ATTACHMENT C: CEQA EXEMPTION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION. Santa Barbara County Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

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1 ATTACHMENT C: CEQA EXEMPTION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION TO: FROM: Santa Barbara County Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Dana Eady, Planning & Development The project or activity identified below is determined to be exempt from further environmental review requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970, as defined in the State and County Guidelines for the implementation of CEQA. APN(s): Case Nos.: 12CUP , 12CUP Location: Located approximately 4 ½ miles west of the intersection of Hwy 101 and Hwy 1, known as 7200 Hwy 1, Lompoc area, Third Supervisorial District. Project Title: Sunburst Farms Agricultural Employee Dwellings and State Small Water System Project Description: 12CUP : The construction of two (2) new Agricultural Employee Dwellings each of approximately 2,950 sq. ft. with a maximum height of 17 ft., and the conversion of an existing single family residence of approximately 2,400 sq. ft. to an Agricultural Employee Dwelling. The proposed project would result in a total of seven (7) Agricultural Employee Dwellings located on Assessor s Parcel No The dwellings would be occupied by full-time agricultural employees employed by the applicant on and off the subject premises. Proposed grading for building pad preparation and driveway improvements would consist of approximately 780 cu. yd. cut, and 624 cu. yd. fill. No tree or vegetation removal is proposed. Water would be provided by a proposed state small water system, and sanitary services would be provided by two (2) proposed septic systems utilizing leach lines and in conformance with Environmental Health Services. Access to the site would continue to be provided by an existing 18 foot wide private driveway of approximately 3,500 feet in length accessed from Highway 1. 12CUP : Upgrades to the existing water system to create a State Small Water System in conformance with Environmental Health Services requirements allowing for an additional 2 connections, which would bring the total number of connections on the subject parcel to 11 total connections. Additional improvements associated with the proposed water system would include the installation of 7,720 linear feet of new water lines (6 in diameter installed within a 1 wide trench). The water lines would be placed underground at a depth of 3 and would connect to existing water lines. Trenching for installation of the proposed water lines would require approximately 860 cu. yd. cut and fill of earth movement.

2 Page C-2 In order to protect onsite oak trees during trenching activities, a tree protection plan would be submitted to P&D prior to the start of construction activities. The protection plan would detail the type and location of oak tree protective fencing, and include requirements for hand excavation within the drip line of native trees, and the retention of a County approved arborist if necessary. Name of Public Agency Approving Project: Name of Person or Agency Carrying out Project: County of Santa Barbara John Henry McCaughey, agent Exempt Status: (Check one) Ministerial Statutory Exemption X Categorical Exemption Emergency Project Declared Emergency Cite specific CEQA and/or CEQA Guideline Section: CEQA Guidelines Section Reasons to support exemption findings: Class 3 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. The numbers of structures described in this section are the maximum allowable on any legal parcel or to be associated with a project within a two-year period. Examples of this exemption include but are not limited to: A. One single-family residence or a second dwelling unit in a zone which permits residential uses. In urbanized areas, up to three single-family residences may be constructed or converted under this exemption; B. A duplex or similar multi-family residential structure totaling no more than four dwelling units if not in conjunction with the building or conversion of two or more such structures. In urbanized areas, exemption applies to single apartments, duplexes, and similar structures designed for not more than six dwelling units; C. A store, motel, office, restaurant or similar commercial or institutional structure not involving the use of significant amounts of hazardous substances, and not exceeding 2500 square feet in floor area. In urbanized areas, the exemption also applies to up to four such commercial buildings not exceeding 10,000 square feet in floor area on sites zoned for such use, if not involving the use of significant amounts of hazardous substances where all necessary public services and facilities are available and the surrounding area is not environmentally sensitive. D. Water mains, sewage, electrical, gas, and other utility extensions including street improvements, to serve individual customers;

