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SR-402-004 (28) City of Santa Monica 2834 Colorado Avenue Project Final Environmental Impact Report SCH # 2003061052 January 2004 2834 COLORADO AVENUE PROJECT Final Environmental Impact Report Prepared by: City of Santa Monica Planning & Community Development Department 1685 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90401 Contact: Mr. Bill Rodrigues Prepared with the assistance of Rincon Consultants, Inc. 790 East Santa Clara Street, Suite 103 Ventura, California 93001 January 2004 This report is printed on 50% recycled paper with 10% post-consumer content and chlorine-free virgin pulp. 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Table of Contents 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Table of Contents Page Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. ES-1 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Project Background........................................................................................................... .1-1 1.2 Purpose and Legal Authority...........................................................................................1-1 1.3 Scope and Content .............................................................................................................1-1 1.4 Lead, Responsible, and Trustee Agencies ......................................................................1-2 1.5 Environmental Review Process .......................................................................................1-3 2.0 Project Description 2.1 Project Applicant................................................................................................................ 2-1 2.2 Project Location .................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.3 Existing Site Characteristics..............................................................................................2-1 2.4 General Project Characteristics ........................................................................................2-1 2.5 Projected Construction/Phasing Schedule ....................................................................2-2 2.6 Project Objectives ............................................................................................................... 2-2 2.7 Required Approvals .......................................................................................................... 2-2 3.0 Environmental Setting 3.1 Regional Setting.................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 Project Site Setting...............................................................................................................3-1 3.3 Cumulative Projects Setting ..............................................................................................3-1 4.0 Environmental Impact Analysis .....................................................................................................4-1 4.1 Geology and Soils ...........................................................................................................4.1-1 4.2 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................4.2-1 4.3 Hydrology and Water Quality .......................................................................................4.3-1 4.4 Noise.................................................................................................................................. 4.4-1 4.5 Transportation/Traffic.................................................................................................... 4.5-1 4.6 Historic Resources............................................................................................................ 4.6-1 4.7 Aesthetics/ Shadow Effects............................................................................................. 4.7-1 4.8 Population and Housing.................................................................................................4.8-1 4.9 Public Services ..................................................................................................................4.9-1 4.10 Construction Services................................................................................................... 4.10-1 4.11 Neighborhood Effects...................................................................................................4.11-1 5.0 Growth Inducing Impacts 5.1 Economic and Population Growth...................................................................................5-1 5.2 Removal of Obstacles to Growth ......................................................................................5-1 rr City of Santa Monica 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Table of Contents 6.0 Alternatives 6.1 No Project.............................................................................................................................6-1 6.2 Reduced Project................................................................................................................... 6-2 6.3 Commercial Project............................................................................................................. 6-4 6.4 Alternative Site Analysis.................................................................................................... 6-6 6.5 Environmentally Superior Alternative ............................................................................6-7 7.0 References and Preparers 7.1 References ............................................................................................................................ 7-1 7.2 Report Preparers .................................................................................................................7-2 List of Figures Figure 1-1 Environmental Review Process......................................................................... 1-4 Figure 2-1 Regional Location................................................................................................2-3 Figure 2-2 Project Location ...................................................................................................2-4 Figure 2-3 Existing Site Conditions .....................................................................................2-5 Figure 2-4 Surrounding Land Uses .....................................................................................2-7 Figure 2-5 Site Plan................................................................................................................ 2-9 Figure 2-6 Building Layout................................................................................................. 2-11 Figure 2-7 Stewart & East Elevations ................................................................................2-13 Figure 2-8 Colorado & South Elevations ..........................................................................2-15 Figure 4.1-1 Geologic Hazards .............................................................................................4.1-3 Figure 4.1-2 Regional Fault Map.......................................................................................... 4.1-4 Figure 4.1-3 Liquefaction Potential......................................................................................4.1-7 Figure 4.4-1 Land Use/Noise Compatibility Matrix.........................................................4.4-3 Figure 4.5-1 Project Location & Study Area .......................................................................4.5-2 Figure 4.5-2 Existing Peak Hour Traffic Volumes.............................................................4.5-3 Figure 4.5-3 Peak Hour Traffic Volumes - Project Only ................................................4.5-11 Figure 4.5-4 Peak Hour Traffic Volumes - Cumulative Base (2009).............................4.5-12 Figure 4.5-5 Peak Hour Traffic Volumes - With Project (2009) .....................................4.5-13 Figure 4.7-1a Winter Solstice Shadows................................................................................4.7-7 Figure 4.7-1b Winter Solstice Shadows................................................................................4.7-9 Figure 4.7-2a Summer Solstice Shadows ...........................................................................4.7-11 Figure 4.7-2b Summer Solstice Shadows ...........................................................................4.7-13 List of Tables Table ES-1 Table 2-1 Table 3-1 Table 3-2 Table 4.1-1 Table 4.2-1 Table 4.2-2 Table 4.2-3 Table 4.2-4 Table 4.4-1 Summary of Environmental Impacts ............................................................ ES-3 Summary of Project Characteristics.................................................................. 2-2 Cumulative Projects in the City of Santa Monica........................................... 3-2 Cumulative Projects - Regionally Significant and Outside of City .............3-5 Liquefaction Zone Criteria ..............................................................................4.1-6 Federal and State Ambient Air Quality Standards .....................................4.2-2 Ambient Air Quality Data at the West Los Angeles-VA Hospital Station for Ozone, CO & NOx and the Los Angeles-North Main Street Station for PM10 ............................................................................................................ 4.2-4 Unmitigated Operational Emissions .............................................................4.2-6 One-Hour CO Level at Closest Sensitive Receptor .....................................4.2-7 Exterior Noise Standards for Onsite Noise Sources....................................4.4-2 rr City of Santa Monica 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Table of Contents Table 4.4-2 Noise Levels Associated with the Traffic on Area Roadways ...................4.4-5 Table 4.5-1 Existing City of Santa Monica Intersection Level of Service Conditions......................................................................................................... 4.5-4 Table 4.5-2 Weekday Neighborhood Traffic Volumes....................................................4.5-5 Table 4.5-3 Level of Service Definitions for Signalized Intersections (H CM Method) ................................................................................................. 4.5-7 Table 4.5-4 Level of Service Definitions for Stop-Controlled Intersections (H CM Method) ................................................................................................. 4.5-7 Table 4.5-5 City of Santa Monica Significant Impact Criteria ........................................4.5-8 Table 4.5-6 City of Santa Monica Significant Impact Criteria - Collector, Feeder, and Local Streets...................................................................................................... 4.5-9 Table 4.5-7 Trip Generation Estimates ............................................................................4.5-10 Table 4.5-8 Cumulative Base and Cumulative + Project Intersection LOS for Santa Monica Intersections ......................................................................................4.5-15 Table 4.5-9 Weekday Neighborhood Traffic Impact Analysis.....................................4.5-16 Table 4.5-10 Parking Requirements Analysis...................................................................4.5-17 Table 4.8-1 Worst-Case Daily Construction Emissions During Site Preparation........4.8-1 Table 4.8-2 Typical Noise Level Ranges at Construction Sites ......................................4.8-2 Table 4.9-1 School Enrollments for Schools in Santa Monica.........................................4.9-1 Table 4.9-2 Fire Service Characteristics for Fire Stations in Santa Monica...................4.9-3 Table 4.10-1 Worst-Case Daily Construction Emissions During Site Preparation......4.10-4 Table 4.10-2 Typical Noise Levels at Construction Sites ................................................4.10-6 Table 4.11-1 Summary of Neighborhood Effects .............................................................4.11-2 Table 6-1 Comparison of Project Alternatives Buildout Characteristics ...................... 6-1 Table 6-2 Impact Comparison of Alternatives .................................................................6-7 Table 7-1 Comparison of Project Alternatives' Buildout Characteristics ..................... 7-1 Table 7-2 Impact Comparison of Alternatives ............................................................... 7-10 Appendices Appendix A: Appendix B: Appendix C: Appendix D: Appendix E: Appendix F: Appendix G: Appendix H: Initial Study, Notice of Preparation, and Responses to Notice of Preparation Air Quality Data and Calculations Peak Discharge Calculations Noise Data and Calculations Traffic Technical Report Historic Resources Technical Appendix Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program rr City of Santa Monica iii 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Executive Summary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This section summarizes the characteristics of the proposed project, the environmental impacts, mitigation measures, and residual impacts associated with the proposed project. PROJECT SYNOPSIS Project Applicant Colorado Creative Studios, LLC 11601 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1900 Los Angeles, CA 90025 Project Description The proposed project consists of the development of a 145-unit apartment complex at the southeast corner of Colorado A venue and Stewart Street. One level of subterranean parking containing 228 parking spaces would also be provided. The buildings onsite would be demolished in association with project development. The project would consist of 29 studio units, 109 one-bedroom units, and seven two-bedroom units contained within 18 buildings varying in height from two to four stories. Fifteen of the one-bedroom units would be deed-restricted for occupancy by very low-income residents. The buildings would be arranged around three interior courtyards, the middle of which would contain a pool, office, pool lounge, and community room. Buildings along the interior lot lines would be oriented toward the courtyards, while buildings along Colorado A venue and Stewart Street would be oriented toward the streets. Approximately 3,800 square feet of landscaping is proposed along the street fronts and within the interior courtyards. ALTERNATIVES Three alternatives to the proposed project were selected for consideration as follows: . No Project . Reduced Project (72 residential units) . Commercial Project (production-related studios/offices) The "no project" alternative would involve no change to the environment and is therefore considered environmentally superior overall. It should be noted, however, that this alternative would not preclude future development of the site. The two remaining alternatives would be environmentally superior to the proposed project in some respects. Both alternatives would incrementally reduce impacts in five issue areas and could potentially avoid the project's Class I impact to temporary air quality impacts. The Reduced Project alternative would generate less traffic than either the proposed project or the Commercial Project alternative. The Commercial Project alternative would not involve a Zoning Ordinance amendment but would not create additional housing in the City and would not fulfill the objectives of the project. The Reduced Project alternative could be considered the r City of Santa Monica ES-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Executive Summary environmentally superior alternative among the development options, though it would require a Zoning Ordinance text amendment. SUMMARY OF IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Table ES-1 includes a brief description of the environmental issues relative to the proposed project, the identified environmental impacts, proposed mitigation measures, and residual impacts. Impacts are categorized by classes. Class I impacts are defined as significant, unavoidable adverse impacts which require a statement of overriding considerations to be issued per Section 15093 of the State CEQA Guidelines if the project is approved. Class II impacts are significant adverse impacts that can be feasibly mitigated to less than significant levels and which require findings to be made under Section 15091 of the State CEQA Guidelines. Class III impacts are considered less than significant impacts, and Class IV impacts are beneficial impacts. Class I - Unavoidable Adverse Impacts Traffic - deterioration of level of service at three intersections to below City thresholds; increase in trips on two neighborhood street segments Construction Effects - construction-related increase in air pollutant emissions Class II -Significant Impacts That Can Be Mitigated To Less than Significant Levels Geology and Soils - potentially unsafe conditions associated with construction and operation of the subterranean parking structure Aesthetics - increase in light and glare Traffic - impacts to level of service at one intersection Construction Effects - increased truck traffic and disruption of sidewalks and roadways; construction- related noise impacts Class III - Less Than Significant Impacts Geology and Soils - seismically-induced groundshaking; liquefaction potential; expansion potential Air Quality - emissions associated with operation of the project; potential for carbon monoxide hot spots Hydrology and Water Quality - temporary water quality impacts due to erosion; reduction in quantity of runoff; reduction in pollutants Noise - increase in roadway noise levels; noise related to operation of the proposed project Traffic - compliance with parking code requirements; site access and circulation; effects on CMP monitored freeway mainline sections and arterials; effects on transit facilities Historic Resources - impacts to historic resources Aesthetics - impacts to visual resources; shadows cast by the proposed structures Population and Housing - increase in population; consistency with Housing Element policies Public Services - impacts to schools; fire services; police services Construction Effects - construction-related water quality impacts r City of Santa Monica ES-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Executive Summary Table ES-1. Summary of Environmental Impacts, Mitigation Measures, and Residual Impacts GEOLOGY AND SOILS Impact Impact GEO-1 Seismically-induced ground shaking could destroy or damage onsite structures, resulting in loss of property and risk to human safety. Provided that the design and construction of the proposed project complies with all applicable provisions of the 1997 Uniform Building Code and the 1998 California Building Code, impacts are considered Class III, less than significant. Impact GEO-2 Seismic activity could produce sufficient ground shaking to result in liquefaction onsite. This is considered a Class III, less than significant impact. Impact GEO-3 The project involves the construction of a multi- story apartment building and one level of subterranean parking. During construction, the sidewalls of the excavation area could potentially become unstable and fail. Once constructed, groundwater and surface water runoff may collect at the base of the parki ng area and require pumping. The existence of potentially unsafe conditions associated with the construction and operation of the project is considered a Class II, significant but mitigable impact. Impact GEO-4 Native soils in the vicinity of the site consist of sandy to clayey silt and silty to clayey sand, which have a low potential for erosion and expansion hazards. Impacts from expansive soils at this site are Mitigation Measures None required. None required. GEO 3(a) Geotechnical Study. The information obtained from the Geotechnical study performed for the site shall be used to design the excavation and excavation shoring to prevent destabilization of the excavation sidewalls. Recommendations regarding foundation design, retaining wall design, excavations, shoring, and slabs on grade contained in the geotechnical report shall be fully implemented in order to comply with Universal Building Code standards. GEO 3(b) Groundwater Removal Mechanism. The design for the one- level underground parking garage below the apartment building shall consider a mechanism of removing groundwater, if the geotechnical study shows it to be present at this site. The groundwater removal design shall consider historical ranges in depth to groundwater. The removal system shall be designed to prevent the parking garage from flooding and to comply with Universal Building Code standards. GEO-3(c) Waterproofing. All walls of the parking garage shall be waterproofed to protect against corrosive effects of water contact following the recommendations in the geotechnical study. None required. Significance After Mitigation Less than significant. Less than significant. Less than significant. Less than significant. r City of Santa Monica ES-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Executive Summary Table ES-1. Summary of Environmental Impacts, Mitigation Measures, and Residual Impacts considered a Class III, less than significant impact. AIR QUALITY Impact Mitigation Measures Significance After Mitigation Impact AQ-1 The proposed project None required. Less than significant. would incrementally increase air pollutant emissions. However, emissions would not exceed the SCAQMD's daily thresholds. Therefore, the project would have a Class III, less than significant, impact to regional air quality. Impact AQ-2 Project-generated None required. Less than significant. traffic, together with other cumulative traffic in the area, would incrementally increase carbon monoxide levels in the site vicinity. However, because concentrations would remain below state and federal standards, this impact is considered Class III, less than significant. HYDROLOGY AND WA TER QUALITY Impact HWQ-1 Project construction None required. Compliance with the City's Less than significant. would involve the excavation and Urban Runoff Pollution Control Ordinance grading of onsite soils. This would and implementation of a Storm Water potentially result in topsoil loss and Pollution Prevention Plan as required soil erosion, with temporary adverse under the National Pollutant Discharge impacts to surface water quality. Elimination System would ensure that This is considered a Class III, less impacts are less than significant. than significant, impact. Impact HWQ-2 The proposed None required. Less than significant. project would be expected to incrementally reduce the amount of impervious surfaces onsite, which would consequently result in a reduction in the amount of storm water runoff generated onsite. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. Impact HWQ-3 The proposed None required. Compliance with the City's Less than significant. project could contribute urban Urban Runoff Pollution Control Ordinance pollutants to runoff leaving the site, would ensure that impacts are less than which could result in decreased significant. water quality offsite. However, the project is expected to generate fewer pollutants than the current land use on the site; therefore, this is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. NOISE Impact Mitigation Measures Significance After Mitigation Impact N-1 Project-generated traffic None required. Less than significant. would incrementally increase noise levels on Stewart Street and Colorado Avenue. However, the change in r City of Santa Monica ES-4 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Executive Summary Table ES-1. Summary of Environmental Impacts, Mitigation Measures, and Residual Impacts noise levels would be inaudible. Therefore, the effect of increased traffic noise on off-site sensitive receptors is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. Impact N-2 Operation of the proposed None required. project would generate noise levels that may periodically be audible to sensitive receptors near the project site. However, noise levels are not expected to exceed the City's noise ordinance standards. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. TRANSPORTA T10NffRAFFIC Impact T-1 The proposed project would generate approximately 771 net average daily trips during the weekday. The increase in vehicles traveling on the surrounding roadway network would result in a Class II, significant but mitigable, impact to one intersection in the project vicinity, and a Class I, significant and unavoidable impact to three intersections. Impact T-2 The proposed project would increase the average daily traffic on Yale Street and Nebraska Avenue by more than one vehicle per day. This would exceed the City of Santa Monica significance criteria for local streets and result in a Class I, unavoidably significant, impact. Impact T-3 The proposed project would provide 228 parking spaces onsite. This would fulfill the City of Santa Monica parking code requirement of 228 spaces for this type and size of development. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. Impact T-4 Access to the project site would be provided from a two-way driveway on Stewart Street. An additional one-way driveway on Colorado Avenue would allow exiting only. These driveways would provide adequate site access; therefore, impacts relating to site access and circulation are considered Class III, less than significant. Impact T-5 Based on Los Angeles County Congestion Management T-1 Roadway Improvements. The applicant shall be required to implement the following physical and operational improvements to increase the capacity of the roadway system at the affected intersection. Stewart Street and Colorado Avenue. Modify the traffic signal at this location to provide a left-turn phase for the westbound left-turn movement. Implementation of this mitigation measure would necessitate the provision of some combination of new signage, controller cabinets, poles, mast arms, detectors, and/or signal heads. No measures are available to mitigate the potential impacts to the affected segments of Yale Street and Nebraska Avenue. None required. None required. None required. Less than significant. Impacts to Stewart Street/Colorado Avenue would be less than significant after mitigation. Impacts to the intersections of Centinela Avenue/Nebraska Avenue, Stewart Street/Olympic Boulevard, and Yale Street/Colorado Avenue would remain significant and unavoidable. Impacts to Yale Street and Nebraska Avenue would remain unavoidably significant. Less than significant. Less than significant. Less than significant. r City of Santa Monica ES-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Executive Summary Table ES-1. Summary of Environmental Impacts, Mitigation Measures, and Residual Impacts Program (CMP) criteria, the proposed project would result in Class III, less than significant, impacts to CMP identified freeway monitoring segments and arterial intersections. Impact T-6 Although the proposed None required. Less than significant. project would increase the use of transit facilities in the project vicinity, the location of the project near numerous well-established transit routes would likely result in a limited increase in ridership on anyone line. Therefore, impacts to transit facilities are considered Class III, less than significant. HISTORIC RESOURCES Impact Mitigation Measures Significance After Mitigation Impact HR-1 The proposed project None required. Less than significant. would result in the demolition of all of the existing structures onsite. However, the structures are not considered historically significant. Therefore, impacts to historic resources are considered Class III, less than significant. AESTHETICS/SHADOW EFFECTS Impact Mitigation Measures Significance After Mitigation Impact AES-1 The proposed None required. Less than significant project is consistent with the guidelines set forth in the Zoning Ordinance and Land Use Element and would not substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings. Therefore, impacts to visual resources are considered Class III, less than significant. Impact AES-2 The proposed AES-2(a) Shielded Exterior Lighting. Less than significant project would increase light and The applicant shall design exterior glare at the project site over current building lighting to ensure that no light conditions. This is considered Class projects onto adjacent sites. Exterior II, significant but mitigable. siding shall incorporate "cut-off" shields as appropriate to prevent an increase in lighting at adjacent residential uses. AES-2(b) Shielded Landscape Illumination. Landscape illumination and exterior sign lighting shall be accomplished with low level, unobtrusive fixtures. Such lighting shall be shielded to direct light pools away from off site viewers. AES-2(c) Low Glare Materials. Finish materials, including glazing, shall be of a low reflectivity to minimize glare. Development shall include low reflective r City of Santa Monica ES-6 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Executive Summary Table ES-1. Summary of Environmental Impacts, Mitigation Measures, and Residual Impacts roofing materials to reduce glare potential for nearby development that may have downward views of the project's roof. Impact AES-3 The proposed None required. Less than significant residential buildings would cast shadows onto adjacent buildings, particularly in the wintertime. However, affected buildings are either not sun-sensitive or would not be affected for a significant part of the day. Impacts would be Class III, less than significant. POPULA TlON AND HOUSING Impact Mitigation Measures Significance After Mitigation Impact PH-1 The proposed project None required. Less than significant would add 145 housing units and an estimated 265 residents within the City. Because these increases are within citywide projections, this impact is considered Class III, less than significant. Impact PH-2 The proposed project None required. Less than significant could be found to be consistent with applicable Housing Element policies. Impacts relating to Housing Element consistency are considered Class III, less than significant. PUBLIC SERVICES Impact Mitigation Measures Significance After Mitigation Impact PS-1 The proposed project None required. Less than significant would be expected to generate additional school-age students. However, with payment of required school impact fees, impacts would be reduced to a Class III, less than significant, level. Impact PS-2 The proposed project None required. Less than significant would incrementally increase demands on the Santa Monica Fire Department. However, the increase would not significantly affect service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives and would not require the construction of new fire protection facilities. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. Impact PS-3 The proposed project None required. Less than significant would incrementally increase demands on the Santa Monica Police Department. However, the increase would not significantly affect service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives and would not require the construction of new police protection facilities. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. r City of Santa Monica ES-7 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Executive Summary Table ES-1. Summary of Environmental Impacts, Mitigation Measures, and Residual Impacts CONSTRUCTION EFFECTS Impact Mitigation Measures Significance After Mitigation Impact CON-1 Project construction CON-1 Construction Impact Mitigation Less than significant would temporarily increase truck Plan. The applicant shall prepare and traffic in the project area, which implement a Construction Impact Mitigation could disrupt the normal use of Plan to provide for traffic and parking sidewalks and roadways along the capacity management during construction. project boundaries, and also affect This plan shall be subject to review and parking availability. This is approval by the City and, at a minimum, considered a Class II, significant but shall include the following: mitigable impact. . A public information program to advise motorists of impending construction activities (e.g., media coverage, portable message signs, and information signs at the construction site); . Approval from the City, or Caltrans if required, for any construction detours or construction work requiring encroachment into public rights-of-way, or any other street use activity (e.g., haul routes); . Timely notification of construction schedules to all affected agencies (e.g., Police Department, Fire Department, Department of Public Works, Department of Planning and Community Development, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, and transit agencies); . Coordination of construction work with affected agencies five to ten days prior to start of work; . A traffic control plan for the streets surrounding the work area, which includes specific information regarding the project's construction and activities that will disrupt normal traffic flow; . Minimizing dirt and demolition material hauling and construction material delivery during the morning and afternoon peak traffic periods and cleaning of streets and equipment as necessary; . Scheduling and expediting of work to cause the least amount of disruption and interference to the adjacent vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow. Weekday daytime work on City streets shall primarily be performed between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM; . Li miti ng of queui ng of trucks to on-site and prohibition of truck queuing on area roadways; . Scheduling of preconstruction meetings with affected agencies to properly plan r City of Santa Monica ES-8 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Executive Summary Table ES-1. Summary of Environmental Impacts, Mitigation Measures, and Residual Impacts methods of controlling traffic through work areas; . Storage of construction material and equipment within the designated work area and limitation of equipment and material visibility to the public; and . Provision of off-street parking construction workers, which may include the use of a remote location with sh utile transport to the site, if determined necessary by the City of Santa Monica. Impact CON-2 Project construction CON-2(a) Dust Minimization. Dust Implementation of the measures would generate a temporary generated by the development activities would reduce construction-related increase in air pollutant emissions. shall be kept to a minimum with a goal of emissions to the degree feasible. Worst-case daily emissions would retaining dust on the site as follows: Emissions of NOx and fugitive dust exceed established SCAQMD would be below SCAQMD thresholds for ROC. Therefore, . During clearing, grading, earth significance thresholds. However, impacts are considered Class I, moving, excavation, or transportation worst-case daily ROC emissions significant and unavoidable. of cut or fill materials, water trucks or associated with the application of sprinkler systems are to be used to architectural coatings would prevent dust from leaving the site and continue to exceed the SCAQMD to create a crust after each day's significance threshold for that activities cease. pollutant. Therefore, the impact . During clearing, grading, earth during the painting phase of moving, excavation, or transportation construction would remain of cut or fill materials streets and unavoidably significant. sidewalks within 150 feet of the site perimeter shall be swept and cleaned a minimum of twice weekly. . During construction, water trucks or sprinkler systems shall be used to keep all areas of vehicle movement damp enough to prevent dust from leaving the site. At a minimum, this would include wetting down such areas in the later morning and after work is completed for the day and whenever wind exceeds 15 miles per hour. . Soil stockpiled for more than two days shall be covered, kept moist, or treated with soil binders to prevent dust generation. CON-2(b) Construction Equipment Conditions. Any construction equipment used on the site must meet the following conditions in order to reduce NOx emissions: . The number of pieces of equipment operating simultaneously must be minimized through efficient management practices; . Construction equipment must be maintained in tune per manufacturer's specifications; . Equipment shall be equipped with 2 to r City of Santa Monica ES-9 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Executive Summary Impact CON-3 Project construction could potentially result in the erosion and sedimentation of soils offsite, with temporary adverse impacts to water quality. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. Impact CON-4 Project construction would intermittently generate high noise levels on and adjacent to the site. This may affect sensitive receptors near the project site. This is considered a Class II, significant but mitigable, impact. Table ES-1. Summary of Environmental Impacts, Mitigation Measures, and Residual Impacts 4-degree engine timing retard or precombustion chamber engines; . Catalytic converters shall be installed, if feasible; and . Diesel-powered equipment such as booster pumps or generators should be replaced by electric equipment, if feasible. . NOx emissions during construction shall be reduced by limiting the operation of heavy duty construction equipment to no more than 5 pieces of equipment at anyone time. CON-2(c) Low-VOC Coatings. Low- VOC architectural coatings shall be used in construction whenever feasible and shall coordinate with the SCAQMD to determine which coatings would reduce VOC emissions to the maximum degree feasible. None required. Compliance with the Less than significant. City's Urban Runoff Pollution Control Ordinance and implementation of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan as required under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System would ensure that impacts are less than significant. CON-4(a) Diesel Equipment Mufflers. Less than significant. All diesel equipment shall be operated with closed engine doors and shall be equipped with factory recommended mufflers. CON-4(b) Electrically-Powered Tools. Electrical power shall be used to run air compressors and similar power tools. CON-4(c) Additional Noise Attenuation Techniques. For all noise generating construction activity on the project site, additional noise attenuation techniques shall be employed to reduce noise levels to City of Santa Monica noise standards. Such techniques may include, but are not limited to, the use of sound blankets on noise generating equipment and the construction of temporary sound barriers between construction sites and nearby sensitive receptors. CON-4(d) Construction Sign Posting. In accordance with Municipal Code Section 4.12.210, the project applicant shall be required to post a sign informing all workers and subcontractors of the time restrictions for construction activities. The sign shall also include the r ES-10 City of Santa Monica 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Executive Summary Table ES-1. Summary of Environmental Impacts, Mitigation Measures, and Residual Impacts City telephone numbers where violations can be reported and complaints associated with construction noise can be submitted. r City of Santa Monica ES-11 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 1.0 Introduction 1.0 INTRODUCTION This document is a Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed 2834 Colorado Avenue project. The proposed project involves the construction of a 145-unit apartment complex with a one-level subterranean garage containing 228 parking spaces. This section includes a discussion of the environmental impact report background, the legal basis for preparing an EIR, the scope and content of the EIR, lead, responsible, and trustee agencies, and the environmental review process required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The project is described in greater detail in Section 2.0, Project Description. 1.1 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT BACKGROUND A Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an environmental impact report was prepared for the proposed project and distributed for agency and public review for the required 30-day review period on June 10, 2003. The NOP and responses to the NOP are presented in Appendix A, along with the Initial Study that was also prepared for the project. 1.2 PURPOSE AND LEGAL AUTHORITY The proposed project requires the discretionary approval of the City of Santa Monica Planning Commission and City Council. Therefore, it is subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In accordance with Section 15121 of the State of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the purpose of this EIR is to serve as an informational document that: ...will inform public agency decision-makers and the public generally of the significant environmental effects of a project, identify possible ways to minimize the significant effects, and describe reasonable alternatives to the project. This EIR has been prepared as a Project EIR pursuant to Section 15161 of the CEQA Guidelines. A Project EIR is appropriate for a specific development project. As stated in the CEQA Guidelines: This type of EIR should focus primarily on the changes in the environment that would result from the development project. The EIR shall examine all phases of the project, including planning, construction, and operation. This EIR is to serve as an informational document for the public and City of Santa Monica decision-makers. The process will culminate with Planning Commission and City Council hearings to consider certification of a Final EIR and approval of the project. 1.3 SCOPE AND CONTENT This EIR addresses the issues determined to be potentially significant by the City of Santa Monica and responses to the NOP. The issues addressed in this EIR include: r City of Santa Monica 1-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 1.0 Introduction . Geology and Soils . Air Quality . Hydrology and Water Quality . Noise . T ransporta tionfT raffi c . Historical Resources . Aesthetics/Shadow Effects . Population and Housing . Public Services . Construction Effects . Neighborhood Effects This EIR addresses the issues referenced above and identifies the potentially significant environmental impacts, including site-specific and cumulative effects of the project, in accordance with the provisions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines. In addition, the EIR recommends feasible mitigation measures, where possible, that would reduce or eliminate adverse environmental effects. In preparing the EIR, use was made of pertinent City policies and guidelines, certified EIRs and adopted CEQA documents, and background documents prepared by the City. A full reference list is contained in Section 7.0, References and Report Preparers. The Alternatives Section of the EIR (Section 6.0) was prepared in accordance with Section 15126.6 of the CEQA Guidelines. The alternatives discussion evaluates the CEQA-required "no project" alternative and two alternative development scenarios for the site. It also identifies the environmentally superior alternative among the alternatives assessed. The level of detail contained throughout this EIR is consistent with the requirements of CEQA and applicable court decisions. The CEQA Guidelines provide the standard of adequacy on which this document is based. The Guidelines state: An EIR should be prepared with a sufficient degree of analysis to provide decision-makers with information which enables them to make a decision which intelligently takes account of environmental consequences. An evaluation of the environmental effects of the proposed project need not be exhaustive, but the sufficiency of an EIR is to be reviewed in 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. (Section 15151) 1.4 LEAD, RESPONSIBLE, AND TRUSTEE AGENCIES The State CEQA Guidelines define lead, responsible and trustee agencies. The City of Santa Monica is the lead agency for the project because it holds principal responsibility for approving the project. r City of Santa Monica 1-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 1.0 Introduction A responsible agency refers to a public agency other than the lead agency that has discretionary approval over the project, and a trustee agency refers to a state agency having jurisdiction by law over natural resources affected by a project. The Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) is a responsible agency for this project because the project requires a permit from RWQCB for construction. There are no trustee agencies for this project. 1.5 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS The major steps in the environmental review process, as required under CEQA, are outlined below and illustrated on Figure 1-1. The steps are presented in sequential order. 1. Notice of Preparation (NOP). After deciding that an EIR is required, the lead agency must file an NOP soliciting input on the EIR scope to the State Clearinghouse, other concerned agencies, and parties previously requesting notice in writing (CEQA Guidelines Section 15082; Public Resources Code Section 21092.2). The NOP must be posted in the County Clerk's office for 30 days. The NOP may be accompanied by an Initial Study that identifies the issue areas for which the proposed project could create significant environmental impacts. 2. Draft Environmental Impact Report (DElR) Prepared. The DEIR must contain: a) table of contents or index; b) summary; c) project description; d) environmental setting; e) discussion of significant impacts (direct, indirect, cumulative, growth-inducing and unavoidable impacts); f) a discussion of alternatives; g) mitigation measures; and h) discussion of irreversible changes. 3. Notice of Completion. A lead agency must file a Notice of Completion with the State Clearinghouse when it completes a Draft EIR and prepare a Public Notice of Availability of a Draft EIR. The lead agency must place the Notice in the County Clerk's office for 30 days (Public Resources Code Section 21092) and send a copy of the Notice to anyone requesting it (CEQA Guidelines Section 15087). Additionally, public notice of DEIR availability must be given through at least one of the following procedures: a) publication in a newspaper of general circulation; b) posting on and off the project site; and c) direct mailing to owners and occupants of contiguous properties. The lead agency must solicit input from other agencies and the public, and respond in writing to all comments received (Public Resources Code Sections 21104 and 21253). The minimum public review period for a DEIR is 30 days. When a Draft EIR is sent to the State Clearinghouse for review, the public review period must be 45 days unless the Clearinghouse (Public Resources Code 21091) approves a shorter period. 4. Final ElR. A Final EIR must include: a) the Draft EIR; b) copies of comments received during public review; c) list of persons and entities commenting; and d) responses to comments. 5. Certification of FElR. Prior to making a decision on a proposed project, the lead agency must certify that: a) the FEIR has been completed in compliance with CEQA; b) the Final EIR was presented to the decision-making body of the lead agency; and c) the decision-making body reviewed and considered the information in the Final EIR prior to approving a project (CEQA Guidelines Section 15090). r City of Santa Monica 1-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 1.0 Introduction Lead Agency (City of Santa Monica) prepares Initial Study . City sends Notice of Preparation (NOP) to responsible agencies City prepares Draft EIR City solicits input from Agencies & Public on the content of the Draft EIR City files Notice of Completion and gives public notice of availability of Draft EIR -, . Public Review Period City solicits comment from Agencies & (45 day minimum) I-- Public on the adequacy of the Draft EIR City prepares Final EIR, including ...J responses to comments on the Draft EIR --------------- Responsible Agency decision-making bodies consider the Final EIR City prepares findings on the feasibility of reducing significant environmental effects . City makes a decision on the project . City files Notice of Determination with County Clerk Environmental Review Process Figure 1-1 City of Santa Monica ~ 1-4 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 1.0 Introduction 6. Lead Agency Project Decision. A lead agency may: a) disapprove a project because of its significant environmental effects; b) require changes to a project to reduce or avoid significant environmental effects; or c) approve a project despite its significant environmental effects, if the proper findings and statement of overriding considerations are adopted (CEQA Guidelines Sections 15042 and 15043). 7. Findings/Statement of Overriding Considerations. For each significant impact of the project identified in the EIR, the lead or responsible agency must find, based on substantial evidence, that either: a) the project has been changed to avoid or substantially reduce the magnitude of the impact; b) changes to the project are within another agency's jurisdiction and such changes have or should be adopted; or c) specific economic, social, or other considerations make the mitigation measures or project alternatives infeasible (CEQA Guidelines Section 15091). If an agency approves a project with unavoidable significant environmental effects, it must prepare a written Statement of Overriding Considerations that sets forth the specific social, economic, or other reasons supporting the agency's decision. 8. Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program. When an agency makes findings on significant effects identified in the EIR, it must adopt a reporting or monitoring program for mitigation measures that were adopted or made conditions of project approval to mitigate significant effects. 9. Notice of Determination. An agency must file a Notice of Determination after deciding to approve a project for which an EIR is prepared (CEQA Guidelines Section 15094). A local agency must file the Notice with the County Clerk. The Notice must be posted for 30 days and sent to anyone previously requesting notice. Posting of the Notice starts a 30-day statute of limitations on CEQA legal challenges (Public Resources Code Section 21167[c]). r City of Santa Monica 1-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 2.0 Project Description 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 2.1 PROJECT APPLICANT Colorado Creative Studios, LLC 11601 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1900 Los Angeles, CA 90025 2.2 PROJECT LOCATION The project site is located in the western portion of Los Angeles County, in the City of Santa Monica. As shown on Figure 2-1 (Regional Vicinity), and Figure 2-2 (Project Location), the project site is regionally accessible from Interstate 10 (the Santa Monica Freeway) and State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway). The site consists of an approximately 1.76-acre (76,800 square feet) rectangular parcel located at the southeast corner of Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street. 2.3 EXISTING SITE CHARACTERISTICS The project site is occupied by two rows of one- and two-story warehouse buildings built primarily between 1948 and 1969, with some smaller buildings and additions built through 1983. The buildings contain approximately 38,000 square feet of light industrial uses, including auto repair shops, general contracting, welding, and machine shops. A parking area is located between the rows of buildings. The site is zoned LMSD, Light Manufacturing and Studio District. Surrounding land uses include single- and multi-family residential development to the northwest across Colorado Avenue, studio-related commercial uses to the southwest across Stewart Street, and light industrial and office uses to the northeast and southeast. Figures 2-3 and 2-4 show the existing site conditions and surrounding land uses. 2.4 PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS The proposed project consists of the development of a 145-unit apartment complex at the southeast corner of Colorado A venue and Stewart Street. One level of subterranean parking containing 228 parking spaces would also be provided. The buildings onsite would be demolished in association with project development. Table 2-1 summarizes the project characteristics. The proposed site plan is shown on Figure 2-5. The project would consist of 29 studio units, 109 one-bedroom units, and seven two-bedroom units contained within 18 buildings varying in height from two to four stories. Fifteen of the one-bedroom units would be deed-restricted for occupancy by very low-income residents. The buildings would be arranged around three interior courtyards, the middle of which would contain a pool, office, pool lounge, and community room. The building frontages along Stewart Street and Colorado Avenue would be enhanced with visually interesting features, including patios and landscaping. The proposed building layout is shown on Figure 2-6 and building elevations are shown on Figure 2-7 and 2-8. rr City of Santa Monica 2-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 2.0 Project Description Table 2-1 Summary of Project Characteristics Lot Size 1.76 acres (76,800 square feet) Total Floor Area 115,150 sf Floor Area Ratio 1.49 Maximum Building Height 45 feet Number of Levels Above Grade 2 to 4 levels Number of Levels Below Grade 1 level Parking Spaces 228 Source: RTK & Associates, 2003. Parking would be provided in a one-level, 228-space subterranean parking garage. Access to the parking garage would be provided via a 20-foot wide, two-way driveway on Stewart Street. A second 12-foot wide driveway on Colorado Avenue would be designated as exit only and would be restricted to right-turn movements only. Of the 228 parking spaces to be provided, 29 spaces would be designated for visitors, 12 of which would be compact. A loading area would be provided at the southern end of the project site and would be accessible from Stewart Street. Approximately 3,800 square feet of landscaping is proposed along the street fronts and within the interior courtyards. 2.5 PROJECTED CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE It is anticipated that construction of the project would commence in late-2004. The site preparation phase is anticipated to last about four months. Building completion is estimated for early 2006. However, the construction schedule could be extended depending on weather conditions and their effect on development. It is anticipated that the project would be constructed in a single phase. 2.6 PROJECT OBJECTIVES · To construct a viable multi-family housing development in the LMSD zone of the City . To augment the low-income housing opportunities for City residents . To create a housing complex with an architecturally unified development theme and attractive open space areas 2.7 REQUIRED APPROVALS The proposed project would require the discretionary approval of the City of Santa Monica Planning Commission and City Council prior to initiating construction. Specifically, the following approvals would be required: . Certification of the Final EIR . Approval of a Development Review Permit rr City of Santa Monica 2-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 2.0 Project Description . Moorpark N A o 2.5 5 I I 10 Miles I Regional Location Figure 2-1 City of Santa Monica rr 2-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 2.0 Project Description N A Source: National Geographic TOPO, Beverly Hills, CA 1995 o 1000 2000 ~ Scale in Feet Project Location Figure 2-2 City of Santa Monica r" 2-4 0:: c: LlJ 0 -+---; U c.. al .- ,~"- o CJ '- 1Il 0... Q) ale ::J_ c CJ al Q) > ..... <( 0 "- aD.. -0 CIle '- . 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('oj " CJ 0 ,.., :!!! '" 5bs c c ~ .~ " 0 0 .8 ~ .. '" '@ '@ ..... ... ro 0 > > :> ~ Q) Q) <lJ U ill ill Gl ....... ..... '"' Ci3 '" ro N S ~ Q) ~ t5 ..... .... ro ~ <lJ ..... rJ'J M " " '" I ~ .~ " '" 1i ~ j 1" I" c o " ~ n: " ~.. 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 2.0 Project Description ALUMINUM o 15 30 ~ Scale in Feet Source: Robinson / Takahashi / Katz & Associates, January 2003 Colorado & South Elevations Figure 2-8 City of Santa Monica r 2-15 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 2.0 Project Description . Approval of a Text Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance by the City Council, as described below . Architectural Review Board Approval . Review of a Demolition Permit by the Landmarks Commission . Issuance of Building Permits According to the City of Santa Monica Zoning Ordinance, the LMSD zone is "intended to preserve existing light industrial uses, provide a location for studio-related uses such as film and music production and post-production facilities, and provide opportunities for artist studio live/work residential development." Various types of development are permitted in this zone, including auto repair facilities, dance studios, manufacturing establishments, and congregate housing. Multi-family residential housing is not currently permitted by right or conditionally permitted. Therefore, the proposed project is requesting a text amendment to allow multi- family residential uses in the LMSD zone subject to a conditional use permit. The amendment would apply to all properties that are within the LMSD zone. The language proposed by the applicant would allow multi-family dwelling units to be included with those uses that are subject to a 45-foot height limit and a maximum floor to area ratio (FAR) of 1.5. No other Zoning Ordinance changes are being proposed. rr City of Santa Monica 2-16 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 3.0 Environmental Setting 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING This section provides a general overview of the environmental setting for the project. More detailed descriptions of the environmental setting for each environmental issue area can be found in Section 4.0, Environmental Impact Analysis. 3.1 REGIONAL SETTING The project site is located in the City of Santa Monica in western Los Angeles County, within the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area (refer to Figure 2-1, Regional Vicinity, and Figure 2-2, Project Location). Santa Monica is approximately 10 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. The City is bounded to the north, east, and south by neighborhoods within the City of Los Angeles and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. Santa Monica is almost entirely developed, with only 1 % vacant land. The Mediterranean climate of the region and coastal influence produce moderate temperatures year round, with rainfall concentrated in the winter months. The region is subject to various natural hazards, including earthquakes, landslides, and wildfires. 3.2 PROJECT SITE SETTING The project site consists of an approximately 1.76-acre (76,800 square foot) rectangular parcel located at the southeast corner of Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street. The site is currently developed with several warehouse-type industrial buildings that house a variety of commercial and light industrial businesses. The project site is located in an urbanized setting. The general vicinity of the project is completely developed and contains a mix of residential, office, and light industrial uses. Uses to the northwest of the site across Colorado Avenue include single- and multi-family residential development. Uses to the southwest of the site across Stewart Street include offices and production studios. Adjacent to the site to the northeast and southeast are light industrial and manufacturing uses and some commercial development. The Interstate 10 freeway is located approximately 1f2-mile southeast of the project site. 3.3 CUMULATIVE PROJECTS SETTING CEQA defines "cumulative impacts" as two or more individual events that, when considered together, are considerable or will compound other environmental impacts. Cumulative impacts are the changes in the environment that result from the incremental impact of development of the proposed project and other nearby projects. For example, traffic impacts of two nearby projects may be insignificant when analyzed separately, but could have a significant impact when analyzed together. Cumulative impact analysis allows the EIR to provide a reasonable forecast of future environmental conditions and can more accurately gauge the effects of a series of projects. Known planned and pending projects in the City of Santa Monica are listed in Table 3-1. Table 3-2 lists regionally significant projects and projects outside the City. These projects are considered in the cumulative analyses in Section 4.0, Environmental Impact Analysis. rr City of Santa Monica 3-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 3.0 Environmental Setting Table 3-1 Cumulative Projects in the City of Santa Monica Project Name/Location Total Size Status Affordable Apartments 44 du AA 2209 Main Street Affordable Apartments 44 du PP 2601 Santa Monica Boulevard Airport Park Expansion 6 acres (park) EIR Douglas Loop Assisted Living Facility 81 rooms UC 1312 15th Street Auto Dealership Expansion 39,064 sf EIR 3300 Olympic Boulevard Bubba Gump 9,020 sf restaurant PC 301 Santa Monica Pier Commercial Bldg. 19,606 sf UC 1217 2nd Street Commercial Bldg. 19,155 sf UC 1221-23 2nd Street Condominium Complex 5 du PP 1032 3rd Street Condominium Complex 5 du PP 944 5th Street Condominium Complex 17 du CC 1544 ih Street Condominium Complex 5 du PP 839 9th Street Condominium Complex 5 du PC 1027 10th Street Condominium Complex 5 du PC 1750 10th Street Condominium Complex 5 du BP 911 1ih Street Condominium Complex 12 du RC 1544-1548 1 ih Street Condominium Complex 8 du RC 849-53 14th Street Condominium Complex 6 du PC 1415 16th Street Condominium Complex 5 du PC 1520 16th Street Condominium Complex 5 du PP 1537 16th Street Condominium Complex 10 du RC 1534-1538 1 ih Street Condominium Complex 5 du BP 837 -39 18th Street Condominium Complex 5 du BP 838 19th Street Condominium Complex PC 923 20th Street 5 du rr City of Santa Monica 3-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 3.0 Environmental Setting Table 3-1 Cumulative Projects in the City of Santa Monica Project Name/Location Total Size Status Condominium Complex 5 du PC 2031 21st Street Condominium Complex 4 du PC 1254 24th Street Condominium Complex 10 du CC 2512 28th Street Condominium Complex 11 du PC 1513-1517 Berkeley Street Condominium Complex 8 du PP 1311 Centinela Avenue Condominium Complex 5 du PC 1234 Frankli n Condominium Complex 6 du PP 2015 Idaho Avenue Condominium Complex 9 du RC 934-938 Lincoln Boulevard Condominium Complex 5 du CC 1719 Ocean Front Walk Condominium Complex 8 du PP 1528-30 Princeton Euclid Park 15,000 sf (park) 1525 Euclid Hotel 75 rooms wi subterranean RC 1249-1255 20th Street parking Lantana East 64,108 sf wi 438 parking PP 3030 Olympic Boulevard spaces Lantana South 130,050 sf wi 520 parking PP 3131 Exposition Boulevard spaces Library Expansion 66,000 sf with PC 1343 6th Street and 1340 ih Street 49,700 sf parking structure Mayfair Theater Site 45,000 sf EIR 210 Santa Monica Boulevard McDonald's Mixed Use 68,810 sf CC 1540 2nd Street Mixed-Use Project 7,250 sf AA 430 Arizona Avenue 39 du Mixed-Use Project 2012-2024 Main Street 107 du/11 ,549 sf PC 2021-2029 Main Street 26 du/6,553 sf Mixed-Use Project 900 sf PP 1351 5th Street 16 du Mixed-Use Building 1,947 sf AA 1411 ih Street 52 du Mixed-Use Project 9,000 sf AA 212 Marine Street 24 du Mixed-Use Project 5,086 sf AA 1410 5th Street 56 du Mixed-Use Project 2,846 sf PP 1442 5th Street 50 du rr City of Santa Monica 3-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 3.0 Environmental Setting Table 3-1 Cumulative Projects in the City of Santa Monica Project Name/Location Total Size Status Mixed-Use Project 3,860 sf AA 1450 5th Street 56 du Mixed-Use Project 1,647 sf BP 1234 6th Street 48 du Mixed-Use Project 1,881 sf BP 1528 6th Street 48 du Mixed-Use Project 1,540 sf BP 1531 6th Street 48 du Mixed-Use Project 2,527 sf BP 1540 6th Street 48 du Mixed-Use Project 5,900 sf AA 606 Broadway 53 du Mixed-Use Project 449 sf PP 1906 Broadway 32 du Multi-Family Residential 26 du BP 1522 6th Street Multi-Family Residential 26 du BP 1537 ih Street New Roads School 115,300 sf EIR 3131 Olympic Boulevard Pier Bridge Widening & Pier Ramp Widen pier bridge by 11 feet Colorado Avenue/Santa Monica and construct ramp to Lot 1 EIR Pier North Production /Live-Work Building 34,000 sf live-work w/ parking PP 1818 Stanford Street garage Production Office/Residential 9,438 sf office PP 1630 Stewart Street 9,534 sf residential RAND 308,900 sf UC 1700 Main Street Santa Monica College Replacement Parking Structure "B" 60,300 sf/490 parking spaces UC 1900 Pico Boulevard Civic Center Parking Structure 885 parking spaces EIR 1685 Main Street 12,500 sf retail Santa Monica Public Safety Facility 118,700 sf UC 1685 Main Street Santa Monica/UCLA Hospital 500,000 sf UC 1502 Wilshire Boulevard St. John's Medical Center & Master Plan 1,274,000 sf (max) ARB/UC 1328 22nd Street Transportation Facility Master Plan 48,000 sf CC Colorado Avenue Virginia Avenue Park Expansion Pico Boulevard/Cloverfield 3.65 acres (park) ARB Boulevard Status: AA = Administrative Approval; ARB = Architectural Review Board; BP = Building Permit (not yet under construction); CC = City Council Approval; DA = Development Agreement; EIR = pending Environmental Impact Report; PC = Planning Commission Approval; PP = Permit Pending (no approvals granted); RC = Recently Completed; UC = Under Construction; du = dwelling unit; nla = not available; sf = square feet Source: City of Santa Monica Planning & Community Development Department, June 2003. rr City of Santa Monica 3-4 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 3.0 Environmental Setting Table 3-2 Cumulative Projects - Regionally Significant and Outside of City Project Name/Location Total Size Status Costco Glencoe Avenue & Washington 181,000 sf CC Boulevard Mixed-Use Project 197,000 sf 1430 Lincoln Blvd. at California 280 du Proposed Avenue Lincoln/Fiji Apartments 500 du CC 4750 Lincoln Boulevard Marina Point/Channel Gateway 812 du CC 4251 Lincoln Boulevard Playa Vista Phases I 3,246 du Lincoln Boulevard/Jefferson UC Boulevard 3,354,900 sf Retail/Office Building 146,700 sf Proposed NE corner of Wilshire/Barrington Office Olympic Boulevard/Centinela 250,000 sf Proposed Avenue J. Paul Getty Museum/Getty Villa 600 seats Proposed (theater) UC = Under Construction CC = Construction Completed du = dwelling unit sf = square feet Source: City of Santa Monica Planning & Community Development Department, 2003. rr City of Santa Monica 3-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.0 Environmental Impact Analysis 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS This section discusses the possible environmental effects of the proposed project for the specific issue areas that were identified through the Initial Study and NOP process as having the potential to experience significant impacts. "Significant effect" is defined by the State CEQA Guidelines S15382 as "a substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse change in any of the physical conditions within the area affected by the project including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and objects of historic or aesthetic significance. An economic or social change by itself shall not be considered a significant effect on the environment, but may be considered in determining whether the physical change is significant." The assessment of each issue area begins with a discussion of the setting relevant to that issue area. Following the setting is a discussion of the project's impacts relative to the issue area. Within the impact analysis, the first subsection identifies the methodologies used and the "significance thresholds," which are those criteria adopted by the City, other agencies, universally recognized, or developed specifically for this analysis to determine whether potential impacts are significant. The next subsection describes each impact of the proposed project, mitigation measures for significant impacts, and the level of significance after mitigation. Each impact under consideration for an issue area is separately listed in bold text, with the discussion of the impact and its significance following. Each bolded impact listing also contains a statement of the significance determination for the environmental impact as follows: Class I, Significant and Unavoidable: An impact that cannot be reduced to below the threshold level given reasonably available and feasible mitigation measures. Such an impact requires a Statement of Overriding Considerations to be issued if the project is approved. Class II, Significant but Mitigable: An impact that can be reduced to below the threshold level given reasonably available and feasible mitigation measures. Such an impact requires findings to be made. Class III, Not Significant: An impact that may be adverse, but does not exceed the threshold levels and does not require mitigation measures. However, mitigation measures that could further lessen the environmental effect may be suggested if readily available and easily achievable. Class IV, Beneficial: An impact that would reduce existing environmental problems or hazards. Following each environmental impact discussion is a listing of recommended mitigation measures (if required) and the residual effects or level of significance remaining after the implementation of the measures. In those cases where the mitigation measure for an impact could have a significant environmental impact in another issue area, this impact is discussed as a residual effect. The impact analysis concludes with a discussion of cumulative effects, which evaluates the impacts associated with the proposed project in conjunction with other future development in the area. r City of Santa Monica 4-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.1 Geology and Soils 4.1 GEOLOGY AND SOILS 4.1.1 Setting The City of Santa Monica lies within the northwestern Coastal Plain of the Los Angeles Basin. The landward portion of the Los Angeles Basin is bounded to the north by the Santa Monica Mountains, Elysian Hills, and Repetto Hills, to the east by the Merced Hills, Puente Hills, and Santa Ana Mountains, and to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean. The Santa Monica Mountains are part of the Transverse Ranges Geomorphic Province, which is characterized by east-west trending faults, folds and mountain ranges. The Santa Ana Mountains and adjacent hills are part of the Peninsular Ranges Geomorphic Province, which is characterized by northwest-southeast trending faults, folds and mountain ranges. Both of these provinces are considered seismically active. The project site is located on the southeast corner of Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street. Ground elevation is about 165 feet above mean sea level and the site slopes gently to the south at an average gradient of 1-5% slope (Asbestos, Environment & Safety, January 6, 2000). a. Regional Geology. The faulting and seismicity of Southern California is dominated by the compressionary regime associated with the intersection of the San Andreas Fault Zone and the Garlock Fault. The San Andreas Fault Zone separates two tectonic plates. The western side of the fault is the Pacific Plate and the eastern side of the fault is the North American Plate. The Pacific Plate is moving in a northwesterly direction relative to the North American Plate. The San Andreas Fault generally trends northwest to southeast. However, north of the Transverse Ranges Province, the fault trends more in an east-west direction, causing the fault's right-lateral strike-slip movement to produce north-south compression between the two plates. This compression has produced rapid uplift of many of the mountain ranges in Southern California. North-south compression in southern California has been estimated at between 5 to 20 millimeters per year (SCEC, 1995). Quaternary age (within the last 1.6 million years) unconsolidated and semi-consolidated sediments are over 1,000 feet thick in some localities of the Coastal Plain. These sediments are approximately 400 feet thick in the eastern Santa Monica area (SCDWR, 1988). The Quaternary sediments are underlain by Tertiary (1.6 to 65 million years old) age rocks. The Tertiary material is principally composed of marine sediments of the Pico, Repetto, Monterey and Topanga formations that filled the basin when it was below sea level. The Coastal Plain of the Los Angeles Basin is sub-divided into several groundwater basins. The divisions of these groundwater basins are caused by geologic features such as non-water bearing bedrock, faults and other features that impede the flow of groundwater. The project site is within the Santa Monica sub-basin, which is bounded by the Santa Monica Mountains to the north, the Ballona Escarpment to the south, the Inglewood Fault to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west (SCDWR, 1988). Groundwater extends from the Recent (within the last 10,000 years) alluvium down to the fractured Tertiary sediments (SCDWR, 1988). Groundwater movement in the basin is generally toward the south, with some minor subsurface flow toward the west near the City of Santa Monica (SCDWR, 1988). rr City of Santa Monica 4.1-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.1 Geology and Soils b. Site Geology. The project site is located in the southern portion of the gently sloping Santa Monica Plain (SCDWR, 1988). The plain was formed from several alluvial fans building out from the Santa Monica Mountains to the north and is dissected by several streams draining from the Santa Monica Mountains. According to the Geologic Map of the Beverly Hills-Van Nuys (South 1f2) Quadrangle (Dibblee, 1991), the site is located on Quaternary-age alluvial gravel, sand, silt, and clay derived mainly from the Santa Monica Mountains and also includes gravels and sands of stream channels. These Quaternary-age sediments overlie Tertiary-age marine bedrock units of the Monterey and Fernando formations. Geotechnologies, Inc. (August 9, 2000) completed exploratory soil borings for the site to depths between 30 and 60 feet below grade. The material encountered in the boreholes was mainly comprised of silt and clay with some lenses of silty sand and sand. c. Seismic Hazards. Seismic Potential. The 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC) defines different regions of the United States and ranks them according to their seismic hazard potential. Four regions have been established. These are designated as Seismic Zones 1 through 4, with Zone 1 having the least seismic potential and Zone 4 having the highest seismic potential. The project site is within Seismic Zone 4. The proximity of active faults is such that the project area has experienced and will continue to experience strong seismically induced ground motion. The U.S. Geological Survey defines active faults as those that have had surface displacement within Holocene time (about the last 11,000 years). Surface displacement can be recognized by the existence of cliffs in alluvium, terraces, offset stream courses, fault troughs and saddles, the alignment of depressions, sag ponds, and the existence of steep mountain fronts. Potentially active faults are those that have had surface displacement during the last 1.6 million years. Inactive faults have not had surface displacement within the last 1.6 million years. Figure 4.1-1 depicts the geological hazards near the site. Several active and potentially active faults are located in the regional site vicinity (see Figure 4.1-2). These nearby faults include (Santa Monica Safety Element, Technical Appendices, 1995): . San Andreas . Newport-Inglewood-North Branch . Santa Monica . Malibu Coast . Palos Verdes Hills . Cabrillo . San Pedro Basin . Whittier . Northridge . San Fernando . Raymond Hill In addition to these faults, other seismic sources that could potentially affect the area include the Torrance-Wilmington and the Elysian Park fold and thrust belts. These are named "buried thrust faults" because they are not exposed at the surface. rr City of Santa Monica 4.1-2 0::: W..!!! 13"iS lllOO 0' ...."'C 0... C I'll III >. :;l CI c: 0 lll_ ~ g .gl!l ro.... '- . 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Ii , ~-- :o:t' /8 I,' <!J. I' ,-----@.- ~f";-' ::!.l1 "" \, ' I.l; 1 .' , I ......--'-' ~... I' oz.\ . ,_' ,!.~ V.... ."'. \ · ,\ .., "",,,if' 1...-'" --- ",' II; ,i"'", ~ \ ' ",,' I . 1 ' .- ~4,.. ~ _.....""'..."t'/I'/1 ' .l t:: d ..~ /' ., . .= ...-,: /' ,.. I { < = ........... ~ ,I 5 ",l I ; 0 n . ~,I < . ./ U, , . ~ ' ' I r.' I ". " " · .., u ~ I. ~ ..~,'-' ::d,/' < ~ < ,E< ,I ~ ~ ~ i '" ~ 17 ~ ~. ,'-.} ~ III ~ II " ~ ~ f U !::! oq ~ ~ (fj ii:l; ~ (fj 'l: o ~" 'i ~'\). "\,,: z-< :~ C"-l III rl .!:! . t: "'i' 0 Q) :e l-< III ;:J - cot: ...... III ~ CI) .... o ~ is p.. (Ii ~ ......... ......-l ;::l (Ii "'t f.,I., ..... ......-l .."f (Ii ~ 0 '''''; b.O ~ CV) Ol ;:.> v)' .!!J .~ &l V) <( t:: '" ~ t:: ~ co Q; '" ..c: ." ~ ~ .. c55 .. 