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GRIFFITH PARK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration

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GRIFFITH PARK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration GRIFFITH PARK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Prepared for December 2013 City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks GRIFFITH PARK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Prepared for December 2013 City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks 626 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 1100 Los Angeles, CA 90017 213.599.4300 www.esassoc.com Oakland Orlando Palm Springs Petaluma Portland Sacramento San Diego San Francisco Santa Cruz Seattle Tampa Woodland Hills 130367.02 TABLE OF CONTENTS Griffith Park Performing Arts Center Project Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration Page Chapter 1: Project Description ......................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Project Location and Setting ....................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Project Description ...................................................................................................................... 1-6 1.4 Project Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 1-13 1.5 Construction Program ............................................................................................................... 1-13 1.6 Required Permits and Approvals .............................................................................................. 1-14 1.7 Areas of Known Controversy ................................................................................................... 1-14 Chapter 2: Initial Study Checklist .................................................................................................................... 2-1 Determination .............................................................................................................................................. 2-2 Environmental Checklist ............................................................................................................................. 2-4 Aesthetics ................................................................................................................................................ 2-4 Agricultural and Forest Resources ........................................................................................................ 2-10 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................................ 2-12 Biological Resources ............................................................................................................................. 2-21 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................................ 2-36 Geology, Soils, and Seismicity.............................................................................................................. 2-41 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ................................................................................................................... 2-46 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ......................................................................................................... 2-50 Hydrology and Water Quality ............................................................................................................... 2-53 Land Use and Land Use Planning ......................................................................................................... 2-57 Mineral Resources ................................................................................................................................. 2-59 Noise ..................................................................................................................................................... 2-60 Population and Housing ........................................................................................................................ 2-74 Public Services ...................................................................................................................................... 2-75 Recreation ............................................................................................................................................. 2-77 Transportation and Traffic..................................................................................................................... 2-78 Utilities and Service Systems ................................................................................................................ 2-90 Mandatory Findings of Significance ..................................................................................................... 2-92 Appendices A. Air Quality Model Output B. Biological Technical Report C. Cultural Resources Technical Report D. Noise Model Output E. Traffic Report Griffith Park Performing Arts Center Project Initial Study/MND i December 2013 Table of Contents Page Figures Figure 1-1 Project Vicinity Map .......................................................................................................... 1-3 Figure 1-2 Project Location Map ......................................................................................................... 1-4 Figure 1-3 Project Site ......................................................................................................................... 1-5 Figure 1-4 Proposed Outdoor Performance Center Improvements ..................................................... 1-7 Figure 1-5 Conceptual Stage Design ................................................................................................... 1-8 Figure 1-6 Proposed LADWP Power Line Relocation ...................................................................... 1-10 Figure 1-7 Conceptual Lighting Design ............................................................................................ 1-11 Figure 1-8 Conceptual ADA Bridge Illustration ............................................................................... 1-12 Figure 2-1 Phase 1 Stage Area ............................................................................................................. 2-6 Figure 2-2 ADA Enhancements ........................................................................................................... 2-7 Figure 2-3 Existing Pedestrian Walkways ........................................................................................... 2-8 Figure 2-4 Geologic Hazards ............................................................................................................. 2-43 Figure 2-5 Study Intersections ........................................................................................................... 2-80 Tables Table 1-1 Required Reviews and Approvals .................................................................................... 1-14 Table 2-1 Emissions from Project Construction .............................................................................. 2-14 Table 2-2 Emissions from Project Operation ................................................................................... 2-16 Table 2-3 Localized Pollutant Concentrations from Construction Emissions .................................. 2-18 Table 2-4 Special-Status Plants with Potential to Occur in Woodlands in Project Vicinity ............ 2-23 Table 2-5 Special-Status Wildlife Species with recorded occurences in Project Area .................... 2-24 Table 2-6 Estimated Project Construction and Operations-Related GHG Emissions ...................... 2-48 Table 2-7 Construction Equipment Noise Emission Levels ............................................................. 2-63 Table 2-8 Construction Noise Levels at Surrounding Off-Site Sensitive Uses ................................ 2-64 Table 2-9 Caltrans Vibration Annoyance Potential Criteria ............................................................ 2-67 Table 2-10 Vibration Source Levels for Construction Equipment ..................................................... 2-68 Table 2-11 Existing Nosie Environments at Project Site ................................................................... 2-70 Table 1-12 Intersection Performance – Existing Conditions .............................................................. 2-81 Table 2-13 Project Trip Generation .................................................................................................... 2-81 Table 2-14 Peak Hour V/C Impact Thresholds .................................................................................. 2-82 Table 2-15 Intersection Operations – Existing with-Project .............................................................. 2-84 Table 2-16 Intersection Operations – Future with-Project ................................................................. 2-85 Table 2-17 Parking Lot Occupancy with Project Events ................................................................... 2-87 Table 2-18 Cumulative Projects List .................................................................................................. 2-93 ii Griffith Park Performing Arts Center Project Initial Study/MND December 2013 CHAPTER 1 Project Description 1.1 Introduction Background The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and
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