The County is preparing to improve the Gas Point Road at Park Drive intersection and adjoining facilities. The intersection is on the westerly edge of Cottonwood. Incoming traffic encounters pedestrians, turning movements and other urban conditions. Modifications are proposed to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety.
West Cottonwood Elementary School ballfields and the Cottonwood Community Center currently take access directly off of Gas Point Road along their frontage. There is a pedestrian corridor across the Crowley Creek bridge and a pedestrian signal at the intersection but these facilities lack connectivity.
The proposed project will fully signalize the intersection. Sidewalks and a pedestrian bridge across Crowley Gulch will be added. The existing sidewalk on the bridge will be removed to provide additional roadside clearance and left turn lanes at the intersection. All adjoining access will be consolidated at the intersection with adjoining paving for parking and access.
The proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) is based on an Initial Study (IS). The document underwent a 30-day public comment period. Tribal consultation was performed with the Wintu Tribe. Comments to that study are incorporated at the back of the document. No comments were received from the public. Two comment letters were received from regulatory agencies regarding general permit conditions.
A Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) was compiled to develop necessary monitoring actions to be taken, as well as the timing and frequency of the prescribed monitoring activities CEQA requires to avoid significant environmental effects. The MMRP can be found at the rear of the Initial Study document.