SANDRA GENIS, PLANNING RESOURCES

1586 MYRTLEWOOD

COSTA MESA, CA. 92626

PHONE/FAX (714) 754-0814

To: Doug Carstens, Michelle Black

From: Sandra Genis
Date: August 3, 2015
Subject: Archer Forward Meeting

On Thursday, July 30, 2015, I attended a meeting regarding the Archer Forward project (Case
No. CPC-2014-666-VCU-ZAA-SPR) with representatives of the Sunset Coalition and
representatives of the applicant. One goal of the meeting was to gain more information
regarding the compressed construction schedule in order that impacts could be clearly assessed.
Unfortunately, that was not forthcoming.
The project was initially proposed to be constructed over a six-year period, as shown in
Appendix C-1 to the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). It was then proposed to
shorten the schedule to five years as described in DEIR Appendix C-3 and Final EIR Appendix
C-4. This was to be achieved by greater overlap in construction of the various facilities. It is
now proposed that construction be completed in three years.
Mr. Montoya of Matt Construction verbally described how the early stages of construction would
occur, but no data regarding equipment, trips, or week-by-week or even month-by-month activity
was provided. Thus, the applicant failed to provide adequate information to assess impacts on
air quality, traffic, and noise.
Counsel for Archer indicated that peak day activity would remain the same, but provided no
evidence of that fact. Mr. Montoya did discuss site limitations, noting that the highest air
emissions would occur during grading and the excavation area could only accommodate a
limited amount of construction equipment and activity at a time. While this does address
potential changes in hourly emission due solely to excavation, it fails to address increases in
daily emissions due to extended hours or the cumulative effect of numerous on-site construction
activities occurring simultaneously, each activity generating its own traffic, noise, and air
emissions.

The air quality data sheets included in DEIR Appendix F-1 list daily usage, in hours, of
construction equipment to be used. Projected hours generally range from four hours to eight
hours. However, with a compressed schedule, usage hours could well be increased. Condition
of Approval No. 29d.v for CPC-2014-666-VCU-ZA-SPR states:
v. Construction Hours may extend beyond these hours only when required and
specifically permitted by the City, but in no event shall construction take place on
Sundays.
Thus, it is possible that equipment could be used for additional hours, generating additional
emissions per day.
It is difficult to see how construction could be completed in three years without increasing daily
activity. Under either a six-year schedule, construction activities would be scheduled as follows:
Activity

Months

Total
Months

North Wing
Renovation

1-16

16

Site Preparation and

Excavation and Haul

11-16

Parking Structure /
Outdoor Athletic
Fields

17-28

12

Multi-purpose Facility
Aquatics Center /
Visual Arts Center

17-37
38-57

21
20

Performing Arts
Center

58-74

17

As outlined by Mr. Montoya, the site preparation and grading and construction of the North
Wing, Multi-purpose facility, and parking structure would be completed in two years, and the
Visual Arts Center and Performing Arts Center would be constructed in the third year. However,
the Multi-purpose Facility (21 months) would be in the excavated area so it would appear
difficult to commence that activity before site preparation and excavation (six months) was
completed, putting the schedule at twenty-seven months. Even considering elimination of the
Aquatics Center, construction of the Visual Arts Center and Performing Arts Center would take
seventeen months, so the three-year schedule would be unrealistic unless daily activity within a
given phase were increased or nearly all phases were occurring simultaneously.
Overlapping the various phases could lead to a cumulative increase in impacts. For example,
peak trip generation due to North Wing construction would occur in Months 11 and 12, whereas

peak trip generation due to excavation and field construction would occur in months 14 to 16,
peak trip generation for the parking structure and fields would be in Months 17 to 22 and peak
trip generation due to construction of the multi-purpose facility would occur in Months 34 to 36.
Depending on how construction phases were made to overlap, peak trip generation from different
activities on the site could end up occurring at the same time, leading to increased impacts.
The meeting not only failed to answer important questions, it raised others. For example,
requiring any access via Chaparal to be limited to the east was positive, though use of Sunset
only would be preferred. However, the issue of the sharp turn at Barrington and Chaparal arose
several times, and it appeared that construction managers were still working out various issues.
For example, the size of construction materials and equipment could depend on being able to
make the Barrington/Chaparal turn. This could potentially result in additional trips due to the
need for smaller loads at the turn.
In response to a question regarding how long it would take before the sound walls were placed,
counsel for the applicant indicated that sound walls take as long as they take. Questions
regarding concrete pour were still being determined. The applicants representative indicated
they would try to schedule deliveries outside of peak hours, without a commitment to achieve
an off-peak schedule.
Prior to moving forward with project approvals it is essential that the applicant submit additional
information regarding the construction schedule and construction activities for full public review
in order to evaluate project impacts and mitigate those impacts, where needed.