City of Willits Wastewater Treatment Plant Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Project at City Hall and Sports Park
Summary
SCH Number
2025030072
Public Agency
City of Willits
Document Title
City of Willits Wastewater Treatment Plant Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Project at City Hall and Sports Park
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/3/2025
Document Description
The City Solar Project will install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in two (2) locations: The first location is on the rooftop of City Hall (APN 005-148-09) and the second location includes the public parking lot areas serving the Sports Park and Skate Park (APN 007-020-02), on the north side of East Commercial Street. An existing Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) power service will be connected to the new rooftop solar arrays at City Hall, and a new PG&E power service (power line) will be installed at the Sports Park parking lot to connect the new solar carport arrays.
The proposed solar installation at City Hall will add an additional 6.48 kW of rooftop solar panels (approximately 320 square feet), expanding the existing rooftop solar array. At the Sports Park and Skate Park parking lots, new free-standing solar carports will be installed over existing parking areas. The footprint of the Sports Park's new carport solar array will be approximately 31,000 square feet, and the footprint of the Skate Park's new carport solar array will be approximately 2,500 square feet. Combined, approximately 667.60 kW of new carport solar arrays will be installed at
Willits Sports Park and Skate Park parking lots.
Some minor trenching, tree removal, pavement demolition, and replacement will be required in addition to installing a small utility box and pad at the Sports Park parking lot. Solar carport construction at the Sports Park and Skate Park parking lots will require the closure of the parking lots for a single period between 4-8 weeks during summer months. The required security lighting will be installed on the solar carports. The project will occur within previously disturbed and highly utilized areas.
Contact Information
Name
Dusty Duley
Agency Name
City of Willits
Job Title
Community Development Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Willits
Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
North Main Street
Zip
95490
Total Acres
0.78
Parcel #
005-148-09 and 007-020-02
State Highways
20
Schools
Willits High, Baechtel Grove Middle, Blosser Lane Elementary
Waterways
Broaddus Creek and Baechtel Creek
Township
18N
Range
13W
Section
18
Other Location Info
Two installation locations: 1) Rooftop of City Hall, 2) Sports Park/Skate Park Parking Lots
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
21080.35
Reasons for Exemption
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the installation of a solar energy system on the roof of an existing building or at an existing parking lot is statutorily exempt pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.35. This exemption applies in cases where a solar energy project is proposed to be installed on the roof of either an existing building or at an existing parking lot which has been designated and used for parking vehicles for at least the previous two years and does not involve removal of a required or native tree over 25 years old, and associated equipment meets certain size, location, and other conditions. The proposal for the City of Willits Wastewater Treatment Plant Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Project at City Hall and
Sports Park meets the requirements of the exemption; therefore, no further CEQA review is required.
County Clerk
Mendocino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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