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Notice of Preparation and Notice of Scoping Meeting for the WCCUSD Construction and Renovation of the Castro Elementary School to Replace the Portola Middle School Project Page 1 of 3 NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND NOTICE OF SCOPING MEETING FOR WEST CONTRA COSTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION OF THE CASTRO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO REPLACE THE PORTOLA MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT DATE: February 22, 2008 TO: Responsible Agencies, Agencies with Jurisdiction by Law, Trustee Agencies, Involved Federal Agencies, and Agencies/People Requesting Notice FROM: West Contra Costa Unified School District Facilities Planning and Construction Attn: William Savidge, District Engineering Officer 1300 Potrero Avenue Richmond, CA, 94804 The West Contra Costa Unified School District (Lead Agency) will prepare an EIR for the proposed West Contra Costa Unified School District Construction and Renovation of the Castro Elementary School to Replace the Portola Middle School Project. Project Location: The project site contains the entirety of the existing Castro Elementary School campus, the Cameron School campus, and the existing Castro Park, which is a park operated by the City of El Cerrito via a joint-use agreement with the District. The entire project site is owned by the District and is bounded by Gladys Avenue, Lawrence Street, Donal Avenue, and Norvell Street. The associated project address is 7125 Donal Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530. Project Description: The proposed project involves the following primary component: • The closure of the existing Castro Elementary School and campus from active use and the new construction and renovations at the existing Castro Elementary School and campus for use as a Middle School. The work at the site would require demolition of some existing buildings and portables, new construction, and renovation of the existing main Castro Elementary School buildings; including the kindergarten building, which will be the subject of a historic resources evaluation. A conceptual site plan has been prepared that indicates site work would be on the southern side of the project site and that the Castro Park and the Cameron School portions of the project site would not have any physical changes. At project completion, the project site would host the Middle School, the existing Cameron School, and Castro Park. The locations of access, parking, and play areas on the southern portion of the project site would be changed. New buildings would host a gymnasium, library, administration, and classrooms. All new buildings would be constructed below the ridge to minimize visual impacts. Grading and drainage will be modified. ---PAGE BREAK--- West Contra Costa Unified School District February 22, 2008 Notice of Preparation and Notice of Scoping Meeting for the WCCUSD Construction and Renovation of the Castro Elementary School to Replace the Portola Middle School Project Page 2 of 3 The proposed project involves the following additional components: • The relocation of Castro Elementary School students to other District sites, and • The closure of the Portola Middle School buildings and campus from active use. At this time, the closure of Castro Elementary School and the placement of these elementary school students at other District sites is not expected to bring enrollment beyond existing capacities at other District schools, require any physical changes or increase demands for public services at other District schools, or necessitate an internal attendance boundary change. Reassignment of Castro Elementary School students has been a point of discussion at recent District Board meetings. However, the District has not developed a student reassignment plan at this time, and the issue of student reassignment will be discussed on a programmatic level in the EIR. At this time, the future disposition of the Portola Middle School buildings and campus has not been determined by the District. The buildings and campus could be closed from active use without environmental review. However, it is valuable to the District and community to consider the potential environmental impacts of building demolition. The District could also dispose of (sell) the property as is without demolishing the buildings. This topic will be discussed on a programmatic level in the EIR. The proposed project also involves the following potential components. The following components will be discussed on a programmatic level in the EIR: • The potential administrative act of adjusting elementary school attendance boundaries to accommodate the reassignment of Castro Elementary School students as noted above, if it is determined that an attendance boundary adjustment is necessary, and • The potential temporary housing for Portola Middle School students, in the event that the Board decides to relocate the students prior to construction of the new middle school at the Castro site. Based on the project description and the Lead Agency’s understanding of the environmental setting and potential impacts associated with the project, the following topics are expected to be analyzed in detail in the EIR: • Aesthetics • Air Quality • Biological Resources • Cultural/Historic Resources • Geology and Soils • Hazards/Hazardous Materials/Human Health/Risk of Upset • Hydrology and Water Quality • Land Use and Planning • Noise • Public Services/Utilities/Service Systems/Recreation ---PAGE BREAK---