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Home My WebLink AboutPC Meeting 02-21-19 (Reso 2842-2019) - 685 Gateway RESOLUTION NO. 2842-2019 PLANNING COMMISSION, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND DETERMINING THAT THE PRECISE PLAN MODIFICATION TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF AN AMENITY BUILDING AT 685 GATEWAY BOULEVARD IS FULLY WITHIN THE SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS IN THE 2000 MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION (MND) AND 2002 ADDENDUM, AND THAT THE 2018 ADDENDUM TO THE 2000 MND AND 2002 ADDENDUM IS THE APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT FOR THE PROJECT. WHEREAS, in 1999 the City of South San Francisco (“City”) approved a Precise Plan (PP-98- 093) and Variance (V-98-083) to construct a 14-story, 290,000 square-foot (sq. ft.) office building and four-story parking garage on the 611 and 681 Gateway Boulevard parcels; and WHEREAS, in 2000 the City of South San Francisco (“City”) adopted (1) the 611 and 681 Gateway Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) (State Clearinghouse No. 2000062080) (ND-00- 020) (“2000 MND”), (2) Precise Plan (PP-00-020), (3) Use Permit (UP-00-020), (4)Variance (V- 00-020), and (5) Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program, to modify the previous entitlements granted in 1999 to allow construction of an 11-story 265,081 gross sq. ft. office building (611 Gateway Blvd), a four-story 124,425 gross sq. ft. office building (681 Gateway Blvd), and a six-story parking garage with 1,750 parking spaces on the 611 and 681 Gateway Blvd parcels; and WHEREAS, in 2002 the City of South San Francisco (“City”) adopted an Addendum to the 611 and 681 Gateway MND (ND-00-020) (“2002 Addendum), and approved a modification to the Precise Plan (PP-00-020) to allow for a change in use for the 681 Gateway Blvd building from office to R&D; and WHEREAS, in August 2018 Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (“Owner” or “Applicant”) submitted an application requesting a Precise Plan Modification and Design Review to construct an amenity center building consisting of 15,500 gross sq. ft. and associated on-site improvements at 685 Gateway Blvd (“Project”), also known as the 681 Gateway Blvd parcel; 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 2000 MND and 2002 Addendum, which were adopted in accordance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code, §§ 21000, et seq., “CEQA”) and CEQA Guidelines, which analyzed the potential environmental impacts of the 2000 and 2002 project approvals; and WHEREAS, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, an addendum to the 2000 MND and 2002 Addendum was prepared for the Project (“2018 Addendum”) on the basis of substantial evidence; and WHEREAS, the 2018 Addendum concludes that (i) the implementation of a 15,500 gross sq. ft. amenity center building will not cause significant impacts, that it will not trigger any new or more severe significant environmental impacts than were studied in the previously certified 2000 MND and 2002 Addendum, and that no new significant information or substantial change in circumstances has come to light since the 2000 MND was certified that shows new or more severe significant impacts, and (ii) there are no newly feasible or substantially different mitigation measures that would substantially reduce significant environmental impacts, but which the Applicant declines to adopt; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission adopts the applicable Mitigation Measures identified under the 2000 MND and 2002 Addendum; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a properly noticed public hearing on March 7, 2019, at which time interested parties had the opportunity to be heard, to consider the Project and the 2018 Addendum, as well as supporting documents, prior to the Planning Commission making its decision on the Project; 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; 2000 MND and associated Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Programs; the 2002 Addendum to the 2000 MND; the 2018 Addendum to the 2000 MND and 2002 Addendum; the Project applications; the 611 and 681 Precise Plan Modification, as prepared by Gensler Architects, dated December 10, 2018; all site plans, and all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission’s duly noticed March 7, 2019 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 2000 MND (Exhibit A), 2000 Addendum (attached as Exhibit B), and the 2018 Addendum (attached as Exhibit C) 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. 4. The Project will not result in a safety hazard or noise problem for persons using the San Francisco International Airport or for persons residing or working in the Project area. B. CEQA Findings 1. The Planning Commission, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15164, subsection (d), has considered the entire record, including the 2018 Addendum prepared for the Project including the related environmental analysis, along with the previously certified 2000 MND and 2002 Addendum. 2. The Planning Commission considered all reports, recommendations, public comments, and testimony before making a determination on the Project and the 2018 Addendum reflects the Planning Commission’s independent judgment and analysis. 3. Upon consideration of the 2018 Addendum, the Planning Commission finds that the proposed Project will not result in any of the conditions identified in CEQA Guidelines section 15162 that would require further environmental review through preparation of a subsequent EIR. 4. The Project will not create any new significant impacts or substantially more severe impacts as compared to those already identified and analyzed in the 2000 MND and 2002 Addendum. Further, the Planning Commission finds that there is no new information of substantial importance and no substantially changed circumstances that demonstrate new or substantially more severe significant effects, as compared to those identified in the prior CEQA documents. Nor are there any newly feasible or substantially different mitigation measures that would substantially reduce significant environmental impacts of the Project but that the Applicant declines to adopt. 5. Accordingly, the Planning Commission finds that CEQA Guidelines section 15162 does not require any further CEQA review, and that the 2018 Addendum, prepared pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15164, is the appropriate environmental document for approval of the Project. 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 makes the determination that the 2018 Addendum is the appropriate environmental document for approval of the Project and no further environmental review is required. 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 21st day of February, 2019 by the following vote: AYES: Chairperson Murphy, Vice-Chair Wong, Commissioner Faria, Commissioner Shihadeh, Commissioner Evans, Commissioner Tzang NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Attest_/s/Sailesh Mehra__________ Secretary to the Planning Commission