Final Environmental Impact Report for UC Berkeley Cal Softball Field Renovation

Final Environmental Impact Report for UC Berkeley Cal Softball Field Renovation

UC Berkeley proposes to renovate and improve the existing Cal Softball Field (Cal Softball Field or field), which is the home for the UC Berkeley Intercollegiate Athletic (IA) Women’s Softball Program. The project site is located within the Hill Campus West of UC Berkeley and the Strawberry Canyon Recreation Area at the site of the existing Cal Softball Field. The project would preserve and upgrade the existing softball facility to meet modern safety and competition standards for the IA Women’s Softball Program and Recreational Sports Intramural softball players, as well as support campus compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 through the provision of equitable athletics facilities for male and female student athletes. The use of the softball facility would remain largely similar to current uses, primarily providing additional spectator and player amenities and seating for up to 1,511 spectators, up from approximately 1,340 spectator seats under existing conditions. The primary physical changes associated with the project would include providing additional permanent spectator seats in place of temporary bleachers, a press box, spectator concourse, replacement competition-grade lights, restrooms, public address system, expanded playing field dimensions, team and locker rooms, a ticket booth, improved training facilities (e.g., batting cages), entry plaza, landscaping, sustainable design features, access and bus stop improvements, and utilities. The proposed project will remove approximately 85 parking spaces and retain approximately 25 parking spaces in the existing Witter Lot. The proposed project also includes the implementation of applicable UC Berkeley’s continuing best practices, a game-day transportation demand management plan, and a project-specific wildfire management plan.

Berkeley

Alameda

San Francisco Bay Area

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Education, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region 3 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation, District 4 (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region 2 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Department of General Services (DGS), Department of Toxic Substances Control, Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality

Other (Intercollegiate Athletic Softball Field Renovation)

Redevelopment

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Energy, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Solid Waste, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire