HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 9074 (EIR Saint Dominic Master Plan)RESOLUTION NO. 9074
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
CERTIFYING THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE
SISTERS OF SAINT DOMINIC MASTER PLAN; 1520 Grand Avenue; Sisters
of Saint Dominic, owners; Peter Walz/TWM Architects, representative; AP
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WHEREAS, an application for a Master Plan for the 6.83 acre site owned by
the Sisters of Saint Dominic on Grand Avenue along with the required
applications for a zone change from PD (Planned Development) to a new PD
zone for the entire site with new development standards (Z92-2); a Use
Permit for development in the PD Zone (UP92-38); and an Environmental
and Design Review Permit (ED92-76) were filed with the City of San Rafael;
and
WHEREAS, an Initial Study was prepared by the City of San Rafael which
showed that the proposed Master Plan might produce significant
environmental effects on historic resources as it required the demolition of
the Mother House and St. Thomas Hall and other ancillary buildings on the
site and that an EIR would be required for the project; and
WHEREAS, on December 15, 1992, the San Rafael Planning Commission
held a duly noticed public hearing at which they accepted public testimony,
and provided additional comments on the Initial Study and approved a scope
of work for the preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report; and
WHEREAS, a draft EIR entitled Draft Environmental Impact Report, Sisters
of St. Dominic Master Plan, was prepared by During Associates and Page &
Turnbull, Inc. pursuant to the scope of work; and
WHEREAS, a Notice of Completion of a Draft EIR and copies of the Draft EIR
were delivered to the State Clearinghouse (State Clearinghouse Number
92123074) and the Draft EIR was circulated for a duly noticed 45 -day public
review period which began on July 26, 1993 and ended on September 8, 1993;
and
WHEREAS, a Public Notice of Availability and Public Hearing for the Draft
EIR was mailed on July 23, 1993 to property owners within a 300 foot radius of
the project site, Marin County historical groups, all applicable state and local
agencies and other interested persons who requested information on the
project and copies of the notice were duly posted and published; and
WHEREAS, copies of the Draft EIR were made available at the Planning
Department, the San Rafael City Library, and the Marin County Library and
copies of the Draft EIR were also distributed to local historical groups; and
WHEREAS, written comments on the Draft EIR during the comment period
were received from the following agencies, groups, and individuals: State
Office of Historic Preservation, Carol Galloway, Annette Garatti, Cynthia
Pepper and Val D. Hornstein, Marianne Hurley, State Historic Building Safety
Board, Kenneth and Janet Philo, Dolores Rogers, Leslie Simons, and Niki
Simons; and
WHEREAS, the draft EIR was reviewed at a duly noticed public hearing by the
Planning Commission on August 24, 1993 at which time the Commission
accepted both oral testimony and additional written comments on the Draft
EIR and directed staff to prepare a draft final EIR document, and
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WHEREAS, During Associates and Page & Turnbull, Inc. prepared responses
to each comment received during the public review period and at the public
hearing held by the Planning Commission and included all comments and
responses in a bound document entitled, Environmental Impact Report, Draft
Summary of Comments and Responses, Sisters of St. Dominic Master Plan, _
dated October 15,1993; and
WHEREAS, During Associates also incorporated any responses which
included text changes to the EIR into a bound document entitled Draft Final
Environmental Impact Report, Sisters of St. Dominic Master Plan, and
WHEREAS, CEQA Guidelines Section 15089(b) states that an opportunity for
review of the draft Final EIR by the public and by commenting agencies may
be provided, these two documents were made available for public review
beginning on Saturday, October 16, 1993 and ending on October 26,1993; and
WHEREAS, copies of the documents were distributed to the Planning
Commission and Cultural Affairs Commission, mailed to State Agencies
which commented on the Draft EIR, distributed to local historical groups,
placed in the San Rafael City Library and the Marin County Library and made
available in the Planning Department; and
WHEREAS, public notice of the public hearing to review the documents was
duly mailed to property owners within 300 feet of the site, historic groups, all
interested persons who asked to be notified, and published in the newspaper;
and
WHEREAS, on October 26, 1993 the Planning Commission held a public
hearing to review the draft Final EIR and Response to Comments documents
in conjunction with a staff report which discussed the adequacy of the draft
Final EIR and outlined changes to the EIR that had been made in response to
comments and focused on the following EIR issues: the EIR process; Costs and
Finances of the project; Historic, Architectural, and Cultural Resources,
alternatives; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission closed the public hearing, and
requested the EIR Consultants, Stu During and J. Turnbull respond to
comments made at the hearing; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed and considered this
testimony in conjunction with the Environmental Impact Report, Draft
Summary of Comments and Responses, Sisters of St. Dominic Master Plan,
dated October 15, 1993 and the Draft Final Environmental Impact Report,
Sisters of St. Dominic Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Commission directed staff to prepare a Resolution
recommending certification of the Final EIR; and
WHEREAS, on November 9, 1993 the Commission adopted Resolution 93-09
(6-0 vote) recommending to the City Council certification of the FEIR; and
WHEREAS, for any project on which the City Council has discretionary
approval, the City Council must certify the environmental document and the
rezoning for the Sisters of St. Dominic Master Plan requires the approval of
the City Council; and
WHERAS, the administrative records of the Planning Commission hearings
consisting of all staff reports, exhibits, and correspondence; meeting minutes;
Resolution 93-09; and the Final EIR for the project consisting of the
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Environmental Impact Report, Draft Summary of Comments and Responses,
Sisters of St. Dominic Master Plan, dated October 15, 1993 and the Draft Final
Environmental Impact Report, Sisters of St. Dominic Master Plan were
forwarded to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, on December 6, 1993 the City Council held a duly noticed public
hearing to consider certification of the FEIR in conjunction with a staff report
dated December 3, 1993 which recommended the Council certify the FEIR; and
WHEREAS, the City Council took public testimony on the FEIR, closed the
public hearing, and requested the EIR Consultants, Stu During and J.
