Architectural Control (AC) 23-009, Grading Plan Modification (GPM) 24-022, and Tree Removal Permit (TRP) 24-026, San Juan Plaza.

2025010706

City of San Juan Capistrano

NOE - Notice of Exemption

1/23/2025

1/23/2025

Laurel Reimer

City of San Juan Capistrano

AICP, Contract Planner

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant

32400 Paseo Adelanto
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

(949) 443-6324

LReimer@sanjuancapistrano.org

Camino Capistrano and Del Obispo

92675

n/a

1

668-091-03

California

railways within one mile

n/a

yes

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Categorical Exemption

15332

a. The project is consistent with the applicable General Plan designation and all applicable General Plan policies as well as with applicable zoning designations and regulations; the project is consistent with the San Juan Capistrano General Plan and the Specific Plan (Ordinance 1111). b. The project occurs within city limits on a project site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by urban uses. c. The Biological Due Diligence, which was reviewed and accepted by the City’s third party CEQA review consultant, Sagecrest Planning (“Sagecrest”), identifies that the project site has no value as a habitat for endangered, rare, or threatened species. d. Approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality; analysis has been conducted to ensure the project does not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, and water quality, including the following: a Traffic Impact Study accepted by the City Traffic Engineer, an Assessment of Environmental Noise accepted by Sagecrest, an Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis accepted by Sagecrest, and a Preliminary Drainage Report and Preliminary Water Quality Management Plan accepted by the City Public Works Department. e. The site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services; the site is currently serviced by all required utilities, including but not limited to electricity, garbage, water, and sewer and therefore will remain adequately serviced. Further, the City has also considered whether the project is subject to any of the six (6) exceptions that would prohibit the use of a categorical exemption as set forth in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. The six (6) exceptions to this Exemption are: (a) Location; (b) Cumulative Impacts; (c) Significant Effect; (d) Scenic Highways; (e) Hazardous Waste Sites; and (f) Historical Resources. a. Class 32 is not qualified by the location consideration. b. There is no evidence of a potential significant cumulative impact because successive projects of the same type in the same place have not been approved and are not currently proposed. There is not foreseeable successive project at this site and there is no possibility of a cumulative impact from this same type of project in this area over time. c. The project is not marked by unusual circumstances. The project would develop a mixed-use development with residential dwelling units and commercial uses on a site that permits mixed-use developments. d. The project would not damage scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources, within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway. e. The project is not located on a site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code. f. The project would not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. The buildings were not identified as a potential cultural resource during the survey, and no cultural resources were identified during the pedestrian survey. Therefore, the existing buildings are not considered historic resources for the purposes of CEQA.