Buellton council adopts Transportation Impact Analysis guidelines to standardize traffic review
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Summary
The Buellton City Council on Feb. 12 adopted updated Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) guidelines that create objective triggers for local transportation studies and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) assessments while preserving local discretion to require mitigation. The move aims to give developers clearer expectations and to protect local circulation needs.
Staff recommended and the council adopted a revised Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) guidance document intended to standardize how traffic and circulation impacts are evaluated for development projects.
Irma Tucker, the city’s contract planner and staff presenter, told the council the guidelines combine two elements: a Local Transportation Study (LTS) to evaluate local circulation and a VMT (vehicle miles traveled) analysis to address state CEQA concerns about travel‑distance greenhouse‑gas effects. "The recommendation before the council tonight is that the council adopt the draft Transportation Impact Analysis guidelines (February 2026) as set forth in Attachment 1 to the staff report," Tucker said.
Why it matters: state CEQA guidance has shifted emphasis from traditional Level‑of‑Service (LOS) intersection measures toward VMT. Council members said the city still needs a tool to study local congestion and safety at busy intersections. The adopted TIA guidelines establish objective screening thresholds (for example, projects that generate 35 or more peak‑hour trips or 250 average daily trips typically trigger an LTS) while allowing the city to require studies in special circumstances.
During council discussion, members pressed staff on coordination with Caltrans for driveways and highway improvements, and on why several high‑traffic intersections would be allowed to operate at LOS D rather than a stricter LOS C. Tucker said Caltrans encroachment permits remain required for Highway 246 work and that the guidelines call for earlier coordination with Caltrans staff. On LOS thresholds she said constrained locations near freeway interchanges have limited opportunities for physical improvements and the policy is intended to balance feasibility and mitigation.
Legal counsel addressed the broader policy shift under CEQA, observing that while CEQA's purpose is to study impacts and mitigate them, recent state rules emphasize VMT to discourage sprawl. "CEQA's purpose is not to stop development. Its purpose is to study impacts and where necessary and possible to mitigate those impacts," counsel said. Councilmembers described the adopted guidelines as providing predictable, objective standards for applicants while preserving local control to require additional study or mitigation when projects conflict with city policies.
Council action and vote: After public comment (none on the item) the council moved to adopt the TIA guidelines. The motion passed with recorded 'Aye' votes from the Mayor, Vice Mayor Mead, Council member Hornick and Council member Sanchez.
What comes next: City staff will implement the screening flowchart and begin using the guidelines when reviewing permit applications. The guidelines call for applying routine staff time to initial screening and passing study costs through to applicants when a study is required.
