PC - 2018-01 - Certifying EIR; adopt findings of fact, statements of consideration; mitigation, monitoring, reporting program; approve general plan amendment; adopt ordinance zone change, municipal code; Garvey Ave specific plan PC RESOLUTION NO. 18-01
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
ROSEMEAD, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL CERTIFY THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (SCH NO. 2015041067) AND
ADOPT THE FINDINGS OF FACT, STATEMENTS OF OVERRIDING
CONSIDERATION, AND A MITIGATION, MONITORING, AND
REPORTING PROGRAM; APPROVE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT
14-01 AND ADOPT AN ORDINANCE APPROVING ZONE CHANGE 14-
01, MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENT 14-02, 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 (Specific Plan 14-01) 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 Dharma 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 Property connecting Garvey Avenue and new
neighborhood streets add to the roadway network of the area; and
WHEREAS, the proposed 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,
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
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pedestrians, bicyclists, and sidewalk diners. Chapter 6 recommends strategies to fund
and finance the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan; it provides an Action Plan with specific
directions for the day-to-day administration and long-term management of the Plan; and
WHEREAS, adoption of the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan (Specific Plan 14-01)
requires amendments to the Rosemead General Plan; which includes: Land Use Plan
(Figure 2-1), Land Use Categories/Buildout Table (Table 2-1), land use definitions,
General Plan and Zoning Ordinance Consistency (Table 2-5), Land Use and Population
Estimates (Table 2-6), Development and Population (Table 2-7), Future Area Intersection
Levels (Table 3-3) and subsequent text, Future Area Roadway Segment LOS (Table 3-
4), Level of Service Values — Intersections (Figure 3-2), Level of Service Values —
Segment (Figure 3-3), and Identified Intersection Approach Improvements (Figure 3-5).
Additionally, the General Plan will be amended to reflect the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan
densities and floor area ratio (FAR) for all mixed-use categories; and
WHEREAS, adoption of the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan (Specific Plan 14-01)
requires approval of a Zoning Map Amendment to the Rosemead official Zoning Map for
the affected properties within the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan area from their respective
mapping symbols of "C-3", "C-4", "R-2", "P-D", and "P" be changed to "SP" and to allow
for the adoption of the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan; and
WHEREAS, Rosemead Municipal Code Section 17.150 contains the provisions for
adoption of a Specific Plan on properties zoned "SP" in accordance with Government
Code Section 65450 and Government Code Section 65453; and
WHEREAS, adoption of the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan (Specific Plan 14-01)
includes amendments to Title 17 of the Rosemead Municipal Code and the addition of
"Rosemead Municipal Code Section 17.21 - Garvey Avenue Specific Plan Zoning
District," to incorporate the provisions set forth in the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan
(Specific Plan 14-01); and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission is an advisory body to the City Council with
regard to the approval of General Plan Amendments, Zone Changes, and Zoning Code
Amendments; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the
CEQA Guidelines, the preparation of a Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) 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.
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
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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 4, 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 January 17, 2018, the Planning Commission 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
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, the Rosemead Planning Commission has sufficiently considered all
testimony presented to them in order to make the following determination.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Planning Commission of the City
of Rosemead, as follows:
SECTION 1. Environmental Review. The Planning Commission HEREBY
FINDS AND DETERMINES that facts do exist as follows:
A. Final Program EIR (SCH No. 2015041067) has been completed in
compliance with CEQA, the CEQA Guidelines and the City's environmental review
guidelines.
B. The Planning Commission has reviewed and considered the information
contained in the Draft and Final Program EIR, all comments submitted to the Draft
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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,
Municipal Code Amendment, Zone Change and the Garvey Avenue Specific Plan.
C. The Final Program EIR reflects the independent judgment of the Planning
Commission and contains sufficient information and analysis to allow the Planning
Commission to make an informed decision, considering the environmental implications of
the proposed project, mitigation measures and alternatives.
SECTION 2. Recommendations regarding CEQA. The Planning Commission
HEREBY RECOMMENDS THE CITY COUNCIL:
A. Adopt Resolution 2018-06, certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report
(State Clearinghouse No. 2015041067) with Reports, Findings of Fact, Statements of
Overriding Consideration, and a Mitigation Monitoring Program.
SECTION 3. Recommendations regarding General Plan Amendment, Municipal
Code Amendment, Zone Change, and Specific Plan. Upon consideration of all facts
contained within the staff report, which is incorporated herein by reference, together with
consideration of all public comments, the Planning Commission HEREBY
RECOMMENDS THE CITY COUNCIL:
A. Adopt Resolution 2018-05 and Ordinance 978, approving Specific Plan 14-
01, Zone Change 14-01, Municipal Code Amendment 14-02, and General Plan
Amendment 14-01; and
SECTION 4. This resolution is the result of an action taken by the Planning
Commission on January 17, 2018, by the following vote:
AYES: DANG, ENG, HERRERA, LOPEZ, AND TANG
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
SECTION 5. The Secretary shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and shall
transmit copies of same to the applicant and the Rosemead City Clerk.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 17Th day of Ja/u'ar�y, 2018.
V
Sean Dang, Chair
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CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a resolution adopted by the Planning
Commission of the City of Rosemead at its regular meeting, held on the 17'h day of
January, 2018, by the following vote:
AYES: DANG, ENG, HERRERA, LOPEZ, AND TANG
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Be im, Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Gregory M. Murphy;'Slanning Commission Attorney
Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP
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