4516 West Finle y Apartmentsn (ENV-2023-3150-CE)

2024120233

City of Los Angeles

NOE - Notice of Exemption

12/6/2024

12/6/2024

Dylan Lawrence

City of Los Angeles, City Planning Department

City Planning Associate

Lead/Public Agency

200 N Spring Street Room 621
Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 978-1182

dylan.lawrence@lacity.org

Armen Kazanch yan

KAZANCHYAN DESIGN

Representative

Parties Undertaking Project

3786 La Crescenta
Glendale , CA 91208

(818) 395-2686

armen.k@kazarch.com

90027

PROJECT LOCATION 4516 West Finley Avenue

NAME OF APPLICANT/ OWNER: Daiana Yerevanian Kamberian (Owner)

Categorical Exemption

Section 15332 Class 32

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. A// 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 4516 West Finley Avenue within the Hollywood Community Plan. There are currently 3 projects, dating back to October 1, 2019, 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. 1. 1822 N Hillhurst Ave, DIR-2023-7014-SPP, 10/22/2023, Change of use from apartment 1-4 to acupuncture office {approved) 2. 4544 W Los Feliz Blvd, DIR-2021-10084-TOC-HCA, Demolition of a single-family dwelling and the construction of a 27-unit residential building (approved ) 3. 4521 W Melbourne Ave, DIR-2021-10788-SPP-HCA, 12/22/2021 New duplex (approved) 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. 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 Yorke Engineering on August 3, 2023, co_ncluded that any cumulative impacts would be less than significant. Moreover, the proposed project includes a haul route approval for the export of up to 5,897 cubic yards of earth. According to Navigate LA, within 500 feet of the subject site, there are three (3) other haul routes approved and one (1) other haul route application being processed. The haul routes are for the following properties and during the following timeframes: Approved Haul Route: 1. 4503-4561 W. Hollywood Blvd, 1513-1559 W. Hillhurst Ave, 4510-4514 W. Clayton Ave, 1562-1566 N. Lyman Place. State Date: June 11, 2019 End Date: December 11, 2021 2. 1922-1930 N. Hillhurst Ave State Date: September 17, 2019 End Date: March 17, 2022 3. 1922-1930 N. HillhurstAve (Alt) Start Date: September 17, 2019 End Date: March 17, 2022 Pending Haul Route: 1. 2016 Rodney Dr Start Date: TBD End Date: TBD 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 Applied Earth Sciences on January 3, 2023 (with addendums on April 10, 2023 and May 31, 2023), which was approved by LADBS Grading Division on July 11, 2023, Log No. 124864-02. Therefore, no foreseeable cumulative impacts are expected and are unlikely 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 21-unit multi-family residential building in an area zoned and designated for such development, with a 50% 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 2.95:1 which is within the maximum 3:1 FAR otherwise permitted. The proposed building will be four stories, with at-grade parking and one subterranean parking level in an area that is currently developed with buildings that range in height from two- to four-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 18 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 regard 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 is improved with a single-family dwelling, a detached garage, and an accessory building, constructed in 1919 and 1920. Office of Historic Resources (OHR) staff confirmed via email on August 23, 2023 that the site has not been identified as a historic resources 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. However, OHR staff indicated that additional study was needed to ensure that the proposed project would not impact the abutting property to the east at 4510 West Finley Avenue, which is improved with St. Mary of the Angels Church (Historic-Cultural Monument No. 136). The applicant submitted a Historical Resources Assessment Report, dated December 27, 2023, and prepared by Sapphos Environmental, Inc., which confirmed that the proposed project would not create a substantial adverse effect resulting from loss of integrity to St. Mary of the Angels Church. The existing single-family dwelling, accessory building, and detached garage are proposed for demolition as part of the subject project. 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.