Oswald Road Widening and Drainage Improvement Project

2025041033

Sutter County

NOE - Notice of Exemption

4/21/2025

4/21/2025

Scott S. Riddle

Sutter County Development Services Department

Senior Civil Engineer

Lead/Public Agency

1130 Civic Center Boulevard
Yuba City, CA 95993

(530) 822-7400

sriddle@co.sutter.ca.us

39°4'8.4"N 121°38'4.9"W

Oswald Road between Railroad Avenue and Gilsizer Slough

95993

NA

State Hwy 99

None

None

Barry Elementary School

Gilsizer Slough

14N

03E

Varies

MDB&M

Zip Code 95993 and 95991

Statutory Exemption

Section 15282 (k)

The Project will reconstruct an existing roadway to improve overall traffic efficiency, enhance pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and improve storm water drainage. The Project improvements include alterations, repairs, upgrades, and small new facilities to enhance safety and functionality in a manner that does not increase the capacity of a roadway. The Project's storm drainage improvements meet the criteria for a Section 15282 Statutory Exemption as they involve construction of a new underground storm drain pipeline that is less than one mile in length within a public right-of-way.

Categorical Exemption

Section 15301: Existing Facilities (Class 1)

The Class 1 Categorical Exemption covers the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Item (c) of the Class 1 Categorical Exemption includes alterations to existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and other alterations such as the addition of bicycle facilities, including but not limited to bicycle parking, bicycle-share facilities and bicycle lanes, transit improvements such as bus lanes, pedestrian crossings, street trees, and other similar alterations that do not create new additional automobile lanes. The Project improvements meet the criteria for this exemption as they include minor alterations, repairs, and upgrades to existing streets, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and other similar facilities in a manner that does not create additional automobile lanes that directly add capacity to the roadway. The center turn lane will improve traffic flow and safety by allowing vehicles to make left turns without obstructing through traffic, thereby improving overall traffic efficiency. However, it will not directly add capacity to the roadway.

Categorical Exemption

Section 15302: Replacement or Reconstruction of Existing Facilities (Class 2)

The Class 2 Categorical Exemption covers replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located at the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. The Project improvements meet the criteria for this exemption as they reconstruct existing roadways, pedestrian facilities, and drainage facilities to enhance safety and functionality in a manner that would not increase the capacity of the roadway.

Categorical Exemption

Section 15303: New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures (Class 3)

The Class 3 Categorical Exemption consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure. As noted in the CEQA Guidelines, project types covered by this exemption include utility extensions and street improvements of reasonable length. The Project improvements meet the criteria for this exemption as they install small facilities such as new drainage facilities and a new stormwater outfall.