Turnbull, respond to comments made at the hearing.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San
Rafael determines for purposes of certification that the Final EIR for the
project consists of the Environmental Impact Report, Draft Summary of
Comments and Responses, Sisters of St. Dominic Master Plan, dated October
15, 1993 and the Draft Final Environmental Impact Report, Sisters of St.
Dominic Master Plan ; all meeting minutes; Planning Commission
Resolution No. 93-09; and this Resolution No. 9074.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council has exercised its
independent judgment in evaluating the Final EIR and makes the following
determinations and findings related to certification of the Final EIR:
1. The City Council finds that the Final EIR fully complies with CEQA
requirements for consultation and public review based on the following facts
and analysis:
A. The Notice of Preparation for the EIR, the draft EIR, and the Final EIR
were duly made available to the public and all trustee and responsible
agencies through noticing, publication and posting. Copies of the
documents were available in libraries and the Planning Department.
2. The City Council finds that the Final EIR fully complies with CEQA
requirements that written responses be prepared on all comments received
from persons who reviewed the Draft EIR based on the following facts:
A. The Environmental Impact Report, Draft Summary of Comments and
Responses, Sisters of St. Dominic Master Plan, dated October 15, 1993
contains all letters received during the public comment period and the
transcript of all testimony received at the public hearing. Each and every
comment has been numbered and a response has been prepared to each
environmental issue.
B. Comments received at the October 26, 1993 public hearing on the draft
final EIR were responded to by the consultant and responses are contained
in the minutes of the meeting.
C. Comments received at the December 6, 1993 public hearing on the Final
EIR were responded to by the consultant and responses are contained in
the minutes of the meeting.
3. The City Council finds that the FEIR adequately assesses historic impacts
based on the following facts and analysis:
A. The FEIR contains a detailed description of the historic resources on
the site prepared by Page & Turnbull, Inc., a firm with recognized expertise
in historic resources. The FEIR analyzes the architectural and historic
significance of the Mother House, St. Thomas Hall, and the gardens using
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City of San Rafael and National Register criteria. Potential significant
impacts of the project and potential mitigation measures are outlined.
4. The City Council finds that the FEIR adequately assesses urban design and
visual impacts based on the following facts and analysis:
A. The FEIR contains photos showing the existing site conditions and
photomontages which illustrate site views after completion of the
proposed project. The FEIR notes that the institutional appearance of the
site will be changed to one with residential characteristics. This is not
considered to be a significant impact.
5. The City Council finds that the FEIR adequately assesses Project
Alternatives based on the following facts and analysis:
A. The FEIR contains a range of alternatives which is reasonable. It
analyzes the following alternatives: No Project; Retention, Repair and
Adaptive Reuse of the Mother House; Retention, Repair, and Adaptive
Reuse of St. Thomas Hall; Relocation of the Buildings; and Potential
Salvage or Rescue of Existing Architectural Elements. The FEIR discusses
these alternatives in great detail and provides cost comparisons. An EIR
need not consider alternatives whose effect cannot be reasonably
ascertained and whose implementation is remote and speculative.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council
hereby finds that the Final EIR for the Sisters of St. Dominic Master Plan has
been completed in compliance with CEQA and certifies the document.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council
hereby certifies that the Final EIR was presented to the City Council which is
the decision making body of the City of San Rafael and that the City Council
reviewed and considered the information contained in the Final
Environmental Impact Report prior to acting on the project described in the
Final EIR or any variation or modification of that project.
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
regular meeting of the city Council of said City held on the 6th day of
December, 1993, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Thayer, Zappetini &
Mayor Boro
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
JEAINE M. LEONCINI, City Clerk
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