HomeMy WebLinkAboutAB52_Gabrieleno_SalasCommunity Development Department
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
949 644-3200
newportbeachca.gov/communitydevelopment
February 19, 2016
Mr. Andrew Salas
Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation
PO Box 393
Covina, CA 91723
Subject: Response to Archaeological Monitoring Request for the One Newport Hotel
Project, Newport Beach, CA (PA2015-208)
Dear Mr. Salas,
Thank you for your response regarding our notice to consult on the One Newport Hotel project.
We understand the importance of the project site as it relates to the Sacred Village area of
Moyoonga, and understand your request for archaeological monitoring by the Gabrieleño Band
of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation.
As you know, the proposed hotel development is a modification to the approved Uptown
Newport project for which an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was certified in February 2013.
To assess your request, we have reviewed: 1) the cultural resources report prepared for the
original project, 2) applicable mitigation measures for potential archaeological resources, and 3)
monitoring report for grading activities conducted to date.
The attached Uptown Newport project cultural resources assessment prepared by Cogstone in
January 2012 concluded that no archaeological or paleontological resources are known to occur
within the project area boundaries. The area is generally considered to have low sensitivity for
archaeological resources. However, the records search and literature review conducted by
Cogstone revealed that several prehistoric sites and prehistoric isolates and a significant
number of fossils have been discovered within a one-mile radius of the project site. Given this
pre-existing condition, there is a possibility that the project area may contain significant
subsurface prehistoric resources. Mitigation measures, therefore, were incorporated into the
certified EIR to ensure development of the approved Uptown Newport project would not
adversely impact potential archaeological and paleontological resources. The archaeological
impact mitigation measure is reproduced below:
4-1 Prior to the issuance of grading permits, the project applicant shall demonstrate to
the Community Development Department that an Orange County–certified
professional archaeologist has been retained to monitor any potential impacts to
archaeological or historic resources throughout the duration of any ground-disturbing
activities at the project site. The archeologist shall develop a Cultural Resources
Awareness Training program, which shall provide examples of the types of resources
that might be encountered and detail procedures to be implemented in that event.
Community Development Department
Andrew Salas
February 19, 2016
Page 2
The qualified archeologist shall be present at the pregrade meeting to present the
training program to all earthmoving personnel and their supervisors and to discuss
the monitoring, collection, and safety procedures of cultural resources, if any are
found. If subsurface cultural resources are inadvertently discovered during ground-
disturbing activities, the construction contractor shall ensure that all work stops within
25 feet of the find until the qualified archeologist can assess the significance of the
find and, if necessary, shall develop appropriate treatment or disposition of the
resources in consultation with the City of Newport Beach and a representative of the
affected Native American tribe (Gabrielino). The archeological monitor shall have the
authority to halt any project-related activities that may be adversely impacting
potentially significant cultural resources. Suspension of ground disturbances in the
vicinity of the discoveries shall not be lifted until an archeological monitor has
evaluated the discoveries to assess whether they are classified as significant cultural
resources, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
The Addendum being prepared for the One Newport Hotel Project will reference Mitigation
Measure 4-1 which will also apply to the modified project (see attached site plan).
Pursuant to the mitigation requirements, archaeological and paleontological monitoring at the
Uptown Newport site was conducted by PCR Services Corporation from December 2014 to
June 2015 during grading and compaction, borehole drillings, and test pit excavations for Phase
1 of the project. The attached progress report concludes that the monitoring did not yield any
historic or prehistoric archaeological resources. Several whole and fragmented shell fossils
were encountered and transported to PCR’s lab for processing, cataloguing and analysis. In
compliance with the aforementioned mitigation measures, monitoring of the remaining lots will
continue as Phase 1 and 2 ground-disturbing activities occur.
Based on our review, we believe that specific archaeological monitoring by the Gabrieleño
Band of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation is not necessary and would duplicate the work already
required under Mitigation Measure 4-1 in the certified Uptown Newport EIR. Additionally, the
mitigation measures clearly state that the City of Newport Beach and a representative of the
affected Native American tribe (Gabrielino) would be consulted if subsurface cultural resources
are inadvertently discovered.
Your comments and concerns are important to the City of Newport Beach. Please feel free to
contact me at rung@newportbeachca.gov or by phone at (949) 622-3208 if you have any
additional comments or concerns.
Sincerely,
Attachments: Previous Cultural Resources Assessment
Project Site Plan
Cultural Monitoring Progress Report