I. INTRODUCTION/SUMMARY 1. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is to inform decision-makers and the general public of the potential environmental impacts resulting from the proposed Metro Universal Project (Project). The Project Applicant is Thomas Properties Group, LP, 515 S. Flower Street, 6th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071. A detailed description of the Project is contained in Section II, Project Description, of this EIR. The Project will require approval of certain discretionary actions by the City of Los Angeles and other governmental agencies. Therefore, the Project is subject to environmental review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).1 For purposes of complying with CEQA, the City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning, 200 N. Spring Street, Room 601, Los Angeles, California 90012 (City) is identified as the Lead Agency for the Project. As described in Section 15121(a) and 15362 of the Guidelines for CEQA,2 an EIR is an informational document which will inform public agency decision-makers and the public of the significant environmental effects of a project, identify possible ways to minimize any significant effects, and describe reasonable project alternatives. Therefore, the purpose of this EIR is to focus the discussion on the Project’s potential environment effects which the Lead Agency has determined to be, or may be significant. In addition, feasible mitigation measures are recommended, when applicable, that could reduce or avoid significant environmental impacts. This EIR was prepared in accordance with Section 15151 of the State CEQA Guidelines which defines the standards for EIR adequacy: An EIR should be prepared with a sufficient degree of analysis to provide decisionmakers with information which enables them to make a decision which intelligently takes account of environmental consequences. An evaluation of the environmental effects of a proposed project need not be exhaustive, but the sufficiency of an EIR is to be reviewed in the light of what is reasonably feasible. Disagreement among experts does not make an EIR inadequate, but the EIR should summarize the main points of disagreement among the experts. The courts have looked not for perfection but for adequacy, completeness, and a good faith effort at full disclosure. a. Notice of Preparation for Current Project Comments from identified responsible and trustee agencies, as well as interested parties on the scope of the Draft EIR, were solicited through a Notice of Preparation (NOP) process. The NOP for the Draft EIR 1 Public Resources Code Sections 21000-21177. 2 California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 14, Chapter 3, Sections 15000-15387. Metro Universal Project I. Introduction/Summary Draft Environmental Impact Report Page I-1 City of Los Angeles August 2008 was circulated for a 30-day review period starting on June 16, 2007 and ending on July 16, 2007. A public scoping meeting was held on June 25, 2007 at the Marvin Braude San Fernando Valley Constituent Service Center, 6262 Van Nuys Boulevard, Van Nuys, CA 91401 to receive community input on the Project and the Scope of the EIR. Refer to Appendices I-1 and I-2 to this EIR for a copy of the NOP and written comments submitted to the Planning Department in response to the NOP and scoping meeting. b. Environmental Issues to be Analyzed in the EIR Based on public comments in response to the NOP and a review of environmental issues by the Lead Agency, this EIR analyzes the following impact areas: • Aesthetics; • Air Quality; • Biological Resources; • Cultural Resources, including: o Historic Resources; and o Archaeological and Paleontological Resources; • Geology and Soils; • Hazards and Hazardous Materials; • Hydrology and Water Quality; • Land Use and Planning; • Noise; • Population, Housing, and Employment; • Public Services, including: o Fire Protection; o Police Protection; o Schools; o Recreation and Parks; and o Libraries; • Traffic/Transportation/Parking; and • Utilities, including: o Water; Metro Universal Project I. Introduction/Summary Draft Environmental Impact Report Page I-2 City of Los Angeles August 2008 o Sewer; o Solid Waste; o Electricity Supply; and o Natural Gas Supply. The City has determined that the Project would not result in significant environmental effects with respect to: agricultural resources and mineral resources. Therefore, these issues are not examined in detail in the EIR.3 In accordance with State CEQA Guidelines Section 15128, brief statements of the reasons that these possible significant effects were determined not to be significant are contained in the Initial Study for the Project, Appendix I-1 to this EIR. c. Environmental Review Process The Draft EIR will be circulated for review and comment by the public and other interested parties, agencies, and organizations for a period of 90 days, which is longer than the standard 45-day review period required by CEQA. After completion of the public review period, a Final EIR will be prepared that responds to comments on the Draft EIR that are submitted during the