City Council

(48) 19­1496­S1 CD 13 CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION and PLANNING AND LAND USE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT relative to a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) appeal filed for the properties located at 1719 ­ 1731 North Whitley Avenue. Recommendations for Council action: 1. DETERMINE, based on the whole of the administrative record, that the project is exempt from the CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Article 19, Section 15332 (Class 32), and there is no substantial evidence demonstrating that an exception to a categorical exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 applies. 2. ADOPT the FINDINGS of the Los Angeles Central Area Planning Commission (LACAPC) as the Findings of Council. 3. RESOLVE TO DENY THE APPEAL filed by Casey Maddren, United Neighborhoods for Los Angeles (UN4LA), and THEREBY SUSTAIN the LACAPC’s determination in approving a Categorical Exemption as the environmental clearance for the demolition of six existing structures with 40 dwelling units and the construction, use, and maintenance of a 10­story, 156­room hotel with 122 automobile parking spaces; for the properties located at 1719 ­ 1731 North Whitley Avenue. Tuesday - July 2, 2024 - PAGE 35 Applicant: Fairborz Moshfegh, Whitley Apartments, LLC 3. RESOLVE TO DENY THE APPEAL filed by Casey Maddren, United Neighborhoods for Los Angeles (UN4LA), and THEREBY SUSTAIN the LACAPC’s determination in approving a Categorical Exemption as the environmental clearance for the demolition of six existing structures with 40 dwelling units and the construction, use, and maintenance of a 10­story, 156­room hotel with 122 automobile parking spaces; for the properties located at 1719 ­ 1731 North Whitley Avenue. Applicant: Fairborz Moshfegh, Whitley Apartments, LLC Representative: Matthew Hayden, Hayden Planning Case No. DIR­2016­4920­SPR Environmental No. ENV­2016­4921­CE­1A Related Case: DIR­2016­4920­SPR­1A Fiscal Impact Statement: The LACAPC reports that there is no General Fund impact as administrative costs are recovered through fees.