COMMUNITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE
ROLE OF TEMPLATE:
The purpose of the template is to facilitate consistency and quality for Caltrans community impact studies. Since this documentation is to provide supporting information for Caltrans environmental documents prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act, the template is organized to be consistent with Caltrans Environmental Document Annotated Outlines (AOs).
The template is intended to be flexible to allow preparers to REMOVE or MODIFY subheadings as needed based on the specific project, however, consider that too much modification can defeat the purpose of the template.
IMPORTANT: The Standard Environmental Reference (SER) and Community Impact Assessment Guidance Manual (Volume 4 of the Environmental Handbook) should help you determine which studies are relevant to your project and how to conduct the studies. Nothing in this document supersedes any information found in the Caltrans Environmental Handbooks, Standard Environmental Reference, or any other law, regulation, or policy.
CIA DOCUMENTATION:
Depending on the magnitude of impacts there are two basic levels of documentation used to document community impact studies for a project—the Environmental Planner/Generalist or Senior Environmental Planner (SEP) decides what type is best. The Community Impact Scoping Checklist can be used as a starting point to help determine the level of document needed; e.g., it may be useful for scoping in the field. See a copy of the Community Impact Scoping Checklist below.
1. Community Impact Memo – A memo can be used to simply state there are no community issues or resources of concern in the project area. It can also state that community resources exist, but studies show there are no or minimal potential impacts from the project. The memo addresses the resources, impacts, and any project measures to reduce impacts. Use the Caltrans-approved memorandum template, add the appropriate text, your name and signature or include the appropriate SEP’s name and have them initial next to their name. See an example of a memo below.
2. Community Impact Assessment – The Community Impact Assessment (CIA) Template should be used when there are potential major impacts, or when substantial issues need to be documented. The report should describe the affected area, potential impacts, and measures to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate the potential impacts (AMM Measures). Where you have community issues or controversy, such a report will show the community, with credibility, that you have addressed the potential environmental impacts, and the issues important to the community. Use the enclosed template to prepare a CIA report.
Mid-level Report - For a “mid-level” report where a full CIA is not necessary (where you don’t foresee major impacts), you may use the template in an abbreviated way by eliminating the headings and sub-headings which are not relevant. In this way you may produce a mid-level report of approximately 5 to 20 pages in length, which focuses on the relevant issues. The template is flexible as it allows you to produce a full CIA document, or a “mid-level” report when a full CIA is not warranted.
TEMPLATE FORMAT
Annotation - The template is annotated to provide guidance to assist the preparer in determining what information should be included under the respective subheadings. *Remember to remove all annotation unnecessary for your report.
Colored Text – Colored text is provided to help the preparer understand what text is guidance and what is “boilerplate” and should remain in the completed document. The following colored text is a key to the colored text in the template:
1. Black text = required headings.
2. Blue text = instructions and guidance to be considered and deleted from the final document.
3. Red text = boilerplate text to be inserted into document, as appropriate.
4. Purple text = sample text that can be used in document, as appropriate.
5. Underlined text (regardless of text color) = Internet or Intranet web links.
Subheadings/Text - Please eliminate subheadings and text in the template that are not relevant to the project! Brevity is very important. The report should not include irrelevant information; it MUST FOCUS on the relevant community issues, and clearly state what the impacts are, and what avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation measures are proposed.
Styles – This template is set up to use “styles” for the different headings, subheadings, body text, table text, and for titles of figures and tables. Use the “Apply Styles” menu to reapply text attributes for any of the styles types. This is critical for all headers and titles you wish to show in the table of contents. For guidance, look up “styles” in the “Word Help menu.”
Headers/Footers – The headers and footers are set up to include they type of document and the project name. Double click on them to add the specific information.
Automatic Table of Contents – The table of contents (TOC) included in this template is set up to automatically update headings, and titles for tables and figures. Right click in the table and select “Update Field” in the pop-up menu to update changes to the headings and page numbers in the TOC. Also, if you put the curser over a page number, and press Ctrl + click on the number, you will be taken to that page.
Maps and Diagrams – Here are some tips to include effective displays in your document:
· Include visual aides to present data for subjects that are important.
· Be sure that maps and diagrams include all features that are discussed in the text of the document.
· Add a note just below the figure citing the sources of the information being displayed.
