General Plan Amendment (GPA) 24-001, Code Amendment (CA) 24-003, Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 24-002, and Development Agreement (DA) 24-001, SMES Expansion
Summary
SCH Number
2025030231
Public Agency
City of San Juan Capistrano
Document Title
General Plan Amendment (GPA) 24-001, Code Amendment (CA) 24-003, Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 24-002, and Development Agreement (DA) 24-001, SMES Expansion
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/7/2025
Document Description
The City Council approved General Plan Amendment (GPA) 24-001 to change the Land Use Designation from “Neighborhood Commercial” to “Public & Institutional” and Code Amendment (CA) 24-003 to change the sector designation within the Ortega Planned Community Comprehensive Development Plan 78-01 from Sector A-2, Subsections 2 and 3, to Sector D in order to allow educational uses; Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 24-002 to allow the property at 31734 Rancho Viejo Road to be utilized for educational uses; and Development Agreement (DA) Amendment 24-001 to amend the existing Development Agreement between the City of San Juan Capistrano and St. Margaret’s Episcopal School (“Project”).
Contact Information
Name
Laurel Reimer
Agency Name
City of San Juan Capistrano
Job Title
AICP, Contract Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
John Eclevia
Agency Name
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Job Title
Director of Facilities and Construction
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
San Juan Capistrano
Counties
Orange
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Ortega Highway
Zip
92675
Total Acres
n/a
Parcel #
666-261-04, 666-261-05, 666-261-12 and a Portion of 666-261-14
State Highways
CA
Railways
n/a
Airports
n/a
Waterways
n/a
Township
San Ju
Range
n/a
Section
n/a
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
categorically exempt from further review under Section 15301, Class 1 (Existing Facilities)
Reasons for Exemption
The Project consists of a change of use and minor interior improvements to existing buildings. It qualifies for a Class 1 exemption because there will be no change to the existing physical environment since the project does not include any new development proposal. The existing and proposed square footage of the buildings to be occupied by St. Margaret’s will remain unchanged. St. Margaret’s will utilize the existing buildings for student instruction and athletics. There will be no increase in the number of students enrolled, and no increase in the number of school employees as a result of the project. Additionally, development standards for the current zone and proposed zone are the same. Any future development on the project site would be subject to separate environmental review under CEQA and be subject to development review by the City. 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 1 is not qualified by the location consideration.
b. There is no evidence of a potentially significant cumulative impact because successive projects of the same type in the same place have not been approved and are not currently proposed. The project proposes a change of use and interior improvements to existing buildings. There is no 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 proposes a change of use and interior improvements in an area zoned and designated for institutional and commercial development. The surrounding area is developed with commercial and institutional uses. No exterior changes are proposed to the existing buildings. Therefore, there are no unusual circumstances which may lead to a significant effect on the environment.
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 project site has not been identified as a historical resource. The Project is limited to a change of use and interior improvements to existing buildings. No exterior improvements, additions, or alterations are proposed. Therefore, this exception does not apply and the existing buildings are not considered historic resources for the purposes of CEQA.
County Clerk
Orange
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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