HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Meeting 10-06-22 (Reso 2903-2022) - 100 E Grand CEQACity of South San Francisco
Resolution 2903-2022
P.O. Box 711 (City Hall, 400
Grand Avenue)
South San Francisco, CA
Resolution making findings and a determination that the environmental effects of the proposed office / R&D
project at 100 East Grand Avenue (“Project”) were sufficiently analyzed under the Downtown Station Area
Specific Plan (DSASP) Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) pursuant to California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15168, and that the proposed project is exempt from CEQA per CEQA
Guidelines 15183, and that the proposed project is statutorily exempt from CEQA per Public Resources Code
Section 21155.4
WHEREAS, the applicant has proposed construction of two office and R&D buildings consisting of
approximately 559,000 sq. ft., a parking structure containing 782 spaces, open spaces, landscaping, amenity
uses, and circulation improvements (“Project”) on the property located at 100 East Grand Avenue (APNs
015031120, 015031130, 015031160, 015031020) of approximately 5.5 acres (referred to as “Project Site”) in
the City; and
WHEREAS, the applicant seeks the following entitlements for Project P21-0087, to be considered by the
Planning Commission by separate resolution: (Use Permit (UP21-0011), Design Review (DR21-0038),
Tentative Parcel Map (PM22-0001), Transportation Demand Management Plan (TDM21-0010), and Master
Sign Program (SIGNS22-0008); 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 City Council certified an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) on January 28, 2015 (State
Clearinghouse number 2013102001) in accordance with the provisions of CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines,
which analyzed the potential environmental impacts of the development of the Downtown Station Area Specific
Plan (DSASP); and
WHERAS, the City Council certified an Addendum to the program EIR for the DSASP for the Downtown
Transit Core (DTC) Zoning Amendments by Resolution No. 31-2018 on February 28, 2018; and
WHEREAS, the City Council also adopted a Statement of Overriding Considerations (“SOC”) on January 28,
2015 in accordance with the provisions of CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines, which carefully considered each
significant and unavoidable impact identified in the EIR and found that the significant environmental impacts
are acceptable in light of the project’s economic, legal, social, technological and other benefits; and
WHEREAS, the City Council certified an Addendum to the program EIR for the DSASP for the Downtown
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Transit Core (DTC) Zoning Amendments by Resolution No. 31-2018 on February 28, 2018; and
WHEREAS,the Project is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21155.4
as it is a qualified employment project; and
WHEREAS,the Project is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183,as it is
consistent with the General Plan and the DSASP and would have no environmental impacts that would be
peculiar to the Project or Project Site; and
WHEREAS,the City and applicant prepared an Environmental Consistency Analysis for the Project pursuant to
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 and an Environmental Checklist pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15168
(c)(4)that concluded that even if the Project was not exempt from CEQA pursuant to the above-listed
exemption,in accordance with the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15168,the Project is within the
scope of the DSASP and would not result in any new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase
in the severity of any previously identified effects beyond those disclosed and analyzed in the DSASP EIR
certified by City Council nor would new mitigation be required; and
WHEREAS,on October 6,2022,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
effects of the Project and take public testimony; and
WHEREAS,the Planning Commission exercised its independent judgment and analysis,and considered all
reports, recommendations, and testimony before making a determination on the Project.
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 Program EIR and
Statement of Overriding Considerations;the Downtown Station Area Specific Plan Addendum,the
Environmental Consistency Analysis,including all appendices thereto;all site plans,and all reports,minutes,
and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission’s duly noticed October 6,2022 meeting;
and any other evidence (within the meaning of Public Resources Code Sections 21080(e)and 21082.2),the
Planning Commission of the City of South San Francisco hereby finds as follows:
SECTION 1 FINDINGS
General Findings
1.The foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this Resolution.
