Middleton Street Elementary School Campus Greening
Summary
SCH Number
2024111015
Public Agency
Los Angeles Unified School District
Document Title
Middleton Street Elementary School Campus Greening
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/27/2024
Document Description
The Project will remove approximately 40,000 square feet of asphalt to create new greening areas at Middleton ES. The new greening areas will consist of native planting, outdoor classrooms, gathering spaces, and nature-based play structures. All new gathering and play areas will have permeable surfaces and consist of wood-based play features and seating. The Project will also plant approximately 60 trees throughout the playground to provide shade, install new irrigation for all planting areas and tree wells, and apply approximately 40,000 square feet of solar reflective paint to existing asphalt to help cool the playground area (Figure 1). The community partner proposing the Project, TreePeople, was awarded a grant in the amount of $2,969,192 provided by the State of California Natural Resources Agency. The grant will fund the entire Project’s cost.
The Project will be implemented pursuant to all applicable State, federal, and local regulations, and all applicable Los Angeles Unified School District (LA Unified or District) specifications, standards, and/or guidelines, including those in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the updated Standard Conditions of Approval for District Construction, Upgrade, and Improvements Projects (SCs) as adopted by the Board of Education in December 2023. LA Unified’s 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 Middleton 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
Huntington Park
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
The Middleton Street Elementary School Campus Greening Project (Project) will occur across the 5.17 -acre Middleton Street Elementary School campus (Middleton ES or Campus). The Campus is located at 6537 Malabar Street in the City of Huntington Park. It is bound by East Gage Avenue to the north, Malabar Street to the east, Zoe Avenue to the south, and Middleton Street to the west. 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
15301, 15303, 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 to create new greening areas. The new greening areas will consist of native planting, outdoor classrooms, gathering spaces, and nature-based play structures. All new gathering and play areas will have permeable surfaces and consist of wood-based play features and seating. The Project will also plant approximately 60 trees throughout the playground to provide shade, install new irrigation for all planting areas and tree wells, and apply approximately 40,000 square feet of solar reflective paint to existing asphalt to help cool the playground area. The Project 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 new greening areas are 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 will remove approximately 40,000 square feet of asphalt to create new greening areas. The new greening areas will consist of native planting, outdoor classrooms, gathering spaces, and nature-based play structures. The Project will also plant approximately 60 trees throughout the playground to provide shade, install new irrigation for all planting areas and tree wells, and apply approximately 40,000 square feet of solar reflective paint to existing asphalt to help cool the playground area. 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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