General Plan Amendments for the Open Space Element and the Implementation Work Program
Summary
SCH Number
2025120545
Public Agency
City of Elk Grove
Document Title
General Plan Amendments for the Open Space Element and the Implementation Work Program
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/12/2025
Document Description
The Project consists of General Plan amendments to the Open Space Element and the Implementation Work Program. The text amendments to the Open Space Element address statutory requirements included in Senate Bill 1425, addressing equitable access for all residents to open space, climate resilience and co-benefits of open space, and rewilding opportunities. Edits to the Implementation Work Program include removal of completed actions, updates to language and progress on actions, and clarifications of responsibilities.
Contact Information
Name
Carrie Whitlock
Agency Name
City of Elk Grove
Job Title
Strategic Planning & Innovation Program Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Carrie Whitlock
Agency Name
City of Elk Grove
Job Title
Strategic Planning & Innovation Program Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Elk Grove
Counties
Sacramento
Regions
Citywide
Other Location Info
Elk Grove, CA. Sacramento County
Other Information
Citywide
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Consistent With a Community Plan or Zoning [Section 15183(a)]
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed Project is a project as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines. However, no further environmental review is necessary under CEQA pursuant to Sections 15061(b)(3) (Commons sense exemption) and 15183 (Projects Consistent with a Community Plan, General Plan, or Zoning).
No further environmental review is required under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (Common sense exemption), which provides that an activity is not subject to CEQA where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment. The updates to the General Plan related to the Open Space Element, as required by Government Code Section 65565.5, and to the Implementation Work Program, do not, in and of themselves, include any proposed development that triggers CEQA. The changes are textual to provide additional context, clarification, and understanding related to the Open Space Element and to the Implementation Work Program. Implementation of these specific policies could be subject to separate environmental review under CEQA, which would be completed prior to implementation.
Furthermore, staff finds that updates to the Implementation Work Plan require no further environmental review under State CEQA Guidelines section 15183 (Consistency with a General Plan, Community Plan, or Zoning). State CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 (Public Resources Code section 21083.3), provides that projects which are consistent with the development density established by an existing Community Plan, General Plan, or Zoning for which an environmental impact report (EIR) has been certified “shall not require additional environmental review, except as might be necessary to examine whether there are project-specific significant effects which are peculiar to the project or its site.” In February 2019, an EIR was prepared and certified by the City Council as part of the Elk Grove General Plan (SCH# 2017062058). A Subsequent EIR was prepared and certified by the City Council on December 13, 2023, as part of the General Plan Amendments
and Update of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Standards Project (SCH# 2022020463). That document provides a programmatic review of the potential impacts associated with implementation of the overall General Plan. The changes to the Implementation Work Program are clarifications, updates to language, and removal of completed projects. These amendments are consistent with the existing General Plan and, in and of themselves, do not result in the possibility of creating significant or cumulative effects on the environment.
No potential new impacts related to the Project have been identified that would necessitate further environmental review beyond the impacts and issues already disclosed and analyzed in the General Plan EIR. No other special circumstances exist that would create a reasonable possibility that the Project will have a significant adverse effect on the environment. Therefore, the prior EIRs are sufficient to support the proposed action and pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061 and 15183, no further environmental review is required.
County Clerk
Sacramento
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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