West LA Commons Redevelopment Proposal Areas of Potentially Significant Environmental Impact Found in the Initial Environmental Impact Study
AIR QUALITY 58–59
CULTURAL RESOURCES 67-68
ENERGY 69
GEOLOGY & SOILS 70–74
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS 75
HAZARDS & HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 70–74
HYDROLOGY & WATER QUALITY 78–81
LAND USE & PLANNING 81–83
NOISE 85–86
POPULATION & HOUSING 86
PUBLIC SERVICES 87–88
RECREATION 89–90
MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE 97–99
TRANSPORTATION 90–91
TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOUCES 91–92
UTILITIES & SERVICE SYSTEMS 93–94
AESTHETICS 36–55
AGRICULTURAL / FORESTRY RESOURCES 55–57
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES 60–67
MINERAL RESOURCES 84–85
Send Your Comments* by June 30, 2022 to:
Jolee Hui, LA County Planning Office jhui@planning.lacounty.gov
WILDFIRE 95–96
POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS SOME AREAS OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS NO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 00
PAGE NUMBERS IN THE FULL IMPACT STUDY
IN YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE ADDRESS SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE REPORT THAT ARE BRIEFLY IDENTIFIED ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET OR IN MORE DETAIL IN THE LINKS BELOW. FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM: https://planning.lacounty.gov/case/view/prj2022-000303 EIR-TT-SUMMARY OF REPORT & COMMENT PROCESS: https://issuu.com/scatterit/docs/eir-tt-summary?fr=sZTE5MjUxMTc5NTA
West LA Commons Redevelopment Proposal What the EIR Says Needs Further Study AIR QUALITY 58–59
The Project would result in the emission of air pollutants in the Basin, which is currently in non-attainment of federal air quality standards. Sensitive receptors located in the vicinity of the Project Site include residential and educational uses. Therefore, the Project could expose sensitive receptors to additional pollutant concentrations. [Also in the area: Senior Center and proposed Senior housing]. CULTURAL RESOURCES 67-68
The West Los Angeles Courthouse, the West Los Angeles Municipal Building, the Felicia Mahood Senior Center, the bandstand, the pedestrian plaza, and landscaping—were identified as potential contributors to a potential historic district. ENERGY 69
The Project would generate an increased demand for electricity and natural gas services provided by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the Southern California Gas Company, respectively, compared to existing conditions. GEOLOGY & SOILS 70–74
The Project Site is located in the seismically active Southern California region. The Project would increase the amount of development on-site, thereby increasing the number of people on-site exposed to potential adverse effects from ground shaking. The Project Site is located within an area identified by the City, County, and California Geological Survey as having a potential for liquefaction. [A fault line runs down Santa Monica Boulvard directly in front of the property.] GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS 75
As the Project would have the potential to emit GHGs, the EIR will include further evaluation of Project-related emissions and associated emission reduction strategies to determine whether the Project conflicts with an applicable plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of GHGs (e.g., Assembly Bill [AB] 32 and the City of Los Angeles Green Building Code). HAZARDS & HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 70–74
See full report or EIR-tt-summary for details.
HTTPS://PLANNING.LACOUNTY.GOV/CASE/VIEW/PRJ2022-000303 HTTPS://ISSUU.COM/SCATTERIT/DOCS/EIR-TT-SUMMARY?FR=SZTE5MJUXMTC5NTA HYDROLOGY & WATER QUALITY 78–81
See full report or EIR-tt-summary for details.
HTTPS://PLANNING.LACOUNTY.GOV/CASE/VIEW/PRJ2022-000303 HTTPS://ISSUU.COM/SCATTERIT/DOCS/EIR-TT-SUMMARY?FR=SZTE5MJUXMTC5NTA LAND USE & PLANNING 81–83
The portion of the Project on the City Property requires several discretionary approvals, while the portion of the Project on the County roperty would only require ministerial site plan review approval. NOISE 85–86
Construction of the Project could generate groundborne noise and vibration associated with demolition, site grading and excavation, other clearing activities, the installation of building footings, and construction truck travel. With regard to operation, the Project could generate groundborne vibration associated with vehicle circulation, delivery trucks, and building mechanical equipment. POPULATION & HOUSING 86
The project would induce substantial unplanned population growth in the area by building new homes (926 housing units) and businesses (70,965 square feet of neighborhood-serving commercial uses). PUBLIC SERVICES 87–88
In addition to this [significant] added population to Sawtelle area requiring added fire and police protection, the project would increase the residential population [with] a direct increase in the number of students in schools within the LAUSD service area (Daniel Webster Middle School, Nora Sterry Elementary School, and University High School Charter. The development of the Project’s residential uses would generate a new population at the Project Site that could utilize nearby public parks and/or recreational facilities. Library services could also be impacted by the added population. RECREATION 89–90
The new residential population associated with the Project could result in an increased demand for public parks and recreational facilities that serve the Project Site. 112,382 square feet would comply with the LAMC definition of open space. Of the 112,382 square feet of open space, approximately 30,741 square feet would be public open space and 81,423 square feet would include interior and exterior private and common open space for residents only. TRANSPORTATION 90–91
Operation of the Project would generate vehicle and transit trips. The resulting increase in the use of the Project area’s transportation facilities could conflict with an applicable plan, ordinance or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities. TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOUCES 91–92
The Project would require excavations of up to approximately 52 feet, which could have the potential to disturb existing but undiscovered tribal cultural resources. The [County as] lead agency must notify tribes that are traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of a proposed project and if the tribe has submitted a written request to be notified. The tribe must respond to the lead agency within 30 days of receipt of the notification if it wishes to engage in consultation on the project, and the lead agency must begin the consultation process within 30 days of receiving the request for consultation. Consultation between the County, as lead agency, and Native American tribes has not yet occurred. UTILITIES & SERVICE SYSTEMS 93–94
The added population on the site will increase demand for water, electricity, natural gas, and wastewater generation. The Project would have the potential to alter the existing drainage pattern of the Project Site and affect the amount of stormwater runoff. The Project would result in an increase in solid waste generation from the Project Site. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE 97–99
The potential for cumulative impacts occurs when the impacts of the Project are combined with impacts from related development projects and result in impacts that are greater than the impacts of the Project alone. Impacts of the Project on both an individual and cumulative basis will be addressed in the EIR for all of the above subject areas FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM: https://planning.lacounty.gov/case/view/prj2022-000303 EIR-TT-SUMMARY OF REPORT & COMMENT PROCESS: https://issuu.com/scatterit/docs/eir-tt-summary?fr=sZTE5MjUxMTc5NTA