PLN24-0280 – 3100 Central Avenue – Use Permit

2024091082

City of Alameda

NOE - Notice of Exemption

9/26/2024

9/26/2024

Henry Dong

City of Alameda

Planner III

Lead/Public Agency

2263 Santa Clara Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501

(510) 747-6800

hdong@alamedaca.gov

3100 Central Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501

Categorical Exemption

15303; 15301

This project is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15303 – New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures - the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure, and for the construction of accessory structures consisting of the proposed fence. The project qualifies for this Class 3 categorical exemption in that it consists of the conversion of an existing building previously used as a church and preschool into a preschool with afterschool program with no changes to the exterior of the building. The City is an urbanized area and the existing structure is less than 10,000 square feet. On a separate and independent basis, the project also qualifies as a Class 1 categorical exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 - Existing Facilities - operation, repair, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The project qualifies for this Class 1 categorical exemption in that it consists of the operation of a preschool with afterschool program in an existing church building that had previously been used for the same or similar purpose. The proposed preschool/afterschool use results in a negligible expansion of use in that the record showed, among other things: that the Church’s maximum occupancy was for 125 people which could result in generation of its own associated traffic and noise factors; that the proposed preschool use is limited by State licensing requirements and project proposal to a maximum of 50 children and six staff on site at any one time; that the outside noise impacts of the proposed use would be similar to the noise impacts of the 14 former preschool students; and that the proposed use would result in an overall reduction of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and air quality impacts due to families in the neighborhood being able to drop off and pick up close to their homes. The Planning Board further finds that none of the exceptions to the categorical exemptions in CEQA Guidelines 15300.2 apply, i.e. the project is not in a particularly sensitive environment, there are no significant cumulative effects in that additional daycares could not be constructed on the same site due to the limited outdoor space and State licensing requirements, there are no unusual circumstances in that the neighborhood has other similar daycares and a public park nearby, and there are no scenic, hazardous, or historical resource impacts.