R-8081
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RESOLUTION NO. 808l(CCSI
(City council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CERTIFYING THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
AND ADOPTING A STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATION
FOR THE NORTH OF WILSHIRE NEIGHBORHOOD ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT
CONTROLS
WHEREAS, a Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact
Report for the North of Wilshire neighborhood alternative
development controls was issued in February, 1990; and
WHEREAS, a Notice of completion of a Draft Environmental
Impact Report was published in April, 1990, in compliance with
the California Environmental Quality Act and the city of Santa
Monica CEQA Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, the Draft Environmental Impact Report was made
available for a 45-day public review period beginning on April
24, 1990; and
WHEREAS, in June, 1990, the Final Environmental Impact Report
was published; and
WHEREAS, on July 11, 1990, the Planning Commission reviewed
the Final Environmental Impact Report; and
WHEREAS, on August l4, 1990 the City Council, as Lead City
Agency, reviewed the Final Environmental Impact Report,
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NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council finds that the Final Environmental
Impact Report adequately reviews and analyzes potential
environmental effects of the proposed project.
SECTION 2. The City Council makes the following findings,
consistent with Article VI, sections 12 and l3 of the city of
Santa Monica CEQA Guidelines and sections l5091 and l5093 of the
State of California CEQA Guidelines.
(b) (1) The Final EIR determined that without mitigation
the project could result in a significant impact to short-term
air quality during demolition and construction of development
projects in the north of Wilshire area (FEIR pp. 8.4-8.7). The
creation of dust and the daily emission of pollutants from
construction vehicles could slightly exceed threshold criteria
established by SCAQMD. Such impacts would be temporary in nature
but are considered unavoidable significant adverse effects
attributable to the project. Consistent with Article VI, Section
12 of the City CEQA Guidelines and Sections 15091 of the State
CEQA Guidelines, the project will undertake the following
mitigation measures which will avoid or substantially lessen the
potential significant environmental effects identified with
respect to short-term air quality impacts:
(1) Suspend earth moving or other dust-producing
activities during periods of high winds~
(2) Provide equipment and manpower for watering of all
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exposed or disturbed soil surfaces, including
weekends and holidays;
(3) Cover stockpiles of debris, soil, sand or other
materials that can be blown by the wind; and
(4) Sweep construction area and adjacent streets of all
mud and dust daily.
These measures will avoid or substantially lessen the potential
for significant adverse impacts to short-term, air quality, and
thus mitigate or avoid the significant environmental effects
identified in the Final EIR (FEIR pp. 8.4-8.7).
(c) The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the
project could result in significant impacts to long-term air
quality in the area (FEIR pp. 8.4-8.8, and 13.15-13.17). The
Final EIR determined that the project would result in an increase
in long-term daily emissions of oxide of nitrogen, one of two
ozone precursors, as a result of increased automobile emissions.
Consistent with Article VI, Section l2 of the city CEQA
Guidelines and section 15091 of the State CEQA Guidelines, the
project will undertake the following mitigation measures which
will avoid or substantially lessen the potential significant
environmental effects identified with respect to long-term air
quality:
(1) The project shall comply with the SCAQMD's Regulation XV
to help improve the region's air quality by reducing
employee peak hour trips;
(2) Implementation of the city's Transportation Management
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Plan (TMP) ordinance that would be more stringent than
the SCAQMD regulations with respect to trip reduction
goals 7 and
(3) Buildout is unlikely to occur as found in the FEIR page
2-4. Buildout is based upon redevelopment of all
residentially zoned parcels, many of which are unlikely
to ever be developed with new housing. If actual
buildout does not exceed 85% of projected buildout, then
the threshold will not be exceeded.
These measures will avoid or substantially lessen the potential
for significant adverse impacts on long term air quality and thus
mitigate or avoid the significant environmental effects
identified in the Final EIR (FEIR pp. 8.4-8.7, and l3.15-l3.l7).
(d) The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the
project could result in significant adverse impacts on housing
(FEIR pp. 5.9-S.14). The Final EIR determined that the project
will make it more difficult for the city to meet SCAG's "fair
share" housing projection of 3220 needed housing units in Santa
Monica by 1994. The proposed project will reduce the number of
potential new housing units which can be built in the north of
Wilshire neighborhood from 1427 new units under existing zoning
to 1082 new units under the project buildout, a potential loss of
345 new units. Consistent with Article VI, Section 12 of the
City CEQA Guidelines and section 15091 of the State CEQA
Guidelines, the project will undertake the following mitigation
measures which will avoid or substantially lessen the potential
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significant environmental effects identified with respect to
housing:
(1) Require that substitute housing be developed to
offset the loss of potential housing in the north
of Wilshire neighborhood;
(2) Encourage development of housing in appropriate
commercial districts throughout the city;
(3) Allow higher floor area ratios (FAR) for mixed use
commercial and residential projects.
