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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 13-C42RESOLUTION NO. 13-C42 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA CERTIFYING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EIR), ADOPTING FINDINGS OF FACT, ADOPTING A MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM, AND APPROVING ALTERNATIVE 2 FOR THE INTERMODAL PARKING FACILITY PROJECT WHEREAS, on June 14, 2010, the City Council held a study session to provide direction to staff on a parking structure to be located between Alameda Avenue and Dalton Avenue, north of Foothill Boulevard and south of the railroad tracks. At that meeting, the Council directed staff to work with Foothill Transit on the design of the parking structure in that location; and WHEREAS, on October 4, 2010, the City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Azusa and Foothill Transit to provide direction for the development of a park and ride facility between Alameda Avenue and Dalton Avenue, north of Foothill Boulevard and south of 9th Street; and WHEREAS, the proposed Azusa Intermodal Parking Facility Project is a parking structure that would provide parking spaces for the METRO Gold Line Foothill Extension Alameda Station, Foothill Transit park and ride, and Azusa Civic Center; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Pub. Res. Code, §§ 21000 et seq.) ("CEQA"), the State CEQA Guidelines (14 Cal. Code Regs. §§ 15000 et seq.), and the City of Azusa Local CEQA Guidelines, the City determined that an Environmental Impact Report ("EIR") should be prepared pursuant to CEQA in order to analyze all potential adverse environmental impacts of the Proposed Project; and WHEREAS, the City issued a Notice of Preparation ("NOP") of a Draft Environmental Impact Report ("Draft EIR") on or about November 14, 2011, and circulated the NOP for 30 days; and WHEREAS, the City solicited comments from potential responsible and trustee agencies and members of the public; and WHEREAS, on or about July 3, 2012, the City initiated a 45 -day public review period by filing a Notice of Availability ("NOA") with the State Office of Planning and Research, publishing the NOA in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, and mailing the NOA to property owners within 300 feet of the Project site, and releasing the Draft EIR for public review and comment at the Azusa Public Library, the Azusa City Clerk's office, and at the City's Community Development Department counter, as well as sending copies to City Council members and to the Planning Commission; and 45635.18200\8012467.4 Resolution No. 13-C42 Intermodal Parking Facility July 15, 2013 WHEREAS, pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15086, the City consulted with and requested comments from all responsible and trustee agencies, other regulatory agencies, and others during the 45 -day comment period; and WHEREAS, the City received written comments during the public review period for the Draft EIR; and WHEREAS, on August 15, 2012, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing to review the Project and associated entitlements; and WHEREAS, at the September 4, 2012 City Council meeting, a desire was expressed that the range of Project alternatives analyzed in the Draft EIR be expanded; and WHEREAS, on September 17, 2012, at its regularly scheduled meeting, the City Council approved expanding the analysis of alternatives in the EIR and determined to recirculate the Draft EIR; and WHEREAS, the recirculated Draft EIR includes analysis of "Alternative 2," which would include construction of an approximately 38 -foot high, three-story parking structure with rooftop parking containing 550 parking spaces. The structure for Alternative 2 would be approximately two feet higher on the northern boundary to shield views into the adjacent residences. Alternative 2 would result in the removal of 4 existing on -street parking spaces and would result in a net increase of 546 parking spaces. Alternative 2 includes four bus bays for loading and unloading passengers and for layovers; and WHEREAS, Alternative 2 would be located on the southeast portion of Block 19, known as the A2 site, east of Azusa Avenue and along Alameda Avenue, and south of 91h Street and north of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe right-of-way (railroad ROW); and WHEREAS, on or about March 22, 2012, the City initiated a 45 -day public review period of the recirculated Draft EIR by filing a Notice of Availability ("NOA") with the State Office of Planning and Research, publishing the NOA in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, and mailing the NOA to property owners within 300 feet of the Project site, and releasing the Draft EIR for public review and comment at the Azusa Public Library, the Azusa City Clerk's office, and at the City's Community Development Department counter, as well as sending copies to City Council members and to the Planning Commission; and WHEREAS, pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15086, the City consulted with and requested comments from all responsible and trustee agencies, other regulatory agencies, and others during the 45 -day comment period; and WHEREAS, the City received written comments during the public review period for the Draft EIR; and Page 2 of 7 45635.1820018012467.4 Resolution No. 13-C42 Intermodal Parking Facility July 15, 2013 WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Proposed Project and associated entitlements, and took public testimony on April 24, 2013. That hearing was continued until May 15, 2013; and WHEREAS, at the close of the May 15, 2013 Planning