Proposed Drainage Improvements and Restoration Activities at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, San Juan Capistrano

Proposed Drainage Improvements and Restoration Activities at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, San Juan Capistrano

In 2020, the City approved and adopted an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (“IS/MND”) for Proposed Drainage Improvements and Restoration Activities at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, San Juan Capistrano (the “Project”). The Project consisted of three principal components: (1) removal of an existing Arizona Crossing (i.e., low-water bridge) across San Juan Creek; (2) streambank restoration along the Riding Park’s border with the eastern bank of the San Juan Creek; and (3) installation of a stormwater capture and treatment system consisting of earthen berms along the Riding Park’s eastern border with San Juan Creek, stormwater collection lines (storm drains) along the eastern and southwestern end of the Riding Park, two subsurface storage tanks, and connections to existing sanitary sewer lines (hereinafter, the “Stormwater Capture and Treatment System”). The Project’s first two components have been completed. As to the Project’s third component, the Project Applicant, TRG, seeks to implement a stormwater infiltration system (“Revised Project”) in lieu of installing the Stormwater Capture and Treatment System. The Revised Project includes the following components: (1) enrollment in regulatory permits; (2) tenant improvements to eliminate or minimize pollutant exposure to stormwater; (3) construction of stormwater basins; (4) source control measures; (5) a groundwater monitoring program; (6) a stormwater quality monitoring program; and (7) adjustments to Best Management Practices (“BMPs”). Like the Stormwater Capture and Treatment System, the Revised Project entails, among other things, the design and construction of improvements relating to the Riding Park’s Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (“CAFO”) production areas to retain all process waste water and storm water runoff from a 25-year, 24-hour storm. An Addendum to the IS/MND (“Addendum”) was prepared analyzing the potential environmental impacts of the Revised Project. The Addendum concluded that the Revised Project would not result in any new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects when compared to the Stormwater Capture and Treatment System analyzed in the IS/MND. The Addendum further concluded that the Revised Project did not meet any of the conditions under State CEQA Guidelines section 15162 that would warrant the preparation of a Subsequent or Supplemental IS/MND or environmental impact report (“EIR”). On August 6, 2024, the City Council of the City of San Juan Capistrano, after considering the Addendum and the IS/MND, adopted the Addendum, found the Revised Project “functionally equivalent” to the Stormwater Capture and Treatment System, and approved the Revised Project.

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