(a) Notwithstanding subdivision (k) of Section 33352, the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code) shall not apply to the adoption of a redevelopment plan prepared pursuant to this article if the redevelopment agency determines at a public hearing, noticed in accord with this section, that the need to adopt a redevelopment plan at the soonest possible time in order to use the authority in this article requires the redevelopment agency to delay application of the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act to the redevelopment plan in accordance with this section.
(b) If the redevelopment agency finds, pursuant to subdivision (a), that the application of the California Environmental Quality Act to the redevelopment plan is required to be delayed, the redevelopment agency or the community shall certify an environmental impact report for the redevelopment plan within 18 months after the effective date of the ordinance adopting the redevelopment plan. If, as a result of the preparation of the environmental document prepared pursuant to this subdivision, it is necessary to amend the redevelopment plan to mitigate any impacts, the agency shall amend the redevelopment plan according to the procedures of this part. If the environmental document is determined to be inadequate, the redevelopment agency shall not continue with projects that implement the redevelopment plan until an adequate environmental document has been certified; however, this determination shall not affect the validity of the redevelopment plan.
(c) Until the redevelopment agency or the community certifies an environmental impact report for the redevelopment plan, all projects, as defined in the California Environmental Quality Act, that implement the redevelopment plan shall be subject to the California Environmental Quality Act, including, but not limited to, specific plans and rezonings. The environmental document for any implementing project shall include an analysis and mitigation of potential cumulative impacts, if any, that otherwise would not be known until an environmental document for the redevelopment plan is certified or approved and shall also include a reporting or monitoring program required pursuant to Section 21081 of the Public Resources Code.
(d) The notice for the public hearing required by subdivision (a) shall comply with, and may be combined with, the notices in Section 33349 or 33361. The notice shall state that the agency intends to consider and act upon a determination that the need to adopt a redevelopment plan at the soonest possible time in order to use the authority in this article requires the redevelopment agency to delay application of the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act to the redevelopment plan in accordance with this section.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 165, Sec. 1. Effective July 15, 1996.)