Chaparral High School Practice Field Lighting
Summary
SCH Number
2022110415
Public Agency
Temecula Valley Unified School District
Document Title
Chaparral High School Practice Field Lighting
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/18/2022
Document Description
Temecula Valley Unified School District (District) proposes to add nighttime sports lighting to the existing multiuse practice field at Chaparral High School. Field lighting would consist of four 80 feet tall galvanized steel poles with LED luminaires mounted at 80 feet. Four light poles would each have five luminaires for a total of 20 luminaires. Average light levels for the multi-use field would be approximately 30.2 foot-candles (fc) for the lined soccer field and 3.05 fc for the surrounding grass area outside of the soccer field. The proposed project would extend the field use hours into the evening hours, but no additional sports program would be added that could increase participants or spectators. As with the existing conditions, the newly lit multi-use field would be available for use by community groups after school hours, when the facilities are not in use by students, and during weekends, as provided by the District’s use policy under the Civic Center Act. The proposed project is prompted by the passage of Senate Bill 328, which requires high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 am. The proposed project would require limited demolition of hardscape and softscape to install lighting poles and trenching and backfilling for electrical utility improvements. The proposed project could disturb up to 6,000 square feet of surface area of the approximately 51 acres of high school campus. No structural demolition would be required, and no PA system would be installed. The District is tentatively scheduled to start construction in January 2023, and the construction would take approximately six weeks.
Contact Information
Name
Janet Dixon
Agency Name
Temecula Valley Unified School District
Job Title
Director Facilities Development Dept.
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Temecula
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide, Countywide, Southern California
Cross Streets
Nicolas Road and Winchester Road
Zip
92591
Total Acres
50
Jobs
2
Parcel #
920-090-005
State Highways
15 and 79
Railways
0
Airports
French Valley Airport
Schools
Ysabel Barnett ES
Waterways
0
Township
T7SR
Range
3W
Section
25
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CCR §15301 Class 1; §15303 Class 3; 5304 Class 4; 15311 Class 11
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is exempt from further environmental documentation under the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §§ 21000 et seq.), categorical exemptions Class 1, Class 3, Class 4, and Class 11.
Class 1, Existing Facilities (CEQA Guidelines § 15301): The multiuse field already exists on the Chaparral High School campus. The proposed project would install four light poles on the multiuse field to light the soccer field. The proposed project is not intended to expand the use of the existing school facility but is prompted by SB 328, which requires high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 am. Thus after-school sports activities start later, affecting how long such activities can last unless the practice field is lighted for evening use. The addition of four light poles on the existing athletic would involve negligible expansion of existing uses into the evening hours, and the proposed project meets the criteria for an exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.
Class 3, New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures (CEQA Guidelines § 15303): The proposed project involves the installation of four light poles with a total of 20 LED luminaires, which requires the extension of electrical utilities to power the light poles. The light poles would have a total electrical load of 28.60 kilowatts. The electrical utility system meets the criteria for an exemption under CEQA Guidelines § 15303.
Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land (CEQA Guidelines § 15304): The proposed project could disturb up to 6,000 square feet of surface area on the 51-acre campus, removing approximately 800 square feet of concrete and 4,000 square feet of grass, fine grading 4,500 square feet, and excavating and exporting 183 cubic yards of soils for placement of the light poles and for trenching and backfilling for electrical utility improvements. These improvements would be minor alterations to the existing multiuse field and would not involve removal of healthy, mature, and/or scenic trees. Therefore, the proposed disturbance of soils for trenching and backfilling surfaces would meet the criteria for an exemption under CEQA Guidelines § 15304.
Class 11, Accessory Structures (CEQA Guidelines § 15311): The light poles are accessory structures to the existing multiuse field at the Chaparral High School. These accessory structures would not change the nature of the use but would extend use of the field into evening hours, which became necessary because of SB 328. SB 328 does not allow high schools to start before 8:30 am, and after-school sports activities will need to start later and end later. The after-school sports activities currently occurring at Chaparral High School cannot continue unless the practice field is lighted for evening use. The proposed light poles are accessory structures to the existing field and meet the criteria for an exemption under CEQA Guidelines § 15311.
A review of the possible exceptions to the exemption, as outlined under CEQA Guidelines § 15300.2, determined that no characteristics or circumstances would invalidate findings that the project is exempt from CEQA (see “Supplement to Notice of Exemption”). The Supplement to Notice of Exemption is available for review at Temecula Valley Unified District’s Facilities Development office at 31350 Rancho Vista Road, Temecula, CA 92592.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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