Court Facilities Advisory Committee Approves Site for New Nevada County Courthouse

The Judicial Council's Court Facilities Advisory Committee at its meeting today approved the USDA National Forest Service Office location at 631 Coyote Street in Nevada City as the preferred site for a new courthouse in Nevada County.

The committee also approved the land containing the parcels at the corner of Highway 49 and Cement Hill Road in Nevada City as the alternative site, which is required for moving forward with CEQA review of the project.

In deciding on the two finalist sites, the committee considered factors such as:

• Preliminary environmental site assessments
• Potential biological, cultural, and tribal cultural considerations
• Site boundaries, topography, access routes, proximity to justice partners and services, potential flood zones, seismic zones, and other issues

Once completed, the new building will house the court's operations currently located in the historic Nevada City Courthouse, and will provide an accessible, efficient, and modern full-service courthouse. The new facility will also improve security, operational efficiency, and customer service.

Next Steps
Now that the committee has approved the selection of the preferred and alternative sites, the Judicial Council must request approval from the State Public Works Board (SPWB) to proceed. If approved, council staff will engage in purchase negotiations and coordinate further analysis of the preferred site. The council will perform additional real estate due diligence, and implement CEQA and other environmental regulatory requirements. Public outreach will occur at the commencement of CEQA (Notice of Preparation) and at the publication of the draft CEQA document. After further analysis, terms, conditions, and price are determined, a request to acquire the site will be presented to the SPWB for approval.

For more information on the project, visit www.courts.ca.gov/76091.htm.