ATTACHMENT_1_EXHIBIT_A_FEIR (Section 1 Cover Page and Introduction)Final Environmental Impact Report
The Gateway at Grand Terrace Specific Plan
SCH No. 2021020110
Lead Agency
City of Grand Terrace
Konrad Bolowich, City Manager
22795 Barton Road
Grand Terrace, CA 92313
(909) 824-6621
CONSULTANT
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Kari Cano, Project Manager
3801 University Ave, Suite 300
Riverside, CA 92501
July 2024
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Final Environmental Impact Report Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Section 1: Introduction
1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1.0-1
1.2 Organization of EIR ............................................................................................................ 1.0-2
1.3 CEQA Process Summary ..................................................................................................... 1.0-2
1.4 Changes to the Draft EIR .................................................................................................... 1.0-2
Section 2: Comments and Responses to Draft EIR
2.1 Introduction to Comments and Responses ....................................................................... 2.0-1
Comment Letter A – Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians .................................................... 2.0-3
Responses to Comment Letter A ............................................................................................ 2.0-6
Comment Letter B – Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians .......................................................... 2.0-7
Responses to Comment Letter B ............................................................................................ 2.0-9
Comment Letter C – City of Colton .......................................................................................... 2.0-11
Responses to Comment Letter C .......................................................................................... 2.0-13
Comment Letter D – City of Riverside ...................................................................................... 2.0-15
Responses to Comment Letter D .......................................................................................... 2.0-19
Comment Letter E – Colton Joint Unified School District ........................................................ 2.0-23
Responses to Comment Letter E ........................................................................................... 2.0-30
Comment Letter F – Pala Band of Mission Indians .................................................................. 2.0-39
Responses to Comment Letter F ........................................................................................... 2.0-41
Comment Letter G – San Manuel Band of Mission Indians ..................................................... 2.0-43
Responses to Comment Letter G .......................................................................................... 2.0-47
Comment Letter H – South Coast Air Quality Management District ....................................... 2.0-49
Responses to Comment Letter H .......................................................................................... 2.0-51
Comment Letter I – Southwest Mountain State Regional Council of Carpenters ................... 2.0-53
Responses to Comment Letter I ......................................................................................... 2.0-103
Comment Letter J – Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility .......................... 2.0-115
Responses to Comment Letter J ......................................................................................... 2.0-117
Section 3.0: Errata to the Draft EIR
3.1 Introduction to the Errata .................................................................................................. 3.0-1
3.2 Changes to the Draft EIR .................................................................................................... 3.0-1
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Section 1.0 Introduction
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The City of Grand Terrace (City) has prepared this Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) in compliance
with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for The Gateway at Grand Terrace Specific Plan
(Project). The City is required, after completion of a Draft EIR (DEIR), to consult with and obtain comments
from public agencies having jurisdiction by law with respect to the Project and provide the general public
with an opportunity to comment on the DEIR. This FEIR has been prepared to respond to comments
received on the DEIR (State Clearinghouse No. 2021020110), which was circulated for public review from
June 26, 2023 through August 14, 2023. The preceding Table of Contents provides a list of all persons,
organizations, and public agencies who commented on the DEIR.
A Lead Agency will evaluate comments on environmental issues from persons who reviewed the DEIR and
will prepare a written response, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15088(a). The written response must
address any significant environmental issues raised. In addition, there must be a good faith and reasoned
analysis in the written response. However, lead agencies need only respond to significant environmental
issues associated with the Project and do not need to provide all the information requested by
commenters, as long as a good faith effort at full disclosure is made in the EIR (State CEQA Guidelines
§15204, §15088). Comments received on the DEIR for The Gateway at Grand Terrace Specific Plan are
responded to in Section 2.0, Comments on the Draft EIR and Responses to Comments.
State CEQA Guidelines §15088 recommends that where a response to comment makes important changes
in the information contain in the text of the DEIR, that the Lead Agency either revise the text of the DEIR
or include marginal notes showing that information. Added or modified text is shown in Section 3.0,
Errata, by underlining (example), while deleted text is shown by striking (example). The additional
information, corrections, and clarifications are not considered to substantively affect the conclusions
within the EIR and therefore the City has determined that recirculation of the DEIR is not required as none
of the criteria for recirculation under CEQA Guidelines Section 15088.5 have been met.
