General Plan Consistency Considerations for Cumulative Impact Analysis
Cumulative impact analysis must adhere to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Land use development and infrastructure projects that align with the General Plan are generally expected to rely on the General Plan’s cumulative traffic analysis and its Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Supplemental EIR findings. However, projects that fall within a Specific Plan may require an updated cumulative traffic analysis in accordance with CEQA guidelines and definitions.
Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15130, a cumulative scenario analysis is mandatory to ensure that projects are evaluated within the broader context of past, present, and foreseeable future developments. According to CEQA Guidelines Section 15355, the term "cumulative" encompasses the combined effects of various land use development projects and transportation network changes over time.
The General Plan EIR, along with the Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee Program Supplement to the El Dorado County General Plan Environmental Impact Report (March 2006), assessed the impact of projected residential and employment growth on traffic patterns. This analysis was based on an anticipated development scenario for the General Plan’s original planning horizon of 2025. However, the General Plan has since evolved. General Plan Policy TC-Xb, along with Implementation Measures TC-A and TC-B, mandates comprehensive five-year updates to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and associated traffic impact fee programs. These updates have effectively extended the planning horizon to 2035. The Targeted General Plan Amendment Draft Environmental Impact Report has also confirmed this shift to a 2035 planning horizon for cumulative traffic analysis.
As a result, updated traffic studies will generally assess the cumulative impacts of development projects that conform to the General Plan. However, over time, changes such as General Plan amendments or regional growth beyond previous projections may alter background traffic volumes. If such changes occur, individual development projects may be required to conduct a project-specific cumulative traffic analysis to assess their broader transportation impacts. This determination will be made by the Community Development Agency’s Long-Range Planning (LRP) staff on a case-by-case basis.
By maintaining consistency with CEQA and regularly updating cumulative traffic studies, the County ensures that development aligns with long-term transportation planning goals, mitigates adverse impacts, and provides infrastructure improvements necessary to support projected growth.
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