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.1 Geology and Soils Faults generally produce damage in two ways: surface rupture and seismically induced ground shaking. Surface rupture is limited to areas very near the fault and ground shaking can affect a wide area. Surface Rupture. Surface rupture along a fault is the surface expression of fault displacement. Fault displacement occurs when material on one side of a fault moves relative to the material on the other side of the fault. Surface displacement can range from a few inches to tens of feet during a rupture event. This can have detrimental consequences, including injury and loss of life, when buildings are located within the rupture zone. It is not practically feasible (structurally or economically) to design and build structures that can withstand the rapid displacement involved with surface rupture. The Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zone Act establishes State criteria for identifying special zones for active faults considered to possess a relatively high potential for ground rupture. Structures designed for human occupancy are generally not permitted within these zones. No special studies zones are located within the City of Santa Monica (Geotechnologies, Inc., August 9,2000). Seismically Induced Ground Shaking. Ground shaking is a result of the seismic waves produced by a fault rupture event. Ground shaking typically covers a wide area and is greatly influenced by the distance of the site to the seismic source, soil conditions, and depth to groundwater. Secondary hazards associated with seismically induced ground shaking include liquefaction, seismically induced settlement, earthquake-triggered landslides, tsunamis and seiches. Movement along any of the faults listed above could potentially generate substantial ground shaking at the project site. According to the California Geological Survey (Seismic Shaking Hazards in California Based on the USGS/CGS Probabilistic Seismic Hazards Assessment (PSHA) Model, 2002) (revised April 2003), the area near the site has a 10% probability of experiencing 0.4-0.5 gravity (g) peak horizontal ground acceleration within the next 50 years. The CGS has produced three maps depicting ground acceleration in the west Los Angeles area (CGS, 2002). These maps are for firm rock conditions, soft rock conditions, and alluvium conditions. The peak ground accelerations in units of g expected at the site are 0.40-0.41 for firm rock conditions; 0.43-0.45 for soft rock conditions; and 0.45-0.46 for alluvium conditions. The site is comprised predominantly of alluvial soils; thus, the site could experience a peak ground acceleration of up to about 0.46g. The strength of ground shaking in an area is primarily a function of the distance between an area and the seismic source, the type of material underlying a property, and the motion of fault displacement. In addition, the Northridge (1994) earthquake showed how peculiarities in basin effects can increase ground accelerations in particular areas. For instance, ground accelerations exceeding 1.0g were recorded at areas far from the epicenter of the Northridge earthquake, including the Santa Monica area. Because of the proximity to major active faults, such as the San Andreas and Newport-Inglewood fault systems, it is possible that accelerations near or over 1.0g could occur anywhere within Santa Monica, including the project site. d. Secondary Seismic Hazards and Soil Hazards. Liquefaction. Liquefaction is a temporary, but substantial, loss of shear strength in granular solids, such as sand, silt, and gravel, usually occurring during or after a major rr City of Santa Monica 4.1-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.1 Geology and Soils earthquake. Liquefaction occurs when the shock waves from an earthquake of sufficient magnitude and duration compact and reduce the volume of the soil; if drainage cannot occur, this reduction in soil volume can increase the pressure exerted on the water contained in the soil, forcing it upward to the ground surface. This process can transform stable granular material into a fluid-like state. The potential for liquefaction to occur is greatest in areas with loose, granular, low-density soil, where the water table is within the upper 40 to 50 feet of the ground surface. Liquefaction can result in slope and foundation failure. Other effects of liquefaction include lateral spread, flow failures, ground oscillations, and loss of bearing strength. Liquefaction is intrinsically linked with the depth of groundwater below the site and the types of sediments underlying an area. Table 4.1-1 lists the relationship between liquefaction hazard and groundwater depth. Table 4.1-1 Liquefaction Zone Criteria Geologic Unit Depth to Groundwater Greater than 40 feet Less than 40 feet Quaternary alluvium Low High (Qa) All other Low Low Source: CDMG, 1995. The Seismic Hazard Evaluation of the Beverly Hills Quadrangle (CDMG, 1999) indicates that the site is not in a liquefaction hazard area. However, the Safety Element of the General Plan (1995) depicts the site as having a high liquefaction hazard (see Figure 4.1-3). Soil on site is dominantly silty and clayey soils (native soils, not fill) and the anticipated depth to groundwater (about 42 feet below grade, with a historic high groundwater level of 35 feet below grade) underlying the site. Given the dense nature of the earth materials below the site to a depth of 35 feet, the possibility of liquefaction affecting the subject site is considered remote (Geotechnologies, Inc., August 9, 2000). Subsidence and Settlement. Subsidence involves deep-seated settlement due to the withdrawal of fluid (oil, natural gas, or water). The Safety Element (1995) states that there are no areas within the City where subsidence has been a problem. Seismically induced settlement occurs in loose to medium dense unconsolidated soil above groundwater. These soils compress (settle) when subject to seismic shaking. The settlement can be exacerbated by increased loading, such as from the construction of onsite buildings. Settlement can also result solely from human activities, including improperly placed artificial fill and structures built on soils or bedrock materials with differential settlement rates. This settlement can be mitigated prior to development through the removal and recompaction of loose soils. The Safety Element (1995) identifies most of the areas within the City, including the project site, as having a low settlement hazard. Expansive Soils. Expansive soils are generally clayey and swell when wetted and shrink when dried. Wetting can occur in a number of ways (e.g., absorption from the air, rainfall, groundwater fluctuations, landscape watering, broken water or sewer lines, etc.). Expansive soils located beneath structures can result in cracks in foundations, walls, and ceilings, while City of Santa Monica rr 4.1-6 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.1 Geology and Soils . "lr"7 i i i . \ \ ~ \ . h ;~ ( ., "J:. -, '" -) - iII'~TII'I 1i:'flli'~~_:f s.tA-rr; ~ ~ i' l , E ~ . ~ ; 14i1M ~; ~ '" .. ~ " " s ~ ~ = " " J liNC'OlN ~ !iTJlIf'n ~ ~ :); . ~ & g it 10) c a c 5 -Si.YO v Snlfff ~ , g t'" D Very Low to None ~~ Low o 1500 3000 ~ Scale in Feet ...:-:-:-:-:-:.;.: . .::::::::.::::::.:::... MedIum ........."iio...:... High Liquifaction Potential Figure 4.1-3 City of Santa Monica ,., 4.1-7 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.1 Geology and Soils expansive soils located on slopes can cause slope failure. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDF A) uses a soil classification system for agricultural and alternative uses. The soils map for the City of Santa Monica, (CD FA, 1978), identifies the project site as being in an area of Hanford soils. This type of soil is typically found on alluvial fans and alluvial plains and is composed of sandy loams and loamy sands. Hanford soils are considered to have low erosion and expansion hazard potential, and are well drained. Soil expansion tests show that the soil at the site has a very low expansion range, with an expansion index of 13 (Geotechnologies, Inc. August 9, 2000). Landsliding and Slope Instability. Landslides occur when slopes become unstable and masses of earth material move downslope. Landslides are generally considered to be rapid events, often triggered during periods of rainfall or by earthquakes. The City of Santa Monica Safety Element (1995) identifies the project site as having a low potential for landslides and slope instability. Tsunamis and Seiches. Tsunamis are large ocean surges that are created as a result of a sub-sea earthquake or landslide. A seiche is a wave or series of waves that are produced within an enclosed or partially enclosed body of water (such as a lake or bay). The project site is not in an area that could be affected by a tsunami or seiche (Safety Element of the General Plan, 1995). 4.1.2 Impact Analysis a. Methodology and Significance Thresholds. An impact is considered potentially significant if it will expose people or structures to major geologic hazards. Therefore, impacts are considered significant if the proposed development would be exposed to a high potential for such seismic hazards as ground shaking, liquefaction, and settlement, and soil hazards such as expansive soils. b. Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures. Impact GEO-1 Seismically-induced ground shaking could destroy or damage onsite structures, resulting in loss of property and risk to human safety. Provided that the design and construction of the proposed project complies with all applicable provisions of the 1997 Uniform Building Code and the 1998 California Building Code, impacts are considered Class III, less than significant. The strongest ground-shaking event at the site is calculated to occur from a rupture of the South Branch of the Santa Monica Fault (City of Santa Monica Safety Element, 1995). As described above, the California Geological Survey has modeled the site as having a 10% probability of experiencing 0.4-0.5 g ground acceleration over the next 50 years. Earthquakes along the Santa Monica fault and other faults in the region could produce potentially significant impacts to structures on the site. In addition to the calculated expected ground accelerations, there is the possibility that basin and sediment effects may amplify site ground accelerations. Although nothing can ensure that structures do not fail under seismic stress, proper engineering can minimize the risk to life and property. rr City of Santa Monica 4.1-8 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.1 Geology and Soils The 1997 Uniform Building Code and the 1998 California Building Code include building standards to ensure that the design and construction of new structures are engineered to withstand the expected ground acceleration that may occur at this site. Earthquake resistant designs include such measures as concrete framing, flexible building diaphragms, anchoring concrete or masonry wall, framing below the base, building separation and collector elements for seismic stresses. The calculated design base ground motion for the site should take into consideration the soil type, potential for liquefaction, and the most current and applicable seismic attenuation methods that are available. The proposed project would involve replacing industrial structures constructed around the 1950's with a new structure built to current seismic standards increasing the overall safety of buildings on the site. Mitigation Measures. The project would comply with applicable provisions of the 1997 and 1998 Uniform Building Codes, as discussed above. No mitigation beyond this standard requirement is necessary. Significance After Mitigation. The probability of a larger than expected earthquake with higher ground accelerations to occur is never zero. However, implementation of the most recent industry standards for structural designs would reduce the potential for structural failure due to seismic ground shaking to a less than significant level. Impact GEO-2 Seismic activity could produce sufficient ground shaking to result in liquefaction onsite. This is considered a Class III, less than significant impact. As discussed in the Setting, unconsolidated alluvial material underlies the project site. This soil type is potentially susceptible to liquefaction. Given the soil type found on the project site and the depth to groundwater (estimated at about 42 feet), there is moderate potential for liquefaction to occur at the site. The possibility of liquefaction affecting the subject site is considered to be remote based on the dense nature of the earth materials below a depth of 35 feet (Geotechnologies, Inc., August 9,2000). Therefore, the risk to structures and people at the site due to liquefaction is considered less than significant. Mitigation Measures. The project would comply with applicable provisions of the 1997 and 1998 Uniform Building Codes, as discussed above, and the recommendations of the appropriate Geotechnical study. No mitigation beyond this standard requirement is necessary. Significance After Mitigation. Appropriate structural designs would reduce the potential for liquefaction to a less than significant impact. Impact GEO-3 The project involves the construction of a multi-story apartment building and one level of subterranean parking. During construction, the sidewalls of the excavation area could potentially become unstable and fail. Once constructed, groundwater and surface water runoff may collect at the base of the parking area and require pumping. The existence of potentially unsafe conditions associated with the construction and operation of the project is considered a Class II, significant but mitigable impact. rr City of Santa Monica 4.1-9 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.1 Geology and Soils The proposed project includes below-grade excavation to accommodate a one-level subterranean parking garage below the apartment building. Excavation for the parking structure is anticipated to reach a depth of approximately 12-13 feet. The project site does not appear to pose any unusual risks relating to soil stability or failure and the groundwater table on the project site is estimated at 42 feet below grade. Thus, it is not anticipated that excavation would encounter groundwater; however, because the groundwater level may fluctuate seasonally, the potential to encounter groundwater is present. During construction, the excavated area could potentially become unstable and fail, if not properly engineered. Failure of the excavation could pose a safety risk for on site and offsite personnel, the general public, and nearby buildings, streets, and utility lines. In addition, although the subterranean portions of the proposed parking structure are anticipated to be above the depth to groundwater, seasonal fluctuations in groundwater levels could potentially cause groundwater to accumulate within the proposed structure and require periodic or . . ongomg pumpmg. Mitigation Measures. The following measures would reduce hazard impacts associated with project excavation and operation to a less than significant level: GEO-3(a) Geotechnical Study. The information obtained from the Geotechnical study performed for the site shall be used to design the excavation and excavation shoring to prevent destabilization of the excavation sidewalls. Recommendations regarding foundation design, retaining wall design, excavations, shoring, and slabs on grade contained in the geotechnical report shall be fully implemented in order to comply with Universal Building Code standards. GEO-3(b) Groundwater Removal Mechanism. The design for the one-level underground parking garage below the apartment building shall consider a mechanism of removing groundwater, if the geotechnical study shows it to be present at this site. The groundwater removal design shall consider historical ranges in depth to groundwater. The removal system shall be designed to prevent the parking garage from flooding and to comply with Universal Building Code standards. GEO-3(c) Waterproofing. All walls of the parking garage shall be waterproofed to protect against corrosive effects of water contact following the recommendations in the geotechnical study. Significance After Mitigation. Implementation of the above mitigation measures would reduce potential impacts related to geologic hazards associated with the construction and operation of the apartment building with one story underground parking garage to a less than significant level. rr City of Santa Monica 4.1-10 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.1 Geology and Soils Impact GEO-4 Native soils in the vicinity of the site consist of sandy to clayey silt and silty to clayey sand, which have a low potential for erosion and expansion hazards. Impacts from expansive soils at this site are considered a Class III, less than significant impact. The City of Santa Monica Safety Element (1995) identifies the soil in the project vicinity as having a low expansion potential. Classified as Hanford soils (CDFA, 1978), these soils are considered to have low erosion and expansion hazard potential, and are well drained. Furthermore, soils on site were found to have a very low expansion index (Geotechnologies, Inc., August 9, 2000). Therefore, impacts relating to soil expansion and erosion are considered less than significant. Mitigation Measures. Soils at the site were found to have a very low expansion potential. No mitigation measures would be necessary. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts would be less than significant without mitigation. c. Cumulative Impacts. The proposed development, in conjunction with other planned and pending development in the City, would cumulatively increase exposure of people and property to seismically related hazards similar to those present onsite. Cumulative impacts related to seismically-induced ground shaking, liquefaction, and soil compaction would be similar to what is described for project-specific impacts, and would be addressed on a project-by-project basis. No guarantee against damage relating to seismic and geologic hazards can be made for any development. However, adherence to Uniform Building Code requirements on all development in the City would reduce cumulative impacts relating to seismic hazards to a level considered less than significant. rr City of Santa Monica 4.1-11 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.2 Air Quality 4.2 AIR QUALITY 4.2.1 Setting a. Climate and Meteorology. Santa Monica is on the western edge of the Los Angeles Coastal Plain, immediately adjacent to Santa Monica Bay. The area is within the marine microclimate zone and the fog belt. The climate of the City is heavily influenced by its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, except during Santa Ana wind conditions. Winters are not cold, and temperatures are above freezing. Spring and summer days are frequently cloudy, particularly during May and June, due to the presence of high fog. Summers are cool, because of the moderating effect of sea breezes. Humidity tends to be higher than in adjacent communities further inland. Average daytime temperatures range from highs of 75 degrees Fahrenheit (F) in July, August, and September to 64 degrees (F) in January and February. Overnight low temperatures vary from an average of 61 degrees (F) in January and February to 64 degrees (F) in August. The lowest temperature recorded in Santa Monica was 33 degrees (F); the highest was 105 degrees (F). The moderating effects of the Pacific Ocean keep winter temperatures above freezing along the coastline and summer temperatures moderate. However, high temperatures occur when there are Santa Ana wind conditions creating an offshore flow. Santa Ana winds are strong northerly or northeasterly winds that originate from the desert of the Great Basin and predominantly occur from September through March. Usually warm, always very dry, and often full of dust, these winds are particularly strong in passes and at the mouths of canyons. Sustained winds of sixty miles per hour, with higher gusts, are fairly common for these conditions. On average, Santa Ana wind conditions occur five to ten times a year, with each event lasting up to a few days. Annual precipitation in Santa Monica averages around 12.5 inches, with maximum rainfall of about 25 inches. Rainfall occurs almost exclusively from late October to early April. b. Air Pollution Regulation. Federal and state standards have been established for six criteria pollutants, including ozone (03), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (N02), sulfur dioxide (S02), particulates less than 10 and 2.5 microns in diameter (PMlO and PM2.5), and lead (Pb). California has also set standards for sulfates, hydrogen sulfide, vinyl chloride, and visibility-reducing particles. On June 20, 2002, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) adopted a stricter standard for PMIO, which lowered the annual arithmetic mean standard from 30 micrograms per meter cubed (ug/ m3) to 20 ug/ m3. The ARB also recommended adoption of a new standard for PM2.5 of 12 ug/ m3. The new standards were approved by the Office of Administrative Law on June 5,2003 and became effective on July 5,2003. Table 4.2-1 lists the current Federal and State standards for criteria pollutants. The local air quality management agency is required to monitor air pollutant levels to assure that the above air quality standards are met and, in the event they are not, to develop strategies to meet these standards. Depending on whether the standards are met or exceeded, the local air basin is classified as being in "attainment" or "non-attainment." The South Coast Air Basin (Basin), in which the project site is located, is a nonattainment area for both the federal and state r City of Santa Monica 4.2-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.2 Air Quality Table 4.2-1 Current Federal and State Ambient Air Quality Standards Pollutant Federal Standard California Standard Ozone 0.12 ppm (1-hr avg) 0.09 ppm (1-hr avg) 0.08 ppm (8-hr avg) Carbon Monoxide 9.0 ppm (8-hr avg) 9.0 ppm (8-hr avg) 35.0 ppm (1-hr avg) 20.0 ppm (1-hr avg) Nitrogen Dioxide 0.053 ppm (annual avg) 0.25 ppm (1-hr avg) 0.03 ppm (annual avg) 0.04 ppm (24-hr avg) Sulfur Dioxide 0.14 ppm (24-hr avg) 0.25 ppm (1-hr avg) 0.5 ppm (3-hr avg) Lead 1.5 fLgtm3 (calendar qtr) 1.5 fLgtm3 (30-day avg) Particulate Matter (PM1o) 50 fLgtm3 (annual avg) 20 fLgtm3 (annual avg) 150 fLgtm3 (24-hr avg) 50 fLgtm3 (24-hr avg) Particulate Matter (PM25) 15 fLgtm3 (annual avg) 12 fLgtm3 (annual avg) 65 fLgtm3 (24-hr avg) ppm = parts per million fLg/m3 = micrograms per cubic meter Source: California Air Resources Board, www.arb.ca.gov/aqs/aaqs2.pdf. June 12, 2003. standards for ozone and nitrogen dioxide, and the state standard for PM10. The Basin is also classified as a nonattainment area for the federal and state standards of carbon monoxide, but now qualifies for reclassification as an attainment area for the federal CO standard (AQMD Advisor, 2003). The Basin exceeded the federal CO standard once in 2002. Added to a perfect record in 2001 (no exceedances), this fulfills the compliance requirement of no more than one day exceeding the standard in two consecutive years. Ozone, nitrogen dioxide, PMIO, and carbon monoxide are described below. Ozone. Ozone is produced by a photochemical reaction (triggered by sunlight) between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and reactive organic gases (ROG). Nitrogen oxides are formed during the combustion of fuels, while reactive organic gases are formed during combustion and evaporation of organic solvents. Because ozone requires sunlight to form, it mostly occurs in concentrations considered serious between the months of April and October. Ozone is a pungent, colorless toxic gas with direct health effects on humans including respiratory and eye irritation and possible changes in lung functions. Groups most sensitive to ozone include children, the elderly, persons with respiratory disorders, and people who exercise strenuously outdoors. Carbon Monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a local pollutant that is found in high concentrations only near the source. The major source of carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas, is automobile traffic. Elevated concentrations, therefore, are usually only found near areas of high traffic volumes. Carbon monoxide's health effects are related to its affinity for hemoglobin in the blood. At high concentrations, carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, causing heart difficulties in people with chronic diseases, reduced lung capacity and impaired mental abilities. Nitrogen Dioxide. Nitrogen Dioxide (N02) is a by-product of fuel combustion, with the primary source being motor vehicles and industrial boilers and furnaces. The principal form of r City of Santa Monica 4.2-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.2 Air Quality nitrogen oxide produced by combustion is nitric oxide (NO), but NO reacts rapidly to form N02, creating the mixture of NO and N02 commonly called NOx. Nitrogen dioxide is an acute irritant. A relationship between N02 and chronic pulmonary fibrosis may exist, and an increase in bronchitis in young children at concentrations below 0.3 parts per million (ppm) may occur. Nitrogen dioxide absorbs blue light and causes a reddish brown cast to the atmosphere and reduced visibility. It can also contribute to the formation of PMIO and acid rain. Suspended Particulates. PMlO is small particulate matter measuring no more than 10 microns in diameter, while PM2.5 is fine particulate matter measuring no more than 2.5 microns in diameter. Suspended particulates are mostly dust particles, nitrates and sulfates. They are a by-product of fuel combustion and wind erosion of soil and unpaved roads, and are directly emitted into the atmosphere through these processes. Suspended particulates are also created in the atmosphere through chemical reactions. The characteristics, sources, and potential health effects associated with the small particulates (those between 2.5 and 10 microns in diameter) and fine particulates (PM2.5) can be very different. The small particulates generally come from windblown dust and dust kicked up from mobile sources. The fine particulates are generally associated with combustion processes as well as being formed in the atmosphere as a secondary pollutant through chemical reactions. Fine particulate matter is more likely to penetrate deeply into the lungs and poses a serious health threat to all groups, but particularly to the elderly, children, and those with respiratory problems. More than half of the small and fine particulate matter that is inhaled into the lungs remains there, which can cause permanent lung damage. These materials can damage health by interfering with the body's mechanisms for clearing the respiratory tract or by acting as carriers of an absorbed toxic substance. PM2.5 is just beginning to be monitored. The attainment status of areas is unknown at this time, though it is likely that the South Coast Air Basin will be a nonattainment area. Once data has been collected and processed for several years, the USEP A will then designate attainment status with the development of State Implementation Plans to reduce this pollutant, starting in the year 2005. c. Current Air Quality. The South Coast Air Basin monitoring station located nearest to the site is the Veteran's Administration Hospital in West Los Angeles, approximately 2.5 miles northeast of the site. However, no particulate matter data is available from the West Los Angeles monitoring station; therefore, data for this pollutant has been taken from the Los Angeles-North Main Street station, located in downtown Los Angeles. Table 4.2-2 provides the number of days each of the standards has been exceeded at these stations. As shown, the ozone concentration exceeded state standard at least one day per year, and the number of days that the PMlO concentration exceeded state standards dropped from 20 in 2001 to 8 in 2002. No exceedances of either the state or federal standards for N02 or CO have occurred at the West Los Angeles Station since 1996. d. Air Quality Management. Under state law, the SCAQMD is required to prepare an overall plan for air quality improvement. The Governing Board of the SCAQMD adopted the 1997 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP or Plan) on November 15, 1996. The 1997 AQMP is based on the 1994 AQMP, and carries forward most of the strategies crafted in that Plan. The 1997 Plan was amended in 1999 to provide revisions to the ozone portion of the Plan. The 1997 AQMP places a greater focus on particulate matter (PMIO), since this is the first plan required by r City of Santa Monica 4.2-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.2 Air Quality Table 4.2-2 Ambient Air Quality Data Pollutant 2000 2001 2002 aOzone, ppm - Worst Hour 0.104 0.099 0.118 Number of days of State exceedances (>0.09 ppm) 2 1 1 Number of days of Federal exceedances (>0.12 ppm) 0 0 0 aCarbon Monoxide, ppm - Worst 8 Hours 4.31 4.00 2.73 Number of days of State/Federal exceedances (>9.0 ppm) 0 0 0 aNitrogen Dioxide, ppm - Worst Hour 0.162 0.109 0.113 Number of days of State exceedances (>0.25 ppm) 0 0 0 bparticulate Matter <10 microns, !-!g/m3 Worst 24 Hours 80.0 97.0 65.0 Number of samples of State exceedances (>50 !-!g/m3 ) 15 20 8 Number of samples of Federal exceedances (>150 !-!g/m3) 0 0 0 Annual Geometric Mean (State standard = 30!-!g/m3 ) 37 40 37 Annual Arithmetic Mean (Federal standard = 50!-!g/m3 ) 40 44 36 a West Los Angeles-VA Hospital Monitoring Station b Los Angeles-North Main Street Monitoring Station Source: GARB, 2000, 2001, & 2002 Annual Air Quality Data Summaries available at http://www.arb.ca.gov federal law to demonstrate attainment of the federal PMIO ambient air quality standards. The Plan also updates the demonstration of attainment for ozone and carbon monoxide, and includes a maintenance plan for nitrogen dioxide (N02), as the South Coast Air Basin now qualifies for attainment of that federal standard. The 1997 AQMP includes policies and measures to achieve federal and state standards for healthful air quality in the Basin. It also addresses several state and federal planning requirements and incorporates significant new scientific data, primarily in the form of updated emissions inventories, ambient measurements, and new models. The 1997 Plan is consistent with the approaches taken in the 1994 AQMP for the attainment of the federal ozone air quality standard, and shows that with refinements to the 1994 AQMP control strategy, sufficient emission reductions are achieved to meet all federal criteria pollutant standards within the time frames allowed under the federal Clean Air Act. Some notable regulatory actions have occurred since the 1994 AQMP, all of which have been accounted for in the 1997 Plan. These include new or amended rules which have been adopted since the release of the 1994 AQMP; the implementation of Phase II reformulated fuels (California Cleaner Burning Gasoline) in 1996; the replacement of the Regulation XV rideshare program with an equivalent emission reduction program under Rule 2202; and new incentive programs for generating emission credits. The 1997 AQMP is incorporated by reference and is available for review at the City of Santa Monica Planning Department. The AQMP is also available to download at http:j /www.aqmd.gov/aqmp/97aqmp. While the 1997 AQMP remains the governing planning document within the SCAQMD, it should be noted that the SCAQMD is in the process of preparing a comprehensive update to the Plan. Like the 1997 revision, the 2003 AQMP incorporates new scientific data and notable r City of Santa Monica 4.2-4 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.2 Air Quality regulatory actions that have occurred since adoption of the 1997 AQMP. The 2003 AQMP is currently scheduled for adoption by the SCAQMD on August 1, 2003 and is available to download at http://www.aqmd.gov/aqmp/03aqmp.htm. 4.2.2 Impact Analysis a. Methodology and Significance Thresholds. This analysis conforms to the methodologies recommended in the South Coast Air Quality Management District CEQA Air Quality Handbook (1993). Pollutant emissions were quantified using the Air Resources Board's URBEMIS 2002 computer model using the ITE and empirical trip generation rates discussed in Section 4.5, Traffic/Circulation. A significant adverse air quality impact may occur when a project individually or cumulatively interferes with progress toward the attainment of the ozone standard by releasing emissions that equal or exceed the established long term quantitative thresholds for pollutants, or causes an exceedance of a state or federal ambient air quality standard for any criteria pollutant. The following significance thresholds have been set by the SCAQMD for project operations within the South Coast Air Basin: 55 pounds per day of ROC 55 pounds per day of NO x 550 pounds per day of co 150 pounds per day of PMlO 150 pounds per day of SOx Impacts relating to carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations are considered significant if the additional CO from a project creates a "hot spot" where either the California one-hour standard of 20 parts per million (ppm) carbon monoxide or the federal and state eight-hour standard of 9.0 (ppm) is exceeded. Emissions associated with the construction of the proposed project are discussed in Section 4.11, Construction Effects. b. Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures. Impact AQ-1 The proposed project would incrementally increase air pollutant emissions. However, emissions would not exceed the SCAQMD's daily thresholds. Therefore, the project would have a Class III, less than significant, impact to regional air quality. Long-term emissions associated with the proposed project, as presented in Table 4.2-3, are those associated with vehicle trips (mobile emissions) and the use of natural gas and landscaping maintenance equipment (area emissions) upon buildout of the project. The URBEMIS 2002 model was used to calculate emissions associated with the proposed project based on the proposed land use and the number of trips generated by the new development, as discussed in Section 4.5, Traffic/Circulation. r City of Santa Monica 4.2-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.2 Air Quality Table 4.2-3 Unmitigated Operational Emissions Emission Source Emissions (Ibs/day) ROG NOx CO PMlO Mobile Emissions 9.23 12.95 104.25 9.77 Area Emissions 7.31 1.83 1.31 0.00 Total 16.54 14.78 105.56 9.77 SCAQMD Thresholds 55 55 550 150 See Appendix B for calculations. Emissions associated with the increase in vehicle trips and the stationary emissions generated by the proposed project would not exceed the SCAQMD's daily operational thresholds for any pollutant. Therefore, operation of the project would not significantly affect regional air quality. Mitigation Measures. No mitigation measures would be required. Significance after Mitigation. Emissions would not exceed SCAQMD thresholds for operations and are therefore considered less than significant without mitigation. Impact AQ-2 Project-generated traffic, together with other cumulative traffic in the area, would incrementally increase carbon monoxide levels in the site vicinity. However, because concentrations would remain below state and federal standards, this impact is considered Class III, less than significant. Areas with high vehicle density, such as congested intersections and parking garages, have the potential to create high levels of CO, known as CO hot spots. A project's localized air quality impact is considered significant if CO emissions create a hot spot where either the California one-hour standard of 20 ppm or the federal and state eight-hour standard of 9.0 ppm is exceeded. This typically occurs at severely congested intersections (LOS E or worse). Of the 17 intersections analyzed by the traffic study in the project vicinity, 10 intersections would be expected to operate at LOS E or lower during the weekday AM or PM peak hours under cumulative plus project conditions. However, only three intersections would be significantly affected by project-related traffic. These are the intersections of Stewart Street and Colorado A venue, Stewart Street and Olympic Boulevard, and Centinela A venue and Nebraska A venue (worst approach only). A simplified screenline CO analysis was performed for the intersection of Centinela A venue and Nebraska Avenue, and a CALINE4 analysis was done for the intersections of Stewart Street and Olympic Boulevard and Stewart Street and Colorado A venue. The results of the models are shown in Table 4.2-4. r City of Santa Monica 4.2-6 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.2 Air Quality Table 4.2-4 Carbon Monoxide Modeling Results Future + Project CO California Federal Standard* Intersection Concentration* Standard* Significant I m pact? 1-hou r 8-hour 1-hou r 8-hour 1-hou r 8-hour Stewart/Colorado 10.3 7.2 20 9 35 9 NO Stewart/Olym pic 11.8 8.3 20 9 35 9 NO Centinela/Nebraska 9.4 6.6 20 9 35 9 NO * All concentrations in parts per million (ppm). As shown, future + project traffic would not cause an exceedance of either the state or federal CO standards. Therefore, project-related CO impacts are considered less than significant. Mitigation Measures. No mitigation measures would be required. Significance after Mitigation. Carbon monoxide concentrations would not exceed state and federal thresholds and are therefore considered less than significant without mitigation. c. Cumulative Impacts. Any growth within the Los Angeles metropolitan area contributes to existing exceedances of ambient air quality standards when taken as a whole with existing development. Cumulative development in the City of Santa Monica would add about three million square feet of non-residential development and 900 residential units. This development has the potential to create significant cumulative regional air quality impacts. However, emissions associated with the proposed project would be less than SCAQMD significance thresholds and the increase in housing created by the proposed project has been envisioned with the overall planning process for the City. Therefore, the project would not slow down or prevent the predicted attainment of standards under the 1997 AQMP and the project's contribution to cumulative regional air quality impacts would not be cumulatively considerable. r City of Santa Monica 4.2-7 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.3 Hydrology and Water Quality 4.3 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY 4.3.1 Setting a. Surface Water. The City of Santa Monica Utilities Division manages stormwater collection for Santa Monica. The overall drainage flow pattern within the City is from the north and east to the south and west. An underground storm drain system collects surface runoff through a series of catch basins and carries the majority of the storm water west to the Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant, after which it is discharged into Santa Monica Bay. The local storm drain system is generally adequate, although localized deficiencies exist in certain parts of the City. Specifically, the Kenter Canyon drain and a 48-inch drain in 26th Street from Colorado to Wilshire have been identified as deficient. According the City of Santa Monica staff, there has been some flooding along Colorado A venue near the project site, which may be an indication that the storm drain within Colorado A venue is deficient (Buol, 2003). The project site is not within a 100-year flood zone. The quality of the storm water draining into Santa Monica Bay is a concern in Santa Monica. The City has implemented urban runoff control programs to reduce contaminants discharging into Santa Monica Bay, including street sweeping and the regular cleaning of catch basins. An Urban Runoff Pollution Control Ordinance (#1642) adopted in December 1992 requires various pollution prevention practices by new and existing development in the City. A primary concern regarding storm drains and their impact on the quality of water in Santa Monica Bay is the pollutants carried by the drains into the Bay during the dry weather months. The water in these flows, referred to as low-flow or dry weather flows, comes not from rain but from over-irrigation, wash-down of private property, emptying of swimming pools, groundwater inflow and infiltration, and other non-regulated discharges. Until recently, dry weather flow was diverted to the Pico-Kenter drain, where it subsequently traveled to the Hyperion Treatment Plant for treatment and was then discharged into Santa Monica Bay. Santa Monica's Urban Runoff Recycling Facility (SMURRF) went online in April 2001. With operation of this new facility, approximately 500,000 gallons per day (gpd) of urban runoff generated in parts of the cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles is now treated by conventional and advanced treatment systems at the SMURRF. Runoff water is diverted from the Pico- Kenter and Pier Storm Drains into the SMURRF and treated to remove pollutants such as trash, sediment, oil, grease, and pathogens. Treatment processes include coarse and fine screening to remove trash and debris, dissolved air flotation to remove oil and grease, degritting systems to remove sand and grit, micro-filtration to remove turbidity, and ultra-violet (UV) radiation to kill pathogens. Once treated, the water is safe for all landscape irrigation and dual-plumbed systems (buildings plumbed to accept recycled water for the flushing of toilets) as prescribed by the California Department of Health Services. In this way, the amount of water flowing into Santa Monica Bay is reduced. The amount of water that the City needs to purchase for landscaping and irrigation is also reduced. b. Groundwater. The Santa Monica Groundwater Basin lies on the northwestern section of the Coastal Plain of Los Angeles County. Groundwater flow within the Coastal Plain is restricted by geologic structures such as faults that denote the edges of basins within the rr City of Santa Monica 4.3-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.3 Hydrology and Water Quality Plain. The Coastal Plain consists of two major groundwater basins that are divided along a northwest-southeast axis by the Newport-Inglewood fault: the West Basin and the Main Coastal Basin. The West Basin is further divided into two sub-basins by the Ballona Gap, a stream-cut erosional gap filled by fluvial deposits. The sub-basin north of the Ballona Gap, known as the Santa Monica Basin, is further divided by faults into the Arcadia, Olympic, Coastal (South Santa Monica), Charnock and Crestal sub-basins. The Santa Monica Basin is also vertically segmented into multiple aquifers separated by zones of low-permeability sediment (silts and clays). Groundwater is extracted from the upper aquifers, which consist of younger marine sediments and the overlying alluvial deposits. The City operates ten wells in three groundwater well fields in the Olympic, Charnock, and Arcadia Sub-Basins. The primary sources of groundwater recharge into the Santa Monica Basin are direct infiltration from precipitation in the basin and subsurface inflows from the Santa Monica Mountains, the upper unconfined aquifer from the east, and the upper unconfined and lower San Pedro formation from the south. Water is discharged from the basin via surface runoff, envirotranspiration, and subsurface outflow to the south. Until 1995, the City had historically used over 10,000 acre-feet per year (AFY) of groundwater from local wells (City of Santa Monica, Water Efficiency Strategic Plan, 2002). There are three general areas of groundwater quality concern in the City: (1) salinity; (2) volatile organic compounds (VOC); and (3) Methyl tertiary Butyl Ether (MtBE). The degradation of groundwater quality from saltwater intrusion and the introduction of VOCs and MtBE limits the ability to use groundwater resources in both the Charnock and Coastal sub- basins. After the detection of MtBE in groundwater in 1995, the City's use of local groundwater declined to about 2,900 AFY in 2000. As part of the July 2000 Geotechnologies, Inc. geotechnical report for the project, five test borings were conducted on the project site. All five borings encountered groundwater at depths ranging from 42 to 42.5 feet below ground surface. The historic high groundwater level at the site, as reported by Geotechnologies, Inc., is on the order of 35 feet below the ground surface. This is a sufficient depth to preclude any short or long-term interaction between the proposed construction and the groundwater table. 4.3.2 Impact Analysis a. Methodology and Significance Thresholds. This evaluation is based on a review of existing information that has been developed for the project site and other available regional sources. An impact is considered significant if the project would: . Substantially degrade water quality . Contaminate a public water supply . Cause substantial flooding or siltation . Substantially alter surface flow conditions, patterns, or rates . Substantially degrade or deplete groundwater resources . Interfere substantially with groundwater recharge rr City of Santa Monica 4.3-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.3 Hydrology and Water Quality b. Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures. Impact HWQ-1 Project construction would involve the excavation and grading of onsite soils. This would potentially result in topsoil loss and soil erosion, with temporary adverse impacts to surface water quality. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. The proposed project would involve the development of 18 residential buildings arranged around three interior landscaped, grassy courtyards. The landscaping would be maintained by the property owner and would provide stabilization for the underlying soil; therefore, operational activities are not expected to result in significant soil erosion. However, excavation and grading associated with project construction could result in the temporary erosion and sedimentation of material on the site, with consequent temporary impacts to surface water quality. As discussed previously, the project involves the removal of up to 13 feet of soils from the site for the construction of a subterranean parking garage. This would necessitate temporary onsite storage of excavated soils. During grading and soil storage, there is a potential for soil migration off-site via wind and/ or water erosion. The City of Santa Monica's Urban Runoff Pollution Control Ordinance (Municipal Code Section 7.10) requires standard erosion control practices to be implemented for all new construction in the City. Requirements of the Ordinance include: the use of drainage controls such as down drains, detention ponds, filter berms, or infiltration pits; removal of any sediment tracked offsite within the same day that it is tracked; containment of polluted runoff onsite; use of plastic covering to minimize erosion from exposed areas; and restrictions on the washing of construction equipment. Additionally, the applicant would be required to prepare and implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for the construction site in accordance with the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and subject to the oversight of the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The SWPPP must include best management practices (BMPs) to reduce or eliminate erosion and sedimentation of material on the site and must be available on the project site at all times. Implementation of these standard requirements would ensure that construction-related water quality impacts are less than significant. Mitigation Measures. Compliance with the City's Urban Runoff Pollution Control Ordinance and the NPDES would ensure that temporary water quality impacts are less than significant. No mitigation measures are required. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts would be less than significant without mitigation. Impact HWQ-2 The proposed project would be expected to incrementally reduce the amount of impervious surfaces onsite, which would consequently result in a reduction in the amount of storm water runoff generated onsite. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. rr City of Santa Monica 4.3-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.3 Hydrology and Water Quality The existing land use at the project site is light industrial and manufacturing, with almost 100% of the site covered by impervious surfaces. In contrast, the proposed project is a residential complex comprising 18 separate buildings with associated landscaping and green areas. Development of the project would cover about 43% of the site with impervious surfaces. As such, the amount of runoff that leaves the site as storm water would decrease due to the increased potential for infiltration of storm water. Using a simplified rational approach for runoff estimation, it is estimated that the project would reduce storm water flow leaving the site by 20% to 25% as compared to the current condition (see Appendix C). Therefore, the project would actually reduce offsite storm water flows and would not adversely affect the local storm drain system. Mitigation Measures. No mitigation measures are required. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts would be less than significant without mitigation. Impact HWQ-3 The proposed project could contribute urban pollutants to runoff leaving the site, which could result in decreased water quality offsite. However, the project is expected to generate fewer pollutants than the current land use on the site; therefore, this is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. The current on site land uses include auto repair facilities, a paint shop, a general contractor, and other businesses that potentially use industrial solvents and other chemicals. Long-term surface water quality of runoff from the project site would be expected to improve with the removal of these facilities and replacement with residential structures and associated landscaping. In addition, the proposed project would be required to comply with the City's Urban Runoff Pollution Control Ordinance, which outlines good housekeeping practices for all developments in the City and runoff control requirements for all new development. Good housekeeping practices include: (1) collection, storage, and minimization of urban runoff; (2) maintenance of equipment; (3) removal of debris; and (4) prohibition of the use of any pesticides and fungicides that are banned by the US Environmental Protection Agency. As part of the runoff control requirements for new developments, all new developments in the City must prepare an Urban Runoff Mitigation Plan that must address one or more of the following goals: (1) maximization of permeable areas for infiltration of runoff; (2) maximization of the amount of runoff directed toward permeable areas or stored for reuse; and (3) removal of pollutants through installation of treatment control BMPs. Compliance with the City's Urban Runoff Pollution Control Ordinance would ensure that the project does not adversely affect offsite water quality. Mitigation Measures. No mitigation measures are required. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts would be less than significant without mitigation. c. Cumulative Impacts. The proposed project, in conjunction with other cumulative projects proposed in the City of Santa Monica, would add approximately three million square feet of non-residential development and about 900 residential units (see Table 3-1 in Section 3.0, rr City of Santa Monica 4.3-4 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.3 Hydrology and Water Quality Environmental Setting). This would potentially increase the amount of impervious surface area within the City as the intensity of development increases. Cumulative development has the potential to reduce surface water quality during construction, and could increase storm water runoff and decrease groundwater infiltration due to increased imperviousness. Compliance with federal requirements, including development of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan for project construction, and adherence to the City of Santa Monica's Urban Runoff Pollution Control Ordinance for construction and operation of new developments, would be expected to mitigate these potential cumulative impacts by requiring on site detention, treatment, or other best management practices for controlling urban runoff. rr City of Santa Monica 4.3-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.4 Noise 4.4 NOISE 4.4.1 Setting a. Overview of Sound Measurement. Noise level (or volume) is generally measured in decibels (dB) using the A-weighted sound pressure level (dBA). The A-weighting scale is an adjustment to the actual sound power levels to be consistent with that of human hearing response, which is most sensitive to frequencies around 4,000 Hertz (about the highest note on a piano) and less sensitive to low frequencies (below 100 Hertz). The sound pressure level is measured on a logarithmic scale with the 0 dB level based on the lowest detectable sound pressure level that people can perceive (an audible sound that is not zero sound pressure level). Based on the logarithmic scale, a doubling of sound energy is equivalent to an increase of 3 dB and a sound that is 10 dB less than the ambient sound level has no effect on ambient noise. Because of the nature of the human ear, a sound must be about 10 dB greater than the reference sound to be judged as twice as loud. In general, a 3 dB change in community noise levels is noticeable, while 1-2 dB changes generally are not perceived. Quiet suburban areas typically have noise levels in the range of 40-50 dBA, while those along arterial streets are in the 50-60+ dBA range. Normal conversational levels are in the 60-65 dBA range, and ambient noise levels greater than 65 dBA can interrupt conversations. Noise levels typically attenuate (or drop off) at a rate of 6 dBA per doubling of distance from point sources such as industrial machinery. Noise from lightly traveled roads typically attenuates at a rate of about 4.5 dBA per doubling of distance. Noise from heavily traveled roads typically attenuates at about 3 dBA per doubling of distance. In addition to the actual instantaneous measurement of sound levels, the duration of sound is important since sounds that occur over a long period of time are more likely to be an annoyance or cause direct physical damage or environmental stress. One of the most frequently used noise metrics that considers both duration and sound power level is the equivalent noise level (Leq). The Leq is defined as the single steady A-weighted level that is equivalent to the same amount of energy as that contained in the actual fluctuating levels over a period of time (essentially, the average noise level). Typically, Leq is summed over a one-hour period. The actual time period in which noise occurs is also important since noise that occurs at night tends to be more disturbing than that which occurs during the daytime. Two commonly used noise metrics - the Day-Night average level (Ldn) and the Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) - recognize this fact by weighting hourly Leqs over a 24-hour period. The Ldn is a 24- hour average noise level that adds 10 dB to actual nighttime (10 PM to 7 AM) noise levels to account for the greater sensitivity to noise during that time period. The CNEL is identical to the Ldn, except it also adds a 5 dB penalty for noise occurring during the evening (7 PM to 10 PM). b. Sensitive Receptors. Noise exposure goals for different land uses reflect the varying noise sensitivities associated with those uses. Residences, hospitals, schools, guest lodging, and libraries are most sensitive to noise intrusion and therefore have more stringent noise exposure targets than manufacturing or agricultural uses that are not subject to impacts such as sleep disturbance. Potentially noise-sensitive land uses near the proposed project site include the r City of Santa Monica 4.4-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.4 Noise single-family residences across Colorado A venue from the project site and a satellite branch of Santa Monica College on Stewart Street. c. Regulatory Setting. The City of Santa Monica adopted an updated General Plan Noise Element in 1992. The Noise Element was updated to provide a description of existing and projected future noise levels, and to incorporate comprehensive goals, policies, and implementing actions. The City revised its Noise Ordinance (Municipal Code S 4.12) in July 1992 to support the goals and policies of the Noise Element. Consistent with the Noise Element, Section 4320 of the revised Noise Ordinance requires that noise mitigation measures be followed in the siting and design of new development. The Noise Element also includes a Land Use/Noise Compatibility Matrix, shown on Figure 4.4-1, which identifies the compatibility of different land uses with a range of noise levels, from less than 55 dBA CNEL to over 80 dBA CNEL. For example, residential uses are considered compatible with mitigation in noise environments up to 70 dBA CNEL, while schools are considered compatible with mitigation in environments with noise levels up to 65 dBA. The Noise Ordinance prohibits any unnecessary, excessive, or annoying noise in the City. The Ordinance does not control traffic noise, but applies to all noise sources located on private property. As part of this ordinance, properties within the City are assigned a noise zone based on their corresponding zoning district. Residential districts are designated as Noise Zone I; commercial districts are designated Noise Zone II; and manufacturing or industrial districts are designated as Noise Zone III. The Ordinance also limits the amount of noise generated by uses during normal operation that may affect the surrounding areas. Table 4.4-1 shows the allowable noise levels and corresponding times of day for each of the three identified noise zones. The project site is within Zone III. Table 4.4-1 Exterior Noise Standards for Onsite Noise Sources Time Period ZONE I ZONE II ZONE III Monday through Friday 7 AM to 10 PM 60 dBA 65 dBA 70 dBA 10 PM to 7 AM 50 dBA 60 dBA 70 dBA Saturday and Sunday 8 AM to 10 PM 60 dBA -- * 70 dBA 10 PM to 8 AM 50 dBA -- * 70 dBA *These noise levels and time periods apply to all days of the week. Source: City of Santa Monica Municipal Code 9 4. 12.050(a). The noise standards shown in Table 4.4-1 apply to any noise-generating activity that exceeds the applicable level for a cumulative period of more than 15 minutes in any half-hour. The standards plus 20 dB (i.e., 90 dBA for Zone III) apply to maximum instantaneous noises occurring for any period of time. It should be noted that the City is currently in the process of updating the Noise Ordinance. The revised Noise Ordinance went to the City Council for approval in July 2003, but has been continued until the November Council meeting. If the revised Ordinance is approved, it will go into effect in late 2003 or early 2004. The proposed project would be required to comply with r City of Santa Monica 4.4-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.4 Noise Proposed land Use Categories Compatible land Use Zones (in CNEl) Categories Uses <60 60-65 >65 RESI DENTIAl Single Family, Duplex, A B B Multiple Family RESI DENTIAl Mobile Home A B C COMMERCIAL Hotel, Motel, Transient lodging A B B Regional, District COMMERCIAL Commercial Retail, Bank, A A A Regional, Village Restaurant, Movie Theater District, Special COMMERCIAL Office Building, Research A A B INDUSTRIAL and Development, Professional I NSTITUTI ONAl Ofiices COMMERCIAL Amphitheater, Concert Hall, B C C Recreation Auditorium, Meeting Hall I NSTITUTI ONAl Civic Center COMMERCIAL Children's Amusement Park, A A B Recreation Miniature Golf Course, Sports Club COMMERCIAL Automobile Service Station, Auto A A A General, Special Dealership INDUSTRIAL, INSTITUTIONAL Manufacturing, Warehousing, Wholesale, Utilities I NSTITUTI ONAl Hospital, Church, Library, A B C General Schools' Classroom, Day Care OPEN SPACE Parks A A B OPEN SPACE Golf Course, Cemeteries, A A A Nature Centers ZONE A - Clearly Compatible: Specified land use is satisfactory, based upon the assumption that any buildings involved are of normal conventional construction without any special noise insulation requirements. ZONE B - Compatible with Mitigation: New construction or development (i.e., substantial remodels and additions representing 50% or more of existing square footage, including garage square footage), should be undertaken only after detailed analysis of the noise reduction requirements are made and needed noise insulation features in the design are determined. Conventional construction, with closed windows and fresh air supply systems on air conditioning, will normally suffice. Note that residential uses are prohibited with Airport CNEl greater than 65. ZONE C - Normally Incompatible: New construction or development should generally be discouraged. If new construction or development does proceed, a detailed analysis of noise reduction requirements must be made. Source City of Santa Monica Planning and Zoning Division, May 1995. Land Use/Noise Compatibility Matrix Figure 4.4-1 City of Santa Monica r" 4.4-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.4 Noise the most current approved version of the Noise Ordinance at the time that project approval is granted. d. Existing Noise Conditions and Sources. The most common sources of noise in the project vicinity are transportation-related, such as automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles. Motor vehicle noise is of concern because it is characterized by a high number of individual events, which often create a sustained noise level, and because of its proximity to areas sensitive to noise exposure. The primary sources of roadway noise near the project site are Colorado A venue and Stewart Street. A weekday morning noise measurement taken from the sidewalk on Stewart Street near the project site in July 2003 indicated a noise level of 63.8 dBA Leq. 4.4.2 Impact Analysis a. Methodology and Significance Thresholds. Noise levels associated with existing and future traffic along Stewart Street were calculated using the California Vehicle Noise Emission Levels (Caltrans, January 1987) and standard noise modeling equations adapted from the Federal Highway Administration noise prediction model (see Appendix D for calculations). The model calculations are based on traffic data from the EIR traffic study (see Appendix E). For traffic-related noise, impacts are considered significant if project-generated traffic results in exposure of sensitive receptors to unacceptable noise levels. Where existing noise levels currently exceed the normally acceptable level, the project's impact would be significant if project-related noise would generate an audible (3 dBA or greater) change in noise levels. Impacts relating to onsite activities are considered significant when project-related activities create noise exceeding the standards as identified by the applicable noise zone for the project site. b. Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures. Impact N-1 Project-generated traffic would incrementally increase noise levels on Stewart Street and Colorado Avenue. However, the change in noise levels would be inaudible. Therefore, the effect of increased traffic noise on off-site sensitive receptors is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. Development of the proposed project would increase the amount of vehicle trips to and from the site, which has the potential to generate an increase in traffic noise on area roadways. The project could therefore increase noise at neighboring noise-sensitive uses, such as the existing residences along Colorado Avenue and the nearby satellite campus of Santa Monica College. Estimated Average Daily Traffic (ADT) values from the traffic study were used to model the change in noise level resulting from increased traffic on Stewart Street and Colorado Avenue. As shown in Table 4.4-2, model results indicate that the noise level along Stewart Street is currently about 65.7 dBA CNEL. This is slightly higher than the actual measured level at Stewart Street. The modeled noise level along Colorado is 65.0 dBA CNEL. The increase in noise due to project-related traffic on both streets is estimated at 0.2 dBA CNEL, which would not be audible. Therefore, project-generated traffic would not significantly affect noise in the project area. It should be noted that although the project would not significantly increase noise r City of Santa Monica 4.4-4 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.4 Noise levels in the project area, the future noise environments on both roadways would exceed the compatibility guidelines for schools. Table 4.4-2 Noise Levels Associated with Traffic on Area Roadways* (dBA CNEL) Existing + Existing + Existing + Project Cumulative Roadway Existing Cumulative + Project Cumulative Project Change Change Stewart Street between 65.7 65.9 66.3 66.5 0.2 0.8 Colorado and Nebraska Colorado Avenue between 65.0 65.2 66.1 66.3 0.2 1.3 Harvard and Yale Streets * At a distance of 50 feet from roadway centerline. See Appendix 0 for calculations. Mitigation Measures. Mitigation is not required. Significance After Mitigation. The project's impact to traffic noise levels on Stewart Street and Colorado A venue would be less than significant without mitigation. Impact N-2 Operation of the proposed project would generate noise levels that may periodically be audible to sensitive receptors near the project site. However, noise levels are not expected to exceed the City's noise ordinance standards. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. Sensitive receptors near the project site may periodically hear noises associated with operation of the proposed project, including noise that is typical of residential developments such as music, conversations, doors slamming, children playing, etc. However, noise from onsite activities would generally be lower than the existing traffic noise levels in the area and would not be expected to exceed the City's Noise Ordinance standards. Consequently, impacts would not be significant. Furthermore, the proposed residential use would replace the existing onsite light industrial uses, which typically generate higher noise levels. Thus, the project would actually be expected to result in an overall reduction in onsite noise generation. Noise associated with parking lot activity, such as slamming car doors and squealing tires, is also common at residential developments. However, parking lot noise from the proposed project would not be audible, as the parking garage would be contained on a subterranean level beneath the proposed buildings. Therefore, operational noise associated with project-related activities would not be significant. Mitigation Measures. Mitigation is not required. Significance After Mitigation. The project's impact to traffic noise levels on the site and at nearby sensitive receptors would be less than significant without mitigation. c. Cumulative Impacts. The traffic noise impacts associated with cumulative development within the City, which would add approximately three million square feet of non- r City of Santa Monica 4.4-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.4 Noise residential development and about 900 residential units, would incrementally increase noise levels along roadways and could potentially subject sensitive receptors to noise exceeding City standards. As shown in Table 4.4-2 above, the estimated noise increase resulting from cumulative development in the City would be less than 3.0 dB and would not be audible. Cumulative development would be required to comply with the City's Noise Ordinance, which restricts the level of noise that can be generated on a property according to its designated noise zone. Compliance with the Noise Ordinance would ensure an acceptable noise environment for City residents. r City of Santa Monica 4.4-6 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic 4.5 TRANSPORT A TIONfIRAFFI C 4.5.1 Setting a. Existing Street System. The project site is located at the southeast corner of Stewart Street and Colorado Avenue in the eastern portion of the City of Santa Monica. Regional access to the project site is provided by the Santa Monica Freeway (1-10) and the San Diego Freeway (1- 405). The Santa Monica Freeway, located about one-half mile south of the project site, provides east-west access across Santa Monica and to the City of Los Angeles to the east. The San Diego Freeway is located about one mile east of the project site and provides north-south access through the region, connecting the Westside with the San Fernando Valley to the north and the South Bay area to the south. Access to and from the Santa Monica Freeway is primarily provided by the Centinela A venue interchange. Other interchanges in the vicinity are located at Bundy Drive, Cloverfield Boulevard, and 20th Street. Access to and from the San Diego Freeway is available either via the Santa Monica Freeway or directly via the Santa Monica Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard/Pico Boulevard interchanges on the San Diego Freeway. Arterial streets carry the majority of traffic traveling through the City and are generally commercial corridors. Arterial streets within the study area include Santa Monica Boulevard, Olympic Boulevard, Pico Boulevard, Cloverfield Boulevard, Colorado Avenue (west of Cloverfield Boulevard), and 26th Street. Collector streets are intended to provide movement of traffic between arterials and neighborhoods. Within the study area, collector streets include Broadway and Stewart Street. b. Existing Traffic Volumes and Levels of Service. Seventeen intersections were chosen for analysis for the proposed project. Figure 4.5-1 shows the location of each of the studied intersections in relation to the project site. Traffic volume count information for the morning and evening peak periods for typical weekdays for 15 of the 17 intersections was collected by the City in October and November 2002. Base traffic data for the intersection of Centinela Avenue and Nebraska Avenue was collected in October 2002, while new traffic counts were conducted in July 2003 for the intersection of Yale Street and Colorado A venue. Figure 4.5-2 illustrates the existing weekday AM and PM peak hour traffic volumes at the 17 study area intersections. Table 4.5-1 summarizes the existing weekday AM and PM peak hour level of service (LOS) at each of the analyzed intersections. The methodology used to determine existing intersection operation conditions is described in Section 4.5.2a. As shown in Table 4.5-1, all but five of the 17 analyzed intersections currently operate at LOS D or better during the weekday AM and PM peak hours. Neighborhood Street Segments. Existing average daily traffic (ADT) volumes on six street segments in the project vicinity were collected in November 2002 and July 2003 for a typical weekday. The following street segments were analyzed: · Princeton Street, north of Colorado Avenue · Harvard Street, north of Colorado Avenue r City of Santa Monica 4.5-1 ~! ,....., III I 0 ~ 'i:: "1" 0 (l) :iE ;..., ,l!! ~~ ~~ o ~ U cO Q) l-l <r:: :>-. ""d ;::i -I-' Cf) ~ N ~ ..0 0 '<t '''''; -I-' cO U 0 ~ -I-' U Q) '0' (/) l-l C p..., 0) E 0) 0) U) "'0 ~\ 0)- NU) :>. :>. - "'0 co ~ c _ <(U) 0 e. 0:: it: "- W III ... t5 I- '" Q) "2 <> .~ 0 <> o ,_ '" ~ - ~ 0... III - " Q) ... ...., ::l 0 of c Co ~ Q) II) .S1 ~ c '-' III 0 o ... ~ -01- <( ~ :::> :.: 0 ~ 0 0 Q; '<t ~ ~ C"0 " OJ 0 N CI) o O::iE - III w... 01:: Q) r::: B,Q 0:10 - Q) ... ::l 0 C Co Q) II) > r::: <( ~ 01- -0 roll) o..,f or::: o 0 "'=f":.i:I C'0 0 OJ Q) N(/) ~~ ~; ~ ~t\ '0\ 'l,~ .... ::J o ~~~ - i:I5~ Oe:.. ~ "0' :2 c: <( ~~ N III I 0 ~ 'i:: "1" 0 (l) :iE ;..., ,l!J 5b~ ..... CI) ~'C5 ~ U rJ) Q) S ;::i ......-l o > u '''''; '4-; '4-; cO ;.... ~ ;.... ;::i o ~ ~ cO Q) p..., be ~ '''''; -I-' rJ) '''''; >< ~ C'0 u1 '<t '" <> <> '" <- '" ..., ~~ co "g '" '" <( :::> :.: ~ Q;~ ~ '" o CI) 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic Table 4.5-1 Existing City of Santa Monica Intersection Level of Service Conditions Intersection Peak Hour Existing Conditions V/C Delay* LOS 1. Cloverfield Blvd & Colorado AM 0.725 26 C Avenue PM 0.743 28 C 2. Cloverfield Blvd & Olympic AM 0.918 37 0 Blvd PM 0.903 38 0 3. 26th Street & Santa Monica AM 0.923 26 C Blvd PM 0.966 26 C 4. 26th Street & Broadway AM 0.640 16 B PM 0.687 17 B 5. 26th Street & Colorado AM 0.558 15 B Avenue PM 0.675 16 B 6. 26th Street & Olympic Blvd AM 0.776 27 C PM 0.830 29 C 7. Yale Street & Santa Monica AM 0.558 11 B Blvd PM 0.795 19 B 8. Yale Street & Broadway [1] AM 0.650 14 B PM 0.969 36 E 9. Yale Street & Colorado AM N/A 3 A Avenue [2] PM N/A 2 A [worst approach only] AM N/A 18 C [worst approach only] PM N/A 18 C 10. Stewart Street & Colorado AM 0.650 17 B Avenue PM 1.093 42 0 11. Stewart Street & Olympic AM 0.972 30 C Blvd PM 1.087 60 E 12. Stewart Street & Pico Blvd AM 0.734 13 B PM 0.891 19 B 13. Centinela Avenue & Santa AM 1.006 39 0 Monica Blvd PM 0.383 ** F 14. Centinela Avenue & AM 0.521 12 B Broadway PM 0.831 20 B 15. Centinela Avenue & AM 0.683 17 B Colorado Avenue PM 1.282 79 E 16. Centinela Avenue & AM N/A 5 A Nebraska Avenue [2] PM N/A ** F [worst approach only] AM N/A 54 F [worst approach only] PM N/A ** F 17. Centinela Avenue (west) & AM 0.703 11 B Olympic Blvd PM 0.924 22 C * Average stopped delay per vehicle in seconds. ** Indicates oversaturated conditions. Delay cannot be calculated. [1J Intersection is controlled by stop signs on all approaches. [2J Intersection is controlled by stop signs on the minor approaches. Source: Kaku Associates, Traffic Study for the 2834 Colorado Apartment Project Environmental Impact Report, July 2003. r City of Santa Monica 4.5-4 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic · Yale Street, north of Colorado Avenue · Stanford Street, north of Colorado Avenue . Nebraska Avenue, between Stewart Street & Centinela Avenue . Stewart Street, between Exposition Boulevard & Virginia Avenue (collector street) The existing average daily traffic volumes for each of the above street segments are shown in Table 4.5-2. Table 4.5-2 Weekday Neighborhood Traffic Volumes Location Street Existing (2003) Classification ADT Princeton Street north of Colorado Local 873 Harvard Street north of Colorado Local 1,075 Yale Street north of Colorado Local 3,382 Stanford Street north of Colorado Local 2,149 Nebraska Avenue west of Franklin Local 4,291 Stewart Street between Exposition Blvd. & Virginia Ave. Collector 8,618 c. Existing Public Transit Service. The project site is served by public transportation facilities, consisting primarily of bus service from the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The bus routes operating in the study area are described below. . Big Blue Bus Line 1 (Santa Monica Boulevard) - Line 1 runs from Venice Boulevard and Ocean Park Boulevard through downtown Santa Monica to UCLA. Line 1 operates on Santa Monica Boulevard within the study area, about one-half mile from the project site. . Big Blue Bus Line 2 (Wilshire Boulevard/Venice Boulevard) - Line 2 runs from Venice High School through downtown Santa Monica to UCLA via Wilshire Boulevard. In the vicinity of the project site, Line 2 provides service along Wilshire Boulevard. . Big Blue Bus Line 5 (Olympic BoulevarcVCentury City) - Line 5 runs from downtown Santa Monica to Century City and the Rimpau Transit Center via Colorado Avenue, Olympic Boulevard, and Pico Boulevard. Within the study area, Line 5 operates on Olympic Boulevard adjacent to the project site. Service headways of about 20 minutes are provided during weekday peak periods and about 30 minutes during weekday off-peak periods and on weekends. r City of Santa Monica 4.5-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic . Big Blue Bus Line 7 (Pico Boulevard) - Line 7 runs from Downtown Santa Monica to the Rimpau Transit Center via Pico Boulevard. Line 7 operates on Pico Boulevard within the study area, about one-half mile south of the project site. . Big Blue Bus Line 10 (Santa Monica Freeway Express) - Line 10 runs from Ocean Park through downtown Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles. In the vicinity of the project site, Line 10 operates on Santa Monica Boulevard west of Bundy Drive and on Bundy Drive between Santa Monica Boulevard and the Santa Monica Freeway. . Big Blue Bus Line 11 (14th Street/20th Street Crosstown) - Line 11 provides service in a clockwise loop along 20th Street, Ocean Park Boulevard, 17th Street, Pearl Street, 14th Street, and Montana Avenue. Within the study area, Line 11 operates on 20th Street. . MTA Lines 4 and 304 - Lines 4 and 304 run from downtown Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles via Santa Monica Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard. Line 4 provides local service, while Line 304 provides peak period limited-stop service. These lines operate on Santa Monica Boulevard within the study area, about one-half mile north of the project site. . MTA Line 20 - Line 20 provides local service between Colorado Avenue and Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica and downtown Los Angeles via Wilshire Boulevard. This line operates on Wilshire Boulevard within the study area. . MTA Line 720 - Line 720, the Metro Rapid bus, provides limited-stop service between Ocean Avenue/Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, downtown Los Angeles, and East Los AngelesjMontebello via Wilshire Boulevard and Whittier Boulevard. This line operates on Wilshire Boulevard in the study area. 4.5.2 Impact Analysis a. Methodology and Significance Thresholds. To evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed project on the street system, estimates of future traffic conditions in the project area both with and without project-generated traffic were developed. Estimates of traffic growth were first developed for the study area to forecast future conditions without the project. These forecasts include traffic increases due to both general regional growth as well as traffic that would be generated by other specific developments in the vicinity of the project (referred to as "related projects"), through Year 2012. These projected traffic volumes represent the Cumulative Base conditions. The amount of traffic generated by the proposed project was then estimated and separately assigned to the surrounding street system. The sum of the Cumulative Base and project-generated traffic represents the Cumulative plus Project conditions. Details of the assumptions and methodologies used to develop each of these future traffic scenarios during weekday AM and PM peak hours are described in Appendix E. Intersection Operation. Level of service (LOS) is a qualitative measure used to describe the condition of traffic flow, ranging from excellent conditions at LOS A to overload conditions at LOS F. In accordance with policies established by the City of Santa Monica, the "Operational r City of Santa Monica 4.5-6 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic Analysis" method from the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) (Transportation Research Board, 2000) was used to perform the intersection level of service analyses for each of the 14 signalized study intersections. The remaining three unsignalized intersections were evaluated using stop- controlled methodologies from the 2000 Highway Capacity Manual. Table 4.5-3 provides the LOS definitions under the HCM method for signalized intersections, while Table 4.5-4 provides LOS definitions under the HCM method for unsignalized intersections. Table 4.5-3 Level of Service Definitions for Signalized Intersections (HCM Method) Average Stopped Delay per Vehicle Level of Service (seconds) Definition A ::::10.0 EXCELLENT. No vehicle waits longer than one red light and no approach phase is fully used. B >10.0 and ::::20.0 VERY GOOD. An occasional approach phase is fully utilized; many drivers begin to feel somewhat restricted within groups of vehicles. C >20.0 and ::::35.0 GOOD. Occasionally drivers may have to wait through more than one red light; backups may develop behind turning vehicles. 