The Environmental Review Process
In 1970, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) became state law.  As California's premier environmental law, CEQA requires public agencies to examine and disclose to the public all significant adverse environmental impacts of a project (both public and private projects).  Before a project is approved the public agency must avoid or mitigate (lessen) those impacts, if feasible.

The public is allowed to participate in CEQA's environmental review process at several stages.  Often times this public participation leads to the consideration or inclusion of different project alternatives and/or mitigation measures. 

To learn more, follow this link: CEQA's Environmental Review Process.
 
Canyon Crest and the Environmental Review Process
The Canyon Crest project has been under review for nine years.  Below is a timeline of Canyon Crest's major environmental review stages:
Late 1999
Nov. 1999
Dec. 1999


May 2000
Aug. 2000
May 2001
May 2001
April 2002
June 2002


Aug. 2007
March 2008
April 2008
June 2008
July 2008		 Project Applicant submits application for Canyon Crest Project
City circulates the Project's Notice of Preparation and Initial Study
Public Scoping Meetings are held to gather public and agency input
*** Applicant withdraws the application due to circulation and emergency access issues. ***
City circulates the Project's second Notice of Preparation and Initial Study
City determines the Project application is complete
Applicant revises project information depicting new grading limits
Applicant revises project information to address City staff concerns
Applicant resubmits revised Vesting Tentative Tract Maps
The Draft Environmental Impact Report becomes available for public review
*** Applicant places the project on hold due to comments about the EIR findings and project characteristics. ***
City releases a Recirculated Draft EIR (RDEIR) to gather public and agency input
City releases comments to the RDEIR
First of four public hearings held during the Planning Commission meetings
The Planning Commission approves (3-2) the Canyon Crest project
A Brea resident appeals the decision to the City Council
 
Guiding Documents
The Canyon Crest project is being judged according to the guidelines of the 1986 Brea General Plan, the 1986 Carbon Canyon Specific Plan, and the Hillside Management Ordinance (1994).  In 2001, Brea began a review of its rules regarding development within the City.  Normally a property owner would be held to the most current General Plan, but the Project Applicant sued the City to have its project reviewed under the out-dated rules, since the application was deemed complete in August of 2000. Therefore this project is grandfathered in under an old General Plan and a Specific Plan that no longer exists.  If the Applicant submitted those plans today, the project could not be approved.