HomeMy WebLinkAbout21-198GENERAL PLAN 2030 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT; AND ADOPTING THE
2021 BUTTE COUNTY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
WHEREAS, the development ofoButte County 2021Climate Action Plan (Butte 2021CAP) isdirected by the Butte
County General Plan Conservation, and Open Space Element Action COS -A1.1; and,
WHEREAS, Conservation and Open Space Element Action COS -A1.1 is also identified under General Plan 2030 and
the General Plan 2030 Final BR as required as a means to mitigate environmental impacts under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and,
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Butte 2021 [AP is an implementation mechanism of the County's General Pian
adopted in 2010 and amended in 2012, providing goals, policies, and programs to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,
address climate change adaptation, and improve quality of life in the county. The Butte 2021 CAP also supports statewide
GHG emissions reduction goals identified in Assembly 8iU| (AR} 32 and Senate Bill (SB) 375. Programs and actions imthe
Butte 2021 [AP will help the county sustain its natural resources, grow efficiently, ensure long-term resiliency to a
changing environmental and economic cNnnate,and improve transportation. The Butte 3021 CAP and its associated
environmental review will also serve asa Qualified GHG Reduction Strategy under the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA),simplifying development review for new projects that are consistent with the CAP.
WHEREAS, in2O14,the Butte County Board mfSupervisors adopted its, first Climate Action Plan (2O14CAP) which
provides comprehensive strategy to reduce community -wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the unincorporated
County, and identifies measures and inmp|ementa@on strategies to achieve the 2020 GHG reduction target, and
streamlines the environmental review ofGNG emissions of future development projects in the unincorporated county;
and
WHEREAS, the 2O14 CAP demonstrates the County's consistency with 4B32, the California Environmental Quality
Act (CE[}A) Guidelines Section 15183.5/b\ in that the CAP identifies reduction measures and implementation strategies
the[ommtyeiUuoetnachievetheState-recommnemdedGHGem|ss|onsreductimn1aqgetanda|soestabHshesac|earpath
for future and continued emissions reductions beyond 202(�;and
WHEREAS, the County prepared the 2021 CAP to continue as an implementation mechanism of the County's
General Plan adopted [n2D10with major amoendmenitsim2012,21U4,2O15,2026,2O,1O and 2Q18providing goals, policies,
and programs to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, address climate change adaptation, and improve quality of life
in the cmunty. Programs and actions inthe 2821 CAP will help the county sustain its natural resources, grow efficiently,
emsune|ong-1ermresi|iencytoachamQimgemvimomnmenta|andecomomnicc|imate,mndimArmmetranmpnrtation.The2O21
CAP and its associated environmental review will also serve as a Qualified GNG Reduction, Strategy under the California
Environmental Quality Act ([EQA)l, simplifying development review for new projects that are consistent with the CAP;
ond,
WHEREAS, General Plan 2030 policies and actions provide a comprehensive framework for reducing GHG
emissions in the County. In particular, the Butte 2021 CAP requirements under Action COS -A1.1 would assist California in
meeting the reduction goals for the year 2020 that are embodied in the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Assembly
Bill 32), and would ensure that GHG emissions in Butte County would not contribute considerably to cumulative GHG
emissions and associated climate change effects; and,
WHEREAS, the Butte 2021 CAP, in combination with other existing policies and regulations by other agencies and
business sectors of the economy, would reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the County to a level that would
comply with State guidelines; and,
WHEREAS, the development of the Butte 2021 CAP included an extensive public outreach program, including:
a) Butte County Climate Action Plan 2020 website
b) February 18, 2021, Public Workshop
c) May 2021 Stakeholder Individual Meetings
d) June 9, 2021 Stakeholder Group Meeting
e) October 24, 2021, Butte County Home and Garden Booth; and,
WHEREAS, the Draft Butte 2021 CAP was made publicly available during a 30 day public review period from
October 19, 2021 through November 17, 2021, online at: www.buttecountV.net/dds/bccapupdate202O, to allow for public
review and comment prior to the Board of Supervisor's hearing, and,
WHEREAS, a separate Butte 2021 CAP Work Plan has been completed that sets forth for each emission reduction
measure and adaptation measure contained under the Butte 2021 CAP appropriate time frames for measure completion,
lead and supportive agencies, and estimated costs, and that the Work Plan shall be adopted by separate Resolution by the
Board of Supervisors to allow for revisions separately from the Butte 2021 CAP document; and,
WHEREAS, a duly noticed public hearing was held by the Planning Commission on November 18, 2021, and the
Planning Commission recommended approval of the 2021 CAP to the Board of Supervisors. In making this motion, the
Planning Commission indicated that additional context needed to be included in the CAP regarding the recent historic fires
and disasters, agricultural practices and how they would be accounted for under the CAP; and,
WHEREAS, the Butte County Planning Commission has reviewed and considered the information in the
administrative record, staff report, and all oral and written testimony presented to the Planning Commission; and,
WHEREAS, a duly noticed public hearing was held by the Board of Supervisors on December 14, 2021; and,