0 >35.0 and ::::55.0 FAIR. Delays may be substantial during portions of the rush hours, but enough lower volume periods occur to permit clearing of developing lines, preventing excessive backups. E >55.0 and ::::80.0 POOR. Represents the most vehicles intersection approaches can accommodate; may be long lines of waiting vehicles through several signal cycles. F >80.0 FAILURE. Backups from nearby locations or on cross streets may restrict or prevent movement of vehicles out of the intersection approaches. Tremendous delays with continuously increasing queue lengths. Source: Transportation Research Board, Highway Capacity Manual, 2000. Table 4.5-4 Level of Service Definitions for Stop-Controlled Intersections (HCM Method) Level of Service Average Stopped Delay Per Vehicle (seconds) A ::::10.0 B >10.0 and ::::15.0 C >15.0 and ::::25.0 0 >25.0 and ::::35.0 E >35.0 and ::::50.0 F >50.0 Source: Transportation Research Board, Highway Capacity Manual, 2000. r City of Santa Monica 4.5-7 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic The "Operational Analysis" method from the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) determines the average control delay incurred per vehicle and the volume to capacity (V /e) ratio. These characteristics are based on the amount of traffic traveling through the intersection, the travel lane geometries, and other factors affecting capacity, such as on-street parking, bus operations near the intersection, and pedestrian volumes at the street crosswalks. The average stopped delay per vehicle and the V /C ratio are used to evaluate the operational effectiveness of each intersection, which is described generally in terms of level of service. Intersection Operation Thresholds. The City of Santa Monica has designated LOS D as the minimum acceptable level of service at arterial intersections and LOS C as the minimum acceptable level of service at collector intersections. The City has also established significance criteria for assessing the level of significance of project-related impacts on the operating condition of intersections. The significance criteria vary depending upon whether the subject intersection is on an arterial or collector street and upon the projected base operating condition prior to the addition of project traffic. The potential significance of a proposed project's impact is measured by either a change in the LOS to an unacceptable condition or the change in the average vehicular delay depending on the base LOS. However, if the base LOS is F, significance is defined in terms of a change in V /C ratio (as calculated by the HCM operational method). This difference in methodology is due to the fact that average vehicular delay cannot be calculated using the HCM operational method if the intersection exhibits over-saturated conditions. Using the criteria identified in Table 4.5-5 below for the City of Santa Monica, a project's impact at an intersection would not be considered significant if, for example, it is an arterial intersection operating at LOS D both with and without the addition of project traffic and the incremental change in the average vehicle delay is less than 15 seconds. However, if the intersection is operating at LOS E after the addition of project traffic and the average vehicle delay increases by any amount, the project impact is considered significant. All impacts in LOS F are based on the V /C ratio, with project-related increases of 0.005 or greater considered significant. Table 4.5-5 City of Santa Monica Significant Impact Criteria Future Base Scenario Future Plus Project Scenario If LOS = A, 8, or C Significant I mpact If: and is a collector street intersection Average vehicle delay increase is ~ 15 seconds or LOS becomes 0, E, or F and is an arterial intersection Average vehicle delay is ~ 15 seconds or LOS becomes E or F If LOS = 0 Significant I mpact If: and is a collector street intersection Average vehicle delay increases by any amount and is an arterial intersection Average vehicle delay increase is ~ 15 seconds or LOS becomes E or F If LOS = E Significant I mpact If: and is a collector or arterial intersection Average vehicle delay increases by any amount If LOS = F Significant Impact If: and is a collector or arterial intersection HCM V/C ratio net increase is ~ 0.005 r City of Santa Monica 4.5-8 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic Neighborhood Street Segment Thresholds. The City of Santa Monica impact criteria applied to evaluate potential traffic impacts on street segments are based on the existing ADT and the level of increase that can be attributed to the project. The significant impact criteria for collector, feeder, and local streets are provided in Table 4.5-6. Table 4.5-6 City of Santa Monica Significant Impact Criteria Collector, Feeder, and Local Streets COLLECTOR STREETS Greater than 13,500 and there is a net increase* of one trip or more in A transportation impact is ADT due to project related traffic significant if the Base Average Greater than 7,500 but less than 13,500 and the project related traffic Daily Traffic Volume (ADT) is: increases* the ADT by 12.5% or the ADT becomes 13,500 or more Less than 7,500 and the project related traffic increases* the ADT by 25% FEEDER STREETS Greater than 6,750 and there is a net increase* of one trip or more in A transportation impact is ADT due to project related traffic significant if the Base Average Greater than 3,750 but less than 6,750 and the project related traffic Daily Traffic Volume (ADT) is: increases* the ADT by 12.5% or the ADT becomes 6,750 or more Less than 3,750 and the project related traffic increases* the ADT by 25% LOCAL STREETS Greater than 2,250 and there is a net increase* of one trip or more in A transportation impact is ADT due to project related traffic significant if the Base Average Greater than 1,250 but less than 2,250 and the project related traffic Daily Traffic Volume (ADT) is: increases* the ADT by 12.5% or the ADT becomes 2,250 or more Less than 1,250 and the project related traffic increases* the ADT by 25% * Average Daily Traffic Volume "increase" denotes adverse impacts; "decrease" denotes beneficial impacts. Parking Impact Thresholds. Significant impacts to parking supply would occur if: a) the proposed project does not meet the City code requirements for on-site parking; or b) the proposed project would result in a deficiency in parking in the project vicinity that could not be accommodated by surplus available parking. Congestion Management Plan Traffic Impact Criteria. The CMP traffic impact analysis guidelines indicate that a significant project impact occurs when the following threshold is exceeded: . The increase in traffic demand generated by a proposed project at a monitoring intersection exceeds 2 percent, i.e., the increase in the V /C ratio is equal or greater than 0.02 with the addition of project traffic, causing or worsening LOS F conditions (i.e., the V /C ratio is greater than 1.00 with the addition of project traffic). r City of Santa Monica 4.5-9 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic These criteria are based on an intersection capacity analysis methodology that computes volume-to-capacity ratios using an overall intersection capacity of 1,600 vehicles per hour per lane and by adding a factor of 0.10 for vehicle clearance. b. Project and Cumulative Impacts and Mitigation Measures. Impact T-1 The proposed project would generate approximately 771 net average daily trips during the weekday. The increase in vehicles traveling on the surrounding roadway network would result in a Class II, significant but mitigable, impact to one intersection in the project vicinity, and a Class I, significant and unavoidable, impact to three intersections. As shown in Table 4.5-7, the proposed project would generate approximately 771 new net daily trips on a typical weekday, of which approximately 57 would occur in the AM peak hour and 70 would occur in the PM peak hour. Figure 4.5-3 shows the project-added peak hour traffic volumes. The methodology used to determine the weekday trip generation rate for the proposed project is included in Appendix E. The project-generated traffic estimate accounts for the trips currently generated by the existing light industrial uses on the site, which are estimated at 190 trips per day. Table 4.5-7 Trip Generation Estimates Daily Trip AM Peak PM Peak Land Use Size Generation Rate Daily Trips Hour Trips Hour Trips [a] New Use: 145 units 6.63 per unit 961 74 90 Apartment Units Existing Use: 38,400 sf 4.96 per 1,000 sf 190 17 20 -20 Businesses [b] Net New Trips 771 57 70 sf = square feet a. Source: Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), Trip Generation, Sixth Edition, 1997. b. Lot is currently occupied by two rows of warehouse buildings with approximately 20 businesses, including general contractors, auto repair facilities, cabinet, welding, and machine shops, arts and crafts shop, and a firearms shop. 38,400 sf assumes half of 120' x 640' lot is occupied by single-story buildings. Growth in traffic is expected to occur in the area regardless of whether or not the proposed project is approved. Consequently, a projection of future traffic volumes without the project is used as the baseline against which the project's impacts are compared. For the proposed project, this "Cumulative Base" consists of the projected traffic volumes in the year 2012. The Cumulative Base traffic conditions without the proposed project for the morning and evening peak hour on weekdays are shown in Figure 4.5-4. The Cumulative Plus Project peak hour traffic volumes are shown in Figure 4.5-5. Nine of the 17 study area intersections are projected to operate at unacceptable conditions (LOS E or F) during one or both of the weekday peak periods under Cumulative Base conditions, without implementation of the project. The intersections that would operate at unacceptable conditions are listed below: r City of Santa Monica 4.5-10 CJ Cl:::E - III LlJ ... ~I- u_ Q) c: .0' .Q 0:1ii - Q) ... ::J 0 C c.. Q) 1Il > c: <( E! 01- -0 CIlLn '- . O'l:t (5 c: U 0 'I:t:;:; C") CJ 00 Q) NCJ) ~~ ~ ~t\ ~4 ~~ R L... ::l o 2~~ U5 ~ o 0... Q) ~ "O~ ~ 0: ~ w ~~~ cD ~ I ._ If) s:: . 0 "'i':e Q) III l-< _ ;:J s:: 00 III ...... CI) j:.L.,.... o ~ is [/) Q) S ;::l ......-l o > u '''''; ~ l-i ~ l-i ;::l o ~ ~ Q) p.., >-, ~ q ......... U Q) '0' l-i p.., ..-- ..-- .;., 'I:t ~ CJ O:::E - III LlJ ... ~I- u_ Q) c: .~ 0 0._ '-- 0... III - Q) ... ::J 0 C c.. Q) 1Il > c: <( E! 01- -0 CIlLn '- . O'l:t (5 c: U 0 'I:t:;:; C") CJ 00 Q) NCJ) ~! ~ -~\ ..... :J o ID~~ ............. W:i' t) D- ID __ '0' ::!E CI .... <( Z D- W, . I C> ~i~ UJ. ._ -I.. .::t:t "'i' ~ I ._ If) s:: . 0 "'i':e Q) III l-< _ ;:J s:: 00 III ...... CI) j:.L.,.... o ~ is [/) Q) S ;::l ......-l o > u '''''; I...!-< ~ l-i ~ l-i ;::l o ~ ~ (Ii Q) p.., Q) [/) (Ii ~ Q) :> '''''; ......... (Ii ......-l ;::l S ;::l u N ..-- o 'I:t ~ CJ O:::E - III LlJ ... ~I- u_ Q) c: .~ 0 0._ '-- 0... III - Q) ... ::J 0 C c.. Q) 1Il > c: <( E! 01- -0 CIlLn '- . O'l:t (5 c: U 0 'I:t:;:; C") CJ 00 Q) NCJ) ~)! ~ ~"\ j!il. W:i' t) Cl. Q) -- Cl .~ :! z Cl. <( ~~~ ~..~~ If) III I (,) If) .1: . 0 "'i':e ~ ,5 ;:J s:: .~~ ~'O ~ is [/) Q) S ;::l ......-l o > u '''''; tt:: (Ii l-i ~ l-i ;::l o ~ ~ Q) p.., ......... U Q) '0' l-i p.., [/) ;::l ......-l p.., Q) :> '''''; ......... (Ii ......-l ;::l S ;::l u C") ..-- o 'I:t ~ 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic 1. Clover field Boulevard/Colorado Avenue 2. Clover field Boulevard/Olympic Boulevard 3. 26th Street/Santa Monica Boulevard 4. Yale StreetjBroadway 5. Stewart Street/Colorado Avenue 6. Stewart Street/Olympic Boulevard 7. Centinela Avenue/Santa Monica Boulevard 8. Centinela Avenue/Colorado Avenue 9. Centinela AvenuejNebraska Avenue The addition of project-generated traffic to the Cumulative Base traffic volumes would create a significant impact at four of the 17 intersections based on application of the City of Santa Monica significance criteria. Table 4.5-8 compares the intersection operating conditions projected to occur under the Cumulative Base traffic volumes with those projected to occur as a result of the Cumulative plus Project traffic volumes for each of the 17 study area intersections. The four intersections that would experience significant impacts as result of the project during one or both of the peak hours are: . Yale Street and Colorado Avenue (worst approach only); . Stewart Street and Colorado A venue; . Stewart Street and Olympic Boulevard; and . Centinela Avenue and Nebraska Avenue (worst approach only). Mitigation measures, both physical and operational, were identified that could potentially reduce the significance of impacts at the above intersections. It is the City's policy to avoid widening streets; therefore, mitigation measures were sought that could be executed within the existing road right-of-way. For the intersection of Stewart Street and Olympic Boulevard, no mitigation was identified that could be carried out within the existing right-of-way. Thus, impacts to this intersection are considered to be unavoidably significant. Impacts to the intersection of Yale Street and Colorado A venue could be mitigated by installation of a traffic signal, which would be the only effective way of reducing delay for southbound stop-controlled movements on Yale Street. Installation of a traffic signal at this location, however, could adversely affect the adjoining residential neighborhood by encouraging motorists to travel along Yale Street through the neighborhood, resulting in a more detrimental impact to the neighborhood than the existing stop-controlled delay condition. Therefore, impacts to this intersection are also considered to be unavoidably significant. Impacts to the intersection of Centinela A venue and Nebraska A venue could also be fully mitigated by the installation of a traffic signal at this location and the coordination of the new signal with the existing signal at Centinela Avenue (west)/Olympic Boulevard. However, the intersection of Centinela A venue and Nebraska A venue is within the jurisdiction of the City of Los Angeles and implementation of any improvements to this intersection would be dependent on factors that are outside the control of the City of Santa Monica. Impacts to this intersection are thus also considered to be unavoidably significant. r City of Santa Monica 4.5-14 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic Table 4.5-8 Cumulative Base & Cumulative Base Plus Project Intersection LOS For Santa Monica Intersections Intersection Peak Cumulative Base Cumulative + Project V/C or Delay Significant Hour V/C Delay* LOS V/C Delay* LOS Change I m pact? 1. Cloverfield Blvd & AM 1.026 45 0 1.027 45 0 0 No Colorado Avenue PM 1.082 64 E 1.082 64 E 0 No 2. Cloverfield Blvd & AM 1.191 ** F 1.192 ** F 0.001 No Olympic Blvd PM 1.202 ** F 1.203 ** F 0.001 No 3. 26th Street & Santa AM 1.146 64 E 1.146 64 E 0 No Monica Blvd PM 1.337 54 0 1.337 54 0 0 No 4. 26th Street & AM 0.770 19 B 0.771 19 B 0 No Broadway PM 0.816 22 C 0.818 22 C 0 No 5. 26th Street & AM 0.716 17 B 0.723 17 B 0 No Colorado Avenue PM 0.839 19 B 0.840 19 B 0 No 6. 26th Street & Olympic AM 0.862 30 C 0.864 30 C 0 No Blvd PM 0.916 35 C 0.919 35 C 0 No 7. Yale Street & Santa AM 0.716 12 B 0.716 12 B 0 No Monica Blvd PM 0.949 31 C 0.949 31 C 0 No 8. Yale Street & AM 0.850 22 C 0.852 22 C 0 No Broadway [1] PM 1.604 ** F 1.608 ** F 0.004 No 9. Yale St. & Colorado AM N/A 3 A N/A 3 A 0 No Ave. [2] PM N/A 3 A N/A 3 A 0 No [worst approach only] AM N/A 25 C N/A 25 C 0 No [worst approach only] PM N/A 27 0 N/A 28 0 1 YES 10. Stewart Street & AM 0.763 19 B 0.771 19 B 0 No Colorado Avenue PM 1.431 ** F 1.455 ** F 0.024 YES 11. Stewart Street & AM 1.385 ** F 1.403 ** F 0.018 YES Olympic Blvd PM 1.313 ** F 1.337 ** F 0.024 YES 12. Stewart Street & AM 1.145 30 C 1.147 30 C 0 No Pico Blvd PM 1.025 35 0 1.026 35 0 0 No 13. Centinela Avenue & AM 1.229 ** F 1.231 ** F 0.002 No Santa Monica Blvd PM 1.539 ** F 1.539 ** F 0 No 14. Centinela Avenue & AM 0.628 14 B 0.630 14 B 0 No Broadway PM 1.050 44 0 1.050 44 0 0 No 15. Centinela Avenue & AM 0.809 20 C 0.809 21 C 0 No Colorado Avenue PM 1.765 ** F 1.767 ** F 0.002 No 16. Centinela Ave. & AM N/A 26 0 N/A 26 0 0 No Nebraska Ave. [2] PM N/A ** F N/A ** F 0 No [worst approach AM N/A ** F N/A ** F N/A YES only] [worst approach PM N/A ** F N/A ** F N/A YES only] 17. Centinela Ave. AM 0.931 15 B 0.932 15 B 0 No (west) & Olympic Blvd PM 1.013 32 C 1.016 32 C 0 No * Average stopped vehicle delay in seconds. ** Indicates oversaturated conditions. Delay cannot be calculated. [1J Intersection controlled by stop signs on all major approaches. [2J Intersection controlled by stop signs on the minor approaches. r City of Santa Monica 4.5-15 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic Mitigation Measures. The following mitigation measure addresses the significant traffic impacts that would occur as a result of the proposed project at the intersection of Stewart Street and Colorado A venue. T-1 Roadway Improvements. The applicant shall be required to implement the following physical and operational improvements to increase the capacity of the roadway system at the affected intersection. Stewart Street and Colorado A venue. Modify the traffic signal at this location to provide a left-turn phase for the westbound left-turn movement. Implementation of this mitigation measure would necessitate the provision of some combination of new signage, controller cabinets, poles, mast arms, detectors, and/ or signal heads. Significance After Mitigation. The effectiveness of the mitigation measure above was analyzed by re-evaluating the intersection where improvements have been proposed. The results of this analysis (see Appendix E) indicate that the impacts at Stewart Street and Colorado A venue could be mitigated to a less than significant level with implementation of the proposed measure. Impacts at the intersections of Centinela Avenue/Nebraska Avenue, Stewart Streetj Olympic Boulevard, and Yale Streetj Colorado Avenue would remain unavoidably significant. Impact T-2 The proposed project would increase the average daily traffic on Yale Street and Nebraska Avenue by more than one vehicle per day. This would exceed the City of Santa Monica significance criteria for local streets and result in a Class I, unavoidably significant, impact. As described above, the project's potential impacts to six neighborhood street segments were analyzed using the existing average daily traffic on each segment and assigning the daily project-related trips to each segment. The existing and forecast daily street segment traffic volumes are shown in Table 4.5-9. Table 4.5-9 Weekday Neighborhood Traffic Impact Analysis Street Existing Existing Plus Project Location Classif. ADT ADT % Significance Significant ADT Change Change Threshold I m pact? Princeton Street Local 873 881 8 0.9% +25% NO north of Colorado Harvard Street Local 1,075 1,083 8 0.7% +25% NO north of Colorado Yale Street Local 3,382 3,405 23 0.7% + 1 tri p YES north of Colorado Stanford Street Local 2,149 2,157 8 0.4% + 12.5% NO north of Colorado Nebraska Avenue Local 4,291 4,295 4 0.1% + 1 tri p YES west of Franklin Stewart Street between Exposition Collector 8,168 8,214 46 0.6% + 12.5% NO Blvd. & Virginia Ave. r City of Santa Monica 4.5-16 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic Application of the City of Santa Monica significance criteria for neighborhood traffic impacts indicates that that the project would create significant traffic impacts on segments of Yale Street and Nebraska Avenue. For local streets such as these, if the current ADT is greater than 2,250 and there is a net increase of one trip or more, the proposed project's impact is considered significant. The proposed project would exceed this threshold on Yale Street north of Colorado Avenue and Nebraska Avenue between Stewart Street and Centinela Avenue. Short of full closure of the affected street segments, which would not be acceptable since they serve adjacent land uses and carry substantial traffic that would then need to shift to other nearby streets, there are no mitigation measures that would eliminate the need for even one trip to be added to these segments. Therefore, neighborhood street impacts are considered significant and unavoidable. Mitigation Measures. No measures are available to mitigate the potential impacts to the affected segments of Yale Street and Nebraska A venue. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts to Yale Street and Nebraska Avenue would remain unavoidably significant based upon City of Santa Monica criteria. Impact T-3 The proposed project would provide 228 parking spaces onsite. This would fulfill the City of Santa Monica parking code requirement of 228 spaces for this type and size of development. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. Table 4.5-10 shows the parking analysis for the proposed project. The number of spaces required by the City of Santa Monica parking code requirements for residential developments was compared to the amount of parking proposed by the applicant to determine whether it is sufficient. Table 4.5-10 Parking Requirements Analysis Land Use Size of Unit Number of Units City Code Parking Spaces Ratio [a] Required [b] Low-I ncome Residential 1 Bedroom 15 1 space per unit 15 Multi-Family Residential o Bedroom 29 1 space per unit 29 (studio) Multi-Family Residential 1 Bedroom 94 1.5 spaces per unit 141 Multi-Family Residential 2 Bedroom 7 2 spaces per unit 14 Residential Parking 199 Subtotal Visitor Spaces N/A 145 1 space per 5 units 29 Total Parking Required 228 Parking Spaces to be 228 Provided [a] Source: City of Santa Monica Municipal Code, Section 9.04.10.08.040 [b] Required parking spaces are rounded. r City of Santa Monica 4.5-17 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic The project would meet the City parking code requirements by providing 228 parking spaces, including 29 spaces designated for visitors. City code also stipulates that a maximum of 40% of visitor spaces may be built to compact standards. The project plans indicate that 12 of the 29 visitor parking spaces (40%) would be compact. Therefore, parking impacts would be less than significant. Mitigation Measures. No mitigation is required. Significance After Mitigation. Parking impacts would be less than significant. Impact T-4 Access to the project site would be provided from a two-way driveway on Stewart Street. An additional one-way driveway on Colorado Avenue would allow exiting only. These driveways would provide adequate site access; therefore, impacts relating to site access and circulation are considered Class III, less than significant. Vehicular access to the project site is proposed via a two-way driveway on Stewart Street. A second driveway is proposed on Colorado A venue to allow egress from the parking garage. This driveway would be restricted to right-turns only, which would prevent safety hazards associated with vehicles trying to turn left out of the project site. No potential operational issues have been identified with regard to the proposed access scheme; therefore, impacts would be less than significant. Mitigation Measures. No mitigation measures are required. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts would be less than significant without mitigation. Impact T-5 Based on Los Angeles County Congestion Management Program (CMP) criteria, the proposed project would result in Class III, less than significant, impacts to CMP identified freeway monitoring segments and arterial intersections. This section presents the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Congestion Management Program (CMP) transportation impact analysis (TIA). This analysis was conducted in accordance with the procedures outlined in 2002 Congestion Management Program for Los Angeles County (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, June 2002). The CMP requires that, when an environmental impact report is prepared for a project, traffic and transit impact analyses be conducted for select regional facilities based on the quantity of project traffic expected to utilize these facilities. The CMP guidelines require that the first issue to be addressed is to determine the geographic scope of the study area to be analyzed. The criteria for determining the study area for CMP arterial monitoring intersections and for freeway monitoring locations are: . All CMP arterial monitoring intersections where the proposed project will add 50 or more trips during either the AM or PM weekday peak hours of adjacent street traffic. r City of Santa Monica 4.5-18 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.5 TransportationlTraffic . All CMP mainline freeway monitoring locations where the proposed project will add 150 or more trips, in either direction, during either the AM or PM weekday peak hours. The CMP arterial monitoring intersections nearest to the project site are the intersections of Santa Monica Boulevard/Bundy Drive, Santa Monica Boulevard/Cloverfield Boulevard, and Wilshire Boulevard/26th Street. Based on the incremental project trip generation estimates previously presented, the proposed project is not expected to add more than 50 vehicles per hour (vph) to any of these intersections; therefore, a CMP analysis is not required. The nearest mainline freeway monitoring locations to the project site are 1-10 at Lincoln Boulevard, 1-10 east of Overland Avenue, and 1-405 north of Venice Boulevard. Based on the incremental project trip generation estimates, the proposed project is not expected to add sufficient new traffic to exceed the freeway analysis criteria at these locations. Since incremental project-related traffic is less than the minimum criteria of 150 vph, no further analysis of CMP freeway monitoring stations is required. Mitigation Measures. No mitigation measures would be required. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts would remain less than significant without implementation of mitigation measures. Impact T-6 Although the proposed project would increase the use of transit facilities in the project vicinity, the location of the project near numerous well-established transit routes would likely result in a limited increase in ridership on anyone line. Therefore, impacts to transit facilities are considered Class III, less than significant. The methodology discussion included in Appendix E includes the CMP methodology for estimating the number of transit trips expected to result from the proposed project based on the number of vehicle trips. Using this methodology, the proposed project could add approximately four new transit trips in the AM peak hour and five new transit trips in the PM peak hour. Given the existing headways of approximately 20 minutes (three buses per hour) in each direction during the peak periods on Olympic Boulevard to the south and the more frequent service on Santa Monica Boulevard to the north, this would translate into an average increase of one rider or less per bus during the peak hours. The potential impact of this increase in ridership on the regional transit system is considered less than significant. Mitigation Measures. No mitigation measures would be required. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts would be less than significant without mitigation. r City of Santa Monica 4.5-19 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.6 Historic Resources 4.6 HISTORIC RESOURCES This section contains information that has been summarized from a historic resources report prepared for the proposed project by San Buenaventura Research Associates in July 2003. This report is provided in its entirety as Appendix F in the EIR. 4.6.1 Setting a. Property Description and History. The 1.76-acre project site, located at the southeast corner of Stewart Street and Colorado Avenue, is currently occupied by two rows of buildings facing each other with a surface parking lot between them. The site contains a collection of buildings with common walls, but built at different times with a variety of building materials, including stucco, concrete block, metal siding, and plywood siding. The buildings are primarily one story in height with flat composition roofs and are connected at the rear with concrete masonry walls. Presently, the buildings house 50 individual storefronts or bays, with some businesses occupying more than one storefront or bay. A brief history of the development of the site follows. Site photos are provided on Figure 2-3 in Section 2.0, Project Description, and in the historical report in Appendix F. The existing buildings on the project site were constructed primarily between 1948 and 1969, with a few smaller buildings and additions built through 1983. The first building permit for this property in 1937 indicates that a four-room, 20'-by-20' dwelling was to be constructed by the owner. The permit showed that greenhouses already existed on the site. However, none of these buildings remain today. Construction began on the present buildings in April 1948, when a steel and masonry building was constructed for use as a materials yard. The owner and contractor was Building Center Corporation, a construction business. In November 1948, a storage shed and incinerator were built, as were a washroom building and storage shed. In April 1949 a steel cement silo was built for use as a concrete mixing plant. This structure no longer remains. In April 1951 a seven-foot high masonry wall was constructed along the Stewart Street side of the project site. In September 1951 an additional storage shelter was constructed, and in 1957 a two-story building made of wood frame stucco with a composition roof was constructed. A one-story masonry and stucco storage building was constructed on the east side of the site in December 1960, followed by a one-story stucco building at the rear west side of the site in December 1965. In November 1969, two concrete block one-story buildings were built along Colorado Avenue for use as warehouses. In August 1971, two concrete block one-story buildings with composition roofs were constructed on the west side of the parcel. Finally, in 1983, a three-sided addition containing 315 square feet was added to the building at the rear eastern corner of the site. The property has been used for a variety of commercial and industrial operations. Bay Screens and Shades appears to be one of the oldest businesses on the site, operating since 1953. The development appears to have started out as a construction business with a small concrete ,.. City of Santa Monica 4.6-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.6 Historic Resources mixing plant that was eventually removed. Numerous other small companies occupied the buildings during their history. Today, the site houses businesses like general contractors, a print shop, and a plumbing service. b. Regulatory Setting. A property may be designated as historic by National, State, or local authorities. In order for a building to qualify for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources, or as a locally significant property in the City of Santa Monica, it must meet one or more identified criteria of significance. The property must also retain sufficient architectural integrity to continue to evoke the sense of place and time with which it is historically associated. An explanation of these designations follows. National Register of Historic Places. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), which is administered by the National Park Service, is "an authoritative guide to be used by federal, state, and local governments, private groups, and citizens to identify the nation's cultural resources and to indicate what properties should be considered for protection from destruction or impairment." However, the federal regulations explicitly provide that National Register listing of private property" does not prohibit under federal law or regulation any actions which may otherwise be taken by the property owner with respect to the property." Listing in the National Register assists in preservation of historic properties through the following actions: recognition that a property is of significance to the nation, the state, or the community; consideration in planning for Federal or federally assisted projects; eligibility for Federal tax benefits; consideration in the decision to issue a federal permit; and qualification for Federal assistance for historic preservation grants, when funds are available. Properties may qualify for NRHP listing if they: A. Are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or B. Are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or C. Embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or D. Have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. According to the NRHP guidelines, the essential physical features of a property must be present for it to convey its significance. Further, in order to qualify for the NRHP, a resource must retain its integrity, or the" ability to convey its significance." The seven aspects of integrity are: 1. Location (the place where the historic property was constructed or the place where the historic event occurred); 2. Design (the combination of elements that create the form, plan, space, structure, and style of a property); 3. Setting (the physical environment of a historic property); 4. Materials (the physical elements that were combined or deposited during a particular period of time and in a particular pattern or configuration to form a historic property); ,.. City of Santa Monica 4.6-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.6 Historic Resources 5. Workmanship (the physical evidence of the crafts of a particular culture or people during any given period of history or prehistory); 6. Feeling (a property's expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of a particular period of time); and 7. Association (the direct link between an important historic event or person and a historic property). The relevant aspects of integrity depend upon the NRHP criteria applied to the property. For example, a property nominated under Criterion A (events) would be likely to convey its significance primarily through integrity of location, setting, and association. A property nominated solely under Criterion C (design) would usually rely primarily on integrity of design, materials, and workmanship. The California Register procedures include similar language with regard to integrity. California Register of Historic Resources. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires evaluation of project impacts on historic resources, including properties "listed in, or determined eligible for listing in, the California Register of Historic Resources [or] included in a local register of historical resources." The California Register is an authoritative guide in California used by State and local agencies, private groups, and citizens to identify the State's historical resources and to indicate what properties are to be protected, to the extent prudent and feasible, from substantial adverse change. A resource is eligible for listing on the California Register if it meets any of the following criteria for listing: A. Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of California's history and cultural heritage; B. Is associated with the lives of persons important in our past; C. Embodies the distinctive work of an important creative individual, or possesses high artistic values; or D. Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. The California Register may also include properties listed in "local registers" of historic properties. A "local register of historic resources" is broadly defined in Section 5020.1(k) as" a list of properties officially designated or recognized as historically significant by a local government pursuant to a local ordinance or resolution." Local registers of historic properties come in two forms: (1) surveys of historic resources conducted by a local agency in accordance with Office of Historic Preservation procedures and standards, adopted by the local agency and maintained as current, and (2) landmarks designated under local ordinances or resolutions (Public Resources Code Sections 5024.1, 21804.1, 15064.5). By definition, the California Register of Historic Resources also includes all "properties formally determined eligible for, or listed in, the National Register of Historic Places," (NRHP) and certain specified State Historical Landmarks. The majority of formal determinations of NRHP eligibility occur when properties are evaluated by the State Office of Historic Preservation in connection with federal environmental review procedures (Section 106 of the Historic Preservation Act of 1966). Formal determinations of eligibility also occur when properties are nominated to the NRHP, but are not listed due to owner objection. ,.. City of Santa Monica 4.6-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.6 Historic Resources The minimum age criterion for the NRHP and the California Register is 50 years. Properties less than 50 years old may be eligible for listing on the NRHP is they can be regarded as "exceptional", as defined by the NRHP procedures, or in terms of the California Register, if "it can be demonstrated that sufficient time has passed to understand its historical importance." City of Santa Monica Landmarks and Historic Districts. The City of Santa Monica has the ability to designate properties within the City boundaries as Landmarks for the purpose of protecting and safeguarding historic resources, fostering civic pride, enhancing the City's aesthetic and historic attractions, and promoting the education, pleasure, and welfare of the people of the City. City Landmarks are determined by the Landmarks Commission and designation is based on whether or not a property meets one or more of the following criteria: 1. It exemplifies, symbolizes, or manifests elements of the cultural, social, economic, political, or architectural history of the City. 2. It has aesthetic or artistic interest or value, or other noteworthy interest or value. 3. It is identified with historic personages or with important events in local, state, or national history. 4. It embodies distinguishing architectural characteristics valuable to a study of a period, style, method of construction, or the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship, or is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail, or historical type valuable to such a study. 5. It is a significant or a representative example of the work or product of a notable builder, designer, or architect. 6. It has a unique location, a singular physical characteristic, or is an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or the City. An historic district is defined by the City of Santa Monica as "any geographic area or noncontiguous grouping of thematically related properties which the City Council has designated as and determined to be appropriate for historical preservation pursuant to the provisions of this [ordinance]." In order to be designated an historic district, an area must meet one of the following criteria, outlined in Section 9.36.100(b): 1. Any of the criteria identified in items (1) through (6) above. 2. It is a noncontiguous grouping of thematically related properties or a definable area possessing a concentration ofhistoric, scenic, or thematic sites, which contribute to each other and are unified aesthetically by plan, physical development, or architectural quality. 3. It reflects significant geographic patterns, including those associated with different eras of settlement and growth, particular transportation modes, or distinctive examples of park or community planning. 4. It has a unique location, a singular physical characteristic, or is an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or the City. 4.6.2 Impact Analysis a. Methodology and Significance Thresholds. Under CEQA, a project that may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an historical resource is a project that may ,.. City of Santa Monica 4.6-4 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.6 Historic Resources have a significant effect on the environment. For the purposes of this analysis, potentially significant impacts to historical resources are defined as project impacts that would: 1) Cause substantial adverse change in the significance of an historical resource by physical demolition, destruction, relocation, or alteration of the resource or its immediate surroundings such that the significance of an historical resource would be materially impaired; or 2) Demolish or materially alter in an adverse manner those physical characteristics of an historical resource that convey its historical significance and that justify its inclusion in, or eligibility for, inclusion in the California Register of Historical Resources; or 3) Demolish or materially alter in an adverse manner those physical characteristics that account for its inclusion in a local register of historical resources pursuant to Section 5020.1(k) of the Public Resources Code or its identification in an historical resources survey meeting the requirements of Section 5024.1 (g) of the Public Resources Code, unless the public agency reviewing the effects of the project establishes by a preponderance of evidence that the resource is not historically or culturally significant; or 4) Demolish or materially alter in an adverse manner those physical characteristics of a historical resource that convey its historical significance and that justify its eligibility for inclusion in the California Register of Historical Resources as determined by a lead agency for purposes ofCEQA.l The State CEQA Guidelines identify the Secretary of the Interior's Standards as the measure to be used in determinations of whether or not a project adversely impacts an "historical resource." Section 15064.5(b)(3) states: Generally, a project that follows the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, and Reconstructing Historic Buildings or the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings (1995), Weeks and Grimer, shall be considered as mitigated to a level of less than a significant impact on the historical resource. b. Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures. Impact HR-1 The proposed project would result in the demolition of all of the existing structures onsite. However, the structures are not considered historically significant. Therefore, impacts to historic resources are considered Class III, less than significant. Development of the proposed project would require the removal of all structures currently on the project site. Of the buildings on the site that are at least 50 years old, none appear to be eligible for the NRHP and CRHR under Criterion A (significant historical events). While they are generally associated with the industrial and commercial development of Santa Monica, the 1 State CEQA Guidelines, 15064.5(b)(2). ,.. City of Santa Monica 4.6-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.6 Historic Resources available evidence does not suggest that they played any notable role in that development. The property also does not appear to be potentially eligible under Criterion B (lives of persons significant in our past). The property changed hands frequently and housed an even larger number of lessees. The property does not appear to be potentially eligible under Criterion C (design and construction). The buildings are sheds and offices built of various materials, including concrete block, metal siding, and stucco and have been subject to numerous additions and alterations. They are especially unremarkable within the overall context of Santa Monica, which generated many architecturally notable commercial and industrial buildings during the 1940s and 1950s. Properties less than 50 years of age may be eligible if they can be found to be "exceptiona1." While there is no hard and fast definition of "exceptional" provided by the NRHP, the special language developed to support the nomination of these properties was clearly intended to accommodate properties that demonstrate a level of importance such that their historical significance can be understood without the passage of time. In general, according to NRHP literature, eligible "exceptional" properties may include "resources so fragile that survivors of any age are unusua1. [Exceptionalness] may be a function of the relative age of a community and its perceptions of old and new. It may be represented by a building or structure whose developmental or design value is quickly recognized as historically significant by the architectural or engineering profession [or] it may be reflected in a range of resources for which the community has an unusually strong associative attachment." None of the subject buildings appear to rise to the exceptionalleve1. The buildings on the project site do not appear eligible for designation as a local landmark under City of Santa Monica criteria. First, they do not exemplify elements of the cultural, social, economic, political, or architectural history of the City. As described above, although they are part of the commercial and industrial development of the City, they do not exemplify that history. Second, the buildings are not of aesthetic or noteworthy interest. Third, they have not been identified with any historic persons or with important events in local, state, or national history. Fourth, they do not embody distinguishing architectural characteristics and are not rare examples of an architectural design, but are rather commonplace buildings used for commercialj industrial purposes. Finally, no notable builders or architects are associated with the construction of these buildings, nor are any unique locations or singular physical characteristics. The site itself does not meet any of the criteria for designation as an individual landmark. Further, it does not meet the criteria for designation as an historic district, because most of the manufacturing businesses that once existed in the project vicinity no longer remain. Thus, the project site does not appear to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historic Resources, or the City of Santa Monica historic landmarks or districts list. Therefore, the property should not be regarded as an environmental resource for purposes of CEQA. Mitigation Measures. No mitigation measures are required. ,.. City of Santa Monica 4.6-6 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.6 Historic Resources Significance After Mitigation. None of the on site structures meet the criteria for designation as historically significant on either the National or California Registers and none are eligible for designation as local landmarks based on City of Santa Monica criteria. Therefore, impacts would be less than significant. c. Cumulative Impacts. The proposed project, in conjunction with other planned and pending development in the City of Santa Monica, would cumulatively increase the potential to alter historic resources by adding about three million square feet of new commercial and retail development and nearly 900 residential units (see Table 3-1 in Section 3.0, Environmental Setting). Thus, cumulative historic resource impacts are considered potentially significant. However, because the potential to adversely affect such resources depends upon the specific site and nature of an individual development, historic resource issues must be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Compliance with CEQA requirements, including any recommendations in site-specific historic resource studies, on all new developments would reduce cumulative impacts to a level considered less than significant. ,.. City of Santa Monica 4.6-7 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.7 Aesthetics/Shadow Effects 4.7 AESTHETICS/SHADOW EFFECTS 4.7.1 Setting a. Existing Aesthetic Character. The project site is located on a 76,800 square foot rectangular parcel at the southeast corner of Stewart Street and Colorado Avenue. The site is currently occupied by about 38,400 square feet of light industrial uses housed in two rows of one- and two-story warehouse-style buildings. Figures 2-3 and 2-4 in Section 2.0, Project Description, show the current aesthetic character of the project site and the character of the surrounding development, respectively. The project site is located within an urbanized setting characterized by a mix of land uses and architectural styles. The immediate neighborhood is a mixture of commercial, light industrial, and residential development. A five-story modern commercial building that houses film studio and production operations sits across Stewart Street from the project site, facing Colorado A venue. Further to the southwest along Stewart Street and opposite the project site are multi- story commercial buildings and a satellite campus of Santa Monica College. Directly adjacent to the project site on Stewart Street is a facility of the Southern California Gas Company. Adjacent to the project site to the northeast along Colorado Avenue is a mix of light industrial and commercial buildings that are similar in size and scale to those that currently occupy the project site. Directly across Colorado A venue from the project site are single-family homes, with additional single- and multi-family housing further to the northwest on Yale Street. b. Light and Glare. The existing buildings on the project site contain few sources of nighttime lighting, as the businesses do not operate at night. There is minimal lighting on the exterior of buildings to provide safety. Sources of light immediately surrounding the project site include lighting on the exterior of adjacent buildings and from interior offices and homes, and street lighting. Primary glare sources onsite and in the project vicinity include the sun's reflection from metallic or glass surfaces on vehicles and some glare from the windows of surrounding commercial buildings. Light- and glare-sensitive uses include the residential uses across Colorado A venue from the site. c. Shadows. The project site contains a mix of one- and two-story buildings, which currently generate shadows throughout the day. Because most of the existing buildings are one story in height, the shadows cast by the buildings do not extend significantly onto adjacent properties. Adjacent developments also cast shadows onto the project site. In the morning hours during winter, the single-story light industrial buildings directly adjacent to the project site on Colorado Avenue cast limited shadows on the site. During the afternoon in winter, the multi-story commercial building south of the site across Stewart Street casts shadows on a portion of the site. In the morning hours of the summer, very limited shadows are cast on the project site by the commercial building on Stewart Street. During summer afternoons, the shadows cast by adjacent developments do not encroach onto the project site. d. Regulatory Setting. The issue of neighborhood aesthetics and character is addressed in several City policies, especially those contained in the Urban Design Objectives and Policies section (3.0) of the Land Use Element. Aesthetics is further addressed in the City's Zoning Ordinance through a range of development standards that are applied by district. r City of Santa Monica 4.7-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.7 Aesthetics/Shadow Effects The policies most applicable to the proposed project include the following: 3.1.2 Encourage the maintenance of high aesthetic standards and architectural innovation consistent with the surrounding community and encourage large buildings to be of predominantly light color and materials that fit in with the existing context. Prohibit large expanses of highly reflective materials such as black glass or mirrored metals. 3.3.2 Ensure continuing of the sidewalk by limiting curb cuts; locating parking behind buildings or below grade; (and) encouraging vehicular access from alleys and side streets. Encourage alley and side street access only when the potential traffic intrusion into adjacent residential neighborhoods is minimized. 3.3.4 Encourage design articulation of building facades. 3.4.5 Consistent with legitimate safety concerns, all exterior lighting shall be unobtrusive and constructed or located so that only the intended area is illuminated, long-range visibility is reduced, and off-site glare is minimized. The massing of buildings in the project area is governed by the requirements of the LMSD, Light Manufacturing and Studio District in the Zoning Ordinance (9.04.08.35). The development standards for the LMSD zone generally restrict the height of buildings in the district to no more than two stories and 30 feet in height, with several exceptions. The LMSD zone allows heights of up to four stories and 45 feet for the following uses: school expansions, entertainment- related facilities, and theaters. If the proposed text amendment to the zoning ordinance, which is part of the proposed project, is approved, multi-family housing would be one of the specific uses that would be subject to a four-story, 45-foot height limit. General development standards that apply to the proposed project include the requirement that any portion of a building between 31 and 45 feet in height to be set back an average of nine feet. 4.7.2 Impact Analysis a. Methodology and Significance Thresholds. The assessment of aesthetic impacts involves qualitative analysis that is inherently subjective in nature. Different viewers react to viewsheds and aesthetic conditions differently. This evaluation measures the existing visual resource against the proposed action, analyzing the nature of the anticipated change. The project site was observed and photographically documented, as was the surrounding area. The City's General Plan was reviewed for policy instruction relative to visual resources and design policy. An impact is considered significant if the proposed project would cause: · Loss of a major open space resource · Obstruction of existing ocean views from a public area such as a park · Loss of a major public scenic view · Substantial degradation of the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings · Generation of excessive nighttime lighting that is out of character with the land uses surrounding the project site . A substantial increase in ambient lighting in residential areas · Generation of excessive glare r City of Santa Monica 4.7-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.7 Aesthetics/Shadow Effects . Substantially increased shadows cast on public open spaces, residences, or other light sensitive land uses (see further discussion below for what constitutes a substantial increase in shadow) The project site is not located in an area with ocean or other scenic views, or significant open space resources. Therefore, the first three criteria are not applicable. In discussing shadow effects, there are several important factors that are considered, including: · Affected land use (importance of direct sunlight for the use) . Duration (hours per day in shadow) · Time of day (critical time period for direct sunlight) · Season (time of year use would be shadowed) · Extent (percentage of use that would be shadowed) . Type (solid or dappled shadow) . Pre-existing condition (shadow condition due to existing buildings, landscaping, or other features) With these criteria as a basis for shadow impact analysis, shadow impacts are considered significant when shadows would be cast upon potentially sensitive uses during a substantial portion (greater than 50%) of the main daylight hours (9:00 AM to 3:00 PM during the fall, winter and spring seasons, and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (daylight savings time) during the summer season). Sunlight-sensitive uses include public open space, residences, and other light-sensitive uses. b. Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures. Impact AES-1 The proposed project is consistent with the guidelines set forth in the Zoning Ordinance and Land Use Element and would not substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings. Therefore, impacts to visual resources are considered Class III, less than significant. Development of the proposed project would result in the conversion of the site from a light industrial use to a multi-family residential use. The introduction of multi-family development on the site would be consistent with the residential development across Colorado Avenue from the site, and would be compatible in scale with the commercial developments across Stewart Street. The project includes two-, three-, and four-story buildings. The building layout plan (see Figure 2-6 in Section 2.0, Project Description), indicates that the shorter buildings would be located along the street frontages, while the four-story buildings would be located along the interior property line. This would function to minimize the effect of project massing and would provide visual interest with the varied building heights. In addition, in compliance with the general development standards in the Zoning Ordinance, portions of the buildings that are between 31 and 45 feet in height would be stepped back to further reduce the appearance of mass. The project also includes a one-level subterranean garage for resident and guest parking, and thus complies with that recommendation of the Urban Design Guidelines. r City of Santa Monica 4.7-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.7 Aesthetics/Shadow Effects Development of the proposed project would generally improve the visual conditions of the project site. As shown on Figure 2-3 in Section 2.0, Project Description, the existing buildings onsite are typical warehouse-style buildings with no unifying architectural theme. The flat- roofed buildings are functional, rather than aesthetic, and the project site lacks any landscaping or items of visual interest. The parking lot between the two rows of buildings contains various mechanical and construction equipment, and is used as an area where auto repair activities can occur. The proposed project, in contrast, would provide a cohesive development comprised of multiple residential buildings with landscaped areas within the interior courtyards and along the street frontages. Parking would not be visible, as it would be located within a subterranean garage. As described above, the incorporation of different heights and setbacks would help in breaking up the mass of the project. In general, development of the site with multi-story, visually interesting residential development would improve the aesthetic character of the project site over current conditions, would be compatible with surrounding development, and would be consistent with the design guidelines of the Zoning Ordinance and General Plan. Mitigation Measures. No mitigation measures would be required. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts would be less than significant. Impact AES-2 The proposed project would increase light and glare at the project site over current conditions. This is considered Class II, significant but mitigable. Implementation of the proposed project would increase light and glare on a site currently occupied by low-intensity industrial uses. All of the residential buildings, which range in height from approximately 20 to 45 feet, would incorporate outdoor lighting for security purposes and visibility. In addition, the windows of the residential units would shed light from interior activities, and lighting may be used to accentuate landscaping features. Parking structure ingress and egress points would be lighted and vehicles exiting the garage to Stewart Street and Colorado Avenue would also cast light. Because new sources of nighttime light could be visible at adjacent residences, impacts are considered potentially significant. Potential sources of glare would consist of glazing (windows) and other reflective materials potentially used in the faGade of the structure. These would be similar to glazing for other structures in the vicinity, and would not be a substantial source of glare compared to overall development in the area. Nevertheless, impacts are potentially significant. Mitigation Measures. The following mitigation measures would reduce potential light and glare impacts associated with the proposed project. AES-2(a) Shielded Exterior Lighting. The applicant shall design exterior building lighting to ensure that no light projects onto adjacent sites. Exterior siding shall incorporate "cut-off" shields as appropriate to prevent an increase in lighting at adjacent residential uses. r City of Santa Monica 4.7-4 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.7 Aesthetics/Shadow Effects AES-2(b) Shielded Landscape Illumination. Landscape illumination and exterior sign lighting shall be accomplished with low-level, unobtrusive fixtures. Such lighting shall be shielded to direct light pools away from off-site viewers. AES-12(c) Low Glare Materials. Finish materials, including glazing, shall be of a low reflectivity to minimize glare. Development shall include low-reflective roofing materials to reduce glare potential for nearby development that may have downward views of the project's roof. Significance After Mitigation. With incorporation of above mitigation measures, impacts would be less than significant. Impact AES-3 The proposed residential buildings would cast shadows onto adjacent buildings, particularly in the wintertime. However, affected buildings are either not sun-sensitive or would not be affected for a significant part of the day. Impacts would be Class III, less than significant. The proposed structure would range in height from two to four stories, with a maximum height of 45 feet. Figures 4.7-1A and 4.7-1B illustrate the shadow patterns for the proposed project during the winter solstice (December 21), and Figures 4.7-2A and 4.7-2B illustrate the shadow patterns for the summer solstice (June 21). The two scenarios are given to illustrate both the best case situation, during the summer solstice, and the worst case situation, during the winter solstice. As shown on Figure 4.7-1A, morning shadows cast by the proposed project at the time of the winter solstice would extend to the northwest across Colorado A venue and partially onto residential property across the street. The shadow would then gradually recede until, during the noon hour, the project's shadow would fall to the north onto the industrial buildings directly adjacent to the site. The shadow would continue to move to the east during the afternoon hours, until in the late afternoon, the shadows would extend almost completely over the adjacent industrial lot, as shown on Figure 4.7-1B. The adjacent industrial buildings are only one story in height and would therefore be completely covered by the project's winter shadow. However, industrial land uses are not light-sensitive; therefore, this impact is not considered significant. The morning shadow in winter would partially extend onto the residential properties across Colorado A venue, but would only shade portions of the front yards and would last for less than three hours. Therefore, this impact is also considered less than significant. Figures 4.7-2A and 4.7-2B show the shadows that would result from the project during the summer solstice. As shown, summer morning shadows cast by the proposed project would be relatively short and would fall partially onto Stewart Street. Noontime shadows during the summer would be very limited and would fall predominantly within the project site. The afternoon shadows would shift to the east and extend onto small portions of the adjacent industrial development and the Southern California Gas Company property. Summer shadows would not affect any light-sensitive uses and therefore would not be significant. r City of Santa Monica 4.7-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.7 Aesthetics/Shadow Effects Other than public sidewalks along Colorado A venue and Stewart Street, no public open space would be affected by shadowing. Impacts to public open space as a result of shadowing on sidewalks are not considered significant. Mitigation Measures. No mitigation measures would be required. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts would be less than significant. c. Cumulative Impacts. This project, combined with other planned and pending projects in the City, would add approximately three million square feet of non-residential development and about 900 residential units, and would contribute toward creating a more intense urban environment. Given the City's current policies on the scale and design of new projects, the cumulative impact of the proposed project and other projects in the surrounding area is to further the City's goal of a slightly more urban environment with a stronger pedestrian orientation. The overall visual effect of cumulative development in the area is considered beneficial. Cumulative development of buildings of greater height would generally increase shadowing throughout the City. The shadow effects of individual buildings would need to be addressed on a case-by-case basis since shadowing is dependent upon building height, massing, and location, as well as the immediately surrounding uses. In any event, shadow impacts associated with individual buildings are isolated in nature and do not contribute to additive effects on particular geographic location. Because the project's shadow impact is not considered significant, its contribution to the general increase in shadows throughout the City would not be cumulatively considerable. r City of Santa Monica 4.7-6 n OJ OJ OJ OJ ~ .:: - Ul Ul -:::: -:::: co co ~ ~ OJ OJ - - ~i Ul Ul I I I I I I I I I I I ) ~ , j-' o o so ~I II I I I I I I I I I I I I ) :~ < .~ ,.... " ~ ~ ~ '" ell 11)- 6 ~ ~ "g~~ Ui 0 Q) u :t:i ell a CJ) .... Q) .s ~ :2 <i .!!l ~ ~ u ~ p..; o::l1J ~ -;: 0 l1Jo 0 0 t)"tl 0 N " '" 6' 0''<:: "'",' "'"" ,.... ~Ul ll.- - ,.... rl " fl N anuaAE OPEJOIO:J N ;:J+:l '" '" c: " II) OJ ".<:: 'S 'S >- <(l!j II 1I1 .g<( OJ OJ ~~ U U OJ OJ 0" r--- 0 II 0 (Jo v;:; .... O)U co" NUl fii~ . 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'0 ~ CJ) j ~ p..; o o N ,.... ~ ! ~ i .!j " -'! .~ ~ " .. .tl i ~ ~ c o " ~ & ~1lL cjj~ L- ----.J ';-"'b :~ 111111111111 ~ .!!l u ~ OCI1J -;: I1J 0 i~ eUl D-"0 " u ;:J+:l <= " ".<:: >- <(I/) " .g<( ~!; o c (JO v'" "'u CO" NUl anuaAE OPEJOIO:J ~ .~ ~ " ~ ~ CI) OJ J!! 6 ~ ~ '1J ~ 't5 ro ~ Ui 0 Q) u .oC ell a CJ) j ~ .... ..,: OJ OJ - Ul - ~ m ~ OJ - '" ~ p..; o o ci"i ~ ! .... 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.8 Population and Housing 4.8 POPULATION AND HOUSING 4.8.1 Setting a. Projected Population and Housing. Future population and housing growth for Santa Monica is shown in Table 4.8-1. The City's 2003 population is estimated at 89,333 (California Department of Finance, 2003) and is projected to grow to 92,521 by 2005 and 95,277 by 2020. This represents an average annual growth rate of about 0.8% over this time period. The City is projected to add about 1,380 housing units between 2005 and 2020, representing about a 1 % average annual increase in housing growth. Table 4.8-1 Projected Population and Housing 2005 2010 2020 Households 46,330 46,790 47,710 Population 92,521 93,440 95,277 Source: City of Santa Monica, 2000. b. Regulatory Setting. The 2000-2005 Housing Element of the Santa Monica General Plan, adopted in December 2001, is the City's primary regulatory tool with respect to housing. The Housing Element includes several policies that are potentially relevant to the proposed project. These policies are discussed under Impact PH-2, beginning on page 4.8-3. 4.8.2 Impact Analysis a. Methodology and Significance Thresholds. Impacts to population are generally social or economic in nature. Under CEQA, a social or economic change generally is not considered a significant effect on the environment unless the changes can be directly linked to a physical change. Impacts related to the project's potential to induce growth are discussed in Section 5.1. Population impacts are considered potentially significant if growth associated with the proposed project would exceed projections for the area and if such an exceedence would have the potential to create a significant physical change to the environment. b. Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures. Impact PH-1 The proposed project would add 145 housing units and an estimated 265 residents within the City. Because these increases are within citywide projections, this impact is considered Class III, less than significant. Buildout of the proposed project would add 145 multi-family residences. Based on the current citywide average of 1.83 persons per household (2000 US Census), the project would add about 265 residents. Completion of the proposed project is estimated for late 2005 or early 2006. Therefore, based on the estimated 2005 population of the City of 92,521 residents, an increase of rr City of Santa Monica 4.8-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.8 Population and Housing 265 residents would account for about a 0.15% increase in population. The addition of 145 units of housing would represent an increase of about 0.3 % in the number of households within the City. Table 4.8-2 compares project-generated population and housing growth to growth projections for Santa Monica. The City is projected to add about 2,750 residents through 2020. The 265 new residents associated with project buildout would therefore make up almost 10% of projected citywide population growth over that time period. Based on the City's growth forecasts, Santa Monica is projected to add about 1,380 housing units through 2020. The 145 units associated with buildout of the proposed project would account for about 10.5% of projected citywide housing growth. Table 4.8-2 Comparison of Project Population and Housing Growth to City Projections Projected Citywide Growth Project Growth as a % of Through 2020 Overall Growth Project Site City of Santa Monica City of Santa Monica Housing 145 1,380 10.5% Population 265 2,750 9.6% Project site population estimate is based upon the current citywide average of 1.83 residents per household. City projections are taken from Table 4.8-1. Project-generated growth in population and housing are within growth forecasts for the City of Santa Monica. Therefore, project buildout would not create any additional impacts relating to population or housing growth beyond those envisioned by the City in its future planning. No significant impacts relating to population or housing growth are anticipated. Mitigation Measures. None required. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts relating to growth in population and housing would be less than significant without mitigation. Impact PH-2 The proposed project could be found to be consistent with applicable Housing Element policies. Impacts relating to Housing Element consistency are considered Class III, less than significant. As discussed in Section 4.9, Land Use and Planning, several goals of the Housing Element of the Santa Monica General Plan are potentially applicable to the proposed project. Relevant policies are listed below. · Goal 1.0 - Provide for the construction of new housing within the City; · Goal 1.2 - Provide incentives for the development of housing in non-residential zones; . Goal 2.0 - Increase the supply of housing that is affordable to very low-income households; rr City of Santa Monica 4.8-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.8 Population and Housing . Goal 2.7 - Encourage the distribution of housing for low-income households throughout the City. The proposed project meets all of the above goals. It would provide 145 multi-family units, ten percent of which (15 units) would be reserved for very low-income households. The proposed project would address an existing Citywide deficiency in housing, and particularly in affordable housing, that has resulted in rapidly rising prices and the need for employees who work in Santa Monica to live outside the City and commute, sometimes for considerable distances. The affordable units would also help the City achieve its housing needs goals for low-income households. The project would develop housing in the Pico neighborhood, which is predominantly characterized by industrial and commercial development. Therefore, the proposed project would meet the goal of providing low-income housing throughout the City. While the project does not respond directly to an incentive for the development of housing in non-residential zones, it does address the City's apparent intention to encourage such development. The lack of vacant land in Santa Monica has resulted in the need to re-use existing parcels to address the City's housing needs. Thus, the re-use of the project site for construction of multi-family and affordable housing is consistent with the current trend of housing development in the area. For the reasons discussed above, the project could be found to be consistent with applicable policies of the Housing Element of the Santa Monica General Plan. No impact with respect to Housing Element consistency is anticipated. Mitigation Measures. None required. Significance After Mitigation. No inconsistencies with City Housing Element policies are anticipated. c. Cumulative Impacts. The proposed project, in combination with other development in and around the City, will continue to alter the demographic character of the area. As shown in Table 3-1 in Section 3.0, Environmental Setting, cumulative buildout of Santa Monica in accordance with the City General Plan would add an estimated three million square feet of non- residential development and 900 residential units. The proposed project would incrementally contribute to such growth by adding 145 residences. As discussed above, the City does not have an adequate supply of housing to meet projected housing demand. Thus, the project responds to the need to increase the stock of housing and would contribute to a cumulative benefit with respect to housing. rr City of Santa Monica 4.8-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.9 Public Services 4.9 PUBLIC SERVICES This section addresses the project's potential impacts to schools, police services, and fire protection. 