Munras/Soledad Freeway Entrance Signage Project (NCP2530)

2025121019

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

93940

Munras/Soledad Freeway Entrance

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 includes the installation of five new sign posts and six new freeway signs within the road medians around the Munras Avenue and Soledad Drive intersection. 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 installation of new signage. 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 (El Rt Some of the project signage will be visible from an officially designated scenic highway (Highway 1 ); however, the project would not result in damage to scenic resources. 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 proposed maximum depth of ground disturbance for the Project is four feet. Minor demolition of concrete within one of the five planned locations of ground disturbance will also occur. A Phase I Archeological Assessment, dated October 29, 2025, was prepared by Dudek. The Assessment concluded that the excavation related to the project will likely not encounter any potentially significant archeological resources, but an archeological monitor is recommended due to the general sensitivity of the area. The City's standard protocol will be followed in the event that accidental discovery of human remains are discovered. Therefore, there would be no impacts to historic or archeological resources.