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Summary Report from EIR Scoping Meeting Now Available (Posted: 3/18/26) 

Click Here to View the EIR Summary Report

Click Here to View the Presentation from the Scoping Meetings

As a brief clarification, the summary report references the inclusion of the Notice of Preparation and Initial Study. However, I, Jeremy Frimond, Project Lead, have removed those documents from the report due to its length, which now exceeds 90 pages. The Notice of Preparation and Initial Study remain available in my prior update titled “What is a Notice of Preparation and Initial Study,” located just below this update. If you experience any difficulty accessing those materials, please contact me directly and I will ensure they are provided.

How to read a Scoping Summary Report

Table 1 identifies each written comment and commenter through a unique comment set identification number. Copies of all comments are included at the end of the report for reference. The table also specifies the section or subsection of the Draft Environmental Impact Report where each comment is addressed, allowing the reader to review a comment and confirm where it has been incorporated into the EIR.

Some comments received raise important considerations but fall outside the scope of an Environmental Impact Report. An EIR evaluates the environmental effects of a proposed project, such as impacts to biological resources or circulation issues such as traffic and parking, but it does not determine whether a project should be approved or not. Those types of comments should be directed to the City Council after the EIR is completed, when the community considers whether the project should proceed. The EIR provides objective environmental analysis to inform that decision making process. These comments have nonetheless been included in the summary report under a category titled “Other.”

We recognize that the CEQA process can be complex, particularly for those who have not participated in it before. Shaveta and I, Jeremy, are available to meet and walk through the scoping summary report with you if you have questions or need clarification. Our contact information is provided further down the page.

What is a scoping summary report?

The report summarizing the comments recieved from the scoping meeting. As a reminder, a scoping meeting and process under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is the early step in preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) where the City asks agencies and the public what environmental issues should be studied. Instead of guessing what matters, the City gathers input on topics such as traffic, noise, air quality, biological resources, and visual impacts so the EIR focuses on the most important concerns. This process helps identify potential impacts, possible alternatives to the project, and ideas before detailed analysis begins. In short, scoping sets the direction and scope of the EIR to ensure it is thorough, relevant, and responsive to public and agency concerns.

How the public's input helped this report

The project team sincerely thanks the public for taking the time to participate and provide input as we determine how to study the environmental impacts of this project. The Environmental Impact Report will be stronger and more responsive because of your engagement in this process. For example, based on public input, we have added a new section titled “Public Services.” This section will evaluate how the proposed project may affect public safety operations and other City services that rely on the Aliso Beach parking lot for daily use. This issue would not have been fully analyzed without the input received through the scoping process.

What's next in the EIR process

You can expect a quieter period over the next several months. This is not because the project team is advancing the project without public input, but because staff and our consultant, Rincon, are actively peer reviewing technical studies and preparing the Draft Environmental Impact Report. We anticipate releasing the Draft EIR in the summer.

At that time, the Draft EIR will be published for a 45 day public review period. During this period, the public and agencies will have the opportunity to provide comments on specific sections or the document as a whole. After the comment period closes, the project team will prepare written responses to each comment received, all of which will be included as part of the final EIR. The key point is that there will be a clear and structured opportunity to comment on the substance of the report, and each comment will receive a formal response. Additional instructions on how to participate will be provided when the Draft EIR is released.

Public Comment Period Now Closed for Initial Study (Posted: 2/15/26)

Public Comment for the Notice of Preparation and Initial Study closed February 15, 2026, at 5pm. Submissions submitted after this deadline will not be included as part of the report's record. The comments received during the public comment period will be published in a report and posted on the website by the first or second week of March 2026.

Please sign up with the link above to receive email updates as advancements in the preparation of an environmental impact report for the Aliso Estuary proceed.

What is a Notice of Preparation and Initial Study?

Click here to read the Notice of Preparation and Initial Study

A Notice of Preparation and an Initial Study are early steps in the environmental review process required by California law. The Initial Study is a written analysis prepared by the lead agency to evaluate a proposed project and determine whether it may cause significant effects on the environment. Based on that analysis, the agency decides whether a full Environmental Impact Report is required or whether impacts can be avoided or reduced. If an Environmental Impact Report is needed, the agency issues a Notice of Preparation to inform the public and other agencies that the report will be prepared and to invite input on what environmental issues should be studied. These steps ensure transparency, early public involvement, and a focused review of potential environmental impacts before decisions are made.

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