Bay Shores Site SINCE ZOOO™ oc ceeeeecceesseeseeseessaceecesseaeeeeeenaceesssseesseseeee 3-7 Vegetation Performance Criteria (Percent Cover by Plant Community) 4-30 Performance Criteria, Monterey Spineflower and Seacliff Buckwheat Lesceeetesecseesnecescesscetecenscrsrseersseteecetsetserserenstsscrsecenteees 403 1 ©CC00238CCC00239I. TRODUCT O I.| PROJECT APPROVAL AND REGULATORY BACKGROUND This Habitat Protection Plan (“HPP”) for the proposed Monterey Bay Shores Resort! is a revised version updating the previous 2008, 2011,2013, 2015 versions prepared by EMC Planning Group. This latest updated version responds to USFW Service letter dated April 1, 2016, Dr. Koteen’s memo dated July 29, 2016, and comments from the California Coastal Commission, On April 11, 2014, the California Coastal Commission (“Commission” or “CCC”) approved. Coastal Development Permit No. A-3-SNC-98-114 (the “Permit” or “CDP”) in accordance with the provisions of the findings adopted by the Commission on August 14, 2014 and the Notice of Intent to Issue Permit dated May 30, 2014, both of which are incorporated herein by this reference. On October 14, 2015, the Commission Executive Director approved the Dune Restoration Plan (“DRP”), which was prepared pursuant to the Permit and is substantially in conformance with the October 2013 version of the Habitat Protection Plan. On July 29, 2016 the Commission approved the Supplemental Landscape Plan prepared by Rana Creek. The Plan provided Pre-Construction sign off on the plan note of the Dune Restoration Plan, which is in conformance with this updated HPP. The DRP also includes updated, revised and new measures and discussion designed to address comments by the CCC staff regarding biological ' Monterey Bay Shores Resort is a proxy name which may change when branding occurs. ccc002401.0 INTRODUCTION goals, descriptions of management areas, biological objectives for specific areas, management elements and techniques, and specific measures and techniques for each management area to protect and enhance western snowy plover, Smith’s blue butterfly, and Monterey spineflower habitats. The Dune Restoration Plan provides for habitat restoration and stabilization for all dune areas outside of the development areas (as well as for all dune extension and screening areas) and has been modified to achieve compliance with Permit Special Condition 3, “Dune Restoration Plan”, and to be consistent and integrated with this revised Habitat Protection Plan in accordance and consistent with Permit Special Condition 15. On October 14, 2015, the Commission Executive Director also approved the Public Access Management Plan (“PAMP”), which describes the manner in which public access associated with the approved project is to be provided and managed, with the objective of maximizing public access (and recreational use of all public access areas) included in the approved project (including, but not limited to, the public parking lot, public access pathway system, scenic overlook, beach stairway/pathway, and the beach) and all related areas and public access amenities (e.g., bench seating, bike parking, signs, etc.) consistent with the terms and conditions of the Permit. On July 29, 2016 the Commission agreed to sign-off on the Pre-Construction PAMP by adding a note to the PAMP regarding construction level plan sheets. The PAMP describes all the areas subject to the Public Access Easement Dedication, and addresses elements consistent with Permit Special Condition 5. Both the DRP and the PAMP have been approved and Pre-Construction sign off has occurred by the Commission Executive Director, along with their associated dedications of conservation and public access easements which are now on record with the Monterey County Recorder. The revised and updated HPP is being resubmitted to the Commission Executive Director in full compliance and in accordance with the Permit issued on November 9, 2015 (Appendix A) and Prior to Construction requirements of the CDP Permit, in accordance with the full Commission’s April 11, 2014 Permit approval and satisfaction of the Prior to Construction conditions. In consideration of the public benefits for the protection of coastal resources being derived by the granting of the Permit by the Commission, the Permittee has offered to dedicate to the people of the State of California (i) a dune area conservation easement in gross and in perpetuity over a portion of the property, and (ii) a public access easement in gross and in perpetuity over a portion of the property, both of which have been recorded with the Monterey County Recorder as Document Numbers 2015062067 and 2015062068, dated October 27, 2015, respectively, and both of which contain the full legal description of the easements in Exhibit “C” contained therein. 1-2 EMC PLANNING GROUP INC ccco0241MOoNnTEREY BAY SHORES RESORT: HABITAT PROTECTION PLAN NOVEMBER 2015 This revised and updated HPP is subject to, and consistent with, the additional following documents approved by the CCC: The Notice of Intent to Issue Coastal Development Permit CDP A-3-SNC-98-114 (Monterey Bay Shores Resort 2014) (NOI, Appendix E, Exhibit “B”), Revised Findings and Addendum, adopted August 15, 2014 (Appendix B); Revised Plans (Bestor Engineers 2015, Vesting Tentative Plan) as approved by the CCC on November 4, 2015 as part of the CDP Issuance (Appendix N); Irrevocable Offer of Dedication for Dune Area Conservation, approved by the CCC and recorded with the Monterey County Recorder on October 27, 2015, Document No. 2015062067 (Appendix C); . Irrevocable Offer of Dedication Public Access Easement, approved by the CCC and recorded with the Monterey County Recorder on October 