NOTICE OF EXEMPTION
To:
Office of Planning and Research
P.O. Box 3044, Room 113
Sacramento, CA 95812-3044
Riverside County Clerk
From (Public Agency):
City of Murrieta
1 Town Square
Murrieta, CA 92562
4080 Lemon St.
Riverside, CA 92501
Project Title:
Electric Vehicle Charging and Housing Element Implementation Ordinance Project Applicant:
The City of Murrieta
Project Location - Specific:
Citywide
Project Location - City:
City of Murrieta
Project Location - County:
County of Riverside
Description of Nature, Purpose, and Beneficiaries of Project:
Nature:
The Project is a Development Code Amendment (MCA-2023-00001) for the adoption of an Electric Vehicle Charging and Housing Element Implementation Ordinance. The Project proposes an amendment to the City’s Development Code for the purpose of revising and updating Sections 16.08.010, 16.08.020, 16.34.040, 16.44.115, 16.44.200, 16.52.040, and 16.73.050.
Purpose:
To bring the City’s Development Code into compliance with the City’s Climate Action Plan Policy T-2 and Housing Element Policy Action 1-9: Amend the City’s Zoning for Compliance with State Law and to Reduce Governmental Constraints on the Development of Housing.
Beneficiaries:
City of Murrieta
Name of Public Agency Approving Project:
City of Murrieta
Name of Person or Agency Carrying Out Project:
City of Murrieta
Exempt Status
(check one):
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Statute and Guidelines Ministerial (Sec. 21080(b)(1); 15268);
Declared Emergency (Sec. 21080(b)(3); 152269(a));
Emergency Project (Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c));
Categorical Exemption. Type and Section:
State CEQA Guidelines §15183 “Projects Consistent with a Community Plan or Zoning” Statutory Exemption. Code Number:
Reasons Why the Project is Exempt:
State CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 (Public Resources Code §21083.3), provides that projects which are consistent with the development density established by a Community Plan, General Plan, or Zoning for which an environmental impact report (EIR) has been certified “shall not require additional environmental review, except as might be necessary to examine whether there are project-specific significant effects which are peculiar to the project or its site.”
The Murrieta General Plan 2035 and its associated EIR (SCH#2010111084) were certified July 19, 2021. The document Comprehensively examined the potential environmental impacts that occur as a result of the implementation of its policies.
The Project is an Ordinance to revise Title 16 of the Murrieta Municipal Code to implement Policy T-2 of the City’s Climate Action Plan and Policy Action 1-9 of the Housing Element. The Project proposes an amendment to the City’s Development Code for the purpose of revising and updating sections 16.08, 16.31, 16.44, 16.52, and 16.73.
The proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as this meets the required actions of CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Projects Consistent with a Community Plan or Zoning, because it involves the adoption and implementation of policies within the City’s Climate Action Plan and Housing Element both of which were examined as part of the City’s General Plan EIR. The Project will not cause significant environmental impact and implements a uniformly applied development policy or standard that is consistent with the Climate Action Plan and Housing Element.
The following findings are made in compliance with CEQA Section 15183 – Project consistent with a Community Plan or Zoning.
In approving a project meeting the requirements of CEQA Section 15183, a public agency shall limit its examination of environmental effects to those which the agency determines, in an initial study or other analysis:
1. Is the project consistent with the General Plan and Zoning designations for the site (including density for residential developments)? Yes __X__ No_____ If yes, please explain below. If no, the project does not qualify for this exemption.
Comment/Finding:
As indicated above, the Project will bring the Development Code into greater compliance with the Climate Action Plan and Housing Element. The Project will not increase the permitted density for residential developments.
2. Are there any impacts that weren’t evaluated in the General Plan EIR that are peculiar to the project or the parcel on which the project would be located? Yes _____ No __X__ If yes, an initial study or detailed analysis is necessary to determine if specific impacts will need to be mitigated.
If no, continue with CEQA Section 15183 Exemption.
Comment/Finding:
The Project implements actions identified within the Climate Action Plan and Housing Element which were evaluated with the General Plan EIR. Therefore, all potential impacts were identified as part of the General Plan EIR.
3. Are there project specific impacts which the General Plan EIR failed to analyze as significant effects.
Yes_____ No __X__
If yes, an initial study or other detailed analysis is necessary to determine if the impacts are considered to be significant and if mitigation is required.
If no, continue with CEQA Section 15183 Exemption.
Comment/Finding:
The Project would not result in any additional impacts that were not evaluated with the General Plan EIR.
4. Is there substantial new information which would result in more severe impacts than anticipated by the General Plan EIR?
Yes_____ No __X__
If yes, an initial study or other detailed analysis is necessary to determine if the impacts are considered to be significant and if mitigation is required.
If no, continue with CEQA Section 15183 Exemption.
Comment/Finding:
There is no new information as a result of the Project that would result in more severe impacts. The proposed actions implement policies within the Climate Action Plan and Housing Element both of which were evaluated with the General Plan EIR.
Lead Agency
Contact Person: Taylor Graybehl
Telephone
& Extension: (951) 837-4320
If Filed by Applicant:
Attach certified document of exemption finding.
Has a Notice of Exemption been filed by the public agency approving the project? Yes
No
Signature:
Title: Associate Planner
Date:
Signed by Lead Agency
Date received for filing at OPR:
Signed by Applicant
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