II. CORRECTIONS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE DRAFT EIR · II. Clarifications and Modifications to the Draft EIR City of Los Angeles II-2 Wilshire Boulevard Temple Master Plan Project

City of Los Angeles II-1 Wilshire Boulevard Temple Master Plan Project Final EIR

ENV-2010-1407 April 2011

II. CORRECTIONS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE DRAFT EIR

A. INTRODUCTION

Any corrections and modifications to the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) text generated either

from responses to comments or independently by the City of Los Angeles are stated in this section of the

Final EIR.

These EIR corrections and modifications are provided to clarify, refine, and provide supplemental

information for the Wilshire Boulevard Temple Master Plan Project Draft EIR. Changes may be

corrections or clarifications to the text of the original Draft EIR. Other changes to the EIR clarify the

analysis in the EIR based upon the information and concerns raised by commenters during the public

review period or added by the City of Los Angeles. None of the information contained in these EIR

modifications constitutes significant new information or changes to the analysis or conclusions of the

Draft EIR.

The information included in corrections and modifications to the EIR that resulted from the public

comment process or were initiated by the City of Los Angeles does not constitute substantial new

information that requires recirculation of the Draft EIR. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

Guidelines, Section 15088.5, states in part:

(a) A lead agency is required to recirculate an EIR when significant new information is added to

the EIR after public notice is given of the availability of the draft EIR for public review under

Section 15087 but before certification. As used in this section, the term “information” can

include changes in the project or environmental setting as well as additional data or other

information. New information added to an EIR is not “significant” unless the EIR is changed

in a way that deprives the public of a meaningful opportunity to comment upon a substantial

adverse environmental effect of the project or a feasible way to mitigate or avoid such an effect

(including a feasible project alternative) that the project’s proponents have declined to

implement. “Significant new information” requiring recirculation, includes, for example, a

disclosure showing that:

(1) A new significant environmental impact would result from the project or from a new

mitigation measure proposed to be implemented.

(2) A substantial increase in the severity of an environmental impact would result unless

mitigation measures are adopted that reduce the impact to a level of insignificance.

(3) A feasible project alternative or mitigation measure considerably different from others

previously analyzed would clearly lessen the significant environmental impacts of the project,

but the project’s proponents decline to adopt it.

II. Clarifications and Modifications to the Draft EIR


ENV-2010-1407 April 2011

(4) The draft EIR was so fundamentally and basically inadequate and conclusory in nature that

meaningful public review and comment were precluded.

(b) Recirculation is not required where the new information added to the EIR merely clarifies or

amplifies or insignificant modifications in an adequate EIR.

The changes to the Draft EIR included in these EIR modifications do not constitute “significant” new

information because:

no new significant environmental impact would result from the Project or from a new or

modified mitigation measure;

there is no substantial increase in the severity of an environmental impact that would result

unless mitigation measures are adopted that reduce the identified significant impacts to a level of

insignificance;

no feasible project alternative or mitigation measure considerably different from others

previously analyzed has been proposed or identified that would clearly lessen the significant

environmental impacts of the Project; and

the Draft EIR is not fundamentally or basically inadequate or conclusory in nature such that

meaningful public review and comment were precluded.

Therefore, recirculation of the Draft EIR is not required because the new information added to the EIR

through these modifications clarifies or amplifies information already provided or makes insignificant

modifications to the already adequate Draft EIR.

For simplicity, the EIR modifications contained in the following pages are in the same order as the

information appears in the Draft EIR. Changes in text are signified by strikeout text (strikeout) where text

has been removed and by double underline text (underline) where text has been added. The applicable

page numbers from the Draft EIR are also provided where necessary for easy reference.

B. CLARIFICATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS

Changes to the Draft EIR are listed below by section and page number.

I. Summary

The Summary is replaced with the Summary provided in this Final EIR.

II. Clarifications and Modifications to the Draft EIR


ENV-2010-1407 April 2011

II. Project Description

Page II-12, the first sentence in the first paragraph is revised as shown:

The Temple’s normal business hours extend from 8:030 AM to 7:30 PM, although a number of classes and

other programs may extend later into the evening or be held on the weekend. The Temple employs

approximately 43 persons, including 3 clergy, up to 25 staff persons, 12 maintenance staff, and security

staff. The Temple nursery school is licensed for 79 students and employs an additional 12 to 14 staff; for

the 2010–2011 academic year, the nursery school has an enrollment of approximately 70 students.

