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Tesoro del Valle (Phases A, B, C)
Draft Supplemental EIR

availability of these resources as the project remains consistent with the current land use and
zoning designation under the County’s 2015 General Plan and the 2012 Santa Clarita Valley Area
Plan, which indicate that growth is anticipated by the County.

An increased commitment of public services (e.g., police, fire, sewer and water services) would
also be required. Project development is an irreversible commitment of the land, energy
resources, and public services. After the 50- to 75-year structural lifespan of the buildings is
reached, it is improbable that the site would revert to its current use due to the large capital
investment that will already have been committed.

7.3 GROWTH-INDUCING IMPACTS

CEQA requires a discussion of ways in which the proposed project could be growth inducing. The
CEQA Guidelines identify a project as growth inducing if it fosters economic or population growth
or if it encourages the construction of additional housing either directly or indirectly in the
surrounding environment (CEQA Guidelines, Section 15126.2[d]). New population from
residential development represent direct forms of growth. This direct form of growth has a
secondary effect of expanding the size of local markets and inducing additional economic activity
in the area.

In accordance with Section 15126.2(d) of the CEQA Guidelines, the growth-inducing analysis of
the proposed project must address two key issues. The first is the potential for the project to foster
economic or population growth or the construction of additional housing (either directly or
indirectly) in the surrounding environment. The second issue is the potential for the project to
encourage and facilitate other activities that could significantly affect the environment, either
individually or cumulatively. Typically, this issue involves the project’s potential to induce further
growth by the expansion or extension of existing services, utilities, or infrastructure. By definition,
the CEQA Guidelines state that “it must not be assumed that growth in any area is necessarily
beneficial, detrimental, or of little significance to the environment.”

As described in detail in Section 4.0, Project Description, the proposed project involves the
development of the Project site with residential, recreational, utility, and open space uses. As
noted above, the Tesoro del Valle project was evaluated and an EIR was certified in 1999 for
development of a phased development of up to 1,791 dwelling units within a larger development
footprint than the currently proposed project. The final recorded map for VTTM 51644 for Phase
A was approved for 1,077 residential units, leaving a total of 714 approved but unbuilt units on
the larger Tesoro del Valle site. Therefore, the potential for growth-inducing impacts has already
been evaluated as part of the 1999 Final EIR. It is noted that the traffic patterns identified in the
1999 Final EIR are inconsistent with current traffic patterns; therefore, the traffic analysis prepared
for the proposed Project is reflects current conditions. The change in traffic patterns, however, is
based on development and growth within other parts of the County and the City of Santa Clarita
and does not represent a change in the growth-including impacts identified in the 1999 Final EIR.

It is noted that the following discussion is consistent with the findings identified as part of the 1999
Final EIR. The project would be located immediately north of the existing Phase A Tesoro del
Valle residential development. Additional residential developments exist to the southwest, south,
and southeast and commercial center is located south of the Project site across Copper Hill Drive.
Approximately 881 acres would be set aside as undisturbed open space areas with the majority
located north and northeast of the development area. Therefore, the open space area would
provide a sufficient buffer between the development area of the project site and adjacent
properties so as not to encourage additional growth. Property to the south of the project site is
already developed.

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