DIR-2023-2838-TOC-SPP-SPR-HCA
Summary
SCH Number
2024090596
Public Agency
City of Los Angeles
Document Title
DIR-2023-2838-TOC-SPP-SPR-HCA
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/16/2024
Document Description
The proposed project is for the demolition of a commercial building and surface parking lot and the construction, use and maintenance of a seven-story, 174,021 square-foot, 181-unit mixed-use building, measuring 88 feet in height. The applicant is setting aside 11 percent of the total 181 units and a minimum of 11 percent of the base 122 units, respectively, for Extremely Low-Income Households. The building will contain 174,021 square feet of floor area with a 3.85:1 FAR. The unit mix will be comprised of 49 studios, 79 one-bedroom units, and 53 two-bedroom units. The project also includes 15,398 square feet of commercial floor area, which comprises a 0.35:1 FAR. There will be 238 automobile parking spaces, 31 of which would be commercial and residential guest parking spaces. The project also includes 92 bicycle parking spaces, and 16,821 square feet of usable open space. The number of units and size is not unusual for the vicinity of the subject site and is similar in scope in scope to other existing multi-family dwellings in the area. Thus, there are no unusual circumstances which may lead to a significant effect on the environment. The proposed project includes the removal of 4 existing street trees and no protected trees or shrubs. The proposed project will include the grading and export of approximately 41,093 cubic yards of earth.
Additionally, the applicant proposes the following haul route:
Location of Staging Area: 4579-4627 West Hollywood Boulevard and 1561 Lyman Place
Location of Disposal Site for Exported Soil: Scholl Canyon Landfill
Loaded Trucks: Head Northwest toward Hollywood Boulevard, Left onto Hillhurst Avenue, North on Hillhurst Avenue toward Franklin Avenue, Right onto Los Feliz Boulevard, Right to merge onto I-5 N Fwy, Exit 144A for California Route-134 E toward Pasadena, Merge onto CA-134 E, Exit 11 toward Figueroa Street, Right onto Figueroa Street, Continue onto Figueroa Street to Scholl Canyon Landfill.
Loaded Trucks: Head Northwest toward Hollywood Boulevard, Left onto Hillhurst Avenue, North on Hillhurst Avenue toward Franklin Avenue, Right onto Los Feliz Boulevard, Right to merge onto I-5 N Fwy, Exit 144A for California Route-134 E toward Pasadena, Merge onto CA-134 E, Exit 11 toward Figueroa Street, Right onto Figueroa Street, Continue onto Figueroa Street to Scholl Canyon Landfill.
Emptied Trucks: Scholl Canyon Landfill, Continue Northeast on N. Figueroa Street, Right onto CA-134 W toward Ventura, Merge onto CA-134 W, Exit 5 and Merge onto 1-5 South towards LA, Exit 141 toward Los Felix Boulevard, Merge onto Los Feliz Boulevard, Continue on Los Feliz Boulevard, Left onto Hillhurst Avenue, Right onto Hollywood Boulevard to Project Site.
Contact Information
Name
Danalynn Dominguez
Agency Name
City of Los Angeles, City Planning Department
Job Title
City Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Warren Techentin
Agency Name
WARREN TECHENTIN ARCHITECTURE
Job Title
Representative
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Los Angeles
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Hollywood Blvd & Lyman Pl
Zip
90027
Other Location Info
4579 West Hollywood Boulevard (4601- 4627 W. Hollywood Boulevard; 4571- 4579 W. Hollywood Boulevard; 1561 N. Lyman Place)
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15332 / Class 32
Reasons for Exemption
In-fill development meeting the conditions described in CEQA Guidelines 15332: (a) The project is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as with the applicable zoning designation and regulations. (b) The proposed development occurs within city limits on a project site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by urban uses. (c) The project site has no value as habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species. (d) Approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality. (e) The site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services.
The City has considered whether the Proposed Project is subject any of the five (5) exceptions that would prohibit the use of a categorical exemption as set forth in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. There are five (5) Exceptions which must be considered in order to find a project exempt under CEQA: (a) Cumulative Impacts; (b) Significant Effect; (c) Scenic Highways; (d)
Hazardous Waste Sites; and (e) Historical Resources.
(a) Cumulative Impacts. All exemptions for these classes are inapplicable when the cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time is significant.
The project is located at 4579 West Hollywood Boulevard (4601- 4627 W. Hollywood Boulevard; 4571- 4579 W. Hollywood Blvd; 1561 N. Lyman Place) within the Hollywood Community Plan. There are currently 10 projects, dating back to March 31, 2016, which are either currently filed with the Department of City Planning or have received a Letter of Determination from the Department of City Planning but have yet to receive a Certificate of Occupancy from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). As such, there are projects within 1,320 feet of the same type and in the same place as the subject project.
