[Added 4-10-1979 by Ord. No. 79:6]

An environmental assessment report is required for all applications for preliminary approval of major subdivisions and major site development plans.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the environmental assessment report may be waived at the request of an applicant if sufficient evidence is submitted to support a conclusion that the proposed development will have a slight or negligible environmental impact. Portions of requirements may also be waived upon a finding that the complete report need not be prepared in order to evaluate adequately the environmental impact of a particular project.

An environmental assessment report shall be submitted for all public or quasi-public projects unless specifically exempt by state or federal law.

A. An environmental assessment report of a proposed project shall contain, at minimum:

(1) A statement describing the project.

(2) The impact of development upon parks, recreational sites, wildlife, refuges and historic sites mapped and described.

(3) Existing land use, zoning and Master Plan delineation of project area mapped and described.

(4) A listing of all licenses, permits or other approvals as required by law and the status of each.

(5) A statement and data supporting same as to the probable impact of the proposed project on the environment, including impact on ecological systems such as wildlife, fish and marine life, involving any probable adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided with respect to water quality, air quality, noise, undesirable land use patterns, damage or destruction of significant plant or wildlife systems, aesthetic values, destruction of natural resources, cost-revenue analysis, destruction of man-made resources and disruption of desirable community and regional growth.

(6) A description of actions to be taken before, during and after construction to minimize the adverse environmental effects.

B. The environmental assessment report shall state the alternatives to the proposed project, including no project, and a description of alternative alignments that might avoid some or all of the adverse environmental effects with the rationale for acceptability or nonacceptability of each alternative, an analysis of the costs and social impact of the alternatives, including construction problems and traffic service.

C. The environmental assessment report shall present a quantifiable identification of any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources which would be involved in the implementation of the project.

D. The environmental assessment report shall present the relationships between short-term and long-term uses of the environment in context with the project.