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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 4903 RESOLUTION NO. 4903 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY CERTIFYING THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT ON THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR WOODRUFF INDUSTRIAL PROJECT WHEREAS, the Downey City Council has reviewed and considered the Final Environmental Impact Report prepared on the Redevelopment Plan for the Woodruff Industrial Project; and, WHEREAS, the Downey City Council (the "City Council") has reviewed and considered the Final Environmental Impact Report ('Final Environmental Impact Report") on the Woodruff Industrial Project (the "Project"); and, WHEREAS, pursuant to notice duly given, the City Council and Downey Community Development Commission have held a full and fair public hearing on the proposed Redevelopment Plan and Final Environmental Impact Report; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, FOUND AND DETERMINED by the Downey City Council in special session assembled on May 26,1987 as follows: 1. A full and fair public hearing having been held on the Final Environmental Impact Report and the City Council having considered all comments received thereon, said Final Environmental Impact Report is hereby approved and adopted as the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Adoption of the Redevelopment Plan for the Woodruff Industrial Project; and said Final Environmental Impact Report is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 2. The City Council hereby certifies that the Final Environmental Impact Report for the adoption of the Redevelopment Plan has been completed in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970, u amended, and the state and local environmental guidelines and regulations, and that it has reviewed and -1- considered the Final Environmental Impact Report and the information contained therein in connection with the adoption of the proposed Redevelopment Plan. 3. The City Council hereby finds with respect to the adverse environmental impacts detailed in the Final Environmental Impact Report (a) That the adverse environmental impacts associated with the adoption of the Redevelopment Plan have been considered and recognized by the City Council. (b) That comments and responses made during the public hearing of the City Council and Downey Community Development Commission have been considered and recognized by the City Council. (c) The City Council finds and determines, pursuant to 14 California Administrative Code Section 15091(a), that changes or alterations have been required in, or incorporated into, the project which avoid or substantially lessen the following potentially significant environmental effects: 1. Land Use As discussed on pages 24.34 of the Final Environmental Impact Report as amended, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. However, the proposed mitigation measures described in this section will not completely mitigate the significant impacts of the project and, therefore, a statement of overriding considerations is necessary. 2. Population and Housing As discussed on pages 34-36 of the Final Environmental Impact Report as amended, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. However, the proposed mitigation measures described in this section will not completely mitigate the significant impacts of the project and, therefore, a statement of overriding considerations -- is necessary. -2- 3. Risk of Upset As discussed on pages 3647 of the Final Environmental Impact Report as amended, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. 4. Air Quality As discussed on paged 38-42 of the Final Environmental Impact Report as amended, which discussion in incorporated herein by reference. 5. Noise As discussed on pages 42-46 of the Final Environmental Impact Report as amended, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. 6. Public Services As discussed on pages 46-51 of the Final Environmental Impact Report as amended, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. 7. Licht and Glare As discussed on page 52 of the Final Environmental Impact Report as amended, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. 8. Visual Effects As discussed on page 53 of the Final Environmental Impact Report as amended, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. 9. Geotechnical Considerations As discussed on pages 53-57 of the Final Environmental Impact Report u amended, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. -3- 10. Hydrological Consideration As discussed on pages 57 -61 of the Final Environmental Impact Report as amended, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. 11. Energy and Utilities As discussed on pages 61 -68 of the Final Environmental Impact Report as amended, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. (d) That environmental, economic, social and other considerations and benefits derived by development of the project override the unavoidable environmental risk of the project and make infeasible project alternatives which would eliminate or further reduce adverse impacts on the displacement of existing residents and businesses. 