California Environmental Quality Act: exemptions.

Senator Cervantes proposes significant modifications to California's environmental review exemptions, expanding opportunities for sustainable development while maintaining environmental safeguards. The legislation amends the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to broaden exemption criteria for specific housing and transit-oriented projects.

The bill introduces "very low vehicle travel areas" as new zones eligible for CEQA exemptions, allowing residential, employment center, and mixed-use developments to bypass environmental review when meeting defined criteria. Projects must align with specific plans or community plans that have certified environmental impact reports within the previous 15 years and must be located on previously developed sites or qualifying vacant parcels.

For residential infill projects, the maximum allowable site area increases from 4 to 5 acres. The legislation also permits agricultural employee housing, affordable housing, and infill housing projects within state conservancy boundaries, while maintaining restrictions in environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands, prime farmland, and high-risk fire zones.

The measure establishes new filing requirements, directing lead agencies to submit notices of exemption to the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation for qualifying projects. This office holds responsibility for defining and mapping very low vehicle travel areas, working in conjunction with metropolitan planning organizations. Local agencies retain authority to levy fees or assessments to cover implementation costs, with no state reimbursement required for the additional administrative duties.