Earl Warren Elementary School Modernization Project

2026090521

Sacramento City Unified School District

NOE - Notice of Exemption

9/14/2026

9/14/2026

Nathaniel Browning

Sacrament City Unified School District

Director of Planning and Property

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant

5735 47th Ave
Sacramento, CA 95824

(916) 257-9640

nathaniel-browning@scusd.edu

38°15'24.7"N 121°25'4.9"W

Lowell Street, Fruitridge Road

95820

5420 Lowell Street, Sacramento, CA 95820

Categorical Exemption

Class 1 CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 - Existing Facilities

Class 1 (CEQA Guidelines Section 15301) is applicable to the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of use. The proposed project would include minor interior modifications and modernization improvements to existing classrooms, including new floor finishes, casework and cabinet storage, paint, and replacement markerboards and tackboards in the same quantities as existing. Upon completion of the new administrative building, the existing administrative building would be converted for support services, including Resource Specialist Programs and intervention offices. No additions to these existing buildings are proposed. The classroom renovations are intended to restore and modernize deteriorated facilities and support current public health and safety standards. The proposed project would not increase student capacity. Because the project site is already developed as an existing school, the proposed classroom and administrative building would represent a negligible expansion of the existing use. Additionally, the project area is not considered environmentally sensitive for biological or cultural resources, and the project site is already served by existing public utilities from the City of Sacramento. Restoration or modernization of deteriorated or damaged structures or facilities to meet current public health and safety standards falls within the scope of this exemption. Therefore, the proposed project would be Categorically Exempt under Class 1. Exceptions to Use of a Categorical Exemption (Statue 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. 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 elementary school campus in a residential 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 minor commercial uses. However, the proposed project would not extend into any offsite areas. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. 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. 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. Furthermore, the proposed project would not change the existing operations at the school. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. 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 160 (River Road), located approximately 5.8 miles southwest 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. 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 July 22, 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. 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 Earl Warren ES 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 2 CEQA Guidelines Section 15302 - Replacement or Reconstruction

Class 2 (CEQA Guidelines Section 15302) 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. The proposed project would replace the existing blacktop play area with a newly designed play area in the southwestern portion of the campus, provide a separate TK and Kindergarten play area, and remove 14 existing modular structures to be replaced with permanent classroom building. In addition, the existing parking lot and pick-up/drop-off area along Lowell Street would be reconfigured for bus drop-off, and the parking lot would remain in place but be re-striped. These improvements would occur on the same campus and would serve substantially the same purpose and capacity as the existing facilities. The proposed project would not increase student capacity. Therefore, the proposed project would be Categorically Exempt under Class 2. Exceptions to Use of a Categorical Exemption (Statue 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. 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 elementary school campus in a residential 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 minor commercial uses. However, the proposed project would not extend into any offsite areas. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. 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. 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. Furthermore, the proposed project would not change the existing operations at the school. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. 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 160 (River Road), located approximately 5.8 miles southwest 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. 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 July 22, 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. 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 Earl Warren ES 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 3 CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 - New Construction

Class 3 (Section 15303 of the CEQA Guidelines) consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure. The proposed project would include construction of a new 14,124-square-foot TK and Kindergarten classroom building with a connecting administrative wing, new pick-up and drop-off areas along 73rd Street, and a new staff parking lot at the northeast corner of the campus. Existing buildings on campus are approximately 15 feet to the top of the eaves; the new building would be approximately 18 feet 6 inches to the top of the eaves at the classroom area and 20 feet to the highest roof point over the administrative area. Because the project site is already developed as an existing school, the proposed classroom and administrative building would represent a negligible expansion of the existing use. The proposed project would maintain the same purpose and capacity currently present at Earl Warren ES, and no change in student capacity is proposed. Therefore, the proposed project would be Categorically Exempt under Class 3. Exceptions to Use of a Categorical Exemption (Statue 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. 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 elementary school campus in a residential 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 minor commercial uses. However, the proposed project would not extend into any offsite areas. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. 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. 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. Furthermore, the proposed project would not change the existing operations at the school. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. 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 160 (River Road), located approximately 5.8 miles southwest 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. 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 July 22, 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. 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 Earl Warren ES 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 4 CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 - Minor Alterations to Land

Class 4 (CEQA Guidelines Section 15304) pertains to minor alterations to land, water, and vegetation that do not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes. The proposed project would include new landscaping and concrete improvements throughout the campus, including the installation of several bioretention basins and a learning/natural space to replace the existing blacktop play area. Although most existing trees would be removed, the campus would be replanted with new trees, primarily along the campus perimeter. These improvements would constitute minor alterations to previously developed campus areas and would not change the existing purpose or capacity of Earl Warren ES. No increase in student capacity is proposed. Therefore, the proposed project would be Categorically Exempt under Class 4. 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. 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 elementary school campus in a residential 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 minor commercial uses. However, the proposed project would not extend into any offsite areas. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. 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. 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. Furthermore, the proposed project would not change the existing operations at the school. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. 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 160 (River Road), located approximately 5.8 miles southwest 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. 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 July 22, 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. 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 Earl Warren ES 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 (Section 15314 of the CEQA Guidelines) 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 replace the existing blacktop play area with a newly designed play area in the southwestern portion of the campus, provide a separate TK and Kindergarten play area; include construction of a new classroom building for TK and Kindergarten with a connecting administrative wing; include new pick-up and drop-off areas along 73rd Street, as well as a new staff parking lot at the northeast corner of the campus; and would provide new landscaping and concrete improvements throughout the campus. These proposed additions 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. 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 elementary school campus in a residential 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 minor commercial uses. However, the proposed project would not extend into any offsite areas. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. 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. 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. Furthermore, the proposed project would not change the existing operations at the school. Therefore, this exception does not apply to the project. 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 160 (River Road), located approximately 5.8 miles southwest 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. 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 July 22, 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. 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 Earl Warren ES 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.