HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 15-2015 RESOLUTION NO. 15-2015
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND APPROVING
THE DOWNTOWN STATION AREA SPECIFIC PLAN AND
THE RELATED GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS.
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of
Bay Area Governments (ABAG) started the FOCUS Program in 2007 to work with local
governments to create Priority Development Areas (PDA) where locally-identified, infill
development opportunities can offer services and amenities to meet the day-to day needs of
residents in a pedestrian-friendly environment served by transit; and
WHEREAS, on July 8, 2009, the City Council for the City of South San Francisco
("City") supported the designation of the Downtown area as a PDA to continue building on the
City's transit-oriented planning; and
WHEREAS, the City identified an opportunity to analyze the potential for new
commercial development and residential housing in the Downtown area ("Downtown") in
support of transit ridership; and
WHEREAS the City was awarded a grant by MTC and ABAG in February of 2012 in
support of this goal; and
WHEREAS, future development adjacent to multiple transportation options is consistent
with the policies of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Assembly Bill 32),
and the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (State Bill 375) to
coordinate development with transportation investments to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions;
and
WHEREAS, analysis of future change and improvements to the Downtown and adjoining
areas could provide a framework for accommodating projected population growth and housing
demand for the City; and
WHEREAS, in an effort to collaboratively craft a blueprint for Downtown development,
the City initiated a community input process that included public meetings and analysis with
residents,business owners, commercial developers, interest groups and advocates; and
WHEREAS, the draft Downtown Station Area Specific Plan ("Plan") builds on other
recent planning efforts, including the Climate Action Plan, Bicycle Master Plan, and Pedestrian
Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, over the course of two years, there have been three formal community
workshops for draft plan input and revisions, meetings with the Citizens Advisory Committee
and Technical Advisory Committee for comments, and a public open house event to present the
draft Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City has utilized the expertise of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Committee, Parking Place Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning
Commission and City Council for review and comments on the Downtown Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City has prepared amendments to the City's General Plan
("Amendments") to modify Chapter sections, including text, tables, and figures, to remain
consistent with adoption of the Plan; and
WHEREAS, cumulatively, the Plan and the Amendments provide a policy framework for
future development in the City's downtown area; and
WHEREAS, the City prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report ("DEIR") for the
South San Francisco Downtown Station Area Specific Plan; and
WHEREAS, the DEIR was circulated for the required 45-day public comment period on
October 10, 2014 and ended on November 24, 2014 at 5:00pm; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a lawfully noticed public hearing on
November 6, 2014 to solicit public comment on the DEIR; and
WHEREAS, three (3) oral and six (6) written comments were received on the document
and a Final Environmental Impact Report/Response to Comments ("FEIR") was prepared; and
WHEREAS, on January 8, 2015 the Planning Commission for the City of South San
Francisco held a lawfully noticed public hearing to solicit public comment and consider the
information in the DEIR and FEIR ("EIR"), take public testimony, and by resolution,
recommended that the City Council certify the EIR and adopt a statement of overriding
considerations; and
WHEREAS, on January 8, 2015 the Planning Commission for the City of South San
Francisco held a lawfully noticed public hearing to solicit public comment and consider the Plan
and Amendments, take public testimony, and made a recommendation to the City Council to
adopt the Plan and Amendments; and
WHEREAS, on January 28, 2015, the City Council for the City of South San Francisco
held a lawfully noticed public hearing to solicit public comment and consider the proposed Plan
and Amendments; and
WHEREAS, as required by State law and the South San Francisco Municipal Code, the
City Council has independently reviewed the Plan, Amendments, and the EIR, and makes the
findings contained herein in support of the Specific Plan and General Plan Amendments.
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,
including all amendments and updates thereto; the South San Francisco Municipal Code; the
draft South San Francisco Downtown Station Area Specific Plan, prepared by BMS Design
Group; the draft South San Francisco Downtown Station Area Specific Plan General Plan
Amendment, prepared by BMS Design Group; the draft South San Francisco Downtown Station
Area Specific Plan Zoning Map and Zoning Ordinance Amendment, the South San Francisco
Downtown Station Area Specific Plan EIR, including the Draft and Final EIR, and all appendices
thereto; all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the City Council and
Planning Commission Joint Study Session on October 15, 2014; all reports, minutes, and public
testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission's duly noticed November 6, 2014
meeting; all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning
Commission's duly noticed December 18, 2014 meeting; all reports, minutes, and public
testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission's duly noticed January 8, 2015 meeting;
all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the City Council's duly noticed
January 28, 2015 meeting; 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:
SECTION 1 FINDINGS
I. General Findings
1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this Resolution.
2. The Exhibits attached to this Resolution, including the proposed Downtown Station Area
Specific Plan (Exhibit A), and the proposed Downtown Station Area Specific Plan
General Plan Amendments (Exhibit B) 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. By separate Resolution,the City Council, exercising its independent judgment and
analysis,has found that an EIR was prepared for the Plan in accordance with CEQA,
which EIR adequately discloses and analyzes the proposed Plan's potentially significant
environmental impacts, its growth inducing impacts, and its cumulative impacts, and
analyzed alternatives to the proposed Plan; the City Council has further found that the
benefits of approving the Plan outweigh the Plan's significant and unavoidable impacts;
accordingly, the City Council certifies the EIR for the Plan and adopts a statement of
overriding considerations, in accordance with CEQA.
