McDonald Ranch Williamson Act Amendment (BRB)
Summary
SCH Number
2025090187
Public Agency
Sacramento County
Document Title
McDonald Ranch Williamson Act Amendment (BRB)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/5/2025
Document Description
The applicant is proposing to amend an existing Williamson Act Contract (74-AP-009) to allow open space as a compatible use, for the establishment of a 170-acre wildlife preserve under a recorded conservation easement. Site restoration will be accomplished through grading to create seasonal wetlands, marsh, and associated grassland habitats. Along with planting and seeding of oak or elderberry for the woodland habitat on site.
Contact Information
Name
Julie Newton
Agency Name
Sacramento County
Job Title
Environmental Coordinator
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Kim Erickson
Agency Name
Westervelt Ecological Services, LLC
Job Title
Applicant
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Sacramento
Counties
Sacramento
Regions
Unincorporated
Parcel #
146-0140-019-0000
Other Location Info
The project site is located at 9011 New Hope Road, on the northwest corner of the intersection of New Hope Road and Orr Road in the Southeast community of unincorporated Sacramento County.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
• CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 – Minor Alterations to Land • CEQA Guidelines Section 15317 – Open Space Contracts or Ea
Reasons for Exemption
Class 4 consists of minor alterations to the condition of land which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes. Grading on land with a slope less than 10 percent and grading which does not occur in a waterway, wetland, officially designated scenic area, or officially mapped area of severe geologic hazard meets the criteria of the Class 4 exemption.
Class 17 consists of the establishment of agricultural preserves, the making and renewing of open space contracts under the Williamson Act, or the acceptance of easements or fee interests in order to maintain the open space character of the area.
The project includes grading of the project site which is relatively flat in topography. Furthermore, tree removal and grading within wetlands or waterways are not proposed with this project. The project site is not an officially designated scenic area, nor does it contain an officially mapped area of severe geologic hazard. Additionally, in order to establish a wildlife preserve, the existing Williamson Act Contract will be amended to include open space as a compatible use in the agricultural preserve. Therefore, the project is exempt from the provisions of CEQA.
County Clerk
Sacramento
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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