CDP 2025-0007 (DEV2024-0072) – SANCTUARY CONDOMINIUMS BALCONY EXPANSION

2025100334

City of Carlsbad

NOE - Notice of Exemption

10/8/2025

10/8/2025

MACKENZIE VANZYVERDEN

CITY OF CARLSBAD PLANNING DIVISION

ASSISTANT PLANNER

Lead/Public Agency

1635 FARADAY AVENUE
CARLSBAD, CA 92008

(442) 339-5301

mackenzie.vanzyverden@carlsbadca.gov

ISABEL OLSON

APPLICANT

APPLICANT

Project Applicant

2399 JEFFERSON STREET #3
CARLSBAD, CA 92008

(612) 387-9530

SANCTUARYCARLSBAD@GMAIL.COM

2399 Jefferson Street (APNs 155-140-30-01 through 155-140-30-11)

Categorical Exemption

CEQA Section 15301(e)(1), Class 1, Existing Facilities

Section 15303(e)(1), Existing Facilities, exempts additions to existing structures provided that the addition will not result in an increase of more than 50 percent of the floor area of the structures before the addition, or 2,500 square feet, whichever is less. The project proposes to rebuild and expand 11 second-floor balconies, totaling 858 square feet, which is less than 50 percent of the floor area of the structures before the addition. The balconies will be located above the existing parking structure and, therefore, will not change the building footprint. Exceptions to Exemptions CEQA Section 15300.2 – Exceptions Planning staff evaluated all the potential exceptions to the use of Categorical Exemptions for the proposed project (in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2) and determined that none of these exceptions apply as explained below: a. Location. Classes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11 are qualified by consideration of where the project is to be located - a project that is ordinarily insignificant in its impact on the environment may in a particularly sensitive environment be significant. Therefore, these classes are considered to apply in all instances, except where the project may impact on an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies. Response – The project location is not considered to be a particularly sensitive environment due to the following reasons: The site is not located within an Existing or Proposed Hardline Conservation Area or Standards Area of the Habitat Management Plan and the project site is currently developed. The project is adjacent to the Buena Vista Lagoon Hardline Reserve; however, the second-floor balconies are proposed on the west side of the building fronting Jefferson Street (i.e. the building furthest from the Buena Vista Lagoon). In addition, the building footprint will remain unchanged, and no grading is proposed. Therefore, the project will not have an impact on an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern. b. Cumulative Impact - “All exemptions for these classes are inapplicable when the cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time is significant.” Response – There is no evidence of successive similar projects in the area that would result in cumulative environmental impacts. The project will not contribute to cumulative impacts related to air quality, noise, transportation, or other environmental concerns. Therefore, this exception does not apply. c. Significant Effect - “A categorical exemption shall not be used for any activity where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. Examples include projects, which may affect scenic or historical resources.” Response – There are no unusual circumstances that would have a significant impact on the environment due to the project. The Project does not involve any unusual circumstances. d. Scenic Highway - “A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may result in damage to scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources, within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway. This does not apply to improvements which are required as mitigation by an adopted negative declaration or certified EIR.” Response – Jefferson Street is a local street in Carlsbad and is not designated as a State Scenic Highway, nor is it easily visible from a Carlsbad historical or scenic corridor or State Scenic Highway. The project site is developed with two, two-story residential structures and is also surrounded by existing residential structures. Therefore, implementation of the Project will result in similar visual conditions compared with a no-project scenario. e. Hazardous Waste Site - “A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project located on a site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code.” Response – A review of available records did not identify any sites which are included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.4 of the Government Code. f. Historical Resources - “A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.” Response – There is no evidence that the project site contains or is associated with any historical resources. Therefore, this exception does not apply. Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 19.04.070(B) - Exceptions Exceptions. Even though a project may otherwise be eligible for an exemption, no exemption shall apply in the following circumstances: 1. Grading and clearing activities affecting sensitive plant or animal habitats, which disturb, fragment or remove such areas as defined by either the California Endangered Species Act (Fish and Game Code Sections 2050 et seq.), or the Federal Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. Section 15131 et seq.); sensitive, rare, candidate species of special concern; endangered or threatened biological species or their habitat (specifically including sage scrub habitat for the California Gnatcatcher); or archaeological or cultural resources from either historic or prehistoric periods; Or 2. Parcel maps, plot plans and all discretionary development projects otherwise exempt but which affect sensitive, threatened, or endangered biological species or their habitat (as defined above), archaeological or cultural resources from either historic or prehistoric periods, wetlands, stream courses designated on U.S. Geological Survey maps, hazardous materials, unstable soils, or other factors requiring special review, on all or a portion of the site. (Ord. NS-593, 2001) Response – The Project site currently contains existing condominiums. Except for existing balconies, which are to be rebuilt and expanded, all existing structures are to remain. The balconies are proposed to be rebuilt above an existing parking structure. Therefore, no grading or changes to the existing footprint of the structure as proposed as part of the project. The site contains only non-natives and ornamental vegetation with no value as habitat for endangered, rare, or threatened species. Furthermore, the site is not within mapped areas of potential critical habitat as depicted in the City’s General Plan . Given the lack of proposed grading or ground disturbance, the likelihood of encountering intact archaeological or cultural resources on the project site is low. The site has been previously disturbed, which further reduces the potential for the discovery of such resources. There are no identified hazardous materials, unstable soils, or other factors that would require special review for this project location.