City of Foster City
Addendum to the
Mi�gated Nega�ve Declara�on
for
Foster City Recrea�on Center Rebuild Project
APNs 094-470-130 and 094-470-150
SCH # 20231009
Introduc�on
In July 2023, the City of Foster City (“City”), in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), the State CEQA Guidelines adopted by the Secretary of Resources, and the City of Foster City Environmental Review Guidelines, prepared an Ini�al Study and Mi�gate d Nega�ve Declara�on (SCH # 20231009) with Standards Condi�ons and Mi�ga�on Monitoring and Repor�ng Program (SCAMMRP), and CEQA Findings (IS/MND) for the redevelopment of the exis�ng 32,000-square-foot William E. Walker Recrea�on Center to create a new Foster City Recrea�on Center approximately 40,000 square feet in size in generally the same loca�on (“the project”).
On November 16, 2023, the City adopted the IS/MND (atached hereto as Atachment A) and approved the use permit for the Project. Under the adopted IS/MND, the proposed project included three components: 1) demoli�on of the exis�ng William E. Walker Recrea�on Center and construc�on of a new Foster City Recrea�on Center (recrea�on center); 2) improvements to Leo J. Ryan Park; and 3) parking improvements. However, during the �me that the building is under construc�on, modular buildings would be u�lized while the Recrea�on Center is under construc�on. This includes three (3) modular classroom buildings and a restroom trailer to be placed on or near the tennis courts at Leo Ryan Park for approximately 22 months.
Applicability and Use of an Addendum
Under CEQA, lead agencies must conduct an evalua�on of proposed changes to a project in order to determine whether further environmental analysis is required. (Pub. Resources Code § 21166; CEQA Guidelines, § 15162.) Once an EIR or nega�ve declara�on has been completed for a project, a lead agency may not require prepara�on of a subsequent environmental review unless the condi�ons set forth in Public Resources Code sec�on 21166 and CEQA Guidelines sec�on 15162 are sa�sfied.
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sec�on 15164(b), “[a]n addendum to an adopted nega�ve declara�on may be prepared if only minor technical changes or addi�ons are necessary or none of the condi�ons described in Sec�on 15162 calling for the prepara�on of a subsequent EIR or nega�ve declara�on have o ccurred.
CEQA Guidelines sec�on 15162 provides that no subsequent or supplemental environmental review shall be required unless:
(1) Substan�al changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions of the p r e v i o u s E I R o r n e g a � v e d e c l a r a � o n d u e t o t h e i n v o l v e m e n t o f n e w s i g n i fi c a n t e n v i r o n m e n t a l effects or a substan�al increase in the severity of previously iden�fied significant effects; (2) Substan�al changes occur with respect to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken which will require major revisions of the previous EIR or nega�ve declara�on due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substan�al increase in the severity of previously iden�fied significant effects; or
(3) New informa�on of substan�al importance, which was not known and could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the �me the previous EIR was cer�fied as complete or the nega�ve declara�on was adopted, shows any of the following:
(A) The project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the previous EIR or nega�ve declara�on;
(B) Significant effects previously examined will be substan�ally more severe than shown in the previous EIR;
(C) Mi�ga�on measures or alterna�ves previously found not to be feasible would in fact be feasible and would substan�ally reduce one or more significant effects of the project, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mi�ga�on measure or alterna�ve; or (D) Mi�ga�on measures or alterna�ves which are considerably different from those analyzed in the previous EIR would substan�ally reduce one or more significant effects on the environment, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mi�ga�on measure or alterna�ve.
An addendum need not be circulated for public review but can be included in or atached to the Final EIR or nega�ve declara�on (CEQA Guidelines § 15164(c)). The decision -making body shall consider the addendum with the Final EIR or nega�ve declara�on prior to making a decision on the project (CEQA Guidelines § 15164(d)). An agency must also include a brief explana�on of the decision not to prepare a subsequent EIR or nega�ve declara�on pursuant to Sec�on 15162 (CEQA Guidelines § 15164(e)).
Each environmental topic assessed under CEQA (Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines) and in the mi�gated nega�ve declara�on was considered, including Aesthe�cs and Shade and Shadow; Air Quality; Biological Resources; Cultural Resources; Soils, Geology, and Seismicity; Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Hazards and Hazardous Materials; Hydrology and Water Quality; Land Use; Noise and Vibra�on; Traffic and Transporta�on; and Recrea�on,. to evaluate the categories in terms of any changed condi�on (e.g., changed circumstances, project changes, or new informa�on of substan�al importance) that may result in a changed environmental result (e.g., a new significant impact or substan�al increase in the severity of a previously iden�fied significant effect) (CEQA Guidelines § 15162).
