HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Meeting 10-15-20 (Reso 2868-2020) - Genentech 2 RESOLUTION NO. 2868-2020
PLANNING COMMISSION, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL ADOPT THE GENENTECH 2020 MASTER PLAN UPDATE AND
ASSOCIATED ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE GENENTECH MASTER
PLAN ZONING DISTRICT (CHAPTER 20.260) OF THE SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
MUNICIPAL CODE; AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO AND GENENTECH, INC.
WHEREAS, in an effort to collaboratively craft a blueprint for the future of Genentech campus
development, the City of South San Francisco (“City”) and Genentech, Inc. (“Genentech”)
engaged with Lamphier Gregory Consultants to develop a master plan and environmental analysis
for the 207 acre campus; and
WHEREAS, the City and Genentech have prepared the Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update
(“2020 Master Plan”) to guide the development of the Genentech campus to create a vibrant, transit
supported, state of the art research, office, and manufacturing campus for the life sciences that
includes amendments to Chapter 20.260 of the South San Francisco Zoning Ordinance to ensure
consistency (“Zoning Text Amendment”); and
WHEREAS, the City and Genentech have drafted a Development Agreement to outline the
expectations and obligations of the 2020 Master Plan for a fifteen (15) year term in the
Development Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the City determined that an Environmental Impact Report was required to evaluate
the impacts of the proposed 2020 Master Plan and Zoning Text Amendment; and
WHEREAS, a Notice of Preparation was originally issued on May 24, 2017 and a draft
environmental impact report was prepared and circulated for public review from November 8,
2019 to December 23, 2019; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission participated in a joint study session with the City Council
on the 2020 Master Plan at a meeting on September 23, 2019, and held a duly noticed meeting
during the review period on December 19, 2019 to take public comment on the DEIR; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed and carefully considered the information in the
DEIR and FEIR (“EIR”), and by separate resolution, recommended that the City Council certify
the EIR; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed and carefully considered the proposed 2020
Master Plan and companion Zoning Text Amendment, and recommends that the City Council
adopt the 2020 Master Plan and Zoning Text Amendment; and
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, including all amendments
and updates thereto; the South San Francisco Municipal Code; the Genentech 2020 Master Plan
Update, prepared by Lamphier-Gregory; the draft Zoning Ordinance Amendment for Chapter
20.260 Genentech Master Plan Zoning District, the Genentech Campus Master Plan EIR, including
the Draft and Final EIR, and all appendices thereto; all reports, minutes, and public testimony
submitted as part of the City Council and Planning Commission Joint Study Session on September
23, 2019; all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning
Commission’s duly noticed December 19, 2019 meeting; all reports, minutes, and public testimony
submitted as part of the Planning Commission’s duly noticed October 15, 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:
SECTION 1 FINDINGS
I. 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 proposed Genentech 2020 Master
Plan (Exhibit Aa – Executive Summary; Exhibit Ab – Master Plan High Resolution;
Exhibit Ac – Master Plan Low Resolution), the proposed Genentech Master Plan Zoning
District Zoning Text Amendment Ordinance (Exhibit B), the proposed Development
Agreement Ordinance (Exhibit C), and the Draft Development Agreement (Exhibit Ca)
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 Chief Planner, Sailesh Mehra.
4. By separate Resolution, the Planning Commission, exercising its independent judgment
and analysis, has found that an EIR was prepared for the 2020 Master Plan in accordance
with CEQA, which EIR adequately discloses and analyzes the proposed 2020 Master
Plan's potentially significant environmental impacts, its growth inducing impacts, and its
cumulative impacts, and analyzed alternatives to the proposed 2020 Master Plan; the
Planning Commission has further found that the benefits of approving the 2020 Master
Plan outweigh the 2020 Master Plan's significant and unavoidable impact; accordingly,
the Planning Commission has recommended that the City Council certify the EIR for the
Plan and adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations, in accordance with CEQA
II. Master Plan Adoption Findings – MP17-0001
1. The Specific Plan, referenced as Exhibit A, implements and is consistent with the General
Plan, as proposed for amendment, because the Plan will reinforce many of the General Plan
policies related to employment land use, specifically pedestrian- and bicycle- friendly
infrastructure, infill development, and improved linkages to a transit center. Furthermore,
the 2020 Master Plan does not conflict with any specific plans, and will remain consistent
with the City’s overall vision for robust economic development, economic vitality, and
redevelopment in the East of 101 area. None of the new vision goals, guiding principles,
policies or land use designations will conflict with or impede achievement of any of the
goals, policies, or land use designations established in the General Plan;
2. The 2020 Master Plan will not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety,
convenience, or welfare of the City because the 2020 Master Plan would provide for
sufficient development, land use, and performance standards related to new development
or alteration. More specifically, the 2020 Master Plan includes guiding policies and design
standards to address land use and urban design, circulation and parking, and infrastructure
investment to remain consistent with the General Plan. Additionally, the 2020 Master Plan
will bolster the public interest by focusing new life sciences development in the existing
East of 101 biotechnology cluster, adjacent to transit service and on infill sites, as
recommended in the General Plan’s land use element and East of 101 planning sub-area;
3. The 2020 Master Plan area, as evaluated as part of both the CEQA process and analysis of
demographics, including anticipated population and employment growth, identifies the
employment districts as physically suitable for the proposed land use designation(s) and
the anticipated development since the area is well served by multi-modal transportation
options, private commuter shuttle options, existing infrastructure and utilities, and other
public services as identified for further investment as part of the 2020 Master Plan’s
implementation; and
4. The proposed 2020 Master Plan will be superior to development otherwise allowed under
conventional zoning classifications since the proposed 2020 Master Plan provides
additional development and design standards to promote high density, life sciences
development, and concurrently, proposes enhancements to circulation, parking, utilities,
and public services to accommodate anticipated growth within the employment districts.
