Southern Marin Zone Marin City Fuel Reduction Zone Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026030078
Public Agency
California State Coastal Conservancy
(SCC)
Document Title
Southern Marin Zone Marin City Fuel Reduction Zone Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/3/2026
Document Description
The purpose of the proposed project is to establish and maintain a defensible space zone and improve ingress/egress along the perimeter of the Marin City residential hillside communities between homes and open space areas. These communities are located on steep slopes, where a wildfire, if ignited, would rapidly escalate, and fire suppression activities would be challenging due to limited road access. By creating a fuel reduction zone, the proposed project would slow wildfire spread, reduce wildfire intensity, extend the time residents would have to evacuate, and provide firefighters better access to the fire's edge should a wildfire occur. Removal of fire hazardous, invasive species and dead vegetation in the forest health treatment zone is intended to reduce fire hazards to the adjacent community as well as provide an opportunity for native, less hazardous plant species to recolonize and restore these areas to more natural habitat and fire-resilient habitat.
Contact Information
Name
Lilly Allen
Agency Name
State Coastal Conservancy
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Responsible Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Unincorporated
Counties
Marin
Regions
Unincorporated
Other Location Info
Marin city
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15304 class 4 Minor Alterations
Reasons for Exemption
This project involves fuels treatment within 100 feet of structures on the boundary of Marin City in open space and removal of invasive species and dead and downed vegetation within a forest health treatment zone between residential community and National Parks Service lands. The project is categorically exempt under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15304, Class 4, for Minor Alterations to Land and Section 15333, Class 33, for Small Habitat Restoration Projects. A Class 4 exempt project consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes. A Class 33 exempt project consists of projects not to exceed 5 acres in size to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of habitat for fish, plants, or wildlife. The proposed project would involve fuels treatment by removing and thinning vegetation within up to 100 feet of structures on the boundary of Marin City in open space areas and removal of invasive species and dead and downed vegetation within a forest health treatment zone between the residential community and National Park Service (NPS) lands. The buildup of fire hazardous vegetation in certain portions of the open areas increases the likelihood of intense wildfires, in the event of ignition, in these areas designated as moderate to high fire hazard severity¹. The scope of the proposed project shown in Figure 1 is consistent with a minor alteration to the condition of the vegetation around structures and the removal of non-native, invasive, fire-hazardous species and dead and downed vegetation to improve habitat and reduce fire hazards within the fuel reduction zone. There are no facts or circumstances specific to this project that would support any of the potential exceptions under Guidelines section 15300.2 to the use of categorical exemptions. Additionally, no significantly impactful work would take place within sensitive habitat, including wetted wetlands or waterways; and no ground disturbance, such as excavation, would take place.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15333 Class 33 Small Habitat Restoration Projects
Reasons for Exemption
This project involves fuels treatment within 100 feet of structures on the boundary of Marin City in open space and removal of invasive species and dead and downed vegetation within a forest health treatment zone between residential community and National Parks Service lands.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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