Elena-Taaffe Evacuation Route Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025060826
Public Agency
Los Altos Hills County Fire District
(LAHCFD)
Document Title
Elena-Taaffe Evacuation Route Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/18/2025
Document Description
The Elena - Taaffe Evacuation Route Project intends to treat all or portions of Taaffe Road a portion of Elena Road and Josefa Lane in Los Altos Hills, California. Josefa Lane represents an important emergency egress for the Foothill Community College population and some residents of Los Altos Hills. Josefa Lane provides pedestrian connectivity with the Elena - Taaffe Evacuation Route Project, From the intersection of Elena Road, Josefa Lane extends easterly and terminates west of I-280. 1. Taaffe Road in its entirety is approximately 0.88 miles long, meaning 1.76 miles of roadside to be treated, from Altamont Road and Taaffe Road - 37°21'40.3"N 122°09'05.9"W to Taaffe Road and Elena Road - 37°21'59.3"N 122°08'24.3"W 2. Elena Road is approximately 1.55 miles long from the intersection of Elena Road and La Barranca Road - 37°22'09.7"N 122°08'46.0"W to the intersection of Elena Road and Moody / El Monte Road - 37°21'30.5"N 122°07'46.9"W meaning 3.1 miles of roadside to be treated. 3. Josefa Lane in its entirety is approximately 1,582.07 ft (0.3 miles) long, meaning 0.6 miles of roadside to be treated, from the intersection with Elena Road - 37°21'48.1"N 122°08'10.7"W to the terminus - 37°21'51.9"N 122°07'52.5"W The total length of roadway in this project is approximately 3.0 linear miles. Hand crews will use chainsaws and other mechanized and non-mechanized hand tools to remove understory vegetation and dead or downed material, prune trees and woody vegetation, and remove small, immature trees (less than 8 inches in diameter). Blue Gum Eucalyptus trees of up to 12 inches in diameter may be removed. Mowers and chippers may also be used, but only on existing roadways and established turn outs. All noninvasive treated material will be chipped and scattered in the Project area up to a depth of 3 inches. Remaining material will be removed and disposed of off-site. Vegetation fuel reduction will primarily occur on public right of way controlled by the County of Santa Clara, Caltrans or the Town of Los Altos Hills, within 50 feet of the centerline of the road, within 30 feet of structures adjacent to roadways in the Project area, or within 100 feet of structures if necessary to address extra hazardous fire conditions. With appropriate landowner permission as necessary outside the public right of way, the Project will also include fuel reduction on private property adjacent to Project roadways within 30 feet of structures or within 100 feet of structures if necessary to address extra hazardous fire conditions
Contact Information
Name
J. Logan
Agency Name
Los Altos Hills County Fire District
Job Title
General Manager, LAHCFD
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Los Altos Hills
Counties
Santa Clara
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area
Cross Streets
Taaffe Road, Elena Drive, La Barranca Road and Josefa Road,
Zip
94024
State Highways
I280
Waterways
1
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines § 15304 – Minor Alterations to Land (Class 4); and CEQA Guidelines § 15301 – Existing Facilities (Class
Reasons for Exemption
The Project meets the requirements of the Class 4 Categorical Exemption (minor alterations to land, CEQA Guidelines Section 15304), which expressly exempts minor public or private alterations in the condition of land and vegetation, and fuel management activities within 30 or 100 feet of structures. The Project also meets the requirements of the Class 1 Categorical Exemption (existing facilities), which expressly exempts the maintenance of existing public or private facilities including streets, and the maintenance of existing landscaping or native growth. Project implementation will result in minor alterations to the land, including fuel management activities, that will not significantly impact a scenic vista, scenic resources, or the existing visual character or quality of public views, biological and/or cultural resources, and will not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees for any purpose. Project implementation also involves maintenance of existing roadways, landscaping, and native growth. Vegetation treatment prescriptions are consistent with industry best practices for vegetation management and defensible space and will be approved by LAHCFD prior to implementation. All work will occur within or immediately adjacent to an established roadway, within 30 feet of structures, or within 100 feet of structures if necessary to address extra hazardous fire conditions. Project activities will not result in the taking of endangered, rare or threatened plant or animal species or significant erosion or sedimentation of surface waters. Project activities will not damage scenic resources within officially designated state scenic highways. There is no reasonable possibility that the Project will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances that would preclude the use of a categorical exemption for this Project. Documentation of the environmental review completed by staff is kept on file with the District.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.