Riverside Centre District Attorney Grand Jury Office Remodel Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025040870
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Riverside Centre District Attorney Grand Jury Office Remodel Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/17/2025
Document Description
The Grand Jury Building is located within the Riverside Centre at 3901 Lime Street in Riverside, California, 9250 I. The facility is in need of improvements that will provide additional space for the Criminal Grand Jury staff. The scope of work will include, but is not limited to, removal of one office, closet area, and transaction window, installation of new wall and door to separate the suite, replacement of the counter and sink in the breakroom, provide new flooring, furniture, security badge access, and reroute mechanical and electrical as needed. The interior site improvements within the Grand Jury Building of the Riverside Centre is identified as the proposed project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The operation of the site would continue to provide public services and would not result in a substantial increase in capacity or the intensity of the use. No additional direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated.
Contact Information
Name
Mike Sullivan
Agency Name
County of Riverside Facilities Management
Job Title
Facilities Operations Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Riverside
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Southern California
Parcel #
215-120-005
Other Location Info
3901 Lime Street, south of 9th Street, Riverside, California 92501, Assessor's Parcel Number (APN): 215-120-005
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA
specifically by the State CEQA Guidelines as identified below. The project will not result in any specific or general exceptions to the use of the categorical exemption as detailed under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. The project will not cause an impact to an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern nor would the project involve unusual circumstances that could potentially have a significant effect on the environment. The project would not result in impacts to scenic highways, hazardous waste sites, historic resources, or other sensitive natural environments, or have a cumulative effect to the environment. No significant environmental impacts are anticipated to occur with the remodel of the Grand Jury Building. This categorical exemption includes the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, provided the exemption only involves negligible or no expansion of the previous site's use. The project, as proposed, is limited to the remodel of the existing Grand Jury Building. The improvements are limited to interior alterations including the reconfiguration of space and replacement of breakroom fixtures, new flooring and furniture and security access. The completion of these improvements will result in the ongoing use, operation, and maintenance of the facility. The use of the facility would not result in any changes as a result of the occupancy and no expansion of public services would occur. Therefore, the project is exempt as the project meets the scope and intent of the Class 1 Exemption identified in Section 15301, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines. Therefore, the County of Riverside Facilities Management hereby concludes that no physical environmental impacts are anticipated to occur and the project as proposed is exempt under CEQA. No further environmental analysis is warranted.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061(B)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA
specifically by the State CEQA Guidelines as identified below. The project will not result in any specific or general exceptions to the use of the categorical exemption as detailed under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. The project will not cause an impact to an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern nor would the project involve unusual circumstances that could potentially have a significant effect on the environment. The project would not result in impacts to scenic highways, hazardous waste sites, historic resources, or other sensitive natural environments, or have a cumulative effect to the environment. No significant environmental impacts are anticipated to occur with the remodel of the Grand Jury Building.
In accordance with CEQA, the use of the Common Sense Exemption is based on the "general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment." State CEQA Guidelines, Section 1506l(b) (3). The use of this exemption is appropriate if "it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment." Ibid. This determination is an issue of fact and if sufficient evidence exists in the record that the activity cannot have a significant effect on the environment, then the exemption applies and no further evaluation under CEQA is required. See No Oil, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (1974) 13 Cal. 3d 68. The ruling in this case stated that if a project falls within a category exempt by administrative regulation or it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question will not have a significant effect on the environment', no further agency evaluation is required. With certainty, there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment. The proposed implementation of the interior site improvements to the existing building would be minor in nature and would not increase the building footprint, capacity, or change in use.
Therefore, in no way, would the project as proposed have the potential to cause a significant environmental impact and the project is exempt from further CEQA analysis. Therefore, the County of Riverside Facilities Management hereby concludes that no physical environmental impacts are anticipated to occur and the project as proposed is exempt under CEQA. No further environmental analysis is warranted.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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