Los Angeles Harbor College Marquee Modernization Project (the “Project”)
Summary
SCH Number
2023120203
Public Agency
Los Angeles Community College District
Document Title
Los Angeles Harbor College Marquee Modernization Project (the “Project”)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/8/2023
Document Description
On January 13, 2023, the Los Angeles Community College District approved the Project, which entails an upgrade of the existing marquee sign at Los Angeles Harbor College, located at the corner of W L Street and Figueroa Place. The upgrade includes increasing the size and height of the marquee’s screen panels. Specifically, the sign’s display size will increase from 471 square feet per side to 1,213 square feet per side.
The upgraded panels will result in the replacement of the existing 12 metal halide downlight fixtures with dimmable LED lights. The dimmable LED lights are expected to reduce light pollution compared to existing conditions, as the new technology allows LACCD to modify the intensity of light output throughout the day.
Contact Information
Name
Rueben C. Smith
Agency Name
Los Angeles Community College District
Job Title
Vice Chancellor & Chief Facilities Executive
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Wilmington
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
Los Angeles Harbor College, located at 1111 Figueroa Place, Wilmington, CA 90744
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15301 (Class 1), 15302 (Class 2), 15303 (Class 3), 15311 (Class 11)
Reasons for Exemption
The Project is exempt from CEQA under State CEQA Guidelines section 15301 (the Class 1 exemption), which applies to the minor alteration of existing facilities, where the alteration involves negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The proposed Project falls within the Class 1 exemption, because it entails minor alteration to the existing marquee sign located at the corner of W L Street and Figueroa Place at Los Angeles Harbor College. The Project will increase the size of the existing display, but it will not expand the marquee’s existing or former use. With or without the Project, the marquee’s existing use as a sign will remain the same.
The Project is also exempt from CEQA under State CEQA Guidelines section 15302 (the Class 2 exemption), which applies to replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. The proposed Project falls within the Class 2 exemption, because it replaces the existing display of the marquee sign located at the corner of W L Street and Figueroa Place at Los Angeles Harbor College. The updated LED display will have the same purpose and capacity as the marquee’s existing display. Both the existing display and the proposed LED display serve to provide campus visibility to adjacent areas, including along the 110 Freeway.
The Project is also exempt from CEQA under State CEQA Guidelines section 15311 (the Class 11 exemption), which applies to the construction or placement of minor structures accessory to existing institutional facilities. The Class 11 exemption explicitly applies to “[o]n-premise signs.” The proposed Project here seeks to modernize an on-premise sign, and it is therefore categorically exempt from CEQA under the Class 11 exemption.
No exception to any of the aforementioned categorical exemptions apply. There are no unusual circumstances associated with the Project. The Project will not have a significant effect on the environment. The project will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern. The project is not located on a hazardous waste site. The project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.
For all of the foregoing reasons, the Project is categorically exempt from CEQA.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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