Under the instant circumstances, no substan�al changes are being made to the Project. Three (3) modular classroom buildings and a restroom trailer are proposed to be placed on or near the tennis courts at Leo Ryan Park
for the an�cipated 22 months of construc�on. Therefore, the physical effects on the environment are the same. Based on these circumstances, the modified Project does not trigger any of the circumstances that would require prepara�on of a subsequent EIR or nega�ve declara�on under Public Resources Code sec�on 21166 or CEQA Guidelines sec�on 15162, as further set forth in this Addendum.
Descrip�on of the Proposed Project:
The descrip�on of the Project remains the same as that described in the atached IS/MND. The exis�ng 32,000-square-foot recrea�on center located in Leo J. Ryan Park would be demolished, and the new Foster City Recrea�on Center would be constructed in approximately the same loca�on with a different, larger footprint. The new recrea�on center building would be two stories and a maximum of approximately 40 feet in height and approximately 40,000 square feet in size. The first floor of the new Recrea�on Center building would include mul�ple event spaces, as well as space for classrooms, offices and staff rooms, mee�ng rooms, a community lounge/lobby, a senior lounge, and a kitchen. Addi�onally, the first floor would include restrooms, storage, and mechanical space. Building service areas would also include a generator and trash enclosures near the northern boundary of the site. The second floor would include space for fitness rooms, mul�-purpose ac�vity rooms, an arts room, mee�ng rooms, and addi�onal office space as well as an outdoor pa�o on the south side of the building facing the Foster City Lagoon.
Added scope - During the �me that the Recrea�on Center is under construc�on, three (3) modular classroom buildings and a restroom trailer will be needed to accommodate the programs. These will be placed on or near the tennis courts at Leo J. Ryan Park. Construc�on of the modular buildings is an�cipated to take approximately 40 days (an�cipated to begin in May 2024). A�er construc�on of the facili�es, the buildings will remain for an an�cipated 22 months, in which a removal period will follow. The scope of work includes but is not limited to delivering, leveling, installing, and removing the temporary structures.
Along with the structures, the buildings must be furnished properly and installed with the appropriate Americans with Disabili�es Act (ADA) requirements.
Environmental Impacts Associated with the Modified Project:
Changed Condi�ons
Because the elements of the Project will remain the same as the Project previously examined in the atached IS/MND, with the excep�on of the adding modular buildings and a restroom trailer to fully effectuate the Project, all direct Project impacts would remain the same as those iden�fied in atached IS/MND in the absence of any changed condi�ons in the environment.
Based on its review of the modified Project and its familiarity with the Project environment, the City has determined that the environment in the Project loca�on has not changed in a way that would result in previously unexamined environmental impacts from the Project or an increase in the severity of any of the previously examined environmental impacts as these are temporary modular buildings . The modified Project will remain consistent with the approved Use Permit and would con�nue under the same Condi�ons of Approval.
New Informa�on
Based on its review of the modified Project and its familiarity with the project environment, the City has determined that there is not any new informa�on that was not available at the �me of the previous IS/MND that would show that the Project may have new or previously unexamined significant impacts on the environment.
Cumula�ve Impacts
Based on its review of the modified Project and its familiarity with the Project environment, the City has determined that there is not any new informa�on that was not available at the �me of the previous IS/MND that would show that the modified Project scope may have new or increased cumula�ve impacts on the environment.
Conclusions:
The modified Project would not result in any new or substan�ally more significant impacts than those examined in the IS/MND.
Mi�ga�on Measures:
Based on its review of the modified Project and its familiarity with the Project environment, the City has determined that only minor addi�ons are being made to the Project by installing and removing three (3) modular classroom buildings and a restroom trailer on or near the exis�ng tennis courts at Leo Ryan Park for the an�cipated 22 months of construc�on. There is not any substan�al changes to the Project nor any new informa�on that was not available at the �me of the previous IS/MND that would show that the any revisions to the previously approved mi�ga�on measures are necessary.
Exhibit A
Foster City Recrea�on Center Rebuild Project Ini�al Study/Mi�gated Nega�ve Declara�on and Responses to Comments are available here:
htps://www.fostercity.org/system/files/deleted/fileatachments/community_development/project/452 43/foster_city_recrea�on_center_rebuild_public_ini�al_study_mi�gated_nega�ve_declara�on_technica l_reports_and_no�ces_0.pdf
htps://www.fostercity.org/sites/default/files/fileatachments/community_development/page/45661/fo ster_city_rec_center_rebuild_project_-_final_ceqa_responses_to_comments.pdf