Capuchino High School Photovoltaic Project

Summary

SCH Number
2024070465
Public Agency
San Mateo Union School District
Document Title
Capuchino High School Photovoltaic Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/11/2024
Document Description
Proposed Project The District proposes to install four parking lot canopy PV systems at the school's parking lot facing Millwood Drive. The canopy arrays would be 203' x 37', 230'x 37', and two 170' x 22', arrays. These would contain 270, 304, and 135 modules, respectively. These arrays would be tilted, ranging from 14 to 18 feet in height, with a minimum of 13'6" clearance beneath. Conduit would be run underground to existing electrical service and interconnection points, along with certain equipment improvements at those facilities. Up to 25 landscape trees would be removed from the parking lot and sidewalk frontage for canopy installation. The trees are a mixture of ages. There are mature trees that would be over 25 years of age and smaller trees under 25 years of age. The purpose of this project is to provide renewable electricity to the grid and reduce energy costs to the District. The project would be constructed over between August 12, 2024 and January of 2025. No new or expanded uses of the school facilities are proposed as part of this project. There is currently no overlap with any other project during this project.

Contact Information

Name
Yancy Hawkins
Agency Name
San Mateo Union High School District
Job Title
Associate Superintendent, CBO
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant

Location

Cities
Millbrae
Counties
San Mateo
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Magnolia Ave and Park Blvs
Zip
94066
Parcel #
021-140-010
State Highways
US 101
Airports
San Francisco international
Schools
Green HIlls ES, Lomita Park ES, Happy Hall Schools
Other Location Info
1501 Magnolia Ave, Millbrae County: San Mateo

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
21080.35 (rooftop and parking lot solar system exemption}
Reasons for Exemption
Rooftop/Parking Lot Solar Exemption The project would qualify for exemption under the CEQA rooftop/parking lot statutory exemption (CEQA Statutes, Section 21080.35). This exemption applies to rooftop and parking lot photovoltaic systems located on the same parcel as the existing buildings, with associated equipment not occupying more than 500 sq. ft. and not containing protected plants. This exemption does not apply if the associated equipment would otherwise require one of the following: (1) An individual federal permit pursuant to Section 401 or 404 of the federal Clean Water Act {33 U.S.C. Sec. 1341 or 1344) or waste discharge requirements pursuant to the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code). {2) An individual take permit for species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.) or the California Endangered Species Act {Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code). (3) A streambed alteration permit pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1600) of Division 2 of the Fish and Game Code. (e) This section does not apply ifthe installation of a solar energy system at an existing parking lot involves either of the following: (1) The removal of a tree required to be planted, maintained, or protected pursuant to local, state, or federal requirements, unless the tree dies and there is no requirement to replace the tree. (2) The removal of a native tree over 25 years old. (f) This section does not apply to any transmission or distribution facility or connection. The project would conform with the requirements of this exemption, and none of the exceptions are present on the site. Class 1 Exemption The CEQA Class 1 Exemption (Existing Facilities - CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301) applies to repairs and maintenance of existing facilities including interior or exterior alterations involving no or negligible expansion of the facilities, and restoration and rehabilitation of deteriorated structures and facilities, as well as health and safety improvements. The Project qualifies for the Class 1 exemption because it involves the minor alteration of existing facilities at the school and would not expand the school capacity or its use. The Project would result in net environmental benefits by reducing traditional electrical energy consumption at the Property. Class 11 Exemption The CEQA Class 11 Exemption (Accessory Structures, CEQA Guidelines section 15311) applies to construction or placement of minor structures accessory or appurtenant to existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities. The Project is also exempt from CEQA because it involves the construction of minor structures accessory to existing institutional Facilities Class 1 Exemption The CEQA Class 1 Exemption (Existing Facilities - CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301) applies to repairs and maintenance of existing facilities including interior or exterior alterations involving no or negligible expansion of the facilities, and restoration and rehabilitation of deteriorated structures and facilities, as well as health and safety improvements. The Project qualifies for the Class 1 exemption because it involves the minor alteration of existing facilities at the school and would not expand the school capacity or its use. The Project would result in net environmental benefits by reducing traditional electrical energy consumption at the Property. Class 11 Exemption The CEQA Class 11 Exemption (Accessory Structures, CEQA Guidelines section 15311) applies to construction or placement of minor structures accessory or appurtenant to existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities. The Project is also exempt from CEQA because it involves the construction of minor structures accessory to existing institutional facilities. Analysis of Possible Exceptions to Class 1 and class 11 Exemptions - - - The exemptions are subject to the following exceptions: • Cumulative Impact. This exception would apply if the project were to contribute to significant impacts to a resource in combination with other proposed new development nearby. As noted above, no project construction may overlap with this construction. However, those are very small projects so no cumulatively significant impacts would be expected. • Scenic Highways. This exception would apply if the project were to result in damage to scenic resources within a scenic highway corridor. There are no highways or roadways in the project area or from which the project area can be seen that are designated as Scenic or are eligible for scenic designation. The project would be visible in views from Millwood Drive, and residents of houses across Millwood would notice the tree removal and new solar arrays. While the change in views may not be desirable to some residents, because the site is urban and the arrays would be similar in scale to other development on the school site, this impact would not be considered potentially significant. There is no night lighting for construction, but there are canopy lights being installed for the project. These lights are photocells that turn on at night. • Hazardous Waste Sites. This exception would apply if the project were to be located on a hazardous waste site listed pursuant to California Government Code Section 65962.5. Although the Capuchino High School Campus is on a state database (database search performed May 13, 2024), contaminated soil was cleaned up between 2002 and 2004; no contamination is known to remain on the site: http://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/pubti c/deliverable documents/4602482438/Phase% 201%20determination%20%28204084%29. pdf. Further, the contamination noted was in the former auto shop area, which is not near the parking lot where the solar arrays are proposed. • Historical Resources. This exception would apply if the project were to potentially significantly adversely affect an historical resource. The proposed project would be in a parking lot adjacent to the school buildings. It would have no adverse effect on any potential historic attributes of any school buildings. • Significant Effect. The exception would apply if the project would have the potential for a significant effect to the environment due to unusual circumstances. Unusual circumstances may include historic structures, hazardous materials contamination, protected species or habitats, and other similar conditions. There are no unusual circumstances on the site (which is a paved parking lot) and there is no potential for significant effect, therefore this exception would not apply.

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301 (existing facilities); 15311 (accessory structures)
Reasons for Exemption
Project would be a minor alteration of existing facilities (15301 ). Project also may be considered accessory structures to the existing institutional use (15311 ). Project would fall under parking lot and rooftop solar exemption assuming trees are not over 25 years old or protected by City standards. See discussion attached
County Clerk
San Mateo

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