City of Hesperia
STAFF REPORT
DATE: June 12, 2025
TO: Planning Commission Members
FROM: Nathan R. Freeman, Director of Development Services BY: Ryan Leonard, Principal Planner
SUBJECT: 2025 General Plan Update
RECOMMENDED ACTION
It is recommended that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution No s. PC-2025-08 and PC- 2025-09 recommending that the City Council: 1) Certify the Addendum as being complete and in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and 2) Adopt the updated Land Use Element, Circulation Element, and Health and Safety Element.
BACKGROUND
The City Council adopted Hesperia’s last General Plan update on September 7, 2010. Since then, state legislation has evolved, requiring specific revisions to maintain legal compliance. In 2024, the City engaged PlaceWorks, Inc. (Placeworks) to update the Land Use, Circulation, and Safety Elements and prepare an Addendum to the 2010 General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR). PlaceWorks was also contracted to draft Objective Design Standards in support of the City's recently adopted Housing Element. These standards will be advanced separately at a future date.
To prepare the update, the City and Placeworks hosted several public meetings and workshops.
In 2024, four public meetings and two study sessions were held with the Planning Commission and City Council. The Commission and Council reviewed and discussed critical components of each element, as well as the Objective Design Standards . The project team also consulted stakeholder groups and distributed a public survey to gather input, particularly for the Health and Safety Element.
ISSUES/ANALYSIS
The General Plan is the City’s “Constitution” and guide for development, outlining the City’s vision for itself and how it will develop over time and maintain quality of life. All decisions made by the City, from the adoption of the annual budget and implementation of capital improvements to the issuance of building permits, must be consistent with the General Plan.
Since the last General Plan update in 2010, the City’s popul ation has increased from approximately 90,000 to over 100,000, and employment has grown from 11,000 to 17,000.
Ongoing development interest has helped sustain this economic growth, which is expected to continue. The updated General Plan must also respond to new laws, regulations, and conditions that have emerged since 2010. For instance, recent state legislation on climate adaptation and resiliency requires cities to take steps to better withstand extreme weather events. Additionally,
Attachment 6
Staff Report to the Planning Commission
2025 General Plan Update
June 12, 2025
new mandates have been enacted by the State legislature to address community health, education, and economic equity.
General Plan Goals
As a focused update, the primary objective of the project team was to integrate new policies and programs that comply with State law while preserving the overall vision and direction established by the 2010 General Plan. Throughout the process, input from community members, stakeholders, and City staff consistently reaffirmed that the goals set forth in the original plan remain relevant today. The focused General Plan Update supports the following goals:
Preserve existing neighborhoods;
Enhance the quality of residential areas across a variety of densities, with landscap ing and architectural standards;
Reinforce efforts to build a local job base and establish sales tax-producing businesses along Bear Valley Road, Main Street and the Freeway Corridor; Preserve lot sizes and prevent premature subdivision of land; Enhance the quality of life in higher residential density developments with paseos, parks and other amenities;
Establish a circulation system of arterial and connector streets to carry traffic efficiently within and across the City;
Support the urban design framework, which includes two new greenways to link the freeway corridor with the downtown area;
Dedicate housing units for senior citizens as well as for all income levels; and Permit mixed-use developments in the downtown area and along the freeway corridor.
General Plan Elements
The General Plan Update consists of three chapters, or elements. A summary of each element and the associated issues are as follows:
Land Use: The motivating force behind updates to the Land Use Element stems from programs contained within the City’s adopted Housing Element. Crucially, the update process focused on revising development standards for the R -3, C-2, and R -C designations that more clearly and concisely communicate the City’s intent for these areas. The changes are summarized as follows:
R-3 Multiple Family Residence : The R3 land use designation is amended to increase the maximum density of residential development from 15 dwelling units per acre to 30 dwelling units per acre and to conditionally permit group homes for seven or more persons.
C-2 General Commercial : The C2 land use designation is amended to allow 100 -percent residential development ranging from 20 to 30 dwelling units per acre and to permit group homes for six or fewer persons.
R-C Regional Commercial: The RC zone (part of Main Street and Freeway Corridor Specific Plan) is amended to increase the maximum density of residential development from 25 dwelling units per acre to 30 dwelling units per acre. The zone is also amended to allow 100- percent residential development and to permit group homes for six or fewer persons. The development of residential uses is limited primarily to the east side of Interstate 15.
