Job Summaries

Marin Community College District CEQA Work
Client: Marin Community College District Date: 2005-2007

Ms. Skewes-Cox and a team of CEQA experts were retained by the Marin Community College District to prepare all necessary CEQA documents related to the College’s Modernization Program funded by Measure C. Ms. Skewes-Cox is overseeing a group of 10 specialists in such fields as noise, traffic, air quality, architectural history, and visual simulations. Initially, the team prepared Assessments to document existing environmental conditions and constraints at the District’s two campuses. Full EIRs will be prepared for the Bond Spending Implementation Plans to be developed for each campus. Ms. Skewes-Cox also prepared Notices of Exemption for five projects that are currently underway.

Delta Community College Supplemental EIR
Client: Delta-San Joaquin Community College District
Date: 2001-2002

Ms. Skewes-Cox managed the preparation of the EIR for this new community college proposed within the Mountain House New Community, just north of Tracy in San Joaquin County. The new college is to provide educational facilities for up to 12,000 students and to be built on a 114-acre campus. The EIR evaluated the proposed land use change from residential to public, with major issues of concern being traffic, noise, land use compatibility, and air quality. The Supplemental EIR tiered off the 1994 EIR prepared for the Mountain House New Community Master Plan.

U.C. Berkeley NEQSS Projects EIR
Client: UC Berkeley
Date: 2001-2002

For this project, Ms. Skewes-Cox served as adjunct staff to the U.C. Berkeley Capital Projects office, overseeing preparation of the EIR on the Northeast Quadrant Science and Safety Projects. She reviewed and edited the consultants’ work, managed the budget, completed CEQA administrative tasks, and assisted in responding to comments on the Final EIR. The project was quite controversial due to the proposal for amending the University’s Long Range Development Plan to allow for 325,000 gross square feet (gsf) of new development within the Central Campus area. A total of three new developments were evaluated – the Stanley Hall Replacement Building (285,000 gsf), the Davis Hall North Replacement Building (145,000 gsf), and an addition to the Lower Hearst Parking Garage for 139 net new parking spaces. In addition, seismic upgrades at other campus buildings were also included in the analysis.

Underhill Area Master Plan EIR (Administrative Draft)
Client: UC Berkeley
Date: 1999

The Underhill Area Master Plan EIR addressed the University’s proposal for a five-block area south of the main campus. The project was to include 890 new beds, a 1,000-space parking facility, new athletic field, a dining facility, and administrative offices. Renovation and relocation of two historic structures were also addressed in the EIR. Ms. Skewes-Cox served as project manager for the EIR while at LSA, Associates, just prior to starting her own firm. The main issues of concern included: traffic impacts in an urbanized area of the City; visual impacts, especially related to historic facilities; and increased noise during both construction and operation of the project. The firm of Fehr & Peers assisted with the traffic analysis.

U.C. Vision Research Building EIR
Client: UC San Francisco
Date: 1986

Ms. Skewes-Cox served as the project manager for this EIR which evaluated a new multi-story, vision research facility at the west edge of the UCSF campus. The building was to be used for both research and office space as well as classrooms. The main issues of concern focused on safety related to the use and disposal of hazardous materials, visual impacts from nearby residential areas, and traffic/parking. Public controversy was quite high and many comments were received from an active neighborhood organization.

Escondido Village Student Housing Project Initial Study/Mitigated Neg. Declaration
Client: Santa Clara County (for Stanford University Project)
Date: 1998

The Escondido Village Student Housing Project entailed the proposed construction of 483 beds of graduate student housing in four separate on-campus buildings. Three separate sites within Escondido Village were evaluated for this Initial Study, completed in 1999. All CEQA Checklist issues were addressed, with the only topics requiring mitigation being air quality, noise, and archaeological/historical resources. As part of the analysis, detailed traffic and hydrological analyses were completed.

