RESOLUTION NO. 23- _____
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Adopting A General Plan Amendment To Modify Figure 3-1 (Circulation Map), Figure 3-4 (Pedestrian System Map), And Figure 3-6 (Bicycle System Map) In The General Plan Transportation Element (Chapter 3) Of The City Of Emeryville General Plan WHEREAS, on October 13, 2009, the City Council adopted the Emeryville General Plan (“General Plan”) by Resolution No. 09-208 and certified an Environmental Impact Report for the General Plan by Resolution No. 09-207; and
WHEREAS, on May 15, 2012 the City Council adopted Resolution No. 12-078 adopting the Emeryville Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan (the “Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan”); and WHEREAS, the General Plan includes goals and policies regarding multi-modal transportation, a walkable city, a bicycle system, and calls for the update of the City’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan; and
WHEREAS, on November 17, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 20-114 authorizing the execution of a contract with Alta Planning + Design for the preparation of the Active Transportation Plan (ATP), to replace the Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan; and WHEREAS, as a result of detailed analysis of the City’s circulation system, amendment of the Transportation Element of the General Plan is needed to facilitate the adoption of the proposed ATP; and
WHEREAS, on July 27, 2023, the Planning Commission held a duly and properly noticed public hearing to consider amendments to the General Plan as depicted in Exhibits A, B and C attached hereto (the “General Plan Amendment”) and adopted a resolution approving and recommending that the City Council adopt the General Plan Amendment; and
WHEREAS, on October 17, 2023 the City Council held a duly and properly noticed public hearing to consider the General Plan Amendment; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code section 65352.3, the City notified local Native American tribes of the proposed General Plan Amendment and received no comments or requests for consultation; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered the staff report, all public comments, the General Plan Amendment, and the record as a whole; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Emeryville hereby makes the following findings per Section 9-7.1205 of the Emeryville Municipal Code:
(a) The proposed amendment will contribute to the public health, safety, and general welfare or will be of benefit to the public.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E08A709D-ED9D-4AAC-A070-F62367140C78 Resolution No. _____
General Plan Amendment For Consistency With ATP
City Council Meeting | October 17, 2023
The General Plan Amendment will add protected bicycle facilities to the General Plan and additional shared bicycle and walking paths to help facilitate the safe travel of people throughout the city. The General Plan Amendment will contribute to the public health, safety, general welfare, and will be of benefit to the public by making the General Plan Transportation Element consistent with the Active Transportation Plan that has the visions of “The City of Emeryville is a community where active, sustainable transportation is the easy choice: it is safe, comfortable, equitable, and accessible to all.”
(b) The proposed amendment is consistent with the General Plan’s guiding principles, unless the guiding principles themselves are proposed to be amended.
The General Plan Amendment is consistent with the ten guiding principles of the General Plan because:
1. By providing additional pedestrian and bicycle connectivity throughout the city, the General Plan Amendment helps create “a cohesive city of distinctive districts and livable neighborhoods.”
2. The General Plan Amendment provides “a connected place” by fostering new connections and providing “new and safe pedestrian and bicycle linkages.”
3. The General Plan Amendment continues to expand pedestrian and bicycle access to an “enhanced and connected open space network and green streets.”
4. The General Plan Amendment expands the network of shared bicycle/pedestrian paths creating a more “walkable, fine-grained city, emphasizing pedestrians.”
5. The General Plan Amendment adds to the “diversity of transportation modes and choices” in the city by expanding the pedestrian and bicycle network and improving access to transit.
6. The General Plan Amendment contributes to “a vibrant, urban community” by increasing facilities “designed for pedestrian comfort, walking, and enjoyment.”
7. The General Plan Amendment was informed by an extensive outreach process that engaged more than 1,300 participants via an online survey and interactive map, in person walking and bicycle workshops, public meetings and focused listening sessions to insure that the Active Transportation Plan and associated General Plan Amendment reflect “a diverse, balanced, and inclusive community.”
