HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Meeting 03-14-11 (Reso 2701-2011) - Oyster Point - CEQA
RESOLUTION NO.2701-2011
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 OYSTER POINT SPECIFIC
PLAN AND PHASE I PROJECT
WHEREAS, Oyster Point Ventures, LLC (“OPV”), a joint venture between Shorenstein
Properties and SKS Investments LLC, owns property commonly known as the Oyster Point Business
Park, and located at the terminus of Oyster Point Boulevard; and the City of South San Francisco
(“City”) owns property commonly known as the Oyster Point Marina Property, adjacent to the Oyster
Point Business Park; and
WHEREAS, OPV and the City (collectively, “the Parties”) desire to redevelop the Oyster Point
Business Park and the Oyster Point Marina Property (collectively, “Project Site”) with an office/R&D
life sciences campus, commercial, hotel, recreational, and public open space uses; and
WHEREAS, to this end, OPV has submitted an application seeking approval of a General Plan
Amendment, Redevelopment Plan Amendment, Zoning Text Amendment (to adopt the Oyster Point
Specific Plan), Zoning Map Amendment (to rezone), a Phase 1 Precise Plan, Design Review, a
Preliminary Transportation Demand Management (“TDM”) Plan, a Development Agreement, and a
Disposition and Development Agreement which would adopt the “Oyster Point Specific Plan” and
collectively authorize the phased removal and replacement of certain existing buildings on the Project
Site, and phased construction of an office/R&D development at an FAR of 1.25 up to a total of
2,254,230 square feet on the western portion of the Project Site, including a “Phase I” development
consisting of grading and refuse relocation for the initial 508,000 square feet office/R&D in three
buildings of up to ten stories and a parking structure, and public amenities including creation of
waterfront open space, a promenade along the realigned Oyster Point and Marina Boulevards,
construction of a flexible-use recreation area, grading and site preparation of the future hotel parcel, as
well as realignment, reconfiguration, replacement, and improvement to existing roadways and
infrastructure to facilitate the development, subject to the terms of the Project entitlements including the
proposed Development Agreement (“Project”); 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 (“EIR”)
was required to evaluate the impacts of the proposed Project; and
WHEREAS, the City issued a Notice of Preparation was issued on February 24, 2010; and
WHEREAS, the City prepared a Draft EIR, which was circulated for 45-day public/agency
review period from January 25, 2011 through March 10, 2011; and
WHEREAS, Notices of the Availability of the Draft EIR were published in the San Mateo
Times, 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
February 17, 2011 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 Environmental Impact Report reviewed and analyzed the potential
environmental impacts of the Project, including environmental impacts in the areas of Aesthetics,
including the visual character of the proposed Project, including light and glare; Air Quality, including
construction dust; Biological Resources; Cultural Resources; Geology & Soils, including ground
shaking, soil stability, landslides, lateral spreading, liquefaction and expansive soils; Greenhouse Gas
Emissions and climate change related impacts; Hazards/Hazardous Materials; Hydrology and Water
Quality; Land Use and Planning; Noise; Population, Public Services, and Recreation; Transportation and
Circulation; Utilities; 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 air quality,
greenhouse gas, noise, and 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 Redevelopment Plan for the Downtown/Central
Redevelopment Project Area and the related EIR; the South San Francisco Municipal Code; the Project
applications; the Oyster Point Specific Plan and Phase I Precise Plan, as prepared by Perkins + Will,
dated February 23, 2011; the Oyster Point Specific Plan Appendix & Design Guidelines, prepared by
Perkins + Will, dated February 23, 2011; the Preliminary Transportation Demand Management Plan, as
prepared by HDR, dated February 23, 2011; the Oyster Point Specific Plan and Phase I Project 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 meetings on February 3,
2011, February 17, 2011, March 3, 2011, and March 14, 2011; 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 Ordinance.
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, Susy Kalkin.
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 EIR09-0001 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 a special meeting of the Planning Commission, held on the14th day of March,
2011 by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Giusti, Commissioner Ochsenhirt, Commissioner Prouty, Commissioner
Sim, Vice Chairperson Zemke and Chairperson Gupta
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: Commissioner Martin
ABSENT: None
ATTEST:
Commission Secretary
Susy Kalkin
Secretary to the Planning Commission
Exhibit A
Environmental Impact Report
[Draft Environmental Impact Report Previously Circulated;
Final Environmetnal Impact Report Attached]
Exhibit B
CEQA Findings Including Statement of Overriding Considerations
Exhibit C
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program