Solar Project at the Parking Lots, adjacent to The Lawrence Hall of Science
Summary
SCH Number
2021120131
Public Agency
University of California, Berkeley
Document Title
Solar Project at the Parking Lots, adjacent to The Lawrence Hall of Science
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/8/2021
Document Description
UC Berkeley has entered into an agreement for solar carport and ground mounted installations at the Hill Terrace, East and vista parking lot area near the Lawrence Hall of Science main building. There will be west facing carports and ground mount installations on 1 Centennial Drive, Berkeley. The project will also include battery storage and conduit for future electric vehicles. The project will not result in an increase in square footage. A total of up to 35 trees will be removed and none of the trees are specimen trees per the UC Specimen Tree Program.
Contact Information
Name
Wendy Hillis
Agency Name
UC Berkeley
Job Title
Campus Architect
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Shraddha Navalli Patil
Agency Name
UC Berkeley
Job Title
Senior Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Berkeley
Counties
Alameda
Regions
Citywide
Other Location Info
1 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1, Class 3, and Class 11
Reasons for Exemption
The Project would involve installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) carports on existing parking lots and ground mounted solar PVs. The Project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301: Class 1 Existing Facilities because the Project would involve negligible or no expansion of use. The solar arrays would be located in an area where no environmentally sensitive habitat exists.
The project is categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines 15303 - Class 3 New construction or conversion of small structures. This project involves the construction of accessory structures such as solar carports on existing parking lots with its associated equipment.
The Project is categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15311 – Class 11 Accessory Structures. Class 11 consists of construction, or placement of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities, which is applicable to this project because this project includes placement of solar carports.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 includes a number of exceptions to categorical exemptions, which include the following: location; cumulative impact; significant effect; scenic highways; hazardous waste sites; and historical resources. These exceptions have been determined not to apply to the Project.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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