· Be sure the displays are readable to the average reader, not too small to read, and can be reproduced with black and white photocopy.
Tables – Complex data is often best represented in a table for faster understanding. However, it is always good to provide text that explains the major points you want the reader to get from the data. This is not suggesting the text should restate the parts of the data, but instead explain simply what the data says. Also, add a note just below the table citing the sources of the information being presented.
Example of Community Impact Checklist
Example of Community Impact Memo
iv
Be sure to remove these instructions from your document…
COMMUNITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE
September 7, 2016 [Blue Text = Instructions/guidance to be deleted]
Annotated CIA Template [Black Text = Required headings]
[Red Text = Boilerplate text]
Purple text = sample text]
[Project Title]
[Graphic]
[Community Impact Assessment]
[Include “Final,” “Draft,” or “Administrative Draft” to the type of document as applicable]
[general location information]
[general location information]
[general location information]
[district]-[county code]-[route]-[KP]/([PM])
[EA/EFIS Project ID]
[Month YEAR]
Be sure to remove these instructions from your document…
Summary
Summary
Begin typing here.
[Briefly summarize the conclusions of the Community Impact Assessment. Only discuss the topics that apply to your project].
Land Use
Begin typing here.
Growth
Begin typing here.
Community Character
Begin typing here.
Traffic and Transportation/Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities
Begin typing here.
Public Involvement
Begin typing here.
Summary of Major Potential Impacts From Alternatives
Land Use / Consistency with the [city] General Plan
Consistency with the [county] General Plan
Coastal Zone
Wild and Scenic Rivers
Parks and Recreation
Farmland/Timberland
Growth
Community Character
and Cohesion
Utilities/Emergency Services
Relocations / Housing Displacements
Business Displacements
Utility Displacements
Environmental Justice
Traffic and Transportation/ Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities
Cumulative Impacts
Community Impact Assessment
[Project name] 9
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Summary 1
Table of Contents 3
List of Figures 6
List of Tables 6
Chapter 1 Introduction 7
1.1 What is a Community Impact Assessment 7
1.2 Regulatory Setting 8
1.3 Assessment Process and Methodology Used 9
1.4 Proposed Project 9
1.5 Study Area 9
Chapter 2 Land Use 10
2.1 Existing and Future Land Use 10
2.1.1 Affected Environment 10
2.1.2 Environmental Consequences 11
2.1.3 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures 12
2.2 Consistency with State, Regional, and Local Plans 12
2.2.1 Affected Environment 12
2.2.2 Environmental Consequences 12
2.2.3 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures 13
2.3 Coastal Zone 13
2.3.1 Affected Environment 13
2.3.2 Environmental Consequences 13
2.3.3 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures 13
2.4 Wild and Scenic Rivers 13
2.4.1 Affected Environment 14
2.4.2 Environmental Consequences 14
2.4.3 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures 14
2.5 Parks and Recreation 14
2.5.1 Affected Environment 14
2.5.2 Environmental Consequences 15
2.5.3 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures 15
2.6 Farmlands/Timberlands 15
2.6.1 Affected Environment 16
2.6.2 Environmental Consequences 17
2.6.3 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures 18
Chapter 3 Growth 20
3.1 Affected Environment 20
3.2 Environmental Consequences 21
3.3 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures 23
Chapter 4 Community Character 24
4.1 Population and Housing 24
4.1.1 Affected Environment 24
4.1.1.1 Regional Population Characteristics 24
4.1.1.2 Neighborhoods/Communities/Community Character 24
4.1.1.3 Housing 26
4.1.2 Environmental Consequences 26
4.1.2.1 Regional Population Characteristics 26
4.1.2.2 Neighborhoods/Communities/ Community Character 26
4.1.2.3 Housing 27
4.1.3 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures 27
4.2 Economic Conditions 28
4.2.1 Affected Environment 28
4.2.1.1 Regional Economy 28
4.2.1.2 Employment and Income 28
4.2.1.3 Business Activity 28
4.2.1.4 Fiscal Conditions 29
4.2.1.5 Toll Projects 29
4.2.2 Environmental Consequences 30
4.2.2.1 Regional Economy 30
4.2.2.2 Employment and Income 30
4.2.2.3 Business Activity 30
4.2.2.4 Fiscal Conditions 30
4.2.3 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures 31
4.3 Community Facilities and Services 31
4.3.1 Affected Environment 31
4.3.1.1 Community Facilities 31
4.3.1.2 Emergency Services 31
4.3.1.3 Utilities 31
4.3.2 Environmental Consequences 32
4.3.2.1 Community Facilities 32
4.3.2.2 Emergency Services 32
