Site Plan Review #2026-08 - Development Services Center

2026090472

City of Los Banos

NOE - Notice of Exemption

9/11/2026

9/11/2026

Justin Ragunton

City of Los Banos

Assistant Planner

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant

520 J St.
Los Banos, CA 93635

(209) 827-7000

justin.ragunton@losbanos.org

5th Street and 6th Street

93635

.43

026-052-021

SR HWY 152

N/A

Los Banos Municipal Airport

Westside Elementary School & Los Banos Elementary

N/A

535 J Street

Categorical Exemption

Sec. 15301 Existing Facilities

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 rehabilitation and renovation of an existing 11,255 square foot building to be repurposed as a new Development Services Center for the City of Los Banos, located within the Mixed-Use Zoning District. The Project is exempt under Section 15301 of the State CEQA Guidelines (Class 1 – Existing Facilities). Section 15301 categorically exempts applies to the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor Alteration of existing public or private facilities involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The proposed project consists primarily of the rehabilitation and modernization of an existing public building and site within a fully urbanized area. The project site is fully developed, served by existing public infrastructure consisting of: water, sewer, storm drainage, roadway, electrical, and telecommunications services are available to serve the project. The project will not have significant impacts related to traffic, air quality, biological resources, geology, public services, or utilities. 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 the redevelopment and renovation of an existing public facility with existing public infrastructure. 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 and is not 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 pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5. Section 15300.2(f) does will not result in a significant impact to historical resources. The building is not listed on the local historic register and the project proposes to retain and enhance existing architectural features of the building. 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.