Page II-12, the first sentence in the third paragraph is revised as shown:

The hours of operation and activities during a typical week are summarized in Table II-2, Overview of

Existing Temple and Nursery School Operations.

Table II-2 on pages II-13 to II-14 is updated to provide clarification of the operational

characteristics at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple for various uses:


ENV-2010-1407 April 2011

Table II-2

Overview of Temple and Nursery School Operations

AM PM AM (next day)

5-6 6-7 7-8 8-9 9-10 10-11 11-12 12-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7 7-8 8-9 9-10 10-11 11-12 12-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5

Mon

Office Hours

Social Services

Celebrations/Life Cycle Events1

DO* Nursery School* Extended Nursery Care*

Elementary School Extended ElementaryCare

Religious School

Adult/Community/Special1

Tues

Office Hours

Social Services



Elementary School Extended ElementaryCare

Religious School


Wed

Office Hours

Social Services



Elementary School Extended Elementary Care

Religious School


Thurs

Office Hours

Social Services




Religious School


II. Corrections and Modifications to the Draft EIR


ENV-2010-1407 April 2011

AM PM AM (next day)

5-6 6-7 7-8 8-9 9-10 10-11 11-12 12-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7 7-8 8-9 9-10 10-11 11-12 12-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5

Fri

Office Hours

Social Services Worship Services




Religious School


Sat

Social Services

Worship Services

Celebrations/Life Cycle Events


Sun

Social Services

Religious School

Celebrations/Life Cycle Events


Source: Wilshire Boulevard Temple, 2011.

DO = early drop off1 These events are periodic in nature

* These activities typically occur Sept. through July.


ENV-2010-1407 April 2011

Page II-14, the first paragraph is revised as shown and a new paragraph is added below it:

The Temple also currently operates its Tikkun Olam food pantry on Sunday mornings. This program runs

from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM, is staffed with up to 18 volunteers, and serves approximately 175 to 200

people, with most arriving on foot or via mass transit. Medical screening services are provided in

conjunction with the food pantry program. After project buildout, the social services center would

operate daily from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

Celebrations and life cycle events, which include but are not limited to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, weddings,

memorial services and religion investitures occur throughout the year, as follows: Monday through

Friday between 9:00 AM and 10:00 PM; Saturdays between 2:00 PM and 2:00 AM; and on Sundays

between 8:00 AM and 2:00 AM.

The last paragraph beginning on page II-15 and ending on page II-16 is modified as follows:

The floor area ratio (FAR), which represents building size divided by the area of the Project site and is a

measure of development density, would increase from 0.73:1 to 1.21:1 under the proposed Master Plan;

the maximum allowable FAR on the Project site is 6:1, which would permit the development of

approximately 1,031,742 722,000 square feet.6 The proposed Project would also increase developed lot

coverage, or the percentage of the site covered by buildings and structures (including the parking

structure), from 36 percent to approximately 73 percent. The balance of the Project site, approximately

27 percent or 45,840 square feetacres, would be comprised of landscaped or recreational space or

hardscape improvements, such as sidewalks.

Table II-3 was revised in row five on page II-17 to indicate the number of students in the New

East School Building:

6 City of Los Angeles, Municipal Code Section 12.21.1: Height of Building or Structures.



ENV-2010-1407 April 2011

Table II-3

Summary of Existing and Proposed Development

Uses Existing

To Be

Removed Proposed New

Total at

Buildout

Net

Difference

Historic Sanctuary

Existing: Main Sanctuary, Rabbinical

Offices, Piness Auditorium, Stalford

Hall, Connection to 1929 School

Wing, Tikkun Olam Facilities (Social

Services) (to be relocated)

58,065 sf (2,065 sf) - 56,000 sf (2,065 sf)

Temple Administration &

Education

Existing: Administration Offices,

Meitus Hall, Factor Chapel, and

Nursery School

Proposed: Administration Offices,

Event Space, Conference Rooms,

Common Spaces

15,600 sf (15,600 sf) 55,380 sf 55,380 sf 39,780 sf

Historic School Wing (c. 1929)

Existing: Portion of Elementary

School

Proposed: Nursery School,

Administration Offices

16,575 sf - - 16,575 sf -

School Wing Addition (c. 1963)

Existing: Portion of Elementary

School

20,000 sf (20,000 sf) - - (20,000 sf)

Central Stair

New Vertical Circulation- - 2,265 sf 2,265 sf 2,265 sf

New East School Building

Nursery School, Administration

Offices for 216 students.

