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Resolution making findings and a determination that the environmental effects of the Westborough Preschool Expansion Project located at 2360 Galway Drive were sufficiently analyzed under the 2040 General Plan Environmental Impact Report and no new environmental document is needed per California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15162, 15168, and 15183.
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WHEREAS, Dorman Associates, on behalf of the City of South San Francisco (“Applicant”) has proposed construction of an approximately 7,000 square foot Preschool Expansion Project at 2360 Galway Drive in Westborough Park (“Project Site”); and
WHEREAS, the proposed Project is located within the Parks and Recreation (PR) zoning district; and
WHEREAS, the applicant seeks approval of DR 25-0013 (Design Review); 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 City Council approved the City’s General Plan, Shape SSF, in 2022, which articulates the vision for growth and development throughout the entire City through 2040; and
WHEREAS, the City Council certified the General Plan Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) in 2022 (State Clearinghouse number 2021020064) in accordance with the provisions of CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines, which analyzed the potential environmental impacts of development; and
WHEREAS, the City and applicant prepared an Initial Study for the Project pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15168(c)(4). Such Initial Study concluded pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15162 the Project is within the scope of the General Plan and would not result in any new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of any previously identified effects beyond those disclosed and analyzed in the General Plan EIR certified by City Council nor would new mitigation be required; and
WHEREAS, in addition, Section 15183 of the CEQA Guidelines mandates that projects that are consistent with the development density established by existing zoning, a community plan, or general plan policies for which an EIR was certified shall not require additional environmental review, except as might be necessary to examine whether there are project-specific significant effects that are peculiar to a project or its site; and
WHEREAS, CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 specifies that when reviewing a project that meets the requirements of this section, a public agency shall limit its examination of environmental effects to those that the agency determines in an environmental checklist or other analysis; and
WHEREAS, the City, in conjunction with an environmental consultant, SWCA Environmental Consultants, prepared an environmental consistency checklist to provide substantial evidence that the proposed Project is within the scope of the previous environmental analysis including General Plan EIR and Mitigation Monitoring Program and that subsequent CEQA analysis is not required for the Project; and
WHEREAS, as demonstrated through the environmental consistency checklist analysis of project impacts, there are no effects that are peculiar to the project, or were not previously identified, or have become more adverse due to new, previously unknown information, and no further environmental review would be required pursuant to Section 15183; and
WHEREAS, on February 19, 2026, the Planning Commission for the City of South San Francisco held a lawfully noticed public hearing to solicit public comment and consider the proposed entitlements and environmental effects of the Project and take public testimony; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission exercised its independent judgment and analysis, and considered all reports, recommendations, and testimony before making a determination on the Project.
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 Westborough Preschool Expansion Project Checklist Initial Study, all site plans, and all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission’s duly noticed February 19, 2026 meeting; and any other evidence (within the meaning of Public Resources Code Sections 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. Exhibit A attached to this Resolution, The Westborough Preschool Expansion Project Environmental Checklist Initial Study, is 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, Adena Friedman.
B. CEQA Findings
1. For the reasons stated in this Resolution, there is not substantial evidence in the record to support a fair argument that approval of the Project will result, as contemplated in CEQA Guidelines Section 15162, in significant environmental effects beyond those adequately evaluated and addressed by the General Plan EIR nor would the Project require any new mitigation measures and therefore, the Project is within the scope of the General Plan EIR and may be used for this later activity pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15168 because:
a. The Project is a subsequent project within the scope of the Project Description as analyzed in the Program EIR for the 2040 General Plan;
b. The Project will have no significant environmental effects not previously addressed in the 2040 General Plan EIR, and will not have any significant effects that are more severe than those previously addressed in the 2040 General Plan EIR
c. No substantial changes to the General Plan are proposed as part of this Project. No substantial changes have occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the 2040 General Plan EIR was certified, and no new information, which was not known and could not have been known at the time that the 2040 General Plan EIR was certified as complete, has become available.
d. No new or additional mitigation measures or alternatives are required.
e. All applicable regulations and mitigation measures identified in the 2040 General Plan EIR will be applied to the Project or otherwise made conditions of 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 a determination that the environmental effects of the proposed Project were sufficiently analyzed under the 2040 General Plan EIR (EIR) pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15168.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption.
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