HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Meeting 11-18-10 (Reso 2697-2010) - Bikeways CEQA
RESOLUTION NO. 2697-2010
PLANNING COMMISSION, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDING
ADOPTING THE INITIAL STUDY AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION FOR THE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND
ADOPTION OF THE BICYCLE MASTER PLAN
WHEREAS, pursuant to General Plan policy 4.3-I-1, the City and the City’s consultant have
prepared a draft Bicycle Master Plan that identifies new bicycle facilities, routes, lanes and paths, and
related improvements to be constructed, and adoption and implementation of the Bicycle Master Plan
will require minor amendments to the General Plan’s Transportation Element (“Project”); 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 measure and enforcement of such measures
through a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (“MMRP”); and,
WHEREAS, the IS/MND was circulated for a 30-day public review period, beginning on July
22, 2010, during which time members of the public were invited to comment on the environmental
analysis and conclusions for the proposed Project; and
WHEREAS, only one comment letter was submitted, from the California Department of
Transportation, which identified the need to work with the Department on any improvements to state
highways, but 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 all comment letters 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 1999 General Plan and General Plan Environmental Impact Report,
including the 2001 updates to the General Plan and 2001 Supplemental Environmental Impact Report;
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 18, 2010; 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 comment letters received, attached as Exhibit A to
this Resolution, and the MMRP, attached as Exhibit B 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, as well as the policies of the Bicycle Master Plan, and the IS/MND prepared for the
Bicycle Master Plan, 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 (ND10-0001).
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 18th day of November, 2010 by the following
vote:
Ayes: Commissioner Giusti, Commissioner Gupta, Commissioner Moore, Commissioner
Ochsenhirt, Commissioner Zemke, Vice Chairperson Bernardo and Chairperson Prouty
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
Attest:__________________________________
Susy Kalkin
Secretary to the Planning Commission
Exhibit A
Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
Exhibit B
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
1510481.1