4.9.1 Setting a. Educational Facilities. The project site is within the boundaries of the Santa Monica- Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD). The SMMUSD operates 11 elementary schools (eight in Santa Monica), four middle schools (three in Santa Monica), and three high schools (two in Santa Monica). Table 4.9-1 compares enrollment for schools in Santa Monica for the 2002-03 and 2003-04 school years. The total district (K-12 enrollment) enrollment is estimated at approximately 12,308 students for the 2003-2004 school year (SMMUSD, January 24,2003). McKinley Elementary (2401 Santa Monica Blvd.), Edison Elementary (2425 Kansas Ave.), and Lincoln Middle School (1501 California Ave.) are the schools closest to the project site. Table 4.9-1 School Enrollments for Schools in Santa Monica 2003-04 Current Schools Capacity* Enrollment Capacity Utilization E/ementary Schools Edison Elementary 347 419 120% Franklin Elementary 594 795 133% Grant Elementary 468 653 139% McKinley Elementary 414 436 105% Muir Elementary 234 346 148% SMASH (K-5) 108 118 109% Will Rogers Elementary 513 662 129% Roosevelt Elementary 504 779 155% Secondary Schools John Adams Middle School 882 1,193 135% Lincoln Middle School 1,037 1,368 132% SMASH (6-8) 71 52 73% High Schools Santa Monica H.S. 2,926 3,409 117% Olympic Continuation H.S. 164 147 91% Source: Enrollment Projection for 2003-04 from the Superintendent's Office of SMMUSD, January 30, 2003. * Operating capacity is based on traditional school calendar year. As shown in Table 4.9-1, all schools in the SMMUSD except SMASH and Olympic Continuation HS are operating over capacity. Approximately 18%of the City's student population is comprised of transfer students originating from outside the District (Enrollment Projection for 2003-04 from the Superintendent's Office of SMMUSD, January 30,2003). In order to attend schools in the District, each transfer student must file an annual application for enrollment with ,.. City of Santa Monica 4.9-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.9 Public Services the District. The District grants or denies these applications, based on the classroom availability for that school year. California Education Code has allowed parents with school-aged dependents to request enrollment of his or her child in the school district where the parent works. b. Funding for Public Education. Operating revenue provided to school districts is funded by local property tax revenue accrued at the state level and then allocated to each school district based on the average daily student attendance. Because state funding for capital improvements has lagged behind enrollment growth, physical improvements to accommodate new students come primarily from assessed fees on development projects. In 1986, the State Legislature approved AB 2926 (Chap. 887), which authorized school districts to levy school impact fees on new development projects and at the same time placed a cap on the total amount of fees that could be levied. California Government Code (s 65995) School Facilities Legislation was enacted to generate revenue for school districts for capital acquisitions and improvements. This legislation allows a maximum one-time fee of $2.05 per square foot of residential development and $0.33 per square foot of commercial development. This fee is divided between the primary and secondary schools and is termed a "Level One" fee. The SMMUSD has been determined eligible for and collects funding under Senate Bill 50 (SB 50). In addition, Proposition lA, approved by the voters in 1998, provided a bond measure for $9.2 billion for school facilities improvements. Under the provisions of SB 50, school districts may collect Level Two and Level Three fees to offset the costs associated with increasing school capacity in response to student enrollment increases associated with residential developments. Level Two fees require the developer to provide one-half of the costs of accommodating students in new schools, while the state would provide the other half. Level Three fees require the developer to pay the full cost of accommodating the students in new schools and would be implemented at the time the funds available from Proposition 1A are expended. School districts must demonstrate to the state their long-term facilities needs and costs based on long- term population growth in order to qualify for this source of funding. Once qualified, the districts may impose fees as calculated per SB 50. c. Fire Department Services. The Santa Monica Fire Department (SMFD) provides Fire protection services in the City of Santa Monica and maintains an Automatic Aid Agreement with the City of Los Angeles Fire Department, as well as a Mutual Aid Agreement with other fire departments in the region. The SMFD maintains four fire stations and is staffed with approximately 89 uniformed firefighters, including paramedics and captains (Esparza, July 2003). The four stations are staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Based on the 2000 Census population data, there is currently about 1 firefighter for every 1,000 persons in the City, which is consistent with the State average. Table 4.9-2 summarizes information on existing fire fighting facilities within Santa Monica. In addition, there is a Training Facility & Support Services center located at 2500 Michigan Ave where the Division Chiefs for Training and Support Services, Staff Captain, Education specialist, and Disaster Preparedness Coordinator are located. In recent years, firefighters have averaged about 1.75 hours of training per day (SMFD website, July 2003). ,.. City of Santa Monica 4.9-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.9 Public Services Table 4.9-2 Fire Service Characteristics for Fire Stations in Santa Monica Fire Facility Equipment Response Distance Fire Station 1 One Paramedic Engine Company with a crew of four, one Paramedic 1444 7th Street, Rescue Squad with a crew of two, one 100' ladder Truck with a crew 1.8 miles between Santa Monica of five, one Air/Light/Rescue unit, one Command Vehicle with a Blvd & Broadway Battalion Chief Fire Station 2 One Engine Company with a crew of four, one Paramedic Rescue 222 Hollister Avenue, Squad with a crew of two, one Heavy Urban Search & Rescue 2.9 miles at 2nd St Vehicle, one Reserve Engine Fire Station 3 1302 19 Street, Two Paramedic Engine Companies, each with a crew of four, one Heavy Hazardous Materials Squad, one reserve engine, one reserve 1.1 miles between Santa Monica engine squad Blvd & Wilshire Blvd Fire Station 5 2450 Ashland Ave, One Paramedic Engine Company, with a crew of four, one Aircraft 1.8 miles south of Ocean Park Rescue, one reserve engine, one reserve ladder truck Blvd at the Airport Source: http://santamonicafire.org/su ppression/stations.htm, 2003. The maximum allowable response time to emergency calls is 5 minutes. The average response time is 3 minutes for emergency calls to the SMFD (Esparza, July 2003). The two fire stations closest to the project are Station #3, located at 1302 19th Street, approximately 1.1 miles from the site, and Station # 5, located at 2045 Ashland, approximately 1.8 miles from the project site. Other stations would respond to emergencies at the project site as needed. d. Police Services. The City of Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) provides police protection services to the City and maintains mutual assistance programs with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the City of Los Angeles Police Department. The SMPD is located at 1685 Main Street in Santa Monica, approximately 2-l/2 miles from the project site. The SMPD divides the city into eight beats and operates these beats on a 24-hour basis. The SMPD is currently staffed by 215 uniformed police officers (Cbeyich, July 2003). Based on a total population of 85,686 persons for Santa Monica, there are 2.5 officers per 1,000 individuals. The Office of Operations is the largest unit of the SMPD and provides the first response to calls for police assistance. The office is divided into the Uniform Patrol Division and the Directed Resource Division. There are three patrol watches - the Day Watch, Night Watch, and Morning Watch. Among the three watches, officers responded to 80,671 calls for service to the SMPD over the 2000-2001 fiscal year (2001 Annual Report, SMPD). The maximum allowable response time to emergency calls is 5 minutes, and the average response time for the SMPD is approximately 2-3 minutes (Cbeyich, July 2003). 4.9.2 Impact Analysis a. Methodology and Significance Thresholds. Information from the Santa Monica - Malibu Unified School District was used to characterize existing conditions related to ,.. City of Santa Monica 4.9-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.9 Public Services educational facilities current enrollment and student generation rate. Information from the Santa Monica Fire Department and Police Department was used to characterize existing conditions related to Fire and Police protection. Public service impacts are considered potentially significant if the project would result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities or the need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response time, or other performance objectives for: . Schools . Police protection . Fire protection b. Project Impacts. Impact PS-1 The proposed project would be expected to generate additional school-age students. However, with payment of required school impact fees, impacts would be reduced to a Class III, less than significant, level. To assess the impacts of the proposed project, a student generation factor of 0.157 K-12 students per household (taken from the SMMUSD School Facility Fee Study, 1997) was applied to the proposed development. Based on this factor, the 145-unit apartment building would generate an estimated 23 school-age students. Given this small number of students and that the enrollment of the SMMUSD is projected to remain steady or slightly decline over the next school year, the Superintendent's office at the SMMUSD has indicated that this increase in additional students would not significantly affect school operations at the SMMUSD (Wells, July 2003). The applicant would be required to pay the applicable required State mandated school impact fees under the provisions of SB 50. Pursuant to Section 65995 (3)(h) of the California Government Code (Senate Bill 50, chaptered August 27,1998), the payment of statutory fees "...is deemed to be full and complete mitigation of the impacts of any legislative or adjudicative act, or both, involving, but not limited to, the planning, use, or development of real property, or any change in governmental organization or reorganization." Mitigation Measures. No measures would be required. The applicable required State mandated school impact fees would be collected at the time of building permit issuance. No mitigation beyond this standard requirement is needed. Significance After Mitigation. The payment of the applicable State mandated school impact fees is considered full mitigation for the proposed project's impacts under CEQA. Following payment of these fees, impacts to schools would be less than significant. Impact PS-2 The proposed project would incrementally increase demands on the Santa Monica Fire Department. However, the increase would not significantly affect service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives and would not require the ,.. City of Santa Monica 4.9-4 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.9 Public Services construction of new fire protection facilities. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. Development of the proposed project would incrementally increase demand for fire protection services due to the addition of 145 residential units at the project site. However, the SMFD has indicated that the proposed project would not require additional personnel or equipment (Esparza, July 2003). The site's proximity to Fire Stations #3 and #5 (less than two miles away) would ensure an adequate response time by the Fire Department in emergency situations. Therefore, the proposed project is not expected to place a significant additional burden on fire department services. In addition, the Fire Department would review site plans, site construction, and the actual structure prior to occupancy in order to ensure that the required fire protection safety features, including building sprinklers and emergency access, are implemented. The City of Santa Monica also allocates funding to the fire department during the annual budget process, the amount of which is based on cumulative development and the changing needs of the City. Through this process, funding for additional staffing or equipments needs would be addressed as the needs arise. Mitigation Measures. As described above, the developer is required to incorporate applicable Fire Code standards into final site and building plans. The SMFD would review plans and inspect construction of the project. No mitigation beyond these standard requirements is necessary. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts to fire protection service are considered less than significant without mitigation. Impact PS-3 The proposed project would incrementally increase demands on the Santa Monica Police Department. However, the increase would not significantly affect service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives and would not require the construction of new police protection facilities. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. The proposed project would provide infill development in an urban area where service is already established. The project would involve a change in the land use on site from industrial to residential, which has the potential to incrementally increase the number of police service calls to the site. However, the SMPD has indicated that the incremental increase in police service calls would not significantly affect police protection service or require the construction of new police protection facilities (Cbeyich, July 2003). Funding for additional staffing and equipment is allocated to the Police Department through the City's budget process and is not directly tied to individual development projects. The growth of the City over time will require that increased funding be allocated to the Police Department to maintain adequate levels of serVIce. Mitigation Measures. No mitigation beyond the standard requirements is necessary. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts to police protection service are considered less than significant without mitigation. ,.. City of Santa Monica 4.9-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.9 Public Services c. Cumulative Impacts. Cumulative development in the City would add approximately 900 residential units, which would increase enrollment by an estimated 140 students in the Santa Monica- Malibu School District. As noted in the Setting, all schools except two in the SMMUSD are operating over student capacity. However, as projects are approved, they would be required to pay the full statutory fee allowed by the provisions of SB 50. With the payment of these fees, cumulative impacts to schools would be mitigated to a less than significant level. Projected population and employment growth in the City would result in the addition of new residents and workers to the existing population in Santa Monica. Based on a cumulative development of approximately 900 residential units, and a city-wide average of 1.83 persons per household (2000 US Census), population in Santa Monica would increase by 1,620 persons. The rise in population would increase the demand for protection services from the Fire and Police Departments. The ratio of Fire and Police uniformed personnel per 1,000 persons discussed in the Setting above, would not be altered. Compliance with building and site development standards required by the City of Santa Monica for new residential development would mitigate impacts to Fire and Police Department services to less than significant levels. ,.. City of Santa Monica 4.9-6 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.10 Construction Effects 4.10 CONSTRUCTION EFFECTS 4.10.1 Setting Construction effects are related to the site preparation and development components of a project's implementation. These include potential impacts relating to air quality, noise, and water quality, as well as construction-related traffic, parking, and staging issues that may disrupt circulation during the construction period. Some land uses are considered more sensitive to construction-related air pollution than others due to the types of population groups or activities involved. Sensitive population groups include children, the elderly, the acutely ill and the chronically ill, especially those with cardio- respiratory diseases. Residential uses are also considered sensitive to air pollution because residents (including children and the elderly) tend to be at home for extended periods of time, resulting in sustained exposure to any pollutants present. Industrial and commercial areas are considered the least sensitive to air pollution, because exposure periods are relatively short and intermittent as the majority of the workers tend to stay indoors most of the time. In addition, the working population is generally the healthiest segment of the public. Similarly, some land uses are considered more sensitive to construction-related noise levels than others, due to the amount of noise exposure (in terms of both exposure time and insulation from noise) and the types of activities typically involved. Residences, motels and hotels, schools, libraries, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, auditoriums, parks and outdoor recreation areas are generally considered more sensitive to noise than are commercial and industrial land uses. As discussed in Section 4.2, Air Quality, and Section 4.4, Noise, sensitive receptors in the project area include the single- and multi-family residential uses to the northwest across Colorado A venue and a satellite campus of Santa Monica College across Stewart Street. 4.10.2 Impact Analysis a. Methodology and Significance Thresholds. The major impacts associated with project construction include temporary changes in traffic patterns, air quality, water quality, and noise. Traffic impacts associated with construction activities are considered significant when project construction would interfere with the existing traffic flow or causes unsafe conditions, or if it would introduce truck traffic through a residential area. Temporary construction-related air quality emissions were estimated using the California Air Resources Board's (ARB's) URBEMIS 2002 computer model. Construction-related air quality impacts are considered significant if emissions associated with construction would exceed adopted South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) thresholds. Temporary construction emission thresholds have been set by the SCAQMD on a daily basis as follows: · 75 pounds per day of ROC . 100 pounds per day of NO x · 550 pounds per day of co · 150 pounds per day of PMlO r City of Santa Monica 4.10-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.10 Construction Effects · 150 pounds per day of SOx In addition to the above thresholds, if quarterly construction emissions would exceed 2.5 tons for ROC or NOxt 24.75 tons for CO, or 6.75 tons for PM10, or SOxt air quality impacts relating to construction are considered significant. Construction-related water quality impacts are considered significant if construction would cause erosion or siltation such that surface water quality is substantially degraded. Noise associated with construction activity was evaluated using construction equipment noise level estimates contained in the USEP A report Noise from Construction Equipment and Operations, Building Equipment, and Home Appliances (1971). The City's Noise Ordinance (Municipal Code S 4.12) prohibits noise associated with demolition and other construction activities from exceeding the allowable exterior noise level for any noise zone by more than 10 dB. The Ordinance applies to all noise sources located on private property. As part of this ordinance, properties within the City are assigned a Noise Zone based on their corresponding zoning district. Residential districts are designated as Noise Zone I; commercial districts such as the project site are designated Noise Zone II; and manufacturing or industrial districts are designated as Noise Zone III. The Noise Ordinance also restricts the hours during which construction may occur. Refer to Table 4.4-1 in Section 4.4, Noise, for exterior noise standards. The City's Noise Ordinance also restricts construction activity to the hours between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM Monday through Friday, between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on Saturday, and does not allow construction activity to occur on Sunday or major national holidays. b. Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures. Impact CON-1 Project construction would temporarily increase truck traffic in the project area, which could disrupt the normal use of sidewalks and roadways along the project boundaries, and also affect parking availability. This is considered a Class II, significant but mitigable impact. Project construction is anticipated to last about 24 months, with site preparation occurring over about five months. Construction activity may temporarily re-route traffic, the majority of which would be expected to utilize Colorado A venue or Stewart Street. During construction staging, the storage of construction equipment may require the use of street parking and temporary closure of some of the surrounding roadways. Construction activity may also require the temporary closure of the sidewalks adjacent to the site, thus disrupting pedestrian activity in the area. In addition to the reduction in on-street parking capacity during construction of the proposed project, construction site workers would temporarily compete with other users of parking facilities during the construction period, thus temporarily reducing the available supply of public parking. Impacts to pedestrian and vehicular flow in the area and the temporary reduction in on-street parking capacity are considered potentially significant temporary impacts. r City of Santa Monica 4.10-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.10 Construction Effects Mitigation Measures. The following is required to mitigate temporary traffic impacts during construction. CON-1 Construction Impact Mitigation Plan. The applicant shall prepare and implement a Construction Impact Mitigation Plan to provide for traffic and parking capacity management during construction. This plan shall be subject to review and approval by the City and, at a minimum, shall include the following: · A public information program to advise motorists of impending construction activities (e.g., media coverage, portable message signs, and information signs at the construction site); · Approval from the City, or Caltrans if required, for any construction detours or construction work requiring encroachment into public rights- of-way, or any other street use activity (e.g., haul routes); · Timely notification of construction schedules to all affected agencies (e.g., Police Department, Fire Department, Department of Public Works, Department of Planning and Community Development, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, and transit agencies); · Coordination of construction work with affected agencies five to ten days prior to start of work; . A traffic control plan for the streets surrounding the work area, which includes specific information regarding the project's construction and activities that will disrupt normal traffic flow; . Minimizing dirt and demolition material hauling and construction material delivery during the morning and afternoon peak traffic periods and cleaning of streets and equipment as necessary; · Scheduling and expediting of work to cause the least amount of disruption and interference to the adjacent vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow. Weekday daytime work on City streets shall primarily be performed between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM; · Limiting of queuing of trucks to on-site and prohibition of truck queuing on area roadways; · Scheduling of preconstruction meetings with affected agencies to properly plan methods of controlling traffic through work areas; · Storage of construction material and equipment within the designated work area and limitation of equipment and material visibility to the public; and · Provision of off-street parking construction workers, which may include the use of a remote location with shuttle transport to the site, if determined necessary by the City of Santa Monica. Significance After Mitigation. With implementation of the required Construction Impact Mitigation Plan, impacts would be reduced to a less than significant level. r City of Santa Monica 4.10-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.10 Construction Effects Impact CON-2 Project construction would generate a temporary increase in air pollutant emissions. Worst-case daily emissions would exceed established SCAQMD thresholds for ROC. Therefore, impacts are considered Class I, significant and unavoidable. Construction would involve demolition, site preparation, and construction of the residential buildings, and would result in temporary air quality impacts due to the generation of fugitive dust (PMIO) and exhaust emissions associated with heavy construction vehicles. In particular, the operation of heavy construction equipment would result in emissions of the ozone precursors, reactive organic compounds (ROC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), as well as carbon monoxide (CO). Because the demolition and grading phases of construction use substantial heavy-duty construction equipment and generate the largest amount of fugitive dust, these phases are used to gauge the potential impact of project construction upon local and regional air quality. Also, during project grading, the soils that underlie the site would be turned over and pushed around, exposing the soil to wind erosion and dust entrainment by on site operating equipment. In addition to the emissions associated with construction equipment, construction worker vehicles traveling to and from the site would contribute a small amount of emissions. Table 4.10-1 shows the worst-case daily construction emissions during site preparation. The greatest contributions to temporary impacts would be from the generation of fugitive dust during demolition and the operation of heavy-duty construction equipment during grading. However, emissions during demolition and grading would not exceed SCAQMD daily significance thresholds. Table 4.10-1 Worst-Case Daily Construction Emissions During Site Preparation (Ibs per day) Emission Source ROC NOx CO PMlO Demolition --- --- --- 7.35 Equipment Emissions 9.64 79.02 71.67 3.41 Construction Worker Trips 0.04 0.02 0.52 0.01 Totals 9.68 79.04 72.19 10.77 Threshold (peak day) 75 100 550 150 See Appendix B for calculations The highest emissions of ROC would occur during application of architectural coatings. Worst- case daily emissions of ROC during this phase of construction are estimated at about 140 pounds per day (see Appendix B for calculations). This exceeds the SCAQMD daily significance threshold of 75 pounds per day; therefore, impacts are considered significant. Mitigation Measures. The following mitigation measures are required to minimize ROC emissions and recommended to minimize dust and NOx emissions for the proposed project. r City of Santa Monica 4.10-4 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.10 Construction Effects CON-2(a) Dust Minimization. Dust generated by the development activities shall be kept to a minimum with a goal of retaining dust on the site through implementation of the following: . During clearing, grading, earth moving, excavation, or transportation of cut or fill materials, water trucks or sprinkler systems are to be used to the extent necessary to prevent dust from leaving the site and to create a crust after each day's activities cease. . During clearing, grading, earth moving, excavation, or transportation of cut or fill materials, streets and sidewalks within 150 feet of the site perimeter shall be swept and cleaned a minimum of twice weekly. . During construction, water trucks or sprinkler systems shall be used to keep all areas of vehicle movement damp enough to prevent dust from leaving the site. At a minimum, this would include wetting down such areas in the later morning and after work is completed for the day and whenever wind exceeds 15 miles per hour. . Soil stockpiled for more than two days shall be covered, kept moist, or treated with soil binders to prevent dust generation. CON-2(b) Construction Equipment Conditions. Construction equipment used on the site shall meet the following conditions in order to minimize NOx and ROC emissions: · The number of pieces of equipment operating simultaneously must be minimized through efficient management practices; . Construction equipment must be maintained in tune per manufacturer's specifications; . Equipment shall be equipped with 2- to 4-degree engine timing retard or pre-combustion chamber engines; . Catalytic converters shall be installed, to the extent feasible; . Diesel-powered equipment such as booster pumps or generators should be replaced by electric equipment, to the extent feasible; and . The operation of heavy-duty construction equipment shall be limited to no more than 5 pieces of equipment at anyone time. CON-2(c) Low-VOC Coatings. Low-VOC architectural coatings shall be used in construction whenever feasible and shall coordinate with the SCAQMD to determine which coatings would reduce VOC emissions to the maximum degree feasible. Significance After Mitigation. Implementation of the above measures would reduce construction-related emissions to the degree feasible. Emissions of NOx and fugitive dust would be below SCAQMD significance thresholds. However, worst-case daily ROC emissions associated with the application of architectural coatings would continue to exceed the SCAQMD significance threshold for that pollutant. Therefore, the impact during the painting phase of construction would remain unavoidably significant. r City of Santa Monica 4.10-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.10 Construction Effects Impact CON-3 Project construction could potentially result in the erosion and sedimentation of soils offsite, with temporary adverse impacts to water quality. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. As discussed in Section 4.3, Hydrology and Water Quality, the proposed project involves excavation and grading for construction of the parking structure and residential buildings. During site preparation, soil erosion could occur and could contribute to a decrease in water quality offsite. However, compliance with the applicable requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and the City's Urban Runoff Pollution Control Ordinance for construction activities would ensure that construction does not significantly affect water quality. Mitigation Measures. Compliance with the requirements of the NPDES and the City's Urban Runoff Pollution Control Ordinance for construction activities would ensure that construction-related water quality impacts are less than significant. No mitigation measures are required. Significance After Mitigation. Impacts would be less than significant without mitigation. Impact CON-4 Project construction would intermittently generate high noise levels on and adjacent to the site. This may affect sensitive receptors near the project site. This is considered a Class II, significant but mitigable, impact. The grading/ excavation phase of project construction tends to create the highest noise levels because of the operation of heavy equipment. As shown in Table 4.10-2, noise levels associated with heavy equipment typically range from about 78 to 88 dBA at 50 feet from the source. Continuous operation of this equipment during a nine-hour workday can cause noise levels onsite and at adjacent receptor locations that are well above ambient levels and could exceed applicable noise standards. Table 4.10-2 Typical Noise Levels at Construction Sites Average Noise Level at 50 Feet Construction Phase Minimum Required All Pertinent Equipment On-Site Equipment On-Site Clearing 84 dBA 84 dBA Excavation 78 dBA 88 dBA F oundation/Conditioni ng 88 dBA 88 dBA Laying Subbase, Paving 78 dBA 79 dBA Finishing and Cleanup 84 dBA 84 dBA Source: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, "Noise from Construction Equipment and Operations, Building Equipment, and Home Appliances," prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1971. The City's Noise Ordinance prohibits noise associated with demolition and other construction activities from exceeding the allowable exterior noise level for any zone by more than 10 dB. As r City of Santa Monica 4.10-6 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.10 Construction Effects discussed in Section 4.4, Noise, the project site is within Noise Zone III, which prohibits onsite noise from exceeding 70 dB (see Table 4.4-1). Therefore, construction-related noise on the project site would not be permitted to exceed 80 dB. The sensitive uses closest to the project site are the residences across Colorado A venue, approximately 65 feet away. At that distance, construction-related noise could be as high as 86 dBA. Therefore, mitigation is required. The project would also be required to comply with restrictions in the Noise Ordinance that limit the times when construction may occur. The Ordinance restricts construction activity to between the hours of 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on Saturday, and does not allow construction activity to occur on Sunday or major national holidays. Mitigation Measures. The following measures are recommended to reduce construction noise impacts at the site to the degree feasible. CON-4(a) CON-4(b) CON-4(c) CON-4(d) Diesel Equipment Mufflers. All diesel equipment shall be operated with closed engine doors and shall be equipped with factory-recommended mufflers. Electrically-Powered Tools. Electrical power shall be used to run air compressors and similar power tools. Additional Noise Attenuation Techniques. For all noise-generating construction activity on the project site, additional noise attenuation techniques shall be employed to reduce noise levels to City of Santa Monica noise standards. Such techniques may include, but are not limited to, the use of sound blankets on noise generating equipment and the construction of temporary sound barriers between construction sites and nearby sensitive receptors. Construction Sign Posting. In accordance with Municipal Code Section 4.12.210, the project applicant shall be required to post a sign informing all workers and subcontractors of the time restrictions for construction activities. The sign shall also include the City telephone numbers where violations can be reported and complaints associated with construction noise can be submitted. Significance After Mitigation. Implementation of the recommended mitigation measures would be expected to reduce construction-related noise to below the maximum levels allowed under the City Noise Ordinance. For example, construction of a 10-foot high barrier wall at the edge of the project site would reduce construction noise at adjacent sensitive receptors from 86 dB to about 74 dB (see Appendix D). At a minimum, this level of noise reduction could be accomplished. With mitigation, temporary construction-related noise impacts would be less than significant. c. Cumulative Impacts. Individual construction projects located throughout the City would add a total of about three million square feet on non-residential development and about r 4.10-7 City of Santa Monica 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.10 Construction Effects 900 residential units. This development would create temporary traffic, air quality, and noise impacts similar to those described for the project. However, the effects of construction activity would be localized in nature and would not contribute to any cumulative citywide impacts. Consequently, compliance with standard construction mitigation requirements similar to those described for the project on a case-by-case basis would mitigate any potential impacts from individual construction projects. r City of Santa Monica 4.10-8 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.11 Neighborhood Effects 4.11 NEIGHBORHOOD EFFECTS 4.11.1 Setting a. Regulatory Setting. The City of Santa Monica Land Use Element of the General Plan requires the completion of a neighborhood impact statement, with public input. This requirement details the assessment of neighborhood impacts associated with all proposed projects in the character and cohesiveness of each neighborhood in the City. The principal objective stated under the Neighborhood Participation in the Land Use Elements is to encourage citizen and neighborhood participation in the City planning process to ensure realization of the goals of the Element. b. Existing Neighborhood Characteristics. The project site is located in the western portion of the City of Santa Monica on the northern edge of an irregular-shaped block bounded by Colorado Avenue, Stewart Street, Nebraska Avenue, and Stanford Street. The area's historic development as a manufacturing district began in the 1930s when it was located outside of the original city boundaries, and continued commercial and industrial development in the area may be attributed to its accessible location as well as a nearby railway line that runs south of Nebraska A venue. At present, the area around the project site contains a number of commercial and industrial buildings including warehouses, small manufacturing shops and design studios, a cafe, a mobile home park, a religious center, production offices, and several parking lots. Adjacent to the project site across Stewart Street is a recent development of two-story and taller office and industrial buildings. To the northeast is a grouping of manufacturing buildings and design studios with a layout similar to that of the project site. These buildings were probably constructed at the same time as those of the project site, circa 1940s and later. Across Colorado A venue is a mix of one-story single-family residences and apartment buildings from the 1910s through the 1950s. To the southeast is a storage and distribution facility operated by the Southern California Gas Company. While most of the manufacturing businesses that once existed in the vicinity no longer remain, most of the older buildings are occupied by commercial enterprises. 4.11.2 Summary of Neighborhood Impacts and Mitigation Measures Project impacts that would affect the surrounding neighborhood are summarized in Table 4.11- 1. A discussion of the project's effects on the surrounding neighborhood follows. Included in the criteria for neighborhood effects are impacts that would affect the surrounding community, such as aesthetics, air quality, construction, noise, and traffic. The significance criteria for each impact listed below are described in their respective sections (Section 4.2, Air Quality, Section 4.4, Noise, Section 4.5, TransportationfTraffic, Section 4.7, Aesthetics/Shadow Effects, and Section 4.10, Construction Effects). Please refer to individual report sections for detailed analysis of project impacts and mitigation measures for each issue area. r City of Santa Monica 4.11-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.11 Neighborhood Effects Table 4.11-1 Summary of Neighborhood Effects Section 4.2, Air Quality I m pact Mitigation Measures Impact AQ-1 The proposed project would incrementally No mitigation measures are required. increase air pollutant emissions. However, emissions would not exceed the SCAQMD's daily thresholds. Therefore, the project would have a Class III, less than significant, impact to regional air quality. Impact AQ-2 Project-generated traffic, together with other No mitigation measures are required. cumulative traffic in the area, would incrementally increase carbon monoxide levels in the site vicinity. However, because concentrations would remain below state and federal standards, this impact is considered Class III, less than significant. Section 4.4, Noise Impact Mitigation Measures Impact N-1 Project-generated traffic would incrementally No mitigation measures are required. increase noise levels on Stewart Street. However, the change in noise levels would be inaudible. Therefore, the effect of increased traffic noise on off-site sensitive receptors is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. Impact N-2 Operation of the proposed project would generate No mitigation measures are required. noise levels that may periodically be audible to sensitive receptors near the project site. However, noise levels are not expected to exceed the City's noise ordinance standards. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. Section 4.5, Transportationffraffic Impact Mitigation Measures Impact T-2 The proposed project would increase the average No measures are available to mitigate the daily traffic on Yale Street and Nebraska Avenue by more than potential impacts to the affected one vehicle per day. This would exceed the City of Santa segments of Yale Street and Nebraska Monica significance criteria for local streets and result in a Avenue. Class I, unavoidably significant, impact. Section 4.7, Aesthetics/Shadow Effects Impact Mitigation Measures Impact AES-1 The proposed project is consistent with the No mitigation measures are required. guidelines set forth in the Zoning Ordinance and Land Use Element and would not substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings. Therefore, impacts to visual resources are considered Class III, less than significant. Impact AES-2 The proposed project would increase light and AES-2(a) Shielded Exterior Lighting. glare at the project site over current conditions. This is considered Class II, significant but mitigable. AES-2(b) Shielded Landscape Illumination. AES-2(c) Low Glare Materials. See pages 4.7-4 and 4.7-5 for full text of mitigation measures. r City of Santa Monica 4.11-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.11 Neighborhood Effects Table 4.11-1 Summary of Neighborhood Effects Impact AES-3 The proposed residential buildings would cast No mitigation measures are required. shadows onto adjacent buildings, particularly in the wintertime. However, affected buildings are either not sun-sensitive or would not be affected for a significant part of the day. Impacts would be Class III, less than significant. Section 4.10, Construction Effects Impact Mitigation Measures Impact CON-1 Project construction would temporarily CON-1 Construction Impact Mitigation increase truck traffic in the project area, which could disrupt the Plan. normal use of sidewalks and roadways along the project boundaries, and also affect parking availability. This is See page 4.10-3 for full text of mitigation considered a Class II, significant but mitigable impact. measure. Impact CON-2 Project construction would generate a CON-2(a) Dust Minimization. temporary increase in air pollutant emissions. Worst-case daily emissions would exceed established SCAQMD thresholds for CON-2(b) Construction Equipment ROC. Therefore, impacts are considered Class I, significant Conditions. and unavoidable. CON-2(c) Low-VOC Coatings. These measures would reduce impacts somewhat, but would not fully mitigate construction-related air quality impacts. See page 4.10-5 for full text of mitigation measures. Impact CON-3 Project construction could potentially result in No mitigation measures are required. the erosion and sedimentation of soils offsite, with temporary adverse impacts to water quality. This is considered a Class III, less than significant, impact. Impact CON-4 Project construction would intermittently CON-4(a) Diesel Equipment Mufflers. generate high noise levels on and adjacent to the site. This may affect sensitive receptors near the project site. This is CON-4(b) Electrically-Powered Tools. considered a Class II, significant but mitigable, impact. CON-4(c) Noise Attenuation Techniques. CON-4(d) Construction Noise Hotline. See page 4.10-7 for full text of mitigation measures. Air Quality. As discussed in Section 4.2, Air Quality, long-term emissions resulting from the proposed project would not exceed established SCAQMD thresholds and concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) near study area intersections are anticipated to remain below state and federal standards. This is considered a less than significant impact. Noise. In the long term, the proposed project would incrementally increase noise along local roadways as a result of project-generated traffic. However, the increased noise associated the proposed project would not be significant, as the resultant noise level increases would be inaudible (less than 3 dB). Noise from onsite activities during operation of the project is not expected to significantly affect offsite users. r City of Santa Monica 4.11-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.11 Neighborhood Effects Transportation/Traffic. The project's potential to impact neighborhood streets was evaluated for six street segments in the project vicinity using the existing average daily traffic on each street and assigning the daily project-related trips to each street. Table 4.5-9 in Section 4.5, TransportationfTraffic, summarizes the impact analysis for these streets, which indicates that the project would significantly affect Yale Street north of Colorado Avenue and Nebraska A venue between Stewart Street and Centinela Avenue. Due to the existing high volumes of traffic on these local streets, the addition of even one daily trip is considered a significant impact. Therefore, outside of closing the affected street segments, which is not a viable option due to the secondary effects associated with that action, there are no mitigation measures that would fully eliminate the potential for even a single trip to be added to these street segments. Aesthetics/Shadow Effects. Implementation of the proposed project would introduce new light and glare sources on a site that has historically been occupied by low-profile structures with little or no nighttime activity. Parking and other common areas within the proposed development would be lighted, and light would also be shed from windows of the residential units. In addition, vehicles exiting the development onto Colorado A venue and Stewart Street would cast light onto adjacent areas. Mitigation measures have been identified in Section 4.7, Aesthetics/Shadow Effects, to reduce potential impacts from lighting. New sources of glare would be introduced by the proposed project, specifically glazing (windows) and other reflective materials that could potentially be used in the facade of the buildings. The existing onsite buildings produce minimal glare; therefore, impacts relating to glare are considered potentially significant. Mitigation measures have been identified in Section 4.7, Aesthetics/Shadow Effects, to reduce potential impacts from glare. Shadows cast by the proposed project would be longest during the winter solstice. As shown on Figures 4.7-1A and 4.7-1B in Section 4.7, Aesthetics/Shadow Effects, in the morning hours of the winter solstice, the proposed project would cast shadows to the northwest across the interior courtyards of the project and onto Colorado Avenue. The shadows would extend partially onto the residential properties across Colorado Avenue from the project site; however, the extension onto these properties would be minimal, as shown on Figure 4.7-1A. During the noon hour, the development's shadow would fall onto the existing industrial and commercial development directly adjacent to the site to the north and would continue to move northward into the afternoon, as shown on Figure 4.7-1B. Thus, during the afternoon hours near the time of the winter solstice, the adjacent development to the north would be mostly shaded by the proposed project. However, the adjacent industrial development is not a sun-sensitive use. Therefore, impacts relating to shadows generated by the proposed project would not be significant. As shown on Figure 4.7-2A, summer morning shadows cast by the proposed project would be relatively short and would fall onto the inner courtyards of the project and Stewart Street. Noontime shadows during the summer would be very limited and would remain mostly within the project site. Figure 4.7-2B shows that the afternoon shadows would shift to the east and extend onto the adjacent buildings and the parking lot of the Southern California Gas Company facility. Summer shadows would be short and would not affect any sun-sensitive uses. Therefore, summer shadow impacts are considered less than significant. r City of Santa Monica 4.11-4 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 4.11 Neighborhood Effects Construction Effects. Construction activity may temporarily re-route traffic, the majority of which would be expected to utilize Stewart Street or Colorado A venue. Project construction may also disrupt pedestrian activity and parking availability in the area. A Construction Impact Mitigation Plan is required to be developed and would mitigation construction-related traffic impacts. Construction of the proposed project would generate high noise levels on and adjacent to the site. The expected average noise levels associated with the use of heavy equipment, estimated at about 86 dB at the nearest residential use, would exceed the City Noise Ordinance standard of 80 dB for construction-related noise in Noise Zone III. This would be a temporary significant impact, which would cease upon completion of construction activities. However, mitigation measures to reduce noise levels to within the Noise Ordinance standard are recommended in Section 4.10, Construction Effects. Project construction would also result in temporary significant impacts, which would cease at completion of construction activities. As discussed in Section 4.10, Construction Effects, emissions of reactive organic compounds (ROC) would exceed the SCAQMD's daily construction threshold for that pollutant. Mitigation measures to reduce construction-related air emissions are included in Section 4.10, Construction Effects; however, impacts would remain significant even after implementation of these measures. Therefore, construction impacts are considered unavoidably significant. r City of Santa Monica 4.11-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 5.0 Growth Inducing Impacts 5.0 GROWTH INDUCING IMPACTS The State CEQA Guidelines require a discussion of a proposed project's potential to foster economic or population growth, including ways in which a project could remove an obstacle to growth. Growth does not necessarily create significant physical changes to the environment. However, depending upon the type, magnitude, and location of growth, it can result in significant adverse environmental effects. The proposed project's growth-inducing potential is therefore considered significant if it could result in significant physical effects in one or more environmental issue areas. The most commonly cited example of how an economic effect might create a physical change is where economic growth in one area could create blight conditions elsewhere by causing existing competitors to go out of business and the buildings to be left vacant. 5.1 ECONOMIC AND POPULATION GROWTH The proposed project involves the construction of a 145-unit apartment complex with a one- level subterranean parking garage. The project would generate short-term employment opportunities during construction, which would be expected to draw workers from the existing regional work force. The project would not create any new employment opportunities over the long-term. Therefore, the proposed project would not be considered growth-inducing from an employment standpoint. The project would provide 145 residential units, which could accommodate about 265 people (based on the average household size in the City of 1.83 people per unit) (City of Santa Monica Housing Element, 1998). As described in Section 4.8, Population and Housing, the current (2002) population of the City is estimated at 85,686 (City of Santa Monica Official Web Site, 2003). The projected future population of the project represents less than half of one percent of the total population in the City, and is within the 0.82% annual growth rate projected for the City over the next 20 years (City of Santa Monica Housing Element, 1998). Furthermore, the project is intended to provide new housing opportunities for people who already reside in the City as well as those who are moving into the City from elsewhere; therefore, not all of the residents of the project would be new to the City. Thus, the potential increase in population attributable to the proposed project is not considered significant. Mitigation Measures. None required. Residual Impacts. No significant environmental impacts relating to economic or population growth are anticipated 5.2 REMOVAL OF OBSTACLES TO GROWTH The project site is located in a fully urbanized area that is well-served by existing infrastructure. Minor improvements to water, sewer, circulation system, and drainage connection infrastructure could be needed, but would be sized to specifically serve the proposed project. No new roads or significant expansions of road capacity would be required to serve the project. Because the project constitutes infill development within an urbanized area and does not r City of Santa Monica 5-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 5.0 Growth Inducing Impacts require the extension of new infrastructure through undeveloped areas, project implementation would not remove an obstacle to growth. Mitigation Measures. None required. Residual Impacts. No significant environmental impacts relating to the removal of obstacles to population growth are anticipated. r City of Santa Monica 5-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 6.0 Alternatives 6.0 ALTERNATIVES As required by Section 15126(d) of the State CEQA Guidelines, this EIR examines a range of reasonable alternatives to the proposed project. Included in this analysis are two alternatives that involve different development configurations on the site and the CEQA-required "no project" alternative. The alternatives are listed below: . No Project . Reduced Project (72 residential units) . Commercial Project (production-related studios/offices) Table 6-1 provides a summary comparison of the development characteristics of the proposed project and the three alternatives. A more detailed description of the various alternatives is included in the impact analysis for each alternative. Table 6-1 Comparison of Project Alternatives' Buildout Characteristics Alternative Characteristic Proposed No Project Reduced Commercial Project Project Project Use Residential Light Industrial Residential Commercial Building Area 145 units -38,400 sf 72 units 76,800 sf (115,150sf) (57,575 sf) Building Height 45 ft 12 ft 45 ft 45 ft Parking Spaces 228 NA 119 192 (Total) Building heights and number of parking spaces are approximate. NA = not applicable; sf = square feet; ft = feet This section also evaluates the feasibility of similar development at alternative locations and, as required by CEQA, includes a discussion of the "environmentally superior alternative" among those studied. 6.1 NO PROJECT ALTERNATIVE 6.1.1 Description This alternative assumes that the project is not constructed and that the site continues to house light industrial development. 6.1.2 Impact Analysis Because no development would occur under this alternative, no change in environmental conditions would occur. Thus, the project's significant and unavoidable construction-related air quality impacts and impacts to the local circulation system would be avoided, as would the r City of Santa Monica 6-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 6.0 Alternatives potentially significant but mitigable impacts in the areas of light and glare, geology, noise, traffic, and construction. No change in the aesthetic condition of the site would occur under this alternative. Some may consider the existing industrial use visually preferable to the proposed project. However, the current aesthetic condition of the site could also be considered less pleasing than a well-conceived and designed residential project, which would provide an architecturally coherent infill development that meets the City's objectives for increasing the stock of housing. Overall, this alternative's impact would be less than that of the proposed project. It should be noted, however, that implementation of the no project alternative at this time would not preclude the future redevelopment of the site. 6.2 REDUCED PROJECT ALTERNATIVE 6.2.1 Description In order to evaluate the potential impacts of a project of the same land use as that proposed but smaller in size, this alternative considers the development of 72 residential units, or half of the 145 units that are proposed. It is assumed that the number of each type of unit (low income, studio, I-bedroom, 2-bedroom) would roughly be divided in half. This alternative would require 119 parking spaces, all of which would be provided in a one-level subterranean garage. The building heights would still vary between two and four stories, but this alternative would involve the construction of fewer than 18 buildings. 6.2.2 Impact Analysis a. Geology and Soils. This alternative would be subject to geologic and seismic issues similar in nature to those of the proposed project. As with the proposed project, this development would be subject to potentially significant impacts relating to possible intrusion of groundwater and excavation failure. All mitigation measures recommended for the proposed project would apply. The level of impact for all geologic issues would be incrementally reduced as compared to the proposed project because of the reduced number of buildings. However, as discussed in Section 4.1, all project impacts can be reduced to a level considered less than significant. Consequently, though the potential for geologic and seismic impacts would be slightly lower under this alternative, the magnitude of impact would be similar to that of the proposed project. b. Air Quality. This alternative would generate about 50% less weekday traffic than the proposed project. Consequently, air pollutant emissions associated with project operation and overall impacts to local and regional air quality would be similarly lower. As with the proposed project, overall operational air pollutant emissions would be less than the SCAQMD thresholds for all criteria pollutants, including carbon monoxide. c. Hydrology and Water Quality. This alternative would have approximately the same impact as the proposed project with respect to hydrology and water quality. Potential impacts related to water quality would be the same in this alternative, and as with the proposed project, r City of Santa Monica 6-2 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 6.0 Alternatives all impacts would be less than significant without mitigation. Therefore, this alternative's potential impact to hydrology and water quality is considered similar to that of the proposed project. d. Noise. This alternative would generate about 50% less weekday traffic as the proposed project and would therefore incrementally reduce traffic noise on the local circulation system. Though the overall traffic-related noise energy would be slightly less than under the proposed project, traffic-related noise would not be audibly different than under the proposed project. As with the proposed project, the noise impact along area roadways would be less than significant. e. Transportation[Iraffic. This alternative would generate about 50% fewer trips as the proposed project. The net daily traffic generation for this alternative is estimated at about 386 trips. The reduction in traffic associated with this alternative would reduce the level of impact at all study area intersections; however, it could still result in unavoidably significant impacts at study area intersections and on neighborhood street segments. The parking requirement for this alternative would be 119 spaces, which could be met with a one-level subterranean parking garage similar to that planned for the proposed project. Therefore, this alternative, like the proposed project, would not significantly affect parking supply. f. Historic Resources. This alternative's impacts to potential historic resources would be the same as those of the proposed project because the alternative would require removal of all existing on site structures. However, as with the proposed project, impacts are not considered significant because the existing buildings are not considered important historic resources. No mitigation would be required. g. Aesthetics/Shadow Effects. This alternative could potentially create lighting and glare impacts similar to those of the proposed project; thus, the mitigation for light and glare impacts required for the project in Section 4.7, Aesthetics/Shadow Effects, would apply to this alternative. This alternative's visual impact would be slightly less than that of the proposed project because of its reduced size and are considered less than significant without mitigation. Because this alternative would contain fewer buildings than the proposed project, the overall shadow impact created by this alternative would be less. Though this alternative's impact would be incrementally lower, neither this alternative nor the proposed project would create any significant shadow effects. h. Population and Housing. This alternative would provide half as much new housing in the City; therefore, it would have less benefit than the proposed project in terms of increasing the stock of housing. However, it would not generate as much population growth as the proposed project, which could be considered positive. Nevertheless, this alternative, like the proposed project, would not create significant population or housing impacts. i. Public Services. As this alternative would contain fewer residential units and therefore generate less population growth, its impacts to public services would be somewhat r City of Santa Monica 6-3 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 6.0 Alternatives less than those of the proposed project. However, the project's impacts to public services are considered less than significant without mitigation. j. Construction Effects. Because this alternative involves fewer buildings and less overall development, the duration of construction activity would be somewhat less under this alternative. Therefore, construction-related noise, traffic, and water quality impacts associated with this alternative would be slightly lower than for the proposed project, though all mitigation measures recommended for the project would apply. Similar to the proposed project, implementation of the recommended measures would reduce these impacts to less than significant. This alternative could also avoid the proposed project's unavoidably significant air quality impacts during the application of architectural coatings. Therefore, this alternative could be considered superior to the proposed project in that respect. k. Neighborhood Effects. This alternative's temporary construction-related neighborhood effects would be similar to those of the proposed project, with the exception of air quality, where this alternative's impact could be less than significant with mitigation. Long-term neighborhood effects would also be similar. As with the proposed project, the residential development that would occur under this alternative would generally be compatible with the character of the neighborhood. The smaller number of buildings proposed in this alternative would incrementally reduce shadow effects, although both this alternative and the proposed project are expected to have generally positive aesthetic impacts. Traffic-related impacts would be slightly lower due to the reduction in trip generation as compared to the proposed project. Nevertheless, similar to the project, unavoidably significant traffic impacts would occur on Yale Street and Nebraska A venue in the project vicinity, and could occur at area intersections. This alternative, like the proposed project, would potentially allow housing development to occur on other parcels within the LMSD zone. However, this would not result in significant environmental effects beyond those associated with other development projects in the City. 6.3 COMMERCIAL PROJECT 6.3.1 Description This alternative involves development of a 76,000 square foot building containing production- related studio and office uses on the project site. This type of project would be consistent with the current LMSD zoning on the site and would not require an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance. The building proposed under this alternative would be subject to a 45-foot, four- story height limit and a maximum floor-area ratio of 1.0. A total of 192 parking spaces would be provided in a one-level subterranean parking garage. 6.3.2 Impact Analysis a. Geology and Soils. The footprint and height of the structure that would be built under this alternative would be similar to the proposed project. As such, geologic and seismic impacts would be the same as for the project. The mitigation measures recommended for the project for control of possible groundwater intrusion and excavation failure would apply. Implementation of these measures would reduce impacts to a level considered less than r City of Santa Monica 6-4 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 6.0 Alternatives significant. However, the overall level of risk for this alternative would be less than that of the proposed project because this alternative would not involve any residential development. b. Air Quality. This alternative would generate about 11 % less weekday traffic than the proposed project. Air pollutant emissions associated with project would therefore be similarly lower. As with the proposed project, overall operational air pollutant emissions would be less than the SCAQMD thresholds for all criteria pollutants. Like the proposed project, this alternative would not create any CO hot spots at area intersections. Overall air quality impacts of this alternative would be slightly less than those of the proposed project. c. Hydrology and Water Quality. This alternative would have approximately the same impact as the proposed project with respect to hydrology and water quality and no mitigation would be required. Therefore, this alternative's potential impact to hydrology and water quality is considered equal to that of the proposed project and would not be significant. d. Noise. This alternative would generate about 11 % less traffic than the proposed project and would therefore incrementally reduce traffic noise on the local circulation system. Though the overall traffic-related noise energy generated by the project would be slightly less than under the proposed project, traffic-related noise along area roadways would not be audibly different. Similar to the proposed project, roadway noise impacts would be less than significant. e. Historic Resources. This alternative's impacts to potential historic resources would be the same as the proposed project, since it would require demolition of all of the existing buildings. As with the proposed project, impacts are considered less than significant and no mitigation is required because the existing buildings are not considered historic resources. f. Traffic and Parking. This alternative would generate about 11 % fewer weekday trips than the proposed project. Overall net daily traffic generation is estimated at 699 trips. The reduction in traffic associated with this alternative would reduce the level of impact at all study area intersections. Nevertheless, significant impacts at the one intersection and two street segments that would be affected by the proposed project may occur under this alternative as well. The parking requirement for this alternative would be 192 spaces, which would be provided below-ground. Therefore, this alternative's parking demand could be met with a similar configuration of parking as the proposed project and impacts would be less than significant. Overall traffic impacts would be slightly less under this alternative. g. Aesthetics/Shadow Effects. This alternative would involve less square footage than the proposed project; thus, its visual impact may be slightly lower. However, project-related visual impacts would not be significant, and this alternative, like the proposed project, could be considered to improve the aesthetic condition of the project site. The mitigation recommended for the proposed project relating to lighting and glare would apply to this alternative and would reduce impacts to a less than significant level. This alternative could have less impact relating to shadows than the proposed project because of the reduced development size. As with the proposed project, shadow impacts would not be significant. Overall, this alternative's visual impacts are considered similar to those of the proposed project. r City of Santa Monica 6-5 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 6.0 Alternatives h. Population and Housing. This alternative would not involve the development of any housing; therefore, it would be less beneficial than the proposed project because it would not increase the stock of housing. It would provide a benefit of additional jobs in the City; however, since the City is rich in jobs and poor in housing, the creation of new jobs may be considered less beneficial than creating additional housing opportunities. i. Public Services. As this alternative would not contain residential development and therefore would not increase the population, its impacts to public services would be somewhat less than those of the proposed project. However, the project's impacts to public services are considered less than significant without mitigation. j. Construction Effects. Construction-related noise, traffic, and water quality impacts associated with this alternative would be similar to those of the proposed project. Because the amount of excavation needed would be about the same as the proposed project, the duration of construction effects would also be similar. Similar to the proposed project, implementation of the recommended measures would reduce these impacts to less than significant. This alternative would also avoid the proposed project's unavoidably significant air quality impacts during the application of architectural coatings. Therefore, this alternative could be considered superior to the proposed project in that respect. k. Neighborhood Effects. This alternative's temporary construction-related neighborhood effects would be similar to those of the proposed project, with the exception of air quality, where this alternative's impact would be less than significant with mitigation. Long-term neighborhood effects would also be similar. The commercial development that would occur under this alternative would generally be compatible with the character of the existing neighborhood, which includes similar production-related uses and other commercial uses. The smaller building area proposed in this alternative could incrementally reduce shadow effects, although both this alternative and the proposed project are expected to have generally positive aesthetic impacts. Traffic-related impacts would be slightly lower due to the reduction in trip generation as compared to the proposed project. Nevertheless, similar to the project, unavoidably significant traffic impacts would occur on Yale Street and Nebraska A venue in the project vicinity, and could occur at area intersections. This alternative would not involve an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and therefore would not have the potential to allow housing to occur on other LMSD-zoned parcels. 6.4 ALTERNATIVE SITE ANALYSIS The evaluation of alternative sites is subject to special consideration under CEQA. The California Supreme Court, in Citizens of Goleta Valley v. Board of Supervisors (1990), indicates that a discussion of alternative sites is needed if the project "may be feasibly accomplished in a successful manner considering the economic, environmental, social, and technological factors involved" at another site. As suggested in Goleta, several criteria form the basis of whether alternative sites need to be considered in detail. These criteria take the form of the following questions: 1. Could the size and other characteristics of another site physically accommodate the project? r City of Santa Monica 6-6 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 6.0 Alternatives 2. Is another site reasonably available for acquisition? 3. Is the timing of carrying out development on an alternative site reasonable for the applicant? 4. Is the project economically feasible on the alternative site? 5. Is the land use designation of the alternative site compatible with the project? 6. Does the lead agency have jurisdiction over the alternative site? 7. Are there any social, technological, or other factors that may make the alternative site infeasible? Numerous sites located throughout Santa Monica would potentially meet several of the criteria outlined in the Goleta decision. However, no other sites that would meet the size, cost, and land use designation criteria needed to accommodate the project are known to be available for acquisition at this time. Moreover, given the time and expense that have already been invested in the proposed project site, implementing the project at another site may not be feasible from a timing or economic standpoint. Consequently, other sites that could potentially meet some criteria may not meet criteria 2, 3, or 4. Additionally, because of the scale of the proposed project, significant impacts related to traffic and circulation, construction-related air quality and noise, and neighborhood effects would occur even if the proposed project were located at an alternate site within the City. Therefore, discussion of alternative sites does is not warranted. 6.5 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR ALTERNATIVE As required by CEQA, this section identifies the environmentally superior alternative. Table 6-2 provides a summary comparison of the impacts of the various project alternatives. Table 6-2 Impact Comparison of Alternatives Issue Proposed No Project Reduced Commercial Project Project Project Geology and Soils = + = = Air Quality = + + + Hydrology/Water Quality = + = = Noise = + + + Historic Resources = + = = T ra nspo rtati 0 nIT raffi c = + + + Aesthetics/Shadow Effects = - = = Population and Housing = +/- +/- +/- Public Services = + + + Construction Effects = + + + Neighborhood = = = = Effects + Superior to the proposed project - Inferior to the proposed project +/- Characteristics both better and worse than the proposed project = Similar impact to the proposed project The No Project alternative would involve no change to the environment and is therefore considered environmentally superior overall. It should be noted, however, that this alternative r City of Santa Monica 6-7 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 6.0 Alternatives would not preclude future development of the site with another project. Additionally, this alternative fails to achieve the stated project objectives. The two remaining alternatives would both be environmentally superior to the proposed project in some respects. Both alternatives would incrementally reduce impacts in five issue areas and could potentially avoid the project's Class I impact to temporary air quality impacts. The Reduced Project alternative would generate less traffic than either the proposed project or the Commercial Project alternative. The Commercial Project alternative would be consistent with the existing zoning on the project site and therefore would not involve a Zoning Ordinance amendment. However, this alternative would not create additional housing in the City and would not fulfill the objectives of the project. Thus, the Commercial Project alternative could be considered inferior to the proposed project from that perspective. The Reduced Project alternative could be considered the environmentally superior alternative among the development options, though it would require a Zoning Ordinance text amendment. However, it should be noted that because of its smaller size, this alternative would meet the City's goal of providing additional housing to a lesser degree than the proposed project, and would have reduced benefits with respect to the amount of affordable housing it would provide. r City of Santa Monica 6-8 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 7.0 References 7.0 REFERENCES AND REPORT PREPARERS 7.1 REFERENCES 7.1.1 Bibliography Asbestos, Environment & Safety, Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for 2834 Colorado Boulevard, Santa Monica, California, 2000. California Air Resources Board Official Homepage, www.arb.ca.gov. 2003. California Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology, 1999, Seismic Hazards Zones Map, Beverly Hills Quadrangle. California Geological Survey, Probablistic Seismic Hazard Assesment Maps, web site: www.consrv.ca.govjCGS. 2003. California Geological Survey, Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones, CGS web site: www.consrv.ca.govjCGS. 2003. Dibblee, T. W. Jr., 1991, Geologic Map of the Beverly Hills and Van Nuys (South 1f2) Quadrangles, Los Angeles County, California, Dibblee Geological Foundation. Geotechnologies, Inc., Geological Engineering Investigation, Proposed Production Facility, Southeast Corner of Stewart Street and Colorado A venue, Santa Monica, California, August 2000. Kaku Associates, Traffic Study for the 2834 Colorado Apartment Project Environmental Impact Report, August 2003. San Buenaventura Research Associates, Historic Resources Report, 2834 Colorado A venue, Santa Monica, California, July 2003. Santa Monica, City of, Civic Center Parking Structure Final EIR, February 2003. Santa Monica, City of, Environmental Programs Division, 2003 Adopted Sustainable City Plan, February 2003. Santa Monica, City of, Fire Department web page, www.santamonicafire.org, 2003. Santa Monica, City of, Land Use and Circulation Element, 1984, as revised April 1998. Santa Monica, City of, Municipal Code, May 2003. Santa Monica, City of, Official Homepage, www.santa-monica.org, 2003. r City of Santa Monica 7-1 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Section 7.0 References Santa Monica, City of, Police Department, 2001 Annual Report, SMPD web site, www.santamonicapd.org, 2003. Santa Monica, City of, Public Safety Facility Final EIR, September 1997. Santa Monica, City of, RAND Corporation Building Headquarters Final EIR, August 2000. Santa Monica, City of, Safety Element of the General Plan, Technical Background Report, 1995. Santa Monica, City of, Sustainable City Plan, 2003. South Coast Air Quality Management District Official Homepage, www.scaqmd.gov, 2003. Southern California Association of Governments Official Homepage, www.scag.ca.gov. 2003. Uniform Building Code, 1997, International Conference of Building Officials, Whittier, California. 7.1.2 Persons Contacted William Buol, City of Santa Monica Public Works, Engineering Department Mike Cbeyich, Santa Monica Police Department, Community Relations Maria Esparza, Santa Monica Fire Department, Administration Office Jeanne Wells, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, Superintendent's Office 7.2 REPORT PREPARERS This EIR was prepared by Rincon Consultants, Inc., under contract to the City of Santa Monica Planning Department. Consultant staff involved in the preparation of the EIR are listed below. Rincon Consultants, Inc. Joe Power, AICP, Planning Manager Stephen Svete, AICP, Principal Walt Hamann, RG, CEG, CHG, Principal Melissa Mascali, MESM, Environmental Analyst Tessa Clark, MESM, Environmental Analyst Ned Thomas, MUP, Senior Planner Ed Miller, Biologist Joanne Dramko, MESM, Graphics Manager Kathy Babcock, Graphics Technician Kaku Associates Thomas Gaul, Vice President, Kaku Associates Sean Mohn, Associate, Kaku Associates San Buenaventura Research Associates Judy Triem, Historian Mitch Stone, Historian r City of Santa Monica 7-2 rr Appendix A Notice of Preparation, Initial Study, and Responses to the NOP PatrIck Clarke Associate Planner Planning & Community Development Department 1685 Main street P. O. Box 2200 City of Santa Monica, CA 90407-2200 Santa lUonica~ 1 ;h r, ~. i , 'i ! I NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT ON THE PROPOSED 2834 COLORADO AVENUE PROJECT , i j ....