HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 211-2021 (21-888)City of South San Francisco P.O. Box 711 (City Hall,
400 Grand Avenue)
South San Francisco, CA
City Council
Resolution: RES 211-2021
File Number: 21-888 Enactment Number: RES 211-2021
RESOLUTION ADOPTING 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 two seven -story multi -family
residential buildings, consisting of 480 units, and 560 parking spaces ("Project") located at 124 Airport
Boulevard (APN 015-113-180 and approximately 2.56 acres) and 100 Produce Avenue (APN
015-113-380 and approximately 1.56 acres), collectively referred to as "Project Site" in the City; and
WHEREAS, the applicant seeks adoption of an ordinance amending the Zoning Map
(RZ18-0003) to rezone two parcels as a Planned Development and adoption of a resolution approving a
General Plan Amendment (GPA18-0004), Downtown Station Area Specific Plan Amendment
(SP21-0003), Transportation Demand Management Plan (TDM21-0008), Design Review (DR18-0038),
and Affordable Housing Agreement proposal 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)
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File Number: 21-888
Enactment Number: RES 211-2021
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 116.5 dwelling units per acre (480 total unit/4.12 total acres), and (3)
is located within one-half (0.5) mile of both the existing and the proposed new 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. 2021070044) and the San Mateo County
Clerk and was circulated for a 30 -day public review period, beginning on July 1, 2021, and ending on
August 2, 2021; 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
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File Number. 21-888
Enactment Number. RES 211-2021
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 November 4, 2021, 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 recommended
approval of the SCEA-IS; and
WHEREAS, on December 8, 2021, the City Council 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.
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 TCA Architects, dated December 1, 2020; the Sustainable
Communities Environmental Assessment, as prepared by Raney Planning & Management, Inc., dated
June 2021; all site plans, and all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning
Commission's duly noticed November 4, 2021 meeting; all site plans, and all reports, minutes, and
public testimony submitted as part of the City Council's duly noticed December 8, 2021 meeting and any
other evidence (within the meaning of Public Resources Code §21080(e) and §21082.2), the City
Council 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 2021, 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.
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File Number. 21-888 Enactment Number. RES 211-2021
CEQA Findings
As confirmed by the analysis in the SCEA-IS:
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 116.5 dwelling units per acre (480 total unit/4.12 total acres),
and (3) is located within one-half (0.5) mile of both the existing and the proposed new South San
Francisco Caltrain Station, which is a major transit stop.
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.
4. 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 2021 attached hereto as Exhibit A, and the Mitigation
Monitoring and Reporting Program, as prepared by Raney Planning & Management, Inc., dated
August 2021, the City Council, 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
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File Number: 21-888
Enactment Number. RES 211-2021
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 City Council of the City of
South San Francisco hereby makes the findings contained in this Resolution, and adopts the Sustainable
Communities Environmental Assessment (EIR18-0005), 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 adoption.
At a meeting of the City Council on 12/8/2021, a motion was made by Councilmember Addiego,
seconded by Vice Mayor Nicolas, that this Resolution be approved. The motion passed.
Yes: 4 Councilmember Addiego, Mayor Nagales, Vice Mayor Nicolas, and
Councilmember Flores
No: 1 Councilmember Coleman
Attest by
4k—
Vosa Govea Acosta, City Clerk
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