Cal Poly Pomona – La Cienega Center Demolition
Summary
SCH Number
2025040356
Public Agency
California State University, Pomona
(CPP)
Document Title
Cal Poly Pomona – La Cienega Center Demolition
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/7/2025
Document Description
The project involves the demolition of La Cienega Center, a two-story, 9,088-gross-square-foot (GSF) building constructed in 1971 and formerly occupied by University Housing Services and a fitness facility.
The building is located within a collection of student residence halls and ancillary facilities comprising Palmitas Hall (#57, ca. 1968), Cedritos Hall (#58, ca. 1968), Los Olivos Dining Commons (#70, ca. 1960), Encinitas Hall (#20, ca. 1960), Montecito Hall (#21, ca. 1960), Alamitos Hall (#22, ca. 1960), and Aliso Hall (#23, ca. 1960), none of which are currently in use due to their location within an active seismic fault zone.
The above-named student residences, each approximately 37,400 GSF and comprising 1,400 student beds, and Los Olivos Dining Commons, approximately 28,210 GSF, have already been approved for demolition and replacement elsewhere on the main campus under separate environmental review (California State Polytechnic University Student Housing Replacement Project EIR, certified November 16, 2016 by the Board of Trustees of the California State University).
Because of its location within the fault zone and the relocation of University Housing Services elsewhere on the campus, La Cienega Center is no longer in use and has been determined to require demolition at this time. No replacement facility is proposed for La Cienega Center as its functions have already been relocated elsewhere on the campus, and therefore no expansion of any existing use is proposed in conjunction with the building’s demolition. Demolition of La Cienega Center would take place in Spring 2025.
Contact Information
Name
Carmen Chan
Agency Name
Cal Poly Pomona
Job Title
Planning Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Pomona
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
University Lane between Sycamore Drive and Mansion Lane, between Palmitas Hall (#57, not in use)
Schools
Cal Poly Pomona
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301 (Class 1)
Reasons for Exemption
The project is categorically exempt under Class 1 (Existing Facilities), as it would demolish an existing small building that does not meet current seismic safety standards. The exemption applies to “Demolition and removal of individual small structures”, which includes but is not limited to, per Section 15301(l)(3), “A store, motel, office, restaurant, or similar small commercial structure if designed for an occupant load of 30 persons or less. In urbanized areas, the exemption also applies to the demolition of up to three such commercial buildings on sites zoned for such use.” La Cienega Center is a small building on the main campus and surrounded by other campus uses planned for demolition, all of which are included in the official master plan for the campus. Therefore, demolition of the building is consistent with Categorical Exemption Class 1 qualifying criteria.
The project is not subject to the exceptions to the use of a categorical exemption under Section 15300.2 of the CEQA Guidelines. Specifically, the project would not be located in a sensitive environment, as it is on the Cal Poly Pomona main campus in a developed setting within a larger urbanized environment. The project would not have a significant cumulative impact due to the small size and location of the building, and the short-term nature of demolition impacts. The project would not have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances, as the building is located among other student residential and ancillary buildings on the main campus and is being demolished due to seismic risk. The project would not result in damage to scenic resources, as the project site is not within the scenic corridor of a scenic roadway. The project site is not included on any list of hazardous materials compiled pursuant to state law. Finally, the project would not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource, as La Cienega Hall has been evaluated for historical significance and determined not to meet applicable eligibility criteria.
The project is also exempt under the provisions of Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, the “common sense exemption”, which exempts projects from detailed review under CEQA “Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.”
Materials relied on for preparation of this Notice of Exemption can be reviewed at Cal Poly Pomona, University Capital Planning & Transportation, Facilities Planning & Management, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15601(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The project is categorically exempt under Class 1 (Existing Facilities), as it would demolish an existing small building that does not meet current seismic safety standards. The exemption applies to “Demolition and removal of individual small structures”, which includes but is not limited to, per Section 15301(l)(3), “A store, motel, office, restaurant, or similar small commercial structure if designed for an occupant load of 30 persons or less. In urbanized areas, the exemption also applies to the demolition of up to three such commercial buildings on sites zoned for such use.” La Cienega Center is a small building on the main campus and surrounded by other campus uses planned for demolition, all of which are included in the official master plan for the campus. Therefore, demolition of the building is consistent with Categorical Exemption Class 1 qualifying criteria.
The project is not subject to the exceptions to the use of a categorical exemption under Section 15300.2 of the CEQA Guidelines. Specifically, the project would not be located in a sensitive environment, as it is on the Cal Poly Pomona main campus in a developed setting within a larger urbanized environment. The project would not have a significant cumulative impact due to the small size and location of the building, and the short-term nature of demolition impacts. The project would not have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances, as the building is located among other student residential and ancillary buildings on the main campus and is being demolished due to seismic risk. The project would not result in damage to scenic resources, as the project site is not within the scenic corridor of a scenic roadway. The project site is not included on any list of hazardous materials compiled pursuant to state law. Finally, the project would not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource, as La Cienega Hall has been evaluated for historical significance and determined not to meet applicable eligibility criteria.
The project is also exempt under the provisions of Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, the “common sense exemption”, which exempts projects from detailed review under CEQA “Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.”
Materials relied on for preparation of this Notice of Exemption can be reviewed at Cal Poly Pomona, University Capital Planning & Transportation, Facilities Planning & Management, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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