Board adopts mitigated negative declaration for Fairfax capacity and creek crossings project

The Ross Valley Sanitary District board voted to adopt a mitigated negative declaration (MND) for the Fairfax Capacity and Creek Crossings Project (Project 957), clearing a CEQA procedural milestone to proceed with design and later construction. Staff described the project as a combined set of capacity and creek‑crossing improvements: roughly 2,300 linear feet open cut replacement, about 2,100 feet replaced via pipe‑bursting, approximately 980 linear feet of new relief sewer by horizontal directional drilling under Fairfax Creek, and three additional creek crossings to increase capacity and reliability.

Senior engineer Phil Benedetti explained that the alignment selection prioritized reducing impacts to Fairfax residents and construction trucking and that trenchless methods were chosen in many locations to limit trucking and public impacts. He said the work is required by the district’s cease‑and‑desist order to address I&I and hydraulic deficiencies. Staff reported no public comments on the circulated initial study and MND, and after board questions and confirmation of public notice (500‑foot mailers in Fairfax), the board adopted the resolution to approve the MND and proceed toward contracting and construction sequencing.