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Home My WebLink AboutReso 53-2010RESOLUTION NO. 53-2010 CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO STATE OF CALIFORNIA A RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND ADOPTING THE INITIAL STUDY AND NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE MID PENINSULA HOUSING COALITION PROJECT AT 636 EL CAMINO REAL. WHEREAS, the Mid Peninsula Housing Coalition ("Mid Pen") has submitted an application for amixed-use affordable housing project on an approximately two-acre lot located at 636 El Camino Real, which will consist of four two- to five-story buildings with up to 109 residential rental units and approximately 5,000 square feet of commercial/retail space on the ground floor, along El Camino Real ("Project"); and, WHEREAS, approval of Mid Pen's proposal is considered a "project," as that term is defined under the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code Sections 21000, et seq. ("CEQA"); and, WHEREAS, in accordance with CEQA, an initial study was performed, the result of which was preparation and circulation of a negative declaration analyzing the proposed Project and concluding that approval of the Project could not have a significant effect on the environment because none of the impacts required to be analyzed under CEQA would. exceed established thresholds of significance ("IS/ND"); and, WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 4321, et seq., "NEPA") and the Housing and Urban. Development federal regulations, an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact were also prepared; and, WHEREAS, the IS/ND was provided to the State Clearinghouse and. circulated fora 30- day public review period, beginning on Apri120, 2010, during which time members of the public were invited to comment on the environmental analysis and conclusions for the proposed Project; and, WHEREAS, five comment letters were submitted on the IS/ND, from the Department of Transportation, San Francisco International Airport, Department of Toxic Substances Control, C/CAG, and the California Energy Commission; none of which letters raised a significant environmental issue or alleged that the IS/ND was legally inadequate; and, WHEREAS, the City Council and the Planning Commission have each held a study session to review and provide input on the project, and on June 3, 2010, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing to take public comment and consider action on the IS/ND, at which meeting the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council adopt the IS/ND 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; and, WHEREAS, on June 23, 2010, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing to take public comment and consider action on the IS/ND; and., WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed and carefully considered the information in the IS/ND, including all comment letters submitted, and makes the findings contained in this Resolution, and adopts the IS/ND, 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 2010 South El Camino Real General Plan Amendment and related zoning and design guidelines, including the Environmental Impact Report prepared for the Amendment; the South San Francisco Municipal Code, including the recently adopted Chapter 20.25, "El Camino Real Mixed-Use District"; the Initial Study and Negative Declaration, and Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact, prepared for the Project, including all written comments received; all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Design Review Board meeting held on June 16, 2009; all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the City Council's study session held on August 19, 2009; all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission's study session held on January 21, 2010; all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission's duly noticed public hearing on June 3, 2010; all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the City Council's duly noticed public hearing on June 23, 2010; 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/ND for the Project including comment letters received, attached as Exhibit A to this Resolution, is incorporated by reference as 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. The proposed Project is consistent with the City of South San Francisco General Plan 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), including those recently adopted as part of the South El Camino Real General Plan Amendment (City Council Resolution No. 31-2010), 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 Negative Declaration for the Project, including all comments received on the IS/ND, 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; and in 2010 the City Council certified an Environmental Impact Report for the South El Camino Real General Plan Amendment and related zoning and design guidelines. 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 negative declaration analyzed the potential for impacts that were peculiar to the Project or not analyzed as significant impacts in the General Plan EIR, Supplemental EIR, or South El Camino Real General Plan Amendment EIR. The IS/ND, 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, Supplemental EIR and General Plan Amendment EIR, 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/ND 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/ND for the Project (ND09-0002). 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 ado~ted by the City Council of the City of South San Francisco at a regular meeting held on the 23r day of June, 2010 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Pedro Gonzalez, Richard A. Garbarino, and Karyl Matsumoto, NOES: Vice Mayor Kevin Mullin and Mayor Mark Addie~o ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: ATTEST: Exhibit A Initial Study and Negative Declaration For the Mid Peninsula Housing Coalition Project (636 El Camino Real)