Pavement Restoration and Safety Improvements Rainier Ave (C16102434)

2026021050

City of Petaluma

NOE - Notice of Exemption

2/27/2026

2/27/2026

Nate Luna

City of Petaluma

Senior Project Manager

Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project

1318 Redwood Way Suite 120
PETALUMA, CA 94954

(707) 778-4387

nluna@cityofpetaluma.org

38°15'22.9"N 122°38'18.1"W

Rainier Avenue, N McDowell Blvd, Sonoma Mountain Pkwy

94954

N/A

N/A

101 and 116

SMART

Petaluma Municipal

Sonoma Mountain, Meadow, McDowell Elementary, McKinley, Live Oak

Petaluma River, Lynch Creek, Corona Creek,

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Rainier Avenue from N McDowell Blvd to Sonoma Mountain Parkway

Categorical Exemption

Existing Facilities, Sec.15301; New Construction, Sec.15303; Minor Alteration to Land, Sec.15304

The project consists of improvements within an approximately 0.68-mile segment of an existing transportation corridor located entirely within the City's public right-of-way. The project is designed to modernize aging infrastructure and enhance multimodal safety while maintaining the existing function of the roadway. Improvements include pavement rehabilitation; construction of a new roundabout at an existing intersection; installation of protected bicycle lanes and pedestrian enhancements; minor intersection reconfiguration; and installation or replacement of storm drain facilities, curb, gutter, and related drainage improvements. Taken as a whole, the project represents a minor alteration and improvement of an existing public facility. The project does not expand the roadway beyond its current operational footprint in a manner that would increase vehicular capacity or induce traffic growth. No new travel lanes are added, and the project maintains the corridor's existing transportation function while improving safety and accessibility for all users. The project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities), 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), and 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land). Any one of these exemptions, standing alone, provides a sufficient and complete legal basis for exempting the whole of the project from further environmental review: • Section 15301 (Class 1 - Existing Facilities) applies because the project involves repair, maintenance, rehabilitation, and minor alteration of an existing public street and associated facilities, with negligible or no expansion of use. Pavement rehabilitation, intersection modifications, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and drainage upgrades within the existing right-of-way. • Section 15303 (Class 3 - Small Structures) applies to the construction and installation of small accessory infrastructure improvements, including traffic control devices, drainage appurtenances, and related public utility features. • Section 15304 (Class 4 - Minor Alterations to Land) applies because the project includes minor trenching, grading, and drainage improvements within previously disturbed land in the public right-of-way. Any ground disturbance is limited in scope and occurs within developed roadway areas. The project does not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees, and no significant expansion of impervious surface is proposed beyond what is necessary to reconfigure existing paved areas within the corridor. The project occurs entirely within an urbanized, previously disturbed public right-of-way. Improvements are limited to reconfiguration and rehabilitation of existing paved and landscaped areas. To the extent minor increases in impervious surface may occur ( e.g., associated with the roundabout or drainage improvements), such changes are minimal, contained within the developed corridor, and supported by modem stormwater infrastructure designed to manage runoff in compliance with applicable regulations. None of the exceptions identified in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply. The project does not involve unusual circumstances that would result in a reasonable possibility of a significant environmental effect. The site is not located on a hazardous waste site as enumerated pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5. The project will not result in significant impacts to scenic highways, historical resources, or biological resources, and it will not contribute to cumulatively considerable impacts. Because the project represents minor alterations to an existing developed transportation facility with no expansion of use, it qualifies for the cited categorical exemptions. The City Council determined the project to be categorically exempt pursuant to the above-referenced sections through Resolution No. 2026-018 N.C.S., adopted February 2, 2026.