Sycamore Creek Interpretative Center Deck Rebuild
Summary
SCH Number
2024110675
Public Agency
Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District
Document Title
Sycamore Creek Interpretative Center Deck Rebuild
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/20/2024
Document Description
The Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District (RCRCD) operates several environmental educational sites within its district boundaries. One site is the Sycamore Creek Interpretive Center (SCIC), which is located in Temescal Valley at the edge of the Cleveland National Forest. The center is a double wide trailer with a deck and small parking lot. The center offers free environmental educational opportunities to the public on Fridays and Saturdays. Staff provides a variety of programs for pre-K to adult. All programing is centralized around conservation of our local flora and fauna, watershed health, urban wildland interface (including fire risk/prep), native peoples and the importance of the Sycamore Creek Preserve. SCIC's deck is used by all visitors to enter the facility and is central to hosting field trips for local schools. However, the state of SCIC's deck has declined over the years due to wear and tear and now is in dire need of replacement since it's become a safety hazard for both visitors and staff The replacement of SCIC' s deck would involve demo of the current deck and installation of a new one. The California Conservation Corps ("CCC") agreed to demo and install this new deck using Prop 68 funds on RCRCD's behalf ("Project"). The RCRCD would provide the materials and construction education to the CCC crew.
Contact Information
Name
Shelli Lamb
Agency Name
Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District
Job Title
District Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Temescal Valley
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide
Parcel #
290-670-035
Other Location Info
11875 Indian Truck Trail, Temescal Valley, CA 92883
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1 (14 Cal. Code Regs. section 15301); Class 2 (14 Cal. Code Regs. section 15302); 14 Cal. Code Regs. section 15061
Reasons for Exemption
The Project is exempt from environmental review under CEQA pursuant to a Class 2 CEQA exemption. (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15302.) The Class 2 CEQA exemption applies to 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. Here, the Project involves the replacement of SCIC' s existing deck with a new deck in the same capacity for the same purpose of providing entrance into SCIC and holding school programs. Therefore, the Project is exempt under the Class 2 CEQA exemption
Alternatively, the Project is also exempt from environmental review under CEQA pursuant to a Class 1 CEQA exemption. (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15301.) The Class 1 CEQA exemption applies to the repair of existing public or private structures and topographical features, where there is no expansion of existing or former use. Here, the Project involves the repair of SCIC' s existing deck by replacing it with a new deck to provide the same use of providing an entrance into SCIC and holding school programs. Further, the Project will not involve any increase in environmental harm since it will not physically expand the original footprint of the deck.
None of the exceptions found in State CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 would apply to the Project.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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