III. Zoning Text Amendment Findings – ZA17-0004
1. Adoption of the proposed 2020 Master Plan will include amendments to Title 20 of the
South San Francisco Municipal Code, to ensure consistency and implement the 2020
Master Plan. The Zoning Ordinance will be amended to update site and design standards,
parking requirements consistent with Transportation Demand Management measures,
introduce the Trip Cap limitations, and expand administrative review of on-site signage,
special events and temporary or small projects.
2. The proposed Zoning Text Amendments are consistent with the adopted General Plan, as
proposed for amendment, because the Zoning Text Amendments will reinforce many of
the General Plan policies related to land use, economic development, and transportation.
Further the Zoning Text Amendments do not conflict with any specific plans, and will
remain consistent with the City’s overall vision for community development, economic
vitality, and redevelopment in the East of 101 subarea. None of the new or revised
definitions, tables, figures and land uses will conflict with or impede achievement of any
of the goals, policies, or land use designations established in the General Plan.
3. The Genentech Campus properties are suitable for the uses permitted in the proposed
Genentech Master Plan Zoning District in terms of access, size of parcel, relationship to
similar or related uses, and other considerations deemed relevant by the Planning
Commission and City Council because the introduction of the Zoning Text Amendments
will allow for successful development and land uses on the Genentech Campus. Although
specific parcels would be affected as part of the Zoning Text Amendments, the impact
would be beneficial since Genentech would have a wider set of standards to improve or
develop upon their property and new zoning regulations would guide the development and
performance of properties within the 2020 Master Plan area. Staff has determined that the
Zoning Text Amendments are consistent with General Plan policies, specifically those
policies related to economic development, economic vitality, transportation and
redevelopment in the employment districts.
4. The proposed Zoning Text Amendments with adoption of the 2020 Master Plan is not
detrimental to the use of land in any adjacent zone because the Zoning Text Amendments
would provide for sufficient development, land use, and performance standards related to
new commercial development or alteration. More specifically, the Zoning Text
Amendments include regulations to address multi-modal transportation infrastructure, life
science campus development and public open space, and community benefits to develop
and promote housing, transportation infrastructure, and open space. Finally, the proposed
Zoning Text Amendments will not be detrimental to the public interest, convenience, or
welfare of the City or land within the City; instead, the Zoning Text Amendments will
bolster the public interest by focusing new life science development in the East of 101
biotechnology core, as recommended in the General Plan’s land use element and East of
101 planning sub-area.
IV. Development Agreement Findings – DA20-0001
1. The Development Agreement is consistent with the objectives, policies, general land uses
and programs specified in the General Plan, 2020 Master Plan and East of 101 Area Plan
as it fulfills Genentech’s obligations to meet the policies of the 2020 Master Plan.
2. The Development Agreement is compatible with the uses authorized in, and the
regulations prescribed for the Genentech Master Plan Zoning District in which the real
property is located as it does not grant special provisions for Genentech and is primarily
intended to ensure compliance and community benefits for the City.
3. The Development Agreement is in conformity with public convenience, general welfare
and good land use practice as it will strengthen the future development and the Genentech
campus and fulfill community benefits for the City, including open space, transportation
infrastructure, and housing investment.
4. The Development Agreement will not be detrimental to the health, safety and general
welfare of the City as it will preserve the City abilities to manage the implementation of
the 2020 Master Plan and ensure compliance with the goals and visions set forth.
5. The Development Agreement will not adversely affect the orderly development of
property or the preservation of property valued as the Development Agreement will only
pertain to the Genentech campus and sets forth performance standards for orderly
development and redevelopment.
SECTION 2 RECOMMENDATION
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of the City
of South San Francisco hereby makes the findings contained in this Resolution, and recommends
that the South San Francisco City Council approve and adopt the Genentech 2020 Master Plan
attached as Exhibit Aa – Executive Summary; Exhibit Ab – Master Plan High Resolution;
Exhibit Ac – Master Plan Low Resolution, adopt an ordinance adopting the Genentech Master
Plan Zoning District Zoning Text Amendments attached as Exhibit B, and adopt an ordinance
adopting the Development Agreement between the City of South San Francisco and Genentech,
Inc., attached as Exhibit C.
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 15th day of October, 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