Avalon Del Rey Apartments Project

453 Pages·2012·38.17 MB·English

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

Sea Breeze Apartment Project

1311 West Sepulveda Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90710

Lead Agency:
City of Los Angeles
Department of City Planning
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, California 90012

Applicant:
A & M Properties, Inc.
23545 Crenshaw Boulevard, Suite 100
Torrance, California 90505

Prepared By:
CAJA Environmental Services
11990 West San Vicente Blvd, Suite 200
Los Angeles, California 90049

October 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
I. Introduction/Summary ...................................................................................................................I-1
A. Introduction .......................................................................................................................I-1
B. Project Summary ...............................................................................................................I-4
C. Areas Of Controversy .......................................................................................................I-5
D. Alternatives .......................................................................................................................I-6
E. Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures ............................................................I-8
II. Project Description ...................................................................................................................... II-1
A. Project Applicant ............................................................................................................ II-1
B. Project Location .............................................................................................................. II-1
C. Project Characteristics .................................................................................................... II-1
D. Project Objectives ......................................................................................................... II-35
E. Discretionary Actions ................................................................................................... II-35
F. Add Area ....................................................................................................................... II-36
III. Environmental Setting ................................................................................................................ III-1
A. Overview Of Environmental Setting ............................................................................. III-1
B. Related Projects ........................................................................................................... III-17
IV. Environmental Impact Analysis .............................................................................................. IV.A-1
A. Impacts Found To Be Less Than Significant ............................................................. IV.A-1
B. Aesthetics ................................................................................................................... IV.B-1
C. Air Quality
C-1 Air Quality .......................................................................................................... IV.C-1
C-2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ............................................................................... IV.C-39

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D. Land Use Planning ..................................................................................................... IV.D-1
E. Noise .......................................................................................................................... IV.E-1
F. Public Services ........................................................................................................... IV.F-1
G. Traffic, Transportation, And Parking ......................................................................... IV.G-1
V. General Impact Categories ........................................................................................................... V-1
A. Summary Of Significant Unavoidable Impacts .............................................................. V-1
B. Significant Irreversible Environmental Changes ............................................................ V-1
C. Growth Inducing Impacts Of The Proposed Project ....................................................... V-2
VI. Alternatives To The Proposed Project ........................................................................................ VI-1
A. No Project Alternative ................................................................................................... VI-4
B. Reduced Density Alternative ......................................................................................... VI-7
C. Zoning And General Plan-Compliant Alternative ......................................................... VI-6
D. Environmentally Superior Alternative ......................................................................... VI-22
VII. Preparers Of The Eir And Persons Consulted ........................................................................... VII-1
VIII Acronyms And Abbreviations ................................................................................................. VIII-1

APPENDICES
(Under Separate Cover)
I. Introduction/Summary
Appendix I-1: Notice of Preparation (NOP)
Appendix I-2: Responses to the NOP
Appendix I-3: Initial Study
II. Project Description
No Technical Report/Appendix For This Section

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III. Environmental Setting
No Technical Report/Appendix For This Section
IV.A. Impacts Found To Be Less Than Significant
Appendix IV.A-1: Geotechnical Report
Appendix IV.A-2: Phase III Environmental Site Assessment Report, Parcel 2
Appendix IV.A-3: Phase III Environmental Site Assessment Report, Parcel 3
Appendix IV.A-4: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Response
Appendix IV.A-5: Los Angeles Wastewater Engineering Services Division Response
IV.B. Aesthetics
No Technical Report/Appendix For This Section
IV.C. Air Quality
Appendix IV.C-1: Air Quality Calculations
IV.D. Land Use Planning
No Technical Report/Appendix For This Section
IV.E. Noise
Appendix IV.E-1: Noise Calculation
IV.F. Public Services
Appendix IV.F-1: Los Angeles Fire Department Response
Appendix IV.F-2: Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks Response
Appendix IV.F-3: Los Angeles Public Library Response
IV.G. Traffic, Transportation, and Parking
Appendix IV.G-1: Traffic Impact Study, 1311 West Sepulveda Blvd. Project, July 16, 2009
Appendix IV.G-2: Memorandum to City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation,
Westchester: 1311 West Sepulveda Boulevard Modified Project –
Addendum Traffic Analysis, January 21, 2010.

