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Resolution making findings and a recommendation that the City Council make a determination that the SB1425 Addendum to the 2040 General Plan EIR is the appropriate CEQA document for a General Plan Amendment related to open space planning to bring the General Plan into compliance with SB1425 is fully within the scope of the certified 2040 General Plan EIR and the SB1425 Addendum to the prior EIR is the appropriate environmental document.
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WHEREAS, in 2022 the City adopted a new General Plan (Shape SSF, 2040 General Plan) that reflects the community’s vision for the future; 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 (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, Shape SSF includes goals and policies related to open space and climate resilience; and
WHEREAS, in 2022 the State of California passed Senate Bill (SB) 1425 and added Section 65565.5 to the Government Code that requires that every city and county update its General Plan to incorporate policies and actions that address equitable access to open space, climate resilience, and rewilding opportunities; and
WHEREAS, amending the General Plan to include a new policy and supporting action items related to equitable access to open space, climate resilience, and rewilding opportunities is consistent with the City’s General Plan (Shape SSF) policy framework; and
WHEREAS, the proposed General Plan Amendment is considered a “project” for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act, Pub. Resources Code §21000, et seq. (“CEQA”); and
WHEREAS, the City, with assistance from Lamphier-Gregory Inc., conducted an environmental analysis for the proposed General Plan Amendment, which concluded that the environmental effects associated with the amendment to comply with SB1425 are fully within the scope of the environmental analysis conduced in the 2040 General Plan EIR, such that the amendment does not meet the criteria under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 or 15164 justifying preparation of a subsequent EIR and thus, an addendum is the appropriate environmental document; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, the City, with assistance from Lamphier-Gregory Inc., prepared an addendum to the 2040 General Plan EIR, which analyzed the potential environmental impacts of the proposed General Plan Amendment (SB1425 Addendum); which along with the 2040 General Plan EIR is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A and Exhibit B, respectively; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a property noticed public hearing on July 16, 2026, at which time interested parties has the opportunity to be heard, to review the Project and the SB1425 Addendum, as well as supporting documents prior to the Planning Commission making its recommendation on the Project; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission exercised its independent judgment and analysis, and considered all reports, recommendations and testimony before making a recommendation on the Project.
NOW THEREFORE, based on the entirety of the record before it, which includes without limitation, the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code §21000, et seq. and the CEQA Guidelines, 14 California Code of Regulations §15000, et seq.; the Shape SSF 2040 General Plan, and 2040 General Plan Environmental Impact Report; the SB1425 Addendum, the South San Francisco Municipal Code; and all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission’s duly noticed July 16, 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:
A. General Findings
1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this Resolution.
2. Exhibit A (SB1425 Addendum) and Exhibit B (General Plan 2040 EIR) attached to this Resolution are incorporated by reference and 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.
B. CEQA Findings
1. The Planning Commission, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15164, subsection (d), has considered the SB1425 Addendum prepared for the Project including the related environmental analysis, along with the previously certified 2040 General Plan EIR.
2. Upon consideration of the SB1425 Addendum, the Planning Commission finds that the proposed General Plan Amendment 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 EIR.
3. The Project will not create any new significant impacts or substantially more severe impacts as compared to those already identified and analyzed in the 2040 General Plan EIR. Further, the Planning Commission finds that there is no new information of substantial importance that demonstrates new or substantially more severe significant effects, as compared to those identified in the prior CEQA documents. Nor are any new or additional mitigation measures required to mitigate any impacts of the Project.
4. Accordingly, the Planning Commission finds that per CEQA Guidelines section 15162 the Project does not require any further CEQA review, and that the SB1425 Addendum, prepared pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15164, is the appropriate environmental document for approval of the Project.
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 recommends that the City Council make a determination that per CEQA Guidelines 15162, the SB1425 Addendum is the appropriate environmental review document for approval of the General Plan Amendment, prepared pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15164, and no further environmental review is needed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption.