Archer Forward: Campus Preservation and Improvement Plan

90 Pages·2014·0.42 MB·English

City of Los Angeles
Department of City Planning  Environmental Analysis Section
City Hall  200 N. Spring Street, Room 750  Los Angeles, CA 90012

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
BRENTWOOD–PACIFIC PALISADES COMMUNITY PLAN AREA
Volume 2
Sections IV.H–IX

Archer Forward: Campus Preservation and Improvement Plan
Case Number: ENV-2011-2689-EIR
State Clearinghouse Number: 2012011001
Project Location: 11725 West Sunset Boulevard / 11728 West Chaparal Street / 141 North Barrington
Avenue, Los Angeles, California, 90049
Council District: 11
Project Description: The Project consists of improvements to the existing Archer campus totaling
75,930 square feet of net new floor area, including the replacement of the existing 30,071-square-foot North
Wing of the Main Building with a 39,071-square-foot renovated North Wing, and the development of an
approximately 41,400-square-foot Multipurpose Facility, a 22,600-square-foot Performing Arts Center, a
7,400-square-foot Visual Arts Center, and an Aquatics Center with a 2,300-square-foot support facility.
The existing outdoor athletic fields would be improved and would include regulation-size soccer and softball
fields. Parking would be provided in a new underground parking structure, located below the athletic
fields, to accommodate approximately 212 cars. The two adjacent properties currently owned by Archer
would be incorporated into the Archer campus and the existing residences on those properties would be
removed to accommodate the Project.
The Project would require various approvals and may include, but would not be limited to, the following:
Vesting Conditional Use Permit for private schools; modification of height and area regulations; Zoning
Administrator Adjustment to permit fences/gates/walls up to eight feet in height; Site Plan Review; Haul
Route Permit; Board of Police Commissioners permit for extended construction hours; grading, excavation,
demolition, and building permits; and any additional actions as may be deemed necessary.

APPLICANT: PREPARED BY: ON BEHALF OF:
The Archer School for Girls
Matrix Environmental, LLC The City of Los Angeles
Department of City Planning
Environmental Analysis Section
FEBRUARY 2014
IV. Environmental
Impact Analysis (Continued)
IV. Environmental Impact Analysis
H. Land Use
1. Introduction
This section provides an analysis of the Project’s potential impacts with regard to
land use. Specifically, this section analyzes the Project’s consistency with relevant land
use plans, policies, and regulations and evaluates the relationship of the Project with
surrounding land uses.
2. Environmental Setting
a. Regulatory Framework
(1) Local
Various local plans, regulatory documents, and design guidelines guide
development of the Project Site. The land use policy standards of the City of Los Angeles
General Plan are implemented on a community level via Community Plans. The City of Los
Angeles Municipal Code governs land use through building standards and development
restrictions. Applicable plans and associated regulatory documents/requirements are
described below.
(a) City of Los Angeles General Plan
State law requires that every city and county prepare and adopt a General Plan.
The General Plan is a comprehensive long-term document that provides principles,
policies, and objectives to guide future development.
The General Plan of the City of Los Angeles (General Plan) is a policy document
originally adopted in 1974 that serves as a comprehensive, long-term plan for future
development. The General Plan sets forth goals, objectives and programs to guide land
use policies and to meet the existing and future needs of the community. The General
Plan consists of a series of documents which includes the seven State-mandated
elements: Land Use, Transportation, Noise, Safety, Housing, Open Space, and
Conservation. In addition, the City’s General Plan includes elements addressing Air
Quality, Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources, Infrastructure Systems, Public
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Facilities and Services, and the Citywide General Plan Framework Element. The Land Use
Element comprises 35 local area plans known as Community Plans that guide land use at
the local level. The Project Site is located within the boundaries of the Brentwood–Pacific
Palisades Community Plan.
(i) Los Angeles General Plan Framework Element
The City of Los Angeles General Plan Framework Element (General Plan
Framework), adopted in December 1996 and readopted in August 2001, sets forth general
guidance regarding land use issues for the entire City of Los Angeles (City) and defines
Citywide policies regarding land use. The General Plan Framework defines Citywide
policies that influence most of the City's General Plan Elements. The policies are
organized by chapters that address land use, housing, urban form and neighborhood
design, open space and conservation, economic development, transportation, and
infrastructure and public services.
The Land Use Chapter of the General Plan Framework provides primary objectives
to support the viability of the City's residential neighborhoods and commercial districts and
to encourage sustainable growth in appropriate locations. The Land Use Chapter
establishes land use categories which are broadly described by ranges of intensity/density,
heights, and lists of typical uses. The designated land use categories are Neighborhood
Districts, Community Centers, Regional Centers, Downtown Centers, Mixed-Use
Boulevards, and Industrial Districts. These land use categories do not connote land use
entitlements or affect existing zoning for properties in the City and are intended to serve as
a guideline for the community plans.1
The Housing Chapter of the General Plan Framework presents an overview of the
critical issues related to housing in Los Angeles, provides goals to guide future action, and
sets forth policies to address housing issues. The Housing Chapter elaborates the policies
of the adopted Housing Element and has an overarching goal to define the distribution of
housing opportunities by type and cost for all residents of the City. The Housing Chapter
provides policies to achieve this goal through a number of measures: (1) concentrating
opportunities for new development in the City's neighborhood districts and in community,
regional, and downtown centers, as well as along primary transit corridors/boulevards;
(2) providing development opportunities along boulevards located near existing or planned