- - 46,045 sf 46,045 sf 46,045 sf

New West School Building

K-6 Elementary School for 420

Students

- - 59,470 sf 59,470 sf 59,470 sf

Tikkun Olam (Social Services)

To be located in Parking Structure- - 9,215 sf 9,215 sf 9,215 sf

Office Building (c. 1953) 13,650 sf (13,650 sf) - - (13,650 sf)

Total Square Feet 123,890 sf (51, 315 sf) 172,375 sf 244,950 sf 121,060 sf

Parking

Existing: Surface Parking Accessible

from Harvard Boulevard and 6th

Street

Proposed: 6-Level Parking Structure

103 spaces (103 spaces)Approximately

500 spaces

Approximately

500 spaces

Approximately

397 spaces

Notes:

sf = square feet

Source: Wilshire Boulevard Temple Vision Plan; Levin & Associates Architects, February 2010.



ENV-2010-1407 April 2011

Table II-4 on page II-37 has been revised to reflect the correct number of months for Phase 1A and

Phase 1B construction:

Table II-4

Project Construction Phasing

Project

Phase Stage Description of Project Phase

Anticipated

Timeframe

1

1A

Renovate historic Sanctuary; construct Sanctuary East Court, temporary

central utility plant, temporary surface parking lot upgrades.

Demolish existing commercial office building.

Oct. 2011–Nov. 2013

(1325 months)

1B

Construct East School Building and parking structure.

Demolish existing 1963 school wing addition and existing hardscape in

location of proposed parking structure.

Nov. 2013–Feb. 2015

(1415 months)

1CRenovate historic 1929 school wing; construct Central Stair; renovate Piness

Auditorium and Stalford Hall.

Mar. 2015–Feb. 2016

(11 months)

2Construct West School Building.

Demolish existing 1963 administration/education addition.

Sept. 2016–Dec. 2017

(15 months)

3

Construct new Temple administration/event building.

Demolish existing hardscape in area of new Temple administration/event

building.

July 2019–Dec. 2020

(18 months)

Page II-39, the paragraph describing the requested entitlements is revised as follows:

The Los Angeles Department of City Planning is acting as Lead Agency as defined by CEQA for the

environmental review of this Project. Discretionary approvals requested for the proposed Project include

Site Plan Review and may include, but are not limited to, potential ancillary authorizations such as relief

from street dedication/widening requirements, or Zoning Administrator adjustments relating to setbacks

adjustments and fencing and a variance for temporary off-site parking during construction of the parking

structure.

IV.V.2Global Climate Change

Page IV.B.2-31, the last bullet under the heading v. Sustainability, is revised as follows:

Central Utility Plant: A central utility plant has been designed for maximum efficiency and

energy conservation to serve all of the proposed new buildings as well as the existing historic

buildings.



ENV-2010-1407 April 2011

IV.D Geologic Hazards

Page IV.D-14, first full paragraph, is revised as follows:

Construction of the proposed Project would require grading over approximately 98,000 square feet. and

would cut aApproximately 4645,000 cubic yards of fill would be excavated (the majority for the

subterranean parking structure), of whichand approximately 1035,000 cubic yards would be exported.

Approximately 3510,000 cubic yards of certified fill would be imported.

IV.F Transportation

The following paragraph was added following the first paragraph under the subheading Parking

on page IV.F-48.

In accordance with a Citywide Zoning Administrator determination (Case No. ZA-88-1405 (R) and the

Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Zoning Code Manual and Commentary (Fourth Edition –

May 2005)), the required parking for the proposed Project is based on the number of fixed seats in the

sanctuary. Pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.21 A4(e), the number of required parking

spaces for the proposed Project is one parking space for each five fixed seats. Given the sanctuary has

1,800 fixed seats; a total of 360 parking spaces would be required for the proposed Project.

On page IV.F-48, the number if parking spaces required was changed as follows:

The LAMC would require the proposed Project to provide 3560 parking spaces. As the new six-level

parking structure would provide approximately 500 spaces, the Project would meet Code-required

parking and increase the current parking by approximately 397 parking spaces over the existing parking

supply.

