P-GPA2026-0003 - Amendment to the Safety Element of the City of Mission Viejo General Plan

2026050504

City of Mission Viejo

NOE - Notice of Exemption

5/13/2026

5/13/2026

Cliff Jones

City of Mission Viejo

Planning & Economic Development Manager

Lead/Public Agency

200 Civic Center
Mission Viejo, CA 92691

(949) 470-3024

cjones@cityofmissionviejo.org

200 Civic Center

92691

CA

Other

Section 15060, subd. (c)(2) and Section 15061, subd. (b)(3)

The proposed Safety Element Update has been assessed in accordance with the authority and criteria contained in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA, Public Resources Code Section 21000), the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15000), and the environmental regulations of the City.Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162, staff reviewed the previously adopted Safety Element’s associated environmental documents and determined that a subsequent EIR or a Negative Declaration is not required for the Safety Element Update, in that substantial changes are not proposed to the draft document, the circumstances to which the 2009 Public Safety Element was adopted have not changed, and no new information of substantial importance or new impacts have arisen since the prior environmental documents have been certified. Although new goals, policies, and implementation programs are proposed with the Safety Element Update, they do not contribute to having a significant effect upon the environment as they are directed at the avoidance of impacts through recognition and control over specific conditions that may arise with a development project, request further study and analysis of specific topics, and promote educational outreach efforts.Additionally, the proposed Safety Element Update has been determined to be an exempted project pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15061(b)(3), in that the proposed amendments, which are primarily limited to policy modifications and updates in compliance with Government Code Section 65302(g)(1 through 9), are not anticipated to result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, nor will the proposed changes have the potential for causing significant effect on the environment. The proposed Safety Element Update is in compliance with current state general plan requirements, will not substantially affect, potentially substantially affect, or change the City’s land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and objects of historic or aesthetic resources, and will act to protect the environment by minimizing the potential spread of wildfire and other natural disasters, as well as reducing potential short and long-term community risks from fires, floods, droughts, earthquakes, landslides, climate change, and other related hazards. Furthermore, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308, a project is exempt from CEQA if it is an action taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. Because the Safety Element Update would involve the adoption of a policy document that does not include any proposed development or land alteration, would not require rezoning or facilitate development beyond what is currently allowed in the City’s General Plan, and would assure procedures for protection of the environment, the adoption of the Safety Element Update would not have significant effect on the environment and is therefore exempt from CEQA.