RESOLUTION NO. ____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PROJECT EXEMPTION TO EXEMPT THE PROJECT FROM CEQA REVIEW FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3941 STEVENS CREEK BOULEVARD, SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA PLN21-15213 (3941 Steven Creek Blvd)
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, Steven Blanden, CRP Affordable Housing and Community Development (“Applicant”) applied for a development application to allow the construction of a new 59-unit 100% affordable mixed-use project at 3941 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Santa Clara (“Project Site”); WHEREAS, the development application involves Architectural Review of the development proposal to construct a six-story, 59-unit residential apartment building, with 1,750 square feet of amenity space, 2,630 square feet of ground floor commercial/office space, and an outdoor podium courtyard with play areas, ground floor parking, landscaping and site improvements (“Project”); WHEREAS, the Project Site is currently zoned as CT – Thoroughfare Commercial and has the General Plan land use designation of Community Mixed-use; WHEREAS, in order to implement the proposed development, the City Council needs to find that the project qualifies as a transit priority project in accordance with the state Sustainable Communities Strategy Criteria, Public Resources Code § 21155, et seq.; WHEREAS, the applicant filed a preliminary application under Senate Bill 330 (2019) on July 8, 2021 and a formal application for architectural review on September 20, 2021 for the proposed Project; WHEREAS, the Project is within one-half mile from the intersection of two bus routes, VTA bus line 57 on Kiely Boulevard and line 23 on Stevens Creek Boulevard, each of which have 15 minute headways during peak commute hours, which qualifies the location as a “major transit stop”; WHEREAS, the applicant is relying upon AB 3194 (2018) to utilize the Very High Density Mixed-use (VHDMU) zoning district; WHEREAS, the project will be 100% affordable, and the developer is seeking a “super” density bonus under the Density Bonus Law (AB 1763) (2019); WHEREAS, California Public Resources Code § 21155 et seq., requires the legislative body of a public agency to make a determination as to whether or not the project qualifies as a Sustainable Communities Project and is therefore exempt from CEQA review, in accordance with PRC Section 21155.1; WHEREAS, the Applicant prepared a Sustainable Communities Project Exemption declaring compliance with all criteria under PRC Section 21155.1, as set forth in Attachment 1, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference; and, WHEREAS, on January 25, 2022, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing to consider the architectural approval of the Project and the approve the Sustainable Communities Project Exemption, at which time all interested persons were given an opportunity to present evidence and provide testimony, both in favor of and in opposition to the proposed Project.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA AS FOLLOWS:
1. That the City Council hereby finds that the above Recitals are true and correct and by this reference makes them a part hereof.
2. That the City Council hereby finds that the Project qualifies as a transit priority project pursuant to PRC Section 21155, which by definition means that the Project square footage is at least 50% residential (here, 92.6%), provides a minimum net density of at least 20 units per acre (here, 101.7 du/ac); and is located within one-half mile of a major transit stop (here, 135 feet). As detailed in Attachment 1, the Transit Priority Project is consistent with the general use designation, density, building intensity, and applicable policies specified for the project area in the Regional Transpiration Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (Plan Bay Area).
3. That the City Council hereby finds that all environmental criteria of PRC § 21155.1(a) are met, all land use criteria of PRC § 21155.1(b) are met, and the affordable housing criteria of PRC § 21155(c)(1) are met.
4. That the City Council hereby approves the use of the Sustainable Communities Project Exemption to exempt the project from CEQA review, in accordance with PRC Section 21155.1.
5. Effective date. This resolution shall become effective immediately.
I HEREBY CERTIFY THE FOREGOING TO BE A TRUE COPY OF A RESOLUTION PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, AT A REGULAR MEETING THEREOF HELD ON THE 25th DAY OF JANUARY 2022, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: COUNCILORS:
NOES: COUNCILORS:
ABSENT: COUNCILORS:
ABSTAINED: COUNCILORS:
ATTEST:
NORA PIMINTEL, MMC
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
CITY OF SANTA CLARA
Attachments incorporated by reference:
1. Sustainable Communities Project Exemption
Resolution/3941 Stevens Creek Boulevard Page 3 of 4
Rev: 11/22/17