27, 2015, Document No. 2015062068 (Appendix D); and Deed Restriction, approved by the CCC and recorded with the Monterey County Recorder on October 27, 2015, Document No. 2015062069 (Appendix E). Coastal Development Permit CDP-A-3-SNC-98-114, California Coastal Commission, Issued November 9, 2015 This HPP addresses, responds to and addresses the concerns raised by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in a letters dated April 7, 2014 and April 1, 2016, which identified eight concerns regarding western snowy plover, the Smith’s blue butterfly and Monterey spineflower. This HPP presents a set of measures for the protection, preservation and recovery of these species. Management actions include measures for the enhancement and restoration of the currently damaged dune complex in accordance with the Commission's Certified Sand City LCP and the CDP issued on November 9, 2015, and the protection and enhancement of western snowy plover habitat. There are no further permits or authorizations legally required from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Service (CDFW) or the USFWS for the project. There is no federal nexus and therefore no federal agency has Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 7 consultation obligations with respect to this property. No other federal ESA jurisdiction exists over this site (unless take of a listed species occurs, of which the measures in this HPP are designed to avoid). The USFWS’ HCP Handbook and published case law make it clear that the ESA docs not impose a mandatory obligation on a private person to obtain an Incidental Take Permit (Nossaman 2016). EMC PLANNING GROUP INC 1-3 ccec002421.1.1 CDP Issuance by the CCC The Commission issued the CDP on November 9, 2015 (Appendix A) after determining that the applicant/owner had complied with Permit conditions of approval. As part of its extensive environmental and project review process and of its condition compliance process, the Commission Executive Director approved and signed off on a set of plans and reports, including the following: 1. Revised Plans, Vesting Tentative Map 2. Grading Plan 3. Height Compliance 4, Monterey Bay Shores Floor Level Plans 5. Landscape Plans — Planting and Restoration (updated July 7, 2016) 6. Construction Plan 7. Stormwater Drainage Plan 8. Public Access Management Plan (updated July 29, 2016) 9. Lighting Plan 10. Signage Plan 11. Dune Restoration Plan (updated July 7, 2016) 12. Blufftop Edge Monitor Plan 13. Preliminary Foundation Pile Layout 14. Resort Pathway Plan 15. Utility Exhibit - Plan Some of the plans are included in the HPP as separate appendices and are referenced in various parts of the HPP. Additionally, numerous reports and certifications have been prepared, reviewed, issued, and recorded as a precondition to issuance of the Permit by the CCC, They include the following: 1. Typical Hotel Condo Units 2. Condominium Hotel Plan ccc00243MOonTEREY BAY SHORES RESORT: HABITAT PROTECTION PLAN NOVEMBER 2015 we Monterey Bay Shores Views & Existing Views, 4. — Irrevocable Offer of Dedication-Dune area Conservation (Appendix C), 5. Irrevocable Offer of Dedication-Public Access Easernent (Appendix D), 6. Geotechnical Analysis, 7. Blufftop Edge Monitoring Plan, 8. Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) (updated March 14, 2016) 9. Utilities Will Serve Letters 10. Certification of Landscape Plan and Geotechnical Analysis, 11. MPWMD-Water Distribution Permit 12. Deed Restriction (Appendix E). 13. Subordinations by lenders and parties of interest to the Offers to Dedicate Conservation and Public Access Easements in order to facilitate CDP Issuance (Recorded by the Monterey County Recorder) This HPP, the Commission’s approval and sign offs, the Revised Findings, the Permit issued on November 9, 2015 and all associated plans and reports and Prior to Construction sign offs in 2016, the Permit conditions, the Notice of Intent (NOT and Revised Plans (VTM) are designed to be read together and in harmony with the HPP to the extent possible. If there is a material conflict between these documents, the conditions contained in the CDP issued November 9, 2015, informed by the full Commission’s April 11, 2014 approval and hearing transcript, shall prevail. 1.1.2. Revisions to the 1998 Project Design As set forth in the 2009 certified Addendum to the Monterey Bay Shores Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), since certification of the original FEIR in 1998 there have been substantial changes in the project design, building layout, and size, There have also been naturally-occurring changes in the amount and distribution of biological resources. Likewise, since publication of the 2008 FEIR Addendum, further changes have been made to the resort project design, most notably a reduction in bulk, mass and the project footprint incorporating advanced sustainable and green elements. The current project plans site includes construction of some buildings underground, affording more opportunity for restoration of habitat and the establishment of native coastal species at the surface. This updated HPP addresses potential impacts associated & EMC PLANNING GROUP INC 1- ecco002441.0 INTRODUCTION with the revised 2014 resort design approved by the Coastal Commission on April 11, 2014 and the most recent Revised Plans and Vesting Tentative Map (VTM) that meets conditions of the CDP (Bestor Engineers 2015), approved and issued by the Commission on November 9, 2015, including all updates and supplemental reports as part of the Prior to Construction compliance sign off in 2016. With respect to the project design, building layout, and building size, the 2015 Approved