Transportation Study Guide to be up for review

SAN DIEGO – The County of Planning & Development Services has updated area residents on its progress to implement the Board of Supervisors direction related to vehicle miles traveled. As directed by the board on Feb. 9, staff are preparing a Transportation Study Guide for VMT that establishes a VMT threshold using the regional average, which includes the entire San Diego region, including the incorporated cities.

The board also directed staff to identify infill areas where no VMT analysis or mitigation would be required, excluding any areas designated as High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Projects located within infill areas, including the geographic boundaries of a surrounding “village” as identified in the General Plan, would not have to analyze VMT or propose mitigation for VMT but would require environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act for other topic areas.

To implement the board’s direction, the TSG requires a 30-day public review period. Staff is currently finalizing the TSG and anticipates the public review beginning in April. Staff will be conducting outreach leading up to and during the public review of the TSG and are available to meet and answer any questions residents may have regarding VMT or the TSG. Staff will also be holding a public meeting regarding the TSG and will send out a follow up notification with the time and date of the meeting.

Following the 30-day public review period, staff will present the TSG to the Planning Commission and then return to the board for consideration and recommended for adoption in August of this year.

For more information regarding VMT or to view the infill area maps or minute order form the board meeting, visit https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/pds/SB743.html.

For more information, contact Bruno Galvao Cavalieri at [email protected] or at the following phone number, 858-247-6465.