~.'li. "~ ~,. .;!.,j , The City of Santa Monica, Planning and Community Development Department, will be the Lead Agency and will prepare an environmental impact report (EIR) for the project identified below, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA requires that the Lead Agency send a Notice of Preparation (NaP) to responsible, trustee and involved federal agencies to obtain their input regarding the determination of the scope of the EI R (CEQA Guidelines, Section 15082). We need to know the views of your agency as to the scope and content of the environmental information that is germane to your agency's statutory responsibilities in connection with the proposed project. Your agency will need to use the EIR prepared by our agency when considering your permit or other approval for the project. The City of Santa Monica is also sending this Nap to other interested agencies and persons, whom may also provide input regarding the scope of the EI R. " J 'C'! .i! ,t " , '~j ""i! :~(~~ Project Title: 2834 Colorado Avenue Project Project Applicant: Colorado Creative Studios, LLC Project Location: The project site consists of one lot totaling approximately 76,800 square feet at the southwest corner of the intersection of Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street in the City of Santa Monica, Los Angeles County. The attached map illustrates the location. Project Description: The proposed project involves the demolition of existing onsite structures and the construction of 145 units of residential development in several buildings on an approximately 1. 76-acre site in the City of Santa Monica. The development will include seven two-bedroom units, 109 one-bedroom units, and 29 studio units. Ten percent of the proposed units (i.e., 15 units) will be deed-restricted to occupancy by very low-income households. The buildings will range from two to four stories in height, with a maximum height of 45 feet, and will be arranged around three central courtyards. A community room, pool, office, and pool lounge will be located in the middle courtyard. The floor-to-area ratio of the project will be 1.5. The project will provide 228 parking spaces in a one-level subterranean garage. Twenty-nine of the 228 spaces will be for guest use; the remainder will be dedicated to use by the residents of the project. tel: 310 458-8341 0 fax: 310458-3380 Notice of Preparation 2834 Colorado Avenue Project Page 2 The project is requesting the following entitlements: a Development Review Permit because it exceeds 7,500 square feet in floor area; a Text Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to allow multi-family housing in the LMSD zoning district by . Conditional Use Permit; and approval of a Conditional Use Permit for the project. . Planning Commission and City Council approval of the Zoning Ordinance Amendment would be required. Environmental Issues: The EIR will examine all of the issues in the state- recommended issues checklist, with a focus on the following issues: Aesthetics/Shadow Effects, Air Quality, Construction Effects, Geology and Soils, Historic Resources, Hydrology and Water Quality, Neighborhood Effects, Noise, Population and Housing, Public Services, and Transportation/Traffic. The EIR will also analyze three alternatives. HOW TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED NOTICE OF PREPARATION The City of Santa Monica encourages public comment on this and other projects. Comments, questions, or information on potential environmental impacts that should be included in the EIR should be sent to Patrick Clarke, Associate Planner, City Planning Division, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90407- 2200, telephone 310-458-8341. Due to the time limits mandated by State law, your response must be sent at the earliest possible date but must be received by the City bv Ju Iv 6, 2003, at 4:00 p.m. (30 days from issuance of the NOP). MORE INFORMATION Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65009(b), if this matter is subsequently challenged in Court, the challenge may be limited to only those issues raised at the Public Hearing for this project, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Monica at, or prior to, the Public Hearing. ESPANOL Esta es una noticia sabre la preparaci6n de un reporte de los posibles efectos ambientales en la construcci6n propuesta de un edificio de cinco pisos paraesta cionamiento publico, 10 cual puede ser de interes a usted. Para mas informaci6n, lIame a Elsa Kapsinow al numero (310) 458-2275. Jay Trevino, AICP Planning Manager City Planning Division Date CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall. 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 EIRNo. DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT INITIAL STUDY AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT STATEMENT DATE FILED This checklist is to be completed for all projects which are not exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The information, analysis and conclusions contained in the checklist form the basis for deciding whether an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), a Negative Declaration (ND) or a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) is to be prepared. Additionally, the checklist shall be used to focus an EIR on the effects determined to be potentially significant. I. INTRODUCTION 1. Project Title: 2834 Colorado Avenue Project 2. Lead Agency Name and Address: Planning and Community Development Department, City of Santa Monica, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 3. Contact Person and Phone Number: Patrick Clarke, (310) 458-8341 4. Project Location: 2834 Colorado Avenue, on the northeast corner of Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street. 5. Project Sponsor's Name and Address: Colorado Creative Studios, LLC. 11601 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1900, Los Angeles, CA 90025 6. General Plan Designation: Industrial 7. Specific Plan Designation: None 8. Zoning: LMSD - Light Manufacturing and Studio District 9. Description of Project: The proposed project consists of the development of a 145-unit apartment complex at the northeast corner of Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street. One level of subterranean parking containing 228 parking spaces would also be provided. The buildings onsite would be demolished in association with project development. 1 eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 EIRNo. The project would consist of 29 studio unitsf 109 one-bedroom units, and seven two-bedroom units contained within 18 buildings varying in height from two to four stories. Fifteen of the one-bedroom units would be deed-restricted for occupancy by very low-income residents. The buildings would be arranged around three interior courtyards, the middle of which would contain a pool, office, pool lounge, and community room. Buildings along the interior lot lines would be oriented toward the courtyards, while buildings along Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street would be oriented toward the streets. 10. Surrounding Land Uses and Setting: Surrounding land uses include single- and multi-family residential development to the northwest across Colorado Avenue, studio-related commercial uses to the southwest across Stewart Street, and light industrial and office uses to the northeast and southeast. 11. Other public agencies whose approval is required: None. II. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED Environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this project, involving at least one impact that is a "Potentially Significant Impactrt as indicated by the checklist on the following pages. X Geology/Soils X Shadows X Public Services X Construction Effects _ Hazards/Hazardous Materials II Air Quality _Biological Resources X HydrologylWater Quality Economic and Social Impacts X Population/Housing _Land Use/Planning Recreation X Cultural Resources X Aesthetics X Noise X Transportation/ Mineral Resources Traffic Uti I ities/Service Systems X Mandatory Findings of _ Agriculture Resources Significance X Neighborhood Effects 2 eID CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall. 1685 Main Street. Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 EIRNo. III. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS In completing this checklist, keep in mind the following: 1} A brief explanation is required for all answers except uNo Impact" answers that are adequately supported by the information sources a lead agency cites in the parentheses following each question. A UNo Impacf' answer is adequately supported if the referenced information sources show that the impact simply does not apply to projects like the one involved (e.g. the project falls outside a fault rupture zone). A "No Impact" answer should be explained where it is based on project-specific factors as well as general standards (e.g. the project will not expose sensitive receptors to pollutants, based on a project-specific screening analysis). All explanations should be contained in a "Discussion of Environmental Evaluation" which should be attached to this checklist. 2} All answers must take account of the whole action involved, including off-site as well as on-site, cumulative as well as project-level, indirect as well as direct, and construction as well as operational impacts. 3} Once the lead agency has determined that a particular physical impact may occur, then the checklist answers must indicate whether the impact is potentially significant, less than significant with mitigation, or less than significant. "Potentially Significant Impact" is appropriate if there is substantial evidence that an effect may be significant. If there are one or more "Potentially Significant Impact" entries when the determination is made, an EIR is required. 4) "Negative Declaration: Less Than Significant With Mitigation Incorporated" applies where the incorporation of mitigation measures has reduced an effect from IIPotentially Significant Impact" to a "Less Than Significant Impact." The lead agency must describe the mitigation measures, and briefly explain how they reduce the effect to a less than significant level (mitigation measures from "Earlier Analyses," may be cross-referenced). 5) Earlier analysis may be used where, pursuant to the tiering, program EIR, or other CEQA process an effect has been adequately analyzed in an earlier EIR or negative declaration. Section 15063(c)(3)(D). In this case, a brief discussion should identify the following: 3 eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall. 1685 Main Street. Santa Monica. California 90401-3295 EIRNo. a) Earlier analysis Used. Identify and state where they are available for review. b) Impacts Adequately Addressed. Identify which effects from the above checklist were within the scope of and adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and state whether such effects were addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis. c) Mitigation Measures. For effects that are "Less than Significant with Mitigation Measures Incorporated," describe the mitigation measures which were incorporated or refined from the earlier document and the extent to which they address site-specific conditions for the project. 6) Lead agencies are encouraged to incorporate into the checklist references to information sources for potential impacts (e.g. general plans, zoning ordinances). Reference to a previously prepared or outside document should, where appropriate, include a reference to the page or pages where the statement is substantiated. A source list should be attached, and other sources used or individuals contacted should be cited in the discussion. 7) The explanation of each issue should identify: a) The significance criteria or threshold, if any, used to evaluate each question; and b) The mitigation measure identified, if any, to reduce the impact to less than significance. III. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Pat. Slgnlf. Impact Less Than Signif. With Mitigation Incorporated Less Than No Signif. Impact Impact 1. Geology and Soils. Would the project: a. Expose people or structures to potential substantial adverse 4 eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall. 1685 Main Street. Santa Monica. California 90401-3295 effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving: i) Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault? Refer to Division of Mines and Geology Special Publication ( x ii) Strong seismic ground shaking? ( ) .lL iii) Seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction? ( ) L Iv) Landslides? ( ) b) Result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? ( ) .lL c) Be located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the project, and potentially result in on- or off -site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction or collapse? ( ) .lL d) Be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1994), creating substantial risks to life or property? x 5 EIRNo. x eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 Pot. Less Than Signif. Signif. Impact With Mitigation Incorporated e) Have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative waste water disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of waste water? 2. Air Quality - Where available, the significance criteria established by the applicable air quality management or air pollution control district may be relied upon to make the following determinations. Would the project: a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? () ..x b) Violate any air quality standard or contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation? () X c) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard (including releasing emissions which exceed quantitative thresholds for ozone precursors)? () .lL d) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant 6 EIRNo. Less Than Signif. Impact No Impact x eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 Pot. Signif. Impact concentrations? ( L e) Create objectionable odors affecting a substantial number of people? ( ) 3. Hydrology and Water Quality - Would the project: a) Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements? ( ) b) Substantially deplete groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that there would be a net deficit in aquifer volume or a lowering of the local groundwater table level (e.g., the production rate of pre-existing nearby wells would drop to a level which would not support existing land uses or planned uses for which permits have been granted)? ( ) c) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, in a manner which would result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off-site? ( ) 7 Less Than Sign If. With Mitigation Incorporated l l x EIRNo. Less Than Signif. Impact No Impact 1- eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 Pot. Less Than Signif. Signif. Impact With Mitigation Incorporated d) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, or substantially in.crease the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on- or off-site? ( ) -X. e) Create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff? ( ) -X. f) Otherwise substantially degrade water quality? ( ) -X. g) Place housing within a 1 DD-year flood hazard area as mapped on a federal Flood Hazard Boundary or Flood Insurance Rate Map or other hazard delineation map? h) Place within a 1 DO-year flood hazard area structures which would impede or redirect flood flows? ( ) i) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving flooding, including flooding as a result of the failure of a levee or dam? ( ) 8 EIRNo. Less Than Signlf. Impact -X. No Impact x x eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 9Q401-3295 Pot. Less Than Slgnlf. Slgnlf. Impact With Mitigation Incorporated j) Inundation by seiche, tsunami, or mudflow? ( ) 4. Biological Resources - Would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. fish and Wildlife Service? b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations or by the California Department of Fish and Game or US Fish and Wildlife Service? ( ) c) Have a substantial adverse effect on federally protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means? d) Interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife 9 EIRNo. Less Than Signlf. Impact No Impact L ...x ...x x eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 EIRNo. Pot. Less Than Less Than No Slgnif. Slgnif. Signif. Impact Impact With Impact Mitigation Incorporated corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites? 1L e) Conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance? ( ) 1L f) Conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan? - 1L , 5. Noise R Would the project result in: a) Exposure of persons to or generation of noise levels in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies? ( ) L b) Exposure of persons to or generation of excessive groundborne vibration or groundborne noise levels? ( ) x c) A substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? L 10 eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA EIRNo. PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 Pot. Less Than Less Than No Signlf. Signif. Slgnlf. Impact Impact With Impact Mitigation Incorporated d) A substantial temporary or periodic increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? ( ) ..lL e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? .K... 6. Shadows. Will the proposal produce extensive shadows affecting adjacent uses or property? ( ) .K... 7. Hazards and Hazardous Materials - Would the project: a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials? ( ) -X b) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment? ( ) X 11 eft3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school? ( ) d) Be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials .sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment? e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? ( ) f) For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? ( ) g) Impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? ( ) 12 Pot. Signif. Impact Less Than Signif. With Mitigation Incorporated EIRNo. Less Than Signif. Impact No Impact x .lL x .lL .lL eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 EIRNo. Pot. Signif. Impact Less Than Signif. With Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Slgnif. Impact No Impact h) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires, including where wildlands are adjacent to urbanized areas or where residences are intermixed with wildlands? ( ) x 8. Population and Housing. Would the project: a) Induce substantial population growth in an area, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other infrastructure)? L b) Displace substantial numbers of existing housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere? ( ) L c) Displace substantial number of people, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere? ( ) .lL 9. land Use and Planning. Would the project: a) Physically divide an established community? ( ) .lL 13 eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA EIRNo. PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 Pot. Less Than Less Than No Signif. Signif. Signif. Impact Impact With Impact Mitigation Incorporated b) Conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy, or regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over the project (including, but not limited to the general plan, specific plan, local coastal program, or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect? ( ) l c) Conflict with any applicable habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan? ( ) L 10. Transportation/Traffic - Would the project: a) Cause an increase in traffic which is substantial in relation to the existing traffic load and capacity of the street system (Le., result in a substantial increase in either the number of vehicle trips, the volume to capacity ratio on roads; or congestion at intersections)? .x b) Exceed, either individually or cumulatively, a level of service standard established by the county congestion management agency for designated roads 14 eff3 CITY OF SANi A MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 11. Utilities and Service System - 15 EIRNo. eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 Would the project: a) Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board? ( ) b) Require or result in the construction of new water or wastewater treatment facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects? ( ) c) Require or result in the construction of new storm water drainage facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects? ( ) d) Have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project from existing entitlements and resources, or are new or expanded entitlements needed? ( ) e) Result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project's projected demand 16 Pot. Slgnif. Impact Less Than Slgnif. With Mitigation Incorporated EIRNo. Less Than Signif. Impact l l ~ x No Impact eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 in addition to the provider's existing commitments? ( ) f) Be served by a landfill with sufficient permitted capacity to accommodate the project's solid waste disposal needs? g) Comply with federal, state, and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste? ( ) 12. Public Services a) Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for any of the public services: Fire protection? ( ) Police protection? ( ) Schools? ( ) Parks? ( ) Other public facilities? ( ) 17 Pot. Signif. Impact -X X -X -X -X Less Than Signif. With Mitigation Incorporated EIRNo. Less Than Signif. Impact .lL -X .lL No Impact eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA EIRNo. PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 Pot. Less Than Less Than No Slgnif. Signif. Slgnif. Impact Impact With Impact Mitigation Incorporated 13. Recreation a) Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated? ( ) l b) Does the project include recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment? ( ) l 14. Cultural Resources - Would the project: a) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in '15064.5? ( ) ...x b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to '15064.5? ( ) X c) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature? ( ) 1 18 eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 d) Disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of formal cemeteries? 15. Aesthetics - Would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? ( b) Substantially damage scenic resources, incfuding, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? ( ) c) Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings? ( ) d) Create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area? Pot. Signif. Impact ) lL ..x 16. Construction Effects. Would the proposal have considerable construction- period impacts due to the scope, or location of construction activities? ( ) ..x 17. Economic and Social Impacts. Does the project have economic or social effects which would result in 19 Less Than Signif. With Mitigation Incorporated EIRNo. Less Than Signlf. Impact No Impact ~ x -L eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 Pot. Signif. Impact additional physical changes (e.g. if a new shopping center located away from a downtown shopping area would take business away from the down- town and thereby cause business closures and eventual physical deterioration of the downtown)? ( ) 18. Agriculture 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 Dept. of Conservation as an optional model to use in assessing impacts on agriculture and farmland. Would the Project: a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring program of the California Resources Agency, to non-agricultural use? b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract? c) Involve other changes in the existing environment which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of farmland, 20 Less Than Sign if. With Mitigation Incorporated EIRNo. Less Than Signlf. Impact L No Impact L L eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 Pot. Less Than Signlf. Slgnlf. Impact With Mitigation Incorporated to non-agricultural use? 19. Mineral Resources - Would the project: a) Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region and the residents of the State? b) Result in the loss of availability of a locally-important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan or other land use plan? 20. Neighborhood Effects. Will the proposal have considerable effects on the project neighborhood? .lL 21. Mandatory Findings of Significance. a) Does the project have the poten- tial to degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal commun- ity, reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or pre-history? () .lL 21 EIRNo. Less Than Signif. Impact No Impact .lL 1 1 eff3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 EIRNo. Pot. Less Than Signif. Slgnlf. Impact With Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Slgnlf. Impact No Impact b) Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? ("Cumulatively considerable" means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects)? () .x... c) Does the project have environ- mental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? ( ) .lL IV. DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION Several factors have potentially significant impacts on the environment and require further analysis. V. DETERMINATION An environmental impact report (EIR) must be completed to adequately analyze these environmental factors. VI. SOURCES Asbestos, Environment) & Safety, Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for 2834 Colorado Boulevard, Santa Monica, California, 2000. California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Toxic Substances Control Official website, www.dtsc.ca.gov. 2003. California Integrated Waste Management Board Official website, 22 eft3 CITY OF SANTA MONICA PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT City Hall. 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401-3295 Pot. Signlf. Impact Less Than Signif. With Mitigation Incorporated EIRNo. Less Than Signif. Impact www.ciwmb.ca.gov/wastechar/wastegenratesIWGCommer.htm. 2003. City of Santa Monica, Draft Urban Water Management Plan, 2000. City of Santa Monica Official website. www.cLsanta-monica.ca.us. 2003. City of Santa Monica Public Safety Facility EIR, 1997. City of Santa Monica Safety Element, 1995. City of Santa Monica, Sustainable City Program, Status Report. 2002. City of Santa Monica, Sustainable City Plan, 2003a. 23 No Impact eff3 Initial Study and Neighborhood Impact Statement Discussion a/Environmental Evaluation 1. Geology and Soils A detailed discussion of this topic is included in Section 4.1, Geolog1j and Soils, of the ElR. 2. Air Quality A detailed discussion of this topic is included in Section 4.2, Air Quality, of the ElR. 3. Hydrology and Water Quality A detailed discussion of this topic is included in Section 4.3, Hydrolog1J and Water Qualittj, of the ElR. 4. Biological Resources a-f. Due to the highly urbanized character of the City of Santa Monica, there are very few areas of native terresuial habitat (California Department of Fish & Game, TIle Status ofRnre, TIlreatened, and Endangered Animals and Plants of CaZifomia - Annual Report for 2000). The only native terresuial habitat is located along the Palisades Bluff, and this area is highly disturbed. As a consequence, vegetation resources within the City are those that are capable of surviving in urban conditions. Important biological resources (sensitive species and relatively undisturbed habitats) are generally relegated to the coastal (beach and intertidal) and marine enVITonments. The site of the proposed project is currently occupied by several warehouse-type buildings used in light manufacturing operations and contains very little landscaping. The project site is surrounded by urban development, including industrial operations, and does not provide habitat for animal life. Therefore, this issue will not be fuither discussed in the ElR. 5. Noise A detailed discussion of this topic is included in Section 4.4, Noise, of the EIR. 6. Shadows A detailed discussion of tltis topic is included in Section 4.7, Aesthetics/Shadow Effects, of the ElR. 7. Hazards and Hazardous Materials a-c. The proposed project consists of a residential aparbnent building and a one-level subterranean parking garage. The project is not expected to inuoduce any unusual hazardous materials to the area. IV-1 15# Attachment to Part IV As the project would have to comply with CalOSHA (California Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requirements and other State and local requirements during construction and operation of the facility, no significant hazard impacts are expected from the project. d. A Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment performed by Asbestos, Environment & Safety (AE&S) Ganuary 2000) for the project site found no evidence of recognized environmental conditions in connection with the property. There are no National Priority Listing (Superfund) sites or solid waste transfer and disposal facilities within a one-mile radius of the subject property. There are 12 listed leaking underground storage tank (LUST) sites located within one-half mile of the subject site; however, due to the distance from the project site and the expected direction of groundwater flow in the vicinity, these pose no threat to the project site (AE&S 2000). The project site is not listed on the State's Hazardous Waste and Substances Sites List (CORTESE List) from the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal EP A), Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) (DTSC, 2003). e,f. The proposed project is located approximately 2.6 miles northwest of the Santa Monica Municipal Airport. At this distance from the airport, implementation of the proposed project is unlikely to expose people in the project area to airport-related safety hazards in excess of what currently exists. g. Vehicular access to the project site is proposed via a two-way driveway on Stewart Street. A second driveway is proposed on Colorado Avenue to allow egress from the parking garage. This driveway would be restricted to right-turns only, which would prevent safety hazards associated with vehicles trying to turn left out of the project site. No potential operational issues have been identified with regard to the proposed access scheme; therefore, impacts would be less than significant. Site improvements will be required to comply with the Uniform Building Code. Therefore, the proposed project would not affect any established existing evacuation routes or plans. No significant impacts would occur. h. The project site is surrounded by urbanized paved streets and developed lots. There are no significant areas of flammable brush, grass, or trees on the site or in the viscinity of the project site that could result in a wildland fire or expose people or structures to such a fire. No significant impacts would occur. 8. Population and Housing A detailed discussion of this topic is included in Section 4,8, Population and Housing, of the EIR. 9. Land Use and Planning a. The project site is located in a developed area and is surrounded by residential, commercial, and light industrial uses. It would not divide an established community. b. The project proposes residential development on the project site, which currently is not a permitted or conditionally permitted land use in the LMSD zone. Therefore, the applicant is requesting a text amendment to the City's Zoning Ordinance to allow multi-family residential development in this zone, subject to a conditional use permit. The language proposed by the applicant would allow multi-family dwelling units to be included with those uses that are subject to a 45-foot height limit and a maximum floor to area ratio (FAR) of 1.5. No other Zoning Ordinance changes are being proposed. IV-2 18# Attachment to Part IV If the text amendment were approved, the proposed project would comply with the height and FAR standards of the LMSD zone. The LMSD zone already requires a Development Review Permit for projects over 30,000 square feet in floor area, such as the proposed project, and also requires architectuIal review. In addition, the inclusion of multi-family housing as a conditionally permitted use in the LMSD zone under the proposed text amendment would add another layer of control over the approval of such projects. This would help to ensure that the projects are sensitively designed and compatible with surrounding land uses. Objective 1.9 of the General Plan Land Use Element calls for the preservation of existing industrial and manufacturing uses. Since the proposed project, if approved, would directly remove an existing industrial development, it could be considered in conflict with this General Plan objective. However, the Zoning Ordinance currently permits artist live/ work studios and other kinds of housing, including homeless shelters, transitional housing, and single-room occupancy housing, in the LMSD zone. Therefore, the allowance of multi-family housing would not be a significant departuIe from the uses already allowed in this zone. The Housing Element of the General Plan includes several policies that would be fulfilled by the proposed project, including: . Goal 1.0 - Provide for tlle construction of new housing within the City; Goal 1.2 - Provide incentives for the development of housing in non-residential zones; Goal 2.0 - Increase the supply of housing that is affordable to very low-income households; Goal 2.7 - Encourage the distribution of housing for low-income households throughout the City. . . . Thus, the proposed project addresses the need for increased housing supply in the City, particularly with respect to affordable housing, and would be subject to several review processes to ensure that the project meets the level of quality of other residential developments in the City. Provided that the proposed text amendment is approved, the project would generally be consistent with applicable land use policies. This issue will not be further discussed in the EIR. c. The project site is currently developed with light industrial uses and is located in an urban area. It is not subject to a habitat conservation plan or a natural communities conservation plan. 10. Trans'{Jortation/Circulation A detailed discussion of this topic is included in Section 4.5, Transportatiol1fI'raffic, of this EIR. 11. Utilities and Service Systems a, b, e. The local sewer collection system is owned by the City of Santa Monica and is managed, operated, and maintained by the Utilities Division of the City's General Services Department. Sewer flow is treated at the City of Los Angeles' Hyperion Treatment Plant located approximately four miles southeast of Santa Monica, along the Santa Monica Bay coastline. Wastewater in the City flows primarily by gravity in a southerly direction, and is delivered to the treatment plant via the Coastal Interceptor Sewer. The City has an agreement with the City of Los Angeles for Wastewater Disposal servicesl which does not set an upper limit on the amount of wastewater that the City can discharge IV-3 15# Attachment to Part IV into the Hyperion system. Instead, the agreement provides consistency with State Water Resources Guidelines, and sets rates based on sewage flow and strength (RAND Corporation Headquarters Building EIR, 2000). . The project involves the development of 145 units of residential development and a one-level subterranean parking garage. City records indicate that the typical sewer demand for residential uses is 100 gallons per day (gpd) per unit. Therefore, the proposed project would generate about 14,500 gpd. This increase in wastewater would be within the City's contractual entitlement (unlimited flow) for flows to the Hyperion Treatment Plant. Therefore, the proposed project would not be expected to significantly affect the City's wastewater conveyance system. c. The existing land use at the project site is light industrial and manufacturing, with almost 100% of the site covered by impervious surfaces. In contrast, the proposed project is a residential complex comprising 18 separate buildings with associated landscaping and green areas. Development of the project would cover about 43% of the site with impervious surfaces. AE such, the amount of runoff that leaves the site as storm water would be reduced by 20-25% over the current conditions due to the increased potential for infiltration of storm water. In addition, new development in the City is required to comply with the Urban Runoff Pollution Control Ordinance (Santa Monica Municipal Code S 7.10.010), which is intended to decrease the volume and improve the quality of runoff from residential and non-residential development. Compliance with this Ordinance would further reduce runoff from the project site. Therefore, impacts to storm water quality conveyance facilities are considered less than significant. d. Water for the Santa Monica service area is supplied from both groundwater and imported sources. Presently, the City owns and operates 11 water wells. Six wells are in the Santa Monica Subbasin, and the remaining five wells are in the Charnock Subbasin. The Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California delivers imported water from the Colorado River and State Water Project to the City. The City of Santa Monica requires various Best Management Practices (BMPs) for all new construction as part of the plan review process. These BMPs include, but are not limited to, installation of water efficient plumbing fixtures, drought tolerant landscape water conservation requirements, and water demand mitigation fees to offset estimated total project water demand. The potable water supply for the proposed project would be delivered by the City of Santa Monica water system, Based on a water demand factor of 140 gallons per day (gpd) per person and an average of 1.8 persons per household (2000 Census), the project would result in an increase of about 36,540 gpd of water demand at the site (City of Santa Monica, 2000 Urban Water Management Plan). This increase in demand on City water supplies could be accommodated by existing supplies of water (City of Santa Monica, 2000 Urban Water Management Plan). In addition; new construction is required to comply with the Water Consumption Limits and Fees for New Development (Santa Monica Municipal Code S 7.16.050), which would mitigate the impacts of the water demanded by the project. Therefore, significant impacts on the City's water supply would not occur. f, g. The City of Santa Monica provides refuse collection service to all Santa Monica residents and approximately 50% of commercial and industrial establishments (City of Santa Monica, 2003). The Solid Waste Management Division of the Environmental and Public Works Management Department IV"4 15# Attachment to Part IV operates the solid waste management system. Solid waste from Santa Monica is disposed of at the following four different facilities on a regular basis: Puente Hills Landfill, West Landfill, Simi Valley Landfill, and Long Beach's Waste to Energy Incinerator. The City has completed a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan in compliance with State Law AB 939, which required every city in California to reduce the waste it sends to landfills by 50% by the year 2000. As of 2000, the City was recycling 55% of its solid waste, thereby complying with the standards established by AB 939 (City of Santa Monica, 2002). The City has also set a goal of increasing the amount of solid waste diverted from landfills to 70% by the year 2010 (City of Santa Monica, 2003a). Based on a generation factor of 3.7 pounds per resident per day (California Integrated Waste Management Board, 2003) and 1.8 residents per household(2000 Census), the proposed project's 145 residential units would generate approximately 965 pounds of solid waste per day. This incremental increase in solid waste generation could be accommodated by the City's Transfer Station and by the existing landfills in the area. However, State law and the City's waste reduction and recycling program require that at least 50% of solid waste be diverted from landfills. It should be noted that the proposed project would be required to comply "With the Design Standards for Refuse and Recycling Rooms and Outdoor Enclosures (City of Santa Monica Municipal Code 9.04.10.02.151). This section of the Municipal Code requires that large residential developments (with more than 40 units) include the design and placement of a refuse and recycling room or outdoor enclosures onsite to provide adequate and accessible areas for storage and collection of refuse and recyclable materials. Because the project would generate a minimal increase in solid waste generation, and provided that the project complies "With local regulations regarding solid waste reduction, significant impacts on the City's solid waste collection and disposal system are not anticipated. 12. Public Services A detailed discussion of this topic is included in Section 4.9, Public Seruices, oj-the ElR. 13. Recreation a, b. The proposed project involves the development of a 145-unit apartment building with one level of subterranean parking. Both private and common open space areas, including a pool, would be provided on the project site for residents' use. The increase in population resulting from the proposed project has the potential to increase demand for recreational areas in the City. As required by the City, the project would pay a Parks and Recreation Facilities tax of $200 per residential unit. Payment of this tax would mitigate the project's potential impacts to recreation to a less than significant level. Therefore, this issue will not be discussed further in the Em.. 14. Cultural Resources a. A detailed discllssion of the project's potential impacts to historical resources is included in Section 4.6, Historic Resources, of the EIR. b-d. The proposed project is designed to serve the housing needs of Santa Monica and is in an area that has been disturbed by past grading and development. The project will not cause a substantial adverse IV-5 15# Attachment to Part IV change in the significance of an archeological resource pursuant to Section 15064.5, directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource, or disturb any human remains. Therefore, these issues will not be discussed further in the EIR. 15. Aesthetics A detailed discussion of this topic is included in Section 4.7, Aestl1eticsjSlzadows, of the EIR. 16. Construction Effects A detailed discussion of this topic is included in Section 4.10, Constnlction Effects, of the ElR. 17. Economic and Social Impacts The project involves the development of a 14S-unit multi-family apartment complex. The project would provide additional housing opportunities in the City as well as increase the amount of affordable housing units for area residents. Development of the project would displace approximately 20 small light industrial and manufacturing businesses that currently operate onsite. However, the project would not have economic or social effects that would result in additional physical changes or deterioration of the surrounding area, as the area is currently developed in residential and commercial uses. Therefore, this issue will not be discussed further in the EIR. lB. Agriculture Resources a-c, The project site is located in an urban area and is currently occupied by several warehouse-type buildings. The project site is not in the general vicinity of any existing or planned agricultural land. The proposed project would not convert farmland or conflict mth any land zoned for Agriculture. The project also would not result in any indirect effects that could result in conversion of farmland to non- agricultural use. Therefore, this issue will not be discussed further in the EIR. 19. Mineral Resources a, b. The project site is located in a developed urban area that does not provide any mineral resource value. Development of the proposed project would not result in the loss of the availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value locally, regionally, or to the State. Therefore, this issue will not be discussed further in the EIR. 20. Neighborhood Effects A detailed discussion of this topic is included in Section 4.11, Neighborhood Effects, of the ElR. IV-6 18# Attachment to Part IV 21. Mandatory Findings of Significance Based on the analysis in this Initial Study, the project does not have the potential to degrade the quality of the enviIonment or to cause substantial effects to human beings, either directly or indirectly. However, it may significantly contribute to cumu1ativ~ impacts. Therefore, the EIR includes analysis of potentially significant cumulative impacts. IV-7 Jun-ZG-03 08:50am From-TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT 3105769170 T-419 P.OZ/08 F-578 .OJ , I." 1 .' r,,; l! :~ ~: ::. :~ #..nF ~~~ f~~\ ~.~.G ..~ ~$ 'f'~arCl\'vr 'f;;.1 Fiunl;:Y I m~rilTl DITt.:Clll" S TAT E OF C A L I FOR N J A {;',l}' [)~\I;~ (l\lIoCmllr Guvern()r:~ iQf1'ice. of Planning and Research ..~ ' . '.1 " "Stale CI eal'illghouse Notice ofPrcparatiun June 10.2003 To: R;;:.vh:wing Agcm::ies Re: 2&34 Colorado Avenue SCH# 2003061052 Attached for your review and comment is the NCHice of Preparation (NOP) for the 2834 Colorado Avenue drafr Environmentallmpac( Repol{ (EIR), Responsible agencies must trammit theiJ' comments On the scope and comenr of the NOP, focu~illg on specifi~ infcmmlfion related TO their Own smlutory rcspOll!jibiHty, within 30 days of recl!.ipr oub.e NOP from [he Lead AglW.~J:. This is a courte!iY notice provided by the Slale Clearinghouse with a reminder fur you to commenl in a timely manner, We l:nCOurllgc other agencle!i [(I also responcllo this nmice and express their t:Clnccms early in tile l!.lwil'Onmenlal review proct.:ss. PlcIDle direct your comments to: Patrick Clarke City of Santa MUDica 1685 Main Street, Room 212 Santa Monica, CA 90407 with a copy 10 "[he StilLe Clearinghuusc in [he Office of Planning and Reseurch. Please refer to the SCH number nUled above 111 all corr'esponden~e concerning thi.~ proJecl. It' you have any questions about the environmental document review process, please call the Smre Clearinghuuse at t916) 445-0613. Sincerely. /,< c~-'11./ ~ scot~gn;l Z - Project Analyst, Sllue Clearinghousc Aunchmcnts Cc; Lead Agency 1'100 T1?N l"H STRFFT r 0 BOX 1(l,I~ SI\('!tM.1r.Nl'(). {ALlh)RNIA LJ'iK 12-JU44 l\lI(,)~4).\l(iIJ FAX(LJI6p.H-JuIK ",......; IIPL"~~.ll(\V . - ': 1"1 ~Q Jun-l6-03 08:50am From-TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT 3105769170 Document Details Report State Clearinghouse Data Base T-419 P.03/0B F-57B SCH# 2003061052 Projec:r Title 2634 Colorado Avenue Lead Agency Santa Monica, City of Type NOP Nolice of PreparaUon Description 145 unit apartmenl building with 228 parking spaces in subterranean garage. Lead Agency Contact Name PatrIck Clerke Agency Cily of Santa Mcnlca Phone 310-458-8341 email Address 1685 Ml:jln Stre Ell , Room 212 City Santa Monica Fax State CA Zip 90407 Project Location County Los Angeles c/ry Sanla Monica Region Cross Streets Slewerl Parcel No. Township Range Section Base Proximity to: Highways Airports Railways Waterways Schools Land Use Light Manufacturing and Sludlo District Pro;ect Issues AastheHo!Vlsual; Air Quality; Archaeologic-Hlslorlc: Geologic/Seismic; POPlllaUon/Houslng Balance; Public ServIces; Traffic/Circulation: Water Quality: Landuse; Cumulative Effects Reviewing Agencies Resources Agency; California Coastal Commission; Department or Conservation; Departmenl of Parks and Reoreation; Department of Water Resources; Department of Fish and Game, Region 5; Native American Herllage Commission; Caltrans, District 7; Department of Housing and Communlly Development; California HIghway Patrol; Regional Waler QlJalfty Cor1trol Board, RegIon 4 Dare Received 06/09/2003 srarr of Rel/iew 06/09/2003 End Df Review 07/08/2003 NOle: Blanks in dala fields result from Insuffioient information provided by lead agenoy, .!:: e. -~ E I;;; E iil 8 ..... iii' E ::; "E ~ e III l: 0 cJ 0 ~ .Iii lJ .....Q;l .....~ 0 !,) t: t: '-' C. .. 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S m ~ Ol t: ':::l "2 't: nl m ~"O~:s _Iii :::::lV- :;: III ..0 ra ::J Qi s= J;I QI 0 ~ a1I:fJ;;-.:: ;; .J;;lIlQ <:( i~a ~ .::; ~:>>~ tti ;> "C ~ r-1 I? Mnllllllll'UN1\111I_lIIn u Kl u ~ o ~:,... a;O ....Iff .! C'I ~ tlI <t 0 .::=. UI iii' "'~C!J 05= ":OID C.Ul"D III III ID C1a::z lit IM~:iIl\lM\lW '" Q 'ijj C 1II Q B ]i e E 8 e CI ~ ~ 0 5'~ l~ .!! ~ 1Il Cf.l :is I: -la :l &. S III ll._ /i)""J m s:; '2 c: PI s:: ~ OJ I:: i:: Ell a: III IJI ::l o .;;: o Cl En ..= .E 'I.. r: III O",J!! E>>:o 1Il111.!!/ Ejlr:.!!J C!I..-rUl o rl :s LJ o to) .a "5 ,g e ~ :E ~ :l III ~ w-g ~2~ oiSW'Q "CI~,.J OIllQ. ~i'i5~ n 1II~",...ft.... ..n ..."" u..", Jun-26-03 OB:50am From-TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT 3105788170 T-418 P.05/0B F-57B STAT!:: m' CALll"ORN1A BUSlNb:SS, 'rRAlIISflORTATION AND HOuSINO AGI;:NCY OIlAY DAVIS. OOYt!:l'nor DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT 7, REGIONAL PLANNING IGRjCEQA BRANCH 120 SQ, SPRING ST. LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 PHONE (213) 897-6536 FAX (213) 897-1337 E-Mail;NersesYerjanian(("JJd(..lt.ca.gov ~. ; ... . I . '03 ,.:!!:i 1~;, P :: : 16 Flex YOIlr power! Be energy e.Oicienr! Mr. Patrick Clarke, Associate Planner Office of Planning City of Santa Monica 1685 Main St. Room 2] 2 Santa Monica, CA. 90401 RE: IGR/CEQA# 030634NY ISt:MND .,.145 Unit Apanmem LNl 0/3 ,20 June 17, 2003 Dear Mr. Clarke: Thank you for including the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in the environmental review process forthe 145 Unit Apanment Buildings. Based on the in1ormation received, and to assist us.in our efforts to completely evaluate and assess the impacts ofmis project on the State transportation system, a traffic study in advance oftheDETR should be prepared to analyze the following information: Please reference the DepanmemTs Traffic Impact Study Guideline on the Internet at http :!fwww.doLca.gov/hq/traffQflslclevelapsorv!opcl.ationalsystem sh:.ep.arts/tisgui de. pdf ] . Presentations of assumptions and methods used to develop trip generation. trip distribution, choice oftrave1 mode, and assignments oftrips to Freeway 10. 2. Consistency of project travel modeling with other regional and local modeling foreca.'){S and with travel dala. The IGRfCF.QA office may uSe indices to check results. D.ifferences or inconsistencies must be thoroughly e;q>lained. 3. Analysis of ADT, AM. and PM peak-hour volumes for both existing and future conditions in the affected area, This should include fi'eeways. interchanges, and l1;ltersections, and all HOV facilities. Tnterchange Level of Service should be Jun-ZG-G3 OB:51am From-TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT 3105769170 T-419 P.OG/OB F-57B Mr. Clarke June 17, 2003 specified (HCM2000 method requested). Utilization of transit lines and vehicIes,and of all facilities, should be realistically estimated. Futl-lre conditions would include build-out of all projects (see next item) and any plan-horizon years. 4. Inclusion of all appropriate traffic volumes. Analysis should include naffic from the project, cumulative traffic generated from aU specific approved developments in the area., WId traffic growth other than from the project and developments. That is, include: existing + project + other projects + other growth. 5. Discussion ofmirigation measures appropriate to alleviate anticipated traffic impacts, These mitigation discussions should include. but not be limitcd to, the following: [J description oftransporration infrastructure improvements CJ 1inancial costs, funding sources and financing Cl sequence and scheduling considerations Q implementation responsibilities, controls and monitoring Any mitigation involving transit, HOV. or TDM must be rigorously juslified and its effects conservatively estimated.. Improvements involving dedication of land or physical construction maybe favorably considered. 6. Specification of developer's percent share of the cost, as well as a plan of realistic mitigation measures under the control ofthe developer. The following ratio should be estimated: Additional traffic volume due to project implementation is divided by the total increase in the traffic volume (see Appendix Hn" of the Guidelines). That ratio would be the project equitable share responsibility_ We note for purposes of determining project share of costs, the number of lrips fTom the project on each traveling segment or element is estimated in the context of forecasted traffic volumes which include build-out of all approved and not yet approved projects, and other sources of growth. Analytical methods such as seJect~ link travel forccast modeling might be used, We look forward to reviewing me DEIR. We expect to rccei\'e a copy from the State Clearinghouse. Howevcr, to expedite the review process. you may send two copies in advance to the undersigned at the following address: Stephen Buswell IGRlCEQA Branch Chief Caltrans District 07 Regional Transportation Planning Office 120 S. Spring St., Los Angeles. CA 90012 Jun-26-03 08:51am From-TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ~- c;- c:..- _ 3105769170 T-419 P.OT/OS F-578 Mr. Clarke June 17. 2003 If you have any questions regarding this response. pleac;e can the Project Engineer/Coordinator Mr. YeIjanian at (213) 897-6536 and refer to IGRlCEQA it 030634NY. Sincerely, L: - \ ~ C"-u-:.Y-e.1. '-Z ~ _~'l"~ STEPHEN j. BUS ELL r ' IGRlCEQA Branch Chief Transponation Planning Office .Callmns irnpTVlIflS rnobilily (lcross California' Jun~Z8~03 OS:51am SOUTHERN CALifORNIA ~.;.'/j. '..}d"'~ \.1'4' ~ ~~ .'-iw~ I:': "i~1~~ " ',;~..,~. .t: ~ .' 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UUUlI.Ii P 21111:, Lu.Ao'L:,lc_ '-"IIRe- Cnllm tr Cll:'rL~1 !illlUhl OrJIl~t" WlLflll, Aim ~Lr1o tn. ~1~111lre:.. nil BUMI.. h.Z~I;.. uL .. lu. "'IlI,.~ 'n.~IIT1 . !\L':nJ.:a Chn-c:J., 11:111"':'." , r~.;llh'l: l.'tll~t, Hullt.lIl!lIIll fl....cl~ . 1IIIrtl1 ('l~n.I+Ut L..I-~l.IU I',u)llll'j .. flltn.i1'l1 lZI,II, uk.. In/~d ' Alll Dlia.u. L. 1'..llUt . h~ !rl t. 8rc.l .. rM nl~I:'"""l'" Nq....~,.. B~....h ivmlde C:.oulIlrl !nh hmn:r :J';llt":;:l.HI~ C\l''\"Bt~ {\1n LFi\ClLdl."C' Jtncr-..d. "'1~'1l M~1~l::r, CorlJn4. ."1( 1l'~111I' CJlnclJL.1 Colt . ItDIl i\~b~r1., nl.I\I,1I .. C.hnlc" Wllllc, Man::nt~ 'hl'.,. Jl Icrllllr.dinn aq.~tnt')~ Ph.. Bhll':, s..u :.In.IJ.*~ f'hlll'l" . l+~U 1\1e.Jj"lIkr. n..~lo'II.1 .:;lUtlI.Ill:. . \,I.'tfJ~lIr~ L.\,),I~, B,lfLh"", , In' AI'" lr~... Cnll~ TI:rr.m: ' Su..1t lIhl:ll:"llIt~ ~~I fll.UDula . r...] I hill, UnElhlJ .. f.l..lmuh ,hcrunn. nll~n1 nJ\J:-", CQUIIt~: JUD} M,uJ_ Vo:nlulit C:QU~nl t +"11 "1'(,ln:.. ~unl Vlll-=) . C",l.rl Mt1rchalJ~1:1 nil f'1I;t1t'TH1ITa. . T~nl 'tl.u+'t: l\lrI r1jJ-cnl;llll;' Iocntdr CctmWD',1n;p.ate..tlE,l;R CQmmluh)n~ IWIL.=II'llt;".f1~IJI.1 IU\.lU C'.IUlill~ T\"II"Ii'~ttlluc:n l:nr""'I1Udfln:t I L"IJVh I$Uh\ VJII.,. From~TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT 3105789170 T~419 P.DS/OS F~57S June 19, 2003 Mr. Patrick Clark Assocfate Planner City of Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department 1685 Main street, p, O. Sox 2200 Santa Monica, CA 90407-2200 RE: SCAG Clearinghouse No. I 20030318 2834 Colorado Avenue Project Oear Mr. Clark: Thank you for SUbmitting the 2834 Colorado Avenue Project for review and comment. As areawide clearinghouse for regionally significant projects, SCAG reviews the consistency of focal plans, projects and programs with regional plans. This activity is based on SCAG's responsJbillties as a regional planning organization pursuant to state and federal Jaws and regulations. GUidance prOVided by these reviews is intended to assist focal agencies and project sponsors to take actions that contrIbute to the attainment of rr~gional9oals and policies. We have reviewed the 2834 Colorado Avenue Project, ::Ind have determined thar the proposed Project is not regionaily signiflc.:l:"lt per SCAG Intergovernmental Review (IGR) CriJeria and Califoiflia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Section 15206). The proposed project Is n:lt a residential development of more than 500 dwelling units. Therefore, the proposed Project does not warrant comments at this lime, Should there be a change In the scope of the proposed Project, we would appreciate the opportunity to rEview and comment at that time. A description of the proposed Project was published In SCAG's June 1-15, 2003 Intergovernmental Review Clearinghouse Report for public review and comment The project title and SCAG CleEiringhouse number should be used in all correspondence with SCAG concerning thIs Project. Correspondence should be sent to the attention of the Clearinghouse Coordinator. If you have any questions, please ClJlllClct Ine at (2: 3) 23fi- i 067., TI;ank ;0.... .' Sincerely, ., /1 :.~>t1:lt(r 7/:- W!1Ir~'~ I J lr=t~y M.:,.SMJTH, AICP , enior ReglonaJ Planner Intergovernmental Review , . rr Appendix B Air Quality Data and Calculations ?age: 1 URBEMIS 2002 For Windows 'ile Name: ?roject Name: ?roject Location: )n-Road Motor Vehicle Emissions 7.4.2 C:\program Files\URBEMIS 2002 For Windows\projects2k2\2B34 Colorado Avenue Project.urb 2B34 Colorado Ave Apts. South Coast Air Basin (Los Angeles area) Based on EMFAC2002 version 2.2 SUMMARY REPORT [Pounds/Day - Summer) ~ONSTRUCTION EMISSION ESTIMATES *** 2004 *** TOTALS (lbs/day,unmitigated) TOTALS (lbs/day, mitigated) *** 2005 *** TOTALS (lbs/day, unmitigated) TOTALS (lbs/day, mitigated) *** 2006 *** TOTALS (lbs/day, unmitigated) TOTALS (lbs/day, mitigated) ~REA SOURCE EMISSION ESTIMATES .TOTALS (lbs/day, unmitigated) PMI0 PMIO PMlO ROG NOx CO S02 TOTAL EXHAUST DUST 9.68 79.04 72.19 0.40 10.77 3.31 7.46 9.68 79.04 72.19 0.40 10.77 3.31 7.46 PMI0 PM10 PMlO ROG NOx CO S02 TOTAL EXHAUST DUST 6.22 41.16 50.6B 0.00 1. 83 1. 77 0.06 6.22 41.16 50.6B 0.00 1.83 1. 77 0.06 PM10 PMlO PMIO ROG NOx CO S02 TOTAL EXHAUST DUST 144.35 39.88 51.03 0.00 1.67 1.61 0.06 144.35 39.88 51. 03 0.00 1.67 1.61 0.06 ROG 7.31 NOx 1. 83 CO 1.31 S02 0.00 PMI0 0.00 TOTALS (lbs/day,unmitigatedl TOTALS (lbs/day, mitigated) )PERATIONAL (VEHICLE) EMISSION ESTIMATES ROG 9.23 9.23 PM10 9.77 9.77 NOx 12.95 12.95 CO 104.25 104.25 S02 0.10 0.10 lUM OF AREA AND OPERATIONAL EMISSION ESTIMATES ROG NOx TOTALS (lbs/day,unmitigatedl 16.54 14.7B Both Area and Operational Mitigation must be turned CO S02 PMlO 105.55 0.10 9.7B on to get a combined mitigated total. ~age: '2 URBEMIS 2002 For Windows ?ile Name: ?roject Name: ?roject Location: )n-Road Motor Vehicle 7.4.2 C:\program Files\URBEMIS 2002 For Windows\Projects2k2\2834 Colorado Avenue Project.urb 2834 Colorado Ave Apts. South Coast Air Basin (Los Angeles area) Emissions Based on EMFAC2002 version 2.2 DETAIL REPORT (Pounds/Day - Summer) ~onstruction Start Month and Year: June, 2004 ~onstruction Duration: 24 rotal Land Use Area to be Developed: 1.7 acres ~aximum Acreage Disturbed Per Day: 0.25 acres 3ingle Family Units: 0 Multi-Family Units: 145 ~etail/Office/Institutional/Industrial Square Footage: 0 ~ONSTRUCTION EMISSION ESTIMATES UNMITIGATED (lbs/day) Source *** 2004*** ~base 1 - Demolition Emissions ?ugitive Dust )ff-Road Diesel )n-Road Diesel ~orker Trips Maximum lbs/day ?hase 2 - Site Grading ?ugitive Dust )ff-Road Diesel )n-Road Diesel qorker Trips Maximum Ibs/day Emissions ~hase 3 - Building Construction 3ldg Const Off-Road Diesel 31dg Const Worker Trips \rch Coatings Off-Gas ;rch Coatings worker Trips \sphalt Off-Gas \sphalt Off-Road Diesel \sphalt On-Road Diesel \sphalt Worker Trips Maximum Ibs/day Max 1bs/day all phases *** 2005*** ?hase 1 - Demolition Emissions ~ugitive Dust )ff-Road Diesel In-Road Diesel ~orker Trips Maximum lbs/day ?hase 2 - Site Grading ~ugitive Dust )ff-Road Diesel 3n-Road Diesel 10rker Trips Maximum Ibs/day Emissions 'hase 3 - Building Construction ~ldg Const Off-Road Diesel 31dg Const Worker Trips \rch Coatings Off-Gas l.rch Coatings Worker Trips \sphalt Off-Gas \sphalt off-Road Diesel ~sphalt On-Road Diesel \sphalt Worker Trips Maximum Ibs/day Max lbs/day all phases *** 2006*** RaG 5.66 1.40 0.07 7.13 9.13 0.51 0.04 9.6B 5.B7 0.39 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.26 9.68 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.B7 0.35 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.22 6.22 NOll: 49.48 2B.Bl 0.13 78.42 67.54 11.4B 0.02 79.04 42.25 0.21 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 42.46 79.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 40.96 0.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 41.16 41.16 37.20 5.26 1.74 44.20 69.71 1.90 0.52 72.19 45.90 4.56 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 50.47 72.19 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 46.48 4.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 50.68 50.68 CO S02 0.40 0.00 0.40 0.15 0.00 0.15 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.40 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 PM10 TOTAL 7.35 2.3B 0.74 0.01 10.4B 2.50 3.0B 0.27 0.01 5.B6 1.93 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.99 10.71 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1. 77 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.83 1. 83 PM10 EXHAUST 2.3B 0.64 0.00 3.02 3.0B 0.23 0.00 3.31 1.93 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.93 3.31 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.77 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1. 71 1. 77 PM10 DUST 7.35 0.00 0.10 0.01 7.46 2.50 0.00 0.04 0.01 2.55 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 7.46 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.06 Page: 3 Phase 1 - Demolition Emissions ~ugitive Dust jff-Road Diesel 3n-Road Diesel ilorker Trips . Maximum Ibs/day 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 phase 2 - Site Grading l"ugitive Dust 3ff-Road Diesel 3n-Road Diesel lIorker Trips : Maximum Ibs/day Emissions 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 phase 3 - Building Construction Bldg Canst Off-Road Diesel Bldg Canst Worker Trips ~ch Coatings Off-Gas ~rch Coatings worker Trips n.sphalt Off-Gas ~sphalt Off-Road Diesel ~sphalt On-Road Diesel ~sphalt Worker Trips Maximum lbs/day 5.87 0.33 139.92 0.33 0.06 4.00 0.01 0.03 144.35 Max Ibs/day all phases 144.35 phase 1 - Demolition Assumptions Start Month/Year for phase 1: Jun '04 phase 1 Duration: 1 months Building Volume Total (cubic feet): 384000 Building Volume Daily (cubic feet): 17500 3n-Road Truck Travel (VMT): 972 3ff-Road Equipment No. Type 2 Crawler Tractors 1 crushing/Processing Equip 1 Tractor/Loaders/Backhoes Phase 2 - Site Grading Assumptions Start Month/Year for Phase 2: Jul '04 ~hase 2 Duration: 4 months )n-Road Truck Travel [VMT): 352 3ff-Road Equipment No. Type 1 Excavators 1 Graders 1 Rollers 1 Rubber Tired Dozers 1 Trenchers 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 39.69 47.04 0.19 3.99 0.19 3.99 24.60 33.99 0.26 0.05 0.01 0.31 39.88 51. 03 39.88 51. 03 Horsepower 143 154 79 Horsepower 180 174 114 352 82 phase 3 - Building Construction Assumptions Start Month/Year for Phase 3: Noy '04 phase 3 Duration: 19 months start Month/Year for SubPhase Building: Nay '04 SubPhase Building Duration: 16 months off-Road Equipment No. Type Horsepower 1 Cranes 190 1 Other Equipment 190 1 Rubber Tired Loaders 165 1 Trenchers 82 Start Month/Year for Subphase Architectural Coatings: SubPhase Architectural Coatings Duration: 2 months Start Month/Year for SubPhase Asphalt: May '06 SubPhase Asphalt Duration: 1 months Acres to be Paved: .50 off-Road Equipment No.. Type 1 Graders 1 Pavers 1 Rollers Horsepower 174 132 J.l4 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Load Factor 0.575 0.780 0.465 Load Factor 0.580 0.575 0.430 0.590 0.695 Load Factor 0.430 0.620 0.465 0.695 Apr '06 Load Factor 0.575 0.590 0.430 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.60 1. 60 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.06 0.06 0.00 0.06 0.95 0.95 0.00 o.n 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.67 1.61 0.06 1.67 1.61 0.06 Hours/Day 8.0 8.0 8.0 Hours/Day 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 Hours/Day 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 Hours/Day 8.0 8.0 8.0 ~age : 'l \REA SOURCE EMISSION ESTIMATES ( Summer Pounds per Day, Unmitigated) Source ROG NOx CO S02 PM10 Natural Gas 0.14 1. 82 0.78 0.00 Wood Stoves - No summer emissions Fireplaces - No summer emissions Landscaping 0.07 0.01 0.53 0.00 0.00 Consumer Prdcts 7.09 TOTALS (lbs/day,unmitigatedl 7.31 1.83 1.31 0.00 0.00 !,'age: :J UNMITIGATED OPERATIONAL EMISSIONS ~partments low rise ROG 9.23 NOx 12.95 CO 104.25 S02 0.10 PM10 9.77 rOTAL EMISSIONS (lbs/day) 9.23 12.95 104.25 0.10 9.77 Joes not include correction for passby trips. Joes not include double counting adjustment for internal trips. JPERATIONAL (Vehicle) EMISSION ESTIMATES ~alysis Year: 2005 Temperature (F): 75 Season: Summer ~MFAC Version: EMFAC2002 (9/2002) 3ummary of Land Uses: Jni t Type Trip Rate Size Total Trips ~partments low rise 6.63 trips / dwelling units 145.00 961.35 vehicle Assumptions: Pleet Mix: vehicle Type Percent Type Non-Catalyst Catalyst Diesel wight Auto 56.10 2.30 97.10 0.60 wight Truck '" 3,750 lbs 15.10 4.00 93.40 2.60 wight Truck 3,751- 5,750 15.50 1.90 96.80 1.30 'led Truck 5,751- 8,500 6.80 1.50 95.60 2.90 wite-Heavy 8,501-10,000 1.00 0.00 80.00 20.00 wite-Heavy 10,001-14,000 0.30 0.00 66.70 33.30 'led-Heavy 14,001-33,000 1.00 10.00 20.00 70.00 'leavy-Heavy 33,001-60,000 0.80 0.00 12.50 87.50 wine Haul :> 60,000 lbs 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 Jrban Bus 0.10 0.00 0.00 100.00 'lotorcycle 1.60 87.50 12.50 0.00 3chool Bus 0.30 0.00 0.00 100.00 'lotor Home 1.40 14.30 78.60 7.10 rravel Conditions Jrban Trip Length (miles) ~ural Trip Length (miles) rrip Speeds (mph) k of Trips - Residential Home- Work 11.5 11.5 35.0 20.0 Residential Home- Shop 4.9 4.9 40.0 37.0 Commercial Home- Other 6.0 6.0 40.0 43.0 Commute 10.3 10.3 40.0 Non-Work 5.5 5.5 40.0 Customer 5.5 5.5 40.0 'age: ~ ~hanges made to the default values for Land Use Trip Percentages ~hanges made to the default values for Construction ~he user has overridden the Default phase Lengths 'hase 2 mitigation measure Soil Disturbance: Replace ground cover in disturbed areas quickly has been changed from off to on. 'hase 2 mitigation measure Soil Disturbance: Water exposed surfaces - 2x daily has been changed from off to on. 'hase 2 mitigation measure Stockpiles: Cover all stock piles with tarps has been changed from off to on. 'hase 2 mitigation measure Unpaved Roads: Reduce speed on unpaved roads to < 15 mph has been changed from off to on. ~hanges made to the default values for Area ~he wood stove option switch changed from on to off. ~he fireplcase option switch changed from on to off. ~he natural gas residential percentage changed from 60 to 100. ~he landscape year changed from 2004 to 2005. ~hanges made to the default values for Operations ~he operational emission year changed from 2004 to 2005. ~he operational winter selection item changed from 3 to 2. ~he operational summer temperature changed from 90 to 75. ~he operational summer selection item changed from 8 to 5. ~he travel mode environment settings changed from both to: residential litigation measure Provide Sidewalks and/or pedestrian paths:l has been changed from off to on. litigation measure Provide Direct pedestrian Connections:l has been changed from off to on. Stewart_cola fut+proj.txt CALINE4: CALIFORNIA LINE SOURCE DISPERSION MODEL JUNE 1989 VERSION PAGE 1 JOB: 2834 colorado Avenue RUN: Hour 1 POLLUTANT: Carbon Monoxide I. SITE VARIABLES U:::: 1. 0 M/ S BRG:::: 30.0 DEGREES CLAS:::: 7 (G) MIXH:::: 1000. M SIGTH:::: 25. DEGREES zo:::: 100. CM VD:::: .0 CM/S VS:::: .0 CMls AMB:::: 6.0 PPM TEMP:::: 75.0 DEGREE (C) ALT:::: o. (M) II. LINK VARIABLES LINK .* LINK COORDINATES (M) * EF H W DESCRIPTION * Xl v1 X2 VZ * TYPE VPH (G/MI) (M) (M) ----------------*-------------------------*------------------------------ A. Link B B. Link C C. Link D * * o o o o 30 0 * AG o 0 -30 * AG o -30 0 * AG 1080 40.0 750 40.0 1415 40.0 .0 .0 .0 9.8 9.8 9.8 III. RECEPTOR LOCATIONS 1. Recpt 1 2. Recpt 2 3. Recpt 3 * COORDINATES (M) RECEPTOR * X Y Z ------------*--------------------- * * * 5 5 -12 -5 5 -5 .5 .5 .5 IV. MODEL RESULTS ePRED. CONC. INCLUDES AMB.) * PRED * CONC/LINK * CONC * (PPM) RECEPTOR * (PPM) * ABC -------------*-------*--------------- 1. Recpt 1 * 9.4 * 3.2 .2 .0 2. Recpt 2 * 6.1 * .1 .0 .0 3. Recpt 3 * 10.3 * .1 .0 4.1 DO page 1 Stewart_olympic fut+proj.txt CALINE4: CALIFORNIA LINE SOURCE DISPERSION MODEL JUNE 1989 VERSION PAGE 1 JOB: stewart_olympic RUN: Hour 1 POLLUTANT: carbon Monoxide I. SITE VARIABLES U= BRG;;:; CLAS= MIXH= SIGTH;;:; 1. 0 M/S 30.0 DEGREES 7 (G) 1000. M 25. DEGREES zo;;:; 100. CM VD=. .0 CMIS VS= .0 CMls AMB;;:; 6.0 PPM TEMP= 75.0 DEGREE ALT= O. (M) (C) II. LINK VARIABLES LINK * LINK COORDINATES (M) * EF H W DESCRIPTION ,'r Xl y1 X2 Y2 * TYPE VPH ( G/MI) (M) (M) ----------------*-------------------------*------------------------------ A. Link A ,'r 0 0 30 0 * AG 1575 40.0 .0 9.8 B. Link B * 0 0 0 30 * AG 1180 40.0 .0 9.8 c. Link C * 0 0 -30 0 ... AG 1280 40.0 .0 9.8 D. Link 0 * 0 0 0 -30 * AG 690 40.0 .0 9.8 III. RECEPTOR LOCATIONS * COORDINATES (M) RECEPTOR * X Y Z .... ------------..--------------------- 1. Recpt 1 * 5 -5 1.8 2. Recpt 2 * 5 5 1.8 3. Recpt 3 * -5 5 1.8 4. Recpt 4 ,'r -5 -5 1.8 IV. MODEL RESULTS (PRED. CONC. INCLUDES AMB.) * PRED * CONC/LINK * CONC * (PPM) RECEPTOR * (PPM) * ABC 0 -------------*-------*-------------------- 1. Recpt 1 * 9.9 * 3.5 .3 .0 .1 2. Recpt 2 * 6.7 * .2 .5 .0 .0 3. Recpt 3 * 9.1 * .0 3.0 .1 .0 4. Recpt 4 * 11.8 * 1.2 2.2 1.9 .6 00 page 1 Transportation Project~Level Carbon Monoxide Protocol Methodology Source: UCD, Institute of Tranportation Studies, December 1997 Project 2834 Colorado Date: 08/01/03 Intersection: Nebraska/Centinela Analysis Year (1996-2012) 2012 Location: Coastal Valle' SCAQMD? yes Percentage of trips in cold start mode: 20% (Note: If cold start >50%, protocol not appUcable) Worst case wind speed (0.5 or 1.0 m/sec): 1 m/sec Ambi~nt Concentration: 6 ppm 8-Hour Persistence Factor. 0.7 (Rural/suburban=O.6, urban=0.7, congested/stagnant urban: ANALYSIS CONDITIONS: PM Peak Cumulative Base E-W Roadway: :lway type (arterial [lor II], collector [II or III]): # of approach lanes: # of departure lanes: WB approach volume: EB approach volume: WB free flow speed (20-50 mph): EB free flow speed (20-50 mph): Highest % of red time per through approach: RECEPTOR 1 LOCATION Distance (10-165 ft) from E-W Road: Distance (10-165 ft) from N-S Road: RECEPTOR 2 LOCATION Distance (10-165 ft) from E-W Road: Distance (10-165 ft) from N-S Road: RECEPTOR 3 LOCATION Distance (10-165 ft) from E-W Road: Distance (10-165 ft) from N-S Road: RECEPTOR 4 LOCATION Distance (10-165 ft) from E-W Road: Distance (10-165 ft) from N-S Road: MODEL RESULTS: Receptor 1 2 3 4 Nebraska N-S Roadway: collectoradway type (arterial [lor II], collector [II or III]): 1 # of approach lanes: 1 # of departure lanes: 85 NB approach volume: 310 SB approach volume: 30 NB free flow speed (20-50 mph): 30 SB free flow speed (20-50 mph): 50.0% Highest % of red time per through approach: Receptor nearest to Approach or Departure fanes 10 EB Approach 10 SB Departure Receptor nearest to Approach or Departure lanes 10 EB Departure 10 NB Approach Receptor nearest to Approach or Departure lanes 10 WB Approach 10 NB Departure Receptor nearest to Approach or Departure lanes 10 WB Departure 10 SB Approach 1-Hr Concentration Local Total 3.2 9.2 3.4 9.4 3.2 9.2 3.4 9.4 8-Hr Concentration Total 6.4 6.6 6.4 6.6 Page 1 Centinela collector 1 1 770 865 30 30 50.0% rr Appendix C Peak Discharge Calculations SIMPLIFIED RATIONAL APPROACH * Q=cIA where: Q = peak flow in cfs c = runoff coefficent I = storm peak intensity A = acreage of watershed (Dr site) Runoff Coeficients (c-Factor) Land Use low c Apartment 0.5 Downtown Business 0.7 Heavy Industry 0.6 Light Industry 0.5 Multi-family, attached 0.6 Multi-family, detached 0.4 Neighborhood Business 0.5 Suburban Residential 0.25 Urban Single-family 0.3 Vacant, park, cemetery 0.1 Project Details Existing Land Use: Proposed Land Use: Rainfall Intensity, in/hr light industrial multi-family 2-year 25-year 50-year 100-Year 4 5 a 7 Acreage: 2 acres high c 0.7 0.95 0.9 0.8 0.75 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.25 LOW 2-Year 25- Year 50-Year 100-Year Existing Post-Project Existing Post-Project Existing Post-Project Existing Post-Project c= 0.60 0.50 0.69 0.58 0.72 0.60 0.75 0.63 J= 4.00 4.00 5.00 5.00 8.00 8.00 7.00 7.00 A= 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 Q= 5 4 7 6 12 10 11 9 HIGH 2-Year .25. Year 50- Year 100- Year Existing Post-Project Existing Post-Project Existing Post-Project Existing Post-Project c= 0.90 0.80 1.04 0.92 1.08 0.96 1.13 1.00 1= 4.00 4.00 5.00 5.00 8.00 8.00 7.00 7.00 A= 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 Q= 7 6 10 9 17 15 16 14 SUMMARY Existing Post-Project Increase, cfs Percentage Increase Low High Low High Low High Low High 2-Year 5 7 4 6 -1 -1 83% 89% 25- Year 7 10 6 9 -1 -1 83% 89% 50-Year 12 17 10 15 -2 -2 83% 89% 100-Year 11 16 9 14 -2 -2 83% 89% "Note: Only for rough estimate within small urba!l areas (<40 acres) rr Appendix D Noise Data and Calculations ROADWAY TRAFFIC NOISE Project: Date: 2834 Colorado Avenue Project 30~Jul~03 Project No. 03~54260 Roadway: Colorado Ave. between Harvard and Yale Streets PROJECT DATA and ASSUMPTIONS Vehicle Reference Energy Mean Emission Levels (FHWA 1977, TNM@, or CALVENO): TNM Distance to Receptor: 50 feet Site Condition (Hard or Soft): Soft Upgrade longer than 1 mile: 0 % Existing Total Traffic Volume (ADT): 13,750 vehicles Ambient Growth Factor: 0.8% Future Year: 2012 Total Project Volume (ADT): 771 vehicles Total Cumulative Growth Volume (ADT): 3,200 vehicles Source of Traffic Data: Kaku Associates, July 2003 Daily Vehicle Mix Existing Project Future 97.5% 99.0% 1.8% 0.5% 0.7% 0.5% Soume: Assumed given land use and road characlerlsllc:s Automobile Medium Truck Heavy Truck 97.6% 1.7% 0.7% Percentage of Daily Traffic Existing and Future Evening (7-10 pm) Night (10 pm ~ 7 am) 12.9% 9.6% 4.9% 10.3% 2J% 1~8% Day (7 am-7 pm) 77.5% 84.8% 86.5% Source: Default Assumpllon Automobile Medium Truck Heavy Truck Project Evening (7-10 pm) 12.9% 4.9% 2.7% Day (7 am-7 pm) 77.5% 84.8% 86.5% Source: Default Assumption Night (10 pm ~ 7 am) 9.6% 10.3% 10.8% Automobile Medium Truck Heavy Truck Average Speed Existing Evening (7-10 pm) 30 30 30 Day (7 am-7 pm) 30 30 30 Night (10 pm - 7 am) 30 30 30 Automobile Medium Truck Heavy Truck Source: Speed Limit Future Evening (7-10 pm) 30 30 30 Day (7 am~7 pm) 30 30 30 Night (10 pm - 7 am) 30 30 30 Automobile Medium Truck Heavy Truck Source: Speed Limit Rincon Consultants Page 1 ROADWAY TRAFFIC NOISE Project: Date: 2834 Colorado Avenue Project 30-Jul-03 Roadway: Project No. 03.54260 Colorado Ave. between Harvard and Yale Streets TNM Vehicle Noise Emission Levels*: RESUL TS DAY.NIGHT AVERAGE LEVEL (Ldn) Existing ExIsting + Project Future wlth Ambient Growth Future wlth Ambient Growth and Project Future with Ambient Growth and Cumulatlve Projects Future with Ambient, Cumulative, and Project Growth Change In NoIse Levels Due to Project Due to AmbIent Growth Due to AmbIent and Cumulative Due to All Future Growth COMMUNITY NOISE EXPOSURE LEVEL (CNEL) ExIsting ExlsUng + Project Future with AmbIent Growth Future with AmbIent Growth and Project Future with AmbIent Growth and Cumulative Projects Future with AmbIent, Cumulative, and Project Growth Change In Noise Levels Due to Project Due to Ambient Growth Due to Ambient and Cumulative Due to All Future Growth Ldn at Sile Distance to dBA Contour Une 50 feet from roadway cenlerlfne, feet from road centerlIne 75 70 65 60 55 64.5 dBA #N/A #N/A 44 100 215 64.7 dBA #N/A #N/A 47 103 222 64.8 dBA #N/A #N/A 48 104 225 65.0 dBA #N/A #N/A 50 108 232 65.6 dBA #N/A 18 55 119 256 65.8 dBA #N/A 19 57 122 263 0.2 dBA 0.3 dBA 1.2 dBA 1.3 dBA CNEL at Site Distance to dBA Contour Une 50 feet from roadway centerline, feet from road centerline 75 70 65 60 55 65.0 dBA #N/A #N/A 50 107 232 65.2 dBA #N/A #N/A 52 111 239 65.3 dBA #N/A #N/A 52 113 243 65.5 dBA #N/A 18 54 116 250 66.1 dBA #N/A 21 60 128 277 66.3 dBA #N/A 21 61 132 284 0.2 dBA 0.3 dBA 1.2 dBA 1.3 dBA *NOTES: Based on algorithms From the Federal Highway Administration "Traffic Noise Model@", FHWA-PD-96-010, January, 1998. #N/A '" Not Applicable Page 2 Rincon Consultants ROADWAY TRAFFIC NOISE Project: Date: Roadway: 2834 Colorado Avenue Project 25-Jul-03 Stewart St. S of Colorado Project No. 03-54260 PROJECT DATA and ASSUMPTIONS Vehicle Reference Energy Mean Emission Levels (FHWA 1977, TNM@, or CALVENO): TNM Distance to Receptor: 50 feet Site Condition (Hard or Soft): Soft Upgrade longer than 1 mile: 0 % Existing Total Traffic Volume (ADT): 16,100 vehicles Ambient Growth Factor: 0.8% Future Year: 2012 Total Project Volume (ADT): 771 vehicles Total Cumulative Growth Volume (ADT): 1,500 vehicles Source of Traffic Data: KOIku Assodates, July 2003 Daily Vehicle Mix Existing Project Future Automobile 97.5% 99.0% 97.6% Medium Truck 1.8% 0.5% 1.7% Heavy Truck 0.7% 0.5% 0.7% Source: Assumed given land use and road characteristics Percentage of Daily Traffic Automobile Medium Truck Heavy Truck Automobile Medium Truck Heavy Truck Average Speed Automobile Medium Truck Heavy Truck Automobile Medium Truck Heavy Truck Page 1 Day (7 am-7 pm) 77.5% 84.8% 86.5% Source: Defau It Assu mptlon Day (7 am-7 pm) 77.5% 84.8% 86.5% Source: Default Assumption Day (7 am-7 pm) 30 30 30 Source: Speed Limit Day (7 am-7 pm) 30 30 30 Source: Speed limn Existing and Future Evening (7-10 pm) Night (10 pm - 7 am) 12.9% 9.6% 4.9% 10.3% 2.7% 10.8% Project Evening (7-10 pm) 12.9% 4.9% 2.7% Existing Evening (7-10 pm) 30 30 30 Future Evening (7-10 pm) 30 30 30 Night (10 pm - 7 am) 9.6% 10.3% 10.8% Night (10 pm - 7 am) 30 30 30 Night (10 pm - 7 am) 30 30 30 Rincon Consultants ROADWAY TRAFFIC NOISE Project: Date: 2834 Colorado Avenue Project 25-Jul-03 Roadway; Stewart SI. S of Colorado Vehicle Noise Emission Levels*: RESUL TS DAY-NIGHT AVERAGE LEVEL (Ldn) Existing Existing + Project Future with Ambient Growth Future with Ambient Growth and Project Future with Ambient Growth and CumulaUve Projects Future with Ambient, Cumulative, and Project Growth Change In Noise Levels Due to Project Due to Ambient Growth Due to Ambient and Cumulallve Due to All Future Growth COMMUNITY NOISE EXPOSURE LEVEL (CNEL) Exlsllng Exlsllng + Project Future with Ambient Growth Future with Ambient Growth and Project Future with Ambient Growth and CumulaUve Projects Future with Ambient, Cumulatlve, and Project Growth Change In Noise Levels Due to Project Due to Ambient Growth Due to Ambient and Cumulative Due to All Future Growth Project No. 03-54260 TNM Ldn at Site Distance to dBA Contour Line 50 feet from roadway centerline, feet from road centerline 75 70 65 60 55 65.2 dBA #N/A #N/A 51 111 238 65.4 dBA #N/A #N/A 53 114 245 65.5 dBA #N/A 18 54 116 250 65.7 dBA #N/A 18 55 119 257 65.8 dBA #N/A 19 57 123 264 66.0 dBA #N/A 20 58 126 271 0.2 dBA 0.3 dBA 0.7 dBA 0.8 dBA CNEL at Slle Distance to dBA Contour Line 50 feet from roadway centerline, feet from road centerline 75 70 65 60 55 65.7 dBA #N/A 18 55 119 257 65.9 dBA #N/A 19 57 123 264 66.0 dBA #N/A 20 58 125 270 66.1 dBA #N/A 21 60 129 277 66.3 dBA #N/A 22 61 132 285 66.5 dBA #N/A 22 63 136 292 0.2 dBA 0.3 dBA 0.7 dBA O.B dBA *NOTES: Based on algorithms from the Federal Highway Administration "Traffic Noise Model @", FHWA-PD-96-010, January, 199B. #N/A = Not Applicable Page 2 RIncon Consultants SOUND BARRIER LOSS ESTIMATION* Scenario: IT No. 45901 - 2834 Colorado Ave. Project DATA Barrier Top Elevation, feet Source Ground Elevation, feet Height of Source above Ground, feet Observer Elevation at ground or floor Distance from source to barrier, feet: Distance from barrier to observer, feet: INPUT 10 o o o 10 65 BARRIER EFFECT RESUL T Infinite Barrier Attenuation: Is Observer at Ground Level (yes or no): Adjustment for Loss of Ground Attenuation: Infinite Barrier Insertion Loss: Finite Barrier Adjustment Enter angle subtended by barrier: -16.5 dBA yes 4.0 dBA -12.5 dBA 180 degrees Enter Noise Level Without Barrier: Enter Reference Distance for Noise Level: Noise level including insertion loss of Barrier: Noise Level of barrier gaps: 88 dBA 50 feet 73.7 dBA 0.0 dBA SUMMED AVERAGE LEVEL: 73.7 dBA * Assumes a sound wavelength of 2 feet (about 550 Hz). Methodology Source: Harris, C.M. (1979), Handbook of Noise Control, 2nd. Ed. Page Contour TO DETERMINE NOISE CONTOURS FOR A GIVEN NOISE LEVEL ___"'cc ,....._..._-,--_._.,-~,,-,----~ I -.