Item 28 - Public Hearing - ZOA No. 20204-01 South Coast Technology Center

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South Coast Technology Center Project CEQA Exemption 15183 3. California Environmental Quality Act Regulatory Setting CEQA applies to proposed projects initiated by, funded by, or requiring discretionary approvals from state or local government agencies. CEQA applies generally to discretionary actions by agencies which may have a significant effect on the environment. However, where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that an activity may have a significant effect on the environment, or if the activity meets the conditions for a CEQA exemption, it is considered exempt from the provisions of CEQA. CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 provides an exemption for projects that are consistent with the densities established by existing zoning, community plan, or general plan policies for which an EIR was certified. Additional environmental review of such projects shall not be required, except as might be necessary to examine whether there are project -specific significant effects which are peculiar to the project or its site. Projects that are consistent with the densities and use characteristics considered by the GPU PER may qualify for the CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Exemption process. In accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15183(b), in approving a project meeting the requirements of Section 15183, "a public agency shall limit its examination of environmental effects to those which the agency determines, in an initial study or other analysis: (1) Are peculiar to the project or the parcel on which the project would be located, (2) Were not analyzed as significant effects in a prior EIR on the zoning action, general plan, or community plan, with which the project is consistent, (3) Are potentially significant off -site impacts and cumulative impacts which were not discussed in the prior EIR prepared for the general plan, community plan or zoning action, or (4) Are previously identified significant effects which, as a result of substantial new information which was not known at the time the EIR was certified, are determined to have a more severe adverse impact than discussed in the prior EIR." The environmental review contained in Section 4 has been prepared to assess the potential for the proposed Project to result in such environmental effects and whether the proposed Project qualifies for an exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15183. The previously certified GPU PER serves as the primary environmental compliance document for the Project, and the text, standards conditions, and applicable mitigation measures are incorporated by reference. The GPU PER (State Clearinghouse #2020029087) is available to the public for inspection at the City of Santa Ana, City Hall, during normal business hours. July 2024 Page 15