Attachment “B” City of Kerman 2040 General Plan Facts, Findings, and Statement of Overriding Considerations Regarding the Environmental Effects from the Environmental Impact Report State Clearinghouse # 2019049018 May 2020 01236.0405/645016.3 City of Kerman General Plan EIR | Findings/SOC Table of Contents City of Kerman 2040 General Plan............................................................................................................. 1 FACTS, FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS .................................. 4 1.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 4 2.0 Project Summary ............................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Project Description ........................................................................................................................ 4 2.2 Project Location and Study Area Boundaries ........................................................................... 7 2.3 Project Objectives .......................................................................................................................... 8 2.4 Actions Covered by the EIR ....................................................................................................... 10 Subsequent Use of the EIR .............................................................................................................................. 11 3.0 Environmental Review Process Summary; Content of EIR and Record ................................. 13 3.1 Notice of Preparation .................................................................................................................. 13 3.2 Draft EIR ....................................................................................................................................... 13 3.3 Content of the EIR ....................................................................................................................... 13 3.4 Record of Proceedings ................................................................................................................ 14 3.4 Public Hearings ........................................................................................................................... 15 4.0 Preliminary Findings ...................................................................................................................... 15 4.1 Lead Agency; Independent Judgment ..................................................................................... 15 4.2 Public Review Provided ............................................................................................................. 15 4.3 Purpose of Errata and Corrections; Clerical Errors ................................................................ 15 4.4 Clerical Errors .............................................................................................................................. 16 4.5 Evaluation and Response to Comments .................................................................................. 16 4.6 Recirculation of Final EIR Not Required ................................................................................. 16 4.7 MMRP; Mitigation Measures .................................................................................................... 17 4.8 Substantial Evidence ................................................................................................................... 17 4.9 Entirety of Action ........................................................................................................................ 17 4.10 Program EIR ................................................................................................................................. 17 4.11 Effect of Public Comments ......................................................................................................... 18 01236.0405/645016.3 CITY OF KERMAN | RINCON CONSULTING, INC. 2 City of Kerman General Plan EIR | Findings/SOC 4.12 Independent Review of Record ................................................................................................. 18 4.13 Adequacy of EIR to Support Approval of the Proposed Project .......................................... 18 4.14 Program EIR ................................................................................................................................. 18 4.15 Specific Findings of Impact, Below ........................................................................................... 18 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND FINDINGS ..................................................................... 19 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 19 5.2 No Environmental Impacts ........................................................................................................ 20 5.3 Less Than Significant Environmental Impacts ........................................................................ 24 5.4 Environmental Impacts Not Fully Mitigated to a Less Than Significant Level ................. 86 5.5 Alternatives .................................................................................................................................. 92 5.6 Growth Inducing Impacts .......................................................................................................... 95 5.7 Statement of Overriding Considerations ................................................................................. 97 6.0 Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report ......................................................... 106 6.1 Findings ...................................................................................................................................... 106 01236.0405/645016.3 CITY OF KERMAN | RINCON CONSULTING, INC. 3 City of Kerman General Plan EIR | Findings/SOC FACTS, FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS 1.0 Introduction The City Council of the City of Kerman (City), in approving the proposed City of Kerman 2040 General Plan Update by approving General Plan Amendment No. 2020-01, (the Project), makes the Findings described below and adopts the Statement of Overriding Considerations presented at the end of the Findings. The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (State Clearinghouse #2019049018) was prepared by the City acting as lead agency pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Hereafter, unless specifically identified, the Notice of Preparation (NOP), Notice of Availability & Completion (NOA/NOC), Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), Appendices, Technical Studies, and the Final EIR containing Responses to Comments and textual revisions to the Draft EIR (in the Final EIR) will be referred to collectively herein as the “EIR.” These Findings are based on the entire record before the City Council, including the EIR. The City Council adopts the facts and analyses in the EIR, which are summarized below for convenience. The omission of some detail or aspect of the EIR does not mean that it has been rejected by the City. 2.0 Project Summary 2.1 Project Description The “Project” under CEQA is the adoption of the City of Kerman 2040 General Plan Update (“General Plan Update”) and implementation of the goals, policies, and implementation programs set forth therein (including any future annexations or other regulatory procedures required for implementation). The 2040 General Plan is a comprehensive update of the City’s 2007 General Plan. The City of Kerman 2040 General Plan Update is incorporated herein by reference. The “Project” description in the EIR is a summary of the General Plan Update. The elements of the 2040 General Plan contain updated goals, policies, and implementation programs that reflect the community’s vision for Kerman. The City’s General Plan Land Use Map and Circulation Map have also been updated to reflect the city’s planned growth through 2040 and anticipated and proposed changes to State Routes 180 and 145. The General Plan update proposes the expansion of the Sphere of Influence (SOI) to Nielsen Avenue to the north, Goldenrod Avenue to the east, Jensen Avenue to the south, and Modoc Avenue to the west. The current (2019) SOI, which Fresno LAFCo established in 1974 and was last updated in 2007, spans beyond city limits to Nielsen Avenue to the north and Jensen Avenue to the south. The planning area extends to Belmont Avenue to the north, Howard Avenue to the east, Jensen Avenue to the south, and Lassen Avenue to the west. It 01236.0405/645016.3 CITY OF KERMAN | RINCON CONSULTING, INC. 4 City of Kerman General Plan EIR | Findings/SOC spans from Howard Avenue to the east and Lassen Avenue to the west because these corridors are identified as potential route realignments for SR 145, which passes through the heart of the city along Madera Avenue. Contents of the General Plan (Summary) The City of Kerman 2040 General Plan is made up of two documents: the Background Report and the Policy Document. General Plan Background Report The Background Report takes a “snapshot” of current conditions and trends in Kerman. It provides a detailed description of a wide range of topics within the city, such as demographic and economic conditions, land use, public facilities, and environmental resources. The report provides decision‐ makers,