Lions Creek Trail West
Summary
SCH Number
2026020708
Public Agency
City of Gilroy
Document Title
Lions Creek Trail West
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/19/2026
Document Description
The City of Gilroy (City), as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Lead Agency, proposes the Lions Creek Trail West Project (proposed project), which will convert an existing unpaved maintenance road atop a levee on the north side of Lions Creek, that is closed to the public to a multiuse public trail for use by bicyclists and pedestrians. Specifically, the project is located along an existing maintenance road on the top of the north levee for Lions Creek, south of Day Road E and Christopher Highschool, west of Santa Teresa Boulevard, on Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 783-16-027 in the City.
The trail segment would begin at the north side of the Christopher High School pedestrian and bicycle bridge (just south of the Cougar Court terminus) and end at the Santa Teresa Boulevard and Day Road intersection. The proposed project would help complete the connection between the high school and the existing pedestrian and bicycle facilities on Santa Teresa Boulevard. This trail segment would consist of constructing approximately 1,900 linear feet of a 10-foot wide to 12-foot-wide hot mix asphalt path serving both pedestrians and bicyclists located on the north side of Lions Creek. Shoulders would be 2-feet-wide unpaved aggregate base. Construction is anticipated to commence in Summer 2026 and last approximately 6-months.
Contact Information
Name
Weston Hill
Agency Name
City of Gilroy
Job Title
Senior Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Address
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Gilroy
Counties
Santa Clara
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
West of Santa Teresa Boulevard & Day Road East
Zip
95020
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301
Reasons for Exemption
The project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption under Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. Improvements associated with the project would occur at an existing maintenance road between existing pedestrian and bicycle facilities to the west, and an existing intersection to the east, in the City of Gilroy. The project would include improvements to streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities consistent with Section 15301(c). The project would not result in cumulative impacts, significant impacts to the environment due to unusual circumstances, impacts on a scenic highway, and impacts to historical resources. The project is not located on a hazardous waste site. The project would not meet any of the exceptions (Section 15300.2) for not qualifying for environmental clearance under a Categorical Exemption. Therefore, the project is categorically exempt from CEQA under 14 CCR 15301.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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