Riverside County Counsel Modular Office Building Replacement
Summary
SCH Number
2025101446
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Riverside County Counsel Modular Office Building Replacement
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/30/2025
Document Description
The County currently has an existing modular office building located at 9991 County Farm Road in Riverside and adjacent to the Riverside Juvenile Courthouse (Courthouse). Currently County Counsel uses this modular space to conduct business within the Courthouse but this facility is now over 30 years old and has reached the end of its expected useful life cycle.
Through this Project, County Counsel is seeking adequate space to accommodate eight attorneys and two administrative support staff. The County Counsel Modular Building Project scope of work includes, but is not limited to: removing and replacing the existing modular office building with a new modular office building that will accommodate 8-10 offices, one conference room, one storage room, an Information Technology (IT) room with Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), counter space for office supplies and copiers, kitchenette/break room, exterior security cameras and access control on exterior doors and IT room, two American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant restrooms, as well as providing appropriate parking lot spaces, signage, and an ADA path of travel. The installation of the modular office building at the adjacent to the Courthouse is identified as the proposed project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The operation of the facility will continue to provide public services and will not result in a significant expansion of existing use. No additional direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated.
Contact Information
Name
Mike Sullivan
Agency Name
Riverside County
Job Title
Senior Environmental Planner/Facilities Operations Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Riverside
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
9991 County Farm Road, west of Harrison Street
Zip
92503
Parcel #
145-240-005
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301 Existing Facilities Exemption
Reasons for Exemption
This Class 1 categorical exemption includes the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, provided the exemption only involves negligible or no expansion of the previous site’s use. The existing modular building adjacent to the Courthouse has reached its end of life and the replacement modular building would be within the existing facility footprint and would be consistent with the existing land use. No new substantial capacity would be created by the project. The project includes the installation of a new prefabricated accessory structure under 2,500 square feet. Therefore, the project is exempt as it meets the scope and intent of the Categorical Exemption identified in Section 15301, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15061 (b)(3) Common Sense Exemption
Reasons for Exemption
In accordance with CEQA, the use of the Common Sense Exemption is based on the “general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.” State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b) (3). The use of this exemption is appropriate if “it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” Ibid. This determination is an issue of fact and if sufficient evidence exists in the record that the activity cannot have a significant effect on the environment, then the exemption applies and no further evaluation under CEQA is required. See No Oil, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (1974) 13 Cal. 3d 68. The ruling in this case stated that if a project falls within a category exempt by administrative regulation or 'it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question will not have a significant effect on the environment', no further agency evaluation is required. The proposed improvements to the existing facility will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts. The improvements would require limited construction activity within the existing site and would not alter the function or use of the site or have any external physical effects. The improvements are limited to the replacement of a small modular building and accessibility improvements to maintain the function of the facility. The use and operation of the facility will be substantially similar to the existing use and will not create any new environmental impacts. Therefore, in no way, would the project as proposed have the potential to cause a significant environmental impact and the project is exempt from further CEQA analysis.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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