- -------- --~"c..~,.c,...".-l---.-.---.---...!-.""~--..-------.------- ! ."............-."...--....-.....-.-..--..i-........ ----ATTENUATION RA TE-:I--....- .... --------SldBNOOUBLlNGoi=-jjfsTANgE--l-- -....- --......-.--...-~~{Choj"NceO:-j3S'E..~-~L-~El..VorE6L): r===~- _ - -- ---i-nun Note: .Wffhfn-O~-10 feetfrom---- --- .--8BidBA n the sourc-e;There is --T-------~ !3gi=~I3~~gE:-r:>I~If\89g:-r- ........ -:~-:_-__-___:=_:_ 50 I FEET . vfifuany-noatlenuation.l. . ._-- -. . ............--------------------.. ....j 0 I ST AN cE-j-==:-----.T-~~~CTj=~~-rN~I~~.--1-----. - ..........-- NoIsE-CONTOUR .... - Ii=Ro~T SOURCE]. ....-- ---j. D[sTANc"ET-CEVEC.' ~~! ... ..... ..... ... ----~~jl~::~ ' .. .f~-~-l-----~~:gj! -....... .... ------------------65;----"- -- -706 -Ife"sf .------.1-- .1"50[--78.5. .------- --------- -- n------661---- --1256 Ifeet- ! ------.-26or----76~OI ==~~:~-:-:it~~;~;I~~-f-:=--;~-~i~ ----72T-----.. .. - 31-5 !feet -r ... .....- ------ ..... _ ....-r- -----~===..:=. __ . .... ___?1]______===___~4]Ieef-===L _ .... - n -- -~ I_______ .... __ .. .]-:=:~=___ ==-::=::-_. ~~ :=-_==~~~ j~::t__-:=I=---==--- .._______=~_!__:--------- 68 SOO ~t I I ..:==~::-----------.-~-~- :---..---====~~~-:I~:-~.....::==-: .. -=-~:...-------..-=~~----- ...::-1.==-=--= - - -- - -65 ...----70Ei"lfest.. .r--... - 1 .------ ----:======1== -~ilfii~-f=:::=~F:--:'----- ---------Eff!"------ --1f19feetn--n--r .......-:r---- Ln_ n_ --------------------- EfoT---~~n 125Sfeet---- --T-------- .1______ Page 1 rr Appendix E Traffic Technical Report TRAFFIC STUDY FOR THE 2834 COLORADO APARTMENT PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT JAN UARY 2004 PREPARED FOR RINCON CONSULTANTS, INC. PREPARED BY ~<IU<U^SSOCI^TES A Corporation TRAFFIC STUDY FOR THE 2834 COLORADO APARTMENT PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT January 2004 Prepared for: RINCON CONSULTANTS, INC. Prepared by: KAKU ASSOCIATES, INC. 1453 Third Street, Suite 400 Santa Monica, California 90401 (310) 458-9916 Ref: 1629 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction.............................................................................................. .................. 1 Project Description ............................................................................................ 1 ~~~~...................................................................................................... 4 Organization of Report...................................................................................... 5 II. Existing Highway Conditions ......................................................................................... 6 Existing Highway and Street System................................................................. 6 Existing Traffic Volumes and Levels of Service................................................. 7 Existing Public Transit Service .............................................................. ............ 14 III. Future Traffic Projections.............................................................................................. 16 Cumulative Base Traffic Projections.................................................................. 16 Project Traffic Projections.............................................................. .................... 20 Cumulative Plus Project Traffic Projections....................................................... 23 IV. Traffic Impact Analysis .................................................................................................. 26 Criteria for Determination of Significant Traffic Impact...................................... 26 Cumulative Base Operating Conditions............................................................. 28 Project Traffic Impact Analysis .............................................................. ............ 28 Traffic Mitigation Measures .............................. ................................................. 30 V. Neighborhood Street Segment Analysis.............................................................. .......... 32 Criteria for Determination of Significant Neighborhood Traffic Impact .............. 32 Neighborhood Impact Analysis.......................................................................... 35 Neighborhood Mitigation Measures................................................................... 35 VI. Congestion Management Program Analysis ................................................................. 36 CMP Traffic Impact Analysis ............................................................................. 36 CMP Transit Impact Analysis ............................................................................ 37 VII. Parking and Site Circulation Analysis ............................................................................ 39 Parking Code Analysis .............................................................. ........................ 39 Site Access Evaluation...................................................................................... 41 VIII. Summary and Conclusions............................................................................................ 42 References Appendix A: Appendix B: Appendix C: Appendix D: Appendix E: Intersection Lane Configurations 2002 and 2003 Traffic Count Data AM and PM Peak Hour Intersection Turning Movements Cumulative Projects List Traffic Signal Warrant Worksheets LIST OF FIGURES N.Q. 1 Project Location and Study Area................................................................................... 2 2 Site Plan ................................................................................................................ 3 3 Existing Peak Hour Volumes ......................................................................................... 9 4 Cumulative Base Peak Hour Volumes .......................................................................... 19 5 Generalized Project Trip Distribution ............................................................................. 22 6 Project Only Peak Hour Volumes.............................................................. .................... 24 7 Cumulative Plus Project Peak Hour Volumes .............................................................. 25 LIST OF TABLES N.Q. 1 Existing Surface Street Characteristics......................................................................... 8 2 Level of Service Definitions for Signalized Intersections ............................................... 11 3 Level of Service Definitions for Stop-Controlled Intersections....................................... 12 4 Existing Intersection Levels of Service .......................................................................... 13 5 Trip Generation Estimates............................................................................................. 21 6 City of Santa Monica Significant Impact Criteria- Arterial and Collector Intersections.............................................................. ...... 27 7 Future (Year 2012) Intersection Levels of Service ........................................................ 29 8 Neighborhood Traffic Impact Analysis........................................................................... 33 9 City of Santa Monica Significant Impact Criteria- Collector, Feeder, and Local Streets ................................................................. 34 10 Parking Requirements Analysis.............................. ....................................................... 40 I. INTRODUCTION This report documents the results of a study conducted by Kaku Associates, Inc. to evaluate the potential traffic and parking impacts of the proposed 2834 Colorado Avenue apartment project in the City of Santa Monica. This report identifies the base assumptions, describes the methods, and summarizes the findings of the study, which was conducted as part of the environmental impact report (EIR) being prepared for the proposed project. The analyses used in this study draw upon base data and analyses included in the Santa Monica Traffix database. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The project site is located at 2834 Colorado Avenue in the eastern portion of the City of Santa Monica (see Figure 1). The site covers approximately 1.76 acres and is generally bounded by Colorado Avenue to the north, Stewart Street to the west, and commercial/light industrial uses to the east and south. Primary vehicular access to the existing site is obtained from Colorado Avenue, with vehicles entering and exiting via a driveway approximately 60 feet to the east of Stewart Street. Existing uses on the site consist of approximately 38,000 square feet of commercial warehouse development. The proposed project, shown in Figure 2, would completely redevelop the 1.76-acre site. The existing 38,000 square feet of commercial space would be demolished and replaced with a 145- unit residential apartment development. The project would provide a total of 228 parking spaces located within a subterranean garage. The subterranean parking would be accessed via a driveway located on Stewart Street, providing direct access to the parking supply. This driveway would accommodate both entering and exiting vehicles. An additional one-way right- turn only driveway located on Colorado Avenue would accommodate exiting vehicles only. 1 ~! (/)$ c c o ID 'B E ID 0> (/) ID L-Cf) ID__\ -- ID ..s ID "O,p IDCf) N >- ~"O ro ~ C__ <(Cf) " <( W 0::: <( >- o ::::) I- CJ) o ~z W<( O:::z ~O - I- LL<( o o --.J I- o W --, o 0::: a... ~~ ~~ "- ~ ~'~- ~1111111111.rt++++i... (() w < U o (() (() < ::::I ~ < ~ #OPOJOIO::> 'PJOAelnOq NZ w::S 0::: a.. =>w c.9~ -- LLCf) II'-YI STUDY SCOPE The study analyzed the potential project-generated traffic and parking impacts on the street system surrounding the project site. Traffic impacts for the project were evaluated for typical weekday morning (7:00 to 10:00 a.m.) and evening peak periods (4:30 to 7:30 p.m.). The following traffic scenarios were analyzed in the study: . Existing Conditions - The analysis of existing morning and evening peak hour traffic conditions provided a basis for the assessment of future traffic conditions. The existing conditions analysis included a description of key area streets and highways, traffic volumes, and current intersection and roadway operating conditions. . Cumulative Base (Year 2012) Conditions - This scenario projected the future traffic growth and intersection operating conditions that are expected from regional growth and known related projects in the vicinity of the project site by year 2012. These analyses provided the baseline conditions by which project impacts were evaluated. . Cumulative Plus PrQject (Year 2012) Conditions, Proposed PrQject - This analysis identified the potential incremental impacts of the proposed project on future traffic operating conditions by adding the traffic expected to be generated by the project to the cumulative base traffic forecasts. This study examined 17 intersections in the vicinity of the project site for each of the three traffic scenarios. In addition, the study evaluated the potential for neighborhood traffic intrusion impacts on six street segments in the vicinity of the project. The study intersections, selected in consultation with the City of Santa Monica, are listed below and shown in Figure 1. Analyzed Intersections 1. Cloverfield Boulevard & Colorado Avenue 2. Cloverfield Boulevard & Olympic Boulevard 3. 26th Street & Santa Monica Boulevard 4. 26th Street & Broadway 5. 26th Street & Colorado Avenue 6. 26th Street & Olympic Boulevard 7. Yale Street & Santa Monica Boulevard 8. Yale Street & Broadway 9. Yale Street & Colorado Avenue 10. Stewart Street & Colorado Avenue 11. Stewart Street & Olympic Boulevard 12. Stewart Street/28th Street & Pico Boulevard 13. Centinela Avenue & Santa Monica Boulevard 14. Centinela Avenue & Broadway 4 15. Centinela Avenue & Colorado Avenue 16. Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue 17. Centinela Avenue & Olympic Boulevard (West) Analyzed Neighborhood Street Segments . Princeton Street north of Colorado Avenue Harvard Street north of Colorado Avenue Yale Street north of Colorado Avenue Stanford Street north of Colorado Avenue Nebraska Avenue west of Franklin Street Stewart Street between Exposition Boulevard & Virginia Avenue (collector street) . . . . . ORGANIZATION OF REPORT This report is divided into the following seven chapters: . Chapter I consists of the introduction. . Chapter II describes the existing circulation system, traffic volumes, and intersection and roadway operating conditions of the street system as well as the existing public transit service within the study area. . Chapter III describes the methodologies used to develop future cumulative traffic forecasts and project traffic volumes. . Chapter IV presents an assessment of potential project traffic impacts on intersection operations, discusses potential mitigation measures, and provides an assessment of those measures' effectiveness. . Chapter V presents an assessment of potential project traffic impacts on residential streets. . Chapter VI contains the results of the Congestion Management Program (CMP) regional transportation system impact analysis for the project. . Chapter VII contains a discussion of parking and site access issues related to the project. . Chapter VIII summarizes the conclusions of the study and the recommendations intended to address significant impacts of the proposed project. 5 II. EXISTING CONDITIONS A comprehensive data collection effort was undertaken to develop a detailed evaluation of existing transportation conditions within the study area. The assessment of existing conditions in the project study area includes a description of the street and highway system, traffic volumes on these facilities, operating conditions of the selected intersections, and public transit services. EXISTING HIGHWAY AND STREET SYSTEM The project site is located at the southeast corner of Stewart Street and Colorado Avenue in the eastern portion of the City of Santa Monica. Regional access to this area is provided by the Santa Monica Freeway (1-10), and the San Diego Freeway (1-405). The Santa Monica Freeway, which is located approximately half a mile south of the project site, provides east-west access across the City of Santa Monica and to the City of Los Angeles to the east. Located approximately one mile east of the project site is the San Diego Freeway, which provides north- south access through the region and connects the Westside with the San Fernando Valley to the north and the South Bay area to the south. Primary access between the project site and the Santa Monica Freeway is via the Centinela Avenue interchange. Other interchanges in the vicinity are located at Bundy Drive, Cloverfield Boulevard, and 20th Street. Access to the project site from the San Diego Freeway is available either via the Santa Monica Freeway or directly via the Santa Monica Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard/Pico Boulevard interchanges on the San Diego Freeway. Arterial streets carry the majority of traffic traveling through the city and are generally developed as commercial corridors. Arterial streets within the study area include Santa Monica Boulevard, Olympic Boulevard, Pico Boulevard, Cloverfield Boulevard, Colorado Avenue (west of Cloverfield Boulevard), and 26th Street. Collector streets allow movement of traffic between arterials and neighborhoods. Within the study area, collector streets include Broadway, and Stewart Street. 6 Table 1 provides further descriptions of the physical characteristics of key streets within the study area. Lane configurations at the study intersections are illustrated in Appendix A. EXISTING TRAFFIC VOLUMES AND LEVELS OF SERVICE The following sections describe the peak hour traffic volumes, the methodology used to analyze the intersection operating conditions, and the resulting levels of service for the study intersections under existing conditions. Existing Traffic Volumes Of the 17 study intersections, 15 are analysis locations in the City of Santa Monica Traffix database. Traffic volume count information for these locations was collected by the city in October and November of 2002 for the morning and evening peak periods for typical weekdays. Base traffic data for one of the remaining study intersections (Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue) was collected in October of 2002. New traffic counts were conducted at the other remaining study intersection (Yale Street & Colorado Avenue) in July 2003 as part of this study. These additional traffic counts are included in Appendix B. The existing weekday morning and evening peak hour traffic volumes at the study intersections are presented in Figure 3. Level of Service Methodology Fourteen of the 17 study intersections are controlled by traffic signals. In accordance with policies established by the City of Santa Monica, the "Operational Analysis" method from the 2000 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) 1 was employed to perform the intersection level of service analysis for each of the signalized locations. The HCM operational method determines two key operating characteristics of signalized intersections: average control delay experienced per vehicle and volume/capacity (V/C) ratio. 1 _ _ _ Highway Capacity Manual, Transportation Research Board, 2000_ 7 (/) u i= (/) c:: W I- U ~ <( :::c u .....1- WW ...JW ma:: <(I- I-(/) W U <( l.L a:: ::::l (/) C) z i= !Q >< W j~ )::::i 000000 C')C')C')C')C')C') []J S in (/) E a. C') N ~ (/) E Z ~ E E E c m a.a.O LQ,?,?g I-I-~NNN <I:<I:~~~~ (/)(/)(/)0..0..0.. 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(9 Z I- (f) >< W C") W These characteristics are based on the amount of traffic traveling through the intersection, the travel lane geometries, and other factors affecting capacity such as on-street parking, bus operations near the intersection, and pedestrian volumes at the street crosswalks. These characteristics are used to evaluate the operational effectiveness of each intersection, described generally in terms of level of service (LOS). Three of the study intersections (Yale Street & Colorado Avenue, Yale Street & Broadway, and Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue) are currently unsignalized. Levels of service at these intersections were evaluated using stop-controlled methodologies from the 2000 Highway Capacity Manual. Level of service categories range from excellent, nearly free-flow traffic at LOS A to overloaded, stop-and-go conditions at LOS F. Level of service definitions are provided in Tables 2 and 3 for signalized intersections and unsignalized intersections, respectively. The LOS definitions, ranges of delay, and ranges of V/C ratio shown in these tables represent average conditions for all vehicles at an intersection across an entire hour. Delays longer than the average condition are experienced by motorists on certain movements and/or during peak times within the peak hour. The City of Santa Monica has designated LOS D as the minimum acceptable level of service at arterial intersections and LOS C as the minimum acceptable level of service at collector street intersections. Santa Monica has numerous thriving commercial areas. Although the city invests heavily in improvements to encourage the use of sustainable trip modes (e.g., bus, walking, and cycling), a certain level of automobile congestion is expected in an area of this nature. The minimum acceptable level of service-the design condition-allows for substantial queuing and delays at intersections during peak periods. Existing Levels of Service The results of the analysis of existing weekday morning and evening peak hour conditions at each of the study intersections are summarized in Table 4. Detailed level of service calculations are presented in Appendix C. As shown, using the City of Santa Monica analysis methodology, all but five of the 17 study intersections currently operate at LOS D or better during both the morning 10 TABLE 2 LEVEL OF SERVICE DEFINITIONS FOR SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS (2000 HIGHWAY CAPACITY MANUAL OPERATIONAL METHOD) A verage Control Delay per Vehicle Level of Service (seconds) Definition A <10.0 EXCELLENT. No vehicle waits longer than one red light and no approach phase is fully used. B >10.0 and <20.0 VERY GOOD. An occasional approach phase is fully utilized; many drivers begin to feel somewha restricted within groups of vehicles. C >20.0 and <35.0 GOOD. Occasionally drivers may have to wait through more than one red light; backups may develop behind turning vehicles. 0 >35.0 and <55.0 FAIR. Delays may be substantial during portions 0 the rush hours, but enough lower volume periods occur to permit clearing of developing lines, preventing excessive backups. E >55.0 and <80.0 POOR. Represents the most vehicles intersection approaches can accommodate; may be long lines 0 waiting vehicles through several signal cycles. F >80.0 FAILURE. Backups from nearby locations or on cross streets may restrict or prevent movement of vehicles out of the intersection approaches. Tremendous delays with continuously increasing queue lengths. Source: Transportation Research Board, Highway Capacity Manual, 2000 TABLE 3 LEVEL OF SERVICE DEFINITIONS FOR STOP-CONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS Average Stopped Delay Level of Service (seconds/vehicle) A ~10.0 B >10.0 and ~15.0 C >15.0 and 95.0 D >25.0 and ~35.0 E >35.0 and ~50.0 F >50.0 Source: Transportation Research Board, Highway Capacity Manual, 2000. TABLE 4 EXISTING INTERSECTION LEVELS OF SERVICE PEAK EXISTING No. INTERSECTION HOUR VIC Delay' LOS 1 Cloverfield Boulevard & AM 0.725 26 C Colorado Avenue PM 0.743 28 C 2 Cloverfield Boulevard & AM 0.918 37 D Olympic Boulevard PM 0.903 38 D 3 26th Street & AM 0.923 26 C Santa Monica Boulevard PM 0.966 26 C 4 26th Street & AM 0.640 16 B Broadway PM 0.687 17 B 5 26th Street & AM 0.558 15 B Colorado Avenue PM 0.675 16 B 6 26th Street & AM 0.776 27 C Olympic Boulevard PM 0.830 29 C 7 Yale Street & AM 0.558 11 B Santa Monica Boulevard PM 0.795 19 B 8 Yale Street & AM 0.650 14 B Broadway [2] PM 0.969 36 E 9 Yale Street & AM nla 3 A Colorado Avenue [1] PM nla 2 A [worst approach only] AM nla 18 C [worst approach only] PM nla 18 C 10 Stewart Street & AM 0.650 17 B Colorado Avenue PM 1.093 42 D 11 Stewart Street & AM 0.972 30 C Olympic Boulevard PM 1.087 60 E 12 Stewart Street & AM 0.734 13 B Pica Boulevard PM 0.891 19 B 13 Centinela Avenue & AM 1.006 39 D Santa Monica Boulevard PM 1.383 .. F 14 Centinela Avenue & AM 0.521 12 B Broadway PM 0.831 20 B 15 Centinela Avenue & AM 0.683 17 B Colorado Avenue PM 1.282 79 E 16 Centinela Avenue & AM nla 5 A Nebraska Avenue [1] PM nla .. F [worst approach only] AM nla 54 F [worst approach only] PM nla .. F 17 Centinela Avenue (west) & AM 0.703 11 B Olympic Boulevard PM 0.924 22 C Notes: Average control delay per vehicle, in seconds. .. Indicates oversaturated conditions. Delay cannot be calculated. [1] Intersection controlled by stop signs on the minor approaches. [2] Intersection controlled by stop signs on all approaches. and afternoon peak hours on weekdays. Although the average control delay per vehicle at LOS D intersections can last up to 55 seconds, drivers making certain movements can expect to wait longer than the average during peak periods. The five locations operating at LOS E or F during one or both peak hours are: . Yale Street & Broadway (unsignalized) Stewart Street & Olympic Boulevard Centinela Avenue & Santa Monica Boulevard Centinela Avenue & Colorado Avenue Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue (unsignalized) . . . . EXISTING PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE The study area is well served by public transportation facilities. Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Line 5 serves Olympic Boulevard near the project site. Additional routes operated by the Big Blue Bus and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) provide service within the study area. The existing bus routes operating in the study area are described below. . Big Blue Bus Line 1 (Santa Monica Boulevard) - Line 1 runs from Venice and Ocean Park through downtown Santa Monica to UCLA. Line 1 operates on Santa Monica Boulevard within the study area, about one-half mile north of the project site. . Big Blue Bus Line 2 (Wilshire Boulevard-Venice) - Line 2 runs from Venice High School through downtown Santa Monica to UCLA via Wilshire Boulevard. Line 2 provides service along Wilshire Boulevard. . Big Blue Bus Line 5 (Olympic Boulevard-Century City) - Line 5 runs from downtown Santa Monica to Century City and the Rimpau Transit Center via Colorado Avenue, Olympic Boulevard, and Pico Boulevard. Within the study area, Line 5 operates on Olympic Boulevard adjacent to the project site. Service headways of about 20 minutes are provided during weekday peak periods and about 30 minutes during weekday off-peak periods and on weekends. . Big Blue Bus Line 7 (Pico Boulevard) - Line 7 runs from downtown Santa Monica to the Rimpau Transit Center via Pico Boulevard. Line 7 operates on Pico Boulevard within the study area, approximately one-half mile south of the project site. . Big Blue Bus Line 10 (Santa Monica Freeway Express) - Line 10 runs from Ocean Park through downtown Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles. Within the study area, Line 10 operates on Santa Monica Boulevard west of Bundy Drive and on Bundy Drive between Santa Monica Boulevard and the Santa Monica Freeway. 14 . Big Blue Bus Line 11 (14th Street-20th Street Crosstown) - Line 11 provides service in a . fu fu fu clockwise loop along 20 Street, Ocean Park Boulevard, 17 Street, Pearl Street, 14 Street, and Montana Avenue. Within the study area, Line 11 operates on 20th Street. . Big Blue Bus Line 14 (Bundy-Centinela) - Line 14 provides service between Culver City, Mar Vista, and Brentwood. Line 14 operates on Bundy Drive within the study area. . MTA Lines 4 and 304 - Lines 4 and 304 run from downtown Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles via Santa Monica Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard. Line 4 provides local service, while Line 304 provides peak period limited-stop service. These lines operate on Santa Monica Boulevard within the study area, about one-half mile north of the project site. . MTA Line 20 - Line 20 provides local service between Colorado Avenue and Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica and downtown Los Angeles via Wilshire Boulevard. This line operates on Wilshire Boulevard within the study area. . MTA Line 720 - Line 720, the Metro Rapid bus, provides limited-stop service between Ocean Avenue/Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, downtown Los Angeles, and East Los Angeles/Montebello via Wilshire Boulevard and Whittier Boulevard. This line operates on Wilshire Boulevard within the study area. When transfer opportunities are considered, the project site is accessible from most of Santa Monica and the Los Angeles metropolitan area via bus and other mass transit systems. 15 III. FUTURE TRAFFIC PROJECTIONS To evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed project on the surrounding street system properly, it was necessary to develop accurate estimates of future traffic conditions in the area, both without and with the proposed project's traffic. First, estimates of traffic growth were developed for the study area to forecast future conditions without the project. These forecasts included traffic increases due to both general regional ambient traffic growth as well as to traffic generated by specific developments in the vicinity of the project (related projects). These projected traffic volumes, identified herein as the cumulative base conditions, represent the future study year conditions without the development of the proposed project. The traffic generated by the proposed project was then estimated and assigned to the surrounding street system. The project traffic was added to the cumulative base to form the cumulative plus project traffic conditions, which were analyzed to determine the incremental traffic impacts attributable to the project itself. The assumptions and analysis methodologies used to develop each of the future traffic scenarios discussed above are described in more detail in the following sections. CUMULATIVE BASE TRAFFIC PROJECTIONS The City of Santa Monica's Traffix model was used to prepare the cumulative base traffic forecasts for use in this study. The traffic volume growth reflected in the development of the cumulative base conditions reflects the expected growth in traffic over existing conditions from two primary sources: (1) ambient growth in the existing traffic volumes due to the effects of overall regional growth and development outside the study area, and (2) traffic generated by specific development projects located within, or in the vicinity of, the study area. The methods used in the Santa Monica Traffix database to account for these two factors are described below. 16 Areawide Traffic Growth The ambient growth rate to the future analysis year 2012 is estimated to be approximately 0.8% per year compounded annually. For the 15 study intersections contained in the Traffix database, and the additional intersection at which counts were conducted in 2002 (Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue), this results in an ambient growth factor of approximately 8% over the ten-year study period from 2002 to 2012. For the intersection at which counts were conducted in 2003 (Yale Street & Colorado Avenue), this results in a factor of approximately 7.4% over the nine-year period from 2003 to 2012. Therefore, the areawide ambient traffic growth was developed by factoring the existing a.m. and p.m. peak hour traffic volumes at each of the study intersections upward by 8% or 7.4%, as appropriate. Traffic Generation of Cumulative Development PrQject5; Traffic expected to be generated by specific development projects within or with the potential to affect the study area was also considered in addition to the ambient areawide traffic growth discussed in the preceding section. The City of Santa Monica Planning Division provided a current list of approved and/or planned development projects throughout the City of Santa Monica.2 For the purposes of this traffic study, the proposed 2834 Colorado Avenue project was eliminated from the list of cumulative projects. Regionally significant projects located outside the City of Santa Monica are also contained in the city's Traffix model. Information was also obtained from the City of Los Angeles regarding related projects in the Los Angeles portion of the study area. Trip generation estimates were prepared for the related projects using either the Traffix trip generation program or standard trip generation rates from the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE),3 or were obtained from relevant traffic studies and/or EIRs for specific projects. The list of related projects included in this analysis, including trip generation estimates for each, is included in Appendix D. 2 City of Santa Monica, City Planning Division, Cumulative Development Projects List, July 1,2003. 3 Institute of Transportation Engineers, Trip Generation, Sixth Edition, 1997. 17 Cumulative Development PrQject Traffic Distribution The geographic distribution of traffic generated by developments such as those included in the list of cumulative projects depends on several factors. These factors include the type and density of the proposed land use, the geographic distribution of the population from which employees and potential patrons of the proposed development are drawn, the location of the project in relation to the surrounding street system, the location of any peak hour turning movement restrictions along the roadway network, the extent of the roadway network (e.g., is it continuous), and other factors, such as any known changes to the existing roadway network. The traffic distribution patterns for traffic generated by the related projects are contained in the City of Santa Monica's Traffix forecasting model. Cumulative Base Traffic Volumes Using the trip generation estimates and trip distribution patterns contained in the Traffix database, traffic generated by the cumulative projects was assigned to the street network using the Traffix traffic assignment model. The resulting future year 2012 cumulative base traffic volumes are shown in Figure 4 for both weekday peak hours. Baseline Street System Improvements Several key roadway improvements in or near the study area are expected to be completed by the year 2012 future study year. These improvements, whether the result of local or regional Capital Improvement Programs or as mitigation for ongoing or entitled related projects, would result in capacity changes at various locations throughout the study area. These changes would affect the operations of one study intersection and could result in changes to the existing traffic patterns in the study area. The street network improvement listed below is assumed to be in place by the study horizon year of 2012: . Modify the eastbound and westbound approaches to the intersection of Yale Street & Broadway to provide only a single shared lane to accommodate all turning movements. The existing configuration on these approaches provides a left-turn lane and a shared through-right turn lane. This work was completed after the 2002 traffic counts were taken. 18 @! \0> #<%, \Y L.. ~ o i~ ---- ~ t:5e::- w "0' ~ a: <( ~~ Cf) w < o o Cf) Cf) < ::::I ~ < ~ """"" w 0:: ::::) (9 u.. (f) w :2: ::::) --.J o > 0:: ::::) o :r: ::::e:::: <( w a... w (f) <( co w > I- <( --.J ::::) :2: ::::) o PROJECT TRAFFIC PROJECTIONS The traffic projections for the proposed project were developed using the following three steps: estimating the trip generation of the project, determining trip distribution, and assigning the project traffic to the roadway system. Project Trip Generation The Institute of Transportation Engineers' (lTE's) Trip Generation manual (6th Edition), a national standard used universally by the traffic engineering profession, was used to estimate the number of trips generated by the existing and proposed land uses. Due to the nature of the project, no adjustments were made for non-motorized trips or passerby trips. Existing Uses. Currently the site is estimated to generate approximately 190 trips per day, of which approximately 17 occur in the a.m. peak hour and 20 in the p.m. peak hour. ITE trip generation rates for "Industrial Warehouse (Land Use 150)" were used to develop estimates of existing trip generation. Proposed Uses. The proposed project would provide 145 apartment units. ITE trip generation rates for "Apartment (Land Use 220)" were used to develop estimates of future project trip generation. The proposed project is estimated to generate a total of approximately 961 trips per day, including 74 a.m. peak hour trips and 90 p.m. peak hour trips. The net increase in site-generated traffic would be 771 trips per day, of which about 57 would occur in the a.m. peak hour and 70 in the p.m. peak hour, as shown in Table 5. PrQject Traffic Distribution The distribution pattern of the proposed project traffic was developed based on the location of the project relative to the project's location within the surrounding street network. The resulting distribution pattern is illustrated in Figure 5. 20 I- U W ...., o 0:: (/)a. wI- I-Z e::(W 2:2: f=b:: (/)e::( IOWa. WZe::( ...JOW Illf=::::l ;::~~ W> Ze::( Wo C)c ~~ 0::0 I-...J o U 'Ot M co N en- 0..2 010 010 0 ~ 0 OJ OJ NN I'- I- '- ::l 0.... I ::l 010 L!)IL!) L!) ~ 0 (") (") ..- ..- ..- e ell Q) 0 0.. ~ 2: E 010 L!)IL!) L!) Q) 0.. COCO L!) e Q) C) en ell 0.. 0.. -0 'Ot1'Ot 1'-11'- I'- ~ ~ l- I'- I'- ..- ..- L!) -a '- ::l Q) 0 .... ro I ::l NIN (")1(") OJ E ~ 0 coco L!) :;::::; ell en Q) W 0.. 2: E NIN 'Ot1'Ot ~ <( ..- ..- ..- ..- ~~ "-1"- 010 ..- CO "C coco OJ OJ I'- 01- OJ OJ ..- ..- I'- .,..: 2 .... vi ell.... e 0 0:: .c ::l 0 0..:J '- 0 .>:: Q) ..- I- 0.. '- Q) 0.. .... ::l ;:R ;:R 0 0 0 '- (") co ~~ (") I'- I ~ e ;:R ;:R ell 0 0 ;:R I'- 'Ot ~ Q) CO N 0.. 0 en Q) 2: ro 0.. 2 N ..- 0:: ell CO L!) e 0:: 0 0 0 ~ .... ::l ;:R ;:R 0 0 0 Q) '- 'Ot OJ e ~~ OJ ..- Q) C) I 0.. ~ E ;:R ;:R ~ ell 0 0 ;:R CO N Q) ..- OJ 0.. 0 2: 2 <( ..- L!) ell L!) 'Ot 0:: 0 0 >-Q) (") CO =-= +-' CO OJ ell ell 00:: CO 'Ot w~ 0 0 I- 0 N L!) -0 N ..- ~ c W .,..: e > Q) ::l en .t::,! 0 (f) L!) 2: 0 (/) 'Ot 0 ..- W 'Ot a. 0:: OJ c:: I- W (") I- U III ...J W ...., 0 :c e::( 0 I- Q) I- 0:: ~ ~en Z Q) en W en :J W en a. e Q) (/) Q) 2: :J C :J:g ::::l en OJ en e W -a W .... 5: C) Q) :;::::; 0:: e (/) e e en ell 0 Q) Q) Z .(jj .x U ...J a. EZ f= ::l W Z 0 t- (/) ..c - ell 2 ell I- 0:: >< 0 -0 W 0..0 N a. <(I- W I I- Z -a e ell en t ell en- 0.. o J::. en Q) e E U ell E -0 e ell Ol e '5 Qj 5: of e i'i ell U en- Q) ~ .0 .jll "- .m 0.. ~ o :5 ell en- e 1:5 ~ C o U CJi ~g> ~~ Q) .S Ol..c Ol>- e "- .- 0 ~<r U Q) .~ OJ en .~ Q) en ~1ll.E' OJ Q) OJ .~ al ~-E "g- 00 U ;;;; N g ;jj ~.!!1 ..erne ~ E:- en .x 5:f - e CD .~ 8::_x ~~~ Q):!::::::T""" ~ 5: 'Q (D ~~ 0.. .~ ~ ~'= 32 en .- .S Q) ----,..cE W Q) :::l ~ ~ ~ enOro w-mu> Q)"-o .~ ~ 5:f g> b o::f W en (") e Q) . o ";;:: c.. :;:; Q) 0 ro en J::. troen 8.. >- en en ..c E c "'C Co ~Q)Q) r- "0.. ~ b a co 2 g-g ..a ~ co ~ C w- e Q) 0.. t: 0 Qj [l-{ij Uenen :s .- 4= o 15 ~ en ...J U ~ ro ..ci (5 z ~! ";:: I- -;::!2. o =1:1:: Cf) Cf) < ::::I ~ < ~ :z o I- :::::> co 0::: I- CJ) o a... L!")g: WI- 0:::0 :::::>W (9----, -0 LLo::: a... o W N --.J <( 0::: W :z W (9 PrQject Traffic Assignment The data described above was used to assign the project-generated traffic to the study intersections. The net incremental project trips were assigned to the street system using the Traffix assignment model. All inbound vehicles were assigned to the driveway located off Stewart Street. Outbound vehicles were assigned to the driveway located off of Stewart Street and to the right-turn only exit driveway to be located off of Colorado Avenue. The effect of the turn restriction at the Colorado Avenue driveway was taken into consideration in the assignment, as were the peak hour eastbound left-turn restrictions at the intersections along Colorado Avenue between 26th Street and Centinela Avenue. The net new project trip assignments are presented in Figure 6. CUMULATIVE PLUS PROJECT TRAFFIC PROJECTIONS The project-generated traffic volumes were then added to the cumulative base traffic projections to yield the cumulative plus project traffic forecasts. The projected year 2012 traffic volumes with the proposed project are presented in Figure 7. These volumes are the basis for the analysis of the project's traffic-related impacts as described in the following chapters. 23 ~) \W; \0> #<%, \Y L- ~ o ~~ 1:5 Q) "0' L- a... ---- ~ e::- ~ <( ~~ Cf) w < o o Cf) Cf) < ::::I ~ < ~ (f) W ~ ::::) --.J o > 0::: ::::) o <D:r: W::::s;:::: 0:::<( ::::)W (9 a... LL>- --.J Z o l- t.) W --, o 0::: a... ~) \W; \0> #<%, \Y L.. ~ o i~ ---- ~ e::- ~ <( ~~ Cf) w < o o Cf) Cf) < ::::I ~ < ~ (f) w :2: :::::> --.J o > 0::: :::::> o :r: ::::e:::: e:::( w r- a... W I- 0:::0 :::::>w (9--' -0 LLo::: a... (f) :::::> --.J a... W > l- e:::( --.J :::::> :2: :::::> o IV. TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS The Year 2012 cumulative base and cumulative plus project traffic forecasts projected in the previous chapter and shown in Figures 4 and 7 were analyzed to determine the potential impacts of the proposed project on the surrounding street system. The following sections of the report provide a discussion of the criteria and methodologies used, summarize the results of the analysis including the identification of potentially impacted locations, and describe suggested mitigation measures for these locations. CRITERIA FOR DETERMINATION OF SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC IMPACT City of Santa Monica Significance Criteria The City of Santa Monica has established criteria for assessing whether project-related traffic increases result in significant impacts on operating conditions of intersections. The significance criteria are summarized in Table 6 and depend on the classification of the streets at the intersection (i.e., arterial or collector street) and the operating conditions of the intersection under cumulative traffic conditions. The potential significance of a project's impact is measured by either the change in average vehicular delay or by a change in the intersection LOS to an unacceptable condition. If the base LOS is F, however, significance is defined in terms of a change in V/C ratio (as calculated by the HCM operational method), since the average vehicular delay cannot be calculated using the HCM operational method if the intersection exhibits over- saturated traffic conditions. Using the criteria summarized in Table 6, a project would not be considered to have a significant impact if, for example, an arterial intersection operating at LOS 0 with the addition of project traffic and the incremental change in the average vehicle delay is less than 15 seconds. If, however, the intersection is operating at LOS E after the addition of project traffic and the average vehicle delay increases by any amount, this would be considered a significant project impact. All impacts in 26 TABLE 6 CITY OF SANTA MONICA SIGNIFICANT IMPACT CRITERIA ARTERIAL AND COLLECTOR INTERSECTIONS I FUTURE BASE SCENARIO I FUTURE PLUS PROJECT SCENARIO I IF LOS = A, B, OR C SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IF: ==> and is a collector street Average vehicle delay increase is.:: 15 seconds intersection or LOS becomes D, E, or F ==> and is an arterial Average vehicle delay increase is.:: 15 seconds intersection or LOS becomes E or F IF LOS = D SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IF: ==> and is a collector street Any net increase in average seconds of delay per vehicle intersection ==> and is an arterial Average vehicle delay increase is.:: 15 seconds intersection or LOS becomes E or F IF LOS = E SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IF: ==> and is a collector or Any net increase in average seconds of delay per vehicle arterial intersection IF LOS = F SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IF: ==> and is a collector or HCM V/C ratio net increase is.:: 0.005 arterial intersection LOS F are based on the VIC ratio, with project-related increases of 0.005 or greater considered significant. CUMULATIVE BASE OPERATING CONDITIONS The Year 2012 cumulative base (without project) traffic volumes shown in Figure 4 were analyzed using the level of service methodologies described in Chapter II to develop estimates of levels of service at the study intersections for the weekday morning and evening peak hours. These analyses assumed implementation of the baseline improvement described in Chapter III. The results of this analysis are summarized in the first columns of Table 7. Detailed level of service calculations are presented in Appendix C. As shown in Table 7, poor operating conditions (LOS E or F) are projected using the City of Santa Monica analysis methodology at nine of the 17 study intersections during one or both of the weekday peak periods. The study intersections projected to operate at unacceptable levels of service under future Year 2012 cumulative base conditions during one or both peak periods include the following: . Cloverfield Boulevard & Colorado Avenue Cloverfield Boulevard & Olympic Boulevard 26th Street & Santa Monica Boulevard Yale Street & Broadway Stewart Street & Colorado A venue Stewart Street & Olympic Boulevard Centinela Avenue & Santa Monica Boulevard Centinela Avenue & Colorado Avenue Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue . . . . . . . . PROJECT TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS The Year 2012 cumulative plus project traffic volumes shown in Figure 7 were analyzed to determine potential future operating conditions at the study intersections and were compared to cumulative base conditions to identify specific traffic impacts resulting from the addition of project-generated traffic. 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MT"""LOMLOLOo)o)OOOo)LO T"""M UNroo)Oo:::tMI'-T"""T"""M<OT"""T"""o:::tLOOrorororo<OMOOT"""o:::tNNMNLOO<ororororoM~ >;;~~~~666666666~CCCC6~~~~;~~~;6~CCCC6; ~o:: <(::J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WO<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~<(~ c..::c >->- >->- CC CC o 0 0 0 ~~ ~~ () () () () 2 2 2 2 o1l z~ ~] ] 8:8: ] 8:8:(j) 0"'2"E > > coco > COCO~ ~co ~~ W "E W ~~~ "E ~~~ ~ ~~~~-~ ~~Wwro ~ W ro ~ WOO_xW_xro_x ~5~ ~W~~OO~ro m~E~~ Cll :J > Cll :J55~:J~>~~cCllc CECC~~C~ o::OCD>~~~ro()~ ~ffi~~~ro~ ~ffi~~wffiw~wrowrow www~ w_ wCll ~- > :J () ~ > !3!~!>~.9~ ~3~<( ~~ ~~<~~w.~w-w<w~w.~w~w< _~_~_w C ~ ~ wow~wOWrowow~wOWrowo ~o~~()~~~O~~~o~~ ~~() ~ ~ ~ ~ () 1-:2: I- 5 I- ~ I- () 1-:2: I- 5 I- ~ t:: ~ t:: .0.. t:: S ~ :2: ~ 5 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ '0.. ~~~.~~ro~~~~~.~~ro~~~~ ~o~E~ ~S~~~o~~ ~E 6 0 6 >-..c C ..c ~ ..c 0 ..c >- w C w ~ w 0 .$ (5 .$ ~ .$ .~ ffi ~ ffi e ffi (5 ffi ~ ffi ~ u8uo~~~m~8~o~~~m~8 mUmOm~UmUCllUUUZ uo ci ~ z o ~ N ~ M ~ "<t ~ L{) ~ <0 ~ I'- ~ N M "<t L{) <0 I'- co (J) ~ . CD <J) - CD ell..c ~ () () ell Cii 0 . () c. ~ CD c...c -" ell () 15 0 ~ . c.!: C. . {l~EC.-g c () W ~.:: 8~-=co5- ~ Ci5 5 5 ~ .!: ~ ~ ~ 5 ~- ~ .2>.2>.~ ()o~~o> :..c :-e c.. c..:-e w-g.8.8E > 0 ~ ~ ~()>->-~ c..~..Cl..Cl >-W~~~ rolOwwc Ci5::;oo~ ~-l::;l::;~ - ro c C.- e~oog, c w () ().- o > c c ~ () ~.Q.Q 15 WwooC ~~~~~ w.- w w c.. . .1 ~ ] .E .E E ~ ;::'NM 15~ t~~~ Z Using the City of Santa Monica's traffic impact significance criteria, the results indicate that the proposed project would have a significant impact at four of the 17 study intersections: . Yale Street & Colorado Avenue (unsignalized worst approach) . Stewart Street & Colorado A venue . Stewart Street & Olympic Boulevard . Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue (unsignalized worst approach) TRAFFIC MITIGATION MEASURES The traffic impact analysis described above determined that development of the proposed project would create significant traffic impacts during one or more of the weekday peak periods at four of the study intersections using the City of Santa Monica analysis methodology and significant impact criteria. Mitigation measures were developed to address these impacts and their effectiveness was analyzed. Description of Mitigation Measures The mitigation program for the project includes measures to increase the capacity and/or efficiency of the roadway system at the impacted locations. The emphasis was to identify physical and/or operational improvements that could be implemented within the existing roadway right-of- way. The suggested intersection improvement measures for the significantly impacted intersections are described below. . Yale Street & Colorado Avenue - No feasible physical or operational mitigation measure has been identified for this intersection. Installation of a traffic signal would be the only effective means to reduce delay for the southbound stop-controlled movements on Yale Street. Installation of a signal, however, could negatively impact the adjoining residential neighborhood by encouraging more motorists to travel along Yale Street through the neighborhood, resulting in a more detrimental impact to the neighborhood than the stop- control delay at the intersection if the mitigation measure is not implemented. . Stewart Street & Colorado Avenue - Modify the traffic signal at this location to provide a protected-permitted phase for the westbound left-turn movement. Implementation of this mitigation measure would necessitate the provision of some combination of new signage, controller cabinets, poles, mast arms, detectors, and/or signal heads. 30 . Stewart Street & Olympic Boulevard - Due to physical constraints in light of the City's policy to avoid widening streets, no feasible project mitigation measures have been identified at this location. . Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue - Install a traffic signal and coordinate the new signal with the existing signal at Centinela Avenue (west)/Olympic Boulevard. The projected traffic volumes at the intersection satisfy standard traffic signal warrants (see Appendix E). The City of Los Angeles, however, has control over this location. Implementation of any improvements at this location would be dependent on factors outside of the control of both the City of Santa Monica and the project applicant, and the impact is therefore considered to be significant and unavoidable. Effectiveness of Traffic Mitigation Measures The effectiveness of the suggested mitigation measures was analyzed by re-evaluating the significantly impacted intersections where improvements have been proposed. Projected intersection operating conditions with the proposed mitigation measures are shown in the final columns in Table 7. Table 7 indicates that the project impacts would be fully mitigated at two of the four impacted intersections with the suggested mitigation measures: Stewart Street & Colorado Avenue and Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue. Though an effective mitigation measure is proposed for the intersection of Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue, the intersection falls under the control of the City of Los Angeles. Any improvements to the intersection would have to be made by the City of Los Angeles; therefore the impact to the intersection is considered to both significant and unavoidable. The mitigation measures proposed for the intersection of Stewart Street & Colorado were suggested to mitigate potential traffic impacts resulting from the proposed 2834 Colorado Avenue apartment project. The mitigation measure proposed for the intersection of Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue was also previously suggested in the environmental impact report for the New Roads Educational Village to mitigate potential traffic impact resulting from the proposed New Roads Educational Village and would be sufficient to mitigate the combined incremental impact of both proposed projects. 31 V. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET SEGMENT ANALYSIS This chapter presents an analysis of the proposed project's potential impacts on neighborhood street segments in the project vicinity. The analysis was conducted for the following street segments: . Princeton Street north of Colorado Avenue Harvard Street north of Colorado Avenue Yale Street north of Colorado Avenue Stanford Street north of Colorado Avenue Nebraska Avenue west of Franklin Street Stewart Street between Exposition Boulevard & Virginia Avenue (collector street) . . . . . Existing weekday average daily traffic (ADT) volume data was collected at each of these locations in November 2002 and July 2003. The daily traffic counts are provided in Appendix B. New incremental daily project-generated trips were assigned to the street network using the same geographic distribution pattern described in Chapter III. The existing and forecast daily street segment traffic volumes are presented in Table 8. CRITERIA FOR DETERMINATION OF SIGNIFICANT NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC IMPACT City of Santa Monica Significance Criteria The City of Santa Monica impact criteria applied to evaluate potential traffic impacts on street segments are based on the existing ADT and the projected level of increase that can be attributed to the project. The significant impact criteria for collector, feeder, and local streets are provided in Table 9. 32 !Q en co~ w<C ...JZ al<C <CI- I-u <C a.. 2: U u:: LL <C c::: l- e o o J: c::: o al J: " W Z W ::::l Z W > <C o e <C c::: o ...J o U -.:t M co N +-' ('-. c t5 (/) (/) Cll 0 0 0 0 .g ~ W W Z Z >- Z >- Z .c E 0)- (f.i Q) U -0 C 0 ::R ::R 0.. ::R 0.. ::R Cll 0 0 .c 0 0 E L[) E L[) u (/) L[) L[) ~ Q.) N N ~ N ~ N c '- + + + ~ + ~ O).c + + t5 (f.il- Q) B 0:: ~ (/) ::R ::R ::R ::R ::R ::R :::l ::R C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0:: o Cll (J) I'-- L[) C') ~ co .c 0 0 0 0 c:i 0 0) 0 C ~ .x w Q) I- g. I'-- co o Cll OJ OJ ~ co "<t "<t <(.c 0 I- C') (J) L[) L[) "<t ~ OJ (J) L[) (J) ~ 0 OJ 0 C') ~ N N <( OJ C') N "<t OJ ~ 0) .~ I- C') L[) N (J) ~ OJ I'-- OJ "<t (J) co wO I'-- 0 C') ~ N ~ .x <( OJ C') N "<t OJ W ~ C 0 0 ID 15 u ro ro ro ro ro t5 ~ <;::: U U U U U Q) 0 0 0 0 0 U5 .w ..J ..J ..J ..J ..J 0 (/) Cll 0 0 Q) :::l C Q) > <( Cll C .e :> C -0 0 C 15 Cll -0 U Co 0 ..J > Q) Q) Q) Q) Q) :::l :::l :::l :::l :::l C C C C ID 0 Q) Q) Q) Q) III > > > > ~ <( <( <( <( C 0 0 0 0 U5 0 :;::; -0 -0 -0 -0 C .w Cll Cll Cll Cll Q) :s2 ~ ID 0 0 0 0 :::l C 0 ID 0 0 ID 0 C Cll IDt.b ~ Q) 0 ~ 0 0 ~ 0 > U: U5 - - ID - U5 - <( ~ C 0 U5 0 0 0 - U5 Q) C ~ Cll 0 Q) 0 .c -0 .c .c -0 .c .:.t. W t Z ID t Co t U5 t 0 t (/) 0 0 0 - 0 Cll Q) Cll Q) U C C: C Q) C C C ..c 5 5 ..c C (t Cll ro Cll Q) Q) I >- U5 z U5 TABLE 9 CITY OF SANTA MONICA SIGNIFICANT IMPACT CRITERIA COLLECTOR, FEEDER, AND LOCAL STREETS COLLECTOR STREETS A transportation impact is significant if greater than 13,500 and there is a net increase* of one the Base Average Daily Traffic Volume trip or more in ADT due to project related traffic (ADT) is: greater than 7,500 but less than 13,500 and the project related traffic increases* the ADT by 12.5% or the ADT becomes 13,500 or more less than 7,500 and the project related traffic increases* the ADT by 25% FEEDER STREETS A transportation impact is significant if greater than 6,750 and there is a net increase* of one trip the Base Average Daily Traffic Volume or more in ADT due to project related traffic (ADT) is: greater than 3,750 but less than 6,750 and the project related traffic increases* the ADT by 12.5% or the ADT becomes 6,750 or more less than 3,750 and the project related traffic increases* the ADT by 25% LOCAL STREETS A transportation impact is significant if greater than 2,250 and there is a net increase* of one trip the Base Average Daily Traffic Volume or more in ADT due to project related traffic (ADT) is: greater than 1,250 but less than 2,250 and the project related traffic increases* the ADT by 12.5% or the ADT becomes 2,250 or more less than 1,250 and the project related traffic increases* the ADT by 25% Note: * Average Daily Traffic Volume "increase" denotes adverse impacts; "decrease" denotes beneficial impacts. NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT ANALYSIS As shown in Table 8, the application of the City of Santa Monica significance criteria for neighborhood traffic impacts indicates that the project would create a significant traffic impact on Yale Street north of Colorado Avenue and on Nebraska Avenue west of Franklin Street (local streets) . For local streets, such as the impacted sections of Yale Street and Nebraska Avenue, if the current ADT is greater than 2,250, the proposed project is considered to create a significant impact if there is a net increase of one trip or more. As indicated in Table 8, it is anticipated that the proposed project would exceed the thresholds on these street segments. NEIGHBORHOOD MITIGATION MEASURES As discussed above, a significant neighborhood traffic impact is projected for both Yale Street and Nebraska Avenue using the City of Santa Monica criteria. The magnitude of the existing traffic levels is such that the addition of even a single daily trip is considered significant. Short of full closure of the affected street segments, which would not be acceptable since they serve adjacent land uses and carry substantial traffic volumes that would then need to shift to other nearby streets, there are no mitigation measures that would fully eliminate the potential for even a single project trip to be added to these street segments. Therefore, these impacts are considered significant and unavoidable. 35 VI. CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ANALYSIS This section presents the CMP transportation impact analysis for the proposed project. This analysis was conducted in accordance with the transportation impact analysis (TIA) procedures outlined in the 2002 Congestion Management Program for Los Angeles County (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, June 2002). The CMP requires that, when an environmental impact report is prepared for a project, traffic and transit impact analyses be conducted for select regional facilities based on the quantity of project traffic expected to use these facilities. CMP TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS The CM P guidelines require that the first issue to be addressed is the determination of the geographic scope of the study area. The criteria for determining the study area for CMP arterial monitoring intersections and for freeway monitoring locations are the following: . All CMP arterial monitoring intersections where the proposed project will add 50 or more trips during either the morning or evening weekday peak hours of adjacent street traffic. . All CMP mainline freeway monitoring locations where the proposed project will add 150 or more trips in either direction during either of the weekday peak hours. The CMP arterial monitoring intersections nearest to the project site are the intersections of Santa Monica Boulevard & Bundy Drive, Santa Monica Boulevard & Cloverfield Boulevard, and Wilshire Boulevard & 26th Street. Based on the project trip generation estimates previously presented and a review of the project traffic volumes shown in Figure 6, the proposed project is not expected to add more than 50 vehicles per hour (vph) to any of these three locations during either peak hour. Therefore, a CMP arterial intersection analysis is not required. The nearest mainline freeway monitoring locations to the project site are 1-10 at Lincoln Boulevard, 1-10 east of Overland Avenue, and 1-405 north of Venice Boulevard. Based on the 36 incremental project trip generation estimates developed in Chapter III, the proposed project is not expected to add sufficient new traffic to exceed the freeway analysis criteria at these locations. Neither would the added project traffic exceed the CMP freeway analysis criteria on the segments of the 1-10 or 1-405 freeways closer to the project site that are not CM P monitoring locations but are more likely to be affected by the proposed project (e.g., 1-10 between 20th Street & Cloverfield Boulevard and Centinela Avenue, 1-10 between Centinela Avenue and 1-405, 1-405 north and south of Olympic Boulevard). Since incremental project- related traffic in any direction during either peak hour is projected to be less than the minimum criteria of 150 vph, no further CMP freeway analysis is required. CMP TRANSIT IMPACT ANALYSIS Potential increases in transit person trips generated by the proposed project were estimated as follows. Section 0.8.4 of the CMP provides a methodology for estimating the number of transit trips expected to result from a proposed project based on the projected number of vehicle trips. This methodology assumes an average vehicle ridership (A VR) factor of 1.4 in order to estimate the number of person trips to and from the project and then provides guidance regarding the percent of persons trips assigned to public transit depending on the type of use (commercial/other versus residential) and the proximity to transit services. The nearest designated CMP transit corridor is Santa Monica Boulevard. Since the project site is located approximately one-quarter mile from these services, the CMP guidelines estimate that approximately 5% of project person trips may use public transit to travel to and from the site. As discussed in Chapter III and shown in Table 8, the proposed project is expected to generate a net increase of approximately 57 vehicles during the a.m. peak hour and 70 vehicles during the p.m. peak hour. Applying the A VR factor of 1.4 to the estimated vehicle trips results in an estimated increase of 80 and 98 person trips during the morning and evening peak hours, respectively. Finally, assuming the 5% transit mode split suggested in the CMP, this results in the conclusion that the project could add approximately four new transit person trips in the weekday a.m. peak hour and five in the p.m. peak hour. 37 Given the existing headways of approximately 20 minutes (three buses per hour) in each direction during peak periods on Olympic Boulevard to the south and more frequent service on Santa Monica Boulevard to the north, this would translate to an average increase of one rider or less per bus during the peak hours. At this level of increase, project-related impacts on the regional transit system are not expected to be significant. 38 VII. PARKING AND SITE CIRCULATION ANALYSIS This chapter presents analyses of the adequacy of the proposed project parking supply to satisfy applicable City of Santa Monica code requirements and issues related to the project's proposed site access scheme. PARKING CODE ANALYSIS A parking code analysis was conducted for the proposed project. This analysis compared the proposed parking supply to City of Santa Monica code requirements to assess the ability of the project's proposed on-site parking supply to satisfy these requirements. Table 10 presents this analysis. Number of Parking Spaces The code analysis was conducted based on strict application of City of Santa Monica Municipal Code requirements4 to each of the individual elements of the proposed project, including the number of residential units by type (number of bedrooms). As shown in Table 10, this results in an estimated requirement for 228 parking spaces. The project is proposing to provide 228 parking spaces, which is the number required according to this analysis. These spaces would be located in the subterranean garage. 4 . .. . . City of Santa Monica Municipal Code, Section 9.04.10.08.040. 39 I- U W ., (/)0 (j)g: ~I- <l:Z ZW <I:~ ~o:: OZ~ .....W<I: w2: ...JWW mo:::::l ....-Z ~:::lW 0> W<I: 0::0 ~c ~~ ~o O::...J <1:0 a.u "It M co C\I .e.. (/) -0 Gl U ~ L[) (J) ..... "It (J) co co Cll .- ..... C'\I "It ..... C'\I C\I C\I 0 o..:::l ..... ..... C\I C\I (/) 0- Gl 0::: +-' +-' ~ ro +-' +-' C ..::: C C :::l C C :::l :::l Qj :::l :::l Gl 0 Qj -0 15 Qj Qj 0.. L[) 0 0.. Qj 00::: 0.. 0.. (/) ,E'g Gl Gl Gl (/) 0.. U U U Gl Gl Cll Cll Cll U 0 :52 0.. Cll U 0.. 0.. Cll Co (/) (/) (/) 0.. (/) 0.. (L ..... ..... L[) C'\I (/) ..... ..... ~ c :J - L[) 0 L[) (J) "It Qj ..... C'\I (J) I'-- "It ..... ..c E :::l Z 0' '6 +-' E :::l E E c ~ :J 0 0 0 0 0 0 - -0 E -0 -0 ~ 0 Gl 0 Gl Gl C Gl III 0 III III .~ -0 (/) ..... Gl ..... C'\I III 0 -0 Gl -0 ':;: 0 ... ro ro ro a. Gl :;::; :;::; :;::; ..c Gl c C c (/) Gl Gl Gl 0 ~ :J -0 -0 -0 - Ji! -0 .w .w .w l/) Gl Gl Gl Glt:: c 0::: 0::: 0::: (/) u 0 Cll Gl lll..c ...J Gl ~ ~ ~ U Q.(/) E .E .E .E Cll (/)~ 0 - 0.. U Cll Cll Cll (/) OIl/) c U, U, u, .8 c :::l 1 E E E (ij :i:c.. .w - ... ... 0 :::l :::l :::l ~ III :::l ...J 2: 2: 2: ;; a.(/) o "It o OJ o o "It o (J) c o t5 Gl (/) Gl -0 o o ro 0..-0 :~ ~ c C :::l :::l 2: e Cll Gl .~ Co o (/) 2: ~ 2 Cll C 0.. Cll (/) (/) g> 0:52 ~Co .- 0.. 0-0 Q) ~ ~ .s :::l 0- ~I~ ~ ~~;e: Compact Spaces The city code stipulates that 40% of visitor parking spaces may be built to compact stall standards. The project site plan indicates that 12 of the 29 visitor parking spaces (40%) would be compact spaces. SITE ACCESS EVALUATION The subterranean parking garage for the 2834 Colorado Avenue Apartment Project would be accessed via a driveway located on Stewart Street, providing direct access to the parking supply. This driveway would accommodate both entering and exiting vehicles. An additional one-way right-turn only driveway located on Colorado Avenue would accommodate exiting vehicles only. No potential operational issues have been identified with regard to this access scheme. 41 VIII. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS This study was undertaken to analyze the potential for traffic and parking impacts resulting from the proposed 2834 Colorado Avenue apartment project located on the eastern edge of the City of Santa Monica. The key findings and conclusions of the study are summarized below. . Project Description - The existing site currently contains approximately 38,000 square feet of industrial warehouse on approximately 1.76 acres of land. The proposed project consists of the demolition of the existing structures and the redevelopment of the project site to accommodate a 145-unit apartment complex and a subterranean garage. The project would provide a total of 228 parking spaces. . Study Area and Existing Traffic Conditions - Detailed intersection capacity and operation analyses were conducted at 17 intersections in the vicinity of the project site for weekday a.m. and p.m. peak hour conditions. Five of the study locations (Yale Street & Broadway, Stewart Street & Olympic Boulevard, Centinela Avenue & Santa Monica Boulevard, Centinela Avenue & Colorado Avenue, and Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue) currently operate at LOS E or F during the weekday a.m. and/or p.m. peak hours using the City of Santa Monica analysis methodology. This level of operation is unacceptable under City of Santa Monica standards. . Cumulative Base Traffic Conditions Without Project - Future traffic conditions in the study area were forecast for the year 2012 based on related projects data provided by the City of Santa Monica using the city's Traffix model. The cumulative base analyses indicated that nine of the 17 study intersections are projected to operate at unacceptable LOS E or F conditions during one or both of the peak hours prior to development of the proposed project. . Project Trip Generation - The proposed project is expected to generate approximately 961 daily trips, 74 morning peak hour trips, and 90 afternoon peak hour trips on weekdays. When the existing uses on the project site are considered, the net incremental increase in trips generated by the project is estimated at approximately 771 net new daily trips, 57 net new trips during the a.m. peak hour, and 70 net new trips during the p.m. peak hour. . Project Traffic Impacts - Based on significance criteria used by the City of Santa Monica, this level of net trip generation is projected to result in four significantly-impacted intersections near the project site: Yale Street & Colorado Avenue, Stewart Street & Colorado Avenue, Stewart Street & Olympic Boulevard, and Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue. No significant CMP intersection, freeway, or transit impacts are anticipated. 42 . PrQject Traffic Mitigation Measures - Mitigation measures were identified to fully mitigate two of the four intersections significantly impacted by the proposed project (Stewart Street & Colorado Avenue and Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue). The intersection of Centinela Avenue & Nebraska Avenue, however, falls under the jurisdiction of the City of Los Angeles, and it is therefore considered significant and unavoidable since implementation of the mitigation measure is not under the control of the City of Santa Monica. No feasible mitigation was identified for the intersections of Yale Street & Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street & Olympic Boulevard, so impacts at these locations are also significant and unavoidable. . Neighborhood Traffic Impacts - Based on significance criteria used by the City of Santa Monica, the project is projected to create significant impacts on two neighborhood street segments: Yale Street north of Colorado Avenue, and Nebraska Avenue west of Franklin Street. No mitigation measures have been identified that would mitigate these impacts to a less than significant level, and these impacts are therefore considered significant and unavoidable. . Parking - City of Santa Monica code requires that the project provide a total of 228 parking spaces on site, based on the proposed uses. The project would provide 228 parking spaces, satisfying the code requirement. 43 REFERENCES City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica Municipal Code, November 2001. EIP Associates, New Roads Educational Village Draft Environmental Impact Report, January 2003. Institute of Transportation Engineers, Trip Generation, Sixth Edition, 1997. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, 2002 Congestion Management Program for Los Angeles County, June 2002. Transportation Research Board, Highway Capacity Manual, 2000. Transportation Research Board, Highway Capacity Manual, Special Report 209, 1994. 44 rr Appendix F Historic Resources Report Historic Resources Report 2834 CoLorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CaLifornia 8 July 2003 Prepa red for: Rincon Consultants, Inc. 790 East Santa Clara Street Ventura CA 93001 Prepa red by: SIISAN BUENAVENTURA Dill RESEARCM ASS9CIATES 5 5 I'IISTOR.1C . R.ES~UR.CES . CONSULTING 1132l. WOODLAND DRIVE I SANTA rAULA CA ~30GO I 1. Introduction This report was prepared for the purpose of assisting the City of Santa Monica, California, in their compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as it relates to historic resources, in connection with the construction of a 145 unit apartment complex with 228 parking spaces. The buildings extant on the 1.76-acre project site at 2834 Colorado Avenue include two rows of industrial buildings with a common rear wall and two separate buildings at the front of the property. The proposed project will result in the demolition of all of these buildings. [Figure 1] This report will assess the historical and architectural significance of this property in accordance with the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) Criteria for Evaluation and the criteria for City of Santa Monica historic landmark designation. A determination will be made as to whether adverse environmental impacts on historic resources may occur as a consequence of the proposed project, and mitigation measures recommended, as appropriate. This report was prepared by San Buenaventura Research Associates of Santa Paula, California (Judy Triem, Historian; Mitch Stone, Preservation Planner), for Rincon Consultants, Inc., of Ventura, California, and is based on a field investigation and research conducted in June and July, 2003. 2. Administrative Setting The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires evaluation of project impacts on historic resources, including properties "listed in, or determined eligible for listing in, the California Register of Historic Resources [or] included in a local register of historical resources." A resource is eligible for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources if it meets any of the criteria for listing, which are: A. Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of California's history and cultural heritage; B. Is associated with the lives of persons important in our past; C. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of an important creative individual, or possesses high artistic values; or D. Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. The California Register may also include properties listed in "local registers" of historic properties. A "local register of historic resources" is broadly defined in ~5020.1 (k), as "a list of properties officially designated or recognized as historically significant by a local government pursuant to a local ordinance or resolution." Local registers of historic properties come essentially in two forms: (1) surveys of historic resources conducted by a local agency in accordance with Office of Historic Preservation procedures and standards, adopted by the local agency and maintained as current, and (2) landmarks designated under local ordinances or resolutions. (Public Resources Code ~~ 5024.1, 21804.1, 15064.5) By definition, the California Register of Historic Resources also includes all "properties formally determined eligible for, or listed in, the National Register of Historic Places," and certain specified State Historical Landmarks. The majority of "formal determinations" of NRHP eligibility occur when properties are evaluated by the State Office of Historic Preservation in connection with federal environmental review procedures (Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966). Formal determinations of eligibility also occur when properties are nominated to the NRHP, but are not listed due to owner objection. The criteria for determining eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) have been developed by the National Park Service. Properties may qualify for NRHP listing if they: A. are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or B. are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or C. embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a FIGU RE 1. Location Map. Source: USGS 7.5' Quadrangle: Beverely Hills, 1995. San Buenaventura Research Associates Historic Resources Report: 2834 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica (2) significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or D. have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. According to the National Register of Historic Places guidelines, the "essential physical features" of a property must be present for it to convey its significance. Further, in order to qualify for the NRHP, a resource must retain its integrity, or "the ability of a property to convey its significance." The seven aspects of integrity are: Location (the place where the historic property was constructed or the place where the historic event occurred); Design (the combination of elements that create the form, plan, space, structure, and style of a property); Setting (the physical environment of a historic property); Materials (the physical elements that were combined or deposited during a particular period of time and in a particular pattern or configuration to form a historic property); Workmanship (the physical evidence of the crafts of a particular culture or people during any given period of history or prehistory); Feeling (a property's expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of a particular period of time), and; Association (the direct link between an important historic event or person and a historic property). The relevant aspects of integrity depend upon the National Register criteria applied to a property. For example, a property nominated under Criterion A (events), would be likely to convey its significance primarily through integrity of location, setting and association. A property nominated solely under Criterion C (design) would usually rely primarily upon integrity of design, materials and workmanship. The California Register procedures include similar language with regard to integrity. The minimum age criterion for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and the California Register of Historic Resources (CRHR) is 50 years. Properties less than 50 years old may be eligible for listing on the NRHP if they can be regarded as "exceptional;' as defined by the NRHP procedures, or in terms of the CRHR, "if it can be demonstrated that sufficient time has passed to understand its historical importance" (Chapter 11, Title 14, ~4842(d)(2)) 3. Impact Thresholds and Mitigation According to PRC ~21084.1, "a project that may cause a substantial change in the significance of an historical resource is a project that may have a significant effect on the environment." The Public Resources Code broadly defines a threshold for determining if the impacts of a project on an historic property will be significant and adverse. By definition, a substantial adverse change means, "demolition, destruction, relocation, or alterations," such that the significance of an historical resource would be impaired (PRC ~5020.1(6)). For purposes of NRHP eligibility, reductions in a resource's integrity (the ability of the property to convey its significance) should be regarded as potentially adverse impacts. Further, according to the CEQA Guidelines, "an historical resource is materially impaired when a project... [d]emolishes or materially alters in an adverse manner those physical characteristics of an historical resource that convey its historical significance and that justify its inclusion in, or eligibility for, inclusion in the California Register of Historical Resources [or] that account for its inclusion in a local register of historical resources pursuant to section 5020.1(k) of the Public Resources Code or its identification in an historical resources survey meeting the requirements of section 5024.1(g) of the Public Resources Code, unless the public agency reviewing the effects of the project establishes by a preponderance of evidence that the resource is not historically or culturally significant." The lead agency is responsible for the identification of "potentially feasible measures to mitigate significant adverse changes in the significance of an historical resource." The specified methodology for determining if impacts are mitigated to less than significant levels are the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, and Reconstructing Historic Buildings and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings (1995), publications of the National Park Service. (PRC ~ 15064. 