EMC Planning Group Inc. eNewsletter

IN THE NEWS...

Emma Jack, PhD, Joins EMC Planning Group as Biologist/
Senior Planner

EMC Planning Group, a full service land use and environmental planning firm, is excited to announce Dr. Emma Jack has joined its team as Biologist/Senior Planner. In her role, Dr. Jack will be responsible for performing botanical and wildlife surveys, wetland and waters of the U.S. determinations, and assisting clients in complying with the Federal Endangered Species Act, California Endangered Species Act, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, California Fish and Game Code, and local (county and/or city) regulations. Dr. Jack is also responsible for permit processing and preparation of environmental documents in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Prior to joining EMC Planning Group,
Dr. Jack worked with several south bay area consulting firms and has been responsible for management of field surveys, preparing reports, client relations for assigned projects, and overseeing (writing and peer reviewing) the preparation of biological resource sections of environmental documents. She has obtained an in depth knowledge of most local, state and national laws for impacts on natural resources and environmental quality.

NEED MORE INFORMATION?
For additional information, please visit our website.
www.emcplanning.com

E. J. Kim, Marketing Director
831.649.1799 ext. 220
kim@emcplanning.com

CERTIFIED CALIFORNIA
SMALL BUSINESS (SB)

CERTIFIED GREEN BUSINESS
Monterey Bay Area
Green Business Program

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Salinas-Ag Industrial Center Project

EMC Planning Group recently assisted the City of Salinas and project applicant with the design, processing, and consideration of a major 257-acre agricultural industrial center, and prepared the program EIR. EMC Planning Group worked with the City, applicant, and responsible agencies to identify issues and technical analysis requirements, collaborate on project design approaches to mitigate potential impacts, provide guidance for and review technical analyses, and facilitate communications among a large project team. In addition, EMC Planning Group prepared the project staff report, resolutions and ordinances, project findings, mitigation monitoring program, and coordinated 26 exhibits representing the substantial evidence needed to validate the City’s decision-making. EMC Planning Group then prepared a sphere of influence/annexation application on behalf of the City to facilitate the Local Agency Formation Commission’s consideration of the project. All project entitlements were unanimously approved by the City Council and Local Agency Formation Commission. [Read the full story]

Real Estate Feasibility Assessments

EMC Planning Group recently completed three real estate feasibility reports for properties in Monterey County. Two of the properties assessed were for the purchase and remodel of single-family homes. Both properties are in the coastal zone and one is historic. The third report was for a large tract of vacant land and included an assessment of what could be achieved on the property under the general plan, zoning, infrastructure, and physical constraints.

Machado Commercial Subdivision EIR

EMC Planning Group recently completed the public draft EIR for a commercial subdivision in Gilroy. The proposed project would extend the existing commercial development north of Pacheco Pass Highway with additional retail and industrial uses. The EIR looks at several variations on the project, each with slightly more retail, to gauge the project’s effects on traffic. The EIR also examines the potential for a new off-site road extension to relieve traffic congestion. Other major issues addressed in the EIR include effects on jurisdictional waters (a remnant section of Miller Slough crosses the site), air quality, and climate change effects.

Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP),
Monterey Bay Area Chapter Participation

Sally Rideout, Senior Planner, has been Elected Monterey Bay Area Chapter Secretary

Sally Rideout has been elected secretary of the Monterey Bay Area Chapter of the Association of Environmental Professionals. Sally, a Senior Planner, has been with EMC Planning Group for more than four years and has been responsible for project management and processing, management and preparation of environmental documents, and preparation of public policy, regulatory plans and, ordinances.

Ron Sissem Co-Leads 2010 Spring AEP CEQA Series Advanced Workshop

As part of a panel of three speakers, Ron Sissem, MRP, Principal Planner, will present several topics in the Spring Workshop in San Jose sponsored by AEP. Each spring AEP sponsors a series of advanced workshops across California concerning issues relevant to the California Environmental Quality Act. This year’s workshops will focus on addressing some of the more challenging CEQA issues of the day. Also, Climate Change continues to be a focal issue and the workshop will provide practical guidance on how to prepare a defensible Climate Change section in an EIR and Negative Declaration and Categorical Exemptions, specifically what a model Climate Change EIR section should contain.

Ron has over 21 years of interdisciplinary technical and project management experience in the field of land use and environmental planning and natural resource management both domestically and internationally. Ron provides project management leadership for the firm’s larger scale advance planning, entitlement management, and CEQA projects. He also spearheads EMC's climate change services by assisting public agencies and private sector clients with climate change planning and mitigation strategies, policy, and project design.

For more information about the workshop please check out the following link:
http://califaep.org/CEQAWorkshops or click here for the flyer.

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