1 As indicated on General Plan Framework Figure 3-1, the General Plan Framework neither overrides nor
supersedes the Community Plans. It guides the City’s long-range growth and development policy,
establishing Citywide standards, goals, policies and objectives for Citywide elements and community
plans. The General Plan Framework is flexible, suggesting a range of uses within its land use definitions.
Precise determinations are made in the Community Plans.
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major transit facilities and areas characterized by low-intensity or marginally viable
commercial uses with structures that integrate commercial, housing, and/or public service
uses; and (3) focusing mixed uses around urban transit stations, while protecting and
preserving surrounding low-density neighborhoods from the encroachment of incompatible
land uses.
The Urban Form and Neighborhood Design Chapter of the General Plan Framework
establishes a goal of creating a livable City for existing and future residents that is attractive
to future investment, and creating a City of interconnected, diverse neighborhoods that
builds on the strength of those neighborhoods and functions at both the neighborhood and
Citywide scales. Within the Urban Form and Neighborhood Design Chapter, “urban form”
is defined as the general pattern of building height and development intensity and the
structural elements that define the City of Los Angeles physically, such as natural features,
transportation corridors, open space, public facilities, as well as activity centers and focal
elements. "Neighborhood design" is defined as the physical character of neighborhoods
and communities within the City of Los Angeles. The General Plan Framework does not
directly address the design of individual neighborhoods or communities, but embodies
general neighborhood design and implementation programs that guide local planning
efforts and lay a foundation for updating the community plans. The Urban Form and
Neighborhood Design Chapter encourages growth in areas that have a sufficient base of
both commercial and residential development to support transit service.
The Open Space and Conservation Chapter of the General Plan Framework
contains goals, objectives, and policies to guide the provision, management, and
conservation of public open space resources, addresses the outdoor recreation needs of
the City's residents, and guides amendments to the General Plan Open Space Element
and Conservation Element. The Open Space and Conservation Chapter includes policies
to resolve the City’s open space issues. Specifically, this chapter contains open spaces
goals, objectives, and policies regarding resource conservation and management, outdoor
recreation, public safety, community stability and resources development.
The Economic Development Chapter of the General Plan Framework seeks to
identify physical locations necessary to attract continued economic development and
investment to targeted districts and centers. Goals, objectives, and policies focus on
retaining commercial uses, particularly within walking distance of residential areas, and
promoting business opportunities in areas where growth can be accommodated without
encroaching on residential neighborhoods.
The goals of the Transportation Chapter of the General Plan Framework are to
provide adequate accessibility to commerce, work opportunities, and essential services,
and to maintain acceptable levels of mobility for all those who live, work, travel, or move
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goods in the City. The chapter includes proposals for major transportation improvements
to enhance the movement of goods and to provide greater access to major intermodal
facilities, such as the ports and airports. The Transportation Chapter is implemented
through the Transportation Element of the General Plan. In February 2014, the City
released a Public Review Draft of the Mobility Plan 2035, which is a proposed update to the
General Plan’s Transportation Element.
The Infrastructure and Public Services Chapter of the General Plan Framework
establishes goals, objectives, and policies aimed at monitoring growth and the capacity of
the existing infrastructure system as well as guiding necessary infrastructure
improvements. The goals, objectives, and policies within the Infrastructure and Public
Services Chapter of the General Plan Framework address thirteen infrastructure and public
service systems including wastewater, stormwater, water, solid waste, police, fire, libraries,
