HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2017-014 N.C.S. 01/09/2017Resolution No. 2017 -014 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION OF THE PETALUMA CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING A NEGATIVE
DECLARATION FOR THE LOMAS ANNEXATION PROJECT CONCERNING
CERTAIN PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO PETALUMA BLVD SOUTH AND
GENERALLY EAST OF MCNEAR AVENUE AND WEST OF US HIGHWAY 101
File No.: 07 -ANX -0623
WHEREAS, South Petaluma Partners, L.C.C. submitted an application to Pre -Zone a
and Annex a total of nineteen parcels totaling approximately 17.20 acres outside of the City
limits but within the Urban Growth Boundary, in a manner consistent with the General Plan
Land Use Designation, being referred to locally as the Lomas project area ( "Project Area "), as
required by Condition No. 3(a) of Sonoma County Local Agency Formation Commission
( "Sonoma County LAFCO ") Resolution No. 2518; and
WHEREAS, the Project is subject to the Petaluma General Plan 2025, adopted by the
City on May 19, 2008; and,
WHEREAS, in evaluating certain potential environmental effects of the Project in the
Initial Study, including but not limited to effects of climate change, water supply, and traffic, the
City relied on the Program EIR for the City of Petaluma General Plan 20205, certified on April
7, 2008 (General Plan EIR) with the adoption of Resolution No. 2008 -058 N.C.S., which is
incorporated herein by reference; and,
WHEREAS, the General Plan EIR identified potentially significant environmental
impacts and related mitigation measures and the City also adopted a Statement of Overriding
Considerations for significant impacts that could not be avoided; and,
WHEREAS, the City prepared an Initial Study for the proposed Project consistent with
CEQA Guidelines §§15162 and 15163 and determined that a Negative Declaration was required
in order to analyze the potential for new or additional significant environmental impacts of the
Project beyond those identified in the General Plan EIR; and,
WHEREAS, on or before October 6, 2016, the City's Notice of Intent to Adopt a
Negative Declaration based on the Initial Study, providing for a 30 -day public comment period
commencing October 6, 2016 and ending November 7, 2016 and a Notice of Public Hearing to
be held on November 8, 2016 before the City of Petaluma Planning Commission, was published
and mailed to all residents and property owners within 500 feet of the Project as well as all
persons having requested special notice of said proceedings; and,
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission considered the Project, the Negative Declaration,
the supporting Initial Study, the staff report dated November 8, 2016 analyzing the Negative
Declaration and the Project, and received and considered all written and oral public comments on
environmental effects of the Project which were submitted up to and at the time of the public
hearing; and
Resolution No. 2017 -014 N.C.S. Page 1
WHEREAS, on November 8, 2016, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No.
2016 -22 and, in doing so, forwarded a recommendation that the City Council adopt the Negative
Declaration; and
WHEREAS, the City Council considered the Project, the Negative Declaration, the
supporting Initial Study, the staff report dated January 9, 2017 analyzing the Negative
Declaration and the Project, and received and considered all written and oral public comments on
environmental effects of the Project which were submitted up to and at the time of the public
hearing; and
WHEREAS, prior to acting on the Negative Declaration, a Notice of Public Hearing to
be held on January 9, 2017 before the Petaluma City Council, was published and mailed to all
residents and property owners within 500 feet of the Project as well as all persons having
requested special notice of said proceedings; and,
WHEREAS, the Initial Study applies the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's
(BAAQMD) California Environmental Quality Act - Air Quality Guidelines, May 2012,
including the BAAQMD thresholds of significance adopted in June 2010. As lead agency under
CEQA, the City of Petaluma has the discretion to rely upon the BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines
and thresholds of significance since they include the best available scientific data and most
conservative thresholds available for comparison of the Project's emissions. Comparison of the
Project's emissions against these thresholds provides a conservative assessment as the basis for a
determination of significance; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to further analysis in the Initial Study, including evaluation using
the BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines and thresholds of significance, the Project does not make a
considerable contribution to a significant cumulative air quality or greenhouse gas emissions
impact found to be significant and unavoidable in the General Plan 2025 EIR, because the
Project's emissions are below significance thresholds identified; and,
WHEREAS, the Negative Declaration reflects the City's independent judgment and
analysis of the potential for environmental impacts from the Project; and,
WHEREAS, the Negative Declaration, Initial Study and related Project and
environmental documents, including the General Plan 2025 EIR and all documents incorporated
herein by reference, are available for review in the Community Development Department at
Petaluma City Hall, during normal business hours. The custodian of the documents and other
materials which constitute the record of proceedings for the proposed project is the City of
Petaluma Community Development Department, 11 English St. Petaluma, CA 94952; and
WHEREAS, the Initial Study identifies no significant environmental effects to the
environment would result from the Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council as follows:
A. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference.
B. Based on its review of the entire record herein, the City Council makes the following
findings:
1. The annexation is, for the reasons discussed in the November 8, 2016 Planning
Resolution No. 2017 -014 N.C.S. Page 2
Commission staff report and January 9, 2017 City Council staff report, consistent
with the following Petaluma General Plan policies: Policy 1 -P -1 (Development
Within UGB); Policy 1 -P -2 (Efficient Land Use in UGB); Policy 1 -P -12
(Underutilized Sites); Goal 1 -G3 (Land Use: Well- Defined Boundary); Policy 1-
P-29 (Development Within Urban Growth Boundary); Policy 1 -P -30 (Services
Within Urban Growth Boundary); and Policy 1 -P -35 (Growth Within Urban
Growth Boundary).
2. Pursuant to the analysis in the Initial Study, the Project does not make a
cumulatively considerable contribution to the significant and unavoidable
cumulative air, noise and /or traffic impacts identified in the General Plan 2025
EIR.
C. Based on its review of the entire record herein, including the Negative Declaration,
the Initial Study, all supporting, referenced and incorporated documents and all
comments received, the City Council finds that there is no substantial evidence that
the Project will have a significant effect on the environment, that the Negative
Declaration reflects the City's independent judgment and analysis, and that the
Negative Declaration, Initial Study and supporting documents provide an adequate
description of the impacts of the Project and comply with CEQA, the State CEQA
Guidelines and the City of Petaluma Environmental Guidelines.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the prove `as to
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 9th day of January, 1 s foZ 11
2017, by the following vote:
City Attorqey
AYES: Albertson, Vice Mayor Barrett, Mayor Glass, Healy, Kearney, King, Miller
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