5 ( b) (3-4)) Historic Resources Report: 2834 CoLorado Avenue, Santa Monica (3) 4. HistoricaL Setting The area which is now the City of Santa Monica was originally a part of the Rancho San Vicente, a land grant given to Francisco Sepulveda in 1828 for his services as a soldier for the Mexican government and confirmed in 1839 by Governor Alvarado. Sepulveda built three houses on his rancho which also contained an orchard and 500 head of cattle, along with 50 head of sheep. He died in 1853 having willed his rancho to his wife Ramona. Prior to the establishment of Santa Monica, a trail crossed the site of what would eventually become Santa Monica to the foot of what is now Colorado Avenue. This trail was used by teams of oxen hauling brea from Hancock Ranch tar pits to a small wharf extending into Santa Monica Bay. In 1872 Colonel R.S. Baker of San Francisco, a "forty-niner," purchased Rancho San Vicente from the Sepulveda heirs for $55,000 in order to establish a sheep ranch. He later purchased adjoining property to the northwest and southeast which he stocked with sheep. A wealthy Nevada senator, John P. Jones, purchased two-thirds interest in the Baker ranch in 1875 and a wharf and railroad to Los Angeles were initiated. The town of Santa Monica was laid out and recorded on July 10, 1875, and was bounded on the northwest by Montana Avenue, on the southeast by Railroad Avenue (now Colorado) on the northeast by 26th Street and on the southwest by the Pacific Ocean. A lively auction of lots followed with people coming from all over to purchase land. The Santa Monica Outlook began publication in November of 1875 announcing that "Santa Monica continues to advance. We now have a wharf... two hotels, one handsome clubhouse... two private schools." Jones built the Los Angeles and Independence railroad from Santa Monica to Los Angeles. Santa Monica, residents believed, was destined to become a great port city, but events in 1876 dashed those hopes, when the Southern Pacific Railroad was completed to Los Angeles. Awarded the Los Angeles to San Pedro narrow gauge railroad as a bonus, SP began a rate war that resulted in the sale of Jones' Santa Monica-Los Angeles railroad to Southern Pacific, who immediately increased rates and diverted business to San Pedro. Following this loss, Santa Monica continued to have problems, including a smallpox epidemic and a severe drought that brought an end to the local sheep industry. Baker and Jones tried to stem the tide of a dwindling population by encouraging tourism and making Santa Monica a resort community. These first efforts were not very successful and by 1880 lots that once brought hundreds of dollars were selling for as little as ten cents down. The boom of the late 1880s in Southern California had some revitalizing effect on Santa Monica with a revival of home building and new hotels. In 1890-91, Collis P. Huntington, president of Southern Pacific, attempted to transform Santa Monica into a regional port city, building a large new wharf for the purpose and aggressively lobbying the U.S. Congress for improvement funding. Ultimately, however, the City of Los Angeles won the long battle, and the federal port improvement funds went to San Pedro. Santa Monica fell back upon tourism and began a campaign to advertise itself as a residential and resort community. In 1892 an amusement park was built in Ocean Park, known as South Santa Monica, along the beach, and the Santa Fe and Santa Monica Railroad built a line and station to encourage tourists and advertised excursions to "the Coney Island of the Pacific." Visitors were also attracted to the new golf courses and race tracks that staged automobile races between 1909 and 1916. Santa Monica incorporated as a charter city in 1907. Although Santa Monica had been growing steadily since the late 1880s, it was the boom of the 1920s when the greatest growth occurred. People from the East and Midwest were attracted to Santa Monica's mild climate and graceful residential areas. Within easy commuting distance of Hollywood, Santa Monica became a favorite among actors, who built elaborate summer beach houses there. Historic Resources Report: 2834 CoLorado Avenue, Santa Monica (4) Also during the 1920s, Donald W. Douglas began his small aircraft company that eventually became the Douglas Aircraft Company, one of the world's largest aircraft manufacturers during the 1940s and 1950s. The main plant was located on eighteen acres on Ocean Avenue. Other manufacturing plants were built in Santa Monica during this time period, some on land outside of the original city boundaries. Such was the case with the small incubator buildings on the project site. The irregular shaped block bounded by Colorado Avenue, Stewart Street, Nebraska Avenue and Stanford Street contained numerous commercial and industrial buildings including an airplane parts warehouse, a printing shop, sign manufacturer, a trailer park and several parking lots. 5. Property History and Description History of site development The existing buildings on the project site were constructed primarily between 1948 and 1969 with a few smaller buildings and additions built through 1983. The first building permit for this property at 2834 Colorado Avenue in September of 1937 indicates that a four room 20 by 20 foot dwelling was to be constructed by owner, applicant, S. Maeda. The permit showed that greenhouses already existed on the site. These buildings are no longer extant. Construction began on the present buildings in April of 1948, when a steel and masonry building was constructed for use as "material yards". The owner and contractor was Building Center Corporation, a construction business. In November of 1948 a storage shed and incinerator were built measuring 22 feet by 40 feet, a 9 foot by 10 foot washroom building, and another 24 feet by 120 feet storage shed with a metal roof. [Photos 1-8] In April of 1949 a steel cement silo, measuring 10 feet by 6 feet 6 inches was built for use as a concrete mixing plant by owner Tomb Concrete Company. This structure no longer exits. In April of 1951 a 7 foot high masonry wall was constructed apparently along the street side of the project site. [Photo 12] In September 1951 an additional storage shelter was constructed measuring 20 feet by 28 feet for W. P. Harding, lessee. In February 1957 a two-story office over garage of wood frame stucco with composition roof was constructed measuring 22 feet by 32 feet. [Photo 11 ] A one story masonry and stucco 40 foot by 22 foot storage building was constructed on the east side of the parcel in December 1960 for owner Building Center Corporation. In December 1965 a one story 30 foot by 50 foot stucco building was added at the rear west side of the parcel for commercial use by then owner M. Brock. In November 1969 the two one-story concrete block building facing Colorado Avenue were built for use as warehouses by owner Bay Building Exchange. [Photos 9-10] In August 1971 two 20 foot by 20 foot concrete block one story buildings with composition roofs were constructed on the west side of the parcel for Bay Builders Exchange. Finally, in April 1983 a three-sided addition containing 315 square feet was made to the building at the rear eastern corner. The property has been used for a wide variety of commercial and industrial operations. Bay Screens and Shades appears to be one of the oldest businesses on the property, operating since 1953. The development appears to have started out as a construction business with a small concrete mixing plant which was eventually removed. The owners from 1948 through the 1960s were the Building Center Corporation. Numerous other small companies occupied the buildings during their history, including more recently general contractors, auto repair facilities, cabinet making, welding, machine shops, arts and crafts shops and a firearms shop. Physical Description The deep, narrow parcel (120 feet by 640 feet) contains two rows of buildings facing each other with a Historic Resources Report: 2834 CoLorado Avenue, Santa Monica (5) parking lot between. This is a collection of buildings with common walls built at different times and using a variety of materials. The buildings are primarily one story in height with flat composition or metal roofs. Some buildings have aluminum frame windows, while others feature large openings with sliding doors. The buildings are connected at the rear with concrete masonry walls. The buildings are constructed of various materials including concrete block, metal siding, stucco, and plywood siding. A few small freestanding buildings were constructed within parking area during the last 20 years. The two large buildings fronting onto Colorado Avenue are concrete block with flat roofs and aluminum frame windows. Presently the buildings house 50 individual storefronts or bays with some businesses occupying more than one storefront or bay. Description of Surrounding Neighborhood Adjacent to the project site across Stewart Street are recently constructed two-story and taller office and industrial buildings. Adjacent to the project site on the northwest is a grouping of manufacturing buildings with a layout similar to that of the project site. These buildings were probably constructed at the same time as those on the project site, circa 1940s and later. Across Colorado Avenue are a mixture of one story single family residences and apartment buildings from the 1910s through the 1950s. 6. ELigibility of Historic Resources National and California Registers: Significance, Eligibility and Integrity Of the buildings on the subject property which are at least 50 years of age, none appear to be eligible for the NRHP and CRHR under Criterion A (significant historical events). While they are generally associated with industrial and commercial development in Santa Monica, the available evidence does not suggest that they played any notable role in that development. The property does not appear to be potentially eligible under Criterion B (lives of persons significant in our past). The property changed hands frequently, and housed an even larger number of lessees. The property does not appear to be potentially eligible under under Criterion C (design and construction). The buildings are sheds and offices built of various materials including concrete block, metal siding and stucco and been subject to numerous additions and alterations. They are especially unremarkable within the overall context of Santa Monica, which generated many architecturally notable commercial and industrial buildings during the 1940s through the 1950s. Properties less than 50 years of age may be eligible if they can be found to be "exceptionaL" While no hard and fast definition for "exceptional" is provided in the NRHP literature, the special language developed to support nominating these properties was clearly intended to accommodate properties which demonstrate a level of importance such that their historical significance can be understood without the passage of time. In general, according to NRHP literature, eligible "exceptional" properties may include, "resources so fragile that survivors of any age are unusual. [Exceptionalness] may be a function of the relative age of a community and its perceptions of old and new. It may be represented by a building or structure whose developmental or design value is quickly recognized as historically significant by the architectural or engineering profession [or] it may be reflected in a range of resources for which the community has an unusually strong associative attachment." None of the subject buildings appear to rise to the exceptional level. Local Significance and Eligibility The California Environmental Quality Act defines as historically significant all properties listed in "local registers" of historic properties. Local registers include lists "of properties officially designated or recognized as historically significant by a local government pursuant to a local ordinance or resolution," and surveys of historic resources maintained as current by the local agency. These properties are Historic Resources Report: 2834 CoLorado Avenue, Santa Monica (6) "presumed to be historically or culturally significant... unless the preponderance of the evidence demonstrates that the resource is not historically or culturally significant." (PRC ~~ 5024.1, 21804.1, 15064.5) According to Section 9.36.100 of the Santa Monica City Code, Landmark or Historic District designation criteria, (a) ... the Landmarks Commission may approve the landmark designation of a structure, improvement, natural feature or an object if it finds that it meets one or more of the following criteria: 1. It exemplifies, symbolizes, or manifests elements of the cultural, social, economic, political or architectural history of the City. 2. It has aesthetic or artistic interest or value, or other noteworthy interest or value. 3. It is identified with historic personages or with important events in local, state or national history. 4. It embodies distinguishing architectural characteristics valuable to a study of a period, style, method of construction, or the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship, or is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or historical type valuable to such a study. 5. It is a significant or representative example of the work or product of a notable builder, designer or architect. 6. It has a unique location, a singular physical characteristic, or is an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community or the City. (b) ... a geographic area or a noncontiguous grouping of thematically related properties may be designated a Historic District if the City Council finds that such area meets one of the following criteria: 1. Any of the criteria identified in Section 9.36.100(a) 1 through 6. 2. It is a noncontiguous grouping of thematically related properties or a definable area possessing a concentration of historic, scenic or thematic sites, which contribute to each other and are unified aesthetically by plan, physical development or architectural quality. 3. It reflects significant geographical patterns, including those associated with different eras of settlement and growth, particular transportation modes, or distinctive examples of park or community planning. 4. It has unique location, a singular physical characteristic, or is an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community or the City. The grouping of buildings at 2834 Colorado Avenue do not (1) exemplify elements of the cultural, social, economic, political or architectural history of Santa Monica. Although they are part of the commercial- industrial development of the city, they do not exemplify that history. The buildings are not of (2) aesthetic or noteworthy interest. They have not been (3) identified with any historic persons or with important events in local, state or national history. They do not (4) embody distinguishing architectural characteristics or are rare examples of an architectural design, but are rather commonplace buildings used for commercial-industrial purposes. No notable builders or architects (5) are associated with the construction of these buildings, nor are any (6) unique location or singular physical cha racteristics. This property by itself does not meet any of the criteria as an individual landmark. Further, it does not appear to meet the criteria as a historic district, because most of the manufacturing businesses that once existed in the vicinity no longer remains. Conclusion The subject property does not appear to be eligible for listing on the NRHP, CRHR or for inclusion on the City of Santa Monica historic landmarks or districts list. Therefore, the property should not be regarded as an environmental resource for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act. Historic Resources Report: 2834 CoLorado Avenue, Santa Monica (7) 7. Project Impacts This project will not result in an adverse environmental impact on historic resources. Historic Resources Report: 2834 CoLorado Avenue, Santa Monica (8) 8. SeLected Sources City of Santa Monica building permits, 1937 through present. Gebhard, David and Robert Winter. Architecture in Los Angeles, A Compleat Guide. Salt Lake City: Gibbs M. Smith, 1985. Heumann, Leslie. City of Santa Monica Historic Resources Survey, Phase 3, 1994. Los Angeles. A Guide to the City and its Environs. New York: Hastings House, 1951. National Register Bulletin 15: How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Interagency Resources Division, nd. National Register Bulletin 22: Guidelines for Evaluating and Nominating Properties that have Achieved Significance within the Last Fifty Years. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Interagency Resources Division, nd. Parkinson Field Associates. Historic Resources Inventory Update for the City of Santa Monica. Final Report, September 30, 1995. Robinson, W.W. Ranchos become Cities. Pasadena, CA: San Pasqual Press, 1939. Sanborn Maps: 1960. Spalding, William A. History and Reminiscences Los Angeles City and County California, Vol. I. Los Angeles, CA: J.R. Finnell & Sons Publishing Company, 1930. PHOTO 1. 2834 Colorado Avenue, project site, facing south (18 June 2003). PHOTO 2. Project site, facing southwest (18 June 2003). San Buenaventura Research Associates PHOTO 3. Project site, facing southwest (18 June 2003). PHOTO 4. Project site, facing south (18 June 2003). San Buenaventura Research Associates PHOTO 5. Project site, facing west (18 June 2003). PHOTO 6. Project site, facing south (18 June 2003). San Buenaventura Research Associates PHOTO 7. Project site, facing east (18 June 2003). PHOTO 8. Project site, facing east (18 June 2003)8 San Buenaventura Research Associates PHOTO 9. Project site, front building on Colorado Ave., facing southwest (18 June 2003). PHOTO 10. Front building along Colorado Avenue, facing northeast (18 June 2003). San Buenaventura Research Associates PHOTO 11. Project site, facing south (18 June 2003). PHOTO 12. Project site, exterior wall along Stewart Street, facing east (18 June 2003). San Buenaventura Research Associates rr Appendix G Responses to Comments on the Draft EI R 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR RESPONSES TO COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT EIR INTRODUCTION This appendix to the Envil"onmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed 2834 Colorado Avenue Project is the response to the comment letters submitted to the City of Santa Monica on the Draft EIR. The Draft EIR was ch'culated for a public review period that began on September 26~ 2003 and concluded on November 10, 2003. Each written comment that the City received is included in this section. Responses to these comments have been prepared to adch'ess the environmental concerns raised by the commentors and to indicate where and how the EIR addresses pertinent environmental issues. The Draft EIR and this Resp01l5es to Comments section collectively comprise the Final Ern. for the proposed project. Any changes made to the text of the Draft Ern. correcting informationJ data or intent, other than minor typographical corrections, are noted as changes from the Draft EIR. Each comment letter has been numbered sequentially and each sepamte issue raised by the commentor, if more than one, has been assigned a letter. The responses to each comment identify first the number of the comment letter, and then the letter assigned to each issue (Response lA, for example, indicates that the response is for the first issue raised in commentletter 1). COl\tIl\1ENTORS on the DRAFT EIR Commentors on the Draft Ern. include public agencies, a law finn, a business owner, and local residents. The City received nine comment letters on the Draft EIR within the public comment period. Commentors and the page number on which each comment letter can be found are listed below. Commentors Page No. 1. Terry RobertsJ Du'ector, Governor's Office of Planning and Research, State Clearinghouse 2. Stephen Buswell, IGRj CEQA Branch Chief, California Department of Transportation, District 7 3. Esther Tam, Transportation Engineer, City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation 4. Natalie Lewis, Resident, Colorado Avenue 5. Hal"old Bil"thJ President, Princeton Villas Homeowners Association 6. Greg Amato, Owper, Bay Screens, 2834 Colorado Avenue #32 7. A. Micl1elle Page and Dan Adams, Residents, Yale Street 8. M. Ariel Malek, Resident, Yale Street 9. Kenneth 1. Kutcher, Attorney, Harding, Larmore, Kutcher, & Kozal 3 6 11 13 19 22 24 28 32 r City of Santa Monica - 1 - 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR TEXT CHANGES TO DRAFT EIR No changes to the text of the Draft EIR were required based on the comment letters received during the public comment period. However, upon further review of the Draft EIR by City staff, the following minor change was made to Section 2.0, Project Description. Page 2-1 of Section 2.0, Project Description, the following change is made to the text: Building:::; ~or:_g the interior lot line:J 'would be orier.tcd tov:md the courtyrrrdo, while buildingo along Colorado Avenue nr:.d Stc'i\Tart Street ,,:ould bc oriented toward the ctrecto. The building frontages along Stewart Street and Colorado Avenue would be enhanced with visually interesting features, including patios and landscaping. ,.. City of Santa Monica -2- "'. J.L.I'&'.UI. Gray Davis Govemor S TAT ~ OF C A L I FOR N I A Governor's Office of Plannjng and Research State Clearinghouse ~ut. ~~ (~~ ~oru~ Tal FlnllBj' lnlerim Direotor :\!ovember 12, 2003 J- .?atrick Clarke ':ity of Sanra Monica 1685 Main Street, Room 212 ,3anta Monica, CA 90401 :3ubject: 2834 Colorado Avenue .,CH#: 2003061052 :')ear Patrick Clarke: 'rhe State Clearinghouse submitted the above named Draft Em. to selected state agencies for review. The l-cview period closed on November 10, 2003. and no state agencies submitted commelJ,~ by tl1at date. 11rls fetter acknowledges that you bave complied with me State Clearinghouse review requirements for draft unvironmentaJ documenUl, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. jllease caU the State CleELrlnghouse at (916) 445-0613 if you have any que$tions regarding the I :nviromneotal review process. If you have a question about the above-namlld proj ect, please refer to the I en-digit Srate Clearinghouse number when coutacting this office. : Hncerely, ...~~ 'LCrry Roberts i)irector, State Clearinghollse lO: [d L l l\OIJ (OJ ': I I '1 . ~. ~~. I , II, I" IJ" I t I' ~ . I 1400 TENTH STRF.ET P,O. BOX 3044 SACRAM!:NTO, CAl.IFORNIA 95812-3044 (9 J 6)4'15.0613 FAX(916)n3.30 I g I'/wlV.~pr.ca.Bnv or!'W:'. - 3 - d.' n"_ --:'-::':.;;\lnt Details R~port state Clearinghouse Data Base S.'H# 2003061052 I frOject -ritfe 2834 Colorado Avenue Lpad Agtncy Santa Monica, CIty of lype EIR Draft EIR DescrTl"Uon The project involves development of 145 multi-family resldenUal units arranged In 16 separate I buildings arourld three oentral courtyards. The proJect IMludes a one.level subterranean parkIng garage containing 226 spaces. Driveways would be provided on Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street, ~ead A'.Jency CQntact , N ime PatrIck Clarke A9l ncy City of Santa Monica PI; one 310-458-8341 SiT/ail Add, 'ass 1685 Main Stree~ Room 212 CIty Santa Monica p.roject L.ocation County Los Angeles CTty Santa Monica I ReUion Cr.oss S~ tets Stewart & Colorado Avenue : Parr;el No. 4268-002-001 I Towmhlp Range I Fax Statle CA Zip 90401 Secfion Base IPrroximty to: . HighHays 1 A/rF orts RallHays WawnrllYs Sch oo's , Land Use LIght ManUfacturing and Studio Dlstrlet Pr'pjer;t ISlIues AeslhetlcNisval; AI( Quality; Archaeologlo.Hlslcrlc; Drainage/AbsorptIon: GeologiclSeismlci NoIse: PopulatlonfHousing Balance; Public Ser/lces; Schools/Unlvafsltl!;!s;Sol1 Erosion/Compaction/Grading; Traffic/Circulation; Water Qualily; Water Supply, Growf.h InducIng; Cumulalive Effects Revie'v'ng Resources Agency; Department of Conservation; Depadment of .Fhh and Game, Regh;m 5: Office of Ager eTes Historic Preservation: Department of Parks and Rec:re~rion; Departmenl ofWQller R.eso~rce$; Regional Water Quality Control Board, Region 4; Department of ,oxic Substances Control; CalifornIa Highway Flatrol; Callrans, Dlstrlct 7; Department of HousIng and Community DevelopmeJ'lI;; Native American Heritage CommissIon; state Lands Commission 1 I D~te Ref;e;ved 09/2.6/2003 Stert of Review 09/26/2003 End ofRevlew 11/1012.003 Note: Blanks in dale fields result frorr . - _4 :cil;!nt inforf1l"llion provided by lead agency. 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR Letter 1 CONll'vIENTOR: Teny Roberts, Director, GovaTIor's Office of Planning and Research, State Clearinghouse DATE: November 12, 2003 RESPONSE: The cornmentor states that the State Cleaxinghouse submitted the EIR to selected state agencies for review, that no state agencies submitted COlllil1ents to the Cleminghouse, and.that State Clearinghouse requixements pursuant to CEQA have been met. No response is necessary. r City of Santa Monica -5- STATE OF CALIFORNIA-BUStNESS TRAblSPORTATION ANn HOTJBrNG AGENCY GM Y Dt\ VIR. Gnvernor DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT 7, REGIONAL PLANNING IGRJCEQ~ BRANOH 120 SQ. SPRING ST. LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 PHONE (213) 897-6536 FAX (213) 897-1337 E.Mail:NereeI3Yerjanian@dllt.ca . gov '2 Flex your power! Be energy efficient! Mr. Patrick Clarket Planner Planning Department City of Santa Monica 1685 Main St., Room 212 Santa Monica, CA 90401 IGR/CEQA# 031001NY DEIR/145 Unit Apartments 2834 Colorado Blvd. S CH#2 003 06 1052 LA!lOtOOll October 3,2003 Dear Mr. Clarke: Thank you for including the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in the environmental review process for the proposed 145 Unit Apartments at 2834 Colorado . Blvd. in Santa Mornca. The Department as a commenting agency under CEQA has jurisdiction superceding that of MT A in identifYing the freeway analysis needed for this project. Caltrans is responsible for obtaining measures that will off-set project vehicle trip generation that worsens Caltrans facilities and hence, it does not adhere to the eMP guide of 150 or more vehicle trips added before freeway analysis is needed. MTA's Congestion Management Program in acknowledging the Department's role, stipulates iliat Caltrans must be consulted to identify specific locations to be analyzed on the State Highway System. fH: 6 ~ g- lDD roo '/',., Y~lJ . .-, 1 ' " '.: ~,! i,no!,' 10 ,1.,1/8 I J' I. ),., 'f f L oJ " .. . ,,. '" ~~ '. W j iU A.U;) -6- Mr. Clarke October 3,2003 , Please provide additional Traffic Impact Analysis as follows: 1. Traffic impacts on State Highways 1 & 10 and all significantly impacted ramps, streets, crossroads and controlling intersections, as well as analysis of existing and future conditions. I 2. Traffic volume counts to. inctude anticipated AM and PM peak-hour volumes. 3. Level of service (LOS) before and after development. 4. Future conditions, which include both, project and project plus cumulative traffic generated up to the completion year. 5. Discussion of mitigation measures appropriate to alleviate anticipated traffic impacts, including sharing of mitigation costs. Please reference the Department's Traffic Impact Study Guideline on the Internet at http://www.dot.ca. govlhq/traffops/devel opserv/operationalsvstems/reportsltiSLrui de.pdf Apply the equitable share responsibility formula on page 2 of Appendix B (Methodology for Calculating Equitable Mitigation Measures) and set aside a portion of transportation Impact Fees generated for the future State Highway improvement projects. To expedite the review process, you may send two copies to the Wldersigned at the following address~ Stephen Buswell IGRlCEQA Branch Chief Caltrans District 07 Regional Transportation Planning Office 1208. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 If you have any questions regarding this response, please call the Project Engineer/Coordinator Mr. Yerjanian at (213) 897-6536 and refer to IGRlCEQA # 03100lNY. Sincerely, TEPHEN J. BUSWELL IGRlCEQA Branch Chief Transportation Planning Office "Cal/rem; improves mobility oerosa California" -7- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR Letter 2 COMMENTOR: Stephen BuswelL IGR/ CEOA Branch Chief, California Deparhnent of Transportation, District 7 DATE: October 3,2003 RESPONSE: The comment letter states that Caltrans has jurisdiction superceding that of MTA in identifying freeway analysis requirements. The letter requests that additional traffic impact analysis be provided for State Highways 1 and 10 and all significantly impacted ramps, streets, crossroads and controlling intersections, including analysis of existing and future h'affic conditions and mitigation measures appropriate to mitigate anticipated traffic impacts. TIle comment letter also references Caltrans' Traffic Impact Study guidelines, requests that sharing of mitigation costs be discussed, and requests that a portion of Transportation Impact Fees generated be set aside for future state highway improvement projects. Each of these issues is discussed below. · Caltrans Jurisdiction - It is acknowledged that Caltrans has jurisdiction over tlle freeway system and does not necessarily adhere to the C1vIP guideline of 150 or more vehicle h'ips added before a freeway analysis is needed. Regardless of the C1vIP 150 trip analysis threshold, however, it is not reasonable under CEQA to study locations (whetller or not they are state highway facilities) where it is clear that no significant impacts could reasonably be anticipated. In this instance, the amount of project trips that may be added to the state highway system are sufficiently small that they would not come close to triggering a significant impact (see the three follo~g bullets for further discussion in support of this conclusion), and no further analysis was determined to be necessary in the Draft EIR. · State Highway 10 - As discussed in the Draft EIR the proposed project is projected to generate a net increase of only about 57 trips during the AM peak hour and 70 trips during the PM peak homo Based on the trip dishibution patterns developed in the traffic study prepared as part of the Draft EIR, approximately 40% of these b:ips are projected to use Interstate Highway 10 (I-10) (the Santa Monica Freeway) east of Centinela Avenue and only about 5% are projected to use 1-10 west of 20th Street. TIus h'anslates into a net increase of only about 23 trips during the AM peal< hour (negligible westbound and 23 eastboun~) and 28 trips during tlle PM peak hour (22 westbound and six eastbound) added to 1-10 east of Centinela Avenue and about three h'ips during the AM peak haUl" (negligible eastbound and three westbound) and four trips during the PM peak hoUl" (three eastbound and one westbound) added to 1-10 west of 20th Street. The 1-10 freeway provides,four mainline lanes in each direction east of Centinela Avenue and three mainline lanes in each dh'ection west of 20th Street (not including auxiliary lanes). Assuming a capacity of 2,200 vehicles per hour per lane (vphpl), the freeway provides a mainline capacity of approximately 8,800 velucles per hour (vph) in each direction east of Centinela Avenue and 6,600 vph in each direction west of 20th Street. r City of Santa Monica -8- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project E1R Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR The net new project h"affic would thus increase demand/ capacity (D / C) ratios on the freeway mainline by less than 0.003 east of Centinela Avenue and less than half of 0.001 west of 20lh Street. The Calh"ans Traffic Impact Study Guidelines referred to in the comment do not set significance standards. This level of D / C increase would,however, be far less than any typical stand8.l'd of signilicculce. (As an example, the Los Angeles County Congestion Management Progr'am considers an impact to be significant on the regional highway system if the D / C ratio is increased by 0.02 or more when a facility is operating at LOS F). The following table summcu'izes this analysis: IM10 Freeway Impact Assessment Peak Freeway Net Project- Mainline Increase In Location . Hour Direction Added Trips Capacity (vph) DIC Ratio 1-10 elo Centinela AM WB . 8,800 . EB 23 B,800 0.003 PM WB 22 B,800 0.003 EB 6 8,800 <0.001 1-1 0 WID 20m Street AM WB 3 6,600 <0.001 EB . 6,600 . PM WB 1 6,600 <0.001 EB 3 6,600 <0.001 . negligible · State Highwav 1- In regards to Route 1, the closest part of Route 1 to the project site is over 1.5 nilles west of the project site, The traffic study analyzed numerous intersections west of the project site and did not find signiliccu1t impacts at any intersections west of Stewart Street. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that the project could create sigrillicant impacts at intersections along Route I, over a nille nom the study area and . over 1.5 miles from the project site. · Ramps, Sh'eets, Crossroads and Controlling Intersections - In regards to "all significantly impacted ramps, sh"eets, crossroads and controlling intersections," tl1e traffic study evaluated 17 intersections closer to the project site tl1an any freeway ramp intersections and only f~und significant impacts at foUl' (all fOUT of which are quite close to the project site itself and not adjacent to tl1e freeway). There is no reason to believe tl1at intersections farther away, whicl1 would handle even less project traffic (u1cluding ramp intersections), could be sigrilliccu1tly affected by tl1e proposed project. · Level of Service and Existing and Future Traffic Analvses - The comment letter requests analysis of existing h"affic conditions and future traffic conditions with cu1d without tl1e project, including level of service analysis, on tl1e aforementioned elements of the state . highway system. As discussed in tl1e precedh1g paragraphs, given the size and location of the project, tl1ere is no reasonable basis to conclude that the project could have signilicant impacts at tl1ese locations. Therefore, no fmtller analysis is necessaxy. · Traffic Impact Study Guidelu1es - The Caltrans Guide for the Preparation afTraffic Impact Studies referenced in the conunent letter provides guidance on items such as study area, age of traffic counts, traffic scencu"ios to be studied (e.g., existing, cumulative base, cumulative plus project),level of service methodologies, etc. The Caltrans guide also requhes that mitigation measmes be identified if a project impact is determined to be significant. The guide specifies that a full h'affic study or some lesser analysis nmy be City of Santa Monica " - 9-- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR , Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR required (emphasis added) if a project is expected to add 1 to 49 h'ips to a state highway facility experiencing unstable or forced-flow h'affic conditions (LOS E or F). It goes on to say that studies can range from simple to complex depending on the particulars of the project and prevailing conditions. As concluded in the analysis presented above, the amount of project trips that may be added to the state highway system are sufficiently small tllat they are not expected to h'igger significant impacts, and no further analysis was determined to be necessary ill the Draft EIR. The h'affic study conducted as part the Draft EIR analyzed the potential for project impacts on surface streets closer to the project site and was conducted in accordance with traffic study procedures established by the City of Santa Monica. · Mitigation Measures, Sharing of Mitigation Costs, and TTansportation Impact Fee Set- Aside - As discussed above, given the relatively modest size of the proposed project and its distance from the nearest state highway facilities, no significant impacts are anticipated to these facilities. As such, no mitigation measures are necessary to mitigate project impacts to the state highway system and no sharing of mitigation costs aTe required. ,.. City of Santa Monica -10- Melissa Mascali 3 From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Esther Tam [ETam@dot.lacity.org] Tuesday, October 21,20032:13 PM patrick-clarke@santa"monica.org Beth Rolandson; George Zordllla; Jay Kim; Mohammad Slorfroshan 2834 Colorado Avenue 145-unit Apt Project Dear Patrick, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Draft EIR for the above referenced project located in the City of Santa Monica. . The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADDT) has reviewed Section 4.5 pertaining to 'the Transportation/Traffic portion of the document. The propos~d construction of a new traffic signal to fully mitigate the significant impacts at the intersection of Centinela Avenue and Nebraska Avenue is acceptable to the City of Los Angeles. The improvement must be guaranteed through the City of Los Angeles B-permit process, with construction of the signal completed and approved prior to the issuance of any certificate of occupancy of the development. In addition, prior to setting the bond amount for the B-permit, the developer'S engineer shall be required to contact Mr. George Zordilla of LADDT's Signal Design Section at (213) 580-5301 to arrange a pre-design meeting and finalize the design for the'required transportation improvement. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (213) 485-1062., Sincerely, Esther Esther Tam, P.E. Transportation Engineer WLA/Coastal Development Review -11- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR Letter 3 COMMENTOR: Esther Tam, Transportation Engineer, Los Angeles Department of Transportation DATE: October 21, 2003 RESPONSE: The cornmentor states that installation of a traffic signal as mitigation for the project's significant impact at the intersection of Nebraska Avenue and Centinela Avenue would be acceptable to the City of Los Angeles. She notes that the improvement must be guaranteed through the City of Los Angeles B-permit process and must be constructed and approved prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, and that consultation between the applicant and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation's Signal Design Section would be required for design of the signal. The ultimate approval authority for tI"le recommended traffic signal lies with the City of Los Angeles. However, in light of the fact that Los Angeles is agreeable to tile installation of a traffic signal at the affected intersection, the following shall be required as a Condition of Approval for tile proposed project: The applicant shall construct a signal at the intersection of Centinela Avenue and Nebraska Avenue, if approved by the Cih} of Los Angeles. The applicant shall file and complete a Class B Permit with the Cift} of Los Angeles jor both the design (BD-Permit) and construction (BC-Permit) of tlte tmffic signal improvements. 111111eeting this condition, the applicant shall: 1) Coordinate efforts with the Cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles relative to the BD-Permit. The applicant shall contact Mr. George Zordilla of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation's (LADOT) Signal Design Section at (213) 580-5301 to arrange a pre-design meeting and any additional meetings that my be necessary regarding finalizing the design of the intersection. 2) File a BC-Permit application, which will include bonding of the pennit and providing appropriate liabiliftJ, all prior to the issuance of n building permit from the Cift} of Santa Monica for the 2834 Colorado Avenue development project. 3) Coush'uef the signal. This will include interconnecting the new signal with, for example, the existing signal at Centinela Avenue (west) and OlYl/lpic Boulevard and may include other intersections as deemed necessary by the Cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles. 4) Preparing and delivering the as-built drawings of the intersection to the Cift} of Los Angeles. The applicant wi11need to complete the BD-Permit process and provide a bond and appropriate insurance for the BC-Penllit prior to receiving a building permit from the Cit}l of Santa Monica. The Certificate of OccllpanClJ for the project may be obtained from the Cift} of Santa Monica only after the signal is consh'llcted and final approvals have been given by the Cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles. rr City of Santa Monica -12- H.,..,......~I" . I. - ~_'.......,T ,.!,w--;;'P--"II~ ,Lt' : . "I~ I .. . . 0_ ton... I. '\ I .. &:l7,,~ fk:tr,c t Cftf. 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V .Jo s 'Q~ QJ Q , ~ ok" t..-~~ '" " , '1 t t11 ~--4p~o.-/. &- < J ' 51\"\t~.-_~5-~~ ~~ I "I i ---- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project E1R Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR Le ttel' 4 COMMENTOR: Natalie Lewis, Resident, Colorado Avenue DATE: October 2, 2003 (date received; letter is undated) RESPONSE: Response 4A The commentor states that she is opposed to the project and questions the need for more housing. She also states that rents are too high in recently completed apartments, leaving them unoccupied, and tllat 15 affordable housing units is going to malce little dent in tlle City's need for low-income housing. These comments are noted. City decision malcers will consider these issues as they evaluate the proposed project. The purpose of the EIR is to provide information about the possible environmental consequences of the project tllat has been proposed. Response 4B The commentor expresses a general concern about potenti~y hazardous b.'affic conditions at the intersection of Yale Street and Colorado Avenue. This conunent is noted. It should be noted tllat the project would provide an exit-only, right-turn only driveway on Colorado Avenue, which would eliminate the potential hazards associated with vehicles trying to turn left into or out of the driveway. TIle main project chiveway on SteWal't Street would be tlle only entrance to the complex and would also allow vehicles to exit. TIle traffic analysis for the proposed project (Section 4.5 of tlle Draft EIR) found that this configuration presented no b.'affic haz8.1'ds. The conunentOl' also notes that traffic on Colorado Avenue is fast and that delivelY trucks stop in tlle middle of Colorado Avenue to unload. Development of the proposed project would remove the existing businesses from the project site and replace them vvith residential apal'b.nents. H truck deliveries are cUlTently being utade to the project site, development of the proposed project would eliminate that situation. It would not, however, have any effect on truck deliveries tllat may be serving otller businesses in the project vicinity, Trash pickups and deliveries at the proposed project would occlli' in the designated loading area off of Stewart Sb.'eet. Response 4C TIle commentor states that she inquired about why a pedesb.'ian crossing was removed from the cornel' of Yale and Colorado, and,states tllat she was told it was because the b.'affic was more important. TIus comment is noted. The purpose of tlle ErR is to provide information about the possible environmental consequences of the project that has been proposed. The COllunentor also expresses concern about project-related h'affic exiting onto Colorado Avenue. Traffic exiting onto Colorado Avenue from the project site would be resh'icted to right-turn-only movements, and, as discussed in Section 4.5, Tml1SpOl'taHon/Tmffic, this configuration would not present any h'affic hazards. Vehicles exiting the project site vwuld also ,. City of Santa Monica -16- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR have the option of exiting onto Stewart Street. Vehicles intending to head west on Colorado Avenue would be required to exit onto Stewart Sh'eet since left rurns would be prohibited from the Colorado Avenue driveway. Response 4D The conunentor expresses concern over the availability of parking on Colorado Avenue and adjacent streets for visitors and states that schools and businesses fill the parking meters during the week TIus conmlent is noted. As described in Section 4.5, Tml1sp01'tatiol1jTraffic, of the Draft ErR the proposed project includes ??8 parking spaces in a subterranean garage, which meets the City's parking requirements for a project of this size and type. The 228 parking spaces include 29 visitor spaces for residents of the project. Therefore, the proposed onsite parking is adequate to serve residents and theu" guests. The project would result Ul the loss of only one metered parking space on Stewart Street for placement of the driveway and would not otheJ.wise affect sh"eet pill:king. Response 4E TIle conunentor questions whether Santa Monica is meeting its affordable housing needs, This comment is noted. TIle purpose of the EIR is to provide information abo~t the possible environmental consequences of the project that has been proposed. The proposed project would provide 15 wuts of affordable housing, which satisfies the City's onsite affordable housing requirement as identified in Section 9.56 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code. Response 4F TIle conunentor states an opinion that a gallery, convenience store, or drug store would be preferable on the project site because it is designated for commercial development. This comment is noted. The purpose of the EIR is to provide information about the possible envirorunental consequences of the project that is proposed, Section 6.0 of the Draft EIR addresses potential alternatives to the proposed project, ulcluding a reduced project with 72 residential muts and a commercial project consisting of studio and other production-related uses. The commercial project alternative would be consistent with the cmrent LMSD zoning on the project site. Response 4G TIle conunentor states an ophlion that noise in the project area has increased 100% and the project will add more noise. TIus comment is noted. As described in Section 4.4, Noise, of the Draft EIR, project-related traffic would conh'ibute incrementally to an ino.'ease in noise on Stewart Sh'eet and Colorado Avenue. However, the noise u1crease ath'ibutable to the project is estimated at 0.2 dB and would not be audible. Therefore, noise impacts associated with operation of .the proposed project were determined to be less than significant and mitigation is not required. As described in Section 4.10, Construction Effects, consh'uction of the proposed project would generat~ temporalY consh'uction-related noise, which could exceed the maximum allowable noise level on the project site. Thus, mitigation is required to reduce the noise unpacts of ,.. City of Santa Monica -17- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR consh-uction. With this mitigation, construction-relate(i noise impacts would be less than significant. Response 4H TI1e commentor makes a reference to a movie that is not related to the proposed project or the Draft ElR. The purpose of the EIR is to provide information about the possible envimnmental consequences of the pmject that is proposed. The comment is noted and will be passed on to City decisiomnakers for consideration in their review of the proposed project. Response 4I The commentor questions where children will play if they reside at the proposed project and suggests that they will have to play in traffic or in their apartments. This comment is noted. The project includes a pool, a lounge, a commmuty mom, and passive outdoor recreational areas. It should be noted that 138 of the 145 apartments would be studio or one-bedroom units. Response 4T TI1e conunentor states an opinion that projects being built by plivate developers are "appalling," wIllie the City is constructing beautiful acconunodations for itself. This corrunent is noted. The purpose of the EIR is to provide information about the possible enVil"Ollmental consequences of the project that is proposed. J' City of Santa Monica -18- r., '} \'-, ~ u PRINCETON VILLAS /r,trWs/ 1: ~ Homectwne..- A.~clatlon. Inef /' 2703 COlorado Avenue~. .' '\.'\'~'A- MONICA E:/ It.; ==-~(c;~l; ::.~:::'P'l ANW~~G'OFFICE ~ September 23, 2003 'OJ SEP 29 All :34 5 , I To.: City of Santa Monica , Planning and Community Development 1685 Main Street, Room 212 Santa Monica, CA 90407-2200 Subject: Rebuttal to tbe Proposed Project at 2834 Colorado Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90404 ! A~ president of Princeton Villas Homeowners Association, I represent homeowners at: I 2703, 2905,2707, 2709, 2711 Colorado Ave. Santa Monica CA 90404 and 1551,1553,1555,1557, 1559 PrlncetonSt. Santa Momca CA 90404, P$ceton Villas are located nearly across the street from the subject property. Following are our ob~ections to the proposed project: , ]. rIle whole project is too large. The plan of 145 units in 18 buildings up to 4 stories is much too large. The rest ofllie block and adjoining areas consists of only 2 story buildings. We don't need ant more high.rise buildings across the street from OUI residential neighborhood. , c ' 2. rarking for 228 vehicles is fur too few for the proposed 145 units. Two people could occupy each unit, each with a vehicle. As in our complex every adult has at least one car, which means there sh~uld be at least ~90 parking spaces for the 145 units. The over flow would wind up on the street. As1 it is now we have Restricted Parking because there are not enough parking spaces available on the street. ! In bonclusion) our recommendation is to limit the structures to 2 stones. reduce the project to 114 units and the pl'oposed 228 parking spaces would be sufficient. The main vehicle entrance on Stewart Street would also help disperse traffic in and out of the complex more easily. I , H~old C. W. Birth P~sident cc:i State of California, Office of Planning and Research -19- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR Letter 5 COMMENTOR: Harold C. W. Birth, President, Princeton Villas Homeowners Association, Inc. DATE: September 23,2003 RESPONSE: Response SA The commentor states an opinion that the project is too laJ:ge and that the maximum height of four stories is too tall. These comments al'e noted. As described in Section 4.7, Aesthetics/Shadow Effects, the existing LMSD zoning classification for the project site already allows certain types of buildings (school expansions, theaters, and entertairunent-related facilities) to be consh-ucted 1-vith a maximum height of 45 feet. While the City Comlcil will determine whether to approve the proposed text amendment and allow multi-family housing to extend to 45 feet in height, the . aesthetfcs analysis in the Draft EIRhas determined that no adverse shadow impacts would result from buildings that height on the project site, During the winter season when shadows are the longest, the shadow analysis in the Draft Em. concluded that the proposed project's shadow would fall onto residential properties across Colorado Avenue, but would be limited to the yards only and would not shade any buildings. Furthermore, the yards would be shaded for less than tluee hours. TIlese impacts aTe not considered significant. Summer shadows would be very limited and would not affect any residential properties. The change in zoning proposed as part of the project would add multi-family housing to the list of uses that would be subject to the 45-foot height limit. 11ms, the proposed project would not be any taller than the maximmn height of structures containing certain types of uses that are ah'eady permitted on the site. In addition, the building layout plan shown on Figure 2-6 in Section 2.0, Project Description, shows that the building proposed on Colorado Avenue would only be two stories in height, wIllie most of the buildings that front onto Stewart Street would be tlu'ee stories tall. These height variations would serve to reduce tlle overall mass of the project. Fmtl1ermore, as required by the existing zoning aJ1d discussed in Section 4.7 of the Draft EIR, ailY portion of the proposed buildings tllat is between 31 feet and 45 feet in height would be stepped back from tl1e building envelope to further minimize the appearance of mass of tl1e structtu'es. Response 5B The conIDlentor states aJ1 opinion tllat the 228 pal'king spaces proposed for the project are not enough for 145 units. Section 4.5, Transportation(Tmfftc, of tlle Draft EIR, identifies that tlle proposed amount of parking (228 spaces) meets the amount of parking required in the City's Municipal Code for a project of this size and type. As identified in Section 9.04.10.08.010 of tl1e Santa Monica Municipal Code, off-street pmking requirements are intended to provide parking in proportion to the needs generated by different land uses, reduce b:affic congestion and hazaJ:ds,and provide accessible, ath'active, and well-maintained off-sh'eet pal'king facilities. Table 4.5-10 in Section 4.5 shows tbat the Municipal Code requires one parking space for each low-income unit and each studio unit, 1.5 spaces for each market-rate one-bearoom unit, and r City of Santa Monica -20- 2B34 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR two spaces for each market-rate two-bedroom unit. According to the Code, visitor parking is also required at one space for every five units. The 228 parking spaces proposed provide exactly the amount of parking required, inducting visitor parking. Therefore, potential impacts relating to parking were determined to be less than significant according to 'the City's parking code requirements. Response 5C The C0llU11entor recommends that the project be limited to two stories and 114 units. He also states that a main vehicle entrance on Stewart Street would help disperse traffic in and out of the complex more easily. The corrunentor's recommendation is noted. Please see Responses 5A and 5B above. As described in Section 2.0, Project Description, and Section 4.5, Transportationl Traffic, the proposed project provides a main driveway on StewaJ:t Sh'eet and an exit-only, right- tunlonly dJ:iveway on Colorado Avenue. The driveway on Colorado Avenue was limited to exit-only and right-trn:n only in response to concerns about h'affic movements raised by the City's Transportation Management Division dming the early stages of project development. An exit-only, right-turn only driveway on Colorado Avenue would eliminate the potential hazaJ:ds associated with vehicles u:ying to turn left into or out of the illiveway. The main driveway on StewaJ:t Street would be the only entrance to the complex and would also allow vehicles to exit. The h'affic analysis for the proposed project (Section 4.5 of the Draft EIR) found that this configuration presented no h'affic hazards. r City of Santa Monica -21- Co November 10, 2003 City Panning Division Attn: Patrick Clarke, Associate Planner 1685 Main Street, Room 212 Santa Monica CA 90401-3295 sent via e-mail Project Location: 2834 Colorado Avenue Dear Mr. Clarke, r am Greg Amato. I own and operate Bay Screens at 2834 Colorado Avenue, #32. And have been here since 1985. The company bas operated at this location since 1953. We currently employ six people. Our site was originally developed as a place for local contractors to have an office and a place to park their trucks at night. Othenvise, we would be parking in front of our homes. There are approximately 54 l,lffices here. Currently there are about 30 full time companies working out of offices here, representing about 100 people, more or less. I am a building contractor and a specialty contractor. I believe ill the light to build and develop property. But I am perplexed, there is no place to go. Manufachrring, that is the manufacturing zone, is disappearing. That is our current zoning. This development will change the zoning and put us out on the street. The city has long tried to keep a balance of affordable housing for residents, but it is losing its local, tax paying and convenient businesses in to this kind of change. r will do what I can to help create a solution while maintaining my business. Sincerely, Greg Amato President -22- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft E1R Letter 6 COMMENTOR: Greg Amato, Business Owner, 2834 Colorado Avenue DATE: November 10/2003 RESPONSE: Response 6A TI1e commentor notes that his business has been in operation at the project site since 1953 and currently employs six people. He states that development of the project would change the zoning on the site and would l"equire the removal of the businesses that cUlTently operate there. He also states an opinion that the change in zoning will put his company out of business and that the City is losing its local businesses. TI1ese comments are noted. TIle proposed project would displace the existing businesses onsite. According to Section 15131 of the State CEQA Guidelil1es/ social and economic effects of a project are not considered significant environmental effects under CEQA. Nevertheless/ removal of tl1e existing businesses from the project site and the potential social and economic impacts on business owners and employees are factors that decision malcers will consider in their review of the project. It should be noted that the text amendment does not eliminate any of tlle uses already authorized in this zone/ including manufactUIing uses and other housing-related uses that are currently allowed in the zone; rather/ it adds multi-family housing as a conditional use allowed in the LMSD zone. r City of Santa Monica -23- I Melissa Mascali From: Sent: To: Subject: a. michel1e page [amichellepage@hotmail.com] Monday, November 10, 2003 7:10 PM patrick-clarke@santa-monica.org 2834 Colorado Dear Mr. Clarke: We would like to comment on the re-zoning of 2834 Colorado from light industrial to residential. '[ This area is already full of traffic most times of the day and night. I don't understand how 145 units will only add 771 new trips per day, 57 in the a.m. and 70 at night (these figures per the EIR). The City of Santa Monica has been spending a lot of money trying to mitigate traffic in this neighborhood, and is soon to add islands similar to the ones on Broadway. It would be a shame to have all this mitigation go to waste. 1 2834 Colorado is directly across the street from a pre-school. According to . the EIR, during construction the daily emissions from this construction will be double the acceptable air standards. This will be especially hard on the children. Many children also live in the area, as well as senior 'citizens. Not to mention that this area has been light industrial for many years, and the dirt that will be dug up will most likely contain many heavy metals, which would be better left undisturbed, much as asbestos is better left undisturbed. As it stands, this.property has many small shops and a great local restaurant that the neighbors all use. Bay Screen has been a good neighbor far many years, as have many mechanics, plumbers and other useful, necessary businesses. We have lived in this neighborhood for almost 20 years, and this neighborhood has always had a stable population and a mix of businesses and residents. According to the ElR, my street (1500 block of Yale) would have ltunmitigatible and significant impactslt. Please do not allow this to happen. Please feel free to e-mail us at any time about our concerns. We feel that this rezoning could change our lives on Yale Street forever, for the worse. Please, we need light industrial and the businesses this zone includes. Thank you for your consideration. A. Michelle Page and Dan Adams 1532a Yale Street Santa Monica Ca 90404 MSN Messenger with backgrounds, emoticons and mare. http://www.msnmessenger-download.com/tracking/cdp_customize -24- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EJR Letter 7 COMMENTOR: A. :Michelle Page and Dan Adams, Residents, Yale Street DATE: November 101 2003 RESPONSE: Response 7 A The commentors question the Draft EIR's conclusion that the project would only generate 771 daily hips, 57 trips in the morning, and 70 trips at night. As discussed in Section 4.5, TransportationfTmffic, the net increase in traffic associated with the proposed project takes into account the traffic cunently generated by existing businesses on the project site. These trips would be removed if the project were built; therefore, as shown in Table 4.5-7, the net amount of traffic generated by the proposed project is equal to the trips associated with the projectl less the trips from the existing businesses. Thus, the project would generate a net increase of 771 daily trips, 57 AM peak hour h'ipsl and 70 PM peak hour hips. As described in the traffic report prepared by Kaku Associates for the proposed project (see Appendix E), the Institute of Transportation Engineers' Trip Gemration manual, a national standard used universally by the b"affic engineering professionl was used to estimate the average daily trips and the number of AM and PM peal< hour trips for the existing and proposed uses. Response 7B The commentors refer to traffic mitigation that tl1e City has been h'ying to complete in the project area and note that tl1e Oty is going to add traffic islands similar to those on Colorado Avenue. They express concern that the mitigation willI/go to waste." These conunents are noted. The mitigation to which the commentors are refening is related to tl1e new office development to the west. The traffic islands would function as h"affic-calming measures to slow the traffic on Broadway to a more moderate pace. Response 7C The commentors note that during construction, emissions would exceed the applicable air quality standards and could affect children and elderly in tl1e project area. Section 4.10, Construction Effects, of tl1e Draft EIR identifies an unavoidably significant, temporary air quality impact during the application of ru."chitectural coatings because emissions of reactive organic compounds (ROC) would exceed the air quality standard for that pollutant. :Mitigation is reconunended to reduce emissions of ROC during construction, but emissions would remain above significance thresholds during painting. Therefore, the City would need to adopt a Statement of Oveniding Considerations outlining why the project's benefits outweigh this environmental concern before it could approve the proposed project. Response 7D The commentors suggest that given that there have been light indush"ial uses on the project site for many years, the soil underlying the project site may contain heavy metalsl which would be ,.. City of Santa Monica -25- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EJR "better left undisturbed." As discussed in the Initial Study prepared for the proposed project (contained in Appendix A of the Draft EIR), a Phase I Envh"onmental Site Assessment was completed for the project site in January 2000. That report did not identify any recognized environmental conditions on the project site. Based on this finding, hazards at or underlying the site aJ.'e not expected. In the event that stained or otherwise suspect soil is encountered dming site preparation activities, soil sampling would be conducted and would determine whether the past uses of the site have affected the enviromnental integrity of the site. If contaminants are detected, the results of the soil sampling would be forwarded to the applicable local regulatory agency (City.of Santa Monica Environmental Program Division, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Conb."ol Board, or the State of California Environmental Protection Agency Department of Toxic Substances Control), which would then review the data and either sign off on the property or determine if any additional investigation or remedial activities are deemed necessaJ.'Y. Response 7E The conunentors note that the area has many small businesses and a local restaurant that the neighbors use, and that the businesses on the project site have been good neighbors. They also note that they have lived in the neighborhood for almost 20 yeai's and the aJ.'ea has always had a stable population aJ.ld good mix of residents alld businesses. These comments are noted and will be considered by City deCision-ma1eers as they review the project. TIle purpose of the EIR is to provide information about the possible environmental consequences of the project that is proposed. It should be noted that the project site does not contain a restaurant. Although the commentors do not name the restaurant they are concerned about, there is a restaurant ("Le Petit Cafe") directly adjacent to the project site. However, since it is not located on the project site itself, the restaurant would not be removed as a result of the proposed project. Response 7F The commentors note that the EIR identifies a significant and lmavoidable impact on Yale Street and ask that the City not allow this to happen. Table 4.5-9 of tlle Draft ErR identifies all unavoidably significant impact on Yale Sh'eet. The proposed project would generate an estimated 23 daily trips on the segment of Yale Street north of Colorado Avenue. The project wouldadd a negligible amount of hips to this segment of Yale Sh'eet during the AM peak hour, and would add two h'ips during the PM peale hour. TIle City's significance threshold for local sh-eets ,vhere the average daily traffic volume is greater than 2,250 h'ips (such as this segment of Yale Sh-eet) is one h'ip_ Thus, the project-added traffic on Yale Sh'eet would exceed Hus threshold and the impact is classified as unavoidably significant. The City would need to adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations stating why the project's benefits outweigh this environmental concern before it could approve the proposed project. Response 7G The conU11entors express an opiItion that the proposed rezoning could II change their lives on Yale Sh-eet forever,Jor the worse, II and that they need light indush'ial uses and the businesses that the LMSD zone includes. The proposed text amendmenf does not eliminate light industrial r City of Santa Monica -26- 2834 CDloradD Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR as an authorized use in this zone; it adds multi-family residential as an authorized use. This comment is noted and will be considered by decision-makers as they review the proposed project. The pm-pose of the EIR is to provide information about the possible environmental consequences of the project that is proposed. rr City of Santa Monica -27- I', I . .~ I "1 ' 'I. l ~.), . /'11 V," 'I ',i~f' JtI~fIJ. .I.L!l '""}~ , ,h, (i~.'T". .,".." .1.V6;r;vliW'fA..';;'l..q:r(J~ , .. . L . ,~~.' . . .. ~ _. '~'~iO:..!.~ ~ 2:Q7._n~: .:.:.~~ - ':. . _".. . ._. , ','Th .W~ -.tt ~.~J.. """ '" ............ u_...,....... " ..,,~ . " 'I .. , ~ ~. .." ~ u . ...." " 1 III,""" .... ~ "01'_ ."'11" ...._ _a .... .... 4 _.... _ "'i11 I t oil 11"; . '. .. f~.J." ~.t 'If J.,~.J<D'it If'" ~.f:,h:bW41_~g . ./~"lhLW' .1AmAfj d ..;;l.&;,.'t ~. .~.,. Ou-:t-. PI I ./i~ ~.~~ ~ ~-!o~..MM..dJA#'C';I , . ".. :.. /;fUJfL_~ ~t41"" ~,,~.h1 ~...~JJw:. .4~. W ~M~S.. .i!ie.,ifIWd...~(t/~~. .. "" : .G~.~'/N.aMrf;tm.t..~~,.... . e~.d~~/, ~S . all.?l1J rI4. ~-U7~h'._' "'"~''''' . . .X ~d~. .Affa.-tf,f ~~ . J~~w.. frfu~ -1'~" wk., ~..)fwj 'r<.f#cp:( d. e .Oi~ "') ..( k~ r-r tof""f. m %i.k: .~ /I~ ~.M.e.?~& (,0/\'/1 ~ M '1'''i<.:~.'~.~. _1t~V~., u_.... ... ... . ..W,- ~ ~J:1r i ~s~(~.~lJ1..C~) . . 1-' . 'fi~,.trY1 O"UA ,/tt~, kul?'V'\ .b~.. .,,'".,....__.~ . ~ ~ ( , D' - J 0"",,^ ~ fJl vJ.., ~ ,{)rlA" ~1J {.0;W11hiA~ . ..... }.IV>- ~. ().,.-. ~- t 't b.. (J.~...... ..... .,. h' '. ':. :r.~ ~.~ ~k1F...~dQh ,I ., Ik~ ~ ~ ~ 10 ~ Ik... ;f7-.<A"d...t~.~.. . .. \ . ,V . , O. J # / "UJ _ f4 r j Ii I ~ _ IJ . I \) I . VI. ~ IN..<~ 6V>c ~ ~ IV....IlP.~c ~ . ~~ o. i /f!~ ./vtlJ..~. 1v.,.~ hUf. fi-~~- Clll-o I ~'M H -b~ ~hlj /& ftd ~ .- 28- \ ' . ! I .1 I I . I I I . ,I, . ~ , I ,f'1' , ~,. , , r' "L' " . '. ,,1"1"'11 "'r- , . , . : . I I . , , , I .. I I ,.tt,lll "I t'" tf~"'~ , . I 1 \ . , . I t I 1 1 ' . : .fw<.. flV\k.~ ~ f' 'lfAu'f- ~J.,~~ ~ 1;.' i~' f.rw,.iF 'jk.i 'ct:do (}WrI/M- ~,n4 <>>-J. .4P-L . .. r~(~'~ W!:/IItuWi-r~7 h ~., ~ ,.' ~ r#:n:r&~ yk. .-, . . i .. .. I , ,~tt,'(f't ~ ~h.~~..~_.. ~!. J:: .~J,4 r ~(.(f)dJ,. .,i-~ fr~m,,' " ",.. .' ". . ..... 1 " . I ..... t .... . ~ "..g~ I"" .. ....... .-.. . .... i . . . , 7h, MJ fIl!L~. . I?U .Wle $1.1!i! . ~~~~ Q{jLf4.f \ ) , ,. , " , . - ,I . ~ _. ._.4 oi._ . ~ . It . t I ~ .. . , 1 , ., . , , .,..,- . - . r .., Ull>l .... . .~,. \. I , \ \' . \ I 'I 4 -. ....__.. I" . I I ' , I, I ,J , , \ \ --29- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR Letter 8 COMMENTOR: M. Ariel Malek, Resident, Yale Srreet DATE: November 10, 2003 RESPONSE: Response 8A TIle conunentor expresses concern about U"affic, parking, noise, and over-crowcliJ.lg in her neighbmhood. TIlese concerns are noted and will be considered by decision-malcers in their review of the proposed project. Traffic and p8J.'king issues are discussed in Section 4.5 of the Draft EIR, while noise is addressed in Section 4.4. Response 8B TIle commentor states that she finds it difficult to accollunodate guests because of a shmtage of parking, and often cliJ.'ectspeople to park on Colorado Avenue. She expresses an opinion that this will become more difficult with the development of the proposed project. As described in Section 4.5/ Trrmsportation/Traffic, of the Draft ErR, the proposed project includes 228 parking spaces in a subterrane8J.l garage/ which meets the City's parking requirements for a project of this size and type. The ??S parking spaces include the required amount of parking for visitors as well as for residents of the project. Therefore, the proposed onsite parking is considered adequa~e to serve residents and their guests. RespOhse Be The conunentor states concern about u'ash thrown on sidewalks in her neighborhood from businesses on Santa Monica Boulevard and restates an opinion that overcrowding is an issue of concern in the neighborhood. These concerns 8J.'e noted. The purpose of the EIR is to provide information about the possible environmental consequences of the currently proposed project. Potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed project (such as h'affic, noise, 8J.ld other effects) are discussed tIu'oughout the Draft EIR. Response 8D The conunentor states 8.11 opinion tIlat /I ten times as much" building has OCCUlTed in her 8J.'ea compared to the north of Wilshire 8J.ld north of Montana neighborhoods and that tIlis is "not fair." These conmlents 8J.'e noted and will be considered by City decision malcers as tIley review the project. The pmpose of tile EIR is to provide information about the possible envn'01U11ental consequences of the project tllat is proposed. Response BE The conunentor suggests that the project should provide two parking spaces per unit to acconU11odate residents and then' guests. This C0l1U11ent is noted. As discussed in Section 4.5, - Tmnsportntiol1/Trnffic, of the Draft EIR, the proposed ??8 parldng spaces fulfill the 8J.TIOtll1t of " City of Santa Monica . - 30- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project ErR Responses to Comments on the Draft ErR parking required in the City's Municipal Code for a project of this size and type. As shown in Table 4.5-10 in Section 4.5, the Municipal Code requires one parking space for each low-income unit and each studio unit, 1.5 spaces for each market-rate one-bedroom unit, and two spaces for eaq.1 mal'ket-rate two-bedroom unit. According to the Code, visitor parking is also required at one space for every five units. The ??8 parking spaces proposed provide exactly the amount of parking required, including 29 visitor parking spaces. Therefore, potential impacts relating to parking were determined not to be significall.t. r- City of Santa Monica . - 31- HARDING, LARMORE, KUTCHER & KOZAL ^ "I\OF.;;:;IOI'I^~ C:OFlPORt'lTION , '::H"ISTQPttER M. HARDING THlllolAS Fl. l....FlIolDRI!: KE~NET~ L KVTCHCR I!'~IN V. K02:...1. L....URII!: LIEBERMAN VALERIE L. S....CKS AT'rOFlHEV5 AT LAW o 12!50 SIXTH $TRIiO&:T, SUITJ; 300 S"'NT" 1'101'11.:...., ep,I.''"ORNlp, Q0-401-HilOlt Tl::Ll:I"I'lO....e: l~rOJ ~\Il;1-IQO? PAOSIMILE 113.101 ",sa-rSSB \If"lITI:R'= I;'IR;;.:T I;'IAI.] November 10, 2003 (310) 451-3.669 _:..:..: o \ 1-' .-:C. ..... "'oPU ..,If'1. VilA ME SSENGER DELIVERY ~atrick Clarke ft\ssocii:lte Planner CIty of ;5anta Monica 1685"Main Street, Room 212 Santa ~~Dnica. CA 90401-3295 DIRECT E-MAIL ACCAESS~ ':. kutcher@hlk@Iiw.com ' ~ " I --" o -0 l,..Ll o .0.. He: Draft EIR SCH No. 2003061052 Project Address: 2834 Colorado Avenue Our File No.1 816.1 dear Mr. Clarke: This letter is written on behalf of New Visions Foundation, the owner of the propertV located at 3131 Olympic Boulevard which contains New Roads School. This letter constitutes a formal comment letter on the Draft EIR issued for the proposed project at 2834 Colorado Avenue. These comments are being submitted pursuant to State C EQA Guidelines Section 15204(a). We request that these comments be carefully evaluated pursuant to State CEQA GuIdelines Section 15088 and that these cfJmments and the accompanying materials be incorporated into the Final EIR pursuant to Section 15132(b). -~he purpose of this letter is to suggest that the 145-unlt apartment complex propoSI~d for development at the southeast corner of Colorado Avenue and stewart Street Bhould be required to bear its fair share of the cost for certain Intersection improvnments that will otherwise be borne by our nonprofit client, New Visions Foundation. In this regard, enclosed is an analysis of the September 2003 Traffic Study attached as Appendix E to the Draft EIR. This report dated November 5,2003, was prepamd by David Shender of Linscott, Law & Greenspan, J~. The New Roads Educational VillaQe Proiect Aoorovals Should Be Considered In The DEIR. On July 2,2003, the Santa Monica Planning Commission certified FEIR No. 02- 002 and approved DR No. 02-006, CUP No. 02-008, and V AR No, 02-021 for expansion of New Roads School. Enclosed is a copy of the Statement of Official Action ("STOATI) confirming these results and reciting the applicable conditions of approval. We hereby requesl that the Final EIR and STOA for the New Roads Educational Village Project be ~incorporated by reference in their entirety)nto these comments. -32- HARPING. LWI0RE. KUTCHER & KOlAL ...~It"lil.O;IRPOFW1gH A.1TO:r-IHCYtS AT LAw Patrick Clarke Novemher 10, 2003 Page 2 Condition Nos, 361 37 and 38 of the Statement of Official Action read in full as follows: "36. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.5-7a: Prior to issuance of an occupancy permit for the proposed project. the applicant shall provide funding for the modification of the traffic signal at 20th Street & Olympic Boulevard to provide a protected phase for the westbound left-turn movement. Implementation of this mitigation measure would necessitate the provision of some combination of project design, new signage, controller cabinets, poles, mast arms, detectors, and/or signat heads. If these" conditions are Imposed only upon the applicant, then the applicant alone shall pay for these improvements. However. if the conditions reaardinc these imorovements are imposed upon other develooment oroiects as well. and such proiects are approved orior to the Certificate of Occuoancy of this oroiect. the aoolicant shall only pay its fair share for such improvements and shall be reimbursed by the subsequent developer. as reasonablV determined bv the City's Transoortatlon Manaoement Manager. 1137. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.5-7b; Prior to issuance of an occupancy permit for the proposed project, the applicant shall provide funding for the modification of the traffic signal at 26th Street & Colorado Avenue to provide a protected.permltted phase for the eastbound left-turn movement. Implementation of this mitIgatIon measure would necessitate the provision of some combination of new signage, controller cabinets, poles, mast arms, deteotors, and/or signal heads. If these conditions are imposed only upon the applicant. then the applicant alone shall pay for these improvements. However. if the conditions reqardino these improvements are Imposed upon other development projects as well. and such projects are approved prior to the CertIficate of Occupancy of this proiect. the applicant shall only pay its fair share for such improvements and shall be reimbursed bv the subsequent developer, as reasonablY determined bv the Citv's Transportation Management Manaaer. "38. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.5~7d: Prlorto issuance' of an occupancy permit for the proposed" project, -33- lIARblNG. LARMORE, KUTCHER & KOZAL A~IOr""-~ .A.l'l'OIIINIMlATUW Patrick Clarke November 10,2003 ~age .3 the applicant shall provide funding for the modification of the traffic signal at Stewart Street/28th Street & Pica Boulevard to provide a protected phase for the southbound left-turn movement. The applicant shall al$O provide funding for the adequate new slgnage. If these conditIons are imposed only upon the applicant, then the applicant alone shall pay for these improvements. However. IT the conditions reQarding these improvements are imposed upon other development profects as well. and such proiects are approved prior to the Certlficate of Occupancy of this project. the applicant shall onlv nay Its fair share for such improvements and shall be reimbursed bv the subseauent developer. as reasonablv determined bv the Citv's Transportation Management Manager," (Emphasis added,) I~. The Shender Report Demonstrates The. Flaws Of The DEIR's Traffic Analvsis. As Indicated in the enclosed report from Mr. Shender, we assume It was an Qversig ht that the proposed 145-unit apartment project - which Is no farther away than i~ New Roads School from the affected intersectIons -- was not found to be a contributor t'? any i3dverse traffic impacts at these intersections otherwise requiring mitigation. In t~is re~ard, we note that the same traffic engineer prepared the traffic studies for both the Ne1l1J Roads Educational Village project and the 2834 Colorado Avenue apartments pr~ect, . These traffic studies are separated in time by a mere nine months (January 2003 and September 2003, respectively). It is highly unlikely that future traffic projections change d favorably In such a short time wIthout any intersection Improvements, let alone t~et theJ projected improvements in these intersectIons are so dramatically better. The Shendnr report concludes that if the same CumulatIve Projects future traffic proJeotions Had bean used in the 2834 Colorado Avenue Draft EIR as appear in the certified EIR for New Rl)ads School, then it is "reasonable to expect that the Draft EIR for the 2834 Coloral1o Avenue Project would have identified significant traffic Impacts for this project at the ~:6th Street! Colorado Avenue and Steward Street-28th Street/Pico Boulevard iMterSeGtions." (Shender Report at p. 3,) I=or the reasons described in the attached Shsnder report, we respectfully rEJlques': that the traffic analysIs contained In the Draft EIR for this 145-unlt apartment complex be recalculated for the relevant Intersections and that the 2834 Colorado AvenUE! project be required to bear its fair share of the cost of required improvements for at l€last two of these Intersections, If not all three. -34- HARDING, :LARMORE. KUTCHER & KOZAL A~IpORRJRQ1DW ....