3 Page C-3 E. Accessory (appurtenant) structures including garages, carports, patios, swimming pools, and fences. (Ord B, 2001) The project consists of the approval of two Conditional Use Permits allowing for the construction of the following: 1) construction of two new agricultural employee dwellings each of approximately 2,980 sq. ft.; 2) conversion of the existing 2,400 sq. ft. main residence to an agricultural employee dwelling; and 3) upgrades to the existing water system to create a State Small Water System. Conversion of the existing main residence to an agricultural employee dwelling would require no modifications to the exterior of the structure. The water utility lines are of a reasonable length to serve the proposed project. Proposed grading would consist of approximately 780 cu. yd. cut, and 624 cu. yd. fill for the proposed Agricultural Employee Dwellings, and 860 cu. yd. of cut and fill for trenching to install and upgrade the water system. No tree or vegetation removal is proposed. There is no substantial evidence that there are unusual circumstances (including future activities) resulting in (or which might reasonably result in) significant impacts which threaten the environment. The exceptions to the categorical exemptions pursuant to Section of the State CEQA Guidelines are: (a) Location. Classes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11 are qualified by consideration of where the project is to be located -- a project that is ordinarily insignificant in its impact on the environment may in a particularly sensitive environment be significant. Therefore, these classes are considered to apply all instances, except where the project may impact on an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies. The two proposed agricultural employee dwellings would be constructed in a previously disturbed area adjacent to existing agricultural employee dwellings on slopes of less than 20%, and outside of Class I/II prime soils. The third agricultural employee dwelling is existing and is currently used as a single family residence. No grading or ground disturbance is proposed in association with this residence. Grading would be the minimum required to construct the residences and the proposed structures would remain subordinate in appearance to the surrounding geography, would not intrude into the skyline, and would not be visible from Hwy 1 or surrounding properties. Additional improvements associated with the upgrades to the existing water system include the installation of 7,720 linear feet of water lines (6 in diameter installed within a 1 wide trench). The water lines would be placed underground at a depth of 3 feet and would connect to existing water lines. Approximately 262 of the water line would be installed above ground over a culvert crossing Atascoso Creek, and will connect to existing water lines in this area. An existing water line is already in place in this area, and the new section of line will be constructed adjacent to the existing line.

4 Page C-4 The proposed project has been reviewed and approved by the CA State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and County Flood Control. No trees or sensitive native vegetation will be removed. Per standard conditioning, an oak tree protection plan will be submitted prior to zoning clearance issuance for the project. There are no known mapped or designated environmental resources of hazardous or critical concern on the subject parcel. Therefore, for all of the reasons discussed above, the exception to the exemption regarding location does not apply. (b) Cumulative Impact. All exemptions for these classes are inapplicable when the cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time is significant. The proposed agricultural employee dwellings would be located on a parcel zoned agricultural and with existing agricultural operations that necessitate the need for three additional full time employees. The proposed water system would upgrade the existing system with two additional connections (11 total connections) for the 2 proposed agricultural employee dwellings, and would allow for more efficient irrigation of agriculture on the subject parcels. The addition of two new agricultural employee dwellings and the conversion of the existing main single family residence onsite to agricultural employee housing would result in a total of seven (7) agricultural employee dwellings on the subject 369-acre parcel. The applicant has demonstrated a need for the additional housing, and the project was found to be compatible with the Uniform Rules for Agricultural Preserves. In addition, no native trees or sensitive native vegetation will be removed. Per standard conditioning, an oak tree protection plan will be submitted prior to zoning clearance issuance for the project. There are no known mapped or designated environmental resources of hazardous or critical concern on the subject parcel. Therefore, the proposed project would not create a cumulative impact on the environment from successive projects of this type in the same place, over time. (c) Significant Effect. A categorical exemption shall not be used for an activity where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. There are no unusual circumstances surrounding the proposed project and there is not a reasonable possibility that the project would have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. (d) Scenic Highways. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may result in damage to scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources, within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway. This does not apply to

5 Page C-5 improvements which are required as mitigation by an adopted negative declaration or certified EIR. Highway 1 is officially designated as a state scenic highway. The two proposed agricultural employee dwellings would be constructed to match the existing height and scale of existing dwellings on the property, and would be a maximum of 17 feet in height. The proposed structures would remain subordinate in appearance to the surrounding geography, would not intrude into the skyline, and would not be visible from Highway 1 or surrounding properties. The proposed water system improvements would be constructed underground or adjacent to existing equipment and would not be visible from surrounding properties or Hwy 1. No trees, historic buildings, rocky outcroppings, or similar resources would be impacted by the proposed project. (e) Hazardous Waste Sites. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project located on a site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section of the Government Code. The project is not located on a site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section of the Government Code. (f) Historical Resources. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. No historic resources would be impacted by the proposed project. Therefore, the proposed project would result in any substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Lead Agency Contact Person: Dana Eady, Planner Phone #: (805) Department/Division Representative Date Acceptance Date: Distribution: Hearing Support Staff Project file (when P&D permit is required) Date Filed by County Clerk: