68 Willow Road Pr oject - Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map
2 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026051163
Public Agency
City of Menlo Park
Document Title
68 Willow Road Pr oject - Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/16/2026
Document Description
Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map to subdivide the property into 50 condominium parcel and one common area parcel. The map would implement a previously approved project {SCH 2026051163) to demolish an existing office building and construct eight new three-story residential townhome buildings with a total of 50 for-sale townhome dwelling units and associated site improvements. Eight units would be available for purchase at Below Market Rate (BMR) for households earning up to 120 percent area median income {moderate rate) or for rent for households earning up to 80 percent area median income (low income).
Contact Information
Name
Christopher Turner
Agency Name
City of Menlo Park
Job Title
Senior Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Chase Rapp
Agency Name
Willow Owner LLC
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Cities
Menlo Park
Counties
San Mateo
Regions
Citywide
Zip
94025
Parcel #
062-423-020
State Highways
California
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 32 Infill (Sec. 15332)
Reasons for Exemption
Among the classes of projects that are exempt from CEQA review are those that are specifically identified as urban infill development. State CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 states that the term infill development ( or the Class 32 exemption) is applicable to projects that meet the following conditions:
• The project is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as applicable zoning designations and regulations.
• The proposed development occurs within the city limits on a project site of no more than 5 acres and surrounded by urban uses.
• The project site has no value as habitat for endangered, rare, or threatened species.
• Approval of the project would not result in any significant effects related to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality.
• The site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services.
The analysis presented in the section that follows provides substantial evidence that the Project qualifies for an exemption under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 as a Class 32 urban infill development and would not have a significant effect on the environment.
Exceptions
Even if a project is ordinarily exempt under the potential categorical exemptions, State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 provides specific instances where exceptions to otherwise applicable exemptions apply. Exceptions to a categorical exemption apply in the following circumstances, effectively nullifying a CEQA categorical exemption:
• 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 when the project may affect an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies.
• Cumulative Impact. All exemptions for these classes are inapplicable when the cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type and in the same place over time is significant.
• Significant Effect. A categorical exemption will not be used for an activity when there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances.
• Scenic Highways. A categorical exemption will not be used for a project that may result in damage to scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources, within a highway that has been officially designated as a State Scenic Highway. This does not apply to improvements that are required as mitigation by an adopted negative declaration or certified EIR.
• Hazardous Waste Sites. A categorical exemption will not be used for a project located on a site that is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code.
• Historical Resources. A categorical exemption will not be used for a project that may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.
The analysis that follows presents substantial evidence to demonstrate that no exceptions apply to the Project or its site, the Project would not have a significant effect on the environment, and, therefore, the Class 32 ·exemption remains applicable.
County Clerk
San Mateo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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