These measures will avoid or sUbstantially lessen the potential
for significant adverse impacts on housing and thus mitigate or
avoid the significant environmental effects identified in the
Final EIR (FEIR pp. 5.9-5.14).
(e) (1) The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the
project could result in significant impacts to traffic and
circulation. A total of l2 intersections are projected to have
significant impacts, however, all but one intersection can be
mitigated (FEIR pp. 7-18, 7-37). Consistent with Article VI,
section 12 of the City CEQA Guidelines and Section 15091 of the
state CEQA Guidelines, the City finds that the circulation
mitigation measures as identified in Exhibit 1 of this resolution
(Final EIR pp. 7-18, 7-37) will mitigate, avoid or substantially
lessen the potential significant traffic circulation impacts.
(2) The Final EIR determined that with the implementation of
the mitigation measures identified in the Final EIR (pp. 7-18,
7-37), the build out of the project could result in a significant
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impact to traffic circulation at one (l) intersection, Fourth
street and I-IO westbound off-ramp. Without mitigation, a total
of twelve (l2) intersections were identified as having
significant impacts. Consistent with Article IV, Section l3 of
the city CEQA Guidelines and Sections 15091 and 15093 of the
State CEQA Guidelines, the city Council hereby makes a statement
of Overriding Consideration based on the following findings:
(a) The city Council finds that there are no feasible,
reasonable and available alternatives or further mitigation
measures to the project that would significantly and
substantially reduce the impact on the environment while
accomplishing the City goals and objectives for the north of
Wilshire neighborhood defined as the residential districts
bounded by Ocean Avenue to the west, Montana Avenue to the north,
l4th Street to the east and Wilshire Boulevard to the south,
therefore, the social, economic, and other environmental benefits
of the project outweigh the impact at Fourth Street and the 1-10
west-bound ramp.
(b) Further the City Council finds that the project will
improve the north of wilshire neighborhood by providing standards
that will reduce the scale of buildings and provide relief from
the visual impacts of new development that have been identified
as incompatible with existing neighborhood character. The
Project Construction Rate and Management Programs will control
the rate of development in the neighborhood and address
construction impacts stemming from simultaneous construction
projects occurring in a given block and disruptive effects on the
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neighborhood of construction projects, therefore, the social,
economic, and other environmental benefits of the project
outweigh the circulation impact at Fourth street and the I-lO
west-bound ramp.
(c) Further, the city Council finds that implementation of
traffic mitigation measures identified in Exhibit 1 of this
resolution will mitigate or avoid significant environmental
effects at all but one intersection (Final EIR pp 7-lS, 7-37)
Mitigation at the twelve intersections will be made over time as
part of the City's ongoing Traffic Improvements Program.
(3) The Final EIR determined that while the project could
result in a significant impact to traffic and circulation the
severity of these unavoidable impacts should be tempered by the
fact that build-out may take place over a much longer period than
the period in which cumulative projects are built. The level of
build-out may be much smaller than projected in the EIR, because
it assumed development of housing on parcels now occupied by
private schools, parks, churches, and other non-residential uses
in the project area. The EIR also concludes that these
unavoidable impacts would occur whether or not the project or any
of the alternatives studied, including existing zoning, is
implemented.
SECTION 3. The city Council has reviewed and considered the
Final Environmental Impact Report on the North of Wilshire
Alternative Development Controls prior to acting on the project.
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SECTION 4. The City Council certifies that the environmental
review for the project was conducted in full compliance with
state and City CEQA Guidelines, that there was adequate public
review of the Draft Environmental Impact Report, that it has
considered all comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report
and responses to comments, that the Final Environmental Impact
Report adequately discusses all significant environmental issues,
and that the city Council has considered the contents of the
Final Environmental Impact Report in its decision-making process.
SECTION 6. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of
this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be
in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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ROBERT M. MYERS
City Attorney
w/nowresII
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Adopted and approved this 18th day of September, 1990.
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I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 8081(CCS)
was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Monica
at a meeting thereof held on September l8th, 1990 by the
following Council vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers:
Abdo, Finkel, Genser, Katz, Mayor
Zane
Noes: Councilmembers:
Reed
Abstain: Councilmembers:
None
Absent: Councilmembers:
Jennings
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ATTEST:
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