General Plan and Zoning Ordinance Amendments to Satisfy State Law Requirements (Case Nos. 24-0003-GPA and 25-0001-ORD)
Summary
SCH Number
2025090116
Public Agency
City of Goleta
Document Title
General Plan and Zoning Ordinance Amendments to Satisfy State Law Requirements (Case Nos. 24-0003-GPA and 25-0001-ORD)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/4/2025
Document Description
The City is required to prepare amendments to the General Plan pursuant to Government Code Sections 65302(g)(2)–(5), 65302(h), 65302.15, and 65565.5. These requirements focus on the Safety Element, Open Space Element, and environmental justice (EJ). New Safety Element-driven requirements include consideration of new information and policies related to (1) flood, (2) fire, (3) climate change hazards, and (4) emergency preparedness, including evacuation routes. New Open Space Element requirements include policies that address (1) access to open space for all residents in a manner that considers social, economic, and racial equity, (2) climate resilience and other co-benefits of open space, and (3) rewilding opportunities. The City must also adopt EJ goals, policies, and objectives. The policies, integrated in other elements, must (1) reduce the unique or compounded health risks in disadvantaged communities by means that include, but are not limited to, the reduction of pollution exposure, including the improvement of air quality, and the promotion of public facilities, food access, safe and sanitary homes, and physical activity; (2) promote civic engagement in the public decision-making process; and (3) prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of disadvantaged communities.
Contact Information
Name
Cam Audras
Agency Name
City of Goleta
Job Title
Assistant Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Goleta
Counties
Santa Barbara
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Citywide
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines §15060(c)(3); §15378(b)(5); §15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The amendments to the General Plan and Title 17 of the Goleta Municipal Code are exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEOA) (California Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq.) pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines (Title 14, Chapter 3 of the California Code of Regulations) because the activity is not a project as defined in Section -15378(a) but it is an organizational or administrative activity by government that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment pursuant to Section 15378(b)(5).
The amendments are also exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEOA Guidelines because the activity is covered by the general rule which exempts activities that can be seen with certainty to have no possibility for causing a significant effect on the environment.
County Clerk
Santa Barbara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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