Commission hearing, the Planning Commission recommended, among other things, that the City Council of the City of Azusa (i) approve a Design Review Application (DR 2012-01); (ii) approve a Use Permit Application (UP 2013-02); (iii) certify the Environmental Impact Report; and (iv) approve Alternative 2 for the Intermodal Parking Facility Project; and WHEREAS, on June 24, 2013, the City Council conducted a study session on the Project and how it may impact future transit -oriented development opportunities; and WHEREAS, on July 1, 2013, the City Council of the City of Azusa held a public hearing to discuss the Planning Commission's recommendations and to consider the Project and related approvals, and at such hearing the City Council heard all persons interested in or opposed to the E1R and/or the Project; and WHEREAS, the City Council is required, pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15126.4, to adopt all feasible mitigation measures or feasible Project alternatives that can substantially lessen or avoid any significant project -related environmental effects; and WHEREAS, as demonstrated by the Findings of Fact attached as Exhibit A to this Resolution, all of the Project's significant environmental effects can be either substantially lessened or avoided through the adoption of feasible mitigation measures; and WHEREAS, the City Council is required by Public Resources Code section 21081.6, subdivision (a), to adopt a mitigation monitoring and reporting program to ensure that the mitigation measures adopted by the City are actually carried out; and WHEREAS, a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Project has been prepared, and is attached hereto as Exhibit B; and WHEREAS, as contained herein, the City has endeavored in good faith to set forth the basis for its decision on the Proposed Project; and WHEREAS, all the requirements of CEQA, the State CEQA Guidelines, and the Local CEQA Guidelines have been satisfied by the City in the EIR, which is sufficiently detailed so that all of the potentially significant environmental effects of the Proposed Project have been adequately evaluated; and WHEREAS, all of the findings and conclusions made by the City Council pursuant to this Resolution are based upon the oral and written evidence presented to it as a whole and not based solely on the information provided in this Resolution; and Page 3 of 7 45635.1820018012467.4 Resolution No. 13-C42 Intermodal Parking Facility July 15, 2013 WHEREAS, prior to taking action, the City Council has heard, been presented with, reviewed and considered all of the information and data in the administrative record, including the EIR, and all oral and written evidence presented to it during all meetings and hearings; and WHEREAS, the EIR reflects the independent judgment of the City and is deemed adequate for purposes of making decisions on the merits of the Proposed Project; and WHEREAS, all other legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1: The City Council finds: (a) the EIR has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines, (b) the Final EIR was presented to the City Council and the City Council has reviewed and considered the information contained in the Final EIR prior to considering adoption of the Project, and (c) the Final EIR reflects the independent judgment and analysis of the City. SECTION 2: The City hereby adopts the CEQA Findings of Fact attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated by this reference as if fully set forth herein. SECTION 3: The City hereby adopts, pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21081.6, the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program contained in the Final EIR attached hereto as Exhibit B and incorporated herein by this reference. The City finds that the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program is designed to ensure that, during the implementation on the Project, the City and any other responsible parties implement the components of the Project and comply with the mitigation measures identified in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program. SECTION 4: The City hereby certifies the Environmental Impact Report for the Intermodal Transit Facility Project and approves Alternative 2 as the Project. SECTION 5: The documents and materials that constitute the records of proceedings on which this Resolution has been based are located at the Community Development Department, City of Azusa City Hall, 213 East Foothill Boulevard, Azusa, California. The custodian for these records is the Director of Community Development. This information is provided in compliance with Public Resources Code Section 21081.6. SECTION 6: The City Council hereby authorizes and directs staff to draft, execute, and file a Notice of Determination with the Los Angeles County Clerk and the Office of Planning and Research within five (5) working days of the adoption of this Resolution. Page 4 of 7 45635.1820018012467.4 Resolution No. 13-C42 Intermodal Parking Facility July 15, 2013 ADOPTED AND APPROVED the 15th day of July, 2013 a� /Osepd Romero Rocha Mayor I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Azusa at a regular meeting thereof held on the 15th day of July; 2013, by the following vote of the City Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: GONZALES, CARRILLO, ALVAREZ, ROCHA NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: MACIAS ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE Page 5 of 7 45635.1820018012467.4 EXHIBIT A CEQA Findings of Fact 45635.18200\8012467.4 Io: WOO'llto 1 Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 45635.18200\8012467.4