Hilltoppers Fire Safe Committee Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025060427
Public Agency
Orange County Fire Authority
Document Title
Hilltoppers Fire Safe Committee Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/10/2025
Document Description
The California Sustainability Group proposes to remove 198 trees and 43.76 acres of hazardous fuels within the Monarch Summit I, Monarch Summit II, Pacific Island Village I, Pacific Island Village II, Pacific Island Village III, and Villa Pacifica neighborhoods. Hazardous fuel will be removed to meet Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) standards for defensible space.
Contact Information
Name
Scott Hatch
Agency Name
Orange County Fire Authority
Job Title
Wildland Resource Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Bethany Ross
Agency Name
California Sustainability Group
Job Title
President
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Cities
Laguna Niguel
Counties
Orange
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Multiple HOA's within Laguna Niguel
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15304
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed fuel reduction project is consistent with CEQA Guidelines Categorical Exemption Class 4 in that the project will not take threatened, endangered, or rare species or cause sedimentation into surface waters. The project consists of the removal of hazardous fuels, mainly Acacia redolens, and species found on the OCFA Vegetation Management Guidelines Removal List, such as junipers (Juniperus spp.) and cypress (Cupressus spp.), from approximately 1,905,084.5 square feet or 43.76 acres. In addition, the grant will remove 198 trees on the OCFA Vegetation Management Guidelines mandatory removal list, such as Mexican fan palms (Washingtonia robusta), junipers and cypress trees. No endangered, threatened, or rare species are known or likely to occur within the project site based on the on-site habitat. In addition, there are no state or federal jurisdictional areas and no surface waters, and the project will not result in erosion or sedimentation into surface waters. Therefore, the proposed project is consistent with the requirements of CEQA Categorical Exemption Class 4. In addition, because the project consists entirely of the removal of vegetation above ground and will not result in ground disturbance, it is considered exempt from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (CAL FIRE) cultural resources review as it qualifies as a “fire-safe project” to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires to surrounding communities by removing fire-prone trees within the project site.
County Clerk
Orange
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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