Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Scoping Meetingbeverlyhills.org/cbhfiles/storage/files/10511570761318833229/FINALScopingMeeting...Beverly Hilton Specific Plan Amendment Air

Beverly Hilton Specific Plan Amendment

Supplemental Environmental Impact ReportScoping Meeting

Cindy Gordon, AICP, Associate Planner310-285-1191 / [email protected]

City of Beverly HillsScoping MeetingJuly 18, 2018


Scoping Meeting Purposes

• Inform the community and concerned agencies about the project

• Solicit input regarding the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) scope

• Inform the community about future opportunities for input



Project LocationSource: Initial Study



Existing Project Site (viewed from Wilshire/Merv Griffin)



Existing Project Site (viewed from Santa Monica/Merv Griffin)


Project History


• Beverly Hilton Specific Plan approved by City Council in 2008• Project included:

• Demolition of Palm/Oasis Court• Renovation of Beverly Hilton Wilshire Tower and pool area• Construction of:

• 8-story (36 unit) condo building + 18-story (74 unit) condo building• 12-story luxury hotel (Waldorf Astoria, since completed)• 22K SF two-story conference center / 20,253 SF of restaurants• Approx. 143K SF of landscaped gardens + pedestrian amenities• Subterranean parking


Proposed Project


Application submitted: January 2018

Proposed Project• Construction of a single 23-story residential building

• 140 residential units + 10 staff accessory units• Rooftop accessory structures + features

• Demolition of Palm/Oasis Court• Renovation of Beverly Hilton Wilshire Tower and pool area/features• One-story conference and hotel facilities replacement• Approx. 157K of landscaped gardens + pedestrian amenities• Subterranean parking


Proposed Project Summary


Approved Proposed Difference

Floor Area (Site Wide) 973,565 SF 973,565 SF No change

Floor Area Ratio (Site Wide) 2.5 2.5 No change

# of Residential Buildings 2 1 -1

# of Residential Units 110 140 +30

Residential Building Height97’(8 stories)

200’ (18 stories)307’ (23 stories)

+ 107’ (+5 stories)[from Residence B]

Residential Floor Area 371,453 SF 371,453 SF No change

Conference Center Height 29’ (2 stories) 17’ (1 story) -12’ (-1 story)

Parking 2,193 spaces 2,193 spaces No change

Landscape/Pedestrian Areas(ground level)

3.28 ac 3.62 ac +0.39 ac


Project Rendering


Single-Family HomesEl Rodeo School

LA Country Club

Century CityProposed Project

Waldorf Astoria

Beverly Hilton

9900 Wilshire


Site Plan


Beverly Hilton

Waldorf Astoria

Proposed Residential Building

Conference Center + Hilton Pool

Landscaped Gardens

Wilshire Boulevard



Process Overview

Environmental Review (CEQA)• Review required to identify and disclose potential impacts• Scoping meeting is the first public meeting of this process• Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) produced

Entitlements• Consideration of request by Planning Commission and City Council


City Review Process


Late Summer / Early Fall 2018Release of Draft SEIR for 45-day public review periodPlanning Commission hearing on Draft SEIR during 45-day review period

Late Fall / Winter 2018Public Hearing(s) on the Final SEIR and project


CEQA Purposes


• Enhance public participation in the planning process

• Disclose the significant environmental effects of proposed actions

• Identify ways to avoid or reduce environmental effects

• Consider feasible alternatives to proposed actions


Supplemental Environmental Impact Report


• Final EIR for the Beverly Hilton Specific Plan was certified by City Council in 2008

• Specific Plan Amendment may result in some environmental impacts above and beyond those identified in the 2008 Final EIR due to:• Substantial change(s) in the project• Substantial change(s) in circumstances• New information previously unavailable

• Supplemental EIR will address these additional impacts


CEQA Review Process


City makes a decision on the project

City prepares Findings

City prepares Final SEIR

Public Review Period (45 day minimum)

