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Home My WebLink AboutPC Meeting 12-21-23 (Reso 2937-2023) - APN 015-171-999 adjacent to 140 Beacon St Ordinance (P22-0076; ZA22-0004)City of South San Francisco Resolution 2937-2023 P.O. Box 711 (City Hall, 400 Grand Avenue) South San Francisco, CA File #:23-1066 Agenda Date:12/21/2023 Version:1 Item #:3c. Resolution making findings and recommending that City Council adopt a South San Francisco Zoning Ordinance amendment to amend Section 20.360.004 to allow four digital billboards along the US 101 corridor. WHEREAS, on October 12, 2022, the City Council for the City of South San Francisco (“City”) adopted a comprehensive update to the City’s Zoning Ordinance, which repealed the then-existing Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code, and replaced it with an entirely new Title 20 that, among other actions, established new zoning districts, revised and reformatted many then-existing zoning provisions, eliminated inconsistent and outdated provisions, and codified entirely new zoning provisions, including new land use regulations and development standards (“Zoning Ordinance”); and WHEREAS, the City Council approved the City’s General Plan in 2022 including the 2040 General Plan Update, Zoning Code Amendments and Climate Action Plan (“2040 General Plan EIR”), which articulates the vision for growth and development throughout the east of 101 area as well as the entire City through 2040; and WHEREAS, the City Council certified an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) on October 12, 2022 (State Clearinghouse number 2021020064) in accordance with the provisions of CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines, which analyzed the potential environmental impacts of the development of the 2040 General Plan Update, Zoning Code Amendments and Climate Action Plan (“2040 General Plan EIR”) which analyzed the potential environmental impacts of the development east of 101; and WHEREAS, the City Council also adopted a Statement of Overriding Considerations (“SOC”) on October 12, 2022 in accordance with the provisions of CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines, which carefully considered each significant and unavoidable impact identified in the 2040 General Plan EIR and found that the significant environmental impacts are acceptable in light of the project’s social, economic and environmental benefits; and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted an Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration (“IS/MND”) on August 26, 2015 (State Clearinghouse number 2013062062) in accordance with the provision of CEQA and CEQA Guidelines, which analyzed the potential environmental impacts of billboards along the west side of U.S. Highway 101; and WHEREAS, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, an addendum to the IS/MND was prepared for the Outfront Media Digital Billboard Project (“2023 Addendum”) analyzing the potential impacts of billboards along the east side of U.S. Highway 101, which was considered and recommended to the City Council for approval by a separate resolution of the Planning Commission; and WHEREAS, Section 20.360.004(F)(7)(j) requires that digital billboards shall only be allowed in a City of South San Francisco Printed on 12/15/2023Page 1 of 5 powered by Legistar™ File #:23-1066 Agenda Date:12/21/2023 Version:1 Item #:3c. WHEREAS, Section 20.360.004(F)(7)(j) requires that digital billboards shall only be allowed in a nonresidential district south of Sister Cities Boulevard and north of the City’s southern boundary, and shall be located on parcels immediately adjacent to U.S. Highway 101 and shall not be allowed on parcels adjacent to San Bruno Mountain or in a location that significantly blocks views of San Bruno Mountain; and WHEREAS, Section 20.360.004(F)(7)(a) currently limits the number of digital billboards within the City to no more than three digital billboards, with two faces each, and only pursuant to the approval of a relocation agreement; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission desires to recommend that the City Council adopt an amendment to Section 20.360.004 of the South San Francisco Zoning Ordinance to allow four digital billboards along the US 101 corridor; and WHEREAS, the proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance as it relates to signage is minor in nature, the adoption of which would not result in any new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of any previously identified effects beyond those disclosed and analyzed in the 2040 General Plan EIR, 2015 IS/MND prepared and circulated for the siting of billboards along U.S. Highway 101, and 2023 Addendum; nor does the proposed amendment constitute a change in the project or change in circumstances that would require additional environmental review. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that based on the entirety of the Record before it, which includes without limitation, CEQA and CEQA Guidelines, 14 California Code of Regulations § 15000,et seq.; the South San Francisco General Plan and General Plan EIR, including all amendments and updates thereto; the South San Francisco Municipal Code, the draft Zoning Ordinance Amendment, the 2015 IS/MND and 2023 Addendum, and all appendices thereto, all reports, minutes and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission meeting of December 21, 2022, and any other evidence (within the meaning of Public Resources Code § 21080(e) and § 21082.2) (“Record”), the City of South San Francisco Planning Commission hereby finds as follows: SECTION I. FINDINGS. A.General Findings. 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this Resolution. 2. The Exhibit attached to this Resolution (Zoning Ordinance Amendment, Exhibit A) is incorporated by reference and made a part of this Resolution, as if set forth fully herein. 3. By separate Resolution, the Planning Commission, exercising its independent judgement and analysis, has recommended to the City Council that the 2023 Addendum to the 2015 IS/MND is the appropriate CEQA document. City of South San Francisco Printed on 12/15/2023Page 2 of 5 powered by Legistar™ File #:23-1066 Agenda Date:12/21/2023 Version:1 Item #:3c. 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 Chief Planner. B.Zoning Text Amendment Findings 1. The proposed zoning amendments are consistent with the adopted General Plan because they strengthen and promote economic development objectives and actively market South San Francisco. The proposed text amendments related to the regulation of the number of digital billboards permitted in the City along Highway 101 will remain consistent with the City’s General Plan vision for community and economic development and will not impede achievement of any of the goals, policies, or land use designations established in the General Plan. 2. The proposed zoning amendments related to the number of digital billboards allowed in the City would only affect properties in non-residential districts adjacent to U.S. Highway 101 and have been designed to be appropriate for surrounding uses. The proposed standards would generally be suitable in terms of architectural compatibility, consistency with area character, legibility, readability, finish and visibility, and other considerations deemed relevant by the Planning Commission and City Council because appropriate performance standards for digital billboards, including operational limitations related to static messages, maximum lighting levels, a requirement for a light sensing device that adjusts the sign brightness as ambient light conditions change, and location limitations, have been included and would be applied to projects on a case -by-case basis to minimize visual impacts. The suitability for the potential digital billboard sites was appropriately analyzed in the applicable environmental documents. 3. The proposed zoning amendments related to digital billboards would not result in any change of zoning districts and therefore would not be detrimental to the use of land in any adjacent zone. SECTION II. AMENDMENTS. The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council amends the following section of the South San Francisco Municipal Code to read as follows (with text in strikeout indicating deletion and double underline indicating addition). Sections and subsections that are not amended by this Ordinance are not included below, and shall remain in full force and effect. A. Amend Section 20.360.004(F)(7)(a) to allow four (instead of three) digital billboards along the US 101 corridor, as follows: 7.Digital Billboards. Digital Billboards are permitted pursuant to a relocation agreement under Section 20.360.002(A) above. Digital Billboards shall have the following operational City of South San Francisco Printed on 12/15/2023Page 3 of 5 powered by Legistar™ File #:23-1066 Agenda Date:12/21/2023 Version:1 Item #:3c. limitations: a.Maximum Number of Signs and Faces. Not more than three four digital billboards, with two faces each, may be allowed within the City, and must be pursuant to the approval of a relocation agreement under Section 20.360.003 <https://library.qcode.us/lib/south_san_francisco_ca/pub/municipal_code/lookup/20.360. (A) (“Permits Required; Review Process”). SECTION III.RECOMMENDATION. 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 an ordinance adopting the Zoning Ordinance Amendments, attached as Exhibit A. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption. City of South San Francisco Printed on 12/15/2023Page 4 of 5 powered by Legistar™ * * * * * * * City of South San Francisco Page 5 of 5 Attest:__________________________________ Adena Friedman Secretary to the Planning Commission 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 then 21st day of December, 2023 by the following: vote:AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Chair Tzang, Vice Chair Faria, Baker, Funes-Ozturk, , Shihadeh _____________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ _Evans, Pamukcu______________________________________________