Revised Plans and VTM relocated the building footprint to be set back a significantly greater distance from the ocean than the original 1998 layout. Thus, there will be a greater buffer between many of the construction and operational activities and the lower beach and strand, where biologists believe that western snowy plover nesting activity is most likely to occur (if it does occur). This additional buffer adds a layer of protection to help ensure that plovers on the beach are not impacted during construction or operation of the resort, and will reduce significant impacts to plover critical habitat and behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding and sheltering activities. The redesigned project and landscaping, including the resort pathways and public access trails to the beach have also been specifically designed to create new, restored, and enhanced habitat elements on or near the beach and strand that are designed to attract western snowy plover activity. 1.1.3 Regulatory Setting Since 2006, there have been several changes to the regulatory regime governing the listed species and land use onsite. In chronological order, they are as follows: In December 2007, USFWS determined that the site would not be included in the final revised critical habitat designation for the Monterey spineflower. In January 2008, the California Court of Appeal held that the Sand City Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan (LCP) does not deem the project site to be environmentally sensitive habitat area (ESHA) and that the Coastal Commission had exceeded its jurisdiction by declaring the site to be ESHA. (Security National Guaranty, Inc. v. California Coastal Com. (2008) 159 Cal.App.4th 402.) The Court further held that in reviewing and approving a development project, a local government is not required to demonstrate that “the conclusions in the LCP still ‘relate to current conditions.” Finally, the Court remanded the CDP application to the Commission for rehearing, based solely on the standards in the existing LCP, ie., with no ESHA on site. In December 2011, the California Supreme Court invalidated all redevelopment agencies, rendering Sand City’s redevelopment plan, which included the project site, moot. In June 2012, USFWS reversed its 2005 determination that the entire site was excluded from critical habitat, and designated the site’s beach and a portion of the western upper bluff, as well 1-6 EMC PLANNING GROUP INC cCc0n245MONTERREY BAY SHORES RESORT: HABITAT PROTECTION PLAN NOVEMBER 2015 as all of the Sand City coastline and upper bluff as critical habitat for the western snowy plover. The upper bluff was added to allow replacement of lost lower beach due to potential future erosion, presumably from changes in tidal action and sea level rise as a result of global warming. (The applicant objected to the expansion of critical habitat inland based on potential sea level tise and coastal erosion given the long-standing and consistent surveys since 1995 showing accretion, rather than erosion, occurring on the site (Haro Kasunich 2013).) In May 2013, the San Francisco Superior Court overturned the Commission’s 2009 denial of a yevised Monterey Bay Shores Resort project, noting that certain members of the Commission and staff were unlawfully hostile to any development on the site. In June 2013, the San Francisco Superior Court ordered the project remanded back to the Coastal Commission for a re-hearing of the CDP application. In April 2014, the full CCC voted to approve a CDP for the revised Monterey Bay Shores Resort that is the subject of this HPP, with the NOI as issued on May 30, 2014. Findings of Approval were adopted by the CCC on August 15, 2014. The Commission also dismissed all appeals of the San Francisco Superior Court decision against the Commission. On November 9, 2015, the Commission issued the CDP for the Revised Plans (VIM) and associated plans and reports noted above and in Appendices A - Q, CDP. Many of the plans and reports address management and recovery plans for the listed species, in particular the Dune Restoration Plan approved by the Commission Executive Director on October 14, 2015 and signed off on the Supplemental Landscape Plan July 7, 2016. No critical habitat has been designated for Smith's blue butterfly on the property. Critical habitat for the western snowy plover is designated on approximately 10.2 acres of the site above the Pacific Ocean mean high tide line. Grading or construction is not proposed within the beach and strand area, where all western snowy plover nesting activity has been observed during the past 21 years, Thus, no grading will occur within the western 40 percent of the critical habitat area, and short term (60-90 days) temporary grading is limited to the eastern 6.1 acres of designated critical habitat, east of the 20-foot (toe of the bluff) contour line (during dune recontouring and revegetation activities). Resort buildings are set back significantly from the critical habitat boundary and no other designated critical habitat exists on any portion of the property. There is no federal nexus and therefore no federal agency has ESA section 7 consultation obligations with respect to this property. No other federal ESA jurisdiction exists over this site unless there is take of a listed species, which is not anticipated since this HPP is designed to avoid take, As noted above, the USFWS’ HCP Handbook and published case law make it clear that the ESA does not impose a mandatory obligation on a private person to obtain an Incidental Take Permit, EMC PLANNING GROUP INC 1-7 CCC002461.0 INTRODUCTION The Commission-certified Sand City LCP identifies certain