Staff Report to the Planning Commission
2025 General Plan Update
June 12, 2025
The most frequently referenced part of the General Plan is the Land Use Map. This map shows the location of residential, commercial, industrial us es, as well as schools and parks. The map also shows other features such as railroads, the airport, and the California Aqueduct. Residential uses are classified by density in dwelling units per acre. The proposed land use map does not propose new changes beyond reflecting all General Plan Amendments processed since the 2010 General Plan was adopted.
The text of the Land Use Element includes a description of the City’s existing development pattern, infrastructure, and public services. In addition, the intent for each land use designation is described alongside general density and intensity standards. The goals intended to guide future growth and development include:
Ensuring compatibility between adjacent uses;
Preserving and enhancing residential areas;
Promoting balanced, efficient commercial development to generate sales taxes; Providing for industrial development to increase opportunities for local employment; Investing in high-quality public facilities;
Sustainable development measures, including water conservation, energy efficient design and Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) building certification; Improving the quality of life for all community members; and Ensuring that future growth is fiscally sustainable.
Circulation: The Circulation Element describes the City’s roadway network and identifies operational standards. The Transportation Plan maps the location and classification of streets within the City and illustrates the right-of way widths, as well as the curb-to-curb widths, for each classification, including special street -sections. Roadway performance is measured in terms of Level of Service (LOS), with the City’s acceptable threshold s remaining at LOS D for roadway segments and LOS C for intersections.
The Circulation Element also addresses other modes of transportation like walking, biking, and transit. The Non-Motorized Transportation Plan shows the location and classification of bicycle facilities throughout the City . Most streets include space for bike lanes to encourage their use.
This supports the goal of providing viable alternatives to the automobile.
The Circulation Element also addresses challenges faced by the City, including the need for additional freeway interchanges, more crossings at the railroa d and the Mojave River , and the reclassification of select roadways to better serve vehicular demand . Notable changes to the roadway network are as follows:
Relocated future I-15 interchange from Muscatel Street to Cedar Street; Reclassified Sultana Street from Seventh Avenue to I Avenue as Secondary Arterial (formerly Arterial);
Reclassified Sultana Street from I Avenue to Main Street as Secondary Arterial (formerly local road);
Modified the alignment of the Mauna Loa Street extension from Third Avenue to Hesperia Road / Lemon Street; and
Reclassified Seventh Avenue as a Special Street section from Bear Valley Road to Ranchero Road.
Staff Report to the Planning Commission
2025 General Plan Update
June 12, 2025
The goals intended to guide the City as it continues to build out its roadway network address the following issues:
Ensuring a safe and efficient roadway network;
Facilitating goods movement without negatively impacting sensitive areas; Providing opportunities for non-motorized alternatives to vehicular travel; and Supporting safe and convenient regional transit.
Health and Safety: The Health and Safety Element includes both safety and environmental equity components pursuant to the California Government Code sections 65302(g) and 65302(h).
The safety components focus on natural and human caused hazards, as well as emergency preparedness and response to protect the community from the effects of natural disasters and environmental hazards. The healthy community components focus on strategies to improve health and environmental equity.
Safety Topics
In Hesperia, the key safety issues include seismic and geological hazards, flood and inundation hazards, wildfires, hazardous waste and materials, emergency preparedness and response, and climate change resilience. Th e Safety Element works in tandem with the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and Emergency Operations Plan to provide a cohesive safety approach for Hesperia.
Since the previous update to the Safety Element in 2010, several new laws have come into effect, requiring updates to the Safety Element:
AB 2140 (2006): Allows for the incorporation of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into the Safety Element;
SB 1241 (2012): Requires the review and update of the flood and wildfire sections to minimize risk to new buildings and essential facilities and identify responsible agencies and ensure coordination among agencies;
SB 379 (2015): Requires the preparation of a climate change vulnerability assessment that identifies risks to hazards, and develop goals, policie s, and implementation actions to build resilience in the community;
SB 99 (2019): Requires the identification of residential areas in hazard zones with less than two ingress/egress routes; and
AB 747 (2019)/1409 (2021): Requires the identification of evacu ation route capacity, safety, and viability, and evacuation locations under a range of hazard scenarios.
