Anna Jean Cummings County Park Water Line Replacement Project

Summary

SCH Number
2026070506
Public Agency
Santa Cruz County
Document Title
Anna Jean Cummings County Park Water Line Replacement Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/14/2026
Document Description
Anna Jean Cummings County Park is located at 461 Soquel San Jose Road in Soquel, California (APN 030-341-09). The park is owned and operated by the County of Santa Cruz and provides a variety of recreational amenities including sports fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, restrooms, trails, open space areas, and supporting infrastructure. The park was developed in accordance with the O'Neill Ranch Master Plan and Environmental Impact Report adopted by the County to guide the long-term recreational use and management of the property. Existing utility infrastructure, including domestic water service, supports park operations and visitor-serving facilities throughout the site. The existing domestic waterline serving park facilities has experienced recurring leaks and requires frequent maintenance and repair. The leaks generally occur at intervals corresponding to individual pipe segments located beneath portions of the park entry drive, requiring excavation within paved areas to access and repair the line. To improve long-term reliability, reduce maintenance costs, reduce waste of potable water, and minimize future disruptions to park operations, the County proposes replacing an approximately 1,300-foot-long portion of the existing waterline and relocating portions of the alignment to adjacent landscaped areas where future access and maintenance can be more readily accomplished. The project consists of replacing a portion of the existing domestic water distribution system serving Anna Jean Cummings County Park with approximately 1,300 linear feet of new waterline and associated components installed within previously disturbed and developed portions of the park. The new waterline will connect to the existing system at the southern side of the athletic fields and extend west toward the restroom facility and east toward the restroom and recreational facilities adjacent to the play area. The proposed alignment relocates portions of the existing waterline from beneath the park entry drive into adjacent landscaped and maintained areas to improve accessibility for future maintenance activities, reduce the likelihood of disruptions to park operations, reduce waste of potable water, and improve the long-term reliability of the water system. Project improvements include trench excavation, installation of new waterline, and related utility infrastructure necessary to maintain water service to existing park facilities. The project also includes abandonment of the existing waterline, limited saw-cutting and restoration of sidewalks and paved surfaces where necessary, reconnection to existing facilities, and restoration of all disturbed areas following construction. All work will occur within the boundaries of Anna Jean Cummings County Park and within areas that have been previously developed, landscaped, or otherwise disturbed. The replacement waterline will serve the same park facilities and provide the same purpose and capacity as the existing system. No expansion of park facilities, recreational amenities, or utility service is proposed. No tree removal is anticipated as part of the project, and all disturbed areas will be restored following completion of construction. The project is limited to replacement of the existing domestic waterline and associated utility infrastructure and constitutes the repair, maintenance, minor alteration, and replacement of an existing public utility system involving negligible or no expansion of existing use. Accordingly, the project is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction). The project also includes minor trenching, backfilling, and restoration activities within previously disturbed areas and is therefore exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land).

Contact Information

Name
Mike Pruitt
Agency Name
Santa Cruz County Parks, Open Space & Cultural Services
Job Title
Parks Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Name
Britta Denise Hardesty
Agency Name
Santa Cruz County Community Development & Infrastructure
Job Title
Principal Planner Environmental Planning
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Counties
Santa Cruz
Regions
Northern California, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Soquel San Jose Road
Zip
95073
Parcel #
030-341-09
Other Location Info
Anna Jean Cummings County Park, 461 Soquel San Jose Road, Soquel, CA 95073

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1 (Existing Facilities, CEQA Guidelines §15301)
Reasons for Exemption
Repair, maintenance, and minor alteration of existing public utility facilities involving negligible or no expansion of existing use, including replacement of an existing domestic water distribution system within an established county park. The project consists of replacing an existing domestic waterline serving Anna Jean Cummings County Park. The project includes installation of a new waterline within previously disturbed and developed portions of the park, connection to existing restroom and park facilities, installation of associated valves and service connections, abandonment of the existing waterline, limited pavement and sidewalk restoration, and restoration of disturbed areas following construction. The replacement waterline will provide the same service and substantially the same capacity as the existing water system and does not involve an expansion of park facilities, utility service, or park operations. Construction activities are limited to trenching, utility installation, utility connections, pavement restoration, and site restoration within developed areas of the park. No tree removal is proposed. None of the exceptions to categorical exemptions identified in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply.

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction, CEQA Guidelines §15302(c))
Reasons for Exemption
Replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and facilities involving substantially the same purpose and capacity as the facilities being replaced. The project consists of replacing an existing domestic waterline serving Anna Jean Cummings County Park. The project includes installation of a new waterline within previously disturbed and developed portions of the park, connection to existing restroom and park facilities, installation of associated valves and service connections, abandonment of the existing waterline, limited pavement and sidewalk restoration, and restoration of disturbed areas following construction. The replacement waterline will provide the same service and substantially the same capacity as the existing water system and does not involve an expansion of park facilities, utility service, or park operations. Construction activities are limited to trenching, utility installation, utility connections, pavement restoration, and site restoration within developed areas of the park. No tree removal is proposed. None of the exceptions to categorical exemptions identified in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply.

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 (Minor Alterations to Land, CEQA Guidelines §15304)
Reasons for Exemption
Minor trenching, excavation, backfilling, utility installation, and restoration activities within previously disturbed areas, with all disturbed surfaces restored following construction. The project consists of replacing an existing domestic waterline serving Anna Jean Cummings County Park. The project includes installation of a new waterline within previously disturbed and developed portions of the park, connection to existing restroom and park facilities, installation of associated valves and service connections, abandonment of the existing waterline, limited pavement and sidewalk restoration, and restoration of disturbed areas following construction. The replacement waterline will provide the same service and substantially the same capacity as the existing water system and does not involve an expansion of park facilities, utility service, or park operations. Construction activities are limited to trenching, utility installation, utility connections, pavement restoration, and site restoration within developed areas of the park. No tree removal is proposed. None of the exceptions to categorical exemptions identified in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply.
County Clerk
Santa Cruz

Attachments

Notice of Exemption

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