Background:
The District has developed the Theuerkauf Elementary School Utilities and Pavement Project (“Proposed Project”), which consists of: (1) the removal and replacement of an existing transformer and electrical switchgear, (2) resurfacing and restriping the approximately 9,000 square foot staff parking lot located on the northwestern portion of the Site and the approximately 60,000 square foot blacktop located in the middle of the Site, and (3) repaving and restriping the approximately 20,000 square foot main school parking lot located on the northeastern portion of the Site.
The Proposed Project is located at Theuerkauf Elementary School at 1625 San Luis Ave. Mountain View, CA 94043 (“Site”).
Before the District may determine to carry out the Proposed Project, it must complete environmental review under CEQA, which exempts certain defined projects from completing a negative declaration or environmental impact report. District staff has determined that the Proposed Project meets the definition of the Class 1 Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines section 15301.
RATIONALE:
The Class 1 Categorical Exemption exempts a project that consists of the repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public facilities or topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of the former use. Here, removing and replacing the existing electrical equipment, and resurfacing, restriping and repaving the existing parking lots and blacktop are minor repairs and alterations of an existing public-school campus involving no expansion of use.
Once a project is determined to be exempt, it is no longer subject to either the procedural or substantive requirements of CEQA. Thus, CEQA review would be complete should the Board determine that the Proposed Project is exempt and to carry out the Proposed Project.
CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 provides five exceptions that would disqualify a project from being categorically exempt. These are: (1) where the cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place would be significant over time; (2) a significant environmental impact would occur due to unusual circumstances; (3) a project that would cause damage to scenic elements with a designated state scenic highway; (4) a project that is on a site designated as a Hazardous Waste Site; or (5) a project that causes a substantial adverse change to a historical resource.
1. The Proposed Project is the only project of the same type at the same place. No other similar, successive projects are proposed.
2. There are no known unusual circumstances that would be caused by the construction of a carport and small accessory storage building.
3. The Proposed Project is not within or near a designated state scenic highway. (https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2e921695c43643b1aaf7000dfcc19983)
4. The campus and Proposed Project Site are not on a site designated as a Hazardous Waste Site.
5. As there are no historical resources on the Campus and no buildings will be demolished or altered as a result of the Proposed Project, the Proposed Project would not cause a substantial adverse change to a historical resource.
Accordingly, there is no exception that would disqualify the Proposed Project from the Class 1 Categorical Exemption.
Should the Board adopt the Resolution, District staff will file a Notice of Exemption with the Santa Clara County Clerk and the State Clearinghouse.
Fiscal Implication:
None.
Recommended Action:
It is recommended that the Board adopt Resolution No. 03-060321 Determining that the Theuerkauf Elementary School Utilities and Pavement Project is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, Approving the Project, and Directing the Filing of a Notice of Exemption.