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Resolution making findings and approving Design Review (DR22-0045) for 52 Franklin Avenue Residential Project within the Residential Low-Density (RL-8) Zoning District.
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WHEREAS, Juan Pedro Diaz (“Applicant”) has proposed the construction of a new single-family residence and debris barrier at 52 Franklin Avenue (“Project”); and
WHEREAS, the proposed Project is located within the Residential Low-Density (RL-8) General Plan Land Use Designation and Zoning District; and
WHEREAS, the applicant seeks approval of a Design Review Permit (DR22-0045) for the Project; and
WHEREAS, construction of one single-family residence in a residential zone is typically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15303, except in circumstances where the location of the construction may have an impact on an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern (CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2(a)); and
WHEREAS, because the Project site contains several geological constraints and is located in proximity to potential biological resources, on behalf of the City, RCH Group prepared an Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration (“IS/MND”) to evaluate the impacts of the proposed Project in accordance with CEQA, Public Resources Code, sections 21000 et seq.; and
WHEREAS, the IS/MND concluded that, although the Project could have a potentially significant effect on the environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because the IS/MND identifies measures that will be incorporated into the Project, which will either avoid or mitigate to a level of insignificance all potentially significant or significant effects of the Project; and
WHEREAS, the IS/MND was submitted to the State Clearinghouse (SCH No. 2025100621) and the San Mateo County Clerk and was circulated for a 30-day public review period, beginning on October 15, 2025, and ending on November 14, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City received no comment letters on the IS/MND during the applicable comment period; and
WHEREAS, on November 20, 2025, the Planning Commission for the City of South San Francisco held a lawfully noticed public hearing to solicit public comment and consider the environmental effects of the Project and proposed entitlements and take public testimony; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed and carefully considered the information in the 52 Franklin Ave IS/MND and by separate resolution, adopted the IS/MND; 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 South San Francisco Municipal Code; the Project applications; the Project Plans, as prepared by Innovative Consulting Engineer (ICE), dated March 15, 2022; the Debris Barrier Plans, as prepared by Berns Infrastructure, dated September 6, 2023; the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, as prepared by RCH Group, dated October 2025; all site plans, and all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the Planning Commission’s duly noticed November 20, 2025 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, based on substantial evidence in the record, 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 Conditions of Project Approval (Exhibit A), Residential Project Plan Set (Exhibit B) and Debris Barrier Plan Set (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.
4. By a separate resolution, the Planning Commission, exercising its independent judgment and analysis, has found that there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment.
B. Design Review
1. The Project, including Design Review, is consistent with Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code because the Project has been designed as a single-family residence that complies with all applicable development standards.
2. The Project, including Design Review, is consistent with the General Plan because the proposed single-family residence is consistent with the policies and design direction provided in the Residential Low-Density designation by developing a single-family residence on a vacant lot.
3. The Project, including Design Review, is consistent with the applicable design guidelines adopted by the City Council in that the proposed Project is consistent with the RL-8 Zoning District development standards and the Citywide development standards, as evaluated in the Zoning Ordinance Compliance analysis for the Project.
4. The Project, including Design Review, is consistent with other planning or zoning approval that the Project requires for the reasons stated above.
5. The Project is consistent with the applicable design review criteria in South San Francisco Municipal Code Section 20.480.006 (“Design Review Criteria”) because the Project has been evaluated by the Design Review Board on July 15, 2025, and found to be consistent with each of the design review criteria included in the “Design Review Criteria” section of the Ordinance.
SECTION 2 DETERMINATION
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of the City of South San Francisco hereby makes the findings contained in this Resolution and approves the entitlements request for the 52 Franklin Ave Residential Project (P22-0027: DR22-0045) subject to the attached Conditions of Approval.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption.
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