areas along the boundary of the property site near Highway 1 as dune stabilization/restoration areas (identified on Figure 7 in the LCP) and encourages the creation of a dune management program concurrent with any development proposal for the property. This updated HPP is designed to facilitate that planning objective and to restore and protect that area, as described in the DRP and updated Supplemental Landscape Plan. 11,4 Biological Surveys and Updates This HPP provides an assessment of the current conditions on the site relative to the listed species noted above, evaluates the effects of the Commission-approved Revised Plans and CDP, resort development and operation on those species, and presents a set of management prescriptions for the protection, preservation and recovery of these species within the context of the CDP and associated constraints. The existing dunes and remaining dune habitats on the Monterey Bay Shores project site remain highly disturbed as a result of 60 years of sand mining on the site; however, the dunes are remnants of the Flandrian Monterey sand dune complex that extends from the Salinas River south to the Municipal Wharf. Since 1998, there have been numerous additional biological surveys conducted on the project site to update the data on existing conditions. The following sections outline the surveys conducted, the results of which are contained and discussed in Section 3.0. Vegetation In 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015 EMC Planning Group completed new vegetation mapping, including surveys for seacliff and coast buckwheat (host plants for the Smith’s blue butterfly) and for Monterey spineflower, when in bloom. Surveys and mapping were also conducted by URS Corporation in 2014 (URS 2014b). Due to the less than average rainfall year and limited germination occurring within the Monterey area, the most recent acreage calculations are considered lower than would likely occur in the absence of drought conditions. Changes in the vegetation on site have been taken into account in preparing this HPP, 1-8 EMC PLANNING GROUP INC ccec00247MONTEREY BAY SHORES RESORT: HABITAT PROT! ION PLAN NOVEMBER 2015 Smith’s Blue Butterfly Surveys for Smith’s blue butterfly were first conducted in 1987 by Dr. Richard Arnold. Surveys were updated in 1988, 1989, and 2006 and most recently by EMC Planning Group in 2014 and 2016. Since establishing the presence of Smith’s blue butterfly on the site in the swale area and due to the species’ close association with its two host plants, seacliff and coast buckwheat, this species is assumed to occur where buckwheat plants are present on the site. Vegetation mapping has documented any changes to the location and extent of buckwheat plants found on the site, and has been updated as described above, Western Snowy Plover Nesting snowy plovers have been monitored along the central California coast between Laguna Creek and the south end of Monterey Bay since 1984. Beginning in 2005, the City of Sand City co-sponsored annual systematic breeding season sutveys of the Sand City coastline for the western snowy plover. These surveys are conducted by Point Blue Conservation Science (PBCS), formerly known as the Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO). Additional surveys were conducted in 2014 by URS Corp (URS 2014a) and in 2014 and 2016 by EMC Planning Group. In May 2014, the USFWS conducted an independent, unannounced inspection/survey of the entire site. No plovers were observed. No take of listed species was identified by the USFWS. The nesting survey conducted in 2016 by EMC Planning Group observed nesting activity in three locations along the lower beach area and no activity inland of the toe of the bluff. 1.1.5 Information and Data Reviewed in Preparation of this HPP The following documents were reviewed during the preparation of this revised HPP: Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report, Monterey Bay Shores Resort (City of Sand City 2008, as Certified 2009) Final Environmental Impact Report, Monterey Bay Shores Resort (City of Sand City 1998) Final Environmental Impact Report for The Sands of Monterey (EIP 1990) Biotic Assessment, Monterey Bay Shores EIR Addendum, Sand City, California (Zander Associates 2008) EMC PLANNING GROUP INC 1-9 CCC00248.0 INTRODUCTION Annual Western Snowy Plover Surveys and Reports, PRBO/Zander Associates 1994-2015 Peer Review, Review of Mitigation Measures for Potential Impacts to the Western Snowy Plover; Proposed Monterey Bay Shores Eco-resort, Sand City. California (Wildlife Science International 2008) Peer Review, Monterey Bay Shores EIR Addendum, Sand City, CA (URS 2008) Monterey Bay Shores Botanical Survey Update Results (EMC Planning Group 2008) Monterey Bay Shores Botanical Survey Update Results (EMC Planning Group 2011) Monterey Bay Shores Botanical Survey Update Results (EMC Planning Group 2013) Monterey Bay Shores Botanical Survey Update Results (EMC Planning Group 2014) Monterey Bay Shores Survey for Western Snowy Plover (EMC Planning Group 2015) Monterey Bay Shores Survey for Western Snowy Plover (EMC Planning Group 2016) Monterey Bay Shores Monterey Spineflower Survey (URS 2014b) Letter from USFWS to Mike Watson, Califomia Coastal Commission, April 7, 2014. Information conveyed by USFWS documenting a random site visit (May 2014) Landscaping Plan (Rana Creek 2015) Dune Restoration Plan (EMC Planning Group 2015) Vesting Tentative Map, Monterey Bay Shores and Revised Plans (Bestor Engineers 2015) Public Access Management Plan (EMC Planning Group 2015) Excess Sand Disposition from the Monterey Bay Shores (Haro Kasunich 2013) Engineering Surveys of Site (Bestor Engineers 2014) Signage