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Appendix IV.G-3: Memorandum to City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation: 1311
W. Sepulveda Boulevard Modified Project – Revised Traffic Signal
Warrant Analysis, December 21, 2009.
Appendix IV.G-4: Memorandum to Los Angeles County Department of Public Works,
Traffic and Lighting Division: 1311 W. Sepulveda Boulevard Modified
Project – Addendum Traffic Analysis, December 21, 2009.
Appendix IV.G-5: Correspondence to Department of City Planning, prepared by Department
of Transportation: Addendum to Traffic Assessment for the Proposed
Mixed-Use Project Located at 1311 W. Sepulveda Blvd., January 21,
2010, and Traffic Assessment for the Proposed Mixed Use Project,
August 7, 2009.
Appendix IV.G-6: Jurisdictional Appendix compiled by Linscott, Law & Greenspan,
Engineers
Appendix IV.G-7: Letter from County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works to
Linscott, Law, and Greenspan, Engineers on August 14, 2012, from Dean
R. Lehman, Assistant Deputy Director, Traffic and Lighting Division
V. General Impact Categories
No Technical Report/Appendix For This Section
VI. Alternatives
Appendix VI: Alternatives Traffic Analysis
VII. Preparers Of The EIR And Persons Consulted
No Technical Report/Appendix For This Section
VIII. Acronyms And Abbreviations
No Technical Report/Appendix For This Section

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FIGURES AND TABLES
FIGURES
Page
Figure II-1 Regional and Project Vicinity Map ........................................................................ II-3
Figure II-2 Aerial Photograph .................................................................................................. II-5
Figure II-3 Site Plan .................................................................................................................. II-7
Figure II-4 Detailed Site Plan Lot 2.......................................................................................... II-13
Figure II-5 Detailed Site Plan Lot 3.......................................................................................... II-15
Figure II-6 First Floor Parking Plan, Lot 2 ............................................................................... II-17
Figure II-7 Second Floor Parking Plan, Lot 2 .......................................................................... II-19
Figure II-8 First Floor Parking Plan, Lot 3 ............................................................................... II-21
Figure II-9 Second Floor Parking Plan, Lot 3 .......................................................................... II-23
Figure II-10 Landscape Plan ....................................................................................................... II-25
Figure II-11 Building Section ..................................................................................................... II-27
Figure II-12 East and South Elevations ...................................................................................... II-12
Figure II-13 Conceptual Building Plan ....................................................................................... II-31
Figure II-14 Conceptual Plan ...................................................................................................... II-33
Figure III-1 Aerial Photograph of Surrounding Uses ................................................................ III-3
Figure III-2 Views of the Project Site, Views 1-3 ..................................................................... III-5
Figure III-3 Views of the Project Site, Views 4-6 ..................................................................... III-7
Figure III-4 Views of the Surrounding Uses, Views 1-3 ........................................................... III-9
Figure III-5 Views of the Surrounding Uses, Views 4-6 ........................................................... III-11
Figure III-6 Views of the Surrounding Uses, Views 7-9 ........................................................... III-13
Figure III-7 Views of the Surrounding Uses, Views 10-12 ....................................................... III-15

