CEQA 15301 and 15303

[markmitchell3702]

CEQA clarification:
I have an existing church (5500 sf) we want to convert to a professional office. We want to do a 800 sf addition to the building.
The organization moving into the building currently occupies a similar building with the same zoning and GP designation.
The city planning is interpreting 15303 that the current building is more than 2500 sf therefore it needs full environment review.
I interpret 15303 as meaning you can increase the current building (new construction) by 2500 sf.
I also believe that because the GP designations are the same and consistent with the use that 15301 would be the correct way to analyse the project.
In both case the project would be exempt from CEQA review.

Can anyone with any experience in this give me some clarification in the intent of the 2-CEQA section.

Thank you

Mark

[dw914er]

Section 15301 would normally be the appropriate exemption to use; however, the key feature for that section is negligible or no expansion of the existing use. Depending on what what previously approved for the church and/or building, I could see why your local agency chose to not consider the class 1 exemption (after all, churches usually operate outside of peak traffic and parking hours, etc). Section 15303 is for a new building, which could total up to 2,500 square feet for commercial-type uses. Just my quick .02.