Plan (EMC Planning 2015) Lighting Plan (EMC Planning 2015) Construction Plan (SNG & Bestor Engineers 2014) Resort Pathways (Bestor Engineers, SNG, EMC Planning 2015) Grading Plan (Bestor Engineers, 2015) ° EMC PLANNING GROUP INC ccc00249MONTEREY BAY SHORES RESORT: HABITAT PROTECTION PLAN NOVEMBER 2015 Revised Findings and Addendum, California Coastal Commission (Adopted August 15, 2014) Notice of Intent to Issue Coastal Development Permit, CDP-A-3-SNC-98-114 (May 30, 2014) Letter from USFWS to Mike Watson, California Coastal Commission, April 1, 2016. Memoranda by Dr. Koteen, California Coastal Commission (July & August, 2016) The Monterey Bay Shores Resort property (APN 011-501-14) is located along the southern Monterey Bay coastline at the northern city jurisdictional boundary of Sand City, approximately one mile north of the City of Monterey and about 28 miles south of Santa Cruz (Figure 1, Site Vicinity) in an urbanized area of the Monterey Peninsula. Lands of the former Fort Ord military base, which is now Ford Ord Dunes State Park, and the City of Marina are to the north. Lands owned by regional and state parks, the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and shoreline portions of the cities of Sand City, Seaside, and Monterey occur to the south, and large commercial and shopping centers and residential development exist nearby across Highway I to the east. For approximately 60 years Lonestar Industries conducted sand mining at the site and the site remains in a degraded state. Minimal to no reclamation activities have occurred since the mine closure. The site encompasses a gross area of 39.04 acres, of which approximately 32 acres lie above the mean high tide line. The beaches and dunes extending from the Salinas River to the mouth of the Monterey Harbor once formed an extensive complex that has been heavily affected by long-term historical industrial use and development, Sand mining, military use, and other development have all affected the continuity and integrity of this shoreline dune complex. Sand City’s LCP seeks to encourage restoration of the dunes within its jurisdiction as part of any coastal projects in two nodes of development. One of those nodes is the Monterey Bay Shores Resort site, with the rest of the coastal zone designated as open space or parks. The revised and CCC-approved project includes the construction of a 368-unit mixed-use resort with a hotel, visitor. serving condominiums (condominium hotel units), residential condominiums, amenities and programs including restaurants, a conference center, spa and EMC PLANNING GROUP INC 1-111.0 INTRODUCTION wellness center as well as public parking, public access trails to the beach as well as dedicated resort pathways. Emphasis in the design has been placed on extensive ecological and sustainable elements, as well as numerous smart building and resort systems. Further details are provided in Appendix A, CDP, and the plans approved by the CCC upon CDP issuance on November 9, 2015. The project is designed to integrate development within the dunes and as such, parking has been designed to be underground. A good portion of the resort in the northern section is designed below or at existing grade, stepping up as you move down-coast in order to protect coastal resources, including views, and enhance open space through habitat restoration and enhancement. Dune restoration on the east side of the property extends about two thirds up- coast on the property. The project includes a subdivision of the property into three parcels per the Revised Plans and a subsequent subdivision of the condo-hotel and residential units. Main access to the resort begins at the terminus of California Avenue at the main entry driveway and through a tunnel ending on the westerly side of a plaza in front of the lobby, with direct access to underground parking both for the hotel and residential units. Secondary access for service to the hotel and the residential condominiums is on the north-easterly end of the resort below existing grade along with emergency and fire vehicle access provided on the north end of the resort wrapping westward in front of the resort with a turnaround, all connecting to guest trails to the beach. The resort will include the following uses: A 184-room hotel located south of the central lobby building area; 92 visitor-serving condominium units (rental program condo hotel) located south of the lobby building area enveloping a courtyard in the backside and above the hotel units; 92 residential condominium units located north of the lobby and a main program building enveloping a courtyard; A program facilities building including a reception/lobby, restaurants, retail and wellness spa center; Auxiliary facilities including conference center, meeting rooms, theater and parking all located in the underground building at levels 22’ and above; and Open space, public access and surface parking on the easterly side, resort pathways and public trails to the beach, three vista points, and habitat and dune restoration areas, 1-12 EMC PLANNING GROUP INC ccco0251Legend Pio sundary 1,000 feet Fort Ord Dunes State Park ’ MLD Monterey Bay Shores , , / MPRPD - MPRPD Park Site , / MeDonald Edgewater ‘ (City) Center Sterling sand Dollar Center — oa “| i Sand Cily Limitline {771 Source: Google Earth 2012, Monterey County G1S 2010 Figure 1 Site Vicinity Monterey Bay Shores IHabitat Protection Plan CCC002521.0 INTRODUCTION This side intentionally left blank. Leld EMC PLANNING GROUP INC cCC00253Monterey BAY SHORES RESORT: HABITAT PROTECTION PLAN NOVEMBER 2015 1.3.1 Grading, Site Preparation, and “No-Grade” Areas As described below, portions of the site, except