HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-2025 PC Reso - 1341 San Mateo Ave (P24-0065; DR24-0026 & UP24-0004)City of South San Francisco
Resolution 1-2025
P.O. Box 711 (City Hall, 400
Grand Avenue)
South San Francisco, CA
File #:25-119 Agenda Date:2/20/2025
Version:1 Item #:2a
Resolution making findings and determining that the environmental effects of the construction of a three-story
personal storage building located at 1341 San Mateo Avenue, were sufficiently analyzed under the certified
2040 General Plan Environmental Impact Report and based on the Infill Checklist, no additional environmental
analysis is needed pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15162,
15168, 15183 and 15332.
WHEREAS, Buchanan Street Partners, LP (“Applicant”) has proposed construction of a 68,893-square-foot
building anticipated as personal storage use (“Project Site”); and
WHEREAS, the proposed Project is located within the Mixed Industrial High (“MIH”) Zoning District; and
WHEREAS, the Applicant seeks approval of Design Review (DR24-0026) and Conditional Use Permit (UP24-
0004) for the Project (P24-0065); and
WHEREAS, approval of the Applicant’s proposal is considered a “Project” for purposes of the California
Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §21000, et seq.) (“CEQA”); and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of South San Francisco (“City”) approved the City’s General Plan in
2022, 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 # 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 citywide; attached hereto as Exhibit 1; 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, Sections 15162 and 15168 of the CEQA Guidelines states that no subsequent EIR needs to be
prepared for a project where an EIR has previously been prepared unless the lead agency identifies subsequent
changes in circumstance that were identified and not previously analyzed or would create new significant
environmental effects; and
WHEREAS, in addition, Section 15183 of the CEQA Guidelines mandates that projects that are consistent with
the development density established by existing zoning, a community plan, or general plan policies for which
an EIR was certified shall not require additional environmental review, except as might be necessary to
examine whether there are project-specific significant effects that are peculiar to a project or its site; and
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File #:25-119 Agenda Date:2/20/2025
Version:1 Item #:2a
WHEREAS,CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 specifies that when reviewing a project that meets the
requirements of this section,a public agency shall limit its examination of environmental effects to those that
the agency determines in an environmental checklist or other analysis; and
WHEREAS,the City,in conjunction with an environmental consultant,Lamphier-Gregory,prepared an Infill
Checklist to provide substantial evidence that the proposed Project is within the scope of the previous
environmental analysis including General Plan EIR and Mitigation Monitoring Program and that the
subsequent CEQA analysis is not required for the Project; and
WHEREAS,as demonstrated through the Infill Checklist analysis of project impacts,there are no effects that
are peculiar to the project,or were not previously identified,or have become more adverse due to new,
previously unknown information,and no further environmental review would be required pursuant to Section
15183; and
WHEREAS,the Project is subject to CEQA streamlining pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183,which
allows for streamlined review for Infill projects consistent with the General Plan and Zoning; and
WHEREAS,as demonstrated by the Infill Checklist and technical analyses,the Project is categorically exempt
from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 as an Infill Development project; and
WHEREAS,the Planning Commission for the City of South San Francisco held a duly noticed public hearing
on February 20,2025 to consider the Infill Checklist attached hereto as Exhibit 2 and take public testimony;
and
WHEREAS,the Planning Commission has exercised its independent judgment and analysis,and considered all
reports, recommendations, and testimony before making a determination on the Project.
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 Environmental Consistency Analysis,as prepared by
Lamphier-Gregory,dated November 25,2024;the Project Plans dated November 8,2024,and all reports,
minutes,and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission’s duly noticed February 20,2025
meeting;and any other evidence (within the meaning of Public Resources Code Sections 21080(e)and
21082.2), the Planning Commission of the City of South San Francisco hereby finds as follows:
SECTION 1 FINDINGS
A.General
1.The foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this Resolution.