II. Specific Plan Adoption Findings
1. The Specific Plan, referenced as Exhibit A, implements and is consistent with the
General Plan, as proposed for amendment, because the Plan will reinforce many of the
General Plan policies related to land use, specifically pedestrian-friendly mixed-use, infill
development, and improved linkages to a transit center. Furthermore, the Plan does not
conflict with any specific plans, and will remain consistent with the City's overall vision
for community development, economic vitality, and redevelopment in the downtown.
None of the new vision goals, guiding principles, policies or new land use designations
will conflict with or impede achievement of any of the goals, policies, or land use
designations established in the General Plan;
2. The Specific Plan will not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety,
convenience, or welfare of the City because the Plan would provide for sufficient
development, land use, and performance standards related to new development or
alteration. More specifically, the Plan includes guiding policies and design standards to
address land use and urban design, circulation and parking, and public infrastructure
investment to remain consistent with the General Plan. Additionally, the Plan will further
the public interest by focusing new commercial and residential development in the
downtown core, adjacent to transit service and on infill sites, as recommended in the
General Plan's land use element and Downtown planning sub-area;
3. The Specific Plan area, as evaluated as part of both the CEQA process and analysis of
demographics, including anticipated population and employment growth, identifies the
downtown districts as physically suitable for the proposed land use designation(s) and the
anticipated development since the area is well served by multi-modal transportation
options, existing infrastructure and utilities, and other public services as identified for
further investment as part of the Plan's implementation; and
4. The proposed development will be superior to development otherwise allowed under
conventional zoning classifications since the proposed Plan provides additional
development and design standards to promote higher density, mixed-use and commercial
development, and concurrently, proposes enhancements to circulation, parking, utilities,
and public services to accommodate anticipated growth within the downtown districts.
III. General Plan Amendments Findings
1. As described in Exhibits A and B, adoption of the proposed Plan will include
amendments to the Land Use, Planning Sub-Areas, and Transportation Elements of the
South San Francisco General Plan. The amendments would include changes to the
intensity of existing land use designations, although the changes would be consistent with
the General Plan policies and designations to promote infill construction, mixed-use
development, and pedestrian, bicycle and transit connection improvements. The
amendments are primarily intended as minor alterations to the General Plan related to
anticipated increases in population, jobs, and development related to the Downtown
Station Area Specific Plan; and
2. As required under State law, the South San Francisco General Plan, and the South San
Francisco Municipal Code, in support of the General Plan Amendments, the City Council
finds that the proposed General Plan Amendments are otherwise consistent with the
South San Francisco General Plan, do not obstruct or impede achievement of any General
Plan policies, and furthers a number of important Guiding and Implementing Policies set
forth in the Land Use, Planning Sub-Areas, and Transportation Elements, including
without limitation:
Guiding Policy 2-G-2: "Maintain a balanced land use program that provides opportunities
for continued economic growth, and building intensities that reflect South San
Francisco's prominent inner bay location and excellent regional access."
Guiding Policy 2-G-5: "Maintain Downtown as the City's physical and symbolic center,
and a focus of residential, commercial, and entertainment activities."
Guiding Policy 3.1-G-1: "Promote Downtown's vitality and economic well-being, and its
presence as the city's center."
Guiding Policy 3.1-G-2: "Encourage development of Downtown as a pedestrian-friendly
mixed-use activity center with retail and visitor-orientated uses, business and personal
services, government and professional offices, civic uses, and a variety of residential
types and densities."
Guiding Policy 3.1-G-3: "Promote infill development, intensification, and reuse of
currently underutilized sites."
Guiding Policy 3.1-G-4: "Enhance linkages between Downton and transit centers, and
increased street connectivity with the surrounding neighborhoods."
The Downtown Station Area Specific Plan, including the proposed General Plan
Amendments, furthers these policies and is therefore consistent with the City's General
Plan (as proposed for amendment).
SECTION 2 RECOMMENDATION
NOW, THEREFORE, 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
Downtown Station Area Specific Plan attached as Exhibit A, and the Downtown Station Area
Specific Plan General Plan Amendments attached as Exhibit B.
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 28 day of
January, 2015 by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Karyl Matsumoto, Pradeep Gupta, and Liza Normandy
Vice Mayor Mark N. Addiego and Mayor Richard A. Garbarino
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
ATTE /�_
�'i"rtaa •a nelli, CityMClerk
EXHIBIT A
DOWNTOWN STATION AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
SP 14-0001
The Public Review Draft of the Downtown Station Area Specific Plan has been previously
distributed to the City Council and is available online at:
http://www.ssfdowntownplan.org/background/.
The errata sheet recommending changes to the Downtown Station Area Specific Plan is also
incorporated as part of Exhibit A and attached.
EXHIBIT B
PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
GPA 11-0003