for areas on the beach below (seaward) of the 20- foot MSL (toe of the bluff) contour line, will be graded to re-contour, stabilize, and restore the dunes. That activity will result in the removal of more than 400,000 cubic yards of sand, which is a 50% reduction in sand removal compared with the 1998 design. In part, the reason that sand removal is necessary is because: The Commission required setting the project back to the 75 year/2.6-foot setback line (exceeding the LCP requirements and approved by the CCC); 2, The legal requirement for the emergency access road; 3. The placement of the garages and resort parking under the buildings; 4, The construction of an underground building to preserve views as approved by the Commission; and 5 The CCC requirement that bulk and mass of the buildings be centered in the SE portion of the development envelope and pushed to a lower MSL. Disposal of excess sand would be accomplished outside of the Coastal Zone in one of the following three ways, or a combination thereof: Contract with an excavation or grading company(ies) to remove the sand from the site and stockpile the sand outside the Coastal Zone for commercial use and beach nourishment projects [consistent with the 2008 Southern Monterey Bay Coastal Regional Sediment Management Plan (CRSMP) and/or Sand Compatibility and Opportunistic Use Plan (SCOUP)]; 2 Sale for upland uses or to private contractors and aggregate companies; or 3 Disposal at the Marina Landfill or other upland location Further details on sand removal ate provided in the Construction Plan and VT'M (2015), which is included in Appendix Q, VTM, and Appendix N, respectively. Of the site's 32 acres above the mean high tide line, approximately 19.0 acres will be modified by grading, excavation, and recontouring, including rehabilitation, restoration and stabilization of the sand dunes degraded by historical sand mining. Approximately 10.2 acres of the site above the mean high tide has been designated as critical habitat for the western snowy plover. Of that area, approximately 4.0 acres includes the beach and strand area below 20 feet mean sea level (MSL), which will not be subject to grading or EMC PLANNING GROUP INC ecc002541.0 INTRODUCTION development. In addition, the swale area along the northern property line, has been set aside to protect existing buckwheat plants and will not be subject to any grading. As approved by the CDP dated November 9, 2015, an area totaling approximately 6.1 acres within the higher elevation western snowy plover critical habitat (not on the beach) will be graded, recontoured and enhanced to include foredune habitats with native dune species preferred by western snowy plover. Western snowy plover nesting activity has not been observed in this 6 acre area during the past 22 years. Grading activity in this elevated area will be limited to 60-90 days and will be timed to occur outside of the plover nesting period, if feasible. Other grading on the site will maintain a buffer of at least a distance of 100 ft from the existing blufftop during western snowy plover breeding season All construction activities are subject to all of the plover protection measures detailed later in this HPP, including surveys by the biologist and on-going monitoring by the biologist, cessation of work in the affected area if any plover nests are discovered, and other measures designed to ensure no plover take and no significant damage or degradation to western snowy plover critical habitat, ensuring that any such habitat impact does not rise to the level of "significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding or sheltering." 50 C.F.R. § 17.3. There will be no alterations or effects that preclude or significantly delay the development of the physical or biological features that support the life-history needs of the western snowy plover for recovery. The recontoured and enhanced area will be designed to make the area more attractive to plovers than the existing area that has been subject to, and damaged by, 60 years of intensive sand mining, The remainder of the site, also subject to the plover and buckwheat protection and recovery measures, will be recontoured for construction of the buildings and infrastructure as shown in Figure 2, Site Plan, with a portion of the site surface restored above the underground buildings after completion of construction. Restored areas will include stabilized sand dunes and coastal habitat, At project completion, the maximum elevation on the site will be about 150 feet above MSL at the southeast corner of the site, which will be recontoured for dune stabilization. (The highest sand dune on the site currently is 150 feet MSL.) Most existing dunes will be preserved with minor berming or minimal disturbance, other than what is needed for habitat restoration or stabilization of the dunes. 1-16 #MC PLANNING GROUP INC ©CC00255UR] UOTOSIOIY UGH saoys Aeg AoraUopy juyparoag yotuns’y ove} ayn pue Koains ¢1 97 10359g Uo paseq parsnipe sy) (vopane Suynoys (eLoztanepd ZLOZ SMAASN “AIDPUNOY JOLQDH [LOND JBAd[g AmOous Wasa epouulxoiddy Aippunog josloig Zz SAAS ‘ClOz Sous Ug soIsag :ADINGg sparepday slo, t i f i 7 f i ' t i t i i i _ { 1 t i i \ Se How i (RES i i i a i é a i i i i s1.0 Inrropuction This side intentionally left blank. 