U.C. Santa Cruz College Infill Apartments Project EIR
Client: UC Santa Cruz
Date: 2000-2001

UC Santa Cruz proposes the construction of 518 beds for student housing at three sites within the campus. Ms. Skewes-Cox is assisting staff of the UC Environmental Assessment Group in evaluating impacts related to the following topics: visual quality, hydrology, air quality, and noise. She is being assisted by Swanson Hydrology for the assessment of hydrological impacts. All three projects are in close proximity to existing student housing.

Master Plans, Specific Plans, and General Plans

Mountain House New Community
Client: San Joaquin County Community Development Department

The Mountain House New Community is proposed for an area northwest of the City of Tracy in the Central Valley. The 4,700-acre site is to include a mix of residential, commercial, industrial, public and recreational land uses. In 1992, Ms. Skewes-Cox served as the project manager for the first EIR completed for Mountain House. This EIR addressed the proposed new community plus a General Plan Amendment. Many years later (2000), she served as project manager for the first proposed subdivision approval which required an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. The Initial Study addressed the first of 12 proposed neighborhoods and development of 405 acres. Major issues of concern included traffic impacts on surrounding arterials; potential flooding; removal of prime agricultural land; impacts to endangered species such as Swainson’s hawk; and requirements for major infrastructure expansion.

Bahia Master Plan EIR
Client: City of Novato

Ms. Skewes-Cox served as the project manager for this highly controversial development at the eastern edge of the City of Novato. The project entailed 424 new homes and recreational development on 624 acres. A number of significant impacts were identified such as removal of 70 acres of Blue Oak woodland, removal of up to 6,300 trees, direct impacts to 18 acres of seasonal wetlands, and construction-related noise.

San Joaquin County General Plan 2010 EIR
Client: San Joaquin County Community Development Department

Ms. Skewes-Cox served as the project manager for this EIR that addressed growth within San Joaquin County between 1992 and 2010. This EIR was awarded a “Certificate for an Outstanding Environmental Analysis Document” by the Association of Environmental Professionals. The General Plan addressed projected growth within unincorporated areas, but also considered the General Plans for seven incorporated cities within the County. The EIR addressed the following elements: policies; community plans; the proposed General Plan map; the San Joaquin County Development Title; and five new towns that were proposed within the County. Given the projected growth outside of incorporated areas and the County’s location in the Central Valley, removal of prime agricultural lands was a major issue of concern. The EIR recommended a variety of measures to reduce impacts to agricultural lands such as agricultural impact fees, increased densities, and changes to the General Plan map to focus development within existing communities.  Mitigation measures focused on changes to policies, revised or new regulations to be included in the Development Title, and changes to the proposed General Plan map. When the General Plan was adopted, only two of the five proposed new towns were approved.

Stanly Ranch Specific Plan EIR
Client: City of Napa

The Stanly Ranch Specific Plan EIR addressed a resort/residential development on 918 acres within the City of Napa. The project included 300 resort units, a lodge, spa, golf club clubhouse, winery and wine center, employee housing, and a residential area for 540 units. Major issues of concern focused on increased traffic, runoff and potential flooding, removal of an historic grove of trees and historic structures, and impacts to sensitive species.

Nevada County General Plan Final EIR
Client: Nevada County Planning Department

Ms. Skewes-Cox prepared the Final EIR for the County’s General Plan that was highly controversial due to projected growth within an established rural area. Major issues of concern focused on traffic impacts, water quality degradation from increased development, visual impacts, and availability of services. Ms. Skewes-Cox presented the conclusions of the Final EIR at public hearings and responded to many public comments.

Hemme Hills Residential Development General Plan Amendment EIR
Client: Contra Costa County Community Development Department

The Hemme Hill EIR addressed a proposed residential subdivision in a hillside location just east of the City of Danville. The site had previously been used for grazing and was to be developed with 400 single-family homes. New roads were proposed in major drainageways, requiring a careful analysis of potential hydrological impacts to downstream areas. Landslides on the site were another constraint evaluated in the EIR, resulting in recommendations for major site planning alterations for both homesites and roadway locations.