SR-402-005 (2)
PCD:SF:JT:AS:PF:BL:f:\plan\share\council\stoas\02\02APPdr010Lantana East
Council Mtg: January 14, 2003 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Certification of the Statement of Official Action for Appeal of Planning
Commission Denial of Development Review Permit 99-010 and Reduced
Parking Permit 99-003 Related to a Proposed Entertainment Studio
Projects at 3030 Olympic Boulevard. Applicant/Appellant: Lantana North
Hines Development. Property Owner: Lantana North Hines Development.
INTRODUCTION
This staff report transmits for City Council certification the Statement of Official Action
for Appeal 02-016 of the Planning Commission’s denial of Development Review Permit
99-010 and Reduced Parking Permit 99-003 to allow the construction of an
Entertainment Studio Projects at 3030 Olympic Boulevard.
On November 12, 2002, the City Council adopted a motion on a 4–3 vote denying
Development Review Permit 99-010 and associated Reduced Parking Permit 99-003.
The permits would have allowed the construction of a 64,105 square foot studio building
at 3030 Olympic Boulevard. The City Council’s decision was based upon the findings
contained in the attached Statement of Official Action.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
The recommendation presented in this report does not have any budget or fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve the attached Statement of Official
Action.
Prepared by: Suzanne Frick, Director
Jay Trevino, AICP, Planning Manager
Amanda Schachter, Principal Planner
Paul Foley, Senior Planner
Bruce Leach, Associate Planner
City Planning Division
Planning and Community Development Department
Attachment: Statement of Official Action
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL
STATEMENT OF OFFICIAL
ACTION
PROJECT
CASE NUMBER: Appeal 02-016
LOCATION: 3030 Olympic Boulevard
APPLICANT: Lantana North Hines Development
APPELLANT: Lantana North Hines Development
CASE PLANNER: Bruce Leach, Associate Planner
REQUEST: Appeal of Planning Commission Denial of Development
Review Permit 99-010 and Reduced Parking Permit 99-
003 for a 64,105 square foot entertainment studio building
at 3030 Olympic Boulevard.
CEQA STATUS: An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for the
project in compliance with the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA). The Environmental Impact Report
(EIR) was certified by the City Council on November 12,
2002 by Resolution No. 9809 (CCS).
CITY COUNCIL ACTION
November 12, 2002 Date.
Approved based on the following findings and subject to the
conditions below.
Denied
X
_____________ Other. Denied Appeal, denying Development Review Permit 99-
010 and Reduced Parking Permit 99-003 without prejudice.
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EFFECTIVE DATE OF ACTION:
November 12, 2002
Following a public hearing held on November 12, 2002, the City Council denied the
appeal and upheld the Planning Commission’s denial of Development Review Permit
99-010 and Reduced Parking Permit 99-003 without prejudice based upon the following
findings. Each and 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 evidence in the record. The absence of any particular fact from any
summary is not an indication that a particular finding is not based in part on that fact:
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW FINDINGS
1. The physical location, size, massing, and placement of the proposed structure on
the site and the location of the proposed uses within the project are not
compatible with and does not relate harmoniously to surrounding sites and
neighborhoods, in that the proposed 3-story, 64,105 square foot entertainment
production facility, with 438 parking spaces, is located on Olympic Boulevard, an
arterial street, between Stewart Street and Centinela Avenue. The project is
within an area of the City already heavily impacted by traffic. As detailed in the
Final EIR for this project, the project itself would generate approximately 513
daily vehicle trips. Approximately 78 trips would occur during the AM peak hour,
and 72 trips would occur during the PM peak hours. The project’s traffic would
result in significant and unavoidable impacts to five intersections and two street
segments. Four of the intersections are projected to be at level of service (LOS)
F, (failure, where backups in traffic may restrict or prevent movement of vehicles
out of the intersection approaches). As identified in the EIR, the existing local,
collector and arterial roadway system cannot accommodate the additional traffic
that would be generated by this project. There is inadequate right-of-way width
and other constraints that do not allow additional traffic lanes or signal
improvements to mitigate anticipated impacts. Traffic impact would be
particularly acute on Centinela Avenue and at the intersection of Exposition
Boulevard and Centinela Avenue, and Centinela Avenue and the I-10 Freeway.
This is the route Lantana East traffic would use to access the Route I-10 freeway
and other arterial streets. Implementing potential improvements on Centinela
Avenue is not feasible because Centinela Avenue is located in the City of Los
Angeles and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation has determined that
potential improvements that could reduce impacts are not acceptable. As a
result, traffic on Centinela Avenue and connecting streets including Exposition
Boulevard and Virginia Avenue would be adversely impacted.
2. The rights-of-way cannot accommodate autos and pedestrians, including parking
and access, in that the proposed project is located within an area of the City
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already heavily impacted by traffic. As detailed in the Final EIR for this project,
four of the seven intersections are projected to be at level of service (LOS) F,
(failure, where backups in traffic may restrict or prevent movement of vehicles out
of the intersection approaches) without the addition of the proposed project. In
addition to these existing conditions, the EIR estimates that the proposed project
would generate approximately 513 daily trips. Approximately 78 trips would occur
during the AM peak hour, and 72 trips would occur during the PM peak hour from
Lantana East. As identified in the EIR, the existing local, collector and arterial
roadway system cannot accommodate the additional traffic that would be
generated by this project. This impact is particularly acute on Centinela Avenue
and at the intersection of Exposition Boulevard and Centinela Avenue. This is the
route Lantana East would use to access the Route I-10 freeway. There is
inadequate right-of-way width or other constraints that do not allow additional
traffic lanes or signal improvements to mitigate anticipated impacts.
Implementing potential improvements on Centinela Avenue is further complicated
because Centinela Avenue is in the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles
DOT has determined that potential improvements that could mitigate impacts are
not acceptable.
3. As detailed in the Final EIR for this project, the Lantana East project would result
in significant effects on the environment which cannot be eliminated or
substantially lessened and these significant environmental effects are not
acceptable due to overriding considerations. More specifically, this project has
significant, unavoidable traffic impacts. Although the public benefits from the
project would include a prominent well designed project that implements City
urban design policies to create architecturally distinctive gateway and
development of a project that exceeds Green Building standards to qualify as a
Lead Pilot Project, the significant and unavoidable traffic impacts outweigh these
benefits. Consequently, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15092(b), the project
cannot be approved.
Reduced Parking Permit Findings
1. Approval of the Reduced Parking Permit is contingent on the production studio
project being approved pursuant to Development Review Permit 99-010. Since
Development Review Permit 99-010 is denied, Reduced Parking Permit 99-003
is also denied.
VOTE
Ayes: Bloom, Genser, McKeown, Feinstein
Nays: Holbrook, Katz, O’Conner
Abstain:
Absent:
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NOTICE
If this is a final decision not subject to further appeal under the City of Santa Monica
Comprehensive and Zoning Ordinance, the time within which judicial review of this
decision must be sought is governed by Code of Civil Procedures Section 1094.6, which
provision has been adopted by the City pursuant to Municipal Code Section 1.16.010.
I hereby certify that this Statement of Official Action accurately reflects the final
determination of the City Council of the City of Santa Monica.
_____________________________ _____________________________
MARIA M. STEWART, City Clerk Date
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