CC - 2018-06 - Certifying Program Environmental Impact Report & Mitigation Monitoring Program for General Plan Amendment, Municipal Code Amendment, and Garvey Avenue Specific Plan RESOLUTION NO.2018-06
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ROSEMEAD, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
CERTIFYING PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (SCH
NO. 2015041067) WITH REPORTS, FINDINGS OF FACT, STATEMENTS
OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATION, AND A MITIGATION
MONITORING PROGRAM FOR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 14-01,
MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENT 14-02, ZONE CHANGE 14-01, AND
THE GARVEY AVENUE SPECIFIC PLAN (SPECIFIC PLAN 14-01)
WHEREAS, the City of Rosemead is proposing the adoption of the Garvey Avenue
Specific Plan that would establish allowed land uses, development standards, policies and
guidelines to create an attractive and desirable neighborhood "main street" focusing on creating a
vibrant corridor with visible pedestrian activity. The Garvey Avenue Specific Plan area
encompasses the 1.2-mile portion of Garvey Avenue between New Avenue and Charlotte Avenue.
The area includes 88 acres (153 parcels) that abut Garvey Avenue. The area is characterized by
long established community institutions (Garvey Intermediate School, Arlene Bitely Elementary
School,and Jim's Burgers),newer iconic institutions(Boca Dhanna Temple,the Square Shopping
Center, and China Islamic Restaurant), which are interspersed among largely auto-oriented land
uses. Vacant parcels make up 30.4% (nearly 27 acres) of the total project land area with no open
space or parks. Approximately 55 acres of the project area is anticipated to be redeveloped over
the life of the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Garvey Avenue Specific Plan would support the development
of over 1.18 million square feet of commercial development, 892 dwelling units (DU), and 0.77
acres of open space. Street improvements in the Specific Plan area remodels the 100-foot wide
Garvey Avenue with street landscaping, multimodal improvements, and lane reconfigurations.
Suggested restoration of a street grid system at the LA Auto Auction Site and Landwin Properties
connecting Garvey Avenue and new neighborhood streets add to the roadway network of the area;
and
WHEREAS, the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan is structured around flexible, innovative
and proven approaches that ensure the area will have adequate infrastructure and public services•
to support the area's transformation. Chapter 3 builds on the foundation that the City previously
established for the Garvey Avenue Master Plan; features design and development standards for
walkability and consistently high-quality design, and expands the spectrum of available tools for
community-wide improvements under the Community Benefits Incentives approach. Chapter 4
devotes and graphically illustrates ideas for transformation of catalytic opportunity sites at the LA
Auto Auction and Landwin Property and other sites, revitalization of the Alhambra Wash, and
streetscape beautification and improvements. Chapter 5 presents streetscape treatments and street
improvements options that facilitate Garvey Avenue renovation into a living street of pedestrians,
bicyclists, and sidewalk diners. Chapter 6 recommends strategies to fund and finance the Specific
Plan; it provides an Action Plan with specific directions for the day-to-day administration and
long-term management of the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan; and
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WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the
CEQA Guidelines, the preparation of a Program Environmental Impact Report (EOR) for the
project was initiated by the City of Rosemead on April 20, 2015 with the issuance of a Notice of
Preparation (NOP) for a 30-day public comment period. The NOP was submitted to the State
Clearinghouse for distribution to applicable state agencies. The NOP was also mailed to all Garvey
Avenue Specific Plan area property and business owners, public agencies, and other interested
parties, to solicit comments regarding the scope of the Program EIR. The public comment period
ended on May 21, 2015; and
WHEREAS, a Draft Program EIR (SCH No. 2015041067) was prepared and completed
pursuant CEQA, the CEQA Guidelines, and the City's environmental review guidelines for the
implementation of CEQA; and
WHEREAS, a Notice of Completion (NOC) was filed with the State Office of Planning
and Research (OPR) concurrently with Notice of Availability (NOA) on May 8, 2017, and the
Draft Program EIR was circulated for public and agency review for a period of 45 days ending
Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at 5:00 pm. Hard copies of the Draft Program EIR were available at
the City of Rosemead Planning Division and the Rosemead Public Library.Electronic copies were
sent to responsible agencies,local agencies, and concerned agencies and individuals, as requested;
and
WHEREAS, on January 17, 2018, the Planning Conunission held a duly noticed and
advertised public hearing to receive oral and written testimony relative to Final Program EIR(SCH
No. 2015041067), General Plan Amendment 14-01, Municipal Code Amendment 14-02, Zone
Change 14-01, and the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan (Specific Plan 14-01) and adopted PC
Resolution No. 18-01, recommending that the City Council certify Final Program EIR (SCH No.