2.Exhibit 1 attached to this Resolution,the General Plan EIR and all related appendices,and the
Infill Checklist and supporting documents prepared by Lamphier-Gregory,dated November 25,
2024 (Exhibit 2)is 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
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File #:25-119 Agenda Date:2/20/2025
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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.California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
1.For the reasons stated in this Resolution,the Project is subject to CEQA streamlining and does
not require additional CEQA review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 as the Project is
consistent with a Community Plan,General Plan or Zoning because as supported by the findings of
the Infill Checklist which also serves as an Environmental Consistency Checklist:
a.The Project is consistent with the development density established by existing zoning,
General Plan designation,and General Plan policies for which the General Plan Program
EIR was certified.
b.There are no project-specific effects which are peculiar to the Project or the Project Site.
c.There are no project-specific impacts,which the General Plan Program EIR failed to
analyze as significant effects.
d.There are no potentially significant off-site and/or cumulative impacts which the General
Plan Program EIR failed to evaluate.
e.There is no substantial new information which results in more severe impacts than
anticipated by the General Plan Program EIR.
2.For the reasons stated in this Resolution,the Project is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to
CEQA Guidelines Section 15332: Class 32 as an infill development project because:
a.As described in the record,the Project is designed to be consistent with the City’s
General Plan, all applicable General Plan policies and zoning designations and regulations.
b.The Project will be located within the City’s limits,on a site of less than five acres and
will be surrounded by urban uses in a built-out environment.
c.The Project Site has no value as habitat for endangered,rare,or threatened species as it is
in a built-out environment and is currently disturbed as the site of an existing building and
parking lot.
d.As supported by the findings of the Infill Checklist,approval of the Project would not
result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality.
e.The Project can be adequately serviced by all required utilities and public services.
3.For the reasons stated in this Resolution,there is not substantial evidence in the record to
support a fair argument that approval of the Project will result in significant environmental effects
beyond those adequately evaluated and addressed by the General Plan Program EIR nor would the
Project require any new mitigation measures because:
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a.The Project does not propose substantial changes to the General Plan,which will require
major revisions of the General Plan EIR due to the involvement of new significant
environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified
significant effects;
b.No substantial changes have occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the
General Plan is undertaken which will require major revisions of the General Plan EIR due
to the involvement of new significant effects or a substantial increase in the severity of
previously identified significant effects;
c.No new information of substantial importance,which was not known and could not have
been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the time the General Plan Program
EIR was certified as complete, shows any of the following:
i.The Project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the General
Plan EIR;
ii.Significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than
shown in the previous EIR;
iii.Mitigation measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible would in
fact be feasible and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the
Project,but the Project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or
alternative; or
iv.Mitigation measures or alternatives which are considerably different from those
analyzed in the General Plan EIR would substantially reduce one or more significant
effects on the environment,but the Project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation
measure or alternative.
4.Based upon the testimony and information presented at the hearing and upon review and
consideration of the environmental documentation provided,including but not limited to the Infill
Checklist,as prepared by Lamphier-Gregory,and attached hereto as Exhibit 2,the Planning
Commission,exercising its independent judgment and analysis,finds that the Project is statutorily
and categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant CEQA Guidelines Section 15332:Class 32 and
subject to CEQA streamlining pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 and pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines Section 15168(c),the Project falls within the environmental parameters analyzed in the
General Plan EIR,and further finds that the Project 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 General Plan EIR certified by City Council nor would
new mitigation be required by the Project.These findings are supported by the fact that the Infill
Checklist analysis determined that the Project would not result in any new impacts not adequately
evaluated and addressed by the General Plan EIR and Statement of Overriding Considerations.
SECTION 2 DETERMINATION
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of the City of South San
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File #:25-119 Agenda Date:2/20/2025
Version:1 Item #:2a
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 determines that the environmental effects
of the proposed Project were sufficiently analyzed under the 2040 General Plan Environmental Impact Report
and no additional environmental analysis is needed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162,15168,
15183, and 15332.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and
adoption.
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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 20th day of February
2025 by the following:
vote:AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
Chair Faria, Vice Chair Funes-Ozturk, Baker, Pamukcu, Shihadeh, Tzang _
_____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Evans_____________________________________________