Following extensive technical analysis, staff updated the Safety Element hazard descriptions, goals, and policies to meet current Government Code requ irements. The key changes are summarized as follows:
Incorporate the Hesperia Local Hazard Mitigation Plan by reference , as supported by AB 2140;
Update hazard background information and mapping with the most current data from federal, state, and local sources;
Update policies in the seismic and geologic hazards, flooding hazards, fire hazards, hazardous materials, and emergency preparation and response sections, based on the technical Background Report and California Government Code requirements;
Staff Report to the Planning Commission
2025 General Plan Update
June 12, 2025
Address climate change vulnerability and adaptation as directed by SB 379 through a new Climate Change Resilience section, including a goal and policies based on the findings of the Climate Vulnerability Assessment; and
Provide a matrix of actions for implementing the goals and policies of the Safety Element.
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65302.5(b), the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reviewed the draft Safety Element and consulted with the City from December 2024 to Janu ary 2025. The State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Resource Protection Committee reviewed the Safety Element on March 4, 2025, during its regular meeting and approved the City to move forward with the public hearings and adoption of the Safety Element without revisions.
Healthy Community Topics
With the passage of S B 1000, the Planning for Healthy Communities Act, a City’s general plan must incorporate goals, policies, and actions to improve health and environmental equity. In addition to SB 1000, the 2021-2029 City’s Housing Element contained commitments to address issues with the built environment as a condition for its certification by the State of California. As a result, the City’s General Plan Safety Element contains a Healthy Communities sec tion that addresses both requirements and builds upon the City’s Resolution 2010-030, which affirms the commitment to promoting and developing a safe and healthy Hesperia for all residents.
To inform goals, policies and programs in the Health and Safety Element, a Healthy Community Technical Report was prepared, supported by information gathered from community workshops, stakeholder interviews, and a public survey. Based on the findings and as required by Section 653902(h) of the Government Code, the Element provides goals, policies, and programs that address the following topics:
Reduction of pollution exposure;
Improvement in air quality;
Opportunities for physical activity;
Access to healthy food;
Affordable, safe, and sanitary homes;
Access to public facilities and services; and
Increasing opportunities for civic involvement.
Addendum to the 2010 Environmental Impact Report: PlaceWorks prepared the Addendum to the 2010 Certified Environmental Impact Report ( Certified EIR) for Hesperia’s General Plan.
The Addendum evaluates whether the General Plan Update (proposed project) would modify the existing General Plan in such a way that it would create new environmental impacts or substantially increase the severity of previously identified significant effects, potentially requiring further environmental review. The Addendum, in conjunction with the Certified EIR, serve as the environmental review for the proposed modifications to the existing General P lan, ensuring compliance with CEQA. The Addendum eva luates the potential environmental impacts associated with the existing General Plan as modified by the General Plan Update.
The proposed project will update the Land Use, Circulation, and Health and Safety elements, as well as the environmental equity policies to address state laws and support projected growth over the next 25 years. The proposed project is a focused update of the current General Plan to conform with new State laws related to community health, climate adaptation, resiliency, and mobility, and to bring long -term growth projections into alignment with current economic
Staff Report to the Planning Commission
2025 General Plan Update
June 12, 2025
conditions and state mandates. Differences in population, jobs, housing units, and non-residential square feet between the existing General Plan and General Plan Update at buildout are shown in the following table.
Comparison of Buildout Conditions for Existing General Plan and General Plan Update Existing General Plan1
(2050)
General Plan Update
(2050) Difference
Population 144,538 162,835 +18,297
Jobs 48,527 48,502 -25
Housing Units 54,430 61,570 +7,140
Non-Residential
Square Feet
67,613,266 66,733,917 -879,349
1 The 2010 Certified EIR did not include a planning horizon, and therefore, the buildout under the existing General Plan was adjusted to account for a 2050 horizon year. The buildout under the proposed project is within the overall buildout as envisioned in the 2010 Certified EIR
Addendum Process: Pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, an Addendum to a previously certified EIR may be prepared under specific circumstances. The Addendum process allows for the documentation of minor project changes or technical updates that do not result in new or substantially more severe environmental impacts.
The proposed project qualifies for an Addendum under CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, as the proposed changes are consistent with the scope of the previously Certified EIR and do not meet any of the conditions outlined in Section 15162(a) and Section 15163(a) of the CEQA Guidelines, that would require preparation of a Subsequent or Supplemental EIR. The environmental impacts remain within the range analyzed in the Certified EIR, and no new significant impacts or substantial increases in the severity of impacts have been identified. Therefore, preparation of a full Subsequent EIR is not warranted, and the Addendum process is both appropriate and compliant with CEQA requirements.