City files Notice of Completion

City prepares Draft SEIR

** City circulates Notice of Preparation (30 day minimum) **


Initial Study – Topic Areas


Land Use and Planning

Mineral Resources

Noise

Population/Housing

Public Services

Recreation

Transportation/Traffic

Tribal Cultural Resources

Utilities and Service Systems

Aesthetics

Agricultural and Forestry Resources

Air Quality

Biological Resources

Cultural Resources

Geology and Soils

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Hazards and Hazardous Materials

Hydrology/Water Quality


Aesthetics

• Potentially increased impacts on scenic vistas• View of Beverly Hilton• Panoramic views from Wilshire Tower

• Potentially increased visual character/quality impacts• Increased height would be prominent from adjacent areas• Shade/shadow impacts

• Potentially increased light and glare impacts


Aesthetics


Air Quality

• Potentially increased air quality impacts associated with:• Demolition• Alterations to grading/development plans• Changes to proposed uses on-site


Air Quality


Cultural Resources

• Partial demolition of potentially significant historical resources

• New City policies on historic preservation since 2008

• Potentially increased alteration of historic setting for historical resources on and near project site


Cultural Resources


Geology and Soils

• Potentially increased impacts from seismic activities• January 2018 map shows new earthquake fault zone immediately

south of project site


Geology and Soils



• Not a required study topic in 2008• No significance thresholds in 2008• No quantitative analysis in 2008

• Potentially significant greenhouse gas emissions associated with:• Demolition/grading/construction• Operation (project traffic, day-to-day activities)





• City adopted new General Plan in 2010

• Potential conflicts with applicable General Plan goals/policies and zoning requirements due to:• Increased building height• Incompatibility between commercial and residential areas




Noise

• City adopted new General Plan Noise Element in 2010 and Noise Regulations in 2011

• Potentially increased noise/vibration impacts from:• Demolition/grading/construction• Operational activities

• Heating and air conditioning systems• Delivery trucks and trash hauling• Increased usable outdoor space


Noise



• Potentially increased traffic impacts due to:• Potentially changed local traffic conditions since 2007 traffic study• Modifications to site access and on-site circulation

• Potential impacts to transit services and pedestrian facilities





• Original project approved prior to tribal consultation requirement (AB 52)

• Formal consultation process established• Currently in progress• Results to be included in SEIR




Utilities and Service Systems

• Potentially increased impacts related to water supply• Ongoing drought conditions correlate to potentially restricted water

supplies• New City policies established since 2008 to help conserve water


Utilities and Services Systems


Cumulative Impacts

• New developments constructed/approved since 2008 review

• Potentially significant effects in combination with existing/planned projects may have cumulatively considerable effect

• Impacts of proposed project in combination with existing/planned projects will be studied in the SEIR.


Cumulative Impacts


Alternatives to the Proposed Project

• EIR requires an analysis of a “reasonable range” of alternatives

• Alternatives to be determined after analysis of environmental impacts associated with the Proposed Project

• Alternatives will include other “Build” alternatives and the required "No Project" alternative


Project Alternatives


July 23, 2017Last day to submit comments on SEIR scope

Late Summer / Early Fall 2018Release of Draft EIR for 45-day public review periodPlanning Commission hearing on Draft EIR during 45-day review period

Late Fall / Winter 2018Public Hearing(s) on the Final EIR and project


Timeline


Tell us what potential environmental issues or impacts the EIR should examine, and/or submit written comments by filling out

the comment sheets.

You can also send letters and emails to:

Cindy Gordon, AICP, Associate Planner455 North Rexford DriveBeverly Hills, CA 90210

Email: [email protected]: (310) 285-1191

Thank You!



Supplemental Environmental Impact ReportScoping Meeting

Cindy Gordon, AICP, Associate Planner310-285-1191 / [email protected]

Documents

Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Scoping Meetingbeverlyhills.org/cbhfiles/storage/files/10511570761318833229/FINALScopingMeeting...Beverly Hilton Specific Plan Amendment Air