Hillside North Student Housing Project
Summary
SCH Number
2023090566
Public Agency
California State University, Long Beach
(CSULB)
Document Title
Hillside North Student Housing Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/25/2023
Document Description
CSULB proposes to construct three new 5-story student housing buildings totaling approximately 108,000 square feet and containing 424 beds. The buildings would be configured to maximize beds and would include a mix of approximately 237 single- and double-occupancy units. The building would include shared kitchens, study space, a multi-purpose room, and satellite offices for student-support program Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Landscaped informal green space areas will be provided to maximize outdoor common areas that will be shared by campus residents. Additionally, the existing Hillside Commons Dining Hall (the dining hall) would be renovated and expanded to accommodate the additional student residents to be housed in the new buildings. The renovations include an expanded kitchen/servery area, interior dining hall, Grab-N-Go, private dining area, washrooms on the west side of the dining hall, and a new exterior dining patio on the southeast side of the dining hall. The new addition would connect to the existing dining hall, which would remain in place. A new entrance would be provided on the west side of the building. The dining hall renovations and expansion would result in approximately 1,600 net new square feet. The proposed project would be served by the existing student parking areas on the campus; therefore, no additional parking would be provided.
CSULB is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for the proposed building, with several sustainable design features proposed, including photovoltaic panels, the use of reclaimed water for water closest and irrigation, and the implementation of bioretention planters to comply with low impact development (LID) requirements. Additionally, CSULB is pursuing Net Zero Energy principles for the proposed project and aims to exceed building energy code requirements by ten percent.
Construction of the proposed project is anticipated to take approximately 24 months to complete, commencing in June 2024 and concluding in June 2026.
Contact Information
Name
Anne Collins-Doehne
Agency Name
The California State University Office of the Chancellor
Job Title
Directory of Land use Planning & Environmental Review
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Long Beach
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Merriam Way and Beach Drive
Zip
90815
State Highways
I-405, CA-22
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15332, Class 32
Reasons for Exemption
The project would include development of three new student housing buildings with 424 beds and the renovation and expansion of the existing Hillside Commons dining facilities, consistent with the CSULB Campus Master Plan. No native vegetation, riparian habitat, or other sensitive natural community or habitat is present on the project site that could support endangered, rare, or threatened species. Additionally, the project site does not contain any watercourse, greenbelt, or open space suitable for wildlife movement. The proposed project would serve the existing CSULB student population on the campus, and operation of the proposed project is not anticipated to result in an increase in traffic trips, ambient noise levels, or air quality emissions. The proposed sustainable features would increase energy and water efficiency, which would decrease the demand for these utilities. Additionally, as the proposed project would not induce population growth, either directly or indirectly, no increase in the demand on public services would occur. As such, the proposed project would be adequately served by all required utilities and existing public services.
The proposed project is consistent with criteria a through e under CEQA Guidelines Section 15332. As such, the proposed project qualifies for the Class 32 Urban In-Fill Categorical Exemption.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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