Laserfiche WebLink
That said, the CEQA guidelines anticipate the over-inclusivity of categorical exemptions, such as <br />the infill development exemption claimed by the Commission to apply to the Russell Fischer Car Wash <br />Project, but interestingly, not to the 2018 Russell Fischer Retail/Restaurant Project proposed for the <br />same site. The guidelines address the problem of "over-inclusivity" in categorical exemptions by <br />establishing a list of exceptions to the exemptions. <br />The City adopted Local Guidelines for Implementing CEQA ("Local Guidelines") in 2019. <br />These exceptions to the categorical exemptions are reflected in section 3.22 of the Local Guidelines (See <br />Resolution No. 2019-050). The Local Guidelines state: "All classes of categorical exemptions are <br />qualified. None of the categorical exemptions are applicable if any of the following circumstances exist: <br />(1) The cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place over time is <br />significant; (2) there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the <br />environment due to unusual circumstances." <br />Even if the Russell Fischer Car Wash Project met the five conditions for the infill categorical <br />exemption, two exceptions to that exemption apply: (1) the cumulative impacts exception (14 CCR § <br />15300.2(b)), and (2) the unusual circumstances exception (14 CCR § 15300.2(c).) These exceptions are <br />address in tarn below. <br />Even if the Car Wash Project was categorically exempt, the exception from that exemption <br />applies because the Commission failed to consider the cumulative impact of approving numerous car <br />washes all within close proximity — roughly a 2-mile radius. (See Exhibit A.) For instance, the City just <br />recently approved Rocket Express Car Wash at 1703 East 17`h Street. The City is considering approval <br />of the Russell Fischer Car Wash Project at 301 and 325 N. Tustin Avenue. Two additional applications <br />for new car wash developments have been submitted to the City including one at Grand Avenue between <br />17`h Street and Fairhaven Avenue, and another at N. Tustin Avenue and Santa Clara Avenue. (See East <br />Peninsula Educ. Council, Inc. v. Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified Sch. Dist. (1989) 210 Cal.App.3d 155 <br />[The district failed to evaluate the cumulative impact of additional school closures when determining the <br />school closure at issue was categorically exempt from CEQA. The court set aside the approvals and <br />required the district to evaluate the cumulative impacts in determining whether the physical changes <br />were categorically exempt].) <br />The Russell Fischer Car Wash Project, even if it meets the general requirements for the infill <br />development exemption, is nonetheless subject to CEQA review because the unusual circumstances <br />exception to categorical exemptions applies. This exception was confirmed in Friends of Mammoth v. <br />Board of Supervisors (1972) 8 Cal.3d 247 (Friends of Mammoth). There, the Supreme Court explained <br />that the majority of private projects for which a government permit or similar entitlement is necessary <br />are minor in scope and thus have little or no effect on the public environment, but when they do have a <br />significant effect on the environment, such effects will be due to unusual circumstances. (Id. at p. 272.) <br />18 <br />75A-28 <br />