Equestrian Easement Vacation
Summary
SCH Number
2026020848
Public Agency
City of San Juan Capistrano
Document Title
Equestrian Easement Vacation
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/23/2026
Document Description
Vacate a public equestrian easement encumbering nine parcels within Tract 9795. The easement serves no public function and has no direct public access and should be vacated. All nine parcels would be beneficiaries of the project.
Contact Information
Name
George Alvarez
Agency Name
City of San Juan Capistrano
Job Title
Traffic City Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Cities
San Juan Capistrano
Counties
Orange
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Aguacate Road
Zip
92675
Total Acres
n/a
Parcel #
649-311-07,09, 12, 13,14, 23 ,25 ,26, and 27
State Highways
California
Railways
yes
Airports
N/A
Schools
yes
Township
San Ju
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
State type and section number: 15301 (Class1-Existing Facilities)and 15305 Class 5-Minor Alternations in Land Use Limita
Reasons for Exemption
Class 1 applies to” minor alternations of existing or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or expansion of existing or former use”. This exemption applies because the equestrian easement serves no public function, has no direct public access, and should be vacated.
Class 5 applies to “minor alterations in land use limitation in areas with an average slope of less the 20 percent, which do not result in any changes in land use or density”. The proposed vacation of the City’s equestrian easement constitutes a minor alteration in land use limitations, as it removes a public encumbrance over private property that does not serve a public purpose. The site is developed, urbanized, and generally flat, with no change in land use or zoning proposed required.
None of the exceptions to the use of a categorical exemption identified in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply. The equestrian easement is not located in a particularly sensitive environment, will not result in cumulative impacts, does not involve unusual circumstances, is not along a designated state scenic highway, is not included on any list of hazardous waste sites complied pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5, and does not involve any historical resources.
Finally, the action separately qualifies for the common sense exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3), as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that vacating an unused public equestrian easement, will result in a significant effect on the environment
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)
Reasons for Exemption
Finally, the action separately qualifies for the common sense exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3), as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that vacating an unused public equestrian easement, will result in a significant effect on the environment
County Clerk
Orange
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.