IV.R Noise

Page IV.E-25, the first bullet is revised as follows:

During the preliminary construction phases of the proposed Project, a temporary cCentral utility

pPlant would be developed between the existing northern surface-parking are and the existing

play yard north of the Administrative Building. The temporary cCentral utility pPlant would be

set back from Hobart Boulevard, well within the property line of the Project site. The temporary

cCentral utility pPlant would consist of an enclosed chiller room (approximately 1,110 square feet

in size) and would be surrounded by 16-feet 8-inch high concrete walls with acoustical louvers

attached. The temporary cCentral utility pPlant would also consist of a cooling tower in an

enclosed room of approximately 900 square feet. The cooling tower would be surrounded by

concrete walls that are 14-feet in height and the roof of the cooling tower would be open to the

sky.



ENV-2010-1407 April 2011

Page IV.E-55, the first sentence of the first full paragraph is revised as follows:

During the preliminary construction phases of the proposed Project a temporary cCentral utility pPlant

would be developed between the existing northern paved-area and the existing play yard north of the

1963 Administration addition building. The temporary cCentral utility pPlant would be set back from

Hobart Boulevard, approximately 55 feet inside the property line of the Project site. The temporary

cCentral utility pPlant would consist of an enclosed chiller room (approximately 1,110 square feet in size)

and would be surrounded by 16-foot-8-inch-high concrete walls with acoustical louvers attached. The

temporary cCentral utility pPlant would also consist of a cooling tower in an enclosed room of

approximately 900 square feet. The cooling tower would be surrounded by concrete walls that are 14-feet

in height and the roof of the cooling tower would be open to the sky. The temporary cCentral utility

pPlant chiller and cooling tower would be located in concrete block enclosures ensuring that the noise

generated by the temporary Air Conditioning (AC) system would be attenuated, thus reducing the noise

level expected to occur at the Gardens at Wilshire Center apartment building and Wilshire Smiling Tree

School to its west, the apartment building to its north, and the JJ Grand Hotel to its east.

The proposed Project would include development of cooling and heating systems with a chilled water

central utility plant that would provide air conditioning to all new buildings on the Project site. The

chillers and cooling towers would be located on the roof deck of the parking structure, in the

northwestern portion of the site. The cCentral utility pPlant chillers and cooling towers would be located

in a concrete block enclosure, with the chiller plant fully enclosed and the cooling towers open to the sky.

This would attenuate noise generated by the AC system, thus reducing the noise level expected to occur

at the Gardens at Wilshire Center apartment building and Wilshire Smiling Tree School to its west, the

apartment building to its north, and the JJ Grand Hotel to its east.

C. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

In response to the recent case Sunnyvale West Neighborhood Association v. City of Sunnyvale City Council

(6th App. Dist., December 16, 2010) the proposed Project’s roadway volumes and intersection impacts

were analyzed based on existing conditions plus Project conditions. A Traffic Study Addendum was

prepared by Gibson and Associates to analyze this scenario and was prepared utilizing the same

methodology, parameters, and assumptions as were contained in the Traffic Study provided in Appendix

IV.F of the Draft EIR. The Traffic Study Addendum is provided in Appendix A to this Final EIR.



ENV-2010-1407 April 2011

The Existing with Project traffic volumes were developed by adding the Project generated peak hour

traffic volumes to the Existing Conditions (Year 2010) peak hour traffic volumes. Figure 1, Existing with

Project Peak Hour Traffic Volumes, shows the Existing with Project peak hour traffic volumes at all of

the studied intersections.

A summary of the volume-to-capacity ratios and LOS values for each of the study intersections during

the typical weekday morning and afternoon peak hours for the Existing with Project conditions are

shown in Table 1, Existing plus Project Conditions Intersection Peak Hour Levels of Service. As shown

in Table 1, application of the City’s threshold criteria to the Existing with Project conditions indicates that

the Project would not result in a significant traffic impact at any of the study intersections during either

the morning or afternoon peak hours. Therefore, no mitigation measures are required. This finding is

consistent with that found in the analysis of Future with Project conditions contained in the Draft EIR.

Table 1

Existing with Project Conditions

Intersection Peak Hour Levels of Service

Intersection

Existing without

Project Conditions

Existing with

Project Conditions Results

V/C LOS V/C LOS

Change in

V/C

Significant

Impact?

AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM

Western Avenue

& 6th Street0.547 0.594 A A 0.550 0.595 A A 0.003 0.001 No No

Hobart

Boulevard & 6th

Street

0.520 0.651 A B 0.526 0.651 A B 0.006 0.000 No No

Harvard

Boulevard & 6th

Street

0.487 0.604 A B 0.505 0.607 A B 0.018 0.003 No No

Normandie

Avenue & 6th

Street

0.587 0.649 A B 0.591 0.649 A B 0.004 0.000 No No

Western Avenue

& Wilshire

Boulevard

0.653 0.748 B C 0.669 0.751 B C 0.016 0.003 No No

Hobart

Boulevard &

Wilshire

Boulevard

0.447 0.519 A A 0.447 0.519 A A 0.000 0.000 No No



ENV-2010-1407 April 2011

Intersection

Existing without

Project Conditions

Existing with

Project Conditions Results

V/C LOS V/C LOS

Change in

V/C

Significant

Impact?

AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM

Harvard

Boulevard &

Wilshire

Boulevard

0.429 0.576 A A 0.477 0.577 A A 0.048 0.001 No No

Normandie

Avenue/Irolo

Street & Wilshire

Boulevard

0.562 0.584 A A 0.576 0.585 A A 0.014 0.001 No No

Source: Gibson and Associates, Traffic Study Addendum, February 24, 2011.

The Wilshire Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project includes the conversion of the existing curb lanes

running east and west along Wilshire Boulevard into exclusive Bus Rapid Transit lanes during peak

periods to facilitate rapid bus transportation connecting west Los Angeles to downtown Los Angeles. The

bus lane is anticipated to begin operation in late 2011 or early 2012. Therefore, the analysis of Existing

(2010) Plus Project conditions does not include these improvements.

In summary, the analysis of Existing with Project conditions indicates that no significant traffic impacts at

the study intersections are anticipated to occur based on the significance criteria established by the Los

Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT). These results are consistent with the conclusions

outlined in the Traffic Study for the Future with Project (Year 2020) conditions, which also resulted in no

significant traffic impacts at the study intersections. Thus, measuring the Project’s traffic impacts on the

existing environment would not result in any additional impacts or cause a substantial increase in the

severity of the traffic impacts beyond those already identified in the Draft EIR.

Existing with Project Peak Hour Traffic Volumes

FIGURE 1

1037-001•03/11

SOURCE: GTC – February 2011

NOT TO SCALEn



ENV-2010-1407 April 2011

This additional information does not constitute significant new information or changes to the analysis or

conclusions of the Draft EIR or require recirculation of the Draft EIR. The State CEQA Guidelines, Section

15088.5, states in part:

(a) A lead agency is required to recirculate an EIR when significant new information is added to

the EIR after public notice is given of the availability of the draft EIR for public review under

Section 15087 but before certification. As used in this section, the term “information” can

include changes in the project or environmental setting as well as additional data or other

information. New information added to an EIR is not “significant” unless the EIR is changed

in a way that deprives the public of a meaningful opportunity to comment upon a substantial

adverse environmental effect of the project or a feasible way to mitigate or avoid such an effect

(including a feasible project alternative) that the project’s proponents have declined to

implement. “Significant new information” requiring recirculation includes, for example, a

disclosure showing that:

(1) A new significant environmental impact would result from the project or from a new

mitigation measure proposed to be implemented.

(2) A substantial increase in the severity of an environmental impact would result unless

mitigation measures are adopted that reduce the impact to a level of insignificance.

(3) A feasible project alternative or mitigation measure considerably different from others

previously analyzed would clearly lessen the significant environmental impacts of the

project, but the project’s proponents decline to adopt it.

(4) The draft EIR was so fundamentally and basically inadequate and conclusory in nature

that meaningful public review and comment were precluded.

(b) Recirculation is not required where the new information added to the EIR merely clarifies or

amplifies or insignificant modifications in an adequate EIR.

Given the above, this additional information does not constitute “significant” new information, result in a

new or substantial increase in the severity of an environmental impact, or require recirculation of the

Draft EIR.

Documents

II. CORRECTIONS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE DRAFT EIR · II. Clarifications and Modifications to the Draft EIR City of Los Angeles II-2 Wilshire Boulevard Temple Master Plan Project