52nd Street Elementary School Campus Greening Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024100994
Public Agency
Los Angeles Unified School District
Document Title
52nd Street Elementary School Campus Greening Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/23/2024
Document Description
The Project will remove approximately 40,000 square feet of asphalt and replace it with a new 20,000 square foot natural turf field with a permeable running track and over 20,000 square feet of new swales incorporating California native plants. The Project will increase canopy and green space by planting approximately 30 trees, create a new outdoor classroom, seating areas, and an edible school garden (Figure 1). The community partner proposing the project, the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, was awarded a grant in the amount of $2,085,000 provided by the California Strategic Growth Council. The grant will fund the entire Project’s cost.
The Project will be implemented per all applicable State, federal, and local regulations, as well as all District Standards and Specifications; such as those provided in the updated Standard Conditions of Approval for District Construction, Upgrade, and Improvements Projects (SCs) as adopted by the Board of Education in December 2023. Los Angeles Unified School District (LA Unified) SCs, design guidelines, and best management practices are designed to be incorporated into the Project design in order to avoid or limit potential adverse impacts associated with the District’s projects.
The beneficiaries of this Project are the 52nd Street ES students, faculty, staff, families, school supporters, and the community at large who may request access to the facilities and grounds of the Campus pursuant to the Civic Center Act (CA Ed. Code Sections 38130 - 38139).
Contact Information
Name
Christy Wong
Agency Name
Los Angeles Unified School District
Job Title
CEQA Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Los Angeles
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
The 52nd Street Elementary School Campus Greening Project (Project) will be located on the 5.7-acre 52nd Street Elementary School campus (52nd Street ES or Campus). The Campus is located at 816 West 51st Street in the City of Los Angeles. It is bound by West 51st Street to the north, South Hoover Street to the east, West 52nd Street to the south, and West 51st Place to the west. The Project will occur across the Campus. The Campus is located in an urbanized community primarily consisting of commercial uses, multi-family, and single-family residences.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1-CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Class 3 -CEQA Guidelines Section 15303, Class 4-CEQA Guidelines Section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
Section 15301 Existing Facilities
Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination.
The Project will remove approximately 40,000 square feet of asphalt and replace it with a new 20,000 square foot natural turf field with a permeable running track and over 20,000 square feet of new swales incorporating California native plants. The Project will increase canopy and green space by planting approximately 30 trees, create a new outdoor classroom, seating areas, and an edible school garden. The Project will occur in an existing outdoor area on Campus and would constitute operation, repair, maintenance, and minor alteration of existing public structures involving no expansion of the facilities’ use. Therefore, the Project constitutes minor alterations to an existing school site that result in no expansion of use and meets the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.
Section 15303 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures
Class 3 consists of 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 to the structure.
The installation of climate-appropriate trees, landscaping, and recreational features are to be constructed within an existing outdoor area on Campus and would constitute operation, repair, maintenance and minor alteration of an existing campus involving no expansion in enrollment or of the facilities’ use. Therefore, the Project satisfies the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15303.
Section 15304 – Minor Alterations to Land
Class 4 consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes.
The Project includes the installation of trees; a new outdoor classroom; edible school garden; natural turf field; and new swales incorporating native plants. The Project will not remove healthy, mature, or scenic trees. Therefore, the Project fulfills the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15304.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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