18200, 18206 Victory Boulevard

2024080966

City of Los Angeles

NOE - Notice of Exemption

8/23/2024

8/23/2024

Shane Strunk

City of Los Angeles / Department of City Planning

Planning Assistant

Lead/Public Agency

200 N Spring st
Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 675-6022

shane.strunk@lacity.org

Michael Hasegawa

delta groups

Representative

Parties Undertaking Project

18006 Sky Park Circle, Suite 201
irvine, CA 92614

(626) 374-8045

mhasegawa@deltagroups.com

34°11'10.8"N 118°31'47"W

Victory Boulevard and Etiwanda St

91335

18206 Victory Boulevard

Categorical Exemption

Section 15303/ Class 3

JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT EXEMPTION: The City of Los Angeles determined based on the whole of the administrative record, that substantial evidence supports that the Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15303, Class 3, and none of the exceptions to a categorical exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 applies. The project was found to be exempt based on the following discussion. CEQA DETERMINATION - CLASS 3 CATEGORY 3(A) CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION APPLIES Class 3 consists of construction and location of limited number 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. As a project which is characterized as the construction and maintenance of a wireless telecommunications facility on an existing structure, the project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption under City CEQA Guidelines, Article 19, Section 15303, Class 3(a). CEQA SECTION 15300.2: EXCEPTIONS TO THE USE OF CATEGORICAL EXEMPTIONS The City has further considered whether the proposed project is subject to any of the six exceptions (listed as a-f) set forth in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2, that would prohibit the use of any categorical exemption. None of the exceptions are triggered for the following reasons: A. Location. Classes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11 are qualified by consideration of where the project is to be located. A project that is ordinarily insignificant in its effect on the environment may in a particularly sensitive environment be significant. Therefore, these classes may not be utilized where the project may impact on an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies. Based on a review of the data reported on the Department of City Planning's Zone Information and Map Access System (ZIMAS) for the subject property, the site is 1 PROJECT ADDRESS: 18200, 18206 Victory Boulevard ENV-2023-3209-CE I ZA-2023-3208-CUW not located within a Coastal Zone, Santa Monica Mountains Zone, Very High Fire Severity Zone, Flood Zone, Watercourse, Hazardous Waste/Border Zone, Methane Hazard Site, High Wind Velocity Area, Special Grading Area, Oil Well Area, Landslide Area, Preliminary Fault Rupture Study Area, or Tsunami Zone. The site is located within a Liquefaction area but is subject to City Regulatory Compliance Measures for soils and will be reviewed by LADBS Plan Check. This site is located within an Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone but no agricultural uses are proposed. The project site is located 11.6 km from the Northridge Fault and is not located within the Alquist-Priolo Fault Zone. Additionally, the site is within an Airport Hazard Zone, "200' Hight Limit Above Elevation 790". No construction is proposed above that elevation. The project is not located on or near an environmental resource that is precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to federal, state or local law. Therefore, the environment is not particularly sensitive, and this exception is not triggered.B. Cumulative Impact. The exception applies when, although a particular project may not have a significant impact, the impact of successive projects, of the same type, in the same place, over time is significant. The request is for a conditional use permit to authorize a Wireless Telecommunications Facility (WTF) in the R1-1-RIO and (T)R1-1-RIO Zones. The surrounding area includes primarily residential uses. Based on a review of databases including the City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning Zone Information Map Access System (ZIMAS) for nearby case approvals (http:1/zimas.lacity.org/) for recently issued permits for other entitlements requested on property in the surrounding area, there are no projects of the same type occurring in the vicinity. Therefore, the proposed project will not result in significant cumulative impacts from successive projects of the same type in the same place. C. Significant Effect Due to Unusual Circumstances. This exception applies when, although the project may otherwise be exempt, there is a reasonable possibility that the project will have a significant effect due to unusual circumstances. The proposed project is located in R1-1-RIO and (T)R1-1-RIO Zones and is designated for such development. Nearby lots to the north, south, east, and west are similarly zoned and developed, except for the lots northwest which is zoned Open Space for the Los Angeles River. The site is within the River Implementation Overlay (RIO) district (Established through ORD-183144), which has specific requirements to mitigate impacts to the river. The applicant submitted a RIO application and checklist, in which they 2 PROJECT ADDRESS: 18200, 18206 Victory Boulevard ENV-2023-3209-CE / ZA-2023-3208-CUW identified how their project complied with the specific standards set forth in RIO Ordinance (ORD-183145). Based on a review of the data reported on the Department of City Planning's Zone Information and Map Access System (ZIMAS) for the subject property, the site is not located within a Coastal Zone, Very High Fire Severity Zone, Flood Zone, Watercourse, Hazardous Waste/Border Zone, Methane Hazard Site, High Wind Velocity Area, Special Grading Area, Oil Well Area, Landslide Area, Preliminary Fault Rupture Study Area, or Tsunami Zone. The site is located within a Liquefaction area but is subject to City Regulatory Compliance Measures for soils and will be reviewed by LADBS Plan Check. This site is located within an Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone, but no agricultural uses are proposed. The project site is located 11.6 km from the Northridge Fault and is not located within the Alquist-Priolo Fault Zone. Additionally, the site is within an Airport Hazard Zone, "200' Hight Limit Above Elevation 790". No construction is proposed above that elevation . Thus, the project does not involve unusual circumstances which would result in significant impacts. D. Scenic Highways. This exception applies when, although the project may otherwise be exempt, there may be damage to scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources, within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway. Based on a review of the California Scenic Highway Mapping System (https://dot.ca.gov/programs/design/lap-landscape-architecture-and-communitylivability/ lap-liv-i-scenic-highways), the subject site is not located along a State Scenic Highway, nor are there any designated State Scenic Highways located near the project site. Based on this, the proposed project will not result in damage to scenic resources in a state scenic highway, and this exception does not apply. E. Hazardous Waste Sites. Projects located on a site or facility listed pursuant to California Government Code 65962.5. Based on a review of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control "Envirostor Database (http://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/), no known hazardous waste sites are located on or proximate to the project site. In addition, there is no evidence of historic or current use, or disposal of hazardous or toxic materials at this location. Since the project site is not on a list compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 related to hazardous waste sites, the project 3 PROJECT ADDRESS: 18200, 18206 Victory Boulevard ENV-2023-3209-CE / ZA-2023-3208-CUW will not result in a significant effect due hazardous waste, and this exception does not apply. F. Historical Resources. Projects that may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an historical resource. 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, or the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments Register, and/or any local register according to the City's HistoricPlacesLA website. HistoricPlacesLA is the City's new online information and management system created to inventory Los Angeles' significant historic resources. Based on this, the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historic resource, and this exception does not apply. In conclusion, since the project meets all of the requirements of the categorical exemption set forth at CEQA Guidelines, Section 15303 and none of the exceptions to the Categorical Exemption(s) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2, applies to the proposed project, it is appropriate to determine this project is categorically exempt from the requirements of CEQA.