CEQA Guidelines §15132 indicates that the contents of a FEIR shall consist of:
(a) The DEIR or a revision of the draft.
(b) Comments and recommendations received on the DEIR either verbatim or in summary.
(c) A list of persons, organizations, and public agencies commenting on the DEIR.
(d) The responses of the Lead Agency to significant environmental points raised in the review and
consultation process.
(e) Any other information added by the Lead Agency.
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15088(b), the City will provide written responses to comments to any public
agency that commented on the DEIR, at least ten (10) days prior to the City of Grand Terrace City Council’s
consideration of certifying the EIR as adequate under CEQA. Written responses to comments will also be
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provided to non-public agency individuals, organizations, and entities that commented on the DEIR. In
addition, the FEIR will be made available to the general public at the City’s Planning Division office and on
the City’s website for a minimum of 10 days prior to the City Council public hearing.
The FEIR, along with other relevant information and public testimony at the Planning Commission public
hearings, will be considered by the City Council in determining whether or not to certify the EIR and
approve the Project.
1.2 ORGANIZATION OF EIR
This FEIR provides the requisite information required under CEQA and is organized as follows:
Section 1.0: Introduction. This section provides an introduction to the FEIR, including the
requirements under CEQA, the organization of the document, as well as a brief summary of the
CEQA process activities to date.
Section 2.0: Comments on the Draft EIR and Responses to Comments. This section provides a list
of public agencies, organizations, and individuals commenting on the DEIR, provides a copy of
each written comment received, and any responses to significant environmental points raised.
Section 3.0: Errata to the Draft EIR. This section presents clarifications, amplifications, and
insignificant modifications to the Draft EIR, identifying revisions to the text of the document.
1.3 CEQA PROCESS HISTORY
The City has complied with relevant Public Resources Code provisions and CEQA Guidelines regarding the
preparation and processing of the Project EIR. A brief summary of the Project’s CEQA process is as follows:
• A Notice of Preparation (NOP) informing interested parties and agencies of the Project was
originally distributed on April 26, 2018.
• An updated NOP informing interested parties and agencies of the updated Project was distributed
on February 8, 2021.
• Written and verbal comments were given at a public scoping meeting held for the Project on
February 22, 2021.
• The DEIR was distributed for public review and comment for a 50-day period, beginning
June 26, 2023. The public review period closed on August 14, 2023.
1.4 CHANGES TO THE DRAFT EIR
In response to public comments, text changes have been made to DEIR sections to clarify and amplify the
analysis or mitigation measures, and to make insignificant modifications to the DEIR. This information
does not rise to the level of significant new information as the resulting impact analysis and alternatives
considered remain essentially unchanged, and no new or more severe impacts have been identified. These
changes do not warrant DEIR recirculation pursuant to California Public Resources Code §21092.1 and
CEQA Guidelines §15088.5. As discussed herein and as elaborated upon in the respective Response to
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Comments, none of the clarifications or changes made in the Errata reflect a new significant
environmental impact, a “substantial increase” in the severity of an environmental impact for which
mitigation is not proposed, or a new feasible alternative or mitigation measure that would clearly lessen
significant environmental impacts. Nor do the Errata reflect a “fundamentally flawed” or “conclusory”
DEIR. In all cases, as discussed in individual responses to comments and DEIR Errata, these minor
clarifications and modifications do not identify new or substantially more severe environmental impacts
that the City has not committed to mitigate. Therefore, the public has not been deprived of a meaningful
opportunity to comment upon a substantial adverse environmental effect of the Project or a revised or
new feasible Project alternative or mitigation measure. Instead, the information added supports the
existing analysis and conclusions, and responds to inquiries made from commenters. Therefore, the DEIR
is not subject to recirculation as defined in CEQA Guidelines §15088.5 prior to certification of the FEIR.
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