MCUP #7318 (All Saints Church Safe Parking)
Summary
SCH Number
2026030639
Public Agency
City of Pasadena
Document Title
MCUP #7318 (All Saints Church Safe Parking)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/16/2026
Document Description
The applicant, All Saints Church, submitted an application for Minor Conditional Use Permit #7318 to allow a Safe Parking use in conjunction with the religious facility in the PS (Public, Semi-Public) zoning district. The proposed Safe Parking program, named Destination Hope Pasadena, is a collaboration between All Saints Church and Shower of Hope intended to provide services and a designated overnight parking area for up to 25 participants (unhoused individuals or families) in up to 25 vehicles. Vehicles registered in the program park within the existing surface parking lot at the northern part of All Saints Church site from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily. The program would provide an assigned parking space for participants to park and stay overnight, and access to a restroom and handwashing station.
Contact Information
Name
Alison Walker
Agency Name
City of Pasadena
Job Title
Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Erica
Agency Name
All Saints Church
Job Title
Applicant
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Pasadena
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Citywide
Parcel #
5723-017-012
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, Article 19, §15301, Class 1, Class 3 §15303, Class 11 §15311
Reasons for Exemption
This project has been determined to be exempt from environmental review pursuant to Public Resources Code § 21080(b)(9) and the Guidelines of the California Environmental Quality Act (Administrative Code, Title 14, Chapter 3 [“CEQA Guidelines”]), §15301, Class 1, Existing Facilities, §15303, Class 3, Small Structures, and §15311, Class 11, Accessory Structures). No exceptions exist under CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 to render inapplicable the exemptions.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1, Existing Facilities) exempts the operation, permitting, licensing or minor alteration of existing facilities where there is negligible or no expansion of the use. The Safe Parking activity for no more than 25 vehicles would occur on an existing surface parking lot with 109 spaces. There would be a negligible expansion of the existing use as the vehicles would be parked in the existing parking lot. Furthermore, operation of a Safe Parking activity on a religious facility site is considered an accessory activity to an existing use and would not require any physical construction to occur to permit the Safe Parking use.
No exceptions exist under CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 to render inapplicable the Section 15301 exemption. There is no cumulative impact from any successive projects of the same type in the same place (Section 15300.2(b)); there are no unusual circumstances related to this activity (permitting use of an existing parking lot) compared to other exempt uses within this class which includes permitting of existing facilities involving negligible expansion of the existing or former use (Section 15300.2(c) & Section 15301, subds. (c), (n) & (p) [other exempt activities include permitting of “[e]xisting highways and streets, sidewalks, ... and similar facilities”, and conversion of single family homes to office or day care uses]); the Safe Parking activity will not result in any damage to scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources, within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway (Section 15300.2(d)); and the parking lot is not located on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code (Section 15300.2(e)).
CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2(f) states that a categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. The site is located within the boundaries of the Pasadena Civic Center Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and contains the All-Saints Church religious facility, a contributing historic resource to the district. A “substantial adverse change” in the significance of a historical resource means an alteration that materially impairs the physical characteristics that convey the resource’s significance and justify its eligibility. The Safe Parking activity, proposed on an existing parking lot and where no physical construction would occur to facilitate the use, would not materially impair the significance of the historical resource. The Safe Parking activity would not physically alter, destroy, or demolish the historical resource or its surroundings in a way that diminishes its historical value. Therefore, the categorical exemption remains applicable.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 (Class 3, Small Structures) specifically exempts the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure. The proposed Safe Parking activity would be an accessory activity to the existing institutional facility (All Saints Church), with the proposed portable restroom and handwashing facility being accessory structures. Therefore, the scale of the project falls under the scope of projects exempted per Class 3.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15311 (Class 11, Accessory Structures) exempts construction, or placement of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities. The operation of a Safe Parking use on a religious facility site is considered a negligible expansion of an existing use with the proposed portable restroom and handwashing facility being accessory structures.
There are no features that distinguish the project from others in these exempt classes and, therefore, there are no unusual circumstances. The above explanation regarding the lack of any exceptions under CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 applies here as well. In addition, the potential exception to the use of a Class 3 and Class 11 exemption – based on the project’s location (Section 15300.2(a)) does not apply here. The parking lot is located in a developed area and has no potential to impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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