File No. UPE23-0023

2026030776

Sonoma County

NOE - Notice of Exemption

3/18/2026

3/18/2026

Katerina Mahdavi

Permit Sonoma

Planner II

Lead/Public Agency

2550 Ventura Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

(707) 565-1392

Katerina.Mahdavi@sonomacounty.gov

Hogan Land Serviced

Permit Sonoma

Project Applicant

Project Applicant

4780 Sonoma Hwy.
Santa Rosa, CA 95409

(877) 544-2104

asr@hoganls.com

38°29'54.7"N 122°56'29.3"W

Summerhome Park Rd & Laurel Ave

95436

.24

081-281-038 & -039

08N

10W

35

MDM

Categorical Exemption

Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures); Section 15333 (Small Habitat Restoration Projects)

The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the CEQA Guidelines pursuant to the Provisions of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) and Section 15333 (Small Habitat Restoration Projects). Section 15303 allows for the construction of accessory structures. The proposed retaining wall is accessory to the primary rural residential use, intended to provide off-street parking for the existing single-family dwelling. Section 15333 allows for revegetation of disturbed areas with native plant species. The proposed project includes restoration and enhancement of an approximate 510 square-foot area within the 200-foot Riparian Corridor setback. Section 15333 applies to projects that do not exceed five acres in size provided that: (a) There would be no significant adverse impact on endangered, rare or threatened species or their habitat pursuant to section 15065, (b) There are no hazardous materials at or around the project site that may be disturbed or removed, and (c) The project will not result in impacts that are significant when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects. Based on the biological assessment prepared by Sol Ecology, dated October 23, 2023, the project would not have a significant adverse impact on endangered, rare or threatened species or their habitat pursuant to section 15065. Additionally, the biological assessment concluded no impacts to any federal or state jurisdictional features, sensitive communities, nor sensitive species are expected. Additional findings required by Section 15333 relate to hazardous materials and cumulative impacts and are discussed below in relation to the exceptions listed in Section 15300.2. The CEQA Guidelines include a list of exceptions in Section 15300.2, which, if applicable to a project, make application of a categorical exemption invalid, including: 15300.2(a) Location. Classes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11 are qualified by consideration of where the project is to be located--a project that is ordinarily insignificant in its impact on the environment may in a particularly sensitive environment be significant. Therefore, these classes are considered to apply in all instances, except where the project may impact on an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies. 15300.2(b) Cumulative Impact. All exemptions for these classes are inapplicable when the cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time is significant. 15300.2(c) Significant Effect. A categorical exemption shall not be used for an activity where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. The other three exceptions are related to potential impacts to a State-designated scenic highway (15300.2(d)) or to a historical resource (15300.2(f)) or related to construction on a hazardous waste site (15300.2(e)); none of these exceptions apply, so no further discussion is provided for these three categories, but (a) through (c) are discussed below. 15300.2(a) Location. This exception would apply if the project were to be located within a particularly sensitive environment, defined above as “an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies.” This refers to known, mapped, and formally adopted or designated sensitive resources, including but not limited to, federal-designated Critical Habitat, state or locally adopted Habitat Conservation Areas like the Santa Rosa Plain Conservation Strategy Area, or locally adopted mapped resources, such as Biotic Habitat areas, Riparian Corridors, or Oak Woodlands. The project parcel contains a mapped Riparian Corridor (RC) for the Russian River. The RC designation requires a 200-foot development setback from the top of bank of the river. The project footprint is approximately 10 feet from mixed riparian woodland (sensitive habitat) on the opposite side of Summerhome Park Road. While the proposed improvements are within the mapped Riparian Corridor setback, a biological assessment prepared by Sol Ecology dated October 23, 2023, determined that no impacts to the Russian River or its associated riparian habitat are expected given that the proposed project footprint is located outside sensitive riparian habitat. Additionally, the biological assessment found that much of the area within the setback has been previously disturbed with development, including multiple residences and Summerhome Park Road, which is located between the proposed project footprint and the top of bank of the Russian River. Based on the findings of the assessment, no impacts to any federal or state jurisdictional features, sensitive communities, nor sensitive species are expected. The proposed improvements are not located within an applicable “particularly sensitive environment” as defined by the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2(a); this exception does not apply to the project. 15300.2(b) Cumulative Impact. There are not multiple successive projects of the same type in the same location such that the cumulative impacts would be significant. There is not substantial new development on Summerhome Park Road. The parcels in this area generally allow for only one single-family home and an accessory parking area, ensuring development is spaced, low-density, and does not create significant cumulative effects. 15300.2(c) Significant Effect. The CEQA Guidelines state that a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances would invalidate use of a categorical exemption. “Unusual circumstances” has not been defined by the CEQA Guidelines but could include on-site characteristics found on the project parcel that are unique to the parcel and not typical in the area, which if impacted by the project could have a significant effect. There are no “unusual circumstances” associated with the project site. The mapped Riparian Corridor on the subject parcel is also prevalent on nearby surrounding parcels, and throughout the County. In summary, staff did not identify any applicable exceptions that would make application of the Class 3 categorical exemption invalid.