1-18 EMC PLANNING GROUP INC ©CC00257MONTEREY BAY SHORES RESORT: HABITAT PROTECTION PLAN NOVEMB 1.3.2 Site Layout and Project Design ‘The Monterey Bay Shores resort has been designed using an ecologically protective approach that integrates site conditions and capacity with the layout and structure design in order to achieve long-term sustainability. Dune topography, native plant assemblages and ecological functions will be restored on the site to correct degradation due to decades of mining operations The proposed development is clustered towards the central and southern portions of the site (with an expanded setback from the mean high tide line) and oriented towards Monterey Bay. Physical conditions that influenced the layout of the project include the desire to meet or exceed the required shoreline setback requirements, coastal and biological resources and habitat, site topography, dune stabilization and restoration requirements and policies, and conditions imposed by the Coastal Commission. In addition, the site design accounted for the LCP’s land use requirements, regulations and policies, including public access to the shoreline, public recreation opportunities, open space, dune stabilization and habitat restoration areas, height limitations, and protection of specific views of Monterey Bay, in accordance with the Commission-certified LCP. The revised project also emphasizes visitor-serving uses, as those are a priority in the LCP. The development will be built "into the dunes," including the underground buildings, in order to conform to, and blend with, the dune environment, reduce the project's impacts to views of the site and of Monterey Bay, and reduce noise impacts to the project, all of which are consistent with the policies of the LCP. Architectural forms are intended to conform to the topography, shore orientation, and scale of natural dune formations. The proposed hotel, resort, and condominium units all will be integrated into what appears as stepped buildings, starting with two and three stories in the west and cascading up the dunes going east as well as stepping up going south, with the bulk of the massing concentrated south towards the large dune area. The approved buildings on the site will be constructed in a stepped fashion, beginning on the west side and stepping up into higher elevations to the east, to fit the dune topography and screen buildings (Figure 3, Proposed Building Cluster Design). The elevation of the main entry plaza and reception area will be at 65 feet above MSL and will provide access both to the hotel and visitor serving condominiums portion on the south and the residential portion on the north of the building as well as to the conference area, wellness spa center and restaurants in the lower and underground building. The highest building elevation will not exceed 122 feet above MSL and is located in the southeast corner. Most of the building roofs will be “green roofs” allowing for stormwater management and rain harvesting. The hotel units, visitor-serving residential units, and the underground facilities will be located on the southera end and central portion of the proposed buildings and the residential units will be located in the northern end. The main lobby/reception area and main program area building will separate the hotel/visitor serving units and the residential units, and steps down to an elevation of 32 feet. All of the buildings provide for vertical circulation, daylighting and ventilation towers. EMC PLANNING GROUP INC 1-19 ccc002581,0 INTRODUCTION 1.3.3 Site Access and Parking Vehicular access to the project site will be via an entry driveway with main access through a tunnel to the plaza in front of the lobby area. The main entrance to the proposed building will be located approximately 500 feet from the current terminus of California Avenue. The main entrance will provide access to the conference area, restaurants, spa and wellness center and building lobby/reception and underground parking garages. Two secondary access roads used for delivery truck access, employee parking, residential condominium owners and emergency vehicle access will be provided on the north end of the project. All underground parking will be located behind and below the buildings in an underground garage. The parking garage will provide approximately 947 parking spaces for the development. An additional 46 public parking spaces will be located along the entry drive on the northeast side of the project site beyond the main tunnel. The revised project maximizes covered and underground parking, which fulfills the LCP policy of encouraging a layout that buffers parking from Monterey Bay. 1.3.4 Public Access The project will include a public access easement on the eastern portion of the site, along the entry road. A public access pathway (6’ wide) with a scenic overlook will be provided from the parking areas on the eastern side along the property line, then turning to the beach along the north end of the property in the swale, Access ways are sited away from the large dune areas that will be stabilized and where habitat will be restored. Pathways are designed to avoid restored vegetation and include exclusion measures such as signage and fencing to protect these areas. An additional public easement will cover the entire beach area below the toe of the bluff ( 20 feet MSL) to ensure lateral access along the coast on dry sand. Vertical access to the shore, two resort pathways and one public access trail, has been provided at three locations on the site to prevent crowding and overuse of coastal resources. Public access will be coordinated and controlled based on recommendations of an approved biologist to avoid or minimize impacts to biological resources. Visitors, guests, owners, and the public visiting the beach will be provided with educational handouts on the Western snowy plover and “Birds on West Coast Beaches” published by Point Blue Conservation Science, available at the resort and at the coastal access parking and vista points. Beach rules will be posted on the three public and private trails to the beach at the beach stairs and in the public parking area. 1-20 EMC PLANNING GROUP INC cCc0025909200999 ue] { UONOSIoIg Wuqey saoys Avg AoauUoyy uBsISac] LaIsn[D BuIpying pasodoig ¢ amsiy et0z Stoourfiug 1orsog :9>1n0g S1/e0/ Ut povepde sna ‘SHOU ONUTRA® i Appunog 4921o4g1.0 INTRODUCTION This side intentionally left blank. 