Sites Project Authority Development Agreement (ZF #2026-011)
Summary
SCH Number
2026061022
Public Agency
Yolo County
Document Title
Sites Project Authority Development Agreement (ZF #2026-011)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/23/2026
Document Description
The project consists of approval of a Development Agreement between the County of Yolo and the Sites Project Authority related to the Sites Reservoir Project. The Agreement provides regulatory stability and sets forth mutual assurances, best management practices, and community benefit commitments applicable to portions of the Sites Reservoir Project located within Yolo County. The Development Agreement does not approve or modify any physical component of the Sites Reservoir Project, nor does it authorize construction or changes to the previously analyzed Dunnigan Pipeline or related facilities. Any future actions or site-specific activities that may constitute a “project” under CEQA will undergo separate environmental review at the appropriate time.
On May 14, 2026, the Planning Commission held a public hearing and voted unanimously (7-0-0) to recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt an Ordinance approving and authorizing execution of the Development Agreement. The Planning Commission determined that the Development Agreement is in conformance with California Government Code Section 65864-65869.5 (the Development Agreement Act) and Yolo County Code Title 8, Chapter 5 (Development Agreements). On June 23, 2026, the Board of Supervisors held a public hearing, accepted the Planning Commission’s recommendation and adopted an Ordinance approving and authorizing execution of the Development Agreement.
Contact Information
Name
Jeff Anderson
Agency Name
Yolo County Department of Community Services
Job Title
Principal Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
unincorporated area
Counties
Yolo
Regions
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
County Road 99W and County Road 90
Zip
95937
Parcel #
052-100-006
State Highways
I-5, I-505
Railways
CFNR
Waterways
Tehama-Colusa Canal, Bird Creek, Colusa Basin Drain
Township
12N
Range
1W
Section
33
Base
MDBM
Other Location Info
Location information provided is for the intake structure off Tehama-Colusa Canal (TCC). The pipeline will span approximately four miles from the TCC to Colusa Basin Drain.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15061(b)(3) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations
Reasons for Exemption
The approval of the Development Agreement is exempt from CEQA under the common sense exemption (CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3)) because it can be seen with certainty that the action will not result in a significant effect on the environment.
The Sites Project Authority, acting as the CEQA lead agency, certified the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) (SCH #2001112009) on November 17, 2023, which analyzed the Sites Reservoir Project and its alternatives, including the Dunnigan Pipeline located in Yolo County. The County’s approval of the Development Agreement does not alter the project as previously analyzed, authorize new construction, or approve any specific on-the-ground activity.
The Development Agreement provides administrative, procedural, and contractual assurances between the County and the Authority, including best management practice commitments and community benefit provisions. These terms do not expand, modify, or enable any physical development beyond what the Authority has already approved and analyzed in the certified EIR/EIS. Although the Agreement anticipates that future, as-yet-unidentified activities may occur within Yolo County, no such activities are proposed or defined at this time. Should any future action constitute a “project” under CEQA, appropriate environmental review will be conducted prior to approval.
Because the Development Agreement itself will not cause or lead to any physical environmental changes, there is no possibility of a significant environmental effect, and CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3) applies.
County Clerk
Yolo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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