Site Plan Review #2026-04 - AT&T Mobility Unmanned Telecommunications Facility
Summary
SCH Number
2026090444
Public Agency
City of Los Banos
Document Title
Site Plan Review #2026-04 - AT&T Mobility Unmanned Telecommunications Facility
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/11/2026
Document Description
Site Plan Review #2026-04 for the development of an unmanned telecommunications facility.
Contact Information
Name
Justin Ragunton
Agency Name
City of Los Banos
Job Title
Assistant Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Name
Jared Kearsley
Agency Name
AT&T Mobility
Job Title
Project Manager / Representative
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Cities
Los Banos
Counties
Merced
Regions
Citywide, Northern California
Cross Streets
Prairie Springs Dr. and Ortigalita Rd.
Zip
93635
Total Acres
400 square feet
Parcel #
430-010-019
State Highways
SR HWY 152
Airports
Los Banos Municipal Airport
Schools
Creekside Junior High School
Waterways
CCID Canal
Other Location Info
Located within an existing shopping center within a developed Landscape Buffer at 1301 W. Pacheco Boulevard
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 15303 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA provides several “categorical exemptions” which are applicable categories of
projects and activities that the Lead Agency has determined generally do not pose a risk of significant impacts on the Environment. The proposed project is for the development of an unmanned telecommunications facility which includes; one (1) fifty foot (50’) tall disguised monopole and various ground equipment to be perimeter off
within a four hundred (400) square foot leased portion of private property located within the Highway Commercial Zoning District of the City of Los Banos.
The Project is exempt under Section 15303 of the State CEQA Guidelines (Class 3- New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures). Section 15303 categorically exempts projects that involve construction and location of new small facilities or structures such as the project.
The City has further considered whether the project is subject to any of the exceptions to the use of a categorical exemption found at CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. This section prohibits the use of categorical exemptions under the following circumstances:
(a) for certain classes of projects (Classes 3,4,5,6 and 11) due to location where the project may impact an environmental resource or hazardous or critical concern;
(b) when the cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time, is significant;
(c) where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances;
(d) where the project may result in damage to scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, historic buildings rock croppings , or similar resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway;
(e) where the project is located on a state designated hazardous waste site; and
(f) where the project may cause a substantial averse change in the significance of a historical resource.
Section 15300.2(a), the project site is not located in an area of sensitive or critical concern.
With regard to Section 15300.2(b) there is no evidence of a potential significant cumulative impact because successive projects of the same type in the same place have not been approved and are not currently proposed. The project will be within a 400 square foot leased portion of improved and developed private property. Therefore, the project will not result significant cumulative impacts.
Regarding Section 15300.2(c), the project would not result in any significant effects on the environment due to unusual circumstances. The project site is surrounded by urban development to the north and west, along with residential uses to the east and school uses to the south. The project is not located within a sensitive resource area.
Section 15300.2(d) does not apply to the project site as the site is not located adjacent to or visible from a designated scenic highway.
Section 15300.2(e) does not apply because the site is not a state-designated hazardous waste site. The project site is located in a mapped non-hazardous area as is all of the surrounding area.
Section 15300.2(f) does not apply because there are no historic resources or structures located within or around the project site.
For the reasons cited above, the project will not result in a significant environmental impact and qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15303 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
County Clerk
Merced
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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