review period and modifies the Draft EIR as required. Public hearings on the Project will be held after completion of the Final EIR. The City will make the Final EIR available to agencies and the public prior to considering certification of the EIR. Notice of the time and location will be published prior to the public hearing date. All comments or questions about the Draft EIR should be addressed to: Jon Foreman, City Planner/Project Coordinator Department of City Planning Universal City Projects Unit 200 N Spring Street, Room 601 Los Angeles, California 90012 Fax: (213) 978-6566 [email protected] d. Organization of the Draft EIR The Draft EIR is organized into seven sections as follows: Section I. Introduction and Summary: This section provides an introduction to the environmental review process and a summary of the project description, alternatives, environmental impacts, and mitigation measures. 3 Per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.2(a), “an EIR shall identify and focus on the significant environmental effects of the proposed project.” Metro Universal Project I. Introduction/Summary Draft Environmental Impact Report Page I-3 City of Los Angeles August 2008 Section II. Project Description: A complete description of the Project including Project location, Project Site characteristics, Project characteristics, Project objectives, and required discretionary actions is presented. Section III. Environmental Setting: An overview of the environmental setting of the Project is provided including a description of existing and surrounding land uses, and a list of related projects. Section IV. Environmental Impact Analysis: The Environmental Impact Analysis section is the primary focus of this EIR. Each environmental issue contains a discussion of existing conditions, an assessment and discussion of the significance of impacts associated with the Project, mitigation measures, cumulative impacts, and level of impact significance after mitigation. Section V. Alternatives to the Project: This section includes an analysis of a reasonable range of alternatives to the Project. The range of alternatives selected is based on their ability to feasibly attain most of the basic objectives of the project and alternatives that would avoid or substantially lessen any of the significant effects of the project. Section VI. Summary of Significant Unavoidable Impacts: This section provides a summary of significant and unavoidable impacts of the Project. Section VII. Growth Inducing Impacts: This section provides a discussion of potential growth inducing effects of the Project. Section VIII. Significant Irreversible Environmental Changes: This section provides an explanation of significant irreversible environmental changes associated with the Project. Section IX. Preparers of the EIR and Persons Consulted: This section presents a list of City, County of Los Angeles, and other agencies and consultant team members that contributed to the preparation of the EIR. 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Project Site is located approximately 1.2 miles south and east of the junction of U.S. Route 101 (Hollywood Freeway) and State Route 134 (Ventura Freeway). The Project Site is generally bounded by Bluffside Drive to the north and west, Lankershim Boulevard to the east, and Ventura Boulevard to the south and east. Campo de Cahuenga Way and the Hollywood Freeway bisect the Project Site at the central and southern portions of the site, respectively. Five separate parcels comprise the Project Site. These parcels are referred to as Sites A, B, C, D, and E respectively. Sites A and B are located north of Campo de Cahuenga Way, Site C is located south of Campo de Cahuenga Way and north of the Hollywood Freeway, and Sites D and E are located on the north side of Ventura Boulevard and south of the Hollywood Freeway. The Project Site is located entirely within the City of Los Angeles, north of the foothills of the north face of the Santa Monica Mountains and contains generally flat topography. The Project Site presently Metro Universal Project I. Introduction/Summary Draft Environmental Impact Report Page I-4 City of Los Angeles August 2008 operates as a transit/transportation hub associated with the Universal City Metro Red Line station. The Metro Red Line subway runs under the Project Site and the underground station is located just west of the corner of Lankershim Boulevard and Campo de Cahuenga Way. North of the Project Site, the subway runs under Lankershim Boulevard to the North Hollywood Metro Red Line station, which is the terminus of the Red Line. South of the Project Site, the subway runs in a tunnel beneath the Santa Monica Mountains to the Hollywood/Highland Metro Red Line station. The Project proposes to redevelop the existing park & ride and bus transit facilities with a transit- integrated, commercial, or mixed-use development, and improved parking facilities required to serve both transit patrons and employees and visitors to the new development. The Project would be implemented in two phases so as not to interfere with current ongoing transit operations.