Proposed Purchase of Property as an addition to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
Summary
SCH Number
2025060468
Public Agency
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Document Title
Proposed Purchase of Property as an addition to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/11/2025
Document Description
The project consists of the purchase of an approximately 273.5-acre property as an addition to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s (District) Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve and concurrent adoption of a Preliminary Use and Management Plan (PUMP) for the property. The adoption of the PUMP establishes a status quo land management approach, with no expansion or changes to the Property’s existing use as open space and maintains it in a natural condition.? The Property is currently grazed and, if feasible, that use would continue. As directed in the proposed PUMP, maintenance and minor resource management activities will be conducted in accordance with adopted District policies and programs and their associated CEQA documents. The Property is within the boundaries of the District’s Service Plan for the San Mateo County Coastal Annexation Area. The Service Plan and the Service Plan Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), certified in 2004, includes policies, guidelines, and mitigations to ensure compatibility with the County General Plan and Local Coastal Program. The actions proposed will be conducted in compliance with the Service Plan and FEIR. Any minor erosion and sediment control measures, wildland fuel management, and minor resource management activities implemented by the District or tenants as part of the PUMP will be conducted in accordance with the District’s approved Resource Management Policies and the mitigation measures adopted as part of the Resource Management Policies’ FEIR, and in accordance with applicable regulatory permits. Any invasive species control will be conducted in accordance with the District’s adopted Integrated Pest Management Policies and Integrated Pest Management Program Guidance Manual, Best Management Practices, and the mitigation measures adopted as part of the Integrated Pest Management Policies’ FEIR.
Contact Information
Name
Aaron Peth
Agency Name
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Job Title
Real Property Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
San Mateo
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area
Parcel #
080-360-010
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301, 15316, 15325
Reasons for Exemption
Section 15301 exempts the repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond the existing uses at the time of the lead agency’s determination. The PUMP will maintain the Property as status quo with no expansion or changes to its existing uses as open space lands with the possibility of continued cattle grazing, complying with the District’s adopted Resource Management Policies, Integrated Pest Management Program Guidance Manual, Best Management Practices, and regulatory permits as applicable. The PUMP includes minor site improvements, such as signage and fencing, as needed. The PUMP also includes maintenance of the existing roads as necessary, as well as maintenance of or minor alterations to the property for wildland fuel management and other natural resource management activities in accordance with the District’s adopted policies and programs and their associated CEQA documents.???
Section 15316 exempts the acquisition of land in order to create parks if the land is in a natural condition, and the management plan proposes to keep the area in a natural condition. The PUMP for the Property specifies that the land will remain in a natural condition and will be designated as an addition to the District’s Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve.
Section 15325 exempts transfer of ownership of interests in land in order to preserve open space. This acquisition will transfer fee ownership of the Property to the District and ensure that the open space will be preserved. The Property will be preserved as open space by incorporating it into the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve.
County Clerk
San Mateo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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