License Agreement with Silverback and LOIDL, LLC

2026040848

City of Santa Monica

NOE - Notice of Exemption

4/17/2026

4/17/2026

Rachel Kwok

City of Santa Monica

Environmental Planner

Lead/Public Agency

1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401

(310) 458-2201 ext. 2039

rachel.kwok@santamonica.gov

90401

Categorical Exemption

Sections 15301, 15303, 15304, 15311, 15331

Santa Monica Nations Village is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15301 (Class 1 – Existing Facilities), Section 15303 (Class 3 - New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), Section 15304 (Minor Alterations of Land), Section 15311 (Class 11 - Accessory Structures), and Section 15323 (Normal Operations of Existing Facilities for Public Gathering) of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15301 of CEQA Guidelines exempts the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination. Nations Village would include International Olympic Committee (IOC) satellite broadcast center, National Olympic Committee hospitality house, and brand hospitality house activation at Crescent Bay Park and portions of Lot 4 South during the LA28 Summer Olympic Games; and would not expand existing Crescent Bay Park. Therefore, the event is exempt under Section 15301. Section 15303 of CEQA Guidelines 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. Projects that fall into this class of exemption include accessory (appurtenant) structures including garages, carports, patios, swimming pools, and fences. Nations Village would include the installation of temporary equipment and facilities that would be accessory structures to the existing park and parking lot. These accessory structures would be temporary in nature. Therefore, the event is exempt under Section 15303. Section 15304 of CEQA Guidelines exempts 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 and agricultural purposes. This includes minor temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects on the environment. Nations Village is a temporary event that would take place on Crescent Bay Park and portions of the Lot 4 south. The land would be restored to original condition after the event concludes. Therefore, Nations Village is exempt under Section 15304. Section 15311 of CEQA Guidelines exempts the construction, or placement of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities. Projects that fall into this class of exemption include construction, or placement of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities, including but not limited to: (c) Placement of seasonal or temporary use items such as lifeguard towers, mobile food units, portable restrooms, or similar items in generally the same locations from time to time in publicly owned parks, stadiums, or other facilities designed for public use. Nations Village would include the installation of temporary equipment and facilities that would be accessory structures. Therefore, Nations Village is exempt under Section 15311. Section 15331 of CEQA Guidelines exempts projects limited to maintenance, repair, stabilization, rehabilitation, restoration, preservation, conservation or reconstruction of historical resources in a manner consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards (SOIS) for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, and Reconstructing Historic Buildings (1995), Weeks and Grimmer. Nations Village would include the repair/restoration of the existing Pergola at Crescent Bay Park, which is a historic resource on the National Register of Historic Places. As required in the terms of the license agreement, the repair/restoration would be done in accordance with the SOIS and in coordination with a professional architectural historian. Therefore, Nations Village is exempt from CEQA under Section 15331.