An amendment to the Martell Business Park Master Plan and zone change triggered the need for a supplemental environmental impact report at the Sept. 24 Technical Advisory Committee meeting.

Danielle Griffith of PMC, a 20-year firm out of Torrance, led a PowerPoint overview of the project including anticipated environmental analysis, the purpose of the SEIR and the steps the report will have to take for final approval.

In a steady evolution since 2004, the Martell Business Park continues to maneuver through the review process on its way to completing the 460-acre project in an unincorporated area of western Amador County.

The current master plan for the project divides the land use into four different areas: commercial, light manufacturing, medium manufacturing and office/research and development. The county's current general plan designates the site as industrial. The amendment and zone changes are updates to the current business park master plan to reflect the actual development that has occurred within the planning area. This includes a re-designation of 14.67 acres from light commercial to commercial land use. A boundary line adjustment between the medium manufacturing and light manufacturing land areas adds some permitted uses to the light manufacturing and medium manufacturing land use areas.

These changes created significant impacts beyond the original environmental review, triggering the SEIR, where appropriate mitigations, if necessary, can be addressed. Issues for evaluation or potential impacts are mostly in the area of traffic but could include the airport and wastewater. TAC chairman Mike Israel, also the county's environmental health director, said a review of the changes suggested by Griffith are "not just the changes in the project, but changes in the wastewater requirements."

Also in attendance was airport manager Dave Sheppard, who reminded the committee that "notification to all property owners and lease holders had to be maintained. It is mandatory that current air navigation easement be provided as specified in the Caltrans Aeronautics land use handbook."

Traffic issues generated by changes involve substantial increases to existing traffic loads of approximately 3,800 to 3,900 vehicles a day.

"The traffic and mapping study had been completed," said Roger Stuart, the senior project engineer at Public Works and a TAC member. "Public Works has been working with Amador County Transportation Commission Director Charles Field and the applicant, SPI, to complete (the) Circulation Mapping Exercise. Although it has yet to be adopted, it should be included in the SEIR."

Upon conducting the scoping session, a 30-day public comment period will be entered. Data collection, impact assessment, administrative and draft EIRs, a final EIR and then county certification will complete the hurdles in the race to successful completion. Griffith estimated the administrative draft to be completed some time in mid-October.