PROJECTS WITHIN A QUARTER-MILE FROM THE SUBJECT SITE:
1820 N. Berendo Street - DIR-2023-5133-TOC-SPP-HCA 08/20/2023 - New 7-unit residential building
1839 N. Kenmore Avenue - DIR-2022-8813-SPP-HCA - 12/05/2022 - Six (6) new small lot dwelling units
4477 W. Hollywood Boulevard - DIR-2022-4692-TOC-SPP-VHCA
06/30/2022 - New 29-unit mixed use building
1718 N. Vermont Avenue -DIR-2022-587-SPP - 01/27/2022 - New commercial building
1419 N. New Hampshire Avenue - DIR-2021-4977-TOC-SPP-HCA - 06/15/2021 - New 62-unit apartment building
1318 N. Lyman Place - APCC-2020-1764-SPE-SPP-SPR - 3/13/2020 - New medical office building
1666 N. Vermont Avenue - DIR-2019-6738-SPPA-SPP-TOC-SPR 11/12/2019 - New 139-unit mixed use building
4649 W. Maubert Avenue - DIR-2019-3760-TOC-SPP-SPR - 06/25/2019 - New 153-unit mixed use building
1225 N. Vermont Avenue - DIR-2019-909-TOC-SPP - 02/13/2019 -
New 58-unit mixed use building
4718 W. Franklin Avenue - APCC-2016-3327-SPE-SPP - 09/01/2016 - New 6-unit residential building
4311 W. Sunset Boulevard - CPC-2016-1104-DB-SPR - 03/31/2016 - New 108-unit mixed use building
According to SCAQMD, individual construction projects that do not exceed the SCAQMD’s recommended daily thresholds for project-specific impacts would not cause a cumulatively considerable increase in emissions for those pollutants for which the Air Basin is in nonattainment. 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. Construction-related daily emissions at the project site would not exceed SCAQMD’s regional or localized significance thresholds. Furthermore, an Air Quality Study prepared by Rincon Consultants on August 1, 2024, concluded that any cumulative impacts would be less than significant. Therefore, the project’s contribution to cumulative construction-related regional emissions would not be cumulatively considerable and therefore would be less than significant. Construction of the project also would have a less-than-significant impact with regard to localized emissions. As noise is a localized phenomenon and decreases in magnitude as distance from the source increases, only projects and ambient growth in the nearby area could combine with the proposed project to result in cumulatively considerable noise impacts. These above noted
projects will begin construction and end construction at different timelines, with minor overlap between projects. Furthermore, a Noise Study prepared by Rincon Consultants on July 15, 2024, concluded that any cumulative impacts would be less than significant. Moreover, the proposed project includes a haul route approval for the export of up to 41,093 cubic yards earth. According to Navigate LA, within 500 feet of the subject site, there is one (1) other haul route approved and no other haul route applications being processed. The approved haul route is for the following property and during the following timeframe:
Approved Haul Route:
1. 4503-4561 W. Hollywood Blvd, 1513-1559 W. Hillhurst Ave,
4510-4514 W. Clayton Ave, 1562-1566 N. Lyman Place
Start Date: June 11, 2019
End Date: December 11, 2021
The haul route approval for the proposed project will include RCMs and recommended conditions prepared by LADOT to be considered by the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners to reduce the impacts of construction related hauling activity, monitor the traffic effects of hauling, and reduce haul trips in response to congestion. The applicant team submitted a Soils Report prepared by AGI Geotechnical, Inc. on August 17, 2023, which was approved by LADBS Grading Division on October 3, 2023, Log No. 127810. Therefore, no foreseeable cumulative impacts are expected.
Thus, the construction of these known projects will be staggered and therefore do not have the potential to cumulatively contribute to air quality, construction traffic, and noise levels.
(b) Significant Effect. A categorical exemption shall not be used for an activity where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances.
As mentioned, the applicant proposes a 181-unit mixed-use building in an area zoned and designated for such development, through the use of an 80% density increase through the TOC Affordable Housing Incentive Program in exchange for affordable housing. All surrounding lots are developed with commercial and multi-family dwelling units. The project proposes a FAR of 4.33:1 which is within the maximum 3.85:1 FAR otherwise permitted by Subarea C of the SNAP in conjunction with a 45 percent increase permitted per the TOC Affordable Housing Incentive Program in exchange for affordable housing. The proposed building will be seven-stories, with at-grade parking and two subterranean parking levels in an area that is currently developed with buildings that range in height from one- to six-stories. In conjunction with the TOC Affordable Housing Incentive Program, the proposed building will not be unusual for the vicinity of the subject site and will be similar in scope to future residential buildings in the area that use the TOC Affordable Housing Incentive Program in exchange for affordable housing. Thus, there are no unusual circumstances which may lead to a significant effect on the environment.
(c) Scenic Highways. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may result in 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.
As it relates to development along a Scenic Highway, 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. State Route 27 is located approximately 17 miles to the west of the subject property. Therefore, the subject site will not create any impacts within a designated state scenic highway.
(d) Hazardous Waste. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project located on a site which is included on any list complied pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code.
In regards to Hazardous Waste sites, according to Envirostor, the State of California’s database of Hazardous Waste Sites, neither the subject site, nor any site in the vicinity, is identified as a hazardous waste site. As such, the project would not be developed on a site identified as a hazardous site pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code.
(e) Historic Resources. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a 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, 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 HistoricPlacesLA website or SurveyLA, the citywide survey of Los Angeles. 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.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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