1. No Project Alternative This alternative would require that the redevelopment action initiated by the City Council be terminated. If the Plan were terminated, the Project Area would continue to stagnate and decline as blighting conditions would persist without benefit of the mitigation programs proposed by the Redevelopment Plan. The existing levels of blight would be perpetuated, resulting in continued physical and economic deterioration throughout the redevelopment area. Extensive documentation of existing blighting conditions is located in "The Report to the Council for the Woodruff Industrial Project, pages 7 - 26, which is incorporated herein by reference. The evidence within the Report to Council is based upon field inspections of all properties in the Project Area, analysis of applicable statistical and census data and reports prepared and submitted by various government agencies. The Report to Council sets forth substantial evidence of existing conditions of blight throughout the proposed Project Area. For example, approximately — 97.2 percent of all the structures located within the redevelopment area are in need of repairs or are entirely dilapidated. In addition, -4- the area is characterized by a need for sidewalks, curbs, and gutters. Furthermore, water system improvements are in need of upgrading or installation without which, development may not proceed at all. A new fire station is needed in order to adequately provide fire protection services to the area. In addition, a refuse energy facility is being proposed to be located within the Project Area at some long term future date. A key objective of the proposed redevelopment program is the provision of new or improved public service infrastructure and public facilities. These needs exist throughout the Project Area. The overall cost of providing such public improvements is well beyond the ability of the private sector acting alone. Therefore, the City Council rejects this alternative because a no project alternative would not provide the required infrastructure and economic incentives necessary to eliminate blighting and growth- inhibiting conditions within the Project Area. 2. Smaller Project Alternative The Project, u approved, reduces the Project Area from the area originally proposed, thereby reducing the severity of direct growth related impacts. However, the City Council has rejected any further reduction on the Project Area u an alternative because it would be infeasible to perform the public improvements necessary to alleviate the existing conditions of blight and stimulate the economy within the Project Area. As identified in "The Report to the Council for Woodruff Industrial Project", there are detrimental physical, social and economic conditions in the Project Area. The City Council proposes to alleviate these conditions, in part, by undertaking a comprehensive program of public improvements. More specifically, Project implementation is expected to alleviate public service infrastructure deficiencies and public facility deficiencies while -5- concentrating industrial development. Inadequate public improvements and facilities will be remedied through City Council involvement. Such public facilities are generally beyond the ability of the private sector to provide due to the overwhelming costs of such facilities. If an even smaller project alternative were adopted, the estimated costs per acre could escalate, thereby placing excessive restrictions on the City Council's ability to assist is the required improvements. In addition, in some cases a certain critical level of development is required for the cost-effectiveness and feasibility of some public facilities (i.e., improvement of roads, water line improvements/enlargement, etc.). Therefore, the City Council rejected an even smaller project alternative, on the basis that the properties currently included in the Project Area are essential to the effective redevelopment of the area. 3. Alternative Land Use Alternative -- While the proposed Redevelopment Plan does not designate land uses, the intent is to encourage and facilitate industrial and infrastructure reinvestment. However, one alternative considered would play more emphasis on the direct encouragement of housing improvements and housing rehabilitation in order to improve the overall residential quality of the Project Area. Infrastructure improvements would be made to support housing reinvestments. The effect of this alternative would encourage population growth and increase demand for public services and facilities, thereby exacerbating the adverse impacts identified as resulting from Project implementation. Traffic generation, and related air quality and noise impacts would increase from existing levels, but relative to the proposed industrial approach the impacts would be reduced. In addition, the housing alternative would increase Downey's housing stock, which is in relatively short supply. The City Council rejected this alternative because a single residential focus would not supply the needed economic _6- reinvestment necessary to mitigate the existing stagnate blighting conditions. Under the proposed Plan, City Council financial inducements to increase the local employment base would provide a source of additional employment opportunities and possibilities for increasing family incomes. This expansion of the City's industrial base and local employment opportunities, providing jobs to unemployed and underemployed workers in the City, has a direct effect on the family's ability to upgrade their homes, therefore alleviating blighting characteristics. A residential alternative would not assist, to the degree the proposed Plan does, the economically depressed areas in order to reverse declining assessed valuation trends. 4. The Executive Director of the City Council, is hereby authorized and directed to file a Notice of Determination, pursuant to 14 California Administrative Code Section 15094. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 8thday of July, 1987 A / 2//7:e - 7 Mayor - Diane P. Boggs City of Downey ATTEST: Ci , iw■ y City of Downey I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was the Downey City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the 8th of July , 1987 by the following vote: AYES: 4 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Barb, Cormack, Paul, Boggs NOES: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSENT: 1 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Santangelo ABSTAINED: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: �,Y tRunK01111/11P �n