UCSB Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Long Range Development Plan 2007-2025

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act and the California Coastal Act, this Notice is to inform public agencies and the general public that UC Santa Barbara will prepare a program-level Draft Environmental Impact Report and an amendment to the 1990 Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) for the planning horizon of 2007-2025. The 2007 LRDP will present a plan for the physical development of the UC Santa Barbara campus to accommodate an on-campus enrollment level of up to 25,000 students (based on a three-quarter average headcount), and approximately 6,400 faculty and staff. The 2007 LRDP will guide capital construction and infrastructure development to accommodate a building program for this anticipated campus growth. The plan will include land recently acquired by the University. The 2007 LRDP will provide:

• Policies and locations for future development including new academic and research facilities, student, faculty and staff housing, vehicular, bicycle, transit and pedestrian circulation routes, recreation and athletic facilities;
• Policies related to sustainability; and
• Policies for protection and enhancement of coastal resources as set forth in the California Coastal Act of 1976.

UC Santa Barbara is interested in the views of your agency as to the scope and content of the upcoming Draft Environmental Impact Report relevant to your agency's statutory responsibilities. Issues to be discussed in the Report include aesthetics, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use and planning, noise, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/traffic, utilities/service systems, and mandatory findings of significance.

Copies of the Initial Study are available at the Office of Campus Planning & Design on the UC Santa Barbara campus and on the 2007 LRDP website at www.ucsbvision2025.com.

The 30-day public review period will extend from Wednesday, May 23 to Thursday, June 21, 2007. The purpose of the review period is to provide the public and other government agencies an opportunity to comment on the scope of the Draft Environmental Impact Report. UC Santa Barbara will hold two public scoping meetings on Monday, June 4 at which interested parties may comment on the scope of the Draft Environmental Impact Report.

If you have questions on the Initial Study, please contact Jennifer Metz at 805-893-3820. Written comments on this Notice of Preparation and the Initial Study for the Draft Environmental Impact Report should be provided no later than Thursday, June 21, 2007 by fax to 805-893-3870 or addressed to:

Jennifer Metz, Senior Planner
UC Santa Barbara
Office of Campus Planning & Design
Santa Barbara, California 93106-1030