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Resolution making findings and a determination that the environmental effects of the proposed Genentech Research and Early Development Center and other Phase 1 Redevelopment Projects on the Genentech Campus were sufficiently analyzed under the Genentech Campus Master Plan Implementation: Phase 1 Redevelopment Projects CEQA Checklist and no new environmental document is needed per CEQA Guidelines sections 15162, 15164, 15168 and 15183.
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WHEREAS, in 2020 the City of South San Francisco (“City”) adopted (1) Resolution No. 169-2020 certifying the Environmental Impact Report, including adoption of the Statement of Overriding Considerations and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, for the Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update (State Clearinghouse No. 2017052064, (2) Resolution No. 170-2020 adopting the Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update, and (3) Ordinance No. 1614-2020 amending Chapter 20.260 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code related to the Genentech Master Plan Zoning District; and
WHEREAS, in 2025 the City adopted Resolution No. 85-2025 approving an Addendum to the Genentech Master Plan EIR analyzing the potential effects associated with the transfer of ownership of the specific road rights-of-way within the Genentech Campus boundaries to Genentech and Genentech’s proposed rezoning of properties to the Genentech Master Plan Zoning District; and
WHEREAS, the Genentech 2020 Master Plan guides the development of the Genentech campus over a period of fifteen (15) years to create a vibrant, transit supported, state of the art research, office, and manufacturing campus for the life sciences; and
WHEREAS, in 2022 the City adopted (1) Resolution No. 177-2022 certifying the Environmental Impact Report, including adoption of the Statement of Overriding Considerations and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, for the 2040 General Plan Update, Zoning Code Amendments and Climate Action Plan (“SSF 2040 General Plan EIR”) (State Clearinghouse No. 2021020064), (2) Resolution No. 178-2022 adopting the 2040 General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Update, and (3) Ordinance No. 1646-2022 repealing certain sections of Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code and adopting the Zoning Ordinance Update, including a new Title 20 and Zoning Map; and
WHEREAS, the 2040 General Plan Update reflects the community’s vision and looks to continue to promote the expansion of an innovation district with research and development uses in the northern portion of the East of 101 area, including the Genentech campus; and
WHEREAS, Genentech, Inc. (“Owner” or “Applicant”) submitted an application requesting environmental clearance of Genentech’s Campus Master Plan Implementation - Phase 1 Redevelopments Projects, which includes the Genentech Research and Early Development (“gRED”) Center, Pharma Technical Operations, Arrivals Building and Central Plaza, Logistics Center, Electrical Substation and PG&E Transmission Line, and Parking Structure North (“Phase 1 Redevelopment Projects”), as well as Conditional Use Permit, Design Review and Tentative Map approval for construction of the gRED Center Project; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Phase 1 Redevelopment Projects are located within the Genentech Master Plan (“GMP”) zoning district; and
WHEREAS, the applicant seeks approval of a Conditional Use Permit (UP26-0001), Design Review (DR26-0003) and Tentative Map (PM26-0012) for the gRED Center Project; and
WHERAS, approval of entitlements for other Phase 1 projects will require future applications, and Planning Commission review and approval at public hearings; 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 Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update EIR and the SSF 2040 General Plan EIR (“Prior EIRs”) were certified in accordance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code, §§ 21000, et seq., “CEQA”) and CEQA Guidelines, which analyzed the potential environmental impacts of the Project; and
WHEREAS, CEQA Guidelines Section 15168(c) provides that a program EIR may be used to analyze later activities in the program, and if the agency finds that no new effects could occur or no new mitigation measures would be required, the agency can approve the activity as being within the scope of the project covered by the program EIR, and no new environmental document would be required; and
WHEREAS, CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 provides a streamlined environmental review process for projects that are consistent with the development density established by existing general plan, zoning or community plan policies for which an EIR was certified, directing that further environmental review shall be limited to project-specific significant effects which were not examined as significant effects in the prior EIR; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15168 and 15183, a CEQA Checklist to the Prior EIRs was prepared for the Project to determine whether any new or more severe environmental impacts would result from the implementation of the Project that were not previously addressed in the Prior EIRs; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162, 15168 and 15183 a CEQA Consistency Checklist and Addendum to the Prior EIRs (“2026 CEQA Checklist and Addendum”), which evaluates whether preparation of a Subsequent EIR or Negative Declaration is required, was prepared for the Project, including an analysis of the minor changes and additions represented by the exact alignment of the PG&E Electrical Transmission Line, which was not specifically identified in the Prior EIRs, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, which allows a lead agency to prepare an addendum to a previously certified EIR if only minor technical changes or additions are necessary, and none of the conditions calling for the preparation of a subsequent EIR under CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 have occurred; and
