4758 East Frieda Drive (ENV-2024-827-CE)

2024070409

City of Los Angeles

NOE - Notice of Exemption

7/10/2024

7/10/2024

Pablo Estrada

City of Los Angeles, City Planning Department

City Planning Associate

Lead/Public Agency

200 N Spring Street Room 621
Los Angeles, CA 90012

(818) 374-5033

pablo.estrada@lacity.org

34°6'47.8"N 118°12'50.1"W

Nob Hill Dr & Frieda Dr

90065

5475013019

4758 East Frieda Drive, Los Angeles CA 90065

Categorical Exemption

15303/03

Class 3: Construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure; (a) One single-family residence, or a second dwelling unit in a residential zone. In urbanized areas, up to three single-family residences may be constructed or converted under this exemption. Exceptions Narrative for Categorical Exemption There are six (6) Exceptions which the City is required to consider before finding a project exempt under Section 15303, Class 3 (a) Location; (b) Cumulative Impacts; (c) Significant Effect; (d) Scenic Highways; (e) Hazardous Waste Sites; and (f) Historical Resources. The site is zoned R1-1-HCR and has a General Plan Land Use Designation of Low Residential. While the subject site is located 0.64 kilometers from the Raymond Fault, specific Regulatory Compliance Measures (RCMs) in the City of Los Angeles regulate the grading and construction of projects in these particular types of “sensitive” locations and will reduce any potential impacts to less than significant. Regulatory Compliance Measures (RCMs) include requirements to conform with the California Building Code and the City’s Landform Grading Manuel. These RCMs have been historically proven to work to the satisfaction of the City Engineer to reduce any impacts from the specific environment the project is located. The project shall comply with the Geology and Soils Report Approval Letter from the Department of Building and Safety dated October 27, 2023 (log #128134). Thus, the location of the project will not result in a significant impact based on its location. With regard to potential cumulative impacts during the construction phase of the project, there may be active construction activity in the vicinity of where the subject property is located at the same time that the project undergoes construction. However, Regulatory Compliance Measures will help ensure that cumulative impacts related to construction activity are addressed. Therefore, the project will not have any significant impacts to traffic. The subject project initially inquired regarding a Construction Traffic Management Plan for review by the City’s Department of Transportation (LADOT), pursuant to the LADOT’s Hillside Development Construction Traffic Management Guidelines released on June 16, 2020. These guidelines state the purpose of a Construction Traffic Management Plan is to address transportation concerns specific to hillside communities, including narrow streets, limited emergency access, and location in a Very High Fire Severity Zone. The proposed project is exempt from submitting a Hillside Construction Traffic Management Plan due to the proposed addition of the single family dwelling being less than 1,000 square feet as stated by LADOT staff. The email from LADOT is dated November 8, 2023, and is included in the case file. Therefore, the subject project will have no cumulative impact on the City’s circulation system. Interim thresholds were developed by DCP staff based on CalEEMod model runs relying on reasonable assumptions, consulting with AQMD staff, and surveying published air quality studies for which criteria air pollutants did not exceed the established SCAQMD construction and operational thresholds. As mentioned, the proposed project includes the construction, use, and maintenance of an addition to the rear of the single family dwelling measuring approximately 650 square feet for a cumulative 1,778 square foot dwelling on a 5,795.78 square foot previously developed lot in an area zoned and designated for such development. All adjacent lots are developed with singlefamily dwellings, or vacant and the subject site is of a similar size and slope to nearby properties. The project proposes a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.31:1 or 1,778 square feet including the existing single family-dwelling on a site that is permitted to have a maximum FAR of 0.48:1 or 2,782 square feet. The project proposes a building height of 36’ feet and 6’ (six) inches, which is not unusual for the vicinity of the subject site and is similar in scope to other existing low residential in the area. As identified in the Biologists Statement of Biological Resources dated May 3, 2024, Biologist, Mathew South, stated that the project will have no impact on any species or riparian habitats identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations; federally protected wetlands; and the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species. While the site is previously undisturbed, it is surrounded by development and therefore is not, and has no value as, a habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species. Therefore, the subject project will have no cumulative biological impact to the project site and its surroundings. Prior to any work on the adjacent public right-of-way, the applicant will be required to obtain approved plans from the Department of Public Works. As there currently is no approved right-of-way improvement plan and for purposes of conservative analysis under CEQA, Planning has analyzed the worst-case potential for removal of all street trees. Note that street trees and protected trees shall not be removed without prior approval of the Board of Public Works/Urban Forestry (BPW) under LAMC Sections 62.161-62.171. At the time of preparation of this environmental document, no approvals have been given for any tree removals on-site or in the right-of-way by BPW. The City has required a Tree Disclosure Statement, and an Arborist Report to identify all Protected Trees/Shrubs on the project site and all street trees in the adjacent public right-of-way. As identified in the Tree Disclosure Statement, and Arborist Report prepared by Certified Arborist #WE-7233A, Arsen Margossian on November 24, 2023 there are two (2) Protected Trees/Shrubs on, or near the site, and zero (0) Protected Trees are proposed for removal. In addition, there are three (3) Significant Trees, one (1) of which is in the Public Right of Way, and seven (7) Non-Significant Trees, and zero (0) trees are proposed for removal. Thus, there are no unusual circumstances which may lead to a significant effect on the environment. Additionally, the only State Scenic Highway within the City of Los Angeles is the Topanga Canyon State Scenic Highway, State Route 27, which travels through a portion of Topanga State Park. The proposed project is located over 25.1 miles away from Topanga State Park. Therefore the subject site will not create any impacts within a designated as a state scenic highway. Furthermore, according to Envirostor, the State of California’s database of Hazardous Waste ENV-2024-827-CE Sites, neither the subject site, nor any site in the vicinity, is identified as a hazardous waste site. The project site has not been identified as a historic resource by local or state agencies, and the project site has not been determined to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, California Register of Historical Resources, the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments Register, and/or any local register; and was not found to be a potential historic resource based on the City’s Historic Places LA website or Survey LA, the citywide survey of Los Angeles. Finally, the City does not choose to treat the site as a historic resource. Based on this, the project will not result in a substantial adverse change to the significance of a historic resource and this exception does not apply. The project will be subject to Regulatory Compliance Measures (RCMs), which require compliance with the City of Los Angeles Noise Ordinance, pollutant discharge, dewatering, stormwater mitigations, and Best Management Practices for stormwater runoff. These RCMs will ensure the project will not have significant impacts on noise and water.