HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 135-2014 RESOLUTION NO. 135-2014
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS ADOPTING 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 held a duly noticed public hearing on November
20, 2014, to consider the IS/MND, including the comment letter submitted, and to take public
testimony, at the conclusion of which, the Planning Commission recommended that the City
Council adopt the IS/MND and approve the Project; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on December 10, 2014,
to consider the IS/MND, including the comment letter submitted, and take public testimony; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council 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 adopts 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 all reports and public testimony submitted as part of the City Council's duly noticed
public hearing on December 10, 2014, and City Council deliberations; and any other evidence
(within the meaning of Public Resources Code §21080(e) and §21082.2), the City Council 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 City Council 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 City Council, 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 City Council 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 City Council of the City of South San Francisco
hereby makes the findings contained in this Resolution, and adopts the IS/MND (ND 14-0002)
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 regularly introduced and adopted by
the City Council of the City of South San Francisco at a regular meeting held on the 10th day of
December, 2014 by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Pradeep Gupta, and Liza Normandy
Vice Mayor Mark N. Addiego and Mayor Richard A. Garbarino
NOES: Councilmember Karyl Matsumot
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
AT EST,!' --4LwAIIII 11/
...f's Mr. ' nelity Clerk
Exhibit A
Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration