HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Meeting 06-16-22 (Reso 2891-2022)- 40 Airport Blvd CEQACity of South San Francisco
Resolution 2891-2022
P.O. Box 711 (City Hall, 400
Grand Avenue)
South San Francisco, CA
RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT CONSISTENT WITH THE 2040
PLAN BAY AREA ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 21155.2
OF THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE.
WHEREAS, the applicant has proposed construction of an eight-story multi-family residential building,
consisting of 292 units, and 308 parking spaces (“Project”) located at 40 Airport Boulevard (APN 015-126-010
and approximately 1.63 acres), herein referred to as “Project Site” in the City; and
WHEREAS, the applicant seeks adoption of an ordinance amending the Zoning Map (RZ20-0001) to rezone
the project parcel as a Planned Development and adoption of a resolution approving a General Plan
Amendment (GPA20-0003), Downtown Station Area Specific Plan Amendment (SP21-0001), Transportation
Demand Management Plan (TDM22-0005), and Design Review (DR20-0037) for the Project; and
WHEREAS, approval of the applicant’s proposal is considered a “project” for purposes of the California
Environmental Quality Act, Pub. Resources Code §21000, et seq. (“CEQA”); and
WHEREAS, the Association of Bay Area Governments (“ABAG”) adopted a regional transportation
plan/sustainable communities strategy entitled Plan Bay Area One and associated Environmental Impact Report
(“Plan Bay Area EIR”) on July 26, 2017; and
WHEREAS, the Project Site and immediate area of the Project Site was assumed as part of the study area and
analyzed as part of the cumulative conditions in the Plan Bay Area EIR; and
WHEREAS, Section 21155 et seq. of the California Public Resources Code provides that “transit priority
projects” that are consistent with the general use designation, density, building intensity, and applicable policies
specified for the applicable project area in either a “sustainable communities strategy” or an “alternative
planning strategy” may utilize streamlined environmental review procedures; and
WHEREAS, the Project meets the criteria for eligible transit priority projects pursuant to Section 21155(a) of
the Public Resources Code because the Project Site is located within a designated Transit Priority Area that is
part of the land use growth footprint for Plan Bay Area One and is therefore, consistent with the land use and
development assumptions within the Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Project meets the criteria for an eligible transit priority project pursuant to Section 21155(b) of
the Public Resources Code because the Project (1) contains 100 percent residential uses, (2) provides a net
density of 179 dwelling units per acre (292 total unit/1.63 total acres), and (3) is located within one-half (0.5)
File #:22-476,Version:1
City of South San Francisco Printed on 6/21/2022Page 1 of 5
powered by Legistar™
File #:22-476,Version:1
density of 179 dwelling units per acre (292 total unit/1.63 total acres),and (3)is located within one-half (0.5)
mile of the existing South San Francisco Caltrain Station, which is a major transit stop; and
WHEREAS, the City has determined that the Project complies with the requirements for use of a Sustainable
Communities Environmental Assessment (“SCEA”) pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section
21155.2(b) because:
i.The Project is consistent with the density,building intensity,and applicable policies specified
for the project area in the Plan Bay Area prepared by the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments (MTC/ABAG);
ii.The Project qualifies as a transit priority project pursuant to Public Resources Code Section
21155(b);
iii.The Project is a residential or mixed-use project as defined by Public Resources Code Section 21159.28
(d);
iv.The Project incorporates all relevant and feasible mitigation measures,performance standards,
and/or criteria set forth in both the Plan Bay Area EIR and the South San Francisco General Plan EIR,
and changes or alterations have been required in,or incorporated into,the Project which mitigate or
avoid any potentially significant and/or significant effects on the environment;
v.All potentially significant or significant effects required to be identified and analyzed pursuant to
CEQA have been identified and analyzed in an initial study; and
vi.The Project,as mitigated,either avoids or mitigates to a level of insignificance all potentially
significant or significant effects of the Project required to be analyzed pursuant to CEQA; and
WHEREAS,on behalf of the City,Raney Planning &Management,Inc.,prepared a Sustainable Communities
Environmental Assessment Initial Study (“SCEA-IS”)pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section
21155.2(b)analyzing the potential environmental effects of the Project,which was submitted to the State
Clearinghouse (SCH No.2022050014)and the San Mateo County Clerk and was circulated for a 30-day public
review period, beginning on May 2, 2022, and ending on May 31, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the City received no comments on the SCEA-IS during the applicable comment period; and
WHEREAS,the SCEA-IS concluded that,although the Project could have a potentially significant effect on the
environment,there will not be a significant effect in this case because the SCEA-IS identifies measures that
have already been implemented or will be incorporated into the Project,which will either avoid or mitigate to a
level of insignificance all potentially significant or significant effects of the Project; and
WHEREAS,on June 16,2022,the Planning Commission for the City of South San Francisco held a lawfully
noticed public hearing to solicit public comment and consider the proposed entitlements and environmental
City of South San Francisco Printed on 6/21/2022Page 2 of 5
powered by Legistar™
File #:22-476,Version:1
effects of the Project and take public testimony.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that based on the entirety of the record before it,which includes
without limitation,the California Environmental Quality Act,Public Resources Code §21000,et seq.
