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3.0 Project Description 3.1 Introduction

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3.0 Project Description 3.1 Introduction Target Store Redevelopment Project 3.0 Project Description Draft EIR 3.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 3.1 INTRODUCTION This section presents the description of the proposed Target Store Redevelopment Project (proposed project), the objectives of the proposed project, a description of the existing conditions on the project site, a description of surrounding land uses, and an estimated timeline for construction of the proposed project. 3.2 PROJECT OBJECTIVES In accordance with Section 15124 of the State CEQA Guidelines, EIRs shall include a description of the proposed project, including a statement of objectives sought by the proposed project. A description of the project’s objectives defines the project’s intent and facilitates the formation of project alternatives. Specifically, Section 15124 (b) of the State CEQA Guidelines states the following requirement: “A statement of the objectives sought by the proposed project. A clearly written statement of objectives will help the lead agency develop a reasonable range of alternatives to evaluate in the EIR and will aid the decision makers in preparing findings or a statement of overriding considerations, if necessary. The statement of objectives should include the underlying purpose of the project.” The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Azusa (Agency) and the project applicant (Target Corporation) have stated that the proposed project would function as an economic catalyst for the City in its effort to increase employment, business, and investment opportunities in the downtown Azusa area. The proposed project would contribute to this effort by offering residents a wide variety of goods and services in a convenient location in downtown Azusa and near the future Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Gold Line Foothill Extension, which is strategically situated south of and adjacent to the project site. The project applicant would partner with the Agency to reverse the current trend of declining economic activity and physical decay in the City’s commercial area. The Agency is involved in community revitalization at all levels and has become the City’s primary vehicle for ensuring long-term economic vitality for the local community. The implementation of the proposed project would assist the Agency in its goal to enhance the community’s employment base and attract new businesses. Specifically, the objectives of the proposed project are to accomplish the following: • Attract to the City a discount retailer of national reputation to stabilize and enhance the perception of the downtown Azusa commercial district; • Increase the supply and improve the quality of commercial/retail shopping opportunities for local residents; • Eliminate the project site's current fragmented nature in terms of uses and unify the project site in order to present enough space to allow a national discount retailer to develop a building consistent with its standard physical facility needs and consistent with the objective of increasing the supply of quality retail shopping opportunities; • Promote and facilitate employment opportunities for the local community by supporting existing employers, as well as offering residents attractive new employment with Target Corporation; and • Be a positive investment for underutilized parcels located in a prime and highly visible location between two major arterial thoroughfares in the City. taha 2007-058 3-1 Target Store Redevelopment Project 3.0 Project Description Draft EIR 3.3 PROJECT LOCATION Regional Location The project site is located in the City of Azusa, which encompasses an estimated area of 9.13 square miles and is situated in the northeastern section of Los Angeles County (Figure 3-1). The City of Azusa is located approximately 27 miles northeast of Downtown Los Angeles in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley. The Foothill Freeway (I-210) traverses the City while the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) is located approximately two miles to the west. The City of Azusa shares boundaries with the Angeles National Forest on the north, the City of Duarte on the west, the City of Irwindale on the southwest, the City of Covina on the south, and the City of Glendora on the east. The San Gabriel River flows in a north-south orientation and flows through the north and northwestern portions of the City. Primary east-west arterials through the City of Azusa include Sierra Madre Avenue, Foothill Boulevard (Historic Route 66), 1st Street/Baseline Road, Gladstone Street, and Arrow Highway. North-south arterials include San Gabriel Avenue, Irwindale, Todd/Vincent, Azusa, Cerritos, Citrus, and Barranca Avenues. Interstate-210 via Azusa and Citrus Avenues provides primary regional access to the City. Project Site The project