From: Raybould, Claire
To: herb
Cc: Switzer, Steven; Armer, Jennifer; Lait, Jonathan; City Mgr; Perez-Ibardolasa, Val Subject: RE: 400 Mitchell Lane [25PLN-00131]
Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 12:40:07 PM
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Good morning Herb,
Thank you for your e-mail. Although these two applications (25PLN-00131 and 25PLN-00006) happen to be proposed at the same property, these are two separate and distinct projects. Both projects have independent utility, meaning that approval of either is unrelated to and not dependent on the other. One is a request for a hazardous tree removal at the property, which is allowed if the required evidence is provided to support the conclusion that the tree is hazardous and with replacement planting consistent with the tree technical manual. The tree removal permit was recently submitted and is still under review. The second project, which the Director tentatively approved, is a conditional use permit for a change in use within the existing structure. Modifications to the exterior are not planned or necessary to accommodate the change in use. Therefore, removal of the tree is not a result of, or in any way related to, the change in use. Processing these separately or as one application would not change the finding that the project or projects are exempt from CEQA in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301. Accordingly, processing these applications separately does not constitute piecemealing under CEQA.
If you would like to discuss further please let me know. I have some availability at 2pm today and I’m happy to give you a call to discuss.
Regards,
Claire
Claire Raybould, AICP
Manager, Current Planning
Planning and Development Services Department
(650) 329-2116 | [email protected]
www.cityofpaloalto.org
Parcel Report
| Palo Alto Zoning Code | Online Permitting System | Planning Forms & Applications | Planning Applications Mapped
From: herb <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2025 1:42 PM
To: Perez-Ibardolasa, Val <[email protected]> Cc: Switzer, Steven <[email protected]>; Raybould, Claire <[email protected]>; Armer, Jennifer <[email protected]>; Lait, Jonathan <[email protected]>; Council, City <[email protected]>; Clerk, City <[email protected]>
Subject: 400 Mitchell Lane [25PLN-00131]
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400 MITCHELL LANE [25PLN-00131] June 16, 2025 The application for the removal of two trees in the central courtyard of the building at 400 Mitchell Lane (Application No. 25PLN-00131) is a segment of the same California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) project as the application f !
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CGBANNERINDICATOR
400 MITCHELL LANE [25PLN-00131]
June 16, 2025
The application for the removal of two trees in the central courtyard of the building at 400 Mitchell Lane (Application No. 25PLN-00131) is a segment of the same California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) project as the application for a Conditional Use Permit at the same address (Application No. 25PLN-00006).
CEQA regulations prohibit segmenting the review and approval of each segment separately.
CEQA Regulation 15378 says in relevant part:
15378. PROJECT
(a) “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
(c) The term “project” refers to the activity which is being approved and which may be subject to several discretionary approvals by governmental agencies. The term “project” does not mean each separate governmental approval.
Therefore, a single environmental assessment and action are required for the two applications.
The current segmenting of the project violates CEQA.
Thank you for your consideration of these comments.
Herb Borock
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