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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-17 PC Resolution PC RESOLUTION NO. 2020-17 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF TEMECULA MAKING A FINDING OF CONSISTENCY WITH THE GENERAL PLAN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ("CIP") AND MAKING A FINDING OF EXEMPTION UNDER SECTIONS 15061(B)(3), 15262 AND 15378(B)(4) OF THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT ("CEQA") (LONG RANGE PLANNING PROJECT NO. LR20-0500) THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF TEMECULA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Procedural Findings. The Planning Commission of the City of Temecula does hereby find, determine and declare that: A. The City of Temecula originally adopted a comprehensive General Plan in 2005, which has been amended to include specific policies and objectives for infrastructure, construction and maintenance of public facilities; and B. Pursuant to California Government Code Sections 65402 and 65403, the Planning Commission is required to review Capital Improvement Program to determine that it is consistent with the City's adopted General Plan; and C. Staff has reviewed the General Plan and has determined that these projects are consistent with the provisions of the Circulation, Growth Management/Public Facilities, Air Quality, and Community Design Elements of the adopted General Plan; and D. On June 3, 2020, the Planning Commission of the City of Temecula held a public meeting to consider the proposed Fiscal Year 2021-2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP); and E. The projects within the CIP are divided into four general categories including Circulation, infrastructure/Other, Park/Recreation, and Successor Agency to the Temecula Redevelopment Agency(SARDA)/Housing; and F. The four categories listed in the attached Fiscal Year 2021-25 Capital Improvement Program and the staff report analysis consistency hereto demonstrates that all of these capital projects are consistent with goals, policies and program of the Temecula General Plan. The findings of consistency set forth in the staff report are incorporated herein by this reference; and Section 2. Environmental Findings. The Planning Commission hereby makes the following environmental findings and determinations in connection with the adoption of this resolution: A. The Fiscal Year 2021-25 Capital Improvement Program is not a "project" within the meaning of Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines, and is therefore exempt from the requirements of CEQA. Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines states that a project does not include the creation of government funding mechanisms or other government fiscal activities which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. The Planning Commission's review and determination that the Fiscal Year 2021-25 Capital Improvement Program is consistent with the City of Temecula General Plan, does not result in the construction nor cause the construction of any specific CIP project, and will have no effect on the environment, and therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary. Moreover, if the Planning Commission's determination that the CIP is consistent with the General Plan is determined to be a project under CEQA, then it is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15262 of the State CEQA Guidelines which provides that a project involving only feasibility or planning studies for possible future actions, which actions the City has not approved, adopted, or funded, does not require preparation of an EIR or Negative Declaration, but does require consideration of environmental factors. In reviewing this CIP and conducting public hearings on it, the Planning Commission has considered relevant environmental factors. The City, as the lead agency for environmental review pursuant CEQA, has reviewed the scope and nature of this CIP and has concluded that the planning and prioritization process comprising this activity is not a project pursuant to CEQA because it does not order or authorize the commencement of any physical or other activity that would directly or indirectly have a significant effect upon the environment. The CIP merely establishes a listing of priority and allocates funds for the City to commence the necessary planning studies, including review pursuant to CEQA, at a future unspecified date. The future planning studies will be conducted at the earliest possible time so as to ensure thorough review pursuant to CEQA. Recognizing that the protection of the environment is a key factor in the quality of life within the City and to further the City's strict adherence to both the spirit and letter of the law as regards to CEQA, the Planning Commission has also considered this CIP as if it were a Project pursuant to CEQA. The Planning Commission concludes the Project is exempt from review under CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that this prioritizing and fund allocation program cannot and does not have the potential to cause a significant effect on the environment. No physical activity will occur until all required CEQA review is conducted at the time the physical improvements prioritized in the CIP are undertaken. Section 3. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City of Temecula Planning Commission this 3rd day of June, 2020. Oig7/C-4" 1 Lanae Turley-T o, Chairpen ATTEST: Luke Watson Secretary [SEAL] STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE )ss CITY OF TEMECULA ) I, Luke Watson, Secretary of the Temecula Planning Commission, do hereby certify that the forgoing PC Resolution No. 2020-17 was duly and regularly adopted by the Planning Commission of the City of Temecula at a regular meeting thereof held on the 3rd day of June, 2020, by the following vote: AYES: 5 PLANNING COMMISSIONERS: Guerriero, Telesio, Turley-Trejo, Watts, Youmans NOES: 0 PLANNING COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 PLANNING COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 PLANNING COMMISSIONERS: None 6aA Luke Watson Secretary