HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Meeting 08-17-17 (Reso 2805-2017) - 249-279 E. Grand RESOLUTION NO. 2805-2017
PLANNING COMMISSION, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL MAKE A DETERMINATION THAT THE REVISED 249-279 EAST GRAND
AVENUE PROJECT (UPM17-0004) IS FULLY WITHIN THE SCOPE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AS DESCRIBED IN THE 2005 ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT REPORT (EIR) (EIR5-0001) AND THAT THE 2017 ADDENDUM IS THE
APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT FOR THE PROJECT
WHEREAS, in 2006, the City of South San Francisco (“City”) adopted (1) Ordinance No. 1372-
2006 approving a development agreement with Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
(“Applicant”), (2) Resolution No. 53-2006 approving a Use Permit, Design Review, and
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program, and certifying the 2005 Environmental
Impact Report (“2005 EIR”) (State Clearinghouse No 2005042121) for the construction of four
Research & Development/office buildings, a parking garage, surface parking, and related
improvements on an approximately 15.75-acre site located at 249-279 East Grand Avenue
("Project" or "249 East Grand Avenue Project"); and
WHEREAS, applicant proposes to increase Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for the Project from 0.75 to
0.85 by increasing the size of the fourth (4th) building by 69,059 square feet (sq. ft.) to a total
building square footage of 202,260 and the height from four (4) to six (6) stories, and requests a
parking reduction to 2.17 parking spaces/ 1,000 sq. ft. for the Project in the Business and
Technology Park (BTP) Zoning District, which requires approval of a Development Agreement
Amendment, Use Permit modification, Transportation Demand Management Plan, and Design
Review; and
WHEREAS, the Design Review Board reviewed the Project at its April 18, 2017 meeting, and
strongly recommended approval of the Project; and
WHEREAS, environmental analysis for the proposed Project was conducted, which concluded
that the environmental effects associated with construction and operation of the revised Project
are fully within the scope of the environmental analysis conducted in the 2005 EIR, such that the
Project does not meet the criteria under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Guidelines Sections 15164 or 15162 justifying preparation of a subsequent EIR and thus, an
addendum is the appropriate environmental document for the Project; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, an addendum to the 2005 EIR was
prepared for the Project (“2017 Addendum”), which along with the 2005 EIR is attached hereto
and incorporated herein as Exhibit A and Exhibit B, respectively; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a properly noticed public hearing on August 17,
2017, at which time interested parties had the opportunity to be heard, to review the Project and
the 2017 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. 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; 2005 EIR, and associated Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting
Programs and Statement of Overriding Considerations; all site plans, and all reports, minutes,
and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission’s duly noticed August 17,
2017 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. Exhibit A (2017 Addendum) and Exhibit B (2005 EIR) attached to this Resolution, and
the associated Statement of Overriding Considerations and its adopting resolution, are
incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein and all findings contained within those
documents are also incorporated 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. CEQA Findings
1. The Planning Commission, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15164, subsection (d),
has considered the 2017 Addendum prepared for the Project including the related environmental
analysis, along with the previously certified 2005 EIR.
2. Upon consideration of the 2017 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.
3. The Project will not create any new significant impacts or substantially more severe
impacts as compared to those already identified and analyzed in the 2005 EIR. Further, the
Planning Commission finds that there is no new information of substantial importance that
demonstrates new or substantially more severe significant effects, as compared to those
identified in the prior CEQA documents. Nor are any new or additional mitigation measures
required to mitigate any impacts of the Project.
4. Accordingly, the Planning Commission finds that CEQA Guidelines section 15162 does
not require any further CEQA review, and that the 2017 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
recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution making a determination that the revised
Project is fully within the scope of the environmental analysis as described in the 2005
Environmental Impact Report and the 2017 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 17th day of August, 2017 by the
following vote:
AYES: Chairperson Faria, Vice Chairperson Nagales, Commissioner Wong, Commissioner
Shihadeh, Commissioner Ruiz, Commissioner Murphy
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:_______________________________________________________________
ABSENT: Commissioner Tzang
Attest_/s/Sailesh Mehra__________
Secretary to the Planning Commission