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Figure III-8 Related Projects Location Map .............................................................................. III-19
Figure IV.B-1 Views of the Project Site, Views 1-3 ..................................................................... IV.B-3
Figure IV.B-2 Views of the Project Site, Views 4-6 ..................................................................... IV.B-5
Figure IV.B-3 Aerial Photograph of Surrounding Uses ................................................................ IV.B-7
Figure IV.B-4 Views of the Surrounding Uses, Views 1-3 ........................................................... IV.B-9
Figure IV.B-5 Views of the Surrounding Uses, Views 4-6 .......................................................... IV.B-11
Figure IV.B-6 Views of the Surrounding Uses, Views 7-9 ........................................................... IV.B-13
Figure IV.B-7 Views of the Surrounding Uses, Views 10-12 ....................................................... IV.B-15
Figure IV.B-8 Views of the Surrounding Uses, Views 13-15 ....................................................... IV.B-17
Figure IV.B-9 Views of the Surrounding Uses, Views 16-18 ....................................................... IV.B-19
Figure IV.B-10 Conceptual Building Plan ...................................................................................... IV.B-29
Figure IV.B-11 Visual Rendering of the Proposed Project South Elevation ................................... IV.B-31
Figure IV.D-1 Aerial Photograph of the Surrounding Land Uses ................................................ IV.D-5
Figure IV.D-2 Community Plan Land Use Map ............................................................................ IV.D-13
Figure IV.D-3 City of Los Angeles and Surrounding Jurisdictional
General Plan Land Uses ......................................................................................... IV.D-15
Figure IV.D-4 Zoning Map ............................................................................................................ IV.D-23
Figure IV.F-1 Fire Station Locations ............................................................................................ IV.F-3
Figure IV.F-2 Fire Access Easement Map .................................................................................... IV.F-9
Figure IV.F-3 Police Station Location Map .................................................................................. IV.F-17
Figure IV.F-4 Schools Location Map ............................................................................................ IV.F-29
Figure IV.F-5 Parks Location Map ............................................................................................... IV.F-37
Figure IV.F-6 Library Location Map ............................................................................................ IV.F-47
Figure IV.G-1 Study Intersections ................................................................................................. IV.G-3

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Figure IV.G-2 Existing Lane Configurations ................................................................................. IV.G-5
Figure IV.G-3 Existing Traffic Volumes, AM Peak Hour ............................................................. IV.G-13
Figure IV.G-4 Existing Traffic Volumes, PM Peak Hour ............................................................. IV.G-15
Figure IV.G-5 Existing Public Transit Routes ............................................................................... IV.G-19
Figure IV.G-6 Related Projects Location Map .............................................................................. IV.G-23
Figure IV.G-7 Future-Without-Project AM Peak-Hour Traffic Volumes ..................................... IV.G-27
Figure IV.G-8 Future-Without-Project PM Peak-Hour Traffic Volumes ...................................... IV.G-29
Figure IV.G-9 Project Trip Distribution, Residential Component ................................................. IV.G-39
Figure IV.G-10 Project Trip Distribution, Commercial Component ............................................... IV.G-41
Figure IV.G-11 Project-Only Traffic Volumes AM Peak Hour ...................................................... IV.G-45
Figure IV.G-12 Project-Only Traffic Volumes PM Peak Hour ....................................................... IV.G-47
Figure IV.G-13 Future-With-Project AM Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ........................................... IV.G-49
Figure IV.G-14 Future-With-Project PM Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ........................................... IV.G-51

TABLES
Table I-1 Summary of Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures ............................. I-9
Table II-1 Lot 2 Apartment Building Area Summary ............................................................. II-9
Table II-2 Lot 3 Apartment Building Area Summary ............................................................. II-9
Table III-1 List of Related Projects .......................................................................................... III-18
Table IV.A-1 Population, Housing, and Employment Forecasts for the City of
Los Angeles, Los Angeles Subregion ................................................................. IV.A-20
Table IV.A-2 Estimated Proposed Project Employment Generation ........................................ IV.A-21
Table IV.A-3 Proposed Project Residential Population ............................................................ IV.A-22
Table IV.A-4 Proposed Project Estimated Water Demand ........................................................ IV.A-24