2.The Exhibits attached to this Resolution,including the Downtown Station Area Specific Plan EIR
(Exhibit A),Environmental Consistency Analysis (Exhibit B),and DSASP EIR Mitigation,Monitoring
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(Exhibit A),Environmental Consistency Analysis (Exhibit B),and DSASP EIR Mitigation,Monitoring
and Reporting Program (MMRP)(Exhibit C)are each 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
1.For the reasons stated in this Resolution,the Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines Section 15183 as the Project is consistent with a Community Plan,General Plan or Zoning
because as supported by the findings of the Environmental Consistency Analysis:
a.The Project is consistent with the development density established by existing DSASP zoning,
Specific Plan, and General Plan policies for which the DSASP Program EIR was certified.
b.There are no project-specific effects which are peculiar to the Project or the Project Site.
c.There are no project-specific impacts,which the DSASP Program EIR failed to analyze as
significant effects.
d.There are no potentially significant off-site and/or cumulative impacts which the DSASP
Program EIR failed to evaluate.
e.There is no substantial new information which results in more severe impacts than anticipated by
the DSASP Program EIR
2.For the reasons stated in this Resolution,there is not substantial evidence in the record to support a fair
argument that approval of the Project will result in significant environmental effects beyond those
adequately evaluated and addressed by the DSASP Program EIR,nor would the Project require any new
mitigation measures and therefore the Project is within the scope of the DSASP Program EIR pursuant to
CEQA Guidelines Section 15168 because:
1.The Project does not propose substantial changes to the DSASP Project,which will require
major revisions of the DSASP Program EIR due to the involvement of new significant
environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant
effects;
b.No substantial changes have occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the DSASP
Project is undertaken which will require major revisions of the DSASP Program EIR due to the
involvement of new significant effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously
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identified significant effects;
c.No new information of substantial importance,which was not known and could not have been
known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the time the DSASP Program EIR was
certified as complete, shows any of the following:
i.The Project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the DSASP
Program EIR;
ii.Significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in
the previous EIR;
iii.Mitigation measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible would in fact be
feasible and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the Project,but
the Project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative; or
iv.Mitigation measures or alternatives which are considerably different from those analyzed
in the DSASP Program EIR would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on
the environment,but the Project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or
alternative.
3.For reasons stated in this Resolution,the project is statutorily exempt from CEQA under Public
Resources Code Section 21155.4 as it is a qualified employment center project as defined by SB 375
(2008), and meets the following criteria:
a.The project is proposed within a transit priority area,as it is within one-half mile of the South
San Francisco Caltrain station which is an existing major transit stop; and
b.The project implements and is consistent with the DSASP,which was approved pursuant to a
certified Program EIR; and
c.The project is located on a property zoned for commercial use and is proposed for a FAR of no
less than .75,as the project site is zoned as TO/RD,which permits office and R&D uses,and the
project is proposed to be developed at an FAR of just under 2.5.
4.The Planning Commission finds that the Project is statutorily and categorically exempt from CEQA
pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183,and Public Resources Code Section 21155.4.The Planning
Commission also finds that the Project falls within the environmental parameters analyzed in the DSASP
EIR and subsequent 2018 Addendum.The Planning Commission further finds that the Project is within the
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EIR and subsequent 2018 Addendum.The Planning Commission further finds that the Project is within the
scope of the DSASP pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15168 because the Project would not result in
any new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of any previously
identified effects beyond those disclosed and analyzed in the DSASP Program EIR and 2018 Addendum
certified by City Council nor would new mitigation be required by the Project.The Planning Commission
finds that the Project implements the policies of the DSASP,and the Environmental Consistency Analysis
determined that the Project would not result in any new impacts not adequately evaluated and were
addressed by the DSASP Program EIR and Statement of Overriding Considerations, and 2018 Addendum.
SECTION 2 DETERMINATION
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Planning of the City of South San Francisco
hereby makes the findings contained in this Resolution and a determination that the environmental effects of
the proposed Project were sufficiently analyzed under the Downtown Station Area Specific Plan (DSASP)
Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR)pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Guidelines Section 15168,and that the proposed project is exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines
Sections 15183 and Public Resources Code Section 21155.4.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and
adoption.
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Attest:__________________________________
Tony Rozzi
Secretary to the Planning Commission
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 6th day of October, 2022 by the following
vote:AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
Chair Shihadeh, Vice Chair Tzang, De Paz Fernandez, Faria, Funes, Murphy, Evans
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