WHEREAS, the General Plan EIR (SCH #2008092062) was certified on October 26, 2010 by the Butte County Board
of Supervisors (Resolution 10-150) and the Supplemental EIR (SCH #2012022059) was certified on November 6,
2012 (Resolution 12-123); and,
WHEREAS, the County has determined that the proposed Butte 2021 CAP does not meet the criteria
for preparing a subsequent or supplemental EIR under CEQA Guidelines Section 15162; and,
WHEREAS, an Addendum to the General Plan EIR and Supplemental EIR has therefore been prepared
pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164 for the Butte 2021 CAP; and,
WHEREAS, the Butte County Board of Supervisors has reviewed and considered the information in the
administrative record, staff report, and all oral and written testimony presented; and,
WHEREAS, the Butte County Board of Supervisors has reviewed and considered the information in the
administrative record, staff report, and all oral and written testimony presented; and,
WHEREAS, the Addendum provides analysis and cites substantial evidence that support's the County's
determination that the Butte 2021 CAP does not meet the criteria for preparing a subsequent or
supplemental EIR under CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 including:
1) As addressed in the analysis contained in the Addendum, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions -reducing measures
and actions proposed in the Plan are beneficial. Implementation of the CAP would not cause any new significant
impacts or substantially increase the severity of previously identified significant impacts identified in the General
Plan EIR (per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162[a] [1]) that would require major revisions to the General Plan
EIR — State Clearinghouse No. 2008092062. Additionally, the General Plan was amended in 2012 and a
Supplemental EIR (SCH No. 2012072025) was prepared for the amended General Plan. All impacts associated with
adoption and implementation of the Butte 2021 CAP would be equivalent to, or less than, the impacts previously
analyzed in the General Plan EIR and General Plan Supplemental EIR.
2) Implementation of the proposed Butte 2021 CAP would not result in substantial changes in physical circumstances
that would cause a new significant impact or substantially increase the severity of a previously identified
significant impact, and there have been no other changes in the circumstances that meet this criterion (State
CEQA Guidelines Section 15162[a] [2]). Rather, the Butte 2021 CAP would result in beneficial actions that
promote energy-efficient new development, renewable energy, reduced water and energy use, and waste
reduction. There have been no changes in the environmental conditions in the unincorporated county not
contemplated and analyzed in the General Plan EIR that would result in new or substantially more severe
environmental impacts in association with implementation of the Butte 2021 CAP.
3) As documented in this section, there is no new information of substantial importance (which was not known or
could not have been known at the time of the General Plan adoption on October 26, 2010) that shows any of the
following:
a) A new significant impact (Condition A under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162[a] [3]).
b) A substantial increase in the severity of a previously identified significant impact (Condition B under
State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162[a][3]).
c) Mitigation measures or alternatives previously found infeasible that would now be feasible and would
substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the General Plan; or mitigation measures or
alternatives which are considerably different from those analyzed in the General Plan EIR which would
substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment (Conditions C and D under
State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162[a][3]).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors hereby takes the following actions and makes
the following findings:
1. Notice of the Board of Supervisors hearing on the Butte 2021 CAP, and EIR Addendum was given as required by
law and the actions were conducted in accordance with CEQA, and the State CEQA Guidelines.
2. An EIR Addendum was prepared that provides analysis and cites substantial evidence that support's the County's
determination that the Butte 2021 CAP does not meet the criteria for preparing a subsequent or supplemental
EIR under CEQA Guidelines Section 15162
3. All individuals, groups and agencies desiring to comment were given adequate opportunity to submit oral and
written comments on the Butte 2021 CAP and the environmental review documents. These opportunities for
comment meet or exceed the requirements of the Planning and Zoning Law and CEQA.
4. The Board of Supervisors was presented with all the information described in the recitals and has considered this
information in adopting this resolution.
5. The proposed Adoption of the Butte 2021 CAP is in the public interest, and protects the health, safety, and welfare
of the County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Butte County Board of Supervisors hereby adopts the 2021 Climate Action Plain
as set forth under Exhibit A, and approves the EIR Addendum as set forth under Exhibit B.
vote:
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Butte County Board of Supervisors this 141" day of December, 2021, by the following
AYES: Supervisors Lucero, Ritter, Kimmelshue, Teeter and Chair Connelly
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
NOT VOTING: None
ATTEST:
Andy Pickett, Chief Administrative Officer
and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
be—puty
Bill Connelly, Chair
Butte County Board of Supervisors