WHEREAS, the 2026 CEQA Checklist and Addendum concludes that in accordance with Public Resources Code § 21166 and CEQA Guidelines § 15162, 15164, 15168 and 15183 the implementation of the Project will not cause any new significant impacts, that it will not trigger any new or more severe impacts than were studied in the previously certified Prior EIRs, that no substantial changes in the project or circumstances justifying major revisions to the Prior EIRs have occurred, and that no new information of substantial importance has come to light since the Prior EIRs were certified that shows new or more severe significant impacts nor shows new, different or more feasible mitigation measures; and
WHEREAS, the City Council previously adopted Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Programs for the Prior EIRs and a Statement of Overriding Considerations for the Prior EIR’s significant and unavoidable impacts, both of which remain in full force and effect for the Project; and
WHEREAS, on September 3, 2026, the Planning Commission of the City of South San Francisco held a duly noticed public hearing at which time interested parties had the opportunity to be heard, to review the Project and the 2026 CEQA Checklist and Addendum, and to provide public comments; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed all evidence presented both orally and in writing and considered in light of public comments and testimony the information in the 2026 CEQA Checklist and Addendum for adequacy, completeness and compliance with CEQA and State CEQA Guidelines.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FOUND, DETERMINED AND 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 2040 General Plan; the South San Francisco Municipal Code; the Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update EIR and Statement of Overriding Considerations; the SSF 2040 General Plan EIR and Statement of Overriding Considerations; the 2026 CEQA Checklist and Addendum to the Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update EIR and SSF 2040 General Plan EIR; the gRED Center Project Plans prepared by Cannon Design and Foster + Partners, dated May 26, 2026; the Vesting Tentative Map prepared by WHB Engineers dated May 22, 2026; all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission’s duly noticed September 3, 2026 meeting; and any other evidence (within the meaning of Public Resources Code §21080(e) and §21082.2), the Planning Commission of the City of South San Francisco hereby finds as follows:
SECTION 1 FINDINGS
A. 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 Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update EIR (Exhibit A), the SSF 2040 General Plan Update EIR (Exhibit B) and the 2026 CEQA Checklist and Addendum (Exhibit C), 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 the Chief Planner.
B. CEQA Findings
1. The Planning Commission, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15162, 15168, 15183 and 15164, has considered the 2026 CEQA Checklist and Addendum prepared for the Project including the related environmental analysis, along with the previously certified Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update EIR and SSF 2040 General Plan EIR.
2. The Planning Commission finds that, based on substantial evidence in the record, the proposed Project will not result in any of the conditions identified in CEQA Guidelines section 15162 that would require further environmental review through preparation of a subsequent or supplemental EIR.
3. The Planning Commission finds that the Project’s potential environmental effects were previously examined and are within the scope of the Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update EIR and the SSF 2040 General Plan EIR. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15168, the Phase 1 Redevelopment Projects are consistent with the programmatic objectives, land use designations and policies evaluated in the Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update EIR and the SSF 2040 General Plan EIR, and its environmental effects have been adequately addressed by the prior analysis.
4. The Planning Commission finds that the Project is consistent with the development density and land use assumptions established by the SSF General Plan, the Genentech Campus Master Plan zoning district, and the Genentech Campus Master Plan (a community plan incorporated as part of the SSF General Plan). Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15183, there are no project-specific significant effects peculiar to the Project or its site that were not examined as significant effects in the Prior EIRs, nor are there any potentially significant off-site impacts or cumulative impacts that were not discussed, nor are there previously identified significant effects which would be made substantially more severe by the Project.
5. The Planning Commission finds that the minor changes and additions represented by the siting of the Genentech Electrical Substation and details of the associated PG&E Electrical Transmission Line do not result in substantial changes to the Project or circumstances, and that no new significant information is identified that would require preparation of a subsequent EIR as a result of these changes, and therefore pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15164 the preparation of an Addendum to the Prior EIRs is appropriate.
6. Accordingly, the Planning Commission, exercising its independent judgment and analysis, finds based on substantial evidence in the record that CEQA Guidelines section 15162 does not require any further CEQA review, and that the 2026 CEQA Checklist and Addendum is the appropriate environmental document for approval of the Project and no further environmental review is required.
SECTION 2 DETERMINATION
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 a determination that the 2026 Checklist is the appropriate environmental document for approval of the Project and no further environmental review is required.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption.
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