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Table IV.A-5 Proposed Project Estimated Wastewater Generation .......................................... IV.A-28
Table IV.A-6 Proposed Project Estimated Solid Waste Generation .......................................... IV.A-29
Table IV.A-7 Proposed Project Estimated Electricity Demand ................................................. IV.A-31
Table IV.A-8 Proposed Project Estimated Natural Gas Demand .............................................. IV.A-33
Table IV.C-1 Summary of Health Effects of Criteria Pollutants ............................................... IV.C-4
Table IV.C-2 2008 Estimated Average Daily Regional Emissions ........................................... IV.C-8
Table IV.C-3 Ambient Air Quality Standards ........................................................................... IV.C-9
Table IV.C-4 Attainment Status for the South Coast Air Basin
(Los Angeles County Portion) ............................................................................. IV.C-9
Table IV.C-5 Summary of Ambient Air Quality in the Proposed Project Vicinity ................... IV.C-11
Table IV.C-6 Existing (2009) Localized Carbon Monoxide Concentrations ............................ IV.C-12
Table IV.C-7 SCAQMD’s Regional Emission Thresholds of Significance .............................. IV.C-23
Table IV.C-8 SCAQMD’s Localized Significance Thresholds ................................................. IV.C-23
Table IV.C-9 Estimated Peak Daily Construction Emissions ................................................... IV.C-25
Table IV.C-10 Localized Estimated Peak Daily Construction Emissions ................................... IV.C-27
Table IV.C-11 Estimated Future (2013) Daily Operational Emissions ....................................... IV.C-29
Table IV.C-12 Localized Estimated Daily Operational Emissions ............................................. IV.C-30
Table IV.C-13 Future (2014) Localized Carbon Monoxide Concentrations ............................... IV.C-32
Table IV.C-14 Project Consistency with the Air Quality Element of the General Plan .............. IV.C-34
Table IV.C-15 ARB Recommendations on Siting New Sensitive Uses ...................................... IV.C-36
Table IV.C-16 Predicted Proposed Project GHG Emissions ....................................................... IV.C-40
Table IV.C-17 Description of Identified GHGs .......................................................................... IV.C-45
Table IV.C-18 Project Consistency with 2006 CAT Report GHG Emission
Reduction Strategies ............................................................................................ IV.C-46

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Table IV.C-19 Project Consistency with ARB Scoping Plan Recommended
GHG Emission Reduction Measures ................................................................... IV.C-52
Table IV.D-1 Project Consistency with the Applicable Policies of the Housing Element ........ IV.D-27
Table IV.D-2 Project Consistency with Applicable Policies of the Harbor Gateway
Community Plan .................................................................................................. IV.D-30
Table IV.D-3 Project Consistency with Applicable Policies of the City’s Industrial
Land Use Policy .................................................................................................. IV.D-34
Table IV.D-4 Project Consistency with Applicable Walkability Checklist Strategies .............. IV.D-41
Table IV.E-1 Representative Environmental Noise Levels ....................................................... IV.E-2
Table IV.E-2 Human Response to Different Levels of Groundborne Vibration ....................... IV.E-4
Table IV.E-3 Construction Vibration Damage Criteria............................................................. IV.E-5
Table IV.E-4 Community Noise Exposure (CNEL) ................................................................. IV.E-6
Table IV.E-5 Existing Ambient Noise Levels ........................................................................... IV.E-10
Table IV.E-6 Existing Roadway Noise Levels Off-site ............................................................ IV.E-15
Table IV.E-7 Noise Range of Typical Construction Equipment ............................................... IV.E-20
Table IV.E-8 Typical Outdoor Construction Noise Levels ....................................................... IV.E-21
Table IV.E-9 Vibration Source Levels for Construction Equipment ........................................ IV.E-22
Table IV.E-10 Future (2013) Noise Impacts ............................................................................... IV.E-23
Table IV.E-11 Cumulative Project Roadway Noise Impacts with Proposed Project .................. IV.E-29
Table IV.F-1 Existing Fire Stations Serving the Project Site .................................................... IV.F-2
Table IV.F-2 RD 507, Harbor Area, and Citywide Crime Statistics for 2009 .......................... IV.F-16
Table IV.F-3 Estimated Cumulative Police Service Population ............................................... IV.F-23
Table IV.F-4 LAUSD School Capacity and Enrollment ........................................................... IV.F-25
Table IV.F-5 Estimated Student Generation ............................................................................. IV.F-28
Table IV.F-6 Existing LAUSD School Capacity and Enrollment ............................................ IV.F-28

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