Tribal Consultation: In compliance with Senate Bill 18 (Government Code Section 65352.3), the City of Hesperia initiated tribal consultation by contacting California Native American tribes identified by the Native American Heritage Commission. Notification letters were sent on May 21, 2024, to the Desert Cahuilla Indians, the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel. The Yuhaaviatam of the San Manuel tribe responded on May 24, 2024, and requested formal consultation with the City. The City indicated th at the proposed project would not allow for any ground-disturbing activities that would preclude a project from going through the standard CEQA requirements, and the Tribe concluded consultation on October 30, 2024.
In addition, since the proposed project is being evaluated through a CEQA Addendum and not a new EIR, consultation pursuant to Assembly Bill 52 (Public Resources Code Sections 21073 to 21084.3) do not apply in this instance.
Significant Impacts: CEQA requires that the EIR identify the impacts of a project and propose mitigation measures to reduce those impacts. CEQA also requires disclosure of any impacts that cannot be mitigated to a non -significant level, even if all feasible mitigations are req uired. The Certified EIR determined that implementation of the existing General Plan would result in significant and unavoidable impacts related to air quality, noise, and transportation. The
Staff Report to the Planning Commission
2025 General Plan Update
June 12, 2025
Addendum determined that these impacts would continue to be sign ificant and unavoidable as part of the proposed project, as summarized:
Air Quality
o Results in construction emissions that would contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation;
o Results in operational emissions that would contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation; and
o Results in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is nonattainment under an applic able federal or state ambient air quality standard (including releasing emissions, which exceed quantitative thresholds for ozone precursors).
Noise
o Results in a substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity.
Transportation1
o Causes an increase in traffic, which is substantial in relation to the existing traffic load and capacity of the street system; and
o Exceed, either individually or cumulatively, a level of service standard established by the county congestion management agency for designated roads or highways.
No new significant environmental impacts have been identified beyond those already assessed in the Certified EIR. While the proposed project may result in physical impacts due to future improvements, the analysis and mitigation measures from the Certified EIR will still apply. While the project involves physical impacts, it does not result in new significant environmental effects or substantially increase the severity of previously identified impacts. The analysis and mitigation measures from the previously Certified EIR remain applicable to the proposed project.
CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM
Future Development: Facilitate balanced growth to ensure cohesive community development and pursue economic development.
CONCLUSION
Adoption of the General Plan Update will bring the City’s primary policy document into compliance with new state laws and mandates and ensure continued compliance with CEQA . The update will also address the changes the City has experienced in the previous 15 years since the General Plan was last updated. The update will provide guidance to the City’s decision makers and staff to carry out the overall vision for the City of Hesperia. The Addendum substantiates that the proposed changes do not induce new significant environmental impacts beyond those already addressed by the 2010 General Plan EIR.
1 The 2010 Certified EIR found impacts to Level of Service (LOS) to be significant and unavoidable.
However, since CEQA no longer uses LOS as a threshold standard, and has replaced it with Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), the LOS significance is no longer applicable to CEQA.
Staff Report to the Planning Commission
2025 General Plan Update
June 12, 2025
ALTERNATIVE
1. Provide alternative direction to staff.
ATTACHMENT(S)
1) Resolution No. PC-2025-08 (Certifying the Addendum in compliance with CEQA) 2) Resolution No. PC-2025-09 (Adoption of the 2025 General Plan Update) 3) Addendum to the 2010 General Plan EIR*
4) Land Use Element*
5) Circulation Element*
6) Health and Saftey Element*
The attachments above noted by an * are available on the City’s website at www.cityofhesperia.us and are provided under separate cover.
