Helix Charter High School Press Box Replacement Project

2026080553

Grossmont Union High School District

NOE - Notice of Exemption

8/18/2026

8/18/2026

Dena Johnson

Grossmont Union High School District

Interim Executive Director of Facilities

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant

1100 Murray Drive
El Cajon, CA 92020

(619) 644-8150

dajohnson@guhsd.net

32°45'9.7"N 117°2'8.5"W

Orien Avenue and Lowell Street

91941

The proposed project is located on the Helix Charter HS campus at 7323 University Ave, La Mesa, CA. 91941. The proposed project would occur within the existing boundaries of the school. Access to the site is available via Orien Avenue through the existing stadium. Helix Charter HS is located within an urbanized area and surrounded by commercial and residential uses. The school serves ninth through twelfth grades. The athletic field is an existing facility that is used for multiple events and sports for the school.

Categorical Exemption

Class 2 CEQA Guidelines Section 15302 - Replacement or Reconstruction

Class 2 consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced, including but not limited to (CEQA Guidelines Section 15302). The proposed project would include the replacement and reconstruction of the existing press box. The new structure would be 72 sf smaller in square footage and approximately 9.7 feet taller than the existing structure to accommodate a roof canopy. The project would maintain the same purpose and capacity as is currently present at Helix Charter HS. No change in student capacity is contemplated by this project. Therefore, the proposed project would be Categorically Exempt under Class 2. Exceptions to Use of a Categorical Exemption (State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2): State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 identifies exceptions that, if triggered, would prohibit a project from relying on a categorical exemption. The following summarizes the determination that the proposed project does not have the potential to trigger any of the exceptions identified in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 prohibiting the use of a categorical exemption. (a) Location. This exception states that 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. The proposed project would occur entirely within the boundaries of an existing high school campus in an urbanized community. As such, all areas on the school site are either paved or disturbed, and therefore are not environmentally sensitive. Surrounding land uses consist of residential and commercial uses. However, the proposed project would not extend into any offsite areas. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. (b) Cumulative Impact. For this exception, all exemptions for these classes are inapplicable when the cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time is significant. There are no known future projects on the campus or within the surrounding community that, when combined with the proposed project, would result in a cumulatively considerable effect on the environment. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. (c) Significant Effect. A categorical exemption shall not be used for an activity where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. There is no reasonable possibility that the proposed activity would have a significant effect on the environment as a result of unusual circumstances. The proposed project would serve an existing school and would not increase student capacity or the number of classrooms. Furthermore, the proposed project would not change the existing operations at the school. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. (d) Scenic Highways. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway. The proposed project would not result in the removal of existing structures or the construction of new facilities that would directly or indirectly affect an officially designated scenic highway or scenic resources near a scenic highway. The nearest officially designated state scenic highway is a segment of State Route 125 between Interstate-8 and State Route 94, located approximately 1.5 miles east of the project site (California Department of Transportation 2026). Due to intervening topography and distance, the project would not impact scenic resources within an officially designated state scenic highway. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. (e) Hazardous Waste Sites. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project located on a site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code. A review of the State Water Resources Control Board GeoTracker website and the Department of Toxic Substances Control Envirostor website was conducted on June 30, 2026. Based on the review, the site is not on a list of hazardous materials and all clean up and facilities sites near the project site have closed cases. The proposed project would only require minor ground disturbance. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. (f) Historical Resources. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. No buildings or other structures considered a historical resource at the Helix Charter HS site will be demolished as part of this project. Therefore, the proposed project would not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in Section 15064.5 of the State CEQA Guidelines, and this exception does not apply to the project.

Categorical Exemption

Class 14 CEQA Guidelines Section 15314 - Minor Additions to Schools

Class 14 consists of minor additions to existing schools within existing school grounds where the addition does not increase original student capacity by more than 25 percent or 10 classrooms, whichever is less. The proposed project would include the replacement and reconstruction of the existing press box. The proposed improvements are intended to serve the existing student body, which would not induce any increase in student enrollment. In addition, the proposed project does not include the construction of any new classrooms or other facilities that would increase the student capacity of the campus by more than 25 percent. As noted above, no increase in student enrollment or staffing would occur as a result of the proposed project. Exceptions to Use of a Categorical Exemption (State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2): State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 identifies exceptions that, if triggered, would prohibit a project from relying on a categorical exemption. The following summarizes the determination that the proposed project does not have the potential to trigger any of the exceptions identified in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 prohibiting the use of a categorical exemption. (a) Location. This exception states that 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. The proposed project would occur entirely within the boundaries of an existing high school campus in an urbanized community. As such, all areas on the school site are either paved or disturbed, and therefore are not environmentally sensitive. Surrounding land uses consist of residential and commercial uses. However, the proposed project would not extend into any offsite areas. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. (b) Cumulative Impact. For this exception, all exemptions for these classes are inapplicable when the cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time is significant. There are no known future projects on the campus or within the surrounding community that, when combined with the proposed project, would result in a cumulatively considerable effect on the environment. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. (c) Significant Effect. A categorical exemption shall not be used for an activity where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. There is no reasonable possibility that the proposed activity would have a significant effect on the environment as a result of unusual circumstances. The proposed project would serve an existing school and would not increase student capacity or the number of classrooms. Furthermore, the proposed project would not change the existing operations at the school. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. (d) Scenic Highways. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway. The proposed project would not result in the removal of existing structures or the construction of new facilities that would directly or indirectly affect an officially designated scenic highway or scenic resources near a scenic highway. The nearest officially designated state scenic highway is a segment of State Route 125 between Interstate-8 and State Route 94, located approximately 1.5 miles east of the project site (California Department of Transportation 2026). Due to intervening topography and distance, the project would not impact scenic resources within an officially designated state scenic highway. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. (e) Hazardous Waste Sites. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project located on a site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code. A review of the State Water Resources Control Board GeoTracker website and the Department of Toxic Substances Control Envirostor website was conducted on June 30, 2026. Based on the review, the site is not on a list of hazardous materials and all clean up and facilities sites near the project site have closed cases. The proposed project would only require minor ground disturbance. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. (f) Historical Resources. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. No buildings or other structures considered a historical resource at the Helix Charter HS site will be demolished as part of this project. Therefore, the proposed project would not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in Section 15064.5 of the State CEQA Guidelines, and this exception does not apply to the project.