DocuSign Envelope ID: E08A709D-ED9D-4AAC-A070-F62367140C78 Resolution No. _____
General Plan Amendment For Consistency With ATP
City Council Meeting | October 17, 2023
8. The General Plan Amendment incorporates “a balance of regional and local amenities” by strengthening bicycle and pedestrian connections within Emeryville and that are part of regional networks for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, such as the Bay Trail.
9. The General Plan Amendment supports “sustainability and innovation, with respect for the past” by expanding pedestrian and bicycle connections that increase the feasibility of “a lifestyle with low ecological impacts upon energy consumption, climate, and the natural environment.”
10. The General Plan Amendment is consistent with the vision of “an imageable and memorable city” as the expanded pedestrian and bicycle facilities contribute to an enhanced “experience of entering Emeryville with attractive and appropriate streetscape improvements along major regional and city arterials.”
(c) The proposed amendment retains the internal consistency of the General Plan and is consistent with other adopted plans, unless concurrent amendment to those plans is also proposed and will result in consistency.
The General Plan Amendment retains the internal consistency of the General Plan and is consistent with other adopted plans by increasing and improving pedestrian and bicycle facilities throughout the city that are consistent with the ten guiding principles of the General Plan and help achieve General Plan goals such as:
T-G-1: A comprehensive transportation system
T-G-2: Universally accessible
T-G-3: Multi-modal
T-G-4: A walkable city
T-G-5: A safe, comprehensive, and integrated bicycle system T-G-7: A multi-functional street system
(d) The proposed amendment has been reviewed in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act.
The General Plan Amendments have been reviewed in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”).
Adoption of the ATP and corresponding General Plan Amendments are exempt from the CEQA pursuant to Pub. Res. Code section 21080.20, which states that adoption of an active transportation plan involving restriping of streets and highways, bicycle parking and storage, signal timing to improve street and highway intersection operations, and related signage for bicycles, pedestrians, and vehicles is exempt from CEQA review provided that noticed public hearings are held prior to DocuSign Envelope ID: E08A709D-ED9D-4AAC-A070-F62367140C78 Resolution No. _____
General Plan Amendment For Consistency With ATP
City Council Meeting | October 17, 2023
adoption, which the City has completed. Further, adoption of the ATP and corresponding General Plan Amendments are exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c), which applies to minor changes to existing highways, streets, sidewalks, and trails, including the addition and modification of pedestrian and bicycle facilities; Section 15302, which applies to replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities; Section 15304(h), which applies to the creation of bicycle lanes on existing rights-of-way; and the “common sense exemption” at Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that adoption of the ATP and corresponding General Plan Amendments may have a significant effect on the environment. The action would not authorize any construction.
Environmental review would be conducted for any future project that would implement the policies in the General Plan and ATP. (e) The proposed amendment complies with State law for the preparation, adoption, and amendment of general plans at California Government Code Section 65350 et seq.
The General Plan Amendment complies with applicable State law in that the procedures required by Government Code Section 65350 et seq. are satisfied. The standard public noticing for the General Plan Amendment was accomplished through a legal advertisement that was published in the Oakland Tribune.
and, be it, further
RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Emeryville that, based on the findings set forth in this Resolution and the entire record before the City Council, the City Council hereby approves the General Plan Amendment as depicted in Exhibits A, B and C attached to this Resolution.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E08A709D-ED9D-4AAC-A070-F62367140C78 Resolution No. _____
General Plan Amendment For Consistency With ATP
City Council Meeting | October 17, 2023
ADOPTED, by the City Council of the City of Emeryville at a regular meeting held Tuesday, October 17, 2023, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
MAYOR
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY CLERK CITY ATTORNEY
ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit A – Figure 3-1: Circulation Map
Exhibit B – Figure 3-4: Pedestrian System Map
Exhibit C – Figure 3-6: Bicycle System Map
DocuSign Envelope ID: E08A709D-ED9D-4AAC-A070-F62367140C78