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HomeMy WebLinkAbout19-54 - ResolutioniJ 1 c �, S� ' RESOLUTION NO. 19-54 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CERTIFY THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT PREPARED FOR THE NORTH ETIWANDA HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD AND CONSERVATION PLAN, MAKE FINDINGS PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT, ADOPT A STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS, AND ADOPT A MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM A. Recitals. 1. The City of Rancho Cucamonga (the "City") prepared the Etiwanda Heights Neighborhood and Conservation Plan (EHNCP) DRC2015-00751 as a specific plan (the "Specific Plan") to regulate development in an area comprising approximately 4,393 acres extending roughly from Haven Avenue easterly to the City's boundary with Fontana, and from the northerly City limits to the San Bernardino National Forest boundary in the City's Sphere of Influence (the "Project Area"). The Project Area is more particularly described in Section 2.2 of the Specific Plan. 2. In addition to the Specific Plan, the EHNCP requires the following additional approvals: Specific Plan Amendment DRC2015-00751, General Plan Amendment DRC2015-00749, Development Code Amendment DRC2019-00459, Zoning Map Amendment DRC2015-00752, Etiwanda North Specific Plan Amendment DRC 2015-00750, Annexation DRC2015-00732, as well as a forthcoming tentative tract map (collectively, the "Project"). 3. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the State CEQA Guidelines, and the City's Local CEQA guidelines, the City prepared an initial study for the Project and, based on the information contained in the initial study, concluded that there was substantial evidence that the Project might have a significant environmental impact on several resources. 4. Based upon the information contained in the initial study, the City determined that an EIR must be prepared for the Project in order to analyze the Project's potential impacts on the environment. 5. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15082, on December 4, 2018, the City published a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Draft EIR for the Project, and circulated the NOP and initial study to governmental agencies, organizations, and persons who may be interested in the application for a 49-day public review period. 6. The City received comments from eight public agencies, two organizations, two native American tribes, and 43 individual members of the community provided comments in response to the NOP. 7. The City also initiated consultation with two tribes in the area, the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians - Kizh Nation and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, in accordance with the City's obligations under AB 52. r- - PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 19-54 EHNCP CEQA RECOMMENDATION August 28, 2019 Page 2 8. The City released the Draft EIR for a 45-day public review period beginning April 29, 2019 and ending on June 14, 2019. During the public review period the City received a total of 33 comment letters on the Draft EIR, and the City has prepared responses to each comment. 9. The EIR concludes that, even with the inclusion of mitigation measures, the Project may have a significant and unavoidable impact on several environmental resources. Accordingly, the City Council must adopt a statement of overriding considerations in order to approve the Project. 10. The City has prepared a Final EIR in accordance with CEQA, which contains the City's responses to comments, a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) for the Project, and various corrections made to the Draft EIR. The Draft and Final EIRs for the Project are attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by this reference. 11. On July 24, 2019, the Planning Commission opened a duly noticed public hearing on the Project and continued the hearing to August 28, 2019. 12. On August 28, 2019, the Planning Commission re -opened the duly noticed public hearing on the Project and concluded the hearing on that date. 13. All legal prerequisites prior to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred. B. Resolution. NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby found, determined, and resolved by the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga as follows: 1. Recitals. The Commission hereby specifically finds that all of the facts set forth in the Recitals, Part A, of this Resolution are true and correct. 2. Findings. Based upon all available evidence presented to the Planning Commission during the above -referenced public hearings on July 24, 2019 and August 28, 2019, including written and oral staff reports, together with public testimony, this Commission hereby specifically finds as follows: a. In accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15025(c), the Planning Commission has reviewed and considered both the Draft and Final EIRs for the Project, which are attached as Exhibit "A." The Planning Commission has also considered the significant and unavoidable impacts of the Project. b. The Draft and Final EIRs comply with the requirements of CEQA. G. There are Project benefits that would outweigh any of the adverse impacts identified in the EIR. 3. Recommendation. On the basis of the foregoing and all of the evidence in the administrative record before it, the Planning Commission hereby recommends that the City Council certify the Final EIR prepared for the Project, adopt findings pursuant to CEQA, adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations, and adopt a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Project. PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 19-54 EHNCP CEQA RECOMMENDATION August 28, 2019 Page 3 4. The Secretary to this Commission shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. PLANNING COMMI'ESION OF THE_CITY-CF.RANCHO CUCAMONGA 96 TonyGuglieI-mo, Chairman ATTEST: Matt Bu is, AICP, Secretary I, Matt Burris, Secretary of the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced, passed, and adopted by the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, at a regular meeting of the Planning Commission held on the 28th day of August, 2019, by the following vote -to -wit: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: DOPP, GUGLIELMO, MUNOZ, OAXACA, WIMBERLY NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: