Josselyn Canyon Radar Speeds Signs

2025120973

City of Monterey

NOE - Notice of Exemption

12/22/2025

12/22/2025

Christy Sabdo

City of Monterey

Principal Planner

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant

580 Pacific Street
Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 646-3758

sabdo@monterey.org

Josselyn Canyon Rd and Deer Forest Dr

93940

Categorical Exemption

Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1

The City of Monterey Planning Office determined the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1) because the project consists of the replacement of an existing speed limit sign with a double-sided radar speed sign. Furthermore, the project does not qualify for any of the exceptions to the categorical exemptions found at CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. Exception 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 have an 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. Exception a - Location - does not apply to projects which are exempt under Class 1. Exception 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. There would be no cumulative impact because the project involves the replacement of a sign. Exception c - Significant Effect. A categorical exemption shall not be used for an activity where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. No unusual circumstances are anticipated due to the limited scope and distinct locations of the improvement. Exception d - Scenic Highways. 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 Environmental Impact Report {EIR). The project would not be visible from a scenic highway. Exception e - Hazardous Waste Sites. 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. No impact to sites included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government code would occur. Exception 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. The project would not impact historic resources as project improvements would only occur in the public right-of-way. The project is located in a sensitive archeological area as shown on the General Plan Environmental Impact Report Figure 8. The boring for the street pole hole will measure three feet in diameter and six feet deep. An Extended Phase 1 Archeological Assessment dated May 8, 2025 was prepared for the project. The qualified architectural historian concluded that "given the lack of nearby prehistoric and historical period resources and the low sensitivity noted from the survey of the project area, excavation related to the project will likely not encounter any potentially significant archeological resources." In the event of accidental discovery of human remains, the City would follow the procedures set forth in the California Public Resources Code (Section 5097.98) and State Health and Safety Code (Section 7050.5). Therefore, there would be no impacts to historic or archeological resources.