parks, power, schools, telecommunications, street lighting, and urban forest.
A list of applicable policies from each chapter of the General Plan Framework and
a consistency analysis of the Project with these policies is provided in Table IV.H-1 on
page IV.H-18 in the impact analysis below.
(ii) Brentwood–Pacific Palisades Community Plan
The Project Site lies within the boundaries of the Brentwood–Pacific Palisades
Community Plan (Community Plan). The Community Plan area encompasses
approximately 24,163 acres and is generally bound on the north by Mulholland Drive, on
the east by the San Diego (I-405) Freeway and an incorporated area of Los Angeles
County (Veterans Administration), on the south by the City of Santa Monica, and on the
west by the Pacific Ocean and an unincorporated portion of Los Angeles County that abuts
the City of Malibu.
The Brentwood–Pacific Palisades Community Plan establishes goals, objectives,
policies, and programs to meet the existing and future needs of the community. The
Community Plan seeks to ensure that sufficient land is designated that provides for the
housing, commercial, employment, educational, recreational, cultural, social, and aesthetic
needs of the residents within the Community Plan area. In addition, the Community Plan
identifies and provides for the maintenance of any significant environmental resources
within the Community Plan area and seeks to enhance community identity. The
Community Plan aims to preserve and enhance the positive characteristics of existing
residential neighborhoods while providing a variety of compatible new housing
opportunities; improve the function, design, and economic vitality of the commercial areas;
preserve and enhance the positive characteristics of existing uses which provide the
foundation for community identity, such as scale, height, bulk, setbacks, and appearance;
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maximize the development opportunities of the future transit system while minimizing any
adverse impacts; and plan the remaining commercial development opportunity sites for
needed job-producing uses that will improve the economic and physical condition of the
Community Plan area.2 In addition, the Brentwood–Pacific Palisades Community Plan
contains an Urban Design chapter, which includes policies that establish baseline design
guidelines for the Brentwood–Pacific Palisades community.
As illustrated in Figure II-4 in Section II, Project Description, of this Draft EIR, the
northern portion of the Project Site along Chaparal Street and Barrington Avenue is
designated for Very Low II Residential land uses by the Community Plan, while the
southern portion of the Project Site along Sunset Boulevard is designated for Medium
Residential land uses. Sunset Boulevard, bordering the Project Site to the south, is
designated as a Scenic Major Highway II by the Community Plan.
Applicable land use goals, objectives, and policies in the Community Plan and a
consistency analysis of the Project with such provisions are provided in Table IV.H-2 on
page IV.H-34 in the impact analysis below.
(b) Los Angeles Municipal Code
Chapter 1 of the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) contains the City’s
Planning and Zoning Code. The Planning and Zoning Code sets forth development
standards and regulations for the City’s designated land use zones.
As set forth in the LAMC, the northern portion of the Project Site along Chaparal
Street and Barrington Avenue is zoned as RE11-1 (Residential Estate, Height District 1),
and the southern portion of the Project Site along Sunset Boulevard is zoned R3-1 (Multiple
Dwelling, Height District 1). In accordance with the LAMC, new buildings within Height
District 1 that are located within the RE11 zone may not exceed 36 feet except when the
roof of the uppermost story of a building or structure or portion of a building or structure has
a slope of less than 25 percent, in which case the maximum height may not exceed 30 feet.
Buildings within Height District 1 that are located within the R3 zone shall not exceed
45 feet. For the parcels located in the R3-1 zone, LAMC Section 12.21.1.A.1 permits a
maximum floor area ratio (FAR) of 3:1. In the RE11-1 zone, LAMC Section 12.07.01.C.5
permits a maximum residential floor area of 35 percent for lots 15,000 square feet or
greater. In the RE11-1 zone, an additional 20 percent of the maximum residential floor
area is allowed if certain design principles are met.