4.3.2.3 Utilities 32
4.3.3 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures 32
4.4 Relocations and Real Property Acquisition 33
4.4.3 Affected Environment 33
4.4.4 Environmental Consequences 33
4.4.5 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures 34
4.5 Environmental Justice 34
4.5.1 Affected Environment 34
4.5.2 Environmental Consequences 35
4.5.3 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures 36
Chapter 5 Traffic and Transportation/ Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities 38
5.1 Affected Environment 38
5.1.3 Access, Circulation, and Parking 38
5.1.4 Public Transportation 38
5.2 Environmental Consequences 38
5.2.3 Access, Circulation, and Parking 40
5.2.4 Public Transportation 40
5.3 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures 41
5.3.3 Access and Circulation 42
5.3.4 Parking 42
5.3.5 Public Transportation 42
Chapter 6 Public Involvement 43
6.1 Community Based Organizations 43
6.2 Stakeholders 43
6.3 Outreach to Minority and Low-Income Communities 44
6.4 Community Participation Program 44
6.5 Results 44
Appendix A Farmland Conversion Impact Rating Form 45
Appendix B References and Contacts 48
Community Impact Assessment
[Project name] 9
Table of Contents
List of Figures
Error! No table of contents entries found.
[Error message will be corrected when you update the above field (after figures are entered). Right-click in the gray area and select “Update Field.”]
List of Tables
Error! No table of contents entries found.
[Error message will be corrected when you update the above field (after tables are entered). Right-click in the gray area and select “Update Field.”]
* UPDATE TOC - This is an automatic Table of Contents, List of Figures, and List of Tables. Before you turn this document in, perform an UPDATE these by right-clicking in the table (grey area) and selecting “Update Field.” A prompt will follow to ask if you want to update just the page numbers, or the whole table, which is the page numbers and subheadings.
* STYLES - The correct title names will only show up in the Table of Contents and List of Figures or Tables if you have applied the correct “DP Style” to your subheadings, and titles of your figures and tables. Use DP Title 2, 3, 4… for subheadings in the body of your document. Use DP Figure for names of figures, and DP Table for the names of tables. Find and use the “Apply Styles” menu to identify and apply the correct styles.
Community Impact Assessment
[Project name] 9
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 1 Introduction
This Community Impact Assessment (CIA) is prepared for the (name of project) by Caltrans, or an authorized agent, in accordance with Caltrans policies, procedures, and guidance as defined in the Standard Environmental Reference (SER). The information in this document has been prepared as a “blended” assessment to comply with both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other substantive environmental laws applicable to the subjects addressed in this document (if you have a CEQA-only document or a NEPA-only document, edit this sentence accordingly).
For guidance on when to write a CIA and what to include, refer to Chapters 1 and 2 in the Caltrans Environmental Handbook Volume 4 (referred to throughout the remainder of this template as Vol. 4), and Chapters 1, 5, and 9 in Community Impact Assessment: A Quick Reference for Transportation (referred to throughout the remainder of this template as A Quick Reference). Data sources and approaches to analyzing community impacts are described in each chapter of Vol. 4 and Chapters 4 and 6 in A Quick Reference.
Analyze only the issues that apply to your project and provide the appropriate depth of discussion based on the level of impact. For instance, in a rural area, farmland may require a more in-depth analysis than neighborhood cohesion.
Consider adding a paragraph letting the reader know about specific CIA topics not addressed in this document such as coastal, etc.
For guidance, refer to Chapter 3 of A Quick Reference. Summarize the history, present conditions, and anticipated future of the area. Include a graphic or maps that depict the physical characteristics of the study area. Briefly describe the community characteristics, such as population demographics, economic and social history, importance of various facilities, and plans for the future. Use tables or graphics to help summarize information.
1.1 What is a Community Impact Assessment
The purpose of this report is to provide information regarding social, economic, and land use effects of the project so that final transportation decisions will be made in the public interest. The report is intended to clearly describe the relevant existing conditions and the potential socioeconomic impacts of the project.