Good Hope Moses Schaffer Community Center Park Expansion Project

2026101113

Riverside County

NOE - Notice of Exemption

10/28/2026

10/28/2026

Mike Sullivan

Riverside County

Senior Environmental Planner/Facilities Operations Manager

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project

3450 14th Street, Third Floor
Riverside, CA 92501

(951) 955-8009

msullivan@rivco.org

21565 Steele Peak Road, west of Palm Street

92570

343-220-033

Categorical Exemption

15301 Existing Facilities Exemption

The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA specifically by the State CEQA Guidelines as identified below. The project will not result in any specific or general exceptions to the use of the categorical exemption as detailed under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. The project will not cause an impact to an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern nor would the project include unusual circumstances which could have the possibility of having a significant effect on the environment. The project would not result in impacts to scenic highways, hazardous waste sites, historic resources, or other sensitive natural environments, or have a cumulative effect to the environment. No significant environmental impacts are anticipated to occur with the exterior improvements to the Moses Schaffer CC. Section 15301 –Existing Facilities: This Class 1 categorical exemption includes the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, provided the exemption only involves negligible or no expansion of the previous site’s use. The existing facility consists of a community center, a recreational area and a vacant previously disturbed area that are located within the jurisdiction of the County, on County-owned land and is not located on environmentally sensitive land. The improvements to the site would be within the existing facility footprint and would be consistent with the existing land use. No new substantial capacity would be created by the project. The project includes the grading, a storm drain and catch basin, and improvements potentially including walking paths, workout stations, pathway lighting, and desert scape landscaping. The lack of landscaping and accessibility on the vacant portion of the area has created the need for improvement to integrate the area with the existing community center to enhance the quality of recreational public services provided at the site. Therefore, the project is exempt as it meets the scope and intent of the Categorical Exemption identified in Section 15301, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.

Categorical Exemption

Section 15303 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures

This Class 3 exemption includes the 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 to the exterior of the structure. The existing vacant and previously disturbed area at the Community Center is located within the jurisdiction of the County, on County-owned land and is not located on environmentally sensitive land. The Community Center is within the developed community of Good Hope and surrounding by single- and multi-family residences. The improvements to the site would be within the existing facility and would be consistent with the existing land use. The project includes grading, a storm drain and catch basin, and improvements such as walking paths, workout stations, pathway lighting, and desert scape landscaping at an existing facility. The building has all of the necessary utility connections in place and no structures would be constructed which exceed 2,500 square feet; therefore, the project is exempt as the project meets the scope and intent of the Categorical Exemption identified in Section 15303, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.

Categorical Exemption

15311 Accessory Structures

This Class 11 categorical exemption includes the construction, or placement of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities. The project, as proposed, includes the improvement of the vacant land on the western portion of the Moses Schaffer CC. These improvements would not include new parking or structures that would increase the capacity of the site and the recreational improvements would be appurtenant to the existing Community Center and will not substantially increase or expand the use of the site; therefore, the project is exempt as the project meets the scope and intent of the Class 11 Exemption identified in Section 15311, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.

Other

15061 (b)(3) Common Sense Exemption

In accordance with CEQA, the use of the Common Sense Exemption is based on the “general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.” State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b) (3). The use of this exemption is appropriate if “it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” Ibid. This determination is an issue of fact and if sufficient evidence exists in the record that the activity cannot have a significant effect on the environment, then the exemption applies and no further evaluation under CEQA is required. See No Oil, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (1974) 13 Cal. 3d 68. The ruling in this case stated that if a project falls within a category exempt by administrative regulation or 'it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question will not have a significant effect on the environment', no further agency evaluation is required. The proposed improvements to the existing facility will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts. The improvements would require limited construction activity within the existing site and would not alter the function or use of the site or have any external physical effects. The improvements are limited to the improvement of undeveloped, but previously disturbed space that would include grading, a storm drain and catch basin, and improvements such as walking paths, workout stations, pathway lighting, and desert scape landscaping. The site improvements would enhance the function of the facility by increasing the amount of recreational space. The use and operation of the facility will be substantially similar to the existing use and will not create any new environmental impacts. Therefore, in no way, would the project as proposed have the potential to cause a significant environmental impact and the project is exempt from further CEQA analysis. Based upon the identified exemptions above, the County of Riverside, Facilities Management hereby concludes that no physical environmental impacts are anticipated to occur and the project as proposed is exempt under CEQA. No further environmental analysis is warranted.