Troy Street Sleeping Cabins

2024070569

San Diego County

NOE - Notice of Exemption

7/16/2024

7/16/2024

Marcus Lubich

County of San Diego General Services

Project Manager

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project

5560 Overland Ave, Ste 410
San Diego, CA 92123

(858) 414-4593

marcus.lubich@sdcounty.ca.gov

Sweetwater Road and Troy Street

91945

3.5 acres

125

Palm Middle School and Mount Vernon Elementary

Emergency Project

Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)

The County of San Diego Board of Supervisor's declared a Shelter Crisis on September 11, 2018 (6) and subsequently declared homelessness a public health crisis on September 27, 2022 (21). Taken together, the unexpected and dramatic increase in homelessness without the ability to obtain shelter, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, hepatitis A outbreaks, and recent flooding events, is an emergency in unincorporated San Diego County. San Diego County had a 20% increase in homelessness 2023, and currently for every person that is housed 6 new persons become homeless. This situation presents documented dangers to health, life, and property and a burden on, and loss of access to, essential public services, which presents an emergency as defined by CEQA. The health and safety of unsheltered persons in the unincorporated area of San Diego County is threatened by a lack of shelter. The leasing of Caltrans property and development of the Troy Sleeping Cabins site are statutorily exempt from environmental review pursuant to CEOA Section 15269 (c) because they are specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate San Diego County's shelter crisis. The project is necessary to avoid and prevent the emergency by providing shelter and services to the homeless occupants of the shelter, and by facilitating their transition from the homelessness to this shelter, and then on to long-term housing. The County's Troy Sleeping Cabin site is a critical short-term project that will address the high-risk issues facing people experiencing homelessness. The Project, therefore, is statutorily exempt from CEQA under Public Resources Code, Section 21080(b)(4), as a specific action necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency, and as reflected in Article 18 of the Sate CEQA Guidelines, Section 15269(c).

Categorical Exemption

15301(l)(3) – Existing Facilities, 15303 – New Construction of Small Structures, 15304 – Minor Alterations to Land, and

The demolition and removal of existing fencing on the site is exempt pursuant to CEQA Section 15301(I). The construction of the sleeping cabin shelter is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15303: New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures (Class 3), as the project would involve the installation of temporary, small trailers to support the facility to provide security, medical and community services, administration, storage, toilets, and showers. Because of the limited number and size of structures, this exemption would apply. The construction of the sleeping cabins shelter is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15304: Minor Alterations to Land (Class 4), would require some exterior alterations to existing utility lines including street improvements, minor alterations to land including minor grading, installation of sleeping cabins, minor utility extensions (e.g., electrical, water, and sewer), irrigation lines, pavement improvements. However, the project would be considered a minor, temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects on the environment, thereby qualifying for this exemption. The project would be located on a vacant site owned by Caltrans, located on the on the northwest corner of the Troy Street and Sweetwater Road intersection in Lemon Grove. The project will operate for a timeframe of approximately seven years. Accessory structures including privacy fencing with pedestrian and vehicle entry gates, security lighting, administrative trailers, security stand, and restrooms and hand washing stations would be considered appurtenant to the small cabins shelter and exempt under CEQA Section 15311. Additionally, the project would 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. We assume that compliance with existing regulations and project design features will avoid any potential impacts to resources, such as biological resources and cultural resources. The project is not located within a sensitive environment, the effects would not combine with other potential projects that could contribute to a cumulative effect, there is no evidence that a significant effect would occur, the site is not located near a scenic highway, it is not located on a hazardous waste site pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code, and there are no historical resources onsite. While the site is previously disturbed, it is possible that native soil could be uncovered during minor grading. Therefore, as part of the project and in accordance with existing regulations, an archaeological monitor will be onsite during all excavation activities to ensure any potential resources discovered on the site are protected and impacts are avoided. In addition, biological surveys would be conducted prior to any removal of existing vegetation on the site during bird nesting season to ensure compliance with existing laws and regulations, such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Additionally, the project site is not considered environmentally sensitive, there would not be successive projects of the same type in the same place that would result in cumulative impacts, no unusual circumstances that create the reasonable possibility of significant effects, no impacts to scenic resources, site is not identified as being affected by hazardous wastes or clean-up problems, and would not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.