1-22 EMC PLANNING GROUP INC CCc00261MONTEREY BAY SHORES RESORT: HABITAT PROTECTION PLAN NOVEMBER 2015 A joint pedestrian and bike path will be constructed along the eastern property boundary to the public parking area, designed to connect with the regional bike path. The project proposes a public access easement on the site that would connect the public parking area at the northeast corner of the site with the beach and vista point through a trail located along the northern side of the underground buildings. In addition, a 16.70-acre conservation easement will surround the proposed buildings on the site. Visitors will be allowed within some areas of the conservation easement associated with public access, subject to restrictions and signage needed to protect biological resources, including Monterey spineflower, western snowy plover, and Smith's blue butterfly, as described herein. Additional details are provided in the Dune Restoration Plan (Appendix F), the Public Access Management Plan (Appendix I), the Signage Plan (Appendix J), the Irrevocable Offer of Dedication-Dune Conservation Area (Appendix C), the Irrevocable offer of Dedication-Public Access Easement (Appendix D), and the Deed Restriction (Appendix E). 1.3.5 Utilities and Infrastructure The proposed project will obtain utility services from the Seaside County Sanitation District, California American (Cal-Am) Water Company utilizing SNG’s water rights and allocation, Pacific Gas & Electric and other service providers. An eight-inch sanitary sewer line will be located along the ocean side of the proposed project and will connect with a sewage lift station in the southwest portion of the project site. The lift station will connect with a four-inch sanitary sewer force main through the project site out to the main entry. The sanitary sewer line will be extended in California Avenue to an existing six-inch main sewer line at the Edgewater Shopping Center. The project site has been annexed into the Cal-Am service area, such that water lines will be extended from the Edgewater Shopping Center to the project site. Additional details are provided in the revised plans and VTM in Appendix A, CDP. The revised project will use cutting-edge sustainable energy demand-reducing technologies and smart systems in order to reduce overall energy use, decrease fossil fuel use, and decrease the project's carbon footprint. The revised project proposes to capture stormwater for on-site use and allow infiltration on the site. The revised project includes cisterns and a retention pond, located on the east portion of the site adjacent to the main entry driveway. Storm drainage lines ranging from 12 inches to 24 inches will be located throughout the site. See Stormwater Drainage Plan (Appendix A, CDP and Appendix N) for further details. Water conservation will be a significant component of the utility systems and operation of the resort. Since the project is designed to avoid stormwater runoff, the project will not connect with off-site storm drainage lines and will not discharge stormwater from the site but rather use drywells to recharge the aquifer. EMC PLANNING GROUP INC 1-23 ccco02621.0 InTROF This side intentionally left blank, 1-24 EMC PLANNING GROUP INC CCC002632.0 XIST G OND TIONS AND XPECTED MPACTS 2.1 EXISTING CONDITIONS This section details the existing biological site conditions. The biological resources on the project site have been documented through numerous studies and biological surveys conducted for the Permittee, the City of Sand City and for previous project applicants, as well as frequent biological surveys during the project application process. An EIR was prepared for the Monterey Bay Shores property by David Powers Associates and approved and certified by the lead agency, the City of Sand City (Sand City/David Powers 1998). An addendum was completed in August 2008 (Certified 2009) to update this EIR based on a revised design and smaller project (Sand City/David Powers 2008). To update the biological resources section of the EIR, Zander Associates prepared a biotic assessment to compare the findings for the previous project with the impacts of the revised project and to identify any substantial changes in impacts or requirements for new mitigation measures. Additionally, two independent peer reviews of the proposed plover mitigation strategy were conducted (URS 2008, Wildlife Science International 2008). In addition, numerous biological surveys have been conducted. Beginning in 2005, the City of Sand City co-sponsored annual systematic breeding season surveys of the Sand City coastline for the western snowy plover. These surveys are conducted by Point Blue Conservation Science (PBCS), formerly known as the Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO). Additional surveys were conducted in 2014 by URS Corp (URS 2014a) and by EMC Planning Group in 2014, 2015 and 2016. In May 2014, the USFWS conducted an independent, unannounced inspection/survey of the entire site, No plovers were sighted on the entire site. No take of listed species was identified by the USFWS. The EMC Planning Group surveys did not ccco02642.0 XISTING CONDITIONS AND EXPECTED IMPACTS observe plover occurring inland of the toe of the bluff. The 2016 survey found three plover nests on the lower beach, which were also reported indepe