HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Meeting 11-20-14 (Reso 2752-2014) - CEQA - Complete Streets GPARESOLUTION NO. 2752-2014
PLANNING COMMISSION, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE
INITIAL STUDY AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION FOR THE COMPLETE STREETS GENERAL
PLAN AMENDMENTS
WHEREAS, the City of South San Francisco (“City”) has prepared amendments to
the City’s General Plan related to Complete Streets policies (“Project”); and,
WHEREAS, the draft Complete Streets General Plan Amendments provides a
policy framework designed to support implementation of Complete Streets concepts,
including integrating Complete Streets infrastructure and design features into street design
and construction projects and to make Complete Streets practices a routine part of South
San Francisco’s everyday operations, and support the goals of Assembly Bill 32 and Senate
Bill 375; and,
WHEREAS, in accordance with CEQA, an initial study was performed, the result
of which was preparation and circulation of a mitigated negative declaration (“IS/MND”)
analyzing the proposed Project and concluding that approval of the Project could not have a
significant effect on the environment because the impacts of the Project could all be
mitigated to levels below established CEQA thresholds of significance with the adoption of
mitigation measures; and,
WHEREAS, the IS/MND was circulated for a 30-day public review period,
beginning on October 15, 2014, during which time members of the public were invited to
comment on the environmental analysis and conclusions for the proposed Project; and
WHEREAS, one comment letter was submitted, from the California Public Utilities
Commission Rail Crossings and Engineering Branch, which did not raise any significant
environmental issue or allege that the IS/MND was legally inadequate; and,
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has reviewed and carefully considered the
information in the IS/MND, including the comment letter submitted, and makes the
findings contained in this Resolution, and recommends that the City Council adopt the
IS/MND, as an objective and accurate document that reflects the independent judgment and
analysis of the City in the discussion of the Project’s environmental impacts.
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; the South San Francisco General Plan Update and General Plan Update
EIR; the South San Francisco Municipal Code; the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative
Declaration, prepared for the Project, including all written comments received; all reports,
minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission's duly noticed
public hearing on November 20, 2014; 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:
1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this
Resolution.
2. The IS/MND for the Project including all mitigation measures and comment
letter received, attached as Exhibit A to this Resolution, are incorporated by reference as
part of this Resolution, as if each were 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, Susy
Kalkin.
4. The proposed Project is consistent with the City of South San Francisco
General Plan (as proposed for amendment) because the land uses, development standards,
densities and intensities, buildings and structures proposed are compatible with the goals,
policies, and land use designations established in the General Plan (see Gov’t Code,
§ 65860), and none of the land uses, development standards, densities and intensities,
buildings and structures will operate to conflict with or impede achievement of the any of
the goals, policies, or land use designations established in the General Plan.
5. In accordance with CEQA, the Planning Commission has considered the
Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Project, including all comments
received on the IS/MND, and based on the entirety of the record, as described above, the
Planning Commission, exercising its independent judgment and analysis, makes the
following findings regarding the environmental analysis of the Project:
a. In October 1999, the City Council certified an Environmental
Impact Report for the General Plan; in 2001 the City Council certified a Supplemental
Environmental Impact Report for updates to the General Plan. CEQA allows for
streamlined approval of actions that are consistent with adopted General Plans for which an
EIR was certified. (Pub. Resources Code, § 21083; CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15152, 15183.)
An initial study was prepared for the proposed Project and a mitigated negative declaration
analyzed the potential for impacts that were peculiar to the Project or not analyzed as
significant impacts in the General Plan EIR, or Supplemental EIR. The IS/MND, which
expressly considers the City’s previous EIRs, concludes that approval of the Project will
not result in any significant environmental impacts.
b. Policies in the General Plan, as it has been amended from time to
time, and mitigation measures adopted as part of the General Plan EIR and Supplemental
EIR and General Plan Amendment EIR, and the IS/MND prepared for the Project, will
continue to operate to ensure the impacts of the General Plan and the proposed Project will
not exceed established CEQA thresholds of significance. Therefore, and as further
documented in the IS/MND for the Project, additional mitigation measures are not required
for the Project.
c. For the reasons stated in this Resolution, the Planning Commission
finds that there is no substantial evidence supporting a fair argument that approval of the
Project will result in a significant environmental effect.
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 the IS/MND for the Project.
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 the regular meeting held on the 20th day of November,
2014 by the following vote:
AYES: Chairperson Martin, Vice Chairperson Wong, Commissioner Giusti, Commissioner
Khalfin, Commissioner Ochsenhirt, Commissioner Ruiz and Commissioner Zemke
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
Attest: /s/Susy Kalkin
Susy Kalkin
Secretary to the Planning Commission
Exhibit A
Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration