General Plan Amendment 10-24-5745
Summary
SCH Number
2025070089
Public Agency
City of Lake Forest
Document Title
General Plan Amendment 10-24-5745
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/2/2025
Document Description
General Plan Amendment (GPA) 10-24-5745 is a City initiated amendment to the General Plan Mobility Network Map (Figure M-1) to reflect changes to the Orange County Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH). On September 9, 2024, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors approved amendments to the MPAH, which included the reclassification of El Toro Road between Portola Parkway and Live Oak Canyon Road from a major arterial (six-lane, divided) to a primary arterial (four-lane, divided) and asymmetric primary arterial (five-lane, divided). Portions of this street segment are located in the City of Lake Forest. These changes to the MPAH triggered required modifications to Figure M-1-Mobility Network, in the City’s General Plan Mobility Element. The revisions include modifying portions of El Toro Road from “major arterial” to “primary arterial”. The proposed downgrade of the roadway classifications is consistent with the current built configuration of El Toro Road. General Plan Amendment 10-24-5745 would not approve any development, grading, ground disturbance, construction project, or other change to the physical environment.
Contact Information
Name
Jennifer Mansur
Agency Name
City of Lake Forest
Job Title
Senior Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Lake Forest
Counties
Orange
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
El Toro Road between Portola Parkway and Live Oak Canyon Road in the City of Lake Forest
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060 (c)(2), and 15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
Pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15060(c)(2), an activity is not subject to CEQA if the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. This project, GPA 10-24-5745, is an amendment to the City’s General Plan Mobility Network Map to ensure consistency with the Orange County Master Plan of Arterial Highways. The revisions include the downgrade of the roadway classification from major to primary arterial to portions of El Toro Road/Santiago Canyon Road. The revisions are consistent with the current built configuration along Santiago Canyon Road and El Toro Road. As such, General Plan Amendment 10-24-5745 would not entitle or otherwise approve any development, grading, ground disturbance, construction project, or other change to the physical environment. Thus, section 15060(c)(2) applies to GPA 10-24-5745 and no further action is therefore required.
GPA 10-24-5745 also qualifies for the common sense exemption under Section 15061(b)(3). Under Section 15061(b)(3), CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Here, the General Plan Amendment does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment because it involves an amendment to the City’s General Plan Mobility Network Map to ensure consistency with the Orange County Master Plan of Arterial Highways, and does not entitle or otherwise approve any development, grading, ground disturbance, construction project, or other change to the physical environment. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that GPA 10-24-5745 may have a significant effect on the environment. As a result, GPA 10-24-5745 is not subject to CEQA
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060 (c)(2), and 15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
Pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15060(c)(2), an activity is not subject to CEQA if the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. This project, GPA 10-24-5745, is an amendment to the City’s General Plan Mobility Network Map to ensure consistency with the Orange County Master Plan of Arterial Highways. The revisions include the downgrade of the roadway classification from major to primary arterial to portions of El Toro Road/Santiago Canyon Road. The revisions are consistent with the current built configuration along Santiago Canyon Road and El Toro Road. As such, General Plan Amendment 10-24-5745 would not entitle or otherwise approve any development, grading, ground disturbance, construction project, or other change to the physical environment. Thus, section 15060(c)(2) applies to GPA 10-24-5745 and no further action is therefore required.
GPA 10-24-5745 also qualifies for the common sense exemption under Section 15061(b)(3). Under Section 15061(b)(3), CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Here, the General Plan Amendment does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment because it involves an amendment to the City’s General Plan Mobility Network Map to ensure consistency with the Orange County Master Plan of Arterial Highways, and does not entitle or otherwise approve any development, grading, ground disturbance, construction project, or other change to the physical environment. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that GPA 10-24-5745 may have a significant effect on the environment. As a result, GPA 10-24-5745 is not subject to CEQA
County Clerk
Orange
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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