2 Brentwood–Pacific Palisades Community Plan, June 17, 1998, pp. II-2.
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In accordance with the LAMC, educational uses are permitted in the RE and R3
zones with a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Archer operates under CUP No. 98-0158,
which established specific conditions for Archer. Such conditions include limitations
regarding floor area, a maximum enrollment of 518 students, restrictions regarding use of
the campus, a height restriction of 36 feet for an approved gymnasium (which Archer has
not constructed), requirements regarding compatibility of construction with the existing
Main Building, specific hours of operation for classroom instruction, gymnasium use,
passive outdoor use, and athletics outdoor use, limitations regarding special events,
implementation of a Traffic Management Program with a Trip Reduction Plan with
requirements regarding average vehicle ridership and use of buses, and provisions
regarding parking, noise, and construction.
(c) City of Los Angeles Walkability Checklist
The City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning Walkability Checklist Guidance
for Entitlement Review (Walkability Checklist) was created by the City’s Urban Design
Studio of the Department of City Planning. The Walkability Checklist is used by decision-
makers and/or hearing officers to assess the pedestrian orientation of a project when
evaluating a project’s entitlement applications and in making findings of conformance with
the policies and objectives of the General Plan and the local Community Plan. The
Walkability Checklist is also intended to be used by architects, engineers, and all
community members to create enhanced pedestrian movement and access, comfort, and
safety, thereby contributing to improving the walkability of the City. The Walkability
Checklist consists of a list of design elements intended to improve the pedestrian
environment, protect neighborhood character, and promote high quality urban form. The
design elements are consistent with the General Plan of the City of Los Angeles and the
applicable Urban Design Chapters of the Community Plans. The Walkability Checklist
addresses such topics as building orientation, building frontage, landscaping, off-street
parking and driveways, building signage, and lighting within the private realm, as well as
sidewalks, street crossings, on-street parking, and utilities in the public realm. Each of the
topics presented in the Walkability Checklist are further organized into objectives and goals
followed by a list of implementation strategies to be considered for incorporation into a
proposed project. The implementation strategies relevant to the Project are discussed
further in the impact analysis below.
(2) Regional
Regional land use plans that govern the Project area include the Southern California
Association of Governments’ (SCAG) Regional Transportation Plan, Compass Growth
Vision Report, and the Regional Comprehensive Plan; and the Los Angeles County
Congestion Management Plan, administered by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
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Transportation Authority (Metro), which regulates regional traffic issues. In addition, the
South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) administers the Air Quality
Management Plan, which addresses attainment of State and federal ambient air quality
standards throughout the South Coast Air Basin. These plans are described below.
(a) SCAG Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy,
Growth Vision Report, and Regional Comprehensive Plan
SCAG is the federally designated metropolitan planning organization for six southern
California counties, including the County of Los Angeles. As such, SCAG is mandated to
create regional plans that address transportation, growth management, hazardous waste
management, and air quality.
(i) Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy
SCAG’s 2012–2035 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities
Strategy (2012–2035 RTP/SCS), adopted in April 2012, presents a long-term transportation
vision through the year 2035 for the six county region of Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange,
Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties. The 2012–2035 RTP/SCS places a
greater emphasis on sustainability and integrated planning compared to previous versions
of the RTP and identifies mobility, economy, and sustainability as the three principles most
critical to the future of the region. As part of this new approach, the 2012–2035 RTP/SCS
establishes commitments to reduce emissions from transportation sources in order to
comply with Senate Bill (SB) 375; improve public health; and meet the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards.
Applicable goals and a consistency analysis of the Project with the 2012–2035
RTP/SCS are provided in Table IV.H-3 on page IV.H-62 in the impact analysis below.
(ii) Southern California Compass Growth Vision
In an effort to maintain the region’s prosperity, continue to expand its economy,
house its residents affordably, and protect its environmental setting as a whole, SCAG has
collaborated with interdependent sub-regions, counties, cities, communities, and
neighborhoods in a process referred to by SCAG as Southern California Compass, which
resulted in the development of a shared Compass Growth Vision for Imperial, Los Angeles,
Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties. SCAG began the Compass
program in 2002, spearheaded by the Growth Visioning Subcommittee, which consists of
civic leaders from throughout the region. The shared regional vision sought to address
issues such as congestion and housing availability, which may threaten the region’s
livability.
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The underlying goal of the growth visioning effort is to make the SCAG region a
better place to live, work, and play for all residents regardless of race, ethnicity or income.
To organize the strategies for improving the quality of life in the SCAG region, a series of
principles was established by the Growth Vision Subcommittee. These goals are contained
in the Growth Vision Report adopted in June 2004. The four principles are intended to
promote and maximize regional mobility, livability, prosperity and sustainability. Decisions
regarding growth, transportation, land use, and economic development should support and
be guided by these principles. Specific policy and planning strategies also are provided as
a way to achieve each of the principles. The Project’s consistency with applicable goals of
the Compass Growth Vision is provided in Table IV.H-4 on page IV.H-72 in the impact
analysis below.
(iii) Regional Comprehensive Plan
SCAG has also prepared and issued an updated Regional Comprehensive Plan in
2008 in response to the SCAG’s Regional Council directive in the 2002 Strategic Plan to
define solutions to interrelated housing, traffic, water, air quality, and other regional
challenges. The Regional Comprehensive Plan is an advisory document that describes
future conditions if current trends continue, defines a vision for a healthier region, and
recommends an Action Plan with a target year of 2035. The Regional Comprehensive Plan
may be voluntarily used by local jurisdictions in developing local plans and addressing local
issues of regional significance. The plan incorporates principles and goals of the Compass
Blueprint Growth Vision and includes nine chapters addressing land use and housing,
transportation, air quality, energy, open space, water, solid waste, economy, and security
and emergency preparedness. The action plans contained therein provide a series of
recommended near-term policies that developers and key stakeholders should consider for
implementation, as well as potential policies for consideration by local jurisdictions and
agencies when conducting project review.
The 2008 Regional Comprehensive Plan replaced the SCAG’s 1996 Regional
Comprehensive Plan and Guide for use in SCAG's Intergovernmental Review process.
SCAG’s Community, Economic and Human Development Committee and the Regional
Council took action to accept the Regional Comprehensive Plan, which now serves as an
advisory document for local governments in the SCAG region for their information and
voluntary use in developing local plans and addressing local issues of regional significance.
However, as indicated by SCAG, because of its advisory nature, the Regional
Comprehensive Plan is not used in SCAG's Intergovernmental Review process. Rather,
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