HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Meeting 03-03-16 (Reso 2785-2016) - 475 Eccles - CEQA (2) RESOLUTION NO. 2785-2016
PLANNING COMMISSION, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDING THAT
THE CITY COUNCIL CERTIFY AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REPORT INCLUDING A STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING
CONSIDERATIONS AND MITIGATION MONITORING AND
REPORTING PROGRAM FOR THE 475 ECCLES AVENUE
OFFICE/RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CAMPUS PROJECT.
WHEREAS, BMR-475 Eccles Avenue LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company
(“Applicant”) owns property consisting of approximately six and one-tenth (6.1) acres located at
475 Eccles Avenue of the City of South San Francisco, San Mateo County, California, (“Project
Site”); and,
WHEREAS, Applicant desires to develop the 475 Eccles Avenue Office/Research and
Development Campus Project (“Project”) with an office/research and development (R&D)
campus and recreational open space uses; and,
WHEREAS, Applicant seeks approval of Use Permit, Design Review, a Preliminary
Transportation Demand Management (“TDM”) Plan, and a Development Agreement which
would authorize the construction of an office/R&D development at an FAR of 1.0 with up to a
total of 262,287 square feet, subject to the terms of the Project entitlements including the
proposed Development Agreement; and,
WHEREAS, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (Pub.
Resources Code, § 21000 et seq. [“CEQA”]) the City determined that an Environmental Impact
Report (“SEIR”) was required to evaluate the impacts of the proposed Project; and
WHEREAS, the City issued a Notice of Preparation on August 28, 2012; and
WHEREAS, the City prepared a Draft EIR, which was circulated for 45-day
public/agency review period from October 23, 2012 through December 7, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Notices of the Availability of the Draft EIR were published in the South San
Francisco Examiner, mailed to property owners within a 300-foot radius of the site, noticed to
local agencies and cities, and circulated through the State Clearinghouse; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed meeting during the review
period on December 6, 2012 to take public testimony on the Draft EIR; and
WHEREAS, the City prepared written responses to comments received on the Draft EIR
and prepared a Final EIR for circulation, which consists of the Draft EIR (incorporated by
reference), all comments received on the Draft EIR, written responses to comments received on
the Draft EIR, and revisions to the Draft EIR; and
WHEREAS, the Draft EIR reviewed and analyzed the potential environmental impacts of
the Project, including environmental impacts in the areas of Aesthetics; Air Quality; Biological
Resources; Cultural Resources; Geology & Soils; Hazards/Hazardous Materials; Hydrology and
Water Quality; Land Use and Planning; Noise; Population & Housing; Public Services;
Transportation and Circulation; Utilities/Service Systems; and cumulative impacts of the Project,
growth-inducing impacts of the Project, as well as potential Project Alternatives;
WHEREAS, where feasible, mitigation measures have been incorporated into the Project
to reduce identified impacts to a level of less than significant; and
WHEREAS, no feasible mitigation exists for certain significant and unavoidable
transportation impacts that would reduce the impacts to a less-than-significant level.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that based on the entirety of the record before
it, which includes without limitation, CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines, 14 California Code of
Regulations § 15000, et seq.; the South San Francisco General Plan and General Plan EIR; the
South San Francisco General Plan Update and General Plan Update EIR; the South San
Francisco Municipal Code; the Project applications; the 475 Eccles Avenue Project Plans, as
prepared by CAS Architects, Inc., dated September 19, 2014; the Preliminary Transportation
Demand Management Plan, as prepared by Fehr & Peers, dated January 2016; the 477 Eccles
Avenue EIR, including the Draft and Final EIR and all appendices thereto; all site plans, and all
reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission's duly
noticed meeting on March 3, 2016; and any other evidence (within the meaning of Public
Resources Code §21080(e) and §21082.2) (“Record”), the City of South San Francisco City
Council hereby finds as follows:
1. The foregoing Recitals are true and correct and made a part of this Resolution.
2. The exhibits and attachments, including the Environmental Impact Report including the
Draft EIR and Final EIR (attached as Exhibit A), the CEQA Findings including Statement of
Overriding Considerations (attached as Exhibit B), and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting
Program (attached as Exhibit C), 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. Based on the Planning Commission’s independent judgment and analysis, the Planning
Commission recommends that the City Council make the findings regarding the Project's
significant and unavoidable impacts, potentially significant impacts, and less than significant
impacts; makes the findings regarding the proposed mitigation measures, and the Project
alternatives; and adopts the Statement of Overriding Considerations, finding that the benefits of
the Project outweigh the Project’s significant and unavoidable environmental impacts, for the
reasons, and as further set forth in Exhibit B, attached hereto and incorporated by reference.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of the City of South San
Francisco hereby recommends that the City Council certify EIR12-0001 attached as Exhibit A,
and adopt the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, attached as Exhibit C.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 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 the regular meeting held on the 3rd day of March, 2016 by the
following vote:
AYES: Chairperson Khalfin, Vice Chairperson Faria, Commissioner Martin,
Commissioner Nagales, Commissioner Ruiz, and Commissioner Wong.
NOES: _________________________
ABSTENTIONS:_______________________________________________________________
ABSENT:____________________________________________________
Attest:________/s/Sailesh Mehra______________
Secretary to the Planning Commission
Exhibit A
Environmental Impact Report
[Draft Environmental Impact Report Previously Circulated, available online at
http://weblink.ssf.net/weblink/0/doc/133212/Page1.aspx;
Final Environmental Impact Report Attached]
Exhibit B
CEQA Findings Including Statement of Overriding Considerations
Exhibit C
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program