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Home My WebLink AboutPC Meeting 08-06-20 (Reso 2859-2020) - GOP Phase 4 Entitlements RESOLUTION NO. 2859-2020 PLANNING COMMISSION, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND APPROVING A PRECISE PLAN AND DESIGN REVIEW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHASE 4 OF THE GATEWAY BUSINESS PARK MASTER PLAN PROJECT AT 850-900 GATEWAY BOULEVARD IN THE GATEWAY SPECIFIC PLAN DISTRICT. WHEREAS, in 2010 the City of South San Francisco (“City”) adopted (1) Resolution No. 18-2010 certifying the 2009 Environmental Impact Report (“2009 EIR”) (State Clearinghouse No. 2008062059), (2) Resolution No. 19-2010 approving a general plan amendment and transportation demand management (TDM) program, (3) Ordinance No. 1422-2010 amending Chapters 20.57 and 20.120 of the Zoning Ordinance, and (4) Ordinance No. 1423-2010 approving a development agreement with Chamberlin Associates, for the construction of five to six R&D/ Office buildings, two to four parking structures, and related improvements on an approximately 22.6-acre site located at 700-1000 Gateway Boulevard; and WHEREAS, in 2013 the City adopted (1) Resolution No. 43-2013 making findings and relying on the previously certified 2009 EIR and incorporating such EIR by reference, (2) Resolution No. 44- 2013 approving modifications to the Gateway Business Park Master Plan, a new Phase 1 Precise Plan, and modifications to the TDM program, and (3) Ordinance No. 1471-2013 adopting a First Amended and Restated Development Agreement with Gateway of Pacific LP (“BioMed Realty”); and WHEREAS, in 2018 the City adopted Resolution No. 1559-2018 adopting a Second Amended and Restated Development Agreement with BMR Gateway of Pacific I LP (formerly BMR-700 Gateway LP), BMR Gateway of Pacific II LP (formerly BMR-750, 800, 850 Gateway LP), BMR Gateway of Pacific III LP (formerly BMR-900 Gateway LP), and BMR Gateway of Pacific IV LP (formerly BMR-1000 Gateway LP) (“BioMed Realty”); and WHEREAS, in 2018 the Planning Commission of the City of South San Francisco adopted Resolution No. 2834-2018 determining that the Gateway of Pacific Phase 2-3 Precise Plans Project was fully within the scope of environmental analysis in the 2009 EIR and that the 2018 Addendum to the EIR was the appropriate environmental document for the Project; and WHEREAS, BioMed Realty (“Owner” or “Applicant”) submitted an application requesting approval of a Precise Plan and Design Review to construct Phase 4 of the Gateway Business Park Master Plan (“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 the Planning Commission has considered the environmental impacts by separate resolution; and WHEREAS, the applicant seeks approval of Precise Plan (PP20-0001) and Design Review (DR20-0013) for the Project; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a properly noticed public hearing on August 6, 2020, to solicit public comment and take public testimony, at which time interested parties had the opportunity to be heard, to consider the Precise Plan and Design Review; 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, 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 Environmental Impact Report; the South San Francisco Municipal Code; 2009 EIR, and associated Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Programs; 2018 Addendum to the 2009 EIR; the Project applications; the BMR GOP Phase 4 Precise Plan, as prepared by Flad Architects, dated June 8, 2020; all site plans, and all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission’s duly noticed August 6, 2020 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 hereby finds as follows: A. 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 Conditions of Project Approval (Exhibit A) and the Precise Plan (attached as Exhibit B) are each incorporated by reference as if they were each 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 Planning Manager. B. Gateway Precise Plan 1. The Phase 4 Precise Plan is compatible with the intent and purpose of the Gateway Specific Plan because the overall Master Plan promotes campus-style uses, such as biotechnology, high- technology and research and development uses, and the proposed buildings in Phase 4 will form a working campus environment and include high quality pedestrian circulation and open spaces. 2. The proposed development and/or construction standards of the Phase 4 Precise Plan are designed to achieve compliance with the development and/or construction standards of the Gateway Specific Plan because the site layout and overall architecture will help shape the urban character of the East of 101 Area, the overall Master Plan FAR of 1.25 is consistent with the Gateway Specific Plan and the proposed building heights will be below the 250-foot maximum allowable height limit. The Precise Plan includes high quality architecture that continues the aesthetic of Phases 1-3, and the Phase 4 Precise Plan has been designed appropriately to allow for incremental development while maintaining a functioning working environment for those areas on the site that have not yet been developed. 3. The Phase 4 Precise Plan is consistent with the first amendment to the second amended and restated development agreement because it clarifies and obligates several Project features and mitigation measures including transportation impact fees, public improvements in the East of 101 area, Fire Department obligations, phasing, provision for child care, park in-lieu fees, and TDM reporting and monitoring requirements. 4. The Phase 4 Precise Plan is consistent with the City of South San Francisco General Plan. The 1999 General Plan includes policies and programs that are designed to encourage the development of high technology campuses in the East of 101 Area, allow for employee-serving vendor services, preparation of a TDM plan and traffic improvement plan to reduce congestion impacts, and provision of a framework for requiring future circulation system improvements as they are needed to prevent deficient levels of service from being reached. The Precise Plan consists of a high technology campus, allows for employee serving vendor services, and will be in keeping with the previously approved TDM plan and traffic improvement plans. C. Design Review 1. The Project, including Design Review, is consistent with Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code because the Project has been designed as a high quality, energy efficient, contemporary, office/life science campus which will provide open spaces and a pedestrian- friendly environment with extensive landscaping and sustainability elements incorporated. 2. The Project, including Design Review, is consistent with the General Plan and the Gateway Specific Plan because the proposed research and development buildings and campus are consistent with the policies and design direction provided in the South San Francisco General Plan for the Business Commercial land use designation by encouraging the development of high technology campuses in the East of 101 Area. 3. The Project, including Design Review, is consistent with the applicable design guidelines adopted by the City Council in that the proposed Project is consistent with the Gateway Specific Plan District Standards included in Chapter 20.220. 4. The Project is consistent with the Master Plan and Precise Plan, as proposed for modification, for the reasons stated in Section B above. 5. The Project is consistent with the applicable design review criteria in Section 20.480.006 (“Design Review Criteria”) because the project has been evaluated against, and found to be consistent with, each of the eight design review criteria included in the “Design Review Criteria” section of the Ordinance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that subject to the Conditions of Approval, attached as Exhibit A to this resolution, the Planning Commission of the City of South San Francisco hereby makes the findings contained in this Resolution, and approves the Precise Plan (attached as Exhibit B) and Design Review. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption. * * * * * * * 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 August, 2020 by the following vote: AYES: Chair Wong, Vice-Chair Evans, Commissioner Faria, Commissioner Shihadeh, Commissioner Murphy, Commissioner Bernardo, Commissioner Tzang NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: RECUSE: Attest_/s/Sailesh Mehra__________ Secretary to the Planning Commission