Sutter Campus Expansion (PLNG24-003)

2024100834

City of Elk Grove

NOE - Notice of Exemption

10/18/2024

10/18/2024

Kyra Killingsworth

City of Elk Grove

Senior Planner

Lead/Public Agency

8401 Laguna Palms Way
Elk Grove, CA 95758

(916) 478-3684

kkillingsworth@elkgrovecity.org

116-0330-026, 116-0330-032, 116-0330-033

8200 Laguna Blvd and 9315 Big Horn Blvd

Other

Consistent With a Community Plan or Zoning [Section 15183(a)]

Staff finds that no further environmental review is required under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 (Consistency with a General Plan, Community Plan, or Zoning). State CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 (Public Resources Code §21083.3), provides that projects which are consistent with the development density established by the existing Community Plan, General Plan, or Zoning for which an environmental impact report (EIR) has been certified “shall not require additional environmental review, except as might be necessary to examine whether there are project specific significant effects which are peculiar to the project or its site.” In 2019, the City Council certified the General Plan EIR (SCH#2017062058) and the 2023 General Plan Subsequent EIR. The Project is subject to the General Plan MMRP. The Project will result in a floor area ratio (FAR) of 0.20 which is below the maximum FAR in the EC land use designation of 2.0. As the proposed Project includes a permitted use within the allowed FAR range, the proposed Project is consistent with the General Plan. The General Plan relies on Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) as a measure of transportation impacts. VMT analysis was prepared for the Project by Fehr and Peers dated April 18. 2024. According to the analysis, neither the VMT land use designation limit nor the City limit for total VMT at buildout conditions will be exceeded. Additionally, the Project will comply with the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) for new non-residential development. A cultural resources assessment dated July 3, 2024 was completed by AECOM, peer reviewed by the City, and found to be consistent with General Plan Mitigation Measure 5.5.1a which addresses archaeological resources. Conditions of approval addressing the accidental discovery of archaeological and cultural resources pursuant to the General Plan Mitigation Measures have been included with this project. A biological resource assessment dated September 2024 was also completed by AECOM and peer reviewed by the City. The biological resource assessment determined that the uniform application of General Plan Policy NR-1-2 related to the preservation and enhancement of natural areas that serve, or may serve, as habitat for special-status species and Elk Grove Municipal Code Chapter (EGMC) 16.130 related to Swainson’s hawk would substantially reduce potential impacts attributable to the proposed Project. Additionally, On July 17, 2009, Sutter Health of Elk Grove purchased 11.4 conservation credits from Westervelt Ecological Services to mitigate for the loss of 3.7 acres of giant garter snake aquatic and upland habitat associated with campus expansion. No potential new impacts related to the Project have been identified that would necessitate further environmental review beyond the impacts and issues already disclosed and analyzed in the General Plan EIR. No other special circumstances exist that would create reasonable possibility that the Project will have a significant adverse effect on the environment. Therefore, the prior EIR is sufficient to support the proposed action and pursuant to State Guidelines 15183, therefore, no further environmental review is required.