Rancho Temescal Property Acquisition Project and Authorizing the General Manager to Execute Associated Vacant Land Purchase Agreement and Associated Escrow
Summary
SCH Number
2026090499
Public Agency
United Water Conservation District
Document Title
Rancho Temescal Property Acquisition Project and Authorizing the General Manager to Execute Associated Vacant Land Purchase Agreement and Associated Escrow
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/11/2026
Document Description
[PROJECT TITLE CONTINUED]: Documents (collectively, the "Project)
The Project is United Water Conservation District’s (United) Rancho Temescal Acquisition Project and authorizing United’s General Manager to execute an associated vacant land purchase agreement and associated escrow documents to purchase 1,378 acres of vacant land from Rancho Temescal, LLC. The acquisition comprises three APNs (016-0-200-050, 016-0-200-080, 016-0-210-040) and a portion of a fourth APN (016-0-210-020) (collectively, the “Vacant Land”) (See Figure 1). No development of the Vacant Land was proposed or approved.
Contact Information
Name
Marissa Caringella
Agency Name
United Water Conservation District
Job Title
Environmental Services Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Piru
Counties
Ventura
Regions
Southern California, Unincorporated
Total Acres
1,378
Parcel #
016-0-200-050, 016-0-200-080, 016-0-210-040, and a portion of 016-0-210-020.
Waterways
Lake Piru Reservoir
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1 Section 15301 - Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
The CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1, Existing Facilities) categorical exemption applies to the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The key consideration under a CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 exemption is whether a project involves negligible or no expansion of use. Examples of projects that are exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 include the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing facilities of both investor and publicly owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewerage, or other public utility services.
United reviewed the Project and determined that it is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1 Existing Facilities) because the Project involves the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of United facilities, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use, and the Project involves only the acquisition of land, which is vacant, with negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 sets forth the following exceptions to categorical exemptions:
“(a) Location. 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. Therefore, these classes are considered to apply in all instances, except where the project may impact on an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies.
(b) Cumulative Impact. 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.
(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.
(d) Scenic Highways. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may result in damage to scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources, within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway. This does not apply to improvements which are required as mitigation by an adopted negative declaration or certified EIR.
(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.
(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.”
United reviewed the Project and determined that none of the exceptions to categorical exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA also provides, in CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), that where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is exempt from CEQA. United reviewed the Project and determined that the Project is also exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the Project may have a significant effect on the environment because it involves only the acquisition of land, which is vacant, with negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.
County Clerk
Ventura
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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