RESOLUTION NO. PC-2025-08
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF HESPERIA, RE COMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL ADOPT THE ADDENDUM TO THE CITY ’S 2010
GENERAL PLAN FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
(EIR) PURSUANT TO CEQA IN SUPPORT OF THE 2025
GENERAL PLAN UPDATE
WHEREAS, on September 7, 2010, the City Council of the City of Hesperia adopted Resolution No. 2010-057 certifying the Final EIR for the City’s 2010 General Plan, which also remains applicable to development within the City; and
WHEREAS, fifteen (15) years have passed since the City of Hesperia adopted the 2010 General Plan and changes to t he City ’s size and population, as well as new laws, regulations, and circumstances that did not exist when the original General Plan was adopted, require an update to the General Plan described herein (hereinafter referred to as " 2025 General Plan Update" or “Project”); and
WHEREAS, the 2025 General Plan Update is a focused update to the three mandatory elements required by the State of California, including Land Use, Circulation and Health and Safety Elements; and
WHEREAS, the Addendum has been prepared pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Se ction 15164 to evaluate whether the proposed 2025 General Plan Update would result in any new significant impacts, substantially more severe impacts, or trigger the need for a subsequent or supplemental EIR under Sections 15162 or 15163; and
WHEREAS, the 2010 General Plan EIR identified significant and unavoidable impacts to air quality, noise, and traffic, but the significant and unavoidable impacts pertaining to traffic no longer apply as Level of Service (LOS) was replaced with Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per Senate Bill 743 (SB 743) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3, and VMT has been determined to be the applicable metric for analyzing transportation impacts under CEQA, thereby r endering LOS - based impacts no longer applicable; and
WHEREAS, the Addendum to the 2010 General Plan EIR reflects this change in CEQA law and confirms that this transition from LOS to VMT does not result in new or more severe environmental effects; and
WHEREAS, the Addendum concludes that all impacts remain within the sc ope of analysis in the certified 2010 General Plan EIR, and that none of the criteria in CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 or Section 15163 are met; and
WHEREAS, on June 12, 2025, the Planning Commission of the City of Hesperia conducted a duly noticed public hearing pertaining to the Addendum to the 2010 General Plan EIR in connection with the 2025 General Plan Update and concluded said hearing on that date; and
WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred.
ATTACHMENT 1
Resolution No. PC-2025-08
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF HESPERIA PLANNING COMMISSION AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Planning Commission hereby specifically finds that all of the facts set forth in this Resolution are true and correct.
Section 2. Based upon substantial evidence presented to this Planning Commission during the above-referenced June 12, 2025, hearing, including public testimony and written and oral staff reports, this Planning Commission specifically finds as follows:
(a) An Addendum to the 2010 General Plan EIR has been prepared for the 2025 General Plan Update. The 2025 General Plan Update qualifies for an Addendum under CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, as the proposed project is consistent with the scope of the 2010 General Plan EIR and does not meet any of the conditions outlined in Section 15162(a) or Section 15163(a) of the CEQA Guidelines, th at would require preparation of a Subsequent or Supplemental EIR. The environmental impacts remain within the range analyzed in the 2010 General Plan EIR, and no new significant impacts or substantial increases in the severity of impacts have been identifi ed. Therefore, preparation of a full Subsequent EIR is not warranted, and the Addendum process is both appropriate and compliant with CEQA requirements.
(b) The Planning Commission has independently reviewed and analyzed the Addendum, and finds that it reflects the independent judgment of the Planning Commission, and that there is no substantial evidence, in light of the whole record, that the project may result in new significant impacts or substantial increases in the severity of impacts that were previously identified.
Section 3. The Planning Commission hereby recommends that the City Council certify the Addendum to the 2010 General Plan EIR as being complete pursuant to Resolution No.
PC-2025-08.
Section 4. The Secretary shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this 12th day of June 2025
___________________________________
Roger Abreo, Chair, Planning Commission
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Maricruz Montes, Secretary, Planning Commission
RESOLUTION NO. PC-2025-09
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
HESPERIA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE 2025 GENERAL PLAN UPDATE.
WHEREAS, on September 7, 2010, the City Council of the City of Hesperia adopted the City’s General Plan, currently applicable with regards to development within the City; and
WHEREAS, on September 2, 2008, the City Council of the City of Hesperia adopted Resolution No. 2008-12, thereby adopting the Main Street and Freeway Corridor Specific Plan; and
WHEREAS, fifteen (15) years have passed since the City of Hesperia adopted its 2010 General Plan and changes to the City’s size and population as well as new laws, regulations, and circumstances that did not exist when the original plan was adopted, require an update to the General Plan described herein (hereinafter referred to as "General Plan Update" or “Project”); and
WHEREAS, on May 2, 2023 the City Council adopted the 2021-2029 Housing Element (6th Cycle Housing Element Update) which includes several program actions that require the City to amend the Development Code and update the General Plan to allow for up to 30 dwelling units per acre (du/ac) in the Multi-Family (R3) zone ; to allow for 100 -percent residential development ranging from 20 to 30 du/ac in the General Commercial (C -2) zone; and to allow for up to 30 du/ac in the Regional Commercial (RC) zone within the Main Street and Freeway Corridor Specific Plan.
