Villa Ellsworth Mixed-Use (PLN2020-00170)
Summary
SCH Number
2026071129
Public Agency
City of Fremont
Document Title
Villa Ellsworth Mixed-Use (PLN2020-00170)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/29/2026
Document Description
The proposed project consists of retaining the site’s two historic resources fronting Mission Boulevard and redeveloping the remainder of the site with five new buildings that together contain 17 dwelling units and 2,476 square feet of commercial space. Project units would consist of 15 three-bedroom units and two (2) four-bedroom units. Project units would range in size from 1,395 – 2,155 square feet and average 1,651 square feet. The project’s proposed commercial component is designed as a single tenant space fronting onto Ellsworth Street. Parking for the residential component of the project would come in the form of 28 covered parking spaces and 12 open/surface parking spaces. The project’s commercial parking consists of 14 total spaces, 10 of which are in the public right of way (six spaces along the site’s Ellsworth Street frontage and four spaces along the site’s Mission Boulevard frontage), three open/surface spaces, and one garage space.
Project CEQA was approved by the City of Fremont Planning Commission on July 23, 2026.
Contact Information
Name
Weinong Lai
Agency Name
WRD Green, Inc.
Job Title
Applicant
Contact Types
Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Name
Mark Hungerford
Agency Name
City of Fremont - Planning Division
Job Title
Senior Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Fremont
Counties
Alameda
Regions
Northern California, San Francisco Bay Area
Total Acres
1.01
Parcel #
513-609-18-6, 513-609-22-2, and 513-609-23-2
Other Location Info
43341-43353 Mission Boulevard; 43350 Ellsworth Street
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15332
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per CEQA Guidelines Section 15332, In-Fill Development Projects, which exempts in-fill development when the project would be consistent with the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance; proposed development would occur on a site no greater than five acres substantially surrounded by urban uses; the site has no habitat value for endangered, rare or threatened species; approval would not result in significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality and water quality; and the site is adequately served by utilities and public services.
The project would be consistent with the General Plan, Zoning Regulations, Multifamily Objective Design Standards, and substantially conforming to the recommendations included in the MSJ Design Guidelines and would have no potentially significant impact on any historic resource. Standard development requirements for resource protection contained in FMC Section 18.218.050(b) would be implemented with project development. Based on the adopted screening criteria in the City of Fremont Transportation Impact Analysis Handbook, the project would be classified as a “small infill project” because it contains less than 25 attached housing units and less than 50,000 square feet of local-serving retail area. Mixed-use projects with components that fall under both thresholds are screened-out and not subject to a CEQA transportation analysis.
Given the nature of the project and similar characteristics to surrounding urban development, the project would not have noise or water quality impacts. Construction hours would be regulated per FMC Section 18.160.010 to address short-term noise during construction. The project would implement the City’s stormwater runoff requirements. Additionally, there are existing utilities and public services available to serve the site, including but not limited to: water, sanitary sewer, storm water facilities, electricity, roadways, and transit.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15183
Reasons for Exemption
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183, projects which are consistent with the development density and intensity established by a community plan, general plan or zoning for which an EIR was certified shall not require additional environmental review, except as might be necessary to examine whether there are project-specific significant effects which are peculiar to the project or its site. This streamlines the review of such projects and reduces the need to prepare repetitive environmental studies. The proposed Project qualifies for review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 and does not need additional environmental review since the General Plan Update Final Environmental Impact Report, certified by the Fremont City Council on December 13, 2011, adequately addressed the Project’s potential environmental effects.
County Clerk
Alameda
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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