Approval of a HOME-ARP, PIP Subrecipient Grant Agreement between the City of San Diego and San Diego Housing Commission for Pacific Village Affordable Housing

2024050543

City of San Diego

NOE - Notice of Exemption

5/13/2024

5/13/2024

Elena Pascual

City of San Diego, Planning Department

Senior Planner

Lead/Public Agency

1200 3rd Ave, MS 413
San Diego, CA 92101

(619) 533-5928

EPascual@sandiego.gov

3737-3747 Midway Drive, San Diego, CA 92110. The project is in the Midway-Pacific Highway Community Planning area in Council District 2.

Categorical Exemption

CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301(d) Existing Facilities, 15302(c) Replacement or Reconstruction, 15304

This activity is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.50 which exempts interim motel housing projects which are projects that involve the conversion of a structure with a certificate of occupancy as a motel, hotel, residential hotel, or hostel to supportive or transitional housing. Approval of the Agreement will facilitate the rehabilitation and conversion of a former Ramada Inn to a supportive housing facility which includes 62 affordable rental housing units for people experiencing homelessness, one manager's unit, and one unit to be used as a service provider office, and would provide supportive services to residents such as healthcare/physical health services, case management, and education and employment services. The proposed improvements include interior and exterior alterations to the existing structure that will not result in an expansion of the floor area of any individual living unit in the structure or the building footprint, and are not anticipated to result In significant effects related to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality. Operation of the site as a supportive housing facility would also not result in significant effects related to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality over baseline conditions as operational activities would be similar to what occurred when the site was operated as a Ramada Inn. Thus, this activity meets the criteria for an exemption pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.50. This activity is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (d} (Existing Facilities} which exempts the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use, including the restoration or rehabilitation of deteriorated or damaged structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment; Section 15302(c} (Replacement or Reconstruction) which exempts the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced, including existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity; and Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) which exempts minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes. The exceptions to the exemptions outlined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 would not apply as no cumulative impacts were identified, no significant effects on the environment were Identified, the project is not adjacent to a scenic highway, no historical resources would be affected by the action, and the project was not identified on a list of hazardous waste sites pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code. R-315508 (City Council of San Diego) Federal funds constitute a portion of the project's funding. A determination that the project is categorically excluded subject to Section 58.5 of the National Environmental Policy Act was approved by the City of San Diego on May 8, 2023.