Sustainable Communities Environmental Analysis
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SECTION 6 Sustainable Communities Environmental Analysis The following discussion provides responses to each of the questions set forth in the City of Los Angeles Initial Study Checklist as adjusted for use as a Sustainable Communities Environmental Assessment (SCEA) pursuant to Public Resources Code (PRC) Sections 21155.2(b) and 21159.28. This analysis assumes all applicable mitigation measures (MMs) from the RTP/SCS are incorporated. Where applicable, project specific project design features (PDFs) and/or MMs are identified in the analysis to help reduce or avoid significant impacts on the environment. 6.1 Aesthetics On September 27, 2013, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill (SB) 743, which became effective on January 1, 2014. The purpose of SB 743 is to streamline the review under CEQA for several categories of development projects including the development of infill projects in transit priority areas (TPAs). Public Resources Code Section 21099 (a)(7) defines a TPA as an area located within 0.5 miles (2,640 feet) of a major transit stop that is “existing or planned, if the planned stop is scheduled to be completed within the planning horizon included in a Transportation Improvement Program adopted pursuant to Section 450.216 or 450.322 of Title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations.” As defined in Public Resources Code Section 21064.3, a major transit stop is a site containing an existing rail transit station, a ferry terminal served by either a bus or rail transit service, or the intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 15 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.1 PRC Section 21099(d)(1) states that a project’s aesthetic impacts shall not be considered a significant impact on the environment if: 1. The project is a residential, mixed-use residential or employment center project, and 2. The project is located on an infill site within a transit priority area. Further provisions of SB 743 provide that this legislation “does not affect, change, or modify the authority of a lead agency to consider aesthetic impacts pursuant to local design review ordinances or other discretionary powers provided by other laws or policies” (PRC Section 21099(d)(2)(A)), and that “aesthetic impacts do not include impacts on historical or cultural resources.” Section 21099(d)(2)(B). As the Project is not located within a state designated scenic highway and does not contain and is not in the near vicinity of any historic resources, the Project would have a 1 The City of Los Angeles defines Peak Periods to be between 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. https://planning.lacity.org/ordinances/docs/toc/TOCGuidelines.pdf. 7940 Lankershim Boulevard Project City of Los Angeles 6-1 SCEA August 2020 6. Sustainable Communities Environmental Analysis significant impact on cultural or historic resources, including existing scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings, or other locally recognized desirable aesthetic natural features within a state-designated scenic highway. The Project’s potential impacts on cultural and historic resources are discussed in more detail in Section 6.5, Cultural Resources, below. Therefore, no mitigation is required with respect potential aesthetic impacts on cultural or historic resources. Consistent with SB 743, City of Los Angeles Zoning Information File ZI No. 2452 states that visual resources, aesthetic character, shade and shadow, light and glare, and scenic vistas or any other aesthetic impact as defined in the City’s CEQA Threshold Guide shall not be considered a significant impact for infill projects within TPA pursuant to CEQA. The City of Los Angeles Zoning Information File ZI No. 2452 also notes that the limitation of aesthetic impacts pursuant to PRC Section 21099 does not include impacts to historic or cultural resources. Therefore, under ZI No. 2452, impacts to cultural resources, such as historical buildings and districts will need to be evaluated pursuant to CEQA regardless of project location. The Project would be a mixed-use, infill project located in a TPA. Nearby transit service includes Metro Bus lines 94, 152/353, 169, 222, 224, 230, 353, and 794. Metro Bus line 152 provides service to Woodland Hills and Sun Valley and travels generally along Roscoe Boulevard and Vineland Avenue north of the Project Site with service intervals of less than 15 minute during peak hours. Metro Bus line 353 is a limited stop local line that travels from Woodland Hills to North Hollywood via Roscoe Boulevard and Lankershim Boulevard. This line provides service to Northridge, Panorama City and Sun Valley and travels along Roscoe Boulevard and Lankershim Boulevard. Metro Bus line 224 travels from Sylmar to Studio City via Lankershim Boulevard immediately adjacent to the Project Site. This bus line provides service to Pacoima, Sun Valley, and North Hollywood with service intervals of less than 15 minute during peak hours. As such, the Project Site is located near a high-quality transit corridor with fixed route bus service with service intervals no longer than 15 minutes during peak commute hours. Furthermore, Metro Bus lines 224 and 353/152 run along Lankershim Boulevard with a connection to the Metro Red Line at Universal Studios. The Metro Red Line route provides a connection to downtown Los Angeles through the Hollywood and Mid-Wilshire areas. The Metro Red Line provides a direct link to Union Station. Union Station provides access to the majority of the region’s rail and bus lines, linking to major job centers throughout Los Angeles County. The Project is also 0.90 miles southwest of the Metrolink Sun Valley Station, which serves the Metrolink Antelope Valley (AV) Line that travels to and from downtown Los Angeles, with a final destination in the City of Lancaster. Because of the mixed-use residential character of the Project and its location on an infill site within a TPA, the Project’s aesthetic impacts will not be considered significant impacts on the environment. Accordingly, the Project’s aesthetic impacts shall not be considered significant impacts on the environment pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21099. While Section 21099 prohibits aesthetic impacts from being considered significant environmental impacts pursuant to CEQA, it does not affect the ability of the City of Los Angeles to implement design review through its ordinances or other discretionary powers. Therefore, an assessment of the Project’s potential aesthetics impacts is not required. 7940 Lankershim Boulevard Project City of Los Angeles 6-2 SCEA August 2020 6. Sustainable Communities Environmental Analysis Except as provided in Public Resources Code Section 21099, would the project: a. Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? Less Than Significant Impact. b. Substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings, or other locally recognized desirable aesthetic natural features within a state- designated scenic highway? Less Than Significant Impact. c. In non-urbanized areas, substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of public views of the site and its surroundings? (Public views are those that are experienced from a publicly accessible vantage point.) If the project is in an urbanized area, would the project conflict with applicable zoning and other regulations governing scenic quality? Less Than Significant Impact. d. Create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area? Less Than Significant Impact. 6.2 Agricultural and Forest Resources In determining whether impacts to agricultural resources are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to the California Agricultural Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Model (1997) prepared by the California Department of Conservation as an optional model to use in assessing impacts on agriculture and farmland. In determining whether impacts to forest resources, including timberland, are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to information compiled by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection regarding the State’s inventory of forest land, including the Forest and Range Assessment project and the Forest Legacy Assessment project; and forest carbon measurement methodology provided in Forest Protocols adopted by the California Air Resources Board. Would the project: a. Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance, as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to non-agricultural use? No Impact. The Project Site is located within a highly urbanized area and is currently developed with a single-story office and a single-story commercial building and associated uses. No agricultural uses, or related farmland operations, are present within the Project Site or surrounding area. The Project Site is not located on designated Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland 7940 Lankershim Boulevard Project City of Los Angeles 6-3 SCEA August 2020 6. Sustainable Communities Environmental Analysis of Statewide Importance as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP). The urban character of the Project Site would be consistent with the FMMP’s definition of “Urban and Built-Up Land,” which does not constitute farmland. Therefore, the Project would not convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance to non-agricultural uses. No impact would occur, and no mitigation measures are required. Conclusion The Project would not convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance to non-agricultural uses. No impact would occur, and no mitigation measures are required. b. Conflict with the existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act Contract? No Impact. The Williamson Act of 1965 allows local governments to enter into contract agreements with local landowners with the purpose of trying to limit specific parcels of land to agricultural or other related open space use.