-rcPtH!:TS ^T IJ\W Ratrlck Clarke November 10, 2003 F!age 4 Alternatively. the Conditions of Approval for New Roads School should be amendr~d to eliminate Condition Nos, 36, 37 and 38 if in fact these intersections are not p'rojectl3d to operate at unfavorable levels of service. (::. The DEIR Fails To Analvze The Potentiallv Significant land Use Effects Of The Pro~osed Text Amendment. We have additional concerns that the Draft EIR for this proposed housing project fails to evaluate the potentially significant land use effects of the corresponding Text Amendment (GPA No. 03-001) needed to allow multi-family housing by Conditional Use PermIt In the LMSD Zoning District. While New Visions Foundation has no objection to aHowin!~ multi-family housing in the LMSD District by conditional use permit. it does not make sense that this change to the Zoning Ordinance can be determined with certainty to be a "less than significant Impact" per the Draft Initial Study attached as Appendix A at Item 9(b) of the Draft EIR without any study. Multi-family housing is a use that has not previously been allowed in the LMSD District In fact, there was substantial debate over this question approximately a deoade a'go. At that time. the City Council chose not to allow (nor conditionally allow) multi- family housing in this zone for adjacency and compatibility reasons. Given that the p'ropos.;d use requires a Text Amendment that Is substantive ~ rather than "clarifying" _ in natul'e, more careful study of the impacts of this proposed Text Amendment should be und 3rtaken and provided within the EIR before it is certified, CONCLUSION [=or the reasons stated above, the EIR's traffic analysis of the following iAterse,~tions -- 26th Street/Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street-28th Street/Pico Boulevard - should be re-calculated and the for-profit housing developer proposing to constn. ct 145 units on this site should be required to bear its fair share of the cost of improving thOSe intersections, Just as was our non-profit client, New Visions Foundation, The EII~ should also have studied the intersection of 20th street/Olympic Boulevard to determine whether the proposed project will have a significant impact at that intersel::tlon as well. , l'lease do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss these matters. None of these comments should be construed as opposition to the proposed project. Rather, they are intended to be constructive comments aimed at ensuring the consistency and fairness of processing project applications and studying their potential .-35- 'n' 1 HARDING, ILARMORE, KUTCHER & KazAL A~KAL.CD.R~DH ATTORNEYS /I:r I.AW Patrick Clarke November 10, 2003 Rage 5 environl1ental effects and ensuring that appropriate mitigation measures are considered and adopted, I Very truly yours, 1:Jrt~ Kenneth L. Kutcher J<iLK;sn--;; BncloslI res cc: SI.:zanne Frick (wI encls.) Lucy Dyke (wi encls.) Ananda Schachter (wI enels,) BHry Rosenbaum (wI enels.) PG,ul Cummins (wI encls.) All/a Llbuser (wI encls.) , David Shender (wI encls.) 1 816/COl/Clarke.1 001.KLKdoG -36- ~ 1 - 1D ... --=:l City of SaD~ a MOllica'"' . . , ORlt,rof1. ) - -::. -- -- City of Santa Monica City Planning Qivision PLANNING COMMISSION STATEMENT OF OFFICIAL ACTION ! PRo.JECT CASE NUMBER: LOCATION: ,AI:lpLlCANT: Development Review Permit 02-006; Conditional Use Permit02-Q08; Variance 02-021; and Envfronmentallmpact Report 02-012 3131 Olympic Boulevard New VIsions Foundation PROPERlY OWNER: New Visions Foundation CASE PLANNER: RI:QUEST: CEQA STATUS: Laura Beck. Ale? Application for Development Review Permit 02DR-006, Conditional Use Permit 02CUP.008 and Variance 02VAR- 021 to allow constructioh of three. 3-story structures totaling approximately 115,000 square feet to house the following uses above a 172-space subterranean garage: a 5.000 square foot preschool, six elementary school classrooms, @ multi-purpose room, 10 middle school classrooms, 14 high school classrooms, 13 specialty classrooms (i.e" classrooms not continuously occupied by students during the school day), a library, a gymnasium. a 350-seat peoiorming arts theater. a leadership centerlfaculty room, janitor facilities, workshop rooms, two specialty dance/music rooms. restrooms, storage facilities and administrative offices. Outdoor recreational facilities for the schools are also proposed. An EnvIronmental Impact Report was prepared for the project in compliance with the, Califomia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): The Environmental Impact Report was certified by the Planning Commission on July 2, 2003 by Resolution No. 03-006. A Statement of Overriding Considerations and a MitiQation Monitoring Program was . - 37- , c also adopted by the Planning Commission by Resolution 03-007. ' P.LANNING COMMISSION ACTION July '2, 2003 X Date. Approved based on the following findings and subject to the conditions below. Denied. Other. I I EFFECTIVE DATES OF ACTIONS IF NOT APPEALED: .Iuly 17, 2003 , EXPIRi\TION DATE OF ANY PERMITS GRANTED: .Iuly 17, 2010 LlENGTH OF ANY POSSIBLE EXTENSION OF EXPIRATION DATES: · Any rec!Uest for an extension of the expiration date must be received in the City Planning Division prior to expiration of this permit f) months ~ach a nd all of the findings and determinations are based on the competent and substantial evidence, both oral and written, contained in the entire record relating to the Project All summaries of information contained herein or in the findings are. based on the substantial evidenoe in the record. The absence of any particular fact from any such summary is not an indication that a particular finding is not based In part on that fact. , fiNDINGS; I DEVELOPMENT REVIEW FINDINGS 1:, The physicallocatloni size. massing. and placement of proposed structures on the ~ite and the location of proposed uses within the project are compatible wIth and ralate harmoniously to surrounding sites and neighborhoods, in that the proposed ~'roject provides open spaoe along the majority of the eastern edge of the property -38- which abuts the Santa Monica Commerce Park buildings. The western edge of the property abuts a driveway/parking lot associated with Santa Monica Studios and other commercial uses. The 45 ft. high buildings proposed at the northern edge of 1he property are separated from the one story buildings on neighboring parcels by 1he roadway, Nebraska Avenue, thus reducing the visual impact of building mass. Additionally, the ground floor of the northern elevation of the building along I~ebraska Avenue includes a 20 foot wide fire access lane and the garage entry which serve to breakup the building mass; the upper floor of the building is setback . approximately 9 feet, reducing the building mass along Nebraska Avenue. 2. ~-he rights-of-way can accommodate autos and pedestrians, including parking anti flccess, in that vehioular access to and from the project site is provided via Olympic Boulevard and Nebraska Avenue. As conditioned. the project will accommodate vehicles dropping off and picking up students in accordance with a Transportation I Parking Management Plan that will ensure that vehicles do not queue onto Olympic BQulevard. Pedestrian access is provided via a sidewalk along Nebraska Avenue. 3, The health and safety service$ (pollee. fire, etc.) and public infrastructure (e.g. Lltilities) are sufficient to accommodate the new development, in that the Final Environmental Impact Report prepared for the project did not report any significallt impacts to health and safety services or public services and utilities and in that the ~mject is accessible to emergency vehicles_ 4: tIny on-site provision of housing or parks and public open space, which are part of Ule project mitigation measures required in Part 9.04.10.12 (Project Mitigation Measures) of the City of Santa Monica Comprehensive land Use and Zoning Ordinance, satisfactorily meet the goals of the mitigation prograrn. in that no mitigation is required for a proposed school. ~ 5. 1 he project is generally consistent with the Municipal Code and General Plan, in that, with approval of the variance fortandem parking spaces, the project complies with the provisions of the Comprehensive Land Use and Zoning OrdInance. The project is consistent with the Land Use Element, particularly land Use Element POlicy 1.8.3 that encourages preservation of existing schools and permits new s::hools and the expansion of existing private schools with a Conditional Use Permit. In additIon, the proposed project is consistent with Land Use Policy 3.3.16 of the land Use Element to "encourage 5 to 20 foot setbacks from the streetfront... in order to allow room for landscaping and usable open space" in that the buildings are s'~tback more than 20 feet from the front property line. The project is also cpnsistent with Policy 3.3.15 ofthe Land Use Element which calls for the reduction of visibility o,r surface parking from major arterials in that all required parking for the project is in a subterranean garage, As conditioned, the proposed project is consistent with Policy 4.1.3 that states that land use .,. should be located and designed for clmvenient access and efficient transport of all Intended users" since the student loading zone at grade and within the subterranean garage will be utilized in compliance with an approved ParkinglTransportation Management Plan and this will eJlsure that the queue of car~ will not willl;>ack up onto Olympic Boulevard during s1udent drop-off and pick~up hours. - ,- 39- , 6. Reasonable mitigation measures have been included for most adverse impacts identified in the Final Environmental Impact Report and a Statement of Overriding Considerations has been adopted in co'nsideration of those significant Impacts that cannot be mitigated to a level of Insignificance. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FINDINGS 1. The proposed use Is one conditionally pennitted within the subject district and ,:ompli$s with all of the applicable provisions of the "City of Santa Monica Gomprehensive Land Use and Zoning Ordinance", in that new public or priVate Behaals are permitted by conditional use permit in the lMSD Ught Manufacturing District. . 2. The proposed use would not impair the integrity and character of the district in which it is to be established or located, in that the proposed school is an expansion of an existing school that is located. on a site that has been used for school uses Hinee 1973 and in that usual traffic problems associated with dropping off and picking up students will be mitigated by implementation of an approved I)arkingffransporlation Management Plan that will be resubmitted and reviewed by the City annually and revised if necessary to ensure ongoing effectiveness in avoiding traffic problems on Olympic Boulevard and neighboring streets. ~- The subject parcel is physically suitable for the type of land use being proposed, In that the propose site is a 116;957 square foot parcel, and in that as conditioned the )lotential for exposure to hazardous materials associated with the former landfill will he mitigated prior to construction ofthe school. ~ 4. The proposed use is compatible with any of the land uSes presently on the subject parcel if the present land uses are to remain, in that the existing automobile storage bt will be removed and the existing high school wlll be demolished and replaced within the proposed development on the site. 5'. The proposed use would be compatible with 8YJsting and permissible land uses within the district and the general area in which the proposed use is to be located. in flat the proposed school is an expansion of an existing school that is located on a site that has been used for school uses since 1973 and in that the usual traffic . ~Iroblems associated with dropping off and picking up students will be mitigated by implementation of an approved ParkinglTransportation Management. The ~'roposed community use of the school facilities, including the theater and the S ymnasium, will be compatible wl'h the existing and permitted uses within the Light Manufacturing Studio District and with the nearby residential uses since it will occur Efter school hours and when the facl!lties are not in use by. students of the school. 6: "here are adequate provisions for water. sanitation, and public utilitiE?;.s and services trl ensure that the proposed use would not be detrimental to publio health and safety, in that the Final.Environmentallmpact f{eport prepared for the development did not identify any significant impacts to water, sanitation, and public utilities and ... -40- 'ndicated that existing systems could serve the proposed school. 7. Public access to the proposed use will be adequate, in that vehicular access to and 'from the sitewilf be available from Olympic Boulevard and Nebraska Avenue and Jedestrian access Is provided via a sidewalk along Nebraska Avenue. , 8. 'The physical location or placement .of the use on the site is compatible with and ~'elates harmoniously to the surrounding neighborhood, in that the proposed project :Jrovldes open space along the majority of the eastern edge of the property which ,abuts the Santa Monica Commerce Park buildings. The western edge of the ,oroperty abuts a driveway/parking lot associated with Santa Monica Studios and IJther commercial uses. The 45 ft. high buildings proposed at the northern edge of '::he property are separated from the one story buildings on neighboring parcels by ';he roadway, Nebraska Avenue, thus reducing the visual impact of building mass. Additionally. the ground floor of the' northern efevation of the building along l"Jebraska Avenue includes a 20 foot wide fire access lane and the garage entry which serve to breakup the building mass; the upper floor of the building Is also !3-stbaak approximately 9 feet, reducing the building mass along Nebraska Avenue. 9. The proposed use is consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the General Plan, in that Policy 1.8.3 oftha Special Office District designation under the Iwand Use Plan encourages preservation of existing schools and permits new nchools and the expansion of existing private schools with a Conditional Use Permit. 1'0. The proposed use would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, l;onvenience, or general welfare, in that that the proposed school is an expansion of im existing school that is located on a site that has been used for school uses since '1973 and in that usual traffic problems associated with dropping off and picking tip ntudents will be mitigated by implementation of an approved ParkinglTransportation Management Plan that will be resubmitted and reviewed by the City annually and revised If necessary to ensure ongoing effectiveness in avoiding traffic problems on Olympic Boufevard and neighboring streets. In addition" the proposed public use of ihe school facilities, including the theater, community meeting rooms and the uymnaslum after school hours will benefit the community and provide much needed mts, recreational and meeting facilities to residents of the City. , 1'1. The proposed use conforms precisely to the applicable performance standards contained in Subchapter 9.04.12 and special conditions Outlined in Subchapter 0,04.14 of the City of Santa Monica Comprehensive Land Use and Zoning Ordinance, in that there are no special conditions contained in SMMC Section ~1.04.14 that apply to schoofs. 12. ---he proposed use will not result in an over-concentration of such uses in the immediate vicinity, in that there are no schools within the immediate vicinity. vtt\RIAHCE FINDINGS 1 , Yhere are special circumstances or exceptional charal?teristics applicable to the 5 , -41- property involved, including size, shape, topography, locatIon, or surroundings. orto t,e intended use or development of the property that do not apply to other properties in the vicinity under an identical zoning classification, in that tandem parking spaces used by employees within subterranean garages that are operated by parking management plans will enable the project to more efficiently use the hndem spaces which in turn will maximize the number of parking spaces available tl) visitors to the site and eliminate the need for an excavation depth greater than 8pproximately 15 feet below grade. This avoids any further excavation of potentially hazardous materials associated with former uses of the site per Section 4-7 of the Final Environmental Impact Report prepared for the project. 2. The granting of such variance will not be detrimental or injurious tathe property or improvements in the general vicinity and district in which the property is located~ in tllatthe tandem parking spaces will be utilized only by employees working within the ~mject site and will be operated by a parking management plan approved by the t>irector of Planning and Community Development 3. The strict application of the provisions of this Chapter would result In practical {ifficulties Or unnecessary hardships, not including economic difficulties or economic ~'ardships, in that the only feasible means of providing required parking within a standard parking design is to add an additional floor of subterranean parking Dr ::ignificantly reduce the size of the proposed project by eliminating one or more of the schools in its entirety, and in addition possibly eliminating or reducing the non- school administrative offices and the number of olassrooms i~ the remaining schools. None of these options would be COnsistent with the objectives of the ~ roposed project which is to consolidate the New Roads campuses and New Visions Foundation onto a single site. In addition. the approval of a variance for the t~ndem parking will eliminate the need for an excavation depth greater than 6' pproximately 15 feet below grade. This avoids any further excavation of potentially hazardous materials associated with former uses of the site per Section 4-7 of the Final Environmental Impact Report prepared for the project 4. 1'he granting of a variance will not be contrary to or in conflict with the general purposes' and intent of this Chapter. or to the goals, objectives and pOlicies of the General Plan. in that Circulation Element Policy #4.7.3 states: nMost efficient use of parking facilities should be ~ncQuraged, Including provisions for compact cars, tandem parking in conjunction with free valet service." The parking management plan required for the project will provide for the efficient use of the tandem spaces. 5~ 1 he variance would not Impair the integrity and character of the district in which it is to be located, in thatthe tandem parking spaces will only be utilized by employees ~'orking within the project site and will be operated by a parking management plan approved by the Director of Planning and Community Development. 6., T he subject site is physically suitable for the proposed variance, in that the tandem parking spaces will be located within a subterranean parking garage built as part of a 114,870 square foot development on a 116,958 square foot parceL . - 42- 7. Tllere are adequate provisions for water, sanitation, and public utilities and services to ensure that the proposed variance would not be detrimental to public health and s~lfety. in that the Final Environmental Impact Report prepared for the development did not identify any significant Impacts to water, sanitation, and public utHitles and indicated that existing systems could selVe the proposed project. 8. There will be adequate provisions for public access to serve the subject variance proposal, in that the 1andem parking spaces will be located within a subterranean parking garage which is accessed from Olympic Boulevard and Nebraska Avenue and pedestrian access is provided via a sidewalk along Nebraska Avenue. 9. I Fl)r the reduction of the automobile parking space requirements) the reduction is bused and conditioned upon an approved parking reduction plan that incorporates tmnsportation control measures that have been demonstrated to be effective In re ducing parking needs and that are monitored. periodically reviewed for continued effectiveness, and enforced by the City as contained in Section 9.04.10.08.050 of this Chapter in that a parking management plan, approved by the Director of Planning and Community Development and monitored by the City on an annual basis is required as part of project approval. 1 O~. TIle strict application of the provisions of Article IX of the City of Santa Monica Municipal Code would result In unreasonable deprivation ofthe use or enjoyment of the property. in that the only feasible means of providing required parking within a standard parking design is to add an additional floor of subterranean parking or si~nificantly reduce the scope of the project by eliminating one or more of the schools in its entirety, and in addition possibly eliminating or reducing the non- s(:hool administrative offices and the number of classrooms in the remaining schools. None of these opU.ons would be consistent with the objectives of the proposed project which is to consolidate the New Roads campuses and New Visions Foundation onto a single site. C(}NDITIONS: , Plans , 1.: Tills approval is for those plans dated April 23, 2003 as modified by plans dated June 17. 2003, a copy of which shall be maintained in the files of the City Planning o vision. Project development shall be consistent with such plans, except as otherwise specified in these conditions of approval. 2. Tile Plans shall comply with all other provisions of Chapter 1, Article IX of the Municipal Code. (Zoning Ordinance) and all other pertinent ordinances and General Plan policies of the City of Santa Monica. ' 3. FInal parking lot layout and specifications shall be subject to the review and I approval of the Transportation Management OivisIon. 4. Minor amendments to the plans shall be subject to approval by the Director of 7 ,- 43- Planning'. . A significant change in the approved concept shall be subject to Planning Commission Review. Construction shall be in confonnance with the plans s'Jbmitted or as modified by the Planning Commission. Architectural Review Board or Director of Planning. Architectural Review Board 5. Prior to consideration of the project by the Architectural Review Board, the applicant shall review disabled access requirements with the Building and Safety Division and make any necessary changes in t~e project design to achieve compliance with such mquirements. The Architectural Review Board. in its review, shall pay particular attention to the aesthetic. landscaping, and setback impacts of any ramps or other fnatures necessftated by accessibility requirements. 6. Prior to submittal of landscape plans for Architectural Review Board approval. the applicant shall contact the Department of Environmental and Public Works flJlanagement regarding urban runoff plans and calculations. 7. C:onstruction period signage shall be subject to the approval of the Architectural R.eview Board_ 8. Flans for final design, landscaping. screening, trash enclosures, and signage shall be subject to review and approval by the Architectural Review Board. 9.. The Architectural Review Board, In its review. shall pay particular attention to the project's pedestrian orientation and amenities; scale and articulation of design elements; exterior colors, textures and materials; window treatment; glazing: and Iclndscaping. ~ 9. The Architectural Review Board, in its review, shall also pay particular attention to ttle project's proposed sound waf) along the Olympic Boulevard frontage to reduce the visual impact of the sound wall on the adjacent streetscape~ 10. As appropriate, the Architectural Review Board shall require the use of anti-graffiti materials on surfaces likely to attract graffiti. 11. L3ndscaping plans shall comply with Subchapter 58 (Landscaping Standards) of file zoning ordinance including use of water~conselVin9 landscaping materials, le:ndscape maintenance and other standards contained in the Subchapter. Pursuant to SMMC Section 9.04.10.04.110(a) higher percentages of turf may be parmitted when turf is an essential part ofthe development such as playing fields for s(:hools or parks, or as determined by the Architectural Review Board. 12. Refuse areas. storage areas and mechanical equipment shall screened in a ;cordance with SMMC Section 9.04.1 O.02.13Q-R04.1 0.02.150. Refuse areas sllall be of a size adequate to meet on-site need, including recycling. The ArchJtectural Review Board in its review shall pay particular attention to the $(:reening of such areas and equipment. Any rooftop mechanical equipment shall be -44- minimized in height and area, and shall be located in such a way as to minimize noise and visual impacts to surrounding properties. Unless othelWise approved by the Architectural Review Board, rooftop mechanical equipment shall be located at 1138St five feet from the edge of the 'roof. Except for solar hot water heaters. no residential water heaters shall be looated on the roof. Demoli1ion 13. Until such time as the demolition is undertaken, and unless the strucwre is currently ill use, the existing structure shall be maintained and secured by boarding up all (lpenings, erecting a security fence, and removing all debris, bushes and planting f1at inhibit the easy surveillance of.the property to the satisfaction of the Building ~Ind Safety Officer and the Fire Department. Any landscaping material remaining ~,hall be watered and maintained until demolition occurs. 14. fitreet trees shall be maintained; relocated or provided as required in a manner (.onsistent with the City's Community Forest Management Plan 2000, per the ~pecifications of the Open Space Management Division of the Community and Cultural Services Department and the City's Tree Code (SMMC Section 7.40). No street trees shall be removed without the approval of the Open Space Management Division. 15. Illmediately after demolition (and during construction). a security fence, the height (If which shall be the maximum permitted by the Zoning Ordinance, shall be r:'Jaintained around the perimeter of the lot. The I~t shall be kept clear of all trash. \/feeds, etc. ' 16. Prior to issuance of a demolition permit. applicant shall prepare far Building DivisiOn e,pproval a rodent and pest control plan to ensure that demolition and construction edivities at the site do not create pest control impacts on the project neighborhood. 17_ No demolition of buildings or structures 40 years of age or older shall be permitted rntil the end of a 60--day review period by the landmarks Commission to detennine whether an application for landmark designation shall be filed. If an application for landmark designation is filed, no demolition shall be approved until a final c etermination is made by the Landmarks Commission on the application. 16. Prior to issuance of any demolition permitsl a demorition materials recycling plan shall be filed for approval by the Department of Environmental and Public W.orks ~1anagement which seeks to maximize the reuselrecyc;:ling of existing building materials. Construction 19. Unle$s otherwise approved by the Departmentof EnVironmental and Public Works ~ 1anagement, all sidewalks shall be kept clear and passable during the grading and C Dnstruction phase of the project. q -45- 2(1). Sidewalks, curbs, gutterS, paving and driveways which need replacing orremoval as a result of the project as determined by the Department of Environmental and Public Works Management shall be reconstructed to the satisfaction ofthe Department of Environmental and Public Works ,Management. Approval for this work shall be obtained from the Department of Environmental and Public Works management prior to issuance of the building permits. 21. Vehicles hauling dirt or other construction debris from the site shall cover any open load with a tarpaulin or other secure covering to minimize dust emissions. Immediately after commencing dirt removal from the site, the general contractor shall provide the City of Santa Monica with written certification that all trucks leaving the site are covered in ac~rdance with this condition of approval. 22. /J, construction period mitigation plan shall be prepared by the applicant for approval by the Department of Environmental and Public Works Management prior to is:suanoe of a building permit. The approved mitigation plan shall be posted on the c :Jnstruction site for the duration of the project construction and shall be produced upon request. As applicable, this plan shall 1) Specify the names, addresses, tHlephone numbers and business license numbers of all contractors and subcontractors as well as the developer and architect; 2) Describe how demolition of any existing structures is to be accomplished; 3) Indicate where any cranes are to be located for erection/construction; 4) Describe how much of the public street, a lIeyway. or sidewalk is proposed to be used In conjunction with construction; 5} Set forth the extent and nature of any pUe-driving operations; 6) Describe the length and number of any tiebacks whiCh must extend under the property of other persons; 7) Specify the nawre and extent of any dewatering and its effect on any adjacent buildings; 6) Describe anticipated construction-related truck routes. number of truck tl ips, hours of hauling and parking location; 9) Specify the nature and extent of ahy helicopter hauling; 10) State whether any construction activity beyond normally permitted hours is proposed; 11) Describe any proposed construction noise mitigation measures; 12) Describe construction-period security measures including any fencing, lighting. and security personnel; 13} Provide a drainage plan; 14) F rovlde a construction-period parking plan which shall minimize use of public streets for parking; i5} List a designated on-site construction manager; 16) Provide a c:mstruction matefials recycling plan which seeks to maximize the reuse/recycling of c:Jnstruction waste; 17) Provide a plan regarding use of recycled, and low~ environmental-impact materials in building construction; 18) provide a construction period water runoff control plan. 2~. /J sign shall be posted on the property in a manner consistent with the public hearing sign requirements. which shall identify the address and phone number of tIle owner and/or applicant for the purposes of responding to questions and c'Jmplaints during the construction period. Said sign shall also indicate the hours of permissible construction work. 24. The property owner shall insure any graffiti on the site is promptly removed through c)mpliance with the City's graffiti removal program. ~-46- , 25. 1\ copy of these conditions shall be posted in an easily visible and accessible location at all times during construction at the project site. The pages shall be hminated or otherwise protected to ensure durability of the copy. , . Environmental Mitigation 26. lJltra~low flow plumbing fixtures are required on all new development and remodeling where plumbing is to be added. (Maximum 1,6-gallon toilets and 1.0- ~lallon urinals and. low flow showerhead.) 27_ To mitigate solid waste impacts, prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, ~Irojectowner shall submit a recycling plan to the Department of Environmental and Public Works Management for its' approval. The recycling plan shall include 1} list (If materials such as white paper, computer paper, metal cans. and glass to be recycfed; 2) location (If recycling bins; 3) designated recycling coordinator; 4) nature filnd extent of internal and external pick-up service; 5) pick~up schedule; 6) plan to infonn tenantsl occupants of service. 26. To mitigate storm water and surface runoff from the project site, an Urban Runoff Mitigation Plan may be required by the Department of Environmental and Public Works Management (EPWM) pursuantto Municipal Code Chapter7.10. Applicant ~ hall contact EPWM to determine applicable requirements, which include the f.:>lIowing: · Non-storm water runoff. sediment and construotion waste from the construction site and parking areas is prohibited from leaving the site; · An sediments or materials which are tracked off-site must be removed the same day they are tracked off-site; ~ · Excavated soil must be located on the site and soU piles should be covered and otherwise protected so that sediments do not go into the street or adjoining properties; · Washing of construction or other vehicles shall be allowed adjacent to a construction site. No runoff from washing vehicles on a construction site shall be allowed to leave the site; · Drainage controls may be required depending on the extent of grading and topography of the site. · New development is required to reduce projected runoff pollution by at least twenty percent through incorporation of design elements or principles, such as increasing permeable surfaces, diverting Dr catching runoff via swales, berms, and the like; orientation of drain gutters towards permeable areas; modification of grades; use of retention structures and other methods. 29. F'ursuant to Mitigatio'1 Measure 4.1 ~ 1: Recommendations outlined in the geotechnical investigation prepared for the project site shall be incorporated into the design and construction of the proposed project. 1"' . - 47- 36. 37. , 30. ?ursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.5-1: Tandem spaces shall be used by faculty, ,staff, and educational partner employees. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.5-2: Provide a parking attendanVvalet during after :;chool periods when community or publio events are scheduled that are expected to :attract more than 150 vehIcles to facilitate community/publio uSe of the tandem spaces. 31. , 32_ Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.5-3: Community use of the perfonnfng arts theater. gymnasium, or dance/yoga classrooms shall be prohibited during school hours, I 33. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.54: The start and end times for the elementary, middle. and high school grade levels shall be separated from each other l:.ly at least 30 minutes. 34. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.5-5: The applicant shall implement operational measures such that adequate queuing capacity is provided to the satisfaction of the City staff- Operational measures shall be outlined in a plan that is approved by City staff, and distributed to students of the proposed project. Any modifications to the plan shall be approved by the City. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.5-6: The applicant shalf physicalry redesign the proposed Olympic Boulevard driveway area, which shall be done to the satisfaction ;)f City staff to mitigate vehicular ConflIcts between outgoing vehicles to/from the subterranean garage. 35. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.5-7a: Prior to issuance of an occupancy permit For the proposed project, the applicant shall provide .funding for the modification of ~he traffic signal at 20th Street & Olympio Boulevard to provide a protected phase 'for the westbound left-turn movement. Implementation of this mitigation measure would necessitate the provision of some combination of project design, new ;i~nage, controller cabinets. poles. mast arms. detectors, and/or signal heads. If 'lhese conditions are imposed only upon the applicant, than the applicant alone shall Jay for these improvements. However. if the conditions regarding these -mprovements are Imposed upon other development projects as well, and such Jrojects are approved prior to the Certificate of Occupancy of this project. the .3pplicant shall only pay its fair share for such improvements and shall be j'elmbursed by the subsequent developerr as reasonably determined by the City's Transportation Management Manager. ?ursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.5-7b: Prior to issuance of an occupancy permit ~br the proposed project. the applicant shall provide funding for the modification of i:he traffic signal at 26th Street & Colorado Avenue to provide a protected-permitted' phase for the eastbound left-turn movement. Implementation of this mitigation measure would necessitate the provisIon of some combination of new signage, l;ontroller cabinets, poles, mast arms, detectors~ and/or signal heads. If these I~onditions are imposed only upon the applicant. then lhe applicant alone shall pay FOr these improvements. Howevet~ if the conditions regarding these improvements -48- 41. 4? are imposed upon other development projects as well, and such projects are approved prior to the Certificate of Oooupancy of this project, the appficant shall only pay its fair share for such improvements and shall be reimbursed by the subsequent developer, as reasonably determined by the City's Transportation Management Manager. 38. F'ursuant to Mitigation Measure 4_5-7d: Prior to issuance of an occupancy permit fllr the proposed project, the applicant shall provide funding for the modification of the traffic signal at Stewart Street/28th Street & Pico Boulevard to provide a ~ rotected phase for the southqaund left-turn movement. The applicant shall also provide funding for the adequate new signage. If these conditions are imposed only upon the applicant, then the applicant alone shall pay for these improvements. However, if the conditions regarding these improvements are imposed upon other development projects as well, and such projects are approved prior to the Certificate cf Occupancy of this project, the applicant shall only pay its fair share for such improvements and shall be reimbursed by the subsequent developer, as reasonabJy detennined by the City's Transportation Management Manager. , 39. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.6~ 1: Exterior lights shall only shed light poa's on tile project site, incorporating "cut-off" shIelds as appropriate to prevent an increase in I!ghtingat adjacent properties. 40. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4_6 -2: Landscape illumination and exterior sign lighting shall be accomplished with low-leveJ, unobtrusive fixtures. Such lighting shall be shielded to direct light pools away from off-site viewers. . ~ F'ursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.7-1: Prior to issuance of a grading permJt, the a pplicant shall retain a qualified consultant to prepare a comprehensive Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), for review and approval by the City Environmental Programs Division or its qualified designee, and shall demonstrate, to the City's satisfaction. that the applicant has implemented all applicable recommenaations of the PI1ase II ESA. Testing to be required under the Phase II shall include but not be limited to ~e following: 1. Soil borings to confirm lateral and vertical extent of refuse including a refuse analysis. to the extent possible, characterization of the type and extent of contamination, and assessment of the landfill cap, if any. 2. Soil gas sampling to confirm soil vapor composition. 3. Surface air monitoring to investigate the potential for hazardous emissions On the project site and surrounding areas. Fursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.7~2: Prior to issuance of a grading permit, the applicant shall submit for approval, and' in consultation with the City of Santa Monica. DTSC. the Los Angeles RWQCB. arid other regulatory agencies as mquired, formulate a remediation plan in the event that groundwater or soil c:mtamination exists on the project site. The applicant shall implement the a pproved remediation efforts to the satisfaction of the City of Santa Monioa, OTSC, the Los Angeles RWQCB and other regulatory agencies. as required. Qualified and --4 9 - licensed professionals shall perform the remediation activities and all work shall be performed under the supervision of the City of Santa Monica Envir~mmental Programs Division_ 43. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.7-3: A landfill gas control plan and monitoring flystem shall be developed and implemented prior to the commencement of school flctivities on site. to ensure that risks do not excf:ed acceptable regulatory levels. If methane or other landfill gasses are detected above regulatory levels, use of the area where gasses are detected shall cease untif a remediation strategy that assures landfill gasses are within acceptable concentrations is developed and i rnplemented. 44. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.7-4: In the event that previously unknown soil or {]rOundwater contamination is encountered during construction. construction nctivities shall immediately stop, and appropriate health and safety procedures shall be implemented. Where site contamination is identified, an appropriate remediation ~;trategy (i.e., a Health and Safety Plan that meets OSHA requirements) approved by the City, and DTSC and the Los Angeles RWQC8, as required, shall be i',nplemented_ Qualified and licensed professionals shall perform the remediation ~lctivities and all work shall be perfonned under the supervision of the City of Santa Monica Environmental Programs Division_ 45. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.8-1: The applicant shaJl prepare a Construction Inpact Mitigation Plan to be reviewed by the City prior to issuance of a building ~'ermit, and shall implement all identified measures during the construction period. 46. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.8-2: The applicant'contractor shall submit a plan, ~Irior to issuance of a building permit. to demonstrate that construction traffic Shall avoid using residential streets in the project vicinity for construction activities. 47. Pursuant to Mitigation Measure 4.8-3: The applicant/contractor shall submit a plan, rrior to issuance of a building permit, that demOnstrates the provision of all r,ecessary off-site parking for construction workers during Phase II of construction. so as to avoid impacts on parking in the project neighborhood and surrounding r~sidential streets. Miscellaneous Conditions , , 48. lhe building address shall be painted on the roof of the building and shall measure four feet by eight feet (32 square feet). 49_ T he operation shall at all times be conducted in a manner not detrimental to surrounding properties or residents by reason of lights. noise. activities. parking or other actions. , 50. 11 any archaeologiCal remains are uncovered durtng excavatIon or construction, work in the affected area shall be suspended and F.l recognized specialist shall be c :>ntacted to conduct a survey of the affected area at projecfs owner's expense. A . - 50- cletermination shall then be made by the Director of Planning to determine the ::,ignificance of the survey findings and appropriate actions and requirements, if any, b address such firidings. 51. Btreet and/or alley lighting shall be provided on public rights-of-way adjacent to the project if and as needed per the specifications and with the approval of the Department of Environmental and Public Works Management 52. Automotive repair facilities and d~alershlps. parking areas and structures, ~Iutomotive paint shops, gas stations. equipment degreasing areas, and other hcilities generating wastewater with significant oil and grease content are required tl) pretreat these wastes before discharging to the City sewer or storm drain system. Pretreatment will require that a clarifier or oil/water separator be installed and main~ t:3ined on site. In cases where settleable solids are present (or expected) in greater flmounts than floatable oil and grease, a clarifier unit will be required. In cases where the opposite waste characteristics are present. an oil/water separator with Elutomatic oil draw-off will be required instead. The Environmental and Public Works Management Department will set specific requirements. Building pennit ~llans shall show the required instaflation. 53. Mechanical equipment shall not be located on the side of any building which is edjaceot to a residential building on the adjoining lot. Roof locations may be used v then the mechanical equipment is installed within a soundrated parapet enclosure. 54. Final approval of any mechanical equipment installation wifl require a noise test in compliance with SMMC section 4.12.040. Equipment for the test shall be provided ty the owner or contractor and the test shall be conducted by the owner or contractor. A copy of the noise test results on mechanical equipment shall be :s ubmitted to the Community Noise officer for review to ensure that noise levels do not exceed maximum allowable levels for the applicable noise zone. 55. F'inal building plans submitted for approval of a building permit shall include on the ~ lans a list of all permanent mechanical equipment to be placed outdoors and all permanent mechanical equipment to be placed indoors which may be heard outdoors. 56_ Prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy Permit, the applicant shall post a notice at the building entry stating that the site is regulated by a Development Fleview Permit, Conditional Use Permit and Variance and the Statement of Official fl\ction, which includes the establishment's conditions of approval, is available Upon n3quest. This notice shall remain' posted at all time the establishment is in operation. ' , Validity of Permits 57. ,In the event permittee violates or fails to comply with any,conditions of approval of this permit, ,no further permits. licenses, approvals or certificates of occupancy shall be issued until such violation has been fully remedied. -51- 58_ , Within ten days of Planning Division transmittal of the Statement of Official Action. project applicant shall sign and return a copy of t~e Statement of Official Action prepared by the Planning Division. agreeing to the Conditions of approval and acknowledging that failure to comply with such conditions shall constitute grounds for potential revocation of the permit approval. By signing sam~, applicant shall not thereby waive any legal rights applicant may possess regarding said conditions. The signed Statement Shall be returned to the City Planning Division. Failure to cJmply with this condition shall constitute grounds for potential permit revocation. , 59. .lhis determination shall not become effective for a period of fourteen (14) days ffOm the date of determination or. if appealed. until a final determination is made on the appeal. Any appeal must be made hi the form required by the Zoning ,lldminlstrator. The approval of this permit shall expire if the rights granted are not exercised within seven (7}years from the permifs effective date. Exercise of rights shall mean issuance of a building permit to commence construction. However. the permit shall also expire if the building permit expires, if final inspection is not C Jmpleted or a Certificate of Occupancy is not issued within the time periods specified in SMMC Section 8.08_060~ or ifthe rights granted are not exercised within eighteen (18) months following the earliest to occur of the following: issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy Of, if no certificate of Occupancy is required, the last mquired final inspection for the new construction. One six-month extension may be . permitted If approved by the Director of Planning. Applicant is on notice that time eldensions may 'not be granted if development standards or the development process relevant to the project have changed since project approval. Additionally. tlle rights associated with this approval shall expire if the establishment ceases operation for a period of one year or longer. ~ Monitoring of Conditions , 60. Fursuant to the requirements of Public Resources Code Section 21061.6, the City F lanning Division will coordinate a monitoring and reporting program regarding any mquired changes to the project made in conjunction with project approval and any cJnditions of approval, including those conditions intended to mitigate or avoid significant effects on the environment. This program shall include, but is not limited to, ensuring that the Planning DIvision itself and other City divisions and departments such as the Building Division, the Environmental and Public Works f\lanagement Department. the Fire Department, the Police Department, the Community and Economic Development Department and the Finance Department are aware of project requirements which must be satisfied prior to issuance of a Euildlng Permit, Certificate of Occupancy, or other permit, and that other. msponslble agencies are also informed of conditions relating to their msponslbillties. Project owner shall demonstrate compliance with conditions of approval in a written report submitted to the Planning Director and Building Officer' prior to issuance of a Building Permit or Certificate of Occupancy, and, as applicable, provide periodic reports regarding compliance with such conditions. -52- VOTe '\ . A~opt the Resolution certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report: Ayes: Nays: Abstain.' Absent: Brown. Clarke, Dad, Hopkins, Johnson, Moyle, Olsen None . None None Attopt Ule Resolution making findings necessary to approve the development project at 3131 Olympic Boulevard. adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations. and adopt a Mitigation Monitoring Program: Ayes: Nays: Abstain: Absent: Brown, Clarke, Dad, Hopkins, Johnson. Moyle. Olsen None None None Adopt the findings and condition$: of approval for Development Review Pennlt 02..008. Conditional Use Permit 02-008 and Variance 02-021 for the project as amended: Ayes: Nays: Abstain: Absent: NOTICI~ Brown. Clarke, Dad, Hopkins, Johnson. Moyle, Olsen None None None If.thls i~: a final decision not subject to further appeal under the City of Santa Monica Comprehensive land Use and Zoning Ordinance. the time within which judicial review of this decision must be sought is governed by Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6, which provision has been adopted by the City pursuant to Municipal Code Section 1.16.010. I herebJ certify that this Statement of Official Action accurately reflects the final determination of the Planning Commission of the City of Santa Monica. C~ Darrell Gierke, Chairperson S(6;a3 Date ,. >53- I hereb:r agr~e to the above conditions of approval and aCknowledge that failure to comply with such conditions shall constitute grounds for potential revocation of the p~rmit ;approval. ~-~- .' f~ L r: CI/f"v\1~. ~Vfl Jiftft2.CJZIJ(, Print Name and Title ' fo/ll1 f,N \/\S'h1/liJ" F'CW,..1,p-'T71nrJ F:\plan\shme\pc\stoas'02deOoa .dol; rev: 05/:W03 ,. 1"" _-54- 'I. ENGINEERS MEMORANDUM DATl~: November 5,2003 TO: Ken Kutcher Harding, ,Larmore. Kutcher & Kozal FROM: David Shender Linscott, Law & Greenspan, Engineers I SUBJECT: Commen,ts tf,) the Draft Environ~entallmpact Report Prepared for the 2834 Colorado Avenue Project City of Santa Monioa REFl;RENCE: 1..023289-1 This memorandum has been prepared to provide comments to the traffic study contained in the Draft Enviri)nmental hnpact Report (Draft EIR) prepared for the proposed residential project at 2834 Colomdo Avenue in the City of Santa Monica. The Draft EIR, dated September 2003, was prepared by Rincon Consultants and the traffic study was prepared by Kaku Assooiates. ltis cC Deluded that there are substantial incDn$stencies contained jn the traffic study provided in the Draft EIR for tbe 2834 Colorado Avenue Project as compared to data published several months earlieI' by the same traffic consultant in the EIR prepared for the New Roads School project (Draft , EIR d:lted January 2003 and Final EIR dated April 2003) for two of the common study intersections evaluated in both documents. Specifically. Table J below provides the V olume-to-Capacity ratios (VIe) and Levels of Service (LOS) at the intersections of 20th Street/Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street.28th StreetlPico Boulevard. . Table 1 ComparisQn ofV/C and LOS Values :PM Peak Hour w Future Cumulative Plus Project Condition 2834 ColQrado DEIR New Roads School DEIR Se}?tember 2003 Janulll'Y 2003 Intel"sedion vIe LOS vIe LOS 261h :1treetlColorado Ave 0.840 B 1. 793 F Stewart-28th StreetIPioo Blvd. 1,026 D 1.539 F 234 East CClIGrado Bl)ul~"lIrll, Suite 40D . Plmu)enr.l. Clillfornin9!101 Telepb1Joe 626.796.2322 · F8X 626.79M941 · E.mail ~helld1,!r@lIgel1gi11een,tom --55- ";j I.. Ken Kutcher November 5, 2003 Page Two 'ENGINEERS As shm\'ll in Table l~ the two traffic studies, prepared only months apart by the same consultant, , have reached substantially different conclusions regarding the operations at two Common study intersfx;tions in the futUre Cumulative Plus Project condition in the PM peak hour. At the 26m Street'Colorado Avenue interseotion, the vIe ratio in the PM peak hour was forecast to be 1.793 (LOS F) in the New Roads School Draft EIR while the 2834 Colorado Avenue Draft EIR analyzed the same conditioD, but yet reported a 53% improvement in the vie ratio to 0.840 (LOS B). , Similarly, the Stewart Street-28th StreetIPico Boulevard intersection was forecast in the New Roads Schoel Draft Em. to operate with a V/C ratio at 1.539 (LOS F). but'is now forecast in the 2834 o Color.!do Avenue Draft EIR to operate with a VIe ratio at 1.026 (LOS D), a 33% improvement. In ow: experience, it is common that forecasts of future operating conditi~ns at common study inters,~tions between two traffic studies will have some differences (generally where the vie ratios vary ,vithin a range of 5-10%), potentially due to different data such as existing traffic counts, analy: :ed cumulative projects, ambient growth rates, etc, However, in comparing the forecasts in the Draft Ems for the New Roads School and the 2834 Colorado Avenue Project. we have never seen a situ ation where a study intersection was forecast to change by such a substantial margin, particlllarly when the forecast is for an improvement in operatio:os' (as opposed to a degradation), The fi tct that the reports were published by the same traffic consultant over a span of a few months maken it even more difficult to comprehend. Table 2 on the following page provides a comparison of the Existing traffic volumes and the Cumdative Plus Project traffic volumes at the tWo common study intersections. Also provided for infornation purposes are the Project-Only trips forecast to travel through the intersections. Based on thfl comparison, following conclusions are noted: · Tbe Existing traffic counts used in the 2834 Colorado Avenue Draft EIR are about 10% higher a.t the two study intersections as compared to' the Existing traffic counts used in the New Roads School EIR. " The forecast of Cumulative Plus ~.roject traffic volumes are about 9% lower in the 2834 Colorado Draft Em for the 26lh Street/Colorado Avenue intersection as compared to the fOl'ecast in the New Roads School EIR: The forecasts of CWnulative Plus Project ttaffic volumes at the Stewart Street-28th StreeVPico Boulevard intersection are nearly identical between the two studies. Therefore, it is cODcluded that the signmc!illt changes in the calculated vIe ratios and LOS values , betwe en the two traffic studies are not attributable to potential variations in the traffic volume data, but is likely due to ulCousistent applications of intersection analysis methodologies utilized by the , consultant between the two studies. . Z34 EBBt Colorado BoulRvllrd. Suite 400 . PnS!ldeDB, California 91101 Telepllonc 626.796.2312 · Fu 626.792.(1941 . E-mail ahemler@Ugengineer~.com -56- - I. Ken Kutcher November 5t 2003 Page Tm-ee ENGINEERS Table 2 Comparison ofIntenectio~ 'fraffic:: Volumes ~ PM Peak Hou:r 2834 Colorado DEm New Roads' School DEIR September 20D3 January %003 Cumulative Project ComulaCive Project Intersection Existing + Project Only Existing + Project Only Traffic Traffic Trame Traffic Trame T:rnmc 2611I :;freetlColorado 3,228 .3,738 14 2,862 4,087 9 Ave. Stewart-28th 3,505 4,009 4 3.235 4,112 9 StretrrJPioo Blvd. , As yeu are aware. a significant issue is raised due to the differences in the reported traffic data for ; the OClmDlOn study intersections and the conditions of approval for the New Roads School project as set forth by the City of Santa Monica Planning Commission on July 2p 2003. Specifically. Condition Nos. 37 and 38 require the New Roads School projeotto fund traffic signal improvements at the 2~ Street/Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street~28th StreetIPico Boulevard futersections, respe,~tively. primarily in response to significant traffic impacts reported in the Draft and Final EIR docwnents prepared for the school project. The cOXlditiQns further state that if the traffic signal impt(lvements at the affected intersections are imposed on other development projects, and such proje';ts are approved by the City prior to the receipt of a Certificate of Occupancy for the sohool, then 1he school is only obligated to pay its fair share towards the traffic signal improvements as detenmned by the City. , It wo',dd be reasonable to expect that the D~aft EIll for the 2834 Colorado Avenue :Project would : have identified sigtiifioant traffic impacts for this projeot at the 26 Street/Colorado Avenue. and Stewart Street-28th StreetIPlco Boulevard intersections due to: · The forecast cfLOS F operations in the Cumulative Flus Project condition at the two intersections as previously identified in the New Roads 5'Jhool ElK D The highly sensitive City of Santa Monica traffic impact significanoe thresholds whereby a change in the calculated vIe ratio of 0.005 or more due to project traffic at an LOS F intersection is deemed to be as significant impact (in many cases, one new trip through the intersection is sufficient to cause this impact). 234 ElISt CohmllJo BlIulevard, Suite 400 . Pasadellil, Clllifllrnla 91101 Telephone 626.796.2322 · Fu 626.791.0941 I E-m!ll shender@!lgeoglneen.eom . - 57- , , , II. '- EIIlOINEERS Ken Kutcher November 5,2003 Page FOlk " The fact that the 2834 Colorado Avenue Project is forecast to oontribute an incremental number of new trips through the affected intersections in a range equi'Valentto the New Roads School project (aee Table 2), which was deemed by the City to cause significant traffic impacts at these locations. · Appropriately, the traffic signal improvements conditioned to the New Roads School project do not appear to have been included in the Cumulative Plus Project traffic impact analysis prepared for the 26M StreerlColorado Avenue and Stewart Street-28th Street/Pico Boulevard intersections in the 2834 Colorado Avenue Draft EIR. It is in terestingto note that had the EIR for the New Roads School project been prepared in a manner , similar to the 2834 Colorado Avenue Projec~ it is likely that a finding of no significant traffic , impacts would have occurred for the 26lh Street/Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street-28th StreetPico Boulevard intersections related to the school project. A finding of no significant traffic impac 1s may have also been detennined for the 20th Street/Olympic Boulevard intersection using the traffic impact analysis methodology ~ployed in the 2834 Colorado Avenue Project Oraft Ellt, for whicb the New Roads School is also obligated by the City to fund traffio signal improvements , (Condtlon No. 36 of the New Roads School project approval). The 201b Street/Olympic Boulevard , inters'~ction was not evaluated in the 2834 Colorado Avenue Project Draft ElR. . In cOLclusion) it is recommended that the City of Santa Monica take one of the following actions in conjunction with its review of the Draft Em prepared for the 2834 Colorado Avenue project: 1. Revise the Draft EIR for the 2834 Colorado Avenue Project utilizing the same base data and traffic im,llact analysis prm;edures used in the New Roads School EIR for purposes of assessingpoteotial tJ:affic impacts at the 26m Street/Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street-28th Street/Pico Boulevard intersections. Based on the assumption that signifi cant traffic impacts are identified atthese locations, the potential fair share oontnoution towards the improvements previously conditioned to the New Roads School projeot should be identified for the 2834 Colorado Avenue Project. 2. Rescind the prior Condition Nos. 36, 37 and 38 applied to the New Roads School project based on the traffic impact analysis methodology used in the 2834 Colorado Avenue Project Draft EIR, which has shown the study interseotions in the area to operate at a substantiaUy improved Level of Service. thereby eliminating the prior findings of significant traffic impacts related to the school project. ,- 234 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 4011 . FIlllRdena, ClllifQmill 9110J Telephone 6Zu.796.Z322 . Fu 616.792.0941 · E-mall sbender@llllcnglneen,etlm . - 58- I. Ken Kutche);' November 5. 2003 Page Four ~NOll'l~E~S Pleasu call if you have any questions regarding our comments to the Draft EIR prepare for the 2834 Colondo Avenue Project in the City of Santa Monica, O:I/OB.I1/.F.\J2/J911HJ41m.J:Mtdr.r."p<J 234 iEsit Colorado Boulevllrd, Suite "DO · PRStldeni, CRllfornla 91101 Telephone 67.6.796.%311 · FaI 62.6.792,.D!141 .' E-mlllI sbender@lIgCDgineel'll.com . - 59- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR '., _-h:, Letter 9 COMMENTOR: KelUleth 1. Kutcher, Attorney, Harding, Larmore, Kutcher, & Kozal DATE: November la, 2003 RESPONSE: Response 9A The conm1ent letter points out that the traffic study conducted as pm:t of the 2834 Colorado Avenue Draft EIR reports substantially better projected cumulative conditions at the 26th Street/ Colorado Avenue and StewaTt Street/Pico Boulevard intersections than were projected in the traffic study conducted as part of the New Roads School EIR. The letter requests that either the 2834 Colorado Draft EIR traffic analysis be revised to show a significant impact at these two intersections, with the cost of mitigation shared between the New Roads School and the 2834 Colorado project, or that the conditions of approval requiring the New Roads School to implement mitigation at these two locations be eliminated. The letter also suggests that the intersection of 20th Street/Olympic Boulevard should have been studied in the 2834 Colorado Avenue Draft EIR to determine whether the proposed 2834 Colorado project may have a significant impact at that location for which the cost of mitigation could be shared with New Roads School. Each of these items is discussed below. Cumulative Forecasts at 26th Street/Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street/Pico Boulevard The conm1ent letter questions how the forecasts of cumulative traffic conditions at the two intersections of interest could be so different between the two studies. In the intervening period between preparation of the b'affic study for the New Roads School EIR and the b'affic shIdy for the 2834 Colorado Avenue Draft EIR, the City of Santa Monica updated the citywide Tmffix model used as the basis for b:affic studies in the city. As part of the update, a series of changes were made to the Tmffix model to reflect updated conditions and methods. There were four basic types of changes made to the model that affected the subject intersections, in pa.rticulal': new ground counts (conducted in fa112002 as opposed to the older 1999 counts); a change in the background b"affic growth factor; an updated set of future development projects included in the cumulative forecasts; and a change in the level of service analysis methodology from the 1994 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) operational method to the 2000 HCMoperationalmethod. For reference, the following tables sunul1Crrize the existing and projected PM peak hour volumes and the existing and cumulative plus project PM peak hom levels of service at the above intersections, as reported in the two shldies. ,. City of Santa Monica . - 60- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR Comparison of PM Peak Hour Total Intersection Traffic Volumes Existing Cumulative Cumulatfve Project Only Intersection (2009) Plus (1999) Base (2009) Project Traffic 26th S1. & Colorado Ave. 2,862 4,078 4,087 9 Stewart St. & Plea Blvd. 3,235 4,102 4,111 9 Volumes from New Roads Traffic Study Existing Cumulative Cumulative Project Only Intersection (201.2) Pius (200.2) Base (201.2) Project Traffic 26th SI. & Colorado AVe. 3,228 3,724 3,738 14 Stewart St. & Plea Blvd. 3,505 4,005 4,009 4 Volumes from 2834 Colorado Traffic Study Cumulative Cumulative Intersection Existing Base Plus Project 26th St. & Colorado AVe. +13% -9% -9% Stewart S1. & PIca Blvd. +8% -2% -2% Percent Difference Comparison of PM Peak Hour Levels of Service Results Using 1994 HCM Methodology & Volumes from New Roads Traffic Study Cumulative (2009) Plus Existing Conditions (1999) Project Conditions Intersection VIC Delay LOS VIC Delay LOS 26th SI. & Colorado Ave. 0.581 10 B 1.793 H F Stewart St. & Plco Blvd. 0.813 12 B 1.539 ... F Using 20DO HCM Methodology & Volumes from 2834 Colorado Traffic Study Cumulative (2012) Plus Existing Condltfons (2002) Project Conditions Intersection VIC Delay LOS VIC Delay LOS 26th St. & Colorado AVe. 0.675 16 B. 0.840 19 B Stewart S1. & Plco Blvd. 0.891 19 B 1.026 35 C ** Indicates oversaturated conditions; delay cannot be calculated. As indicated in the first table, the 2002 existing counts are 13% and 8% higher at 26th Street/Colorado Avenue and Stewart Sb.'eet/Pico Boulevard, respectivelYr than the 1999 counts. Comparison of the existing level of sendee calculations presented in the second table indicates that the existing levels of service as reported in the two studies seem, to have changed appropriatelYr with increases in V Ie and delay but stiU resulting in LOS B (1"lith the 2000 HCM method). ,. City of Santa Monica --61- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR Even though the 2002 existing counts are higher than the 1999 counts, the cumulative h'affic volumes as projected in the 2834 Colorado study are lower than those projected in the New Roads study at the two intersections (9% less at 261h Street/Colorado Avenue and 2% less at Stewart Street/Pica Boulevard). TIus differential is caused by two factors, TIle first is the ' change in the background b:affic growth rate used in the Tmffix model. The earlier Tmffix model had assumed 1.5% per year, or 16% compounded over 10 years. Based on research into historical growth b:ends over the past decade within the City of Santa Monica, the upgraded Tmffix model assumes 0.8% per year, 01' 8% componnded over 10 years, half of the earlier factor. TIle second reason for the difference in the projected cumulative traffic increases at the hvo intersections relates to differences in the amount of h'affic added by related projects. The list of development projects tlu'oughout the City of Santa Monica and beyond was updated as p8.1t.of the Tmffix model update. TIle 18.1'gest difference affecting the subject intersections relates to the treahnent of the AI'boretum project located generally between Cloverfield Boulevard, Olympic Boulev8.1~d, 20th Street, and Colorado A venue in the model. Because tlle Arboretum project had not been completed at the time of the 1999 counts used In tlle earlier version of tlle Tmffix model, the Arboretum project was included in the list of future projects and its h'affic was estimated and assigned to tlle street system as part of tlle future traffic forecasts in the earlier model (and hence for the New Roads study). The Arboretum project was subsequently completed and was therefore b:eated as a completed project in the Tmffix model upgrade (8.1ld hence in the 2834 Colorado study), wluch is to say that its trips were assumed to be a part of the existing trips connted in the 2002 existing counts and no additional future b:affic was added to the cumulative forecasts for the Al'boretum project. Finally, tlle 2000 HCM operational metI-lOd of intersection level of service calculation was used in the updated Tmffix model (and hence for the 2834 Colorado study) rather th8.1l the older 1994 HCM operational method. TIle 2000 HeM method incorporates a number of en1l8.11Cements over the 1994 HCM method, including modification of tlle delay algoritluns to include deceleration and acceleration delay in addition to stopped delay, improved h8.1ldling of oversaturated conditions, and improved handling of intersections Witll actuated signal conh'oI. The 2000 HCM metllOd is generally recognized as providing better estimates of an intersection's operating condition than 'the eaJ.-lier method. In conclusion, the results cram the updated Trnffix model8.1'e believed to represent a reasonable approximation of existing 8.1ld future h'affic conditions based on the updated data and methods as known at the time of prep8.1'ation of the 2834 Colorado h'affic study. 20th Street/Olympic Boulevard FoUl' intersections located between tlle project site and the 20th Sh'eet/Olympic Boulevard intersection were studied in tlle h'affic study for tlle 2834 Colorado Avenue Draft EIR (26U, Street/ Colorado Avenue, 26th Street/ Olympic Boulevard, Cloverfield Boulevmd/ Colorado Avenue, 8.1ld Cloverfield Boulev8.1'd/Olympic Boulev8.1'd). Based on application of the City of S8.1lta Monica's significance thresholds, it was determined tllat the proposed project would not have a significaJlt impact at any of these foUl' intersections, Since project h'ips would continue to disperse farther from the project, the project would not have a significant impact at 8.11 intersection such as 20lh Sb:ee tj Olympic Boulevard that is even farther from th~ project site and to ,.vhich the project would add fewer h'ips. r City of Santa Monica _ - 62- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR As a point of comparison, the traffic study for the New Roads School EIR projected that the New Roads School project would add approximately 76 trips to the 20th Street/Olympic Boulevard intersection during the AM peak hour and about 34 trips during the PM peak hour. Based on a review of projected project trips at the closest study intersections, the 2834 Colorado project may only add about two to three incremental new h"ips during each peak hour. It should also be noted that once a project has been approved, the lead agency's role in project approval is completed, unless further discretionary approval on that project is required. Information appearing after approval of a project does not require re-opening of that approval. A lead agency is not required to go back and Ie-do prior EIRs whenever the lead agency updates methodologies or statistics. Moreover, the City canno~ in the context of its review of the 2834 Colorado Avenue project amend conditions of approval for a wholly unrelated project. Response 9B The commentor expresses an opinion that the Draft EIR fails to evaluate the potentially significant land use effects of the proposed text amendment to the LMSD zoning designation. The commentor also questions the classification of the proposed text amendment as a "less than significant" impact "without any study," per the Initial Study (Appendix A of the Draft EIR). The commentor also notes that there was substantial debate over allowing multi-family housing in the LMSD zone a decade ago and the City Council chose not to allow, conditionally or by right, multi-family housing in the zone at that time because of adjacency and compatibility issues. As discussed in Item 9(b) of the Initial Study, the changes that are proposed to the LMSD zone designation involve the inclusion of multi-family housing as one of the conditionally permitted uses subject to a 45-foot height limit and a floor to area ratio (FAR) of 1.5. The inclusion of multi-family housing as a conditionally permitted use in the LMSD zone is consistent with the other types of housing (such as artist live/ work studios and transitional housing) already allowed within the LMSD zone. Multi-fanilly housing in general would not generate environmental impacts that are greater than those that would be generated by these other types of housing. Also, as discussed in Item 9(b), projects proposed in the LMSD zone are subject to architectural review and those over 7,500 square feet (housing is an exemption with affordable units) require a Development Review Permit. These additional levels of review, in combination with the fact that multi-family housing would be subject to a conditional use permit, would ensure that such projects are sufficiently reviewed for corripatibility with adjacent land uses. Furthermore, each individual development proposal would be subject to environmental review under CEQA. r City of Santa Monica -63- 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Responses to Comments on the Draft EIR Comparison of Trip Generation for Various Uses Allowed in the LMSD Zone Allowed Per Acre Dally Trip Average Dally Land Use Development Generation FARD Potential Rateb Traffic Per Acre Light ManufacturIng 1.0 43,560 sf 6.97/1,000 sf 303 School 1,5 65,340 sf 13.27 / 1,000 sf 867 Auto Dealer 1.0 43,560 sf 2.21 / 1,000 sf 96 Restaurant 1.0 43,560 sf 130,34/1,000 sf 5,677 Multf-Famlly Residential 1.5 65 unllsc 6.6 / unit 429 · Per Section 9,04,08.35.050 ofthe Santa Monica Municipaf Code. The FAR of 1.5 for mufti-famify residentiaf uses is proposed by the project app{(cant. b From fnslitute of Transportation Engineers, Trip Generation, 6th Edition, 1997, C Assumes an average unit size of 1,000 square feet. In addition, residential uses would have environmental impacts that are less than other uses allowed in this zone. For instance, residential uses have less impact on the environment than manufacturing uses with respect to such issues as noise, air quality, and hazardous materials. The only exception is traffic, which may have a greater impact than manufacturing uses. The above table provides a comparison of the estimated trip generations for several different uses that are currentIy allowed within tile LMSD zone. As shown, multi-family residential uses would generate more traffic than standard light manufacturing uses, but would generate less traffic than other types of uses that are already permitted within tile LMSD zone. It is not possible to anticipate the location and magnitude of traffic impacts associated with possible future development proposals on other LMSD-zoned properties without project-specific information, such as the number of total trips generated by the development and the estimated distribution of traffic. In addition, the h'affic study prepared for tile proposed project assumed an ambient growth rate in tile City of 0.8% per year compounded annually, or a grOWtIl rate of about 8% over the cumulative buildout period (2002 to 2012). Given the lack of vacant land in tile City, this rate is assumed to encompass the growth that would be expected from the gradual change of non- residential parcels to i'esidential uses. TIms, the cumulative traffic analysis presented in the Draft EIR provides a reasonable estimate of future traffic conditions that could arise from the development of residential uses on non-residential parcels, including HlOse within tile LMSD zone. As discussed above, more specific quantification of tile environmental impacts resulting from development of housing in the LMSD zone would be undertaken on a case-by-case basis with each individual development proposal submitted to the City. Finally, the fact tIlat the City Council rejected the idea of multi-family housing in the LMSD zone ten years ago has no bearing on whether this is a viable optiqn for the City today. The inclusion of multi-family housing as a conditionally permitted use in this zone would respond to the City's growing need to provide housing, including affordable housing, for its residents. Furthermore, tile proposed zone change responds directly to a goal of the Housing Element (Goal 1.2), which specifically identifies the need to provide incentives for housing development in non-residential zones, Implementation Program lA of tile Housing Element is also achieved with this text amendment. r City of Santa Monica -64- rr Appendix H Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 2834 Colorado Avenue Project Prepared for: City of Santa Monica 1685 Main Street, Room 212 Santa Monica, California 90401 Prepared by: Rincon Consultants, Ine. 790 East Santa Clara Street Ventura, California 93001 January 2004 r 2834 Colorado Avenue Project EIR Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program This document is the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) for the 2834 Colorado A venue Project proposed in the City of Santa Monica, California. Public Resources Code Section 21081.6(a) requires that a Lead Agency adopt an MMRP prior to approving a project in order to mitigate or avoid significant impacts that have been identified in an Environmental Impact Report. The purpose of the MMRP is to ensure that the required mitigation measures identified in the Environmental Impact Report are implemented as part of the overall project implementation. In addition to ensuring implementation of mitigation measures, the MMRP provides feedback to agency staff and decision-makers during project implementation, and identifies the need for enforcement action before irreversible environmental damage occurs. The following table summarizes the mitigation measures for each issue area identified in the Environmental Impact Report for the 2834 Colorado A venue Project. 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