Juliette Substation Modifications
Summary
SCH Number
2024021039
Public Agency
City of Santa Clara
Document Title
Juliette Substation Modifications
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/27/2024
Document Description
Silicon Valley Power has proposed modifications to Juliette Substation, an existing substation located at 3603 and 3605 Juliette Lane in the City of Santa Clara, that incorporates parcels APN 104-39-018 (1.89 acres) and APN 104-39-019 (1.14 acres). The project would add a third transformer that, along with associated modifications, would work in conjunction with the two existing transformers and would increase the substation's capacity from 62 Million Volt-Amps (MVA) to a maximum capacity of 124 MVA. The substation is located in an area zoned by the City of Santa Clara as Planned Development (PD), which is fully developed with businesses and manufacturing uses. The substation is accessed by a private driveway that extends west from Juliette Lane, which provides limited secondary access to the adjacent commercial/manufacturing use (i.e., Intel Corporation).
Contact Information
Name
Joseph Bruzzone
Agency Name
City of Santa Clara, Silicon Valley Power
Job Title
Senior Electric Utility Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Cities
Santa Clara
Counties
Santa Clara
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
3603 and 3605 Juliette Lane
Zip
95054
Total Acres
3.03 acres
Parcel #
APN 104-39-018 (1.89 acres) & APN 104-39-019 (1.14 acres)
State Highways
Highway 101
Waterways
San Tomas Aquino Creek, Saratoga Creek
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures); Section 15303 of the CEQA Guidelines
Reasons for Exemption
As the proposed project would involve modifications of an existing utility facility, and all construction activities would occur within the existing substation property, a Notice of Exemption would satisfy CEQA requirements for the Juliette Substation Modifications. The proposed project meets the criteria of the Class 3 categorical exemption without any of the exceptions described in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2.
The proposed project involves adding a third transformer and associated equipment to an existing electrical substation in the City of Santa Clara. The proposed modifications are confined to the addition of electrical infrastructure within the boundaries of an existing substation, without encroaching on biological, historic, or scenic resources. Nothing regarding the proposed project’s size, location, nature, or scope would be considered “unusual circumstances.” The proposed project is not located in an environment considered to be sensitive and would not impact a designated environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern. Juliette Substation is surrounded by commercial and industrial uses and does not abut or impact any scenic resources. The proposed project would not be visible from the nearest State Scenic Highway, which is located 4.8 miles south of the project along Interstate 280. There are no national or state historical resources identified at or near the proposed project site. Finally, the proposed project is not part of a series of related projects at the substation that could, cumulatively, have a significant impact on the environment.
Given that Silicon Valley Power serves public needs by providing essential utility services, and that the purpose of the proposed modifications to Juliette Substation is to enhance electrical capacity and reliability for its service area, the categorical exemption described in CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 (d) is applicable. This exemption applies to the installation of new utility extensions, including the placement of small structures (e.g., transformer and related ancillary improvements), within the footprint of an existing utility facility. The Class 3 (d) categorical exemption would not be negated by any of the exceptions listed in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. The Juliette Substation modifications will not have a significant effect on the environment and is considered exempt from the requirement for the preparation of environmental documents.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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