2015041067); and
WHEREAS,pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21092.5,the City provided copies
of the Final Program EIR, including Responses to Comments, to commenting agencies at least ten
days prior to the hearing; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rosemead Community Development Department shall serve as
the custodian of the Program EIR document and all appendices, supporting studies, figures, and
related documents which constitute the record of proceedings and are available for review at the
Rosemead City Hall, Community Development Department, located at 8838 East Valley
Boulevard, Rosemead, California, 91770; and
WHEREAS, on February 1, 2018, notices were posted in six public locations and
published in the Rosemead Reader, specifying the date, time, and location of the public hearing to
consider recommending the adoption of the Final Program EIR (SCH No. 2015041067) together
with the recommendation to amend the General Plan and Zoning Code, approve a Zone Change,
and adopt the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan (Specific Plan 14-01), pursuant to California
Government Code Section 65091; and
WHEREAS, on February 13, 2018, the City Council held a duly noticed and advertised
public hearing to receive oral and written testimony relative to Final Program EIR (SCH No.
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2015041067),General Plan Amendment 14-01,Municipal Code Amendment 14-02,Zone Change
14-01 and the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan (Specific Plan 14-01); and
WHEREAS,the City Council,having final approval authority,has sufficiently considered
all testimony and public comment presented to them prior to taking action on the project and its
environmental determination.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
HEREBY FINDS AND DECLARES THE FOLLOWING:
SECTION 1. The Final Program EIR (SCH No. 2015041067) has been completed in
compliance with CEQA, the CEQA Guidelines and the City's environmental review guidelines.
SECTION 2. The City Council has reviewed and considered the information contained in
the Draft and Final Program EIR, all comments submitted to the Draft Program EIR, at noticed
public hearings at which the project was considered, and the Responses to Comments, prior to
making a decision on the General Plan Amendment 14-01, Municipal Code Amendment 14-02,
Zone Change 14-01 and the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan (Specific Plan 14-01).
SECTION 3. The Final Program EIR reflects the independent judgment of the City
Council and contains sufficient information and analysis to allow the City Council to make an
informed decision, considering the environmental implications of the proposed project, mitigation
measures and alternatives.
SECTION 4. The City Council HEREBY ADOPTS the CEQA "Findings of Fact"
attached hereto as Exhibit"A". Pursuant to Section 15091 of the CEQA Guidelines, the Findings
of Fact summarize the impacts of the proposed project, the mitigation measures required to avoid
or substantially lessen each of those impacts, and the "substantial evidence in the record"
supporting the finding that each impact will be avoided or substantially lessened, and Statements
of Overriding Consideration for those impacts that cannot be reduced to a level of insignificance.
SECTION 5. The City Council HEREBY CERTIFIES Program EIR (SCH No.
2015041067), which includes the Final Program EIR, the Draft Program EIR, and all Appendices
attached hereto as Exhibits "B, C, and D", respectively for General Plan Amendment 14-01,
Municipal Code Amendment 14-02, Zone Change 14-01 and the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan
(Specific Plan 14-01).
SECTION 6. The City Council HEREBY ADOPTS the Mitigation Monitoring Program,
attached hereto as part of Exhibit"B", which specifies the measures to mitigate the environmental
effects associated with the subject project and the monitoring efforts needed to ensure that the
measures are effectively implemented.
SECTION 7. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and hereafter
the same shall be in full force and effect.
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PASSED,APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 13th day of February, 2018.
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APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST:
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Rachel Richman, City Attorney Marc Donohurty Clerk
Exhibits:
A. Findings of Fact/Statement of Overriding Considerations
B. Final Program EIR (Public Comments, Response to Comments, Mitigation Monitoring
Program)
C. Draft Program EIR
D. Program EIR Appendices
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) §
CITY OF ROSEMEAD
I, Marc Donohue, City Clerk of the City Council of the City of Rosemead, California, do hereby
certify that the foregoing City Council Resolution, No. 2018-06, was duly adopted by the City
Council of the City of Rosemead, California, at a regular meeting thereof held on the 131h day of
February,2018, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: ARMENTA, LOW, LY
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: ALARCON, CLARK
ABSTAIN: NONE
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Marc Donohue, City Clerk