HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 10712 (General Plan 2000 Amendments)RESOLUTION NO. 10712
RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING
A NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE SAN
RAFAEL GENERAL PLAN 2000 AND ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT
AMENDMENTS TO EXPAND RETAIL USES IN THE HETHERTON
OFFICE DISTRICT AND UPDATE TO THE GENERAL PLAN
PROGRAM PRIORITIES CHART (GPA00-4 / ZC00-9).
The City Council of the City of San Rafael finds and determines that:
WHEREAS, in 1996, the City of San Rafael established the Hetherton Office District
General Plan land use designation and zoning district for the eastern entrance to Downtown San
Rafael. The Hetherton Office District was established to promote the area as a transportation hub
and an office center, with second floor office use and "business support" retail uses on the
ground floor. The Hetherton Office District does not permit general retail uses and services; and
WHEREAS, since 1996, the City of San Rafael Department of Community Development
has received numerous inquiries and requests to establish ground -floor, general retail uses along
the Fourth Street corridor of the Hetherton Office District. However, the current limits on retail
uses in this district have discouraged the leasing of available ground -floor space along the Fourth
Street corridor to viable, general retail uses and services. Likewise, a majority of the properties
in this district that front on Fourth Street are occupied by general retail uses and services, which
are considered legal, nonconforming uses in this district; and
WHEREAS, in May 2000, the City of San Rafael initiated an amendment to the San
Rafael General Plan 2000 and the City of San Rafael Zoning Ordinance (Title 14 SRMC) to
expand the list of permitted retail uses for ground -floor properties with frontage on Fourth Street.
Concurrently, the City initiated an overdue update of the General Plan Program Priorities Chart;
and
WHEREAS, consistent with the requirements of the City of San Rafael Environmental
Review Procedures and the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), an
Initial Study and Negative Declaration was prepared finding that the proposed amendments to the
San Rafael General Plan 2000 and the City of San Rafael Zoning Ordinance (Title 14) would not
result in sigriificant environmental effects; and
WHEREAS, notices regarding the Initial Study/Negative Declaration prepared for this
project, as well as the amendments to the San Rafael General Plan 2000 and the City of San
Rafael Zoning Ordinance were: a) published in a local newspaper of general circulation in the
area and b) mailed to surrounding property owners within 300 feet, pertinent agencies,
organizations and special interest groups. Copies of the Initial Study/Negative Declaration were
made available for a 20 -day review period commencing on August 9, 2000; and
F ,
l
WHEREAS, on August 29, 2000 the San Rafael Planning Commission held a duly
noticed public hearing on the Initial Study/Negative Declaration, accepting all oral and written
public testimony and written report of the Community Development Department Staff. On a 6-0-
1 vote (O'Brien absent) recommended to the City Council the adoption of the Negative
Declaration; and
WHEREAS, on September 18, 2000, the City Council held a public hearing on the
proposed Initial Study/Negative Declaration, accepting public testimony and written report of the
Community Development Department.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Rafael City Council does
hereby adopt the Negative Declaration based on the findings that a) the Initial Study/Negative
Declaration has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the City of San Rafael
Environmental Review Procedures and the provisions of the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) and b) the project will not result in a significant effect on the environment.
I, JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the
City Council held Monday, the eighteenth of September, 2000, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers: Cohen, Heller, Phillips and Mayor Boro
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Miller
JEANNE M. LEON—"INI, City Clerk