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ATTACHMENT 1 Planning Commission Resolution PC14-XX A RESOLUTION OF THE EL CERRITO PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AND ADOPT THE SAN PABLO AVENUE SPECIFIC PLAN. WHEREAS, in 2007, El Cerrito Redevelopment Agency undertook development of the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan jointly with the City of Richmond; WHEREAS, city staff and the consultant worked collaboratively on the Plan along with members of the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Advisory Committee (SPAAC) and through Planning Commission, Design Review Board and general public meetings; WHEREAS, a draft Specific Plan was completed in 2009 along with an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND); WHEREAS, based on comments received, a second draft was completed in 2010; WHEREAS, in March of 2011, the Council directed staff to do further revisions to the Specific Plan to deal with open space issues, expand the parking study and economic analysis, create more location-appropriate density, height and land use strategies to better reflect the priorities of the City Council, and better align the plan with contemporary land use and transit standards; WHEREAS, in November of 2011, the City Council provided additional recommendations, including that the Plan allow increased height and densities near the BART stations, more flexible parking requirements with lower minimums, and a more flexible approach to mixed-use, including allowing ground floor residential throughout the Plan area; WHEREAS, in April of 2013, the City Council approved revisions to the scope of the Specific Plan, including the preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Report and the addition of a Complete Streets Plan; WHEREAS, the Specific Plan process included substantial public participation through the years including a community workshops held on July 23, 2013 and October 19, 2013, as well as study sessions with the Design Review Board on July 2, 2014 the Planning Commission on July 17, 2013, November 20, 2013 and July 16, 2014 and a study session with the City Council on November 5, 2013; WHEREAS, the Draft Specific Plan was released for public review on June 3, 2014; WHEREAS, on June 3, 2014, the City released for a 45-day public review period a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) which identified and evaluated the potential environmental impacts of the proposed Specific Plan; WHEREAS, the City completed the Final Environmental Impact Report and prepared a revised Specific Plan incorporating many revisions received from appointed and elected officials as well as the public at large and released both documents for public review on August 28, 2014; ---PAGE BREAK--- WHEREAS, adoption of the Specific Plan has complied with the provisions of Government Code Section 65453; WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on September 4, 2014 at which it received testimony and other evidence; WHEREAS, at the September 4, 2014 hearing, the Planning Commission considered the Final Environmental Impact report as set forth in Exhibit 1; WHEREAS, at the September 4, 2014 hearing, the Planning Commission considered the General Plan Amendment set forth in Exhibit 2; WHEREAS, at the September 4, 2014 hearing, the Planning Commission considered the Rezoning of the Specific Plan area as set forth in Exhibit 3; and WHEREAS, at the September 4, 2014 hearing, the Planning Commission considered the Amendment to the El Cerrito Municipal Code as set forth in Exhibit 4. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the El Cerrito Planning Commission, based on its review and consideration of revised Specific Plan, attached exhibits, and associated Final Environmental Impact Report, and all public testimony, finds as follows: 1. The San Pablo Specific Plan is in the public interest and will advance the health, safety, and general welfare of the City of El Cerrito. 2. The San Pablo Specific Plan is consistent with the El Cerrito General Plan as amended in Exhibit 2. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council certify the Final Environmental Impact Report, approve the General Plan Amendment, approve the Specific Plan, and approve the amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and other amendments to the El Cerrito Municipal Code. CERTIFICATION I C E R TI F Y that this re s o lution w a s a dopt e d b y the El C err ito P l a nning C ommis s ion a t a special m ee ting h e ld on September 4, 2014 upon mo t ion of C ommission e r , s ec ond b y Commissioner : AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Margaret Development Services Manager