Lakeland Village Sports Park Foul Ball Netting Project, Lake Elsinore

2026010386

Riverside County

NOE - Notice of Exemption

1/14/2026

1/14/2026

Mike Sullivan

Riverside County

Senior Environmental Planner/Facilities Operations Manager

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project

3450 14th Street, Third Floor
Riverside, CA 92501

(951) 955-8009

msullivan@rivco.org

16275 Grand Avenue, north of Santa Rosa Drive

92530

381-300-004

Categorical Exemption

Section 15301 Class 1 Existing Facilities

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 facility consists of a recreational area that is located within the jurisdiction of the County, on County-owned land and is not located on environmentally sensitive land. The improvements to the site 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 addition of netting to the existing backstop to an existing structure. 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.

Categorical Exemption

Section 15311 Accessory Structures

This Class 11 categorical exemption includes the construction, or placement of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities. The project, as proposed, includes the addition of netting to the existing backstop of the sports park. These improvements would be appurtenant to the existing facility and will not substantially increase or expand the use of the site; therefore, the project is exempt as the project meets the scope and intent of the Class 11 Exemption identified in Section 15311, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.

Other

Section 15061 (b)(3) Common Sense

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 addition of netting to the existing backstop. 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.