City Council

(6) 21-0781 CD 5 SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (SCEA), MITIGATION MONITORING PROGRAM (MMP), and RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS; and PLANNING AND LAND USE MANAGEMENT (PLUM) COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the future development of the proposed 800 South Fairfax Avenue Project (Project), for the properties located at 800 – 840 South Fairfax Avenue. Recommendations for Council action:​ FIND, pursuant to Public Resources Code (PRC), Section 21155.2, after consideration of the whole of the administrative record, including the SB 375 SCEA, ENV-2019-7300-SCEA, and all comments received, after imposition of all mitigation measures, that: There is no substantial evidence that the Project will have a significant effect on the environment. The City Council held a hearing on April 18, 2023 for adoption of the SCEA pursuant to PRC Section 21155.2(b). The Project is a transit priority project pursuant to PRC Section 21155, and the Project has incorporated all feasible mitigation measures, performance standards, or criteria set forth in prior Environmental Impact Report(s) (EIR), including the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) 2016-2040 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)/Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) and 2020-2045 RTP/SCS Program EIRs. All potentially significant effects required to be identified and analyzed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in the initial study have been identified and analyzed in the SCEA. With respect to each significant effect on the environment required to be identified in the initial study for the SCEA, changes or alterations have been required in or incorporated into the Project that avoid or mitigate the significant effects to a level of insignificance or those changes or alterations are within the responsibility and jurisdiction of another public agency and have been, or can and should be, adopted by that other agency. The SCEA reflects the independent judgment and analysis of the City.  The mitigation measures have been made enforceable conditions on the Project. The proposed project contains more than 50% residential; provides a minimum net density greater than 20 units an acre; and is within one-half mile of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor included in a regional transportation plan. The proposed project is a residential or mixed-use project as defined by Public Resources Code Section 21159.28(d). FIND that the Project complies with the requirements of the CEQA for using the SCEA as authorized pursuant to PRC Section 21155.2(b). ADOPT the SCEA, and the MMP prepared for the SCEA, including the Environmental Findings, for future consideration of the Project, identified as Planning Case No. DIR­-2019­-7299-TOC­-SPR, for the partial demolition of existing improvements, including two apartment buildings and a surface parking lot, and the construction of a new mixed-use project with 209 dwelling units, including 28 Extremely Low Income affordable housing units, and approximately 2,653 square feet of new commercial uses; the existing Tom Bergin's Restaurant and Tavern, located at 840 South Fairfax Avenue and containing approximately 3,829 square feet of floor area, would remain; the Project also includes construction of an eight-story building with a maximum height of approximately 94 feet and a total floor area of approximately 189,115 square feet; and, a total of 239 vehicular parking spaces, 146 bicycle parking spaces, and a minimum of 18,356.25 square feet of open space; for the properties located at 800 – 840 South Fairfax Avenue. Applicant: Chris Clifford, 830 Fairfax Owner II, LLC Representative: Todd Nelson, Rand, Paster, Nelson, LLP Case No. DIR-­2019-­7299-­TOC-­SPR Environmental No. ENV­-2019-­7300-­SCEA