HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Reso07-12 Casamira Vly/Moller/Tipper PA03-060
RESOLUTION NO. 07 - 12
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL CERTIFICATION OF A SUPPLEMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE CASAMIRA VALLEY/MOLLER
RANCH PROJECT AND TIPPER PROPERTY LOCATED AT 6861 AND 7440
TASSAJARA ROAD (APN 985-0001-001 AND 986-0004-001)
P A 03-060
WHEREAS, the approximately 238.8 acre Casamira Valley/Moller Ranch Project
hereafter "Casamira V alley" proposes to annex two properties to the City of Dublin and the
Dublin San Ramon Services District. The Project site contains the approximately 226 acre
Casamira Valley/Moller Ranch ("Moller Ranch") site on the east side of Tassajara Road, and the
12.5 acre Tipper parcel on the west side of Tassajara Road, both south of the Alameda/Contra
Costa county line. The Project site is proposed for prezoning to the PD-Planned Development
district with a related Stage 1 Development Plan as further described below; and
WHEREAS, the De Silva Group submitted applications for future development of
approximately 209 residences, a Neighborhood Square, and open space on the approximately
226 acre Moller Ranch site. The Stage 1 Development Plan was subsequently revised in
December of 2006 to increase the number of proposed dwellings from 209 to 298, including
attached and detached units, and located generally in the same development area as originally
proposed. The Project includes a looped internal road with two access points to Tassajara Road. A
portion of the roadway, as well as some project grading and water quality and detention ponds
would extend off site onto approximately 7 acres of land owned by Moller Ranch and located in
Contra Costa County; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the annexation, the Applicant's request to amend the General
Plan to change the land use designation for the development area from Low Density Residential
to Medium Density Residential to allow for increased density and attached housing; to amend
the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan to include the 226 acre site; to prezone the site to PD-Planned
Development and adopt a related Stage 1 Development Plan reflecting the proposed development;
and to approve a pre-annexation agreement. The revised Project also includes a voluntary
conservation easement for the portions of the Moller Ranch site where no development is proposed
and includes cancellation and rescission of the Williamson Act contract on the proposed
development area pursuant to Government Code section 51256. (See PA 03-060, September and
December 2006 revisions.) No development is proposed on the Tipper site. The annexation and
other applications are collectively known as the "Project" and are on file and available for review
during normal business hours as P A 03-060 at the Planning Division, Dublin City Hall, 100 Civic
Plaza, Dublin, CA 94568; and
WHEREAS, the Project site is in Eastern Dublin for which the City adopted the Eastern
Dublin General Plan Amendment and Specific Plan to provide a comprehensive planning
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framework for future development of the area. In connection with this approval, the City
certified a program EIR pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15168 (SCH: 91103064,
Resolution 51-93, and Addendum dated August 22, 1994, hereafter "Eastern Dublin EIR" or
"program EIR") that is available for review in the Planning Department and is incorporated
herein by reference. The program EIR was integral to the planning process and examined the
direct and indirect effects, cumulative impacts, broad policy alternatives, and areawide mitigation
measures for developing Eastern Dublin, including the Project site; and
WHEREAS, the Eastern Dublin EIR identified potentially significant environmental
impacts and related mitigation measures, which the City adopted together with mitigation
findings and a Mitigation Monitoring Program (Resolution 53-93), which mitigation measures
and monitoring program continue to apply to development in Eastern Dublin, including the
Project; and
WHEREAS, the Eastern Dublin EIR also identified potentially significant environmental
impacts that could not be avoided by mitigation and for which the City adopted a Statement of
Overriding Considerations pursuant to CEQA; and
WHEREAS, the City prepared an Initial Study dated May 2005 for the Project consistent
with CEQA Guidelines sections 15162 and 15163 and determined that a supplement to the
Eastern Dublin EIR was required in order to analyze substantial changes in circumstances and
new information that could result in new or potentially more severe significant impacts than
identified in the Eastern Dublin EIR; and
WHEREAS, the City circulated a Notice of Preparation dated May 28, 2005 with the
Initial Study to public agencies and interested parties for consultation on the scope of the
supplemental EIR. The City also conducted a public scoping meeting on June 17,2005; and
WHEREAS, based on the Initial Study and responses to the Notice of Preparation, the
City prepared a Draft Supplemental EIR dated October 2006 (SCH No. 2005052146) which
reflected the independent judgment of the City as to the potential environmental effects of the
Project. The Draft Supplemental EIR confirmed that many aspects of the Project were within the
scope of the Eastern Dublin program and that the certified Eastern Dublin EIR adequately
described these aspects of the Project for CEQA purposes. The Draft Supplemental EIR was
circulated for the required 45 day public review period, from October 30,2006 to December 13,
2006; and
WHEREAS, the City received comment letters from State and local agencies during the
public review period. The City prepared a Final Supplemental EIR dated March 2007 containing
written responses to all comments received during the public review period, which responses
provide the City's good faith, reasoned analysis of the environmental issues raised by the
comments; and
WHEREAS, the Draft Supplemental EIR analyzed the Project as originally proposed.
However, the potential for Project revisions was anticipated and is reflected in Alternative 4 -
Medium Density Attached and Detached Housing Development, which analyzed a project of up to
326 dwelling units in generally the same development area as originally proposed. The analysis
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determined that Alternative 4 would have no new or greater significant impacts, and would require
no new or different mitigation measures than those identified for the Project. This determination
was based primarily on the same general development area for the Project and Alternative 4, and
the lesser density assumptions per dwelling unit even though more units would be developed under
the alternative; and
WHEREAS, the Final Supplemental EIR describes the Project revisions, which are similar
to and slightly less than the density and development assumptions analyzed in Alternative 4 of the
Draft Supplemental EIR. The Final Supplemental EIR specifically reviewed the Project revisions
and determined that they are similar to and no greater than the impacts identified for Alternative 4
in the Draft Supplemental EIR; and
WHEREAS, a staff report, dated April 10, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference,
described and analyzed the Draft and Final Supplemental EIRs and the Project for the Planning
Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed the staff report, the Draft and Final
Supplemental EIRs at a noticed public hearing on April 10, 2007 at which time all interested
parties had the opportunity to be heard; and
WHEREAS, the Draft and Final Supplemental EIRs reflect the City's independent
judgment and analysis on the potential for environmental impacts and constitute the
Supplemental Environmental Impact Report for the Casamira ValleylMoller Ranch Project; and
WHEREAS, the Draft and Final Supplemental EIRs are separately bound documents,
incorporated herein by reference, and are available for review during normal business hours in
the City planning department, file P A 03-060.
NOW, THEREFORE,BEITmsoLVEDlHAT:
A The foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this resolution.
B. The Dublin Planning Commission has reviewed and considered the Supplemental Environmental
impact Report and hereby recommends that the City Council certify the Supplemental Environmental
Impact Report as complete, adequate and in compliance with CEQA, the CEQA Guidelines, and the
City of Dublin Environmental Guidelines, and make all required mitigation and other findings.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 101h day of April, 2007 by the following vote:
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AYES:
Cms. Biddle, King, Tomlinson, Wehrenberg and Chair Schaub
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
w5;(~
Planning Commission Chair
ATTEST:
VI
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