WHEREAS, the General Plan Update establishes the City’s overall policy development framework to help realize the community’s vision to the year 2050 planning horizon; and
WHEREAS, the General Plan Update is a focused update to the Land Use, Safety, and Circulation Elements of the General Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City of Hesperia, as the lead agency, prepared an Addendum to the 2010 General Plan Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) pursuant to Section 15164 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelin es, and determined that no new significant environmental impacts would occur beyond those previously analyzed in the 2010 General Plan EIR, and that the existing analysis and mitigation measures remain applicable to the proposed project; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held five workshops on April 11, 2024, May 23, 2024, July 11, 2024, August 8, 2024 and September 26, 2024 to review and discuss critical components of each element; and
WHEREAS, on November 18, 2024, the City Council held a workshop to review and discuss the 2025 General Plan Update; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Government Code Section 65302.5(b), the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reviewed the draft Safety Element and consulted with the City from December 2024 to January 2025. The State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Resource Protection Committee reviewed the Safety Element on March 4, 2025, during its regular meeting and approved the City to proceed with the pu blic hearings and adoption of the Safety Element without revisions; and
ATTACHMENT 2
Resolution No. 2025-09
WHEREAS, on June 12, 2025, the Planning Commission of the City of Hesperia conducted a duly noticed public hearing pertaining to the proposed 2025 General Plan Update and concluded said hearing on that date; and
WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF HESPERIA PLANNING COMMISSION AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Planning Commission hereby specifically finds that all the facts set forth in this Resolution are true and correct.
Section 2. Based upon substantial evidence presented to this Planning Commission during the above-referenced June 12, 2025, hearing, including public testimony and written and oral staff reports, this Planning Commission specifically finds as follows:
(a) An Addendum to the 2010 General Plan EIR has been prepared for the 2025 General Plan Update . The 2025 General Plan Update qualifies for an Addendum under CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, as the proposed project is consistent with the scope of the 2010 General Plan EIR and does not meet any of the conditions outlined in Section 15162(a) or Section 15 163(a) of the CEQA Guidelines, that would require preparation of a Subsequent or Supplemental EIR. The environmental impacts remain within the range analyzed in the 2010 General Plan EIR, and no new significant impacts or substantial increases in the sever ity of impacts have been identified. Therefore, preparation of a full Subsequent EIR is not warranted, and the Addendum process is both appropriate and compliant with CEQA requirements.
(b) The Planning Commission has independently reviewed and analyzed the Addendum and finds that it reflects the independent judgment of the Commission, and that there is no substantial evidence, in light of the whole record, that the project may result in new significant impacts or substantial increases in the severity of impacts that were previously identified.
(c) Adoption of the 2025 General Plan Update will achieve the following goals:
Ensuring compatibility between adjacent uses;
Preserving and enhancing residential areas;
Promoting balanced, efficient commercial developme nt to generate sales taxes;
Providing for industrial development to increase opportunities for local employment;
Investing in high-quality public facilities;
Sustainable development measures, including water conservation, energy efficient design and Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) building certification;
Improving the quality of life for all community members;
Resolution No. 2025-09
Ensuring that future growth is fiscally sustainable.
Ensuring a safe and efficient roadway network;
Facilitating goods movement without negatively impacting sensitive areas; Providing opportunities for non-motorized alternatives to vehicular travel; Supporting safe and convenient regional transit;
Reducing pollution exposure;
Improving air quality;
Opportunities for physical activity;
Access to healthy food;
Affordable, safe, and sanitary homes;
Access to public facilities and services; and
Increasing opportunities for civic involvement
Section 3. Based on the findings and conclusions set forth in this Resolution, this Commission hereby recommends that the City Council approve the 2025 General Plan Update and certify the Addendum to the 2010 General Plan EIR.
Section 4. That the Secretary shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this 12th day of June 2025.
_______________________________
Roger Abreo, Chair, Planning Commission
ATTEST:
_________________________________________
Maricruz Montes, Secretary, Planning Commission