Title
Resolution certifying the Environmental Impact Report including a Statement of Overriding Considerations and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the development of 400-450 East Jamie Court and 201 Haskins Way by Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE).
body
WHEREAS, Alexandria Real Estate (ARE) Equities (“Applicant”) has proposed to construct a two-story 25,000 gross sq. ft. building (400-450 East Jamie Court), a five-story 311,368 gross sq. ft. office/ R&D building and a five-level parking garage on a 6.45-acre site (201 Haskins Way) and seeks approval of a Use Permit (UP18-0001), Design Review (DR19-0004), and Preliminary Transportation Demand Management Program (TDM18-0001), as well as a Zoning Map Amendment (RZ18-0001) to re-zone one parcel at 201 Haskins Way (APN 015-102-230) from MI to Business Technology Park (BTP) and to re-zone one parcel at 400-450 E. Jamie Court (APN 015-102-250) from BC to BTP (collectively referred to as “Phase 1”); and,
WHEREAS, the proposed Phase 1 is comprised of parcels located within the Mixed-Industrial (MI) and Business Commercial (BC) Zoning Districts; and,
WHEREAS, the 400-450 E. Jamie Court parcel is the only parcel in the area zoned BC that is adjacent to the MI and BTP Zoning Districts; and
WHEREAS, in conjunction with the Applicant’s request, the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council adopt a Zoning Map Amendment (RZ18-0001) and Zoning Text Amendment (ZA18-0002) to re-zone six parcels that surround Phase 1 [101 Haskins Way (APN 015-102-210), 151 Haskins Way (APN 015-102-220), 410 E. Grand Avenue (APN 015-102-180), 430 E. Grand Avenue (APN 015-102-160), 451 E. Jamie Court (APN 015-102-240), and a vacant parcel (APN 015-102-290)] (collectively referred to as “Phase 2”) to BTP to further consistency with the land use designations set forth in the General Plans; and
WHEREAS, Applicant’s request for approval of Phase 1 entitlements and re-zoning and the City’s adoption of a Zoning Map Amendment and Zoning Text Amendment for Phase 2 (collectively referred to as “Project”) is considered a “project” for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act, Pub. Resources Code §21000, et seq. (“CEQA”); and,
WHEREAS, on March 7, 2019 the Planning Commission for the City of South San Francisco held a lawfully noticed public hearing at which time interested parties had the opportunity to be heard, to review the Project and the EIR (EIR18-0002), as well as supporting documents, at the conclusion of which the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council find that the EIR (EIR18-0002) is the appropriate environmental document and to approve the Project; and,
WHEREAS, the City issued a Notice of Preparation on April 18, 2018 at which agencies, organizations, and the public will have an opportunity to submit verbal comment; and,
WHEREAS, the City prepared a Draft EIR (“DEIR”) (State Clearinghouse No. 2018042047), which was circulated for 45-day public/agency review period from October 12, 2018 through November 26, 2018; and,
WHEREAS, Notices of the Availability of the DEIR were published in the South San Francisco Examiner, mailed to property owners within a 300-foot radius of the site, noticed to local agencies and cities, and circulated through the State Clearinghouse; and,
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed meeting during the review period on November 15, 2018 to take public testimony on the DEIR; and,
WHEREAS, the City prepared written responses to comments received on the DEIR and prepared a Final EIR for circulation, which consists of the DEIR (incorporated by reference), all comments received on the DEIR, written responses to comments received on the DEIR, and revisions to the DEIR; and,
WHEREAS, the DEIR reviewed and analyzed the potential environmental impacts of the Project, including environmental impacts in the areas of Aesthetics, including the visual character of the proposed Project, including light and glare, and impacts related to wind and shadow; Agriculture and Forest Resources; Air Quality, including construction dust; Biological Resources; Cultural Resources; Geology & Soils, including ground shaking, soil stability, landslides, lateral spreading, liquefaction and expansive soils; Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Hazards/Hazardous Materials; Hydrology and Water Quality; Land Use and Planning; Mineral Resources; Noise and Vibration; Population & Housing; Public Services; Recreation; Transportation and Circulation; Utilities/Service Systems; and cumulative impacts of the Project, growth-inducing impacts of the Project, as well as potential Project Alternatives; and,
WHEREAS, the DEIR identified that the Project would result in significant, unmitigated impacts related to Transportation/Circulation; there are either no impacts or impacts are mitigated to less than significant relative to Aesthetics, Agriculture, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Hazards/Hazardous Materials, Hydrology and Water Quality, Land Use and Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise and Vibration, Population & Housing, Public Services, Recreation, and Utilities/Service Systems; and,
WHEREAS, a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) and Statement of Overriding Considerations have been prepared pursuant to Public Resources Code Sections 21082.3 and 21081; and,
WHEREAS, where feasible, mitigation measures have been incorporated into the Project to reduce identified impacts to a level of less than significant; and,
WHEREAS, no feasible mitigation exists for certain significant and unavoidable transportation impacts that would reduce the impacts to a less-than-significant level; and,
WHEREAS, a Statement of Overriding Considerations which balances the benefits of the proposed project against the unavoidable transportation impacts must be adopted for those impacts identified as significant and unavoidable.
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed and carefully considered the information in the EIR (EIR18-0002), including all comment letters submitted, and makes the findings contained in this Resolution, and certifies the EIR (EIR18-0002), as an objective and accurate document that reflects the independent judgment and analysis of the City in the discussion of the Revised 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 Municipal Code; the Project applications; the 201 Haskins Way Project Plan, as prepared by WRNS, dated September 28, 2018; the Preliminary Transportation Demand Management Plan, as prepared by Sylvani Transportation Consulting, Inc., dated January 30, 2019; the 201 Haskins Way Project EIR, including the Draft and Final EIR and all appendices thereto; all site plans, and all reports, minutes and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission’s duly noticed study session on November 15, 2018 and public hearing at the March 7, 2019 meeting; all site plans, and all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the City Council’s duly noticed March 27, 2019 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:
1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this Resolution.
2. The exhibits and attachments, including the Environmental Impact Report including the Draft EIR and Final EIR (attached as Exhibit D and Exhibit A, respectively), the CEQA Findings including Statement of Overriding Considerations (attached as Exhibit B), and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (attached as 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 Planning Manager, Sailesh Mehra.
4. The proposed Project is consistent with the City of South San Francisco General Plan because the land use, 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. Based on the City Council’s independent judgment and analysis, the City Council makes the findings regarding the Project's significant and unavoidable impacts, potentially significant impacts, and less than significant impacts; makes the findings regarding the proposed mitigation measures, and the Project alternatives; and adopts the Statement of Overriding Considerations, finding that the benefits of the Project outweigh the Project’s significant and unavoidable environmental impacts, for the reasons, and as further set forth in Exhibit B, attached hereto and incorporated by reference.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of South San Francisco hereby certifies the Environmental Impact Report (EIR18-0002), attached as Exhibit A and Exhibit D, 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 adopts the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, attached as Exhibit C, and Statement of Overriding Considerations, attached as Exhibit B.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption.
* * * * *