Montini Open Space Preserve Trail Connector
Summary
SCH Number
2023030245
Public Agency
City of Sonoma
Document Title
Montini Open Space Preserve Trail Connector
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/8/2023
Document Description
The City of Sonoma will complete trail work at the Montini Open Space Preserve, including a 0.5-mile segment of new trail, decommissioning of an existing trail alignment, and improvements to an existing trail crossing of a seasonal drainage/seasonal wetland. The trail realignment portion of the project will connect two pre-existing Preserve trails: The Valley of the Moon Trail and the Holstein Hill Trail. The current trail alignment is a social trail in violation of a conservation easement that passes through an open space buffer between the Preserve and a neighboring property owner. That alignment will be decommissioned, and the new alignment will create a connection that will be well within the existing border of the Preserve and outside the conservation easement buffer. The crossing improvement will involve grading and adding cobblestone to the existing trail where it crosses the seasonal drainage/seasonal wetland. During the wet season, water pool across the trail, obstructing access and forcing visitors to muddy the pooled water and disturb the area as they pass through. The improvements will give hikers a dry, compact surface upon which to cross, increasing year-round access and protecting the drainage/wetland from further disturbance. The upgraded crossing will allow emergency vehicle access to the upper portion of the Preserve and to private properties surrounding the Preserve.
Contact Information
Name
Oriana Hart
Agency Name
City of Sonoma
Job Title
Public Works Administrative and Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Address
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Sonoma
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
4th St W, Sonoma, CA 95476
Zip
95476
Parcel #
127-102-002
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15302, Replacement or Reconstruction and 15304, Minor Alterations of Land
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA Guidelines §15302. Replacement or Reconstruction allows for reconstruction within the same location. The new crossing would be in the same location as the existing crossing, with substantially the same purpose and capacity. It would improve upon the existing trail crossing, which is a section of trail leading hikers directly through a seasonal wetland swale.
CEQA Guidelines §15304. Minor Alterations to Land consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and /or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes. The trail re-alignment and decommissioning portion of the project would be a minor alteration to public land to connect two pre-existing trails: The Valley of the Moon Trail and the Holstein Hill Trail. Trail construction will be completed entirely using hand tools with no tree or shrub removal.
County Clerk
Sonoma
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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