CDP 2025-0019 (DEV2025-0041)– Los Robles ADU

2026010161

City of Carlsbad

NOE - Notice of Exemption

1/7/2026

1/7/2026

Andres Saavedra

Saavedra & Co

APPLICANT

Project Applicant

225 S. Tulip Street
Escondido, CA 92025

(760) 809-0545

ANDRESSAAVEDRA@ICLOUD.COM

EDWARD VALENZUELA

CITY OF CARLSBAD PLANNING DIVISION

SENIOR PLANNER

Lead/Public Agency

1635 FARADAY AVENUE
CARLSBAD, CA 92008

(442) 339-2624

edward.valenzuela@carlsbadca.gov

210-034-07-00

APN 210-034-07-00, 5158 Los Robles Drive

Categorical Exemption

Class 3, Section 15303(a), New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures

Categorical Exemption: Section 15303(a) of CEQA exemptions exempts the conversion of a second dwelling unit in a residential zone from environmental review. 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. This project is eligible for the Class 3 exemption. Response – The project location is not considered to be a sensitive environment due to the site not being located within an existing or proposed Hardline Conservation Area or Standards Area of the Habitat Management Plan. Additionally, the site is already developed with a single-family residence. The project scope consists of the conversion of an existing garage and pool house structure into a detached accessory dwelling unit. 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 to conclude that significant impacts will occur based on past project approvals or that the proposed Project's impacts are cumulatively considerable when evaluating any cumulative impacts associated with construction air quality, noise, transportation, or water quality in the area surrounding the proposed Project. Accordingly, the Project’s incremental impacts, when considered together with the impacts of the related projects, would not result in a cumulatively considerable contribution to a significant cumulative impact. The Project, and all future projects, will be required to comply with all applicable local, regional, and state laws, regulations, and guidelines, and as described above, any potential impact caused by the Project’s construction and operation would continue to be less than significant and would not contribute significantly to regional cumulative impact in the broader project region. 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 – The project involves the conversion of an existing detached garage and pool house structure into an accessory dwelling unit on a developed single-family residential property. 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. In regard to biological resources, the project is not located within an existing or proposed Hardline Conservation Area or Standards Area of the Habitat Management Plan. 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 – The project site of the accessory dwelling unit is located one block east of Carlsbad Boulevard along Los Robles Drive. The site is surrounded by existing residential development on all sides. The project proposes the conversion of an existing structure to an accessory dwelling unit. Therefore, public views of the coast will not be affected by the project and implementation 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 scope involves the conversion of an existing detached garage and pool house structure to an accessory dwelling unit on a developed single-family residential property, located in an established residential neighborhood. There are no sensitive plant or animal habitats located on site. While the broader area is identified in the city's Tribal, Cultural and Paleontological Resources Guidelines as having sensitivity for cultural and paleontological resources, the site itself is not associated with any known archaeological site or Tribal Cultural Resource. Therefore, the exceptions outlined in Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 19.04.070(B) do not apply.