2024 I-280 Alternative Access Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024020149
Public Agency
Los Altos Hills County Fire District
(LAHCFD)
Document Title
2024 I-280 Alternative Access Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/5/2024
Document Description
This Project maintains three connected wildfire evacuation access routes the Black Mountain-Purissima Roads route, the Elena-Fremont Roads route, and the La Paloma
Avenue route and reduces the volume of flammable vegetation along the routes to limit the uncontrolled spread of fire. The Los Altos Hills County Fire District (
District ) in coordination with the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, the Town of Los Altos Hills, the Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department, and Caltrans
will perform vegetation fuel management activities along Black Mountain Road, Natoma Road, Elena Road, La Barranca Road, Purissima Road, Concepcion Road,
Fremont Road, La Paloma Road, and West Wind Way, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Contact Information
Name
J. Logan
Agency Name
Los Altos Hills County Fire District
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Los Altos Hills
Counties
Santa Clara
Regions
Citywide, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Black Mountain Road, Natoma Road, Elena Road, La Barranca Road, Purissima Road, Concepcion Road,
Zip
94024
Parcel #
n/a
State Highways
i280
Railways
0
Airports
0
Schools
1
Waterways
1
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines § 15304 – Minor Alterations to Land (Class 4); and CEQA Guidelines § 15301 – Existing Facilities (Class
Reasons for Exemption
The Project meets the requirements of the Class 4 Categorical Exemption (minor alterations to land, CEQA Guidelines Section 15304), which expressly exempts minor public or private alterations in the condition of land and vegetation, and fuel management activities within 30 or 100 feet of structures. The Project also meets the requirements of the Class 1 Categorical Exemption (existing facilities), which expressly exempts the maintenance of existing public or private facilities including streets, and the maintenance of existing landscaping or native growth.
Project implementation will result in minor alterations to the land, including fuel management activities, that will not significantly impact a scenic vista, scenic resources, or the existing visual character or quality of public views, biological and/or cultural resources, and will not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees for any purpose. Project implementation also involves maintenance of existing roadways, landscaping, and native growth. Vegetation treatment prescriptions are consistent with industry best practices for vegetation management and defensible space and will be approved by LAHCFD prior to implementation.
All work will occur within or immediately adjacent to an established roadway, within 30 feet of structures, or within 100 feet of structures if necessary to address extra hazardous fire conditions. Project activities will not result in the taking of endangered, rare or threatened plant or animal species or significant erosion or sedimentation of surface waters. Project activities will not damage scenic resources within officially designated state scenic highways.
There is no reasonable possibility that the Project will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances that would preclude the use of a categorical exemption for this Project. Documentation of the environmental review completed by staff is kept on file with the District.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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