site is centrally located within the City of Azusa in the northwestern portion of the downtown area. Located on the southwest corner of Azusa Avenue and 9th Street, the project site is bounded by 9th Street on the north, Azusa Avenue on the east, the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension right-of-way on the south, and San Gabriel Avenue on the west. The 4.1-acre (180,533 square feet) project site currently includes 47,646 total square feet of commercial and industrial development situated on four parcels (Figure 3-2). Parcel 1 is approximately 3.13 acres (136,343 square feet) in area and contains commercial uses, including a large surface parking area, King Ranch Market, Lucky Choice Restaurant, Alondra’s Bakery, Lozano Laundromat, P&A Beauty Salon, Central Video 93 Cents, and Foothill Drug Co. These north-facing businesses front 9th Street. Each of the existing buildings located on Parcel 1 are one-story, except for the King Ranch Market, which is two stories in height. In addition, the King Ranch Market includes an existing truck loading area on the south side of the building. Several palm trees, ornamental trees, and bushes currently exist within Parcel 1. Coast Live Oak trees have been identified off-site and adjacent to Parcel 1, along San Gabriel Avenue. Parcel 2 is approximately 0.49 acres (21,200 square feet) in area and contains industrial uses, including Broderick’s Auto Body and Economy Auto Center. These one-story buildings are located south of and behind the existing King Ranch Market, adjacent to the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension right-of-way. Several ornamental trees and bushes are currently located within Parcel 2. Coast Live Oak trees have been identified off-site and adjacent to Parcel 2, along San Gabriel Avenue. Parcel 3 is approximately 0.18 acres (8,000 square feet) in area and contains the Community Garage. The Community Garage is located southeast and behind the King Ranch Market (Parcel 1) and consists of an improved auto service yard, a one-story automotive repair building with office and attached covered work area. No trees or other landscaping exist on Parcel 3. Parcel 4 is approximately 0.34 acres (14,990 square feet) in area and contains a portion of the Community Garage service yard and another similar auto-related service yard. Parcel 4 was recently acquired by the taha 2007-058 3-2 Lancaster Palmdale 138 18 Victorville 395 1414 138 Hesperia 15 5 405 5 2 101 Burbank 210 Rialto 215 210 Glendale LOS ANGELESNG10 10 10 605 90 Chino 710 Riverside 105 60 405 57 Moreno Corona Valley Carson 5 215 Garden Grove 15 110 Orange 405 74 261 Huntington Beach 73 Pacific Newport Beach Ocean Laguna Niguel E 13TH ST CHERRY HILLS LN VE VE S VE W 12TH ST IERRA MADRE A N AZUSA A N HOLMES A E 11TH ST W 10TH ST PROJECT SITE AAVE E 10TH ST N ALAMED W 9TH ST E 9TH ST AAVE VE VE VE VE N PASADEN N ANGELENO A N VERNON A NDALTONA VE N MCKEEVER A FOOTHILL BLVD SAN GABRIEL A VE E 6TH ST METRO GOLD LINE RIGHT-OF-WAY GINIA A N VIR E 5TH ST N SOURCE: TAHA Target Store Redevelopment Project FIGURE 3-1 Environmental Impact Report PROJECT SITE LOCATION taha 2007-058 REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF AZUSA MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (CONDOMINIUMS) 9TH STREET SURFACE PARKING PARCEL 1 ON UNDROMAT ’S BAKERY UTY SAL UG CO. LUCKY CHOICE RESTAURANT P&A BEA ALONDRA LOZANO lA AVE KING RANCH MARKET FOOTHILL DR CENTRAL VIDEO 93 CENTS CIAL USES AMILY RESIDENTIAL AZUSA AVE SAN GABRIEL COMMER (DOWNTOWN AZUSA) SINGLE-F ECONOMY AUTO CENTER COMMUNITY GARAGE PARCEL 2 PARCEL 3 BRODERICK’S AUTO BODY PARCEL 4 AUTOMOBILE-RELATED SERVICE YARDS N -OF-WAY COMMERCIAL USES (DOWNTOWN AZUSA) METRO GOLD LINE RIGHT SOURCE: GreenbergFarrow 2007 Target Store Redevelopment Project FIGURE 3-2 Environmental Impact Report EXISTING PROJECT SITE taha 2007-058 REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF AZUSA AND SURROUNDING USES Target Store Redevelopment Project 3.0 Project Description Draft EIR Agency from Metro. Several palm trees and ornamental trees are located within Parcel 4. A Coast Live Oak tree has been identified on Parcel 4, adjacent to San Gabriel Avenue. Figures 3-3 and 3-4 include photographs of the existing uses on the project site viewing from Azusa and San Gabriel Avenue. Table 3-1 shows the square footage for each building currently on the project site. TABLE 3-1: EXISTING PROJECT SITE USES Parcel and Business Name/a/ Building Square Footage PARCEL 1 Lucky Choice Restaurant 1,391 Alondra's Bakery 1,754 Lozano Laundromat 1,538 P&A Beauty Salon 909 King Ranch Market 25,904 Central Video 93 Cents 3,057 Foothill Drug Co. 3,057 Total 37,610 PARCEL 2 Economy Auto Center 5,472 Broderick’s Auto Body 3,264 Total 8,736 PARCEL 3 Community Garage 1,300 Total 1,300 Grand Total 47,646 /a/ The Community Garage building is located on Parcel 3 with only a small portion of the auto-related service yard located on Parcel 4.
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