(“CEQA”)and the CEQA Guidelines,14 California Code of Regulations §15000,et seq.;the South San
Francisco General Plan and General Plan EIR;the Downtown Station Area Specific Plan and the Downtown
Station Area Specific Plan EIR;the South San Francisco Municipal Code;the Project applications;the Project
Plans,as prepared by Architecture Design Collaborative,dated April 2,2021;the Sustainable Communities
Environmental Assessment,as prepared by Raney Planning &Management,Inc.,dated June 2022;all site
plans,and all reports,minutes,and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission’s duly
noticed June 16,2022 meeting;and any other evidence (within the meaning of Public Resources Code §21080
(e)and §21082.2),the Planning Commission of the City of South San Francisco,based on substantial evidence
in the record, hereby finds as follows:
SECTION 1 FINDINGS
General
1.The foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this Resolution.
2.Exhibit A attached to this Resolution,the Sustainable Communities Environmental Assessment and all
appendices prepared by Raney Planning &Management,Inc.,dated June 2022,and Exhibit B,the
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program,are incorporated by reference and made a part of this
Resolution, as if set forth fully herein.
3.The documents and other material constituting the record for these proceedings are located at the
Planning Division for the City of South San Francisco,315 Maple Avenue,South San Francisco,CA
94080, and in the custody of the Chief Planner, Tony Rozzi.
CEQA Findings
As confirmed by the analysis in the SCEA-IS:
1.Pursuant to Section 21155(a)of the California Public Resources Code,the Project meets the criteria for
eligible transit priority projects because the Project Site is located within a designated Transit Priority
Area that is part of the land use growth footprint for Plan Bay Area One and is therefore,consistent with
the land use and development assumptions within the Plan.
2.Pursuant to Section 21155(b)of the California Public Resources Code,the Project meets the criteria for
an eligible transit priority because the Project (1)contains 100 percent residential uses,(2)provides a
net density of 179 dwelling units per acre (292 total unit/1.63 total acres),and (3)is located within one-
half (0.5) mile of the existing South San Francisco Caltrain Station, which is a major transit stop.
3.Pursuant to Section 21081 of the California Public Resources Code,changes or alterations have been
City of South San Francisco Printed on 6/21/2022Page 3 of 5
powered by Legistar™
File #:22-476,Version:1
3.Pursuant to Section 21081 of the California Public Resources Code,changes or alterations have been
required in,or incorporated into,the Project which mitigate or avoid any potentially significant and/or
significant effects on the environment.
4.Pursuant to Section 21155.2(a)of the California Public Resources Code,the Project incorporates all
relevant and feasible mitigation measures,performance standards,and/or criteria set forth in both the
Plan Bay Area EIR and the South San Francisco General Plan EIR,and changes or alterations have
been required in,or incorporated into,the Project which mitigate or avoid any potentially significant
and/or significant effects on the environment.
5.Pursuant to Section 21155.2(b) of the California Public Resources Code:
A.All potentially significant or significant effects required to be identified in the SCEA-IS have
been identified and analyzed.
B.With respect to each significant effect on the environment required to be identified in the SCEA-
IS,changes or alterations have been required in or incorporated into the Project that avoid or
mitigate the significant effects to a level of insignificance.
6.Based upon the testimony and information presented at the hearing and upon review and consideration
of the environmental documentation provided,including but not limited to,the Sustainable
Communities Environmental Assessment -Initial Study,as prepared by Raney Planning &
Management,Inc.,dated June 2022 attached hereto as Exhibit A,and the Mitigation Monitoring and
Reporting Program,as prepared by Raney Planning &Management,Inc.,dated June 2022,the Planning
Commission,exercising its independent judgment and analysis,finds that the Project satisfies the
criteria for eligible transit priority projects pursuant to Section 21155 of the Public Resources Code,the
Project satisfies the criteria for environmental review pursuant to a sustainable communities
environmental assessment pursuant to Section 21155.2(a)and (b)of the Public Resources Code,and the
SCEA-IS satisfies the criteria for approval pursuant to Section 21155.2(b)(5)of the Public Resources
Code.These findings are supported by the fact that,the analysis in the SCEA-IS determined that
although the Project could have a potentially significant effect on the environment,there will not be
a significant effect in this case,because the SCEA-IS identifies measures that either avoid or
mitigate to a level of insignificance all potentially significant or significant effects of the Project.
SECTION 2 DETERMINATION
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of the City of South San
Francisco hereby recommends that the City Council makes the findings contained in this Resolution,and adopt
the Sustainable Communities Environmental Assessment (ND20-0002),consistent with the 2040 Plan Bay Area
Environmental Impact Report,in accordance with Section 21155.2 of the California Public Resources Code as
the environmental document for the Project and conclude that no further environmental review is required.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and
City of South San Francisco Printed on 6/21/2022Page 4 of 5
powered by Legistar™
File #:22-476,Version:1
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and
adoption.
*******
City of South San Francisco Printed on 6/21/2022Page 5 of 5
powered by Legistar™
Resolution #: 2891-2022
* * * * * * *
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Planning Commission of the
City of South San Francisco at a regular meeting held on the 16th day of June by the
following vote:
AYES: Chair Shihadeh, Vice Chair Tzang, Faria, Funes, Murphy, De Paz Fernandez, Evans
NOES: ____________________________________________________________________
ABSTENTIONS: ____________________________________________________________
ABSENT: __________________________________________________________________
City of South San Francisco
Attest: _________________________________
Tony Rozzi
Secretary to the Planning Commission