Monarch Cove Draft Environmental Impact Report

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

OF A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

FOR THE PROPOSED MONARCH COVE HOTEL PROJECT

The City of Capitola, as lead agency, hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority and criteria contained in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA Guidelines, the City of Capitola has prepared and completed a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Monarch Cove Hotel Project. A Draft EIR is an informational document that evaluates a proposed project’s potential to significantly impact the environment, while also identifying ways to reduce or avoid environmental impacts through mitigation measures and alternatives to the project.

Project Description: The proposed project is an expansion of the existing 11-room Monarch Cove Inn to 41 rooms and associated hotel and event facilities. The project involves construction of two new buildings, demolition of three existing buildings and an outside deck, and renovation of an existing building at the Monarch Cove Inn property on Depot Hill in the City of Capitola.  The project site is located at 620 El Salto Drive in Capitola.

Comment: The City of Capitola is soliciting comments on the adequacy and completeness of the analysis and proposed mitigation measures described in the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR).  The public comment period begins May 15, 2014, and ends July 14, 2014.  All written comments must be received prior to the close of the public comment period on July 14, 2014, at 5 p.m. Details on how to comment are provided below. 

Environmental Review Findings: The Draft EIR prepared for the project identifies and discusses potential impacts, mitigation measures, residual impacts and monitoring requirements. The Draft EIR identified three significant and unavoidable impacts, related to the project’s contribution to traffic impacts on certain freeway segments of Highway One and at the Porter Street and Highway 1 northbound ramps intersection.

Document Availability: A copy of the Draft EIR is available at the City of Capitola Community Development Department, located at 420 Capitola Avenue, and at the Capitola Branch Library, located at 2005 Wharf Road in Capitola.  In addition, the Draft EIR is available to download below. 

How to Comment: Please provide written comments by July 14, 2014, at 5 PM to:

Richard Grunow, Community Development Director

City of Capitola

420 Capitola Avenue

Capitola, California 95010

Email: rgrunow@ci.capitola.ca.us