San Gabriel River Discovery Center at Whittier Narrows
6 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2006081154
Lead Agency
United States Army, Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE)
Document Title
San Gabriel River Discovery Center at Whittier Narrows
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
1/21/2010
Document Description
The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation proposes to lease and sublease the approximately 11.21-acre project site to the San Gabriel River Discovery Center Authority as part of the project. Construction would occur on only 5 acres (construction impact area) within the 11.21-acre lease boundary. The primary project features include a 14,000 sf interpretive center, parking lot, maintenance building, open air classroom, constructed riparian/wetland area, covered outdoor classroom, and connecting pathways from these locations. The balance of the site would be set aside for habitat preservation and restoration. The existing Whittier Narrows Nature Center and all existing outbuildings (maintenance garage, restrooms/storage building, County Police substation, picnic shelter) would be demolished in order to construct a new interpretive center in approximately the same location at the existing nature center building. The new one-story 14,000-sf interpretive center would include a lobby, live animal exhibit areas, a classroom, multi-purpose room, support facilities, and administrative offices. It would be constructed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building rating system to the highest (Platinum) level standards. The project would be open to the public from 9:00am to 5:00pm, 7 days per week. The meeting room would be available for reservations and/or rentals from 8:00am to 10:00pm, 7 days per week subject to availability. The project would host a range of educational and recreational activities and would be utilized by several public agencies to deliver the message of cultural and natural resources and watershed conservation, as well as continue the existing programs offered by the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation offered at the Whittier Narrows Nature Center. On weekdays, the project would accommodate school field trips ( approximately 14,000 to 19,500 students per year) and formal school programs focusing on watershed education and/or natural area topics. Expected annual attendance would range from 75,000 to 90,000 visitors.
Contact Information
Name
Valorie Shatynski
Agency Name
San Gabriel River Discovery Center Authority
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
El Monte
Counties
Los Angeles
Cross Streets
1000 N. Durfee Avenue
Zip
91733
Total Acres
11.3
Parcel #
8119-011-902
State Highways
SR-60
Schools
South El Monte HS
Waterways
San Gabriel River, Lario Creek
Other Location Info
South
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
San Gabriel River Discovery Center Authority
Approving Agency Role
Lead Agency
Approved On
Determinations
(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
Yes
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
N/A
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
Yes
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
Disclaimer: The document was originally posted before CEQAnet had the capability to host attachments for the public. To obtain the original attachments for this document, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above.